Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-09
Unusual Interest in Utterances Of
Head of Movement.
COURTS DECISION DISCUSSED
Says Freedom of Speech and Of the
Prers is Involved.
STRONG PROTEST AeAINs~ = I
He Says Attempt 90 Seal Lips 9 +
of Labor win ultimately Rt[ z
in Goca for the whole
People. =

TOEOSTO, Nov. S.--The American Fedt =
alton OF Labor today refused to admit {,
It's convention delegates representing the
Ohio and Iowa state Federation of Labor
and from other organizations in Detroit,
Michigan, Davenport and Cedar Rapids,
Ia and Birmingham, Ala.
The convention also excluded repre-
sentative OF the Erie, Pa, Central Labor
union on the ground that he was member
Of the seeding faction of the Electrical
workers.
I'VE are not going to be drawn into
revclu.o0,' said President Gompers, re-
ppon,Jrg to p speech of welcome THE
AmCr.cO2 labor movement is a rational
movement ara we are going to hold to-
gethtr."
President Gompers in his annual report,
discussed at length the recent decision Of
the courts OF appeals Of the District of
Columbia in the Bucks Stove and Range
company boycott case.
Mr.. Gompers contended that the case in
voved the constitutional right of free
speech aud a free press and declared that
the whole people we're aroused to the Sc
robustness of the situation.
Scores Courts Decision.
Following a discussion of the contempt
proceedings President Gompers in his an
nuAl report nad THIS 10 say
Il repeat and emphasize this fact, that
the doctrine that the citizen must yield
obedience TO every order of the court, not
withstandlng that order transcends in
hereut natural, human rights guaranteed
by the constitution of our country, is
vicious and repubnant to liberty and human
freedom, and that it is the duty, the i'm
peratiye duty to protest.
u kna
full of tyranny and the denial to the
people of the rights of expressing freely by
speech or in the press their opinions. After
our people established a government they
recalled that they had omitted to safe
guard this vital right in framing our con-
stitution. Therefore. the l1rst amendment
to that INSTRUMENT was that guaranteeing
tho right Of freedom Of speech and press
"That means something. We do not need
this right to please those entrusted with
the authority OF government Free press
and free speech were guaranteed that men
might feel free TO say things that dis
pleased Demand for reform coming from
the people Is generally dstasteful to those
entrenched In power and privilege.
1T was not necessary that we be given
the privilege for the purpose Of singing the
praises Of the powers that be. No Russian
needs constitutional guaranty Of the right
to sing the praises Of the czar.
1--WE must have the right 10 freely speak
and print for he wrongs that need resist
ance and the cause that needs assistance.
Their Is no persecution, no injustice, TO
a gl. at Il ovt mont but IL met in the right
spri bears It's harvest OF good In this
case he tremendous popular indignation at
the lt-Cuspt to abolish the right of free
pres ana free speech brings our union
m,moC.s into closer relations and more in
sym, atLy with each other throughout the
eoun. ry, and, more than tnat 1t brings to
the atten ion Of tie people as a whole the
notla aspica. ions ana the splendid achieve,
m nts he labor movement in behalf OF
lisu., jus leo and humanity.
'"Ou OF ,hls attempt to seal the lips OF
tie men o. labor / believe VIII come good
'NG krow uat the people of our country
and N lnbo movement will be found
unite in patriotic protest against any cur
tail4.eut OF the liberties for which oul
fIre.Uthtrs struggled in oruer that we
nish, tie free."
Delegates barred Out.
Delegates from several organizations
whose charters have been revoked pre-
sonted credentials, but on recommendation
OF the credentials committee, the conVen-
tion voted not to recognize them.
These delegates included l.. O, Pouchot
OF the Iowa State Federation of Labor
Henry II. Eoet,ger Of the Davenport la,
Trades and Labor assembly and II. G
stewart OF the Cedar Rapids Ia. Fedora
tion Of Labor. President Gompers ruled
that any organization which does not hole
charter from the American Federation