New-York tribune., 1909-10-13
G0MPERS DEFIANT
CRITICISES JUDGE AGAIN
Says Court That Sentenced Him
Erred and Vas Preiudiced

Washington. Oct 12-After being receivsd -
enthusiasm by thousands of members of orra,t,~s
labor in Convention Han Upon the conclusio, -
the welcoming street parade her- to-nirb+ ~
Gompers in uncertain words uttersd s.a
OF any power that would dare atternu+ - -
his night OF free speech or freedom % III. -.
This declaration followed a narrative OF 5l, -.
70 Europe. during which he expressed hl, -
dence In the formation Of a worId-vvide cons.1-
ton OF all labor organizations
Referring to the jail sentence resting sg,i-,.
on charge OF contempt OF court for referrt,s !.
the Bucks Stove and Range Company after 49,.
enjoined against such expressions by a ,,ss-t,s -
the Supreme Court OF the District OF C,oI,-,bt ~.
Ciompers said that Justice Wright bad &c., =.
contempt case against him because he zvas -
diced against men that work
There Is no man to whom win bend tss ~
there Is no man TO whom VIII look Up un,e.. i.
possesses the attributes Of honesty and fair dsal
ing. he said After his reference 70 the co-.o-.
proceedings Mr.. Gornpers expressed his rs.n.. -
judges in general. He said:
have confidence in their integrity. m -,...--
what their decisions may be But I know 80
likely 70 err as any other men on earth I SsSs Ss
Wrght err but that ne was prejudicsd aEsl1.s
I have no desire to be bombastic o. 5s44, 80 nSro
I say adyisediy and with knowledge of the fST s-I
responsibility that attaches to nv words 80
oeIIeve that no imposition OF a lighter ss5ts-.s.
speech and free press in ms eo,I, We nave fEss
nave not The imposition OF a hne oF one ..-s
soT the Of conscisn5io9a belief % 's7 57a H'gr '
and Of a free press Spesea
simply content myself with -1a ,1,+-
& ent mat the Constitution guarante=s f-se sDeses
placed in The Constt1ti6n 3as .oI mat ls5sHtss
,i,.t @ NECESSARY & 70 place that guarantee a ne Co1
~sslIuJlon ~ that We might sound the praises n -
PD~srs PS IhaL os 10 man wants a constitlItloSsi
b 5iat PiGsse any authority whether thar aurEo-ss
s s1e tgesident Of the United States or tls sy
The guarantee was put there that uen n,rs.
say Things that dispease and -1frr- ~ q, -
perssct safety The demands for reforms s,,-iS-
time 10 the governmental power. ~-
Again referring directly 70 the 1ova- 90 5-,,
ton Mr. Gonpers denied the right or a-y oon-
20 en1oin him in advance from express.n NJ ~
views, although he realized that he r1iEh- -e --st
for what he had said after he had spoken r. ,bs
Court Of Appeals should decide a-ains- ain he
declared that the fight for free speech must r ~
until that right was achieved
We cannot stop If We want" he said and "a
d nor want 70 STOP. We have gone roo fa- in the
march OF human progress 10 be driven back mo
slavery"
During the evening several brief addresses of
welcome 20 the returned president OF the Fedora
tion OF Labor we're made by his associates Ser.
retary Frank Morrison expressed his firm belief
thar Mr.. COmpers's visit 10 Europe would -esu.
IN world-wide federation of all labor SrEauiza-
tions.
There was a large parade. followed later bv a
big mass meeting az Convention Hall. The event
derived special interesr from The fact th5T MS
vas The day upon which the Court OF AZ al o.
the District OF Columbia had bean expsc-9d -
hand down its decision in the contempt procse4-
ings against Mr.. Gonpers and other federation
officials The decision Of the court however. was
not made public
An incident in connection with the parade which
occasioned considerable discussion and comment
was the action Of President Gonpers in refusing %
allow company q the National Guard ~ the Dis
trtcJ Of Columbia 20 participate Although the
Central Labor Union al meeting mere last nigHt
went on record in favor OF the guardsmsn taxing
part n the celebration there some opposition
among the delegates on the ground IL IS said thai
the organized militia Of the country was used only
10 shoot down strikers and union men" II
thought that the matter. however. settled. buS
to-day a protest was lodged with Secretary Morr-
son OF the federation against the action of the
Central Labor Union He Immediately commun-
Gated with Mr. Ciornpers, who al the time was IN
Baltimore, en route here. and the latter directed
that the gUardsrnen should not parade.