Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-13
REFERS TO COURTS RULING.
Samuel Gompers Speaks at Lincoln
Celebration Here

Although his name did not appear
the printed program Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation OF
Labor, was the principal speaker in Odd
Fellows Hall last night. when tribute
was paid to the memory of Abraham
Lincoln by organized labor at a meeting
under the auspices of the Central Labor
Union. In addition to its tribute to Lin
coin the gathering cheered Gompers' sar-
castle references to the court decision
in the Bucks Stove and Range Company
case
Representative Thomas d. Nichols OF
Pennsylvania presided. He was intro
duced by the temporary chairman. John
II. Lorch, president of the central body.
Mr.. GomperS told the audience that.
while he regretted the fact that lie was
not so fortunate to have been born
in America. he did come here as soon
as his parents would allow him. He re-
called, he said. that when he was Il
small boy working at Spittletields, Lon
don, that men were just beginning 10
talk of the war that was then about To
begin in America and that later. when
he came TO America, he learned that in
a message TO Congress Lincoln had
thanked the British workingmen for eX-
erting their influence 10 prevent Eng
land aiding the Confederacy.
Lincoln, Mr. Gompers said. was the very
spirit of liberty and freedom, and every
workinsman should do all he could TO inn
On the question of federal courts Mr..
Gompers said:
II would not deviate from the regular
program tonight to discuss foreign mat
tiers. but / believe that nothing more ap-
propriate could be said than this: Had
there been federal judge when Lincoln
became President who would have issued
an injunction forbidding him from speak
Ing or writing about human slavery be-
cause the value Of the slaves might have
been deprecated. do you think Abra ha m
Lincoln would have yielded to the de-
mands of the court? Do you think he
would have yielded his right to fight for
human justice and liberty because a fed
eral judge ordered it,"
Sam De Nedrey. secretary of the Cen
trail Labor Union. spoke on the power OF
the courts. The Rev. George A. Miller.
fraternal delegate 10 the Central Labor
Union from the Ministerial Association.
opened the meeting with prayer. Repre-
sentative Nichols made a brief introduc-
tory address, after which Representative
Madison r. Smith spoke of the life and
work of Lincoln Representative William
b. Wilson and T. Y. Powderly also made
brief addresses. Mrs. Phoebe Cousins
read a paper on Nancy Hanks, the Moth
err of Lincoln" w. l.. Thornton rendered
several solos
The committee from the central body
having charge of the celebration con-
sisted of James w. Considine. chairman
and A. c. Hayden. Martin Dreis, a. c.
Lectures on Lincoln.
The Lincoln exercises in GonzaSa Hall.
North Capitol street near LIST street, last
evening included a patriotic lecture by
Patrick j. Haltigan, illustrated by stere-
opticon views. \ large audience gave evil
dence of its approval by generous APP
plause.
Recorder Dancy Talks on Lincoln.
John c. Dancy, recorder OF deeds Of
the District of Columbia. delivered an
address at the Lincoln centenary cole
bration held last night in the Metropolitan
4. NJ +. Church at clock. lie said, in
part:
Lincoln changed the whole trend of
the civilizations of the world by the
breadth of his policies. He awakened Q
sentiment i'm favor of universal liberty
everywhere and curbed the growing spirit
of despotism and tyranny. He sought To
establish civilization not merely without
a slave but also without prejudice"
Lincoln Services at Temple.
Services in honor of the memory OF
Abraham Lincoln were held last evening
in the Eighth Street Temple. Rev. John
W. Van Schaick. who was TO have de-
livered the address of the evening was
prevented from being present on account
Of illness. In his place Rabbi Abram
Simon spoke. and paid high tribute to the
great emancipation. A number of special
selections were sung by the church