The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-25
DUNCAN DISCUSSES
G0MPERS DECISION
Talked to Stationary Engineers in Bos-
ton The Other Evening. It's
Infringement on Free Press.

Boston, Jan. 25.--Ststionary engi
neers held a mass meeting in Fanuil
hall the other evening, primarily to in,
terest non union engineers in their or.
ganization. James Duncan Of the
Granite Cutters union, the first vice
president of the American Federation
OF Labor, was a speaker Though di-
recting attention principally to the ad.
vantages of organization, he discussed
briefly the A. f. Of l.. policy and the
sentencing of Gompers, Mitchell and
Morrison. He said that the Federation
would carry these cases as far as the
laws permit, hoping for eventual vim
dication, and, as he is first lieutenant
to President Gompers, his utterances
were accepted by the audience as Off
eial. The action of Judge Wright" he
saad, was the greatest slap at free
speech, free press and the free right
of petition to Congress since that right
was placed in the Constitution of the
United States. But the daily press and
the big magazines have not stopped
talking about it. They discuss it daily.
And yet President Gompers and others
are enioined from what il being done
by all other papers. We protest
against that form Of democracy when
the courts must need to step in and
try to stop the progress Of the A. f. of
L. alone. We intend to 60 on in law
ful way. II we make mistakes we will
correct them. But To try to interfere
with us in our efforts to uplft hui
inanity win hardly prevail.
Speaking of the recent visit to the
White House, Mr.. Duncan said
Last week we officials of the execu-
tire board Of the A. r. Of L.. President
GoIapers and ALL went to the White
House. We were received in the most
delighted manner. We were escorted
in, President Roosevelt did not have
any tomahawk on ANY such weapons as
were used at San Juan Hill. That gIor
inus array Of dentals were very visible,
and the glad hand was extended as
cordially an ever. You have read the
stories in the newspapers of that visit.
Some were right. many were wrong.
We did not 60 to discuss legislation, as
that at this time would be almost use
less. We went there In humanitarian
effort The revolution in Russia was
an economical one az we'll az political
Thank God man ran discuss reEoIn.
lions in this hall, ii he can't discuss
boycotts outside. As the result Of our
visit for Pourin, President Roosevelt
said that the ezar Of Russia will not
get Pourin while he Is President, and
be advises his successor to adopt the
Same policy.
Il mention this as an example To
show you that the labor movement
does not devote all its time, az some
people would have you believe, to
strikes. Me bend our efforts ID the
benefit of all the human family, the
general uplift of humanity"
President William r. +. Whelan Of
Union 16 presided. and the speakers in
addition to Mr.. Duncan. included Matt
Conerford of New York, international
president Of the union; Arthur II. Hud-
dell of Boston. international vice pres
ident; Thomas N. Hawley, for many
years the state examiner; William G.
Beck of the, state board on boiler
rules, and Edward A. Filene Of the New
England Civic Federation.