The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-15
GOMPERS ASSAILS
OPEN SHOP VERDICT
Wants Congress to Limit IN
junction Power of Courts.
TRADES UNIONIsM DEFENDED
Head of American Federation Of
Labor, in Annual Report, Discusses
Decision In Garment workers.
Strike-Secr>tary Morrison shows
Gain of $4,000 In Membership.

ST. Louis. Nov. A-President samue
Gompers. OF the American Federation Of
Labor. devotes large part OF his annual
report, made to-day TO the Thrift
eth convention OF the federation
to an attack on court iniunctions. Mr..
Gompers cFiticises Justice Con for the
open-shop decision made during the gar
ment workers strike. and slaps at the
SiKty-first Congress for falling to limit
the injunction power OF the courts.
After calling attention 10 the growth
of the federation in this country. Can
ada. and elsewhere, and denying that
trades unionism is narrow. President
Gompers takes up Justice COTS open
shop decision.
While this judges action In this case
was not taken seriously, either by the
press or by the public. said President
Gompers, "it served to indicate the
necessity that exists for a statute re-
strainlng the abuse OF power by judges.
Federal and State. particularly in the
Issuance Of injunctions by which the lib
critics OF the citizens. when these citi-
Gems are wage-wOrkers, are Outrageously
invaded and denied. II is not amiss here
10 call attention 10 the fact that If work
men may be denied by injunction, or by
any other process, the right 10 leave
their employment. either singly or I'm
association, for the reason that they de-
sire 10 secure the union shop; IL they
may be restrained by an injunction from
striking In sympathy with their fellow
workers; II they may be enjoined from
4afEr g. -.
difference between the so-called free
worlxmen and the workmen who must
yield obedience TO their masters-slaves-
has disappeared. The only reason for
slaveholding is to compel men TO work.
Congress Taken to Task.
President Gompers tells the federation
that Justice Cons decision was in the
face OF the highest judicial seniority In
the land. Then he takes up Congress
which he blames for falling to limit the
power OF injunction. President Taft was
willing to oblige labor, he says, but Con
gress was too weak and too much under
control of the interests 10 pass law.
For the sake of party. OF party har.
mony; for patronage or its possible loss
for the sake Of a reelection. the members
have sat idly by. closed their eyes, re-
fused 10 listen to the voice Of duty until
such weakness has eliminated in estab-
fishing the custom by Representatives
OF holding their tongues for fear they
might lose caste with the Speaker, whom
they periodically and mechanically elect
ed as their servant, yet to whom they
have submitted as their master. For
fear they might be considered fault-find-
ers; for fear they might be considered
irregular; for fear of their nOnsppoint-
ment on important committees: for fear
they might lose the patronage the Pres
ident has power 10 bestoW, they have
acted as though paralyzed.
Fear. Fear, Fear, Always the ghost
~ apparitiOn of fear haunts the lives
of the average Congressman, and while
this un-American attitude prevails the
privileges. the timidity the unquestiOned
prerOgatives OF legislation, the bedrock
basis OF Constitutional rights, the funda-
mental requirement OF fearless, faithful
representation that gave this nation
birth-these precious, valued, and holy
elements OF liberty are being gradually
alienated from the House OF Representa-
tives by the courts and by the Presidents
and all that is now left of the power OF
the House is a theoretical recognition by
the other departments that the House
shall hold the money bag and provide
revenue for the operation and continual
tion OF the government"
Legislation Held UnfavOrabIe
President -ompers reviews at length
the status Of legislation now in the sixty
first Congress, OF which he expresses so
unfavorable an opinion. The legislation
Includes the amendment 10 the employers
liability bill. the law recurring standard.