The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-14

Atlanta, Ga, Nov. 13.-The thirty
first annual convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor began here to-
day. President Samuel Gompers made
his annual report, treating on numerous
subjects, such as injunctions, woman and
child labor, uniform laws to protect hu-
man life, immigration, the &sNamara
case, &C.
Despite all opposition of the most re-
lentless kind, the American labor move
ment grows and thrives." says President
Gompers. Its beneficent influence for
the common uplift of labor and OF all
our people extends to all fields Of useful
activity, and is becoming more generally
recognized. The power which labor holds
within its grasp is understood by our OPP
ponents as well as-aye, perhaps better
than-by many Of the toilers themselves.
The fact is that labor's opponents, like
the Tories Of the past, many Of whom
are still with US, are afraid to trust the
people"
InJunctiOns Are Discussed.
Discussing the judiciary and inJunc-
tions, Mr.. Gompers said:
The signs OF the times are portentous
for Injunction judges. A movement loom
ing up rapidly in the West indicates that
the people are about to have their day
The courts. that human institution that
likens itself to a divine institution to
quote the President, who Is a product Of
that institution, are on the point OF find
ing out that final decisions OF justice
must come not from one class in a re-
public, but from all its people. As time
passes evidence accrues that the injunc-
ton habit must go down before common
sense and the general sentiment Of lib
erty. Unauthorized edicts from the bench
are proving to be naught as against the
barriers placed before them by public
opinion"
After expressing the opinion that labor
unions had not adopted direct methods
In dealing with the tyranny Of Sub
servient courts" Mr. Gompers declared,
in substance. that the unions should take
matters into their own hands and take
the consequences.
The report reviews the action of the
Supreme Court in Diminishing the origi-
nal suit in the Bucks Stove and Range
Company case, and OF the remanding
hack to the District Supreme Court for
! On Messrs. Gompers, Mitchell, and Nor
rison.
The report denounces Gen. Harrison
Gray Otis, owner of the Los Angeles
Times. After recounting the arrest OF
the Mcnamara brothers and their being
taken to California charged with the dy-
namiting Of the Times Building, in which
many lives were lost, President Gompers
said:
For half a year it was plain to all
observers that circumstances were favor
able for the Matching of a plot against
such union men as should be selected
as the objects of Otis dIabolical re-
venge. Time and again the thought must
have occurred TO union officials Which
of us shall be the ones to have charges
framed up against US. With OTIS
money, of which he has millions, to be
used in hiring detectives, the biggest lot
Of blackmaIling thieves that ever went
unwhipped by justice a plot could be
| concocted involving any man in the
United States whose organization or
| whose principles had ever attracted the
poisoned pen OF OTIS
The report Of Secretary Frank Nor
rison was made to the federation. Sec
rotary Morrison stated that the fedora
ton has a membership Of LEG, 735. He
said that the federation had on hand
| $1S9, 1885, and of this $133,7s2 is in the
defense fund for the local trade and
federal labor unions. and can be used
TO pay benefits only in the case of a
strike or lockout of the members Of these
local unions. The balance, s55,797, he
saia, is in the general fund.
That there are 1,464 unions affiliated
with the federation is stated In the re-
port of President Gompers.
Fight on "TayIor System"
Success Of the protest against the in
stallation of the Taylor system" in gov
eminent workshops and extension Of the
eight-hour day upon Federal work is
recounted by President Gompers. To ex-
tend provisions of the eight-hour day to
all public works, including ships, armor,
and large guns made in private factories
is recommended by the federation presi-
dent.
The establishment OF a children's bu-
reau in the Department OF Commerce and
Labor also is urged by President Com
pers, indorsing a bill for that purpose
before Congress. He also urges the pas
sage Of employers liability and work
mans compensation laws at the coming
Congress.
Fifteen members OF Congress, holding
trade union cards, are lauded by Presi-
dent Gompers for their work.
Utility of the new Bureau Of Mines
also Is asserted by President Gompers.
The proposed establishment Of a de-
partment OF labor. provided in a bill of
Representative Sulzer, of New York, is
indorsed,by President Gompers, who also
told the labor convention that civil serv-
ice employees in Washington and else
where should not be gagged"
Regarding the right Of government en-
ployes to free speech and the privilege
of complaint and petition. President Com
pers told the convention: .r5 &c.,
I'VE intend to see that these consti-
tutional rights shall not be transgressed
or invaded by whosoever occupies the
White House or holds a position as Cab
met officer"