The Washington times., 1912-02-23
GOMPERS AND AIDES
DEFEND THEIRSTAND
IN INJUNCTION CASE
Labor Chiefs, At Banquet,
Say They Did No Wrong.
Congressman Speak.

Samuel Gonpers and Frank Morrison,
speaking al the testimonial dinner given
them at the lGhbitt House by the Central
Labor Union last evening, declared
they had done right IN respect to the
Bucks Stove Company Injunction, Ald
mat they would pursue the same course
in the future. All the other spaakers
cf the evening likewise upheld what
they declared to have LCcn an eXer' Use
OF the right OF free speech. 49,.
Mr., Gompers announced that he had
dene no wrons. II have violated no
Columbia" he said. IL have exercised
my. rights as an American cltiZen-the
rights of free speech and Of a free
press. We. shall speak out, VIC shall
be heard though earth's 1ystem crack,
and we shall not take back single
word or single letter This shall here.
after be our position
Half dozen congressman, all hold
ers Of union cards, preceded the officers
OF tho federation. One of these, Con-
Eressman Frank Buchanan Of Illinois,
Endorsed Champ Clark for the Presi-
dency. besides making the only direct
reference of the evening to the Nc
NamaIa case.
In spite OF the fact that :here have
been certain confessions" said Con-
gresham Buchanan, "and although
there have been indictments of the Of
f1cers of my union life to the cries Of
Hhe press and u general attack made;
even though al this time. through the
newspapers charges have been brought
and an effort starred to make 1t appear
to the public that the whole union is
criminal on account of the acts of an
lndividual-in spite If all this. am Htill
proud that have got Il paid-up card in
the Structural Ironwork lrs' Union, and
In sending nv dues on the the other
day, wrote the hoys that row was tho
time for the hardest efforts 10 be ex-
pended tn make our union strong and
vigorous"
Hughes Speaks.
Congressman Hughes of New Jersey.
was the first speaker. He referred TO
the fact that his young child was i'll
at home. but said that he would be less
than man IL l did not come mere for
ia few minutes at least to testify by
my presence to the respect and sdnIra-
ton / have for the grand old man of
labor and his arle lieutenant, MIR. Nor
rison."
Congressman W. 3. Wilson of Penn
Eylvenia made Il lengthy attack upon
government by iniimCtion," tracing the
history of restraining orders and de
nouncing in vigorous terms th. Judge
made law" After referring to washing
tons Valley Forge Letters. in which
Washington wrote, These are the times
that Try mems souls Mr.. Wilson d.
clared Gompers, Morrison. and Mitch
ell "to be no sunshine soldiers"
Congressman McDermott of Chicago,
Sherwood of Ohio. and Farr of Pennsyl-
son was heard in an impassioned speech
telling of oppression which he charged
has occurred in Pennsylvania Con-
gressman F'arr had preceded Mr.. Morri-
son and had painted somewhat rosy
picture of conditions in the keystone
State.
Every citizen must stand for his
constitutional rights, no matter what
may come" cried the secretary of the
federation. concluding his speech. and
referring to the contempt proceedings
MIR. Gompers alluded to the alleged
nag deSecration incident at Oakland
and copies Of the pictures purport =
to show him standing on the flag were
passed around the hall. After explain
Ing the situation and denouncing the
authors of this libel he spoke of the Nc
Namara case.
"Can't Get Higher Up"
"They cannot get the man higher up
IN the labor movement. We know that
the graVest charge they can ever bring
against us is that we cannot be brow
beaten or frightened. They cannot buy
us up. and now they seek to destrop us
H IT desire to condemn lawlessness: law.
lessness committed by members OF or
ganized labor in the cause, as they
Imagine. of labor"
The American flag was much in evi,
dence at the dinner. It draped the
walls of the dining room and small
flag to be worn as a boutonniere lay
beside each plate when the speakers
arrived. Emmett l.. Adams was toast
master. Besides the congressman who
FRS table Congressman Robert f. Lee
of Pennsylvania. John A. Martin, Col
Orado: Victor L. Berger, Wisconsin
William !; Cary; wisconsin: Dayld J
Anew York: f. E. Roberts, Nevada; ant
James p. Maher, New York.