The Washington herald., 1912-01-19
HEPBURN ATTACKS
GOMPERS In SENATE
Objects to Receiving cOmmunica-
ton from labor Head Because
Of the Mcnamara Case.

A communication from Samuel Com
pers. president OF the American Fedora
tion OF Labor. furnished an unusual in
cident in the Senate yesterday.
Vice President Sherman laid Mr.. Com
pers communication before the Senate
IN the usual way. whereupon Senator
Hepburn, of Idaho, objected TO receiy-
ing it.
I'm view of the developments in the
Mcnamara caseg said Mr.. Hepburn. II
object to the Senate receiving any COM
munication from Samuel Gompers. The
developments in that case have shown
that he is not qualified TO petition this
body. and he should not be allowed 10 do
SO until he qualities"
Mr. Heyburn's objection created a SEN
sation. The Vice President was on the
point of referring the Gompers letter to
the Committee on Printing, 10 be print
ed, in the usual way.
Senator Penrose moved TO refer II, but
that was held TO be out Of order. Sena-
tor Lodge entered a mild protest against
Senator Heyburn's attitude First inQuir-
ing OF the Vice President whether the
GOmpers communication was not In the
nature Of a petition, and being advised by
Vice President Sherman that he so
classed It, Senator Lodge observed that
the House OF Representatives had settled
the matter Of the right of petition eighty
years ago by deciding that all such COM
munications should be received and laid
before the Senate when submitted by an
American citizen in a respectful way.
"Is Gompers an American citizen?"
demanded Mr.. Hepburn. rs any Senator
here prepared to say that Sam Gompers
is a naturalized American citizen?'
There was no reply.
Senator CuIberson inquired If the letter
did not purport to transmit to the Sem
ate resolutions passed by the American
Federation Of Labor. The Vice President
replied in the affirmative.
Then they should be received in the
usual way" said Mr.. Culberson.
At this point Senator Hepburn withdrew
his objection.
Having developed this case as far as
want to at this time. I now withdraw
my objection" said Mr.. Hepburn.
The Gompers letter was then ordered
referred and printed.
At the conclusion of Senator Reeds
speech, Senator Fletcher, of Florida,
moved that the Gompers communication
be printed in the Record, as the Print
ing Committee has already acted on
the subject matter of the petition. Sena-
tor Hepburn objected to this course and
demanded a yea and nay vote on the
motion. II was adopted by q vote Of
81 TO 3. Senators Hepburn, Gallinger, and
Brandegee were the only Senators TO
vote against the motion.
Senator Hepburn heard the announce
ment OF the vote by which the Gompers
letter, was ordered printed in the Con-
gresSionaI Record. and then. looking
around upon his colleagues, Baid:
In view of the sweeping vindication
given Mr.. Gompers here to-day by both
political parties, ! suggest that the prob
lem might be solved IL one OF the polih-
cal parties would make Mr.. Gompers its
candidate for President"
Senator Bacon reminded Mr.. Hepburn
that the right Of petition was a consti-
tutional guaranty. regardless Of whether
the petitioner be a citizen OF the United
States or merely within the Jurisdiction
of its laws" Senator Lodge concurred
In Senator Bacon's view