The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1913-01-09
HUGE CONSPIRACY
OF CAPITAL SEEN
Samuel Gompers, Labor Lead
er, Defends So Called Dyna-
mite Conspirators.

fore the Senate subcommittee on ju-
dietary in favor OF the Clayton anti
Injunction and contempt bills gave n
swer to criticisms aimed at the organ
ization of workers which he heads be-
cause OF the trial and conviction for
dynamiting OF officers OF the Structural
~Ironworkers' union.
III ever the time shall come" said
Mr.. Gompers in the climax OF his adj
dress, when government by dynamite
shall be attempted (and let us hope
and work that It never shall Gomez we
will have as its main cause the theory
and policy upon which is based gov
eminent by neutrality-suspicious. gov
eminent foisted upon our people in
stead OF a government by law"
Won't Desert r fellows.
In closing his statement which in
Guided an assault upon employers and
manufacturers associations, particul-
arly the u. s. Steel corporation and
the National Erectors' association, Mr..
Gompsrs declared that organized labor
would not repudiate the Structural
Iron Workers union and leave them
helpless and at the mercy Of organized
capital and Unsuitable, uncurbed greed
for profits" "
Though all censure those whom
men may deem guilty Of dynamite con-
spiracy,' the federation leader con-
tinued, mo n feels the terrible con-
sequences of the Indianapolis trial
more keenly than the men OF organized
labor. There have been added heart
ache and sorrow to our already heavy
burdens. The men accused and sen
fenced ann suffer the penalties
a~lone-upon them and all workinEmen
fall the suffering and penalty.
Conspiracy Of Capital.
But what of the conspiracy OF or
nn - AwAI M Vtk,I - H. A.
der the liberty OF the ~toilers, to tear
from them the near of protection by
which they have bettered their condi-
ton, to leave them bare and defense
less in the competitive struggle? Is
no such a conspiracy sufficiently das-
tardly to incur some odium? Should
the consptrators with their hands
stained with the life blood of mems
ambitions, happiness and liberty, be
accorded nothing but honor, power,
responsibility? Should they be allowed
to continue to manipulate the powers
OF government, the administration of
justice. until the oppressed find the
burden intolerable?
More wise it Is to seek social Justice
while yet we may. The judge who pre-
sided at the trial realized one of the
lssues-goVeTnnent by injunction, law
less, a~utocratic, irresponsible exercise
OF governmental authority, according
80 = ~ NlC anu ueHIIIk
justice to the weak"
Judge Anderson, who presided over
the trial of the Iron workers. was re-
ferred to particularly by Mr.. Gompers,
when he declared that our whole So
clal organization seems to be on trial"
|. Takes Rap at Court.
Even the judge who tried the case.
snugly assured Of personal trrespon-
sibility," Mr.. Gompers said, "fatuitious-
~ declared that the evidence in this
case would convince any impartial per-
son that government by injunction is
to be infinitely preferred to govern
ment by dynamite
"The worthy Judge had blindly
Glanced upon n OF the causes but
n failed to realize casual relation
ship. The words to him were simply
q conventional epigram-he does not
know that there is a law OF life, jus
tice as immutable as the law of crawl
tation of attraction n repulsion. a
law of life which meets tyranny and
injustice. The happiness, aye the un-
warantable character Of this utterance
OF the ~judge-shows how far afield
from the case he went to take another
slap at labor"
Mr.. Gompers defended the American
Federation of Labor as a force for bet
terment OF conditions and resented the
attacks a upon 1T since the Begin
ming or the dynamiters' case.
w AVE been investigated" he said,
from the first insinuatton of our enc
mics that our movement to get the men
higher up and because Of their directly
and indirectly connecting my name
with these men supposedly higher up
/ have declared my readiness at any
time to submit for examination by any
representatives Of constituted author
ity, or by q committee of any respecta-
BILE body of citizens, every document,
paper or account. financial or other
wise. / have challenged, and now
challenge. any OF our enemies to show
that there has been unlawful conduct
or airy connection, directly or remote,
with any violence in connection with
any Dor controversy or, otherwise.
Mr.. Frank Morrison, secretary Of the
American Federation Of Labor. was
| summoned to appear before the grand
| Jury. He toe with him not only the
financial accounts and transactions OF
the American Federation OF Labor, but
his own and after a thorough scrutiny
and investigation they were returned
to him and are now at our office. Not
a scintilla Of eyiS9nce or suspicion of
wrongdoing could be discovered; not
a scintilla existed or exists"
The federation a referred to
statements made by John Kirby, pres
ident of the National Manufacturers
association; William J. Burns, detec-
tive, who caused the arrest of the Nc
Namaras after the Los Angeles Times
explosion; Harrison Grey Otis, editor
of that paper: and others whom he
characterized as enemies" of organ
lied labor anC continued:
You will sec that / have quoted the
worst enemies of organized labor, my
most conspicuous and relentless enc
mics, men who would, If they could,
send me to Jail, or consign me to the
gallows. / have not even referred to
the regard. respect or confidence OF my
friends, OF the men and women who
believe in me, my work. and my mo-
tives. But, pray. will any one point
to a single act, aye, to a single act,
utterance of any sort OF my worst enc
mics OF a constructive. liberty loving
humanitarian character? Anybody can
be a man hunter; anybody can be a
negative force; anybody can be a no.
body"
Mr.. Gempers said he would have the
public consider the convicted iron
workers with the understanding mind
and the spirit taught by the teacher Of
nld and raid. Let him who Is without