The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-01-06
He Does Not Blame Iron Workers for
DynamIting Property and Blow
Ing Human Beings into
Bits.
TYRANNY OF CAPITAL
Passionate Plea to Senate Committee
by President Of the Amcri-
can Federation Of
Labor.

limited Press Leased Wire Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6-'tThe con-
scienceless tyranny OF those controll- [
ing hours, wages and conditions OF
work" and their absolute control OF
legislative and judicial power drove
the structural iron workers into their
terrible retaliation against society.
This was the bitter summary OF the
dynamite case made today by Sam
uel Gompers, president Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor-the first
time that the labor leader has attempt
ed to discuss the motives Of the ac-
cused conspirators or to discuss their
trial and conviction. 1t was made to
the senate judicial committee as part
Of passionate plea by the labor lead
er for enactment OF the Clayton bill
regulating the issuance of injunctions
in labor disputes.
For six years the fight went on,
Gompers said, describing the fight OF
the iron workers.
"All the forces of organized society
were used against these men; subtle
minds We're scheming and plotting
| that legal authority ard practice
might aid in their breaking. You say
these men resorted to forbidden
methods Of violence and even sacri
feed ]ives-y you condemn their meth
| ods Of fighting as elemental. brutal,
| II any of these who are guilty, thc
condemnation is true, but | ask you
were the methods used by the EN-
ployers less deadly to humanity and
! freedom? Do you think that one side
can play with the forces of injustice
and tyranny and not lead to a de
4 ifensive move on the part of the 9th
/ err"
| With a voice that alternately trem
bled or rose high in anger, Gompers
drew word picture Of the iron work
er and the battle against his unior
1 that has been waged by the steel con
struction companies. II would have
you ponder he said. how 1t is thai
among people protesting to believe IL
the brotherhood of man and the gospe
Of love, men and American citizens
come to look upon violence and dyna
I! mite terror as the only defense lef
/ them against the constituencies
4 tyranny of those controlling hours
wages and conditions of work. Tha
| Is q terrible charge against society.
"As to those who counsel harsh
/ ness and deny mercy-are they the
men who have fought the fight of th,
4 world of men and conquered withou
! blemish to themselves-are they mel
who know the world of work and toll
4 who have felt or know the powers
pitted against the weaker elements
who have felt the cruelty and heart
lessness of the world of profits, wher,
men succeed by climbin., over ant
standing upon those they have strucl
down and defeated?'
1 Bitterly reviewing the trial Of th
dynamite conspirators at indianapolis
I Gompers fayed Judge Anderson 70
his alleged partiality shown the prose
cutioh and for his "fatuous' remark
in sentencing the defendants and ii
instructing tta jury.
Regardless of Judge Andersons as
sumption of impartiality." Gomper
said angrily, "in declaring that th
trial of the dynamiters was mot th
trial of organized labor those VIII
would snatch industrial liberty fron
the hands of the toilers, took advant
+ age Of this sentiment they had creates
and, filled with a renewed sense o