The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-06
Before the Senate SubcOmmit-
tee on judiciary.
GOVERNMENT BY INJUNCTION
He AScribes as the Primary
Cause of Their Actions.
He Takes a Shot at Trial Judge
Anderson.

pers president of the American Fedora
ton of labor, speaking today before
the senate subcommittee on judiciary
in favor of the Clayton anti-injunction
and contempt bills, gave answer to
criticisms aimed at the organization of
workers which he heads because of the
trial and conviction, for dynamiting of
officers of the Structural Iron Work
ers union.
'If ever the time shall come" said
Mr.. Gompers, in the climax of his ad-
dress, when government by dynamite
shall be attempted (and let us hope and
work that it never shall Gomez it will
have as its main cause the theory and
policy upon which is based government
by injunction-personal government
foisted upon our people instead of
government by law
In closing his statement which in
cluded an assault upon employers and
manufacturers associations particularly
the U. S. Steel corporation and the
National Erectors association, Mr..
Gompers declared that organized labor
would not repudiate the Structural Iron
Workers unions and leave them help
less and at the mercy of organized cap
ital and Unsuitable, uncurbed greed for
profits.
Though all censure those whom men
may deem guilty of dynamite conspir-
acy," the federation leader continued,
none feels the terrible consequences
of the Indianapolis trial more keenly
than the men of organized labor. There
have been added heartache and sorrow
to our already heavy burdens. The
men accused and sentenced cannot suf- |
fer the penalty alone-upon them and
all working men fall the suffering and
penalty.
Conspiracy of Capital.
'But what of the conspiracy of or
ganized capitalize conspiracy to
murder the liberty of the toilers, to
tear from them the means of protee-
tion by which they have bettered their
condition. to leave them bare and de-
fenseless IN the competitive struggle.
rs not such a conspiracy sufficient
ly dastardly to incur some odium
Should the conspirators with their
hands stained with life blood of mems
ambition, happiness, liberty, be ac-
corded nothing but honor, power, re-
spectability? 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 jus
tice while yet we may. The judge
who presided at the trial realized one
of the issues-government by inJunc-
ton lawless, autocratic, irresponsible
according privileges to the strong and
denying justice to the weak
Judge Anderson. who presided over
the trial of the iron workers, was re-
ferred to particularly by Mr.. Comp
pers. when he declared that ''our
whole social organization seems to be
on trial.
'Even the judge who tried the case
bility." Mr.. Gompers said, "fatuously
declared that the evidence in this
case will convince any impartial per- ,
son that government by injunction is
infinitely to be preferred to govern
ment by dynamite
s'The worthy judge had blindly
chanced upon one of the causes, put
had failed to realize casual relation
ship. The words to him were simply
a conventional epigram-he does not
know that there is a law of life, just r
as immutable as the law of gravita-
tion; Of attraction and repulsion,
law of life which meets tyranny and
Injustice by resistance. The inapt-
ness aye the Gnwarrantable character
of this utterance of the Judge discloses
how far afleld outside of the case he
went to take another slap at labor. s
Defends the Federation.
Mr.. Gompers defended the American {
Federation of Labor as a force for {
of conditions and resented {
the attacks made upon it since the S
beginning of the dynamiters' case.
1--WE have been investigated, ne
said from the first insinuation that
the enemies of our movement made to
get the men higher up and because of !;
their directly and Indirectly connect
ing my name with the men supposedly
higher up I have declared my readi-
ness at any time to submit for ex
animation by any representatives of
authority or by commit
tee of any respectable body of citizens, :
every document, paper or account,
financial or otherwise. I have chal-
enged and now challenge, any of our
enemies to show that there has been il
any unlawful conduct or any connec- t
Ion direct or remote. with any vio- C
epce in connection with labor contro- d
rersy or otherwise. Z
'Mr Frank Morrison, secretary of | 1
he American Federation of Labor, .
vas summoned to appear before the L
yrand Jury. He took with him not {
1nly all the financial accounts and d
of the American Fedora
ion of Labor but his own, and after
| thorough scrutiny and investigation
hey were returned to him and are now
It our Office.
Not a scintilla of evidence or sus- c
licion of wrong doing could be dis
overed; not a scintilla existed, or ex-
sts.''
The federation leader referred to ~
made by John Kirby. Jr. K
resident of the National Manufactur- 81
rs, William ]. Burns. the detective 9;
rho caused the arrest of the McNama-
as after the Los Angeles Times ex- RI
losion; Harrison Grey Otis, editor of &,
hat paper and others whom he char tr