Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-07
Federation Leader Unspar-
ing in His Treatment of
Those Who Fight Organ
lied Workers.
JUDGE ANDERSON .
is CRITICISED

tense in Fighting Tyran-
ny; Given Scathing.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 6.-Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, speaking today
before the senate subcommittee on
Judiciary in favor of the Clayton anti
Injunction and contempt bills gave an
swer to criticisms aimed at the organ
ization which he heads, because of the
trial and conviction for dynamiting, OF
officers of the structural iron workers
union.
..If eveI the time shall come said
Mr.. Gompers, 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 unction-per-
sonal government foisted upon our
people instead of government by
law
Scores Organized Capital.
N IN closing his statement, which in
Guided an assault upon employers and
manufacturers' association, particular
" the United States steel corporation
and the National Erectors' association,
Mr.. Gompers declared that organized
labor would not repndiate the struc-
tural iron workers union. land leave
them helpless and at the mercy OF
organized capital and uncurbed greed
for profits
.tThough all censure these whom
men may deem guilty o. dynamite
conspiracy" the federation leader con.
t;r,,ed. none feels the terrible conse-
80 ,es Of the Indianapolis trial more
~. & han the men of organized Ia
lcr. There have been AIDED heartache
nd sorrow to our already heavy bur
dens. Then men accused and SEN
fenced cannot suffer tae penalties
rlone-Aupcn them and all workingmen
Tall the suffering and penalty.
'.Tsi,t what of the conspiracy of or
r,ni7ed canital--the conspiracy to
,,nrficr the liberty Of the toiler, to tear
,s.c->,}'.''t:,r, The means of protection by
4 & III y hey have bettered their condi-
!ion. % leave them bare and defense
lcss;. in the competitive struggle? Is
yot snch a conspiracy sufficiently das-
4 rtiiy 10 incur some odium. Should
t',n4 conspiratOrs with their hands
ssined with life blood Of mems ambi-
ton. happiness and liberty. be ac-
ecrded nothing but honor. power. re-
snectability? Should they be allowed
&, continue to manipulate the powers
Il * government and the administration
III Justice until the oppressed find the
burden intolerable? "-
criticses Judge Anderson.
More wise it is to seek social JUS
t'ce while yet we may. The Judge
who presided at the trial realized one
of the issues-government by injunc-
ton, lawless autocratic. irresponsible
exercise of governmental authority,
according privilege 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.. Gompers,
when he declared that "our whole
social organization seems to be on
trial ... -.....
Even the Judge who tried the case,
smugly assured Of personal irrespon-
sibility,' Mr.. Gompers asid, "fatuous-
W 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.
.'The worthy Judge had .blindly
chanced upon one of the cases, but
had failed to realize causal relation
ship. The words to him simply were.
a conventional epigram-he does not
know that there is law Of life, just
as immutable as the law of gravitation,
OF attraction and repulsion, a law of
life which meets tyranny and injus.
tice by resistance. The happiness, aye,
the unwarrantable character Of this
utterance of the Judge discloses how
far afield outside of the case he went
to take another slap at labor"
Throws Out Challenge.
Mr.. Gompers defended the American
Federation Of Labor as force for
betterment of conditions and resented
the attacks made upon 1t since the be-
ginning Of the dynamiters' case.
1--WE have been investigated, he
said, from the first instance that the
enemies Of our movement made to get
the men higher lup' and because Of
their directly and indirectly connec-
ting my name with the men supposed
ly higher up have declared my
readiness at any time to submit for ex-
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