The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-01-09
HUGE CONSPIRACY
OF CAPITAL SEEN
Samuel Gompers, Labor Lead
er, Defends So Called Dyna-
mite Conspirators.

Oi III ldOOi, opCeihiAlS fAhOA0cy NJ
fore the Senate subcommittee on ju-
dietary in favor of the Clayton anti
Injunction and contempt bills gave an
swer to criticisms aimed at the organ
iZation of workers which he heads be-
of the trial and conviction for
dynamiting of officers of the Structural
1ronWorkerS' union.
IF yer 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 it's main aus the theory
and policy upon which is based gov
by neutrality-suspicious. gov
eminent foisted upon our people In
stead of a government by law.
Won't Desert Fellows.
In closing his statement which in
cluded IN assault upon employers and
manufacturers associations particul-
arly the U. S. Steel corporation and
the National Erectors' association, Mr..
Gompers declared that organized b
would not repudiate the Structural
Iron Workers union and "leave them
helpless and at the mercy of organized
capital and Unsuitable, greed
for profits"
Though all censure those whom
men may deem guilty of dynamite con-
spiracy," the federation leader con-
tinued, mo one feels the terrible con-
sequences OF the Indianapolis trial
more keenly than the men of organized
labor. There have been added heart
ache n sorrow to our already heavy
burdens. The men accused and sen
fenced cannot suffer the penalties
alone-upon them and all workingmen
fall the suffering and penalty.
Conspiracy of Capital.
But what of the conspiracy of or
garized capitalize conspiracy to mur
der the liberty of the %toilers. to tear
from them the means of protection by
which they have bettered their condi-
ton, to leave them bare and defense
less in the competitive struggle? Is
tardly to incur some odium? Should
the conspirators 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
1ssues-goyernment by injunction, law
less, autocratic, irresponsible exercise
Of governmental authority, 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.. Gompers.
when he declared that "our whole So
clal Organization seems to be on trial"
axes Rap at Court.
Even the judge who tried the case,
snugly assured of personal irrespon-
sibll1ty," Mr.. Gompers said, "fatuitious-
ly 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
CHANGED upon one of the causes but
a 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, JUS
tice as immutable as the law Of CRAWL
tation of attraction and repulsion, a
law Of life which meets tyranny and
injustice. The happiness, aye, the un-
w~arantable character of this utterance
of the judge-shows how far afield
from the case he went to tai another
slap at abor."
Mr.. Gompers defended the American
Federation of Labor as a force for bet
terment of conditions and resented the
attacks made upon it since the Begin
ming of the dynamiters' case.
w have been investigated" he said,
from the first i~nsinuation 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
ave declared my readiness at any
lime to submit for examination by any
representatives Of constituted author
lty, or by a committee of any respecta-
BILE body of citizens, every document,
paper or account, financial or other
wise. I nave challenged, and now
challenge, any of our enemies to show
That there has been unlawful conduct
br any connection. directly or remote,
with any violence in connection with
my labor controversy or otherwise.
Mr.. Frank Morrison, secretary Of the
American Federation Of Labor, was
summoned to appear before the grand
4 jury. He took with him not only the
financial accounts and transactions of
The American Federation of Labor, but
his own and after q thorough scrutiny
and investigation they were returned
10 him and are now at our. office. Not
n scintilla of evidence or suspicion Of
w~rongdoing could be ~discovered; not
a scintilla existed or exists"
The federation leader referred to
statements made by John Kirby, pres
.dent 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: n others whom he
characterized as enemies" of organ
lied labor and continued:
you will see that l 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, OF 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 york.. 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.. Gompers said he would have the
public consider the convicted iron
workers with the understanding mind
and the spirit taught by the eacher of
old and said, Let him who is without
sin cast the first stone.t"
|CONDlTIOMS IN MEXICO
mr. r. ~ laHPnntfrn