The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-01-11
GOMPERS BEFORE
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Continued from Pare. 1.

mercy of organized capital and in
uncurbed greed for profits"
Though all censure those whom
men may deem guilty Of dynamite
conspiracy, the federation leader
none feels the terrible
consequences Of the Indianapolis trial
more keenly than the men Of organ
lied labor. There have been added
heartache and sorrow to our already
heavy burdens. The men accused and
sentenced can not suffer the penalties
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
the liberty of the toilers, TO
tear from them the means of pro-
lection by which they have bettered
their condition, to leave them bare
and defenseless in the competitive
struggle. Is not such a conspiracy
sufficiently dastardly to incur some
odiun? Should the conspirators with
their hands stained with life blood
Of mems ambition, happiness, 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 JUS
tice while yet We may. The judge
who presided at the trial realized one
Of the issues-governmen by injunc-
ton. lawless, autocratic, irresponsible
exercise of governmental authority,
according privileges to the strong and
denying justice to the weak
Refers to Judge, Anderson.
Judge Anderson, who presided over
the trial of the iron workers, was re-
ferred to particularly by Mr.. Com
pers, when he declared that "our
whole social organization seems to be
on trial.
Even the judge who tried the case
smugly assured of personal irresponsi-
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
The worthy judge had blindly
CHANGED upon one of the causes, but
had failed to realize casual relation
ship. The words to him were simply
a conventional epigram-he does not
know there is a 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 af1eld outside of the case he
went to take another slap at labor
Defends the Federation.
Mr.. Gompers defended the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor as a force
for betterment of conditions, and re-
sented the attacks made on it since
the beginning Of the dynamiters' case.
I'VE have been investigated" ne
said, from the first insinuation that
the enemies Of our movement meant
to get the men higher up and be-
cause of their directly and Indirect
ly connecting my name with the men
supposedly higher up I have de-
clared my readiness at any time to
submit for examination by any repre-
sentatiyes Of constituted authority or
by committee of any respectable
body. of citizens, every document, pa
per or account, financial or otherwise.
I have challenged and now challenge
any of our enemies to show that there
has been any unlawful conduct or
any connection, direct or remote, with
any violence in connection with any
labor, controversy or otherwise.
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation Of Labor, was
summoned to appear before the grand
jury. He took with him not only all
the financial accounts and transac.
tons 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
! evidence or suspicion of wrongdoine
/ could be discovered; not a scintilla
; existed or exists
After Kirby and Burns.
! The federation leader referred Ia
statements made by John Kirby, Jr.
president of the National Manufac,
turers' association; William J. Burns
the detective who caused the arrest
Of the McNamaras after the Los
| Angeles Times explosion; Harrison
Grey Otis, editor Of that paper, and
others whom he characterized as
| enemies" Of organized labor, and
continued: "You will see that I have
quoted the worst enemies Of organized
| labor, my most conspicuous and re-.
lentless enemies, men who would, II
they could, send me to jail or con.
sign 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 motives: But, pray
will any one point to a single act
aye to single utterance Of my worst