The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-07
WILL NOT DESERT
IRON WORKERS
While Condemning Men Guilty
of Dynamiting, He Believes
Crimes Result of Crushing,
Cruel Power of Employers.
Denounces Judge Who
Presided at Trial.


Gompers. president OF the American
Federation OF Labor, speaking to-day
before the Senate subcommittee on
Judiciary in favor of the Clayton anti
| injunction and contempt bills, gave
answer to criticisms aimed at the or
sanization of workers which he heads
because Of the trial and conviction for
d. narniting OF officers OF the Struc-
tural workers Union.
IF ever the time shall come" said
Mr. Gompers in the climax OF his ad-
dress. when government by dynamite
shall be attempted land let us hops
and work that II never shall Gomez, II
will have as its main cause the theory
and policy upon which is based gov
eminent by neutrality-suspicious. gov
eminent foisted upon our people In
ztead Of a government by law
In closing his statement. which In
Guided an assault upon employers ana
manufacturers associations. particu-
larry the United States Steel Corpora
ton and the National Erectors' As
ISOLATION. Mr.. Gompers declared or
ganized LABOR would not repudiate the
Structural Iron Workers Unions. land
leave them helpless and at the mercy
OF organized capital and Unsuitable
uncurbed greed for profits
Burden on All Workfngmen.
Though all censure those whom
men may deem guilty Of dynamite con-
spiracy." the federation leader con-
ttnued none feels the terrible con-
sequences of the Indianapolis trial
more keenly than organized 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 ali workingmen fall the
suffering and penalty
But what of the conspiracy OF OF
| ganized capitalize. conspiracy 10
murder the liberty of the toiiers
10 tear away from them the means oil
protection. by which they have Bet
tered their condition; to leave them
bare and defenseless in the struggle
Is not such q conspiracy sufficiently
dastardly 10 incur some odium!
should they be allowed to continue TO
manipulate the powers OF government
the administration of justice. until the
oppressed find the burden lntolera Die
More wise II IS TO seek 3ocial JUS
tice while yet we MAY The Judge
who nreside-c at the trial realized one
OF the issues-governmeat by injunc-
ton. IawIoss, autocratic. irresponsible
exercise of governmental authority. &C
cording 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
ciaI organization seems TO be On trial.
Even the judge who tried the case
smugly assured of personal irresponsl
bility." Mr.. Gompers said. "fatuously
declared that the evidence in this case
will convince any impartial person
that government by injunction Is in
nnIteIy to be preferred TO government
BY dynamite
The worthy Judge had blindly
CHANGED upon one of the causes ou'
mad failed 10 realize casual relation
shin The words to him were simply
a conventional epigran,-he does not
know that there is a law OF life JUST
as imnutable as the law of gravita-
ton. of attraction and repulsion-a
law Of life which meets tyranny an
Injustice by resistance The happiness
ave the unwarrantable character OF
this utterance of the judge. disoloses
how far afelG outside of the case he
went to take another slap al labor
Defends the Federation
Mr. Gompers defended the American
Federation OF Labor as force Ior pet
torment of conditions and resented the
attacks made upon IL since the begin
ming of the dynamiters' case I nave
challenged and now challenge any oil
ON enemies to show that there has
been anv unlawful c...~1uct OF any con-
nection. t-7rect or remote. with any N'o-
lence in any labor controversy or 9th
e-wise.~ said Mr. Gompers
The federation leader referred 70
statements made by John Kirby. IT.
president Of the National Manuiactu.
ers. Association. william Burns. the
effective who caused the arrest of the
NcNsmaras after the Los Angeles
Times explosion: Harrison Grey Otis
EDITOR OF the Times. and others. whom
ho characterized as enemies OF or
ganized labor.
public know the convicted 'ron w"rk-
ers with The understanding mind and
the spirit taught by the Teacher OF
old. who said,
Let him who is without sin cast
the arst stone
I-.unchius into his attack upon ths
.nolovers. whom he declared hsd per
siSfen;iv fought the Iron WORKERS
t-nlon. Mr.. Gompers said that they new
cr bad a thought Of the constructive
I ability % the workers. lie condemns
ia mis- connection IN. National Free
tors Association. the National Manu-
/ fartu-crs' Association and the United
states steel Corporation.
FOR six years the aght went on.
n. said. "Au Of the forces 81 or
gsnfzed society were used against
! srcse men. You say that the men re-
sorted 20 forbidden methods OF vio-
,,-ce ana sacrificed lives. YOU condemn
.hcir methods Of aghtins a. elemental
| fvrutal OF any Of those who are
/ guiitv the condemnation Is true. hut
- vou were the methods used o. the
.,,niov.rs less deadly 20 humanity and
I e-..J.u,7 10 lou think that one s,de
"a piav with ;hc forces % iujrsiice
,costi.slI "a scseath P-seD