The Washington herald., 1914-02-25
WHY DON'T RATS HELP
Me- IS GOMPERS' CRY
President of American federation oi
Labor, at Banquet. Champions
Free Speech.
a PLEAD FOR NO MERCY"

Samuel Gompers president Of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, spoke bitterly
of the contempt proceedings still pending
against him and his associates in the
United States Supreme Court at the an
nual banquet last night of the Washing
ton Building Trades Council at the Ra-
leigh Hotel.
''The rats have eaten part OF the record
of the investigation of the mismanage-
ment, il nothing more, of the New Haven
Railroad" said he. 81 wonder II some
of these rats can't be imported to eat
up the records of the case now pending
in the Supreme Court against me and my
associates. / cannot help thinking of this.
for In a few days the court may hand
down its decision in this case.
This is a protest against any court
in America attempting to deny to any
citizen of this country the freedom OF
speech.
II plead for no mercy, nor clemency,
no matter what becomes of me personal
ly." continued Mr.. Gompers dramatically,
Injunction or 10 injunction, j shall
continue to express my thoughts so long
as i believe them TO be for the public
good"
Senator Reed. of Missouri, another
speaker. announced his intention to intro
duce in the Senate today an anti-con-
ing IN the House.
Representative Hensley, of Missouri,
also spoke for the measure and fur
nished the guests with some startling
statistics regarding the amount Of con-
vict labor in foreign countries and the
percentage of its products that comes to
this country.
Other speakers were Senator Myers, Of
Montana; Senator MARITIME, of New Jer-
sey; Representative johnson. Of Wash
ington, and Representative Buchanan. of
Illinois.
The invited guests and others present
were Senators Ashurst, Borah, Cummins,
Fletcher. Hollis, Hughes, Kenyon, Kern,
La Toilette Martin. MARITIME. owen. Pom
creme. Reed. Robinson, Smith, Stone,
Swanson, Williams, Myers, Walsh. Poin-
dexter. Lewis, James, Clapp, Shively.
Shafroth. O'Gorman, Penrose: Repre-
sentatives Ferris, Cooper, Bartlett, Bath
rick, Bruckner, Burnett, Clark, Clayton,
Decker, Gray, Henry. Hensley, Igoe,
Rainey, Reed, Sinnott, Smith, Stanley,
Underwood, Walsh, Austin, Ham
lin Booher Taylor, Bartholdt.
George, Buchanan, Cary, Casey. Farr,
johnson, Key. Lee, Lewis, McDermott,
Maher, Nolan. Sherwood, Helvering,
Smith. Roberts. Kesting, German, Cros-
ser, shackleford, Fitz Henry, Thompson,
Borchers, McAndrews, Tavenner; William
r. Wilson, Secretary Of Labor; Joseph p.
Tumulty, Secretary to President; Samuel
Gompers, president American Federation
of Labor; Frank Morrison. secretary
American Federation of Labor; Frank
Duffy, secretary Brotherhood of Carpen-
tors and Joiners; James Kirby, president
of Carpenters and Joiners;
John r. Alpine. president United Associa-
ton Plumbers and Steam Filters; J.
Whiting, ]. Reynolds, T. ]. Will
Jams, William ]. Spencer, A. J.
Berres. James OConneIl. Arthur Holder, |
ID. W. Hancock, W. II. Boteler, L. r. ]
Strieter, v. Z. McCIelland, s. ID. Zea, II. |
Fiddlesop. II. S. Hollohan. L Luebkert |
f. B. Byrne, r. W. Allen, d. r. Steele, |
NJ Foley. II. J. Warthen, +. w. Nc
Intyrc, George Crosby. r. II. Burdetts |
]. F. McHugh. Sam DE Nedrey. w. II. I
Johnston, T. F. Tracy, P. ]. Ryan, c. T. |
Smith, ]. J. Dickinson, Charles Higgins, |
+. Nelson. J. f. Keating, L. A. Eagan, |
]. B. Colpoys, B. F. Jones, H b. Halves, |
Charles Gates, c. o. Curtain, ]. A. Nc |
Donald. J. NJ. Barrett, Matt. Comerford. |
+. Brownley, John Lorch.