The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-17
WILL Mr.. 0oMPERS LEAVE
THEM IN THE LURCH?
The Danbury Hatters.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir:
When the Los Angeles dynamiters of
the Times Building and the murderers
Of twenty innocent men were about
to be tried the American Federation
OF Labor raised from union labor 1886
900, presumably for their defence. But
Samuel Gompers, president of the or
ganization, is reported to have said
that It has no authority to raise the
$3.50. 900 to $500. 900 necessary 10 pay
the damages awarded to ID. T.. Loewe
& Co. of Danbury, Conn, in the suit
known as the Danbury hatters case.
As the matter stands. payment is
required from the 1856 men, followers
Of Mr.. Gompers and contributors to
his cash box, who were made the
defendants In the suit: officers Of the
United Hatters' Union Of Amer
lea and members Of the local hatters'
union, who we're held directly re-
sponsible for the boycott on account
OF which damages r assessed. But
behind that boycott stood Mr.. Com
pers and the American Federation OF
the plaintiff, d. r. Loewe & Co., that
organization would have claimed the
victory, Mr.. Gompers ~vociferously
leading with II did It,"
But since judgment "a for the
plaintiff. the mon named al defendants
have been left in the lurch by Mn
Gompers, left to bear the burden
alone.
To collect the Just Judgment the
plaintiff has given notice that in the
event OF its non-payment he must
foreclose the attachments against the
homes Of the defendants which he
holds.
Such foreclosure will be a severe
hardship upon the deluded defend.
ants. To avert II from them is the duty
Of Gompers and the American Fedora
ton of Labor. without whose moral
support ape1y said the Jo~rnal Of
Albany. N. Y, the boycott that mad,
all the trouble would not have beer
declared and maintained. Tho lit
CATION in this matter has been e~ntirel,
controlled by the executive council o
tho American Federation OF Jabol
(see its several annual reports). which
means controlled by Gompers, ant
now he leaves the unfortunate de
PENDANTS to pay the piper" which
they can't, or lose their homes. which
they must. Loft to themselves the,
would probably have compromised o.
settled the a in some way year
ago. Gompers's control OF the cas-
inspired them with a false sense o
security and n false hope.
OF the strength Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor boast has often beer
made. 1t has frequently raised none,
out OF union labor's wages TO carr.
some subdivision OF organized labo
through trouble; the 1896, 600 waste
on the Los Angeles .dynamiters' case
for instance. The Federation credit
itself with n membership Of 1000. 900
An assessment Of about l2h cent
per capita would provide the sun
necessary to get the Danbury halter
out OF tho trouble, the loss of thei
homes, into which they got them
selves. and out Of which they woul
have kept themselves II they had no
been made to understand that Com
pers and his organization would Sc
them through. whatever might hap
pen.
As a reward" for their faithfu
adherence to him and his organiza
ton is he now going to leave ther
in the lurch. ard must the homes q
themselves, their wives and chi.dre
go under the hammer. while NJ
Gompers continues to enjoy. out O
union labor's wages money, his sa'
airy OF $500 a year and fat expens
account? WALTER J. BALLARD.
Los ANGELES, June ~.