Evening star., 1920-01-19
AT. OF |. AGAINST
ANT|-SED|T|ON BILLS
Samuel Gompers Says Or
ganization Is Ready to
Fight Legislation.

In a lengthy statement issued by
Sameul Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, he de-
clared that the federation will oppose
with whatever power it may pos
sess" the enactment of the anti-sedi-
ton bills now pending in Congress.
He leaves no doubt but that the FED
Grafton will put in motion, If it has
not already done so. all the machinery
and influence possessed by the big or
ganization to defeat th." legislation,
in which the active cooperation OF
every branch of trade unionism will
be called upon to lend its aid.
While no intimau1on is given just
what form the opposition of the red
Grafton will take to defeat the anti
sedition legislation. it is intimated
that within the next twenty-four
hours every member of Congress vii!
be flooded with kilograms from all
parts of the country demanding tne
defeat of the legislation. 1t Is under
stood that members of the executive
council of the American Federation OF
La Dor and the leaders of the natlonai
and international labor movement are
on their way to Washington to JOIN
forces with the regular legislative
committee of the American Federation
of LABOR in a gigantic and rapid-nre
fight against this legislation.
Treats Subject F'earlessly.
The statement was prepared by Mr.
Gompers. He has treated his subject
fearlessly and with that broadness OF
scope that presents an unanswerapie
viewpoint The statement is a direct
attack against the Sterling bill. re-
Gently passed by the Senate and the
Graham bill. based upon proposals
made by Attorney General Palmer,
now awaiting action in the House
fO~
expedite its early consideration.
Mr. Gompers declares that the pro-
posed bill" if enacted into law would
violate the Constitution and rob the
people of their most cherished and
basic guarantees of free govern
pie, and in fact a majority OF the
members of Congress, were awake to
the dangers concealed in this bill, a
storm of indignation would sweep the
nation"
He points out that the bill has been
widely advertised as protecting free
speech, and is intended to prevent ad-
vocacy of forcible revolution, being di-
rected specially to stamp out bolShe-
vism and anarchy. Mr.. Gompers con-
tends that, on the contrary, the legis-
lation would perpetuate' an autocratic
censorship over the entire American
press. that it can be used to suppress
and kill free speech and free assem-
bly, and strikes directly a deadly blow
at legitimate organization of labor
and other progressive movements for
the betterment of the masses that may
not meet with the favor Of the big
| interests.
Yield to No Man.
| Declaring the loyalty to government
of legitimate organized labor. Mr.
Gompers says:
I'VE yield to no man, in public Of
! flee or out, in our loyalty to the Con-
/ stitution and institutions of this re-
public; no self-respecting man has
questioned or dare question that 10y
atty We are for evolution, not revo-
luton; for ballots. not bullets. for 8
majority rule, not class dictatorship OF
| bolshevism, plutocracy or ef the
| profiteer.
I'VE oppose this bill because every
legitimate purpose for which it i:
| framed is already covered by existin nf
| law. Its illegitimate features, which
! compose two-thirds of the draft, arr
utterly autocratic, imperialistic ant
| un-American."
| More amazing still, the proviso set
| up a censorship over any mans pri
| vate correspondence by the Postmas
| ter General. 1t would be criminal, 70
| example, for a man to send a lette
| advocating resistance to an injunction
| issued by g. federal judge ordering
workers on strike to go back t.
| work"
Mr. Gompers declares the Legislation