New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-27
Labor Charges
Congress Seeks
Rule by Jud gges
A. F. L. Executive Council. in
Protest, Declares Nelson
Measure Would Mean
''Legalized Kidnaping''
Death of Habeas Corpus
Increased Power Given to
Courts Formerly Held
by Kings, Gompers Says
From q Staff Correspondent

ron" u otOU COrTGS pOndent
ATLANTIC CITY, Aug. 26.-Congress
was accused OF attempting to set up g
judicial autocracy' with a view OF
"legalizing kidnaping' by the execu-
tive council of the American Federation
of Labor in an attack made to-day or
a bill introduced by Senator Nelson, OF
Minnesota
The BILL passed by the Senate and
now pending in the House, would give
any Federal judge the right to issue q
warrant for the arrest of an indicted
person who may live in a distant state
and transport him to the place of in
dlctment without the process of a pre-.
llminary hearing or defense, according
to President Samuel Gompers and his
associates, who assert that this vir-
tually would nullify the principle OF
habeas corpus.
The increased power for the Federal
judges provided for by the Nelson bill
Mr.. Gompers said. was formerly pos.
sessed only by kings" and is directly
aimed at wage earners.
"In other WORDS" says protest
adopted by the council, "this bill has
for its object the revival of legalized
kidnapping and taking the heart out of
the habeas corpus, one of the great
writs wrested by the people from the
kings. he bill intends to grant to the
judicial branch of our government a
power which will place the liberties of
our people under its complete domina-
ton.
Drifting to Judicial Autocracy
at is difficult to understand the
causes or grievances which should now
to the rights and liberties of all our
people and which have been in force
ever since our nation was founded. 1t
is inconceivable that the rights and
liberties of American freedom shall be
left to the complete and exclusive
mercy of judges clothed with such
extraordinary power. We are drifting
altogether too rapidly toward judicial
autocracy
Having just emerged out of sue
cessful war to make secure the prin-
clples of democracy and to wrest the
sovereign power from the hands of
royalty, it is inconccivable that we
should now willingly acquiesce in dele
eating such powers into the hands of
court. Wage earners of our land
are urged to help arouse public indlg-
nation and resentment to this latest
and most subtle and pernicious attack
yet made in the history of our land
upon the constitutional rights and lib
critics of American freedom.
The council, which is in session ot
Hotel Ambassador to carry out work
left unfinished by the Federation con-
vention IN Denver in June, TODAY de-
clded to reopen negotiations with the
International Federation of Trades
Unions, whose headquarters are in
Amsterdam. The obstacle in the way
OF any close affiliation with the Amer
ican organization and the International.
1t was said, was that the European or
ganlzatlon had been too much idcnti-
ned with the Socialists and their inter-
nstlonal convention held at Moscow.
Nothing to Do With Bolsheyism
Mr.. Gompers has asserted that tho
A: F. of L. will have nothing to do
with Bolshevism. eve want labor or
ganzatlon untainted by any of the isms
which create strife and dissension "
SAID Mr.. Gompers. The council. how
ever, made public to-day letter which
MT Gompers was credited with HAVING
written to the International at Am.
sterdam.
The particular purpose Of our writ
ing" said the letter, lis to sucgsst
that we endeavor to reach points If
contact and if nossihlo orroo.,4
rather than to attempt any carping and
unnecessary adverse criticism. so that
the legitimate purposes which we as
sumo we have in mind in common r,o,,
DC consummated that is, an interna.
tional federation of trade unions in
tact as we'll as in name; that we NAV
jointly use our united influenza my
powers to protect and promote the
rights and interests and welfare NJ III
tolling masses Of the world"
Japan has apparently refused To an
point labor leader on its delegation
20 70 rTesioent Harding's conference on
tne limitations Of ornaments. called
70 meet IN Washington in November.
The council to-day received a cable
essnge from B. Suzuki. the 1ahor
leader of Japan, in response to mes
sage sent by Mr. Gompers asking that
Japan appoint a labor delegate NJ
Suzuki said: IL will work on YOUR nro-
posal, but l think its realization viii
be hard. Please prevail upon vour
government to convey your wishes To
the Japanese government" Mr.. Com
pers in his message said it was essen
tlal to the welfare of organized labor
that it be represented on the Japanese
delegation.