Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1908 — GOMPERS' DOCTRINE [ARTICLE]

GOMPERS' DOCTRINE

“Unionism-May It Always Be Bight; but Unionism Right or Wrong.” SOME POLITICS AT THE XEgT Ldber Party Urged at the American Federation Convention--0 ’ ", ■ . *A die Organization Declares Me Will do & .lail, but Never f*ay a Fine—Courts Roasted. 1 /■ ' j jDenvor. \o V . 17'—President Compeis, fl't til*' session of- the convention of fbe Federation of Wbor, declared that if he ,\ycre found guilty and fined In the contempt proceedings against him at Washington be would go to Jail before he would pay his fine, or before he Would allow the Federation to pay any fine for him. “Ibis statement was made' by Oomjier*! during the discusSion of the report of the committee on the treasurer's report. #buld Safeguard the Funds. The committee recommended that immediately following the adjournment of the convention the executive committee shall take Up the proposition pf placing it* funds where they mgy be removed fixup danger of attachment The report brought out a political discussion in which several members declared themselves is favor .of the formation of an independent

po7m»ai pasty. Treasurer 7shn'‘B. Lennon said be bad discussed the mfitter of safeguarding t£e f-und* with good attorneys and they all agreed that it was'lmpossible without resulting at sbtne time !p perjury bj some perspiig Several suggestions were made from the'floor, .one being that the funds ho deposited in Canada and another that certificates of deposit be token out In some otlier name than the treasurer. Union* Declared Conspiracies. In disenssiug the question Compere satd: "Our standing is menaced by the cotirts of law. The matter of the application of the Sherman anti-trast law to iHitoos lift* reached final adjust ment by the United States sitpreme court. * * * The rnlted States supreme eourt has s«id the final word, and the law of tills country is that labor organization of tikis country are now conspiracies and oombthatlone In restraint of trade. Under the Sherman anti-trust law honest business cannot b« conducted, much . leaa honest, straightforward labor organizations. WIM. NOT PAY ANY FINE Again Attacks the Courts for Their I-abor Decisions. It was here that Compere declared he would not pay a fine hinieelf nor let the Federation pay ,ope fcjr- him—-w-pukl go to Jail first. He Aid the penalty would. If exacted or him, be exacted for “exercising my rights as ,fn American citizen.” F Max Hayes, of Cleveland, anade a Socialistic speech, and criticised the' Democratic platform In regard to that portion which says: “We yfeUl to none In our respect to the courts! Hayes declared he had no respect* for the

Courts, (Tempers took the floor to tnPlt to Hayes. He said the poettfon by Hayes was illogical, and declared that the decisions of the supreme court had but one object—to He the m«m of labor to ihelr work, to cripple the men of labor in their right to work or their right not to work. That was tike position, he declared. “These decisions,” he sai/d, “will result in fettering men toddy In Shier, to enslave them for all time to come. • f * I am not In touch with the Democratic party; second, I am not a Democrat, and third. I sm confident t never will be a Democrat. ( I owe aUeglance to no party. I am a trade dMwdrt. Msy the togde unionists glways be right, but whether right pr wrong. I an» with the trade unionists.” - declaration was received with cheers He closed by declaring that “H Rryan bud been elected wfth. tfcs host* of organised labor beck of Mm It would have given spirit p> human freedom”