Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 December 1908 — LABOR APPEALS TO ROOSEVELT [ARTICLE]

LABOR APPEALS TO ROOSEVELT

President Asked to Intercede for Convicted Chiefs. WILL DO NOTHING AT PRESENT Desires Time to Study the Decision Before Taking Any Action in the Matter—Letters to President Say Judgment of Court la Dangerous Invasion of Private Rights and Unwarranted Attack on Constitutional Guarantees of Free Speech. Washington, Dec. 25. —Appeals by wire and wail are swamping President Roosevelt, begging him to intercede for Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell and Frank Morrison, who were adjudged guilty of contempt for the violation of a federal injunction. The appeals, many being in the nature of protest, are coming not only from heads of labor organizations in all parts of the country, but from promnent business men. But the president announces officially that no reply will be made fbr the present. Mr. Roosevelt, however, intimated he would give early attention to the case, but desires time to read the decision before taking action in the matter. Nearly every telegram and letter received by the president contains a declaration to the effect that the judgment of the court is a dangerous invasion of private rights and an unwarranted attack on the constitutional guarantees of free speech and a free press. The action of the district supreme court will be discussed at a meeting of the executive council of the federation in this city Jan. 11. Resolutions sustaining the attitude of the leaders of the organization with its 30,000-odd councils and 2,000,000 members will be submitted, and the policy of the federation in view of the court’s action will be outlined.