The Washington herald., 1908-07-25

Samuel Gompers. president Of the
American Federation OF Labor. and edi-
tor Of the Official organ OF organized labor,
yesterday, in an editorial in the August
number. answered the petition fled in the
Supreme Court Of the District Of Colum-
bia on Tuesday on behalf Of the Buck's
Stove and Range Company. Of St. Louis.
asking for a rule against Samuel Com
peTs. Frank Morrison. and John Mitchell
requiring them 10 show cause why they
should not be adJudged as in contempt OF
the decree Of the court, entered on March
3. 1s0S. perpetually enjoining the defend
ants and others from boycottlng the
plaintiffs business
In his answer. 0Ir. Gompers takes the
defensive n labor's attack on the stove
company. He asks what other course the
stove company would have him and his
colleagues pursue He adds that laborers
cannot bring themselves 70 believe that
the court viii hold they have been in
contempt Of its order.
Mr. GomPers' Editorial.
The editorial is as follows.
Tt is quite true that we have editorial
" discussed both the suit which the Van
CIeave Bucks Stove and Range Com
pany, OF St Louis. brought against the
officers OF the American Federation OF
Labor and others. and have discussed
therein the principles involved IN the In
junction issued By Justice Gould in con
necti0n with the SUIT.
What other course would either the
Van Cleave Bucks Stove sad Range
Company. % s.. Louis. or the honorable
court have Us pUrsge2 Here IS a great
case pending before The courts involving
the fundamental rights Of the freedom OF
speech and the freedom Of the press. in
violable rights guaranteed by the consti-
tuition Of every State IN the Union and
The Constitution OF the United States Il
il be held that BY editorial review OF the
suit and the Injunction we have violated
the order of the court. We say. hrst. that
we are not conscious OF so doing. and
second. that r. discussing tie suit and
injunction. so have many emiueutly re-
spectacle newspapers and magazines. and
We were. therefore. in Eood company.
We obeyeL the terms Of the IN juno
tiou and removed the Van Cleave Bucks
Stove and Range Company. Of s. Louis.
from the We Don't Patroaize List pub
Isted in the American Federauonist
"As q regular publication are we TO be
prohibited from publishing the news OF
the day simply because our federation OF
It's officers are concerned in the news?
Are we 20 be an exception from all
other publications and deprived OF the
expression OF views and comments upon
g case pending IN the courts simply be-
cause We are parties interested IL its
adjudication
Freedom Of the Press
on the roslrCn and lecture platform
are we TO be estoPped from referring TO
and reviewing cause involving the fun
danental guarantees Of The liberty OF
speech and OF the press7
What hope can our people entertain
for reform az the hands Of the lawmak-
Ing bodies for any evil unless the free
dom OF the press and Of speech be main
tanned al all hazards
We cannot bring ourselves 20 believe
that the court will hold that we have
have been in contempt OF its order. To so
hold would indeed be the severest blow
TO freedom Of the press and freedom OF
speech. and The sooner the country shall
definitely know It the better"