The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-09-14
LABOR LEADERS
GIVE EVIDENCE
Mitchell and Gompers Defend
Themselves in the Con-
tempt Case.
VAN CLEAVE'S SLUSH FUND
PROOF PRODUCED WHEN ATTOR-
NEY PROTESTED.

Washington, Sept 13.-John Mitchell.
former president of the United Mine
Workers. who, with President Gompers
and Secretary Morrison OF the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, is charged
with contempt of court in the injunc-
ton case against the officials for boy
cotting the Buck Stove & Range COM
pany, testified in his own defense to-
day before Albert Harper, examiner.
Mr.. Gompers also was on the stand
several hours much of his testimony
being reiteration of the points de-
veloped during the examination of Sec
rotary Morrison yesterday.
Suggestion of Mitchell.
Mr.. Mitchell. although subjected to
a severe test by Daniel Davenport of
counsel for the complaints was calm
and collected throughout. Only once
did his composure seem to leave him.
and that was when his suggestion that
]. w. Van Cleave of the stove COM
pany had raised 81 100000 to disrupt
organized labor invited heated pro-
test from Attorney Davenport. The
latter asserted that the idea that such
a fund was raised originated in the
heated imagination of labor enthusiasts.
Proof Offered.
jackson H. Ralston OF counsel for the
federation, however. read from the tes-
timony OF the original Van Cleave
statement that In three years he OBJ
tanned 81 800, 600 for educational pur-
poses, pure and simple"
Much of Mr.. Mitchelrs testimony re-
lated TO his movements leading up to
the Mine Workers convention in Janu-
airy last, when a resolution was adopted
placing the stove company on the "un-
fair list" and imposing a fine of s. on
any member buying the product of the
concern
Had no Part in II.
Mr.. Mitchell said he took no part in
the drafting of the resolution, nor did
he have any knowledge of the subse-
quent distribution of the resolution
country. Mr.. Mitchell parted all ques-
tons designed to elicit information
about the part played by the Mine
Workers journal in furtherance of the
alleged boycott.
For years / have been followed about
the country by detectives" Mr.. Mitchell
testified in commenting on Davenport's
knowledge of his movements. "A
greater familiarity about my move
mentS t.tdn l nave myself SHOWS IL was
acquired in this manner. / think Mr..
Van Cleave is responsible for IL.
Generally to all questions Mr.. Mitchell
disclaimed any intent TO violate the
courts order.
MIR. Gompers' testimony.
Samuel Gompers in his testimony
charged Mr.. Van Cleave's course
against him as IAN attempt to assassi-
nate my character" He said he did not
know that the publication of the stove
company's name in the Federationist
was in violation of an order which had
not then become operative. Mr.. Comp
ers said that In keeping the name of
the company on the unfair list it was
more the intention 10 support the affil-
lated bodies than to injure the COM
pany THE word unfair is n notice of
a difference between employer and en-
ploye. The term We don't patroniZe'
is a statement of fact and does not
affect the business of an employer" ex-
planned the witness, when asked by
counsel to differentiate between the two
expressions as used in the executive
councils report.
The hearing was adjourned until
Thursday morning at 10 o'clock to per-
nit Mr.. Gompers to take a train for
Columbus. Ohio.