Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-24

Washington, Dec 23-Twelve months
in Jail for Samuel Gompers, president
nine months fer John Mitchell, one of
the vice presidents, and six months for
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of LABOR was the
sentence imposed by Justice Wright OF
the supreme court of the District of
Columbia today for contempt OF court
IL violating an order previously issued
enjoning them from placing on the
"unfair' or 1--WE don't patronize" list
the Bucks Stove & Range Co of ST.
Louis, Mo
All three of the defendants We're in
Court when sentence was pronounced
and notice Of an appeal to the court o.
appeals of the District of Columbia a.
once was filed. Gompers being released
on $4,000, Mitchell on $4,000 and Morri
sen on $4,000 bail. In addition to the
wife and daughter of Gompers. there
were present q number Of local labor
leaders, and others who We're attracted
by the notice that 4 decision in the IA
nous case would be announced today.
Mi. Gompers' family was visibly af-
fected.
With tears coursins down his own
cheeks, President Gompers heard the
order of the court, which condemned
him to prison for year Both Mitchell
and Morrison seemed stunned by the
sentence, although Mr.. Mitchell ap-
pcared to be the least concerned. Ask
ed if he had anything to say why SEN
tence should not be pronounced, Pres
ident Gompers declared that he had not
consciously violated any law. There
was much he would like to say, he
said. but he could not do it at that
time. He added, however that "This
is a struggle of the working people of
our country for their rights. 1t is a
struggle of the ages-a struggle of the
men of labor to throw off some of the
burdens which have been heaped upon
them; to abolish some of the wrongs
and to secure some of the rights toe
long denied
Mitchell and Morrison confined them
selves to an endorsement of what Com
pers had said.
The decision of Justice Wright,
which consumed 2 hours and 20 min
utes in reading, was one of the most
scathing arraignments that ever came
from the bench in this city EVERY
where" the court said, "All over, with
in the court and out, utter, rampant,
iusolent defiance is heralded and pro-
claimed; unrefined insult, coarse af-
front, vulgar indignity measures the
litigants' conception of the tribunals
due, wherein his cause still pends. y
The laws commend has been. he said,
to "Stand-hands off--until justice for
Ia
he said, there has been studied de-
termined defiance "precipitated in the
light of open day, between the DEGREES
of a tribunal ordained by the govern
ment of the federal union and of the
tribunals of another federation grown
up in the land One or the other. he
declared, must succumb. For those
who would unIuw the land are public
encmies.'
Following an exhaustive discussion
OF the conSpiracies in restraint OF
trade, Justice Wright said:
From the foregoing it ought to
seem apparent to thoughtful men that
the defendants to the bill, each and all
of them. have combined together for
the purpose of:
'1-Bringpg about the breach of
nlaintiffs existing contracts with
others.
"2-Depriving plaintiff of property
Che value OF the good will of it's busl-
ness) without due process of law.
"3-Restraining trade among inc
several states.
"4-Restraining commerce among
the several states"
The ultimate purpose of the defend
ants, the court said in this connHo' ~
was unlawful the concerted project
an offense against the law, and. 1t add
ed, they were guilty Of crime.
More than two hours were occupied by
Judge Wright in reading his opinion. The
defendants sat irtently through the pro-
ceedings. President Gompers now ano
then making some notation. At the con
| clusion Of the reading Judge Wright
| looking directly at Messrs Gompers
Mitchell and Morrison, said:
"Have either of you anything to say
why Judgment should not be pro
nornced""
| President Gompers said:
| '.I am not conscious at any time dur
ing nv life of having violated any Law
| of the country OT VI lhC SeotS Al 'N'tN
live. It is not possible in the circam
stances under which I am before you
honor this morning, and after listening II
the opinion which you have rendered u
saw that which I have in mind; put. $"
7 may be permitted to say TINS: Ina
freedom of speech and freedom or th
press has not been granted to the peopi
to say only the things which please bu
the right to say the things that dis
please, even though they do "rohs:
.I may say" Mr.. Gompers added ina
this is a struggle of the working peopl
of our country and it is struggle OF Tn
working people for right. The laoo
movement does not undertake to pre-
sumo to be higher tribunal than elthe
the courts or the other branches OF til
government of our country. 1t is a strus
ole Of the aces-a struggle of the man Q
Labor to throw off some of the burden