Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-24
PRESIDENT GoMPERs, VICE PRES
ipENT MITCHELL AND sEcRE-
TARY MORRISON SENTENCED
aY JUSTICE WRIGHT.
DEFENDANTS WILL
APPEAL THE CASE
THREE OFFICIALS RELEASED ON
BONDS PENDING NEW HEARING;
DECISION is pENUNclATloN OF
LABOR HEADS.

Washington, D. c., Dec. %. - The
famous contempt case Of the Buck S
Stove and Range company against
President Gompers, Vice President
Mitchell and Secretary Morrison OF
the American Federation of labor was
decided today by Justice Wright of the
District of Columbia court OF appeals
to the federation officials.
Federation Heads Sentenced.
,aompers was sentenced to twelve
months imprisonment, Mitchell to nine
mouths and MorrisonHto SIX months.
The case grew out of the alleged boy
cott OF the company's products ana
the putting Of that company on the un-
fair list. and OF the federation's al
legged violation of Judge Gould's recent
mandamus 1t has attracted wide at
tentiop
Firm First Secured Injunction
The Bucks company's prosecution OF
the officials OF the federation began
In August 1907 The original action
was q test case, wherein it was
sought to enjoin labor unions from
usinp Hunfair, and Eve don't patro-
nize'' lists in their fight against firms
and individuals. Justice Gould issued
a permanent injunction forbidding the
publication OF the companys name in
these lists.
Courts Order Not obeyed.
President Gompers in an editorial
IN the Federationist of January last,
made known his intention not to obey
the courts order. contending that the
injunction issued was in derogation
of the rights of labor and was an
abuse of the injunctive powers of the
cohrts. Gompers. Mitchell and Nor
risbn subsequently were cited Tor
coIltempt. This phase Of the case has
been before the court for many
months.
A Scathing Decision.
Judge Wright's decision was a
scathing denunciation of the defend
ants. After reciting at great length
the conditions anteceding the injunc-
ton and discussing the conspiracies N
restraint of trade, the judge said 1t
was apparent the defendants had COM
bined for the purpose Of bringing
about a breach of the plaintiffs exist
Alng contracts with others. depriving
Che plaintiff and the good will of it's
.usines5 without due process of law
md restraining trade and commerce
lmong the several states, their
Inltimate purpose being unlawful and
they were guilty of crime.
Calls Defense Moekery.
The Judge pointed out wherein each
defendant had persisted in "contemp-
tous violation OF the injunction and
said the only defense offered by them
was that the injunction infringed on
The constitutional guaranty Of freedom
of press and speech. He says this de-
Tense does not flll the measure of tha
case and that the Injunction interfered
with no legitimate right of criticism
or comment that the law has ever
sanctioned, and the respondents init
nation that 1t does SO is mockery and
pretsnse.'
Defendants on Bonds; to Appeal,
The court added that the constitu-
tlon nowhere conferred the right to
speak, print or publish. Pending an
appeal to the United States court Of
appeals of the District Of Columbia all
the three defendants were released on
bail, Gompers, of $4,000 Mitchell of
s4.G00 and Morrison of So goo A 10
cal surety company furnished the
bonds.
Gompers Defends Actions.
Upon the consultation of tile read
ine- of the OOjr1iOn JJdpe WRIGHT 81
ed the defendants if they had anything
to say why Judgment should not be
pronounced. Gompers arose and said
he was not conscious at any time dur
: ina his life of having violated any law
u the county and would not do so.