Evening star., 1908-12-25
PRESIDENT MAY ACT
Likely to at Least Reduce
Labor Leaders Sentences.
NO STEP PENDING APPEAL
Executive Feels That Terms I'm
posed Are Unusually Severe.
FULL PARDONS ARE POSSIBLE
Mr.. Roosevelt, However, May Leave
Office Too Soon-Many Ex-
pressions of Sympathy.
NO STEP PENDING APPEAL
FULL PARDoNs ARE POSSIBLE

1t is absolutely certain that there will
he no official utterance from the White
House for some time on the sentence of
Samuel Gompers. Frank Morrison and
John Mitchell. But it is also practically
certain that if President Roosevelt has it
put up squarely to him in the next sew
eral weeks or months he will at least re-
duce the sentences of the men named to
much less time than imposed by the
court.
The President doesn't even know all the
facts in the case, and has not read the
testimony, but he is informed as to the
ordinary sentences of courts for con-
tempt of court in violation of injunctions
and other causes. He feels that the SEN
tences imposed in the case of the labor
leaders were unduly severe and his views
on that point will doubtless be made
known at a later period.
Nobody knows whether he will issue a
straight-out pardon. but it is almost set
tied in advance that he will reduce the
sentences far below the judgment of the
court.
Action Soon Not Likely.
As the situation is viewed unofficially
i'm the atmosphere OF the White House.
the case is not ..kely to reach the Presi-
dent for a long while-not until the high
er courts have had a chance to pass on
the appeal that has been noted The
sentences imposed by the court have not
been put into effect. and will not be until
final judgment is passeo by the courts
higher up.
The President would naturally not IN
terfere until the due process of the courts
has been fully exhausted 1t is possible
that the higher courts may not sustain
Justice Wright, but if they do, and the
sentences are left as now imposed. the
President will be asked to use his exec
utive power and grant a pardon. The
question will then be up to HIM whether
to grant a full pardon or commute the
sentences.
1t is settled in advance that no one Of
the defendants Will serve the time i'm
posed by Justice Wright if President
Roosevelt Is in Office when the case goes
TO the White House. 1t is regarded as
possible that Mr.. Roosevelt may not ham
die the petitions for clemency, as the
courts may not finally decide until Mr..
Tart mas been inducted into Office.
Mr.. Bryan Sends Message.
William Jennings Bryan was chief
among nearly two score of men, the ma
jority of whom are leaders in the labor
movement of the country who have sent
messages expressive of their cordial SYM
pathy to President Gompers. Vice Presi-
dent Mitchell and Secretary Morrison OF
the American Federation of Labor
The messages. which came from every
section of the country and voiced the SEN
timents of persons in almost every avenue
of labor. convey feelings of regret over
the courts decision, extend moral and
financial support, and in some instances
express indignation.
Mr.. Bryan, In telegram dated Pitts
burg. Pa, addressed to Messrs Gompers.
Mitchell and Morrison says: Sorry to
read decision. You did your duty in test
ng law. Glad you are taking appeal
What action on the part of organized
wage earners will. in your opinion be
most useful to re-establish freedom of the
press and of speech?' asks II. 3. Perham,
president of the Order of Railroad Teleg-
raphers. in telegram from ST. Lou.s,
addressed to Mr. Gompers.
Perhaps one of the most unique among
the messages is that from ]. S. Barry of
Oklahoma City who after expressing re-
gTet over the decision, declares Stay
with the baggage; right must prevail
W. u. Mahon. president. Amalgama ted
Association of Street Railway Employees.
located at Detroit. Mich. expresses sin
Just and un-American sentence" upon ths
labor leaders. He says: You are clearly
the victims Of judge-made law which is
wholly unconstitutional. 1t should be
red to the highest court and contested Il
The bitter end, and We pledge you tho
united support of our association to that
end.'
''The Common People Loyal
Tho declaration is made by John T.
&Ini,, y~nifad ASSnci1tior al
Plumbers. at Chicago, that the decision
will bring organized labor closer together
and says the common people will prove
loyal to Messrs Gompers, Mitchell and
Morrison, Mr.. Alpine says he has ne
doubt as to the result
On behalf of the International Steam
Filters Association. ]. J. Sullivan. presi-
dent OF that organization. expresses ''in-
dignation on verdict and conveys sym
rathy to defendants"
That history will place the names oi
Nessrs. Gompers, Mitchell and Morrison
IN the roll Of honor with those men whe
have made real sacrifices for human up
lift is the declaration Of John B. Lennon
treasurer of the American Federation OF
Labor. in a message from Bloomington
III. NO court decision Mr.. Lennon
says. "can make you criminals at the bal
of public opinion.
Two hundred union farmers of Texas
SympathiZe with the three labor leaders
declares d. ]. Neiil. president of Farmers
Educational and Cooperative Union o
Texas in "a message from Fort San Fran
cisco. 'Deploring outrageous court order
we guarantee you financial and mora
support to- the end that the people may
win and the Constitution live" I'VE ar.
with you and will stay In the fight unit
the liberties of your people are placed be
yond the rulings % courts, is the eX
preston conveyed by James Wilson, sec
rotary of Pattern Makers League o.
North America. at Cincinnati, Ohio
Many other kilograms of a similar i'm
port were received
DEFENDS LABOR LEADERS.