The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-12-24
THE CONTEMPT DECISION.


And SO Samuel Gompers, John
Mitchell and Secretary MORRISON are
TO be sent to Jail as an outcome of the
dong deferred decision of the contempt
proceedings of the injunction obtained
by the Buck Stove company. 1t will
remind those who heard Gompers
speak in the last campaign of his dec
larations that he would pay no fine
and that he would go to Jail.
AS far as the technical side of it is
concerned, there is little doubt that
the decision of Justice Wright is cor.
rect. II the injunction granted by the
court to the Buck Stove com,
pany was right against sec,
ondary boycott. there is no doubt
that the defendants disobeyed
deliberately, the Injunction. Com
pers did not deny this, but took the
stand that under the constitution he
had the power to- say anything in his
editorials that he pleased.
Indeed, the evidence showed that
ten thousand copies of the Federation
1st, containing the editorial telling I'M
ion men not to purchase Buck stove,
was sent out after the injunction had
been issued.
There is but one sane way to look at
1t. 1t is nothing less nor more than
the question whether or not the Sec
ondary boycott is to be used or not.
The secondary boycott is, in the eyes
of the labor leaders, the only way in
which the fun strength of the fedora
ton can be used in fighting an effect
i've battle against their enemies. 1t is
for that reason that they are going to
Jail rather than pay their fines. 1t
is the question which came UP in Judge
Taft's decisions on the secondary boy
colt made famous at the time of the
Pullman strike. This is only another
chapter. That is the reason that Com
pers says, IF men have to suffer for
fighting the battles of their fellow men
/ am willing to suffer-
There is no doubt that the stand
point of Mr.. Gompers rs sincere one.
Whatever might have been the opin-
ion as to his sincerity in the last CAM
paign in some of his statements and
doings or whatever may have been
said Of him as political adversary-in
this, at least, Mr.. Gompers is sincere
He is fighting for the secondary boy
colt. However much people may be-
lieve that the secondary boycott is an
unfair weapon and that It is dangerous
to the people themselves who are the
innocent bystanders, yet mos. people
will respect Gompers's action as being
consistent.
But on the subject of secondary
boycott there is no doubt in most peo-
pies minds that it is dangerous, unfair
and descriptive. Whether the second
airy boycott is employed by labor OIL
capital, it is equally vicious when
used. 1t falls on the people, who have
no voice in the matter. That is the
trouble.
1t is to be hoped that this decision
and even the going to Jail of Gompers
will have a salutary effect on the
whole situation. Among certain
type of laboring men the three labor
leaders will become heroes, second on
y to Debs.
But the other class-the clearer
headed ones. will welcome it as q
step toward solution of problem
which has become acute. They will
see in it only a bringing of the mat
ter to head. In the end it will NEAR
q greater respect for the courts, q
clearer definition of the rights of labor
and better understanding Of the whole
thing. Gompers should not be made
. hero any more than should a capital
list who is convicted of contempt o.
court because he believes conscien
tiously in the blacklisting of his EN-
| ployees that have engaged in prima
ry strike. The conviction of such {
man would bring the matter to a focu:
| and would be welcomed as straighten
l ing out the situation. That is all tina
/ this really amounts to, although there
| will be many laboring men who vii
/ resent the action of the court.
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