The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-12-23
.,v.n Twelve Months, Mitchell Nine,
and Morrison Six For Violating
the Order Of the
Court.
WRIGHT GAVE OPINION
case is the Result Of Publication in
the American Federationist
of Buck Stove on the
Unfair List.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-Justice
Wright of the Supreme court In the
district of Columbia today decided
that President Gompers and other Of
9cials of the American Federation OF
labor had fiagrantly violated the In
inction granted by Justice Gould in
the Buck stove and range case, ana
announced he would mete cut the
nroper punishment later.
Gompers gets twelve months IN
,ail. Mitchell gets nine, and Morrison
gets six.
Wright's opinion is lengthy. 1t
characterized the utterances OF the de-
,endants with respect to the courts as
nrampant insolent, defence, unre-
sned. coarse affront, vulgar 'ndig-
nifty
The case is the result of the publi-
cation in the American federationist
the name of the Buck concern on the
unfair list. The company secured an
Injunction that the name be dropped
from the list but it was repeatedly re-
ferred to in articles in magazines ana
snaeches Gompers declared freeNentiy
10 would go to Jail rather than keep ST.
ont an what he considered an invasion
Of the union rights. Wright said ne
would affix the penalty to deter others
from following the outlawed examples.
and yindicate the orderly power OF the
iudicial tribunals to establish the
supremacy of law.
Took TWO Hours to Read Opinion.
The reading of the opinion took over
.wo hours Mrs. Gompers was in the
court room. When finished the Judge
asked if the prisoners had anything
to saw. Gompers stepped forward and
said. Il am unconscious OF ever in my
life violating ! law of this country OF
the state in which l lived. Wouldn
consciously violate the law. But ma!
/ be permitted to say this. The Tree
dom of the press and speech, is no'
granted in order to say tllngs 10
please. but the right to say things tha'
iisplease. Your honor has accepted
the testimony adduced by Buck com
pany and laid stress on the fact 1t was
undenied. ! readily understand no de
nial was accepted as an admission, D.:
your honor will see the situation
the defendant believed the judge hear
ing the case without a jury violated
tle guaranteed rights of tie constl
tuition, the highest court of last anal
ysis would reverse the Judge. This ]!
struggle of the working people o
our country. 1t is struggle for right
Labor union doesn't presume to I'
higher tribunal than the courts. |
the men must suffer, If they dare t.
speak for the masses, if they rais'
tleir voices to meet the antagonism 0
greed, then they must bear the conse
quences."
He paused a moment, then continu
ing. said even the monarchial Englan
represented and respected the right
he stood for. He said:
Are these to be denied the citizen
OF republic If speeches made fron
the political rostrum, after close tal
ing of evidence in this case, be hel
against me l must take tle conse
quences. Your honor, wouldn't hav
you take me to be man defiant i
character and desperate in conduct.
Mitchell and Morrison spoke fe'
words concurring. Wright said:
regret what has been said is confirm
alton of the evidence
He then pronounced sentence.
Attorney Ralston appeared for IN
federation.
Ryan Sends a Protest.
Ryan sent the following telegram
Roosevelt. CAS- official Representative
N the miners, emphatically protes
against the court decision placin