The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-24

mn u.aa ing some notation on paper regardlnB points refsrerd to in the judges re- marks. At the conclusion of the read ing Judge Wright, looking sdirectiy at' Gompers, Mitchell and Morrison, salo. 'tiave either of you anything to say why Judgment should not be pronounce ed on you."
 esempern Under Restraint.
 President Gompers stood up ana ad- dressing the court, said:
 sT am not conscious at any time dur. ing my life Of having violated any iaW of the country or of the State in which live. would not consciously vio- late \ law now nor at any time dur ing my fun life. It is not possible under tife circumstances which bring me before your honor this morning and after listening to the opinion Of the court. you have rendered to say what I have in mind. but sir, may be permitted to say this: That free dom of speech and freedom of press, 1 has not been granted to the people to say the things which pleases; but the right to say the things that dis please even though they, do wrong. There is much that I would like to say. but I cannot do it now. Al this point Mr. Gompers, after short pause said he would like to make a few remarks.
 s.1 may. say" he added. "that this | is a struggle of the working people Of our country, and 1t Is struggle of the working people for right. The 1 labor movement does not undertake \ to presume to be higher tribunal than either the courts or the other l branches of the Government of our country. Itris struggle of the men of labor to throw of some of the 'bur- | dens which have been heaped upon l them; to abolish some of the wrongs, and to secure some of the rights too | long denied. If men must suffer be- cause they dare speak for the masses of our country: if man must suffer 1 the sordid greed even to grind fhe children in dust to gain dollars, they must bear the consequences.
 | But" continued Mir. Gounpers, If cannot discuss grave problems, great 1 issues in which the people all over | our country are interested; # a-speech made by me during the present cam paign, after the close of pusiness. ,t | the speeches in furtherauce of q great principle or a great right are to De | held against me. shall not only have I to but am willing to bear the conse- qteuces. would not have you be- i Iieve me a man of. . defiant character in disposition or in conduct. but in the pursuit of honest construction ana in the furtherauce of the common tntes- ests of my fellow man, shall not only have to, but be willing. to submit To | whatever your honor may impose. 1 Mfr Mitchell followed in 2 strong, | resonant voice.,
 T thoroughly and. unreservsdiys in. dorss what Mr. .Gcmpers said. should like his expression to be acc cepted as my own." he said. Mir. Morrison spoke last:
 | sF MnlmRaa NS4H ffWhaf MF {, l dcmpers has said. am conscious of doing no wrong or in any way ylo- lated any law; and 1t is my belief that l in every act have committed nave but exercised my rights under the con- stitution and the laws of the United States and che country"
 l Tn commenting upon these remarks, 1 the court said that there was nothing in them which would cause him to change the conclusion that he had reach cd. In fact, declared Judge Wright, they but eu1phasized the at- titude of the defendants which he had pointed out.
 Morfision and Mitchell would nos I talk for publication. Morrison said he would speak to the world later. Com pers was aaIxed # the sentence was surprise to him and he replied. | "A surprise; Indeed t was. Bui all I can think of to gay at present has aIreaay been said. when spoke to the judge I expressed all thaf could properly at this time
 \ GomSGhfnE about the ssAract8 from thf political speeches which he quoted iil his opinion They were speeches made after the evidence In the trial waa taken and were not in any way brought I into the evidences"
 Bryan ls Retleent.
 Philadelphia, Dec. 23.-William , I Bryan was much interested in the de
 cislon. Because of the prominence h'
 gave to the court injunction issue il
 the late presidentlaT campaign, an in ferview with him on teday's decision
 was sought.
 Mir. Bryan said:
 Tt is not my policy to criticize eith l or Federal courts or their action. ThI
 commitment Co prison of two men g
 prominent in the labor movement a
 Csompers and Mitchell ls unique in tn
 annals of labor movements in thi
 country"
 No C0mnsna By van Cbeave.
 st. Louis, Dec. 23.--J. ". Van Cieave
 president of the Bucks Stove ant
 Range Company declined to common
 on the action of the supreme court 0
 the District of Columbia in sentenc ing Amerioan Federation of Labor of | hcials to taii for contempt of court. Il "Thank you for the news" he said
 'sbut the circumstances are such aha
 don't think 1t would be wise to one
 any comment on the courts action"
 MT. Van Cieave is president of Sh'
 National Manufacturers Association. .i .. ,COrMnnenta of Leaders.
 Detroit, Mich. Dec. 23.--''T think yol
 will hnd that MT, Gonpers, Mir. Mitchell
 and MT. Morrison will never serve thei
 seutences," said Immigrant Inspecto
 Daniel J. Keefe. former vice presiden 1 of the Auierican Federation of Labo
 and head of the Longshoremen's unioi
 when told of the decision today in tn
 Bucks Stove Company case.
 "It is an outrage; an absolute out
 rare," declared William D. Mahon, pres
 ident of the Amalgamated Association
 of street Railway Employees when toll
 of the decision. ''This is the end of tn
 declaration of free speech" "Death Knell of BoyeOtts." Philadelphia. Dec. 2s-James M. Beck
 of New York counsel for the Buck -. o,. .. s,,~s srFnrnaed oF Sf,a dactafn