The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-25
WILL APPEAL
THE CASE TO A
HIGHER COURT
GOmpers, Mitchell and Morri-
son viii Fight Decision Of
Justice Wright.
UNION MEN ALL OVER
COUNTRY AROUSED
MESSAGES POURING IN UPON
CONVICTED MEN MATTER
MAY BECOME LIVE ISSUE.

washington, Dec. 24-The whole ques-
tion ~ the sentencing for contempt of
court of President Gom2ers. Vice Presi-
dent Mitchell and Secretary Morrison of
the American. Federation of Labor. by
Justice Wright In the supreme court Of
the District OF Columbia, yesterday, will
be threshed over at a meeting of the ex-
ecutive council of the federation to be
held in this city on Jan. IL next. This
meeting which is not a regularly sched-
uIed one, will be notable undoubtedly be-
cause of the vital issues affecting labor
involved In the action of the court. Reso-
lutfons sustaining the attitude of the
leaders of the big organization. with its
thirty thousand odd councils and two
million members. will be submitted for
action, and scathiPg arraignment of the
decision will be outlined.
Interview With Morrison.
President Gompers was not in his office
today and no Information was given out
there as 10 where he could be found
Secretary Morrison was at the federation
headquarters, however. busy with his rou-
tine duties Active steps in the framing
% the fight against the carrying out Of
the sentences are not likely until next
week. ana Secretary Morrison said to-
day that the plan so far as the officials
OF the federation themselves foresee is
10 do nothing about it until after the holi-
days.
st seems said Mr.. Morrison that
in the District of Columbia there really
is No limit to the sentence that can be
imposed for contempt of court. In great
many states there Is a limit. In New
York. for instance. six months is the
maximum.
Will Not Give Up.
We purpose he added. Ito exhaust
every effort TO sustain our right to free
press and free speech. l believe, and
am confident. that the position taken by
the federation is right, and that the citi-
zens of this country will ratify the atti-
mde OF the federation in this matter
believe that they will give TO the trades
unionists the same rights and privileges
that are being accorded 10 trades unions
in Great Britain. as provided for by the
f~ades dispute act ADOPTED there two years
ago, Mr. Gompers referred TO that act
in his speech to the court yesterday. I'm
der that act a union cannot De muicted
IN damages on account of a strike"
II is not likely that arguments on the
appeal will be heard in the court OF
appeals OF the District of Columbia until
March. and perhaps not then The de-
fcndants have forty days in which to per-
feet their appeal, and upon proper
showing the court in its discretion NAV
extend the time. 1t Is mandatory. how
ever, that the appeal bond must be filed
within twenty days
Lengthy Hearing Probable.
In view or the great importance OF the
case. and the widespread interest II has
provoked throughout the country, 1t is the
general feeling here that the hearing be-
fore the court of appeals Will be a
lengthy one and will add an important
chapter 20 the already famous case
Should the upper court sustain the ruling
OF Justice Wright. and a further appeal
10 the supreme court of the United States
is granted, the case necessarily would not
come up for decision in the highest tri-
bunal in the land until the fall term
which begins next October.
Many kilograms have reached the White
House from labor leaders in many parts
of the country. protesting against the sen
tcnce imposed upon Gompers. Mitchell and
Morrison The president turned all OF
them over to Attorney General Bona
parte for such consideration as il may be
determined TO give them II is expected
that the presidents mail on this subject
viii be heavy for The next few days.
The president and attorney general viii
read all OF the testimony in the case ano
will Their decide what action, if any, will
be taken