The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-13
Hearing in Contempt Pro
ceedings Will Be Re
Sumed Today.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
ATTENDS IN FORCE
Disputes Between Counsel Make
the Proceedings Very Lively
at Times.

The full executive cOuac Of the
American Federation Of Labor attended
the hearing before Referee Harper in
/ typographical Temple last nIght IN the
contempt proceedings brought against
The federation officials
The hearing was frequently enIivened
with Tits between counsel. and between
4 Daniel Davenport. representing tho
Buck Stove and Range Company AID
President Gompers and Secretary Nor
TisOn. the only two WITNESSES examined.
Shortly after II O'Clock the hearing
was suspended until 10 O'Clock this
morning President Gompers is anxious
10 finish his testimony so as 10 catch
[ an afternoon train for Columbus, Ohio.
where he is 10 speak tomorrow night.
/ Vice President Mitchell is also in a
hurry 20 get away from Washington,
and he will follow President GOmpers
{ on the stand
I At the outset Of the hearing last even
. ing, Jackson II. Ralston, counsel for the
3 Federation officers. announced that DO
4 questions would be answered by his
4 clients pertaining 20 the business Of the
! American Federation OF Labor, or the
4 American Federationist
Need Not Answer
Mr. Ralston frequently told Mr. Com
/ pers and Air. Morrison that they need
Z not answer questions unless they So de-
sired This led 10 many passages, and
/ Mr.. Davenport asked 10 have questions
/ certified 10 the court, when witnesses
refused 10 answer
Secretary Morrison was first upon the
stand. Nj Davenport, through Ions
/ questioning, endeavOred 20 draw from
! aim an admission that he had knowingly
violated the supplementary answer
made by him under oath as O4s Of the
officials OF the Federation III the Su-
! preme Court injunction proceedings
Nj Morrison declined 10 ansW CT on the
advice Of counsel
Mr.. Davenport then asked him II the
supplementary answer had nOL been
made 20 the court with the intention OF
leading the -Surt 10 believe that the
name OF the Buck Stove and Range
Company would not again be printed
on the unfair list After a long Quib-
! Die, Mr.. Morrison answered Yes" M
Davenport then asked If 1t was his ir-
tentioR not 70. and he again answered
yes.
On Unfair List.
In answer to other questions, Mr.. Nor
rison said that the name had appeared
/ in the unfair list IN the December and
January numbers, and also in the
| printed proceedings Of the Norfolk con
ventiou. -Four thousS-d copies approx
l imately, Of these proceedings had been
distributed, he said. Mr. Davenport
/ then asked Mr.. Morrison If he had
| done the things he had sworn under
oath not to do
Not as I understand it." answered
Mr. Morrison. Mr.. Morrison then eX-
| planned that the. record OF the proceed
ings, was merely a record TO show the
| local unions what had been done, and
was not intended 10 boycott anyone.
rs il not a publication asked MIR
| Davenport.
1T is was the answer.
Mr.. Davenport then asked II the
executive council had met in January
/ and Mr.. Morrison replied that he did
not remember. He was asked il ID
could not ascertain, and he said he
could. Mr.. RalstOn iuterpOsed an OBJ
lection 70 AIr- NorTison's getting the
minutes, and the witness declined 70
| furnish them. Mr.. Davenport. then de-
cIared that he would go no further
but would have the question certified to
the court. Mr.. ITompers leaned over
and told Mr.. RalStOn that he did not
object to the information being pro-
duced, and Mr. Ralston stated this.
Objections Unbearable.
Il don't care what Mr.. Gompers says, -
| exclaimed Mr. Davenport; these OBJ
/ jections are unbearable- I will certify
this question 10 the court and ses what
can he done with a recalcitrant wit
ness"
At this point the proceedings threat
/ ened TO stop. Mr. Morrison found from
copy Of the Federationist that a meet
ing was held in January. Mr.. RsIston
stating emphaticalIy that the minutes
would not be be produced.
Mr.. Gompers then was called. ard he
was questioned relative to his actions
/ just before the injunction rule was
issued by Justice Gould. and relative 10
| his hurrying the publication of the Fed
/ erationist for that month, SO as to get
! il out ahead Of the injunction.
After much questioning and many tits
with his questiOner he boldly stated that
/ he had hurried the publication Mr.
/ GOmpers' memory was not clear on GER
I tain points. and ne gaZed refieCtiVeIy al
the chandeliers, scratched his head slow
/ ~, and then bringing down mis- eyes
would say softly, I can't recall
On one occasion Mr.. Davenport asked
| pointedly if his mind were a blank, and
/ this lead to a lively tilt, in Which Mr.
I Cfompers demanded that he he spolzau
| to with Difference and respect. and de-
clared that on nothing was his mind
/ blank.
ROGERS GIVES AID