Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1908-12-24
IS
ASKEOTOFREE
GONPERS
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
HASTEN TO RESCUE
Decision Of Justice Wright in
Contempt Cases ArouSeS
Union Men to Action; CON-
perS Deeply Affected by the
Sentence,



Washington Dee. 90. Twelve
months in jail for Samuel Gompers
president, nine months for John
Mitchell. one of the vice presidents,
ana six months for Frank Morrison
secretary. all of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, was the sentence i'm
posed by Justice Wright Of the SUI
preme court of the District OF Column
bia today for contempt OF court in
violating an order enjoining them
from placing on the unfair" or I'VE
don't patronize" list the Bucks
stove ana Range company, of st.
Louis
All Of the defendants were in court
when sentence was pronounced and
notice of an appeal to the District OF
Columbia appellate court was filed,
GOmpcrs being released on $1,000
bonds; Mitchell on $4,000 and Morri-
son on $4,000, The wife and daugh-
ter of Mr.. Gompers heard the seh-
tencc and were visibly affected
With tears coursing down his
L iltthH I lttIutiil NIblllpFlS lttl u lii'
order which condemned him to prison
for a year. Both Mitchell and Nor
rison seemed stunned although Nit
cheu appeared to be the least con-
cerned. Asked if he had anything
to say why the sentence should not
be pronounced. President Gompers
declared that he had not consciously
violated any law.
There was much he would like to
say. he said hut he could not do it
at that time. He added. however,
that this is the struggle of the work
ing people tor the right II is a strug-
gle of the ages-a struggle of the
men of labor to throw off some of
the burdens which have been heaped
upon them; to abolish some of the
wrongs and to secure some of the
rights too long denied"
Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Morrison told |
the court that they endorsed what !
Mr Gompers had said.
Judge Wright's decision, which con-
sumed two hours and twenty min
utes, in reading, was scathing ar
Everywhere. the court said, "all |
over, within the court and out, ut
ter, rampant, insolent defiance is her
aided and proclaimed; unrefired in
suit. course affront. vulger indignity,
measures the ltigents conception of
the tribunals due, wherein his cause
still pends."
The laws command has been, he
said. ito stand hands off until justice
for this matter can be ascertained,
but. he said, there had been studied,
determined, defiant conflict, 'precipi-
tated in the light of open day be-
tween the DEGREES of tribunal or
iained by the government of the fed
4ral union and of the tribunals of an
other federation grown up i'm the
and. one or the other" he de-
Jared, must succumb. for those who
would unlaw this land are public en-
mics"
whether President Roosevelt Will
AXE any action as ne has been urged
10 do in tclegrams received from diff
'crent labor organizations throughout
he country in connection with Judge
Wright's decision. has not yet been
decided. It is said, at the White House.
II is said that the president has not
read the decision and therefore can
not say whether ne win take any ac-
ion There was an intimation, how
EVER. that some action might be tax !
an if the president should be con
,inced that the sentence is unjust
The labor organizations urge the
president to prevent the Incarceration
If tbe labor leaders The Illinois
Wine Workers sent this telegram
In the name of 5000 mine work
ars I'm Illinois we desire TO protest
against the recent decision commit
ing to penal servitude those great
.ommoners and representatives of the
American labor movement. These men
nav be guilty Of a breach Of law, but
law that denies the use Of free
press and free speech. is a breach OF
he fundamental principles Of our
,ountrv. such decisions only tend 90
.reate enmity and class hatred. We
solicit your influence TO
prevent the Incarceration of these
men" n