The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1909-01-07
TWELVE MONTHS FOR PREsl.
DENT GoMPERs OF AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
MITCHELL GETS nine
SIX FOR SECRETARY MORRISON
FoR VIOLATING INJUNCTION
OF THE COURT.

WaShingtOn.-IWel months IN jail
for Samuel Gompers. president; nine
months for John Mitchell, one Of the
vice presidents. and six months for
Frank Morrison. secretary, of the
American Federation OF Labor, were
tibet sentences imposed by Justice
Wright of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia Wednesday for
contempt Of court in violating an or
der eE.oining them from placing the
Buck Stove and Range Company Of st.
Louis on the unfair" or I'VE don't pa
troniZe" list.
Notice of appeal to the District of
Columbia Appellate Court was filed
Immediately. Gompers was released
on $4,000 bond. Mitchell on $4,000, and
Morrison on $4,000.
The wife and daughter of Gompers,
fectei greatly.
With tears coursinS down his
cheeks, Gompers heard the order
which condemned him to prison for a
year. Both Mitchell and Morrison
seemed stunned. although Mitchell APP
peared to be the least concerned.
Asked If he had anything to say why
sentence should not be pronounced,
Gompers spoke earnestly.
81 am not conscious at any time dur
ing my life Of having violated any law
Of the country or of the state in
which 1 lived. would not conscious
ly violate law" Gompers said.
1T is not possible that in the cir
cumstances in which l am before your
honor this morning, and after listening
to the opinion which you have rem
dered, to say that which l have in
mind. But, sir. l may be permitted to
say this:
THAT this is struggle of the work
ing people Of our country. And 1t Is a
struggle of the working people for
right.
1T is struggle OF the ages-a
struggle of the men Of labor to throw
off some of the burdens which have
been heaped upon them. to remove
some Of the wrongs and to obtain some
of the rights too long denied.
IF men must suffer because they
dare speak for the masses of the men
of our country; if a man must suffer
because they have raised him to meet
the sordid greed-even to grind the
children in the dust to get in dollars
they must bear the consequences.
But If l cannot discuss grave prob
lens; great issues in which the people
all over our country are interested
If a speech made by me during a po-
litical campaign, after the close of this
case, if the speeches in furtherance of
a great principle or great right are
to be held against me, shall not only
have to, but am willing to bear the
consequences.
81 would not have you believe me
a Ian of defiant character in dispo-
sition or in conduct. But in pursu-
ance of honest conviction and in the
furtherance of the common interests
of my fellow men, shall not only have
to, but be willing to submit to what
ever your honor may impose"
Mitchell followed in a strong, reso-.
nant voice:
Il thoroughly and unreservedly liz
dorse what Gompers has said l would
like mis- expression to be accepted as
my own"
Morrison spoke last.
II endorse" he said, what Gompers
has said. l am conscious of doing no
wrong or having in any way violated
any law, and it is my belief that in
every act have committed l have eX-
ercised only my rights under the con-
stitution and the laws of this land"
In commenting upon these remarks
the court said there was nothing in
them which would cause him to change
the conclusion that he had reached.
In fact Justice Wright declared they
only emphasized the attitude of the
defendants which he had pointed out.
Whether President Roosevelt will
take any action, as has been urged
to do in kilograms received from diff
ferent labor organizations throughout
the country, has not been decided it
was announced at the White house. 1t
was explained that the President had
not read the decision. There was an
intimaton that some action might be
taken if the President should be con-
WINGED that the sentence is unjust.
President Roosevelt has signed
proclamation creating the Wheeler
national monument in Rio Grande
national forest. Colorado. Wagon