The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-11-08
Pres. GomperS Voices Pro-
test Over Contempt Case
Delivered at Opening Session Of the
American Federation Of Labor Con-
vention in Toronto To-day--Tells
Of Organizations Growth.

Toronto, Can, Nov. s-The 20th an.
nual convention Of the American Fedora
tion of Labor opened in this city to-day,
with large representation Of the labor
unionists. President Samuel Gompers
delivered his annual report to-day, DUR
ing which he took occasion to speak Of
the recent decision against him, secre-
tary Morrison and Vice-President Mitch
ell. He said in opening:
Meeting in convention as we do for
the first time in our history on Canadian
soil, may We not indulge the hope that
there viii be brought to the considera-
tion, discussion and action of the work
of our convention the very best that is
in us, and so shape the course Of our
movement that it win prove Of stiA
greater advantage to our fellow-workers
and the people generally that we may
win not only their respect and con.
fdence, but their full association and
co-operationl
'The attention of friends and foes is
equally attracted to this convention.
Let us bring hope, comfort, and encour-
agement to the one; disappointment and
dismay to the other Again. in the
name Of the toilers Of our continent and
for the success Of the aspirations Of the
great cause Of humanity and liberty. !
bid you welcome.
.The laws and practice Of our fedora.
tion require that your president shall
report to You annually, and it has been
and is my desire to submit to conven-
tions the matters which are most i'm.
portant, requiring attention and action.
THE year which is just closed has
been fraught with events Of transcend
ent Importance, and yet ! feel that BY
reason Of the many questions with which
this convention mpst deal as well as my
absence from America for some consider
able period the report which / have the
honor to submit falls far short Of that
which / hoped | could present
There IS no limit To the lines Of ac-
for the betterment Of the condition of
the workers, to attain all rights, and to
work for the attainment Of Justice The
interest and the right Of anyone Of our
fellows is the concern OF the labor move
ment. To bring light into the homes.
hope to the hearts, aspirations to the
minds Of the workers, is the duty and
mission Of our movement TO make
mankind truly free has been the dream
Of philosophers, song Of ths poets, and
the struggle Of the workers"
Referring next to the contempt pro.
ceedings in the Bucks Stove company
case against himself and two other labor
leaders, President Ciompers said:
"The court heard argument Of counsel
on both sides as to whether the defend
ants, Mitchell: Morrison, and + were
guilty of contempt Of court And while
the appeal on the original injunction
was pending Justice Wright on Deeem-
ber 20, 1908, adjudped us guilty Of con-
tempt Of court and imposed a sentence
Of six months, nine months and one
years Imprisonment respectively upon
Morrison, Mitchell. and Gompers'
"This passing comment appears apro-
pos. It Is that an unprejudiced. impair
tial Judge might well have deferred a
decision In a contempt case alleging yio-
lation OF an injunction while an appeal
upon the validity of the Injunction itself
was pending and was being considered
for decision by a higher court and,
further. that the unprecedented sentences
imposed were entirely in conflict with
the spirit and plain provision Of, the
1<nf,, ~ -
The LANGUAGE and manner Of Justica
Wright in delivering his opinion upon
the rnilt Of the men charged with dis
obeying the terms Of the Injunction, the
fact that he had given his opinion, OF
permitted it to be given, out in advance,
the whole mocliery and formality Of ask
ing us whether we had. any reasons to
assign why sentence should not be pro-
nounced. when he had determined on the
sentences in advance; all these as well
aE the matter and manner of the ar.
rangement for the scene and the delivery
Of the opinion and sentence Indicated the
unitness Of the man to wear the judicial
robe and occupy the iudicial position.
@What are the offenses for which
MITCHELL Morrison and are sentenced
to long months Of Imprisonment. and
the ipnoniny of being classified as Grim
inals9 We have dared to defend our
constitutional rights as men and as citi-
zens, despite the injunction of court
which sought to invade the rights of
free speech and free press secured to
the Anrlo-Saxon peonle centuries ago bv
Magma Charta and elinohed by the adop-
tion Of the first amendment to the con.
stitution Of the United States
@And what. after all arc tha grounds
upon which Justice Wrqht held the de-
PENDANTS guilty OF violation Of the terms
Of the iniunetionl When the iuilmction
was issued and went into effect. both
temporary and permanent. VIC proposed
to test the principles involved before
the established legal tribunals Bv in
struction Of and with authority from
the executive council the name Of the
Bnek's Stove and Range company was
removed from the We Don't patronize
list IN The American Feierationist.
sVics President Mitchell II was al
legged violated tha Injunction hv allow
ing certain acts to be performed nv ths
eticers Of the American Federation ol
@nnffnued au fourth naoa