Connecticut western news., 1909-11-11
GOMPERS DECLARES
 JUSTICE IS "UEFIT."
Tells Federation That Courts
 Action Was kOCkery.

Toronto. Nov. 10.-President Samuel Gompers of the Federation of Labor received an ovation from the dele gates who crowded the hall at the an- nual convention here.
 MT. GOmpers in his annual address took firm and uncomprOmising posi- ton i'll regard to the recent decision of the court of appeals of the District of Columbia affirming the twelve. nine and six months sentences imposed re- spe~tively on MT. GomperS. John Mitchell, vice president, and Frank Morrison, secretary, for contempt of court in the Bucks Stove and Range case. He said:
 So long as there shall remain a wrong unriShted or a right denied there will be ample work for the labor movement to io Meeting in conversion as we do for the first time in cur history on Canadian Sol may We not indulge the hope that there will be brought out the very best that is in us?
 Owing to the refusal of the Bucks Stove and Range company of St. Louis to con tinue the nine hour workday to the metal poiishers in its employ and it's discrimi- nation against and discharge of employ ees because of their membership in the union and despite efforts to harmoni2e and adjust the differences existing, the labor organization in the interest of St. Louis placed the product of the company upon their we Don't Patronize' list.
 On Dec. IS, 1907. Mir. Van Cleave, presi- lent of the stove company, obtained from Justice Gould an injunction against the American Federation of Labor, the mem- oers of the executive council. both offi cially and individually; the officers and nor oIarS affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, its agents. friends, sympa- thizers or counsel forbidding them in any way to publish, print, write, verbally or orally communicate the fact that the Bucks Stove and Range company was unfair to or had any dispute with organ ized labor or that it was "boycotted" by organized labor.
 The court heard argument of counsel on both sides as to whether the defend ants-Mitchell, Morrison and I-were guilty of contempt of court. And while the appeal on the original injunction was pending Justice Wright on Dec g, 1908. adjudged us guilty of contempt of court and imposed a sentence of six months nine months and one years Imprisonment respectively upon Morrison. Mitchell and Gompers."
 The language and manner of Justice Wright in delivering his opinion and the whole mockery and formality of asking us whether we had any reasons to assign why sentence should not be pronounced when he had determined on the sentences in advance-these indicated the unftness of the man to wear the judicial robe and occupy the judicial position.
 The response of the masses of the peo- pie to the campaign of the American Fed eration of Labor to raise a fund for the preservation of constitutional rights shows how thoroughly our labor movement is in harmony with the spirit of liberty and the love of justice and right which makes ! nation great. The struggle is far from i ended. In conclusion let me reaffirm my conviction that the labor movement of our country will emerge triumphantly from the prosecutions of those who would hamper its benefcent activities.
 The executive committee of the fed eration reported to the convention rec ommending that an appeal from the sentences against Gompers. Mitchell and Morrison be taken to the supreme court of the United States.
 Secretary Morrison reported that the federation had $16T. 1903 in its treasury, the greatest sum it has ever had.