Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-03
HERE TO ACCEPT FATE
Samuel Gompers Ready to
Obey Will of Court,
BUT MAY TAKE AN APPEAL
Comment on Recent Decision Up
holding Jail Sentence.
DISSENTING VIEW PLEASING
Says Chief Justice Shepard's Opinion
Is in Defense of Constitu-
tional Rights.

Samuel Gompers returned % this city
from New York this morning, and just
before noon went to the headquarters of
the american Federation Of Labor in the
Ouray building, Sth and G. streets. The
decision of the Court of Appeals did not
appear to weigh heavily upon him, as he
greeted all callers with hearty hand
shake and a smile. He gave out this
statement:
with all due respect to the majority
of the court, L cannot surrender const
tutionally guaranteed rights because a
judge will issue an injunction invading
and denying those rights. Chief Justice
Shepards dissenting opinion is in de-
Tense OF the Constitution and these in
herent rights.
Minority opinions of courts in the past
when human rights were invaded have
ultimately prevailed become the law of
the land and the generally accepted rule
of life. and l have an abiding faith that
the rule In This case will prove no eXcep-
ton.
IF must go to Jail / shall have the
consciousness of the fact that other men
have in the past been compelled to suffer
in defense of justice and right in the
cause of humanity and for the mainte-
nance of human liberty
Unable to Keep Engagement.
Before leaving New York for Washing
ton yesterday Mr.. Gompors issued a
statement. In which the substance Of the
foregoing interview was given. He then
said:
Il intended to stay over here tomorrow
to finish up my report for the annual
convention at Toronto and also to attend
the wedding of the daughter of a very
dear friend of mine, but I am going to
change my plans, and shall leave, so /
can get into Washington soon as /
can. | want to he within the jurisdiction
OF the court. whatever disposal is made
of the case
Bride and Groom His Friends.
The bride-elect to whom Mr. Gompers
alluded is Miss Ray Prince. daughter of
ex-Assemblyman Samuel Prince of the
sixth district. a cigar manufacturer of
275 eth street. The bridegroom-elect is
Samuel Hoffman. assistant secretary of
state and assistant republican leader of
the same assembly district. Mr.. Com
pers. who was a cigarmaker on the East
Side twenty-five years ago, worked Oh
the same bench with Mr.. Prince.
II attended his wedding and the we'd
dings of his three children said the
labor chieftain. II was to be toastmas-
ter tomorrow night after Rays wedding.
feel worse about having to give this up
than about anything else right now.
Mr.. Gompers called up Miss Prince by
phone and talked with her for fifteen
minutes. He told her she must not take
his absence as a bad omen.
Think, instead" he concluded, "how
fortunate it is that I can still give you
my very best wishes and prayers for
all the happiness in the world, when
might now be i'm jail IL this decision had
come sooner"
To reporter Mr.. Gompers said,
In voice shaking with emotion:
why. man, 1 am not fighting for any
technicality. / am fighting for my very
life, for the dearest possession an Ameri-
can citizen knows-liberty.
Il could no more have Obeyed that in
junction than l could have stood by
passively and seen my daughter or my
wife the victim of injustice. The in
junction was unconstitutional. 1t in
vaded my rights as free man. 1t is a
fight that concerns every citizen OF the
country"
Lauds Chief Justice.
Pointing out that the decision had been
agreed upon by only two of the three
justices. Mr.. Gompers continued:
And you will note 1t is the chief JUS
tice who stands with me in my opinion
that my constitutional rights were out
ragged. 1t seems to me / could not ask
for better company-although am
afraid Justice Shepard would not take
kindly to the idea that he is the associate
of probable Jail bird, even in a mat
ter of opinion"
Mr.. Gompers said that probably an
appeal would he taken TO the United
States Supreme Court.
I'VE will fight TO the last ditch he
added. land then on beyond that
James NJ. Beck of counsel for the Buck
Stove and Range Company. said:
ITO the extent that this decision in
wolves punishment upon men of power
and standing in the country no one can
feel any personal qualification, but to
the extent that il vindicates a principle
that is vital TO industrial liberty il is
gratifying to us who conducted the case
for the plaintiff. / want to impress
again the fact that these contempt pro-
ceedngs were not fought by the Buck
Stove Company or its counsel. primarily
or principally, TO protect private. per-
sonal rights which were threatened with
destruction. but TO vndicate the power
of the courts to enforce their DEGREES
For il such DEGREES could be defied, as in
this instance. by men of great power.
there would be an end TO the enforcement
of law, and that means anarchy