Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-04
UNIONS MEET TO
PROTEST ACTION

Members of Los Angeles unions met
at the Labor temple yesterday to pro-
test against the action Of Justice
Wright of the supreme court Of the
District of Columbia in imposing Jail
sentences on Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent; John Mitchell, vice president and
Frank Morrison, secretary, of the
American Federation of Labor for con-
tempt of court in publishing matter re-
gard1ng the boycott on the Bucks
Stove and Range company of ST. Louis
Similar meetings were held in all large
cities of the country yesterday after
noon under the auspices of central
labor bodies
w. A. Engle, president Of the Los An
geles Central Labor council, presided
at the meeting, which was held in the
large social hall of the Labor temple,
The speakers were Stanley B. Wilson.
editor of the Citizen; Fred J. Spring,
Edumund Norton and r. w. Kelly,
resolutions were adopted affirming the
faith of Los Angeles unions in the
American Federation officers involved
and pledging their support in future.
Mr.. Norton characterized the SEN
fences imposed on the labor leaders as
attacks not only on organized labor
put on all Workingmen, organized or
unorgan1zed. He reviewed the history
Of the advance made by labor, assert
ing that it had been compelled MANY
tlmes TO suffer from the prejudices of
the Judiciary. In his speech he com
pared the treatment Of labor with that
frequently extended to the interests
which, he said, had broken numerous
laws through the watering of stocks.
Mr.. Spring, speaking from the attor-
neys standpoint, asserted that the in
junction should be used only when a
Wrongdoer could not be otherwise
punished, or when it was the only re-
sort available to save property from
destruction or dissipation. He CON
tended that no good reason existed for
use Of the injunction in connection with
the boycott involved, and that the
actlon OF Justice Wright was in reality
a proceeding contrary to law.
X. w. Kelly, who spoke on behalf of
the Los Angeles divisions of the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers
said that union men should ask the Dis
trict Of Columbia judge to change his
name to Justice Wrong" He assured
the audience that the lomocotive en-
g1neers would stand by Mr.. Gompers
throughout the contest.
Justice Wright has attacked +be
right of free speech and of a. free press
two of our most cherished institu-
lions" said Mr.. Wilson. "This prosti
tuition Of the purpose Of the judiciary
will stand as blot on the history of
our American Judiciary not soon to be
removed. 1 do not claim to be an
authority on law, but do know some
thing about the square deal and fair
play, and I know the sentences of
Messrs. Gompers. Mitchell and Morri-
son were neither.
when some time ago John D. Rookie
Teller was hailed into court and his
company was fined a great sum of
money, you did not see any protests or
mass meetings of indignant citizens.
Even Rockefeller himself did not an
pear worried about it. 1 have thought
that the American judiciary system
that sends John D. to the golf links
and Sam Gompers to a felon's cell is a
contemplate travesty on genuine jus
tice
1.-THE action of Justice Wright is a
species of judicial legislation and Judi
cial legislation is judicial usurpation.
A judge has no more right to make
law than has a baker or a carpenter.
If you or I should be sent to the legis-
lature as lawmakers for the people we
have the right to make laws, but it is
a delegated right, in no sense a per-
sonal one. If a judge attempts to make
law he himself is guilty Of the most
consummate contempt"