The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-20
UNION LABOR WINS
AFTER BITTER WAR
St. Louis Stove Company
Gives ln-Its President
Fought Several Years
CASES FOR CONTEMPT
ARE BEFORE COURT
Supreme Tribunal Will Hear Ar
gument in November and
Decide Whether Officers
Are Liable.

claring that the settlement effected
by Samuel Gompers last night at Gin
cinnati with the Bucks Stove and
Range Company OF St Louis is one
OF the greatest Victories in the history
OF organized labor, officials at the
headquarters of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor here to-day are tubi
liant at the prospects OF the Bucks
concern, which has been the unions
greatest foe, becoming straight
union shop"
While the agreement will not put
an end to the contempt proceedings
against President Gompers, Secretary
Morrison and John Mitchell. which
now are pending in the Supreme Court
of the United States. II will remove
the prosecution heretofore conducted
by the COMPANY and leave the whole
matter simply In the hands of the
court TO decide, Judge Davenport
who as counsel for the Bucks Com
pany, has urged the case, Will with
draw entirely,
The American Federation of Labor
however. looks on the unLonizing OF
the Bucks plant as one OF the great
est strides ever taken by organized
labor In this country The firm has
DEtil OiAE III the PlLttISSL IpsB ia UNION
labor. The late James w. Van Cleave,
who was Its president. was the leader
In the national fight against labor
unions and was probably one of the
most prominent figures in this coun-
try in the anti-union ranks.
Worst Enemy.
The simple little announcement that
the Bucks Stove and Range Com
pany hereafter would employ only
union men conveyed more gratiflca-
ton to the officials at the American
Federation of Labor headquarters
than any one event. IL In believed
that the death Of Van Cfeave had
much to do with the changed attitude
of the St Louis firm.
The agreement in no way affects
the cases pending in the Supreme
Courts
That tribunal is expected to pass
upon the question OF whether the
courts below Violated the constitu-
tionai rights OF men to freedom OF
speech or whatever the labor men
violated law and order.
The night between the American
Federation of Labor and the Bucks
Stove and Range Company was one
OF the most bitter legal feuds in the
history OF organized labor
The trouble started with the re-
fusaI OF the Bucks Stove and Range
Company 10 continue the nine-hour
work day for metal polishers. and its
alleged discrimination against en-
pioyes because OF their membership in
the union.
Black Listed.
Local labor organizations placed
the product of the Bucks stove and
Range Company upon the we don't
patronize" list. Application was
made to the American Federation OF
Labor at its convention In Mtnnsap-
oils Tn 1905 to endorse the action OF
the workers and place the name OF
the company upon the we don't pa
tronize" list of the American Fedora
ton.
Under instructions from the eXecu-
tive council OF the federation an at
tempt was made by Vice-President
Valentine to effect Cancellation with
the late James w. Van Cieave. of the
Bucks Stove and Range Company.
Valentine reported that Van Cleave
refused to entertain any proposition
In behalf of union labor The goods
Of the company we're thereupen boy
cotted by the national organization.
In December. 1907. Van Cleave.
who was also president OF the Ma
tional Association OF Manufacturers.
obtained from Justice Gould. of the
Supreme Court. OF the District of CO.
lumbia. an injunction against the
American Federation of Labor. Its Of
ficials and members sympathizers. or
counsel forbidding them In any way
to publish. print write or verbally or
orally communicate the fact that the
Bucks Stove and Range Company was
unfair to or had any dispute with or
ganized labor, or that Ii was boycotted
by organized labor.
Van Gieare later petitieaed- the
court to adjudge President Gompers,
Ice President Mitchell and Secretary
Morrison, of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, guilty of contempt for
violating the injunction. Justice
Wright. IN December. 1908, sentenced
Morrison, Mitchell and Gompers to
six months, nine months and one
years imprisonment respectively for
contempt.
Appeals TO the Supreme Court of
the United States were taken in both
the Injunction and contempt cases,
and they are set for hearing in No
Yember.
Upholds Strike.
CINCINNATI. July 20.--"It must
be understood that the agreement We
and Range Company does not affect
the standing of the cases against John
Mitchell, Frank Morrison and myself,
in which we are charged with con-
tempt of court, for having published
notices in the American Federation
OF Labor Journal after the court had
en3oined us from doing So" said Sam
uel Gompers, in the statement follow
ing the announcement OF agreement.
THE only change will be in the
fact that the Bucks Companys attor-
ney will drop out Of the case."se
Gempers declared the American
Federation OF Labor would aid the
striking railroad men in Canada, al
though they do not belong TO the or
ganixation.
The Grand Trunk men had no
other course than 70 strike when the
railroad refused to accede to their
demands. Nothing but death can keep
them from winning. and death does
Aat Gonna ~ spch grsst numbers"