The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-01
THE BOYCOTT CASE.
ARGUMENT BEGUN In GOMPERs-
MITCHELL APPEAL.
Boycott Question Settled by a Com
promise Between Buck Stove and
Range Company and American Fed
Grafton.

Washington. Jan. 27.-Reaching it's
conclusion that the Bucks Stove and
Range company OF ST. Louis, Mo-,
and the American Federation of La
bor had settled their disputes out OF
the court. the supreme court OF the
United States stopped the oral argu-
ment OF the so-calied boycott" case
of the former against the latter on the
theory that no issue I'm II remained for
the court TO pass upon.
Following that action the court lis
tened to oral argument on the "con-
tempt case" embracing the charges
OF the Bucks Stove and Range com
pany that Samuel Gompers. president
OF the American Federation of Labor;
Jo's Mitchell. Its vice president. and
Franx Morrison. It's secretary. had
violated the injunction OF the supreme
court OF the District OF Columbia I'm
the boycott" case. Each was held
Co be guilty aud sentenced to jail. To-
day they sat side by side within the
bar OF the court listening TO the ar
uments as To- whether or not they
should serve their sentences. sfFt-.''
ut Is commonly stated that this
case Is dead said Justice Lurton.
interrupting argument OF the boycott
case. 81 Wish you would tell us IL we
are trying n moot case"
Daniel Davenport. addressing the
court In behalf OF the company, said
that sis client had informed him that
neither the controversies at the base
OF the case. nor the case itself have
been settled. although a friendly re-
lation existed between company and
the federation. AS an officer Of the
court. Mr.. Davenport added that he
suggested that the disputes between
the company and the federation had
been so adjusted that there vas Moth
Ing left for the court to decide except
who should pay the costs.
agreement which. he said. his client
had sent him very recently. provid-
ing for the adjustment OF disputes
and the publication by the American
Federation OF Labor that the COM
pany was on friendly relations with
the federation.
Alton II. Parker. one of counsel for
the federation. what he had t. say.
Mr.. Parker responded that there was
no doubt that II was q moot case.
Thereupon the justice announced
that the court would not continue 10
hear the arguments. when the only
question possible was to determine
who should pay the costs.
Judge Parker then began his argu-
ment OF the contempt case. The prin-
cipal charges against his clients were
summarized as being that they had
issued publications In violation of the
Injunction against boycotting the
Bucks Stove and Range company Ac-
cordlng To Judge Parker. the court of
appeals I'm passing on the validity or
the Injunction had held that the low
er court was wrong In enjoiuing pub
llcation against the Bucks stove and
Range company as well as against It's
customers. 1lc contended that the
court Of appeals held that the lower
court had power To- cnjoin only pub
llcations In furthcrancc OF direct
boycott against the ST Louis CON
CCrn.
Hence ne argued that the other
portion of tho injunction was void
from the time Il vas issued. Since the
acts of his clients were only postponed
by the void portion or the decree. hc
urged. the district supreme court
could not punish them FOR contempt
under the statutes of the United
estates. lie declared that n portion of
the injunction decree being void the
entire decree was void