Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-24
GomperS and Mitchell
Content on Decision

Fotlowfng statement by the com
mIttee on presidepfs report, in which
Justice Wrights position in contempt
proceedings against Gompers. Mitchell
and Morrison was characterized as
prosecution. President Gompers was
informed Thursday morning that de-
cision. had been rendered denying the
motion to- dismiss the contempt pro-
ceedings under the statute of limita-
tions.
During sthe taking of testimony at
the first hearing" he explained to the
convention, "a number Of questions
were put to me that i knew were irrele-
want. Several times l asked my attor-
neys II II was necessary for me to an
swer suoh questions. Later the ques-
TORS were of such. an outrageolts~ ehan-
acter that refused to reply to them.
But the court decided that 1 had to
answer no matter what the questions
were. Under the circumstances was
forced finally to answer.
The ownership of our patronage, the
right to do collectively what we could
do as individuals was involved and we
hoped to have 1t decided by the SUI
preme court E
"AIl the irrelevant questions put TO
me before the United States commits
sfoner and my answers were written
down, despite objections Of my attor-
neys; and were presented to the presid-
ing Judge He could eliminate the IT.
relevant parts: but necessarily they had
their unjust effect on him.
MENTALLY INCOMPETENT.
81 am willing to say this now" he
concluded. I'm any case coming before
Justice Wright in which men Of orga-
nized labor are concerned. he is mental
Iy incompetent to render just and fair
oninion 1 am ready to adopt as my
statement the report of the committee
on presidents report"
The committee on presidents report
described the proceedings Of the trial In
which Gompers,. Mitchell and Morrison
we're adjudged guilty. Of contempt Of
court
The committee explained the decision
OF Justice Wright, of the supreme court
of the District of Columbia, was returned
to him for reconsideration. and that his
second decision. was pending.
"The whole proceeding" said. the COM
Inittee, has the characteristic of perse-
cution rather than trial. 1t is difficult to
understand how a man so lacking IN ju-
dicial temper as Justice Wright should
ever have been elevated to the bench"
READY TO SERVE SENTENCE.
John Mitchell, second vice president
of the American Federation Of Labor,
urged that the convention should Sc
riousIy consider Withdrawing the attor-
news engaged in the defense Of Com
pers. Mitchell and Morrison.
IF all men are not to be defended.
he declared, then we~should not be de-
Tended"
He added that he hoped he had fin
ished and done with the lines of the
contempt sentences. Labor had already
appropriated too much for his defense.
If the vindicticeness Of Justice
Wright cannot be escaped, he is willing
to serve his sentence and get 1T over
with.
CONGRESSMAN w B. Wilson, of Penn
sylvania, who is member OF the COM
mittee on presidents report replied that
the committee would not have thought
of withdrawing this defense. he in
sisted that the militan spirit OF the
federation can be maintained only by
opposition to prosecution. He urged that
the defense of all cases, criminal or
remedial. against labor men. should be
continued.
s Delegate Charles LAWN, of Wilkes
barre, urged Gompers, Morrison and
Mitchell to go TO Jail He explained
that the principle under which they were
sentenced would soon fill every availa-
BILE jail and necessitate the construc-
ton of more prisons.
Delegate ]. H. Walker insisted on.
continuance of the defense of the three
officers of the federation.
Public speech and free press for
every labor man is involved in this
case" declared Vice President Duncan,
and agree fully with the committee
that the defense of Messrs. Gompers.
Mitchell land Morrison should be on
tinued"