The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-05-18
PRISON SENTENCE WRONG.

nickel plate workers on ten-hou
instead of nine-hour basis.
Justice Gould, of the District su
preme Court issued the injunction
prayed for by the company An ap
,peal was taken TO the Court of APP
peals of the District of columbii
but before that court passed upoI
the validity of the injunction, tn,
Bucks Stove and Range Compan!
again came into the District Su
preme Court. this time with charges
of contempt against President Com
pers, Vice President Mitchell and
Secretary Morrison. These mer
were accused OF having violated the
injunction decree.
Justice Wright found them guilty
and sentenced President Gompers 10
one year in jail; Vice President
Mitchell to nine months, and Secre-
tary Morrison to six months. An APP
peal was taken from this sentence.
first to the court of appeals, which
affirmed 1t, and finally to the SUI
preme Court of the United States,
where 1t is now pending.
The alleged violations consisted of
utterances and acts in furtherance
of the boycott. 1t was charged that
Mr.. Gompers had rushed out the
January number OF the American
Federationist, the official organ of
the American Federation of Labor.
so as to evade the decree. which
went into effect the day after most
OF the magazines were out OF his
hands. This magazine contained
the name of the company on the
1--WE Don't Patronize," or Unfair
list. 1t was also alleged that a
number of copies of this magazine
were sent out after the decree be-
came effective. In defense, testl-
mony was presented to show that
only thirty odd copies we're mailed
to libraries and other similar insti-
tutions. The complainant claimed
that about one hundred were sent
out.
1t was further charged that in the
succeeding number of the Fedora
zionist, Gompers, Mitchell and Nor
rison joined in an appeal to organ
lied labor for funds to carry the in
junction case to the higher court. III
was contended that this appeal was
used as vehicle to continue the
boycott. The charges stated that
the appeal referred to an editorial in
the same number of the magazine
as setting forth the attitude of those
making the appeal. This editorial
wa5 attributed to Mr.. Gompers.
individuals as members of or
ganized labor this publication
said, will still exercise the right to
buy or not to buy the Bucks Stove
and Ranges. 1t is an examplifica-
ton OF the saying that you can lead
horse to water, but you can't make
him drink.
Another charge was that in the
March Federationist, Mr.. Gompers
published an editorial, in which it
was said Ut should be borne in
mind that there is no law, aye, not
even court decision, compelling
union men or the friends of labor
to buy Bucks stove or range. No,
not even to buy Loewe hat"
In a public address in New York
in April, 1908, Mr.. Gompers said, It
was charged: "of course in the
case of the Bucks Stove End Range
Company If I tell you that the
Bucks Stove and Range Company
was still unfair, when / get back to
Washington tomorrow or soma
place where they say people play
checkers with their noses-well, as
| say, ! am not repaired to tell you
that these things are unfair. But
there is no law, no court decision
that compels you to buy them nor
does any law compel you to buy
anything without the union label"
From another address by Mr.. Com
pers in Chicago in May, 1906, was
taken language alleged to have been