The Washington times., 1911-06-26
Possibility of Term in Prison
Looms Up in Con-
+ tempt Cases.
COMMITTEE MAKES
REPORT TO WRIGHT
Lawyers Appointed by Judge As
sert Their Belief in Guilt of
Federation Heads.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page.)
to Jail, respectively, in December 1908,
for one year, nine, months, and six
months, are repeated in the new report
today. In addition later public utter
ances Of Gompers and Mitchell since
they were sentenced under. the old
charges, quashed by the United States
Supreme Court, are cited by the COM
mittee to sustain their contempt de-
cree. No new citations are made
against Morrison.
Attorneys Ralston, Siddons & Richard
son are counsel for the American Fed
Grafton officials. They may accept SER
vice of Justice Wright's rule to show
cause in behalf of their clients.
How Contempt Originated.
The contempt proceedings ordered to-
day against Gompers and the other
officials, result from an injunction suit
filed in December, 1907, by the Bucks
Stove and Range Company, of St.
Louis, involved in a labor dispute with
the American Federation, to prevent the
Federation from placing it on the "un-
fair, I'VE Don't PatroniZe," and boy
colt list of the American Federation.
Violation of an Injunction of teh court
issued December II, 1908, against such
action was charged against the labor
leaders by editorials in. the American
,Federationist, the official organ of the
kAmerican Federation of Labor, and
many public speeches at labor meetings
Sentences for contempt of court were
made and sustained by the District
Court of Appeals, but the United States
Supreme Court, in a decision on May
10 by Justice Lamar, declared technical
error in proceeding in the civil case as
criminal contempt proceeding had
been made. The United States remand
ed the cases to the District Supreme
Court with authority to reopen the con-
tempt proceedings If 1t saw fit
Justice Wright Immediately on the
day following the decision of the Uni
ted States Supreme Court, signed an
order declaring that II appeared the
labor leaders were in contempt OF court
and appointed the investigating COM
mittee. which sustains his tentative
finding.
In its report upon the acts of Presi-
dent Gompers, the committee cites
public speeches made. critiCising the
courts injunction order. at New York,
dianapolis, September 29. 1905; Balti-
more, October IS, 1908; and at a public
labor reception in November, 1908.
Gompers' Declaration.
At the latter meeting, Gompers is said
to have declared: L have said and
now want to repeat here, not in brava-
do, but in fulI consciousness of the re-
sponsibility with which the statement
may be interpreted, that when it comes
TO a choice between obeying an injunc-
ton denying me the rlgnt of free
speech, ire expression of .Ine thoughts
tnat come TO my mind and which are
not in violation of the laws of my coun-
Try, l shall have no hesitancy in stand
ing upon my constitutional rights.
The things l have been charged
with did. l have not denied them.
] have discussed them upon the plat
form as discuss them mere. l nave
written circulars abOu them. Secretary
Morrison sent them out"
Causic criticism of the courts and
judges by Gompers at the national la
Dor convention in November, 1903, is
also cited by the committee in Its re-
port.
Vice President Mitchell and Secretary
Morrison are charged with contempt in
officially sanctioning the alleged edi-
torial criticisms and alleged defiance of
the injunction order. MItcheIPs action
in presiding over a labor convention
at which resolutions of criticism We're
passed is also cited.
Willfully aiding and cooperating with
Gompers and others in circulating the
American Federationist, containing the
alleged defiant and derogatory editor
ials, is charged as contempt of court
against Secretary Morrison.
Labor Leaders Beliefs.
The committee says that Gompers,
Mitchell, and Morrison alleged, "and it
may be, although gravely in error, they
believed that the Injunction was not
binding upon them because of their
claims of rights of free speech and a
free press.
The committee says such a position
of the labor leaders is "Indefensible
and has been determined, by the
United States Supreme Court to be
unfounded."
The unanimous opinion of the con-
10 hot 10
States Supreme Court, in its decision
setting aside the former conviction of
the labor leaders for contempt, clear
ly finds their guilt proven, although
not proceeded in properly at the
former trial.
Suggestions of the committee that
the labor leaders apologize, were a
great surprise today to persons in
terested in the case. The committee,
however, passes up to the court the
punishment to be given the labor
leaders. If convicted, If they fail to
APOLOGIZE.