Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-17
Early Action Is Looked Tor in
Labor Contempt Case.
COMMITTEE SOON TO MEET
Simple Process of Review, Attorney
Darlington Explains.
JUSTICE WRIGHT'S STATEMENT
Method of Procedure In Accord With
Practice in Jurisprudence,
He Declares.

Joseph j. Darlington, Daniel Daven-
port and James NJ Beck, designated yes
terday by Justice Wright of the District
Supreme Court 70 inquire into the al
legged contempt Of court claimed to have
heen committed by Samuel Gompers
John Mitchell and Frank Morrison, labor
leaders In disregarding the injunctive or
der OF the court In the Bucks Stove and
Range Company case, received official
notice Of their appointments by mail to-
day. Certified copies Of the order OF Justice
Wright were sent to the three attorneys
named By Assistant Clerk Hawken of the
District Supreme Court.
Little delay is expected to ensue before
the designated inauisitors hold a meet
ing. Mr. Darlington. being Washing
tonian, is. of course. on hand. and Mr.
Davenport happens to be in the city
The only delay In a meeting is likely to
come from the business engagements of
James NJ. Beck, whose office is in New
York city
When asked today how soon a report
might be expected. Attorney Darlington
declared he was unable 70 say just when
q meeting of the committee would he
held. He said that all the facts In the
case were of record, and the only thing
to be done was to segregate them and
report them to the court.
Justice Wright's Statement.
Justice Wright. when shown the re-
ported interview with Mr.. Gompers. In
which the latter is quoted as saying the
court "might go far as he liked. de-
clined 10 discuss or comment on it, When
asked about the selection of the three
lawyers who had opposed the labor men
In the Bucks Stove case. Justice Wright
said he had never known of dinerent
method OF procedure when a contempt
inquiry arose out of civil action. In
explanation he pointed out that the at
torneyS named were conversant IN the
matter, and knew how and where 10 op-
tain proof of the charges. II presented.
The court suggested that it would be
a hardship to designate lawyers not IA
niiiar with the facts TO take up such an
inquiry, as 1t would put them TO the
trouble Of spending weeks and perhaps
months in locating the proof or evidence
to be submitted to the court
when a contempt Is suggested. said
Justice Wright. "there must be prosecu-
tors. The court cannot itself hunt up the
witnesses. prepare and prosecute the
case. When In the course OF civil case
the commission Of contempt is suggest
ed to the court 1t Is the established Gus
tom Of courts to call upon the attorneys
who suggest II to establish the suggestion
by making the formal charge and sus-
tanning 1t by proof. The gentlemen ap-
pointed yesterday are designated as dis
t.nctly prosecutors, not as arbiters.
Afarms His Impartiality.
Commenting on the reported statement
By Mr. Gompers that the committee was
not impartial, Attorney ]. ]. Darlington
said today:
IF Mr.. Gompers thinks l have any
bias or prejudice against him he is mis-
taken. I did my duty to my client in
the equity proceedings while there ex-
listed a dispute with the Bucks Stove
and Range Company. That disagreement
is over and am through with the case
The designation OF me as member
of the committee by Justice Wright was
unsousht, but I expect to do my ,.uty
under it, I shall shortly confer with
the other appointees in reference TO the
matter.