The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-05-15

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| 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 eyade 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 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 became effective.
In defense, testimony was presented
to show that only thirty odd copies
were mailed to libraries and other
similar Institutions. The complainant
claimed that about one hundred were
sent out.
1t was further charged that in the
succeeding number of the Federation
ist, Gompers, Mitchell and Morrison
joined in an appeal to organized
labor for funds to carry the injunr-
ton case to the higher court. 1t
was contended that this appeal was
used as a 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
was 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 stoves
and ranges. 1t is an exemplification
of the saying that you can lead
horse to water but you cant
make him drink
Another charge was that in the
March Federationist, Mr.. Gompers
published an editorial, in which it
was said: st should be borne in
mind that there is no law, aye, no.
even court decision, compelling
union men or the friends of labor
to buy Bucks stove or range. No
not even to buy a Lowe 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 and Range
Company, if i tell you that the
Bucks stove and Range Company
was still unfair when | get back
to Washington tomorrow or some
place where they say people play
checkers with their noses-well, as
say, | am not prepared 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, 1908, was
taken language alleged to have been
in violation of the Injunction.
In addition to the urgent appeal"
in which Mr. Mitchell joined he was
accused of having acted in con
tempt by presiding over the United
Mine Workers convention, when it
adopted a resolution to fine any
member who bought a Bucks stove.
In addition TO the urgent appeal
charge against Mr.. Morrison, he was
also accused of having mailed out
the magazines objected to.
Distinguished counsel appeared on
both sides, when the case was ar
gued before the supreme court. Prom
inent among these was Judge Alton
b. Parker, former presidential can
didate, who had been retained to
defend the labor leaders. His prin.
cipal argument was that the injunc-
ton was an improper interference
with the constitutional right of free
speech and a free press. He further
contended that the injunction decree
was void, at east in parts, and that
his clients could not be held under
the statutes for violating a void de
cree.