The citizen., 1911-06-30
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
Washington, June 26, 1911.

President Samuel Gompers, Vice
President John Mitchell and Secretary
Frank Morrison, of the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor, under rules issued
today, by Justice Wright, of the Dis
trict OF Columbia Supreme Court. were
cited to appear on Monday. July 18th.
and show cause why they should not be
punished for contempt of court
The courts action followed the filing
OF the report OF committee of LAWYERS
appointed TO investigate the charge that
an injunction granted bv the court in
favor of the Bucks Stove and Range
Company had been violated. In case
that the labor leaders are adjudged
guilty, 1t is yet an open question
whether the court will impose Jail sem
tence.
The committees report, presented
by Chairman J. ]. Darlington, submitted
that there is reasonable cause to
charge each of these parties with willful
defiance of the orders of the court. ="
However, it is suggested that the labor
leaders acted uuder the belief that they
were within their constitutional rights,
and the committee virtually recon-
mended that due apologies and assur-
ances of future submission, if they be
forthcoming virtually settle the matter.
President Gompers is dealt with as
the chief offender, 22 of the 27 type
written pages of the report being devoted
to him. Although July 18th has been
set tor the labor leaders to answer the
contempt rule, there will be no hearing
until fall.
While technically this hearing will be
before Justice Wright, the entire mem
bership of the court will be present,
Chief Justice Clabaugh and Associate
Justices Barnard, Anderson, Gould and
Strafford sitting with Justice Wright
throughout The latter, however. will
deliver the opinion of the court, and, in
the event ofa finding adverse to the re-
spondents will pass sentence.
The contempt proceedings against the
labor leaders recently were passed upon
by the United States Supreme Court,
which. set aside Jail sentences that had
BEEN imposed by Justice Wright The
Supreme Court held that the contempt
on which Justice Wright formally passed
was ola civil nature and against the Buck
Stove and Range Company. In dis
missing the former proceedings, how
ever, the Supreme Court gave to the
District Court right to reopen the case
in the event that any contempt of the
court itself or its orders should be
found
Inasmuch as the stove company and
the American Federation of Labor had
adlustsd their differences it was not
supposed that the matter would be pur-
sued any further. But the day following
the decision, Justice Wright Immediately
ordered an investigation with view to
further cantempt proceedings against the
labor men. He appointed a committee
of three lawyers to inquire into all the
circumstances of the cases and to deter
mine whether or not there had been a
contempt of the court ITSELF
This committee consisted of |. |. Oar
lington, Daniel Davenport and James NJ.
Beck and President Gompers in a state
ment at once questioned the fairness
OF an inquiry by these men, inasmuch
as they all had been associated as coun-
sci Tor the stove company against the
Federation.
A special dispatch from New York,
of recent date, quotes President Com
pers as follows: II expected it, said
President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, in a recent inter
view, when he learned of the ruling of
Justice Wright in the contempt proceed.
ings against himself and the other Of
ficers of the Federation, 81 am not sur
prised," he continued. "by anything that
Justice Wright may do"
President Gompers declined to state
the next move that he might make.