United labor bulletin., 1911-07-06
SUGGESTS APOLOGY
IN CONTEMPT CASE
APPARENT DETERMINATION TO AD
MINISTER PUNISHMENT AGAINST
FEDERATION OFFICIALS.

When the United States supreme court
! handed down its decision in the Gompers
Morrison and Mitchell case, Justice
Wright Of the supreme court of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, Immediately took ad-
vantage Of the closing sentence of the
decision. which says, after dismissal OF
the case had been ordered: But with
out prejudice to the power and right of
the supreme court Of the District Of Co
iumbia TO punish by a proper proceeding
contempt. Il any, committed against it."
Justice Wright appointed a committee Of
attoneysr, J. J. Darlington, Daniel OaV-
export and James Beck, attorneys for the
| AnttBoycott association and the National
| Manufacturers association, and who as
sisted in the prosecution Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor.
This committee has now reported to
Justice Wright. and summonses have
been served on President Gompers. Sec
retafy Morrison and Vice-President Nit
chell. notifying them that they must ap-
pear in court on July IL to show cause
why they should not be adjudged in CON
tempt of court In the report OF the COM
mittee il is suggested that an apology to
the court would provide a means of es-
Gaping punishment. 1t is stated that all
OF the judges of the supreme court OF the
District of Columbia will sit in the case,
but il is asserted that Justice Wright
will decide upon the punishment. If any
punishment there be, which seems immi-
nent at this time. That there will be
any apology forthcoming is hardly in the
realm of possibility. President Gompers
has stoutly maintained that in all his
acts during this controversy he has only
exercised his constitutional rights. II is
apparent that Justice Wright and the at
torneys whom he appointed on the com
mittee are not satisfied unless drastic
punishment is administered to President
Gompers, Secretary Morrison and Vice
President Mitchell. That the plan has
been well laid is not questioned, but IT
is a question whether or not the people
of this country will permit the right of
free speech and free press to be denied
by court injunction. Some courts have
apparently become imbued with the idea
that they have right not only TO inter
pret and execute the law. but to make
laws TO suit their convenience. Even
the president of the United States has
seen fit to issue an executive order deny
ing the right of the employees of the gov
ernment to exercise the prerogatives OF
free citizenship. This state of affairs
cannot exist in n country like ours. The
question of the power of courts over
free press and free speech, must be de-
termined and no better time could be ap-
propriatcd than the present. The Ameri-
can Federation OF LABOR mas AT All tunes
been law-abiding organization, and its
officers have persistently advised that
under all circumstances the law should
be obeyed But equally with every other
class of citizens, the men of labor of this
country do not propose that they shall
be deprived of the rights guaranteed to-
each Individual under the constitution.
II the sacrifice of the liberty of n few in
dividuals is necessary to re-cstablish
fundamental guarantees, the labor move
ment of our country has produced men
with sufficient courage to make the sac
rifice. Whatever may be the result 1t
can be truthfully predicted that the
American Federation of Labor will be-
true to its former history. standing for
the right whatever the cost, that the
liberty of not only the members OF the
labor organizations shall be preserved,
hut the whole people as well.