The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-07-08
Judge Wright Apparently Deter
mined to Vent His Spite
Against Labor Officials.
G0MPERS MAINTAINS HE
COMMITTED NO oFFENsE
Stands for the Rights Guaranteed
to All Citizens By Our Con- =.
stitution and Laws.

United States supreme court handed
down it's decision in the Gompers,
Morrison and Mitchell case, Justice
Wright Of the supreme court of the
District of Columbia, Immediately
took advantage of the closing sem
tence of the decision, which says,
after dismissal of the case had been
ordered: But without prejudice to
the power and right of the supreme
court Of the District of Columbia to
punish by proper proceeding con-
tempt, if any, committed against it,"
Justice Wright, appointed commit
tee of attorneys, J. J. Darlington,
Daniel Davenport and James Beck,
attorneys for the Anti-Boycott asso-
citation and the National Manufac-
turers' association, and who assisted
in the prosecution of the American
Federation of Labor,
Report of Committee.
This committee has now reported
to Jutice Wright, and summonses
have been served on President Com
pers, Secretary Morrison and Vice
President Mitchell notifying them
that they must appear in court on
July II to show cause why they
should not be adjudged in contempt
of court. In the report Of the COM
mittee it is suggested that an apology
to the court would provide means
of escaping punishment. It is stated
that all of the Judges of the supreme
court of the District of Columbia
will sit in the case, but it is asserted
that Justice Wright will decide upon
the punishment, If any punishment
there be-. which seems imminent at
this time. ;:
No Apology VIII Be Made. =.
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. 1t is apparent that Justice
Wright and the attorneys whom he
appointed on the committe are not
satisfied unless drastic punishment is
administered to President Gompers
Secretary Morrison and Vice Presi-
dent Mitchell. That the plan has been
we'll laid is not questioned, but it is
a question whether or not the peo-
pie of this country will permit the
right of free speech and free press
tc be denied by court injunction.
Some courts have apparently become
imbued with the idea that they have
a right not only to interpret and
execute the law, but to make laws to
suit their convenience. Even the
president of the United States has
seen tit to issue an executive order
denying the right Of the employees Of
the government to exercise the prero-
gatives of free citizenship This
state Of affairs cannot exist in a
country like ours.
Power of Courts.
The question of the power of courts
over free press and free speech,
must be determined. and no better
time could be appropriated than the
present. The American Federation
of Labor has at all times been a
law abiding organization. and its Of
f1cers 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 pro-
pose that they shall be deprived Of
the rights guaranteed to each indlvid-
ual under tho constitution. If the
sacrifice of the liberty Of a few in
dividuals is necessary to reestabli
fundamental guarantees, the labor
movement of our country has pro-
duced men with sufficient courage to
make the sacrifice. Whatever may
be. the result it can be truthfully
predicted that the American Fedora
ton of Labor will be true to it's
former historyS standing for the
right whatever the cost, that the
liberty Of not only the members oc
the labor organization shall be pre-
served. but the Whole people as we'll