The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-09
.GOMPERS ASSA|LS
JUSTICE WRIGHT
Declares Member of District
Supreme Court Deserves
impeachment.
EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS
Labor Leader Reviews Proceed
ings i'll Buck Stove and
Range Case.
EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS

samuel Gompers, of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. to-day declared to
'he senate committee appointed to
consider the administration OF the law
pE Federal officials that Justice
Wright. OF the District Supreme Court.
deserves Impeachment
IL was dramatic Incident when the
man who had been sentenced 10 spend
Il year IN Jail Tor contempt OF court
oeSdn to express his views or Tin.
court that had imposed the sentence.
Ho hfu reviewed at some length the
proceedings in contempt.
Several phases of this case win
furnish the subject OF profitable In
auiry by this committee" President
Gompers continued. Whether or not
impeachment proceedings can be
brought against this Judge Is oues-
ton. He deserves IL, have no doubt
THAT ought TO be your remedy"
suSG ested senator Borah. member of
the investigating committee.
Would Employ the Recall Method
III we had the recall here ne would
have been recalled long ago" remarked
Mr.. Gompers.
Il think impea chment is a better
proceeding" commented Mr.. Borah.
Il have no doubt something along
that line will soon develop" Mr. Comp
ers commented
A'SSiucHt boHlpeTs appeared before
the committee primarily to discuss the
arrest OF John j Mcnamara in Indian
apo!is and ms transfer to Los Angeles.
But he brought up the contempt pro-
ceedings that arose out of the Bucks
stove and Range Company on his own
Initiative.
"A peculiar administration OF the
law by justice OF the District SUI
preme Court" was the way MIR Com.
,GF afar
ings. in the beginning
The sentences that were imposed In
that case. Imprisonment for twelve.
nine and six months. respectively. ON
three defendants. President Gompers.
Vice President John Mitchell and Sec
rotary Frank MorrisoIL OF the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor. MIR Conn
ers said. are without IA parallel IN the
history or this country. There Is no
record he said OF a longer sentence
than SIX months for contempt
Dcbs Sentence Cited.
There have been many contempt pro-
ceedinEs. MIR. Gompers explained In
which the loss OF life was involve,i
There was the case growing out OF
the railway strike in 1924. hc said,
when Debs was adiudEcd guilty of
contempt and sentenced TO serve six
months There we're the cases of the
sheriff and other officials In Tennessee,
involving loss OF life. when the United
states supreme Court impos.d sen
fences OF only thirty. sixty and ninety
days.
IN the Gompers- Mitchell Morrison
case, he pointed out. the original con
troversy did not involve any loss Of
life. but simply a contention between
an employer ana workingmcn. There
was no charge OF criminality. he said
none OF base motive,
President Gompers also complained
OF the speed with which Justice
Wright acted In institut,ng new p.u-
ceedings after tho United states SUI
preme Court had in eject ouashed
the first proceedings on the next
morning after the supreme Court had
rendered its decision. when the opin lon
or the highest tribunal was no. avail
able 10 tho public, Mr. Gompers stated.
Justice Wright appointed a committee.
consisting OF the attorneys who had
prosecuted US in the other case. 10
determine II we had been guilty "a
contempt"
VIII Not Apologize.
President Gorspers took occasion
renew his statement that he would
not apologize TO the court for his ac-
lion upon which the contempt proceed
| inss are based He told the committee
:
ported that they had discovered suf-
he!ent ground TO hold the three Off
Gals OF the American Federation Of
Labor in contempt. but explained that
the alternative of apology had been
suggested
II am not ready to apologize for
trying 10 help the poor devil who is
working. giving the best that is in him
and getting so little for it," the labor
union leader shouted to the committee
II am not conscious OF having done
any wrong. OF having violated any
! law"
Just before the conclusion of the
hearing President Gompers asked that
! the attorney for the abor officials he
heard on the legal phases of the mat.
| ter. and the committee expressed its
willingness to hear the lawyer. Asked
II he hesItated to try the case before
! the Senate committee before the court
| mad heard IT. Mr.. Gompers replied that
! he would like to consult with the at
torney, but thought the matter to be
| presented would he different
You are not now under any SEN
tence2' asked senator Brandegee
Not yet, but soon replied Mr.
| Gompers. with a smile
Uses Strong Terms.
| President Gompers opened his testi-
"hoHS peIofe me committee with COM
ment on the third degree" methods OF
the police of this country, which, he
| said, constitute a system that is not
! only unlawful but brutal" He cited
the case of the Seylor brothers, ar
| rested in connection with the death
| of young woman in Atlantic city
| about two years ago. One of the broth
| ers. he said was "sweated and doped"
/ TO such an extent that he made state
| ANTE
suited in his conviction, But when
f; the trial came, MI Gompers declared
| and the man was not under the in
| huence OF the third degree system"
he gave testimony that resulted in his
acquittal.
That case. he said. is in strong con-
trast with the case OF Dr.. Crippen, ar