Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-08
EXPRESSES HIS VIEWS
TO SENATE committee
Labor Leader Reviews Proceedings
in Bucks Stove and Range Casa.
SCORES CONTEMPT CHARGES
Appears Before Investigators uf
"Third Degree" Methods, with
Mcnamara Arrest as Matter
Under Discussion.

Under Discussion.
President Samuel Gompers OF the Amer
ican Federation OF Labor today d.Slared
to the Senate committee appointed to con-
slider the administration OF the law by
federal officials that Justice Wright OF
peachmant
1t was a dramatic incident when the
man who had been sentenced to spend a
year in Jail for contempt of court began to
imposed the sentence. He had reviewed
at some length the proceedings in con-
tempt
Several phases of this case will furnish
the subject of profitable inquiry by this
committee President Gompers contin-
ued. Whether or not impeachment pro-
ceedings can be brought against this
judge is a question. He deserves It,
have no doubt"
THAT ought to be your remedy" sug-
gested Senator Borah. member OF the
investigating committee.
Would Employ the Recall Method.
IF we had the recall here he would
have been recalled long ago." remarked
Mr.. Gompers.
Il think impeachment is q better pro
ceeding," commented Mr. Borah.
Il have no doubt something along tna6
line will soon develop" Mr.. Gompers
commented.
President Gompers appeared before the
committee primarily to discuss the ar
rest Of John J. McNamara in INDIAN
apolis and his transfer to Los Angeles.
But he brought up the contempt pro-
ceedings that arose out of the Buck o
Stove and Range Company on his own
initiative.
"a peculiar administration OF the law
by a justice of the District Supreme
Court" was the way Mr.. Gompers re-
ferred to the contempt proceedings. In
the beginning.
The sentences that were imposed in that
case, Imprisonment for twelve, nine and
six months, respectively. on three de-
PENDANTS, President Gompers. Vice Presi-
dent John Mitchell and Secretary Frank
Morrison of the American Federation OF
Labor, Mr. Gompers said. are without q
parallel In the history OF this country.
There is no record, he said. OF a longer
sentence than six months for contempt
Debs Sentence Cited.
There have been many contempt pro-
ceedings, Mr.. Gompers explained. in
which the loss of life was involved. There
was the case growing out of the railway
strike in 1894, he said. when Debs was
adjudged guilty Of contempt and sentenced
to serve six months. There were the
cases of the sheriff and other officials In
Tennessee. involving loss of life, when
the United States Supreme Court imposed
sentences 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 contention between
an employer and workingmen. There
was no charge OF criminality, he said
none of base motive.
President Gompers also complain0i or
the speed with which Justice Wright
acted in instituting new proceedings.
after the United States Supreme Court
had in effect quashed the first proceed
ings. On the next morning after the
Supreme Court had rendered its de-
cision, when the opinion OF the highest
tribunal was not available to the pub
lie, Mr. Gompers stated, Justice Wright
appointed a committee. consisting or
the attorneys who had prosecuted us
in the other case, to determine IL we
had been guilty Of contempt"
Will Not Apologize.
President Gompers took occasion 10
renew his statement that he would not
apologize to the court for his action
upon which the contempt proceedings
nj fha cnYnunfffQA
frankly that the committee had report
ed that they had discovered sufficient
ground to hold the three officials OF the
American Federation OF Labor in con-
tempt, but explained that the alternative
Of apology had been suggested.
''I am not ready to apologize tor Tying
to 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. Il am not
conscious of having done any wrong, OF
having yiolat ted any law.
Just before the conclusion OF the he4H
ing President Gompers asked tnat tUe
attorney for the labor officials De heard
the COMMITTEES expressed Its will
;ngness to hear the lawyer. Aslced
II he hesitated TO try the case before the
senate committee before the court had
would like to consult with the attorney.
but thought the matter to be presented
would be different
You are not now under any sentenceT
asked Senator Brandegee.
mot yet, but soon." replied Mr. Com
pers, with q smile.
Uses Strong Terms.
President Gompers opened his testi-
mopy before the committee with comment
on the third degree methods of the po-
lice of this country. which. he said, con-
stitute a system that Is not only unlaw-
fuI hut brutal" He cited the case OF
the Seylor brothers. arrested in connec-
tion with the death Of q young woman
in Atlantic City about two years ago.
One of the brothers. he said, was
.ssweated and doped" to such an extent
that he made statements that. IL true.
ought TO have resulted in his conviction.
Rut when the trial came, Mr.. 0ompers
declared. and the man was not under the
influence Of the third degree system"
he gave testimony that resulted IN his
acquittal.
trast with the case OF DR.. Crippen. ar
rested by the British author1ties Just
Is soon as Crippen was taken into GUS