The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-25
PRISON SENTENCES
FOR LABOR CHIEFS
GOMPERS, MITCHELL AND NOR.
RISON ARE HELD GUILTY
OF CONTEMPT.


Wright OF the Supreme Cour. Of The
District of Columbia today rendered
decision holding guilty Of contempt
of court Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation OF Labor:
John Mitchell, one OF Its Vice. presi-
dents, and Frank Morrison. secretary
OF the federation. Terms Of imprison-
ment in the district jail were SIT as
punishment for the alleged violations
OF q decree Of the court passed De-
cember %, 1907. Mr.. Gompers was
sentenced to serve one year and Mr..
Morrison six months. Tue sentence
on Mr.. Mitchell was withheld In his
absence.
In emitting to pass sentence on
Mitchell. Justice Wright said: The
court had determined that at this
time 1t would not render formal judg-
ment In the absence of Mr.. Mitchell
although there Is precedent for such
action"
Would Expedite Appeals.
Attorney Ralston suggested that
the appeals might be expedited by
having sentence imposed, as Mr.. Nit
cheils engagements in the West
might keep him until September
Justice Wright told counsel to confer
with the committee of prosecutors. +"
and on the outcome of this conference
probably viii depend -xhather-Mit-
chell will be summoned here to re-
ceiVe the sentence of the court or
have the sentence imposed In his alb
sence, on the request of his counsel.
TO save time In the matter OF the ap~
pesls.
The court decided Mr.. Gompers To
be the chief offender and that the
others offended IN lesser degrees and
so graded the sentences The SEN
fences are Identical with those passed
on the two labor leaders Decem Der
%, 1908, on the frst anniversary of
the signing OF the decree which they
have been adjudged OF violating
Appeal Is Noted.
Counsel for the labor chiefs noted
ah appeal from the judgment of con-
tempt and arranged bonds for their
clients at $1,000 each to await the
outcome OF the proceedings in the
higher tribunal. The case may go
again TO the Supreme Court OF the
United States. which May is. 1911,
reversed the previous sentence of the
local court for contempt on the
ground OF mistake In the choice OF
method of procedure. The labor
men claim the present prosecution is
Improperly entitled tn equity aud
argue that contempt proceedings are
criminal and the subject of criminal
procedure.
Chief Justice Ciabaugh did not sit
other justices of the court concurred
In the decision OF Justice Wright. and
all OF them, excepting Justice Barn
ard, who is on vacation, we're present
on the bench when the decision was
read and sentence pronounced today.
Samuel Gompers and Frank Morri-
son were present In court and lis
tened attentively to the reading OF
the opinion. Mr.. Gompers stated that
telegraphic notice had been sent to
John Mitchell, but no response had
been received and he was unable TO
say whether his associate had receiv-
ed the notification OF the court that
# would announce it's decision today.
Mr.. Mitchell Is on a lecture tour in
the West and by his itinerary was ex-
pected in Prescott. Ariz.. last Friday
Gompers Makes Statement
After the decision. In an interview,
President Gompers said:
This decision typiffes the conten-
tion which labor has made against
the practice of courts of equity IN
dealing. not with property rights. but
with personal relations-normal per-
sonal activities--a practice entirely Mt
variance with constitutional govern
ment.
In this case the Judge has acted
as the initiator OF criminal contempt.
He appointed attorneys of private lit
igants to prepare and prosecute a
complaint. He then formulated his
decision and imposed prison SEN
fences. Facts and the evidence have
been suppressed and the motives &c
my colleagues and myself misrepre-
scented.
I'VE contend that court has no
right in advance to enioin or prevent
expression OF opinion. either orally or
by publication, is an invasion of guar
anteed rights.
III Justice Wright imagines that
by imposing prison sentences upon
my associates and myself. he can stop
the human progress we strive for, he
has missed his point"
Pleads Guilty.
Harvey Lewis, colored indicted on a
charge Of grand larceny. pleaded