The Washington times., 1912-02-27
LABOR LEADERS
EXONERATED BY
SULZER IN COURT
House Speech, With Com
pers Editorial, Made on
Own Initiative.

Exonerating the labor leaders from all
responsibility for his utterances. and
the wide circulation given a speech con-
tanning Objectionable editorials from the
American Federationist, Congressman
Sulzer, Of New York, proved an inter-
csting witness today In the contempt
Of court proceedings against President
Tompers, Vice President Mitchell. and
Secretary Morrison. before Justice
Wright in Equity Court, No. 2.
Today's session marked the closing
of each side so far as Testimony Is con-
cerned. Final arguments will be begun
before the full court of six Judges,
March II.
Sulzer's Denial.
Congressman Sulzer delivered the
speech in the House on March II, ;90S
and 10000 copies were 'franked." The
committee of prosecutors sought to
provo that the labor leaders were re-
sponsible for Incorporating into the
Congressional Record an editorial writ
ten by President Gompers, severely
criticising the injunction prohibiting a
boy colt against the Bucks stove and
Range Company, by having 1t added to
tile SSulZer speech.
Ibid the three respondents have any
thing to do with the ranking of 10000
copies of that speech?" asked Attorney
Daniel Davenport, one of the prose-
cutors.
mo, sir" replied the Congressman.
How many copies were distributed?'
inquired the prosecutor.
81 don't know for sure, but 1 only
regret that there were not more sent
out" blandly answered the witness.
Explains Action.
Pressed for an explanation as to why
he had made the speech on March II,
the day after a meeting of the executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor, and the day before the protest
conference" of the labor leaders, Con-
gresham Sulzer said:
Il make speeches when the spirit
moves me and / can get recognition
from the Speaker. This matter of the
injunction 1 deemed to be of sufficient
public moment to demand wide public
ity. The Congressional Record being
| one of the cheapest agencies for pub.
licity, l simply used that means OF
placing the subject before the citizens al
| large"
There was some dispute between the
Congressman and Attorney Davenport
| as to whether the clerk of the House
read the editorial or just hit the high
pldCSS. II WAS Drought out tnat the
Congressman had characterized the OBJ
| jectionable editorial as "a very able,
| exhaustive and lucid commentary by
| President Gompers when he pesented Il
| to his colleagues in the House.
| Did not Arthur r.. Holder ant
| Thomas +. Tracey call on you or
| March II, 1908; and request that you in
| sert the editorial in a speech so that II
could be franked?" was the 5Significan
question asked by Attorney Davenport
before the witness left the stand.
mo, sir" responded the Congress
man in his deepest voice.
49,, Reply Is Withheld.
1t was later explained that Holder anc
| Tracey are labor men, but the commit
| tee of prosecutors would not divulgt
| the significance of the question abou
their connection with the Sulzer speech
Attorney J. II. Ralston, one of thu
counsel for the labor leaders, announced
that the reply of Vice Presiden
Mitchell to the suggestion of JustiC,
=. Wright, that he explain his intentions
about respecting court orders in the flu
ture, would not be made today. 1t wal
expected that the answer would be fileC
u as it had been dSafted No reason wal
assigned for withholding the reply.
=. Following the Testimony of Congress
man Sulzer the committee of prose
cutors read into the record editorials
and other utterances by the labor lead
ers. The purpose of this evidence, 1
was stated, was to rebut testimony o
the respondents, the statements in SOM
instances being contrary to views eX
pressed on the witness stand.