Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-17
SULzER MAY TESTIFY
Probable Witness for Gompers
in Contempt Case.
Statement BY COUNSEL
John Mitchell Preparing Written
Reply to Courts Query-Morri->
sons Testimony Concluded.
Statement BY COUNSEL

Representative William Sulzer Of New
York may be called as q witness in the
defense Of the contempt charges against
Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell and
Frank Morrison, labor leaders. When
Frank Morrison concluded his testimony
last night at 9:15 o'clock Attorney Raj
ston announced the defense closed with
the reservation that the evidence Of Mr..
Sulzer may be taken, II desired, during
the next session to be held for rebuttal
OF prosecutors.
he could not give them any time next
week. but would be prepared to hear re-
buttal evidence during the following
week. The justice stated that he desired
the case prepared for presentation to the
full bench not later than the second week
of March.
Samuel Gompers will not be recalled,
as was announced, because his counsel
determined that the points his testimony
was to ampify had been thoroughly COW
cred by the exhaustive examination OF
Mitchell and Morris
Mitchell Preparing Reply.
The written reply Of John Mitchell to
the inquiry Of Justice Wright as to the
views of Mitchell and his intention hence
forth to obey the orders OF inferior
courts before appeals taken are decided.
has not been concluded. It will probably
be submitted to the court during the
coming week.
The object of the testimony Of Repre-
sentative Sulzer Is to exculpate the labor
leaders from any completely In reference
tn hn do i,v 10 mn
New York in the House Of Representa-
tives in which was incorporated an
editorial by Gompers alleged to have been
contemptuous. Mr.. Ralston said he ex-
pected to show by Mr.. Sulzer that the
speech made by him in Congress- and the
addenda thereto, was Of his own motion.
without any suggestion from officers or
members Of the American Federation Of
Labor.
That the funds secured from the work
ingmen on the urgent appeal" claimed
by the respondents to have been issued
for raising revenue to prosecute the APP
peal from the order OF Injunction in the
Bucks Stove and Rang., Company case
was diverted for use in IL e political cam
paign of 1908 was the claim made by
Prosecutor Davenport in the course of
his cross-examination Of Secretary Nor
rison last evening.
Mr.. Davenport asked the witness II
it was not true that not one cent of the
fund Of $4,000 thus raised was used
in aid Of a legal defense Of the claim Of
the right to free speech and free press.
Mr.. Morrison answered that the idea of
legal defense entertained by the labor
leaders was to secure legislation that
would free labor organizations from In
functions Of the character Of the one is
sued in favor Of the Bucks Stove and
Range Company.
Expenditure Justified.
The use Of the funds from the urgent
appeal in the campaign was justified by
the witness with the statement that the
purpose of the labor leaders was to create
sentiment in favor Of the election OF
men friendly to organized labor. with
view of having Congress enact laws pro-
hibiting such injunctions.
He admitted that money was spent
from the urgent appeal fund to print and
distribute 100000 copies Of an address
to workers during the campaign and for
the dissemination of the speech OF Will
liam Sulzer of New York, which con-
tanned the so-called contemptuous edi-
torial by GOmpers.