Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1909 — LABOR LEADERS APPEAL TO COURT [ARTICLE]

LABOR LEADERS APPEAL TO COURT

Take Step In Fight on Jail Sentences For Contempt. SEEK CHANGE IN INJUNCTION Exemption of Labor Organizations from Certain Provision! of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act Is Discussed by the President and a Delegation by Samuel Gompers—Amendment to the Eight-Hour Law Is Another Subject Considered. Washington, Nov. 30. —Counsel for Samuel Gompers, John Mitchell and Frank Morrison have formally applied to the United States supreme court for a writ of certiorari in the Buck’s Stove and Range company contempt case, in which Gompers, Mitchell and Morrison were sentenced to Jail sentences of twelve, nine and six months respectively for contempt of the supreme court of the District of Columbia. The defendants were sentenced for printing in the American Federationist, in the “We don’t patronize” list the name of the Buck’s Stove and Range company and in public addresses and otherwise violating an injunction. Washington. Nov. 30.—Recommendations looking toward the improvement of the condition of the laboring man which it is desired for the president to incorporate in his annual message to congress were urged upon President Taft by a delegation of labor leaders headed by Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor. Foremost of these was concerning the issuance of injunctions by federal judges, particularly as they apply to personal liberty and their use in the settlement of disputes between employers and employes. The exemption of labor organizations from certain provisions of the Sherman anti-trust act was discussed for some time. Amendment to the eight-hour law so as to extend its provisions to contractors and requesting an appropriation to pay in.-] < ctors for duty in enforcing the child labor law in the District of Columbia were e'her subjects taken up at the conference. Taft Busy on Message. Washington, Nov. 30. President Taft has begun dictating his annual message to congress, and will be bu: ily engaged at that task for the next days. He expects to complete the work and have it in the hands the public printed before-the the present week.