The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-30
THE TIMES SUSTAINED BY MR.. HURD.

The Hon. Frank Hurd. OF Ohio. APP
peisred before the United States Court al
Toledo as counsel for the Lake Shore
men who were proceeded against for
contempt Of court in refusing 10 remain
in the service OF their employers, al: we
find a rer Crt OF his speech in their de-
Tense In the New York Sun. Mr.. Hlud
presented exactly tile view Of the case
which The Times presented yesterday.
We quote the following from what he
said:
Courts cannot interfere to compel the
specific performance OF duties In the ma
ture OF personal service. In no case has
II ever been contemplated that courts
could compel a specific performance Of a
contract for labor
you may employ an actor to act or
singer To- sing or an artist TO paint, but
how can you make them do these things?
In Paris a singer was enioined from
singing in another opera house, tut she
could not be compelled to sing IN any
stated one.
1.-The Lake Shore. as I'm this case, has
taken the negative side OF the Glestion.
1t seeks to say what the men shall do,
and not what they shall not do. desire
in the case of the Chicago. Burlington
and Quincy, I'm which employees Of the
receiver quit work. The court led that
II could not compel employees TO remain
in the employ of the receiver. Thce are
many reasons why they should not II
the men are ordered by the court 20 take
a train TO Detroit to-day how would they
go? AS slaves only. If they refused what
would the court do2 Punish thtm for
H,r ,ric L.
very act make the performance o. Its
own order impossible.
THE relations are wholly ContraCtual
between the company and the men, and
the men and corporations submit IL po-
lice control. But the nature Of The CEN
tracts between companies and the public
does not extend TO the employees. me
contracts between companies anu men
are purely private. II is right or the
public to have certain regulations over
corporations performing the important
duties Of a railroad but more Important
than this is the right of an individual
to exercise the freedom that belongs 10
every man to say whether he i'll work
for a certain company.
1.-The Lake Shore Company has no right
to institute proceeding 10 compel It's en-
ployes to handle Ann Arbor freight. 1reir
remedy is by Il suit against them ond
proper proceedings in litigation to which
the men are parties
Mr. Hurd is one Of the soundest ard
most eminent Democrats living in the
United States Thus. In presenting the
views which we stated yesterday on this
most interesting and important matter,
we not only followed in the lines Of those
principles upon which our whole system
Of civilization Is built. but we have this
eminent Democrats sanction for claiming
that we were advocating Democratic doc
trine.
Per contra. the labor leader. Nr. T. V.
Powderly, who is permeated through end
through with the hercsias Of German
Socialism. on being asked what he
thought of the action Of the United
States judge replied
whatever way It may end" he replied.
at is in direct line with what the labor
organizations have been striving for dur
ing the past five or six years-namely,
the naturalization Of railroads. The
country is bound to come 10 il sooner or
later, and every decision in this direction.
whether il is Sustained or not. is a step
toward the desired end"
And Mr. Powderly IS right. Perversion
Of true Democratic principles like that Of
the United States judge in this case
drives men directly towards all the her
rors Of Socialism. Recognition Of the
equality Of all men before the laws holds
us to the old and sacred principles upon
which our society was built, that guar
antee justice to all.