The herald., 1894-07-12
The LAW OF TAE CASE.

Ths charge OF United States Judge
Grosscup to the federal grand Jury in
Chicago is q very exhaustive, perspicuous
and able ons. and it will doubtless stand
as clear and authoritative exposition
OF the law governing the rights of organ
lied labor and the rules Of practice in
charges of impeding the United States
mails and interfer ng with the free move
ment of interatate commerce.
The learned Judge recognizes the fact
that the opportunities OF life under pres
ent conditions are not equal, and that
changes are needed to forestsll some Of
the dangerous tendencies OF industrial
life. Bat he truly declares that these
changes must be brought about by law
full and peaceful means; that order must
be preserved and violations OF the law
must be sternly punished.
In these troublous times it may be as
we'll that every body should know just
what the law enjoins and what it inhib-
it's. especially in relation to industrial
combinations. Every man. in the ab.
sence of contract to the contrary, has
the right to quit work when he pleases.
As the Judge forcibly puts it, the indi-
vdual option to work or to quit is the
in perishable right OF freeman" There
10 no mandate OF law which prevents
lis association with others, and he is en- .
titled to the highest wage the 'strate-
gy" Of work or the cessation from work
may bring. His right, Gays the judge,
to choose leader who observes, thinks
and Wills for him, brain skilled to OBJ
eerve his interest, is no greater preten.
sion than that which lie recognized in
every other department OF industry. So
far, he continues, and within reasonable e
limits, associations OF this character are
not unlawful, but are, in his judgment,
beneficial when they do not restrain in
dividual liberty and are under enlight'
ened and conscientious leadership.
This. then, clearly defines the lega
status of associated labor organizations
Their power rests in the moral and prac
tical coercion which combined quitting
from work may produce. This is, @
course, tremendous power, and mus
be exercised in a legitimate manner
The men. having the right to delegate
to their leaders the power to order them
to put the tremendous force into action
these leaders, to keep within the Legal
bounds OF their authority. must exer
cise it only in conscientious, disinter
ested and dispassionate way. II they d.
go to eubserve their own personal o
s,nbitious ends, they do 30 wrongtully
and must answer to the law.
In other words. the limits OF lega
strike are reached in withdrawing from
work. To transcend these limitations
and to become criminally liable to pun,
ishmeat, is to engage in o. incite riots
to prevent, either by intimidation o.
overt act, other workers from taking tn
places and performing the dutiea they
have abandoned. The strikers at Sac
ramento were clearly in contempt OF tn
law when they refused to quit the prem
ises of the railroad company, and Il set
force to prevent the running OF trains
The right to strike or quit work is as
sured; but to go beyond that, to coerc
the employer to yield to whatever de
mand is made. is illegal.
The judge in concluding his charge
draws timely attention to the fact tina
there ere wrongs at the bottom OF tn
disturbed condition OF society. whicl
ought to be righted. Ie ssya:
"Iconfess the problems hich are mad
the occasion or pretext for the presen
disturbances have not received the con
sideraton they deserve. 1t 10 our dut
as citizens to take them up and by can
did and courageous discussion ascertai
what wrongs exist and what remedie
can be applied But neither the exist
epco oi ouch problems nor the negeC
OF the public hitherto to adequately cor
slider them, justifies the violation OF La
or the bringing on of general lawlesl
ness. Lst us fret restore peace an
punish the offenders OF the Law, an
then the atm osphere will be clear I
think over the claims OF tnose who hav