The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-29
SATURDAY, december %, 1900
CLEARING Up SOME oBsCURlTIEs

The Supreme Court CT Illinois has just
decided d case which ought to have a
stron. Influence in clearing mud out Of
Inc minds OF many Of people VINO
think they know the whole catalogue Of
human rights The illinois Legislature
passed AN act entitled IAN act 10 protect
employees and guarantee their right 10 &c
long 10 labor organizations which pro-
vides Tor imposing = fine upon any en-
ployer who discharges one of his employees
because he belonged to a labor orsanlza-
rion An employing contractor discharged
enc OF his carpenters for this cause and
l.. was f4ned. So for it. The Supreme Court
of Illinois decides that the act is repuE-
rant 10 the Constitution and void, and re-
iieves the contractor from the fine.
The full bearing Of this decision viii be
a,ett,z- appreciated when il Is considered
along with q. ;rerlarll made By President
Go1nTers. Of the American Federation Of
Labor, at tbs. Chicago conference CT arbi-
tration and Cancellation. Speaking against
compulsory arbirration.' Mr. GomDers
said that worRing1nen had a right 10
strike at amy time for any reason or for
no reason AT ali. a Mr.. Iuslz, of New
Zealand. who was present as an advocste
of compulsory arbitration" was Mortified
at MIR. Campers remark That, lie said,
was not liberty, hut license" What Mr..
Gonpcrs said is Of the Very essence Of
-a3glo-Sac;on institutions ana OF all ins;itu-
1Io-ls founded on or that grow out OF them
Our -Anglo+Saxon institutions are based
upon the idea that no man was to be COM
peeled TO do or TO refrain from doing any
1hi1G. In their opinion it was not CON-
g,atible with the liberty of the citizen that
lle should be coerced in any matter what
ever. He did what he pleased. paying the
penalty for his act if it was il violation
OF Law. That was Anslo-saNon freedom
salld The basis of the jury system. a YER
die by which WAS necessary TO make a
1li-g pay a penalty even if ne did violate
The law
Some four hundred years back civiiza-
1iolt, the arts aud sciences had advanced
so far that 1t Was seen there must be
some Modification of this principle, and
SO the courts of equity came into existence
with their writs of Injunction 10 restrain
"a. man from dong an unlawful ac. in GER
lam cases. But the courts Of equity did
rret carry their point without tremendous
contest, and they were forced TO limit
their injunctionS 10 cases where the
1h.catened wrong would cause an injury
that could not be adequately compensated
an damages through The verdict of d Jury.
That was the innovation allowed and i,
lias never 10 this day been allowed TO 90
ono step further. Or -Anglo-saxon idea
prevails all oyer this land, except as it
is abridged by ,his single modification, and
unccl are as free TO do whatever they
please to-day, subject 10 the penalties that
their wrongful acts bring on them, as
4hey were when ou., ancestors roamed The
forests Of Germany.
1he decision OF the Illinois Court gives
expression 10 this iS.e.a, 1t is the natural
fright OF the Workman 10 strike when he
i,leases, whether ne violates a contract or
whether he does not. paying the penalty
FOR his wrusesful act, and it is the natural
right of the employer 10 discharge his
-amplcye when he pleases. whether he
makes a contract or whether he does not, !
die paying the employe such damages as
jury awards FOR his wrongful act in dis !
charging the e.nploye !