The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-08-16
EDITORIAL.

The railroads ana railrohu-r"uon
courts are driving the people to public
ownership about as fast as they know
how. In 1894 the Illinois courts gave
conductor verdict for damages and
smart-money Of t2l, ,60e.SS against a
railroad com pany for blacklisting him 80
he could not obtain work elsewhere. He
had gone home and stayed with his
family while a strike was on, taking no
part in the strike, and the railroad com'
pany refused to give him clearance
paper and when he got work for another
company they had him discharged and
fixed II 20 he waa refused employment
everywhere at his trade OF locomotive
engineer. A jury composed OF not sim
gle labor-union member gave him that
verdict, which was clear triumph Tor
human liberty, as but $3.50 actual loss
from unemployment was proven, the
rest being damages for the blacklist.
That decision made the blscklisting oi
employees a crime just as well-defined as
rs bank robbery or arson, and what was
declared crime then has now been To-
galized by the conrts oi Illinois. A few
weeks ago state circuit court handed
down decision that blacklisting labor
ing men was legal. The latest decision
declares that corporations have not only
the right TO discharge their employees,
but also the right to prevent
them securing work from other
companies and firms. A clear
ance paper must now give laboreI
permission TO obtain work elsewhere be-
fore any other employer will be sale ia
giving him job. This decision means
the starvation OF innocent women and
children for laborer TO even sympa-
thIze with a strike. With his wife and
children tugging at his coat tall
he will sign away his liberty Il
make any appeal for better wages O
better conditions for himself and fellow
workers. He must lose his sacred right
Of equality and citizenship in fire.
country and crawl on his stomach as aI
obssquious vassal, no matter how man,
extra hours or starvation wages, unles
be wants TO be fixed 10 he connot &c
employment anywhere. The highe
courts should knock this decision Of Al
unwlse understrapper corporation judg
silly unless they want 70 see the countr.
take the side Of labor against all col
porations. which II is pretty rapid abou
doing anyhow. There be smart lawyers
politicians who get on the bench an
nonsuit citizens right aud left wheneye
corporation case comes before them
but they are Of the narrow-cheste
variety, who are the real enemies {
seligovernment by the people. whe
the steel trut 10 leyylng an additions
dividend OF 100000 year on tn
consumer. aud there is general feel
ing about for some time for some wa
20 get out from under the Morga
glacier that ia slowly but surely grind
ing the nose Of the American people III
the blood comes, is no time for pin
headed politicians occupying places o
the bench 10 luther antagonize N
masses. hut they will do II. This las
labor decision may be sustained b
some higher court. and then the las
laeeota viii be thrown ON tho aIread,
burnlng brushpile between labor an'
capital. AZ the Judge Taney decisioI
that slave was portable chsiie
sprung the milne Of the rebellion, .
aome halfbaksd occupant Of the tencl
viii nre the conaasFation Of an in
duslriol rebelliou. Material injustice
win Gre tho funeral pyre Of its own de
rlrneslon unless the blind capiains 0