The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-05
As to Plcketrng.
IL DECISION OF Justice
Gaynor Of the Brooklyn SUI
preme court that picketlng


Gaynor Of the Brooklyn SUI
preme court that picketing
by strikers is legal calls for
careful consideration. For reasons
which we shall give we do not believe
that this opinion will stand.
To picket a place is to maintain Il
Gordon of strikers about 1t for the pur-
pose Of intercepting men who seek to
enter. The law is settled that men may
strike and that other men may work
in the strikers places if they see fit.
1t is also settled that when some men
quit work and others are employed in
their stead the new men are as fully
entitled to protection as the old We're
and that neither they nor their employ
or nor their employers property may
lawfully be inolested. 1t would not for
an instant be tolerated as consistent
With orderly liberty that the employer
should have the right, under the law,
to put cordons Of spies around the
homes Of the men who have left his
employ, in order to prevent other men
from entering. That would Immediate
ly impress the most enthuiastic trade
unionist az form Of petty tyranny
and the law would promptly he appeal
cd to to put an end to it.
Yet in practice picketing, as upheld
ing less than the doing to the employer
Of what would not be tolerated If done
by him. In a time Of public peace it
means u species of martial law in the
vicinity Of workshop from which the
strikers have voluntarily absented
themselves, for the unconcealed pur-
pose of influencing other workingmen
not to enter. In this connection 1t Is
necessary to distinguish between in
dividual persuasion and picketlng. 1t
is the right of strikers to try by argu-
ment and moral SuasiOn to prevent
other men from taking the places which
they have abandoned. But it has been
affirmed by the United States Supreme
court and 1t is consistent with common
sense and common fairness that argu,
lnent and moral suasion may not law
fully be reinforced by the show of num-
bers for purposes OF intimidation nor.
Of course, by threats or violence.
What Is picketlng except the show
of numbers for purposes Of intlnida-
tion? What is it but Il setting up of
a form OF Interference with the oper-
alton Of an industry from which those
employing 1t have separated them
selves? II there can be legal picket
ing of Il workshop why not of u store
or Il home? What is to prevent Its con-
version into an irresponsible and capric-
ious means OF venting any and every
kind Of personal spite OF jealousy?
Carried out to its logical conclusion, it
would lead to anarchy, since it would
override the regular police agencies and
substitute the authority of an executive
committee for that of u regularly OF.
ganized government by the majority.
No class of men in the community
should have special legal privileges.
The law should be for all. II plcketlng
ristO be legllized. it may us we'll be
used DS' employers as by strikers and
BY the long-suffering non-combatant
community rs by either. Thus we
shouiditsoon have a dislntegration Of
INC ordinary tigencles OF peace and JUS
ticee,-Iapl, Instead u more OF less accurate
reproduction of the French regin Of
sterror. /" Because we do not think that
Intelligence workingrnen any more than
,intslligept. employers want that We
guonciude that the opinion of Justice
1Gaynor with reference to piclSeting will
mot stand the combined test of con-
science or -eSpediency. .,o,,, -.'.-.
but 'p''Jirf ,irTr----r - -,--,.-- ts.
There seems to be a concerted moves
ment upon the part oil the witnesses in
the Danish scandal investigation to
trace the family tree OF Captain Christ
mas back to Anunias,
"ai '4' 'Q1Tls -r----rs--> o. .''.
b.. @His = p. In Regard to Oieo,