The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1902-08-27
FOR THE TRUSTS.
A Pair of Labor Union Haters on
the Bench.
WOULD STARvE ALL STRIKERS.
They Think that Working Men
Have No Rights which
Trusts Are Bound To
Respect

The vampire" speech made by
Judge Jackson of West Virginia when
he fixed extreme penalties on the
labor representatives who were work
ing for their order is one OF those ut
teranceS that have i'm them the clc-
mentS Of all sorts of dissatisfaction
and disturbance.
Periodically there comes u the
! bench man who is absolutely out OF
sympathy with the spirit of his time,
and such one is very likely to regard
rant for assuming that he is privileged
To hector and Scold as well as to fix
penalties and decide disputes.
These are the judges who are most
given to uSiug their power of commit
ment for contempt Of court.
The men Judge JockSon has sent to
Jail for periods of two and three
months disregarded the Injunction
that forbade them to persuade men to
join labor union. 1t will he a long
time before America is ready to ac-
cept the ruling of this court that talk
ing to the employees OF particular
concern is an otlense SO grave that
sweeping injunction can make it con-
tempt of court.
That such ruling is of us to the
ClarkSburg Fuel company is obvious.
and there have been judges who have
found warrant of law for prohibiting
anything that rich corporations found
TO their disadvantage.
Does anybody believe that il the
Miners union applied to this or any
other judge for an injunction prohibit
ing the Clarksburg Fuel company
from inducing its employees to remain
outside the union they would get even
Z hearing?
The description of the union organ
iZers as vampires that live and fatten
on the honest labor of the coal miners
OF the country and have moth.
ing in common with the people who
are employed in the mines of the Clarks-
burg Fuel company is part OF Judge
JackSon'S trade.
Certainly the dignity OF the courts
is more jeopardized by such revela-
tion of temper and bias on the part of
a Judge than il ever could be by the
disregard of his injunctions.
The lawyers who practice before
Judge Jackson have nothing in COM
mon with the litigantS they repre-
sent, but he would hardly describe
them as vampires.
The walking delegates are a part of
the SCENE of uniOniZing labor-a
scheme that has done more for the
betterment Of conditions among those
who toll than any other element of
our civilization. Without their un-
ions the employees of any corporation
are utterly at its mercy. BY concerted
action they can make a stand against
injustice that they never could do as
individuals. Without the organizers
There would be no unions, situation
that would doubtless satisfy the own
erS OF coal mines and possibly Judge
Jackson but one that would be mel
ancholy FOR the men who have to work
with their hands.
The last word as to government by
injunction has not been spoken in this
country by any means.
The power to punish for contempt
of court was given judges as pro-
lection To themselves at their Ses-
SionS. 1t was never meant to create
new crimes or To furnish Il weapon
for employers as against their men.
There is another aspect of this case.
Every person before a court is required
to treat that court with respect and
courtesy. The obligation of the par
ticular citizen who happens to be
chosen To sit in Judgment on his fell
lows To treat Others with respect and
courtesy is equally binding. The Judge
VINO Is there To decide the rights and
wrongs of disputes and administer the
law generally, is neither preacher
nor professor Of morals. Sermons
and lessons are as far from his duties
us abuse and tyranny.
Calling men vampires because they
are intruSted 10y their fellows with
function Of which Judge jackson dis
approves is neither law nor manners.
one more crime has been added to
the catalogue.
Judge Jackson by his injunctiunS
made it punishable oTenSc to ask
coal miner TO join labor union, and
NV" bN'SN NCllCI' dllOllltI w est ' II
ginia juriSt has issued injunctionS for
bidding the establishment q, strike
camps, which are established in CON
nectiOn with She purchase and diStri-
button OF food for the striking miners.
The lawbreaking railroads, which
mine coal Illegally and i'm defiance of
their charters, are to be cOngra Ilated
on vhe presence on the bench of two
such convenient justices as these.
III they do not win the strike. il will
not he the fault OF Judge Jackson and
Judge Keller.
The splendid response of the union
conference in the matter of Strike ben
ctitS made it impossible for the coal
operators to carry out their benciiccut
scheme of starving the strikers into
abandoning their union, so this in !
Junction, directed at the leaders of the |
national executive committee and 9th !
erS charged with the duty OF providing |
supplies for the men who are out on |