The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-08-27
FOR THE TRUSTS.
a Pair Of Labor Union Haters on
the Bench.
WOULD STARVE ALL STRIKERS

| W NUULO S16he V e oAA - SA!lA4AAAsS'
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 in them the eie-
ments Of all sorts Of dissatisfaction
and disturbance.
Periodically there comes to the
| bench man who is absolutely out OF
sympathy with the spirit OF his time.
and such d one is very likely to regard
his elevation to the position as a war
rant for assuming that he is privileged
to hector and scold as we'll as to Tx
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
ioin a labor union. 1t will be a long
time before America is ready to &C
cept the ruling Of this court that talk
ing to the employees Of particular
concern is an offense so grave that
sweeping injunction can make 1t con-
tempt Of court.
That such a ruling Is Of use to the
Clarksburg Fuel company is obvious,
and there have been judges who have
found warrant of law fer prohibiting
anything that rich corporations found
to their disadvantage.
Does anybody believe that If the
Miners union applied to this or any
other judge for an injunction prohibit
ing the Clarksburg Fuel company
from inducing it's employees to remain
outside the union they would gej even
a hearing?
The description Of the union organ
izerS as vampires that live and iatten
on the honest labor Of the coal miners
of the country 4 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 it 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 part OF
the SCENE of unioDizing 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 it's mercy. BY concerted
action they can make 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. It was never meant to create
new crimes or TO furnish weapon
for employers as against their men.
There is another aspect Of this case.
Every person before 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 fel-
lows to treat others with respect and
courtesy is equally binding. The judge
who is there to decide the rights and
wrongs of disputes and administer the
law generally, is neither a preacher
nor a professor Of morals. Sermons
and lessons are as far from his duties
as abuse and tyranny.
Calling men vampires because they
are intrusted by their fellows with a
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 lnjunctionS
made it punishable otfenSe to ask a
coal miner to join labor union, and
now Judge Keller, another West Fir-
ginia jurist has issued injunctions for
bidding Jne establishment OF 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 in defiance OF
their charters, are to be congratulated
on the presence on the bench OF two
such convenient justices as these.
If they do not win the strike, it will
not be the fault Of Judge Jackson and
Judge Keller.
The splendid response Of the union
conference in the matter OF strike ben
efits made it impossible for the coal
operators to carry out their benefcent
scheme of starving the strikers into
abandoning their union, so this in
junction. directed at the leaders OF the