Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-08-22
JACKSON AND KELLER
A PAIR OF LABOR UNION HATERS
ON THE BENCH,

| The vampire" speech made by
Judge Jackson of West Virginia when
he fixed extreme penalties on the
labor representatives who We're work
Ing for their order is one of those ut
terances that have in them the ele-
ments of all sorts of dissatisfaction
and disturbance.
| Periodically there comes to the bench
man who is absolutely out of SYM
pathy with the spirit of his time, and
such u one Is very likely to regard his
elevation to the position as Il warrant
for assuming that he is privileged to
hector and scold as we'll as to fix pen
altles and decide disputes.
These are the judges who are most
given to using their power of commit
ment for contempt of court.
The men Judge Jackson has sent to
| Jail for periods of two and three
months disregarded the injunction that
forbade them to persuade men to join
q labor union. 1t will be long time
| before America Is ready to accept the
ruling of this court that talking to the
employees of particular concern Is an
| offense SO grave that a sweeping IN
| junction can make it contempt 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 for 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 its employees to remain
outside the union they would get even
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 nothing
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 jeopardlZed by such revelation
of temper and bias on the part of
judge than it ever could be by the dis
regard of his injunctions.
The lawyers who practice before
Judge Jackson "have nothing In COM
mon" with the litlgants they repre-
sent, but he would hardly describe
them as vampires.
The walking delegates are a part of
the scheme 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 unions
the employees of any corporation are
utterly at its mercy. By concerted ac-
tion they can make stand against in
justice that they never could do as In
dividuals. 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 n pro-
lection to themselves at their ses-
sions. 1t 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 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 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 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 injunctions
made 1t a punishable offense to ask a
coal miner to join labor union, and
now Judge Keller, another West Vir-
ginia jurlst, has issued inJunctions for
bidding the establishment of strike
camps, which are established in con-
nection with the 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 beneficent
S scheme Of starving the strikers into
< abandoning their union, SO this in
junction, directed at the leaders of the