The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-01
No Authority for the Issuance of Re-
strainfng Orders i'm Industrial Dis
putes, the Address Says.
CASE OF FOREMAN MILLER
AND PRESIDENT ROOsEvELT'S At
TITUDE THEREON DISCUSSED.
Open shop Regarded by the Council
as q Menace to Unionism and
High Wages.
WASHINGTON. Sept sO.-The executive

WASHINGTON. Sept. 3O.-The executive
council of the American Federation of La
Dor tonight issued the following address,
ITO Organized Labor of America, Greeting:
Dear SirS and Brothers-The executive
council Of the American Federation of La
Dor has recently addressed organized labor
by circular subjects, including bills
which will be introduced in the forthcoming
session OF Congress In the interest OF tne
Wageearners or country, and which
were committed To us by you through your
representatives at the last American FEEDER
alton Of Labor convention. Since then the
executive council has held several sessions,
and, of all legislative measures, the eight
hour and the anti-injunction bills have re-
ceived our especial attention.
The eight-nour day, because of the won
derful Improvement in the methods OF
wealth production. by which the needs of
man and the luxuries of life can be created
in a workday of eight hours. we demand
Its enforcement, not only in private employ
ment, but also on all work performed by or
on behalf Of the government. whether the
employment be direct, by contract or by
subcontrdct.
;'While we seek to avoid and avert strikes
and industrial disputes. any attempt to
cripple the right of labor last resort
10 strike In defense Of our rights simply
means labor's enslavement, for industrial
tranquility. by agreement through the meth
ods of conciliation and fair arbitration, is
only possible and attainable when the work.
ers are organized and have the liberty TO
exercise their constitutional rights
INJUNCTIONS.
THE writ of injunction, in its proper
sphere. Is right and protection. 1t was
never designed for the purpose to which 1t Is
now put in industrial disputes There is
= not-now- ur,ou the statute books of any
State, or upon the statute books of the fed
eral government, line upon which author
ity is given the courts for the issuance of
injunctions such as have been issued in in
dustrial disputes. 1t is not the use but the
abuse, by the courts of the writ OF injunc-
tion against which we protest. which is in
direct conflict with the rights guaranteed
TO people by the Constitution of our
country
The men in the organized labor move
ment ere law-abiding, faithful and loyal
citizens, They have no desire for immun-
tty from the laws governing other. citizens.
but they most emphatically resent and
protest against the actions of courts con-
legal right TO perform. and then, too, with
out the right OF trial by jury of peers
.'The American principle OF equal justice
before the law is being violated day after
day. The relics of antiquated judicial tyr
amy are being revived by some Judges,
while others so misinterpret existing law
to thereby aim to financially ruin
unions and mulct our men out of their
hard-earned savings which they have
deavored to lay aside for their protection
IN middle or old age, when the employing
class and society have no further use for
their services.
'.All really educated and honest men
realize and admit that thorough organi-
zation OF TIE working people to render en-
ployment and means of subsistence less
precarious. by securing them an equitable
share CT the fruits of their labor. is the
most vital necessity of our time With
out such organization of labor in our pres
ent Industrial era OF wealth concentration,
even a fair degree of industrial peace
could not be maintained; the wage work.
ers' condition would be forced down to the
lowest possible plane; their liberty would
be crushed: tneir manhood and intelligence
stunted. and the Intellectual. industrial
commercial and political standing of our
country almost annihilated."
AGREEMENTS.
'In spite OF strikes here and there. or
ganized labor has established. and is estab-
fishing a greater degree of uninterrupted
Industrial peace by agreement with en-
ployers- Such agreement implies the or
ganization of the working people in fac
tories, shop, mill or mine. for an organized
body OF workmen can only enter into an
agreement with employers and faithfully
abide by and carry into execution the terms
of such agreement when all the working
men or an employer at least in any given
plant. are all members of the union
The so-called open shop makes agree
ment with the employers impractical II not
impossible. for the union cannot be respon-
sible for the nonunionists whose conduct
often renders the terms OF the agreement
Ineffective and nugatory
THE agreement joint bargain OF or
Bulilzcu idDOf Wltn employers depends for
Its success not only upon the good will of
the union and the employer toward each
other. but that neither shall be subject
10 the irresponsibility or lack of intelligence
OF ths nonunionists possible failure TO
act IN concert with. and bear the equal
responsibility of the unionists
The right OF the nonunionist TO work
wnen. wnere ana for what he pleases car
rtes with IL the logical right of the unionist
70 work or to refuse to work. when, where
and Tor what he pleases. and with whom
ne pleases To nonunionist despite that
which his advocates saw for him cannot
be attributed the virtue of helping his fell
low workmen or contributing toward the
estnnIisnmsnt OF more rightful relations be-
tween workfngmen and their employers No
force but that of persuasion and moral and
intelligent influence should be exercised to
convert the nonunionist 10 membership in
our organizations. but II Is hurtful from
every viewpoint, and to every enlightened
interest, to advocate the open shon AS
the immortal Lincoln said. This country
cannot long remain half free and half slave
90 say we. that any establishment cannot
long remain or be successfully onerated
part union and part nonunion.
In connection with the meeting OF the
executive coucil and by appointment con-
ference was held with the President of the
United States for the purpose OF discuss
ing important labor legislation. The eight
hour bill was considered at length the
President stating that his mind had not
changed on that form OF legislation since
he had favored IL as Governor of New York
State. and therefore. was favorable TO the
passage OF the proposed act
ION the ti-injuncton bill. in response
20 questions submitted. the President re-
piled the subject would have his most care
f1l and earnest attention
THE MILLER CASE
''Other important questions affecting leg
lsistion. as per decision of last convention,
we're taken up and on behalf OF the Inter-
CONTINUED ON PAGE S. COL 2.)