Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-27
SEEK TO RESTRAIN COURTS
Miners claim Injunction Law Needs Inm'-
date Radical Amendment
JUDGES CANCEL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
warn wpFkWep IN own Property
and Imply that Capital Has Pro-
p%rtRtory Intenest I'm Those,
who work for wages.

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 26.-At today's ses-
sion of the Mine Workers convention the
special committee on the defense fund rec
commended the collection Of a large sum-.
1t did not deem it advisable at this time,
however, to establish a national defeuse
fund, but, owing to the unorganized condi-
ton OF the miners in many districts, Il
was thought best to continue the 10 cents
per month assessment for another year. II
advocated that each district accumulate
and maintain a fund until II becomes sum
GENTLY large to meet any crisis. Many dis
tricts already maintain such funds and It
is believed hat II 1t is necessary for the
national organization to have funds IL can
draw on the districts.
Urge New Injunction Law.
The report OF the special committee on
injunctions went fully into details, the
committee giving the history of the opera
ton Of the injunction law and, after show
ing the great abuses to which II has con-
tributed recommended that Mr.. Mitchell
appoint a committee OF two to go to Wash
ingtol and use its influence to secure the
passage Of the anti-injunction bill now
pending in the senate, the committee also
to be instructed to get the record of every
senator and representative on the bill.
The report says;
Iniunctions in labor disputes are usually
granted against violent or unlawful acts,
for which the statute or common law pro
vides ample remedy and are a clear ylo-
lation of the right of trial by jury. they
go far beyond the point Of protecting the
property of the plaintiff and deny to mem
bers OF the trade unions restrained their
constitutional rights of public assemblage.
They prevent us from going on our own
property to hold meetings because 1t may
happen to be near to or within sight OF the
property of our employers, although ~
would be difficult to imagine how 1t Would
be possible for us to own any property tnal
is not adjacent TO some other property.
They deny to us the right to talk to our
fellow citizens and endeavor TO persuaee
them to cease working for the plaintlH,
and lnjunctions embodying these orders
are granted because 1t is alleged that II
meetings are held and employees are inuuCsd
to cease work, the properly OF the en-
ployer will be injured beyond any legal
means of redress.
THAT their property is entitled to. the
same protection as hat of other citizens
receives cannot be denied, but when an IN
junction is issued restraining the members
of q union from in any manner interfering
with an employe Il carries with IL the as
sumption, on the part of the court, that
the employer seeking the order has a prop
erty Interest in his employees, an assump-
ton absolutely contrary to the letter OF our
constitution and the spirit or our laws.
The trade unionists of the country EeVer
have, and do not now ask, immunity from
the requirements Of the law. We are now
and ever nave been defenders of law and
order. We ask no special privileges at the
hands of the government. We seek only 70
secure for ourselves the same rights tnat
are accorded to other citizens of our land.
Naods Nora In Make strike.