Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1904-07-15
JUDGE rAHYEH on LABOR CUES
TIOS.

Those who have been speaking slight
ingly Of Judge Parker because OF his
rtticence will presently be admitting
that III abstaining from anti convention
prattle, he acted a dignified part. On
the bench Judge Parker has Il record
winch, in view OF the nervous ofiicions-
ness Of President Roosev welt in several
matters, will, in all probability find
mention III the seasons campaign talk
since 1t Is IA record, which in part, de.
fines his relation 10 several issues which
interest the labor element in the land.
On some phases Of line questions in
vO!ving the relation OF labor To CAPITAL.
to employers and to -cicty, Judge Par.
ker has had occasion to pass. Notably
IN II case he handed down AN opinion
dissenting from that Of the majority OF
the court. 1t involved the issues which
became widely known ms the prevailing
wages matter. He held that the state
may, III the doing OF public work, order
ITS agents or agencies, wherever with
III the state they are situated, to pay the
going wages and that, when the work is
done 10y contract, Il clause shall be in
serted, binding the contractor To nav
that scale. The trial OF this issue in.
volved the constitutioGaIity OF the law
IN :he case, and Judge Parker's dis
s%cntinG opiniom was very widely quoted
In the same way an effort was made
IN New York to get Il court decision to
the effect that the law providing tor n
label on convict made goods was uncon.
stitutional. Judge Parkcr's decision
uphoiding the law, attracted n grcat
heal Of attention. In concluding an cx.
tended opinion he said:
Il sinai: therefore assume that the peo-
Pile Of the stnt5 have forbidden The sale
OF articles manufactured in our prisons.
Tor the reason that they deem it to be
against Il sound public policy to per.
nit some ot il citizens Of the state,
skilled III certain kinds Of labor to be
subjected To competition with the un-
paid labor Of convIct1.7 y very signiti-
cant question involving the constitution
ality Of certain New York legislation
involving labor was presented Oh the
dressed stone" case. In the case. again
Judge Parker again wrote u minorit v
opinion. lie said:
81 do not concur, because the con.
tractor bound himself by an agreement
voluntarily entered into with tho CITY Of
New York, to have the stone used on
this work cut md dressed within the
state OF New York. He liz not relieved
from the performances uf the agreement
and ut length, the decision argued that
the claim that the agreement could not
stand because il waa entered int, unInr
an unconstit utiUral lnw. was o we'll
taScn.
III another Important Case Judge Par.
kcr rendered a decision which included
these words: az labor organization ia
endowed with precisely the same right
as IL an individual to threaten to do that
which II may lawfully do" The rcmnri;
was pertinent in view Of the contention
made before the court ut the time, As
IL we'll known, Judge PARKER has writ.
ten several very strong opinions respect
Ing tho regulation IT the trusts. These
have never been written IN the form OF
rampant declaration. Tho Chief Jus.
ticc is distinguished for lns consctvni.
ism and his dignilicd tone. Yet lp has
very positive views, nnl. while COMPEL
III several instances besides those cited,
to diiTcr with bench associates who all
hold him in the very highest respect, no
has Fc"H"ncd the case III II very hccom.
ing Style aud lis worls in all circles.
lt"r" commanded respect.
Especially on the question Of tho "bnI.
hncc of r"wcra' IN government .Judge