Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-30

tUits oA law governing III SdCH lHdtttIS diS
only the rules OF reason and justice which
must commend themselves TO all unpreju-
diced persons who value their freedom.
The court then INDUCED in extended hypo-
thetical reasoning, which summed up the
issues involved in the case But the court.
observed that All these considerations are
of no consequence IN determining what the
law is, and should be, in case like the
one supposed. There Is something more
important than fair wages. and that is the
right to work for any wages the workman
Is willing to accept"
Continuing, the court said: There Is
something more important than an eight
hour day. and that is a free day. Any en-
Lencement of wages, any lessening of the
hours OF labor. any Improvement in the
conditions Of employment. would be too
dearly bought by the surrender of the
smallest fraction OF Individual liberty
Under the law workmen themselves are
the last men In the world who should
willingly suffer the loss of such right
That Is about all they have gained or thar
has been gained for them. In the long
struggle for rights which has been going
on since the beginning of organized So
ciety. Individual men, even great classes
Of men, may lose sight of Its Importance
for time In their desire to secure some
coveted advantage; but the law does not
lose sight of 1t. and so long as the ancient
landmarks of our Jurisprudence are OBJ
served these rights viii be safe.
Real Difficulty In Case.
THE real difficulty in the present case
the court continued, has been for the
court to satisfy itself by the mere reading
of affidavits exactly what has occurred.
Such of the parties have shown them
selves in court have presented a very favor
able appearance. It is difficult to believe
that such men have deliberately Intended to
transgress the law. So far as they may
have done So they must have been carried
away by zeal for their cause, and probably
without fully approaching the meaning ana
effect OF their acts But in deciding what
probably did occur we are to remember that
the union and it's members were carrying
on what seemed to them sort OF warfare
10 secure better conditions for themselves
and their fellow craftsmen. Being out Oh
employment themselves, many of the de-
PENDANTS devoted their Whole time to Win
ming the strike. 1t was matter or intense
personal interest to them"
AS TO the threats alleged 10 nave Deem
made by the defendants, the court said:
THE court Is inclined to believe that on
some occasions there were covert suggeS-
lions OF personal injury as being likely TO
result to those who continued to oppose the
purpose of the union: but however TINS
may be. 1t has little doubt that workmeh
in the employ of the compliments, VINO
were bound by contract to serve them TOT
stated periods, have been induced by the
defendants to break their contracts ana
leave the service, and that many others
who would have entered the service OF
were already employed ana "tuiu NV -
tinued in the employment. have been with
drawn from the service of the complainants
by acts Of the defendants, which nave
amounted to coercion under the rules above
stated.
Definition of Freedom.
mo better definition of freedom has ever
been given than this: that one mans liberty
ends where another mans liberty begins.
Union men would think themselves unjustly
treated II they should be importuned and
besought. picketed, followed about the
streets and made objects of rtdicule and
contempt because they refused to leave the
union, or because they refused to continue
in the service OF an employer they did not
care to serve. They should be willing, and
the law requires them. to treat their fellow
lRbOrers as they would Insist upon being
treated under the same circumstances. 1t
makes no difference how large may be the
majority Of those who believe that their In
terests are best protected inside the union,
nor how few and deluded are those who
take the opposite view. 1t makes no differ
euCe how great an obstacle to the laudabls
purposes OF the union few misled or dis
loyal associates may be. 1t Is a question OF
individual right. Those who wish to sur
render a part of their individual freedom
of action for the sake of the larger benefits
that may be gained through union have an
unquesttoned right to do 80. The law rec
ognizes their right and gives standing to
the union itself, but the right of those who
choose TO remain outside is just as sacred
and inviolable in the eyes OF the law.
Ought to Be Enjoined.
After careful and deliberate examina-
ton Of the testimony the court finds itself
possessed by an abiding conviction that the
case is one which cans for its aid, and that
the defendants ought to be enjoined, pend
Ing the suit. from interfering with the COM
plainants' conduct Of their business by at
tempting to persuade their employees, who
are under contract, to quit their service, or
by attempting TO coerce their other en-
ployes into leaving their service, or at
tempting to coerce others from engaging in
their service
The bill also prays for an Injunction
against the use of the boycott. Some ex-
pressons in articles issuing from the de-
Fendant union during the early stage of the
controversy limited of Interruptions and de-
lays that would attend the performance of
work by the compliments for their Gus
toners. and upon that ground recommend
ed such customers to employ only union
shops. But the later emanatious from the
union seem TO have kept carefully within
the bounds of the law. and 1t is consid-
cred unnecessary at this time to issue any
Injunction against boycott. II the occa-
sion for such an Injunction should arise it
can be moved for hereafter
Views of Defendants Counsel.
Mr.. Jackson H. Ralston. OF counsel for
The eight-hour committee of Columbia
Typographical Union, when seen this after
noon by a Star reporter and asked regard
ing the decision of Justice Stafford
and its probable effect, said that It is
a partial victory for the Typothetae but in
q broad sense and in an emphatic way so
Tar as the strike has been conducted II Is
essentially defeat for the Typothetae, for
this reason: The right OF the printers to
persuade the employees OF the Typothetae
offices TO leave them when they are not I'M
Der solid contract has been sustained
In addition" Mr.. Ralston added the
Rppea! OF the printers to the public which
has been denounced as boycotting has been
found not to be boycotting, and the iniunc-
ton against boycotting has been refused
Although an Injunction against violence
Is granted, the court in It's findings saws in
effect, that no violence whatever has been
INDUCED IN. The effect, therefore OF the
decision upon the conduct OF the strike Will
be tritiug. and practically limited to at
t6npts TO persuade workmen who are under
valid contracts.
The implication, though not the exact
words OF the decision, Is that many OF the
so-called contracts between the Typothetae
and the workmen are invalid
The admouition Of the Injunction will of
course, he scrupuiousiy observed by the de-
PENDANTS"
Statement by Mr.. Parsons.