The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-08-16
.
ASSOCIATED
POWER OF men
lnSureS Freedom From Harsh
Rules of DespOtism.
So Says Judge Caldwell of the
X New York Circuit
Court.

granted by the government. 1t is not
2Rerived from the constitutions, stat
s~stes or judicial decisions. 1t antedates
the constitution. II is a natural and
inherent right. Ii is the natural weap
on of weakness.
The right Of men TO combine to-
gether for lawful purposes necessarily
carries with it the right TO combined
action. OF what utility is organiza-
ton without the right of collective ac-
ton? Collective action is implied in
the very term Organization" Organi-
cation has no other object. Man, by
nature, is social being. Associa-
tiOn and collective action by those
having common interests for their
protection and material, moral and
mental Improvement is a natural in
stinct.
They idea of the power of men in
association has always been abhorrent
to despots and 10 those who wish to
Cypress their fellow men because its
free exercise is fatal to despotism and
oppression. The strength it imparts
carries its own protection. In all ages
those who seek to deprive people of
vtheir rights justify their action by
ancient and obsolete presidents. and
coming definitions suited to their
ends.
People can only free themselves
from oppression by organized force.
No people could gain or maintain
their rights or liberties acting singly,
and any class of citizens in the State
subject to unjust burdens of oppres-
sion can only gain relief by combin
ed action. All great things are done
and all great improvements in social
conditions are achieved by the organ
It was the recognition of these truths
that prompted the PRONUNCIATION Of the
proposition we are discussing. The
doctrine that compels every man to be
a stranger in action to every other
man is contrary to the constitution
and genius of our government.
1t is a doctrine abhorrent to free
men. II is in hostility to a law of
mans nature, which prompts him to
associate with his fellows for his pro-
lection, defense and Improvement. I'm
der its operation every religious, po-
litical or social organization in the
country may be enioined from com
bined action, if their religious faith
or political creed or practice is OBJ
noxious.
While laborers, by the application
to them, of the doctrine We are con-
sidering, are reduced to individual ac-
ton, it is not so with the forces ar
rayed against them. A corporation
is an association of individuals for
combined action; trusts are corpora
tons combined together for the very
purpose of collective action; and cap
ital, which is the product of labor, is
in itself powerful collective force.
Indeed, according to this purposed rule
every cooperation and trust in the
country Isl an unlawful combination;
for, Wills it's business may be of
kind that its individual members, each
acting Tor himself might lawfully con-
duot, the moment they enter into a
combination to do the same thing by
their combined effort the combination
becomes an unlawful conspiracy, put
the rule is never so applied. Cor
lnrations and trusts and other COM
binations of individuals and aggrega-
lions of capital extend themselves right
and left through the entire community
boycotting and reflecung irreparable
damage upon and crushing out small
dealers and producers, Sitting compe-
tition, establishing monopolies, reduc
ing the, wages of the laborers, raising
the price of food on every mans ia
BILE and of the house that shelters him,
and inflicting on the wage earners the
pains and penalties of the lockout
and blacklist and denying ." them
the right of association and .~mbined
action by refusing employment to-
those who are members of labor or
ganization; and all these things are
justified as a legitimate result of
the evolution of industries resulting
from new social and economic condi-
tons, and of the right of every man
to carry on his business as he sees
fit, and of lawful competition. On the
other hand, when laborers combine to
maintain or raise their wages, or 9TH
erwise 10 better their conditions or
to protect themselves from oppression,
or to attempt to overcome competi-
ton with their labor of the products of
their labor in order that they may
continue to have employment and live,
their actions, however open, peaceful
and orderly, are branded as con-
spiracy." What is combination when
done by the laborers. No amount OF
.a.At