The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-01-31
Will Union Men
Show Resentment?

Following Immediately after the an |
nuIIment of the employers Liability |
law by the supreme court comes an
other by that tribunal declaring the
Erdman act also unconstitutional. al. This |
act was one prohibiting railroads en-
gagged in interstate commerce from |
discriminating against members Of la
Dor organizations in the matter of en- |
.ployment The case was that of Viii
liam Adar VS.. The United States.
The opinion was by Justice Harlan,
iy and declaring the decision to be
along very narrow lines. Justice Nc
Kenna Was the justice who held favor
ably to the idea Of Meyer and Hay
wood in the famous habeas corpus
case.
The court held that Adair, as master
vile railroad, had right to discharge
an empioye because he was member
Of a labor organization just as il is
the employees right to quit such en-
ployment because OF his membership
in such organization. Such a course,
the decision added, might be unwise,
but, regarded as mere matter Of
right, there could be no doubt. Con-
eress could not under the constitution
authorize a violation OF contracts un-
der the guise OF protecting interstate
commerce.
On Wednesday evening the Lincoln
Evening News printed the following
dispatch from Washington:
president Roosevelt is considerably
disturbed over the recent decision of
the United States supreme court
which defeated the most important
provision of the Erdman act, which
prohibited interstate railroads from
disnissing employees because of their
membership in labor organizations.
II comes on the heels of other notable
decisions, declaring the employers Ii
ability law to be unconstitutional, to-
gether with other recent judicial man.
dates, which are interpreted as decid-
ediy hostile to organized labor. The
Erdman law defeat has raised grave
apprehension on the part Of repubIi-
can leaders regarding it's effect on the
labor vote at the coming presidential
election.
president Roosevelt has written a
special message to congress urging the
prompt enactment Of an employers H.
( ability law that will be within the re-
strietions Of the constitution He also
intends to write message on the Erd-
man law decision, indicating his dis
appointment with II and the desirable
ity of putting on the statute books a
constitutional act that will give rea-
sonabie protection to members Of la
Dor organizations.
1.-THE other day Judge Dayton Of
West Virginia, one of President Roose-
veit's appointees, issued an injunction
against labor leaders of that state so
sweeping in character as to attract the
unfavorable attention of the white
house and senate. The president has
caused inquiries to be made into the
facts and a resolution is pending be-
fore the senate calling for information
to determine whether the situation
warranted Judge Dayton in going so
far as he did in restraining labor lead
ers.
1.-THE president and his friends real
xe that the unfavorabie decisions,
taken with the fact that the panic has
resulted in the reduction Of the forces
in mills, factories, and in other indus
tries, are bound to have bad effect
on the big labor vote.
"President 0ompers Of the Ameri.
can federation Of labor was at the
white house yesterday and talked with
the president about the situation"
Well, II certainly, Iiiks like there are
enough counts in the indictment to
make union men sit up and take no
tice. Here are some Of the-coun,
them:
The supreme courts decision in the