The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-01-23
LIMIT NJUNCTIONI'lSIi \
Secretary Taft Declares Against tx
Parte Restraining Orders in
Labor Troubles.

Secretary of War William H. Taft.
replying to four questions propoundad
in letter to him from ilawelyn
Lewis of Martins Ferry president of
the Ohio Federation OF Labor, makes
clear his position on important ques.
tions affecting organized labor, and
reiterates former public statements on
the question.
lie advocates surrounding the pow
er of injunction with greater safe.
guards to insure justice to striking
laboringmen and opposes anything
which would injure the effectiveness
of the comts. lie favors the enact
ment of law clearly defining the
rights of strikers, and when iniunc-
tions may be issued He is against
temporary injunctioNS on eN parte
statements and would require a hear
ing on applications for injunction
within three or four days. When ask
ed by the accused in cases where con
tempt is charged for violation of
court orders, Secretary TAFT would
have the hearing before another Judge
than the one issuing the order, decar-
ing: THE appearance of iustice is
almnet oS i,,nort,rt 50, tbo
of it in the administration of courts"
Tha correspondence between Mr..
Lewis and Secretary Taft as given
nnt bv Mr. T,u.is foiIor,e.
''
Martins Ferry, o., Jan. T. 1908.
HON william II, Faft, Secretary of War,
NaShihStoh' u. c.:
Dear Slr-At present the people of our
country are much Interested in the NOM
nation OF a candidate for president Of
the hIted States. The selection of such
candidates by and for the respective po-
Iitl'al parties is but incidental in public
interest to the views of the proposed
candidates on questions, which vitality af-
lect the rights, liberties and welfare Of
our citizens.
You are classed by your many friends
crerywhere as presidential probability.
AS citizen Of Ohio, and an executive
officer OF the Dhio Federation of Labor,
an organization which represents the in
tefeStS OF organized labor, and the labor
ing people throughout the state, | take
the lberty OF respectfully soliciting your
views upon question which is an In
tensely I'VE issue amongst the labOring
people everywhere | refer to the sub
Ject OF injunctions and its use or abuse
as applied TO the working man. You are
',,r,i|I .o''iSI' VI many Vi 'le ABUSES
"Hl'i ii''NV "llHe' ana Detn eHlDotleu
e ''N III .'le "un"I''Sti"''on oi thiS spe-
''' VI 9'i l''i'"l'S'
0"o'"'tS FouF TFopoStIohs'
You VIII thereIrr" pardon me if | sub
mt Spe'lhc2Ily Tor your consideration
ana answer the following propositions:
flFSt me enactment OF specific law
upon winch an injunction or temporary
restraining oruef may ISSUE in other
Worus denhlhg IN Speclhc terms the Ian
sua&S III Whleh Such an injunction, or
restraining order, may be had.
oecoiiu- NAT no temporary restraining
order or injunction should be issued un-
III dl'er ho'l'e 10 the DEFENDANT and
nearing Is ma upon the petition.
lhii"-l i'at d ililal nearing ana deter
ihlhatloii SiO"ia oe mace WITHIN hVe or
Ten uayS from the making OF the tenn
PoLdl9 leHti" "l'iii'S orueI'
f'"l ~ -l'ali"iH !oF contempt Tor
ale6eu Nio'9l ll""S Vi restraining orders or
lhJuhcllohS, that IL should be heard by
d court o'neF thAh lhe one issuing the
temporary OF permanent injunction.
lhahNils you Ior reply at your earll-
est coIlNeh'tH>s am
very Respectfully yours
LLEWELfN LEWIS
Secretary Tafts Reply.
War Department,
Washington an 6, 1905
My Dear ST-I am in receipt of your
letter of Jan. 4th, in which you ask me
on behalf OF the Ohio Federation of La
Dor, to state my views in respect to thu
use and abus' of iniunctions in what are
called labor disputes; and you
put four specific questions on the sub
ject for answer
Before taking up the specific questions,
and in order more completely to under
stand my answers to those questions, |
should shortly state my opinion with the
reference to the organization of labor,
as ! have expressed this on numerous
occasions in years past | believe it to
be highly beneficial and entirely lawful
for laborerS to unite in their common in
terests. They have labor to sell, and IL
they stand together they are often able,
all OF them to command better prices
Tor lhelr LABOR or more advantageous
terms OF employment, than when dealing
slhgiy' Ior the heceSsllle" OF the single
ehpioFe may compel MN TO accept any
terms oHer"d Hm. Ihe accumulation OF
IuhdS Tor the purpose OF those who pro-
pose TO enter INTO the controversy with
the employer by striking, Is one Of the
legitimate OBJECTS OF such an organiza'
ton us meASers nave the right to APP
point onicer"' VINO shall advise them as |
10 the course TO be taken by them In !
thelr relallohs 10 their employer; and II |
the members choose TO repose such au-
thori'y IN any one the officers may Or |
aer te, neinGea" tni, on ] pam OF expulsion; to
'r1art tla,, to,,a tt''5,I ne riiiploy-
and otbar nooooahIo go ,7,aa ~ pc "uasion ;n5'