The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-04-23

b
withholding patronage and there
by practically establishing a vest
ed right III such patronage, pro.
viding three-fold damages and fine
and Imprisonment as punishment;
pcnalizing by fine and imprison-
ment the right of peaceful agree
ment with employers us to wages,
! hours and other conditions of en-
ployment, stigmatizing this most
laudaqle effort toward Industrial
peace and progress as ''conspir-
acry," and
Whereas the law as constructed
under this decision in SO foreign to
its original purpose that Labor and
all our people may well doubt if it
cannot be applied in directions not
yet fully realized so as to check
and penalize the exercise of almost
all natural and fundamental rights
of voluntary association and up
lifting effort which all supposed
was guaranteed to us by the Con-
stitution of our country: and
Whereas, not only the Hatters
decision calls immediate Congress
sional action, but other recent
Supreme Court decisions as well,
notably those declaring the EN-
ployers' Liability Law unconstitu-
tional and that clause of the Erd-
man act relating to discharge on
account of membership in a Labor
Union. In addition, the action of
the Courts by the abuse of injunc-
tions, in denying the exercise of
free press and free speach and
other natural and inherent rights
have caused US to view with alarm,
unrest ane dissatisfaction the ex-
lsting state of affairs unless Con-
gress shall promptly enact specific
legislation which shall clearly so
amend the Sherman Anti Trust
Act that its original intent shall
be preserved and that it shall not
apply, as it was never intended to
Labor and other legislation as set
forth in these resolutions for the
further restoration, definition and
protection of the rights and ac-
Iivities Of the wage workers and
all our people in the exercise of
their individual and organized
activities for the uplitt and pro-
gress Of the people in the preser-
vatlon of the original Just and
equitable intent of our free insti-
tuition therefore be it
Resolved, That, though protest
ing against the construction of the
law by the decisions Of the Supreme
Court applying laws to the work
ers never intended by Congress for
that purpose, we yet accept and
obey them, thereby demonstrating
lncontestably our patriotism, our
law abiding purpose and our faith
III the institutions Of our country.
yet we must and do insist that
Congress exercise it's power and
perform its plain duty, granting
the relief and remedy from the
injustice of which we complain;
and, be it further
Resolved, That we express our
urn conviction that it lies within
the power of the present Congress
to enacl such laws that the rights
ana liberties of the toilers shall be
restored and safeguarded, and we
solemly aver that under no circum-
stances will the workers surrender
their right to and their faith in
their voluntary organizations,
which have done so much to pro-
tect them from tyranny and rapa-
city and which have raised the
American standard of life of the
workers, their wives and their lit
eie ones, and lnstilled the highest
ideals of American manhood,
character, Intelligence, and indie
penoence among the toile1s of our
country; the organizations of labor
which have proven themselves not
only the great means whereby the
material, moral, social, and politi-
cal standard has been advanced.
but have also shown themselves
the greatest conservators of the
puollc good and Of the public
peace; that we shall stand by our
unions OF labor and carry on our
no' NAL activities, whether as in
dlV1duals or through our associat-
ed effort; and be it further
resolved, That the working
people and their friends in meet