The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-07-18
ATTITUDE OF llR1R ~
ON |NJUNC,,'.' ABUSE
Admits Beneficial Character il
Writ in Protection of Prop =
erty Rights; But
ENJOINING LAWFUL ACTS
TO OCCASION CONTEMPT
Is Dramatically Opposed to the
Spirit and Genius Of Our
Republic.

The essence of labor's contention on
the injunction abuse, as summarized
by the executive council of the Amer
lea Federation Of Labor, we are en-
abled, through the kindness Of the
council to lay before our readers. 1t
will we'll pay Derusal and study.
Labors Contention Stated.
The Grass ignorance of corporation
lawyers and a hostile press is so RAM
pant on the position and attitude Of
labor upon the abuse Of the injunction
process that we deem it public SER
vice as plainly and concisely as pos
sible to submit labor's attitude and
contention. It will be seen that labor
neither questions the integrity Of nor
desires to "shackle" the courts; that it
stands for and insists upon absolute
equality before the law-nothing more,
nothing less. We believe we have the
ever hostile, shall not wilfully misrep-
right to demand that the press, how
resent or misinterpret labor's position.
We ask a careful consideration of ia
bor's contention upon this all-import-
ant question of ourtinne and we chal-
lenge a discussion Of the points here
submitted.
Writs Legitimate Purpose.
The writ Of injunction was intended
to be exercised for the protection Of
property rights only.
He who would seek it's aid must
come into court with clean hands.
There must be no other adequate
remedy at law.
It must never be used to ,curtail per-
sonal rights.
1t must not he used ever in an effort
to punish crinte.
It must not be used as a means to
set aside trial by jury.
Injunctions as issued against work.
men are never used or issued against
any other citizen Of our country.
1t is an attempt to deprive citizens
Of our country, when these citizens are
workmen, Of the right of trial by jury.
It is an effort to fasten an offense on
them when they are innocent of any
unlawful or illegal act.
It is an indirect assertion of a prop
erty right in men when these men are
workmen engaged in lawful effort to
protect or advance their natural rights
and interests.
Improper Use Of Injunction.
Injunctions as issued in trade dis
putes are to make outlaws Of men
when they are not even charged with
doing things in violation of any law
of state or nation.
We protest against the discrimin-
alton Of the courts against the labor
ing men Of our country, which de-
prives them Of their constitutional
guarantee Of equality before the law.
The injunctions which the courts
issue against labor are supposed by
them to be good enough law today,
when there exists a dispute between
worklnen and their employers; but 1t
is not good lawn fact, is not law at
all-tomorrow or next day, when no
such dispute exists.
The issuance Of injunctions in labor
disputes is not based upon law, but is
a species of judicial legislation, judi
.cial usurpation, in the interests of the
money power against workmen innno-
cent of any unlawful or criminal act.
The doing Of the lawful acts enjoined
by the courts renders the workmen
guilty Of contempt of court, and pun
ishable by fine or Imprisonment or
both.
Labor protests against the issuance
of injunctions in disputes between
workmen and employers, when no
such dispute exists. Such injunctions
have no warrant in law and are the
result Of judicial usurpation and judi
cial legislation rather than of congress
sional legislation.
Labors Honorable Position.
In all things in which workmen are
ton during labor disputes, if those
acts are criminal or. unlawful, there is
now ample law and remedy covering
them. From the logic Of this there is
no escape.
No act is a crime unless there is 9
law designating it and specifying it tc
be crime.
No act is unlawful unless there be
law on the statute boks designating
and specifying it to be unlawful;
hence, it folls that:
No act is criminal or unlawful un-
less there is a law prohibiting its
commission; and it further follows
that:
An injunction never was intended te
apply and never should be applied
and in fact never is applied, in cases
other than in disputes which arise be-
tween workmen and their employers
It is agreed by all, friends and op-
ponents alike, that the injunction pro:
cess, beneficent in it's inception an6
general practice, never should apply
and legally can not be applied, where
there Is another ample remedy at law
We assert that labor asks no i'm.
1nunity for any of it's men who ma,
be guilty Of any criminal or unlawfu
act. =,
r It insists upon the workers being re-
garded and treated as equals before
the law with every other citizen; tha
II any act be committed by any ont
of our number, rendering him amend.
laanttiinued y I'M On page s.