The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-07-23
EQUAL AND EXACT
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
Essence Of labor's Contention on the Injunction
Abuse Issued by the Executive Council of the
A. F. of L.

ram PAM Oh lnc pOSlGlOn anu aUU1-
tude Of Labor upon the abuse OF
the injunction process that we
deem it a public service. as plainly
and concsely as possible to submit
Labor's attitude and contention
1t will he seen that Labor neither
questions the integrity of nor de-
sircS to ''shackle" the courts; that
it stands for and insists upon alb
solute equality before the law
nothing more, nothing less. We
believe we haYe the right to de.
mand that the press, however
hostile, shall not wilfully misre-
present or misinterpret Labors's
position. We ask a careful con-
sideration of Labor's contention
upon this all-impOrtant question of
our time, and we challenge a dis
cussion of the points here SUBMIT
ed. Labor insists that:
The writ of injunction was in
tended to be exercised for the pro-
lection 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.
1t must never be used to curtail
personal rights.
1t must not be used in an effort
punish crime.
ltmust not be used as a means
to set aside trial by jury.
lnjunctiOnS as issued against
wOrkmcn are never used or issued
against any other citizens of our
country.
1t is an attempt to deprive citi-
zens OF our country, when these
citizens are workmen, of the right
Of trial by jury.
1t is an effort to fasten an offense
Oh them when they are innocent
Of any unlawful or illegal act.
1t is an indirect assertion of a
property right in men when these
men are workmen engaged in a
lawful effort to protect or advance
their natural rights and interests.
lnJuctionS 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 dsscrimi-
nation OF the courts against the
Iaborlng men of our country,
which dcprives them of their con-
sututlonA guarantee Of equality
"elolc tnc'law
The iniunctions which the
courts issue against Labor are
supposed 10y them to be good
enough law to-day, when there ex-
ISIS "a dispute between workmen
and their employers; but it is not
good Ia i'll fact, is not law at all
t. norlaw or next day, when no
such disputes exists.
lhv issuance of injunctions in
labor disputes is not based upon
taW' hGt is a species Of judicial
.eg!> .atlon, judicial usurpation, in
u" interests of the money power
again. workmen innocent of any
IhtH" I. or criminal act. The
|oilG 3D., the lawful acts enjoined
ny }a@ courts renders the work
lHen guilty of contempt of court,
dn" punishable by fine or i'm
piiseaHcnt or both.
Labor protests against the is
>ua.Dto ~ injunctions IN disputes
""l"1e.a "orkmen and employers,
WHOA no such injunctions would
~'l when no such disputes
t1.-s>- such injunctions have nc
"d.'..'.t ia law and are the result
" . .oieI" uSurpation and judicial
ron rather than of Congress.
Iv..t -gfSlation.
i.- AL things in which work mel
ave ''.1"lned by the process of al
..'..' 1"u during labor disputes
-..r' acts are criminal or unlaw
t.'-, ..'.s" = now ample law ant
'...'', 1oNellng them. From th'
''-.-sI THIS there is no escape.
1"l Is crime unless there i
I&nating it and specifyin;
a" crime.
",t : unlawful unless ther
ia, "n the statute books de
,'..,.- and specifying it to b
-.: hence, it follows that
a IS criminal or unlawful
" here is a law prohibitin
N'"Isslon: and it further FOL
---t:
~" junction never was intend