The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-08-26
G0MPPEERRSS EXPLAINS
.LAB0R'S STAND
ON INJUNCT|ONS
PRESIDENT OF THE A. r. or L.
DECLARES HIS BELIEF THAT
JURY TRIALS WILL SUCCEED
EQUITY COURT usURPATIoNs.

NEW YORK, Aug. 26.--In an article
IN the current number OF the hide
pendent, Samuel Gompers, presiden;
OF the American Federation OF Labor.
discusses the Injunction from the
viewpoint OF a labor leader
Mr.. Gompers sets forth what pur-
ports To be the views of this much
disputed legal instrument as seen
through the eyes OF the toiler Here
are some OF the pithy points of his
article:
1T is notorious that the abuses OF
government by injunction are haerant
and cry to heaven Only plutoeratic
attorneys and bigoted, power-lusting
Judges refuse TO admit this"
PERSONALLY, we have no doubt what
ever that sooner or later the federal
and state legislatures viii call hait
10 the usurpations Of the equity
courts and restore trial by jury and
orderly, rational, proper procedure,
due process Of law to those who
have been deprived OF those rights
by the gradual extension Of the scope
of the Injunction"
Justice Brewer, Of the supreme
- uprip1t nrid=inteiiisett=as
any member Of the highest bench and
he has often shown great courage and
Independence. On the Injunction
question, however, he is strangely be
hind the times"
1.-THE greatest legal authorities have
held with Labor's contention in the
injunction process. The supreme
court of the state OF Montana, in a
decision rendered last month, upheld
in It's entirety every contention which
labor makes upon that subject"
THE ignorance of corporation law
yers and hostile press is so ram
pant on the position and attitude OF
labor upon the abuse of the injunc-
ton process, that we deem IL a public
service as plainly and conclsely as
possible to submit labor's attitude and
contention.
Labor insists that:
The writ of injunction was in
tended 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 ade-
quate remedy at law.
IL must never be used TO cur
tail personal rights.
II must not be used ever in an
effort to punish crime.
II must not be used as a means
TO set aside trial by jury.
Iniunctions as issued against
Workmen are never used or issued
against any other citizen Of our
country.
II is an attempt to deprive cit-
zens of our country, when these
citizens are workmen, CT the right
of trial by jury.
II is an effort to fasten an Of
Tense ON them when they are In
nocent Of any unlawful or illegal
act.
at is an indirect assertion Of
property right in men when
these men are workmen engaged
in a lawful effort to protect or
advance their natural rights and
interests.
"The issuance Of injunctions IN
labor disputes is not based upon
law but is a species OF judicial
legislation"
"The toilers do not wish to become,
as Mr.. Taft has declared, They de-
sire TO become a privileged class OF
-,~rono.doersAL abor-asks- right
which is not accorded every other cit
ixen. The workers are just as patriot
ic and law-abding, II not more so,
than any other citizens in any walk
Of life in the entire republic"
Labor asks no immunity, IL de-
mands for it's men equality before the
law with other citizens Of our coun-
try"
.And in that effort the workers will
use every lawful agency and political
party, their every Industrial and po'
Iitieal activity in abolishng the wrong
and establishing the right for all time
to come. In that effort labor appeals
TO the conscience and Iiberty-Ioving
spirit of all the people,"