Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-22

his party has promised makes it imperative
that Mr. Bryan declare himself.
This bill as to the principle to which
he says Mr.. Bryan is pledged, declared
that the right to carry on a business in
a business way shall not be regarded as
a property right or entitled to the protec-
ton Of a court Of equity through the pro-
cess OF an injunction; and that the right
to such protection which admittedly now
exists under the law shall be taken away
1.-The counse for the American Fedora
ton Of Labor in his examination before
the house on February s, at which Mr..
Gompers himself was present, rave a very
frank Illustration Of what he and Mr..
Gompers believed to be the consequence OF
that provision Of that bill which says the
right to carry on a business shall not be
entitled to protection as a property right.
His words are:
suppose that workingmen, by some
operation or proceeding in the community
0et us say by violence or persuasion OF
picketing away from the premises. reduce
these works to a state Of utter helpless.
ness, and there was not a wheel moving
nor a process in operation: and this com.
pany had no help at all-that would not be
an interference with his right to do bust.
Hess, anu lOT lldL L say lie mas no TlRnl
to be protected by the injunction
VIII Mr.. Bryan Answert
us Mr.. Bryan in reality pledged to this
point of view? VIII ne definitely say either
In writing or In a public address whether
he believes with Mr.. Gompers that the pro.
lection heretofore afforded by the courts
of equity to the right to carry on a awful
business in a lawful way is despotic power
and that the judges who exercise thai
power are irresponsible despots?
80 far as the second section Of this bill
is concerned, It is perfectly clear that Il
would legalize the blacklist and the sym.
pathetic boycott carried to any extent. I
would lesalize acts which have time ant
again been declared oppressive, unjust anc
immoral by the best and most eminen.
labor leaders themselves.
Does Mr.. Bryan believe with Mr.. Com.
pers the he and that part Of the labo,
movement that agrees with him has thu
right morally and should be given the RICH.
legally to p~aralyze or to destroy with i'm.
munity the business Of an innocent third
person, against whom he or they have M
direct grievance, simply because his thirC
person refuses to join with them aggres
sively in a labor controversy with the rea
merits Of which he may be utterly unac
quainted, because he refuses to class as hi
enemy any and every other employer whom
they point out as their enemy because h
refuses, merely upon their peremptory or
der, to excommunicate some other employe
by ceasing all business relations with him
Secondary Boycott Oppressive,
The blacklist and the secondary boycott
are two OF the most cruel forms Of oppres
sion ever devised by the wit of man for tn
inflcting of suffering on his weaker fel
lows. No court could possibly enforce NOR
brutal or despotic power than Mr.. Gomper
claims for himself and his followers in thi
legislation which would permit them with
: out let or hlndrance Of any kind to carr
on every form and degree of the secondar
boycott.
The anthracite strike commission, a
fair minded and distinguished a body @
men as ever passed judgment on an indus
trial question, thus refers to the secondar
form OF boycott, that is, the boycott of in
nocent third persons for refusing to take a
aggressive part in a controversy when the
have no concern:
ITO say this is not to deny the legs
right of any man or set OF men, volur
tarily to refrain from social intercourse O
business relations with any persons Whor
he or they, with or without good reason
dislikes. This may sometimes be unchris
tian, but 1t is not Illegal. But when It is
concerted purpose of a number of person
not only to abstain themselves from sue
intercourse, but to render the life Of the
victim miserable by persuading and intim
dating others to refrain, such purpose is
malicious one, and the concerted attempt
accomplish It is a conspiracy at commo
law and merits and should receive the pun
ishment due to such a crime
'The commission further states that II
boycott can be carried to an extent whlc
was condemned by Mr.. Mitchell in his tel
, timony before the commission and whic
. certainly deserves the reprobation of a
|, thoughtful and law-abiding citizens,
what Does Bryan BelieveR
Does Mr.. Bryan agree with Gompe
that all existing legal restraint on the FL
81 forcement Of the boycott should be wit
drawn; that Industrial restraint OF II
. merchant who refuses to give unquestiont
obedience to the orders Of Mr.. Gompe
should be legalized, or does he believe wi
/ us and Mr.. Mitchell and with others wi