Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-25
GOMPERS ON HAT CASE
Attacks Decision of Supreme
Court of United States.
DRASTIC AND FARREACHING
Affects Directly All Labor and the
Whole People.
SAYS THAT TRIBUNAL ERRED
Editorial in Federationist Supported
by Articles From Pens Of Other
Labor Leaders.

| an editorial On the American Federationtst
for this month attacks the recent decision
| of the Supreme Court Of the United States
| in the case of Loewe & Co., popularity
| known as the that case" which is de-
cIared to be the most drastic and far
reaching decision which it has ever hand
| ed down." and as affecting directly all
| labor, and hence the whole people. The
| editorial begins with the statement that
| labor organizations must not be out
| lawed." and then proceeds at great length
! to review the courts decision point by
point with a view to showing that the
! court erred. Of this it is said: The
bred Scott decision did not approach this
in scope and Importance; > that decis-
ion involved the few negro slaves 80 this
involves every worker and sympathizer
with the ennobling work of the labor
movement of our land
Strange peculiarites are said to be re-
vealed by a study of the decision. 1t Is
denied that there was any restraint of
| trade on the part of the United Hatters
because their action in preventing the
sale of Leowe hats did not result in
! fewer hats being purchased by the COM
| munty." Moreover, 1t is asserted posi-
lively that In one important point the court
| was in error for 1.-The American Fedora
| ton of Labor never Endorsed or declared
| a boycott against the Loewe company -
! The Lowe company was never published
on the we don't patronize' lists of the
/ American Federationist We trust it Will
not be considered les majestic" says
| Mr.. Gompers. ''if We say that in our
opinion the Supreme Court in this and
! other recent decisions affecting labor tends
to revert to the medieval procedure
| rather than to make the application Of
legal principles to present industrial sit
uation > I" The language of the hatters'
| decision makes 1t clear that the Supreme
| Court has not informed itself on modern
| hats seems to be greater than the rights
| of men. In fact, this decision goes
to an unheard-Of length in Furnishing the
workers for the exercise of their rights"
Labor Union Not a Trust.
1t is denied that a labor union is
trust for there cannot be a trust in
something which is not yet produced"
The editorial, continuing, declares that
while the conscience of a large majority
of employers will not permit them to take
advantage Of this decision, there is al
ways the selfish, avaricfous conscience
less type of employer" which might in
fiict great hardship under the protection
| of such a decree.
| Much space is devoted to showing that
1T was the intent of the trainers of the
Sherman antitrust act to except organ
lied labor from its operations, long quo
| tations being made from the debates on
| tnat Dill to that effect, and it is declared
that Congress is sure to remedy 1.-The care
| lessly worded provisions of an antitrust
| law" which is penaliZing labor unions
| Mr.. Gompers asks: docs any one imag-
me that Americas workers will submit to
the injustice, the greed and rapacity Of
| unchecked corporate wealth without some
form Of resistance"
1t is noticeable that this issue of the
f'ederationist omits the usual I'VE Don't
Patronize List but instead a paragraph
at the end of the editorial declares: ut
| should be borne in mind that there is no
law. aye, not even a court decision, COM
pelling union men Or the friends of labor
to Duy -. naming the particular ar
ticles which form the basis of the Su-
preme Courts decision.
Says Court Is in Error.
President Gompers declares 1.-THE Su-
preme Court in its decision specifically
charges that the American Federation of
Labor. acting through its official organ
and through its organizers, declared a
boycott
Then he adds: "The court is in error.
The American Federation of Labor never
Endorsed or declared a boycott against
the Loewe company. In fact. no request
for such action in any manner or form
was ever made to the American Fedora
tiOH VI l-dDOT OF us OrnCerS, either 0f.
rectly or indirectly, by the matters or any
one else. The Loewe company was never
published on the We don't patronize' liat
of the American Federationist. We in
wife the inspection of the files of the
American Federationist and of our office
| records in proof of this. We feel it our
duty IN the interest of truth and accuracy
| to call public attention to the error of
! the court in charging the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor with being a party to the
action against the Loewe company.
xiii the trade and labor unions OF
| America; drive them out of existence by
| legislation and court DEGREES and then
each worker will be an irresponsible per-
son. without association with his fellows
without opportunity for consultation, and
without the constructive influence which
open organization gives. Then will he
seek his own redress in his own way
| Us such chaotic condition desirable
or cradle to the normal. rational, in
telligent. peaceful organizations of labor
of our time? We opine not Such a con-
dition must not and will not transpire."
Supported by Other Leaders.
The editorial of President Gompers is
supported by series Of articles In the
Federationist from the pens Of presidents
of national and international labor unions
j. w. Kline, president of the Brotherhood
Of Blacksmiths and Helpers, says:
Il cannot believe that the founders Of
our government ever dreamed that the
people for whom they had suffered would
have to submit to the injustice that has
recently overtaken u.s.
| He refers to the Supreme Court deci-