The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-01-24

pany be injured thereby in its property
rights"
In support of this amendment
Mr.. Smith said, in part:
There has been a contest all
along the ages between legislative
bodies and the Judiciary. Some.
times the courts trench upon the
legislative authority. aud then
again the legislative authority
trenches upon the courts. am
not here 10 pronounce any criticism
upon our courts. l have as much
respect for the Judiciary OF this
country rs any person. | admire
its great ability. Yet it will not
he denied by any lawyer of expe-
/ Renee that courts are inclined to
Ieglslate, and often extend their
jurisdiction wherever they can, so
as to embrace subjects within the
statutes. BY CONSTRUCTION, THAT
WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE so
EMBRACED. Taking for basis the
admission Of the gentlemen Of the
committee that it is an extraordi-
nary broad statute, ! am not clearly
convinced, but believe, that it in.
cIudes the very agreements with
respect to strikes by trades unions
which are effected by my amend
meHt.
! believe the labor and trades
unions Of this country have an in
hercnt right to strike and not BE
CHARGED WITH \ CONSPIRACY; and
when the courts talk about it, and
when the legislative bodies talk
about it, they GOncede that trades
unions have ample rights to make
agreements, to make contracts, and
to declare strikes; but when trades
unions endeavur to obtain the
fruits OF their efforts in the way of
strikes, then it is that they are
barred by some court of equity or
some Legislative enactment for fear
they may give some Inconvenience
or annoyance to the public, and
therefore their efforts are sup.
pressed by some willing court.
There is conflict, as we all
know, between capital aud labor.
| am just as friendly to capital as |
am to labor, but the power OF cap.
ltal is so great and tremendous in
our civilization as to minimize, to
impair, and to weaken every effort
made by labor for relief. am
here for the purpose of giving to
labor, as far as | am able, every
opportunity for fair hearing in
the courts, as well as to protect
them by every statue that may be
enacted here from time to time.
| believe this section is broad
enough to cover labor contracts
and agreements, especially when
trades unions are arranging and
preparing for strike. | believe.
furthermore, that it is broad
enough to prohibit labor unions,
when strike is on, from arrang.
ing with outside persons, looking
to the agitation and discussion of
the cause OF the strike for the pur.
pose of inducing such persons to
stand with them. ! believe the
right Of free speech under the Con.
stltution should and does extend to
labor unions. and to those who be-
lleve as they do and who cooperate
with them to agitate, educate, and
discuss the cause of the strike or
boycott and bring the public, if
possible, to their way of thinking.
| am not one of those who believe
the public ought not to suffer. A
little suffering will do it good; it
needs to be awakened to the de-
mands OF labor. Every great re.
form entails more or less sacrifice
on the part of the public.
i have read section 10 as care
fully as | am capable of reading it,
and it does occur to me that the
language is broad enough to
EMBRACE AGREEMENTS DISCUSSED
AND MADE BY ANY LABOR OR TRADES
UNIONS about to enter upon and
getting ready to declare strike or
boycott, AND PARTICULARLY ANY
POLICY THAT MAY BE ADOPTED by
SUCH UNIONS WHICH MAY REST
UPON AGREEMENTS, when under.
taking by arguments and persusa-
sion to induce other persons, not
members of the unions. not to take
employment of, or do service for,
the company or corporation against
which the strike or boycott has
been ordered. | concede that the
section was not enacted to correct
what are often termed abuses of
trades Unions but for n wholly