The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-03-07
sTR0he [D Il
BY SAMUEL GOMP[Rs;.
Comments on tie Drastic and
j Far.Reaching Decision Of su-s ..'
~ >. -" preme Court.
Directly Affects all Organized
: Labor and Welfare Of the
Whole People. "


Over the signature OF Samuel Com
pers. an editorial in the American
Federationist for this month attacks
the recent decision of the. Supreme
Court of the United States in the case
OF Loews & Co., popularity known as
the hat case" which Is declared to
be the most "drastic and far-reach-
ing decision which it has ever handed
down." and as affecting directly all
labor, ndhence the whole people; The
editorial begins with the. statement
that tabor orga nizations must not be
outlawed," and then proceeds at great
length to review the courts decision
point by point with a view to show
ing that the court erred. OF this it.
Isl said: The bred Scott decision
did not approach this in scope and
Importance; that decision
involved the few negro slaves
this involves every worker and SYM
pathizer with the ennobling work of
the labor movement of our land
Pseuiiarities Of the Decieion.
Strange, peculiarities are said to be
revealed by study of the decision
It is denied that there was any re-
straint 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 community" More
over it is asserted positively that in
one important point the court was in
error for "the American Federation
Of Labor never Endorsed or declared
a boycott against the, Loewe COM
pany. = -" The Loewe company
was never published on the 1--WE
don't patrontze" lists of the American
Federationist. We trust it will not
be considered les majestic" says Mr..
Gompers, If we say that in our opin-
ion the Supreme Court in this and
other recent decisions affecting labor
tends to revert to the medieval pro-
cedure rather than to make the ap-
plication Of legal principles to pre-
sent Industrial situation. =: I" !"
The language Of the hatters' decision
makes 1t clear that the Supreme
Court has not informed itself on mod
ern economies. In its opinion the
rights Of hats seem to be greater than
the rights of men. In fact,
this. decision goes to an unheard-o of
length in Furnishing the workers for
the exercise Of their rights"
Unionism Not 4 Trust.
1t is denied that labor union is a
trust" for there can not be a trust
In something which is not yet pro-
duced." The editorial, continuing, de-
clares that while the conscience Of a.
large majority Of employers will not
permit them to take advantage OF
this decision, there is always the
selfish, avaricious, constituencies type
Of employer" which might inflict
great harship under the protection Of
such decree.
Much space is devoted to showing
that 1t was the intent Of the farmers
Of the Sherman antitrust act to ex-
cept organized labor from its opera
tions. long quotations being made
fro mthe debates on that bill to that
effect, and it is declared that con-
gress is sure to remedy "the care
lessly worded provisions Of an anti
trust law which is pealizing labor
unions. Mr.: Gompers asks: Does
any one imagine that. Americas
workers will submit to! the, injustice,
the greed and rapacity OF unchecked
corporate wealth without somea form
OF resistance" .s:, b.. 80. : 1@s =.
1t is noticeable that this. issue ;of
the Federationist .,on1its =, the usual
I'VE don't patronize .listy but instead
paragraph at the end OF the edi-
torial declares:; 1T should be borne
in mind. that there Is no law, aye, not
even a court decision, compelling.
union men or .the fiends Of labor to
buy -" naming the particular ar
ticles which form the basis OF the Su-
preme Courts decision.
President Gompers declares "the
Supreme, court in its decision speci-
cally charges that. the American Fed
Iteration of Labor, acting through It's
official organ and through its organ
1zers, declared a boycott"
Then he adds: 1.-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 Federation;- Of Labor
or its officers, either directly or in
directly, by the hatters or any one
else. The Loewe company was never
published on the We don't patronize'
list of the American Federationist.
We invite the inspection Of the files
of the. American FederaMonist and Of
our office records in proof of this.
We feel it our duty in the interest OF
truth and accuracy to call public at
tention to the error Of the court. in
charging the American Federation Of
Labor with being a. party to the ac-
ton against the Loewe company
kill the trade and labor unions, OF
America; drive them out. Of existence
by legislation ana court DEGREES, and
then each worker will be an, irrespon-
sible person. without association with
his fellowsI without sopp opportunity for
consultation. and without the con-
structive influence which open organ
izat1on gives. Then Will he seek his
own redress Ing his own way. !.
. "1s such choatfc condition desir-
able or preferable to the normal, ra-