The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-25

lat LAuSl VIEWS
Gompers analyses that part Of Taft's
inaugural address that deals with the
Sherman antitrust law and declares
that Taft wishes the law amended only
in so far as it affects trusts
He says the difficulty with TAFT is
that he is trying TO be consistent with
his labor decisions while a judge.
When a judge has attained fame bv
rendering a decision or decree new in
character and far-reaching in its eff
fects." says Gompers, and particularly
when il is quoted as the best authority.
no matter how it invades the guaran-
iced rights and liberties of the peopIe.
II Is almost too much to expect that
such a Judge shall subsequently favor
legislation rendering void his decision
and his standing as an authority A
statesman. bushes man. workman,
a scientist-each and all of them NAV
make a mistake and correct it-a Judge
never"
Injunction Decree
In referring to the decision Of the
Court OF Appeals in the Bucks Stove
and Range injunction case, Mr.. Com
? pers is evidently pleased, although pos
sibly unable to restrain a wish that the
injunction had been dissolved.
The decision greatly modifies the
original Injunction says this editorial
1T eliminates the prohibition of free
press and free speech as to printing or
discussing anything in relation to the
Bucks Stove and Range Company or
discussion of the injunction itself 1t.
however, still restraints freedom OF the
press in that it forbids the publication
Of The Bucks Stove and Range Com
pany' in the We don't patronage list,
and enjoins the boycott"
Respects to Judge Wright.
After reciting the history Of he case.
commencing highly the reasoning Of
Chief Justice Shepard-who really be-
lieSed in the dissolution of the ini1Inc-
uon-and praising in more subdued
strain the opinions of Justices Van Ors-
.del and Robb. Mr. Gompers thus refers
10 Judge Wright:
Judge Wright's prejudiced and mis- |
leading extracts from the original testi- |
nlony, and his ignoring the testimony:
also tended still further TO becloud the |
facts, so that We are not surprised that !
the Justices Of the Court Of Appeals do
not see their way through the maze to /
enunciate the principles underlying the
right to boycott as clearly as they do
the right to strike.
Labor Too Frank
Again. the Gompers editorial says:
The sum OF labor's offending seems
TO be that it has been too open and
frank in its dealings. II could have
ceased its patronage with precisely the I
same effect which has obtained and
have left not the slightest evidence OF !
how the result was accomplished.
Its desire 10 save the retail dealer !
dhe third party alleged to have been 1
coeTced and by boycottiug whom in /
concert an unlawful conspiracy was also
alleged 10 have been planned by labor /
from the embarrassment of innocentiy /
loading up with boycotted stoves seems 1
70 have reacted as an evidence of CON
spiracy' and coercion to ruin the deal
ers trade Just the opposite effect was l
sought by the friendly warnings. bur
as yet none of our judges seem to un
oerstsnd this phase Of the case"
Van Clesve's Case Later.
After showing what he. hopes labor
may attain in the years y come, Com
peTs announces that he will take up the
ease Of j. w. Van Cieave, head of the
stove concern and the Manufacturers
Association. in the May issue. His re-
lation at that time will have TO do with
Mr.. Van Cleave's alleged use Of sIeutbs
70 injure labor
ID another editorial Gompers asserts
concern by this controversy nracjr,i-
tated upon their own heads The mos
spectacular and interesting boycott OF
modern times The fight given great
publicity, Gompers says. caused moro
people 10 stop buying the Buck stove
than any boycott labor could have
planned