The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-08-14
And Approve of His Resisting
7 Unjust Interference by
b 49,. the Courts.
RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH
A SYNONYM OF LIBERTY
Coupled With an -Untrammeled
Press Is Safeguard of Human =
Rights. r

The very great interest that has
been manifested by the trade union
lists Of our country and by fair minded
men and women who sympathize with
all practical and substantial efforts
for human uplift regarding the injunc-
tion proceedings Of the Bucks Stove
and Range company against the offic-
ers Of the American Federation Of La
Dor, presages results that in the end
are sure to be beneficial to all Ameri-
cans.
God Given Rights.
The right to exercise free speech and
the right to publish free and up-
trammeled press are personally dear
to all men and women who have any
conception Of the hardships and the
battles; that were fought to found this
great republic. The history Of the
effort to, secure these things runs back
through the centuries, particularly in
Great Britain more tina many other
country. And because of the restric
tions along these lines, the bleak and
barren shores of New England and
the Atlantic coast ere settled by
pioneers determined that their God
given rights on these principles
should be respected. And with what
grim determination they faced any
thing and everything that they might
have to bear in order to firmly estab-
lish these rights upon. this continent
Lesson Of History.
Anyone that will read American his
tory can have no doubt as to what the
contention of the writer's of our CON
stitution was upon these subjects. Only
within comparatively recent years has
there been any material attempt by
the courts to interfere with these
rights. Mobs have interfered with them
Communities have done SO at all times.
But for the courts to do 50 is COM
laratiVely new. ....
r CONSTITUTIONAL sGIsra aistss.z * 1:
= = In the In INJUNCTION issued. <bys Judge
Gould in the case above cited tha
Interference with these fundamental
rights Of the citizens guaranteed by
the constitution of the United States
were restrained absolutely; and the
determination with which the trade
\unionists have fought the case in the
courts is receiving the approval of
all fair-minded citizens. And what Is
more, the result will be, If not imme-
diately then i nthe future the absolute
and unconditional recognition of the
right of individuals to the exercise OF
free speech as well as the promulga-
tion Of their ideas through a free
press, subject at all times and unde:
all circumstances to the laws Of the
nation or state which punish men for
the abuse of these rights under libel
Interference BY Courts.
The labor movement asks no i'm
munity from libel laws. They are
perfectly willing to be subject to the
same penalties as any other class of
citizens. But we resent an 1nterfer-
ence with these fundamental rights
by court DEGREES. And we shall stand
against it until the people of our
country are convinced that we are
f4Sht and en- masse come to our SUD-
port. The future is full Of hope upon
CHS subject No matter how far the
courts may go, the sentiment Is ever
growing against such MUST interfer-
ence, and II the wage-workers of our
country will stand solidly by their
union and by the principles for which
they stand, the unorganized will cast
their lot with US. the day Of the tri-
umph-the absolute triumph-of the
right OF free speech and free press
will be near at hand.
JOHN B. LENNON.
Treasurer, American Federation OF
Labor, in the -sederationist.