The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1909-10-21

construction upon the court IS decision.
If correctly reported the court holds that
if labor has the right to organize and then
leave employment on strike it would not
have the right to approach in any manner
or in any way pursuade other workmen to
leave employment and become members of
the union and thereby join the strike
That in fact the men on strike are de-
MED the right to speak to any man at
work in the strike zone, much less solicit
an endorsement of the strike.
In the strike of the United Mine Work
ers of Tunnelton, which covered period
of one year, and which was undoubtedly
lost, by reason of the eN parte in junction
issued by the same Judge, the miners
understood that the order of the court
denied them the right to peacahly congre-
gate within sight of the property owned
or controlled by their employer or TO
march upon any street or highway, the
approach of which led to said property
or to march upon any street or highway
upon which the strike breakers had to
travel i'll going to or returning from their
place of employment or to meet any pas.
senger train and inform miners and other
workmen from foreign fields that a strike
was in progress. They were led to be.
licve that the order of the court prevented
them from throwing out picket line,
picketlnS the main approaches to the
strike zone for the purpose of informing
all persons that strike was in progress
and, by peacablc means if possible pur
suade the stranger not to seek employment
a rik rha
organization may have been unduly i'm.
pressed. They may have miscOnstrucd
the order of the court; they were not
lawyers, but West Virginia coal miners.
Let that rest. The fact remains that
government by injunction lost the men
that strike, and at this hour some of the
most expert coal miners that ever mined
a ton of coal in Preston County are black
listed, and go where they may in the Tun
melton District, they are refused employ.
mcnt. All of these men were American
Citizens,-most of them were native West
NirGinians and great many of them
own their own homes in that section
The United States marshal that serves
the order of the court. save in rare in
stances is deeply stepped in prejudice
toward the men who have quit their EN-
ployment. lie associates intimately with
the representatives of the employer and
those who are in sympathy and he is
usually of that brew that can quickly
be turned into tool of the employer,
and therefore, an oppressor of the strik-
ing employees. 1t is safe to say that in
labor disputes where the injunction is
cd tn
and there is more coercion in
the process than is ever thought of by
the strikers in labor dispute that is
fought out strictly on it's merits
Judge Dayton may be misquoted he
may be misunderstood; he may hold an
different view toward the work
ing people aud the rights generally un-
derstood to be guaranteed to them, than
those most generally attributed to him.
Let us hope that this be true I want
TO believe that it is true, and that hi
attitude toward labor has not changed
from what it was understood to be when
he was member of congress.
Happily we have before us decision
rendered by another court clearly defn-
ing the rights of labor, and to this de-
cision and to this opinion / invite your
attention. at may be conceded mt the
outset, that the employers had the right
to organize into or join labor union
which should take joint action as to their
terms of employment. It is of benefit
to them and to the public that laborers
should unite in their common interests
a. for lawful purposes. they have
labor to sell If they stand together
they are often able-all of then-to
better prices for their labor.
than when dealing singly with rich en-
ployers; because the necessities of the
single employee, may compel him to ac-
cept any terms offered him. The ac-
emulation of fund for the support of
are below market prices, is one of the
legitimate objects of such an organiza-
ton. They have the right to appoint Off
GERS who shall advise to the course to
be taken by them in their relations with
their employer. They may unite with
other unions. The officers they appoint
or any other person to whom they choose
to listen may advise hem as to the prop
er course to be taken, by them. in re-
gard to their employment. or. if they
choose to repose such authority in any
one may order thenl-on pain of ex-
rulsion from their union, peaceably to