United labor bulletin., 1909-11-05

the majority of the Court | cannot sur
render constitutionally granted rights
because the Judge will issue an injunc-
ton invading and denying those rights"
And Chief Justice Shepard declared in
no uncertain tones, that the injunction
order originally issued, was absolutely
null and void because it was directly op-
posed to the constitutional provision con-
cerning the freedom of speech and free
dom of the press. In his dissenting opin-
ion. he said: Il concede that the Court
had Jurisdiction of the subject matter of
the controversy and of the parties, but
cannot agree that the decree was rem
dered in accordance with the power of
the Court. a power limited by express
provision of the constitution Those
ringing words from the pen of Chief JUS
tice Shepard are some compensation to
organized labor for the outrage of the
majority opinion
The dissenting opinion of Chief Justice
Shepard should be read before every
Union in America. It is declaration of
the fundamental principles of free gov
ernment. 1t recognizes the right OF Ia
boring men to organize and to declare
their principles and to express their pref
erences in every honorable and lawful
manner and by all lawful and honorable
means.
| II is in accordance with the oft repeat
ed declarations of President Taft in his
recent tour over and over again in ex-
tracts from the several speeches that our
President has recently made. we have
read the advice to laboring men to organ
ize for their own material. social and
moral Improvement. He has repeatedly
declared that organization is necessary
for the preservation of their rights and
the Improvement of their condition
| II viii be a happy day for organized
labor and for the people generally. when
the different courts OF this country shall
be presided over by men as broad-mind-
cd and high spirited. and as intelligent
and independent as Chief Justice Shep-
ard and President Taft have expressed
themselves In their recent utterances- II
may be that they have not always recog-
nized. TO its fullest extent, the rights Of
man. but 1t is a matter for conEratulauon
that they have been willing to live and
learn and try to get right.
Organized labor should not let the de
cision OF November second quietly die
out of public memory. Public meetings
should be called for the purpose of ex-
pressing not only sympathy for the prin-
ciples which have condemned the leaders
of the American Federation to imprison-
ment and humiliation for their noble self
sacrifice. but such meetings should be
clear in their expression OF Indignation
at the inhumanity and injustice of the
decision which makes martyrs OF such
heroic men. 1t was said of old the blood
of the martyrs is Ia seed of the church.
This is largely true The humiliation
and punishment. IL 1t must finally come.
of those noble men who have offered
themselves sacrifices upon the altar of
human rights. will yet bear fruit In
arousing Indignation which, by and by.
will result in making this country real
home of the free.
Let this decision be a warning and a
lesson to laborinE men generally. that If
they would preserve their rights they
must organize, and they must support or
eanized labor in every Just endeavor to
preserve personal liberty. freedom of
speech and the freedom of the press.
In union there is always strength. II
we pull together we cannot fail to win
the battle now being waged the world
over for struggling humanity. in the fight
for the supremacy of men over capital.