Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-12
Union Labor and Judge Wright.

The Central Labor Union Of this city
at a meeting last night discussed the
threatening letters received by Judge
Wright since his decision in the Gompers-
Mitchell Morrison case. and adopted the
following resolution on the subject:
whereas these communications are
supposed to have come from sympathizers
and friends of the three condemned labor
leaders, and are supposed to represent
the feelings of organized labor In connec-
ton with this case; and
Whereas such communications. instead
of helping the cause of labor, Will nave
the opposite effect. inasmuch as they are
harmful, and instead of coming from the
friends of labor they are from some other
and probably irresponsible source; and
Whereas such communications can
have no other object than to influence AMI
prejudice the public mind, and. IL such
thing were possible, to influence the
higher judiciary before which this case
will come at later date:
wherefore, be it resolved That the
Washington Central Labor Union does
now and here repudiate ali such methods,
no matter whether they emanate from
mistaken friends or from foes, and de-
nounce them with all the force at our
command.
This action rs timely and highly praise
worthy. The deliverance states the case
clearly and fairly. No friend of union
labor can deny its force and relevancy.
And the effect should reach beyond the
immediate case in point. For what is
true as respects this case is true as re-
spects many other cases in all sections
of the country.
Union labor has nothing to gain but
everything to lose by the performances
of misguided or vicious-minded persons
operating in its name. AS we all know,
the overwhelming majority of union labor
ers are law-abidinS men. They value the
law as greatly as any other portion of
our citizenship. Their highest interests
are involved in the rigid execution Of the
law. 1t is trite, but very true. that the
law is for all, rich and poor alike, and
the man who sets up as a law unto him.
self Injuries himself and all Of his fell
lows.
Union labor has often suffered from
the performances of lawless men pre-
tending to sympathize with and champion
its aims. They have been the first to the
! front in times of differences between pi-
| tai and labor, counseing extreme meas
ures, and melting resistance by force. In
| strikes they have led in riotous street
demonstrations where property was de-
stroyed and lives were taken.
This has been charged up to union labor
| whose critics have repeatedly asserted
that it did not openly or sufficiently re-
buke such actions. The complaint has
| been. not that labor desired such things
done, but that 1t did not exert it's in
fluence sufficiently against the perpetra-
| tors.
meets this criticism. 1t pronounces
| against those who are threatening a
| lawless act in it's pretended interests. 1t
we'll understands that such men are not
| its friends; that, in fact. they are the
| friends of no good cause. However unjust
union labor may think Judge Wright S
decision, it recognizes the lawful pro-
cedure. and is content to appeal to it.
1t is for the higher courts to say whether
| that decision is right or wrong. If it is
| sustained. the convicted men, unless
| pardoned by the President must bow to
| it. If the decision is reversed, the coun-
| try will bow and the lawmakers take
| notice.
| That this excellent resolution should
proceed from union labor here is especial
! ~ important, as the Wright decision ha s
| attracted national attention and the spirit
| of union labor at the capital has a ma
| tional influence. The Central Labor Union
+, is to be congratulated.