The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-01-09
Deep Seated Indignation at Judge
Wright's Decision. Every
{ where Manifest.
sGRAVE POSSIBILITIES
= OF INCALCUL.ABLE HARM
Lurk Beneath the Usurpation OF
Legislative Prerogatives by
Our Judges.

The personalities of the three men
sentenced by the supreme court Of the
+ District Of Columbia is the least i'm
portant feature Of the case. It is not
/ Samuel GOmpers, John Mitchell and
Frank Morrison, as individuals, that
are the object Of attack; nor is it
oese three men, as Individuals that
the working class is called on to de-
fend. These three men stand as rep
resentativs of the labor movement It
\ is as representatives Of the labor
movement that they have been pro-
secuted and condemned. It is the
ss labor movement itslf that has been
attacked through the courts and that
must defend itself.
3 INTERVIEWS.
s The following interviews by prom
insst union men Of this city show how
! deep seated is the Indignation at the
decision of Justice Wright
Martin Olmen, Typographical Union.
+ Not in years has organized labor
been aroused to such nigh pitch of
] Indignation as by this case, which is
recognized to hold vast possibilities of
{ 1ncalculable harm to the labor move
ment. Especially is the right Of free
speech and free press menanced as
never before in the history of or
ganized labor.
S. S. Mcdonald, Machinists' Union.
/. In the light of this decision and 9TH
y ers that have been rendered against
I labor in injunction cases it is not
strange that labor organizations
should demand the passage of laws
& guaranteeing trial by jury in con-
Il tempt cases. This decision will surely
emphasize the need of such a law, and
5.1n that respect will serve some pur-
pose.
" VIM. p. Perry, Painters Union.
&C. I believe the effect Of the court de-
+ cision will be a demand on the part
of not only the workers, but Of the
citizens generally, for the repeal of the
salaw under which the convictions were
@ 1ound. It Is a law that ought to be
repeaI6d, and the American Federation
4ssof Labor will put forth its best efforts
to have it repealed. I believe the re-
& suit of che decision in the meantime
Will be that labor will be drawn closer
4 together and the unions will realize,
8sas they never did before what they
4 are up against
z W.. Darby, Plasters' Union.
1t is an outrage, an absolute out
rage declared Mr.. Darby. "rnis is
the end Of the declaration Of free
speech. 1t will be resented not only
by working men, but by all other lib
8erty loving people. They can't destroy
trades unions in this way. That was
their object If they put these leaders
In Jail for contempt Of course there will
e be fresh leaders to take their place to-
morrow and again fresh leaders after
that indefinitely"
@ c. B. Uncapher, L. T. P. A.
@ The decision proves the contention
made by labor during the last presi-
& dent1al campaign that labor needs
more favorable legislation. It is a fur
# ther evidence Of the seemingly deter
4 Inined effort to destroy the men who
4 have worked for many years for the
cause Of labor.
s3 However, it will stimulate labor
& and cause completer organization
and firmer stand to support the
friends Of labor and to discover the
men who are active in opposition to
the workingman's interest"
Robert Wentand, Brewery Workers.
The quickest way Of making an
& unfair and bad law so repugnant that
1T must be replaced is it's enforce
ment. For that reason it is perhaps
81 q good thing after all that this ieci-
sion has been rendered. People will
have time to do good deal of think
ing before the appeal is heard, and
B This may sound the death knell Of the
4 unfair law which has been invoked In
this decision"
Louis Haley, BIacksmiths' Union,
THE animus of the court is proba-
5bly reflected in the intemperance of
Its language. If Mr.. Gompers were
lin need of a vindication for his posi-
sst1on during the recent political cam
patgn, this Jail sentence of men guilty
OF no crime proves the justification OF
his position. Nothing will popularize
the theory of class conscious politi-
cal action as much as these decisions.
Of course, congress will call a. halt
whenever the party in power desires
go. 80. .7ea So
sss Henry PerrauIt, ciearmakers' Union,
Il think the. decision is a. travesty
on justice. These men are guilty of
no crime whatever. They have been
simply exercising the rights of free
speech and free press 1 know of
no law that has been violated unless
S. sbe judge made law, which is re-
apugnant to every liberty-loving man.
While at the present time there is
4 much controversy and unrest, still I
think that the decision of this court
swtM do much to awaken and arouse
the best thought of the American peo-
plsto the end that the pernicious sys-
tenn In some: Of our courts with which
we nave to contend will be obliterated.' -
zSss g 6Iaekwood, PIunbers' Union.
erhaps it is ordained that our
present leaders become victims Of cap
greed SO that the rank and. file
gsc organized labor will see the neces-
ety Of unificattpn in order that our