The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-09-23
SHACKLES LABOR.
Injunction Issued by a New York
Justice.
AGAINST THE UNION SHOP.
Judge Calls Strike Of CIoakmakers
Conspiracy In Restraint Of Trade.
Invasion Of Guaranteed Rights of
Liberty, Says Gompers.

Invasion Of Guaranteed Rights Of
Liberty, Says Gompers.
Once more the labor movement has
been unreasonably and despotically
enjoined by court ruling. and this
one goes bolt shot beyond anything
of the kind in it's specific bearing ever
before issued The ruling came from
Justice Golf of the New York state
strike which demands the union
shop is a conspiracy in restraint Of
trade.
The decision grew out of the strike
of the union cloakmakers in New
York city. which Justice Golf says was
ordered in its primary purpose Ito bet
ter the condition Of the workman" but
really "to deprive other men of the
opportunity of their right to work"
Justice Golf cites one Of the articles
of compromise presented by represent
atives of the union to the manufac-
turers, as follows:
"The association shall obligate each
of its members to employ union men
as long as the union shall be able to
furnish union men who can do the
work properly. Within two weeks the
nonunion men shall join the union"
This clause. he asserts. which shows
the purpose animating the strike. as
interpreted by the court. is clearly I'M
lawful, and he passes to the conduct
Of the strike.
IF the unions" he states, have
not formally directed a systematic
course of aggression by criminal acts,
the members of the unions. acting in
concert. have connived at and morally
supported such acts on the part of
many of their members in pursuance
Of a common object
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor in re-
ply to Justice COTS decision made the
following response:
1.-The unions are going to live. The
unions of the working people are the
outgrowth of our Industrial and eco
nomic conditions Without the unions
there is no possibility for protection to
the worker against the tyranny or
the absolute autocratic sway Of con-
centrated capital and greed. Let any
one imagine if he can what the condi-
lions of the working people would be
today if the capitalists, the corpora
lions and the trusts had full and I'M
checked sway without the union of
labor in existence. Misery. poverty
and degradation. with slavery in their
wake-these would be the results. The
1;4 NJ
it's citizens depends upon the intelli-
| gence of it's people. the great mass OF
whom are the working people. and I'M
! less they have the opportunity for not
only work. but development, rest. re-
cuperation and leisure. that they may
secure better wages. better homes and
higher intelligence. the republic
| would necessarily be doomed and we
would have an aristocracy and an en-
! pire. or an empire founded upon Il de-
graded people.
1.-THE unions of labor have done
more than any other human agency to
develop higher character. better
manhood and broader conception of
Gu.y Of citizenship among the working
people. Of our country. Justice Golf
4 ,yuoie.; IN unjust e,i>ion in support of
! his OWN. aud that is supposed TO be
good law. rhe unions Of labor will
! live despite injuncii.,ns and decictons
which inea;l' 3ronstitutionally guaran-
tet,d ri..lsS II human liberty"
New Works Liability Law.
4 EeGinnill- Sept. | there went into ef-
4 feet ii, ;!l. state of New York law
I which ::oes; further 10 indemnify work
lii..L illiIirit.S rt.a:4.iHtl III IilElr ul.-