Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1913-1914, 1914-12-10
SCHOOL TEACHERS
JOIN THE UNION

Superintendent Frederick guilty of
J contempt of court for refusing to obey
an order to reinstate six grade teach
{ ers who were dismissed because they
belonged to their newly formed union
against the orders of the Board Of
Education.
The decision is a remarkable one
} because of its condemnation of meth
eds employed by public school officials
in this city, and also because OF a de-
Tense Of the teachers to form union
and affiliate to the American Fedora
tion of Labor, which, the court de-
clares, is a lawful organization"
Judge Neff was not partial in the
use of strong terms in his condemna-
ton OF the superintendent, whose
methods were declared to be "cruel,
heartless and tyranical,7 and whose
excuses are termed mere, sheer, bare,
bald, evasion and pretense."
In referring to the resolution Of the
board Of education prohibiting teach
ers joining the union, Judge Neff said;
The anti-union resolution of the
board was vicious in its principle as
well as subversive of constitutional
liberty. If the board can validly dis
criminate against labor unions. then
it may discriminate because of race,
or color, or nationality, or creed, or
for any other arbitrary reason.
\ There is no cessary conflict be-
tween affiliation with the American
Federation of Labor and the vocation
of a teacher. The testimony submitted
in the case shows that all the alarm
of strikes and boycotts that seems to
have disturbed the board is utterly
unfounded, for the reason that strikes
amongst public employers are not toll
Grated by the Federation.
'It is un-American and grossly un-
just to legislate in any way against
those who toll.
"The board had no right to pass the
rule. 1t was an act of folly, and its
principle was vicious, .un-American,
unpatriotic and unjust. If the courts
are so palsied so powerless, so de
crept as not to interfere, then judges
ought to be brought to the court house
in wheel chairs and fed with spoons.
THE high-handed outrage which the
board of education seemed determine.
ed to commit was so spectacular, so
glaring that it was high time that
precedent be made; so this court
made one, and by so doing saved hun
dreds of teachers from losing their
positions.
"This may be the last important
case which l shall ever decide; but
if it is, l could not wish finer vele-
dictory
There is no doubt that the teachers
in voting for the union, did so in good
faith, and not with any of the incen-
diary or revolutionary motives inn
puted to them. They had an undoubt-
ed right to join the union. The Ameri-
can Federation of Labor is lawful
organization.
But no sooner had they voted to
join the union than somebody cried,
fire. and then the trouble began.
Then the board passed the foolish
resolution that they would annual
every contract OF every teacher who
should join the union, and expel her
from the schools.
And not only that but the board
declared that no member of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor should be al
lowed to teach school in Cleaveland.
and it had as much right 10 pass that
resolution as it would have had 10 re-
peal the ten commandments.
The members Of the board had
strange visions Of strikes and lock-
outs and boycotts and ali other ghost
y apparations which are born of sud-
den terror and alarm but theplain
truth is, as is clearly shown by the
evidence, that the American Fedora
ton Of Labor will not tolerate strikes
by employees engaged in the service Of
the public.
SO this excitement was, after all.
merely atrouble dream; and yet,
upon SO slight a provication as this.
the board passed that resolution. and
the superintendent proceeded in hot
haste to put it into immediate execu-
ton.
He summoned his four assistants
/. and issued his fat that they should
begin to investigate and report to