The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1916-11-16

Dor which is now in convention at
| Baltimore, Md. has been received.
Eighty six pages are devoted to the
report and space permits the print
ing of only a few clippings which fol-
low:
American Federation of Labor
This one thing must be settled;
Will Judges read and learn the prim-
| er OF human liberty or will they de-
vote their ability and mentality to
the service of winning cases for men
l.of wealth and line up with the ex-
poiters and the predatory interests
of the country?
Legal Department
We are not in position to report
any material progress in carrying out
the directions of the convention to
establish Legal Department OF the
American Federation of Labor for
the purpose of drafting bills for uni-
form legislation and preparing briefs
to be used by attorneys in labor
cases, though we have been engaged
! in the endeavor to work out a plan
for such a department. Our greatest
difficulty has been the lack of funds
which will be necessary in the es-
tablishment of such a legal depart
ment and which are not available at
this time.
Danbury Hatters' Case
Since the Hatters' case in 1908 was
made a matter OF official concern to
the whole labor movement by accept
| ing il as a test case in order to Sc
cure decisive opinion OF the highest
| court in the land upon the use to
which hostile employers were putting
laws and judicial agencies, report
| has been made to each annual con-
| vention of the status of that case.
| When the Supreme Court of the
United States handed down its final
decision in 1914, it was definitely de-
cided that the little homes and saw
;ngs of the Danbury Hatters, the re-
suits of their toll and frugality, must
be handed over to satisfy the de-
nands of the Anti-Boycott Associa-
ton. Many of the 1856 Danbury Hat
ters were old and grey-headed, un-
able to work longer and were depend
ent upon what they had laid aside in
former years.
Under the threefold damages award
ed to D. E. Loewe and Company
these men and their families were to
he deprived of their little homes.
Their bank accounts had been taken
from them early in the trial which
began in 1908. The interest that had
been accruing in the meanwhile has,
by a court decision, been given to D.
E. Loewe and Company.
The condition of the Danbury Hat
ters was considered by the San Fran
cisco Convention. The delegates to
that convention were unwilling that
one cent of trade union funds should
be used to pay the damages awarded
to Loewe and Company. They wish
ed to prevent the Danbury Hatters
from being victimized because of the
part they had taken in service to the
organized movement and in establish
ing clearly and finally the injustice OF
those existing laws and judicial prac-
, tices.
1t was decided bv the convention
! that the workers of the United
{ States should be. asked to contribute
the wages earned during the second
e hour of any shift on January n, 1916
s to the Danbury Hatters. In accord
S with this action, on December IL
: 1915, a circular was issued to all in
n ternational and nation unions, and Il
their local unions, to all state and city
: bodies. and all local unions directl,
s affiliated to the American Federation
f of Labor, asking them to give thI
wages of one hours work to the causi
; of the Danbury Hatters This actor
r expressed the conviction of the work
! ers that the cause OF the Danbur.
E Hatters made in the courts was TO
n the benefit not only of themselves bu
# for all.
y AS a result of that fight in tn
courts a definite campaign was TN
dertaken which enabled the organ
lied labor movement to demand legis
r, lation protecting all of the worker
= and assuring them their rights =
;. the legislation secured, known as tn
labor sections of the Clayton Ant
y trust Act, they have been acknowlede
6. ed even by the enemies of the labo
,e movement to make impossible in tn
n federal courts action similar to ths
ID against the Danbury Hatters, and
secure regulation and limitation
v the use of the writ of injunction an
III provision for jury trial in contemT
Mt cases.
Fully appreciatiVe OF lhe SSIFie
O. that had been rendered by the Dai
be bury Hatters, the wage-earners wei
g. contributing generously to their a
sistance. When these contribution
II were being taken, there was circ'
of lated through the press Of the coui
he irv the statement that the contribl
i'd lions had already reached an amour
w three or four times that necessary
an reimburse the Danbury Hatters. Tn
as statement was untrue and evident
lie was schemed and timed for the pu
on pose OF making the wage-earne
ny think that further contributions We
"a no longer necessary. As a rest
there was an immediate falling off
contributions sent in. There is {
cry reason to believe that the stat
M ment was circulated by those who h
res been most virulent in their opposisi'
cir to the cause of organized labor.
ith It was soon evident that the co
tributions would not reach the amou