The Connecticut labor press., 1919-12-13
(. F. OF |. NEEDS PERMANENT LAW
 COUNSEL BADLY
Manufacturers Association Has $25,000 a Year Legal Bureau
 Busy Fighting Labor Daily.
DANAHER IS THE MAN
Labor in Connecticut at Present Paying $10,000 a Year in
 Fines and Fees.

It has long been evident that organ ized labor i'll Connecticut absolutely re- quires the permanent retention of able counsel to help meet the constantly re- curing legal complications which it faces and recent happenings make this fact even more impressive than 1t has been in the past.
 A notable instance of this is found i'll the conference between Attorney Ralph Wells of Hartford, counsel for the Manufacturers Association of Con- necticut, Attorney Arthur B. O'Keefe, representing the Sperry & Barnes Com pany strikers, and Attorney Cornelius Danaher of Meriden, who was called in by the New Haven Trades Council, in order to arrive at an agreement con- corning the application of the picketing law in the strike referred to.
 Attorney Danaher's retention i'll addi- ton to Attorney O'Keefe's services proved to be of great value to organ ized labor III this instance, not only so far as 1t affected the case in question but in safeguarding 1abor's rights under the law permitting peaceful p1cket1ng, as faulty agreement at this time and in this case might easily afford dang
  suit in serious abridgement of labor'S right under the law-which is alreadp so ambiguous that the aforesaid rights are badly befogged. ~.
 In discussing the matter before the New Haven Trades Council President Ornburn of that body, who is also sec retary of the Connecticut Federation of Labor and closely in touch with legal matters affecting organized labor of the state again referred most enphatically to the pressing need for permanent counsel.
 He reviewed other instances of where labor's rights have been attacked in the courts and before the legislature, mak- ing the services of competent attor- ney an imperative necessity. It IS by no means enough, he maintained, for organized labor to employ such an at torney to aid its officers before the leg islature in the preparation of labor bills and in the opposition of harmful legis- 1ation. Every day in the year, practi- cally, i'll some part of the state, inter ests bitterly opposed to organized labor are trying to secure through the courts action which will retard its progress and ultimately ruin it if possible.
 At the present time the opposition in this direction is stronger than ever and more than ever determined to cripple or absolutely eliminate trade unionisfn.
 In the application of the law regard ing injunctions against picketing labor's enemies have powerful weapon. As 1t stands on the statute books. today no lawyer can tell definitely just what it does allow or prohibit. The decision lies chiefly with the courts interpreta- tion and the average judge, placed upon the bench in many instances through the political influence friendly to large employing interests, Is not apt to err in his interpretation on the side of labor. Labor's only safeguard appears to be in securing favorable supreme court rulings on this law, by which the decis- ion of lower court judges must be gov erned, unless they wish to see their de- cisions reversed by the higher courts. It IS along these lines that Attorney Danaher, working in the interests of notable achievement was the decision i'll the Max Ans case in Bridgeport which gives an interpretation which has been of great value to labor in pro- ceedings since 1t was rendered.
 The legislative committee of the Connecticut Federation of Labor made notable progress in relation to this law at the last session of the legislature when, through Attorney Danaher's strenuous efforts and acumen, an agree ment was gotten through by which the statute was referred to the attorney general of the state for consideration and report at the next session of the General Assembly. As this was an ad- mission on the part of the General Assembly that the law did need revision SH by the labor leaders of the state.
 However, meanwhile, it makes it possible for the opponents of organized labor to jail strikers with ease and dis patch and, as President Ornburn char acterized it, 1t is one of the most dangerous and iniquitous laws on the statute books of any state. This, to- gether with countless other situations constantly arising, proves concfusively hat labor should have at its command expert legal advice at all times.
 President Ornburn said he hoped that the labor organizations of the state would speedily make 1t possible for the Connecticut Federation of Labor to re- tain such a man as Attorney Danaher permanently. At the present time, as near as can be computed organized la bor in this state is paying not less than 91U,UUO year HI IlIlcS ana 1eeS., Al torney Ralph Wells, as attorney for the Manufacturers Association, is reported to receive $25 900 a year for the con- duct of his office in caring for that or ganization's legal needs, requirements which consist largely of opposition to organized labor Under these 'ondi- tions, Mir Ornburn assured his hearers, the sooner labor awoke and protected itself by the retention of a permanent attorney at the right salary the better it will be for the working people of this state.
 That his hearers were fully in accord with President Ornburn's remarks was evidenced by the applause which greet ed them.
 Now that you're getting ready to "do your Christmas shopping early" is the