The Republican journal., 1921-02-10
ONE LAW FOR ALL.

When Samuel Gompers angrily attack
ed the Supreme Court for a decision
which has interpreted paragraph in the
Clayton Act contrary to his own conf
dent opinion of its meaning, he was gull
ty of suggesting something far more re-
pugnant to American sentiment than was
literally spoken.
Decisions of the Supreme Court are sub
ject to criticism, of course, though it is
unavailing for the reason that the Amer-
can people have wisely ordained that
there shall be an arbtal tribunal beyond
which they will not take their controver-
sizes. AS has well been said, 1.-THE high
est court is always right because it is the
highest court" Though it's classic judg-
ments are re-read and discussed years
after they are handed down, that is only
instructive recreation for legal minds
there can be no argument about their
correctness.
Mr.. Gomper's criticism is not of this
academic nature. If his attack means
anything, it means that he would set the
labor unions above the law of the land,
and establish them in control of the Gov
eminent In order that they may be enabl-
ed to dictate to employers whom the lat
F. ter shall and shall not employ, and what
the terms of employment shall be.
Mr.. Gompers denounces the Clayton
| Act ruling specifically as showing that
the Supreme Court ''has Joined forces
with the anti union movement, the move
ment to undermine the only organization
which the working people have for their
protection" The "only organization"
as Mr.. GomperS knows, musters only
small traction of the working people of
America. lime and again, moreover,
MI Gomper's 'only organization" has
| shown that 1t has as little respect for the
| lawful tights of the vast majority of
working people as for employers who
| courageouSly defy it by keeping their
shops open.
Tie deliberately misrepreSents when he
calls the open shop movement an ''antl
union movement. 1t is movement
antagonlStc only to the arrogant methods
| OF ce4 tam union leaders-quIte a differ
I ent thing, as Mr.. GomperS is aware The
movement is one concrete form of eX-
pressing the unShakable conviction of
the whole people that the right of man
to contract for S services without mo-
lestatlon is as inalienahle as his right to
breathe. 1t is not to be challenged or in
tr,nged by any organization.
Is not the Government of the United
States an Organization which the work.
ing people have for their protectlon?' If
1t is not, the Republic is a failure. No
law which would seek to cripple or d.
vide its authority will ever be enacted,
SO long as the people are alert for the de-
fence of their common liberties. NOR
will any fraction of its powers be dele
gated to a private organization such as
Mr.. Gompers represents.
Had the ruling of the Supreme Court
IN the matter of the Clayton Act been in
conformity with Mr.. Gompers' desire and
opinion the great body of the American
people would have wasted no energy as
| sailing it. They would instantly demand
OF Congress the repeal of any law that
did not protect them all equally Mr..
Gompers is at liberty to seek his remedy
at the same source, appeal for law of
special privilege such as he thought he
had. He will not get it, to be sure. The
country would never stand for the intol-
cradle policy he breaches Providence
+ journal,