Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-04
JUDGE ANDERsoN's ORDER.

When we attempt to criticize that which trans
pires far away from u.s. we are very likely to be
mistaken. our orienaton is apt to be bad. We
cannot understand all the ms and outs of condi-
tions might the incident nearer home.
Judge A. B. Anderson, of the Federal court, has
restrained the organization of unions among the
miners of West Virginia. There must have been
extraordinary conditions to Justify such an
injunction. Men have right to organize If they
wish to do So Perhaps an effort was being made
to coerce them into organization. II So it was
proper to restrain the strong arm squad" Men
have a right to join union IL they wish to stay
out OF it IL they wish The courts should preserve
their rights for them in either event If that is
what Judge Anderson did by his injunction, there
be just criticism.
Judge Anderson also restrained the operators
from collecting dues for the unions by holding them
out of the mems pay. President Lewis. of the mine
workers seems to regard that order as general as
he has wired his men everywhere to resist such an
order by walking out. Many thousands of miners
are already out.
1t is difficult for the outsider to understand the
occasion for the excitement The relation of man
to his union is a strictly personal matter. If he
wants to pay his dues and belong to, the union he
has that right If he does not wish to pay them,
with resulting suspension from the union. it is
his own affair For majority of union to bind
minority to continue in membership by voting to
have the employer withhold the dues Of all, out of
their pay, looks much like coercng that minority.
Probably that was Judge Anderson's view.
President Lewis says that the operators agreed
in ther contract with the unions to withhold these
dues and that Judge Anderson's order amounts to a
breach of contract. We hardly how. Judge
Anderson was not a party to the contract and his
court was not bound by any agreement. If he felt
that the rights OF any citizen being infrnged
in a matter within his Jurisdiction, he had right
upon proper complaint to stop It, 1t is very doubt
full whether union has legal right, by a majority
vote, to say that the wages of a member shall be
withheld after he has earned those wages They
are his own-not the unions. BY suit he could COM
pei payment to him by the operator, unless he In.
dividuay authorized the deduction for dues.
If the operators, in bad faith, procured such an
order from Judge Anderson, in order to steathy
break their agreements with the unions, they
should be ashamed of themselves 1t is not square
shooting"
AS long the strike Of the miners does not as
sumo proportions which injurious to the general
public they have right to quit far as the pub
lie is concerned. 1t is matter between them and
the operators-and Judge Anderson The minute
it Is menace to the public, 1t becomes the peoples
business and way will be found 10 stop It,
1t may be understood by both employers
and employees that concerted action which freezes
starves the public is conspiracy against the
era1 welfare and will not be endured. The people
have decided to become party to lock-outs, walk
outs and strikes whenever their rights affected
And the people will win. Leaders should act ac-
cordingly.