The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-15
WHAT LABOR WON.

Newspaper readers pro DaDly can re-
call that the decision of the United
States supreme court in the case of
the Coronado Coal company was her
aided as a victory for organized labor
by union leaders. An editorial in the
official journal of the U. NJ. w. A. IL
illustrates upon what this claim Is
based.
Commenting upon the decision the
journal says:
If a labor union can be sued, as
was decided by the United States su-
preme court in the Coronado case,
then it can also sue. If labor union
can sue, then there is no good reason
why it should not utilize the law and
the courts for the protection of itself,
its members and their welfare against
oppression, damage or outrage. If the
law and courts afford a means by
which urion-busting employers may
harasS, torment and Cypress unions
and working people. then unions and
working people should not hesitate to
use the same weapons against that
class of employers.
1t should not have required a su-
preme court decision for labor to
reach this conclusion. The courts al
ways have been open to all the peo-
pie individually or collectively, organ
lied or unorganized, rich or poor,
white or black. If organized labor de-
eide to submit it's grievances to these
legally constituted tribunals, indus
trial peace is sure to follow and the
public welfare is certain to be great
" enhanced. The Journal says
further:
II has long been a popular pastime
with such employers to rush off TO the
courts and ask for an Injunction every
time a labor union dared to make its
appearance in their neighborhood
And the injunctions have been issued
They have very seriously hampered
the unions in their efforts to organize
the unorganized workers in their par
ticular crafts. In West Virginia, for
instance, injunctions have been issued
on mine run" basis. Non-unfon
operators have not hesitated to secure
an injunction at every possible OPP
portunity. If unions would fight such
employers with their own kind of fire
II would not be long until the iniunc-
ton process would be as unpopular
with employers as it always has been
and still is with employees.
Coal operators secure infunctions TO
prevent strikes Labor unions could
outs.
Numerous coal companies have sued
things that happened during strikes.
Unions could sue such employers for
damages for things they do their en-
ployes.
Without any legal right whatever.
some employers evict families of
workingmen from their homes and set
them and their household goods out
upon the roadside to be destroyed by
rain and the weather. Who will say
that damage suits could not be filed
against such employers under such
circumstances?
Thugs and gunner have been hired
and armed by employers many, MANY
times, and they have beaten nm ana
even killed men whose only offense
was that they were members of a labor
union = Who will say that such acts
cannot be made the subject of any
injunction and of damage suits?
II would not require many such
suits against employers to teach them
that inJunctions and damage suits are
unpopular and undesirable.
The decision of the Supreme Court
in the Coronado case opens the way
for labor unions to go into the courts
for just such protection. This is one
of the very interesting and important
features of the decision The infllnc-
ton cannot be abolished nor DESTROYED.
Therefore, why should labor unions
not make use of it. And why should
they not fight damage suits with dam
age suits?
Nowhere will there be heard an OBJ
lection to the pursuance OF the policy
above outlined by the labor unions. 1t
would be especially welcomed by the
public because it probably would put
an end to strikes, boycotts and lock-
outs. 1t certainly would end those
accompanied by violence and disor-
der. The carrying out of this policy
cannot begin too soon. Labor unions
can take their troubles to court with
the assurance that they will be ac-
corded justice in the same measure
that it Is dealt out to the employer OF
labor or anybody else. 1t seems
strange that they never thought of 1t
before.
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