The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-06-19
The Unions Future
Under Taft Decision

what effect will the supreme
court decision that labor UNION are
responsible ami sunbie organiza
tions have upon the trades union
movement In this country Does IL
mea the beginning OF tine cud %
she policiticnl and economic power
Of trades unionismg hoe. u mean
that the unions. driven into closer
afftiiRtion n cooperation for
self defense. VIII attain a new aud
greater power and influence IA the
az. OF the uatiunf
W. a ohly theorize upon such
questions. but they appear 10 be-
worth attention. Internationally
the labor organizations of the
country are deeply stirred by the
decision. n sirikea q EtaTEvring
blow ~ one 81 their most impof-
tant doctrine the doctrine that
Willis tnry ear basgon.coliectty Wy
and act collectively III any mattsr
which they believe 10 be their SOM
mon gooa they cannot be ncid
either collectively ol arvcraliy re-
sponslblc for unlawful acts. They
viii not ignore that low. They will
attempt TO parry ~ or 20 prevent
is being followed up by more di-
rect hiowH through the courts. for
which ~ prepares the way.
samuel GufupcfN haH already
forecast "a. nght Ia the statement
81 hla belief that there be some
latent power owe aud above tho
supreme cuurt-the congress and
people N the United states
which would %repuhiate the c1nrtH
ruling That means urganiacd n
u.r viii attempt TO change the law
under which this ruling wa in.
possible.
rhat rs the privilege OF a demo.
rracy II organized labor can mus
inr enough votes u change tnu
law tsrCuEh the lawful chhnnpis
provided. IL will be proper TO do so.
iat o. viii b. "a Ions ana desperate
battle Tn. history OF the trades
union movement Ia England, orig
mating az "a much earlier date than
TIE movement In America, may H.
lustrato the leugth of Time to which
such % battle may extend.
Trades unions h England at
first wrrc generally frowncd upon.
As early a. 1895 "a law was passed
In England defining certain trades
union efforts H. raiae wages AS an
Illegal conspiracy. In isf9 another
law prohibited combinations OF
craftsmen to keep up wages OF re-
duce hours. IN ISIS tho courts
sentenced certain cotton spinner
TO prison for conspiracy 10 raise
wages. About the middle OF the
nineteenth century the unions
found themselves so far outside the
law that they had no recourse
against their officials who might
rmbeazic their funds. They were
held 20 be, " not actually criminal,
yet 80 far In restraint OF trade that
the organization was an Illegal as
sOclatnpu. This Vas "A heavy blow.
II started a fight which consumed
several years before. In the '5OHl
they obtained Legislative ccrtiftca-
ton OF their legality, complete pro-
lection for their FUNDS. ana legal
safeguards Against being sued.
The s~l,uation continued % OF
less unchanged until In 1897. after
lhirty years OF immunity. tbs
courts decided that these provis.
IONS had not been properly enact
ed, and In the famous Taft Vale
case which chief Justice TAFT
quotes IN hts decision. fOund ths
railroad union Responsible TOT
manages inflicted by It's members
iu the Taft Naie railway strike. and
nAsessed damages against the un'
ion.
rnionlam was shaken Ia 10
roots. Whether or not the decision
OF the United States supreme courl
win have similar results a. an an
tcrcs,lug question. In England. y,
making unions responsible fcg tns
nets % their memhern il cut dowf
the number Of strikes by 50 pol
cent but q did so%me'hlEs mor'
than Wat-sGmething which Mr.