The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-06-22
COURTS TERMED
AN OL|GARCHY
A. F. of L. Convention Com.
mits Itself to Program for
"Curbing the Courts.


Cincinnati, Ohio, June 81 (By The
Associated Press) .-Organized labor
virtually committed itself today at the
American Federation Of Labor conven.
ton. TO a program favoring adoption
OF four constitutional amendments,
the repeal Of the She nan antitrust
law and the enactment by congress OF
two other measures for the avowed
purpose OF curbing the courts on &C
counts in decisions adverse TO labor.
\ final vote, was delayed until to-
rorrow so that delegates might con-
tinue 10 unleash their feelings against
what was described by the special
policy committee reporting the pro-
Gram as "a iudicisl oligarchy that Is
threatening 10 set itself up above the
legislatures and above the people
themselves
Proposed Amendments
The program OF amendments In
cludes A congressional yeta OF supreme
court decisions. the guarantee to
workers Of the right 10 organize to
bargain collectively and to strike, the
ohibition Of child labor. and the
adoption Of an easier method than the
present for changing the federal con-
stitution The new laws proposed
would interpret sections Of the Clay
ton act. which the committee said the
supreme court had "manifestly ignored
or overridden." and new child labor
law that wuold meet objections raised
hy the supreme court IN setting aside
former enactments.
Delegates advocating the program
were greeted with noisy demonstra-
tions and no dissent from the com.
mitee's program was voiced during
the long debate.
Emphasis was placed by the speak
ers on their statement that the pro-
gram was an appeal to the people. and
that it was an orderly process in de- J
tense OF labor's rights Bitter de- |
OF supreme court decis. |
ions. however. featured the debate. |
and also the committees report on the |
program
Before taking up the program aimed |
AZ the courts. The convention adopted !
a resolution favoring an investiga- |
ton Of Harvard's alleged discrimin-
atory action which IL said 10 he con- |
templated," to place ban against |
admission Of Hebrew students. and |
the approval OF report made by the |
committee. which con- |
demned the Lusk law OF New York as
to censor the utterances !
Of school teachers.
Lusk Law Attacked
Such legislation. ostensibly direc
ted against 'radisalsm.' said the. re.
port. requires teachers TO take a |
special oath OF allegiance TO the con-
OF the United States and OF
the state in question. and specifies
that a teacher may be dismissed for
deficiencies in character or for dis
loyalty. TIL" practical results Of
such laws is to endanSer the independ-
ance Of teachers in dealing with social
problems"
Repeal CO measures similar To the
Lusk law. wherever they have been
enacted. favored lr tn" committee.
and its report was adopted with no
dissent
Supreme Court Assailed
In reporting its program for curb
ing the courts. the specia! policy COM
mittee declared that the supreme court
In particular had undertaken to de
rrive American labor OF funda mental
rights and liberties" and II asserted
hat IA series Of such decisions formed
a link in a chain designed 10 "n'laVe
he workers OF America Six doCiS-
Ons Of the court in the last five years
we're reviewed 10 support the Conten-
ion Of ;hp committee. which added
hat the despotic exercise Of a un-
,urped power by nine men. or bar"
1ra joritv Of them. over the lives and
iberties OF millions OF men. women
md children. Is intolerahlo."
Further tho report quoted Thomas
Jefferson as saving "fhr germ Of dis.
solution In our federal government is
II the judicarr.' and also Abraham
.incoln's statement that " the people
,ro tho masters ot both congress and
no courts
McCIintIc Attacked
John r. Froy, of the moulders union.
supporting the rrocram for curhjng
he court declared that 'iudees DO
-, make the lar and he addei that
lnior men would be justified in asking