The Republican journal., 1922-10-05
THE INJUNCTION

Judge Wilkerson presiding at the Fed
eral District Court in Chicago, after |
holding hearings and taking evidence, is
sued an Injunction against railroad strik-
ers enioining them as individuals against |
violence or other unlawful acts and hold
ing the unions to which they belong re-
snonsible therefor This is Temporary
Injunction" and the end is not yet. Al
ready steps are being taken to appeal to
higher court, the appellants hoping to get
a decision against an injunction of any
sort. There is likely TO be long drawn
out legal battle before it is decided
whether we shall have permanent in
junction or none
In the hearings before Judge Wilker
son the evidence clearly showed and it
was not denied, that the officers OF the
shopmens' unions gave orders to strike
and gave direction as to how the strike
should be carried on and that there was
cooperation on the part of the leaders.
That there have been more than hun
dred instances of assault, violence, sab
otage and other unlawful acts during the
strike is a well-known fact. 1t is claim
ed, and no doubt it is true, that many OF
these infractions Of law are not charge
bic to the railroad men but the records OF
the Injunction hearings prove beyond
doubt that the leaders of the union COM
binations, after two months of violence
and disorder and, knowing that some oil
their followers were guilty of some OF
these intolerable acts, repeatedly sent
out bulletins and commur ications urging
them to greater activity. Critics oil
President Harding, Atty. Gen. Daugher-
ty and Judge Wilkerson for institutlng
the Injunction proceedings should re-
member that these proceedings were un-
dertaken for the sole purpose OF protect
ing the property, the persons and the
lives of the pc ople Of the United States
The pains and penalties of this Injunction
can never be in flcted upon the peaceful
and law abiding.
This injunction applies also to those
who seek to do bodily injury to any man
who is at work for a railroad, those VINO
threaten the lives and the homes OF rail-
road employees who are working for an
honest living. 1t affects those who IN
cite or conspire riots for the purpose OF
destroying property, iniuring individuals,
or to defy lawful authority. 1t applies to
those who by violence or conspiracy In
terfere with the operations OF railroads
engaged in the transportation OF mails,
passengers and property. 1t has fc' Its
purposes the protection of the travel
ing public, tc keep food and fuel NOV
ing and to keep products of industry
moving so that the mills, factories and
workshops of the nation will not be shut
down and millions of workmen will be
out of employment and famine stare
them and their families in the face
Certainly there is nothing in any or the
above injunction restraints that circum-
scribes the freedom of any honest man
or that oppresses him in any way. The
leaders of the shopmen and some OF tns
members of the unions have repeatedly
said that their men have not engaged IL
any unlawful acts, and the violence ant
other unlawful acts which have beef
perpetrated were committed by vicious
people who have no connection will
their organization. If that is true, wh,
does Mr. Gompers and other leaders, ant
some of their followers, rage against tn
injuuction7 1t would be vastly more t
their credit if they would join with thu
courts and assist it in apprehending ant
Furnishing those who have, as they assert
been the really guilty.