The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-17
Declaration That Attempt Was
Made to Crush Labor, Shown.
Farmers Would Be Equally Hit
by Ruling, Report States.
ATTACK DIRECTED At TAFT
He Was "Free With His Opin-
iOns," Labor Council Declares.
No Action Has Been Taken on
Report Except by Committee.

Cincinnati. June IA suit which
is expected to put to the test the re-
cent decision of the United States su-
preme court in the Coronado mine
case, which held that trade unions
may sue and be sued. has been 1iled
in the superior court here.
The action is by Edwin L. Hutchins,
individually and as president of the
Allied Printing Trades council of Gin
cinnti. and on behalf of the unions
and its members against U. S. Print
ing & Lithographing company. and
demands $4,000 for alleged wrongful
use by that company of the union Ia
bel. Injunction to prevent further use
of the label also is sought.
(By the Associated Pressl
Cincinnati. Ohio, June 17.-Labor's
Interpretation of the supreme court
decision in the celebrated Coronado
coal case, holding international
unions subject to damage suits under
the Sherman antitrust law. was pre-
sented today to the American Feder-
alton of Labor convention here by the
federations executive council, COM
posed of its eleven officers.
THE supreme court cannot crush
the labor movement without endan-
gering the foundations of society,"" de-
clared the report. THE workers will
not accept slavery, therefore they will
not accept that which makes slavery
either likely or possible. They will
find a way to preserve those liberties
which they have and to gain more as
time passes"
Farmers Are Hit, Too?
Organizations of farmers and other
unincorporated associations of individ-
uals were said by the council to face
the same plight as the trade unions,
for it was said that the decision ap-
plies to them with equal force as it
does to labor unions. Every organized
unit, the counsel asserted, was made
IL Il 8.
be done by individual members or
groups in violation of law.
Chief Justice Taft, who wrote the
Coronado decision, was said by the
including a ruling "in anticipation of
future cases. and the courts concur
renee in the opinion was described as
an ''unwarran act"
Justice Taft by his subtle interpre-
tation and construction, the report
said, has directly charged that trade
unions are combinations or conspir-
acies in restraint of trade, because Il
is only by this presumption and legal
assumption that he can justify the
declaration that they are associations
embraced in the terms of the Sherman
and Clayton acts.
Would Hold Individuals Guilty.
Declaring that the Coronado deci-
sion made union funds subject to
damages resulting from unlawful acts
knows nothing, the report added that
organized labor sought no extra ordi-
| nary protection but contended that in
dividuals should be punished under
criminal or civil law.
The supreme court" the report
concluded, has not only rendered a
decision which goes beyond any pre-
vious decision of that tribunal in its
antagonisn and opposition TO labor
| but it has rendered such a decision
when under the law and the pra cffcas
hitherto obtaining, its decision sheuId
have been exactly the reverse"
No action was taken on the report
except to refer it to the special com
mittee and the centered attention on
proposed changes in the federation :
constitution and laws. Outsta ndfne-
among the changes was the proposal
! for holding the convention in October
rather than June. Opponents of the
| change said the June meeting was
necessary 50 that organized labor
might determine upon its part In po-
| itfcal campaigns