The labor world., 1922-07-01
union LABOR TO
DEMAND CHANCE
IN CONSTITUTION
Would Limit Power Of Courts in
0ut|aW|ng Legislation.
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entrance to the struck 'esta blishment
'one striking missionary" to per-
suade hundreds or even thousands
Of strike breakers Of the iniquity Of
their course. What a mockery upon
the acknowledged right Of workers
on strike to win over would-be strike
breakers by pleading and persuasion!
"On May IS, 1922, the supreme
court set aside as unconstitutional
the Child Labor law. which had
been enacted after years Of agita-
ton on the part Of the most for
ward-looking and humane elements
Of our citizenship.
Its Final Blow Deathly.
ION June 5. 1922, the supreme
court handed down an unanimous
opinion in the ca. of United Mine
Workers Of America VS.. Coronado
Coal Co.. which in effect opens the
way for a general raid upon union
funds, by holding that labor unions
are suable as such and liable for
damages to employers If caused by
unlawful acts on the part of any Of
their striking numbers, whether such
acts be authorized or not, so long
as the strike is sanctioned by the
union.
THUS by six decisions the United
States supreme court. composed of
nine men without direct mandate
| from the people and without re-
sponsibility to the people, has set
aside a congressional enactment
which clearly expressed the will of
the vast majority of the people, and
all but outlawed the activities of
organized labor, which alone can
preston and aggression of the greedy
and cruel interests
Power Is DespOtic.
"This despotic exercise Of a
usurped power by nine men. or a
bare majority of them, over the
lives and liberties of millions Of
men, women and children. is intol-
erable. With the immortal Lincoln
we believe that The people Of these
United States are the masters Of
both congress and courts. not to
overthrow the Constitution. but to
overthrow the men who pervert the
constitution (Speech at Cincinnati,
Sept. II, 1850.
I'VE are determined to preserve
our rights as workers, citizens and
freemen, and we call upon all fair
minded and liberty loving citizens
to unite with us in a determined ef-
fort to deprive the courts Of the
despotic powers which they have as
sumed. and to make our govern
ment in full measure a government
Of the people, for the people and
by the people. TO this end your COM
mittee recommends that the con-
vention record itself in favor Of, and
promote the adoption of, amend
ments to the Constitution Of the
United States for the following pur-
poses:
The -Four Amendments.
Il. An amendment prohibiting
the labor Of children under the age
of 16 years in any mine, mill, fac
tory. workshop or other industrial!
or mercantile establishment, and
conferring upon congress the power
to raise the minimum age below
which children shall not be permit
ted to work. and to enforce the pro-
visions Of the proposed amendment
by appropriate legislation.
"2. An amendment prohibiting
the enactment of any law or the
making of any judicial determir1
ton which would deny the right to
the workers Of the United States
and it's territories and dependencies
to organize for the betterment of
their conditions, to deal collectively
with employers: to collectively with
hold their labor and patronage and
induce others to do so.
"3. An amendment providing that
If the United States supreme court
decides that an act OF congress is
unconstitutional, or by the inter-
probation asserts q public policy at
variance with the statutory declar-
alton of congress, then If congress
by a. two-thirds majority repassca
the law. it shall become the law of
the land.
-: In order to make tho Con.
stitution Of the United States more
flexible to meet theh needs Of the
people, an amendment providing for
easier amendments Of the same.
"Your committee further recon.