The labor world., 1922-07-15
THE COURTS APOLOGIsTS.


The latest consolation labor is get.
ng from the decision of the United
ates supreme court in the Coronado
Sc, comes from the Independent. II
,es not think the decision is so bad.
its own way it builds up a fine de-
nse for the supreme court. Its ex'
anation of the decision is evidently
tended to appcase the public and
,lster up confidence lin the supreme
,urt. 1t maintains t}rat honest and
w abi'in. labor unions have nothing
fear from the decision, for the court
early and definitely states that
lions may be sued for damages grow
out of their unlawful acts.
To this conclusion the Duluth Her
4 suhscribes and asks: "Should a
Dor union or any other organization
exempt from punishment for Of
nses which individuals or corpora
ons are punished for conducting?'
nd then it satisfies itself with the
Inclusion that no one is "real
lend of the union labor movement
no declares that they should be-
Sure, if the stockholders of cor
ration or the individual member Of
labor union do an unlawful act they
\ ,ould be punished. There isn't any
'gument about that. But there is no
iretch of the law that will make a
'rporation liable for damages done by
hrsons who happen to be stockhold-
Is in corporation.
Here s an example: There is keen
/ I'D unfair business rivalry between
10 corporations, which results in de-
leciating the value Of the stock in
Ie Of them. Two or more stockhold-
: is in the losing company, standing
fpon street corner discussing their
sses, meet two or more stockholders
the rival corporation, whom they
braid for the acts and methods of
corporation. Hot words follow and
EN- assaults are made. Is there {,
,urt on earth that will hold the cor
.rations, in such instance, liable for
e acts of their stockholders?
If the corporation, its board of d.
ctors or it's officers do an unlawful
it or they may be punished. If a
Dor union or it's officers conspire to
an unlawful act the law has always
en- sufficiently broad to punish
EN-, as they should be punished.
Now since the supreme court has
rown down the bars that protected
ions and associations from conspira-
rs against their property and funds
lat is to protect such organizations
om the Vaccinations of their enc
esq All any employer has to do is
send his spies carrying the cards
union men among unsuspecting
rmbers of union, excite them, pro.
Ike trouble, encourage violence and
struction of property. The union has
official knowledge Of their acts
rerything is done on the quiet. It is
ing paid for secretly by the employ.
through his disguised agents Dam
es for such under the Coronado de-
lion may be claimed by the employ
( who planned the unlawful acts anl
- funds of the union may be at.
jthed to pay them. That is the effect
3 the latest decision Of the supreme
lrt of the United States. The law
- not been interpreted to make a
poration liable for such acts were
=, situation reversed. No corporation
liable for the acts of its stockhold-
z; as individuals. Incorporation linn
j. their liability.
Then there is another side to it.
nat is believed to he lawful one day
Eby judicial Interpretation held to
unlawful on another day. A union
lis strike against an unreasonable
|. }ployer. lie fights back stubhornlv.
2e members hold out against him
attempts to operate with non-union
IN and experiences great financial
il. Sympathizcrs Of the union mcn
Z sieving in the employer unfair
~, refuse IN purchase his wares. He
tfers great loss Of trade and further
!. Eancial loss He then ruShcs into
T. 1rt and charges that the union ha:
: sgally conspired against him. HI
IS not go to court with clean hands
!, fears the law courts and seeks re
( / in equity where a federal iudg
I merry MS attorhv, SltS III Judgment
ere most of the alleged facts art
f. termined. There court:made law i
.. up. The employer has all the ad
38 .1tape so far. His own kind of foun
lion has been laid. The union ha
bnSmade ripe for plucking.
The case is then set for trial in
ls148 \. no,1 "a Treble darnao are c1a;me;