Evening star., 1927-04-26

Public opinion, like the Supreme
Court itself, is divided on the decision
applying the antitrust law to labor
unions in the case of the Stone Cut
ters' Union. The majority opinion,
which resulted in an injunction to
stop a boycott against producers, is
widely approved, but some observers
insist 1T never was intended that the
law should be so used and that Con.
gress should deal with the situation
by further legislation
Recognizing that 'the opinion Is a
severe blow to labor organization"
but contending that ''the court stands
on firm ground in its Interpretation
of the law as it is written" the Lex
ington Leader points TO the ability
of the dissenting justices. Brandeis
and Holmes, and says ut may be
that Congress, on the basis OF the
arguments which they present with
great deal of force, will ultimately
modify the Clayton act; that If any
relief is sought, 1t must be by an
appeal to Congress" The Phila-
delphia Public Ledger also argues that
the divided court reveals debatable
point in the Clayton act, which Con-
gress would be justified in clarifying" ="
and thes Grand Rapids Press believes
that labor unions would find many
employers on their side in demanding
rewriting and clarifying of the law"
THE possibilities in this decision
are so enormous" that the New York
Evening. World feels sit is certain to
engage the attention of Congress when
1t convenes." That paper summarizes
the result of the decision as indicating
that 1.-The labor unions, recognized as
legal and engaging in no strike vio-
lence, intimidation, fraud or threats,
may be reduced to utter inefflciency
by court action"
X X X
Quoting from the court opinion the
statement that 'the general order to
strike against the petitioners prod.
ucts could have no purpose other than
that of coercing or inducing the local
employers to refrain from purchasing
such products" the Los Angeles Times
declares: This same principle has
been vigorously employed by the Su-
preme Court to prevent combinations
of manufacturers from interfering
with the sale of products of companies
outside the trust. In extending 1t TO
the practices of the labor unions it
simply stresses that the law is no
respecter of persons The Birming-
ham News says it regards this opin-
ion as one which will be received in
both union and non-union camps as
a rule of justice and pure reason"
Taking up the question whether or
not there was any restraint of in
terstate commerce as such" the In
dlanapolss News remarks: There
was an interference with the use and
sale of the stone in question--this is
admitted, and was, of course, in
tended. But nothing was done that
interfered directly with the shipment
of the stone, unless it was the refusal
to produce or use the stone. The
theory, no doubt, is that men are
presumed to intend the consequences
of their own acts, and certainly the
consequences of the acts in this case,
if they have been effective. would 4
have been to keep the stone in ques-
ton out of interstate commerce"
The News finds it difficult to make
distinctions in such cases, suggesting
that "a strike at the quarries, con-
fined wholly to Indiana, would also
have been an interference with in
terstate commerce."
What a far-reaching decision 1t
is!" exclaims the Columbus Ohio
State Journal. with the comment.
1--WE had thought that mans right
to refrain from work, peacefully and
at his own risk, was clearly estab-
lished." The Port Arthur News adds
that the decision knocks the props
to a certain extent from under the
labor unions OF the country"
Il + y
The Boston Transcript points out
the scope of the case. stating that 1t
arose from die action or the gem