The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-09-17
PICKETING AND THE LAW

Peaceful picketng is legal, but it is interesting
ar this time in the states hour of strife to know
what and when it is not peaceful and therefore
becomes unlawful 4 ss, ,~... ... 80. ,ts'
One of the latest decisions Of the U, s. Supreme
corrt was. written by Chief Justice William How
ord Taft former president of the United States IN
tho case of American Steel Foundries VS.. Tri-state
Central Trade Council 257 U. S. 1874, AZ s. ct. ~
excerpts which as follows:
"In going to and from work. men have right
to as free a passage without obstruction aS 'ie
streets afford consistent with the right Of others
to enioy the same privilege. We are sociai pep
MIA and the accosting by one of another IN an OIL
fensiye way and an offer by one to communicate
and discuss information with view to influencing
the others action not regarded as aggression
or violation of that others rights II, however,
the offer is declined, as it may rightfully be, then
persistence, Importantly, following and dogglns
become unjustifable annoyance and obstruction
which is likely soon to SAVIOR of intimidation From
oil Of this the person sought to be influenced has
q RIGHT to be free and his employer has right TO
have him free. ... .. So .. 'r..
..Tbe nearer this importunate intercepting or
amployes or would-be employees is to the place u
k,,;oss tho greater the obstruction and Interior
.ence with the business and especially with the
,ronartv right of access of the employer Attempt
ing discussion and argument of this KIND IN. such
uroximity is certain to attract attention and con-
sregation of the curious, or it may be, interested
bvstanders. and thus increase the distractions as
we'll as the aspect of intimidation which the situa
ton quickly assumes.
"In the present case the three or four groups OF
picketers were made up of from four to twelve IN
a group They constituted the picket line. Each
union interested, electricians. cranemen, machln-
lists and blacksmiths, had several representatives
on the picket line, and assaults and violence en-
sued. They began early and continued from time
+o time during the three weeks of the strike after
the picketng began All information rendered, all
arguments advanced and all persuasion used under
sucb circumstances were intimidation. They could
not be otherwise 1t is idle talk of peaceful COM
municaton in such place and under such condi-
tious. The numbers of the pickets in the groups
constituted intimidation.
''The name picket indicated militant purpose,
inconsistent with peaceful persuasion. The crowds
they drew made the passage of the employees to
and from the place of work, one of running the
gauntlet. Persuasion or communication attempted
in such presence and under such conditions was
anything but peaceful and lawful. ....
"When one or more assaults or disturbances en-
sued, they characterized the whole campaign, which
BECAME effective because of its ntimidating char
acter in spite of the admonitions given by the
leaders to their followers as to lawful methods to
be pursued, however sincere. Our conclusion is
that pieketng thus instituted is unlawful and can
not be peaceable and may be properly enjoined by
the specific term because its meaning is clearly I'M
derstood in the sphere of the controversy by those
who are parties to it"-Cleveland Star.