Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1957-06-21
Freedom Of Association Receives
Support From Ruling in Barnes Case

Support from Rullng IN Barnes CdSe
civil district court in New Orleans ruled this week
membership the board of directors of the Southern
Conference Educational Fund association with the
Funds Officers does not deprive one Of the right to state
Unemployment compensation
In suit brought by Robert Barnes. former editor Of the
News Bulletin" of the Chamber of Commerce Of the New
Orleans against the Chamber Of Commerce and the
administrator of the division of unemployment security of the
state department Of labor.
The board Of review of division Of Unemployment
security upheld the action of the administrator In denying
compensation grounds that he had been guilty
Of misconduct" The misconduct charged against Barnes
consisted of his activities and associations behalf OF ine
grafton
Barnes had been warned by the Chamber of Commerce
March, 1856 that his continued employment would depend
upon la) giving up his activities behalf of inegraton;
b) resigning from the scEF board tc) ceasng to
eiate with officers of the Fund namely Aubrey w. Williams
president and DR. James Dnbrowsk. executive director
When Barnes refused. he dismissed
In his ruling. Judge Yarru stated
Neither organization lSCEF and ScTfWl DR.. Dem
browsg udiciay charged proved to be Com
munst though hearings recently conducted by the United
States Senate Internal Security commission In New Orleans
established that Dr. Dombrowsh connected with many
organizations espousing huded BY the Communists
The indicated that the sCw and Its the
SCEF Ine organized to improve the economic social
political cultural spiritual conditions Of the people Of
the south without regard to race creed color national
origin and memberships limited to citizens OF IL southern
states.
THE substance of the evidence against DR. Dmbrowsd
that he neither CONDEMNED excluded Communists from
the fund and Its members Is that they aggressvey espoused
inteeration of the races"
1T be conceded that any individual private
ISOLATION may by rule contract restrict its membership
employment racial religious political grounds But
individual private association Of individuals by
rule make ones religious political racial be-
ies practices membership In labor organization
misconduct that could deny him the benefits of state
poyment security statute The legislature could not costitu
onaly grant such right could the legislature. IT.
sclf nterdct such conduct without violating Amendments
and II Of the United States Constitution guaranteeing
eedn Of speech association mmunies and the equal
lection Of the law unless such conduct speech association
Il subversve reasonable.
"The only complaint Is that plaintiffs continued
necton with the Fund and Dr. Dombrows jeopardized his
and the associations relation with the public and Its
bers No matter how violently may disagree with anoth
ers racial religious political Views he not legally
strain abrige thn In manner unless they become
subvesve. reasonable interfere with abrdge similar
rights Of Others.
, II necessarily be held that since plaintiffs extra
surlar activities and associations not during work
ing hours, and his conduct and associations
hibted by law ftherance II his constitutional
Of the board Of review reversed and set aside and plaintiff
declared entitled to his full unemployment compensation
Aubrey w. Williams Of Montgomery Alabama, president
Of SCEF said The decision significant because Of its
bearing the practice of southern employers of
ing threats and employees from publicly
supporting Indignation Judge Yarruts decision said Williams
will bring much needed support in the south to the beleagur
Cd freedoms Of conscience. belief and association"