Court Opinion

ID: 9623969
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 06:47:42.755511+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:37.501804
License: Public Domain

Harvey, C. J.
(dissenting): On October 10, 1949, when the incidents occurred which gave rise to this action, and on the next day when the action was filed and the restraining order issued, the Musicians Association, Local No. 297, and H. Kenneth Watson, its secretary and business agent, and the American Federation of Musicians, were not legally transacting business in Kansas for the reason that the associations had not complied with our statute (G. S. 1947 Supp. 44-805) and Watson had not been licensed as a business agent of Local No. 297, as required by G. S. 1947 Supp. 44-804. This statute (§ 44-809) made it unlawful for any person (7) “To act as a business agent without having obtained and possessing a valid and subsisting license”; and (10) “To act as a business agent or representative of any labor organization which does not have on file, with the secretary of state, its constitution and bylaws”; and section 44-814 makes the violation of the statute by any person or labor organization a misdemeanor and fixes the penalty therefor. This statute was upheld in these particulars in the case of Stapleton v. Mitchell, 60 F. Supp. 51, and the appeal in that case was dismissed by the United States Supreme Court (326 U. S. 690; 90 L. ed. 406; 66 S. Ct. 172). The facts were stipulated upon the trial of this case in the court below that the statute had been violated. In this situation defendants are not in good position to rely upon their constitution and bylaws, or upon the acts of the business agent of Local No. 297, as a defense to a suit in a court of equity. It may be conceded that these associations may make reasonable rules respecting their organizations and their members who voluntarily join them, but they should be as meticulous in conforming to the laws of our state when they undertake to do business here as they expect their members to be in conforming to their rules. It is true they later conformed to our statute in those particulars, but not until after the damage had been done to Ferguson and the other members of his group and to the plaintiff in this action; hence, it is too late as far as this case is concerned.
*606The conduct of the defendant Watson, which the defendants, Musicians Association and American Federation of Musicians, attempted to support, can hardly be regarded as just and equitable under the constitution and bylaws of the American Federation of Musicians set forth in the abstract. Article 14, dealing with transfers, section 8, does provide that the member should deposit his transfer card and obtain his quarterly dues card from the secretary before he solicits, accepts or fills an engagement in the local jurisdiction. This rule is subject to certain exceptions, not specified in the rules. It may be conceded there was a technical violation of the rule, but the undisputed testimony at the trial was that it was not always adhered to strictly; that frequently circumstances would make it inconvenient if not impossible for that to be done before an engagement was filled, even though it might be several days. Here Ferguson and his group arrived in Wichita late Sunday night, October 9. They had an engagement to fill the next morning, with preparations to make. Without taking time even to get a place to stay they prepared and filled the engagement and promptly went' to the office of Watson, the acting business manager of Local No. 297, presented their transfer card, and offered to pay whatever was required. There is no complaint that this offer was inadequate. It would seem that at most only a reprimand or minimum fine should have been imposed. Under section 9 it appears the local had authority to consent to the transfer member taking even steady employment at once. Even if that consent were not given he was entitled to certain privileges in the local, and section 10 makes it clear that “No local has the right to deny full membership to a transfer member; it may, however, refuse full membership before the expiration of six months from the date of deposit of transfer card.” In short, the bylaws leave plenty of room for equitable and just treatment of a transfer member. Ferguson and his associates got the opposite kind of treatment from Watson. They were told they would be fined a thousand dollars each. Of course Watson had no authority to fine them any sum. That is conceded in the brief and arguments here. They were also told that they could not perform in the local jurisdiction for six months. Watson had no authority to make any decision of that kind. They were also threatened with the loss of membership in the American Federation of Musicians. It is my judgment that this type of conduct should not be condoned by courts of equity. The judgment of the trial court should be reversed.