American Federation of Labor Volume 1; History, Encyclopedia, Reference Book (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 Excerpt: ...can not issue injunctions restraining persons from committing crimes or misdemeanors and should not when there is another complete remedy at law. The police power is presumed to be a preventative, and, when that is insufficient, the arraignment at the bar of justice to answer for offenses is toe means by which the State seeks its safetj and the maintenance of its dignity. It is but just that the workers insist upon being regarded as equals before the law, and that in their activity to prevent infringement upon their rights, and their hopes and struggles to maintain their manhood, extra-judicial proceedings should not lie against them as is now the case by the use, or, more properly stilted, abuse, of the powers of the courts in the issuance of writs of injunction. (p. 21) On behalf of the railroad companies a bill has been introduced amending the so-called "Anti-trust Law," designed to overcome the recent decision of the United States Supreme Court declaring that agreements of traffic associations of a non-competitive nature are unlawful. Except in th instance named, the real effect of the present law has been to hold that the organizations of labor are unlawful combinations. No amendment to this law ought to pas, unless it contains an additional provision exempting organized labor, in direct terms, from the provisions, or the judicial constructions of the provisions of the law, holding that organized labor is amenable to the charge of being "in restraint of trade," or conspiracies, (p. 87) An extraordinary feature of this industrial struggle is the use made of writs of injunction. While writs of injunction have a legitimate and proper function we hold that when used to prevent free speech or public assemblage to discuss grievances, be t...