Show HAVE RIGHT TO DiSCRIMINATE I 1 I ILaw Law Prohibiting Employers I From Discharging Members of pf Unions Unconstitutional Washington Jan 27 The constitutionality constitutionality constitutionality of the act of congress congress of June JuneI 1 I 1898 1893 prohibiting railroad r companies engaged in interstate commerce from discriminating against members of la I Ibor bor organizations In the matter mater of em employment exit was called into question by byI I the case of Adair vs the Unit United United ed States which was decided by the supreme court of the United States to I day favorable to Adair The opinion was as by Justice Harlan and held the law to be repugnant to the tion The court held that Adair as master mechanic of the Louisville Nash Nashville Nashville ville yule Railroad company company has a right to discharge an because he was wasa I a member of a labor organization Just Justas as it was the right to quit such employment because of or his mem mern in iii such organization Such a course the decision added might be unwise but regarded as a mere mat ter of right there could h b hI no I Congress could not under the n tion authorize a violation of contracts under the guise of protecting inter interstate Interstate interstate state commerce Justice McKenna delivered a dissent ing opinion favorable to the law in which he said the courts decision is along very narrow lines Justice Holmes also expressed the opinion that the law should be con construed construed as constitutional He thought that the right to make contracts had been stretched to the limit by the I courts decision In this case That con congress congress congress I gress had hada a right to so legislate as to encourage labor organizations was an another another another other suggestion of Justice Holmes |