Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/465

 CA MP A IGN A GA INS T GERM A N OR GA NIZED LABOR 45'

new bill violates the legal equality of all citizens, which is, of course, the basis of every civilized state, and it destroys the use of the -right of coalition, although that right remains to the laborer in form.

Let this suffice for criticism of the provisions of the law in detail. I fear that what has already been said will seem to for- eigners too much of a good thing. Let me briefly mention only one more paragraph, at least, and that is the one which contains the phrase "house of correction," which had been expected since Oeynhausen. In sec. 8, clause 2, of the bill the case is supposed in which, in consequence of a strike, " danger to the security of the realm, or of one of the federal states, has arisen, or a common danger to life or property has been produced." In this case the four crimes which are con- cerned (bodily constraint, threat, defamation of character, or ban) are made liable to house of correction up to three years ; in the case of the promoters, up to five years. It seems at first glance unthinkable that such a condition of things could ever become a reality. It is so far-fetched and so fearfully compli- cated that it seems ridiculous to draw up a special law for such a case. Surely, the author of this bill would not have given himself this thankless labor — for that he tortured himself a long while before he at last hit upon this form of words is only too evident — if unfortunately the phrase " house of correction " had not dropped from the lips of the Kaiser in Oeynhausen ; but this penalty had been suggested, and, for better or for worse, it must at least somewhere appear. Since the paragraph is there, its effect may be immeasurable. Where could there be a strike which some court or other would not interpret as threatening the common right of property ? The right of organization of laborers on railroads and in the postal service, in mines, harbors, canals, gas- and water-works, etc., is certainly very seriously threatened.

Up to date it is only the proposal of the law which lies before us in the " House of Correction Scheme." It is, of course, not to be expected that it will become law in precisely its present form. At its first reading in the Reichstag it roused