The consolidated action, including afresh action for damages, accordingly proceeded,
and the jury (without leaving the box) have now found, under the direction of Mr. Justice Wills, that the defendants had conspired together to molest and injure the plaintiffs in their business by unlawful means, that the defendants had unlawfully persuaded the men whose notices had not expired to break their contracts, and that they had authorised and assisted in carrying out the strike by unlawful means. The case has caused much searching of hearts in the Unions, but it will, we believe, be eventually a, source of strength to Trade-Unionism. It will give many of the Unions a much-needed sense of responsibility. They must remember also that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. The decision which now seems hard to them may prove some day of the greatest public value in restraining oppressive combinations of capital and in making them responsible for their acts. A Trust is often, in fact, a capitalists' Trade- Union, and might greatly like to protect itself by refusing to take responsibility for the acts of its agents. The business of the State is to protect the liberty of the individual from interference either by individuals or by associations and corporations.
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