railway employes dept hanson argued may decided may claiming union shop agreement interstate railroad unions employees made pursuant eleventh railway labor act expressly authorizes agreements notwithstanding state law violated first fifth amendments federal constitution right work provision nebraska constitution nonunion employees railroad sued nebraska state enjoin enforcement agreement held record case agreement valid enforceable employees pp enactment federal statute authorizing union shop agreements governmental action constitution operates though takes private agreement invoke federal sanction pp since eleventh railway labor act expressly permits union shop agreements notwithstanding state law agreement made pursuant thereto imprimatur federal law upon force supremacy clause art vi constitution invalidated vitiated state law record case requirement financial support agency receive benefits work within power congress commerce clause violate either first fifth amendment pp enactment provision eleventh railway labor act authorizing union shop agreements interstate railroads unions employees valid exercise congress powers commerce clause violate due process clause pp conditions union membership authorized eleventh railway labor act payment periodic dues initiation fees assessments relate financial support work union realm collective bargaining involves violation first fifth amendment pp judgment reserved validity enforceability union closed shop agreement conditions union membership imposed exaction dues initiation fees assessments used cover forcing ideological conformity action contravention first fifth amendment lester schoene argued cause appellants brief milton kramer edson smith argued cause filed brief hanson et appellees special leave robert nelson assistant attorney general argued cause state nebraska amicus curiae brief clarence beck attorney general state nebraska richard ervin attorney general state florida joe patterson attorney general state mississippi william rodman attorney general also joined brief state north carolina briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed south dakota phil saunders attorney general texas john ben shepperd attorney general joined eugene cook attorney general freeman leverett robert hall assistant attorneys general state georgia utah callister attorney general raymond gee assistant attorney general south carolina callison attorney general virginia lindsay almond attorney general also allen lauterbach american farm bureau federation smythe gambrell glen harlan whiteford blakeney bradford et al william barton milton smith chamber commerce harry harman hooser et al lambert miller national association manufacturers john gall john lane william howe jerome powell national right work committee simpson sandsberry et al gibson outlaw wm milroy niebank donald richberg folley preston shirley gulf colorado santa fe railway et al tyre taylor southern industrial council briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed albert woll thomas harris american federation labor congress industrial organizations clarence mulholland edward hickey railway labor executives association justice douglas delivered opinion suit brought nebraska courts employees union pacific railroad company labor organizations representing various groups employees railroad enjoin application enforcement union shop agreement entered railroad company labor organizations plaintiffs members defendant labor organizations desire join terms union shop agreement employees railroad condition continued employment must become members specified union within days thereafter maintain membership alleged failure part join union mean loss employment together seniority retirement pension rights employees claim union shop agreement violates right work provision nebraska constitution art xv provides person shall denied employment membership affiliation resignation expulsion labor organization refusal join affiliate labor organization shall individual corporation association kind enter contract written oral exclude persons employment membership nonmembership labor organization answers deny nebraska constitution laws control allege union shop agreement authorized eleventh railway labor act amended stat eleventh provides notwithstanding law state carrier labor organization may make agreement requiring employees within stated time become members labor organization provided discrimination employee provided membership denied terminated reason failure employee tender periodic dues initiation fees assessments including fines penalties uniformly required condition acquiring retaining membership nebraska trial issued injunction nebraska affirmed held union shop agreement violates first amendment deprives employees freedom association violates fifth amendment requires members pay many things besides cost collective bargaining nebraska therefore held valid federal law supersede right work provision nebraska constitution neb case appeal noted probable jurisdiction union shop provision railway labor act written law prior date railway labor act prohibited union shop agreements stat fourth fifth op atty provisions enacted union shop used employers establish maintain company unions thus effectively depriving substantial number employees right bargain collectively company unions field practically disappeared id railroad employees members labor organizations nonunion members got benefits collective bargaining unions bore share cost obtaining benefits senator hill managed bill floor senate said question instance whether enjoy fruits benefits unions make fair contribution support unions cong pt union shop provision railway labor act permissive congress compelled required carriers employees enter union shop agreements nebraska nevertheless took view justiciable questions first fifth amendments presented since congress union shop provision railway labor act sought strike inconsistent laws cf hudson atlantic coast line otten baltimore nebraska said action part congress necessary part every union shop contract entered railroads far concerned without contracts enforced therein agree view private rights invaded force agreement made pursuant federal law expressly declares state law superseded cf smith allwright words federal statute source power authority private rights lost sacrificed cf steele louisville railroad trainmen howard public utilities pollak enactment federal statute authorizing union shop agreements governmental action constitution operates though takes private agreement invoke federal sanction already noted amendment permitting negotiation union shop agreements expressly allows agreements notwithstanding law state eleventh union agreement made pursuant railway labor act therefore imprimatur federal law upon force supremacy clause article vi constitution made illegal vitiated provision laws state come merits absence conflicting federal legislation doubt within police power state prohibit union closed shop held lincoln union northwestern american federation labor american sash challenge local right work laws including nebraska violated requirements due process power congress regulate labor relations interstate industries likewise congress authority adopt appropriate measures facilitate amicable settlement disputes threaten service necessary agencies interstate transportation texas railway clerks measures include provisions encourage settlement disputes inducing collective bargaining true representative employees preventing bargaining represent virginian federation protect employees discrimination coercion interfere free exercise right representation labor board jones laughlin industrial peace along arteries commerce legitimate objective congress great latitude choosing methods obtained choice congress union shop stabilizing force seems us allowable one much might said pro con policy issue us powerful arguments made interests labor better served development democratic traditions trade unionism without coercive element union closed shop justice brandeis wide experience relations prior appointment wrote forcefully closed shop feared closed shop swing pendulum opposite extreme substitute tyranny employee tyranny employer question one policy judiciary concern justice brandeis first concede congress acting within constitutional powers final say policy issues acts unwisely electorate make change task judiciary ends appears legislative measure adopted relevant appropriate constitutional power congress exercises ingredients industrial peace stabilized relations numerous complex may well vary age age industry industry needful one decade might anathema next decision rests policy makers judiciary said right work frequently included concept liberty within meaning due process clauses see truax raich takahashi fish game commission may denied congress question remains however whether interests workers better served one type union agreement another question germane exercise power commerce clause power often quality police regulations see cleveland one blind history assert trade unionism enhance strengthen right work see webb history trade unionism gregory labor law require rather induce beneficiaries trade unionism contribute costs may wisest course congress might well believe help insure right work along arteries interstate commerce attempted conditions union membership authorized eleventh railway labor act payment periodic dues initiation fees assessments assessments may lawfully imposed include fines penalties financial support required relates therefore work union realm collective bargaining precise allocation union overhead individual members seems us necessary prohibition fines penalties precludes imposition financial burdens disciplinary purposes assessments fact imposed purposes germane collective bargaining different problem presented problems tendered first amendment argued union shop agreement forces men ideological political associations violate right freedom conscience freedom association freedom thought protected bill rights said man becomes member unions subject vast disciplinary control force federal act unions make conform ideology present record infringement impairment first amendment rights case lawyer state law required member integrated bar argued compulsory membership used impair freedom expression problem presented record congress endeavored safeguard possibility making explicit conditions membership may imposed except respects periodic dues initiation fees assessments conditions fact imposed exaction dues initiation fees assessments used cover forcing ideological conformity action contravention first amendment judgment prejudice decision case pass narrowly eleventh railway labor act hold requirement financial support agency receive benefits work within power congress commerce clause violate either first fifth amendments express opinion use conditions secure maintain membership labor organization operating union closed shop agreement reversed footnotes section eleventh reads follows eleventh notwithstanding provisions act statute law territory thereof state carrier carriers defined act labor organization labor organizations duly designated authorized represent employees accordance requirements act shall permitted make agreements requiring condition continued employment within sixty days following beginning employment effective date agreements whichever later employees shall become members labor organization representing craft class provided agreement shall require condition employment respect employees membership available upon terms conditions generally applicable member respect employees membership denied terminated reason failure employee tender periodic dues initiation fees assessments including fines penalties uniformly required condition acquiring retaining membership make agreements providing deduction carrier carriers wages employees craft class payment labor organization representing craft class employees periodic dues initiation fees assessments including fines penalties uniformly required condition acquiring retaining membership provided agreement shall effective respect individual employee shall furnished employer written assignment labor organization membership dues initiation fees assessments shall revocable writing expiration one year upon termination date applicable collective agreement whichever occurs sooner requirement membership labor organization agreement made pursuant subparagraph shall satisfied present future employee engine train yard hostling service employee engaged services capacities covered section first act defining jurisdictional scope first division national railroad adjustment board said employee shall hold acquire membership one labor organizations national scope organized accordance act admitting membership employees craft class said services agreement made pursuant subparagraph shall provide deductions wages periodic dues initiation fees assessments payable labor organization holds membership provided however employee said services particular carrier effective date agreement carrier member one labor organizations national scope organized accordance act admitting membership employees craft class said services employee condition continuing employment may required become member organization representing craft employed effective date first agreement applicable provided nothing herein agreement agreements shall prevent employee changing membership one organization another organization admitting membership employees craft class said services provisions paragraphs fourth fifth section act conflict herewith extent conflict amended union shop variant closed shop since union membership required every employee period designated act bureau labor statistics made analysis agreements effect industries regulated railway labor act workers covered agreements studied employed union shop provisions monthly labor review courts enforce agreement sanction government course put behind see shelley kraemer hurd hodge barrows jackson parallel provision act stat makes union shop agreement give way state law prohibiting see mason brandeis free man life pp quotes letter february brandeis lincoln steffens american people accept unionism involves closed shop consent exchange tyranny employer tyranny employee unionism therefore make great advance abandons closed shop accept open shop alternative open shop means destruction union advance unionism demands therefore relation employer employee either closed open shop feel confident found solution preferential union shop number appellant unions broad powers levy assessments unspecified purposes example bylaws railroad yardmasters america authorize executive board levy assessments upon members affected opinion assessments necessary provides local lodges may levy assessments upon respective memberships may found necessary general committee subordinate division order railroad telegraphers authorized levy assessments upon members employed upon transportation company jurisdiction may necessary carry work subordinate division statutes see constitution brotherhood railroad signalmen america art constitution american railway supervisors association art xvi constitutions bylaws several appellant unions place restrictions individual members disqualify persons membership political views associations art xiii constitution brotherhood maintenance way employes bars membership anyone member communist party another constitution renders ineligible membership person member communist party subversive group subscribes doctrines groups subordinate lodge constitution international brotherhood boilermakers iron ship builders blacksmiths forgers helpers america art vi see subordinate lodge constitution brotherhood railway carmen america art constitution sheet metal workers international association provides member communist party person advocates objectives thereof person belongs supports policies organization group advocates overthrow government government dominion canada force shall eligible membership constitution one appellant unions provides person shall eligible union office person associates communist fascist similar organizations ku klux klan columbians eligibility shall likewise denied person associates lends support subscribes subversive doctrines organizations enumerated herein similar organizations organization group expounds promotes doctrine philosophy inimical subversive fundamental purposes constitution government constitution hotel restaurant employees bartenders international union art xi constitution international association machinists art provides member advocates encourages communism fascism nazism totalitarian philosophy actions gives support philosophies isms eligible hold office grand lodge constitution brotherhood railway carmen america prohibits members interfering legislative matters affecting national state territorial dominion provincial legislation adversely affecting interests members constitution international brotherhood electrical workers another appellant unions forbids member creating attempting create dissatisfaction dissension among members among local unions art xxvii article section prohibits member attending participating gathering meeting whatsoever held outside meetings affairs discussed conclusions arrived regarding business affairs regarding officers candidate candidates office mailing handing posting cards handbills letters marked ballots political literature kind displaying streamers banners signs anything else political nature party way done effort induce members vote candidate candidates office candidates conventions see art constitution sheet metal workers international association art xxiv constitution international association machinists number constitutions appellant unions provide use compulsory dues assessments finance union insurance death benefit plans see constitution international brotherhood firemen oilers art constitution railroad yardmasters america art vii constitution international brotherhood boilermakers iron ship builders blacksmiths forgers helpers america art vii see summers disciplinary powers unions ind lab rel rev summers disciplinary procedures unions ind lab rel rev summers legal limitations union discipline harv rev aaron komaroff statutory regulation internal union affairs rev wirtz government private groups la rev williams political liberties labor union members tex rev justice frankfurter concurring provision law challenged latest exercise congress power commerce clause promote peaceful industrial relations functioning interstate railroads thereby national mere recital course history important field goes long way indicate main point attack act january stat raises questions constitutional validity policy domain legislation peculiarly open conflicting views policy efforts constitute body empiric responses congress new problems new insight dealing old problems course legislation affecting industrial controversies railroads flows statutes act october stat erdman act june stat growing pullman strike see debs newlands act july stat adamson law september stat title iii transportation act stat railway labor act may stat act june stat amending railway labor act nearly fifty years ago railroads successfully attacked constitutionality vital feature act june whereby congress made criminal offense bar employment interstate railroads merely labor union membership adair fair say decision marks nadir denial congress power regulate conditions assuring nation dependence peaceful effective operation railroads criticisms case aroused see richard olney discrimination union labor legal amer rev roscoe pound liberty contract yale reflected later decisions neither commerce clause due process clause thereafter conceived least far restrain railroad labor regulation confined within doctrinaire frozen bounds confined assumptions underlay decision adair case thus sustained adamson law enacted avert threatened railroad strike wilson new title iii transportation act pennsylvania railroad labor board railway labor act texas new orleans brotherhood railway steamship clerks see railroad retirement board alton change understanding industrial problems certainly affect railroads bearing upon country commerce thereby hangs small degree reflected changed attitude railroads towards role railroad labor unions discharge functions railroads striking evidence important shift opinion fact railway labor act came statute books agreement railroads railroad unions need legislation accurate say railroads railroad unions wrote railway labor act congress formally enacted agreement doubt whether another instance history important legislation acknowledgment candidly made president agreement reached industrial disputants regarding legislation appropriate securing peaceful relations become law informed president reported congress annual message december railroad managers employees reached substantial agreement legislation necessary regulate improve relationship whenever bring forward proposals seem sufficient also protect interests public enacted law doc president calvin coolidge come full circle point view adair case railroads repeat successfully resisted act congress outlawed colloquially became known contract asked declare beyond power congress authorize railroads enter voluntary agreements unions overwhelming proportion railway employees belong whereby workers required belong unions provided course unions open unions membership unions available ordinary appropriate terms seems constitutional objections legislation conclusively compendiously answered justice holmes dissent adair supra generally believed important ground public policy restraint constitution forbid whether agrees disagrees policy pursued doubted prevent strikes far possible foster scheme arbitration might deemed congress important point policy think impossible say congress might reasonably think provision question help good deal carry policy along suppose effect really tend bring complete unionizing railroad laborers congress deal think object alone justify act quite agree question much good labor unions one intelligent people may differ think laboring men sometimes attribute advantages many attribute combinations capital disadvantages really due economic conditions far wider deeper kind pronounce unwarranted congress decide foster strong union best interest men railroads country large