The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-29
The Boycott.

Last week an injunction was granted by
Judge Bond, of the United States District
Court, Oh the application of w. L. Royal,
business firm of Richmond,
as attorney, to prevent the Labor Herald
from publishing the name OF said firm in
its columns among the list Of boyeotted
business houses. The principal of the firm
APPLYING for the injunction is a British
subject, and for that reason he asked the
of the United States govern.
ment through its judiciary, to restrain the
action of the boycotting committee of
the Typographical Union Of Richmond in
his case.
The editor of the Herald, of course,
obeyed the restraining order, but at the
same time employed counsel to test the
question whether the order of Judge Bond
could be enforced, and to what extent
Hon. John s. Wise was so retained, and
will apply to Judge Bond, this week, it is
stated. to revoke the injunction.
When it was known that Mr.. Wise had
been retained as counsel by the editor of
the Labor Herald. it was publicly stated
that he had volunteered his services. To
this the editor replied that there was not
a word of truth in the statement-that he
wanted a lawyer and employed one in
whose legal ability he had confidence, and
for whose services stipulated price was
agreed upon.
The evident purpose in making the
statement as to Mr.. Wise's voluntary SER
vice was to give political coloring to the
connection of Mr.. Wise with the case, and
to operate upon the feelings and prejudices
of persons belonging to the Knights of
Labor who have heretofore voted the
Democratic ticket. The statement of Mr..
Mullen, however, arrested this impression
and gives assurance that the employment
of counsel was business transaction,
with reference to business results.
Why the employment of counsel by
gentleman who had use for lawyer to at
tend to matter that required a lawyers
services, should be made the subject OF
newspaper controversy and partizan re-
Elections, is one of the things it is, in
reason, hard to explain. Had the lawyer
employed been Democrat, it is more than
likely nothing would have been known of
it through the public prints except the
simple announcement of the fact OF his re-
tention. But Mr.. Wise is a pronounced
Republican. There has been recently
manifested disposition on the part OF the
workingmen of Richmond to throw off
Democratic ring despotism, and assert the
manhood rights of the men who make the
values which constitute the active wealth
of the State. 1t is something out OF the
regular order of things, as heretofore ex-
listing, for the laboring men to show inGe-
pendence in political matters. They have
patiently and uncomplainingly submitted
| to the domination of a few political lead
ers and without question obeyed the orders
of the managers. until it had been assumed
that they could he commanded at all times
| to follow. without a thought as to where
they would lead, OF what would be the eff
feet of their votes upon their own inter-
ests. An awakened sense of self-respect
| has been recently manifested, and the pur-
pose made known that they intend here
after to act as men who respect their man.
hood and are not ashamed to act as indie
pendent, responsible citizens should act,
regardless of the fear or favor of the po-
litical rings which have been running the
| State to ruin. There is not an interest of
the workingmen which is not antagonized
by the policy and purposes OF the Demo-
cratic party. There is not a measure that
enters into the political formula OF. that
party that would not, if practically en-
| forced, result in harm to the interests OF
| the toilers of the country. There is
nothing in common between the so-called
Democratic party of to-day and the great
mass Of the people. An insolent assump-
tion of superiority and the divine right to
rule have been SO pressed with dogmatic
zeal that, unorganized as the workingmen
have been, they have patiently submitted,
and never raised voice or hand to stay
the arrogance and prescription or assert
their own right as free-born citizens.
| Recent indications, however, have
shown that the days of slayish subservien-
CIV to the orders and behests Of the ring
leaders are over. The people intend to
have voice in determining policies, in
| State and Nation. The wonder with us
has been that this spirit of revolt has not
long before this been made knoWn-that
| the brain and Drawn of the country had
not before this protested against being
classed as dumb driven CATTLE" instead
of asserting their power and making
| their impress upon the laws Of the State
and country. 1t will be an suspicious day
| for Virginia when the Court House Rings
shall be shorn of their Fictitious power
! when the legislation of the State shall be
| shaped in the interest of the people, and
the honest sentiment of the voters become
a potent factor in directing the affairs OF
| the Commonwealth, instead of the consti-
| pated, selfish plots and schemes OF unscru-
pulous politicians controlling in all the es-
sential affairs Of State.
While we are opposed to boycotting, IN
every form, as policy, we can see no I'M
propriety in Mr.. Mullen employing law
yer to defend what he believes to be his
rights, nor in Mr.. Wise consenting to serve
him in that respect. whether they are OF
| the same political faith OF not. The fact
of his employment should be concern with
no one but Mr.. Mullen and himself, and
to attempt to interfere with the business
arrangements they have entered into, is
| infinitely more offensive in spirit than the
boycotting of the business firm referred
to. What is it but boycotting, in an ag-
gravated sense. to seek to create preju-
dice against case because Of the political
opinions of the lawyer employed to defend
it, 1t is prescription of the very worst
kind, but not unusual in the history of
Virginia for years past. There is not a
prominent Republican in Virginia who
has not been boycotted in his business be-
cause OF his party identity. The boycott
has been openly proclaimed against those
who have questioned the right of rings to
rule communities and the shameless prac-
tice has been enforced for no other reason
than that men have dared to think for
themselves. We are opposed to the prin-