St. Paul daily globe., 1894-07-04
THE STRIKE INJUNCTION.

The injunction issued against the
strikers at Chicago Monday by Judges
GroSscup and Woods is the most sweep
ing writ OF Its kind that ever emanated
from our courts. 1t is especially sig
niicant from the fact that the judges
joining in its issuance belong to the op-
posing political parties. Judge Gross
cup is recent appointee Of President
Cleveland, and is a consistent Demo-
crat inclined to ultralsm in defense Of
the reserved rights of the states; while
Judge Woods was named by President
Harrison, and is a defender of the
strong government idea that so strongly
impregnates the Republican, party lead
ers. The point especially emphasized
in the writ is that interstate commerce
is privileged and cannot be interrupted
without due process of law. and that
those who shall violate the Injunction
will be deemed guilty of contempt of
court, and punished at the discretion of
the court by fine or Imprisonment, or
both, without the formallty of a trial.
This decision is Ill substantial accord
with that rendered by Judge Jenkins
dignation in the labor world. and result
ed i'll a congressional inquiry. The only
difference is that the jenkins decision
applied to railway which was operated
by receivers appointed by the federal
courts, while the decision just rendered
applies TO all roads engaged in the trans
portation of goods from one state to an
other. The latter decision is, if any
thing, the more sweeping of the two, and
the right of the court to punish as con-
tempt any violation of the injunction is
more boldly declared. There is no
chance of misunderstanding its mean.
ing and scope, and the manner Of its
issuance is sufficient to disarm all at
tempts 10 make partisan capital out of
it, as was done against Jenkins. At the
time the Jenkins order was issued the
GLOBE pointed out the dangers that vi
olators would incur, and held that the
decree, while perhaps contrary to public
policy, was in strict conformity with
the law. The great access of power
thus given to the central government
was outlined. and the dangers to the
personal liberties of the citizen were
enlarged upon.
The power of courts to punish for
contempt has long been acknowledged,
but it is only recently that the definition
ofconte mpt has been made so far-reach-
ing. Ill the present instance it is literal
drag net, which may entangle thousands
in it meshes and result in filling the
jais of Northern Illinois to overflowing.
1t is not pleasant to know that the
courts possess such arbitrary powers,
! and yet under present circumstances it
! is fortunate that such methods of curb
ing lawlessneSs exist. In view of the
imminent danger that anarchy will
spring from the prevailing conplica-
tions. all good citizens will breathe
easier because of the knowledge that
there is legal power that can be sue
cesSfully employed to check it in Its in
eipiency. Despotic though this power
is, contrary to the genius OF our govern
ment though it may be, the emergency
may require its exercise. 1t may jeop-
| ardize the stability of the republic. but
from that menace may come safety, for
its effect will be to awaken the people
to sense of the danger they are in
| when they permit class organizations to
usurp the functions that of right belong
only TO the general government.
Obedience to the law must be en-.
, forced, even if it requires the entire
power of the government. There must
be no allegiance superior to that which
| the citizen owes to the state, or the re-
| public will be destroyed.