The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-12

Judge Grosscup's charge to the grand
and lucid exposition of the constitutional
power of the government to protect itself
and enforce it's laws. 1t would be difficult
to put more good law and sound doctrine
into the same space than this admirable
charge contained. And yet, while insisting
on the enforcement OF law as the para
sions that seem to point to the duty of in
curing whether we have yet reached the
truest and best solution of the great social
problems growing out of the relations of
capital and labor. you, doubtless, feel as
1 do said Judge Grosscup. that oppor-
tunities Of life, under present conditions,
are needed to f~orestall some of the danger
Gus tendencies of current Industrial life"
Again. he said: 1.-The law, as it is, must
first be indicated before we turn aside to
inquire how law or practice as it ought to
be can be ef%fectually brought about" These
exp -essions show that Judge Grosscup is
wis, enough TO recognize that we have not
yet reached a final and satisfactory solu-
ton of the labor question. An address
which he delivered at Galesburg, ILL.,, on
last Memorial day. showed that he had
been giving the subject earnest thought be-
fore the present troubles began. The adj
dress was devoted almost entirely to the
social conditions growing out of the rapid
accumulation of wealth, the oganization of
labor and the incorporation of capital. 1t
was conceived in a spirit of fairness to all
classes and was thoughtful and patriotic
in tone. Following is an extract:
l have no quarrel with labor unions as
organizations to better the conditions of
their members. The right of each to rise
in the world is sacred, and if his rise can be
accelerated by association with his fellows,
no one can rightly object that the oppor-
tunity is embraced. Labor is a commodity
peculiar to itself, and a union of laborers
in a common field 10 enhance the price of
the commodity is n1t only tolerable, but is
right. / admire the brothers who stand
side by side TO advance their common in
terest. But the worker falls into error who
~SurrenderS his independent manhOOd to the
DEGREES of a combination, and the combi-
nation Is revolutionary when it aims by
force 10 deprive any citizen of that which
is his birthright-his Accommodations, or his
right to labor.
Neither have 1 any quarrel with that
mobilization of capital which is essential to
some of the greater projects of industrial
development. Tn railroad, the telegraph.
the steamboat, and many other adjuncts
upon which the movements of the present
day are carried, must, in the necessity of
their constitution. gather into a central
management the control of individual CAPT
tai. They are the legitimate objects of cor
porate existence-that intangible life to
which the State gives birth in the promo
ton of Its great purposes. But 1t Is time
that we should debate whether corporate
and all other consolidated management of
individual holdings should not be denied,
except in those necessary agencies with
out which industrial progress could not be
achieved. 1t is time that we should re-
view, i think, the general policy grown ur
in the United States of comforting corporate
existence upon every lawful project. The
license thus extended has done more than
anything else to obliterate the individual
from our Industrial life, and to bring on the
tyranny which consolidated power always
exercises. 1t is especially true that, in the
management of business enterprise. the ole
privileges of competition should be re-es-
tablished and the heavy hand of impersona
| combination be removed. The exercise of &
| power that prevents any man from the pur
suit OF such a calling as his means permit
without subsection to the obstacles of un
eQuai cOnulllonS,- ought 10 De as laWleSS a:
the imposition Of restraint upon a right L
work.
This shows that Judge Grosscup has beer
considering all sides of the great question
which is now agitating the country, anC
that he is inclined to recognize the duty O
protecting the liberty Of the individual
against corporate greed as well as organ
lied tyranny. This is one phase of tn
question that will demand consideration il
the near future, and which, with other
of like import. will require the utmost tao
anl ,,,elo~, IL, Ia pIIfpr