St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-27
A FooLIsH soyEREIGN.

General Master Workman Sovereign.
of this Knights OF Labor, is succeeding
admirably in making an ass of himself.
1t is fresh illustration of the old prov
erb. "Put beggar on horseback and he
will ride the devil TO DEATH"
In accepting the position of chief of
the labor organization, MIR. Sovereign
manlfestly thought he became the ruler
of the universe, and he set about the
work with 4 zeal that far exceeded his
discretion. His first opportunity for
display of his Importance and his igno-
rance occurred at the time the new
issue of bonds was called for. He
thought the issue was illegal. or at least
the policy of issuing the bonds was
lnimical to the interests of the work
ingmen. He accordingly resolved to
stop it. and applied to court in the
District of Columbia for an Injunction
forbidding the secretary of the treasury
from issuing the bonds. The court
promptly decided that he had no cause
of action, and Furthermore. that it had
no jurisdiction in the premises. Secre-
tary Carlisle paid no attention to the
matter, and proceeded with the dis
charge of his duties.
Another matter has aroused the in
dignatiOn of the Sovereign of the
Knights of Labor. Some time ago
Judge Jenkins, of the United States
circuit court, enjoined the employees OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad company
from engaging in strike, holding in eff
fact that that road, being under the
management of receivers appointed by
authority of the United States, was in
law department Of the government,
and that strike under the circum-
stances would be equivalent to an act
of rebellion against the authority of the
government. The decision was start
ing one. it is true, and caused aston
ishment i'll other minds than SoVer-
eign'S. But the closer it was examined
and the premises of its conclusions con-
sidered, the more the public became
convinced that it was good law. There
were wide differences of opinion as to
its policy, however. But now Mr.. Sow
ereign comes forward with pronnnci-
amento advising the employees of the
the court, but to strike, end strike hard,
for what they may regard as their
rights.
In this Mr.. Sovereign shows his lack
of Judgment. He has probably never
had any experience in lighting the au-
thOrity of the United States. He does
not know Uncle Sam as some others do.
He has never felt his iron hand COM
pressing his windpipe till he turned
black in the face, or he would not advise
an open disregard of the mandates of
the federal courts. Perhaps he is one
of the kind who has to learn wisdom by
experience, and he is in a fair way to
obtain both.
By advising the Knights of Labor to
disregard the mandate of the federal
court Mr.. Sovereign has placed himself
in contempt of that court and has
rendered himself subject 70 severe
penalties. 1t is not probable that
the court will take any action in
the matter unless the advice of
the general master workman should
be followed. OF this there seems
to be little probability. The Knights
of Labor as body are composed
of loyal and law-respecting men. The
majority, too, are more level-headed
than their chief. They know that they
can gain nothing by combating the le-
gally constituted authorities, and they
have wholesome dread of mourning the
displeasure of the United States gov
eminent. 1t is not probable that they
will follow the advice of their rash
leader in a matter that involves such
grave consequences.
1t is evident that Sovereign has mis-
taken his mission. If me would
achieve distinction and merit esteem as
a leader of men, he must respect the
authority of The law. No man can re-
tain the respect of American workmen
who sets himself up as superior to the
law and counsels disobe Hence of its re-
quirements, and no organization of in
dividuals, no matter how just their
aims, can look for public favor if they
shall fail in their duty as citizens of the
republic.
REASONABLE RATES"