The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-01-24
WORKMEN
MADE SLAVES.
DeSpOtiSm Takes Another Step
Forward. A Terrible
UsurpatiOn.

Forward. A Terrible
Usurpation.
Ii liberty is to perish in these Unit
ed States, it will be at the hands of
the courts. Think of it! They have
now advanced 50 far as to declare
that united action of the employees
of a railroad, which is in the hands
OF receiver, to ask higher wages, or
to leave the employment, is contempt
of court, and to be punished by fine
and imprisonment! Judge Pardee,
of the U. S. court, says:
'It is we'll settled law that whoever
lnterferes with property in the pos
session of a court is guilty of con-
tempt of that court, and l regard it
as equally we'll settled that whoever
un1awfully' interferes with officers
and agents of the court in the full
and complete possession and manage
ment OF property in the custody of
the court, is guilty of a contempt of
court, and it is immaterial whether
this unlawful interference comes in
the way of actual violence or by in
timida tion and threats. The EN- ploy-
eS OF the receiver, although pro h0c
vtce officers of the court, may quit
their employment, as can employees
OF private parties or corpora tions:
provided they do not thereby inten-
tlonally disable the property; but
they must quit peaceably and decent
ly. Where they combine and cOnspire
to Quit, aoiM or aCithout notice, with the
object and intent of crippling the
property or it's operation, | have no
doubt that they thereby commit a
contempt: and al those ,cho combine onti
conspire rith employees to Hus gut, or, as
officials OF labor organizations, ISSUE pri1t-
ted orders to quit, or to strike, with an
Intent to embarraSS the court in ad-
mlnistering the property, render
themselves liable for contempt of
court"
This is usurpation of the grossest
kind. What provision of the consti-
tuition of the United States, or of
this state, gives warrant for any such
legislation on the part of the courts?
The constitution of this state says.
Sec. !, Art. 1:
Government is Instituted for the
security, benefit, and protection of the
people, in whom all political power is
Inherent, together with the right to
alter, modify. Or reform such govern
ment, whenever the public good may
require it,"
Here, in the very first sentence of
our constitution, it's purpose is de-
clared. 1t is for the 'benefit" of the
"people." There is nothing here
about corporations. It is the people.
Sec of the same article continues:
"No member (citizen) of this state
shall be disfranchised, or deprived of
any of the rights or privileges Sc
cured to any citizen thereof, unless by
The laav of the land, or the judgment of has
peers. There shall be neither sldre1Y,
nor INVOLUNTARY sERv1TUDE in
this state, otherwise than in the
punishment of crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convict
ed"
And yet this decision declares that
if two or more employees of a bank
rupt railroad company, in the hands
of a receiver, should confer together
as to the wages paid them, and
should decide to ask higher wages. or
should protest, as in this case, againt
reduction of wages, they become
offenders against the law and can be
punished as such. Where is the stat
ute that authorizes such action? And
where is the liberty of the workers?
And does not this decision establish
"inuoluntary servitude" in our free
America?
The constitution of the United
States says, in the first amendment
to it, adopted in 1889:
Congress shall make no law re-
Specting the establishment of relig-
ion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or abridging the freedom of
speech, or Of the press, or the right of
the people to peacefully assemble, or to pc
titaon the government for redress of grieu-
ances."
But, according to this court-made
lao, if the employees of a bankrupt
railroad company should assemble"
and exercise the right of 'free
Speech" and therein urge one anoth-
er-to resist lower wages, or to insist
on higher wages, they would be con-
signed to prison! This only applies
to bankrupt roads; but another Uni
ted States court makes more sweep
ing assault on the rights of workmen
and decides that if any ''strike" is
made, on any railroad carrying the
United States mails land they all do
carry ttem) that that constitutes
conspiracy against the government
and is practically treason; and that no
enaploye can leave the service of the conpa-
ny! The whole "drive" is to establish
a Mexican peonage. In that country
the laborers are tied to the estate
and cannot leave their masters. They
call them freemen, but they are, to
all intents and purposes, slaves.
It is the inherent right of every
citizen of the United States,a right
rl.s - l.