Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-06-27

lmportant Happ0ala0s and Ev0nts from The Va
Ross Touas Ii tho County
Gathered BY Tho cossiss's Able Corps Of Cor
r0op00d0ntS.
THE DEBs CASE.
Toledo lalaflp I

Toledo Blade.l
The decision of the United States SUI
preme court In the Debs case has again
aroused the wrath Of Governor Altgcld
of Illinois. He declares "the bulwark
OF American liberty has been und, r.
mined; trial by jury has been stricken
down." He assests that this decision
marks q turning point in our history
for 1t establishes new form Of govern
ment never before heard OF among men
- that is, government by Injunction"
What did the supreme court really
declare? That tho government of the
United States has power to invoke the
aid OF civil courts to remove Obstruc-
tiOns to Interstate commerce.. and that
the civil courts have the right to en-
join those who obstruct such com
merce. Il was for the contempt of
court involved in the disregard of such
Injunction that Debs rnd other officers
Of the American Railway union re-
.cetved sentences Of imprisonment. Ap-
peal was taken from these sentences on
the ground that being inflicted with
out due process Of ind ictment and trial
by jury they were in violation OF the
constitution. The appeal having been
denied Debs must now complete his six
months sentence in Jail, and his associ-
ates their sentences of three months
each.
BY the strike of the American Rail-
way union, and the efforts of its mem
bers and it, sympathizers to prevent
the movement of trains, and to intilni-
date oil who were willing to take en-
mi v,vs1ovnf ~ thu w0 ( A.
tatiOn OF the United States mails and
interstate commerce were INSTRUCTED
throughout the west. The decision in
commenting on this state of affairs
shows clearly that Debs and his ascot
cited the arguments OF their own at
torneye TO show that the processes of
the civil law are of little avail in times
o. revolution. Hence the United States
government was compelled to use it's
power to enforce the mandates OF its
own courts, and remove BY armed force
the distractions the strikers put in the
way OF interstate commerce and mail
transportation.
The decision settles fully-if ever
any settlement was needed-the fact
that the United States government is
supreme. It says:
The entire strength Of the nation may be used
70 enforce 10 any part Of the land the fun and
free exercise OF all national powers and the Sc
c.sIity OF al rights entrusted by the constitution
II the emergency arises, the army Of the nation
and all its militia are at the service Of the nation
% compel obedience to It's laws. We hold that
ng Jurisdiction over every foot Of soil in it's ter
rltOfy, and acting directly upon each citizen;
that while Il IL . government Of enumerative
powers. y mas within those powers al the attri
No wrong, real OF fancieti, carries with it legal
WARRANT 20 invite rs means OF redress. the co
q violence.
The last paragraph of the above deals
death blow to the theory that q labor
organization may by violence attempt
to secure Its ends. The decision further
points out that any laborer or any mum.
Der Of labOrers have the unquestioned
right to quit work, but that they have
no right TO use violence in any form to
achieve whatever they have in view.
The words Of the decision are moderate
In tone, but they declare uncauiyocally
the principle that mob violence can
never have the sanction of the law.
Read this:
A most earnest and eloquent appeal was made
% ~ In eulOgy Of the heroic spirit Of those who
threw up their Jobs aud gave up their means of
earning y livelihood. not In defense OF their own
whom they believed to lie wrong. W. Weld e to
none 10 our admiration TOR any act Of her0ism or
se1 s:.crtace, but we may be permitted to add
s00n or too thoroughly, and under this govern
mone OF and BY the people the means of redress
OF ~ wrong are through the ballet box and the
courts. and that NO wrong, real or fancied, car.
re: With y legal warrant 70 invite as means OF
redress, the cooperation OF mob with Ms &C.
complaining acts OF violence.
No less emphatic is the decision in
it, remarks upon the control of inter-
state commerce. 1t points out that be-
cause AZ emergency never before has
arisen requiring the general govern
ment to assert it's jurisdiction over in
terstate commerce on railways, it does
not follow that 1t did not always possess
that power. The court goes on to say:
Up % recent date commerce, both interstate
.ssses sss oss .hs . 81 sna +
and the cases in the courts have concerned prin~
cipally Herewith. The fact that In recent years
ried on BY railroad and over artificial highways
hrs 70 no manner narrowed the scope ii tic
constitutional provision or abridged the power
trary, the same fullIlosx Of control exists in one
case - In the other aud the same power to re-
other.
The decision puts an end to strikes
on RAILROADS which traverse more than
one state, for It is not TO be supposed
that . railway will allow its traffic to be
paralyzed indefinitely by mob violence
when Q proper application to federal
court will bring the power of the
United States TO break the deadlock
aud punish the leaders of the mob.
Enjoy the shade, enjoy the
fishin0, and. enjoy exchanging
your wheat at Cribs Mill.