The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-08
"Government by Injunction"

One OF the pIankS In the CnlcaSo
platform denounces government by
injunction as new and highly danger
Gus form of oppression" 1t has refef-
ence to a decision rendered three years
ago by Judge Ricks. The owners and
employees of the Ann Arbor and North
Michigan railroad company had dis
agreement over wages and the en-
ployes. claiming that the company had
refused them justice. went on strike.
In order to aid the strikers, the work.
men on connecting roads refused to
handle the cars of the Ann Arbor road
while the strike lasted. Rather than
do this they resigned their positions.
To prevent their workmen from stop
ping work and thus tying up railway
traffic, these connecting companies Sc
cured from Judge Kicks an injunction
ordering the men not to interrupt in
terstate commerce by quitting work in
body The men quit just the same
and were arrested for contempt Of
court. All We're discharged save one
man. Engineer James Lennon, and he
was fined $50 and costs, it being shown
that he was the only one who had
waited until after the injunction had
been served before quitting. Upon ap-
peal Judge Kicks construction of the
interstate commerce law was subse-
quently affirmed by the United States
Supreme court.
This was the first time such q point
in law had been raised in the United
States and the decision of Judge Kicks
was sharply criticized. While from the
standpoint Of public interest it seems
defensible as public protection
against arbitrary stoppage of inter-
state commerce, there is ground for OBJ
jecting to the summary process EN-
ployed. Every accused man ought to
have the right to an open trial before
Il jury of his peers. Judge Kicks did
not concede this right in the case in
point. He sat as judge and jury COM
bined; and in order to put check up
on the future employment In this man.
ner of the contempt prerogative arbi-
trarily, bill was introduced in the
last senate by a Republican member,
Mr.. Thurston, of Nebraska. providing
that in all cases of disobedience to the
orders of the court, in relation to
strikes, committed outside the court
room, the defendant shall have the
right to call witnesses, employ counsel
and have trial by jury This bill
passed the senate practically without
opposition and would doubtless have
passed the house had it been reached
before adjournment
As the editor of Gunton's Magazine
points out in a timely article in that
periodicals October issue, there is no
reason whatever for the assumption by
Mr.. Debs. Mr.. Sovereign or Mr.. Bryan
that government by Injunction" is a
Republican device. Although Judge
Kicks is a Republican, the Supreme
court which affirmed his ruling is Dem
ocratic; and the point was considered
in both cases without reference to poll
tics. Democrats equally with Repub-
licans are interested in having an un-
obstructed movement Of trains, Just as
Republicans have an equal interest
with Democrats in desiring that men
charged with a crime outside of the
ken of q, sitting court shall have the
right of open trial on a par with other
defendants. We see no reason what
ever to raise in a matter Of this kind a
partisan issue, or to put to the hazards
of public elections the question wheth-
er the courts shall or shall not deal i'm
partially by all who come before them
for justice. 1t seems to us that the
Chicago injunction plank is nothing
more nor less than demagogic bid for
class vote: and we submit to intelli-
gent workingmen whether or not they
ought to permit such an issue to lead
them into the dangers of free trade and
a deprecated currency. with which the
injunction plank is inextricably yoked.
------
1T is estimated that One-half the
amounts of the debts of the principal
powers of the world is the direct result
and cost of war. A glance at the fig
ures stating the public debts of several
countries is appalling; for example,
that of France amounts to more than
is $SS per capita. and that of Italy, SIC
per capita. 1t is also estimated that
the world is insolvent: that it is q
mathematical impossibility for it to
ever pay it's debts. Yet this era of CIV
ilization and peace Is most extravagant
and elaborate in it's preparations for
war. New arts, additional appropria-
tions, splendid equipments. modern
barracks and stronger fortresses are
the order Of the day. In France. Ger
many, Russia, Great Britain. Austria
Hungary and the United States are
now 2,S53,0OO men, idly standing In
arms. at total annual cost of $780,
663,OOO or about 40 per cent of the total
annual expenditure of those govern
ments. Think of how much bread this
would buy for the poor!"--From an Ar
gument in the Albany Law Journal by
James A. Webb of st. Louis, in Behalf
Of an International Court Of Arbitra-
tion.
In Hungary q b!gamist. when con-
victcd, is compelled to live with his var
ious wivc3 at one time and support
them. Bisamy in Hungary is q declin-
Ing crime.