Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-14
Government by Injunction.

Rocky Mount, Va, OCTOBER ., lo'''
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
very interesting extract from tne
chicago T1mes-Herald appears in the
issue Of the Literary Digest for OCTOBER
9, 1897.
II seems that the Times Herald had
SYMPOSIUM upon the subject OF govern
mert by Injunction, in which forty-iour
lawyers and judges of eminence TOOK
mart. Some of the strongest arguments
AGAINST he use Of the injunction In labor
disputes came from the judges OF the
highest courts. But the most interesting
contribution came from the Chief justice
Of the Supreme Court of Indiana, VINO DE
clares that ne believes in the chicago
platform on the subject OF mJuhctlVe
proceedings in labor disputes, Tor the
worry natural reason that he assisted III
drafting that part of the platform, anu
II he had not believed in 1t ne Wouli
not have voted for it. He adds thal the
idea Of applying the injunction TO per-
sons engaged In labor disputes is an llho-
walton on the purposes OF the orlglhal III
junction. In the recent cases, ne says
that the Injunction was used TO prevent
q trespass and this was never tolerated
in courts of equity The Chief justice
adds that the use of The power Oh IN
junction i'm labor disputes lnterIeIes VIII
The constitutional right OF tllai Dy july
and so far az il does this, endangeIs lne
highest and most sacred safeguard OF the
neoule He concludes by saying thal II
would be best TO place some restrictions
upon the power OF the courts IN TINS re-
spect. ,, =, ,,,o,,, ~
the fact that more abuse has been aimed
al the Chicago platform on account o.
this plank than on account OF any o,nei
In H. unless, perhaps, IL Is tnat othSl
which has been tortured by people seer
ing some excuse for their own snort
comings and treachery 10 their party
into an attack upon the supreme court
OF the United States.
on account of the plank against gov
eminent by Injunction the Democratic
marty has been accused of assailing the
iust authority OF the courts ana seeking
to STRIP them of powers essential 10 the
preservation of order in society. II Was
charged with catering TO the vicious eie-
ments of the community. with view TO
securing their support, by Velled
promise to overthrow the restraining
powers, which had been used to curp
their dangerous activities. Ii was charged
with seeking 20 lower the Just repute
of the courts by arousing popular clamor
against them. IL was charged win play
ing the role OF the demagogue, in order
10 cater TO the labor element ana secure
their votes. II was charged with leaning
TO anarchy ana Aitgeidlsm, Whatever tllat
may be. and with taking up the defence
of Debs, because the Chicago platform
declared that government by Injunction
was an invasion of the fundamental
rights of the citizen.
The lamentable condition Of mlsrule
and disorder which would prevail under
an administration tinctured with such
wild ideas as found place in our plat
fern, and. notably, took expression I'm
our declaration against government by
Injunction, was pictured with every va
riety OF Fantastic exaggeration. And now
we find that this attack upon the courts,
this anarchical assault upon their dignity
and jurisdiction, this demagogic appeal
for popular support, this evidence of
favor to Altgeldism and Debism, ema-
mates in large measure from the pre-
siding officer of the highest and most
dignified court Of the State of Indiana.
who declares that this use of the iniunc-
ton process interferes with constitu-
tional right of the citizen.
IL becomes more ana more apparent
every DAY that the Chicago platform.
comprehended larger measure of those
fundamental principles which alone are
worth contending for. and the reallza-
ton of which alone makes civilized life
worth living. than any platform upon
which the Democratic party has stood
for many years past IL was because
fntrenched wrong realized the powerful
appeal which such a platform would make
to the thoughtful and intelligent citizen
that all the resources Of misrepresenta-
ton and utilization were used to defeat
us. We were defeated by indirection.
and upon issues which we never pre-
scented. If the battle had been fought
cut upon the Chicago platform, as we
meant II to be understood. and on what
to-day Respectfully,
e w SATrNDEpc