The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-15
FRIDAY, OCTOBER Is, 1897,
srK. SAUNDERS on CONVENIENT BY
INJUNCTION"

Air. Z. w. Saunders. OF Franklin county
who has been a member of the Virginia
LEGISLATURE in several Of its sessions and
is now the Democratic nominee in Frank
lin county for that body will be remember
ed as the father and promoter Of several
bills that were called "anti-monopoly'
bills in the Virginia Legislature five or
six years ago.
These bills ought to have been called bills
10 put an embargo upon all commercial
transactions and they were hardly ex-
ceedod in this utterly destructive ten
denotes b. that most noxious bill intro
duced into the last LEGISLATURE by Mr..
Eugene withers, of Danville.
AS Mr.. Saunders has always, when in
the Legislature. been upon the judiciary
committee, and viii probably be chair
man OF that committee in the coming
Legislature, his opinions upon questions
that relate TO our fundamental law ought
naturally be of great interest 10 the pub
lie He has written a letter to the Rich
mond Dispatch, giving his views Of the
plank in the Chicago platform about that
deals with government by injunction"
and we think his position gives that let
ter sufficient Importance to justify few
remarks on it.
Mr.. Saunders was an ardent advocate
Of the election OF William J. Bryan to the
Office of President Of the United states
last November so that it need surprise
no one TO find him defending the "gov-
eminent by injunction" plank. Indeed,
dealing exclusively with that plank he is
moved to say:
IT. becomes more and more apparent
every day that the Chicago platform
comprehended a larger measure of those
fundamental principles which alone arc
worth contending for, and the realiza-
ton OF which alone makes civilized life
worth living than any platform upon
which the Democratic party has stood
for many years past. 1t was because
intrenched wrong realized the powerful
appeal which such a platform would make
To the thoughtful and intelligent citizen
that all the resources OF misfepresenta-
ton and villihcatiOn were used 10 defeat
us. We were defeated by indirection,
and upon Issues which we never pre-
sented II the battle had been fought
out upon the Chicago platform, as we
meant II 10 be understood. and on what
Il did mean, Bryan would be President
to-day.
The connection in which this language is
used jusilfes the inference that Mr.. Saun-
ders' onconiums upon the platform are
really onconiums chiefly upon the govern
ment by injunction" plank. That IS, in
HIS opinion the "summum bonum" Of the
instrument. and as an argument TO sup
port his view OF the wisdom and the bonch-
cence OF that plank. he quotes the utter
ance OF the Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court OF Indiana, who. ne says, assisted
In drafting that part of the platform.
who declares. he saws, that he believes
in the Chicago platform on the subject
OF injunctiVe proceedings IN labor dis
putes." and who adds that the idea Of
applying the Injunction 10 persons en-
gagged in labor disputes, is an innovation
on the purposes Of the original injunc-
ton
The gentleman who is 10 be chairman
OF the Committee for Courts Of Justice in
the approaching session OF the Virginia
Legislature. declares then. that in his
opinion. It is an abuse Of the writ of in
junction to apply 1t TO persons engaged
sn labor disputes.
But tho process Of injunction was adapt
ed by Courts Of Equity centuries ago. 10
be applied in ALL cases where an injury
was threatened that could no, be ade-
auately compensated in damages. Ac-
cording 10 the old theory OF our laws.
when our ancestors were little better than
barbarians. no man was 20 be restrained
from doing another any injury that suited
him. The injured party was to have
redress By suing the trespasser and get
ting such damages as a jury might
award him. But as civilization advanced.
Il became apparent that he could have
no progress unless men threatening inju-
ries that could not be adequately COM
pensated In damages could be restrained
In the beginning and prevented innctlng
the injury. Consequently the Courts Of