The record-union., 1897-09-02

would be greatly lessened if the rights
of all in such cases were more spe-
cificaIly determined and clearly un-
| derStood than they are at present.
They must eventually be determined by
| the courts, and the questions upon
which they shall be settled may as
we'll be raised by injunction as any
other way. If Mr.. Debs is dissatisfied
with the injunctions interposed he
should not rest short of a final hearing
and a complete and explicit finding on
every point suggested. To get such a
finding would perhaps be the greatest
service he could render the organiza
tions he serves, and the community as
well."- The Ledger Rep.), Tacoma,
Wash
''The late anti-strike injunctions in
terfere with public rights. They go
beyond the lines of lawful judicial pow
er. They are unnecessary to protect
property rights, which have not been
placed in peril, especially during the
present labor disturbances. IF nm
parchment was a. just remedy in the
case of Judge Chase (for attempting to
enforce sedition laws), virtually con-
victed by majority vote in the Sem
ate, it should be invoked now to re-
strain the excesses of the Federal
courts which seek to suppress the ex-
ercise of personal rights in the disa-
greemcnts between employers and en-
ployes throughout large portion of
the country."-The Chronicle Dem),
Chicago.
The following, in the same line, is
from public Opinion:
THE STRAIN UPON OUR COURTS.
Recourse to injunction in the mat
ter of the coal strikes has been an in
teresting and instructive feature of the
news for several days. Primarily, such
recourse is undesirable, for the num-
Der of controversies affected by class
| interests or class relationship out of
which the courts can be keQt should,
for grave reasons of public policy, be
made more rather than less. Courts
have been so often invoked in election
cases, to decide on forms of ballot, or
on priority of nominations, or on ques-
tions of disputed title, that in some
minds they have come to be regarded
as annexes to political contention. They
have not been to blame for considering
matters forced upon their attention,
| and, in the main, they have decided
Jnern justly. But neither are the pidIH
people to blame for measure of inn
patience or surprise or displeasure
when the courts, for whatever reason,
are made frequent fntruders, so to
speak, into political matters. This is
| Just as true of strike cases as of polit-
| ical cases, and it is also just as true
that the courts have no option but to
pass on matters, when they are brought
before them in proper form.
! An unapprehended part of the transit
ton through which Government and
business are passing may be this re-
course to the courts in labor troubles
as well as in political ones. 1t would
seem as If the courts were the latest, if
not the last, resource of the people.
| Legislatures of all grades, from COM
mon councils to Congresses. palter with
and pander to any danger, by coquet-
ting with which they think that votes
may be gained, or by sanely dealing
with which they fear votes may be lost
| Executives themselves are becoming
timid and tentative and tricky IN deal
and executives had informally agreed
| to cast all the questions with which
| they are unable or afraid to deal upon
the courts, and had informally request
ed honorable Judges so to pass upon
those questions as to redress the bal
ance of demagogy In other departments
Of Government, the result would not be