The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-02
TUESDAY. MAY ?. 1893.
A LESSON IN "GOVERNMENT BY
INJUNCTION"

The performance Of n mob last satur-
dav al Wardner Idaho. should sink
deeply into the minds Of the American
neople. and IT should always come before
them when they are listening 60 the
enpeals of the Chicago platform Demo-
Gratis TO put down government by in
junction" The telegraph stated the facts
NJ the case very fully. but a brief recapit-
ulation of them cannot be out Of place
here
Wardnor Is in a great silver mining dis
trict. Several days back large body
OF the miners "struck" for higher wages,
and their employers conceded their de-
mand and raised their wages. But at
two mines some two hundred non-union
men we're employed Between 500 and
1000 union miners al adjacent mines de-
manded that these non-union men should
be discharged. and. upon the refusal Of
the employers 10 DO so. they came 10 the
place in an armed body. drove the nom
union men to the mountains after kill
ing one and mortally wounding another.
placed powder under the mills and their
adjacent buildings. and blew an of them
MP.
Now the Chicago platform says III
erect this mob should not have been
enioined and restrained by the courts
from perpctuating these outrages. The
parties injured. II says should be content
with prosecutions OF the members Of the
mob before tho criminal courts and suits
against them for damages, and they dare
apperi TO the principles OF that glorious
common law we inherited from our An
glo-saxon ancestors as authority for Their
appeal. To any one who is really versed
in the principles OF that law which We
brought here from England. and under
whose benign influence our country has
grown up 20 IT'S marvellous state Of de-
velopment. such "A claim as this sounds
little less than sacrilege.
That law to which they appeal declares
that n any one s. threatened with an In
jury which is irreparable and for which
the verdict of jury cannot give ode
quate compensation. the courts shall IN
terpose and prevent the person making
the threat from carrying it into execu-
ton. That law oherlshes the principle
Of jury trial whenever jury trial is APP
proprlate and can give an injured party
adequate redress but 4 just as empha-
tlcaily recognizes the principle that some
injuries cannot be compensated IN dam
ages. and 1t lust as emphatically de-
hos tFIf
threatened. the courts may and must in
terpose, and prevent the proposed male
factor from carrying his purpose INTO
execution. And what sort of social or
ranization can We have without the fun
and complete recognition of this prin-
oiplo7 Who IS going to build up an en-
terprise II he be told before hand that
such a mob as attacked tho mine az
Wardner is not to be restrained and pre-
vented before hand from executing It's
purpose. but he must content himself with
prosecuting the individuals composing
II in the criminal courts or getting from
them such damages as jury OF them
selves may award7
1t "a pretty hard upon these mine own
ers at Wardner that they should have
been selected to furnish an object lesson
in government by Injunction" but Il
Is most fortunate for the American peo-
pie that so glazing on object lesson In that
matter should have been set before them
at this time. They can learn from II
what is in store for them II The time hon
ored and essential principles OF our laws
are TO be abandoned. and We are t. be
again committed to a state in which
might makes right. and the mob is to
have its undisputed sway.