The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-09-04

its coming was 50 long.
The black list. by means OF which
the employers combine to deprive the
discharged workmen ot unemployment,
Is one of the more recent men0ces 10
the laboring man. The Independence OF
the wage Garner decreases ms the dlf-
ilculty Of obtaining employment In
creases.
"The laboring man Is also Interested
IN prohibiting Oriental lmmigra ,lOn.
The political objections 70 Oriental la
bor are scarcely less welghty than
the economic ones, Race prejudice can
not be disegarded. We cannot az
ford to bring into this country those
who cannot amalgOmatc with our peo-
pie.
The attempt to use the Injunction W
a court to deprive the labonng man OF
trial by jury should alarm all our pco-
pie for when the wage Garner Is the
first 10 feel It's effects. the principle
which underlies government by In
junction Is so far reaching that no one
can hope TO escape ultimately. The
thing forbidden by an injunction would
without the injunction be either legal
or Illegal. II Il would be legal. the
judge usurps the function Of the legis-
lature when he forbids Il. 1t would be
Illegal II the Injunction OF the court
is Unnecessary, for any one who vio-
lates the law can upon conviction be
made to suffer the penalties prescribed
for his violation. The meanest thief
and the most brutal murderer are en-
titled to trial by jury; why should this
right be denied to the laborins man?
And yet corporate influence Is so
strong tha, Il has thus far been lmpos-
sible TO secure any remedial legislO-
ticn, The fact that United States SEN
ators are elected by legislatures rather
than by the people directly lessons the
laborlng mans influence In securing
favorable federal legislation, When
the action OF a political convention
must be submitted to the voters for
az the polls the convention
is constrained to nominate candl-
date acceptable TO the people; but when !
a senator Is chosen by legislature the
individual voter Is far less considered |
The laboring man fayors direct Leg
Islatlon wherever practicable for the |
same reason that he favors the elec- !
ton Of senator's by popular vote. Di- |
rect legislation brings the government |
nearer to the voter. The people should !
have an opportunity to vote on public |
questions when those questions can be |
submitted without too great lnconven-
ence and expense. But the laboring |
man Is even more interested In the |
to establish a labor bureau |
with a cabinet officer at It's head. II |
labor is given a place In the presidents |
official household. the man selected win |
be a worthy and trusted |
Of the people FOR whom |
he speaks. and his presence at a cabl-
net meeting would give to those who
toll for their daily bread assurances
that their interests win be properly |
guided.
Mr.. Gompers. the chief executive OF |
the federation Of labor. has In his
with the secretary OF |
- treasury 50 ably presented the la
boring mems reasons for opposing n
gold standard and national bank cur
rency that II Is not necessary to dis
cuss those questions at this time.
"The laboring man has abundant |
to fear the trusts. Mr.. Chas.
r. Flint. in a speech delivered In Bos-
ton more than a year ago in defense |
Of the trusts. frankly asserts that one /
Df the advantages Of these combinations
Is that in case Of local strikes or fires |
the work goes on elsewhere, thus pre-
venting serious loss Is II possible |
that any wage Garner can fall TO see
how completely the trusts place the en-
ploye at the mercy Of the employer?
The resolutions adopted by various
labor organizations in condemnation OF |
militarism and Imperialism justify me |
in making a brief reference to those |
questions. No class contributes more
than the laboring class in proportion TO |
Its numbers 10 the rank and file OF |
the army; no class contributes more in |
TO its numbers to the ex-
Dense Of the army. and no class Is more !
by the existence Of a large |
army Most Of the countries in Europe |
which maintain large military estab- |
lishments collect an income tax which |
adjusts the burden Of the government !
to the income OF the citizen. Here our
federal taxes are largely collected up |
on consumption, and while they are |
income taxes in the sense that they !
must be paid out Of the incomes OF !
the people yet the exactions are not
to the income. The taxes
upon consumption bear heaviest upon
the poor and lightest upon the rich,
and are in fact graded income taxes.
the per cent collected decreasing as the
Income increases.
III this nation adheres to the doc
trine that governments derive their
just powers from the consent Of the
governed and the people have an easy
and ready means Of correcting all
abuses, the government will not need to
be supported by a large permanent
army, for every citizen will be ready
to defend such government from at
tack. The only domestic use for large
standing army Is to suppress by force
that discomfort which should be cured
by legislation.