The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-08-29
Records of Porter and Parker for Labor's
Cause in Legislature and on Bench
Contrary Record of Republican Party
and Pres. Roosevelt at this Very Time

from the Democratic party; and though
Unions have at times been unfair and un-
reasonable as all men are liable to be when
passions are aroused in large bodies OF
them, the Democratic party has only SYM
pathy for the enlightened policies that are
more AMI more coming to guide union pre-
cedure, and has never, In legislation or adj
ministratiOn failed TO prove Il.
At every session Of the Vermont Legisla-
ture the Dempcratlc Membership has sup
ported and fought for weekly payment bills
II there had been anywhere near an even
division Of parties, weekly payments would
have been the law years ago. Among the
sturdcSt champions. not only Of this but Of
all measures Of justice 10 all interests ami
classes. has been ELI II. Porter of Whining
ton, and his splendid services in his last
term brought him this merlted acknowledge
ment:
RUTLAND. VT, January, 1903.
HON. +. II. PORTER.
Slr:-Through orr city representative,
Brother w H. Lawrence, we learn OF your
position upon labor legislation during the
last session OF the legislature. Deeply APP
preclating your services, and being ap-
pointed special committee form the Cen
trail Trades and Labor council Of Rutland
so to do. we take this opportunity to thank
you. The workingmcn. as well as the farm
ers, of Vermont begin TO realize that their
interest shoulI he 10 get to Montpelier just
such men ms you would he counted among,
who are honest fearless and sacrificing,
And now we wish for You a happy new
year and may the Lord, who provides for MS
all without distinction. preserve you and re-
turn you in 1904 as the unanimous choice Of
your constituents.
Respectfully.
W. r. JONES.
CHARLES T. McKEAN,
W. II. HUBBARD,
Every laborlng man in Vermont ought to
rejoice that he has the opportunity to cast
his vote this year for such a man as Ell II.
Porter Governor. Equally true is this
also of the great jurist and statesman who
heads the Democratic National ticket,
against whom the plutocratc batteries are
opening all along the line because as judge
Of the New York Court of Appeals he would
not dstort and misapply law against labor
unions. The case was one where an lnjunc-
tion was sought to perpetually restrain
union that had notified employers that 10
would strike II men of an opposing organi-
Eation, really a union OF non-union men,
were employed Strange enough. the SUI
preme Court granted the injunction and IL
the doctrine had prevailed under the recent
system Of "Governorment by Injunction"
any striker could then have been punished
case reached the Court Of Appeals dt Is re-
ported In volume 100 the decision was re-
versei and the working-man relievedSfrom
what would closely approach legal slavery.
Judge Parker gave the opinion, III April,
1902 He recognized "the legal right OF
members of an organization to strike; that
IS to cease working in a body by prear-
rangement until grievance Is redressed."
He said that not only could they strike
ito obtain higher wages, shorter hours OF
labor and improved relations with their en-
ployers." but he added. 1T Is their right
TO strike. II need he. in order to secure
any lawful benefit to the several members
of the organization--as, for instance to Sc
cure the unemployment Of member they
regard as having been improperly dig
charged and Ia secure from an employer pr
n number OF them. employment for other
members Of their organization who may be
ont Of employment. although tho effect VIII
be to cause the discharge of other employ
eos who are not members"
He put the case In a nutshell when he
said: "a man may threaten to do that whic
the law SAYS he may do. A labor organiza-
tion is endowed with precisely the same
legal right rs Is an individual to threaten
to do that which It may lawfully do
AMI how is It on the other side? Look
at Colorado where for months lawlessness
has reigncd' at IL, hand Of the Governor
and Military power and not one step has
neen taken by President Roosevelt to pro-
tect citizens I'm their Constitutional rights.
The crime in disorder that had preceded,
whether the strtk arS or employing mine
owners were most nj fault. has nothing to
do with It, and irdecd all the conflicting
evidence on the sui iect IS well nigh impos-
siblc Of analysis. But as Judge Parker well
says in Government of law crime, who
ever Is guilty Of IT, Is 10 he punished in a
lawful way: and the great ana fundamental
principle Is that there must he no T~in'sh-
mcnt except of those who are proved 10 be
guilty. Instead. the Governor Of the srate
has. without trial. without evidence, with
out accusation even. and without attention
10 single one Of the great guards erected
nv free Government for the protection OF
citizens. seized .2and torn workmen from
their families am transported them by the
wholesale out tof the state, for no reason
whatever. and ON no charge even, except
that they belonged to the labor union.
The Constitution. guaranteeing In every
state all the privileges and immunities OF
any state-whpre WIS that? But beyond
this general provision. there Is this special
one. I'm the 14th amendment: 'Nor shan any
state dfprire any person NJ life. liberty or
prOperfv icithOW dHC process NJ ldio: nor deny
10 ann person rithiH its jurisdiction the equal
protection Of the lar"
Though called upon over and over again
10 do his sworn duty under this plain pro-
vision. President Roosevelt has refused TO
take any action. Why? Because as cleo
zion approaches. he darcs not ALLEVIATE any
bf the support Of the plutocratic '1sawers,
that were displeased enough--wlth his
mouth not his dcedS-so that whom Hanna
was alive they were thcatcnlug n nominate
him I'm place Of Roosevelt; and this mani
fcstatlon on their part has brought deeper
abasement than ever from the administra-
tlon and the Republican party.
The Immediate purpose Of the 14th amend
ment was TO protect the negroes. Isn't the
while man equally worthy?
Labor cannot fall to know who Its friends