Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-07

the already strongest and most grasping
and INSCRIPTIONS of the accumuators OF
wealth, and the breaking down of those
that were built by our forefathers for the
protection of the weaker classes-nor that
all OF those who have Illegally assumed the
right to render such enslaving decisions are
personally corrupt. On the contrary these
usurpations are largely due to the fact
that the laws of all Anglo-Saxon countries
have always been partly formulated by the
courts-and that, for long time our chief
judges have been, to a large extent Sc
lected by the class OF people whose inter-
ests require that self-evident wrongs shall
in some way. be whitewashed into vested
rights. and who have naturally selected
| men whose mental bias was in the desired
direction.
1T is not surprising that intrusted with
the duty of deciding what the language
of the Constitution and laws express, judges
thus chosen have, from time to time. en-
larged their scope, or radically changed
their meaning-by the method called in
depreciation With most judges 'prece-
dents are both law and gospel. and con-
sequently, when one court decides a point
in favor of the capitalistlc clement, another
is very likely to follow in its wake, and
go a step farther; and, In a little while,
the Interpretation is accepted as estab-
llshed law.
I'VE submit therefore that, with the cor
morant class of capitalists already closely
united by community of interests it be-
hooves those upon whom they are preyine
to devise some practical plan for their
common protection; therefore.
Resolved, That We urge all labor and
other organizations, and persons that have
the public welfare at heart to consider
whether the time has not come to prepare
| TO hold q national conference for the pur-
pose OF agreeing upon the best plan for pre-
| venting further aggressions, recovering lost
| ground, and securing such basis for laws
| as will increase instead Of decrease respect
| for the courts"
In his annual report to the Illinois mine
| workers in convention at Springfield. Secre-
/ tary w. ID. Ryan showed that the cash ball
| lance on hand February ! was S323,65f II.
/ The receipts for the year amounted to
| SS4S. 921. 81. and the expenditure to S203,-
| cfo24 In speaking of the possibility of d
| strike April /, Mr.. Ryan says in his report:
THE situation that confronts us now,
while not altogether dark. is a serious one
/ The United Mine Workers are about to
! enter the crucial test Of their existence. III
/ the contest should start April the miners
must win. We declared by almost
! unanimous vote to the national convention
| that we would not accept an agreement
| that did not carry with II an advance in
! wages. President Mitchell also made the
same emphatic declaration before the JOINT
| scale committee. We have burned our
bridges behind us. and there can be no
/ backward step.
| ..Sundry publications are giving us gra-
4 tuitous advice by the ton, just as they dig
| it, suggesting that the President should APP
| point commission to settle the strike,
which has not yet been called; that the
/ Civic Federation should take charge of it,
| and use their good offices to bring about q
settlement.
mo one can tell at this time whether
+ there will be a strike April or not. but IL
| the coal operators of this country MAIN
| tain their present position and refuse to
make agreement with us carrying with
| Ii an advance of wages then let 1t be q
| strike. not a limited number of rounds, but
fight to finish. If the operators have so
| far forgotten their promises of two years
| ago to LET the present disagreement de-
velop into a bitter industrial war. then tho
miners. in my opinion, should neither seek
nor accept Intervention.