Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-13

~ WYNN NV I1OIO tAlh OIG-
tenth Of that which now comes over the
tariff wall. The copdftions with respect
to tobacco are very much the same. and
in regard to rice. the fact Is that 1t is
being imported into the Philippines rather
than being exported. We are engaged In
the Philippine islands In a great altru-
istic work. We were brought into con-
troll Of those Islands without our design.
ard We find upon our hands and In our
trust II people united for s~elf-govern-
ment, but who rave the elements in them
Justifying the belief that with proper as
sistanee and training they can develop in
to a self-governing people. We are a
great, strong. prosperous nation.
The expense attendant upon our help
ing these people to their feet is one which
we can afford to bear. 1t is a white mans
burden that we must assume. There Is,
In my judgment, no more important piece
Of Legislation to help on that people and
bring about n confidence on their part
that we are doing everything we can to
help them than the passage of this Philip
pine tariff bill. 1t may be that the oppo-
sition in the Senate this coming year will
be. so great as to delay the passage of
the bill. but the American people are de-
termined TO do the fair and Just thing
by their wards of the Pacific, and they
will do 1t ultimately through their repre-
sentatives In Congress.
VALUE OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.
| We live in an age OF organization. The
value to the public OF organfzati Of
capital ! have already discussed. Iabor
must organize, because otherwise ian its
legitimate controversies with capital, in
tIo avtpD NJ Ire rr4Nnn, ~ fha Sntpt
product OF labor and capital, It would be
helpless. After a long time. perhaps. the
economic law of supply and demand fixes
wages. but in the not short periods OF
transition the organization Of labor has
certainly raised and maintained wages.
and it has secured other great benefits
to its members. But the power of such
organizations and combinations like those
Of capital, Is sometimes abused and de-
velops evils thai, must be restrained. Tho
injunction has been found to be an APP
propriate remedy for the evils arising
from organization and combinations
whether Of labor or capital. This is shown
by the fact that Congress In the statutes
against trusts and railway determinations
has expressly given remedy by ~injunc-
tion against the Illegal combinations and
Determinations.
UNJUST INJCNCTIONS,
But II is urged with good ground that in
functions have sometimes issued from
federal and other courts in labor disputes
in which lawful acts of defendants were
enjoined. IT Is no reason for taking away
q Jurisdiction from a court that 1t some
times commits error-courts Of appeals are
created to remedy errors. In one instance
at laast an ANIMAL u,ns faEop h. Tho
labor defendants and the lower courts
injunction was modified. In another case.
In a federal court. the Judge himself was
asked to reconsider the form of his In
junction granted ex partc, which he lid,
found that 1t was in error. the iniunc-
ton was modified. the strike went on and
the men won. 1t is said, however, that an
injunction unjustly broad may break up
a lawful strike before an appeal can be
perfected. This may be true in some in
stances, but II, an appeal in such a case
is prosecuted to a higher court and the
error corrected inferior courts will not
again make the mistake.
Errors in the scope of restraining or
ders have been at times, IL Is
said. because issued hastily at he Instance
OF lawyers for the employer and without
notice to the persons to be enjoined. This
fact was called to the attention of Presi-
dent Roosevelt. He. therefore, recon-
mended to Congress, in pursuance of the
request of the heads of some of the
most conservative and best conducted
labor unions in this country, that an
amendment he adopted returning to tho
practice that formerly prevailed in
courts of the United States, under a
statute now repealed. of issuing prelim-
mary iniunctions only after notice to the
defendants. This would certainly prevent
hasty or undue action. and at the same
time not destroy n valuable remedy for
the redress of private and public wrongs.
II seems clear, therefore, that. however
pure and honest the intenticrs of Mr..
Gompers or the American federation of
In bor-and | do not question the sincerity
and earnestness of their purpose in OPP
posing the views of other labor organ
~izations and of President Roosevelt and In
demanding the passage Of this bill-thoy
are not invoking the equal protection OF
the laws. They are seeking to make the
w~orkingInen who violate the rights Of
others in labor disputes a privileged class,