Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-12-11
70 the Senate and House Of Representq-

10 the senate ana HOUSE VI hePFeSeHtu-
tires:
AS nation we still continue to enjoy
a literally unDrecedented prosperity; and
If is probable that only reckless specula-
tion and disregard of legitimate business
methods on the part of the business world
can materially mar this prosperity.
No Congress in our time has done more
good work of Importance than the present
1,ongress. There were several matters
lef. unfinished at your last session, how
ever. which | most earnestly hope you
viii complete before your adjournment.
Campaign Contributions.
l again recommend a law prohibiting
all corporations from contributing to the
campaign expenses of any party. Let
individuals contribute as they desire; but
let US prohibit In effective fashion all
corporations from making contributions
for any political purpose, directly or indi-
rectly.
The Governments Right to Appeal.
A bill which has passed one House of
the Congress and which it is urgently
necessary should be enacted into law is
that comforting upon the government the
right of appeal in criminal cases on ques-
lions of law. This right exists in many
of the States it exists in the District of
Columbia by act of the Congress. l can
not too strongly urge the passage OF the
bill in question. A failure TO pass 1t VIII
result in seriously haompering the govern
ment in its effort to obtain justice, es-
pecially against wealthy individuals or
corporations who do wrong; and may also
prevent the government from obtaining
Justice for wage workers who are not
themselves able effectively to contest
case where the judgemnt of an inferior
court has been against them. The impor-
lance of enacting into law the particular
bill; in question is further increased Dy
the, fact that the government has now
definitely begun a policy OF resortlng to
the criminal law in those trust and in
terstate commerce cases where such d
course offers reasonable chance OF sue
cess. At first, as was proper, every effort
was made TO enforce these laws by civil
proceedings but it has become increas-
ingly evident that the action of the gov
eminent in finally deciding, in certain
cases, 10 undertake criminal proceedings
was Unsuitable: and though there have
been some conspicuous failures in these
cases. we have had many successes, Whlch
have undoubtedly had a deterrent eHect
upon evil-doers, whether the penalty IN
hicted was in the shape of fine or lmErls-
onment-and penalties of both kinds have
already been inflicted by the courts OF
course, where the judge can see his way
10 inhict the penalty of Imprisonment the
deterrent effect of the punishment on 9TH
81. offenders is increased; but sufficiently
heavy fines accomplish much.
Issuance OF InjunctiOns.
In my last message l suggested the
enactment of a law in connection with
the issuance of injunctlons, attention nav
ing been sharply drawn to the matter by
the demand that the right of applying in
functions in labor cases should be wholly
IOli &c of WQpth-
e. a law abolishing altogether the use OF
injunctions in such cases would stand the
test of the courts; in which case OF
course the legislation would be ineffective.
Moreover, | believe it would be wrong al
together to prohibit the use of lnJunctlons.
1t is criminal to permit sympathy Tor
criminals to weaken our hands IN uphold
ing the law; and if men seek to destroy
life or property by mob violence there
should be no impairment of the power of
the courts to deal with them in the most
summary and effective way possible. But
so far as possible the abuse OF the power
should be provided against by some such
law as l advocated last year.
In this matter of injunctions there is
LODGED in the hands of the judiciary nee
essiry power which is nevertheless sub
ject to the possibility of grave abuse. 1t
is a power that should be exercised with
extreme care and should be subject to the
Jealous scrutiny of all men, and condem-
nation should be melted out as much TO
the Judge who fails to use it boldly when
necessary as to the judge who uses 1t
wantonly or oppressively. There must De
no hesitation in dealing with disorder.
But there must likewise be no such abuse
OF the injunctive power as is implied IN
forbidding laboring men to strive for their
own bettermant in peaceful and lawful
WAYS: nor must the injunction be used
merely to aid some big corporation In car
rying out schemes for its own aggrandlze-
ment 1t must be remembered that pre-
limnary injunction in labor case, IL
granted without adequate proof (even
when authority can be found to support
the conclusions of law on which 1t is
foundedl. NAV often settle the dispute
between the parties; and therefore II nm
properly granted may do TreparaDle
wrong. Yet there are many judges VINO
assume matter-ot-course granting OF
a preliminary injunction to be the ordl-
nary and proper judicial disposition Oh
such cases and there have undoubtedly
bren fragrant wrongs committed by judges
i'm connection with labor disputes even
within the last few years, although L
think much less often than in former
wears. Such Judges by their unwlse &C
ton immensely strengthen the hands OF
those who IRE striving entirely TO 90
therefore such careless use of the lnJunc-
tive process tends to threaten its very
existence. for if the American people ever
become convinced that this process IS
hobituallv abused, whether in matters al
fecting labor or in matters affecting cor
uorotions II will be well-nigh impossible
to prevent its abolition.
The Crime of Lynching.
In connection with the delays of the
law. l call your attention and the atteh.
ton of the nation to the prevalence OF
crime among us and above all TO the epl-
demic of lynching and mob violence that
springs up, now in one part of our coun-
try. now in another. Each section, north,
south, east or west. has its own faults
no section can with wisdom spend Its
time ieering at the faults Of another sec
tion il should be busy trying TO amend
It's own shortcomings. To deal with the
crime of corruption it Is necessary to
have an awakened public conscience. and
To supplement- this by whatever legjsla-
ton viii add speed and certainty IN the
execution of the law. When we deal with
Ivuehiua even more is necessary. \ great
many white men are lyuched, but the
crime is peculiarly frequent in respect to
black men. The greatest exciting cause
OF lvnchiuS is ,he preparation. especially
by black men, of the h!deouS crime OF
rgpe-the most dueAAlhNttS IA AK '''N
Catesory of crimes. even worse than muir
der. NoaS frequently aveuse the COM
mission of this crime by themselves tor
turing 10 death the man committing II;
thus avepging in beStial fashion beStial
deed. and reducing themselves to level
with the criminal.
IawleSsnesS grows by what il feeds
upon: and when mobs begin TO lynch for
rape they speedily extend the sphere of
their operations and lynch for many other
kinds of crimes 50 that two-thirds of the
lynchings are not for rape at all, while
n considerable proportion Of the individ-
mails lvnched are innocent of all crime.
Where any crime committed by mem
Der of one race against member OF an
ether race is avenged in such fashion
that it seems as il not the individual
criminal. but the whole race. is attacked.
Tho rns,It is 10 aNasuerate TO the hlgheSt