The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-19

power. will undertake to reorganizs the Supreme Court for the purpose of changing our system of government by mere judicial interpretation, and such a report is, to some extent com firmed by the apointment to the Su-i preme Court of an Attorney General who has been active in prosecutions that have commended him to the Presi- dent Will the new appointee. and sub sequent appointees, if any, need the mandate of the United States Supreme Court. as expressed by Associate Jus tice Harland, that.
 "Even this court, with it's tremendous power. must heed the mandate of the Constitution. No one in official station, to whatever department of the Govern ment he belongs, can disobey its com mands without violating the obligation of the oath he has taken"
 Both State, National and Federal Judges are being criticised and de- nounced because, in the performance of their duties, they sometimes issue writs enjoining those who, for reasons satis- factory to themselves, refuse to work from interfering with those who may wish to work, and also from destroying the property. or interfering with the use of the property of employers.
 At the fifth annual meeting of the National Civic Federation, which eon- vened Tn New York on the l2th inst.s and at which it is said 2So persons, in- cludinK some of the best-known men m all walks and professions of life were in attendance, MT. John Mitchell, in denounuing Government by injuno- ton, is reported to have said:
 After Mitchell.
 'Gentlemen, l tell you, if judge and 1 yield to no one in my regard Tor my country-were 10 enJoin me in something l believed I had a legal and moral right to do, would violate the injunction"
 And the reporter adds that MT. Mitchell was vigorously applauded when he finished" by the aforemen- tioned "25O persons, including some of the best known men in ell walks and professions of life" Who is John Mitchell? First, he Is one who Is re- puted to have the friendship and admi- ration of President Roosevelt Second he is the potent and responsible Prest- dent--chief executive-of the United Mine Workers of America, an organt- zation the members of which are enc gagged in mining in various parts or the country. The membership IS sald to be large. Their vocation is useful
 
 entitled to the same protection of the laws of the country as other citizens-- no more, nr, less. Whom they join the organization they take an oath or an obligation. Does such obligation re- uuire them to obey the Constitution oI the State in which they live, or of the United States? No. The laws of the country? No. Do they undertake to be loyal to and servo faithfully thelr employer? No. The obligation re auires them to comply with and obe! the laws of the order, which may ana undoul tedly sometimes do, conflict with inc laws of the country. It has hap pened that in
 Contentious with Employers
 they have refused to work. which they had a right to do, but they have also undertaken to prevent others rom working. and in pursuance of that ob- feet have destroyed property commit ted murder and many other crimes. un- der these circumstances judges State ana federal have issued writs Of in- function enioining them from what? From interfering with other persons who might desire to labor; from de- stroying property, or interfering with it's use by its owner. It is known or all that these acts have, in some in- stances, resulted in warfare All must remember the strike of the American Railway Union in 1874, because the railways of the country refused to comply with the demand that they should not transport sleeping cars oe' longing to the Pullman Car Company; that the commerce of the country was deranged, and the city Of Chicago threatened with destruction. The mu- nicipality of Chicago-the State or Illinois-failing to preserve order ana protect life and property, the United States government intervened, and with the aid of the United States army, order was finally restored snd peaca again raigned.
 MitcheIra Advice.
 Mir John Mitchell, the head of the nowerful organization of the United Mine Workers, In effect says to his fellow of the order, and 10 others throughout the country, when ever you are entoined by the courts from doing something you believe you have a legal and moral right to do violate the injunction. If you are for bidden to destroy property, but believe YOU have a legal and moral right tO SO do do It. If you are forbidden to injure the man who has taken your job, and you believe you have the rignt to mutilate, disable or kill him, do lt. I take issue with Mir. Mitchell, and I will endeavor to state 1t so clearly mat everyone who hears me will ap- Droye. Individual liberty means much to each and everyone. It means that one may do as he pleases so long as he respects the rights of his fellows and permits them to do the same Every man has right to work when, where and for whom he pleases, He has a right to join any organization or union, but not to take an oath of allegiance to the order that clashPs with his obligation as a citizen. He has ! a right to decline to work with those | who do not belong to his order or or ganlzatlon. He has right 10 con- | spire-wtth his fellows t1 | strike--which means
 In a manner that will most ereotIvelS