The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-16

the railway labor unions in the most
bitter terms as being opposed to human
liberty and the rights of labor. Mr..
GomperS, with Mr. Spelling, his attor-
quest by Representative Pearre, and
pending before the same committee;
which is substance prohibited United
States courts from Issuing injunctiOnS
in any case between employer and en-
ployes unless necessary to prevent r.
reparable injury to property or to
property right of the party making the
application, for which injury there is 10
adequate remedy at law, and in the next
sentence provided, And for the pur-
poses of this act no right to carry on
business of any particular kind or at
any particular place, or at all, shall be
construed, held, considered, or treated as
property or as constituting a property
right Mr. Spelling, speaking for Mr..
Gompers and himself. claimed that such
legislation ought to be enacted It be-
ing near the end of the session further
consideration of the proposed legiSia-
ton by the house judiciary COMMITTEES
was postponed until the next session Of
congress.
speaking for myself. I am not in
favor of this legislation demanded by
Mr.. Gompers. The power of the courts
to issue Writs of injunction to prevent
irreparable injury to property or to
equate remedy at law, is older than the
Constitution, and as we'll established as
any other principle of law or equity. The
inalienabIe rights of each citizen be he
weak or strong, is to come and go 10
and from his property without molesta-
ton, and to carry on business thereon
and, in the exercise of such right. he is
entitled to call upon the government for
protection through the courts.
In the executive department of the
government the record of the party has
been brilliant, courageous and honest,
and the name of Roosevelt has become
49,
throughout the realms of civilization.
He has been the president of all the
people and he has been tireless in his
efforts to serve the people by wise, just
and fearless administration of the law
He has been particularly jealous in adj
ministering the law against the trusts
and combinations of capital which have
ignored the old adage of live and let
live The beef trust, the paper trust.
the tobacco trust, the drug trust, the
coal combination, and various combina-
lions of railroads and shippers have felt
the heavy hand of the law and learned
that it IS strong enough to compel them
to give all a square deal. The record of
trust prosecutions and Investigations
into their practices is too long to here
recite. but it is acknowledged to be most
creditable. even by our political oppon-
ents.
s'The congress has worked in har-
mony with the president and embod-
led into law more OF his reeommen-
cations than has fallen to the lot of
most chief executives. I believe the
record of the 18th congress. made in
its first session, will go into history as
one of the best records of legislation
for the benefit of all the people that
has ever been made. The railroad
rate law, the pure food law, the meat
inspection amendment to the agri-
cultural appropriation act, the free al
cohoI law, the consular reform legisla-
ton. the employers liability law, all
enacted at one session Of congress.
make a record of legislation which has
not been paralleled IN many years.
THE amendment to the interstate com.
merce law. known as the Elkins law of
1902. and the rate legislation just enacted.
coupled wit hnany decisions by the SUI
pren1e court of the United States, render
It reasonably certain that practices which
had grown up by large shippers of com
modities demanding and receiving from
common carriers exceptional rates for
transportation not enjoyed by others is
prohibited by law and penalized both as
to the railway, or other common carrier,
and the shipper. So that it is safe to say