Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-12-13

year preceding a presidential election,
because as a matter of fact experience
has conclusively shown that at such a
time it is impossible to get men to treat
it from the standpoint Of the public good.
In my judgment the wise time to deal
with the matter is Immediately after
such election"
Income and Inheritance Taxes.
The President repeats his recommends
tons Of last year for national inherit
ance and income taxes. He thinks that
when our system of taxes is revised,
Congress should adopt his suggestions.
He points out that the cry of a few
years ago that wealthy offenders capped
the penalty of the law, can not be raised
now as the department of justice has
been as prompt to proceed against the
wealthiest malefactor whose crime was
one Of greed and cunning as to proceed
against the agitator who incites to brutal
violence. Everything that can be done
under the existing law, and with the
existing state of public opinion, which
so profoundly influences both the courts
and juries, has been done"
Too Many Unjust Injunctions.
Regarding injunctions, the President
says:
Instances of abuse in the granting of
iniunctions in labor disputes continue to
occur, and the resentment in the minds
of those who feel that their rights are
being invaded and their liberty of action
and of speech fundamentally restrained
continues likewise to grow. Much of the
attack on the use of the process of in
junction is wholly without warrant; but
| am constrained to express the belief
that for some of it there is warrant.
SC, hcn
more one of prime Importance, and I'M
less the courts will themselves deal with
it in effective manner, it is certain ulti-
mately to demand some form of legisla-
tive action. 1t would be most unfortu-
nate for our social welfare if we should
permit many honest and law-a biding
citizens to feel that they had just cause
for regarding our courts with hostility
| earnestly commend to the attention of
the Congress this matter, so that some
way may be devised which will limit
the abuse of injunctions and protect
those rights which from time to time it
unwarrantably invades Moreover, dis
content is often expressed with the use
of the process of injunction by the
courts not only in labor disputes. but
where state laws are concerned. | re-
frain from discussion of this question as
l am informed that IL will soon receive
the consideration of the supreme court.
The federal courts must Of course de-
eide ultimately what are the respective
spheres of state and nation in connection
with any law. state or national. and
they must decide definitely and finally in
matters affecting individual citizens. not
only as to the rights and wrongs Of labor
but as to the rights and wrongs of capt.
tai: and the national government must
always see that the decision of tie court
is put into effect. The process of iDjunc-
ton is an essential adjunct of the courts
doing its work well and as preventive
measures are always better than re
medal, the wise use of this process is
from every standpoint commendable
But where it is recklessly or unnecessar-
lily used. the abuse should be censured.
above all by the very men who are prop
erly anxious to prevent any effort to
shear the courts of this necessary power.
The courts decision must be final: the
protest is only against the conduct of
individual judges in needlessly anticipat-
ing such final decisi, i, or in the tyranni-
cal use of what is nominally temporary