The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-12-11

with that socialistic idea which would
try to put laziness. thriftlessness and
| 'netficencv on n par with industry
| thrift ann efficiency, which would
strive to break up not merely private
property. but, what is far more impor
tant, the home. the chief prop upon
which our whole civilization stands.
Such theory If ever adopted would
mean the ruin Of the entire country.
but proposals for legislation such as
this herein advocated are directly op-
posed to this class Of socialistic the
| cries.
Enforcement Of the Law.
A few years ago there was loud com.
plaint that the law could not be in
voked against wealthy offenders. There
is no such complaint now. The course
OF the department Of justice during the
last few years has been such as to
make 1t evident that no man stands
above the law. that no corporation is
SO wealthy that it cannot be held to a.
count 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, but the laws
themselves need strengthening. They
should be made more definite, so that
no honest man can be led unwittingly
to break them and so that the real
wrongdoer can be readily punished.
Moreover. there must be the public
| opinion back Of the laws or the laws
themselves will be of no avail. The
two great evils In the execution Of our
criminal laws today are sentimentality
and technicality. For the latter the
remedy must come From the hands OF
the legislatures, the courts and the law.
yers. The other must depend for its
cure upon the gradual growth of q
sound public opinion which shall insist
that regard for the law and the de-
mands Of reason shall control all other
influences and emotions in the jury
box. Both Of these evils must be re-
moved or public discomfort with the
criminal law will continue.
lnjunctions.
Instances of abuse In the granting
OF injunctions in labor disputes con.
tinue to occur. and the resentment in
the minds Of those who feel that their
rights are being invaded and their lib
erty OF action and Of speech unwar-
rantably restrained continues likewise
to grow. Much Of the attack on the
Use Of the process of Injunction is
wholly without warrant, but I am con.
strained to express the belief that for
some Of 1t there Is warrant This ques.
tion Is becoming one Of prime impor.
tance. and unless the courts will deal
with 1t In effective manner It Is Ger.
tau ultimately to demand some form
OF legislative action. 1t would be most
unfortunate for our social welfare If
we should permit many honest and
law. abiding citizens to feel that they
had just cause for regarding our courts
with hostility. / earnestly commend
TO the attention OF tte congress this
matter 50 that some way may be de-
vised which VIII limit the abuse Of in
| functions and protect those rights
which from time to time Il unwarrant-
ably 'nyades. MoreOver, discontent IS
often expressed with the use of the
process Of injunction by the courts.
not cnly In labor disputes. but where
state laws are concerned. l. refrain
from discussion Of this question as l
am Informed that II will soon receive
the consideration Of the supreme court.
The process Of injunction Is an es-
sential adjunct Of the courts doing its |
work yvoII ond nrovopfsuo ,,,ooc,,vo, |
are always better than remedial the /
wise use Of this process is from every Y
standpoint cOmmendable But where !
1t Is recklessly or unnecessarily used |
the abuse should be censured above |
all by the very men who are properly |
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 antici,.
patinga such final decision or In the |
tyrannical use Of what is nominally a |
ter. 'Orary injunction to accomplish |
what Is In fact permanent decision.
The president urges the passage Of a
model employers liability act for the
District of Columbia and the territories |
to encourage corporations to treat in
jured wagewOrkers better. He EN-
phatically indOrses the eight hour day
The president urges the states to
fight the child and woman labor evil
He says:
The national government has as an |
ultimate resort for control Of child la
Dor the use Of the interstate commerce
clause to prevent the products of child |
labor from entering into interstate COM
merce. But before using this it ought
certainly to enact model laws on the
subject for the territories under its
own immediate control
Presidential Campaign Expenses.
Under our form Of government vot-
ing is not merely a right, but a duty,