The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-12-05

NAA11 = AS"Ns A<'~S ~
THRIFT ana efficiency which would
strive to break up not merely private
property. bui. what is iar more impor-
tunt. tie home. the chief prop upon
which oGr whole civilization s,anua.
Such 4 theory if ever adopted would
mean the ru.u of the entire country
but proposals for legislation such as
this herein advocated axe directly OPP
posed to this class 81 soclalis,lc the
pries.
Enforcement Of the Law
4 few years ago there was loud COM
paint that the law could not be In
yokcd against wealthy offenders. There
Is 10 such complaint now. The course
Of the department ~ Justice during the
last few years has been such as to
make it evident .hat no man stands
above the law. that no corporation Is
so wealthy that it cannot be held TO ac-
count. Everything that can be done
under the existing law and with the
existing state OF public opinion. which
30 profoundly influences both the courts
and jurles. has been done, but the laws
themselves need strengthening. They
should be made more definite. so that
no honest man can be led unwittingly
10 break them and so that the real
wrongdoer can be readily punished.
Moreover. there must he 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 technicallty. For the latter the
remedy must come from the hands OF
the legislatures. tho courts and the law
yers. The other must depend for Its
cure upon the gradual growth Of a
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 tho jury
box. Both Of these evils must be re-
moved or public discomfort with the
criminal law will continue.
lniunetions.
Instances OF abuse In the granting
OF injunctlons in labor disputes con-
tlnue 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-
ran.ably restrained continues likewise
to grow. Much Of the attack on the
use Of the process Of Injunction Is
wholly without warrant, but am con-
strained 10 express the belief that for
some Of Il there f. warrant This ques-
ton Is becoming one OF prime impor-
lance. and unless the courts will deal
with It IN effective manner 1t Is GER
tain ultimately TO demand some form
OF legislative action. 1t would be most
unfortunate for our social welfare II
we should permit many honest and
law abiding citizens to feel that they
had lust cause for regarding our courts
with hostility. | earnestly commend
to the attention Of the congress this
matter, SO that some way may be de-
vised which VIII limit the abuse of In
functions and protect those rights
which from time to time II unwarrant-
ably invades. Moreover. discomfort 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. | refrain
from discussion OF tbs question as
am Informed that 1t will soon receive
the consideration OF the supreme court
The process OF injunction Is an es-
sentlal adjunct Of the courts doing It's
work well, and as preventive measures
are always better than remedial the
wise use Of this process is from every
standpoint commendable. But where
Il 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-
pating such final decision or in the
tyrannical use Of what Is nominally q
temporary injunction TO accomplish
what is in fact a permanent decision.
The president urges the passage OF
model employers liability act for the
District of Columbia and the territories
to encourage corporations to treat In
jured wageworkers better He en-
phatically lndorses 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 1t 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,
and. moreover, fundamental and nee
essary duty II man is to be a good
citizen. 1t is well to provide that cor
poratIons shall not contribute to presi-
dental or national campaigns and, fur
thermore, to provide for the publica-
ton Of both contributions and expendi-
lures. There Is, however, always dan
ger IN laws OF this kind, which from
their very nature are difficult OF en-
forcement. the danger being lest they
be obeyed only by the honest and dis
obeyed by the inscriptions, so as to
act only as a penalty upon honest men.
Moreover, no such law would hamper
an INSCRIPTIONS man OF unlimited
means from puying his own way into
Il al G