Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-12-05

wealthy men, or men who pose as such.
or are un%scrupulously or foolishly eager
to become such. indulge in reckless spec
ulation-especially II It is accompanied by
dishonesty-they jeopardize not only their
own future but the future Of all their in
nocent fellow-citizens. for they expose
the whole business community to panic
and Distress"
He advises against any general tarin
legislation this session OF congress, and
says:
In a country OF such phenomenal
growth as ours 1t is probably well that
every dozen years or so the tariff laws
should be carefully scrutinized so as TO
see that no excessive or improper bene-
fits are conferred thereby, that proper
revenue is provided, and that our
foreign trade is encouraged. There
must always be a. a minimum
a tariff which will not only al
low for the collection of an ample rev.
enue but which will at least make
good the difference in cost Of production
here and abroad; that is, the difference in
the labor cost here and abroad. for the
well-being of the wage-worker must ever
be a cardinal point of American policy.
Tho question should be approached pure
ly from a business standpoint; both the
time and the manner of the change being
such as to arouse the minimum of agf-
tation n disturbance in the business
world, and to give the least play for
selfish and factional motives. The sole
consideration should be to see that the
sum total of changes represent the pub
lie good. This means that the subject
cannot with wisdom be dealt with in the
year preceding a presidential election, be-
cause as a matter of fact experience has
conclusively shown that at such a time
1t is impossible to get men to treat 1t from
the standpoint of the public good. In my
judgment the wise time to deal with the
matter is Immediately after such cleo
tion."
He asks for the repeal Of the tariff on
paper and wood pulp.
He reviews and enlarges upon his pre-
vious recommendations for the enact
ment of federal inheritance and income
tax laws.
Attention Is called to the prosecution of
wealthy offenders against the national
laws, and in this connection he asks that
the avs under which these prosecutions
are brought be strengthened and made
more definite.
A few years ago there was loud COM
plant that the law could not be invoked
against wealthy offenders. There is no
SAGAA NSAAAEtcAAAN AS"s AAN NhS ~ NN
department of justice during the last
, few years has been such as to make II
evident hat no mar stands above the
> law, that no corporation Is so wealthy
> that 1t cannot be held to account. The
department of justice has been as
!, prompt to proceed against the wealthiest
J malefactor whose crime was one of greed
, and cunning as to proceed against the
; agitator who incites to brutal violence
>, EVprVthinU that pnn he done under the
existing law, and with the existing state
I of public opinion, which so profoundly
, influences both the courts and juries, has
5 been done. But the laws themselves nee
strengthening in more than one impoi'
= tant point; they should be made NOR
Y definite, so that no honest man can b'
led unwlttingly to break them, and 81
e that the real %wrongdoer can be readily
n punished.
s Moreover, there must be the publ,
o opinion back of the laws or the law
themselves will be of no avail. At pres
= ent, while the average juryman undoubt
q eddy wishes to see trusts broken w, ant
T. is quite ready to fine the corporation
itself, he is very reluctant to find thu
facts proven beyond a reasonable doub
when it comes to sending to jail a mem
Der of the business community for in
dulging in practices which are profound
r ly unhealthy, but which, unfortunately
d the business community has grown t
n recognize as well-nigh normal. Both tn
h present condition of the law and tn
present temper of juries render it a tasl
Of extreme difficulty to get at the rea
~wrongdoer in any case, especially by i'm
d prisonment. Yet it is from every stand
d point far preferable to punish the prim
n offender by imprisonment rather than t
fine the corporation, with the attendan
a damage to Stockholders.
The two great evils In the execution O
our criminal laws to-day are sentimen
tality and technicality. For the latte
the remedy must come from the hand
of the legislatures, the courts and tn
1t lawyers. The other must depend for 1t
cure upon the gradual growth of a SCUM
/: public opinion which shall insist hat re
gard for the law and the demands @
IT reason shall control all other influence
and emotions in the jury box. Both G
zt these evils must be removed or publ
discomfort with the criminal law will cor
tinue.
The Use and the
Abuse of InjunctiOns.
Instances Of abuse in the granting c
o injunctions in labor disputes continue I
A. occur, n the resentment in the mind
r. of those who feel that their rights al
w being invaded and their liberty of actio
a aU1 of speech unwarrantably restraine
10 continues to grow. Much of the attac
LII on the use Of the process of injunction
ne wholly without warrant; but I am col
w strained to express the belief that fl
is some of it there Is warrant. This que,
ton Is becoming more and more of prin
Importance, and unless the courts wi
nj themselves deal with it in effective ma
ner, it is certain ultimately to demar
some form of legislative action. 1t won.
Ia be most unfortunate for our social we
a. fare II we should permit many hone
GO and law-abiding citizens to feel tn;
they had just cause for regarding O,
ms courts with hostility. I earnestly cor
nd mend to the attention of the congre
~ this matter, so that some way may
" devised which will limit the abuse of |
functions and protect those rights whit
from time to time it unwarrantably |
"a vades. Moreover, discomfort is often e
ny pressed with the use of the process
~ injunction by the courts, not only in /
d. Dor disputes, but where state laws a
concerned. l refrain from discussion
Oh his question as l am informed that
as will soon receive the consideration of Il
IS supreme court"
10 OF other legislation in the interest
ne labor he favors federal inspection of ra
,sa roads; providing limited but definite col
as PSiN h "oihli
nd employed In any way by the governmel
ro and says:
ga 9TH constitutionality of the employee
be liability act passed by the preceding CO
,rv gress has been carried before the cour
EN- In two jurisdictions the law has been {
re- clared uncohsltuuonal, ana IN three Jur
dlctons lts c~otlstltuuonaIty mas been
the frmed' Inc question: mas peen carried
len the supreme court tne case mas be
m heard by that tribunal, and a decision
the expected at an early date. In the ev,
emf that the court should affirm the cons
~tutionality Of the act, I urge further Il
~islation along the lines advocated in
YaaouaOn to tho Drapedinp cOnurouv n