Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-12-04

Endorsement Of the Law.

j. no such complaint now. The course
OF the department OF justice during the
last few years has been such as 10
make il evident that no man stands
above the law. that no corporation is
so wealthy that " cannot be held TO ac-
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 viii be Of no avail The
two great evils IN the execution of our
criminal laws today are sentimentaliiy
and technlcality For the latter the
remedy must come from the hands of
the legislatures. the courts ana the law
yers The other must depend for rs
cure uron 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 ia the jury
box. Both of these evils must be re-
moved or public discomfort with the
criminal law VIII continue
Iniurotions
Instances of abuse lu the grantnr
Of njunctlons in lnbof disputes con.
tinue 10 occur and the resentment in
the minds OF those who feel that their
rights are being invaded ANA their lib
erty OF action AMI OF speech unwar
rantably restrained continues ikewis
TO grow Much of the attack on the
use of the process OF injunction l.
wholly without warrant. but am con
strained TO express the belief that for
some OF II there Is warrant This ques-
tlon Is becoming one of prime impOr
lance. and unless the courts viii deaf
with It in effective manner 1T is Ger
tain ultimately 10 demand some form
of legislative action. IL would be most
unfortunate for our social welfare j.
we should permit many honest ana
law abiding citizens 10 feel that they
had just cause for regarding our courts
with hostility earnestly commend
20 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 unwarraut
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. l refrain
from discussion OF this question as
am Informed that It will soon receive
the consideration Of the supreme court.
The process of injunction is an es-
sential adjunct of the courts doing its
work well. and as preventive measures
are always better than remedial the
wise use of this process is from every
standpoint commendabe. 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 anticl-
ating such final decision or In the
tyrannical use OF what Is nomlnally
temporary injunction to accomplish
what Is In fact 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 em-
phaticaly 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 Ia
Dor the use OF rhe Interstate commerce
Clause TO prevent the products OF child
la Dor from entering into Interstate com
merce. But before using this IL 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 right. but duty,
and, moreover, a fundamental and nee
essary duty If man Is to be a good
citizen. II Is we'll 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 I'm 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 penalty upon honest men.
Moreover, no such law would hamper
an INSCRIPTIONS man of unlimited
means from buying his own way into
office. There Is very radical meas
ure which would, l believe, work a
substantial Improvement in our sys-
TEN Of conducting a campaign, al
though | am well aware that 1t will
take some time for people so TO famil-
iarize themselves with such a proposal
as TO be willing to consider its adop-
ton. The need for collecting large
campaign funds would vanish II con
gress provided an appropriation for the
proper and legitimate expenses OF each
Of the great national parties. an appro-
yriation ample enough to meet the ne
cessity for thorough organization and
machinery. which requires large ex.
penditure or money. Then the stIpu-
lation should be made that no party
receiving campaign funds from the
TREASURY should accent more than q