The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-07-12
Two Important
PlankS Adopted.


The platform adopted at Denver by
the Democratic national convention is
plain statement of the principles
upon which the party will ask the SUI
frage OF American voters on Novem-
Der 3. In the platform there are two
important planks, articles that cover
questions of the highest import to the
people, the injunction plank, and that
article detailing the partys position Oh
| the railroad situation
In the former the convention split
no hairs in frankly urging the firm
UNFOLDING of our courts. 1t says:
The courts of justice are the bull
warks of our liberties, and we yield
to none in our purpose to maintain
I their dignity. We resent the
attempt o. the republican party to
raise false issue respecting the ju-
dietary 1t is an unjust reflection
upon the great body of our citizens
to assume that they lack respect for
the courts"
This is direct reply to the social
ed anti-injunction plank adopted at
the Chicago convention However
the party reiterates its prior conten-
ton that modification is necessary,
relating particularly to the trial OF
indirect contempt cases by jury. In
this the platform only repeats the
constitutional provision that every
man is entitled TO a jury trial when
charged with misdemeanor, and the
conviction of men guilty of contempt
OF writs OF injunction is morally a
conviction for a misdemeanor. not
mere contempt of rules of court.
This plank also urges a strict i'm
partial issuance of the Injunction writ
in industrial disputes, and says:
That injunctions should not issue
in any case in which injunctions would
not issue If no industrial disputes
were involved"
The federal Injunction has too fire.
quently been abused in labor differ
ences. 1t has been used only as a
big stick" to protect the privileged
class" and our courts have. by the
law providing for the issue of the
temporary injunction" on the mere
application for the writ, become the
helpless cats paw of the parties to
industrial troubles.
The party by this plank does not
criticize the courts of the land but ar
CUES for modified law that will pre-
vent the use o. the courts by parties
to labor troubles in settling the dis
putes at hand unjustIy.
extent that the expanding organizs-
ton of industry makes it essential
that there should be no abridgement
or the right of wage earners and pro-
ducers TO organize for the protection
Of wages and the improvement of la
Dor conditions, TO the end that such
labor organizations and their mem
beTs should not be regarded as illegal
combinations in restraint of trade"
In the railroad plank the party de-
mands the enlargement of the powers
of the interstate commerce commits
sion, and favors the efficient supervis-
ion of and rate regulation of roads
engaged in interstate commerce.. 1t
asserts the right OF congress to exer-
else complete control over Interstate
commerce, and equal right o. the
states to exercise complete control
over transportation within their Dor
ders.
Reductions in transportation charges
are urged, but the article states that
care should be avoided in making re-
auctions that would neCeSsitate a re-
duction of wages OF employees or pre-
vent adequate service. or do injustice
| to legitimate investment
On these two problems of the day
the party has we'll expressed itself in
the planks above reviewed. Labor
| leaders have expressed satisfaction
over the injunction plank and that
paragraph relating TO organized labor.
aud both the conservative and the
radical must be satisfied with the Do
sition of the party on the great ques-
ton OF railroad regulation.