The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-23

Ellis Defends Injunction Plank in the
Republican Platform.

Columbus, Ohio, June 23.-Attorney
General Wade H. Ellis of Ohio, who
was a member of the committee on
resolutions. and chief author of the
platform adopted at Chicago. in
statement replies to the criticism OF
the platform made by w. j. Bryan ana
denies emphatically that the draft or
the platform as published prior to the
convention was changed with the in
tention to displease or disappoint the
president or Secretary Taft
The attorney generals statement fol-
lows:
"Of the seven omissions he (Mr.
Bryan) refers to six are In no sense
issues before the people at this time
nor has there been any attempt 10
make them such by the administration
nor by any other influential element
of the party. The seventh concerns in
functions. Upon this subject Mr.:
Bryan's criticism exhibits his usual
recklessness of statement and readl-
ness to assume that his own lack OF
information might be the prevailing
condition. The charge that the Re-
publican declaration with respect to
the use of the writ of injunction was
designed to deceive the laboring man,
is unworthy of a candidate for presl-
cent and the further charge that this
plank merely declares the existing law
and will give no relief in the cases in
which there has been an abuse of
direction or the apprehension of it, is
unworthy of any lawyer who has ex-
amined this question. The anti-injunc-
ton resolution is a frank, clear state
ment of the Republican party's position
on a question on which others have
been attempting to deceive labor.
1.-The sole basis of rational complaint
as to the issuance of injunctions in
labor cases has been the use of the
writ without notice and the long delays
IN ipS which have inter-
vened before hearing of the case. The
present statute does not require any
notice at all before the granting of a
temporary order and it is entirely
within the discretion of the court to
POSTPONE to any time the judge may
see At. the hearing upon question of an
injunction.
1.-THE Republican plank simply de-
clares notice shall always be given I'M
less an irreparable injury will result
from delay and in that case there shall
be a speedy hearing provided. In 9TH
err words the platform declaration is
designed to give assurance that what
Is now the general practice in the fed
eral court shall be made universal by
statute in order that hereafter no cause
of complaint or misrepresentation shall
remain. This may not satisfy the ex-
tremistS on either hand, but it was not
expected to do that. 1t will meet ap-
prevail of every employer or an en-
ploye. No party can lose by bravely
taking a stand for what is right, who
ever complains just as none can profit
by taking stand for what is wrong
whoever applauds.
Mr.. Bryan objects further to the
phrase in the injunction plank which
proclaims confidence in the integrity
of the courts. 1t is true, perhaps, that
the convention which is yet to meet al
Denver. rather than that which ha.
just adjourned at Chicago, should ex.
press faith in the integrity of the
courts; but in view of the Democratic
attack in 1896 and the fact that tn,
same forces which then controlled tina
party are once again in supreme com
mand 1t would seem entirely appropri
ate for the Republican party not onl,
to remove any possible cause of com
plaint in the use of the writ injunction
but to make 1t clear that it would re
sent again. as it did in 1896, any at
tempt to assail the judiciary.
"An that anyone wants is that DOW
ers of the federal courts with respec
to the use of the injunction shall b
accurately defined by statute to tn
end that all occasion for complaint il
labor cases which happily have bee
rare in the past shall disappear alto
gether in the future. The Republica
plank points to simple and straight
forward way of achieving this pur
pose"