The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-17
FASHIONABLE JUDGMENT.


 Taft correctly in his discussion oi the use of the injunction he declined to favor it's abandonment altogether as some political leaders advocate bur he expressed his sympathy with the suggestion that it be enforced with ar equal understanding of the rights or both parties. The right to pray out an injunction, in his judgment, pre- conceives a hearing of both sides De- fore it is enforced Neither party to controversy as a result of which either asks for the power of injunc- ton should for the space of single day be given an undue advantage over the other. That is our understanding of Mir TSft's attitude and we find our selves in full sympathy with it.
 new interest In the process of government by injunction, as MT. Bryan calls 1t, is provoked by the ac- ton of a New Jersey Chancellor who has granted an injunction which is so sweeping in it's provisions that one cannot help but inwardly protest, We are not familiar with the particular labor controversy which has led the employers to ask for the protection of the courts. but it is inconceivable that it differs so much from other strikes that extraordinary power is necessary to guard the public welfare. It is more likely that the legal advisers ot the contesting firm or factory are re- sponsibe fer the extrayagant rights asked for They appear to have put into their prayer every possible and conceivable effort of which men are capable and have undertaken hy an- ticipation to come into control of a perplexed situation without regard tr the rights and possible justice of their opposing cause. The injunction com prehends even the conduct of several persons who are not members lf the striking unions and of places of pol,- 1 ular gathering which are entirely dis lassociated with tSe cause of organized 1 labor If made permanent the injunc- ! ton wilr make it difficult for t'ie strik- l CTS to exercise a single one of the nights and privileges which have been declared legal by the courts To mako ' it worse the court gives the appellants nearly two weeks turing wtiich their extrao, dinery powers nay Dc enforccdf For that time one side finds itself de- fenee'ess, bound hand and rnnt
 We do not believe that the grant of such an injunction even ten.'tr.s- l fly is in the interest of the public peace Man Is not always the sweetest animal to be found OF earth, but there is nevertheless to he found in | the average hioltlei d h'Stl Stil9c VI justice when brutal thing is done He will come to the defense of one he dislkes rather than rtrmt the kind of injustice which appears to his mind to outrage fair play. This is the sort of feeling we have in connection with this New Jersey grant of en,cln- ed power II bumps violently ur against our notions of h fair fight T the strikers have been m1ulging in illegal methods to advance their cause there are ways to bring them quickly to terms without gasgrg them and binding them hand and feet They deser, ed whatever tn. facts are 2 chance to be heard in tteir own no. half before being reduced to that con. dition. No law-abiding citizen car complain against 3 permanent in
 junction which follows a hearing o tho necessities and the judicial deter.
 imitation of the needs ct the com
 granted in the absence of hearini
 pr in tho presence of hut one of tn,
 parties and made to give one side al
 undue advantage for considerebl
 length of time over the other doe 
 not hitch well with American tradi
 tions and the American sense of fai
 play. The fact that the machinery O } the courts permits such course {, be followed is a question by itself an, need not be permitted to modify ih
 New Jersey case. which is already at
 tracing the attention of the press O
 the country.
 The foundation upon which the re
 public rests is to be looked for in tn
 courts where justice must he admins
 tered Let the great public becom
 once suspicious of it's sincerity ant
 clear mindedness and the structur
 will begin to rock. It is true that tn
 courts of New Jersey will doubles
 sec that in the end the fair thing 1
 done. but in the meantime a most i'm pleasant impre ssion has been mad
 upon the country, which cannot hell but see that the right of injunction
 has been stretched to the limit.