Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-23
4 Word 10

A WORD to
The workingman, above all men,
needs the protection which is given to
him by the supreme court of the United
States. II is, unfortunately. a matter
of record that in the past rich interests
have secured an undue influence In
some legislatures and have even ap-
~parently controlled executives in states
and municipalities to the hurt of the
interests of the man who tolls; it is
equally true that no nan with a just
cause has ever been deprived Of bis
rights by the supreme court. Histor-
ians and students of world events have
sll agreed that the judicial system OF
this country is the greatest safeguard
10 the American institutions. Mr..
Gladstone declared that It is 'the most
wonderful scheme of government ever
struck off at a given time and place by
the brain and purpose of man" John
Fiske, the greatest of historians, who
had made a life study of all constitu-
tions and forms of government, de-
claredi
The supreme court is the most original
Of all American institutions. 1t is pecu-
iarly American; for it's exalted character
and priceless services It is an institution of
which Americans may well be proud.
This testimony is timely, in connec-
ton with President Roosevelt's strik-
ingly forceful letter exposing the eff
forts of Mr.. Bryan and Mr.. Gompers
to strike a blow at the very founda-
lions of American government by at
lacking the integrity of the supreme
court and formulating plans for i'm
pairing it's effectiveness. In his open
letter Mr.. Gompers says.
The facts are that the judiciary, induced
by corporations and the trusts and pro-
tected by the republican party, is, step by
step, destroying government by law and
substituting therefor a government by
judges, vino determine what, in their opin-
ion, is wrong; what, in their opinion, is evil
dence; who, I'm their opinion, is guilty, aud
what. in their opinion, the punishment shall
be. 1t is sought to make OF the judges ir-
responsible despots and. by controlling
them, using this despotism in the interest
Of corporate power. Despotic power under
the ermine is as dangerous as despotlc
power under the crown. To stay its prog
ress some remedy must be had.
Mr.. Gompers has alleged a condition
that does not and cannot exist. The
justices of the supreme court of the
United States have set for 100 years,
considering the cases of the rich and
poor, unswayed by public clamor or
congressional demands, u~ndismayed
by attacks of politicians or press, I'M
swerved in their judgment by n out
side influence, and Mr.. Gompers is the
only American citizen, who by right of
his position is entitled to a hearing,
who has ever professed to believe that
the court has ever betrayed it's trust.
The trainers of the constitution created
the supreme court for the purpose of
keeping the life, property and liberties
of the people safe from legislative OF
executive abuse or interference, and
honest men know hat the court has
performed that high function.
President Roosevelt's letter places
Mr.. Bryan in an attitude even more
-unenviable thap-that occupied by Mr..
Gompers. 1t charges Mr. Bryan d.
.rectly with endorsing, for political pur-
poses, a plan which, If enacted into
legislation, while nominally in the in
terests of organized labor, would
be really wholly ineffective or else of
widespread injury, not only to organ
lied labor, but to all decent citizens
throughout the country" Mr.. Bryan
can do no greater harm to his country
than by following his present plan of
instilling into the minds of working
men and other citizens the idea that
courts are dominated by bad influences
and are corruptly induced by the rich
to despise, ignore and trample upon
the rights of the poor. The adoption
of his plan would rob the court of it's
power and substitute a plan that would
make the poor mans rights the play
thing of politicians. Mr.. Bryan and
Mr.. Gompers are slandering not only
the courts, but the intelligence of the
whole American people.