Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-02
Democratic Position on Question as
Explained by the Text
Book.
ALL EQUAL IN EYES OF LAW
Invasion Of Personal Rights and
Liberty Discussed-PIank Re-
produced In Full.

eAeee 'hC tOiioh AK t[tcIHt lIo.u ltt
new state text book. covering that sub
ject. is published for the benefit OF
readers:
1.-THE real intent of tic Democratic
platform. and of organized labor, re-
garding the use of injunctions in Ia
Dor disputes has been and is being
distorted and misrcpresented by the
advocates Of special privilege repre-
senting the Republican party in the
present campaign, to such an extent
as to make desirable brief statement
concerning tie Democratic declaration
thereon, as well as the position OF
labor.
The Plank of the PLATFORM.
1.-The courts OF justice are the hui
wark OF our liberties and we yield to
none in our purpose to maintain their
dignity. Our party has given to the
bench n long line of distinguished
judges who have added TO tae respect
and confidence in which this depart
ment must be jealousy maintained.
We resent the attempt of the Repub-
hcan- party to raise false issue re-
speeding the judiciary. 1t is an unjust
reflection upon a great body of our
citizens TO assume that they lack re-
spect for the courts. 1t is the func-
ton of the courts to interpret the
laws which the people create, and if
the laws appear to work economic,
social or political Injustice, it is our
duty to change them. The only basis
upon which the Integrity of our courts
81 nd 10, 81, 8
tice and protection of life, personal ib-
erty and property. If judicial pro-
cesses may be abused. we should
guard them against abuse.
Experience has proved the ncces
sity of modification of the present
law. relating to injunctions. and we
reiterate the pledge of our national
platforms of 1896 and 1904 in favor
of the measure which passed the
United States senate in 1896. but
which Il Republican congress has ever
since refused TO enact, relating to coll
tempts in federal courts and providing
for trial by jury in cases of indirect
contempt.
"'Questions of judicial practice
have arisen especially in connection
with industrial disputes. We believe
that the parties to all judicial proceed
ings should be treated with rigid i'm
'partiality and that injunction should
not be issued i'll any cases in which
injunctiOns would not issue if no in
dustrial dispute were involved
n Equality the Keynote.
''ft will be noted that there are two
especially important features; the
first. that iniunctions should not be
issued in any cases i'll which injunc-
lions would not issue If no Industrial
dispute were involved will be briefly
commented on. When injunctious are
issued in any and all cases except
those where labor disputes are in
vOlyed. there is no attempt on the part
Of the courts nor are there any pro
visions in the writ. undertaking any
thing except tie protection of proper
~ rights. The Democratic party be.
iieves and holds with the labor people
of our country that the proper protec
ton Of property and property rights
under the law Ivy the extraordinary
writ OF Injunction. is entirely legti
mate and at all proper times and un
der all proper circumstances Labo,
docs not expect, nor does it desire, &c
be exempted from any process of law
nor of the courts, that is applied ex
actly the same TO all classes OF csti
Zens.
Invasion of Personal Rights.
1T is only in the wrts employed il
labor disputes that personal rights ant
individual liberty arc trcspassed npor
by the writ. The right of free spcecl,
OF free press. of free asscmbagc /:
restrained In nearly every injunction is
sued in a labor dispute. The RICH
TO persuade men to quit their employ
ment, to pay them benefits. to cal
members or non-mcmbers out on strik,
is restrained. Such restraints are Al
Invasion of the personal and consti
tutional rights of the citizens Ant
where the Democratic platform say,
that Injunction should not be ISSUED
in any eases in which Injunction!
wonld not Issue if no industrial dis
pute were iDvolveI. it plainly mean
that the issuance of injunctions in al
eases shall he absolutely confined t.
the protection of property and proper
II rights. and shall in no case invad,
or set aside the rights of the indi
vidual which are inherent, or whicl
are guaranteed to him under the law
Correction, Not Elimination.
at is tho desire Of the labor organi
cations to lave the abuse Of the wri
of fnjunctions corrected, and not thu
writ eliminated from our jurispru
dence, nor from labor disputes. The
Democratic party holds that the con
tention OF labor in this respect 1
proper and consistent with our institu
lions, aud without hesitation we sup
port them in this contention. Labor ask
no special privileges, and the Demo
cratic party in its platform promise
item no special privileges. They as
no lie treated in this matter of in;unt
tons and IN all other matters exactl
thc same as ALI other classes of pee
ulc. The writ as il is now Use,