The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1908-08-14
W. j. Bryan Issues a Statement
in answer to q Criticism.

Lincoln, Nebr.. Aug. Evil
liam Jennings Bryan today issued
statement replying to a circular is
sued some weeks ago by the Nation
al Association of Manufacturers and
signed by James w. Van Cleave.
Mr.. Bryan declares that the pam
phlet of Mr.. Van Cleave's raised
two questions. First, is there any
thing in the labor plank of the
Democratic platform to which bust
ness men can justly take exception?
And, second, is the labor question
so important to business men as to
justify them in ignoring all other
issues?
Mr. Bryan declares that the pro-
vision in the Democratic platform
for the creation of a labor depart
ment, with a cabinet officer at it's
head, cannot possibly offend bust
ness men. He then says:
The platform draws a distinc-
ton between associations of wage
earners organized for the protection
of wages and the improvement of
labor conditions and industrial cor
porations which act in restraint of
trade. The difference between a
labor organization and a trust is so
apparent that no disinterested per-
son will deny that they should be
treated separately. To class the two
kinds Of organizations together and
deal with them under one law is
bound to do injustice to one or the
other. Surely the business men
can have no vital concern in includ-
ing the labor organizations in the
antitrust laws"
Mr.. Bryan then takes up the
plank providing for trial by jury in
cases of indirect contempt. He in
sists that this cannot raise a ques-
ton of vital concern to business
men, because every man has a right
to a jury trial. He then says:
An attempt has been made to
raise false issue in regard to the
courts and to make it appear that
the demand for trial by jury is an
assault upon the integrity of the
courts. Those who make this ar
gument might as well insist on the
abolition of the iary in all cases. for
the jury system itself is just as
much a reflection upon the bench
as this demand for trial by jury in
these particular cases.
But there is another labor plank
that Mr.. Van Cleave probably has
in mind. This is the plank that
declares that parties to all judicial
proceedings should be treated with
rigid impartiality. and that an in
junction should not be issued in |
any case in which an injunction |
would not lie if no industrial dis
pute were involved. Do the bust
ness men insist upon partiality in
judicial proceedings? Do they in
sist that the mere fact there is an
industrial dispute should justify an
That plank does not
to interfere with the issue
of an injunction where other condi-
tons justify it. but it does oppose
the issue of an Injunction merely
for the purpose of bringing the
court into the discussion of an in
dustrial dispute.
Mr.. Van Cleave asserts that this
plank rouses a class spirit and con-
stitutes a demand for class favors.
But this is not true. 1t is a declar-
alton that the writ of injunction
should not be used for the purpose
Of creating a class or favoring
class. The laboring men resent an
attempt to discriminate against :
hem in favor of any other class. y
Mr.. Bryan, in conclusion, de-
:lares that Mr. Van Cleave does !
he business men an injustice in as I
summing that his waking hours are
Tiled with fears of the wage Garner a
md that his nights rest is broken :
" imaginary disputes with those
Who toll.