The Washington herald., 1908-06-22

Lincoln, Nebr.. June 2L-W. J. Bryan
declares that the Republicans are at
tempting 10 deceive labor by their plat
form attitude on the inJunctive issue he
will say in the Commoner:
''The anti-injunction plank OF the Re
publican platform as finally adopted Is a
transparent fraud. II is possible that the
members OF the committee were bnnkoed
by some trust lawyer-that is the only
charitable view that can be taken Of It,
Those who advocated the plank claimed
10 be doing it as a concession to the
wage-earners. and yet, If one will real
the plank, he will see that It is in fact
an announcement that the Republican
party is unalterably opposed to the labor
ing mems position.
1T will be seen that the plank begins
with an unnecessary eulogy Of the courts.
Nobody is opposed to upholding at all
times the authority and integrity OF the
courts. Nobody IS obteeting to the en-
forcemcnt Of their processes, or 20 their
exercise Of their powers TO protect life,
liberty. and property. The Republican
convention puts UP a man OF straw, and
then proceeds 10 demolish Il; it suspects
an unholy assault upon the judiciary, and
its righteous indignation at once finds ex-
preston in a boastful assertion OF its in
nocence of participation In any such sus-
pected assault.
Assures LabOr's Opponents.
This part Of the plank was written 70
sive assurance 20 the people who were op-
posed 20 the laboring mems plea. And.
now. let US proceed to that part of the
plank which was intended as q sop 10 the
laboring men. II says: We believe. how
ever. that the rules Of procedure IN the
Federal court with respect to the issu-
ance OF a writ Of injunction should be
more accurately defined by the statute
dust what that definition shall be is not
stated; that an injunction or temporary
restraining order should not be issued
without notice. except where irreparable
injury would result from delay. in which
case a speedy hearing thereafter should
be granted
Note the words. except where irrepar-
able injury would result from delay and
compare this exception with the Federal
statute on the subject. and you Will find
that under the law as IL now stands the
court IS not empowered 70 grant tenn
porary restraining order except there ap-
pears TO be danger Of irreparable injury
from delay.
Copies Federal Statute.
1T will be seen that the man who
wrote the injunction plank copied the
statute almost word for word. and made
the exception as broad as the statute.
II the convention had been frank IN the
statement Of It's position, It would have
quoted the present statute and said that
It was in favor Of enforcing tho law just
as il =. II would have said: Whereas,
at present a court or judge may grant a
temporary restraining order II there ap-
pears to be danger Of irreparable injury
from delay; therefore, be It
Resolved. That we are opposed to
changing it.
THE men who are responsible for the
language Of the injunction plank may
have fooled the rest Of the committee,
and they may have fooled the conven-
tion. but they cannot fool the laboring
men or the voters IN general. The In
junction plank has not even the value of
q gold-platcd brick-for the plating IS
brass. as well as the interior OF the
brick
Taft Opposes Jury Trial.
Secretary Taft is known as the father
OF government by injunction. and his
speeches IN Oklahoma last year gave
conclusive proof OF his adherence TO the
position taken by him on the bench. He
is still in favor Of the use Of the writ Of
injunction IN labor cases, and he is op-
posed 10 trial by jury
In a speech delivered in New York
last winter he said, in response to ques-
tions. that the law ought to be so amend
cd as 10 give a hearing before the in
junction was granted
This Is the treatment received by the
wagc-earners from tho national conven-
ton of the Republican party. If this is
tho position Of the party before the cleo
ton. what reason has the laborng man
10 hope that the party will do better
uffpr ploCtfOD ."