The Green Forest tribune., 1908-08-21

ter question, the "fulldinner pair ar gument. Can you blame men for giv- ing in to this cry? I don't, Suppose the head of 6 factory or plant says he will have to shut down if a cer tain man isn't elected The employe may reason to himself: Tt doesn't make any difference to me who's elected but if this plant shuts down lose my job. If I lose my job I'm on the street" To expect him to as sert the God-given right of the fran chise," as some orators put it. is to expect him to ignore the rule that "self-preservation is the first law of nature" You cant hand that poppy cock" to a man with a wife and fam fly depending on him for their exist ence. l don't mean for their comfort, mean literally for their existence.
 A certain judge in our city was up for reelection He had hit labor's head every time it appeared before him. He had earned the title of the Injunction Judge" He was a re- spected and reputable citizen, man of blameless private life. But he did not decide in favor of labor unions. l am not impugning his motives nor his integrity And the supreme court af- firmed his decisions.
 Our party made extraordinary ef- forts to beat this man. Circulars call ing attention to his decisions were cir culated among the laboring element. The labor unions had representatives among every class and race calling attention to these decisions, and his attitude toward the labor unions. Good speakers, without in any way stopping to abuse or unfairness, showed the la bor element that this particular jur- ist, if reelected, could reasonably be expected to drive a nail into labOr'S coffin every time he had an opportu- nifty. There was no difficulty in the way of labor "plumping' it's solid vote against this particular candidate, for all that was necessary was to put cross in the ring in front of the oppo, sition candidate.
 Day in and day out. week in and week out the campaign was steadily waged against this man. It was not simply because of his party; nor be cause his decisions had sent men to cells for what they believed was exer- cising the right to privileges guaran- teed them by the state constitution and the constitution of the United States. These men may have ex- ceeded their rights. The supreme court of the state said they did. Let it go wanted to beat, and his adversary was an entirely reputable lawyer. standing as high in the estimation of the com munity as our antagonist
 The day of election came and the judge we were trying to defeat, with the aid of the labor vote in addition to our own strength, was triumphant- ly elected. The labor" vote did not materialize 1t was voted, all right, for the registration did not disclose any great array of "stay-at-homes." But the labor vote did not throw its strength against the man who had so often decided against it in his court room. II iaDOr naQ gone SOlldly against him, no possible defection from our strict party ranks would have saved him, for the labor vote, so far as numbers was concerned, would have overwhelmed him.
 There are two sides to this granting of injunctions you know Both great parties are now getting out state plat forms protesting against the abuse of this power. But suppose we say for the sake of argument purely that this judge was absolutely right in every de cision that he made. Even if this were admitted (which I deny) he was a judge whom labor had every reason in the world to wish to retire to pri- vate life.
 Take it from me, with my sympathy always with the labor element as an entirety (because it has the hardest row to hoe), that the labor vote' and all this piffle about the labor vote" is the merest "monkey-moon- shine
 ERNEST M'GAFFEY.
 (Copvrght. 1908. by Joseph B. Bowlesh