The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-12-30
THE SENTENCING OF CoMPERS.

The sentencing of Samue Gompers
to serve one year in Jail for violating
an order of the court by which the
constitutional right of free speech
was denied, was most stupendous
| blunder.
1t was tactless, senseless. puerile
piece of business, utterly over-snoot-
ing its intended mark and playing ex-
actly into the hands of the enemies of
Capital 1t bespoke not the cool de.
liberate verdict of Justitia, but the
hot-headed vehemence of petty
functionary who would preserve his
dignity at whatever cost.
For number of years our people
have been aroused by the plunderings
of predatory wealth. Efforts have
been made by the President and by the
Congress to overcome the judicial bar
riers by which these rascals have been,
and are surrounded. Time and again
it has been proven that men were
making millions by dishonest prac-
tees, proven to the satisfaction of
everyone but the courts. but these
defenders of the sacred rights of
property have remained unconvinced
and uncomfortable. If some judge has
had the hardihood to impose a fine,
some other judge has been found to
undo the damage. In all the unearth
ali
of dishonest practices, not single
man of money has been condemned to
Jail, and, if we mistake not, not
single fine, imposed by Federal
court, has yet been paid.
Occasionally bankrupt ex-million-
aire like Morse, is sent to the peni-
Tertiary, but the possession of cash
has thus far kept the wolves from the
penitentiary doors.
These facts make the Jail SEN
fences pronounced upon the labor
leaders seem all the harshar and bring
into relief the judicial blunder which
in this instance was worse than
crime. AS Mr.. Gompers puts it,
however. the difference is fundamen-
tai. Judge Wright is not to be
blamed. He and the courts whose
honor he would protect are but the
products of an elaborate system which
Property has laboriously built up
with the consent and connivance of us
all. From his standpoint the Judges
decision, though severe. is perfectly
= in accord with law and is perhaps
necessary for the maintenance of the
: system for which he stands. The
court has issued an injunction, the
: court is a holy thing, it is the highest
expression of the people, the last
word in popular government. 1t
may be right or wrong. the matter
h can be carried before other Judges,
i equally versed in the rights of
g Property, but until it is passed up
p on by these safe and capable hands.
an order of the court must be respect
: ed. The labor leaders openly and
g fiagrantly disobeyed the order of a
it Judge, therefore, to Jail with them.
e The labor leaders violated Judge.
d made law, that is on no statute book
and they must be sent to Jail. The
it undesirable citizens among the mil
i lionaire class have violated explicit
j. statutes, passed with great deliber.
n alton for the explicit purpose of
g reaching them and no criminal prose.
cution has been brought against them.
e The labor leader is sentenced tt
70 Jail by judge, there is no trial by {
h jury of his peers and it appears thai
a there is no provision even for executive
O c.emency in the case of the I'M
Ia fortunate victims of these extra judi
If cial proceedings.
e If this decision had been HANDED
l. down dozen years ago when discon-
e content and poverty affected thu
great agricultural masses as we'll as
5, the laborers of the country it might
in we'll have caused revolution. AS il
81 is we agree with the Sioux CITY
81 Journal that it will be 'cause cele
Z, bre'' for many days to come.
j. 1t does not appear to US that it ii
t. the people but the courts that arr
l. revolutionary.
ct Should organized labor rise up ant
!. declare that the constitution is void
ID impotent and of no effect it would b,
lr hailed as revolutionary act. Tn,
in learned Judge says: in effect, the
ID guarantee of freedom of speech ant
It the liberty of the press contained ir
the constitution means only thai
these liberties will not be restricted
by FEDERAL STATUTES, the re-
gulation of these matters being left
g to the States WHERE 1T BELONGS
le There has been no more revolution
ii airy utterance since the days of seces