Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-12-10

Iort TO get them to cast their votes In
response to an appeal to class hatred
have emphasized their sound patr' otism
and Americanism.
Courts lmperilsd BY Judges.
But the extreme reactionaries. the
persons who blind themselves to the
wrongs now and then committed by
the courts on labOring men. should
also think seriously as to what such a
movement as this portends. The
courts are jeoparded primarily by the
judges who show inability or unwill-
1ngness to put stop to the wrong
doing of very rich men under modern
Industrial conditions.
There are certain decisions by va
rious courts which have been exceed
1ngly detrimental to the rights Of
wageworkers. This Is true of all the
decisions that decide that men and
women are by the constitution guar
anteed their liberty" to contract to
enter a dangerous occupation. or to
work an undesirable or improper num-
Der Of hours, or to work in unhealthy
surroundings, and therefore cannot re-
cover damages when manned In that
occupation and cannot be forbidden
to work what the legislature decides Is
an excessive number Of hours, or to-
carry on the work under conditions
which the legislature decides to be un
healthy.
There is also, I think. ground for
the belief that substantial injustice Is
often suffered by employees In cOuse-
quence Of the custom Of courts issu-
ing temporary injunctions without no
tice to them and Furnishing them for
contempt Of court In instances where,
as matter Of fact, they have no
knowledge Of any proceedings. Pro-
vision should be made that no injunc-
ton or temporary restraining order
issue otherwise than on notice. except
where irreparable injury would other
wise result, and in such case hear
ing on the merits Of the order should
be had within a short fixed period,
and If not then continued after hear
ing it should forthwith lapse. Deci-
sions should be rendered Immediately
and the chance Of delay minimized in
every way.
The courts are to be highly COM
mended and stanchly upheld when
they set their faces against wrong
doing or tyranny by a majority. but
they are to be blamed when they
fail to recognize under a government
like ours the deliberate judgment Of
the majority as to a matter Of legiti-
mate policy when duly expressed by
the legislature. The people should
not be permitted to pardon evil and
slipshod legislation on the theory that
the court will set it right. They should
be taught that the right way to get rid
Of bad law is to have the legislature
repeal it and not to have the courts by
ingenious hair splitting nullify 1t.
People Themselves to Blame.
For many of the shortcomings OF
Justice in our country our people as a
whole are themselves to blame. and the
Judges and juries merely bear their
share together with the public as a
whole. 1t Is discreditable to us as a
in convicting murderers or in bringing
to justice men who as public servants
have been guilty Of corruption or who
have protited by the corruption of pub
lie servants.
The huge wealth that has been &C.
cumulated by few individuals Of re-
cent years, In what has amounted to
been rs regards some of these individ-
uals made possible only by the improp.
err use of the modern corporation. Cor
porations are necessary instruments Of
modern business. They have been per
mitted to become menace largely be-
cause the governmental representatives
of the people have worked slowly in
providing for adequate control over
them.
Real damage has been done by the
manifold and conflicting interpreta-
lions of the interstate commerce law.
Control over the great corporations do
ing interstate business can be effective
only if it is vested with full power in
an administrative department. a branch
VI tut ItucTuI executive, CuTTNluS Out
federal law. 1t can never be eff
fective if divided responsibility is
left in both the states and the nation.
1t can never be effective If left in the
hands of the courts to be decided by
lawsuits.
The courts hold place Of peculiar
and deserved sanctity under our form
Of government. Respect for the law is
essential to the permanence of our in
situations, and respect for the law 10
largely conditioned upon respect for
the courts. But we must face the fact
that there are wise and unwlse judges,
just as there are wise and unwise ex-
ecutives and legislators. When
president or governor behaves improp-
erly or unwisely the remedy is easy.
for his term is short. The same is
true with the legislator, although not
to the same degree. With a Judge
who, being human, is also likely to
err, but whose tenure is for life, there
is no similar way Of holding him to
responsibility. Under ordinary condl-
tons the only forms Of pressure to
which he is in any way amenable are
public opinion and the action Of his