The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-11-13
CONTEMPT OF COURT.

CONTEMPT OF COURT.
II there are those who imagine for
a moment that putting the American
Federation officials behind the bars will
end the agitation against government
by Injunction, they are mistaken. And
II there be judges who imagine that
such drastic action will lessen the con-
stantly growing contempt for judges,
they are likewise mistaken. There is
a vast difference between holding a
court in contempt and having con-
tempt for the occupants of the jul
dicial bench. The American people
respect the courts, but they are fast
losing respect for and confidence in
the men who are placed upon the
bench.
II the courts have lost the respect
of liberty-loving men, the fault lies
with the action of the men who use
their judicial positions as an excuse
for the exercise of authority never
contemplated by the men who made
this republic. Absolute czardom, such
as has been exercised by federal
judges during the last six or eight
years, is repugnant to the spirit of
our free institutions, and unless an
end is put to it soon we will have a
government by federal judges.
Some of the injunctions issued dur
ing recent years are so monstrous as
to demand immediate attention.
A federal Judge in Pennsylvania en-
joined a Methodist preacher from
praying at meeting of striking
miners.
A federal judge in West Virginia
enjoined free-born American citizens
from visiting mining district.
A federal judge enjoined railroad
men from quitting the employ of a
railroad company.
A western federal judge enjoined
men from using the United States
mails to communicate with their fell
lowmen upon certain specified SUBJ
jects.
A federal judge nullifies the will of
the people of a sovereign state upon
pie of that state.
A federal judge denies the editor of
a magazine the right to discuss mat
ter of vital Importance to his subscrib-
ers, and sentences the editor to Jail
for year because that editor dared
to exercise the right guaranteed by
the constitution of the United States
The next thing we know a federal
Judge will enjoin state legislature
from enactipg laws, or enjoin gov
ernor from signing a Bill passed, or
mandamus the legislature to enact a
law, or mandamus the governor to
veto or sign law.
Yet judges who commit these acts
are very touchy on the matter of ire
spect"
The Wageworker yields to none in
its respect for law and order. 1t has
the highest respect for that branch of
the government labeled judicial"
But when the judicial branch exer-
cises the legislative and executive, as
we'll as judicial, functions of govern
ment. The Wageworker believes it is
time to demand a halt. And union
men are not alone interested in this
matter. The writ used against union
men today may be used against bust
ness men and farmers tomorrow.
And when a federal Judge gets started
on the matter of multiplying the will of
the people of state, it is but a step
to multiplying the laws Of congress.
And when that last step is taken self
government is gone.
A few years ago Texas congress
man exclaimed, ITO hell with the con-
stitution!" He was damned forever.
A federal judge says. in effect, the
same thing. and if we dare object we
are liable to a Jail sentence for ex-
pressing our contempt for that sort
of thing.
AS between a government by fed
eral judiciary and government by a
king, we prefer king. There is only
one of him, and there are lot of fed
eral judges.
THE DIFFERENCE.