Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-08-13
The supreme court has become the

The supreme court has become
in fact the neigning monarch of
the American people. No measure
of relief demanded by voters Of
this nation, enacted into law by
their own elected representa-
tives and signed by the president,
may become operative without
their Judicial sanction. At the
command of the Lords of Priv
lege any obnoxious law is
promptly declared unconstitu-
tlOnal.
The supreme court of the Unit
ed States has today more real
power over the people than is
vested in any monarch of the old
world
The late Senator Hanna boast
ed that the courts are maintain
ed ito buttress property rights. Elk
President Roosevelt denounced a
federal judge for his interpreta-
ton of the law in the govern
ment's prosecution Of the beef
trust. President Taft in his Hot
Springs, Va, speech expressed a
decided opinion upon the same
question in referring to the ina
bility of the poor to cope in the
courts with men of wealth.. With
expressions like these from mel
of prominence, do you wonder,
THAT there is a growing distrust
ON the part of the poor people Of
this nation that the courts are
against themi
In the western district of New
York of thirty cases decided in
favor of injured employees, TWEEN
ty-eight were reversed in favor Of
the master class by the higher
courts. United States District
Attorney Sims of Chicago was
waging a vigorous fight against
the white slave drivers and when
victory was almost In his grasp,
his hand was paralyzed by a de-
ciSiOn of the supreme court that
virtually put an end to the prose
cutiOn of that unSpeakable infar
my. There are property interests
must be safeguarded at whatever
cost. AS for the girls they are
daugh- ers of the working class,
and in point of value are not to
be compared to property.
Our modern system of jurispru-
dence is a survival of medieval
times when judges presided BY
right of ownership of lands and
castles and it will require anOth-
er political revolution similar to
that of 1776 and that Of 1S6O>tO
abolish this bulwark of special
privilege and capitalist exploit
alton.
Again it is shown by competent
evidence introduced at this hear
ing that the principal witness
Taylor, made statements which
were untrue. He stated that at
the time he reward which / Of
fered was circulated through the
mails he was not a fugitive from
Justice nor was there any charge
pending against him of a Grim
lnal nature in Kentucky. Aft
davits, state records and letters
signed by Taylor himself, all on
file in this court show that Tay-
or had been indicted and that for
seven years prior to the offer
of our reward he had been a fug-
I'VE from justice with Z price on
his head. 1t is the common prac-
tice in all courts that where the
defendant can show that a jur-
or in qualifying perjres him
self a new trial is granted.
Perjured testimony on the part
of Che prosecuting witness is al
so ground for a new trial in or
binary cases. Of course / under
stand hat his is not an ordina-
ry case. The whole history Of
these proceedings shows conclus-
lively that it is not an attempt to
secure the ends of justice but an
effort to punish me because of my
my political views.
I In conclusion permit me to say
that | am not asking the mercy
or leniency of this court. l have
committed no crime and there i,
fostering in my conscience no &C
cusation Of guilt but if my con
viction and punishment will Aerv
to rivet public attention upon thu
abuses that l have tried TO poin