United labor bulletin., 1910-09-29
Our Courts
in Disfavor
What Is Expected of Our Judiciary
and Why It Is Not Respected.
Nv. $. Bigger in IronIIcity Trade Journal,

wv. S. Bigger in Ironscity Trade JournaI.)
| Political institutions are being studied
and discussed more today from a scien-
tific and philosophical standpoint by
larger number of intelligent people than
perhaps, at any other period of the
worlds history. You can find large
number of workmen carrying the dinner
pail that are well Informed and can dis
cuss intelligently the science of govern
ment and the philosophy of law Old
superstitions have been torn on, ancient
belief for knowledge has been shattered
and destroyed the veneration people had
for persons and things At the last an
alysis all persons are sacred or none is,
position does not chang this mans char
acter in the least, man is above position,
men are superior to government "Gov-
ernments are instituted among men de-
irving their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed; that when any
form of government becomes destructive
of these ends it is the right of the peo-
pie to alter or abolish it and to institute
new government. laying its foundation
on such a principle and organizing its
power in such forms as to them shall
soon most likely to effect their safety
and happiness" This teaches plainly
that people are superior to any form Oh
government, that all power emanates
from them. that goyernments are estab-
lished for the well-being of man, not man
for the governments; hence it follows
that the officers of the several arms o
government are the public servants o.
the people, not the people their servants
while in practice in many cases this is
true.
1t has happened, however, in many
cases that the power assumed and yield
ed from throne or judicial bench by ar
rogant or self-seeking men has impressed
the ignorant and weak as a superior pow
er-something to be held in awe, some
thing to be venerated. But the common
people have been Informing themselv
of their rights and have found out that
there is nothing sacred about one man
that all do not equally have.
The judges have received large share
of veneration in the past. but this ven
Grafton of the peopis Is fast passing
away and there is a lamentable reason
for it, The people are losing faith in
the integrity of the courts and this crit
icism is not confined TO the working class
alone. but all classes of our citizenship,
and you will find the courts just as Sc
riously criticized by the lawyers as any
other class of men. out they do ii in a
more polished manner than the average
man. Courts are only human, subject TO
their environments, and his judicial life
will be determined almost absolutely by
his inherent moral makeup and training.
The Office will not reform the man, but
the man viii continue and be himself
still. If he is a noble man he will carry
that nobility with him to the bench; II
he is weak tool of politicians before
elevated to the bench. he will carry that
weakness with him David ]. Brewer, OF
the supreme court of the United States,
states in an article. The Dependent"
August IL, 1901: We all know that
electing one to judicial Office does MOI
change his character or increase his wis
dom. Election is not work of moral
reformation, and the judge is substanti-
ally the same man after as before it
still he is the same man that he was Oe-
fore election. and if then susceptible to
improper influences is in danger of yield
ing to like influences after his election.
minded man on his elevation to office.
even judicial office, does not change his
previously settled POLITICAL convictions.
If he has been Republican before his
elevation. he has been one because he
believed in the principles; so it is not
strange. but on the other hand, is to be
expected. that if political question is
presented. his prior conviction will large
ly influence his decision." Thus speaks
one of the mmost brilliant jurists of the
most august legal tribunals of the world.
And what confession. yet every in
formed person knows he states the truth.
Is it any wonder the working man or the
trades union have no share before many
of the judges. The highest courts OF the
land are recruited rom the ranks of the
corporation lawyers, their training and
their interests are with corporate wealth,
and, as the learned court says. his prior
conviction will larsely influence his de-
cision.'
Justice Harlan of the same court, in
the income tax. criticizes severely the
ruling of the court SO that this judge it
self regarded this decision infamous.
Abraham Lincoln In the Dred Scott de-
cision criticizes that as disgrace ami
shame" and we propose so resisting the
decision as to have It reversed il we can
and a new judicial rule established upon
the subject.
To reverse this decision ii cost the ma
ton four long yeas of blood-shed and
agony. Roosevelt. the frst citizen of the
world, has laid bare their favoritism.
The working men are not asking for
spaial favors of The courts. thew are
asking for justice. Too many times JUS
tice has been denied them. They are be-
ginning to look upon the courts with sus-
picion--a place of injustice instead OF
justice. They have seen courts laying
down positive rules for them instead oil
simply Interpreting the laws. From the