Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-05
ABOR CONDEMNS
JUDGE-MADE JURY
opposed Legislation Taking
Away the Elective Power
Attacked in Meeting.
ARGUMENTS OF WILSON
REFUTED BY SPEAKERS
strong Resolutions Adopted,
With Arraignment of SEN
ator Davis.

chancellor would appoint a commits
sioner to act with the sheriff in nam
ing jurors. and scathing arraign-
n9ent Of Senator ]. Warren Davis, OF
salem. for his betrayal of his partys
pledge for popularity elected con-
stitutional convention, were contained
IN a letter which was sent by former
Z Judge Algernon T. Sweeney to be
read at the protest meeting held by
The Essex Trades Council Saturday
hight in the New Auditorium.
Judge Sweeneys letter was sent in
lieu of his personal appearance at
The meeting. and evoked much APP
plause. A communication was read
Prom former Senator John D. Prince,
of Passaie. who, after expressing re-
eret at his inability to be present
wrote: II certainly agree with you
that no alteration should be made in
Be important matter as the right
ID draw juries without a State refer
tndum on the question"
In addition to heartily indorsing a
strong resolution. which declared
that the Legislature in special session
This week ought not to pass bill to
create jury commission that should
not be elective the labor men heard
Mattresses by the Rev. Edmund A.
WATSON. recton of ST. Stephens
Episcopal Church; Henry F. HiIfers,
Secretary of the Essex Trades Coun-
&cil. and Hugh " Reilly.
Features of DIR. Wasson's address
were when he referred to the fol-
7 lowers of the President in the matter
of Jury reform as "Wilsonettes.'
& He also called them marionettes, pup
pets and jumping-jacks, and said that
they had ceased to be Wilson men
and had become Wilson's men. The
clergyman spoke earnestly for the
principle of the recall being applied
both to judges and to sheriffs. and
asserted that what the labor men
should do was TO have some of their
friends introduce a measure in the
special session for the reform of the
judiciary, such a measure. for ex-
ample, as would prevent the issuance
Of arbitrary injunctions in strike
cases
While there were not more than a
hundred men present at the meeting
it was pointed out that that number
was as great as Governor James F.
Fielder had had at any of the meet
ings which he addressed in favor of
1udge-made juries, and Furthermore,
It was remarked that the enthusiasm
at the labor meeting was far greater
and more spontaneous. bearing less
evidence of having been manufac-
fured, than that of any of the Fielder
meetings.
DIR. wasson's Address.
You are here" said the Rev DR..
Wasson, because of fear. an in
dignation and resolve. There has
been contrived a staggering blow.
aimed at all classes of society, and
to organized labor it is deadly. I
wonder how Mr.. Wilson has secured
this intimate knowledge of your
needs. He doesn't know you, your
fears, hopes and aspirations. He
doesn't know the sting of an injunc-
ton; he has never gone out on strike
or done picket duty. He ought to
have consulted with labor leaders be-
fore preparing any jury bill. Instead
he consulted with your employers,
with jurists, no doubt. and with
nearly every class of society except
yours on a matter that affects your
interests.
1.-THE idea of judge-made juries is
democracy limited. democracy Will
sonized. 1t is an attempt to remove
the juries as far from representing
the peoples conscience and common
sense as possible. The judges need
reform before the juries need reform
In any period of the history of this
State that you please, has more in
justice been done through judges or
juries?
The Resolutions Adopted.
The following is the resolution of
protest. against judge-made juries
which was adopted without dissent
ing voice, and which adds another to
those which have already been adopt
eG by the State printers and the Es-
sex Trades Council:
Whereas During the last three
months considerable agitation has
arisen throughout the State of
New Jersey because of an at
tempt to change by statute the
method OF selecting grand juries,
and
Whereas, BY the proposed
change the selection of juries will
be taken from an elective official
and placed in the hands of COM
to the people, a change which.
in effect, would remove the last
vestige of control which the peo-
pie have over the courts; and
Whereas, In the proposed bill
the right of the people to disap-
prove, by referendum, of a change
SO drastic was denied, thereby
denying the people of our State
their desire to more fully curb
the power of the courts; there
fore be it
Resolved, That we, the members
of unions. affiliated with the Es-
sex Trades Council, of Newark,
N. j.. in mass protest meeting as
sembled. this third day Of May,
nineteen hundred and thirteen.
protest against the passage of any
so-called jury reform bill, which
aims to create a jury commission
that shall not be elective. and be
it further
Resolved. That we condemn as
reactionary any attempt on the
part of the Legislature to force
upon the people of our State, any
Jury bill which does not carry
with it a referendum, and we call
upon the Senator and all the As
semblymen from Essex County,
In the coming session of the Leg
islature. to give expression by
voice and vote. to our desires on
this matter.
MANcI ED RODy FOtJNrj