Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-09-22

nation arises not only from the eco
nomic disabilities of the poor, but also
out Of the actual bias on the part Of
the judges in favor Of the wealthy and
influential.
Law 10 Perverted to Protect Property.
Fourth, that courts have not only
neglected or refused to protect work
ers in the rights guaranteed by the
constitution Of the United States, and
of the several states, but that sections
Of the constitution framed primarily
to protect human rights have been
perverted to protect property rights
only, and to deprive workers Of the
protection Of rights secured to them
by statutes.
Fifth, that the ordinary legal ma
chinery provides no adequate means
whereby laborers and other poor men
can secure redress for wrongs inflicted
upon them through the non-payment
Of wages, through overcharges at COM
pany stores, through exorbitant hos
pital and other fees, fines and deduc-
tons, through fraud on the part of
private employment offices, loan Of
fees and installment houses, and
through the grating" of foremen and
superintendent. The losses to wage
earners from these sources are states
to amount each year to millions Of
dollars and to work untold hardship
on class of men who can i'll afford
to lose even a penny of their hard
won earnings.
Sixth, that the courts, by the un-
| warranted extension of their powers
in the issuance of injunctions, have
! not only previously injured the work
ers individually and collectively, upon
innumerable occasions, but have also,
by the contempt procedure consequent
| upon dis0bedience to such injunctions,
deprived the workers of the right,
fundamental to Anglo-Saxon institu-
tions, to be tried by jury.
Laws to Protect Labor Not Enforced.
Seventh, that laws designed for the
| protection of labor in work shops,
mines and on railroads are not eff
fectively enforced except in a few
states.
Eighth, that in cases involving in.
dustrial questions the workers are liza.
BILE to great injustice by reason of the
fact that in many localities they are
excluded from juries either by the
qualifications prescribed CASUALLY pay.
ment of property tax or by the meth.
cd of selection.
| Ninth, that during strikes, innocent
men are in many cases arrested with.
out just cause, charged with fictitious
crimes, held under excessive bail and
treated frequently with unexampled
brutality for the purpose of injuring
the strikers and breaking the strike.
Tenth, that in many localities dur.
ing strikes not only is one of the great.
est functions of the state, that of po.
Icing, turned virtually over to EN-.
ployers or arrogantly assumed by
them, but criminals employed by de.
tect1ve agencies and strike breaking
agencies are clothed by the process OF
deputization, with arbitrary power and
relieved Of criminal liability for their
acts.
Military Despotism Usurps Civil Law
Eleventh, that during strikes in
many localities the entire system OF
civil government is suspended and
there is set up in it's place a military
despotism under so-called martial law
Twelfth, that in some localities the
control by the employers of the entire
machinery of government is so great
that lawless acts on the part of agents
OF the employers go unheeded and un
punished, while vindictive action
against the leaders of the strike is &C.
complished by methods unparalleled in
civilized countries.
| In each instance what Manly con.
siders convincing proof that these
charges are fully justified is cited in
the form OF testimony before the com.
mission setting forth specific cases,
the facts of which are admitted by all
concerned. Evidence gathered in the
commissions investigation of the Col.
| oradO strike is cited in substantiation
| of the twelfth charge.
The report says regarding remedies:
I'm considering the action which
| needs to be taken it has been urged
by some that the end to be achieved is
to place personal rights on a parity
with property rights. It is necessary
to render firm protest and warning
against the acceptance of such an
ideal. The establishment of property
rights and personal rights on the
same level can leave only constant
and ever growing menace to our pop-
ular institutions. With the acceptance
of such an ideal our democracy is
doomed to ultimate destruction. Per.
sonal rights must be recognized as
supreme and of unalterable ascen.
dency over property rights.
Petty Reforms Will Not Avail.
Relief from these grave evils can
not be secured by petty reforms. The
action must be drastic and directed at
the roots from which these evils
spring."
Evidence and testimony are cited
showing that many employers refuse
to deal with organizations of their EN-.
ployes or to employ men who belong
to labor organizations, this denial OF
the right of organization being dis.
cussed as the fourth principal cause OF
industrial unrest. The report says:
"The previous discussion of the
causes of industrial unrest has dealt
with the denial Of certain fundament
al objects to which the workers be.
Heve they have natural and inalien.
able rights, namely, fair distribution
of the products of industry, the on
portunity to earn living, free access
to unused lands and natural resources
and just treatment by legislators
courts and executive officials.
"A more serious and fundamental
1 ch0r IL hnwun11o. T. :.