Mexico weekly ledger., 1915-02-11
II. p. WARDEN WRITES.
Concerning the Suit Against the In
ternational Shoe Company.
Feb. 4. 1915,

Lounty mas DfVukhb M
large penalties in the name Of the
State of Missouri, against the present
owners Of the shoe factory which was
established at this place some years
ago largely through the efforts Of our
citizens.
Solomon, the wise man, in his
Proverbs says: ale that passeth by
and meddleth with strife belonging
not to him, is like one that taketh q
dog by the ears" but this piece Of lit
igation belongs" to me in a certain
sense, as / am a part of the Plain
tiff State, and as a contributor 20
the establishment of the factory am
also interested as Defendant in the
suit
l think that the bling Of this suit
is much TO be regretted, that it is
baseless, and will surely come to
naught. The great trouble and OBJ
lection to the suit is the damage to
ourselves, our town and community
resulting from the false impression
that the suit will create as to the at
titude Of our people toward such en-
terprises as the shoe factory.
When metropolitan newspapers
print in large headlines that Mex
leo" Is suing the international Shoe
Company" it certainly does us no
good. Very few people realize that
Mexico is not the manager of our
Prosecuting Attorney. He may need
a manager, but up to this time none
has been appointed.
Since this suit was filed l have
heard many expressions from con-
tibutors TO and former employees of
the shoe factory in regard to the lit
igation, and without an exception they
have all condemned or regretted the
filing of the suit. These men know
that the doors of the factory are tenn
porarily closed because there is a
business %stagnation caused largely by
the great war; that these shoes are
sold largely in the South where cot
ton is the chief product; that the
farmers of the South can't sell their
cotton and pay their accounts because
the great European markets are
closed, and the merchants there and
elsewhere cannot buy u manufac-
tured articles unless they can collect
their accounts. They know that it is
unfair and unjust to club a good dray
horse when he has a load that he can
not pull, trying to compel him to pull
the load whether he can pull it or not.
There is not an institution within
the corporate limits of Mexico closer
to the hearts of our people than the
shoe factory, and the people of Mex
leo do not want to give it offence, and
l am glad TO note that a committee
Of u citizens went to st. Louis 10
call on the owners of this factory to
express the real sentiment of our
people.
And now a few words in regard 10
the merits Of this law suit.
The suit is based on Section 3042,
Revised Statutes of Mo-, 1909, which
in substance is as follows:
ut shall be unlawful for any cor
poration -- to move, abandon
or discontinue, in any way, to any
material extent -- from
or in any city, town or other place -
- without first repaying
any and all money, bonds, lands and
other property, which have been given
as a consideration or inducement for
the location or construction--
thereat; and such repayment -
- must include lawful inter-
est for the full period --
between date Of the original gift and
such final repayment"
The object Of this section seems 20
be to protect helpless communities
from izpaziaoas By disreputable cor
poratiozE and promoters. But /
think q competent court would de-
clare the statute unconstitutional on
account q limiting legitimate indivi-
dual rights. and the restrictions it
places On he nght Of citizens to con-
tract and trade. However, even if it
is sound law, cur citizens showed their
ability 70 contract with the Morris
Brothers; waived all their rights un-
der this section, got every cent they
agreed to receive from Morris Broth
ers in consideration Of their contri-
buttons, and the standing of our peo-
pie now, before a court Of justice, an
der this statute, is just the same as
the standing of a creditor in court
who had been paid off in full, or lust
the same as if people had contributed
nothing.
In other words we have no stand
ing in court whatever; and further
more | do not think that any of these
contributors want any standing in
court on that proposition. They feel
that the Morris Brothers paid $780,
600 of wages into this town as thew
contracted to do, and the people here
are pleased and satisfied with their
treatment.
II. p. Warden.
tural Day soon, possibly the 22nd of
February.
--
Nj 7