The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1916-06-30
LECALIZING VIOLENCE

The petitions now being circulated
Nv organized labor asking that the
constitution Of the state be amended
so as TO take from the courts the
power to issue injunctlons in labor
disputes is one OF the most arbitrary
and revolutionary moves ever made
in a democratic country in time Of
peace. The suspension Of the writ of
habeas corpus would be fraught with
no more danger TO the rights OF citi-
Gems that the depriving OF certain
classes Of our people OF the right to
seek this remedy TO prevent the de-
struction of their property and the
ruin Of their business. 1t is the most
radical kind OF class legislation be-
cause il seeks 10 deliver up one class
Of our citizens, bou and helpless. to
the tender mercies Of another class.
We might look upon this move with
more or less complacency if the evil
was 10 affect only the class at which
it is aimed, but the evil effects from
such legislation will touch every citi-
zen of the state. We cannot isolate
such a vicious principle. Sooner or
later the whole people, who pay all
the bills in the end. will taste the bit
ter fruit, and it is better that they
should realize this before putting
their hands TO a petition which is
bound to handicap their commercial
activities, work disaster to their in
dustries and open the door to whole
food of. vicious legislation. If the
fundamental law Of the state is to be
changed so as to deprive the manu-
facturer Of the power to protect his
property by Injunction it will pave the
way for an orgie Of disorder and de-
struction against which the local au-
thorties will be powerless.
Organized labor may deny that II
intends either disorder or destruction,
but the very fact that it is asking that
the legal restraints upon such action
be removed proves the case against it.
If business mans property is
threatened with destruction at the
hands Of disgruntled employees or
anyone else is he not entitled to the
entire force Of the commonwealth to
protect it? If organized labor does
not intend to coerce the employer by
threatening the destruction of his
property why is it making such siren
uous efforts to deprive him of the legal
protection which he has had since the
foundation Of the republic? The mo-
tive behind all this activity is too
transparent to deceive any citizen who
will acquaint himself with the facts.
It is time that the people realized
that they have to pay, in the final
accounting. for all labor disputes,
strikes, lockouts and boycotts. This
fact is unacceptable. Have the people
of any city in this state so many fac
tories that they can afford to open the
doors to fire and destruction9 Are
we not all vitality interested in the
payrolls of our factories? Are we not
all affected adversely when those pay
rolls dwindle or disappear2 Can we
afford to place our factories at the
mercy of those who respect not the
personal or property rights of an
other? The vast majority of our
workingmen are orderly and law-abid-
ing citizens, but there are, unfortu-
nately, too many to whom the de
struction Of property appeals as the
best arguments which can be used in
the settlement Of labor disputes. Be
fore our citizens give encouragement
to this movement they should con
slider the patent fact that organized
| labor would not ask for this power if
it did NOT intend 10 use it.