The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-04
The BaumeS LawS-ViCiOus Reaction

government by policemen what the Crime Com
mission is trying to the people of New York State
The 80 recommendations of the commission prefaced by
the statement that the people o New York State may still be
purpose.
The Baumes law and the host of subsidiary measures
which bulwark it. while passed ostensib rigid
control criminal elements actually directed at the working
class and their organizations These expression
of the general tendency toward complete reaction which has
marked the legislation of the recent period 1t is matter of
established that working often
in difficulty with capitalist law machinery This not only
cause poverty is the principal of crime but because the
working class the subject class against which the machinery
the capitalist state organized Property rights precedence
human rights.
Many Grimes with which workers are charged and
for which they convicted reality political offensesacs
committed a result of the class struggle.
Under this classification cases of the members of
the Furrier and Ladies' Garment Workers Unions which grew
out of the recent strikes These handled in
simply criminal and them the Baumes law applies The
same true OF the large number of which under the
general head of civil bertes-cases which
protest against infringement of the right of free Speech
press and asembage. Violations criminal syndcasm
laws in the category.
Just few of the the
mission sufficient to convince of the inherent vcousnes
and Prussanism of these
Cd 1.-TWO policemen for each 1000 inhabitants" This is
minimum and for communities the commission
policeman to each $50 inhabitants.
Policemen in the United States power than
other Civilized country and such all pra
al purposes would be military governmenopen ascendany
to almost supreme power special armed men, of
which Frederick Engels spoke.
~ Take the paddock from the lips Judge and permit
him control the trial and his opinion
This proposal in effect would make the system of trial by
farce The American judiciary VIGOROUSLY nstru
ment of the capitalist class and besides composed the
part of individuals who have little if the personal integrity
which times in other countries temper fury of
class justice 1t is possible the fingers
the judges the United States who pretend
by the provisions of the Bill of Rights
) Tighten the presumption innocence now resting with
the defendant"
This euphemmistic way saying that to
hold the defendant guilty until he his
by abolish whatever advantage the accused enjoys by placing
the burden of proof upon the defense.
The danger workers. the existing exortion
ate charges for legal service under the evidence
is obvious.
These three recommendations alone give picture
utter reaction which the Baumes commission represents
AS is customary these proposals and others which
are in logical made in the
all the people American capitalist democracy especially skilled
in maneuvers of this kind.
Without much protest the original passed
with the understanding that would rid New crime and
criminals 1t has not done but it has enormously the
opportunities for graft and corruption among the
bench, bar and bureaucrats generally.
The who have suffered the are the
least guilty-the poor.
The organized labor has been disgracefuIy
apahetc and the liberal middle class journals approve this
legislation almost unanimously.
The Communist has the task of exposing Baumes
laws part of the general mpera reaction arousng the
workers the danger of legislation action for their
repeal and against their