MAf'iBiQOtf
The Commoner.
9
makers to raise rlpaper prices and effect thereon
of existing tariff .restrictions. Messrs. Payne and
Dalzell -have repulsed all such efforts. The
Speaker, of tho house has turned away his face
whenever 'any member tried to raise the issue
on the floor of the house. We aro now amazed
to And that Messrs. Cannon, Payne and Dalzell
have changed their tactics and avow a desire to
study the tariff phases of this paper question.
They say that they want the whole matter in
vestigated thoroughly, though they know that
such inquiry will carry over the entire proposi
tion to the next session of Congress. They now
pose as champions who haVe 'been eagerly asking
for that which for four months they had the
power to refuse and which they did refuse.
With the utmost respect and deference for
the authority of Congress, we respectfully state
that we mistrust the committee just appointed.
We challenge the intentions of those who have
thus far succeeded in side-tracking the Stevens
bill. We charge that action on tho Stevens bill
has been delayed to the advantage of a combina
tion of paper-makers, who, in a desperate effort
to maintain artificial prices on a declining mar
ket, have shut down nearly 50 per cent of their
mills and who by throwing into idleness a con
siderable number of their employes have shown
the insincerity of their professions that the tariff
duty on paper was needed to protect that paper."
O k
THE DEATH of Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man
removes from public life one of the
greatest men of the present generation. He
was not a brilliant man in the sense in which
the word brilliant is generally used, but he had
more than brilliancy, he had a strong sense of
justice, ability to state his position clearly, and
the moral courage to stand by his convictions.
His career was a growth, based upon merit,
and the final success which crowned his life
was gratifying to the friends whose confidence
in him increased as the years wont by. He
will nob occupy so high a place as that won by
Gladstone and yet even Gladstone was never
more implicitly trusted by his political asso
ciates. The late premier -was the friend of
peace and international good will. He came
into power on the wave of the reaction that
followed the jingoism which Involved Great
Britaiir in her burdensome war against the re
publics of South Africa. He welcomed the
delegates ' to Hhe 'peace congress which met in
London in July, 1906, and lent his powerful aid
to the support of the resolution introduced by
Mr. Bryan in favor of the investigation of all
international controversies. He was a friend of
America, in the broader sense in which a public
man in one nation can be friendly to all nations
without sacrificing the interests of his own na
tion. In fact, the only national ideal that can
be defended is the ideal which leads the nations
to enter into a friendly rivalry to see which can
most advance the world's welfare. It Is a short
sighted patriotism that would pit nations against
each other like wild beasts, each bent on the
destruction of the other. Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman belonged to the better school and
his influence has been a salutary one. His suc
cessor, Mr. Asquith, is a younger man and an
intellectual giant; the dead premier has set
him an example which can be followed with
personal satisfaction and advantage to the
nation.
THE STORY of "Astor and the Flag" Is told
.. by the Louisville Courier-Journal in this
editorial: "The cable dispatches from London
say that even Englishmen, whom he endeavored
to please, are somewhat stunned by the shock
ing exhibition of poor taste and unhealthy senti
ment made by William Waldorf Astor when he
purchased at auction the captured flag of the
American frigate Chesapeake and presented it
to the Royal United Service Museum as a trophy
for the British. It may be easily believed that
this is true. There is a great deal of human
nature in everybody, and the human nature that
exists in Englishmen is very apt to revolt at the
picture of a former American malevolently buy
ing a flag captured from an American ship and
presenting it to the nation 'which had captured
it, thereby preventing the American government
from ever regaining it. Somehow the thing lacks
manliness. It betrays what some circles would
call 'unsportsmanlike' qualities. It reflects ig
noble wrongheartedness. The man of true in
stincts, pla'ced in the already very peculiar posi-
tion of Mr. Astor, would have had the good
'grace to purchase the flag and present it to the
'-United State i government. Americans know
-veryilrell what they would think of a former
Englishman who would buy at auction and pro
sent to tho United States government a flag
captured by American ships from a ship of- his
fatherland. Their contompt for him would be
far in excess of their gratitude for the favor.
That Englishmen hold Mr. Astor in contempt,
as hinted In the dispatches, is likely enough.
Mr. Astor Is unfortunate in his choice of methods
of toadying to the British. It seems that ho
rarely does something to please them that ho
does not fall lower in their esteem. In tho in
cident of tho Chesapeake's flag his own per
sonal prestige suffers more than anything or
anybody else. If he can derive any enjoyment
from his position ho Is welcome to it."
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS j
MASSACHUSETTS
The Massachusetts democratic state con
vention met at Boston, May 7. As delegates at
large George Fred Williams of Dedham, John B.
Moran of Boston, Daniel F. Doherty of West
field and John W. Coughlln of Fall River were
chosen.
Resolutions were adopted instructing tho
delegates to vote for Mr. Bryan.
MINNESOTA
Tho Minnesota democratic primaries were
held May 6. The supporters of Governor John
son claim that, as a result of the primaries,
Bryan delegates in the state convention would
riot number more than one hundred out of tho
total of 925. The Minnesota state delegation
will be instructed for Governor Johnson.
OHIO
The Ohio democratic state convention met
at Columbus, May 6, and nominated the fol
lowing state ticket:
Governor Judson Harmon.
Lieutenant Governor David L. Rockwell.
Judges Supreme Court H. T. Mather, G.
B. Okey.
. Secretary of State J. H. Newman. -
Auditor W. W. Durbin.
" Treasurer D. S. Creamer.
'Attorney General Timothy S. Hogan.
Public Works J. A. States, Bernard Doran.
Dairy and Food Commissioner David Eley.
State School Commissioner John A. Mc
Dowell. Clerk of Supreme Court Oliver C. Larasbn,
Delegates at Large Tom L. Johnson, W. S.
Thomas, E. W. Hanley, Matthew R. Denver.
Former Governor James E. Campbell was
endorsed for United States senator.
National issues were left to the Denver
convention and the platform adopted dealt sole
ly with state questions, attacking the republican
administration of various state officers and in
dorsing especially the initiative and referendum
in state and local legislation and the taxation
of franchises.
The convention instructed for Mr. Bryan.
' ' SOUTH CAROLINA
A Columbus, S. C, dispatch to the New
York World, dated May 4, follows: "Democratic
conventions' were held in the forty-two counties
of South Carolina today. Returns show dele
gates were Instructed for Bryan In nineteen;
three adopted strong resolutions favoring the
Nebraskan; his candidacy was not mentioned in
two, while four failed to instruct, but were
friendly to his nomination. It can be said tho
delegation to Denver will be in favor of Bryan."
LABOR'S PROTEST TO CONGRESS
The following protest, signed by represent
atives of national and International unions,
railway men's organizations and farmers' or
ganizations, has been presented to congress:
We, the official representatives of the na
tional and international trade and labor unions
and organization of farmers, in national con
ference assembled, in the District of Columbia,
for the purpose of considering and taking action
deemed necessary to meet the situation In which
the working people of our country are placed
by recent decisions of the courts, now appear
before congress to voice the earnest and em
phatic protest of tho workers of the country
against the indifference, if not actual hostility,
which congress has shown toward the reason
able and righteous measures proposed by the
-workers for the safeguarding of their rights
and interests.
In the name of labor we now urge upon con
gress tho necessity for Immediate action for'
relief from the most grave and momentous sit-:
uation which has over confronted tho working'
people of this country. This crisis has been,
brought about by tho application by tho supromo1
court of tho United States of tho Sherman antl-l
trust law to the workers both organized and in
their individual capacity.
Labor and tho people genorally look ask
ance at the invasion of tho court upon tho pre- ,
rogativos of the law-making and executive do- f
partments of our government.
Tho workors feel that congress itself must
share our chagrin and sense of injustice when
tho courts exhibit an utter disregard for tho ,
real intent and purpose of laws onactcd to safe
guard and protect tho workers in the exerclao
of their normal activities. Thero Is something
ominous in tho ironic manner in which tho
courts guarantee to workers:
The "right" to bo maimed and killed with
out liability to tho employer.
The "right" to bo discharged for belonging
to a union.
-
The "right" to work as many hours as em- ,
ployers please and under any conditions which
they may Impose.
Labor is justly indignant at tho bestowal
or guaranteeing of theso worthless and academic
rights by tho courts, which in tho samo
breath deny and forbid to tho workors tho
practical and necessary protection of laws which
define and safeguard their rights and libortlcs,
and tho exorcise of them individually or in asso
ciation. The most recont perversion of the intent '
of a law by the judiciary has been tho supremo
court decision In the hatters' case by which
the Sherman anti-trust law has boon made to
apply to labor, although it was an accepted fact
that congress did not intend tho law to so apply
and might oven have specifically exempteJ labor
but for tho fear that tho supreme court might
construe such an affirmative provision to bo
unconstitutional.
Tho workers earnestly urge congress to
co-operate with them in the upbuilding and
educating of a public sentiment which will con
fine the judiciary to Its propor functiona-r-whlch
is certainly not that of placing a construction
,upon a law tho very opposite of tho plain intent
of congress, thus rendering worthless even the
very moderate efforts which congress has so far
put forth to define the status of the most Im
portant, numerous and patriotic of our people,
the wage-workers, the producers of all wealth.
Wo contend that eqirity power and jurisdic
tion, discretionary government by tho Judiciary
for well-defined purposes and within specific lim
itations, granted to tho courts by tho constitu
tion, has been so extended that it Is invading
the field of government by law and endanger
ing individual liberty.
As government by equity, personal govern
ment, advances, republican government, gov
ernment by law, recedes.
Wo favor enactment of laws which shall
restrict the jurisdiction of courts of equity to
property and property rights, and shall so de
fine property and property rights, that neither
directly or indirectly shall thero bo held to bo
any property or property rights In tho labor or
labor power of any person or persons.
The feeling of restless apprehension with
which tho workers view tho apathy of congress,
is accentuated by the recent decision of tho.
supreme court.
By the wrongful application of tho Injunc
tion by the lower courts the workers have been
forbidden the right of free press and free speech
and the supreme court in the hatters' case,
while not directly prohibiting the exercise of
these rights, yet so applies the Sherman law '
to labor that acts Involving the use of free press
and free speech, and hitherto assumed to bo
lawful, now become evidence upon ,whlch triple
damages may be collected and fine and impris
onment added as a part of the penalty.
Indeed, the decision goes so far as to hold
the agreements of unions with employers, to
maintain industrial peace, to bo "conspiracies"
and the evidence of unlawful combinations in re
straint of trade and commerce, thus effectually
throttling labor by penalizing as criminal tho
exercise of Its normal, peaceful, rights, and activ
ities. The fact that theso acts arc in reality
making for the uplift and the betterment of
clvillzatlori, as a whole, does not seem to b
understood or appreciated by the courts. Tho
workers hope for a broader and more intelligent
appreciation from congress.
It is not necessary here to enter into a do
tailed review of this decision.. ' l 4
'' " (Continued on Page 14) ' t a jl i''
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