That Baker Bill

The Argus bas been howling itsclf hoarse for two weeks about Mr. Allen 8 record on the Baker conaplracy bill, whlch was passed by the leirislature of 1877, and tnisrepresenting Mr. Allen's record in relation thereto. In the first place what is the "Baker Consplracy Bill?1' "It is a law concocted by Frederick A. Baker and Edwin F. Conely, two democratie lawyers of Detroit who were memben of the house of representatives for Wayne county in 1877. So the bilí originated with the demócrata. Both of tbese democratie legislators were railroad attorneys and did their level best to push the law throogh as they first prepared it, making an employee upon any railroad who left his work and struck for better wages, subject to prosecution. The proposed bill waa opposed by Mr. Allen and Mr. Sawyer of this county wbo were tben representatives la the legislature. I)y referring to page 229 of the House Journal of 1877, one of the very tirst amendments oftered to the bill, it will be found, was offered by Mr. Alleu. The record reads in this way : Mr. Allen moved to amend the bill by In sertlng lu llue 1 of sec. l.after the word "wl IIfully," Ihe wurds "and inallolously." Tilla ai oarrled by a vote of 76 to 7. Mr. Norrisvotlnu no ) The deflnition of inaliciously in law is crimtnally; t bat Is, bef ore man could bc convicled under this law, by Mr. Allen's amendinent, it would have to bc proven tlmt he not only did the thing In a willfull inanncr, bilt that he did it with criminal uitent. If a man is proven & criminal lic sliould be convictcd, thoiild he not, Mr. Argus? Do you bellere that crimínalo shouWl go iinpunlslied ? It was this very ainemlmciit of Mr. Allen's that cteared Tlios. B. Burry wlio was arralgned under that l.iw. They could not prove him guilty of doinjr a "mali'iious," a "criminal" net. Iïut if a mu should place obstiuctions upon a railroad track in front of a train on wliich the editor of the Argus was ril i n jr , with the intent of destroying the train and killin; the people thereon, eten the Argut man himself would want to Me hlm punl&hed thcrefor, would he not Y And Mr. Allen, by that amendmetit, changcd the law so that the mere act of an employee in striking could not be punished, but a criminal act must be proven. The statement of the Argus that lawyers hlred by Mr. Buit, cteared Mr. Barry in not trae. The only help Mr. Barry had outside of himself was f rom the Knighta of Labor who stood by him traen Mr. Bart'l friendl and associates at Sagina w wei e deterniined to imprlson him, and would have done so had it no been for this little amendment of Mr Allen's to that Baker bill. But even then Mr. Allen did not favor the bill. Mr. Sawyer oftered an amend ment, and tliere wei e others besides who had amendments passed. But Mr. Allei still opposed it, and on page 231 we liiu him otlering still anothcr ameiidment: Mr. Allen moved to amond Iho bill by In sertlng after the word "corporalion " wben ever It occurs In the ihree sectlong of tbe bül the words "flrm or Individual." This passed by a voto of 75 lo 8. (Mr. Norrl votlng no.) This was another important amend ment, for instead of making this an es peolal law for riiilroad corporations, i made the law general, applying to al n'i nis and business or private individuáis It was no longer a distinctive raüroat law. Upon the linal vote, otter these vita imiendmeuts liad been made. Mr. Allei voted yes, and 00 others vottd the am way, while 17 votcd no. Amonjí tnose voting "yes" we flnd the name of Hon. John D. Norton, the prea ent democratie candld ite for state treas urcr, then a democratie representative froin Oaklaud county; we alsi lind OQ of 21 democrats in the house, 12 of then voting yes, and iu the señale 4 out of I votinü yes. The aísertlon of the Argm tliat Mr Allen made a speech In favor of the bil is not truc. He made no speech for the bill, but only tor the Minendment. It look reasonable tlmt a man would ranke a speech i i favor of a bill he was constautl} ngbUng pi amend, doeín't It? It is truly HStonisbing that a gentlemai who is so honorable in the afliirs ol every da; Ufe, I tlle e'litor of the Argus, win resort to sueh unblusliing tictioi to score a polnt against as honorable, up right and good a man as ever trod a Washtenaw county street, simply heciuse he is running for office on an opposltl politie il ticket from liis own !