Page:The Wisconsin idea (IA cu31924032449252).pdf/81

 to the other to rescue the food. One braver than the rest strives to wrest it from the thief—and is killed. This occurs perhaps many times until some genius appeals to the desperate crowd, "Let's all go." They do go and pound the marauder over the head. Then it is that the law is made; that the rights of the weak begin to be respected by the powerful; that what an individual cannot do the collective strength of many can do—and incidentally in the future the chief offenders will be better men.

But, says the doubter, will not the time of this commission be monopolized with these cases? Will not Tom, Dick and Harry, every crank who has some imaginary injury, crowd this tribunal until it will be unable to do quick justice? This is not true, because when there is power enough, certainty enough and punishment enough the offending party will be glad to reach a settlement of some sort. If he has done wrong, the publicity given to that wrong will excite public opinion and the great corporations do not care for more of this excitement than is necessary. Crank cases are easily disposed of, and the case of the really injured is generally settled before it reaches the commission. If courts are complaining of being overburdened, they should take "judicial notice" of the above results of strong, clear, quick action. It is or should be one of the purposes of all law to diminish litigation and to