, 1890-10-30
MR.. PUGH HEARD IT.
Also Mr.. Griffith, an Old
Veteran Of the War,
A DENIAL BY HIS FRIENDS
They Admit That He Advocated
the Hanging of John L.
Wilson.


regarding tho incendiary expressions Of
Agitator Jsifries, uttered at the recent
mass meeting at the courthouse fell
like a bombshell among au classes.
Laborlng men were prompt to take 1t
up and TO denounce the man eapable OF
such lawlsss language. They wish 1t
expressly understood that organized
labor OF Spokane resents such ex-
pressions, and that their Efforts for the
betterment OF their condition erS entirely
based upon law-respecting methods.
The public was quick 10 catch the
terrible import ofthe agitator's language.
1t is the voice of anarchy. the warliko
cry that preceded the terrible hay market
riot at Chicago, with this difierence-in
Chicago those words fell upon infiamma-
BILE material, while in spokane they fell
upon the ears OF law abiding nen, some
of whom left the hall in angry protest.
"lf you said those words" said ono
laboring man to Jetiriss yesterday after
noon, you ought to bo run out oS
town"
Jeflries denies the Language. He rec
ognizes the folly of his position, now
that 1t Is too late. To q REVIEW ro-
porter, though, he declined 70 say any
thing about the matter.
Since the truth of the accusation has
been questioned, the REVIEW has OBJ
tained the following positive statement
from Messrs. +. X. Pugh and W. X.
Griffith. Mr.. Pugh 10 the fearless and
conscientious young man who 10 FUN
ming for sheriff OF the republican ticket.
While he Is a strong friend of labor, he
feels that he can not permit such incen-
diary language to be uttered without
calling the attention of the public and
particularly to the laboring non, 10 tho
wild and dangerous attitude OF one eof
the men who profess to speak for labor.
Mr.. Griffith Is one of the old settlers
of Spokane county, farmer and u
member Of the Grand Army OF the Re-
public. lie attended the meeting in tho
expectation OF hearing the cause Of
labor advocated In law-abiding man
ner, but when Jeffries counseled law
lessness and murder no left the room in
angry Indignation.
Here is the statements OF Messrs.
Pugh and Griffith:
SPOKANE FALLS, Oct. 27.
To rHE EDrroR or THE REVIEW;
The language reported in the Sunday
REVIEW as the utterance of X. j. Jeffries
at labor meeting in the courthouse
was plainly heard by us. We are posi-
tive that he said that il would be no
crime to hang capitalists and monopo-
lists, because they were robbing the
wives and children of the workingmen
of bread and were starving them. He
also uttered the language about MIR.
Wilson given In the following denial:
i. X. PUGH.
w. X. GRIFFITH.
During the afternoon Mr.. Jcfiries called
with the following card of denial, signed
by number of his friends who were
present. 1t will be observed that the
denial admits that the speaker thought
1t would be better to hang John L. Will
son than TO send him back to congress.
Since John l.. will surely go back unless
some such tragedy occurs, Mr. Jeiiries'
language was virtually advice OF an
incendiary character. Here is the de-
nial:
SPOKANE Falls, Oct. 27.
To THE EDITOR or THE REVIEW;
We, the undersigned. deny the asser-
tion OF the REVIEW that Mr.. Jefiries at
the united labor party meeting, held at
the courthouse, said that IL wot,<d be no
crime to hang a capitalist or monopo-
list, but we do testify that while Mr.
Jeitries was speaking about Wilson
some one in the audience yelled out
chang him." and Mr.. JefYrles replied
that perhaps IL would be better to hang
him than to send him back to congress,
and 1t was merely fguratiye language.
ID. w. c. BRITT,
L. l.. PRICE,
I. w. PRICE,
W. w. WATERHOUSE,
ED DOWS,
J. +. REDNER,
J.. L. CARO-,
II. BENNETT,
SAM DE NEDREY.
b. +. POWELL.