The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-10-14
TRIAL OF HOMESTEAD STRIKE
LEADERS COMMENCED.
UNUSUAL SPECTACLE PRESENTED.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
OF Pennsylvania sits in n Criminal
Court and Defines the Crime OF
Treason-strOng Instructions
TO the Grand Jury-Rights
of Employees.

PTTBURG, Pa, Oct. 10--The un
usual spectacle of the supreme justice
OF the supreme court of the state sit
ting in criminal court was witnessed
this morning when Chief Justice
Pnxon charged the grand jury or the
court OF oyer and terminer as to what
constituted treason to the state in the
case of the Homestead advisory strik-
ers' committee.
Upon the bench sat the chief justice
and Judges Stowe, McClung, Porter
and Kennedy, while in the clerks por-
ton sat Judge Slagle. The room was
crowded almost to suffocation.
Judge Kennedy. first turned to the
grand jury and said that charges OF
treason having been made against GER
tain persons, it seemed meet for the
county court TO request the highest
judicial officer Of the state to deliver
the charge. Then, after detailing the
causes leading up to the Homestead
strike, Judge PaXon said
The mutual right of the parties to
contract in regard to wages, and the
character of employment, whether by
the piece or by the day whether for
ten hours or less, Is fixed as any other
right which we enjoy under the con-
stitutlon and laws of this state. 1t is
right which belongs to every citizen,
laborer or capitalist and it is the plain
duty of the state To protect them in
the enjoyment of it.
Canine fC tba fOr,,, ttov, Of Tho ~
visory committee and the part taken
by it in the strike the chief Justice
said:
1t is alleged that the advisory COM
mittee did more than to induce others
not to accept employment; that it al
lowed no person to enter the mills Of
Carnegie, and even permitted no
strangers to enter the town of Home
stead without it's consent; that it
arranged an organization of military
character, consisting of three divisions
with commanders captains, etc, the
captains to report to the division COM
manders and the latter to report to
the committee.
The jurist then detailed how the
authority of the sheriff had been de-
fed, described the arrival of the Pink
ertons, the rioting and the mobiliza-
ton of state troops.
The justice then defined as treason
the organization of large number of
men in a common purpose to defy the
law, resist its officers and deprive any
portion of their fellow citizens Of their
rights under the constitution and
laws. 1T is state of war;" said he,
"when q business plant has to be sur
rounded by the army of the state to
protect it from unlawful violence at
the hands of former employees"
In closing the chief justice spoke as
follows:
Every member Of such asserted govern
ment, whether it be an advisory committee
or whatever name 1t is called, who has
participated in such usurpation, who has
joined in a common purpose Of resistance
to the law and denial Of the rights to other
citizens, has committed treason against the
state While the definition of this offense
is the designing or the overturning of the
government of the state, such intention
need not extend to every portion of its
territory 1t is sufficient If it be an over
turning of it in particular locality and
such intent may be inferred from the acts
committed.
If you find from the evidence that the
defendants have or any of them has com
mitted, participated and aided in any of
the acts which l have defined you as
constituting the offense of treason it will
be your sworn duty to find true bill
against the party or parties offending. We
have reached u point in the history of
the state whore there are but two
roads for us to pursue. One leads to order
and good government, the other leads to
anarchy. The ono great question which
concerns the people of this country is the
enforcement Of the law and the preserva-
tiOn of order