The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-11
HOMESTEAD'SLABORW WAR
THE CHEF JUSTICE CHARGES ON
TIE LAW OF TREASON.

T1E La " Oh Ih6ASON.
His Interpretation of the State Con
sritution Very Much Against the
/ Leaders of the strikers-The Right
to Contract IN Regard TO Wages
Must Be Protected
| PITrsBURG, PA. Oct 1O.-The unusual
spectacle Of a chief Justice Of the supreme
court of the state sitting as judge in the
court Of oyer and terminer Of a county in
the state was witnessed by large crowd in
the criminal court room this morning, when
| Chief Justice Paxson charged the grand jury
as 10 what constituted treason against the
state in the cases against members Of the
Homestead and strikers advisory committee.
| Upon the bench sat the chief justice, Judges
Stowe, McLung, Porter and Kennedy, while
in the clerks portion sat Judge Slsgle. The
room was crowded almost to suffocation
when the court opened. Judge Kennedy
turned to the grand jury and said that
charges Of treason having been made against
certain persons, it seemed meet for the
county court TO request the highest Judicial
officer Of the state to deliver the charge
After detailing the causes leading to the
Homestead strike, Justice PaKson said:
THE mutual right Of parties TO contract in
regard to wages and character of employ
ment. 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
constitution and laws of this state. 1t is a
right which belongs TO every citizen, laborer
or capitalist and it is plain duty Of the
state to protect them in the enjoyment Of
itn
WORK OF TIE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
Coming up TO the formation Of the ad
visory committee and the part taken by it
in the strike, he said: at is alleged that
the advisory committee did more than to
induce others not to accept employment
from the company; that 1t allowed no per-
sons 10 enter the mill of the Carnegie Steel
Company. and even permitted no strangers
to enter the town of Homestead without its
consent; that it arranged an organization
Of q military character, consisting Of three
divisions with commanders, captains, etc.
the captains to report to the division
commanders ana the latter to report to the
advisory committee He then detailed
how the authority of the sheriff had been
defed, the arrival of the Pinkertons, the
riot following and finally the mobilization
OF the state troops, adding: "We can have
some sympathy with a mob driven 20 des-
peration by hunger In the days OF the
French revolution, but we can have none
for men receiving exceptionally high
wages in resisting the law and
resorting to violence and bloodshed
in the assertion of imaginary rights
and entailing such a vast expense upon the
taxpayers of the common wealth. 1t was
not cry for bread TO feed perishing lips,
resulting in sudden outrage with good
provocation; 1t is q deliberate attempt by
men without authority to control others in
the enjoyment Of their rights.
RIGHTS OF THE MEN.
THE men had a right to refuse to work
and persuade others to Join them, but the
moment they attempted TO control the
works and resorted to violence they placed
themselves outside the pale of the law. II
we we're to concede the doctrine that the
employe may dictate to his employer the
terms of his employment. and upon refusal
OF the latter to accede to them to take DOS
session Of his property and drive others
away who were willing to work, we would
have anarchy. No business could be con-
Quoted upon such a basis; that doctrine,
when once countenanced. would be ex-
tended to every industry"
WHAT CONSTITUTES TREASON.
The justice then defined as treason the
organization OF a large body 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 con-
| stitution and laws. ut is a state Of war"
he said, when a business plant has to be
| surrounded by the army of
the state TO protect it from unlaw-
| full violence at the hands of
| former employees. Every member of such
asserted government, whether IT be an adj
visory committee or by whatever name it is
called, who has participated in such usur-
paslon, who has Joined iii common pur-
pose of resistance to the law and denial Of
| rights to other citizens has com
| m1tted treason against the state.
| Within the definition of this Of
Tense is the designing of overturning
of the government Of the state, such an in
tentlon need not to extend to every portion
| of its territory. 1t is sufficient if it be au
overturning of it in a particular locality,
and such intent may be inferred from acts
committed. If you find from the evidence
that the defendants have, or any of them
has, committed, participated and
aided in any Of the acts which
| l have defined to you as
| constituting the offense of'treason, it will be
your sworn duty to find true bill against
the party or parties so offending. We have
reached point in the history of the state
| where there are hut two roads for us to pu-~
sue; the one leads to order and good govern
ment, the other leads to anarchy. One great
| question which concerns the people of this
country is the enforcement of the law and
| fGa YNra aNi .,F1