The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-02
THE PENNSYLVANIA TREASON.
Iron Strikers Amazed and Angry Over
the New Turn Of Affairs.

tho NOW xurn Oh AHaiT6s
PIrTsBuRe, Oct. 1.-The issuance of war
rants against the Homestead strike lead
ers, charging treason, at the instance OF
Chief Justice Paxson yesterday, caused a
decided sensation, not only among the
strikers, but also among their sympathizers
here and at Homestead. This is the first
time a charge of treason has been brought
in any state for acts arising from strike or
labor troubles. The strikers are ready to
laugh at any charge Of riot Or murder
brought against them by the Carnegie
Company. but when the great state of
Pennsylvania takes the matter up it is
an entirely different thing. The Informs
tons were lodged after long consultations
between all the members of the supreme
court and the district attorney. The
novel point in the case is that tho chief
justice will hear applications for bail
before the cases 60 to the grand jury,
and will call that body before
him and deliver q special charge on
treason. Should true bills be found an un-
precedented thing will occur. Chief JUS
tice Paxson, as ex-officio Judge of the
court of oyer and terminer, will sit and try
the cases. Attorneys for the strikers de-
clare that the proceeding is persecution
of the defendants, assert that the charge
oftreason cannot be made to hold, and hint
that long-contemplated suits for treason
against the Carnegies will now be pushed.
O'Donnell, Critchlow and Clafford are
now in Jail, making nine under arrest. It
is expected that more arrests will be made
today. Homestead is quivering with ex-
element. There is some talk of taking q
band and flags and marching to PIttsburg
in body to apply for admission to the
Jail. Under all is deep-seated anger,
which is liable to take almost any unex-
pected turn.
This afternoon an informal discussion
was held by Chief Justice Paxson and
the attorneys for both sides. Justice Pax
son decided that the accused could give
bail in $4,000 each, but up to late hour
none of the defendants now in Jail had Sc
cured the necessary bail. Attorney Knox
said the reason the cases were begun in
the supreme court was because it had
always been the practice in this and other
countries to begin suits for treason in the
highest courts. This was done in view Of
the gravity Of the offense. The highest
executive authority had been resisted, and
it was proper that the highest judicial au-
thority of the state should first take cog
nizance of the offense.
w. J. Brennan, attorney for the ANAL
gamated Association, characterized the ar
rests as the GROWING outrage of the great
Homestead affair. "Why," said he, swe
were just talking about bringing suit
against the Carnegie people for treason for
bringing an armed force into the commu-
nifty and attempting to usurp the power of
the government of the municipality and
state"
The strikers at the Carnegie city mills
and the friends Of their cause were greatly
exercised today over the report of the I'M
expected movement by the Carnegie firm.
The advisory board, it is said, is to be
held on charges of conspiracy. treason
and as many other bills as can
be entered against it; that on
Monday or Tuesday Of next week the
warrants would be served on tbs members
of the board and arrests be made immedi-
ately. so that the suits may proceed stimuli
taneously with those at Homestead.
Superintendent Dillon. of the Thirty-third
street mill, acknowledged the truth of the
statement this afternoon.