New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-11
TREASON AGAINST THE STATE.
JrrDGE PAxsoN DEFINES THE CRIME.
HIS CHARGE TO THE GRAND JURY IN THE CASE
OF THE HOMESTEAD ADVISORY

D,,,s,uro penn Oct iO.-The unusual spectacle Of
a., Ch,ef Justice OF the Supreme Court OF the State
sitting as Judge In the Court OF oyer ana Termlner OF
county In the State, was witnessed by large crowd
in the Criminal Courtroom this morning. when Chief
Iust,ce Paxson charged the Grand jury as TO what
constituted treason against the state III 'he cases
against the members Of the Advisory Committee OF the
Homestead strikers. Upon the Bench sat ue Cmei
1ust,co and Judges Stove McClung, Porter and Ken
oeiv while I'm the clerks place sat Judge siage The
room was crowded almost to sufocation' "ieh court
onened Judge Kennedy turned to the Grahd jury ana
said that charges of treason having been made aaains
certain persons 1t seemed meet for the County Court
70 request the highest judicial officer OF the suitc
douver the CHARGE After detailing the causes lead
Ing nm 70 the Homestead strike, Justice Paxson sa'a'
The mutual right OF the parties to contract In
regard to wages and the character OF the employment
whether by the piece or by the day. whether ir zen
hours or less, is fixed as any other right "hioh we
enjoy under the Constitution and laws Of inns s'ae'
II IL right which belongs to every eitizen iaporer
or conitalist and It is the plain duty Of the Nate
70 protect Them in the employment OF it, Coming
nm IN the formation Of the Advisory Committee ana ue
part taken by il in the strike he san II 10 aheeeu
that the Advisory Committee did more thai W hi'''e
others not to accept employment from inc company
that II allowed no persons TO enter the mil Oh 'ne
Carnegie steel Company, and even per'ii'''u II"
strangers to enter the town OF Homestead WITHOUT
r.. consent. that Il arranged an organization vi
military character consisting OF three oiVisiohs Win
commanders, captains, ETC., the captains l" ''p'' "
the division commander, and the latter 70 report
to the Advisory Committee
la then told how the authority OF the Sheriff mad
hecu deGed of tie arrival of the Pnkerton's the riot
following and finally :hc mobilization OF the stare
,roone adding: I've can have some sympathy Win
mob driven TO desperation By hunger, az IN the Gays
Of the French Revolution, but we can nave none io'
men receiving exceptionally high wages III resisting
the law and resOrting TO violation ana Oioousheu Id
the assertion OF imaginary rights anf ensiihs SUN
vast expense upon the taxpayers Oh t"e 'onnior
veal,b II was not "A cry for bread TO feed their
,n,,ebipc lins resulting in a sudden outrage, with
GOOD nrov,cafon: IL is a deliberate attempt by men
without authority TO control Others IN the enjoyment
Of their rights The had right TO refuse 70
work and persuade Others 10 join them, Dut the mo-
ment they attempted to control the WORKS ana re-
sorted 10 violence they placed themselves outside tie
male Of the law. II were 10 cohcede the doctrine
,bat tho empIoye may dictate TO his employer the
forms Of his employment, and upon the refusal OF the
latter 10 accede To them to take possession OF MS
uoperty and drive Others away who were "lnhs 20
york we would have an anarchy. NO business couin
no conducted upon such basis; that doctrine when
onco countenanced would be extended 10 every IN
dustry'
Tho iisticc then defined rs treason the organization
NJ large number OF mon in n common purpose to DEFY
the law resist its officers AMI TO deprive any poIuon
Of their fellow citizens of their rights under the Lc
stuton and laws. Ii j. state OF war sahl ir, wien
a business plant has 10 be surrounded Dy tle arhy
Of the State protect 1t from unilwiul whence Il,
m, hands OF former emf lOycs. Every member Oh
such asserted government whether II De an anVlsoE'
COMMITTEE. or by whatever name II J. Cl1le' VINO mas
participated IN such usurpatiOn Who h's joined IN
common purpose. Of resistance to the law ana denial
Of the rights other citizens. has COMMITTEES treason
ayuinst Inc state. When the definition oil THIS OF.
S-.''''' ~ 10 d,sicring or OvcrturIins OF
no government STATE. such IN
tention need not extend to every portion
Of its territory 1t IS sufficient II it be an overirnlng
NJ II In particular locality and such intent may be
Inferred from the acts committed II you find from
the evidence. that the defendants, or any Of men,
The act, which have defined to YOU AS Constituting
the offence Of treason. II will be your sworn duly 10
find true bill against the party or parties - oueuu
ing We have reached the point In the history OF
Tho State where there are but two roads lot US N
nnrs,le: the one leads order and government we
ptber leads 10 anarchy The one great question whcr
concerns the people OF this country Is me ehloce
mrnt of the law and the preservation OF ORDER