The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-10-04
FREE SPEECH SUPPRESSED.
The Bosses In Atlanta Arrest All Who At
femnf tn Suaak for the Laborere.


The Bosses In Atlanta Arrest All Who At
tempt to Speak for the Lsborers-
ATLANTA, Ga, Sept 13, 1898.
Yesterday the recorder decided that
the constitution of the United States
was null and void when it came in con-
fiict with the views of the ring" politi-
clans
That the freedom of speech guaran-
teed by the constitution was a farce
and that liberty was only intended for
the aristocracy and the poodle dogs.
The crime against the rights of the
laboring class eliminated on the night
of the 18th, when the police, acting
under strict orders from the mayor and
police commission, arrested Mr.. j. B.
Osborn for attempting to address a
crowd of 1000 laboring people at the
artesian we'll in this city.
The mayor had previously spoken
with Osborn at the courthouse and had
complimented him very highly. Not
only this, but the mayor in his speech
invited everybody to go to the artesian
well at one of Osborn's previous meet
ings and hear him.
oAAO
mayor had Osborn arrested for attempt
ing to speak.
Last fall this same spirit was here,
but it manifested itself in a little diff
ferent FORM They were then afraid to
arrest a man, but they would hiss him
down or egg him from the stand All
the outrages and indignities shown the
labor speakers in Georgia last fall
were inspired by the bosses who con-
troll the democratic party in the state.
Now since victory, though bought,
has perched upon their banner, they
have grown bold indeed. And now any
man who attempts to talk in the inter-
est of the laboring people will be ar
rested and suppressed.
The incarceration of Osborn, who is
the national organizer of the Painters
and Decorator union of America, has
done more to open the eyes of the Ia
boring people of Atlanta than all the
speaking that could have been done
until doom's day.
They now see what the alliance peo-
pie have been telling them for years.
that the bosses were using them to
pull the chestnuts out of the fire.
The crowd which assembled to hear
Osborn speak was orderly and there
was no demonstration of violence even
when the police made the arrest He
was carried to the station house and
was lodged in cell for the night Os-
born refused bond on the ground that
he had committed no crime against the
law of. the city or the state.
The trial was the greatest farce ever
enacted in a court. The evidence of
the chief of police cleared him of the
charge completely, yet the judge placed
fine of 500 on him.
The judges decision was made up by
the bosses long before the case was
called, and although the evidence and
the law were both against the decision,
the judge must render it in obedience
to the mandate of the bosses.
God pity such a judge.
The case has been appealed to the
superior court and will be carried, if
necessary, to the supreme court of the
United States.
We want to know if the constitution
means anything.
Thousands of people are tumbling to
the reform movement every day, and
this vile attempt to suppress free speech
will land thousands of others who
would never have gotten their eyes open
in any other way. M. D. IRWIN,
Editor Living Issues