The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-08


United States court returned verdict
OF guilty in the case OF the two boys,
Willie Leach and Victor Thomas, ac-
cused of obstructing the United States
mails by interfering with the operations
OF the electrical cars. After this ver-
dict was given Hon. G. W. Atkinson,
attorney for the boys, and also for the
two Bonda boys, also Of Benwood,
charged with the same oGense, plead
guilty for the two last named, and the
four were arraigned for sentence.
Judge Jackson fined each Of the four
boys 500, He, however, suspended
the sentence on condition that the boys
would tell who had encouraged or in-
spired them to obstruCt the tracks. In
the afternoon the boys returned to the
court room, but were again excused
uutil this morning In suspending
sentence Judge Jackson intimated that
he might summon grand jury to meet
here next Monday, but if not he would
expect the boys to be at Clarksburg
when the grand jury met there. All
four OF them were put under $500 bonds
each for their appearance.
Tho main feature OF the whole case
was the charge OF the judge to the jury,
delivered in the forenoon. 1t was inn
pressive, and was listened to by all
present with the closest attention.
Judge Jackson said:
n
up 10 this time, although very brief,
has developed very remarkable state
OF things in this community, one that
certainly is to be regretted By every
one who has any respect for law and
order. In country like ours, where
its institutions arc based upon the COM
mon and free intelligence OF tho people,
especially OF the wage.earners, who are
supposed to be the foundation OF our
form OF government, it Is surprising
that people OF intelligence should under
take to remodel and reform the obliga-
tions that exist between them and their
neighbors, or in other words to upturn
the strata of society. Every man who
enters into contract with his neighbor
Is under n mutual obligation to his
neighbor and has reciprocal duty to
perform. Contracts are based upon the
mutual consent OF tho parties to tho
contract, and II once entered into the
tho obligation should be held sacred.
Now, Just exactly what is involved in
this question OF the strike here, which
has brought about all this trouble, l do
not propose TO investigate. do not
propose to say which aide Is In tho
right, nor do | propose to say which
side il in the wrong, or whether in fact
either side is in the wrong, but pro-
pose TO say to these people in this COM
muuity that there is but one way to
redress wrong known in this country,
and that Is in the civil tribunals OF the
land. No men, no set OF men, no COM
| munistic combination of men eau law
fully undertake to redress n wrong. ex-
Cept in tho way pointed out by law.
When YOU attempt to bind yourselves
together for the purpose OF redressing
n wrong, you strike Mt the very founda-
tion OF our government; you strike at
the very foundation OF those laws which
give you tho right of citizen, the
right OF life, OF liberty and the pursuit
Of happiness Why don't you think OF
these things?
Whether the men who have employ
ed you give you too little wages, or
whether the service for the compensa-
tion is too small, is not involved in this
case. Norman can compel you to work,
or no set OF men can compel you to
work. When you 60 to man and en-
ter into his employment, that Is
| voluntary act on your part, and when
you enter into an obligation to servo
that man for u specific amount, you are
| bound to do so under the terms OF tho
contract, Tho moment you enter into
1t you have reciprocal duties to por-
form, as well us legal obligations.
Now, then, il ono side breaks the con-
tract lie has remedy at law. II be
does not pay what he stipulates to pay,
the wage-oarner has u remedy at law to
force him to pay tho amount, II he
thinks the price Is inadequate, the mo-
ment that his contract is at end he has
tho right TO cease tho labor. Or II he
thinks 1t IS inadequate, and there Is no
fixed time, all he has TO do 10 10 give
his employer notice Of the fact and
quit
You have no right to go into a strike,
and undertake TO stop tho transporta-
ton Of the mails Of tho United States,
undertake TO stop the running ot tho
cars Of the country, or undertake 70
stop tho business which is carried on
on tho great highways Of tho country
and which is the mainsprlng TO the
success Of u country like ours. II all
this is dono. thon you stop upon right
which you have no right TO intorfere
with.
make these general remarks on this
occasion with hope that may roach
tho car OF tho Intelligent masses, that
they may Boe at once the error they
have fallen into. Rely not upon COM
binations and strikes to protect your
interests. They arc disastrous; atop
ping YOUR mills and stopping the entor-
priscs and business Of tho community
which furnish tho wage-earnor the
means to support his home.
Do not resort 10 means by which to
stop our manufactures, our mills OF the
transportation Of tho mails Of tho Un-
| lied States, which 10 go groat and i'm.
pUrtant an clement OF our country for
tho comfort and welfare Of society If
you take this thing up and look at lt
and ponder over IT, and sea the result
that must necessarily follow such
course Of action, and tho trHtn Of cir
CumStancoS that must necessarily ac.