The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-07-24

CHICAGO, July 2S-Whatii considered
BY labor leaders and theirebunsel 10 be
ono Of tho most Important egal battles
in tho nations history waslezun in the
Unitod States circuit court to-day when
President Debs, Vice President Howard,
Secretary KeIihor, and Directors Rogers,
Of tie American Railway Union, by
their attorneys, W. ". Erwin, s. Greg.
ory and O. s. DarroW, filed their answer
to the contempt rulo lssued by the court
against them last week and catne them
selves into court to mako q return to
tho writ Tho defense proposes to
carry the case 10 tho supreme court Of
tho United States In the event Of an
adverse decision here. and II defeated
there to appeal through Congress 10 tho
people.
Tho policy Of the defense will DO 10
question tho right and power Of the
court 10 issue iniuuctions fiko that oh.
taiued by tho railway companies
against Dobl aud his associates and
then imprlson those enjolned II the In
junction be violated. 1t will DO con-
tended that what tho court has done
amounts TO usurpation OF powcr not
given TO the federal judiciary by either
constitution or law. The defense will
follow closely the lines Of the report Of
the Boatler committee Of Congress
which investigated the injunction and
contempt proceedings By Judge jenkins.
Tho answer filed to-day consists In
the main as follows: The defendants
admit that the American Railway
Union Is q voluntary association Of
Which many thousand employees wore
at the time Of filing writ Of injunction
aud still are members. That the do
PENDANT, Eugene Y. Debs, is president
Of said association, aud George R,
Howard, vice president, Sylvester
Keliher. secretary and treasurer, and
I. W. Rogers, ono Of the directors, and
that all Of said defendants were and arc
directors OF said American Railway
Union. They allegO that the purpose
Of said A. L U. aud tho purpose and
intent Of tho organization and mainten.
ance thereof was the protection Of all
its members in their rights aud inter
ests as employees OF the various railway
systems OF the United States, aud to
procure by all lawful aud legitimate
means fair, reasonable and adequate
compensation for all It's eaid members
Tor the service performed by themi that
membership in said American Railway
Union was open to every employe of
good personal character and reputation
engaged upon the railway systems OF
tho United States.
They deny that IL was at any time tho
purpose and object OF said A. R o., or
Of the officers or directors thereof, or
Of these defendants, or either, or any
of them. to concentrate tho power and
Jurisdiction OF said A. r. U. under ono
official management and direction with
power to order strikes, or o discontiuu.
ancs OF tho service Of such employees at
any time that tho board OF directors, or
tho A. R. o., should elect so TO do, as
alleged in said information, or other
wise, and they allegc by tho organtza-
ton Of tho said A. 4 u. strikes could
only DO declared or discontinued by the
vote OF majority Of such A. X U.
employed in the service affected by any
such strike.
They allege that on or about the 20th
or 9Th day Of Juno majority Of tho
members OF said American Railway
Union employed upon tho Illinois Cen
tsal railroad and upon other companies
referred to In said information did for
themselves without any order. diroc-
tion or control Of tho said American
Railway Union, or Of It's otiicera or
directors, determined by their votes
that thoy would atrike OF leave the ser
vice Of said railway companies and did,
on or about said time, leave tho service
Of said railway companies.
Defendants admit that prior TO tho
second day OF July many local unions
OF the said A. K U. were organized
upon railroads located In tho northwest
and extending from the city OF Chicago
westward to California aud Including
substantially all the railroads to tho
Pacific coast. They admit that atter
the service OF tho injunction many per-
cons upon said system OF railways met
together and organized themselves into
local unions OF tho said American Rail-
way Union and duly applied to said
American Railway Union for admission
to membership therein.
They expressly deny that tho organ
ization OF said unions upon said roads,
or any OF them, was intended to confer.
or did confer upon said A. r o., It's
officers or directors, or upon these do
PENDANTS, or either Of them, tho powcr
aud authority to order strtkOs upon said
roads, but on the contrary allcgo that
strikes could only DO ordered upon said
road by the employees OF said road them
selves, and that such employees were in
no manner subject 10 tho authority or
control OF said American Railway Union.
Tho defendants deny that any one OF
tho telOgrams set forth in said intorma-
ton was sent or caused to DO sent by
them or any OF Thorn, or that they
authorized, or approved tho samo or
any one thereof, except q certain teio.
gram dated July 8, 1894. in tho words
and figures following:
eve have assurance that within forty
eight hours every labor organization IN
this country will como to our reScue
Tho fight Ia on and our mon arc acquit-
ting themselves like heroes.
"EIorc audther ono woakens, but our
cause is strengthened by dozen going
out in his place. Every truc mau must
quit now. Remain out until tho fight Is
won. There can bono half way ground.
Mon must DO for US, or againGt US. Our
cause is gaining ground daily aud our
SUCCEEDS is only question Of tow days.
Don't faltor In this hour. Stand oroct
mud proclaim your manhood. Labor
uu.t win now or never. Our victory