The record-union., 1894-12-15
n fur:herance of a common purpose,

whether intended by him or not.
The officers became responsible for
the acts of men and officers. The actual
conspiracy against the use of the Pull
man cars became a conspiracy against
transportation and travel by the railroad.
Upon their own authority, without con-
sulting local unions, defendants con-
Verted the boycott into strike, and with
the aid of followers, some of whom
stopped at no means between drawing
the couplings and undermining bridge,
whereby men could be hurled TO death,
they pushed the strike to the conditions
which prevailed when the intervention
of the court was asked and which in the
END compelled the employment of the
military force to re-eStablish peace and
start again the activities of commerce.
Much has been said, but without
proof, OF the wrongs of the workmen at
Pullman; OF an alliance between the
Pullman Company and the railway man
ayers to depress wages, and generally of
corporate oppression, but IL is evident
these things, whatever the facts might
have been proved or imagined to be,
could furnish neither justification nor
palllatlOn tor giving up the city to dis
order and for paralyZing the industries
and commerce Of the country.
The decision of Judge Caldwell has
been referred to. But while that recog-
nlzed the right of employees TO quit the
service OF receivers, it contained no war
rant for Intimidating or abusing those
willing to take employment or Tor other
wise interfering directly, as the defend
ants and followers did, with the manage
ment and the operation of the road.
The tndlng OF the court is that de-
PENDANTS are guilty OF contempt, but any
punishment inflicted would not be cumu-
lative; In other words, there were two
cases before the Court-one for contempt
and the other for violation of the Federal
statutes. The latter cause is merged into
the former"
Attorney Darrow, representing defend
ants. asked that his clients might retire
for consultation regarding what they
should say, and after brief recess the
strike leaders filed back into court and
ranged themselves before the bench.
Attorney barrow, speaking for them,
SAID they had no wish to make separate
speeches, but felt they had done no
wrong. The attorney advised the court
that Director MacVean, one of The de-
tendants, was out of the city during the
strike.
A lengthy argument between the attor-
neys followed over the proposition to
discriminate in MacV ean's favor, which
the court terminated by suspending the
sentence on MacN can.
In sentencing the other defendants
Judge Wood said: ''The punishment
The men were in willful contempt, under
what legal advice l should like very much
TO know. These men were leaders in
great measure as law-breakers, and are
responsible as leaders. The ignorant men
who followed them have been punished.
Debs Is more responsible than any other.
de is a man of marked ability and power
over men. l feel constrained to discrim-
mate between them and others. The
punishment against all defendants, eX-
cept Debs; is three months in Jail, and
against Debs six months"
Defendants did not appear particularly
crushed by the punishment. Debs bowed
his tall, gaunt form and whispered few
words TO his sister. who sat near, and
they both laughed heartily. Howard and
Hogan exchanged smiling glances, and
keliher grasped his attorneys hand and
appeared 10 offer congratulations. 1t was
evident all expected much more severe
sentences.
Debs drew his people to one side and
instructed them to say nothing for pub
Hcatlon, setting them an example by re-
fuslng to discuss the case al all.
After the murmur of excitement over
the sentence had subsidized, the Court an
nounced that the punishment was not to
take effect for ten days, in which time the
defendants attorneys will prepare an ap-
| peal.
The prospective prisoners, after short
consultation with their attorneys, left the
| courtroom.
| The defendants and their official posi-
tons In the American Railway Union
are: President Debs, Vice President
Howard, Secretary keliher, Treasurer
Rodgers and Directors Burns, MacVean,
Hogan and Goodwin.
GoMPERS DENOUNCEs JUDGE WOODS
ACTION.
| DENVER, Dec. 14.-President Gompers
SAID, regarding the decision of Judge
! Woods in the Debs case: 81 think it is
contemplate for any Judge to take from
citizen of the United States the hight of
trial by jury. If Debs is guilty of anv
criminal act jury of his peers should be
allowed to say so. l denounce the action
of any Judge who shows himself so eager
to do the bidding of a corporation"