The herald., 1894-12-15
GUILTY OF CONTEMPT.

Eugene V. Dshs. president OF the
American Railway union. has been
found guilty of contempt OF court over
which Judge William Woods OF Chicago
presidos. Vice-President Howard, Sec
ratary Keliber, Treasurer Rogers. and
! Directors Bnrne, Elliott, Hogan and
Goodwin were alec found guilty OF con-
tempt for the same authority. Tho drag
net of in Justice scooped the entire exec
utive of the A. r U., and if the sentence
is enforced they will all 90 to Jail for
three months. These men were tried
and condemned without trial Dy
jary. consequently they are not
proven guilty of the crime i'm
puted to thom. BY hocus-pocus
not unusual in courts governed hy cor
porato influence, the charge OF violating
the federal statutes WAS merged into the
contempt proceedings and the court
proceeded to act az Judge jury and exe-
cutioner. Even Jef1reys, wading through
the Bloody Asszss, did not dare to DEFY
Magma Chsrts, to suspend habsas corpns
or to refuse the right OF trial by jury. In
Tree America, however, beneath the
e.is of liberty guaranteed by the con-
etitutioD, this procedure 10 declared
hollow mockery-a mere formal pretense
eignifying nothing whenever it may suit
the cor roorate powers who rule the ma
ton to disregard the rights OF the
people.
1t 10 curious to observe the absurd in
consietencies of these federal courts. In
this city q short time ago members OF
mediation committee of the A. h. U.
were sentenced to IS months imprison'
ment for violating the federal stat
utes. 1t was lucky for them
that Debs and his colleagues did
not have Judge Ross to deal with.
The Loe Angeles etrikers had the
advantage OF trial by Jury, however,
and they ware not burdened bya charge
of contempt OF Judge Ross court. In
this the Los Angeles defendants were
moro fortunate than the men who or
dered tho strike and captained the on
sausht upon the forces that are now
getting even" bv jailing everybody
who dared even to whisper treason to
the high and mighty powers who dictate
"iuetice" in the federal courts. These
federal judges ought to caucus on their
judgments and thus avoid the absurdi-
ties they are constantly perpetrating.
1t will probably be urged by the ser
vile, lick-spittling advocates and news
paper attorneys of the trusts and COM
binec who control the affairs of this
country, that contempt of court is not a
crime recognized in the category of those
to be tried by Jury. This is true, and
the fact merely emphasizes the despot-
ism OF our judiciary and the tyranny
under which il operates. A judge
imagines that he has been treated with
contempt; he hsles the culprit before
the "bar of Justice; adjudges him
guilty OF the heinous offense, and sends
him to Jail for an indefinite period. The
defendant has not even the poor satis-
faction of knowing, in many instance,
how long he must remain in prison. He
may purge" himself by an abject apol-
ogy to the person subjected to contumely
and frequently sinks his manhood to
that depth. A habeas corpus in these
cases rarely svails the culprit. His
hearing must necessarily como before
another Judge, and that is merely q
tranefsr from the frying pan into the
fire. 1t would be contrary to "the eth
les of the profession" to overrule the
decision OF brother justice. 1t would
be breach of courtesy to reverse the
Judgment OF court OF similar jurisdic-
tion. The judges must stand together.
The judicial caste must be preserved.
The contempt of one is the concern OF
all Even the sacred right of habeas
corpus is a secondary consideration or
no consideration at all whom the dignity
OF the court is asssiled.
1t is probable, therefore, that Dsbs
and his fellows will 60 to Jail. But that
circumstance will not injure them in
the estimation of people who thoroughly
understand how they got there.