The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-24
For Contempt of Court In Inter
fering With Railroads.
CALIFORNIA TROOPS TO LEAVE.
Southern Pacific Trouble Over. Even
at Sacramento and Oakland.
knights Of labor Have Designs the
MifitIa-EBd Of the Strike IN Men,
tana-sovereign's New TIe-Up Fails
TO Appear.

tHEGAH0, July -1s--0 nak Is CONSIDERED
by the labor leaders as one Of the most
important legal oattIss in the nations
history, Was begun IN the United States
circuit eoart today, when President Debs
Vice President Howard. Secretary kelIiner
and Director Rogers. Of the American
Railway Union. bv their attorneys, W. W.
Irwin, s. 5. Gregory and c. : Darrow
flied answer to the contempt rule. The
defense proposes 10 carry the case 10 the
supreme court IN the event OF an adverse
decision here, and. If defeated, appeal 70
congress 1t will be eontended that what
the court has done amounts TO usurpation
OF power. The defense will follow closely
the lines of the report of the Boatner
committee to congress. which investigated
Judge Jenkins. If the supreme court de-
clares the injnnctionand contempt method
good law, congress will be asked. so local
labor leaders say, TO amend the statutes
and curb the power Of the courts. and
every candidate for congress viii be asked
to pledge himself for such reform
Defendants deny that il Was the pur-
pose of the American Railway Union or
themselves 10 vest the management OF the
union with power to order strikes. as al
legged in the information, and say that
strikes are declared or discontinued by the
vote Of a majority ef the members in the
service affected. They deny that they or
dered strike on the Illinois Central, and
declare that the employees struck of their
own accord, but not for the purpose OF
hindering the transportation of the mails
or interstate commerce.. They deny that
after the issuance of the injunction against
the organization the union was continued
otherwise than by generally advising rail-
way men to become members; they deny
any teiegrams, as set forth in the informal
tion, except one counseilng the men to
stand firm, were sent by them. They
deny that they advised. approved or par
ticipated in acts of violence. The defend-
ants allege that after the injunction was
served upon them, they acted upon the
advice of counsel.
great crowd of spectators thronged
the corridors of the Federal building and
struggled for places in the courtroom
when the hearing began. United States
Judges Wood and 6rosscup occupied the
bench. and Immediately after taking their
seats ordered the courtroom cleared OF the
crowd which stood In the aisles. Mrs.
Debs. Mrs. kelliher and Mrs. Rogers we're
IN court early and greeted the four prison
ers when they were brought in. The prose
cution was represented by District At
torney Milehrist, Special Counsel Edward
Walker and Assistant District Attorney
Band, while the Santa Fe road was repre-
sented by ex-Corporation Counsel John
Miller and l. A. Bancroft. Attorney
Gregory opened the main case with the
suggestion that the hearing of Debs and
the others be postponed until after this
trial. until indictments pending against
them have been tried, but the suggestion
was not sustained by the court.
After the reading of the information
against the prisoners by the district attor-
ney and the hearing of the answer, de-
fendant's attorney, Erwin, moved formally
that the defendants be dismissed. He
also asked that the government elect
whether IL would try the prisoners on the
original indictment on the injunction.
Judge Woods replied that the court would
elect by going on now, and At
torney Gregory began his argu-
ment in support of the motion TO
dismiss the bill. Mr.. Gregory said the in
junction restrained the defendants from
preventing the employees by threats. in
timldation, force, violence or persuasion
from performing their duties or inducing
them by threats, violence, force or intiml-
dation 10 leave the service of the roads.
In the injunction order the word
''persuasion" was stricken out. This
called out a statement from Judge
Woods. who said the court had
refused TO enjoin men from inducing other
men 10 leave their work. The question Is
now in the court of appeals in the North
ern Pacific case, and the court had no de-
sire 10 interfere with il. Gregory said the
Injunction did not enioin the leaders OF
the union from advising men to quit
work. "The Injunction" said Judge
Woods. was q general order not to
interfere with the operation of
the roads. Whether advising was an
interference is q question TO be decided"
Mr.. Gregory was followed by Mr.. Walker.
for the prosecution, who attacked the
answer vigorously. At the conclusion Of
Mr.. Walkers argument the court ad-
iourned until tomorrow morning. when
Attorney John s. Miller. who represents
the Santa Re. vii speak for the prosecu-
tion.
MILWAUKEE,. July .. - United States
Commissioner Bloodgoed has rendered
decision in the railway strike eases, hold
inxC :. McAIuffe. Frank w. Archibald.
Eagene Y. Debs and seven others for trial
on = charge of eonspiring to obstfact the