Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-12-21
A. r. u. Leader Sentenced to
Six Months fol Contempt.
MEANING OF II E SENTENCE
some Other Prominent OmciaIs Indicted
with Him to Serve Three
Months,

way Union. The same finding was
reached against the A. r. u. leaders on
trial with Debs.
Judge Woods opinion overruling the
claim of the defense that the inJunc-
ton against the A. X. t1. leaders was in
valid on the ground that the court mad
no Jurisdiction to determine the case
in which the injunction was ordered,
and that though possessed of such Jur-
isdction, the court lacked organized
power to make the order in question,
was very long, and ted many authori-
ties
The court held that the same protec-
ton given commerce on rivers can De
extended under the existing law to COM
merce on railroads. Referring to the
contention that the act OF July z, 1880,
was directed wholly ut trusts, and not
against organized labor in any form,
Judge Woods pointed out that work
ing men, If they conApired with capt.
alists to prevent the moving of Pullman
cars would be guilty Of conspiracy,
and 1t would be absurd to say that they
would not be equally guilty If they did
the same without the aid of capitalists.
Judge Woods held that the defendants
did deliberately violate the order of the
court by directing strikers to intimidate
men from taking their places. Admoni-
tons against violence were sent out by
defendants, but it was not intended
that they be needed. The disturbances
at Blue Islands We're the result of
speeches made by Debs and Howard.
Judge Woods conc uded as follows:
THE right of men tC strike peaceably
and the right to advise Il peaceable
strike, which the law does not presume
to be impossible, is npt questioned, but
If men enter into a conspiracy to do
any unlawful thing and in order. to
accomplish their PURPOSE advise work
men to strike, knowing that violence
and wrong will be The probable out
come, neither in law nor in morals
can they escape the responsibility.
Pullman cars in use upon roads are
instruments of commerce, and it fol-
lows that from the time of the an
nouncement of the boycott the Ameri-
can Railway Union was committed to
conspiracy in retardihg interstate COM
mcrce in violation of the act of July 2,
$780, and that the members of that as
ISOLATION and all others who joined in
the movement become criminally re-
sponsible each of the acts of the others
done in furtherance of a common pur-
pose, whether intended by him or not
The officers became responsible for the
acts of the men and officers; the actual
conspiracy against the use of Pullman
cars became a conspiracy against
transportation and travel by railroad.
Upon their own authority, without con-
sulting local unions defendants con-
verified the boycott into a strike, and
with the aid of their followers, some of
whom stopped at MP means between
drawing couplings and undermining
bridges, whereby meh would 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 EN-
ployment of a military force to re-estab-
fish peace and start again the activity
of commerce.
Much has been shid, but without
proof, of the wrongs at Pullman. of the
alliance between the Pullman company
and the railway managers to depress
wages. and generally of corporate OPP
preston, but 1t is evident that these
things. whatever facts might have
been proved or imagined, could furnish
neither justification nor palliation for
giving up the city tip disorder and for
paralyZing the industries and commerce
of the country. The decision of Judge
Caldwell has been referred to, but while
that recognized the right of employees
to quit the service of the receivers, 1t
contained no warrant for intimidating
or abusing those willing to take EN-
ployment or for otherwise interfering
directly, as defendant and his follow
ers, did with the management and oper-
action of the road. The court, there
| fore finds the defendants guilty of con-
| tempt, as charged ind each of the cases
| The same sentences will be ordered In
| both cases, but 1t is not intended that
| they shall be cumulative"
| DEBS GETS SIN MONTHS
| Debs was sentenced to six months in
the county jail. The others We're given
| three months each, except MacNean, who
was released because there was no evi.
| dence against him. Judge Woods, after
announcing the defendants guilty as
| charged said it was not according with
| the procedure in such cases to permit
| defendants to say why sentence should
not be passed. but I'M this case the court
| would allow it.
MEANING OF THE SENTENCE.
The finding of thu court is that de
| PENDANTS are guilty of contempt, bu
any punishment inflicted would not b,
cumulative. In other words, there wer,
| two cases before the court, one for con
| tempt and the Other for violation o
the federal statutes The latter caus
is merged into the former.
Attorney Darrow. representing TIN
defendants, asked that his clients Nigh
retire for consultation regardin,
what they should say. and after a brie
recess the strike leaders filed back int,
court. ranging themselves before tn
bench. Attorney DArrow, speaking 70
them, said they ha i no wish to maxi
separate speeches but felt that the,
done no wrong. The attorney advised
the court that Director MacVean. on,
Of the defendants, was out of the cit,
during the strike. 4 lengthy argumen
between the attorneys followe,
over the proposition to dscriminat,
in MaeNean's favot which the eour
terminated by suspRnding sentence OF
| MacNean.
In sentencing tho other defendant.
| Judge Wood said
1.-THE punishment shall be neither win
| dictive nor trivial. These men were IN
wilful contempt, under what legal ad
vice l should like VPry much to know
| These men were leaders in a great
measure OF law breakers and are re.
| sponsible as leaders. The ignorant mer