Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-07-16
IN The LAWS CnIF
DeoS and His Associates
Put Under Arrest
at Last.

president Of the American Railway union;
George w Howard Sylvester X ellihcr,
NJ. W. Rogers and J. S. Merwin have all
been Indicted by the grand jury for con-
spiaCy to interfere with the United States
mails. Debs was arrested at the Leland
hotel at o'clock yesterday afternoon and
kelllher at Uhlichs hall half an hour
later Bail was fixed at $40, 900 in each
case. The penalty is fine of from 81, coo
to 5000
Around town the news of the arrests,
while il intensified the strained feelings
referred TO, failed to produce any pro-
nouuced manifestation either of approval
or Indignation. People that had been as
suriug one another that the arrest of Mr.
Debs would be the signal for n movement
by the masses upon the building in which
he might be temporarily confined proved
themselves false prophets. Although the
announcement of the arrests was spread
broadcast by word Of mouth, and through
the extras Of evening papers, the interior
and surroundings Of the government
building pres ssnted an appearance little
different to that of the usual rush and
hustle that characterizes the hour preced-
ing the closing OF out Of town mails.
Took Arrest Calmly.
Il
nouchalant mood. No glittering of steel
blyonets or tramp OF military forces
marked their progress to the government
building, nor were any handouts brought
into reguisition. They came like free citi-
zeUs, joked and laughed and enjoyed the
hospitality Of the district attorneys office
while waiting for bail, put their sigma
lures TO the bonds as n matter Of personal
recognizauCe and then returned to their
headquarters to resume the work that had
been temporarily interrupted. Their re-
appearance was the signal for enthusiastic
cheers and greetings from the crowd in
waiting and which in the meantime had
been venting its fury over the arrests by
denouncing the action of the government
and hurling msleiictions upon the heads
OF those of the federal officers responsible
for the proceedings.
Bail Given.
The bonds for the men In the charges
above mentioned were made out shortly
after their arrest, but the brief delay in
the appearance Of the bondsmen caused the
appetite OF Chief Clerk Burnham to get
the best Of him, and he disappeared for
supper.
In the meantime Marshal Arnold's men
had been busy collecting evidence. A sub
luna duces tecum had been issued for j.
&. He ines who is one of Debs' assistants
IN the 4. K. u. headquarters. Deputy
Marshal White was given the paper to
serve and the marshars office effected
junction wi tn the postal authorities to
make clean sweep. Major James Stuart
chief inspector of the Chicago postal divs-
ion, accompanied the group ofdeputies
Confiscated All Papers.
On entering Room 423 of the Ashland
block, where the Office business of the
American Railway Union is conducted,
the deputy read the subpoena and then the
search began. The officers had mail
sack and they gathered everything in
sight. Records, letters circulars and
kilograms and miscellaneous matter were
thrown in n heap and then the private
correspondence of the Office was gathered
in. The place looked as bare as garret
when the officers finished their cleaning
up, and with a warning to Haines to ap-
pear before the United States grand jury
to-day at 10 a. m. without fail they
departed.
The mass of coniiscated matter was taken
TO the federal building in hack and was
carefully deposited in the vaults of the
district attorneys office to be used in the
trial at the October term of court.
District Attorney Milchrist, in discuss
ing the legality Of the seizure declares
that all Debs' personal letters will be re-
turned to him Immediately and without
an attempt to pry into the secrets, but
that official matter will surely be offered
in evidence against the officers of the
order.
When Mr.. Debs heard of the raid on the
correspondence at his office he was wrathy
and denounced the affair as high handed
outrage,
The Arrests Expected.
Although, to some extent, it had been
anticipated, the arrest of President Debs
and his associates caused a sensation yes
terday. The president of the American
Railway union and his colleagues were
brought in quietly and without any of the
lurid outbursts of popular indignation
that sensationalisJs had predicted. The
federal grand jury, composed almost
entirely of out of town residents
occupied less time than had been
expected in reaching the decision
that the evidence presented for its consd-
Grafton was sufficient to justify the return
OF true bills against the leaders of the
union. No other result had been expected
by those who listened to the charge of
Judge Grosscup and while although de-
nounced with fury at the headquarters of
the various labor organizations, is gener-
ally commented upon in commercial AMI
professional circles as mastery exposi-
tion Of the line between the legal and JUS
tifiabe methods of trades organizations
and defence Of the laws, or rebellion
against the authority Of the United States.
Mans Right To Work.
The jurists took the ground emphati-
cally that while the right of labor to or
ganize could not be successfully attacked
and that while it was the impershable
right OF y free man to work orqut work as
he saw fit, and that while moreover
he was entitled to all the fruits and
strategy Of work yet that, at the same
time, trades experimentation are subject
to the same laws as other associations;
that their leaders are also subject to the
same laws governing all other men and
that no organization, nor the leaders Of
such organizations could with impunity
violate the laws enacted for the govern
ment of Interstate commerce or the pro-
lection of the mails
Ii was memorable scene, when, lookint
Tc,It uh 4