The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-18
SYMPATHIZES WITH DEBs.
Federation of Labor Extends an Oner of
Assistance.

Eeoerat1on OF Labor Extends Offer of
Assistance.
DENVER, Dec. 1s.-The attendance
was light when the morning sessio of
the convention Of the American Fedora
ton Of Labor was called to order. The
committee on resolutions reported favor
ably on q resolution from the cigar max
ers union opposing compulsory arbitra-
ton, and It was concurred in without
discussion.
Chairman Hysell of the special com
mittee on the Debs decision, made its re-
port which WAS unanimously agreed to-
1t IS as follows:
Seeing that courts of equi ~ have ex-
tended their Jurisdiction far beyond ali
former limits and in a field heretofore
entirely unknown to such courts.
which action endangers the per
sonal liberty and rights of our citizens
individually and collectively and which,
II not checked, may lead to serious
suits to the republic, 1t would therefore
seem to US to be the part of wisdom on
the part of those whose duty 1t is TO
look after the rights and liberties of the
people, that is the law making power of
the federal government. to proceed at
once to enact law which Will set limit
In such proceedings beyond which
equity courts may not 60
while we recognize the rights of
property, we also recognize that the
right of personal liberty, consistent with
other rights and it should be the part
Of the government to protect the weak
against the strong. and to see to il that
no Justice is done to any citizen be he
high or low and that equal protection be
given to the humblest Of the land. There
fore be It
Resolved, By the American Fedora
ton Of Labor in convention, that we most
respectfully and earnestly demand at
the hands of our law making body, the
enactment of such laws as VIII carry out
the principles above set forth, to the end
that our people may not lose confidence
in their judicial institutions and thereby
cause the very foundation Of the republic
to be endangered
'This convention having heard with
regret Of the conviction and possible in
generation in the county jail of Cook
county, III. of Eugene v Debs. presi-
dent of the American Railway union and
his co-Iaborers on the charge of being in
contempt of court by violating the re
straining order issued by the United
States district court, which order was is
sued at the the instance of the general
railroad managers association of Chi
cago; therefore, be il
'sResolved, By this convention, that we
extend to Eugene " Debs and those as
sOciatcd with him in their present trOu-
BILE, and to ali Of the other similar cases
throughout the land our sincere
sympathy and cOmmiseration and prom
Use them both our moral and
financial support in the struggle to right
both the wrongs already committed and
those which may in the future be com
mitted in the name of the law, and
we recommend to this convention
that the executive council of the
American Federation Of Labor be
instructed to lend to these men such
financial aid as in their judgment the
federation Is able to supply, and they are
further instructed to aid them in securing
leg Il counsel and advice looking TO the
appealing Of these cases to the supreme
court of the United States, where the
question of right of the courts TO issue
what IS known as blanket injunctions
may be finally settled"
A resolution cOudemning the purchase
of non-union bicycles by the postal union
was adopted