Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-29
A DRAMATIC SPEECH.
ATTORNEY ERWIN FOR AMERICAN
RAILWAY UNION DEFENDANTS.
General Managers Charged with Settling
Cars ON Fire--The A. II. u. . Trust,
Says the Government

tenseiy eloquent and dramatic speech.
"hieh held spallbound a large crowd in
the United States Court room this morn
ing Attorney W. w. Erwin made the
closing argument for the defendants In
the American Railway Union cases. Mr..
Erwin said In part:
on account OF the feeling in this case
reel called upon to say something un-
usual, and not ordinarily permitted by
Judges. 1 want to say in plain words and
petore plain people that whatever the
outcome OF the case. you have been fair.
NY colleague. Mr.. Gregory, struck the
hey-note OF this matter when he said that
'he act OF strike was one consistent
win civil and religious liberty. | say
there was no redress for the Pullman
horror, although there are many who say
Otherwise. II there was anything that the
people could really rely upon, 1t slept.
what could they do? Declare war? No.
Break the public peace? No Then what
might they do? Anything that the Cod
gwen conscience prompts them. That Is
tne liberty OF this flag
isn't II "A deplorable state OF affairs
hat while the press rang out, while the
p"iplts rO-red, against the iniquities at
fuilman, no power In the law Of this
country stepped forward to stop them?
lhese people were starving, yet not a
nag was raised: not a drum beat: not an
oihcer OF this government stepped forth
70 raise his hand In behalf OF them. The
ffehch revolution was cited here yester-
Gay. What was the French revolution?
IL was an upheaval by the finger of God
case will not be viewed in the candle
light OF the Milwaukee or the Santa Fe
road but under yonder sun-Gods lamp.
BEGINNING OF SUITS.
This case is the beginning of suits, our
frienIs on the other side tell us. 70 as
II IS the end Of defensive suits. We are
on our defence for the last time. T1-mor-
row We shall begin on them. The con.
science OF this nation will demand that
SPECIAL counsel be appointed TO PFC secute
'he general managers believe in the
courts, but | also believe In the Leople
anu IN conscience. These clients are
charged with setting fire to cars. We will
find out tomorrow who set these fires
these cheap fires 10 turn the temper OF
the public. This fair city will never ray
sJ'Vv'"c for the railroads until It finds
out who set the fires.
nope the nation will give tie mana
gers an opportunity to defend them
serves. L demand that conscience shah be
Tree 10 control the man whenever il IL
1usthed by Gods law. Between man
ana his God there is nc mist When con-
science IS justified the man is justified
All those things which people cen do
which Is consistent with conscience-that
may they do. To my mind. conscience is
the only rule 10 be guided by. Property
rights must be considered, of course, but
property? When shall the time come when
tue nights of property shall be Lreatcr
than the rights Of conscience? The hope
OF the American masses springs from God
You have got TO cut off the c1mmunIca-
ton from the Master before you can re-
enslave the common people.
PULLMAN THE GUILTY ONE.
Pullman is, If no; IN law, in equity,
the sole operator of the Santa te cars.
Pullman was guilty of cause t3 strike,
and SO the strike came IL members or
the American Railway Union haG j right
TO strike against Pullman, they haa i
right also to strike against i'ullmans
contrsctors-the railroads.
Il have now said all / wanted TO. So
far as / am concerned. / am willing To
leave this case to your own plain decision
/ would rather leave IL TO you to decide
than TO decide IL myself. II you should
deem 1t wise to decide against these men
ii would be more like cruchxion OF the
cause Of labor against capital than a pun
ishment OF these defendants. This Is no
time to indulge in diatribes against the
general managers. but tney are here
these monsters are here In Chicago. Pull
man set his foot on the neck Of the poor.
and the general managers allied them
selves with him. II the law does not do
il, God will give these people justice. lie
Will punish the general managers"
FOR THE GOVERNMENT
Edwin L. Walker arose 10 make the
closing argument for the government. and
the final one In the case. Mr.. Walker
said he would attempt TO prove 10 the
Court before he finished his argument
that the American Railway Union was
nothing more than a huge trust. organ
tied FOR that purpose. and that, therefore,
II came under the Sherman antitrust
act Of 1890.
In regard TO Mr.. Erwin's intlmation
that ears had been set on fire at the
instance of the general-maEagers. Mr..
Walker said that whole matter had been
investigated by grand jury, and no
witness had been brought forward 10
prove the truth Of the charge Mr.. Wal
ker continued: "T'he learned counsel who
preceded me said Il special prosecutor
should be appointed 10 take the case
Of the general managers. ] will say that
II you will get one appointed l Will be
the first To endorse him"
The special counsel for the government
then went into the law IN the case. reply
Ing to arguments made for the defend
ants.
Mr.. Gregory interrupted him TO ask
If the President approved these proceed
iugs.
Mr.. Walker answered: THE administra-
ton fully approves all the oroc eeiihss
now being taken at Chicago to make
these defendants obey the law"
Mr.. Walker confined himself 10 an
argument on the evidence and the facts
rather than n rhetorical demand for the
punishment of the defendants. He said
he could see no logic in Mr.. Erwin's
speech, and that nobody had ever denied
the right Of men to strike, whether de-
scended from Jehovah or obtained other
wise.