New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-15
DEBS SENTENCED TO JAIL.
FOUND GUILTY. WITH HIS ASSOCIATES.
OF CONTEMPT.

SIDERED LENIENT.
Chicago Dec l4-Judge Woods to-day sentenced
Eugene V Debs, the leader of the American Rail-
way Union strike. to six months In the county jail.
as a punishment for violating the injunction issued
by himself and Judge Grosscup july last TO the
rest of the men. with the exception OF McNean, ne
gave three months. In the case of McVean sentence
is SUSPENDED Sentence is not cumulative. covering
the cases of the Government and the Santa Fe Rail-
road against the men. The same sentence Is i'm
posed in each case but both sentences begin and
end at the same time. beginning December "a the
defendants are f. V. Debs. president; G. w How
ard vice-presdent: Sylvester Keliher. secretary;
l.. W. Rogers. NJ. j. Elliot. James Hogan, William
Burns j. ID. McVean and Leroy NJ. Goodwin. The
sentence is generally considered light one. The
case will be appealed. In speaking OF the decision
Mr. barrow who represented the defendants said:
THE decision is bad law, but the sentence Is re-
!narkaby enient.
Vice President Howard said he was prepared TO
expect anything President Debs was more cast
down than any of the others. 1t in the discre-
ton Of the Court to sentence the men to any terms
OF years he chose within constitutional limits ana
TO impose any fine he thought fit.
All o! the defendants were in court with the eN-
ception OF Leroy NJ Goodwin: 1t is not known where
the latter u.s. The contempt for which the defend
ants were arraisned was the violation of an injunc-
ton issued July by Judges Woods and Grosscup'
which forbade all men to interfere with trains III
any way whatsoever II was claimed by the thiteu
States DstrctAttorney that Debs and other officers
and directors of the American Railway Union re-
peatedy violated this order of the Court by issu-
ing directions to their leuenants all over the coun-
Try 10 call out the men and advising the Gripping
of the complete railroad system OF the United states
II possible The defence made that Debs and MS
assistants had right to order strikes ana 10 con-
tuue to conduct their side of the fight against the
railroads Judges Woods and Grosscup were both
Tbeys in he ed States Court
of Appeals and gave several decisions of minor I'M
portance before Judge Woods came to the decision
for which the big crowd waiting Judge Woodss
decision of the Circuit Court, however anu 'iie
Court OF Appeals formally adjourned and Cir
cult Court convened before the decision was given.
The Judge skipped the preliminary discussion OF the
evidence and proceeded to go at once TO the hear Oh
the matter
The question of whether not the court had
Jurisdiction was first discussed, and this question
after citing numerous authorities. the Judge de-
cided in the affirmative. Then the difference be-
tween a nuisance and a purpresture which latter
is particular form of public nuisance, was taken
I'D. He defended the Issuance of the injunction
on the ground that eminent authorities had ue-
cided that the courts had right TO intervene
where irreparable damage might result before the
hardness of the law could remedy matters Gov
eminent ownership in the mailbags was discussed
by the bench Judge Woods refused TO decide
whether he had jurisdiction under the interstate
Commerce Act. and took up the Sherman Anti
Trust Law. under which the action against Deos
was chiefly based One of the sections OF TINS
law makes II an offence TO restrain commerce in
any way The Judge decided that the United
States court had full jurisdiction under this act
TO punish all offenders the directors OF the A.
X. T., making new precedent thereby III MS
decision Judge Woods continues as follows;
This brings me to The question Of fag Act c Da
duct only is in question: ana their adsS ss aIe
from from other evidence that essential voluntary
modification of their course OF ac,lon e,'her Their
original intention it is true. was only to preven,
the use of Pullman cars. but flndng as tney ad
immediately that that aim would be thwarted
Inv the discharge from service of men who re-
fused to handle those cars, they began as cary airy
claimed. to issue orders TO strike ana from ina'
time TO the end to the S5e9 a 81 sr kew Win p
sistent consistency OF purpose and with uhVaryihs
As oficers OF the American Railway Union II is
beyond question that the defendants had practGtai
oontro OF OF the men actively engaged Under
conditions of last summer when there were nlanS
that a strike that aimed at general cessation OF
business upon the railroads of the country eonld
iieved that the defendants entered upon the execu-
ton Of their schemes without approaching the I r
and without determining how TO deal with H. ne
Inference therefore is fair one aside from Oh;
Intended that this strike should differ from others
only In magnitude OF design ana boldhess OF ~
limitation and violence. SO far at least as found
essential to success would not be omitted tSr
promptincs Of sef-interest without instieation or
direct suggestion and even in spite OF admonitlons
Such admonitions against violence were sent out
occasionally by the defendants but II does not az
pear that they were ever needed, and am not apIe
70 believe the evidence that In the fullest sense
it was expected intended that they should d he
] am able and quite ready to believe that tne de-
PENDANTS not only did not favor. but deprecated ex-
ma fp
convinced was secure the goodwill o! the pup,
M To that end the warnings as e. eGy
NAV be we'll believed sincere. but their iol-
lovers did not nien Sed tnf forbd
dalton and the mlder forms OF wnich d ho'
we're injury 70 person and which for that reason,
1t seems were assumed to be not unlaM st Wnes
contest with IAN alliance of rich and powerful cor
porations"
Judge Woods said the alleged advice OF counsei
neither justines nor mtlgates wrong or error com
mitted In pursuance Of the advice. With all that
has been said about guarding property keeping the
peace and being the first to arrest Offenders not
one was arrested. and effort was made by strik-
ers or members Of the Railway Union TO preserve
the peace or protect property. On the contrary.
many OF them were leaders In scenes OF violence
and disorder. The Judge continues
II is shown by the testimony OF two or more
witnesses that on the night Of Tune q Debs ana
hoTad ns and se and suburb OF Chicago
on the line OF the Rock Island and Pacihc roan
that on the next day inauSurated "a condi-
lion OF turbulence" which witness declared ne
did not believe could exist" and notwithstanding
the efforts OF the United States Marshal. by rean-
dist, rbance nothing was accomplished unt,I me
Eth OF July when Federal soldiers arrived These
things directly followed. and in arse m me-
think II not unwarranted 10 say, were inc mature
and probable result OF the speeches made and couh
sci given 10 the men by Dcbs and Howard ~ the
meeting on the night OF the 29tb ut Blue lslanu
suggestions calculated 70 inclte thc acs o, o
the kilograms which were sent out over the name
~ Debs and for which, Notwithstanding the aver
ment 10 their TO the contrary, IL ~ u.
longer possible for any OF the deiehdah's 10 ue"'
some measure OF responsibility a.,
THE right OF TO strike peacoabiy; ani IN, ths
right to advise peaceable strike wnicn sne "a
Hut II men enter into conspiracy 70 do any ui