Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-29
CLOSED THE TALK.
Judge Woods Now Has the A,
r. Y. Contempt Case.
ERWIN AND WALKER SPEAK LAST,
Great Interest in the Closing Pleas-The
Attorney for the Defense Pays the Pre-
siding Judge a Compliment, and Agrees
in Advance That the Decision VIII Be
All Risht-Going for the General Man
ayers Next-Walker's Reply,


CHICAGO, Sept. 29--When Attorney
Erwin arose in Judge Woods court and
began his address to the court in the
Debs, Howard, Keliher, Rogers, Hogan, ct
al. contempt cases the room was crowded
to its utmost capacity. All the defendants
were present, and among the listeners and
spectators there was score of women. It
was the end, for it was the last day of the
hearing, and interest in the cases had
gone up to fever heat In beginning,
Erwin said that he was going to open his
argument in an extraordinary manner,
because this proceeding was extraordinary.
he intended to say something not often
said in a court and to a court. but which
he regarded as eminently proper here.
Then in his great oratorical voice he
tnundered ont to the court, shaking his
clenched fist in the air:
Judge Woods Has Eeen Fair.
"ln the hearing of this case you have
been fairr
After this rather peculiar introduction
he said that he thought his colleague,
Gregory, had struck the keynote of the
question in this case. There was no diff
ference in principle between the revolt OF
the American colonies against the tyranny
of Great Britain and the revolt of the
people against great corporation. 1t
WAS Just to declare war against a tyrant:
there was no redress. Also there was no
redress against the tyranny O: the Pull
man company. But it was not right to
declare war, to disrupt the public peace
Ii was right for the oppressed to do what
ever a God-given conscience directed them
to do.
Charge Against the General Managers.
This case" said the orator, as not 60
ing to be tried under the light of any lit
tie candle held up by Pullman, or the
Milwaukee, or the Santa Fe. This case
will be decided in the light of the high
sun, Gods lamp This is but the first Of
the suits But it is the last suit in which
We will be defendants. 1t is the end Of
the general managers sIiits. Tomorrow
We begin on them. The nation must ap-
point special counsel for the board of
managers. Tomorrow we shall begin our
inquiry into who set those cheap fires,
who desl royed n few cheap box cars,
switches and towers 10 gain sympathy by
the trick. There is no question in the
public mind about the atrocities of the
Pullman company. We shall now show
up the atrocities of the railway man
ayers"
Men Had just Cause to Strike.
The day would never come in this coun-
try when property would supersede con-
scientious liberty. To come to this case
in equity Pullman was not only manu-
facturer but also operator of cars. He
owned the cars he made and operated
those cars. There could be no separation
between maker and operator. The men
had just cause to strike against him and
his partners and the American Railway
| Union had struck against him and his
partners. No violence had been traced by
or could be traced to the defendants in
this case. And" concluded Erwin, you,
Your Honor, are sure to satisfy the nation
whichever way you decide this case"