The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-12-22
SIX MONTHS FOR DEBS.
Judge Woods Decides Him Guilty OF Con-
tempt OF Court 49, His Seven Com
panions Receive Terms OF
Three Months Zach.

CHICAGO, Dec. 15.-Judge Woods Fri
day sentenced Eugene V. Debs, the
leader of the American Railway union
strike, 10 six months in the county
Jail, as punishment for violat-
ing the injunction issued by
himself and Judge Grosseup July
last. To the rest OF the men with
the exception OF McVean he gave three
months In the case of McVean his
sentence is suspended. Sentence l. not
cumulative, covering the cases OF
the government and the Santa Fe rail-
road against the men. The same sem
tence is imposed in each case, but both
sentences begin December %. The de-
PENDANTS are: Il. V. Debs, president; q.
w. Howard. vice president; Sylvester
kelliher. secretary; l.. w. Rogers. NJ.
j. Elliott, James Hogan, William
Burns, J. ID. McVean, Leroy Nj. Good
win. The sentence is generally con-
sidered light one. The case win be
appealed.
All of the defendants were in court
with the exception OF Leroy NJ. Good
win, whose whereabouts are not
known, and who could not there
fore be notified. The contempt
nrraigned was violation OF
an injunction issued July by
Judges Woods and Grosscup, which
forbade all men TO interfere with
trains in any manner whatsoever. IL
was claimed by the United States dis
trict attorney that Debs and the 9TH
err officers and directors OF the
American Railway union repeat
eddy violated this order Of the court
by issuing directions TO their lieuten-
ants all over the country 10 call out
the men and advising the crippling of
the complete railroad system OF the
United States II possible. The defense
made was that Debs and his assistants
had a right TO order strikes and 20 con-
tinue 90 conduct their side OF tho fight
against the railroads. Judges Woods
and Grosscup were both on the bench.
The Judge skipped the preliminary discussion
OF the evidence aud proceeded 10 30 az once TO
tho heart OF the matter. The question %
whether or not the court had jurisdiction
was first discussed, and this question.
after citing numerous authorities the judge
decided ia tho Affirmative Then tho differ
cnce between nuisance and a perpcstuer,
which latter Is particular form OF public nui-
sance, was taken up. lie defended the issuance
OF the injunction on the ground that eminent
authorities had decided that the courts had u
right 20 intervene where irrcparnble damage
might result before the hardness OF the law
could remedy matters. Judge Woods refused
60 decide whether he had Jurisdiction under tho
Interstate commerce act, aud TOOK up the Shcr-
man antitrust law, under which the action
against Debs was chiefly based. one OF the
sections 81 this law makes 10 an ononsc 20 re-
strain commerce Ia any way The judge de-
Cidea that Unlted states courts had fun
jurisdiction under this act 20 punish al such
Offenders as the directors Of the American
Railway union, making new precedent
thereby.
what the conduct OF these men was. ls the
question 20 be decided here, said to court.
Did they change thoir cunduC t after receiving
this injunction, Or aid they continue % carry
ON tho striker 1 think there Is doubt
these defendants had power 60 make the men
who looked UP 70 them 60 as they pleased
and that they continued O. violate this iniunc-
ton believe the defendants deprecated any
extreme violence, but 1 do not think
they opposed such acts as stopping
trains, throwing switchos or intimidat-
Ing workmen. These mon know that
common laborcrs would do these things.
/ am unable 10 believe they were SO ignorant
az not to know acts OF violence and Interrupt
ton OF tranic would ensue from their dircc-
tions."
nlho opinion went on TO say that the right TO
strike peaecaby was not questioned, but that
IL an agreement was entered into 70 do a thing
which could not but result In wrong and lie
gal acts the agreement was conspiracy and all
those party 20 the original agreement were
responsible for the results.
The American Railway union. Il was stated,
entered into % conspiracy on June % when 10
agreed TO boycott the Pullman Both
officers and men were from that date RESPONSE
bic for all acts which were committed
Debs' utterances not 10 commit violence
were doubted by the court Heidi not believe
they were sincere. with all that has been
said about the American Railway union
keeping guard over property and being
the first 70 arrest Offenders, not
ono has been arrested, continued
the court Tho court then reviewed the mass
OF kilograms In which Dcbs ordered men out,
and declared these wore utterly az variance
with tho statement made In Debs' answer
that he took no part In continuing the strike.
After thus concluding that thore was no doubt
that the men as individuals were guilty Judge
Woods said.
but the point under the sherman law IL
whether these mon we're In conspiracy. II
they we're, believe there Is no way by which
they can escape the moral and legal
responsibility FOR their acts Ho then
gave il as hts opinion that they
we're and that therefore all the men
allied with them we're also guilty. The
evidence left no feature OF the case Ina doubt
Then he said "The court therefore finds the
defendants guilty OF the onenses as charged In
the indictments ia both cnses. and viii ilN tho
punishment the same In both cuscs but viii
not mako IL cumulative"
All OF the defendants present then
stood up, SO the court could see them
They did not appear To be agitated,
and several smiled from time 20 time.
II think / will suspend any sentence with
regard 90 Mr.. McNean. arm 81 the opin-
ION that Mr.. Elliott was actively engaged
IN this strike Punishment should not DO
vlndlctlve; neither should IL be trivial The
object Of punishment FOR contempt Of court IL
20 prevent future contempt Ny conclusion Is
that the injunction was right Mr.. Dcbs Is
more responsible than anybody else. he Il
man OF marked ability ana Of strong
character and the leader OF these
men " was In his power by
merely iifting his voice 20 stop all this disturb
ancc / shall therefore discriminate between
him and tho rest OF the defendants. / will give