Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-24
ANSWER OF E. v. pees. ,
'-0 "eP"ea 90 tho Injunction and ppt.
. General Denial.

"0 "epnea GO the Injunction and p,.. q.
General Denial.
1 Hhi'Aeo, July 2.-president Debs br
s attorneys. has replied to the charge Of
'on'empt made against him in the federal
court. Contrary to the expectation ~
many 'he answer is not n justification of
u's course but general reputation of
ueaIiy all the acts charged against him.
ne old not order strike; he did not send
us 'e'eerams imputed to him save one.
,". ne overstepped his authority in his
TO call or the strike If th. mepoears
would reinstats all the strikers Tbis in
brief Is his plea.
Never Ordered a Strike,
The answer. which was formulated br
attorneys w. w. Erwin, OF st. Paul. and
.. >. Gregory, Of Chicago, opens with the
usuai reservation clause covering insuffi.
c'ehcies In the bill Of complaint. After
aihi'ting the existence and setting forth
.ne purposes OF the American Railway
Shion the defendants deny that on the
10th and 9th days of June last past. or
q. any other time, the American Railway
Union or Its bosrd of directors or other
officers, directed and ordered the mem.
Ders OF said American Railway Union en-
gagged in the service Of the Illinois Cen.
'rai hallway company, or any other rail
way company, to leave the service of said
company. as alleged in said information
or otherwise
Men struck of Their Own Accord.
but they aliege that on or about said
time majority of the members of said
American Railway Union employed upon
the Illinois Central railroad and other
riff 70 in, ,,,eS
did for themselves, without an order. di-
rection or control of the said American
halfway Union, or of its officers or di-
iors, or of these defendants or either of
them voluntarily determine by their
votes that they would strike or leave the
service oil said railway companies and
that IN pursuance of such vote said EN-
ployes did on or about said time, leave
the service of said railway companjes
freely and voluntarily of their own ac
| cord
No Violence by A. Il. Z. Men,
The reply also denies, on information
and belief. that members of the A. r. L
committed any violence, and particularly
that defendants at any time advised or
countenauced violence. 1t is also denied
That the strike was for the purpose of pre-
venting or delaying the operation of trains
~ASeSSt IN tuc HILLS Ut IN inter.
state commerce. The defendants deny
that after the service of the injunction
they or either of them carried OH the work
of organization other than by generally
advising railroad employees to become
members of such union and receiving to
such membership persons SO applying
therefor rs aforesaid. And they deny that
any authority to order strikes on or Off
lays with the officers or directors of the
A. II. U.
Only One Telegram Admitted.
The most important statement made in
the reply is regarding the origin of tele-
grams. 1t says that of all those produced
by the law officers only one was sent or
authorized oy defendants aud that one
was Of JuiyS, 1894, us follows: 1--WE have
assurance tuat within foyty-eight hours
every labor organization in this country
will come to our rescue. The fight is on,
and our men are acquitting themselves
like heroes. Here and there one weakens,
but our cause is strengthened by dozen
going out in his place. Every true man
must quit now and remain out until the
light is won. There can b. no halfway
| ground. Men must be for us or against
us. Our cause is gaining ground daily
and our success is only question of
few days. Don't falter in this hour.
stand erect and proclaim your manhood.
Labor must win now or never Our VIC
tory will be positive and complete. What
ever happens do not give credeuce to
ruinors and newspaper reports"
When the Telegram Was Obtained.
These teleErams were obtained from
the Western Uuion Office here and are ull
signed 10y Debs-or nearly all. and some
Of them have been published in these dis