The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-14
IN INDIGNANT MOOD
The Unions Aroused Over the
Observation-Disclosures"
inscription.
MAss.MEETING TO BE CALLED.
Harry A. Knox Gives His Views of
the Action Of General Gra-
ham.

Indignation has grown so strong among
the members of the American Railway
Union and other local labor organizations
over the manner in which the monument
in the Preside Cemetery to the four SOL
diers killed in the train wreck near Sacra-
mento last year has been inscribed. that
measures are now being taken to hold an
indignation meeting. At this meeting
resolutions will be adopted condemning
the action of General Graham in having
ordered the words, murdered by strikers"
chseled on the commemorative shaft OF
stone. 1t is charged that this inscription
is an accusation of every individual con-
nected with the strike in opposition to the
railroad corporation. An endeavor may
also be made to have the Objectionable in
scription erased by representation of the
matter from the strikers standpoint to
General Graham
Harry A. Knox, who was chairman of
| the mediation committee at Sacramento
| during the strike, said yesterday:
The first knew about that monument and
its infamous inscription was the publication OF
the article in THE CALL General Graham, /
think, was little premature in his decision
as TO who murdered his soldiers. He took a
responsibility upon himself when on his own
accord he ordered the Murdered by Strikers
inscription placed upon the monument.
consider General Graham no more capable
of arriving at the true state of affairs in regard
to the trestle wreck than q jury of twelve
men. All the strikers charged with this crime
were tried and acquitted by twelve intelligent
and impartial men, except 5. b. Worden, who
is weak-minded, as was clearly shown by his
conduct during his preliminary hearing at
Woodland. His case is now before the Supreme
Court, and if they grant him q new trial we
have plenty of evidence that will acquit him.
am very we'll acquainted with the gentle
men mentioned as having been at the head of
the movement which resulted in the erection
of the monument Their action all the way
through the strike showed that they were not
in sympathy with the strikers; in fact, they
were looked upon as iavoring the railroad, so
their action is not q surprise to us. don't be-
lieve that the fair-minded people of Sacra-
mento would indorse anything of the kind.
The Citizens Protective Association is made
up of men connected with corporations, as was
clearly shown at the Woodland trial by the
testimony of its members, and they certainly,
therefore, cannot speak for the mass of the
people of Sacramento.
This is matter in which l am sure we will
have the sympathy and support OF all fair
minded citizens, for General Graham, while
above the authority OF the local government In
most all respects certainly has no right to set
himself entirely above the law. His duty.
among other things, is TO see that the laws of
the country are properly enforced and re-
spected, yet he, personally, ignores the lawful
verdict of O court OF justice and preSumes to
attach the stigma of the foul crime Of murder
to body OF men who only endeavored by all
lawful means within their power to preserve
their rights and the rights of their co-workers.
We do not propose to rest quietly under this
insult A committee is already ut work
making arrangements for a monster in
dignatfon meeting at which appropriate reso-
lutions will be adopted and further action
taken in the matter. We shall try to get
General Graham 10 have this inscription
erased, and failing in this the matter will
probably be carried to the Secretary of War If
we cannot secure redress in any other way.
AT this mass-meeting there will be an orator
representing the A. K. U. who will not only
demonstrate the innocence of the strikers so
far as the trestle-wreck is concerned but
will show who are the guilty parties.
In order TO insure full attendance at
the proposed mass-meeting the committee
having the matter in charge has prepared
the copy for dodger, which is to be dis
tributed by the thousands for few days
preceding the meeting. 1t reads as fol-
| lows:
| A public protest against the shameful in.
scription, Murdered by strikers" placed on
| the Preside monument by General W. NJ. Ora
| ham. Mass-meeting at -------. August -
| P. NJ, to take action. The inside facts about
! the wrecked train win be shown. Let every
| lover of justice snd fair play attend.