Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-04
GOVERNOR ALTGELD'S-L LiTESr.
Some People at Chicago Inter viewed and
What They Say.


CHICAGO, June 4--Governor Altgcld's
hot letter fell on Chicago capitalists and
Populists like bomb. So much hotter
is this pronunciamento than the weather
that some men actually felt cool by con.
trass after reading it. But others didn't.
Others tclt even hotter after perusing the
epistlc. Judge Woods, of the United
States circuit court, is one of the victims
OF Governor Altgold's w-ath. He is the
judge who issued the injunction for the
violation of which he sentenced Dcbs and
the latter's eight companions on the di-
rectorate OF tho American Railway
Union to Jail for six months. Judge
Woods was in his chambers when n re-
porter asked him what he thought of the
letter.
Il haven't any openion to express re-
piled the judge. Il can only say that a
reporter from n morning paper called on
me last night aud attemp ted to interview
me On the letter. refused to talk. Alt
geld Is governor. l am judge. IL he
warts to talk, let him; L don't" Judge
Woods then next proceeded to give some
expert views on the subject of injunc-
tions. Yes il is true that Governor Alt
geld says there IL great danger of gov
crnment in the future by injunction. 1
don't think so. l suppose. though, that
in spite of Governor Altgclds opinions
on the subject, whenever tho United
States courts find that there is a proper
case for issuing an injunction one will be
granted"
"What ia n proper case for an injunc-
tion. Judge Woois?"
We'll" replied the judge slowly, rs he
hesitated for moment, 'the occasion
last summer when the Debs injunction
was granted was proper case"
President c. l.. Hutchinson was one of
the hot men. He had not finished read
ing the governors remarks, because he
grew so wroth. He said it was very bad
rot"
Lawyers arc not at all prepared to ad-
init the proposition that trial by jury Is
menaced by the decision. frank
Walker said in regard to this: "There is
no new principle set forth IN the decision.
1t has existed from the time of King
John and the Magma Charter. 1t hap
pcnci in this instance to be applied on a
larger scale and to n new case. Where
owners become insolvent and tho court
takes possession of the property it has a
right To use its processes for the protec.
tion of the interests of creditors. That
Is all 1t did in this case"
Clarence :. Darrow, who was DebS
attorney, talked as follows: 1T is re.
frcshing to see that one man, occupying a
high official position, is still fearless
enough to give his convictions upon pub
lie questions. 1t is almost inconceivablc
that the American people, with their ira
ditional love for liberty, should allow the
courts Of this country TO destroy the right
OF trial by jury; to place the great mass
of ,eon,e of tho United States wholly
within their power.
Whatever any lawyer or newspaper
may say to the contrary, hereafter any
Judge may issue an order against any
man forbidding any unlawful act and
then this judge, without the aid OF a
jury, may send this man to prison. The
ancient right of trial by jury has been alb
solutely abrogated in the United state:
and the people of this country are so
blindly given over to the worship of gold
that they do not care"