The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-10
DEBS' MESSAGE FROM JAIL
He Issues an Address to All
the A. r. u. Local
Branches.
TEXT OF THE COMMUNICATION
Labor Day to Be Observed so as
to Be a Reproof to the
Supreme Court.

Secretary W. Craig of the San Francisco
A. R. U. has received circular from ex-
President Debs and his low-members in
Jail at Woodstock:
WOODSTOCK. ILL.,. Aug. 1, 1885,
To All Local Untons-BRoTHERs: We send
you words of greeting and good cheer. Each
day adds evidences OF the recuperative powers
of the American Railway Union. No labor or
ganization was ever put to such fiery test
All the known and unknown powers of the
plutocracy were required TO defeat the Ameri-
can Railway Union-and still the order is
not defeated On the contrary, though over
whelmed and shattered, and its members black
listed persecuted and scattered, it is the CEN
trail figure in the industrial world and is the
hope and inspiration OF organized labor every
where.
Thousands of brave and intrepid veterans,
vitalized and strengthened by quenchless
faith in the conquering mission of the order,
are at work laying more deeply and securely
the foundations of what shall surely be the
greatest, most progressive ana most useful rail-
Monday, September 2, organized labor will
with becoming ceremony observe Labor day.
General Master WORKMAN sovereign OF the
Knights of Labor has issued a call to all labor
organizations to unite in dedicating Labor day
to solemn md mighty protest against the un.
con stitutional and un-American decision of
the Federal courts, by virtue of which trial by
Jury has been abrogated and civil liberty
bludgeoned to deatn
Mr. Sovereign calls upon all labor organiza-
tions in every city, town, village and hamlet
to ioin hands with the agricultural classes and
all others who represent honest toll and act in
concert in this movement. Let all differences,
prejudices and an1m0sitles be sunk deep from
sight for one day. at least, so that the voice of
labor, like the mingling of many thunders.
shall be heard at Washington in warning and
protest.
has Russianized the country, and unless we
arise en- masse we shall live under q central
despotism and we shall be serfs.
We heartily concur In the recommendations
of Mr. Sovereign and hope that all our local
unions will cooperate with other labor and
industrial organizations in proper observance
OF Labor day and in making the encroach-
ments of the Federal judiciary upon the rights
of organized labor the central and commanding
issue of the day.
We do not ask this for ourselves, for we real
ize that whether we are In or out OF jail Is
matter of no consequence so far as we are indi-
yidually concerned. We have sufficient manl-
ness and self-respect to bear without whining
or croaking the penalties of our official acts.
But there Is another and grayer aspect to
the case The precedent that has been estab-
lished by virtue of which q Federal Judge can
put officers of labor organization in Jail with
of corporate capital Is, if unchallenged, a
death blow to organized labor. Workingmen
have no legal right to strike, and if they do
strike they can be put in Jail. Labor is bound
and gagged and helpless, and no one is keener
the great corporations of the country,
The three months sentence which the
directors are serving will expire August %,
and on that day they will promptly and yigor-
ously resume their official duties. The presi-
dent serves six months sentence, which
does not expire until November %, when he
will Join the rest in what is to be the most
aggressive campaign made in the interest OF
labor.
There is no longer any misgiving about the
order. 1t is tramping with steady and stately
steps to elevations OF usefulness and power.
The past twenty days have witnessed a change
which is truly remarkable. Unions that were
believed to be dead have risen as If by magic,
and their lodge-fres are again lighting the
way to labor's emancipation.
We shall soon be with you face to face to
preach with renewed zeal the gospel OF unifca-
an office for the transaction of business, and
this is being run at its full capacity. This was
made necessary by the Niagara OF correspond.
country. Our regular hours are from 6 A. n.
TO 10 P. M, seven days week, SO 1t may be
seen that Notwithstanding we are confined to
the limited quarters of jail we are using
every available moment, sixteen hours day,
in planning and working for the good OF the
order.
We do not hesitate to say that so far as the
old brotherhoods are concerned, they are either
disgraced or dead, or both. These were the
active allies of the railroad corporations in
crushing workingmen in the great strike.
Their treachery to labor will bear its own
fruit They cannot escape the consequences Of
their treason. Organized labor has repudiated
them, and many OF the corporations, having
used them as tools to do their dirty work, have
no longer any use for them. member of the
American Railway Union may be without q
job and in hard straits, but he need not be
ashamed to look his fellow-men In the face.
The American Railway Union is for all
organized labor, and will never prostitute IT.
self to the base purpose OF fayoring an alliance
with railroad corporations to crush and defeat
and imprison and starve workingmen, mem
hers of another organization,
The grand" officers of the old brotherhoods
in their secret meetings condemn the A. R. U.
and malign its officers, but they dare not meet
them on the platform. We win soon be out of
jail and open to engagements, and If one or
more of these gentlemen can be induced to
meet us and we do not wipe him or them from
the face of the earth we will agree to retire
from the labor field. Let the railroad men of
the country hear both sides and then decide
which organization stands for labor and which
is in league with the corporations to perpet-
uate their slavery.
This circular will probably be read at the
next meeting of the local branch next
Wednesday and some action taken in ref
erence to it.