The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-23
DEBS RELEASED FROM PRISON.
THE LABOR LEADERS, FRIENDS
GIVE HIM AN OVATION.

Then the Crowd Makes Rush for
Him and Lifts Him on Its ShOuI-
ders-He and ex-GOv. Waite Fan
on Each Others NecISs--A Triumph
al Journey to Chicago.
Chicago. Nov. 22.-Eugene V. Debs. for
five minutes. this afternoon, was literally
''in the hands of his friends" 1t was just
after the arrival of the train load of en-
thusiastic admirers of this great strike
leader at the little town of Woodstock,
where ne again breathed the air OF free
dom for the first time in half a year.
They had marched from the railroad de-
pot to the jail, and Mr.. Debs stood upon
the steps awaiting them. There was a
preliminary thunder of hurrahs, the storm
of bottled-up admiration broke and there
was a scene which has hardly even been
duplicated in the annals of labor affairs.
Without giving him a chance to speak the
crowd rushed upon their hero dragged him
from the steps and in a few moments had
him high in the air. Those who had the
good fortune to reach him first We're al
lowed the privilege of holding him and
he was passed from hand to hand while
all the while others struggled to get near
him. a casual spectator might have
taken the whole scene for one of the
mighty battles between rival foot ball
teams, and have imagined that Debs had
the ball.
Meanwhile, the crowd kept up con-
stant calling and the band played on, Sc
lecting as their theme, "See the Conquer
ing Hero Comes" Mr.. Debs took it all
in the good-natured spirit in which it
was meant, and when he was put down
began a hand-shaking soiree that Lasted
until the train was nearly ready to start.
A luncheon had been provided for his
friends by him. but every body was so
busy with CONGRATULATIONS that few had
a chance to taste the sandwiches which
constituted the menu.
The train arrived at Woodstock at 3
o'clock and was filled with labor delegates
and personal friends of Mr.. Debs, about 500
of them in all. They occupied six cars.
The Building Trades Association, the
Trades and Labor Assembly and other 10
cal associations were represented, though
there were many in these associations who
failed TO lend their countenance to the
demonstration. The only one of the other
eight directors of the American Railway
Union who was present was William
Burns of Chicago.
Among those who went to Woodstock
was Gov. Waite of Colorado. He came
all the way from Denver to be present.
There was notable scene when he ana
Mr.. Debs met. Mr.. Debs threw his arms
around the aged executives neck and
said in a tremulous voice. God bless
you, my boy The governor seemed
equally overcome. He made some COM
mon place remark about being glad to see
him again, and the two men fell to chat
ting OF the subjects nearest the hearts Of
both.
The march to the train was like the
triumphal entry of ruler, fortunate in
war, rather than to a man found guilty
in the eyes of the law. The music was
the Marseillaies, and the streets were
black and white with hundreds of citi-
zens of McHenry county standing ankle
deep in the snow to catch a glimpse of
the central figure of the day. Fully half
n a a np G1
two of these brought flowers and threw
them at the cause OF all the excitement.
Coming back to Chicago on the train Mr.
Debs was Obliged to walk twice through
all the cars and shake hands with every
occupant
When the delegation reached Chicago
another crowd was waiting at the North
western depot and the scene at Wood
stock was duplicated in milder colors
From the depot the line of march was
taken up to Battery d, and although a
miserable drizzing rain was dropping the
streets were filled with spectators who
Joined the marchers.
Five thousand people were present at
Battery ID. when the procession escorting
Mr.. Debs reached the han and the meet
ing was soon called to order. Orrin e
Woodbury. was chairman. He spoke
briefly and introduced Henry D. LLOYD
of Chicago, who, in the course of his re
marks, said that Mr.. DebS was to-day the
most popular man in the United States
with the real people because he was the
repudiator of government by injunction
Mr.. Lloyd was followed by EX-Gov.
Waite who made characteristic speech.
Among other things he said the decision
by the courts in the Debs case reduced
the American people to slavery. The SUI
preme court was composed Of tools Of
Corporations. For the last twenty
years" continued the Colorado man, the
government of the United States has been
conducted on the principle of the people
4 be damned and the present indications
are that the people have been pretty well
damned"
Tommy Morgan read letters from August
McGrath, secret3iy of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, J. S. CoXey, John Swim
{ ton Rev Herbert n Casson of Lynn,
Mass; p. J. Mcclure of Philadelphia,
/ Samuel Gompers, ex-president of the fed
I Grafton OF labor, eX-CongresSman J. B.
Weaver. of Des MOines, d. Flower of BOS-
ton, editor Of the Arena, and many others.
Mr. Debs was greeted with tremendous
applause as he made his way to the front
Of the platform. The crowd had hardly
jalOwed Chairman Woodbury. to introduce
/ the sbcr leader before it again broke
forth in tumultuous cheering, which con-
tinucd for some time.
AS soon as he permitted to do so,
Mr.. Dehs delivered a prepared speech, the
ing tic Imprisonment OF himself and his
| colleagues a "Flagrant violation of the
lconstituiOn and the total abrogation of
law and the usurpatlon OF judicial ana des-
motto poWer' the speaker had this to say
of trial by jury for conspiracy: AT the
kinstigation of railroad corporations l was
Indicted for conspiracy. That trial termi-
F 1ated abruptly an account of sick juror,
and il was currently reported that the IN
cident was merely q pfcleNl 70 aDaHuon
the trial. Whether true or not, 40 know
that | have been denied a trial and here
and now ! demand a hearing of my case.
ssTf the counsel for the government. alias
the railroads. have been correctly quoted
the case against me and my .. eolls9asues lea
is Not to be pressed, as Lhey 40 not
wish TO appear in the light of persecuJ-
ing the defendants. TeReI pei with i , sf3rn corn
fnr n,editation and have no ,hesitancy
in deciaring that under the same circum-
Stances would pursue precisely the same
noIicy. ! have neither apology nor re-
Mr.. Debs here came to the subject or
the evening and he continued: THE
theme is personal liberty; something thar
Americans have been accustomed me, to euio-
snd multiplied thousands of them con-
tinued in the habit to-day because they
40 not recognize the truth that in the i'm
1risonment of one man in defiance of all
constitutional guarantees the liberties of
ali are invaded and placed in peril.
LAS Americans we have bOasted of our
sliberties and continue TO boast of them.