The Washington times., 1895-07-03
Virtual Effect of Dehs' ImprisOn-
ment, Say WOrkingmen.
THEIR BIG MASS MEETING
Resolutions Adopted Strongly Con-
demning the Action of the Courts.
Counsels Closer Union Among Labor
Organizations.

ceration was pursuant TO order OF the
highest court for alleged offenses against
the law, was the topic of discussion, last
night, at a mass meeting OF The labor or
ganizations of the District at Plasterer's
Hall, at the corner of Fuor and a half
street and Pennsylvania avenue
Both in the speeches made and in the
resolutions unanimously adopted, the act
of the court was denounced as the 'un-
warranted. arbitrary extension OF Ju-
dicial power, ostensibly for the main
tenance of law, but really in the interest
of a corporate power which, by dishonest
methods secured from a federal court
and the National government legal and
armed support"
President James F. McHugh, of the
Federation of Labor presided, and as the
first order of business called for the read
ing of the resolutions. These were pre-
sented by Mr.. Milford spohn.
MASTER WORKMAN SOVEREIGN'S
SPEECH.
The principal speech OF the evening was
made by Mr.. j. K. Sovereign, the master
workman OF the national organization OF
the knights of Labor, whose appearance
on the platform was greeted with storm
OF applause
hIr. Sovereign said this country needs
recapUuring by the ballot. He deplored the
fact that the laboring men are not dis
posed TO cling together. and said he hoped
to yet lead them united to victory; that
he was not laboring in the interest alone OF
his own organization, but for wor6inEmen
everywhere organized and unorganized.
He recounted the history OF the riots in
Chicago, and said the efforts OF DebS
throughout were for peace and order.
He knew this, he said, from participation
with him in al the stirring events OF that
trying period
His idea was, he said, that poverty is
a habit, and submission to oppression is
habit Had all the acts of corporate ag-
gression been precipitated upon the labor
ing men at once, revolution would have
resulted. but these acts were of gradual
| aggression.
DEPUTIES WERE DRUNKARDS.
He denounced the deputies, placed in
power in Chicago during the strike as
drunkards, who, by It rtCkleSsness, brought
on the scenes of violence.
''If we want to whip the combination that
put Eugene Debs in prison. he declared,
1--WE must stick together. The incarcera-
ton means much. 1t means the elevation
of property rights above human rights.
| His opinion, briefly expressed, was
! that Debs was imprisoned without
trial, and that IL this can DE done as 10
! one individual il could be done with all.
! He said, further, that the time is coming
! when the wage scale would be abolished,
] when the people would enjoy the fruits
! of their Own labor, and when the railroads
/ would be run in the interest OF the masses,
not of corporate wealth, with no board
! of directors to trample upon human liberty.
Dr. Alexander Kent followed in speech
/ strongly commencing the greater part OF
! Mr Sovereign's address. He referred es-
| pecially to the reference made to the
| necessity for united effort and close union
upon the part Of organized labor.
| ALL SHOULD STICK TOGETHER.
He deprecated the fact that when union
men quit work on account OF oppression,
there were other men who would take their
places and uphold the hand OF plutocracy.
Every non-union man should unite with
the union, and all should work together
for the common good.
DR. Kent was heartily applauded at the
close of his remarks.
The other speakers were Milford Spohn,
| James Trainer, Samuel De Nedry and
| Joseph STEINER. They We're all agreed
upon the necessity for active cooperation
of workingmeu and the use of the ballot
for the redress of the great wrongs suffered.
! When the speeches Were ended, President
! McHugh presented the following resolu-
tions and they Were adopted without a
dissenting voice.
We. citizens OF the District OF Columbia,
| hereby declare that the Imprisonment or
Eugene Debs aud other officials Of the
American Railway Union, was an un-
warranted, arbitrary extension OF judicial
power ostensibly for the maintenance Of
law, but really in the interests OF a corpor-
ate power, which, by dishonest methods,
secured from federal court and International
government legal and armed support in
an event which was the direct result OF
! corporate greed and imposition.
1t was an act that outlaws labor, an
ingenious legal scheme TO defeat the object
| OF trade organization and leaves the wage
| Garner helpless to resist the degrading
imposit ion OF combined capital.
Itisthel anipulationoranin injunction
which makes the wage-earner culprit
| and casts about the souliess corporate
body the protective ermlne OF the Judiciary.
1t is a gross prostitution Of legal pro-
cess which is a greater menace to the
liberty of the citizen and the stability Of
| the State than are all the forces tending
to IawlesSness aud anarchy.
1t is an act, though confirmed by the
Supreme Court of the United States. that
| should be condemned as the greatest legal
wrong OF the century.
1t broadens and makes indeliible the
line between that which is legal and that
which is right, and defines the issue as
between legal wrong and Illegal right,
which is involved in the efforts OF those
who under adverse industrial conditions,
legally defcnSeless, are striving for an
equitable share of the product Of their
tabor and the moral and intellectual adj
vancement of the workers of this republic.
Such an abuse of power which arbitrarily
imposes upon the citizen the forfeitur
| OF liberty and affiXeS the seal of crime,
deserves the condemnation Of every citizen
who desires an impartial administration
of Justice strictly within the organic law.
Upon the defenseless heads of the repre-
sentatives of labor the heavy hand OF
Qebased justice falls, while a multitude
are licensed and permitted to appropriat,
the substance of the people, outrage tht
right of the citizen, rob labor of its earn
ings, force men to pauperism and crime
Against them no injunction issues, justice
is mute, courts are impotent, legislator
truc ckiing, and judges servile. Hedged
around by bayOnets, spurned from the bal
of the Judiciary, denied due process O.
law, betrayed by the legislator, and neg
iected by the execut i've official, the
substance and the liberty OF the citZel
is in the merciless grasp of the ''com
mu nism of pelf" Such a condition strongl.
appeals to the patriotism and manhood o
the people, who, regardless of party
fealty in the past, should enter effective
protest at the ballot box.
As voters, 10y the power of the franchise
from the high court of the people, let a
injunction issue bearing the seal of III
sovereignty of labor that judges will respect
legislators heed and executive official
obey.