The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1895-06-01
DEAD AGAINST DEBS.
SUPREME COURT D1c's,oN.
A uaa.s.oes Verdict UPAeid,.= tfe Ia
tanetioa OF Judge woods "A Il fr -
Ing the writ ef Hrb as rpu.

Washington, May 21.-The Unita0
States Supreme court to-day denied sii
application Of Eugene V. Debs. tn
strike leader. for writ Of haiseas ca7
pus. This is victory for the govern
uQent.
No more important question with tn
single exception Of the income tax iis-
come before the Supreme court during
the past year, than the attempt of
Eugene v. Debs and the other officers
OF the American Railway union 70
secure a reversal OF the sentences TO jail
by Judge Woods for interfering with in
ters.ate commerce and the running Of
the mails in the great railway strike OF
last summer.
The history Of the case is still fresh
in public memory. but II has importance.
beyond the question OF imprisonment ~
A r L. officials and there is largely
Involved the principle Of the right OF
judges having jurisdiction of large In
forests by virtue OF the recciyershrs
created by them. 10 prevent Labor
troubles through the instrumehtality Of
iniunctions-
Technically the application for writ
Of habeas corpus and cerfio-an arises
from the case in equity of the Union
Trust company. against the Atchison.
Topeka and Santa Fe road. On July =
1884,. when the great railway strike was
freatenIng. the receivers Of that system
appealed TO Judge Woods for an in
junction against the \. K L.. to prevent
II from melting the employees to strike.
Judge Woods signed the order presented
enjoining the officers Of the union from
rt-fsk f-1sa
state commerce. or from destroying
property: compelling or inducing the
eInpi0yes Of the road 10 strike, by vio-
leDce or intiIHidating. Or from aiding Or
sbetring them TO do any Of these things.
The A T. L. decr-ed a strike on
the Illinois Central railroad. one Of thos-.
Included in the injunction and tlIt.
events Of that strike are matters Of gen
eraI knowledge.
The officers Of the union were brought
before Judge Woods for contempt -
court last December. T.. V. Debs, pres
ident, was sentenced 10 six months in
jail. and the Othsrs-G. W. Howard,
Sylvester KeIiber. J.. W Rogers. James
Hogan. William Z. Burns. Roy u. Good
win and Martin j. Elliott. were sen
fenced 70 three months. II appears tina,
the Injunction had been personally
served on the first four officers. but
Judge woods held that its publication In
the newspaper WIS sufficient service in
lts@lf for all Of the defendants.
An application 1as made 10 the So
prenne court for tie reieas. Of the eight
officers Of the Dnion by writ Of habea5
corpus, and, pending decision Of the
Supreme court, they have been given
their freedom under bail Counsel Tor
Debs and his associates based their ap-
piieation on the grounds that their sen
tenee, without Indictment and trial by
jury, WAS In violation Of the cOnstltIi-
ton. particularly In fifth and sixth
amendments: that the Information upon
which they were convicted did not show
sny violation n the Injunction; also.
that the Injunction WIS void because The
bill asking fur II stated no car. II which
the court could take e0gnlzaL.ee, and
war, Ia effect. bill by the government
NJ the United States 70 maintain the
public peace and enjOin the violations
" the penal code
The decision u fhe court was read By
Justice Brewer and was unanimous,
there being no dissenting opinion. All
contentious 0f the government were sDs-
tanned. The conclusions II the courr
were that the government u the United
states has Jurisdiction oyer every font
Of roll and over eYery individual wItbiG
the boundaries N the United States, and
that while IL Was one ~ limited powers.
II had sovereignty within thDze iimita
tons. II has power 10 invoke the civil
courts 10 remove distinctions ~ inter
state commerce, and the ciyil courts had
the right 70 eDloiD iiose who made oh,
.tructiDns 10 such commerce. The in
junction WAS no bar 10 criminal pro
eszss1s for acts done IN violation NJ ifi,
injunction. The circuit court hsyin;
final turisdiction, its act was not review :
able by the spreme court On q petition
for writ Of habess corpus, and there
fore the wit wss denied.