The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-09-03

ST. LOUIS CONGRESS CALLS FOR CON.
TRiBuTlONS OF MONEY

As the First Thing Needful-If the Strike
Is Not Settled by Sept. go Another
Meeting Called for Chicago, When Other
Action VIII BE Taken.
labor leaders promulgated platform
yesterday and agreed that II the coal
strike was not settled by Sept. 20. that
day week a convention should be held
at Chicago to take further action. The
resolutions are preceded by a long pre-
amble the pith of which is pronounce
ment against government by injunc-
ton" and declaration that the courts,
under the injunction, are running the
country. regardless Of the rights of its
citizens. The courts are called judicial
despots. charged with resorting to the
most shameless defiance Of decency."
Then the resolutions follow:
Liberty "stupendous SHAM"
1--WE have met to counsel together and
have come to the following conclusions
that,
Whereas. The present strike of coal
miners has again demonstrated the fact
that our so-called liberty Is not freedom,
but Is a stupendous sham, under which
millions are degenerating, while hun
dreds of thousands of men, women and
children are starving in novels ard on
the public highways;
Whereas, This condition has become
permanent for a large and ever-increas-
ing number of our population as long as
we permit comparatively small class
of legalized exploiters to monopolize the
means Of production and distribution for
their private benefit-a fact again obvi-
Gus in the case of the miners;
Whereas, Appeals to congress and to
the courts for relief are fruitless, since
the legislative, as we'll as the executives
judicial power are under the control of
the capitalistic class, so that 1t has come
to pass in this free country that while
cattle and swine have a right to the
public highway, Americans, so-called
freemen, have not:
Call for General Contributions.
Whereas, Our capitalistic class as is
again shown In the present strike, is
armed, and has not only policemen, mar
shals, sheriffs and deputies, but also
regular army and militia, in order to en-
force government by injunction, sup
pressing lawful assemblage, free speech,
and the right to the public highway,
while on the other hand. the laboring
men Of the country are unarmed and
defenseless, contrary to the words and
spirit of the constitution Of the United
States. Therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That we hereby set apart
Friday, the third day Of September, 1897,
as a Good Friday for the cause of
suffering labor in America and contri-
butte the earnings Of that day to the
support of our struggling brothers. the
miners. and appeal to every union man
and every friend of labor throughout
the country to do likewise.
May Hold n General Convention.
Resolved, If the strike Of the miners
Is not settled by the goth day Of Septem-
Der, 1897, and announcement made to
that effect by the president Of the Unit
ed Mine Workers, a general convention
be held at Chicago on Monday, Sept. a.
1897, by the representatives Of all unions,
sections, branches, lodges, and kindred
organizations Of laboring men and
friends of their cause. for the purpose
Of considering further measures in the
interests Of the striking miners and la
Dor In general.
tteSOlNeu, IndC we COnSlOeT the use
Of the ballot as the best and safest
means for the amelioration of the hard
ships under which the laboring class
suffers.
Looks Like Call to Arms.
Resolved, That the public ownership
Of railroads and telegraphs is one Of
the most necessary reforms for our body
polite.
"Resolved, That we most emphatical-
ly protest against government by in
junction, which plays havoc with even
such political liberty as workmen have
saved from the steady encroachment Of
capitalism, and be it finally
Resolved. That no nation in which
the people are totally disarmed can long
remain free nation, and therefore, we
urge upon all libertyloving citizens to
remember and obey article 2 of the con-
stitution of the United States, which
reads as follows: The right of the
people to keep and bear arms shall not
be infringed.'"