The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-09-25
MASSACRED MINERS
Euue ne v. Debs ExcOriateS the
Authorities for the
Crime.
In a Special to the Chicago
Chronicle He Discusses
the Shooting.


to explain how he and his deputies came
to fire upon body of peaceable and
defenseless miners on the road leading
to Latimer and committing wholesale
murder
The sheriff explanation simply does
not explain, and such Of it as would fur
nish shadow of justification is proven
to be false. Instead of preserving the
peace and UNFOLDING the law the sheriff
and his murderous deputies provoked
disorder and then deliberately shot
down the victims of their conspiracy.
We're / not unalterably opposed to
capital punishment I would say that the
sheriff and his deputy assassins should
be lynched. Each of them is guilty of
murder in the first degree, and as they
totally defed the law they were sworn
to uphold, in striking down their vic
Tins, they have forfeited all right to pro-
lection under law.
The men who have been shot down in
cold blood are Pennsylvania miners.
For years they have been robbed in
countless ways by the combines and
companies which employed them, and
now that they have been reduced to
famine and rags they are murdered in
the public highway, as if they we're so
many rabid dogs.
1 have been among them and know
from personal observation all about
their wretched condition. Even now, I
can see the marching miners pursuing
their endless journey. They are hungry
and the hot sands blister their shoeless
feet. Their hoyel habitations are the
abodes of despair. Wives and half
naked children are in the grasp of star
walton. ~
If by some magic the American peo-
pie could look upon the scenes in some
of the Pennsylvania mining regions the
bloody incident of yesterday would
precipitate revolution.
The responsibility does not rest en-
tirely with the sheriff and his deputies,
as they are but tools in the hands of
real murderers, for whom we must look
higher. AS general rule, the public
functionaries in the mining regions are
the spineless and subservient creatures
of the companies. They issue procla-
nations, read riot acts and commit
murder when ordered to do so by their
masters.
The miners who were murdered yes
terday in the name of law and order
were perfectly peaceable. They were
quietly walking on the highway when
the assassin authorities stopped and
bullied and attacked them.
Suppose a man of wealth, coal oper-
ator, were stopped and killed under the
same circumstances. The whole coun-
try would be aroused in an instant, and
such papers as the Chicago Tribune,
supported by the Christian clergy.
would demand in thunder tones that all
the powers Of the government be in
voked to crush out the whole body of
working men.
Wholesale murder has been commit
ted at the behest of corporate capital
by the public authorities in the name
of law and order. No amount of Jug
glery or sophistication can obscure the
Indictment.
Is this an attack on government, or
is it government?
Is it an assault on "Old Glory" as
they declared when the Pullman strike
was on, or is it what the old flag now
symbolizes?
Governor Hastings has now ordered
out the troops. Is it for the purpose OF
shooting the murderers or numbering
more miners?
The crime is so revolving that it is
difficult to keep within the bounds OF
moderate statement.
The twenty or more bloody graves OF
these murdered workingmen loom up
before US. What text for tomorrow
for the Christian ministry of Chicago!
Will they raise their voices in as SOL
emn protest as if the strikers we're the
murderers instead of the victims of the
authorities?
When think of these hard worked,
half starved coal miners lying in the
dirt of the highway, the blood oozing
from their ragged bodies, and then
think of the novels in which wives and
children are awaiting their return my
heart melts in compassion and ny
whole being revolts against the satanic
crime.
It is worthy of remark that the mas
sacre occurred in state that boasts OF
a majority of 100000 in favor of protec-
ton of American labor.
Government by in junction is bearing
fruit. We will soon have government
by murder.
The Pennsylvania horror is blot
upon the state, disgrace to the repub
r.