The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-02

| TIC W ana OF lntlr
| drudgery, and there remains not one
guaranteed right of American citizen
| ship the exercise of which an injunction
| has not somewhere made crime.
STARTLED by these subvcrsions of con-
| stitutional liberty, we have met to coun-
| sci together. and have come to the fol
| lowing conclusions, that,
''Whereas. The present strike of the
| coal miners has again demonstrated the
| fact that our so-called liberty is not
| freedom, but stupendous sham. under
which millions are degenerating, while
hundreds of thousands-men, women and
children-are starving in novels and ON
the public highways; and
"Whereas. This condition has become
permanent for large and evar-increas-
ing number of our population. as long as
we permit comparatively small class
of legallzed exploiters to monopolize the
| means or production and distribution for
their private beneft--a fact again OBJ
vious in the case of miners: and
whereas. Appeals to congress and to
the courts for relief are fruitless. since
the legislative, AS we'll as the executive
and judicial. powers are under the con-
troll of the capitalistie classes, so that it
has come to pass in this free country
that while cattle and swine have a right
to the public highways. Americans, So
called free men, have not; and
"Whcreas, Our capitalistic class. as il
again shown in the present strike, is
armed and has not only policemen. mar
shals. sheriffs and deputies. but also II
regular army and militia in order to en-
force government by injunction, suppress
ing lawful assemblage free speech and
the right to the public highway, while
on the other hand. the laboring men Of
the country are nnarmed and defense
less, contrary to the words and spirit of
the constitution of the United States
therefore, be it
"Resolvcd. first, That we hereby set
apart Friday, the 3rd day of Scptcm-
her. 1897, as a Good Friday for tho
cause of suffering labor in America and
contribute 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 through
| out the country to do likewise.
Resolved. second That if the strike
of the miners is not settled by the Goth
of September 1897. and announcement
made to that effect by the president of
the United Mine Workers. Il general con-
| vention be held at Chicago on Monday.
September p, 1897, by the representa-
tives of all unions, sections. branches.
iouStS hluuTeu OF
laboring men and friends of their cause.
for the purpose of considering further
| measures in the interests of the striking
miners and labOring men.
Resolved. third That we consider the
ballot as the best and safest means for
the ameliorati0n of the hardships unuer
which the laboring class suffer
Resolved. fourth. That the public
ownership OF railroads and tclegraphs is
one or the most necessary reforms for
our body polite.
"Resolved. fifth, That we most en-
phatically protest against government hy
injunction. which plays havoc with even
such political liberty as workngmen
have saved from the steady cncroach-
ment of capitalism; and. be it finally
Resolved, sixth, That no nation in
which the people are totally disarmcd
can long remain a free nation. and there
fore. we urge upon all liberty loving citi-
zens to remember and obey article . of
the. constitution of the United States.
which reads rs follows: The right of
the people to keep and bear arms shall
not be infringcd.'
AS soon as the platform was before
me convention dozen delegates were on
their feet clamoring for recognition.
MIR. Osborn introduced an amendment
to the platform to the effect that the
country should take care of its unem-
pl0yed. the striking miners and other
iaborers OF the country. apply to the au-
thorities of their respective counties for
admission to the poor house
MIR. Osborn's amendment was lost
unanimously and an attempt to change
the date of the collection for the striking
miners from September 3 TO September
10 was defeated.
Mr.. Clayborne of Springfield. No..
moved to strike out the second resolution
of the platform calling for the mass con-
vention in Chicago
Ill. Nj. Williams of ST. Louis, presented
substitute for Mr.. Olayborne's motion
to strike out the plank calling for the
Chicago convention converting labor con-
gress in st. Louis September 20.
Without action the convention adjourn
ed till 2 p. IN.
The delegates were eager for work and
the afternoon session was set in motion
promptly at 2 o'clock. As to changing
the date and place of the coming CON
vention, it was decided after much de-
be held at Chicago September u.
The. third plank in the platform was
amended to read:
Resolved, That we consider the
proper use of the ballot ms the best and
safest means for the ameioraton of the
hardsbips under which the laboring class
suffers"
Mr.. Clements of Kansas. moved that
the last two resolutions i'm the platform
be considered simultaneously. He favor
ed their adoption.
Mr.. Webster of st. Louis wanted to
know if these milk and water resOlu-
tons disposed of the important matter of
government by Injunction
He gave his version of the matter at
length: He wanted congress TO investi-
gate this matter
why said Mr.. Sovereign, "ths con-
vcntion has rejected proposition looking
to this very end. Even if congress did
give us the rights we want the courts
of the country would still have the power
of Injunction, and they could then throttle
us. The convention should inform the
world that if this matter is TO be tested.
the miners should break all injunctions.'
Mr.. Sovereign said he was willing to
go to jail in support of his idea.
1T is time" said Mr.. Sovereign. 'to
bring the miners and courts face TO face
in this matter and force an issue. Fill
up the jails with violatOrs of injunctiOns.
and when the men who started this
movement are incarcerated thousands of
others will be found to take their places.
(CheersD The laboring people can vote
plished." 49,
''Let MS reorganize this government"
shouted Mr.. Sovereign.
LET MS stand up and assert ourselves.