Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-09-09
ARE READY TO aIsE.

strong Resolutions Adopted ~ %.
Louie By LaborIag Men.
Below Il given the text Of the declara-
ton OF principles promulgated By the 81.
Louis labor conventions:
The fear Of the more watchful fathers q
the republic has been justified. The judi
ciary has become supreme. We witness
political phenomenon absolutely new ~ me
the feet Of judges appointed to administer
lts laws. They acknowledge no superior on
earth, and their despotic deeds recall MI
bids q man rule over him above law may
bid az well 4 savage beast" Under me
cunning form OF injunctions courts hayo
assumed 70 enact criminal laws, anu a m.'o es
legislation have repealed the BIZ OF rights,
and for violations Of these court-nade laws
have denied the accused the right OF trial ny
The exercise Of the commonest rights Of
freemen-the right Of assembly. the right 81
free speech. the right OF travelling the pup
lie highways-has by legislation, under the
form Of injunctions, been made crime, AID
armed forces dispense as mobs people daring
In company to exercise these rights.
United States decided that the thirteenth
amendment forbidding "involuntary servi-
tude" IL not violated by nrresting seaman,
impris0ning him until his vessel 10 ready 10
leave port and then forcibly putting him on
board TO serve out the term OF his contract
q decision under which the old fugitive slave
laws may yet be revived and striking .nI'or.
ers be seized and returned to the service Ut
their masters.
Having drawn to themselves all the pow
ers Of the Federal Government until Con-
gress and Presidents may act only by judi
cial permission. the Federal judges have be-
gun the subjugation Of sovereign states. 50
that. unless cheek Is soon Pu. upon ,pna inc me-
government but the absolute despotism OF
Federal judges will exist anywhere over any
portion Of American soil. .
to feebleness by their scant wages earned
by arduous and dangerous toll, the strike Tor
the right to be fed enough to make labor pos
sible, has been prolific Of judicial usurpation,
showing the Willingness Of judicial despots
to resort to the most shameless defiance OF
decency as we'll as Of law and humanity In
order to enable heartless avaricc to drive It's
hungry serfs back to the mines to faint and
die at their drudgery, and there remains TO-
day not one guaranteed right OF American
has not lsomewher made a crime by these
subyerslops Of constitutional liberty.
We have met to counsel together and have
come to the following conclusions:
Whereas, The present strike Of the coal
miners has again demonstrated the fact that
our so-called liberty Is not freedom, but Is
are degenerating, while hundreds Of thou
sands-men women and children-are starv-
Ing In novels. and on the public highways.
Whereas, This condition has become per-
manent for large and ever-lncreasing num-
Der Of our population, as long as we permit
comparatively small class Of legalized ex-
ploiters to monopolze the means Of produc-
ton and distribution for their private bene--
ht-a fact again obvious In the case OF
miners
Whereas, Appeals to Congress and to the
islative as well as the executive and judicial
powers are under the control OF the capital
istic class. so that It has come to pass In this
have a right to the public highways. Ameri-
cans, so-called freemen, have not.
Whereas, Our capitalistic class. as Is again
shown In the present strike, 10 armed, and
has not only policemen, marshals, sheriff
and deputies. but also regular army and
military, In order to enforce government by
Injunction, suppressing lawful assemblage,
free speech and the right TO the public high
way, while on the other hand the laborfny
men OF the country are unarmed and de-
Of the Constitution of the United States;
therefore, be Ii
Resolved, That we hereby set apart Friday,
the Sd day OF September, 1897, as a Good
Friday" for the 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 throughout the
country to do likewise.
Resolved, That general convention be
held at Chicago on Monday, Sept. q, by the
representatives of all unions. sections.
branches, lodges and kindred organizations
Of laborlng men and friends of their cause.
TOT the purpose or considering Iurtner meas
ures In the interests of the miners and labor
In general.
Resolved, That we con:der the proper use
Of the ballot as the best and safest means
for the amelioration Of the hardships under
which the laboring class suffers.
Resolved. That the public ownership of
railroads and telegraphs Is one Of the most
necessary reforms for our body polite.
Resolved. That we most emphatically pro-
test against government by Injunction, which
plays havoc with even such political liberty
as workingmen have saved from the steady
encroachment Of capitalism; and be It finally
Resolved, That no nation In which the peo-
pie are totally disarmed can long remain a
free nation, and therefore we urge upon all
liberty-loving citizens to remember and obey
article Of the Constitution Of the United
States, which reads as follows: "The right
Of the people to keep and bear arms shall
not be infringed."