The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-01
Urges the Abolition of the
Courts of the Country.
PEOPLE WILL RIS]
He Says, and the Supreme
Court Will Be Abolished.
Congress Dispersed and the
Citizens Be EnthrOned.

its work.
The meeting was productive of sew
eral sensational speeches and many
resolutions. yet no decisive action was
taken in the principal matter for which
the gathering was summoned-the abol-
ishment of government by injunction.
The convention, which had been an
nounced as the last one of it's kind to
be held, while adjourning sine die, has
merely postponed action on the matters
before it for three weeks, call for
a similar conference to be held in Chi
cago, Monday. September q, was is
sued.
True it is. the convention ordered it's
chairman Mr.. POmerOy, of the 1nterna-
tional Typographical union, to request
President Mckinley in the name of the
convention, to call a special session of
congress for the purpose of defining
the authority of judges in the matter
of injunctionS,'' but the president will
hardly receive the communication in
time to convene congress in three weeks
even should he consider the matter IA
vorably; the Chicago gathering may
take action which would render this
move void or decide. to act in another
manner.
Mr. Debs and Social Democracy DOM
mated the convention and the famous
labor leader carried the gathering off it's
feet in one of his characteristic speech
eS.
A resolution introduced by Mr. Ma
hon of Detroit calling upon the miners
now at work to desert their posts and
terming them enemies of human liberty
SO long as they remained on duty, was
adopted.
Mr.. Mahon had another resolution
prepared asking the convention to call
for 100 volunteers to go into the town
of Pocahontas, Va, on the 18th of Sep
TENDER, and there hold a public meet
ing lin defiance of the mayor of that
city, who had set himself UP in oppo-
sition to the God given and constitu-
tional right of free speech but at the
last moment concluded not to present
it. The resolution will probably come
to the front at the Chicago convention.
Mr.. Ratchford, who was especially
pleased at the conventions instruction
regarding the request for the conVen-
ing of congress, hurried away to Co
lumbuS, where he will attend a confer
ence of mine workers and operators.
Mr.. Debs,, and in fact, all the leaders
are gratif1ed at the result of the con-
ference.
After considerable talk, Mr.. Will
Jams, st. Louis delegate, endeavoring
to have the coming convention held in
st. Louis, it was decided that the mat
ter should stand as introduced in the
platform, and the labor congress will be
held in Chicago on Monday, September
%.
The third plank in the platform was
amended by the use of the word
proper before ''use of the ballot and
the resolution now reads as follows:
Resolved, That we consider the
proper use of the ballot as the best and
safest means for the ameliorating the
hardships under which the laboring
class suffers"
Mr. Clemens of Kansas moved that
the last two resolutions in the platform
be considered simultaneously. He ia
vored their adoption.
Mr. Webster of ST. Louis wanted to
know if these milk and water reso-
buttons disposed of the pertinent mat
ter of government by injunction"
Mr.. Webster wanted congress to in
veStigate this matter.
why" said MT. Sovereign, ''this con-
vention has made a 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 in
form the world that if this matter is to
be tested the miners should break in
functions
Mr.. Sovereign said he was willing to
go to Jail in support of his idea
tIt is time,' said Mr.. Sovereign fer
vently, ito bring the miners and courts
face to face with this matter and force
an issue. Fill up the jailS with vio-
lators of injunctions and when the men
who started this movement are incar-
cerated thousands of others will be
found to take their places. (CheerS)
The laboring people can vote for years,
but nothing can be accomplished Let
us reorganize this government, Shout
ed Mr.. Sovereign. Let us stand up and
assert ourselves. Behind these injunc-
tions stand gatling guns and winches-
tiers. but we fear them not. Let us
hold up the flag and tear down the
courts"
1--WE stand on our dignity and will
have our liberty from now on shout
ed Mr.. Sovereign.
The convention broke into wild cheer
ing, which developed in a minute to a
spontaneous calling for Mr.. Debs, the
famous labor leader and head of the
Social Democracy of this country, who
had not uttered a word since the con-
vention opened, but who had not missed
a minute of it's proceedings. He arose
from his seat and came slowly to the
platform. When the cheering ceased,
Mr.. Debs began a speech which was in
terrupted at the end of nearly every
sentence by cheering and hand-clap-
ping. He said:
Il believe the gravity of the indus
trial situation in this country is well
understood. 1t is quite evident that
the delegates to this convention recog-
nize the fact that civil liberty is dead
in America have said, and say again
for the last time I have appealed to the
courts for justice and shall appeal to
them no more. The A. R. U. expended
S45, 900 TO have the question of civil
rights tested in the supreme court of
the United States, only to be told that
we have no rights that capital is bound
to respect. Shall we appeal to the SUI
preme court again? No. We appeal
to this convention and to the country
for an uprising of all the common peo-
pie in every walk of life to beat back
the courts and re-enthrope the rights
of the American people. Labor day Is
near What shall we do? I predict. my
friends, that we will see the extraordin-
airy spectacle of enSlaved labor rafting
its chain and dancing to the music
Labor is the cheapest commodity on
Gods earth, and yet there are those
who would have it at n lower price.
The united voice of labor has been
raised against the appointment of Mr.
Powder1y to a federal position. and
notice that he was promptly put in the
place. (1ingled cheers and hiSSeS)