The herald., 1897-09-01
n the interest OF the striking miners and


as most necessary reform; urging up
on all liberty-loving citizens to remem-
ber and obey article 2 of the constitution,
and suggesting that the ballot is the
best and safest means for the ameliora-
tion of the hardships of the laboring
classes, were also embodied in the plat
form
AS soon as it was before the convention
. dozen delegates clamored for recog-
nition. Debate was finally limited to
I'VE minutes.
The delegates were eager for work,
and the afternoon session was set in mo-
tion promptly at o'clock. After consid-
cradle talk, Mr.. Williams. St. Louis
delegate, endeavored to have the coming
convention held in st. Louis. 1t was de-
cided that the matter should remain as
introduced in the platform and the labor
congress will be held in Chicago on Mon
day, September 27.
The third plank in the platform was
amended by the use of the word prop
era before "use of the ballot" and the
resolution now reads as follows:
"Resolved, That we consider the prop
er use Of the ballot as the best and SAT-
est means for the amelioration of the
hardships under which the laboring
class suffers"
Mr.. Webster of ST. Louis wanted to
know if these milk and water resolu
tions disposed of the pertinent matter of
government by injunction" He wanted
congress to investigate this matter
Why" said Mr.. Sovereign, this con-
vention has rejected proposition look
ing to this very end. Even if congress
did give us the rights we want, the
courts of the country would 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 all
injunctions.
Mr.. Sovereign said he was willing to
go tc jail in support if his idea.
''It is time" said Mr. Sovereign, fer
vently, '.to bring the miners and courts
face to face in this matter and force an
issue. Fill up the Jail with violators of
injunctions and when the men who
started this movement are incarcerated
thousands of others will be found to
fill their places. (Cheers.) The labor
ing people can vote for years, but moth
ing can be accomplished. Let us re-
organize this government" shouted Mr..
Sovereign. Let us stand up and assert
ourselves. Behind these injunctions
stand gatling guns and winchesters, but
we fear them not. Let us hold up the
flag and tear down the courts. We stand
on our dignity and will have our liberty
from this time on" shouted Mr.. Sow
ereign.
The convention broke into wild cheer
fno u-t,i ,iab II ofn int n c1,nn a no
call for Mr. Debs. He rose from isseat
and came slowly to the platform. When
the cheering ceased, Mr.. Debs began a
speech, which was interrupted at the
end of nearly every sentence by cheer
ing and hand-clapping. He said:
II believe the gravity of the industrial
situation in this country is well under
stood. 1t is quite evident the delegates
to-this convention recognize the fact that
civil liberty is dead in America. 1 have
said and say again, for the last time,
l have appealed to the courts for justice
and shall appeal to them no more. The
A. r. U. expended $4,000 to have the
question of civil rights tested in the su
preme court of the United States, only
to be told that we have no rights that
capital was bound to respect. Shall we
appeal to the supreme court again? No.
We appeal to this convention and the
country for an uprising of all the COM
mon people in every walk of life to beat
back the courts and re-enthrone the
rights of the American people. Labor
day is near. What shall we do? l pre-
dict, my friends that we shall see the
extraordinary spectacle of enslaved la
Dor rafting its chains and dancing to the
music. Labor is the cheapest commod-
ity on Gods Garth, and. yet there are
those who would have it at lower price.
The uniteG voice of labor has been raised
against the appointment of Mr.. Powder
ly to a federal position, and / noticed
that he was promptly put into the place.
mingled cheers and hisses.) From JUS
tice OF the peace to justice of the supreme
court of the United States all the judi
cial powers of the United States are di-
rected against the laborer. All the or
ganized sources of society are against
the laborer and if labor expects emanci-
patton, labor itself must do it,
1.-THE time has not quite come to in
cite the population" said Mr.. Debs,
shaking his fist vehemently. Il serve
notice on the plutocratic element of this
country that we are on the eve of another
meeting in Chicago which will be attend
ed by all branches of labor. That con-
.yention will take up these same ques-
tions and will institute agitation and
keep it going until the public conscience
and the public heart is aroused Then
will come such an uprising as the world
has never seen.
81 do not come to this convention to
exploit social democracy or any other
movement There is something greater
in this movement than any one element
can manage--the emancipation of labor
There is no division here. Each man Is
entitled to his own opinion and his rish;
to express it, each man to speak as be-
comes that man l am side by side with
you am trades unionist and social
unionist. tremendous applause
Whenever the trades unions desire t1
do battle with their common enemy
they can count upon us to come TO the
front and take our places side by side
with them and fight with them. Never
in my life have l been more hopeful than
now. I am not gifted with great vis-
ionary power, but ] can see the begin
ming of the end. (Cheers) This meet
ing is an inspiration. 1t will lead to
great results. This movement has at
tanned tremendous impetus and will go