The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-01
ships under which the laborlns class

ships under which the laDOrinS class
suffers.
Resolved. fourth, that the public own
crship of railroads and teleSraphs is
one of the most necessary reforms for
our body polite.
Resolved. fifth. that we most em-
phatically protest against government
by injunction, which plays havoc with
even such political liberty as working
men have saved from the steady en-
creachmcnt of capitalism, and. be 1t
finally
Resolved. sixth, that no nation In
which the people are totally dishrmed
can long remain n free nation. aud,
therefore, we urge her 10 obey article
2 OF the constitution of the United
States, which reads as follows:
The right of the people to keep and
bear arms shall not he nfrngcd'
AS soon as the platform WIS before The
convention dozen delegates were on
their feet clamoring for recognition.
Amendments were laid on the table,
To be taken UP later.
Delegate Osborn, of Atlanta, Ga, Of
feied resolution to the effect that It
was the sense Of the meeting that all
unemployed men In the United States
should apply for admission 10 tho poor
houses OF their respective counties. No.
action was taken on this resolution and
manner regarding the debate.
MIR. Claiborne. of Springfield. Mo-.
moved to strike out the second rcso1u-
ton OF the platform calling for the mas S
convention in Chicago
Ii. NJ Williams. OF st. Louis. present.
| ed II substitute for Mr.. ClaibOrncs mo-
| ton to strike out the plank calling for
Il labor congress in st. Louis on Scptcm-
| Der 20. Without action the convention
adjourned until . o'clock.
at the afternoon session the third
plank In the platform was amended by
| the use of the word proper before
the use of The ballot" y number of
other amendments were debated. when
Eugene v. Dcbs was called upon. Ills
appearance was the signal for loud
applause.
Il believe the gravity of the Industrial
situation In this country Is well under
stood. 1t is quite evident the delegates
| to this convention are cogniZant OF the
fact that civil liberty Is dead In Ameri-
| ca. / have said, and say again, for
The last time. l have appealed TO the
courts for justice and shall appeal ia
them no more. The \. r. u. expended
| forty-fivc thousand dollars to have the
question Of civil rights tested In the
Supreme Courts OF the United States
only to be told that we have no rights
Shall we appeal TO the Supreme Courts
again? No. We appeal to this con-
| vention and the country for an uprising
of all the common people in every walk
Of life 10 beat back the courts and re-
store the rights OF the American peo-
7 pie Labor ilny Is near What shall we
do? I predict, my friends. that we Will
see the extraordinary spectacle Of en-
| shaved labor rafting It's chains and
dancing TO the music, From the Justice
of the peace 10 justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States, all the judlc-
ial powers Of the United States are H.
rected against labor. All the organized
sources of society are against labor,
| and IL labor expects TO emancipate It.
self, labor must do It."
Debs then told the convention that
| much deStitution existed among the mi.
ners of the once proud State of India
ma, and stated that one thousand I'M
| dergroUnd workers and their families
were starving.
| He read the report of the commission
! appointed by Governor Mount to eX-
amino into the condition of the miners
| of Indiana and then took up the thread
| of his argument.
"Ncvcr In my life have been more
hopeful than clow. I am not gifted with
| great visionary powers, but I can SEQ
the beginning of the end (Cheers). This
| meeting IS an inspira tIon. 1t will lead
to great results. This movement has
attained tremendous impetus and will go
ahead with n rush. When the people
are ready. and that day IS not far off,
my friends. there will ue n spontaneous
uprising: the Supreme Courts will be
abolished, Congress dispersed and the
sacred rights OF American citizens and
| American freemen will be enthroned.
Great applause). I plead guilty to the
charge of being radical. I only wish
you would allow me to be more radical
still Support us, gentlemen OF the con-
vention, and promise you we will
support the attempt to abolish Govern,
ment by injunction and the judges who
! Issue them"
There was a tremendous demonstra-
ton when Mr.. Debs concluded his re-
marks.
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