The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-01
AN INCENDIARY SPEECH
DELITERED IN THE ST. LOUIS
LABOR CONTENTION BIZ DEBS,
"The Only Perfect Government 10 No Gov-
erumcpt." SAYS Hs-Hints at BIoodshed
asa Result OF Labor Troubles.

lows.
The fear Of the more watchful fathers
OF the republic has been justified. The
judiciary has become supreme. We wit
ness a political phenomenon absolutely
new In the history OF the world-a re-
public PROSTATE at the feet OF Judges APP
pointed to administer the laws. They ac-
knowledge no superior on earth and their
despotic deeds recall Millions warnings TO
his country: Who bids man rule over
him above law may be as we'll savage
beast Under the cunning form or IN
functions, courts hsUe assumed 10 enact
criminal laws, and after thus drawing 10
themselves the power OF legislation nave
repealed the bill OF rights and for viola
lions OF those court-made laws, have de-
MED the accused the right Of trial by jury.
THE exercise Of the cOmmonest rights
Of free men-the right OF assembly, the
right Of free speech, the right OF traN-
cling the public highways-have. by leg
islation under the form of inJunctiohs,
been made a crime and armed FORCES
dispense as mObs people daring IN com
pany to exercise these rights. Az the lds1
session of the Supreme Court they de-
cided that the law against involuntary
servitude' Is not violated by arrestlhg
seaman. imprisOling him until ms Vesstl
Is ready TO leave port, ana tnen iolVlDy
putting him on board 10 serve Out tht
term Of his contract; decision uuus.
which the old fugitive slave laws may Yet
be revived, and striking laDorers return
ed to the services OF their masters. nav
ing drawn to themselves all the poWeIs
of the Federal government untll CoIs -
and Presidents may act by Judlclal per-
mission. the Federal Judges have begun
the subiugatiOn of sovereign STATES 50
that unless "a check is put upon the uSur-
patton in short time TO govern
,nent but the despotism of Federal JUDI
ciary will exist over portion OF AiheH-
ThE GOAL MINERS STRIKE.
The pending strike Of coal miners,
starved TO feebleness by their scant wages
and by arduous and dangerous toil-the
strike for the right TO be fed enough 10
fake labor possible-has been promo Oh
judicial usurpation. showing the WllllIle-
ness of judicial despOts TO resort 10 the
most shameless defiance OF decency, as
we'll as Of law, presumably IN order 10
enable heartess avarice 10 drive us serfs
back TO the mines TO faint and die at their
drudgery. and there remains to-day not
one guaranteed right OF American cltl-
zens the exercise Of which an injunction
has not somewhere made crime started
By these subversions OF constitutional
liberty We have met to counsel together
and have come to the following conclu-
sions. that whereas
"The present strike Of the coal miners
has again demonstrated that our So
called liberty is not freedom, but Is a
stupendous shame under which millions
are degeneratng, while hundreds OF thou
sands-men. women and children-are
starving in novels and on the public
highways
Whereas this condition has become
permanent. for large and ever-increas-
ing number OF our people as .ong as We
permit comparatively small class OF
kgalized exploters 10 mOnopolize the
means Of production and distribution for
their private beneft-a fact agan obvious
I'm the case OF miners.
whereas appeals TO Congress and 10
the courts for relief are fruitess. since
the legislative as well as the executive
and judicial powers are under the control
OF the capitalist class so that II has come
10 pass I'm this free country that. while
cattle and swine have n right 10 the pub
lie highway, a man, so-called freeman
have not"
whereas our capitalistic class. as IS
again shown I'm the present strike, Is arm
ed and has not only policemen. marshais.
sherins and deputies, but also a regular
army and militia in order 10 enforce gov
eminent by injunction, suppressing law
full assemblage. free speech and the right
10 the public highway, while, on the other
hand. the labOring men of the country
are unarmed and defenceless, contrary 10
the words and spirit Of the Constitution
GOOD FRIDAY"
Resolved. No 1. That we hereby set
apart Friday. the 30 day Of September
1897 as a Good Friday" for the cause
OF suffering labor I'm America. and con-
tribute the earnings Of that day 10 the
support Of our struggling brothers the
miners. and appeal 10 every union man
and every friend OF labor throughout the
country 10 do likewise.
Resolved. 2. That II the strike Of the
mir 10 Irr VA
1891 and announcement made to that ef-
feet by the president of the United Mine
Workers, general convention be held
az Chicago on Monday. September n
1897; by the representatives OF all unions
sections. branches lodges and kindred
organizations OF laboring men and friends
or their cause, for the purpose Of consid-
ering further measures i'm the interests
eral.
Resolved. g. That we consider the use
OF the ballot as the best and safest means
for the amelloration Of the hardships un-
der which the laboring class suffers.
RESOLVED, 4. That the public ownership
or railroads and telegraphs is one of the
most necessary reforms Of the body poll
tic. 30
Resolved 8. That we most emphatically
protest against government by Injunction.
! which plays havoc with even such pollti-
cal liberty as we have saved from the
.t'e'l fiIti 'ttnlitIl OF capitalism. ana.
De il finally
Resolved. 6. That no nation in which
ithe people are totally disarmed can long
remain a free nation; and. therefore. we
urge every one 10 obey Article l. Of the
Constitution. which reads as follows.
The right Of the people 10 keep and bear
arms shall not be infringed "
MANY AMENDMENTS
AS soon as the platform was before the
convention a dozen delegates were on
their feet clamOring for recognition
Amendments We're laid on the table TO be
taken up later.
Delegate Osborne. OF Atlanta. Ga. Of
fered a resolution 10 the effect that il
was the sense Of the meeting that all
unemployed men I'm the United States
should apply for admission TO the poor
house OF their respective counties No
action was taken on this resolution. and
the convention went off in a desultorv
manner regarding the debate. Mr.. CLAW
borne, Of Springfield. Mo. moved 10
strike out the second resolution OF the
platform. calling for the mass convention
I'm Chicago.
H. NJ. Williams. OF St louis. presented
n substitute for Mr. Clayborne's motion
to strike out the plank calling for the
Chicago convention converting a labor
Congress in 81. Louis September 10Th.
Without action the convention adjourn
ed until o'clock.
At the afternoon session the third
plank was amended by the use OF the
word protest" before use OF ballot.
DEBS SPEAKS.