The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-01

IN st. Louis, ana three OF TOUR at
tempts to change the date of the con-
ference, it was decided that the mat
ter should remain as introduced in the
platform, and the labor congress will
be held in Chicago on Monday, Sept.
q. 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 amelioration of the hardships under
which the laboring class suffeF4
Mr.. Clemens, of Kansas, Imoved 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 resolutions disposed
Of the important matter of govern
ment by injunction. If this is so,
Mr. Webster continued, any judge
could say through an injunction: Get
off the earth, you have no rights here
I then reply to the courts: You lie
1T is time" said Mr.. Sovereign, ito
bring the miners and courts face to
face in this matter and force an issue
Fill up the jail with violators of in
functions, and, when the men who
started this movement are incareerat-
ed, thousands of others will be found
laboring people can vote for years, but
nothing can be accomplished. Let US
reorganize this government" shouted
Mr. Sovereign. Let US stand up and
assert ourselves. Behind these injunc-
tions stand Calling guns and Winches-
tiers, 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. Sovereign.
The convention broke into wild cheer
ing, which developed in a minute into
a spontaneous call for Mr.. Debs the
famous labor leader and avowed head
Of the Social Democracy of this coun-
try who had not uttered a word since
the convention opened, but who had
not missed minute of its proceedings
He arose from his seat and came SLOW
~ to the platform. When the cheering
was interrupted at the end of nearly
every sentence by cheering and hand
clapping. He said:
Il believe the gravity of the indus
trial situation in this country is we'll
understood. 1t is quite evident the
delegates to the convention are cogni-
Zant of the fact that civil liberty is
dead in America. l have said and say
again, for the last time I have appeal
appeal to them no more. The A. R. U.
expended $4,000 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 capt.
tai is bound to respect. Shall We ap-
peal to the supreme court again? No.
We appeal to this convention and to
the country for an uprising of all the
common people in every walk of life to
-, !, oh
the rights of the American people.
Labor day is near. What Shall we do?
predict, my friends, that We will see
the extraordinary spectacle of enslaved
labor rafting its chains and dancing
to the music. Labor is the cheapest
commodity on Gods earth, and vet
there are those who would have it at
a lower price. Only the other day the
united voice of labor was raised against
the appointment of Mr.. Powderly to a
federal position and I notice that he
was promptly put into the place (ning-
led cheers and hisses). From justice of
the peace to justice of the supreme
court of the United States, all the judi
cial powers Of the United States are
directed against labor. All the orga-
nized sources Of society are against
labor, and if labor expects to emanci-
pate itself, labor itself must do it.
The time has not quite come to in
cite the populace,' said Mr.. Debs, shak-
ing his fist vehemently. Il serve notice
on the plutOcratic element Of this coun-
try that We are on the eve of another
meeting in Chicago, which will be at
tended by all branches Of labor That
convention will take up these same
questions and will institute agitation
and keep it going until the public con-
science and public heart are aroused.
Then will come such an uprising as the
world has never seen.
81 did 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 Opin-
ion and his right to express it; each
man to his duty as becomes that man.
am side by side with you. l am a
trades unionist and socialist 6re-
mendous cheering). Whenever the
trades unions OF this country decide to
do battle with our common enemy they
can count upon US to come to the front
and take our places side by side with
them and fight with themp
Never in my life have [ been more
hopeful than now. I am gifted with
great visionary powers but can see
the beginning of the end. When the
people are ready, and that day is not
far off, my friends, there will be a
spontaneous uprising, the supreme
court will be abolished, congress dis
persed and the sacred rights of Aneri-
can citizens and American freedom will
be enthroned Great applause). l plead
guilty to the charge Of being radical.
1 only wish you would allow me to be
more radical still. Support US, gentle
men Of the convention, and I promise
you we will support the attempt to
abolish government by injunctions and
the judges who issue them.
"On bearing arms 1 hope in the
march Of common intelligence we will
reach point where we will be able to
settle these questions without appeal
ing to the sword or bullet I cannot
tell. Certain it is, there are thousands
of our fellow citizens suffering, and
certain it is this cannot last. The time
Will come to incite the populace. When
this time comes you can depend on me
Cheers l Will not stand in the rear
and ask you to go ahead. I will be in
front and say to you Come on I
shrink from that bloodshed," and Mr.
Debs paused impTessively. but if this
is necessary to preserve liberty and our
that event I will shed the last
drop of blood that courses through my
veins
One of the two substitutes for the
last plank in the platform were intro
duced, but not adopted, and the chair
recognized Patrick Dolan, of Pittsburg,
who said the injunction business was
a gigantic bluff. He said he had been
going. against them" for two months
and here he was expressing himself
He thought it unnecessary to talk
about the matter. Then there were
more amendments and substitutes,
none Of which were adopted and after
an hour or two of talk the last two
planks were agreed to as submitted by
the committee and the platform as
L. 4 .-.-l-