The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-01

class, so that it has come to pass in this
free country that while cattle and swine
have right to the public highways, Ameri-
cans, so called free men, have not
Whereas, Our capitalistic class, as is
again shown in the present strike, is armed,
and has not only policemen, marshals, sher-
ifs and deputies, but also a regular army
andemilitia, in order to enforce government
by injunction, suppressing lawful assem-
public highway; while, on the other hand,
the laboring men of the country are un-
armed and defenseless. contrary to the
words and spirit of the Constitution of the
United States; therefore. be 1t
Resolved, That we hereby set apart Fri
day, the third day of September, 1897, as
labor in America and contribute the earn
ings of that day to the support of our
struggling brothers, the miners, and appeal
to every union man and friend Of labor
throughout the country to do likewise.
Resolved, If the strike of the miners is
not settled by the goth day of September,
1897, and announcement made to that erect
by the president of the United Mine
Workers, general convention be held a. at
representatives of all unions, sections.
branches, lodges and kindred organizations
for the purpose of considering further
measures in the interests of the striking
miners and labor in general.
the ballot as the best and safest means for
the amelioration Of the hardsh1pS under
which the laboring class suffers.
Resolved, That the public ownership or
railroads and telegraphs is one of the most
necessary reforms for our body polite
Resolved That we most emphatlcally
protest against government by injunction
which plays havoc with even such political
liberty as workingmen have saved from
the steady encroachment OF capitalism; ana
be it finally -
''Resolved That no nation in which the
people are totally disarmed can long on re re-
upon all liberty-loving citizens to relnem-
Der and obey Article Of the Constitution
lows: The right of the people to keep and
bear arms shall not be infringed
DEBATE ON THE PLATFORM.
AS soon as the platform was before the
convention dozen delegates were on their
feet clamoring for recognition. One dele
gate wanted to change the date OF the chi
cago conference to Oct. 10, claiming the
day proposed was too early. The amend
ment was laid upon the table, to be taken
up later.
Mr.. Mahon, of Detroit, favored the linn
iting of debate to five minutes and made
motion to that effect He said, further: I
am tired of this thing of talking and talk
ing and the advancement of political ideas
through conventions Mr.. Mahon's motion
was amended to read 'ten minutes by
Mr.. Ratchford, and this was agreed to-
Mr.. Osborn, of Atlanta, Ca, introduced
that the country should take care of its
unemployeu-the striking miners ana other
laborerS of the country TO apply 10 the au-
thorities of their respective counties Ior az
mission to the poorhouSe, and agfnn oratory
was in full swing. Ihere was no par
ticuar attention paid to the motion before
the convention, and delegates turned them
selves loose.
Mar. Clemens, member of the committee
on resolutions, and who was expected 10
bring in a minority report, enhVeneu tne
lFOC9eulnQS
the tamest aggregation OF witty animals
ever saw together, was MT; Clemens ies5
salutation to the convention. lie expressed
dissatisfaction ut the mild measures pre-
scented for the relief of the labor troubles in
general and said he was ashamed to go
home and tell his people what they were
trying to do or what they had done. Give
me liberty" said Mr.. Clemens, with much
gravity, 'or III take up a collectlon
Mr. Pat ONeill, the Rich Hill (Mo.)
miner, said he inferred from the talk that
there were two resolutions. One was re
solved that the miners should be paupers,
and the other, resolved, that the miners
were paupers." MIR. O'Nein took up the en-
tire ten minutes but offered no amendment.
Mr. Mahon pleaded for something prac-
tical and quick action. He wanted relief for
the suffering miners. Let the theory come
poorhodse resolution and said: Let US put
up our dollars for the miners"
Mr. Ratchford took the convention to task
for getting off the subject He said the
miners did not ask for aid; that was not
the object of the conventionN lie protested
against MT. OSDOfnS RESOLUTION, ana Stllu
the conference should endeavor to settle the
paramount question of government by in
Junction. Mr.. Osborn's amendment was lost
unanimously, and the attempt to change
the date of the collection for the striking
miners from Sept. to 10 was defeated.
Mr.. Clayborne, of Springfield, Mo-, moved
to strike out the second resolution OF the
platform calling for the mass convention in
Chicago. H. M. Williams, of st. Louis,
motion to strike out the plank calling for
the Chicago convention converting a labor
congress in st. Louis Sept. 90 Without ac-
ton the convention adjourned until 2
n clock