Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-16
PREPARING FOR DEFENSE
Central Labor Bodies Take Action Respect
ing Indictments for Conspiracy.
Appeal to Organizations of the CnMcS
try for Contributions of Funds
Text of Circular.

Committees from the Central Labor Tn
ion, Building Trades Council, District AS
sembly No. &C, K. of L., and the local Fed
GRAFTON met in joint session. last evening
at No. 600 G street northwest to consider
ways and means for the defense of the
members of local organizations recently III
dicted for conspiracy. Mr.. Joseph X. Pot
ter presided and Mr.. Charles w. Enrich
served as secretary. Reports were made
by the several subcommittee which had
been previously appointed. The commit
tee to solicit funds from the local organiza-
tons reported the amounts paid in.
1t was decided to request all labor organ
izations throughout the country to contrib
Ute to a defense fund, and copies of a
statement prepared by subcommittee
carnations, which was unanimously adopt
ed, will be sent to all labor bodies regard
less OF national alliances.
Statement of Case
The substance of the statement is as fol-
lows:
June l. 1898, the grand jury of the Dis
trict of Columbia indicted for criminal con-
spiracy the following named members of
local labor organza tons: A. NJ Lawson,
j. Il. Fenton, w. f. Gossnell, James Nc
!ver. c. \. Maidens, John l.. Neeb, Hugh
~. I
Thomas r. Dea and John F. O'Meara.
THESE men viii be prosecuted for the al
legged violation of the act of Congress of
July ,, 1880, entitled An act to protect
trade and commerce against unlawful re-
strdints and monopolies.'
THE counts of the Indictment recite and
charge as criminal conspiracy the passage
OF resolution declaring Walter unfair
Tor violation of contract the fact that the
assembly required several members of that
cody TO cease working for said Walter and
thdt on their refusal to do they were
hned, suspended and expelled
1t VIII be observed that if these counts
are sustained by the court it will greatly
embdrrdss and intimately destroy all labor
organizations IN the country. The case not
only involves the legality of the boycott,
but the right OF labor organizations to
compel the members to observe those rules
necessary for the maintenance of the bodies
10 Whlcn they belong. 1t therefore involves
the rights of organization, and this trial
therefore is of national interest
There is an element in this District
which is antagonistic to organized labor
and which will aid the prosecution by ali
means possible. Under these conditions a
fund Is necessary for the defense, and it
was decided to appeal to our brothers
throughout the country for financial assist
ance. believing that they will generously
respond, as the question at issue involves
the interests and stability of their organi-
cations as vitality as they do those of this
for ALL
CanyassinS for Funds.
While subcommittee has been selected
to canvass for funds, the joint committee
requests individuals and organizations who
desire to contribute to forward the same
to John T. Doyle, 1877 Benning road, who
Is treasurer of the committee or to c. W.
Enrich, secretary, 402 eth street north
west.
1t was deemed advisable by the Joint
committee in forwarding the appeal to the
several labor organizations that 1t should
be done by the various central bodies indie
pendenty of the joint committee. Il was
decided that 1000 copies of the appeal
should be printed, 800 of them to be for
war!ea 10y l.. A. 90. x of L.; 200 10y the
building Trades Council and 1000 by the
Central Labor Union. These will all bear
the seal and signatures of the officers OF
the organization sending them out
announcement was made that the s-ry-
Ices of Messrs. Jere NJ. Wilson and Jackson
H. Ralstcn had been retain I'd to defend the
indicted men.
he Joint committee will rneec again We'd
9CsGay evening next at Labor Bureau Hall
Nd. tiE C. street mort