The times., 1899-04-05
THE JEFFERSON DINNERS.
Labor Faction Threatens to AppIy
for an Injunction

OA -" AhJuucttOn.
New York, April IAN injunction TO
prevent the Chicago platform Democrats
from sitting down to their 81 dinner at
the Grand Central Palace on April 10
VIII be applied for tomorrow morning in
this city by the workingmen's dinner fac
tion. unless the Bryanites decide upon
another evening for their feast Alfred ].
Bouiton, member of the committee of
slx served the ultimatum OF the Walker
forces on Eugene V. Brewster. treasurer
OF the opposition. in the latter's Brooklyn
offices. at IL O'Clock this morning He also
informed Mr.. Brewster that the committee
CT six had been advised by counsel that
Brewster had no right TO expend the
money subscribed for the 81 dinner with
out the proper authorization OF the finance
committee of the Walkerites.
Mr.. Boulton lost no time in telling Mr.
Brewster mis- mission when he reached the
Office. ''Mr. Brewster. he began. in a
manner that plainly showed that only an
unconditional surrender would be accepted
at meeting of our committee last night
| was instructed, in my capacity as sec
retary, 10 inform you that our committee
will hold its dinner at the Grand Central
Palace on April 10. We might as well
settle this matter without any delay.
apply for an injunction to prevent you
from using the hall on that night, and
that We would apply for il in the Supreme
Court Of New York tomorrow morning
unless you select another evening for your
dinner. We have also been advised by
one of our lawyers that you are liable TO
arrest for drawing money from the bank
for the expenses OF the dinner without the
permission OF our finance committee. You
are aware that such an understanding was
had when we first began to solicit sub
scriptions.
Then Mr.. Boulton stopped to catch his
breath and Mr.. Brewster came into the
gap with this reply:
Il will lay the matter before the COM
mittee tonight and they can do as they see
fit. / do not recognize any authority what
ever on the part of your committee as to
the control of our finances and will pay
no attention to any threats of arrest. Any
action of that sort would simply be for the
purpose of carrying out their own ends
I'VE don't care when You hold your din
ner." Boulton resumed. You can hold IL
on the Goth or any other evening. AS to
the money. | will tell you frankly that
there is no intention on our part to put
you under arrest
Il only wish you would arrest me-"
laughed Brewster.
NOW, MT. brewster, BOuitOn clutinue1
in a more concilatory way, I'VE can come
to a peaceful agreement. a committee
from each side can meet tonight and do
that Our lawyer is at present drawing up
the necessary papers for the injunction and
they Will be submitted to our committee
this afternoon. Our committee called on
Mr.. Maze yesterday at the Grand Central
Palace. and he told us that he recognized
no organization in this matter. but three
men. yourself. Van Week. and Freel, in
the matter Of the lease OF the hall. We
have no wish to resort to harsh measures.
but we will resort to an injunction to Sc
cure our rights"
Brewster said at this point, 'If you per-
sist in taking this into the courts none of
your intended speakers will come"
Yes, they WILL answered Boulton. 81
know that Altgeld and Pfngree will.
well, SO long as We are talking this
over. we might as well go to the bottom
OF it, said Brewster. Suppose | tell the
reporters about what was done and said
at your meeting on Sunday afternoon?
Boulton replied: II don't think l have
the right to tell about it. II the man who
is most concerned wants to talk about it,
that's all right
But thought you were opposed to gov
ernment by injunction, Boulton? Just sup
pose. for instance, that instead of my being
Eugene V. Brewster that | was Eugene V.
Debs. You believe in trial by jury, don't
you? How would you feel il was put in
prison for contempt of court through your
instrumentality?''
This new tack OF argument puzzled Mr.
Boulton, who has openly espoused the
cause of Debs. but he finally said: ~
can't see the similarity between you and
Debs. and injunctions are sometimes good
things
The meeting ended with private talk