The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-12-15

Z
o. Mills was Reds father-in-lsW, and
was president OF the New Idria Mining
company, and the property in contest
claimed By this company was worth
100000. Readers may draw their
own conclusion; but what OF denying
an American citizen the right OF com
ing into court?
Under Cleveland's last administra-
ton there occurred the sympathy
strike Of the American Railway Union,
commonly called the "a R o." strike.
Altgeld was then governor Of Illinois
Without waiting the call of the gov
ernor, and against his protest, the
president sent the regular troops to
Chicago to queu the disturbance, al
though it was declared at the time that
the civil authorities and the state mi
Iitia we're abundantly able to cope with
the situation. According to published
reports, the regular army officers we're
very much disguised and held a meet
ing in Chicago to formally protest
against the employment Of the stand
ing army in the case, alleging that it
was not necessary, and that it brought
the service into contempt.
Carroll D. Wright, labor commits
sioner under Cleveland, in his report
on the Pullman strike, animadverted
severely upon the conditions at Pull
man. But Eugene V. Debs and his CO.
adjutOrs, and other officers Of the A.
r. o., we're imprisoned for contempt Of
court; some in Illinois, and some in the
state of California An appeal was
made for trial by jury, but this was
denied them, and they were obliged to
serve out the term of their sentence.
These notorious proceedings are still
fresh in the memory of the people.
Under PresidentMcKinIey there have
been strikes all over the country, but
two that have attracted public atten-
ton most have been those about Pitts
burg, this state, and at Wardner, Id;
and it is reported that congressional
investigation viii be asked for in both
cases. At Wardner, Gen. Merriam,
with a detachment Of the regular army,
was sent in response to the request Of
the governor Of Idaho, who had de-
clsred martial law. The complaint in
this case is not against the constitu-
tiOnality Of the proceedings, but that
several hundred men were arrested and
kept for months In a "buu pen" or
stOckade, without formal charge of
crime or speedy trial. Several Of the
prisoners dug out and being captured
we're obliged, as q punishment, to stand
for hours with their faces to the stock
ade and an armed guard behind them,
aud were threatened with death if they
moved or sat down One Of the prison
ers IN the "buI pen" became insane
from bad treatment, and attempting to
jump into the river was shot. Another
dying from exposure was denied spirit
UaI consolation. 1t is alleged that the
wives and families Of the imprisoned
men coming to see them were grossly
insulted. How about the outrageous
negation Of the right Of speedy trial by
jury Of the American citizen?
The latest case Is that of the strik-
ing miners Of southeastern Kansas at
Fort Scott. John P. Reese, Of Iowa,
member Of the executive board Of the
United Mine Workers Of America, was
sent down there to look after the in
terests of the union. He addressed an
open air meeting and urged the men to
join and support the union. For this
he was arrested for contempt Of court,
and Federal Judge Williams sent him
TO jail for six months, fined him 500,
and the expenses of the court, estima-
ted at 700. He is still in Jail, although
attempts are TO be made for his release
on a writ of hsbeas corpus. His wife
and little child are in Iowa, but he
will send for them if his Imprisonment
continues. How about the right Of
free speech which the constitution GU
grantees each citizen? This case should
be investigated by congress.
The employment of the regular army
when not required, aud not asked; the
employment Of the federal courts at
the beck Of corporations; the employ
ment Of Pinkertons as at Homestead,
Carnegie steel works; the imprison-
ment Of men without trial by jury, as
in the A. R U. strike; the denial Of the
right Of free speech; all these and other
outrsges perpetFated by form Of law
reminds one Of the saying Of Chancellor
Kent, on the eighth page Of his com
mentary on Law: when the spirit Of
tice are disregsrded, men may easily be
enslsved through forms Of law" The
downward and imperialistic trend IF