The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-06-23


Spokane theater on Men, Money and
Military Rule" 1t was attended by
several hundred people, mostly labor
ing men, with a few ladies present. 1t
is not yet known how much was
cleared, for many who had tickets for
sale have not reported. There will be
several hundred dollars for the suf-
ferers from the Colorado strike, for
whose benefit the lecture was given.
The receipts are practically clear
profit, for not only was the lecture
donated, but Manager Weaver gener-
ously gave the use of the theater
without charge and others were
equally generous.
Mr. Robertson's lecture was not a
TRADE against capital, but an eloquent
presentation of the side of labor,
chiefly from a legal standpoint. He
was frequently cheered. His refer
ence to The Spokane Press was loud
ly applauded. He was loudly cheered
when he said no union man justifies a
single act of violence and there was
frequent cheering throughout the dis
course.
In closing the speaker drew pic
ture of a scrawny, skulking cur snap
ping at a slain stag. When he said
the cur was the Spokesman-Re Review
the crowd of laborng men present
cheered and reiterated the cheering
more widely than at any other point
in the lecture.
The Elks' Glee club sang two songs,
which were received with cheers.
Lincoln for the Laborer.
Mr.. Robertson was introduced by
II. L. Hughes, the chairman of the
meeting. Mr.. Hughes spoke warmly
of the action of the despotic govern
or of Colorado in his persecution of
the sons and daughters of toll. He
said Abraham Lincoln in his day was
in accord with the present movement
Of organized labor. We are here"
said he, 10 voice the sentiment of
Lincoln tat government of the peo-
pie, by the people and for the people
shall not perish"
Mr.. Robertson said: Mr.. Presi-
dent, members of the trades council
and fellow citizens: BY your presence
you have contributed to a fund, every
dollar of which will be transmitted
to the sufferers of Colorado. l desire
to thank the manager of this theater,
which is donated for this meeting; to
thank the members Of organized labor
and especially to thank The Spokane
Press, which is the only daily news
paper in Spokane which has done any,
thing to make public this lecture.
1.-The constitutional principles orig
inally promulgated in the Ten Com
mandments have been encroached
upon at various times. When King
John attempted to wrest from the
people the rights they already had OBJ
tanned the barons forced from him
that cornerstone Of liberty, the Mag
ma Charta. BY this deed the arbitrary
power which took citizen by the
throat and thrust him into prison at
the will Of the king was to be at
an end.
I'm France when the life and lib
erty of no man was safe from the
arbitrary power of a despotic ruler
the people arose and drove kingly
power from France and established
a republic. When our forefathers es-
tablished the magnificent government
under which we now live they ac-
cused George III. Of taking from
the people the right of habeas corpus.
General jackson Was Fined.
attempts at various times have
L.
evade the right of the writ of habeas
corpus, the cornerstone of liberty, but
Chief Justice Marshall said this writ
could not be suspended without an
act of congress. General Jackson,
when In command at New Orleans
in the midst of war, had two citizens
arrested and when he denied to them
the writ of habeas corpus he was
summoned before the court and fined
$1,000, which the great general paid.
THE supreme court of the United
States has announced that whenever
the courts were open and unobstruct-
ed, whether martial law existed or
not, even the president Of the United
States has not the right to suspend
principle was again announced in
the celebrated Merriam case. If the
president of the United States of
America can not suspend this writ,
then the governor Of a state can not
Tor one moment deny this right
which is guaranteed to every man by
the constitution.
The Right TO Labor.
THE right to labor also was guar
anteed to every citizen and the con-
stitution provides that no state shall
deny to any person the protection of
Its laws After the war some people
In attempting to punish those who
participated in 1t had congress pass
an act that no man who had partici-
pated in the rebellion should practice
law. Attorney General Garland an.
Piled for admission to practice be-
FORE one of the federal courts, but
was refused. He appealed 1t to the
supreme court Of the land and the
supreme court held that the right
of a man to follow his profession or
calling was a God-given right and
Nongress could not take that right
from him and the law was declared
unconstitutional.
missouri passed law that no per-
Don who had been engaged In the war
On the southern side could preach
the gospel or teach In that state
a Catholic priest named Cumming
preached. was arrested and fined. He
appealed the case to the supreme
court Of the United States, which
held that the right to follow ones
chosen avocation could not be in
tringed upon BY any state or state
Government.
"A federal court held unconstitu-
eicnai the provision OF the constitu-
Sion OF the state OF California which