Evening star., 1907-05-05
SYMPATHY FOR MINERS
UNIQUE PARADE IN NEW YORK
RoosEvELr's NAME KISSED.

/ 4
men and women, probably 20,000 Of them.
trailed in parade through the streets Of the
upper and lower East Side late today as
demonstration of their sympathy for
Meyer. Haywood and Pettibone. the Of
ficials of the Western Federation Of
Miners whose trial on the charge Of killing
ex-Gov. Steunenberg of Idaho begins next
Wednesday at Boise. Merging subsequently
into one vast crowd at 40th street and
Lexington avenue. a few Of the paraders,
two or three thousand OF them. managed
to crowd into Grand Central Palace to wind
up the demonstration in one Of the biggest
union labor and socialistic demonstrations
seen in New York In long time.
There was no disorder. Here and there
would come a faint cheer. particularly in
the downtown streets. but as rule the
crowds viewed the marchers. who made lit
tie or no attempt at parade function, with
out enthusiasm and with only curiosity
The first real enthusiasm came after the
crowd had entered the hall. when fife
and drum corps played the "Marseillaise' -
The crowd howled and scores waved small
red flags.
The meeting was called to order by John
c. Chase secretary of the socialist party,
who introduced Morris Helquist, as chair
man. When, soon after beginning his ad.
dress, the chairman mentioned the name Of
President Roosevelt, it was received with a
storm of Kisses.
'If he has any information regarding the
guilt of these men Of Indictment to riot and
bioodshed 1t is his duty to give tnat infor-
nation to the people" he said.
His defense of Debs was received with
prolonged cheers. 1t was not. said the
speaker, the fact that Debs and Meyer and
Haywood had disobeyed the laws or done
any of the things with which they have
been charged that made them undesirable
citizens 1t was the fact that they were
their fellow-men that induced the President
to make the statements he did against
them. To the laborfng men, he said, Debs,
Meyer and Haywood are not undesirable
laboring men are the capitalists the mine
owners, the governors Of the states OF Colo
RADIO and Idaho.
ITO u.s. he said, ''the man who has been
elected to the highest Office in the land and
who uses his power to trample down men
whose very lives may depend on the OPEN
ness and fairness of the public mind, has
violated his solemn oath. He is the 'un-
desirable Citizen"
Joseph Wanhope. editor Of a socialist
newspaper, spoke for an hour. He had per-
sonally Investigated the case both in Colo
RADIO and Idaho, he said. He devoted much
of his attention to the President and to
1.-The capitalistic subsidized press" He de-
clared that Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone
were entirely innocent, and their prosecu-
ton was the result of great conspiracy
of the mine owners. the Ptnkertons and
Wall street.
Resolutions protesting against every step
of the r-Haywood-Petti case. the
arrest Of the men, their removal to Idaho,
the action of the Supreme Court in deciding
against them, the Presidents statements
regarding them, and the Idaho authorities
action in appropriating money for their
resolutions Is to be sent to every member
of Congress, the justices Of the Supreme
Court and the President.
Collection for Defense.
After the resolutions had been passed a
collection was taken for the defense fund
of Meyer. Haywood and Pettibone. Fol-
lowing this William Coakley. representing
the Central Federated Union, spoke. Or
ganized labor, he said, was with the officers
of the Western Federation OF Miners, and
would be with them in every way under the
law. "Organized labor Is not for treason,
he said, 1--WE are Americans first, last and
all the, time, We believe that the Consti-
tuition grants to these men and to every
other man a free and fair trial, and we are
going to see that they get that fair trial,
even If we have to go to Washington for it.
There is no sentiment in this matter.
Organized labor believes these men are
innocent. has gone into its pocket to
pocket again If necessary. All we ask is
a fair trial If Meyer. Haywood and
Pettibone are guilty of this crime they
ought to be hanged. But II they are inno-
cent, and we believe they are they must
go free"