The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-07-13
DEBS TELLS WHAT THE
HAYWOOD TRIAL MEANS
Most Unfortunate Thing is That
So Few Understand Full
Meaning.
Eugene V. Debs Draws Deft Pic.
ture of Great Conspiracy
In Idaho.

Perhaps the most unfortunate thing
about the trial now in progress in Ida
no from the working class point Of
view is that so few understand it's
true meaning, its real significance, its
full import. It is one Of the strange
freaks of history that its makers are
not to be understood by their contem-
poraries, but that, they, especially the
greatest among them, must die igno-
miniously and wait for succeeding
generations to interpret their words
and do them justice.
When John Brown was put upon
trial in Charlestown, Va. 4S years
ago, few people, extremely few. UNDER
stood its meaning, and although half
a century has passed and the dercest
civil war in history, Of which that
trial was but the prelude, has been
fought, the greuar mass of people has
not yet awakened to it's significance
and another century or more will be
required before the strike al Harper's
Ferry and the trial at Charlestown
will be understood in their larger
meaning, as written in subsequent
events, by the American people and
the world
Ralph Waldo Emerson was one OF
the few who understood that historic
trial Of half a century ago the trial Of
a despised agitator and hated insur-
rectionist His prophetic eye pierced
the future as he said: John Brown
will make the gallows as glorious as
Jesus Christ made the cross" The
coming centuries will vindicate the
prescience of the sage Of Concord and
the gallows upon which John Brown,
the liberator perished will be kept
green with wreaths of immorttles by
the countless children of freedom.
The outcome Of the pending trial is
awaited with equal concern by the
Car of Russia and the President of
the United States. They a: least un-
derstand in some measure the vital
issue that is involved and the wide
spread influence the outcome will have
upon their respective countries.
When the Czar Of Russia expressed
his imperial approval Of President
Roosevelt's characterization of Moyer
and Haywood as "undesira BILE citi-
zens" he not only added his testimony
TO- integestafaa tissgtrtal;
But unWitting;ly rsco cognized the Inter i
national class struggle Of which the
trial in itself is but the merest Incl
dent.
1t Is this very fact-a fact of the
supremest mportance-tha- the capi-
talist powers are striving by all con-
ceivable means TO conceal from the
working Glass; upon their success in
so doing depends the consummation Of
the conspiracy to destroy organized
labor and rule the wage sraves of the
western mines and smelters with g.
rod of iron for years to come.
Ine trial now gong on, viewed from
any comprehensive standpoint is any
thing but murder trial. In the war
between labor and capital in the Rocky
Mountains during the last 80 years
sometimes in pitched battles and again
In guerilla fashion-hundreds have
been slaughtered, but not all Of them
combined have created ti1he of the
furore aroused by the taking Off of
Frank Steunenberg, the particular
murder which lies at the foundation
Of this prosecution and " uhich must
be understood in at least it's essential
features to account for the world wide
interest it has aWakaned.
Hundreds Of miners have been killed
under circumstances quite as cruel as
the assassination of Steuerberg. but
who can pronounce the name of even
one of them.
All. that Is the point! Why were
the hundreds of workingmen slain SO
inconsequential and easily forgotten,
while the killing Of Steunerberg has
aroused the whole universe?
The answer comes Of itself. Frank
steunenberg belonged to the ruling
class. AS governor of Idaho he had
served that class with peculiar fidelity.
AS retired capitalist he was identi-
fled with that class. Had he been
killed while still union printer under
precisely the same circumstances
scarcely anyone outside of Idaho would
have heard of it and by them it would
soon have been forgotten.-Justice.
Mr.. Union Man:-Notify your res