The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-07-29
THE HAYWOOD VERDICT

great newspaper properties of the country and practically
all the small fry publication hostile to organized labor
under any preeXof which class the Spokesman Review
is most conspicuous and despicabe example.
So adroitly and vigorously this determination to
hang the officers of the Western Federation of Miners di
rected that assumed the false proportions of national
issue The entire country saturated with every pos
sbe pretenson of proof and nsnuaton that the accused
men were guilty of the foulest form of homicide.
From the supreme court of the United States came an
opinion that will probably rise to plague future adjudca
tlon OF interstate criminal procedure
Even President Roosevelt deuded into an action
that has precedent in the history of the White House
the public denuncaton of men still in prison and who had
not yet had the opportunity to offer evidence in support
of their pleas of innocence.
The supreme courts decision was undoubtedly given
as the majority of the justices understood the and
the law but is safe to the majority of the people of
this country really accepted Justice McKenna dissenting
opinion the correct view
Roosevelt accusation of the the country has
learned to forgive the mpetuous president account of
qualities that transcend his characteristic liability to
break into hasty and poorly considered language times
but his attitude found defenders except in the White
House its immediate vicinity.
After all the hubbub over, it renamed for jury
of farmers out here in Idaho and of limited uris
diction to pass the final and binding verdict Haywood
On the statements of confessed assassin liar burglar
bgamlS and ncendary the special prosecution engaged
behalf Of the of Idaho built it's case and naturally
built the sand. Against this the defense opposed
Noluminous evidence of Orchards criminal record and
implicitly and the testimony of Haywood himself
OF family and intellectual standing against blood stained
Nagabond. These terms the fruit of Orchards
fessions and the prosecutions admissions.
1t must be assumed that the attorneys for the prosecu
ton believed the weird story told by their principal in
fact only positive witness Such faith almost past under
standing but it must have prevailed to incompre>
hensbe degree otherwise the able lawyers engaged would
never have gone into court poorly justified in asking
prisoners conviction and execution Stripped of its pro
tectng curtains, carefully placed about the before
Tx Of tba
cuton all but fell fiat in spite of the oratorical and tactical
abilities of the prosecutors
That deberation the verdict consumed more than
hour merely proves that the jury might be expected
of assembage of conscientious farmers took time and
pains to consider all that had been entrusted to them for
consideration by court of the fairness of whose rulings
there will be no question criticism
However, Haywood is tried and acquitted by the jury
and the verdict satisfies the great majority. That it is
not to be accepted in this spirit by the newspapers that
have abored long to hang Haywood is demonstrated by
he already adopted by the Review and
hts stripe. Whatever insinuaton these papers cast
on the nellgence integrity, of that jury will be
displayed to the best possible advantage There is
an intmaon already apparent that the courts instruc
tons were largely instrumental in influencing the verdict
Whatever of oboquy shame they can heap Hay
wood will be heaped They convicted him, most of Them
before he formally accused, and little matter like
5urys verdict will not affect the indictment inspired by
bias and hatred
La the scale of final measurement the radical
paper ueaenI Vi TIE haywood case VIII balance ABOUT
even Socialist and labor publications in the hands Of
men not so well trained to curb their feelings sober
their views pending final proof often resorted violent
Language and irresponsible charges On the other hand
The publications extremely preudcial to the miners
Through skful and better organized efforts waged
not less relentless and effective campaign
against the accused An abortve condition of affairs
inevitable and it prevailed until the to trial
before Judge Wood. t.s-@
Then all down to the slow but certain delibera
lions of group of western men, Neither capitalist nor
labortr figured in the final settlement and the outcome
clear-cut victory for Haywood's claim of innocence
The verdict is victory for labor in that it sub
ktanates the universal belief in Haywood's innocence
and snstans the argument that unions organized
and maintained to inspire endorse violence and blood