The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-09-11
By GEORGE ii. SHOAF.


No court in the history of jurispru-
dence ever presented scene more re-
plete with dramatic interest than that
witnessed In the federal building at
Fort Scott, Kan, Thursday afternoon,
July "a, when, i'm response to Judge
sentence should not be pronounced.
Fred ID. Warren. editor of the APP
peal to Reason, arose and began to
speak. The last bit of uncOntradicted
evidence disclosing the bias and preju-
dice of the jurors who convicted War
rem had been introduced. The last ar
gument in behalf Of justice for the de-
PENDANT had been made by his attor-
neys. Bone and West of the prosecu-
ton had declined to reply to barrow
and Boyle. Judge Pollock had just de-
livered his decision everything the mo-
tons for an arrest of judgment and a
new trial. Everything that could be
said and everything that could be done
to reverse the processes of the court
and snatch victory from defeat had
been said and DONE
Unconquered Client.
Tense were the feelings of the spec
tators as Warren faced the court In
stinctively it was realized that some
thing was about to happen, but just
what it would be no one could think
or say. The benign face of Clarence
barrow, the celebrated lawyer who in
a hundred courts has championed la
boris cause and whose voice from
thousand platforms has been lifted in
behalf Of the poor and oppressed. show
ed concern, as did the faces of his as
sociate attorneys. when it became evil
dent that their defeated but uncOn-
Quered client was about to initiate ac-
ment's agents and attorneys looked az
If red flag had been unexpectedly un-
folded or q bomb was about to be hurl-
ed, and they cringed speechless In their
chairs. Judge Pollock himself, his eyes
fastened on the figure before him, his
countenance plainly revealing the con-
fiicting emotions of his mind, sat as if
stricken dumb.
Voice Rang Like a Clarion.
Yes, your honor, there are some rea-
sons why sentence of the court should
not be pronounced"
With his hands on the table before
him and his eyes looking straight and
fearlesSly into those of the court,
Warren's voice rang like a clarion as
he began a speech us remarkable as il
is without Il parallel. The unexpected
ness of the proceeding and Warren's
boldnesS OF utterance aStounded Judge
Pollock. Once or twice Prosecuting
Attorney Bone looked appealingly at
the court as If the latter dignitary
ought to foreclose on the speakers re-
marks, but the court was too prcoccu-
pied with amazement to except To d
silenced judge and in the presence oc
an audience whose very breathing
could neither he felt nor heard cap
italiSm's most prominent victim and
iabor's uncOmpromising champion pro-
ceeded with the uncOyering Of the
causes that had led to his conviction.
Never in his life had Judge Pollock
listened to Il speech like this; never
i'll the history of Jurisprudence was
there speech like this made in a
federal court.
Situation Dramatic Beyond Words.
Warren represented in the concrete
the agony and woe. the blood and tears
Of the working class Of the world. He
typified the issue between the ruling
class and those who are fighting the
age-long war for human emancipation.
Through him were voiced the outraged
sentiments OF men. women and chill
dren who in the field, factories and
mines do the work Of the world and
who in some way would protest
against the methods by which the
wealth their work creates is taken
from them and given to those who
labor not. Here In this federal court.
the strongest bulwark Of the system
that Is responsible for the agony and
blood and outraged sentiments, War
rem, already convicted and about to
receive sentence, faced without hesita-
ton and without tremor the flesh
and blood embodiment OF capftalism's
mighty power and challenged him to
do his worst.
Would Vote For Him For President.
Warren's speech climaxed his de-
Tense and clinched il irrefutabiy in the
cOnscienceS OF his auditors. If there
had been any doubt as to the injustice
Of the prosecution and the animus and
origin Of 1t. this doubt rapidly dispelled
as the speech Preceded. After SEN
tence was pronounced and the prisoner
was admitted to bail pending an ap-
peal John II. Order, one of the most
prominent Republicans in Fort Scott
and probably in secret society circles
the most influential man in Kansas,
who had listened to Warren's address,
came forward and volunteered to sign
his bond. The offer was accepted.
Downstairs after adjournment Of court
q group Of men, Democrats and Re
publicans, united in open Endorsement
Of the speech and unqualifedly ex-
e. -