Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-20
A. F. of L. Executive Council
Raps Spanish Ruler
FOR EXECUTION OF FERRER
Resolution Adopted at Session Yes
terday Afternoon.
CALLS IT MILITARY MURDER
Declares Cause of Free Speech, Free
Press and Free Education Has
Another Martyr.

At yesterday afternoons session of the
executive council of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor a resolution was adopted
which recited that the execution of
Prof Ferrer by the soldery of the Span
ish king has aroused the strongest indig-
nation Of all just. liberty loving and
broad-minded men of the civilized world,
regardless of any personal differences
among such men. and there is no doubt
of the unanimous feeling of sorrow and
apprehension and protest aroused by this
event: and
1T appears that Prof. Ferrer was taken
before no civil tribunal, but the trial, II
trial it may be called, was secret; that
1t was a court-martial; that no witnesses
We're examined: that the people do not
know how the written dispositions against
him were obtained; that his counsel was
placed under arrest when he asked the
opportunity of producing witnesses and
pleaded that the accusers should be
brought forward in person; and
1T is well known the resolution con-
tinues. that Prof Ferrer was schol-
arly man, an educator. philanthropist
who had the sympathy of all liberal
minded men of his country. Why? Be
cause of his great work in Introducing
general education. greater than any other
in SPAIN To that work Prof. Ferrer de-
voted his time and talents. Through his
numerous primary and grammar schools
the children were Systematically taught
liberal and anti-monarchical views, and
therein lay his only crime BY his execu-
ton the state has abolished the recon-
struction work he had begun through the
hundred schools he had established
throughout the kingdom as branches of
his EScuela Moderna in Barcelona
when he was arrested, so were his
teachers in the Barcelona school, even
some OF the pupils, girls from nine to
fourteen years of age.
Sympathy With Ferrer.
so great was even the sympathy of
the people with Prof. Ferrer that it was
unsafe to trust the ordinary soldiers for
the execution. and therefore the soldiers
who were assigned to the gruesome task
of shooting him had to be detailed from
the special reserve of the king. Dying,
his last words were, Long live the
EScuela Moderna.'''
1t was therefore resolved, "by the exec
utive council Of the American Federation
of Labor, in regular session assembled,
that we. on our own personal behalf, as
well as in the name of Americas work.
ers. and the whole people, express our in
tense Indignation and horror, and our
strongest protest against the murder of
Francisco Ferrer by direction of the
Spanish government, and that the cause
of free speech. free press and free edu-
CdtlOu has 1OuUQ III FerTcr announcer
martyr, the more regrettable in an age
when civilization boasts of having re-
placed the tortureS and brutality of me-
dievalism by federation and freedom and
enlightenment.
Ranks With Martyrs.
THAT We believe that Prof. Ferrer will
take rank with all those who have done
the greatest service for humanity. A
noble company of martyrs and a cause in
which a man might we'll give his life, did
tyranny require 1t. Like Washington.
Jefferson and Lincoln of our own country.
he labored and taught and suffered that
the people might have wisdom and be
worthy of freedom. Though Ferrer suf-
fered the ultimate penalty of a shameful
death at the hands of those who rule in
the doctrine of the divine right Of kings,
yet we believe that the sacrifice was not
in vain. His martyrdom has given the
cause of liberty great impetus. not only
in Spain and in European monarchical
countries but everywhere that human as
pirations for freedom yet seek attain
ment.
THAT we take this occasion of the mill
tary murder Of a man whose real Offend
ing was speaking, writing and teaching
humanity to become more wise. more free
and more liberty loving. to remind the
people of our own country that the liberty
of the citizen is only secure when trial by
jury and in open court for any alleged Of
Tense involving criminal punishment is
guaranteed"