The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-12-23
HILTON LAUDS
THREE |. ". WIS,
Denver Gives High Praise. to Men
Who Pleaded Guilty-Ettor
Refutes Statement Funds
Will Not Be accounted For.

At vindication meeting held in
Virginia last Sunday, Philip Masono-
vich, Joseph Cernogotovich and JOS
eph Nikich, the Biwabik I. w. WIS,
were characterized as martyrs to the
I. w. w. cause" by Judge o. N. Hill
ton of Denver, leading counsel for
the defendants.
The three men pleaded guilty to
manslaughter in the first degree in
connection with the Myron murder.
II want you to know the why's and
'wherefores' of the settlement of these
so-called murder cases with the
state" said Judge Hilton. II do not
wish any carping criticism after Carlo
Tresca, Sam Scarlet, Joe Schmidt and
other leaders are gone. Elizabeth
Gurley Finn has consecrated her
magnificent ability to the I. w. w.
cause. Tresca, Scarlet, Schmidt, Ma
sonovitch, Cernogotovich and Nickich
have set unexampled examples of de-
votion and self-sacrifice. I want you
to realize the game was worth the
candle" Judge Hilton reviewed the
'aAAouS oIcpo lHaI leu ~ Tic ScLIAc-
ment of the I. w. W. cases in Duluth.
Lauds County Attorney.
II found County Attorney Greene
very courteous and a gentleman in
every sense of the word" he contin-
ued. HE showed me every consider
alton. His assistant, Edward l.. Boyle,
was also kind and friendly. They
showed disposition to be frank with
the defense, so negotiations were
opened for the settlement of the So
called murder cases.
II agreed that if there was not a
dissenting voice among the I. w. w.
defendants the murder charges against
the Biwabik men be changed to man.
slaughter and that action against
Tresca, Scarlet and Schmidt be with
drawn. I met the I. w. w. committee
from Virginia. It was headed by J.
Gilday and in it's personnel was
woman. No side considered the
planned disposition of the cases as
triumph or a surrender"
In outlining the points that decided
the ]. w. WIS in favor of settlement
of the action, Judge Hilton declared
the following were the chief reasons:
The possible conviction of the lead
ers and an expensive appeal to the SUI
preme court. The expense of five or
six trials.
Continuing, Judge Hilton said:
1.-THE eight defendants, from the I.
w. w. organization, conferred with
me and the Virginia committee over
the proposals in the case. We decided
that unless the disposition Of the mat
ter was the best thing for our cause
we would not consider it. 1t was on
this basis that all concerned discussed
the matter. We did not consider in
dividual and personal matters
The speaker painted Masonovich.
Cernogotovich and Nickich as 'tsol-
diers of the cause
1.-The Biwabik men were eager to go
TO Jail so that Tresca, Scarlet and
Schmidt could be helped" shouted the
speaker. "They did not care for them
selves. Nickich was eager to go to the
penitentiary, saying he wished Ma
sonovich freed.
wabik men, T felt that If I had 100000
Croatins I could lick the world. The
men were anxious to go to Jail as SOL
diers,' feeling the honor and glory
they would gain from their fellow
workers. Never in my twenty five
years in this peculiar work have I
ever, seen such sacrifice and devotion.
George Orlandich, who was dismissed,
will act as Mrs. Masonovich's pro-
tector.
"You are getting raises and better
treatment. A strike is never lost.
Defense Fund is q. r..
1.-THE defense fund accounts were
kept religiously and carefully. Do not
worry about inference that there has
been any fraud in connection with the
books. and contributions.
"When the Biwabik Montenegrins
stepped into the shadows it was for
you and your cause"
Carlo Tresea, who during the strike
was the idol of the strikers. was given
good reception on arising to speak
in Italian. He has not lost any of his
ability as a speaker and as he strobe
back and forth across the PLATFORM to
help his delivery it reminded his hear
ers of the talks he gave on the same
stage seven months ago, before start
ing for the county Jail.
Sam Scarlet, the Scot organizer, was
bitter in his denunciation of Nick Dill
Ion, who he branded as the murderer
of John Ladvalla, the Biwabik pop
man, who was killed during the BIZ
wabik melee July 3.
1--WE should work to see that Philip
Masonovich and his wife, Malka, are
soon united" said Scarlet. If you
work together you will have the pleas
ure of seeing Malka and Philip en-
brace each other on this stage in the
near future"
For National Prohibition.
Scarlet introduced something that
was not touched upon during the
whole strike, when he urged national
prohibition. 1--WE workers should
smash the saloons" said he. "Close
them up. That should be one of our
missions. Stay by your. firesides and
your families" The speaker declared
that during the strike 400 men and
women were imprisoned.
To Report on Funds.
Organizer Joe Ettor, chairman of
the meeting, defended the leaders:
.''Regarding the defense fund, which
was in aharpA ne Hildov and nvSn1f T