The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1919-08-22

this afternoon and the men were i'm
mediately released. After packing up
their belongings and bidding goodbye
to the work house officials, who by
the way, showed the Hamilton men
every consideration and courtesy per-
Missile under the prison rules, the
start for home was made And it was
g happy throng, no need to say that
the men were glad to once more OBJ
tain their liberty. Upon their arrival
in Hamilton all repaired quietly to
their several homes, where happy re-
unions were held
There was talk of many that a
home coming celebration be held, but
this the men demur to and ask that
TO demonstration of any kind be made.
At the time the men were confined
in the prison, many of Hamilton's
citizens, including Mayor Smith, many
city officials, attorneys for the prose-
cution at the time the men were tried,
end others interceded with Mayor
Calvin of Cincinnati and his safety
director for their release, but without
avail.
1t is said and believed that Mayor
Calvin looked with much favor upon
the application for the release of the
men after having the case explained
to him, until Judge Harlan, Sam
Flickinger and a few other local peo-
pic protested against such step and
succeeded in changing the mayors
mind who then refused to interfere.
This was no surprise, when one goes
back and judges from his honor's
stand a~d actions in the lat.s strikes
Of the Cincinnati police and fremen
After it was realized that there was
70 be no relief forthcoming from Ma
yor Calvin, a committee consisting
Of Ted Smith, A. E. Eggleston, James
Brannon and John P. Frey, editor of
the Molders international Journal,
went to Columbus and laid the case
before Governor James Cox and re-
quested that he pardon the men and
order their release. Governor Cox
listened to the plea of the committee
and took the case under advisement
and promised to make decision in
a day or two. This he did on Thurs
cay afternoon, granting all the men
pardon and freedom. In granting
pardons to the men the governor is
sued the following statement:
1.-TWO years ago the industrial con-
ditions in Hamilton were probably
worse than in any place in Ohio. Fed
eral and state intervention was had
ir an attempt to bring about an ad
justment of matters in dispute, but
all efforts failed. Both sides seemed
to be equally unwilling to yield; street
fighting finally ensued, arrests were
n.ade, and the cases were brought to
trial. Meantime, the industrial con-
ditions have become peaceful Ma
iesty of the law has been vindicated.
"Some of the men have large fam
lies and have taken employment in
ether parts of the state. 1t seems to
me that while the agencies of govern
ment should not temporize with vio-
lations of the law, they should, at the
same time, incline towards clemency
when it is apparent that such action
will conserve the public good. Upon
this theory these men are returned to
their homes"
There is no question whatever as
to the sentiment of the great ma
icrity of the Hamilton people in this
case. With the exception of very
few people sentiment favored the re-
lease of the men as it was believed
that they were punished enough, even
though they are guilty, which they
positively arr not.
While Judge Harlan seemed to take
the stand that it was his duty to
prevent the release of these men, there
are many who differ with him. Many
seem to think that he let his personal
feelings enter strongly in the matter
and that it was from this side more
than from the side of his official po-
sition that he acted.
g - NInH