Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-01-06
Why a Radical
DEBS is VICTIM OF VICIOUS USE
OF INJUNCTION
Became ali Extremist When Judge,
Following Example Set by Taft,
Sent Him to Prison, Even
Though No Law Was
Violated
(From Dayton Labor Review

The release of Eugene Debs is
nailed with joy by the extreme radical
and is viewed with concern by the eX-
treme conservative. In between these
two the progressive citizen should con-
Germ himself most with the causes
which led Debs to become the promi-
rent, uncompromising and unrelent-
ing radical he is now. There is a sub
iect for study here.
Back in the early 90's, VIM. Howard
Taft, now chief justice of the supreme
court, was federal judge. A strike
was in progress in Chicago, and he
conceived the idea of using the injUxc-
ton to restrain the lawful activities
of human beings. So far as history
reveals, Taft was the first man who
assumed the power of an autocrat
without advancing as an excuse "the
divine right of kings"
Judge Grosscup, who later became
famous or ;nfamous-in connection
with the Standard Oil case, was also
a federal judge. In 1894 the mem
bers of the American Railway union,
Of which Debs was president, went on
strike, the center of the affair being
located in Chicago.
Judge Grosscup, even then recog-
nized as a particular friend of the
corporations, was appealed to, and
issued an injunction against the strik
ers, giving as high authority the prece-
dent set by Judge Taft.
Through the use of this injunction
and the United States troops, the
strike was broken, but the railroad
managers, sensing the tremendous ad-
vantage of having ga friend at court"
pressed charge of conspiracy against
Debs and his associates. And, be it
remembered, at that time Debs was
an ordinary progressive American,
proud of his country and its institu-
tions.
Debs was tried on the trumped up
charge of conspiracy and promptly
acquitted, but his influence at that
time was too great and the railroad
managers wanted it broken. So they
decided to use their new-found
weapon.
Debs was summarily taken before
Judge Grosscup, who acted as prose-
cutor, judge and executioner, and
sentenced Debs to six months in jail.
not for violating the law, but for the
alleged failure to obey some fool stip-
ulation of the incorporation attor-
ney's infamouse personal order.
During the six months in Jail Debs
brooded over the vicious and illegal
methods pursued by man who had
sworn to uphold the Constitution, and
he very naturally concluded that his
government was controlled by the
corporations or it would not permit a
citizen to be deprived of his liberty
at the behest of known exploiters.
Debs went to Jail a conservative
citizen. He came out rank, raving
RADICAL victim of the injunction
Judge.
Since the day Debs' case has been
repeated a thousand times in this
country, for the corporations in
stantly seized upon the precedent es-
tablished by Taft and have used it
whenever they could find subservient
federal Judge, and their quest has
been uniformly successful. AS the re-
suit there are thousands of Debs'
throughout the country, men who
have been sent to Jail for not falling
down and adoring the golden calf as
personified by the injunction Judge.
And additions are being made to these
thousands each day, and these will
continue to grow in numbers so long
as men innocent Of even a technical
violation of the law can be summarily
thrown into Jail by incorporation at
torneys who, although elevated to
judgeships, still recognize and obey
their masters voice and command.
Debs probably is a monomaniac on
the subject of radicalism and con-
tempt for the government. But be-
fore he is condemned in mems minds
they should trace his history back to
the time the first labor injunction
was isued by William Howard Taft,
and then form their opinion as to who
is responsible for Debs' mental con-
1ition.