Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1894 — DEBS IS “IN IT.” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DEBS IS “IN IT.”

Sentenced to Six Months’ Imprisonment by Judge Woods , Other A. R. U. Officials Get Three Month* Except McVaae, Who la Acquitted. “Ghllty as charged” was the announcement of Judge Woods, at Chicago, Dec. 14, in the case of President Eugene "V. Debs, of the A. R. U. The same finding was rendered against the other A. R. U, officials, except McVano, who was released, Mr, Debs was sentenced to six months in the county jail. The others were given three months’ sentence. The finding of the court was that the defendants were guilty of contempt, but that any punishment inflicted would not be cumulative. In other words, there were two cases before the court, one for contempt Slid the other for violation of the Federal statute, and the latter cause Is merged in to th o former. Judge Woods said it was not accordance with procedure to permit defendants to say why sentence should not bo passed, but in this case, the court would allow it. Attorney Darrow, representing the defendants, asked that his clients might retire for consultation, and after a brief recess the strike leaders filed back into court. Attorney Darrow, speaking for them, said that they hat no wish to make separate speeches, but felt that they had done no wrong. The attorney advised the Director McVano was onto! Aha city during the stride. A lengthy argument between attorneys followed over the proposition to discriminate In McVane’s favor which the court terminated by suspending sentence in his case. In sentencing the other defendants. Judge Woods said punishment should ibe neither vindictive nor trivial. “These men were in willful contempt,” he added, “under what legal advice I should like very much to know. These inert were the leaders in a great measure of law-break-ers, and are responsible ai leaders. Ignorant men who followed them have been punished. Mr. Debs is more responsible than any other. He is a manaof marked ability and power over men. I feel constrained to discriminate between him and the others. The punishment against all defendants except Debs Is three months In jail, and against Debs six months.” The sentence does not take effect for ten days. Defendants will appeal. The defendants, with their official positions in the American Railway Union, were: President, Debs; vice-president. Howard; secretary, Keliher; treasurer, Rogers, and directors, Burns, Elliott, McVane, Hogan and Goodwin. Judge Woods’decision in the case is one of the most exhaustive legal documents ever prepared. In full it contained 20,003 words. The President’s message contained only 15,000 words.

Gen. John C. Black, formerly Commissioner of Pensions, has been nominated by the President to be U. S. District Attorney at Chicago.