Strike bulletin., January 06, 1914, Image 1

About Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
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IM>2 _ CUNTON, HJJNOIt, JANUANY t, 1*14 tU.1
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1 “To Organized Labor” |
1 Lari E. Person is in the County Jail at Clinton, Illinois. He is charged with the crime X
i °* marder* The coroner's jury has recommended that he be held without bail. X
8 Person is innocent. It requires money to prepare his defense and establish his inno- S
£ cence in a court of law. The vindication of Person is the obligation and duty of the labor 8
£ movement. 8
8 Person is the great sacrifice of the two years' struggle on the Illinois Central and Har- 9
9 riman Lines. As secretary of the System Federation and as the editor of the "Bulletin" he S
8 has kept alive a cause that deserves to succeed. It is the cause of organized labor every- S
8 Two years ago last September the shop employes of the Illinois Central and Harriman 8
5 Lines were compelled to choose between their jobs and their rights as free men. The right 8
8 involved was the right to organize—a right indispensible to collective bargaining. The men X
8 chose to face the starvation of the empty pay envelope rather than abandon the inalienable X
X right to organize. 8
v Last year a Federal Grand Jury at Springfield, Illinois, returned an indictment against S
£ Person, charging Person with mailing libelous and defamatory matter. Mended to reflect 8
8 injuriously on the conduct of the Illinois CentraL This indictment contains seven counts. X
8 The maximum punishment if found guilty on afl counts is 35 years in the penitentiary and a 8
m Hue of $35,000. This indictment was set for trial before United States Judge Humphrey at 8
B Springfield, flfhiois, on the 6th day of January, 1914. 8
I •- (^tht iftanoon of Detanbtt 30th. 1913, Payn es at his desk tn the iaiyaitm. 8
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I Tony Husser, ex-Chief of Poike of Clinton, ifflnnh, and at the Hm» a strikebreaker S
K employed by the Httoois Central had deemed Personfrum Us office. TooyHm?w»tik X
w man who telephoned to Person and asked him to come to the Interurban Station. Tony Hus- HE
X ser used the name Kirk. S
8 Hosier concealed himself in a dgar store. He asked the clerk in the dgar store to H
6 point out Person when Person passed. Person, innocent of the trap set for him by Husser, B
£ walked past the dgar store. Tony Husser pounced on Person. He came on him from the 8
£ rear. He battered him to the ground. Husser is a big man, weighing over 200 pounds— 8
8 standing over six feet tall. Person weighs about 130 pounds and he is about five feet six 8
B inches. Person was beaten, battered and kicked until in a dazed condition. Covered with S
B blood, he used his revolver in defense of his life. 8
5 » Person is a calm, mild-mannered young man, who has never touched whiskey, beer or S
B any other intoxicant in his life. He has carried a revolver since he was attacked and 2
B knocked down in the city of Decatur. Illinois, some four months ago. The attack on Person 2
5 in Decatur was unprovoked and sudden. 8
8 Person is in jail. Person has fought the Illinois Central with publicity. It is the thing 8
m the Illinois Central has most feared. The influence of the Illinois Central is great. The 8
I penalty for murder in Illinois is death. Person stands alone except to the extent that or- 8
If ganized labor stands with him. 8
B I have been in the city of Clinton since shortly after the tragedy. The facts stated in X
B this communication are true. The assault and the shooting took place on a public street.
B The witnesses are many in number. The defense must be prepared carefully and at once. *
B Organized labor should see that the life of Person is not sacrificed for want of a defense fund
B to insure him a fair trial. Sincerely yours,
8 Attorney for Illinois Central and Harriman Lines Systems Federations.
8 Dated at Clinton, 111., January 2nd, 1914.