In Re Debs

158 U.S. 564 (1895)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Debs (D) headed a Union which went on strike against the Pullman company (railroad). The federal court issued an injunction ordering the Union to stop their interference with the operation of the railroads. D and others refused to obey the injunction. The court sentenced them to jail for contempt. D appealed. The United States (P) alleged that 22 railroad companies were affected by the strike. Those companies were engaged in interstate commerce and the carrying of the US mails. P’s complaint against D justified the contempt on the power of the federal government to regulate interstate commerce and the mails and accused Ds of engaging in a conspiracy to prevent the railroads from engaging in interstate commerce and obstructed the delivery of the mails.