The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-08-25

For the Leayenw,rth Times

Fellow workingmen Of Kansas, the time
is fast approaching when the people Of Kan
sas will be called upon to cast their ballot.
| for member Of Congress and for State Off
GERS. What are you going to do? Who
are you going to cast your ballots for? Fol
such men-snch protested politicians-as
now lord it over you in this State? / hope
not. Both the member of Congress from
this State and the present Governor are men
that care not an iota for the working class OF
the country. All they want is to fill their
own pockets, and they care not from whence
it comes. They would Just as soon it would
come off of the laborcr or mechanic as of
the millionaire; and there is no difference
which Of the present political parties are in
power, it is all the same. None but the pro-
fessed politicians ever get the nominations
for Office in either party. The Republican
party and the Democratic party are both
lighting among themselves in this and other
States. Some of them are getting desperate
for fear they will not get few more years to
lord it over the workingmen of the country.
Fellow labOrers. what has either one of
these parties ever done for you? Think over
it, and think seriously, for there is time
coming when YOU will think. Then it will
be too late to act. Therefore, think now, and
act too. We, the organized wOrkingmen OF
Kansas, are going to call a Convention of
the workingmen, independent Of either poll
teal party, for the purpose Of nominating a
candidate for Congress and candidates for
State officers, and We would urge upon the
wOrkingmen everywhere to organize them
selves into Unions and elect delegates to said
Convention organized in every town and
township. We want the wOrkingmen, no
matter whether farmers or mechanics,
whether they labor at manual labor or men,
tai labor, whether they are white or colored,
to be represented in that Convention, and to
say who shall be nominated, whether they
shall b. professed politicians or honest labor
ing men. Capital now rules the country;
might rides over right; the minority now
rules, while the workingmen are in the
majority and can rule if they will. The
workingmen have the power to dethrOne the
politicians that are now misruling; then
why not use it? say this power re<ts with |
you who labor for living. There are men
in the ranks of the w0rkingmen in Kansas,
to-day, far more capable, both intellectually |
and morally, to fill the Offices Of the State |
Than now fill them, or ever have. The |
made this State and country |
What it il. They drove the wilderness from
Maine to California. They opened our mines
They made New England's machinery; dug
,ur gold and filled the treasury. They filed
he armies with men and fought the battles
If our country. Then why not have some
hing to say in the administration of our gov
Drive old party feelings entirely
Mt Of your mind, and stand mp with us in
he good work of cleansing politics. If all
vho live by labor will join hands and swear
y the great ! Am that they will vote for no
or support for Office any man un-
era he pledges himself to equal taxation, and
he constitution and platform of the National
labor Congress. No other plan but organi-
alton will protect the laborer. Organize
hen, and cast your ballots Is one man, and
'ictOry will crown our efforts. But If you
10 not organize, labor will forever be slave.
Will you fold your hands and let the present
opportunity pass, and be forever slaves to the
'rofeaaed politicians and monopolists? !
hink not. have better opinion of my
rother woFkingmen of Kansas. New York
nd other States are calling Conventions for
he same purpose that We call our Conven-
ION. Let not Kanaas be behind; organize
hen everywhere; make applications for
harten to the Secretary Of the State Labor {
)nion, B. F. Sylvis, Leavenworth, BY send |
ng two dollars, with the names of President, ;
ice President, Secretary and Treasurer, you
ill receive your charters by return mail
We mean business and hope to have the help :
{ every workineman in the State. Papers
iendly to the Labor Reform cause please
,py-the weeklies especially.
Respectfully, B.F.S.