The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-04-12
EMPORIA NEWS
FRIDAY. APRIL u, 1878.



column.
One of the surprising things about
the transactions here in the time
specified is the part taken by our
heretofore level-headed Governor,
George T. Anthony. We have
looked in vain to find the motive
that actuated him to take the steps
he did. George L. Anthony has
not been in the habit of making an
unfayorable exhibition of himself,
whatever other faults he may have
possessed. But we fear the verdict
of en- impartial jury, sitting upon
his actions here, for the week past,
would be anything but compliHen-
tarY to the Governors judgment,
discretion aud dignity. At time
had the strike created any disturb
ance here that our authorities could
not quell. This he could have east
ly ascertained. lie has friends here.
1t Is but sixty miles distant from
his Office by rail, and two trains q
day. We suppose he has about
him 9 person who draws pay as Ad-
iutant General of the State. 1t will
be something new in Kansas affairs
If he has not. But the Governor
seems to have taken other counsels.
He could not have been much scar
ed, because we do not believe he is
that kind of a man. We understand
by a citizen who was there, that the
capitol was filled with the most
blood-curdling rumors about the
condition of things here, for which
there was no more foundation than
there would have been in a report
that the Governors Office was sur
rounded by q company of his last
campaign enemies who proposed to
bring his earthly career to a close.
He was assured by the Mayor of
this city, and by the Sheriff of the
county, that there was no disturb
ance. Notwithstanding tits he sent
q body of militia here. He must
have been Influenced by the Atchi-
son, Topeka s. Santa Fe railroad
company, who desired to leave no
stone unturned that would bring
odium, and the total responsibility
of the strike, upon a handful of the
members of the Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers. We think the
latter was the motive that actuated
the railroad company. If this COM
pany could make it appear that a
few engineers belonging to that or
ganization were causing all the
trouble, upsetting the business of
the country, and threatening cities
and even human life, with dire de-
struction, then it was expected
public sentiment would demand,
''away with them !" Now the
Governor appears to have been un-
Willingly led into the plot for the
overthrow of the Brotherhood.
Here the citizens proposed that the
Brotherhood and the railroad have
1t out, sympathizing with all fair eff
forts on the part of the first named
to obtain their just rights, but say
ing almost universally, we will not
see the law violated or permit vio-
lence to be done to the railroad or
other property. OF course some mi
nor acts of lawlessness were done,
but how can you anticipate that
man is going to throw a stone, or dis
able some piece of machinery. On
Sunday two of the leading strikers
were arrested in broad day light.
Did Anthony or the railroad com
pany hear of any attempts to hin
der the process of the law? Did
they hear of attempts to rescue
their comrades on the part of the
strikers, or of any contederating or
conspiring to defy law and imperil
the public peace of the State OF
Kansas? Not q bit of it. Now
we haYe been repeatedly told by
the friends of the railroad that the
strike did not amount to much, as
it did not extend west of Emporia,
and we have not heard of it east Of
Topeka. From some employees OF
the company at Newton this dis
patch was sent:
There has been no discomfort existing
west Of Emporia, outside Of three or iouI
persons, As Is evidenced by the fact tina
only eight engineers out of the whole
number employed on the five hundred
and sixty-hve miles of road extending
from Emporia to Pueblo, have stopped
work; and further than that, not cnly
have trains been running so long as Their
was freight and passengers to haul ives
OF EmpOrta, but engineers from this di
Vision have been taking passenger train
through from Newton to Topeka an
Kansas City"
We believe the railroad compan,
has In several ways endeavored Z
keep 1t before the people" that bu
. few persons who could not ru
things to suit them, were engage
In this trouble over which the
probably insisted the Governo
should call out the State militil
Even the captain of the compan!
Of militia telegraphed the Cover
nor, on his arrival here, seeing tn
awkward situation the chic
executive had placed himself in
that the troops were not needle
here. Had the Governor been her
as private citizen he could hav
gone to the depot without havin
the approaches to that buildin
pointed out by his devoted tad
BE would have discovered notl
ing at all, mp to the arriy,
Of his troops, out of the wa.
either about the railroad or cit,
The sending of troops here ws
. most ridiculous farce, on II
part Of governor, and raised til
just indignation of our peace of
GERS who wers doing their dut.
and the citizens, which took shap
In . large public gathering, who's