The Labor enquirer., 1883-07-28
DYNAMITE is quoted to-day at 45c.
MILITIA VS.. woRKINGMEN.


One of the questions which at present
occupies the attention of the working
men of this country, and one which is
constantly being wildly flashed before
their minds, through additional injustice
and outrage, is that Of the employment
of state militia to suppress worklngmen
who make demand for recognition OF
their rights by unscrupulous capitalists
and grinding corporations. And this Is
a question that ere long will force ad-
iustment, or l do not know the toillng
people of America.
The latest act of shame in which these
tools of tyranny have figured, was at the
mines in Ely, Vermont. At that place
the men had worked for months without
receiving a cent of compensation. The
company owed the force an aggregate In
wages of $4,000. They had repeatedly
appealed to the "bosses" for money suf-
fcient to provide food for their wives
and children, who were suffering from
the pangs of hunger. They were re-
fused, and no reason assigned. Their
limited credit was exhausted at the store
keepers. What could they do? They
quit work, and took possession Of their
debtors property, to secure themselves
in the amount due for work performed
on that properly. Took quiet possession;
did no damage, nor made any noise.
The owners of the property, the viii
lains who had defrauded these honest,
hard-working, peaceable men out of the
wages they had labored for, and whose
cruelty was starving the poor mems
wives and children, set up the howl Of
riot and bloody murder. The governor
was telegraphed and he, the willing
abettor of the aristocratic thieves and
murderers, ordered out the militia to
suppress the riot and arrest the ring
leaders" The gallant defenders Of our
countrys peace and safety, knowing the
halfstarved, unarned and detected crea-
lures with whom they had to do battle,
rushed eagerly to the fray, routed the
handful of skeletons and cast a dozen of
them into prison. These latter were set
free by order of the attorney general,
that gentleman failing to find the least
reason for their detention.
The foregoing recital is but a fair
statement of score of such disgraceful
proceedings, with the exception in this
case that none of the poor devils were
butchered by eyardstick warriors.
Is it not about time for the people to
cry Halt w in this cowardly work The
press of the country, which is always
preaching honorable warfare" upholds
this underhand mode of subjecting and
further enslaving the people. The legisN
latures are composed of the men who
usually invoke the aid of the militia
Then, what is the remedy? How is
this cold -blooded, heartless system to be
wiped out? have this plan to offer:
Let everv organization of workingmen
provide its membership entire with
arms, guns, revolvers or other instru-
ments of defense, and when the dudish
soldiers march against an honest up-
rising of laborers in vindication OF
principle and right, shoot them down as
YOU would a troublesome dog. It is =
fools talk to say such an action would
be unlawful. The first great law is one
of self preservation. And it istime the
people began to understand there is no
law worthy their respect which has not
as its essence the great statute of God
All men are created equal
There was time when was inclined
to be charitable to ee-fourths of the
members of militia companies said
they had no idea that they should ever