Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-04-01
GOVERNORS PROCLAMATION.
Governor Martin ProcIafms that the Traffic
of the State Must Not be Interfcred With.

Governor Martin ProcIains that the Traffic
of the State Must Not be Interfcred With.
! TOPEKA, March Ex-Governor Martin is
sued the following proclamation yesterday:
! To the Sherifis, Attorneys and other peace
officers OF the State of Kansas.
| STATE OF KANSAS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
f! TOPEKA, March 25-kansas has no water
ways within its borders; its internal
commerce is carried by its railways.
The railways are common carriers and the
prosperity of the State and the interests aud
welfare of its people, farmers, mechanics.
merchants manufacturers, laborers and all
others are dependent upon the uninter-
rupted operation of the railway lines of the
State. The interrupt on Of these great arter.
| les of commerce is disaster to a. and
hence is the concern of all. Their operation
is vitality essential TO every commercial, In
dustrial and agricultural interest of the peo-
pie ana hence not only the greatest good to
the greatest number, but the greatest good
| TO each individual citizen is subserved by
their uninterrupted operation.
We are now in the third week OF the most
serious business disaster that has ever be-
fallen our State. The forcibe stoppage OF
transportation along the iires of railroads
touches the interests of a third of the peo-
pie of Kansas several hundred thousand in
number. Supplies of food and fuel are cut
of in many localities. Farmers, mechanics
and manufacturers are prevented from sell
ing and shipping their stock and goods, and
from paying thousands OF laborcrS hitherto
N Their employ. Thus the strike Of u few
and industry of great masses of our people.
The cause of the difficulty Is not our prov
i1ce to determine. We live in law-ab ding
state and are the servants of law. Corpora
tons and the people must alike obey the law.
as new grievances arise new legislative rem
edies will be found and adopted, but we must
act under and obey and enforce the laws we
have. Those who violate the laws should be
arrested and brought before the courts for
tt ard punishment
The stopping of transportation and the
ON, <,f how rrnaC nVfr
enough. The wheels of industry must be
put in motion. No one class of men have
any ght in law Or equity, common sense or
justice, to paralyZe the business of the
country TO work disaster to the tiller of the
soil, TO close the mills and factories of the
| State and to throw thousands of working
men engaged i'll every department Of human
activity ont of employment The rights OF
the many can not be yielded to the claims OF
the few. The men engaged in this strike
may have just grievances: they may be the
victims of corporate greed and power, but
this fact does not justify iawlcsSneSS or tur-
bulence or the destruction of property, or
the forcible s'oppage of the transportation
lines OF the State and the resulting loss and
wrong to hundreds of thousands or people
in nowisc responsible for the controversy
between the railway company and its EN-
piOyes. -....----
The people of Kans is acting through their
representatives can be relied on to see that
the just grievances Of any class Of citizens
or anv wrongs done by corporate power are
redrcSsed aud prevented by law. The laws
Of Kansas in so far as the interests OF her
workingfnen are involved, are more liberal
than those of any other State in the Union.
The Legislature at its last session enacted a
law the object of which was to settle con-
flists between employers and employees by
peaceful and honorable arbitration. Kansas
has taken the lead on many great questions
Affecting the rights or interests OF her work
ingmcn.
therefore call upon all sheriffs county at
forDcys and other peace officers to discharge
their duties under the law, to preserve the
peace, to protect the property, to see that
the commerce OF the state not Interrupted
by violence or lawleSS acts, and to arrest and
bring before the courts Tor tr al and punish
luent all who are guilty Of any violation OF
law. In the discharge of this duty you have
power to call upon every citizen to aid you,
and appeal to all law respecting citizens to
may be restored, that commerce of the state
may he resumed and that industry and
prosperity may take the place of I'M
seemly feud, business StagnatiOn and in
dustr al paralysis. All the lawful authority
of the State will be eXerted to support local
officers in the d scharge of the duties thus
enjoined upon them, and all persons are
hereby warned against lntcrposiDg any OBJ
Stacles in the way of the officers OF the law
or obstructing the lines of transportation on
which the commerce of the State is carried.
In testimony whereof, ] hereto set my
hand and cause to be affixed the great seal
or the state Of Kansas. Done at the City or
Topeka, this 18th day of March, A. ID. 1886.
john \. MAhTIN.
BY the Governor;
L. b. ALLEN. Secretary OF State.
A Postmaster Short.