The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-04-22

lists: proceed at once. and in every State.
so, II the law will sustain You
In it. II is just ,,; and %. right light
you before the law. We will fight you with
no other weapons. For every violation OF
the law Of State or Nation we will enter suit
against you; and in this crusade against
YOU do not understand teat We are to per-
secute, on the contrary, we wish to see the
law vindicated. II you have at all times
obeyed the law in your dealings, IN the
methods by which you nave acquired your
that the many ofensas with which you are
charged should be refutei- You have re-
manned silent under many a dana zin
charge OF injuring the state. We will be
your avengers. II you have been wronged
we will let it he known to the world through
the means Of the courts of Justice And let
me say right here that no money Will buy a
verdict az the hands Of these courts
There are peopie VINO say that this strug-
gle is the beginning of thu war between cap
ita! and labor That statement is false. This
certainly means war. bat it IS a war between
legitimate capital, honest enterprise and
honest labor on the one hand and Height
mate wealth on the other hand. This IS a
war in which we court the fullest
Investigation OF our acts DO Won dare
to DO the same5 This war means no
further strike. no shedding o. blood
IL is in which every business man.
every commercial man. every professional
man. every workingman Will be invited
to enlist IL will not be waruDon the in
nocent, and the battlefield upon which 1t
will be fought ont will be before the courts
OF law, and that which makes law. public
opinion. There will he no mObS in this SUI
No converts Will be made by physical
force That flag which floats over press
or mansion at the bid ling OF a
m Oh dis2races both victor and victim, and
under such flag this we do not wage the
battle. Bat this battle Of the people against
monopoly NAV a. well be fought now As ten
years from now, and what field so eminently
proper in which to fight il out as before the
courts? Let ia know whether laws were
n a1e TO be obeYed or not: and IL they were
not 20 framed. then the people must m axe
he be rich or whether he he the poorest of
the poor. shall in future shirk the respousi-
b.lity of his acts and shield himself behind
the courts.
that the order ~ the KniIhts OF Labor was
founded and If the day has come to make
the trial, so let it be.
do not write this letter to you either in
the spirit OF anger or OF revenge. For YOU
personally have no dislike. / believe that
il allowed to follow your impulses in this
IN after you Womb have had the strike ended
ere this. Tho=a VINO advise you do
not mingle with the peonle- They do
mos care for she peODle You have
been warned that your life Is in danger
Pay no attention to such talk. No man who
has the interest of his country at heart
wouid harm hair Of your head. But the
system which reaches out on all sides. gath
ering in the millions of dollars of treasure
and keeping them out of the legitimate
channels of trade and commerce must die.
and the men whose money is invest d in the
enterprises which stock gambling has throt-
tied must make common cause with those
who have been denied the right to earn
enough to provide the merest necessaries of
life for home and family.
When say to Won that we will meet you
in the courts, do not speak rashly or ILL
advisedly. | have taken counsel from the
best legal minds of the United states. We
are prepared to face you before the courts
and now await your action in the matter
This is not a threat l plav no game of bluff
or chance. | sneak for five hundred thou
sand organiZe1 men, who are ready to pay
out the last farthing in order that justice
may prevail.
You have il in yourpower TO make friends
o. these men by acting the part of the man
by taking this matter in yOur own hands
viii you 4 o so and end this strife in the in
terest of humanity and our common coun-
try? 1t IS your duty to brush aside every
obstacle. assert your authority and
take this matter in your own
hands Settle every grievance, restore every
man to his place. except those who have
been en- ragged in the destruction OF property
or who have broken the laws. Will you do
this? You can then make rules and agree
ments with your men which will forever
preclude the possibility OF another such dis
astrOus conflict this one has proved itself
to be. remain very truly yours.
lSignedI ". PowDERLy. q. N. w.
Knights OF Labor