Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-08-02

OF the Mississippi, or on the ONO, or
along the SusQuehanna. There is beneath
the very flag of the republic no free
artisan or toiler who can claim his own.
All forms of labor are bound to this mo-
dern car of Juggernaut. Your starry
banner of the free droops in shame over
your capitols and school houses. Your
traditions are tortured. The free labor
of the republic, that heart and soul of
liberty itself, is struggling in almost the
agonies of death, within the lacerating
claws of this hydra headed demon.
at is said that the corporations inte-
rested in legislation, and in the election
of their man Friday to the United States
senate paid out in this state, as Judas
money, to the representatives that the
caucus of the prostituted political par
ties had duped the masses to appoint, a
sum equal to 100000. A vast sum,
truly, to the honest and poorly paid son
of toll, but it was a mere bagatelle to
these business circles; for it is prov
able fact that the elevators stole from
the farmers of this state, in single
week, sum greater than $4,000
by a system of capitalization
railroad corporations alone have issued
and sold in the market, stock and bonds
to the amount of four thousand millions
of dollars. And SO the labor of the entire
people is by this unparalleled swindle
compelled to pay the carrying interests
of the country alone sum equal annu-
ally to the interest on twice the total of
the nations war debt.
"This burden of taxation by the rail-
roads is chargeable to the incompetency
and compatibility of the persons who
have been holding legislative and execu-
tive offices. 1t may be truly said that
in most cases the several legislatures
have found themselves powerless to
enact the laws desired by their consti.
tuents. A most complex system of legis-
lative rules has been made, which are
designated to obstruct and defeat legis-
lation.
"The practice of relying upon COM
mittees, who can delay reports, suggest
amendments, insert paralyzing clauses,
and impede action upon bills introduced
opens the door for bribery; it obstructs
and often defeats legislation by the cor
ruption of a single member OF com.
mittee.
"The possession of the heart of an
executive governor has become SO neces.
sary to corporations that it is now well
understood the present governor OF Min
nesota and his hackers expended to buy
the state convention and caucuses which
gave him a nomination, a sum not far
from $250,000. l am not here to call
down upon the head of Gov. Merriam
public anathema sincerely pity him.
He was born in bank. He is only one
of whole generation of that new class
of humanity who have sprung forth
from the brain of the business and
stock boards. They arc not of the
people.
are all business" They have differ
ent dress from the people. They have a
different idiom than the peoples. They
must have servants; and they ape the
manners of the effete sons of the barons
of England. They have never read of
the struggles of liberty They know of
one power, one god-Money. They use
that single power to accomplish all
things. They are unconscious that such
use is-bribery, the crime"
Mr.. Erwin concluded with this appeal
to the farmers:
"Where are your sons to-day, oh,
you fishermen of the coming revolutioni
Your farms are virgin yet, and heaven,
smiling on your land, has blosso
wheat and corn with which to feed a
world.
When winter howls its blizzard from
the north you will see your wives in
nhi Il oil oct n.
ped to school. The elevator and the road
will own your toll.
"What will you do?
"Why will you not move? If you will
be free rouse yourselves like lions from
their lair. Then will the demon from
off your neck his fangs unloose, and
''like the dewdrops from the lions name
be shook to air"
"There is not one before me who can
not divine and plainly see that it is the
irrepressible logic of our times, that this
modern night, which pals humanity,
shall be ilumined by the fires of poll.
tical revolution.
"The masses of American freemen,
who now suffer the wrongs of the tyr.
ant, already stand armed with that
great weapon of the constitution-the
ballot.
"With that ballot the people can sum
mon forth from their own ranks the ma
, tion-appointed executioners of this crime
of crimes.
"And, II you will prevent despair, il
you will stand by the dignity of labor
! if you wish to preserve the blessings o.
our priceless heritage, liberty, peace and
union-if you would not, in tears. bio
| out the sweetest of all words, home-ii
J you desire justice to all men-if vice
: stalking your national corridors, is hate
, full to freemen-if you wish to be free