Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-08-28
Down ON the PinkeHtonA

Down On the PinksftonA
1t is a notable matter of comment
all over the land that the system of
Pinkerton detectives being used in
armed bodies to suppress strikes and
intimidate striking laDrers is = dis
grace to the American government and
a menace to our freedom. The action
of armed Pinkerton men, hired by the
railroad company and apparently
backed by the laws of the land in the
present difficulty on the New York
Central and Hudson River railroad is
only a sample of the work such hired
bulldOZers have been doing for the
money powers of this country for the
last few years. No other land under
the sun which pretends to treat the
laboring classes fairly and justly has
any such system of purchasable armed
forces, and the United States has less
need of them than any country. Our
laws are just and all men can live un-
der them and receive protection, with
out the assistance of hired thugs and
assassins to enforce them.
Americans express their contempt
for the manner Of evictiOns In Ireland
by the laws constabulary. Why do
they submit to the outrages of the
Pinkerton men; that force of armed
bulldozers who can only be employed
by the rich and strong to coerce the
poor and weak?
The DEMOCRAT is not an alarmist.
1t only wants the monOpolistic money
powers of the east to abide by the laws
of the land, which are ample to protect
all men, instead of hiring armed forces
to carry out their plans.
Concerning the strike now on in New
York, General Master Workman Pow
derly has issued an appeal to the peo-
pie to see fair play. He says:
1--WE are not craving for sympathy.
We are not in need of moral support.
We have to fight a power which owes
it's lofty bearing to the wealth it has
piled up from the labor of its employees,
untold millions are at its command
and we want money to carry on the
struggle. We ask all members of Or
ganiZed labor to come to our aid. We
not only ask labor organizations but
We ask of the great public beyond our
organizations of labor to come to our
relief. 1t is not because a few cents
more day, OF some paltry concession
to the men was required, that this
strike was precipitated. The real ami
mus lies in the fact that our order has
been struggling with the questions
which concern the control of trusts,
corporations and syndicates by the
government of the people. The allied
force of the Knights of Labor and the
farmers alliance are marching on to
Washington to secure the repeal of
certain unjust laws. 1t is the hope of
turning our attention away from these
matters that this warfare is made on
the part of the allied forces.
We are not the disOrderly mob that
their papers paint us. The orderly
and law abiding conduct of the men
on strike has won the admiration of
the public, and yet the best feelings of
the community have been outraged by
the introduction of an armed force
uuC6I VI SleOOC1U 1uAC1 COu,
man who holds no commission from
the state OF nation to recruit or arm
men for military duty. Had the inter
ests of the state of New York required
it there are many thousands of old
veteran soldiers within her borders who
faced death quarter of . century ago.
1t. was not necessary to call upon them
and yet.a hirelinG mob of. the worst
characters in the land have been quar-
tered upon the people Of New York to
terrorize her citizens, to provoke men
Ito anger and wrath; to shoot down
those who asked for the right to be
heard in their own behalf. The con
duct of the men since the strike began
has been most orderly and commend
able and until 1t closes no Knight OF
Labor will he found in an unlawful
act of any kind. We are pledged tC
maintain the Law. We will obey the
legal commands OF the state, but moi
of the corporation which difies public
opinion and has no regard for justics
when dealing with.its employees. Con
! ciliation and arbitration can deal will
the most intricate questions Of dis
pute."
WE HAVE received the premium lis