The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-10-31

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and other states!
The War Against Labor.
The first definite assault of plutoc-
racy in the great campaign now
opening, was made by Walter Webb,
backed by Chauncey Depew, when the
Knights of Labor were discharged
from the New York Central system.
This was followed by the order that
no more Knights be employed.
Now we have the second gun. It
comes over the continent from the
east-but strikes the west as well as
every other part OF the country. Jay
Gould has taken up the fight and Or
dered that members of the telegraph
ers' Brotherhood be discharged from
the great Western Union system-a
system involving three-fourths OF all
the telegraph lines of the country.
The telegraphers of St. Paul organ
lied lodge of the Brotherhood
about three weeks ago, those who
united doing SO with great enthus-
iasm. The officials were the very best
telegraphers in the Western Union
service. Last Saturday every one #
these officers was discharged. They
were quietly removed, and though
they called upon the officials for a
reason none was given. Six or seven
were thus removed. When they went
to Chief Operator Kelly, that gentle
man smilingly told them, "Youk know
why you are let out boys-there's no
need to ask questions. These men
afterwards sought places with the
Northern Pacific Co. But after suffi-
cient delay to ascertain the cause OF
their discharge from the Western
Union, the N. P. Co. told them they
were not wanted.
Yes, beyond all doubt, the great
conflict has come. We draw nearer
and nearer to the time when every
man must show his relationship to
organized labor. It is time to clear
ly distinguish traitor. 1t is time
to begin the drawing of lines-espe-
cially a clothesline around the necks
of those who in the name of a sacred
cause initiate the example of our
state committee.
Indeed Caesars Column" has not
overdrawn the future condition-nor
has this paper unfaithfully pictured
the coming struggle. 1t is even now
upon us, but only at the threshold.
Do men like Gould and Depew
dream that this growing intelligence
on the part of labor can be crushed
out-that the moistened land can be
made barren when the warm sun
shines upon it?
Is it possible that men can be such
fools as to suppose that organiza-
tion can be crushed? Why, these
plutocratic robbers are sowing dra-
CONS teeth-which haply may not
spring up in direful crops Of armed
men-but more likely will bloom into
armed revolution.
There would be no danger under an
honest administration Of govern
ment. There would be no danger un-
der reign of politics in which con-
science existed as a factor!
But with the government under
the dictation of Wall lStreet-with the
public conscience debased to the de-
praved uses of the corrupt politician
there is danger-in fact there is lit
tie hope.
Surely, steadily and dark]y the
shadows gather. Corruption in our
own ranks is the curtain master
drawing aside the veil until we can
see the DePews and the Goulds at the
table-and thereplaying the destinies
of the human race, as the two great
forces separate for dominion-Labor
and t,reed.
"Why," cries the poor and the
evicted, "Why, but the world of hu-
manity will surely stand by us
against the patrician despotism of
these robbers -
Alas no. Humanity will not. La
Dor itself will see Labor arrayed
against itself. When the Knights are
in struggle another branch will look
on and grin with ghastly satisfac-
tion. When the alliance arises from
it's couch like a young giant, traitors
will sell it out to bankers acting as
agents, and for bauble will seek Al