Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-05-09
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
What the Allianc and Labor De-
mands at Hands of
Congress.


The fight is joined. No earthly power
can stay it, and there is no middle
ground. From now on it is battles lost
and won
Corporate power now occupies the
place of the lords of the middle ages,
and must be destroyed, or the property
of the people will be absorbed by them
and liberty lost in the ocean of wage
slavery. Corporation agents have de-
clared that ''they have two million mus
kets, and men to use them" They sus-
tain the Pinkerton army, which is esti-
mated to be over 10000 men. Many
murders have been committed by them,
and so far there has been no conviction
They swear for each other, and no mat
ter what the crime is the accused is dis
charged. L. 5. Senator Tabor, a rail
road magnate, declared 'that before the
capitalists would suffer a change IN the
existing state of affairs they would
plunge the country into a civil war. -
Other plutocrats have threatened the
country with war if the common people
dared to protect themselves from their
plundering by legislation. Vanderbilt
expressed his contempt Of the people by
saying, 1.-THE be people id" Gould has
no politics but his interest, and testified
to spending several millions in procur-
ing favorable legislation. The New York
World says, ''the workingman must be
content with less wages"
AS long as labor organizations were
acting independently of each other, plu-
tocracy was safe. Through the efforts
of the Alliance and Knights of Labor for
the purpose of political action they are
now practically united and the elections
In the states of Kansas, South Carolina,
Nebraska and South Dakota have shown
them their power This has alarmed
the plutocrats and elated the reformers.
1t is now declared that every effort is
to be made by the dominant parties to
regain those states. All that money and
political chicanery can do is to be done
On the other hand, the Peoples party,
as it is for the present called, has taken
on permanent organization and is push
ing its organization in other states with
giant strides, and is evidently gaining
at home, and has had the boldness to
establish an organ in the national capt.
tai. The Farmers Alliance is organic
ing so rapidly that it promises to cover
the states before the next election and
while it is non-partisan it is also politi-
Cal demands the same measures that
are embodied in the Peoples platform.
The plutocrats are not idle. In several
states they have persuaded the legisla-
ture to enact laws requiring long resi-
dence and tax receipts as prerequisites
for the right OF suffrage, As labor has
to seek employment, these acts injure
the labor cause, and are not necessary
for the secret free ballot and true count
which labor organizations demand
They have also established strong polit.
ical clubs in the state capitals and large
cities, thereby insuring their success il
the nominating conventions.
The plutocrats at this time are in con
troll of both the great parties, and will
the exception of the free coinage of sill
yer they are both opposed to the Ali
ance labor demands. The issues are:
-Labar demands the free coinage o
silver. The plutocrats ask for silver de
monetization.
Labor demands the abolition of ma
tional banks. The plutocrats demand
the perpctuation of the national bankin,
system.
Labor demands the issue of full Iega
tender treasury notes, and loaning then
to the people on their lands and imper
ishable products, in sufficient volume
to transact the business of the countr,
or cash. The plutocrats demand tina
the treasury notes now in circulation b
bonded for national banking purposes
and that the government shall not issu
paper money.
Labor demands that no alien shall b
allowed to own land and that no syndi
cate or corporation shall be allowed t
own land in excess of that needed fo
their houses and shops. Plutocrats or
poses any change from the present stat
of affairs.
Plutocrats have increased the capital
ization of railroads, express companie
telegraph companies, and most of tn
city franchises, to three, four, and i
some instances eight times their actu3
cost, and collect interest and dividend
that amount to % per cent or more upo
what the properties cost. When it is RI
membered that the gifts of the govern
ment and individuals, and subscription
by states, counties, cities and town
have amounted to more than enough t
build and equip the roads, and most
them have been swindled out of ever
cent put into the roads, the fictitior
capitalization outrage is nearly unbea
able. Not half the villainy and robber
committed by railroad manipulate
will ever be known. They defy the pull
lie and courts, and refuse to produC
their books in the courts. There is COZ
slant legal warfare between the either
and the roads. and it takes years to G,
decision. They are constantly inctea
ing their debts, and even such Judge
Gresham allowed receiver $4,000 fc
less than two years work. They ha,
filled the United States senate and col