Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-08-25
Labor and Law.

L
can people should realize the import
ance Of the labor problem that demands
solution. The events the past month
at Homestead, at Buffalo and In
Tennessee have brought hone to this
Nation the magnitude Of the matter
with which 1t has to deal.
Fully nine-tenths Of all the legitla-
tion Of this country, national or local,
In recent years has been In the direct
interest of the laboring population.
The statute books are crowded with
laws for the protection Of the rights Of
men engaged in the various industries.
Our legislators have granted practically
everything that has been asked In that
respect, and the people have Endorsed
their course. In no other nation has
so much been done TO promote the
comfort and happiness OF those who
work for living. The earnings Of all
ciassts Of laborers arc greater than
were ever before known in the history
Of the world, and neyei before have the
ntcessaries Of life been 80 cheap. The
conditions Of employment are in every
way conducive to the success of the
man who is diligent and frugal. II is
possible for the humblest workman to
secure a comfortable home, to give his
children q good education, and to gain
fair share Of the pleasures Of life.
Added to these benefits the laboring
classes have those other advantages
resulting from orgaLiza. ion. II ia when
they overstep the powers OF such
organization and understand II to mean
that number Of men banded together
IN a "union" can perform acts Of law.
lessuess and violence TO life and prop.
orty that one man cannot do alone.
that anarchy begins and IL Is time to
call halt il the cause of labor Is to be
protected.
The self constituted olgarchy that
pretends to dictate to the great masa OF
laborers aud employers is not the friend
Of the workingnan. II is his worst
enemy.
This element reaches It's height Of
stupid arrogance, in violation OF all
law and all rights,by practically declar.
ing that no labOIngman shall live Ia
this country unless he belongs to q
labor union. The mere statement Of
such proposition should zee sufficient
to show its absurdiiy and IL is amazing
that airy man Of ordinary intelligence
can be found to give it moments
serious consideration.
If worktngmen have not the right to
sell their labor TO whom they please,
on the terms they please and IL EN-.
ployers have not the right to employ
whom they please, on the terms they
please then they are all slaves to
monstrous domination which abridges
human liberty and outrages oil natural
rights, by claiming an authority
beyond any ever exercised 10y the most
despotic government Of ancient or
modern times.
Every mdu In this country Is entitled
to ''liie, liberty and the pursuit OF hap
piness." This Nation has been built
upon that principle and any element,
no matter whence 1t finds Its origin,
that tramples that principle In the dust
must be crushed.
We honor American labor. We are
proud Of the iaw.abiding nottingham
who is winning his way upward. But
no quarter for auarchy, no temporlzlng
with lawlessness. The rip,'- Of
union" are the uame rights eni,yr.
10y an Individual neither more nor
less. NV
Ii the American Nation allows any
other principle to gain q foothOld In lis
boundaries 1t will repent IL with tears.
-
In its issue OF August 5.h, 1891, the
Kansas Farmer published commune
cation ifrom Col. W. A. Harris, the
Peoples Party candidate for Congress.
man-at-large. The communication
yyua rand hafnrn a ,,...t.. =,