The representative., 1893-09-27
VOL. 1. NO. %.
Mr.. Onsdorff's Suggestion.

Mr.. Onsdorff's Suggestion.
In another column will be found
a valuable letter from our old friend.
A. T. Onsdorff, of Henning. His
Ideas are excellent, but l think he
mlsapprehends the situation some
what. The Farmers Alliance is not.
strictly speaking, political organ
lzatlon. When we had no other ma
chlnery we were obliged to use it to
tight the enemy; but when the peo-
pies party was organized, the alli-
ance reassumed It's old position. as
a non-partisan, agricultural society:
and SO declared itself by resolution,
at It's last annual convention.
While three-fourts of it's members
are doubtless populists we want the
other fourth to be able to cooperate
With us in trying to lift up the farm
ing class, without any sacrifice of
feeling or principle But Mr.. Ons-
dorffs suggestion can be carried out
in part, at least in this way. Let
the Industrial Legion hold it's first
state convention, next January at
the same time and place as the state
farmers alliance, but in different
hall. Then the two gatherings can
communicate by committees, or can
meet in a joint meeting; and take
such action as may be deemed wise
and best. In the multitude of coun-
sellors there is wisdom.
| note what Mr.. Onsdorff saws.
about the efforts of the capitalistic
class to tear the laboring masses to
pieces by introducing religious
quarrels; and thus make differences
OF opinion as to possible heaven,
the excuse for turning earth into a
certain hell. 1t is an old trick and
has been often played. The railroad
corporations are behind the racket. On
September % an Catholic meet
ing was held in Kansas City, Mo.
and a crowd gathered to break up
the meeting and riot followed.
We quote from the associate press
report:
A meeting was advertised for this
evening in hall at the cornor of
Twenty-first and Bellevue streets
and the members of the society, ap-
pretending trouble, went to the
meeting armed. Many carried re-
volvers, and some marched to the
hall with ShOtguns and rifles on
their shoulders. The police had been
notified that q riot aoas probable, and a
squad of twenty patrolmen were sent
to preserve peace. A mob gathered
outside the hall while the meeting
was in progress, but the police made no
effort to disperse 1t. When the meet
ing came to an end the men at
tackled the members of the A. P. A.
as they filed out of the hall, throw
ing rocks and brickbats. The police
made several arrests, among them
beingan A. P. A. man, q railroad de-
tective named Broom. He showed his
badge to the police and was let
go. The mob did not like that and
took after Brown, who started to
run. A shower of clubs and stones
followed him, and he turned and
drawing a revolver, prepared to de-
fend himself. One of the mob,
man named O'Connor, also drew
revolver. He and Brown opened fire
simultaneously and each fired three
shots. O'Connor received a bullet
in the thumb. Brown made his
escape unhurt. In the meantime
the police had made many arrests,
the prisoners being about equally di-
vided between the members of the
A. P. A. and the mob. The mob
then dispersed,
Observe these facts:
"a railroad detectiue' is mixed up
in the business; the police arrest
him and let HIM 60. What business
had a railroad detective'' in such a
gathering, unless he went there as
private citizen? And if he went
there in that capacity what right
had the police to liberate him, on
bis showing his railroad badge?
And if the police knew there was to
e riot why did they not disperse
be outside mob before the meeting
dbded? Men have right to hold
meetings but they have no right. to
gather in mobs on the public streets.
Does it not all look like "set-up
job," under the management of the
corporations, to bring the mad-head-
ed and fanatical mobs into collision
and create an uproar under which
plutocracy can escape judgement?
Is it not another way of "killing the
dog?"
We' are fighting demoniacal en-
emy Their cunning is fathomless.
I. D.
The Industrial Legion