People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-07-20
Corporation Medicine.

Ed. VOICE:-GOvernOr Lewelling
has been harshly criticised, abused
and ridiculed by the opposition press
and charged with demagOguery and
anarchism for claiming that the
federal courts in most cases favor cor
pOratiOns as against the people in
plaking their decisions. NeVerthe-
less the governor was right and in
proof let me call your readers atten-
ton to the Geographic report that
Justice Brewer has arrived at de-
crsiOn that the maximum freight law
is unconstitutional" Aud the decis-
ion is on purely technical grounds,
not on the merits Of the law and
means-in the light of recent events
that the whole power, civil and
military, Of the federal government
will be used, if necessary, to aid the
roads in continuing the robbery of
the people Of Nebraska as in the past.
And now comes Judge Caldwell, who
has issued an "Ordern to set aside the
state Of Kansas till it may suit the
convenience Of the Santa Fe railway
for 1t to resume its autonomy. The
"Order" is that the said railway cor
pOratiOn is authorized to disregard
the punishment for the collection
Of debts due by persons connected
with the road. And the reason: it
takes the entire time of an additional
clerk in the treasurer'S Office to give
attention to these garEiSbees. And
because Of this annoyance" to the
corporation it inStructs the federal
government to stop the annoyance by
i simple 'Order" from a circuit court
to multiply the laws of the state in
regard to the collection of debts. By
this order the court has classified the
citizens of the state and established
a privileged class who are exempt
from pecuniary obligation because
they happen to be connected with
corporation which has heretofore
claimed to be superior to the state
and by this order is really su-
perior to the state, its creator. |
And there is no doubt that President |
Cleveland would, if necessary, call |
out the army to make good this order
OF Judge Caldwell. There can be no
ground, moral or legal, for the use Of |
force, the usual and historic method |
Of robbers.
l know; Mr.. Editor, that the people
OF Kansas in the past took strong |
ground in favor Of the abridgment
OF states rights, but it is exceedingly |
tough" to have our medicine admin.
iStered by the hands Of a corporation
which has grown fat at the expense
Of our laborerS.
The writer has for life been a free
trade and direct tax Democrat and
had some hope for better government
when'Cleyeland was elected, but with |
a corporation attorney in the cabinet
and contempt for the people shown
IN almost every public and private
act of the president, am forced to
the conclusion that the adminiStra-
is only plutOcratic and nothing else.
l would not be straight Democrat
now if were tempted with a federal
office. And you and | and every one
else understands that the animuS of
the Straight" Democratic movement
in Kansas is only federal pie"
In common with most Democrats
l am Supremely disguised at the be-
trayal of the people by the present
congress and administration and shall
hencefOrth work and vote for that
party which still promises hope to a
much wrOnged people.
Yours for truth,
SINGLE-TAX POPULIST.