Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-10

sentative members OF labor organiza-
tons of the state In Fort Worth. Sep
TENDER "a. was agreed upon in this
city about two weeks ago after gem
eral consultation,at which were present
prominent members OF organlara lnbor
OF the state, and with assurances that
organized labor generally was In nc
cord with the movement. l signed the
published call as an Individual, as 1
had no authority or right TO speak or
act for Dallas Typographical union.
The union ia non-polltical, and think
II wisdom on the part OF strictly labor
organizations to eschcw political agita-
tion in their meetings.
POLITICALLY am Democrat. am
a trades unionist first, however. and
l place my allegiance TO my labor or
ganization above the dictates of party.
In the state campaign l shall not vote
for any nominee of the Democratic
party who stands on the ninth and
tenth planks of the otate platform or
who indorse the use of military power
of President Cleveland during the
strike in Chicago.
cleveland Is the first president OF
the country TO use troops to strike
down labor. and labor should not rest
or pause until such power is swept
from existence.
"'rhe precedent which. according to
Judge Cooley. Cleveland had set. Is
that the president OF this country can
send troops into any state of this union
without a demand from the duly con-
stituted authorities, and can send them
even over their protest. This is a great
er power than is lodged In any SOW
eregn in the world save the czar OF
Russia II this precedent becomes es-
tahlished. this country is a republic
only in name. II Will have reached
that fated period. so often predicted,
when the rights OF the states will
become obllterated and the republic
will become swallowed up and sue
ceeded by monarchy. \
"'rhe Democratic state platform was
written by corporation lawyers, bank
ers and the tools Of capital, and II
was written, as intended, in the In
terests OF corporations and the monied
power and for the enslavement OF the
laboring and producing classes OF Tex
as. The laborer will search in vain
for a similar declaration In any plat
form in any state OF this union de-
mandlng that he he made criminal
for resisting the encroachments or en-
ployers, The corporation of the state
had In that committee faithful work
ers, VINO would fetter and shaclle la
Dor and send II to a dungeon for as
sorting Its manhood. Beneath the sur
face OF that platform are dragons
teeth to mercllessly mutilate and de-
stroy labor.
Labor has arisen to Its present post
tion after much trial and trouble.
Kings have drawn their swords again1t
1t, cruel taskraasters have scourged
It,. avarlce has too frequently robbed
it, of its accommodations and corrupt
judges have prosecuted II at the be-
hest OF the rich. Such acts as these
more properly belong TO the centuries
OF superstition and barbarism and
ought to have no recognition in this
age OF enlightenment.
"Will Texas write her name in in
fanny at the demand or the platform
makers, who represented not the broad
and humane spirit OF her people, but
the cunning and greed OF the corpora
lions. These corporations having been
checked and defeated in their attempt
to levy eNtortionate rates on the pro-
duets OF the state, now seek to en-
slave its labor.
1--WE shall appeal TO the people of
Texas whether In city town or hamlet,
to aid us In this struggle for human
ity and to save labor from its enemies.
who are alike the enemies of all that
Texas values as most sacred.
II do not know what the laboring
people of Texas will do, but the duty
OF organized labor In the present crisis
is plain--it should rebuke the insolence
of the platform makers, Neither party
in the North would have so grievously
insulted labor, They dare not do II. 1
believe. however that Cleveland has
made It impossible for the Democrats
to carry Northern state where labor
is strongly organized, As to Texas,
We will wait and see"