The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-05
FELLOW-MINERS &!
Strike for Your Rights.


Yes, strike, not here and there, but
all over this broad land. From the At
lantic to the Pacific, every miner should
on the first day of May drop his pick and
shovel and be determined to risk no
more his life at starvation wages.
We are slowly driven to the wall by
reduction in our wages, and local strikes
have proven, worse than useless against
the encroachments of our tyrannical en-
ployers.
Central Pennsylvania is threatened
with another reduction of 10 per cent;
West Virginia is fighting against reduc-
lions by local strikes; Ohio has accepted
reduction of 20 cents per ton, and now
Indiana, Illinois and other com
petitive fields, although prices are
down low enough. will be asked to
accept further reduction ON account of
this cowardly move of united Ohio. We
are going down, and no one knows where
this cut-thrOat competition to secure
markets Will stop unless we rise in our
might and put an end to this unjust cap
italistic system based upon fraud, rob-
berry ana brute force.
Our condition is worse than that of the
black slave. Our employers have not
even as much consideration for as
they have for their horses and mules.
They are fed whether they work or not
When we work we only get at best a
miserable living; when we have no work
we soon have to beg or steal. Thousands
of us are starving and our wives and
children are crying for bread.
Shall we silently submit and starve
like towards? In the name of those so
no! Let US be men. Let US act at once
and strike for better conditions.
Obi if we only knew our power and
how to use it properly! We, the dirty
miners, who are looked upon as in
ferior and worthless class, can stop the
l. 80 II
miners means the closing up of factories
and the stopping of traffic by rail or by
water. We would be masters of the sit
uation and could dictate terms to our
employers.
The theory that some people were
born to work and suffer while others
were born to lead a life of idleness and
luxury has been exploded None are
born with special rights and privileges:
Why then follow the old conservative rut
and willingly give up the wealth that we
produce so the few may revel in luxury?
It's time that we should put a stop to
this bare-faced robbery, and plainly tell
the idler that if he wants to eat he must
also work. This present competitive
system is rotten and must be destroyed.
In the cities thousands of people are
freezing for want of coal, and the miners
are starving for want of work. Are not
these shameful conditions? Can we
imagine anything worse?
The capitalistic class has proven
failure in conducting the industries of
this country for the benefit of the people.
Only scoundrels and rogues can succeed
today. Our jails are crowded with
honest people, compared with the rich
thieves and murderers that are running
the country. We have been robbed and
fooled long enough. Let us no longer
be towards.
Our only salvation is a general strike
for conditions that will enable US to live
like human beings. We have a right to
enjoy the fruits of our labor, to enjoy
some of the good things, some of the
luxuries that ought to be at the reach of
every worker in this age of electricity
and continual wonders.
Let US then be prepared to enter this
struggle on the 1st of May with a de
termination to win and put end to
this Internal system of monopoly, OPP
preston and wage-slavery.
We have nothing to lose but our chains,
but we have world to gain.