Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1894-10-12

Had the Manhood to Stand Up For
Its Rights.
Labor, both organized and unor-
ganized, just now is having = tough
time of IL. There seems to be con.
certed effort on tho part Of corpora
tions to break down labor orgsniza-
tons This effort is supported by
most Of the metropolitan dailies, the
courts and the military. The rail-
road corporations are quietly drop
ping and blscklisting the A. R. U.
men who took part In the recent
strike. The courts can be reliedupon
TO issue injunctions and arrest the
leaders. and the military stands ready
to shoot down all who are reckless
enough to protest against such &C.
ton. Reviewing the history of legis-
lstion for the past twenty-five years
we wonder how any sens ible man
who makes his living lin the sweat
of his face" can vote either of the old
party ticketa There are in this coun.
try some strong labor orgsnizs tions.
Some Of those number, and have num-
bersd, over million members. As q
rule they are composed Of the most
intelligent men and women Of
their class, and in their station in
life. Time and again have they sent
petitions TO congress asking for Ger.
tain measures OF relief They have
incorporated their demands and
declarations in respectful language
and presented them TO our lawmakers
with tho request that they be enacted
into laws But their demands have
been ignored. There is hardly labor
organization Of any note in the United
States that has not asked for the en-
sctment for free silver coinage and
An eight hour law. Both old parties
profess to be in favor Of these measures.
Both have been In power, yet the de-
msnds of labor have been ignored.
The appeal of the bankers and the
beck and call Of the corporations and
manufacturers have had more weight
than the petitions Of the men who
furnish two-thirds Of the votes and
pay three-fourths Of the taxes.
Why should working men vote for
parties who have persistently ignored
their wishes and their necessi ties?
II is no excuseto ssy;the workingmaD
does not know what he needs He Is
not ward of the politician, or Of the
nation. He is an American citizen. OF
asst he has the name OF being
i. He has q right to be heard.
II he does not and will not vote
,. what he wants he Is not to be
led. II he advocates . measure 1914
htys in year and then on the 365th
Irees up and votes for and with o
,Arty that won't give 1t to him, he de-
erves tho fate that awaits him. 1t i,
Ehs old parties that appoint the courts
that decide against him, and 1t Is the
old parties that turn the militia loose
ON him when he protests 1t is the
old parties that are worked In the in.
terests Of the corporations who are
fighting him and trying to starve him
into submission. When he votes for
the old parties he votes the same
ticket that his enemies do. for
the judges that decide against
him, the corporal ions that Iblack.
list him and the militia that stands
ready to shoot him.
Labor should be king, and would
be II II would unite under . banner
Of common brotherhood, and be
guided by the motto: "The injury OF
zone IL the concern Of ALL" Labor
produces all and pays all Il the
farmers alone would withhold theii
products for only q short period OF
time they could have the world a.
their feet. How much stronger then
could an organization composed OF
the workers Of both city and country
resist the encroschments OF greedy
capital? Not q wheel could move;
not . spindle turn; not afire be built.
The capitalists are almost perfectly
organized. While they know that
they are dependent upon labor.
they look upon organized labor us
their inveterate foe, because only by
organization can their encroachments
ON the rights Of labor be resisted sue
cessfully. Thus the fight in this coun.
try is between manhood and money;
between the citizen and the dollar.
The citizen is represented By organized
labor. and the dollar by organized
capital Labor must help make its
laws 1t can not depend upon capital
TO do It Capital will legislate for
itself and against labor. Therefore,
labor must organize, unite and go to
the polls together.
NEXT winter will try the souls OF