People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-10-11
ITS DEMANDS AND HOW THEY
ARE TREATED.
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS ARE COM
POSED OF THE MOST INTEL
LGENT AMONG THE
MASSES.
Labor Should BE King Instead of the
AFFECT Slave, and Would BE III II
Had the Manhood to Stand Up For
Its Rights.

LdOOr, OOGn organized ana unOr-
ganized, just now is having a tough
time of it, There seepzi to be a con-
certed effort on the part of corpora
tions to break down labor organiza-
tions This effort is supported by
most Of the metropolitan dailies, the
courts AMI the military. The rail
road corporations are quietly drop
ping and blacklisting the A. r. U.
men who took part in the recent
strike. The courts can be relied upon
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-
lation for the past twenty-five years
we wonder how any sensible man
who makes his living 'in the sweat
of his face" can vote either of the old
party tickets. There are in this coun-
try some strong labor organiz7 tons
Some Of these number, and have mum.
bered, over million members. AS
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 the 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-.
actment 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-
mands OF labor have been ignored.
The appeal of the bankers and the
beck and call Of the corp rations 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 necessities?
1t is no excuse'to saylthe workingman
does not know what he needs. He IS
not ward of the politician, or of the
nation. He is an American citizen, or
at least he has the name of being
such. He has a right to be heard.
Yet if he does not and will not vote
for what he wants he is not TO be
pitied. If he advocates measure 36i
days in year and then on the 365th
goes up and votes for and with a
party that won't give it to him, he de-
serves the fate that awaits him. 1t is
the old parties that appoint the courts
that decide against him, and it 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 vo es for
the old parties he votes the same
ticket that his enemies do, for
he judges that decide against
him, the corporations that black
list him and the militia that stands |
ready to shoot him.
Labor should be king, and would
be if it would unite under a banner
Of common brotherhood, and be
guided by the motto: THE injury of
one is the concern of all" Labor
produces all and pays all Il the
farmers alone would withhold their