Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1894-07-06
The Farmers Leader
LABOR VS..
CAPITAL.

.Whatsoever ye would that men should
do to YOU, do We so to them, for this is
the law and the prophets.
Rev. D. A. Tawney Of the Presbyterian
church, took the above text for his morn
ing discourse last Sunday. His sermon
was strong and full of christian appll-
cation as viewed from the law laid
down by the great Master. If there was
more of this true spirit manifested in the
affairs of life there would be less friction
and less trouble between man and man.
How glorious would have been the appli-
cation of this golden precept had the
Pullman company thought of it before
they fatty refused to arbitrate the differ
ences that may exist between them and
the hundreds of honest men who have
made millions for this corporation by
their skilled labor. Pullman contempt
iously refused to discuss the question of
right or wrong with a board Of arbitration
of which he would have been party.
This naughty un-American corporation
made reductions in wages from time to
time until the employees earned barely
sufficient to prevent them from sinking
deeper and deeper into Pullman's debt,
thereby mortgaglng their bodies and
souls, as we'll as their chldrcn's TO that
hearlless corporation. The Pullman cor
pcration own the town of Pullman, and
everything in it, including gas and water.
No employe can acquire property. The
rent of a four-room fiat is fixed at SIS per
month, which includes gas and water.
Three dollar a day men were cut to 81 40,
but rent, water and gas remained at the
old figure. The thousands Of skilled
mechanics and their families were at the
mercy of Pullman and he crushed them
with as little concern as the Arab slave
driver does his helpless negros. Before
Mr.. Lincoln died he saw the present
struggle and shuddercd for the nation.
The accursed power of robber capital is
more despotic than ever despot who
reigned Mr.. Linceln truly said: IF
you elevate capital above labor, the life
of the nation is in danger If capital
should crush labor. labor will not alone
suffer, but all classes below the million
aire scale must feel the despots heel.
The history of the world teaches this.
There is no middle ground. Capital once
enthroned will recognize no master, not
even the law.
The great railroad corporations of the
country decided to join Pullman and
make one final effort to crush honest
labor. Will they succeed? We hope and
pray they will not The crushing of
labor now will hurry forward the I'M
pending revolution, and there is no use
in shutting our eyes to the vital struggle
that is on. That there is danger no one
who reads will deny. The capitalistic
power own our government today, so far
as running it goes. THIS same despotic
power controls the machinery of every
state government in the country, with
the exception of few states who wisely
elected a government Of the people for
which we have reason 10 thank God.
This same despotic power has command
of the army and navy when they ask it;
this same power is backed by every
cabinet officer at Washington, and when
this despot asks for bonds servlle gov
ernment issues them. The attorney gen.
eral is a corporation tool and orders U.
S. marshals hired by the thousand to
run the railroads. If This despot cannot
hire thugs enough to beat the people
into submission, then the regular army
is called on. This is the country we
saved in the grand struggle of lSGl-5.
Liberty where art thou? Why do we
celebrate the 4th of July? The 4lh of
July Washington gave us, no longer en-
ists The liberties of the people are all
but gone. Capitalistic corporations,
trusts and combines, and the political
treason of both of the old parties has
about destroyed the liberties of the peo-
pie which three wars were required to
uEIllttdlA IIuS loOSbU IiAiS .hAtlOH
twice and was whipped. England and
France backed the south and was whip
ped again 1t remained for, the treason
Of John Sherman and kindred satellites Of
both the old parties. to, sell to the Roths-
childs and Europe what England had
fought and struggled for for over a
century.
The struggle is on agaia, This time
capital hopes to crush the only power
that stands between it and monarchy.
labor wins it means peace and finally a
return to a government Of the people. III
capital wins it will only hasten the fatal
clash. The proud spirit of millions of
American freenen will never be reduced
to slavery. Mark this. If blood must
flow to again preserve our liberties, It'll
will flow freely with the power of God
behind it,
Kind reader where do you stand? Are
you with the people for liberty and