The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1895-01-11
to do the public work of Kansas, and
no laborers be imported"
Miners and Mining,

declared unconstitutional Dy a district
court and is, consequently, ignored.
The ground upon which it was declared
was that it was 'class legislation:"
Though the same objection applies
with equal force to our mechanic
lien laws and many other stat
utes, and certainly applies to our
laws meant to secure the lives of
miners from premature explosions and
bad ventilation. AS this law thus over
thrown is seriously important to pro-
test the interests of every class, the ex-
ecutive retained Mr.. Helm, of Wichita,
to assist the county attorney, and paid
for his services from the contingent
fund. The case has been appealed,
and the legislature should make pro-
visions for having the validity of the
law settled by the supreme court at
public expense. The miners complain
of the competition of the penitentiary
mine, and claim that it helps to reduce
the wages of free labor; and also of
the more serious competition of rail-
road mines. The executive bespealls
careful consideration of the report of
the mine inspector, because, being him
self miner, his report may be regard
ed as voicing the opinions of the miners
as to needed legislation
The Coal Strike.
''The act of the last legislature con-
corning the screening of coal was not,
by its terms, to take effect until Sep
TENDER 1, 1898; but the generous oper-
tors could not endure the delay, and
decided to put it in operation at the
very beginning of summer. They ten
dered to the miners, months in advance,
new scale of wages to take away the
benefits tie new law was designed to
confer. In short, they entered into
conspiracy to overthrow and
nullify law of the state In deposit
tions now on file in the United States
circuit court at Fort Scott, operators
admitted under oath, that the DELHI
crate object of the conspirators in ten
dering the new scale of wages when
they did was to provoke the miners to
strike. Having accomplished this pur-
pose, the operators of Cherokee and
Crawford proceeded to erect private
forts, garrisoned with conscience
less mobs armed with Winchester
rifles, intended to commit murder in
resisting mere trespasses upon lands;
an offense which, under the statutes,
constitutes manslaughter. Men as
sembled for such an unlawful purpose
to the number of three or more consti-
tute an unlawful assembly, riotous
body; and when armed as those were,
constitute dangerous mob, and
menace the peace of the COM
-
pected, these lawless desperadoes
were not long in finding COW
eted occasion for using the weapons
which had been put into their bands,
and an exciting affray occurred. The
executive sought to obtain accurate in
formation as to the situation of affairs,
and determined to refuse military aid
corporations engaged in an armed re-
volt against the law of the state, and
determined, also, that the only
forts on Kansas soil should be those
erected by the constituted authorities
of the state or of the general govern
ment. He also entertained the opinion
that systematic and premeditated MUIR
der was not the proper method of test
ing either the validity or the propriety
war carried on by armed bodies in time
OF peace in the proximity of commune
ties of peaceful citizens should not be
tolerated as a mode of settling contro-
versies between workingmen and their
employers.
Entertaining these notions, the ex-
ecutive ordered the national guard to
hold itself in readiness, the intention
being, not to aid the conspiring coal
companies to crush their oppressed en-
ployes, but to prevent armed conflict.
Banks and Banking.
1.-THE bank commissioners recon-
are SO thoroughly discussed in his re-
port that it would be unfair to attempt
to treat them in the limited space which
could be devoted to them here. Doubt
less there will be among the members
of your committees on banks and bank
ing those thoroughly conversant with
the business of banking; and such gen.
tle.nen will not need to be advised of
the practical Importance of the COM
missioners recommendations.
Fish Culture.
GAS the population of the state in
creases, food supplies will be more in
demand. The propagation of fish pro-
vides wholesome and cheap article of
food, and it is extremely important
that more attention should be given
this important industry. You are re-
ferred to the report of the fish commits
sioner for valuable information on this
subject. A liberal appropriation for
the encouragement Of fish culture
would be good investment for the
state and cannot be too urgently rec
commended.
Court of Appeals.
"There is demand for the reappoint-
ment of judicial districts and the crea-
ton of a court of appeals. In every
proposal for making a court of appeals
made public SO far, there is pro-
vision for making the finality of the
courts decisions depend upon the
amount of money involved or upon the
disposition of the court to have
its decision reviewed. The present
executive himself Endorsed this plan in
his former message; but further ref1ec-
tion has convinced him it would be I'M
just; and it is certainly hoped that
fnality of decision shall not be left at
the option of judicial favoritism for
particular lawyers or particular 1iti
giants or classes of litigants; nor de-
pend upon the amount in litigation"
Federal Relations.
''Your attention is directed to the in
creasing tendency of the federal courts