Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-10

iyioreo. Inv gru1nu upon wnlcn II was de-
clarod invalid WAS that 1t was "class legisls.
ton Though the same objection applies
with equal force to our mechanic lien laws.
and many other statutes, and certainly a..
plies 10 our laws meant to secure the lives Of
miners from premature ex l0slOns and bad
ventilation
As this law thus overthrown Ia seriously In.
portant to the minors Of the state, and desir.
Ing 10 protect The interests Of every class. the
executive retained Mr. Helm, Of Wichita, 10
assist the county attorney, and paid for his
services ON the contingent fund The case
ha' been appealed, and the legislature should
make provisions for having The validity Of the
law settled by tile supreme court ut public o.
Dense.
The miners complain u tho competition OF
the penltentlary mine, and claim that 1t helpl
10 reduce tho wages Of ffee labor; and also Of
the more serious 70 npstition OF railroad
Mines
The executive bespeaks careful considers
tlon Of the report OF the mine inspector, be-
cause, being himself miner, his report may
be regarded as volclng the opinions Of The
miners Is to needed legislation.
THE COAL STRIKE.
The act Of the last legislature concerning
the screening OF coal was not by Its TERMS 70
take effect TIL September |, 1893; hut the gen.
erOus operators could not endure the delay,
and decided to put 1t into operation at the
very beginning Of summer. They rendered to
the miners, months In advance, q new scale OF
wages to take away the benefits the new law
was designed to confer. In short, they en-.
tered into conspiracy to overthrow and
nullify law OF the state. In dispositions now
on file 10 the United States circuit court d
Fort Scott, operators admitted, under oath,
that the deliberate object Of the conspiratore
In rendering the new scale Of wages when they
did was to provoke the miners to strike. Hsv-
Ing accomplished this purpose, the operators
OF Cherokee aud Crawford counties proceeded
to erect private forts, garrisoned with con.
scienceless mobs armed with Winchester
rifles. intended TO commit murder Ia resisting
mere trespasses upon lands; an 0fense Ahich,
under the statutes, constitutes manslAughter.
Men assembled for such an unlawful purpose
to the number OF three or more constitute ~
unlawful assembly-a riotous body and when
armed as those were, constitute dangerous
mob and menace the peace OF the community.
As was to have been expected, these lawless
desperadoes were not long In finding COW
eted occasion for using the weapons which
had been put into their hands, and an exoit
Ing ARRAY occurred The executive sought 70
obtain accurate information as to the situA
ton of affairs, and determined to refuse mill.
tary aid TO corp ,rat0ns engaged In IN armed
mined, also, that the only forts on Kansas soil
should be those erected by the constituted su-
ihorities OF the state or OF the general govern.
ment, He also entertained the opinion that
systematic and premeditated murder was not
the proper method Of testing either the valid.
ity or the propriety Of legislative act, aud
that prlyateiwar carried on by armed bodies 10
time Of peace 10 the proximity Of communi.
ties Of poaceful citizens should not bs toleB-
sted as mode OF settling controversies "
tween workingmen and their employers
Entertaining these notions, the executive
ordered the national guard 10 hold itself 10
readiness the Intention being, not TO aid the
coal companies to crush their OPP
pressed employees, but TO prevent armed con-
llct. Had the national guard gone 10 the
icene al ALL the first order would have been 10
iisarm or dispense every band OF armed men
n the locality, thus restoring matters TO 4 Law:
d condition. Bat fortunately, military IN
eryontion became unnecessary. During the
trke, tho sheriff OF Crawford county swore
n as deputies the mon brought to him by the
operators, and they were armed with Win
hesters, not for public service, but 70 simply
Jet as private guards for coal companies. The
aw makes no provision for paying deputies
theIwise than by specific fees, and 1t Is mada
ground OF forfeiture Of his Office for sheriff
0 accept any compensation save what the
aw specifically allows. OF course, what .
herff 4 es by his deputy Ia dane by him; and
hose deputies were undoubtedly paid fot
heir ualaWiil work, 1t was alleged that
dw-bog- from the Indian territory were
worn In a. puties, surely, deputy sheriff
hould be- citizen Of the county IN which he
cts, Some legislation TO either prevent OF
egula,e the creation Of private armies Of
equities Is sofely needed
BANKS AND BANKING.
The bank comnlssioaeFs recommendations
70 Of slch Importance and are so thoroughly
isiussai In his report that 1t would b un-
lir to attempt to treat them In the limited
,ace whch could be devoted to them hers,
oubllass there will BE- among tho members Of
our committees on banks and banking those
conversaut with the business OF
laklne aud such gentlemen will not need 10
B advised Of the practical lmpJrtaaca Of the
recon nondaticns.
VIsH CpLrlRE
As the population Of the state increases,
'nd su1pllss will he mare 10 demand. The
81 Dab uraeidae ~Hria-asaA cod
CONTINUED on lith pagel