Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-10-01
KANSAS AcIrAroR. GARRETT. KANSAS.


favor of peaceable settlement of the diferenc-
es between laborng men and their employers.
Debs favored general strike after the strike
was fairly on, and his mission in West Virginia
was to bring out the West Virginia miners
nothing more. Debs had as good right to
talk against strike, unless strike is unlawful.
AS vet, no one has bobbed up to claim that a
peaceable strike is unlawful. Not even Hanna
will claim that. Now, if strike is not III
violation of law, the injunction restraining
Debs is violation of law. The judges are
law-breakers unless judges cannot break law,
and that is not, as yet, claimed by any one, not
even Hanna.
It is pertinent to this article to inquire as to
all this sudden rage for inunctions Are oui
legislative bodies incapable of meeting new
conditions with just legislation? And there
fore, are the courts forced to assume powers
that. hitherto, it was not dreamed they possess
ed?
We take the view, not from any prejudice to
the courts, that conspiracy exists, i'll which,
working in collision, are the great corporations
and certain Judges of the federal courts. The
conspiracy consists in the design to reduce the
laboring classes of America to the servile con-
dition of the laboring classes Of the old world.
The courts and corporations are not alone III
the conspiracy. Our Legislative bodies are IN
volved, as, also, are our executive. Leglsla-
lures, as a rule, fail to pass laws to meet exist
ing evils; or, if laws are passed to meet the pop
ular clainor, they are either defective or impera
five. The executive has been slow to move, OF
have moved not at all.
Sherman's enti-combine law dead fol-
eight years, and is only beginning to EXHIBIT
ANYTHING like vigorous existence. Until re-
Gently, no corporation was enjoined although
they all acted in violation of not only statutory
law, but common and constitutional law.
Our republic has partly failed of its object
Monarchies protect capital and leave Ia
Dor unprotected. Our fathers cherished the
fond hope that our republic would protect la
Dor. Just now, their expectations are far from
being fulfilled
The laborer is at the mercy of capital.
The strike method seems to be the only
method the laboring people have beef
able to catch onto. Smarting under the lasl
Of starvation wages, is it any wonder that la
boring men have at times assumed threaten
ing attitude? The wonder is that our laborn!
men have been 50 patient. Put yourself II
their place Find yourself, as father and hus
band, unable to supply your wife and childre
with !he necessaries of life-not because nee
essaries were scarce, or because your arm wa
not strong or your heart was not willing, bll
because the hire was insufficient or the oppot
tunitv to labor at all was denied.
A man who could be patient and contente
under the circumstances would first descend +
the level of the lower order of animals. A
Americans, we will not have that condition.
More men than aboring men are in open ie
volt against corporation government, and tn
breach widens.
Not only must corporations submit to law
but also the courts.
There is no sLord's anointed" in Americ
but the Most High. The earthly lords anotnt
ed went out with the last red-co i'll 1875. II
cannot return, under any form, and have peace
The American people wage an eternal war o
oppression and the oppressor. The "irrepres
sible Conflict is still on. Again we appeal t
the "Higher Power but not in riot or blood
she'd God fortid
The great problems Of the day shall have
peaceable solution So says our great leader
and so respond Americas best citizens.
FORT Scorr is still "scrapping" over he