The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-15
Stories of an Inland State.

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out to man. There was no violence yet.
but there was to be. Trafhc was -hindered
to some extent. Non-urion men were hold
ing back n fear Willis talked Infinitely
through the newspapers. believing he could
by a tone of full assurance, uphold the
spirits Of his followers and strike dismay
into the hearts Of the great corporations
he was fighting.
Another week and violence came. first
IN small isolated battles between the mem,
bers Of bis organization and non-union men,
Mingled with his men and outnumoerins
them were the on-scourings of great city
and Willis. still within the law. charged
the acts of ortlawry to these and exculpat-
ed his men. Finally there was clash OF
magnitude, great enough as it was. but ex-
aggerated by the newspapers
1t came to Willis at headquarters while
he sat at desk A lieutenant bore the
news. Some of the rabble bad been wound
ed, some killed.
Slowly the individual being Of Oliver WIZ
lis began to grow. He was no longer an
obscure member Of the submerged nero
but an isolated unit. elevated for all the
world to see. With mental exaltstion he
grew in stature and even his voice deep
cIco Win REIuc anu uiS4ily
His words as they fell from his mouth
seemed to form themselves into epigrsm-
matte commands. He had grown within
year into a sovereign. and he unconscious
ly drifted into kingly dignity OF speech.
When the lieutenant told him Of the RIO;
he said adopting the plural:
I'VE have not sought conflict They have
cut the first vein. They may drown in
blood"
He dismissed his informant and waited
an hour, sent for the blazing extras Of the
daily papers. read them with satisfaction;
received more newspapers and reporters
and talked to them with confidence: dis
missed them; and. alone again, took down
a map of his country and looked at lis
length and breadth, fanced the tumult Of
excitement everywhere. the angry passions
of individuals, the weltering sympsthetic
passion of the whole people. He fancied
at every black spot on the great map.
crowd OF anxious men. wedged in about
bulletin board. and all speaking one name
oliver Willis. All other names were for
gotten His alone survived in the minds
of men.
kilograms began to arrive. He read them
with an affected carelessness. but really
with trimming joy. Words Of encourage
ment: proffers of help: information of coml
mandatory resolutions in his behalf. COM
ing now so fast that he could not take time
to gloat over each new one. but needs must
pasture his pride anew each minute. Tele-
grams from officials warning him to have
a care. kilograms and kilograms. And
now Populations of citizens trooping in for
an audience, which he gave as king and
as a king dismissed them. For he parted
with them with gentle determination in his
voice. but fire In his soul against them.
Then the officials of the city. the mayor
with political fears and fawning respect
for the famous Willis. urging caution
mildly but giving no offense; and then the
chief of police, who believed Willis rogue
and, angered at the loss Of an officer or
two, talked to him as if he were a rogus3
Willis read the several editions OF the
papers carelessly, perusing his own inter-
views before he touched the other matters.
Rebellion everywhere. Labor everywhere
was revolving. Men were quitting their
posts and joining in the fight which Oliver
Willis, unknown year ago had started,
and was now leading. Acts of violence In
Indiana, Illinois, Missouri. Kansas, Colo
RADIO and on through to the Pacific coast.
were political and could be cowed. The
state militia was political and would not be
called out until late The regular army
of the government might come sooner than
that. but before it came the movement
should be invincible.
hundred were waiting in the ante-room,
and he received them all with the same
thoughtful gentleness; men with rumors
that he was TO be kidnapped, assassinated,
arrested; men with flirnsy plans to forward
the work; men with sober warnings Of his
certain wreck; other labor leaders who
abused him for his madness; reporters,
laborers, agitatyrs, officials. but never
single representative of the corporations
who were fighting him and who ignored
him and his organization. They were keep
ing traffic going by desperate acts. Presi-
dents had become superintendent, super.n-
tendents conductors. master mechanics
firemen. as subordinates in turn had de-
serted their places.
Oliver Willis understood II all: grasped
every maneuver of organized power against
him. but still only vaguely. for he was suf-
fused with the exaltation OF individua!
power and could feel nothing else then. so
great was this passion within him that ne
turned to the details of the battle with re-
luctance He knew that he must succeed
through the exercise OF superior leader
ship. but the demand was in him that the
world should recognize his superiority and
bow to II without troubling him 10 demon
strate it He must. however, demonstrate
his power Then other labor organizations
would flock 10 his banner. And If he could
get the telegraphers with him. he would be
master of the situation.
Let me cut off communication he said.
And will cut down organization, govern
ment. armies, corporations. everything
Gu, in the west. a young man lived. head
OF the telegraphers OF the continent A
word from him and the telegraphers would
leave their posts, he said. On him Wills
meant 10 move. And many times during
the day he wired him. urging him tc act.
He had never seen this man, but he knew
he must be human and that as MS success
grew re could no longer resist him
He ate his meal at MS desk and continued
In his management Of the campaign Far
into the night. And al last. long after
midnight, he went our alone aNoiolhe TIE
cor,,anv =. his l.utenants. Somewhere
in the city little woman was waning toi
him t,,u Of haunting fears for his safety
,Tsnor,ousIv proud Of his prominence, sym
pathetic for his Success But he did not
- "a her. bu, 70 tie other woman who was
waiting for him.
John Wright ard Nell Everett. when re
cars IN both nottced his dignifsd bear
ing. John Wright with contempt. Nell with
a little sIn.le.
eve have read everything" said John |
Wright. The fght is on in earnest II |
must not Jag for an instant
.aTne responsibility Of the AFFAIR" replied |