Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-10-13
The Last
Legislature,

Kansas to Judge the POpullsC LeEls-
lature OF 1897 by this rule. At the
outset we desire to say that no legls-
lature in the history OF Kansas has
ever passed so many wise and bene-
fetal measures since the admission OF
the state into the Union and we cite
the statute book OF 1897 in proof
Two elements enter into legislar
ton, especially in Kansas-man ana
money. For years money, as rep
resented by great corporations, has
received the attention OF our law
makers to the exclusion OF the man,
and the interest OF humanity. The
legislature OF 1897 reversed the order
and gave some attention to the in
terest Of the great common people,
who have by their labor, economy
and enterprise made Kansas a great
commonwealth. The Republican
party from the time OF its first sue
ces has drifted more and more
toward the power OF money until, at
the present time the dollar domin-
ates the party and dictates its every
act. Corporations control it's legis-
Iatlon, state and national. The
Peoples Party, on the other hand, Is
made up OF individuals who believe
that the people are entitled to as
great consideration, at least, as the
corporations. ooo
Upon these lines the battle OF 1896
was fought and won, and the legls-
lauure OF 1897, came into power
through that victory, In which we
were ably assisted by our allies, the
Democrats and Silver Republicans,
whose national conventions enuncl-
ated advanced views on the financial
question in line with those held by
all reformers who believe the people
are entitled to as much consideration
as is granted the corporations
Actuated by these motives the Peo-
pies Party members OF the legisla-
ture OF 1897, entered upon their du-
ties, realizing the impOssibility OF
curing all the evils in the short space
Of fifty days that thirty years of vi
cious legislation and neglect had
bred. The results show an honest
effort, with great good accomplished
and with the start made, opens the
way for hecontinuation OF the work
in the interest OF the producers and
laborers, by further legislation.
4 THE ANTI-PINKERTON LAW.
The interest OF labor werecarefully
guarded. One Of theimportant laws
In it's interest was that known as
the Anti Pinkerton law. (See page
$50, Session Laws.) The Peoples
PARTY believes that the officers OF the
state can preserve the peace and up
hold the dignity Of law without in
voking the aid OF hirelings and en-
issaries OF the corporations brought
from outside thestate. Remembering
Homestead, Occur de- Allen, 'the great
railway strike at Buffalo, New York,
the miners strike in Tennessee, all OF
which occurred under the benlticient
(?) effects OF the Mckinley tariff law
passed in the interest OF labor (?) the
Peoples Party made itimpossible to
employ outside hirelings to shoot
down In cold blood and without
authority the railroad employees or
miners OF Kansas.
no PROTECT LABOR ORGANIZA-
TIONS.
Labor organizations have been
asking for law to prevent dlscrim-
nations against their members and
to protect them against coercion
and discharge because OF such con-
nection. The last legislature needed
their demands and gave them such a
law (see page 226 Session Laws
Laboring men who favor liberty will
not vote to turn down a party that
favors broadening their rights.
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
The imprisonment OF Eugene V
Debs and his companions for months
in a Chicago Jail for contempt o
court, and hundreds OF other cases o
less note where men have beer
thrown into prison and denied I
trial by jury is fresh in the minds o
the laboring people. Chapter l06
page 205, will forever prevent sucl
occurrences in Kansas and in sucl
cases grants every man the right of /
trial by jury and restricts the power
OF Judges and courts in such cases
What will the labCring men do TO
this party and theirfriends in NOvem
Der?
BLACKLISTING.
The Legislature went further in be
half OF humanity and passed Il law
(See page 1927 to prevent blacklist
ing OF the laboring man in Kansa
and providing for the collection o
damages in a sum three times a.
great as he may be injured. How
will the laboring man who has beef
blacklisted in thepast, vote this year
ANTI SCRIPT LAW.
On the very next page 1923, is Law
to secure to laborers the payment O
their wages, and prevent the ISSUING
of script and store orders The Re
publican legislature OF 1887 made al
attempt to cure this evil, but like al
their work in the interest OF labo
the bill was so bungllngly drawn a
to be imperative. The Peoples Par
ty law has stood the test of tn
courts and will be a benefit to labor
The laborlng man will scarcely vot
to give the Republicans O. furthe
chance to blunder with laws in thei
interest.
SAFETY OF MINERS.
The interests OF the miner wa
looked after and at the request fror
them a law was passed providing 10
their health and safety while EN-
ployed under ground and seeking t
protect them from the carelessnes
and greed of the mine owners. Use
page 339)
PROTECTION OF MOTORNEERs