Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-10-13
The Last
Legislature.

A legislature like an administra-
ton should be Judged by what IL ac.
compllshes and we ask the voters OF
Kansas to Judge the Popullst Legls' !
lature OF 1897 by this rule Az the
outset we desire to say that no legis-
lature In the history OF Kansas has
ever passed 80 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 leglsla-
ton, especially in Kansas-man ana
money. For years money, AZ rep
resented by great corporations, mas
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 n great
commonwealth The Republican
party from the time OF It's first sue
ces has drlited more and more
toward the power OF money until at
the present time the dollar domln-
ates the party and dictates It's every
act. Corporations control It's legls-
latlon, 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, atNeast, as the
corporations. ,ooo
Upon these lines the battle OF 1896
was fought and won, and the legis-
lature 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 enunci-
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 IL granted the corporations.
Actuated by these motives the Peo-
ples Party members OF the leglsla-
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 denomination OF the work
in the interest OF the producers and
laborers, by further legislation.
THE ANTI-PINKERTON LAW.
The interest OF labor were carefully
guarded. One OF the important laws
in it's interest was that known as
the Anti-Pinkerton law. (See page
$50, Session Laws.) The Peoples
rarity believes that the officers OF the
etate 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 the estate. Remembering
Homestead, Occur de- Allen, 'the great
railway strike at Buffalo, New York,
the miners strike In Tennessee, all OF
which occurred under the beniticient
w effects OF the Mckinley tariff law
.ss s1 X S jig s1s~.ssHS q. Va
ans aS S1G . osahGcs5 d itRSSt
authority the railroad emproyes or
miners OF Kansas,
TO PROTECT LABOR 0RGANIZA-
TIONS.
Labor organizations have been
asking for a law to prevent discrim-
nations against their members and
to protect them against coercion
and discharge because Of such con-
nectlon. The last Legislature needed
their demands and gave them such o.
law (see page 228 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
I'm n Chicago Jail for contempt OF
court, and hundreds of other cases Of
less note where men have been
thrown into prison and denied a
trial by jury is fresh in the minds Of
the laboring people. Chapter 1906.
page 2O5, will forever prevent such
occurrences in Kansas and In such
cases grants every man the right of u
trial by jury and restricts the power
of Judges and courts in such cases.
What will the laboring men do for
this party and therfriendsin Novem-
Der?
BLACKLISTING.
The Legislature went further in be-
half OF humanity and passed a law,
(See page 1922 to prevent blacklist
ing OF the laboring man in Kansas
and providing for the collection of
damages in sum three times as
great as he may be injured. How
will the laboring man who has been
blacklisted in the past, vote thisyear?
ANTI SCRIPT LAW.
On the very next page 1923, 10 a law
to secure to laborers the payment OF
their wages, and prevent the issuing
OF script and store orders. The Re-
publican legislature OF 1887 made an
attempt to cure this evil, but like all
their work In the interest OF labor
the bill was 80 bunglingly drawn as
to be imperative. The Peoples Par
ty law has stood the test OF the
courts and will be a benefit to labor.
The laboring man will scarcely vote
to give the Republicans q further
chance to blunder with laws in their