People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1898-10-13
The Last
Legislature,


A legislature like an administra-
tlon should be judged by what it ac-
composites and we ask the voters of
Kansas to Judge the POpulist Legis-
lature OF 1897, by this rule. At the
outset we desire to say that no legis-
lature in the history OF Kansas has
ever passed so many wise and bene-
flclal measures since the admission of
the state into the Union and we cite
the statute book of 1897 in proof
Two elements enter into legiSla-
ton, especially in Kansas-man and
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 its legis-
lation, 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.
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 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 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 theimpOrtantl laws
in its 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
yOking the aid of hirelings and en-
fssaries OF the corporations brought |
from outside the state. Remembering
Homestead, Occur de- Allen, the great |
railway strike at Buffalo, New York, |
the miners strike in Tennessee. all of |
which occurred under the benifcient |
C?) 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.
TO PROTECT LABOR ORGANIZA-
TIONS.
Labor organizations have been |
asking for law to prevent discrim-
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 Csee 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 OF |
court, and hundreds of other cases of |
less note where men have been
thrown into prison and denied
trial by jury is fresh in the minds of |
the laboring people. Chapter 100. |
page 2O5, will forever prevent such |
occurrences in Kansas and in such |
cases grants every man the right of a
trial by jury and restricts the power
OF judges and courts in such cases.
What will the labOring men do for
this party and theirfriends in Novem-
Der?
BLACkLISTING.
The Legislature went further in be-
half OF humanity and passed a law,
(See page 322, 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 thepast. vote this year?
ANTI SCRIPT LAW.
On the very next page 1923, is 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 so 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 laborlng man will scarcely vote
to give the Republicans a further
chance to blunder with laws in their
interest.
SAFETY OF MINERS.
The interests OF the miner was
looked after and at the request from
them a law was passed providing for
their health and safety while en-
ployed under ground and seeking to
protect them from the carelessness