The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-03-01
OUR FORUfl
0Ball Pen" Politics.

scarce? Why don't the daily papers
keep the people posted about this
atrociously bloody tragedy in the Occur
d'Alene district? Is the case all set
tied and have the prisoners obtained a
full redress of their unwarrantably
severe treatment? Is there peace and
harmony between the government and
the working men, who suffered such
rough handling at the hands Of So
called authorities?
Are the striking miners in Idaho sat-
isfied to let the matter drop, or will they
keep the peoples mind and memory
fresh and alive on this subject? Are
the laborers and miners still in the
hull pen" and have they any show of
getting out? How long will the dis
trict remain under coercive admins
tration Of martial law? viii our
solons in Washington adjust their spec
tacles and look up this medieval dun
geon?
Congress has had notice Of this mat
ter and referred it to an investigating
committee, but-will the committee
treat 1t like the "embalmed'' beef con-
troversy? Shall the people of these
United States be treated to a panorama
OF bull pen" scenes painted in lime
water-colors?
However, congress may feelEin duty
bOund-called upon to act, but, will it
yield the bull pen sufferers an even
chance with the Standard Oil Co.? Will
congress adopt measures to relieve the
p esent trouble and prevent a repetf-
ton of bull pen horrors?
Any voter in these United States gen.
orally believes himself a citizen, with
privileges as such, but in the presence
OF bull pen government, will he not
feel anxious to know If, by some hook
or crook in the law the laboring classes
have lost these privileges? Will he not
wonder if, in this country with world
wide reputation for liberty and freedom,
there is a graduated scale of citizen
ship?
Is 1t not surprise to see the work
ingmen suddenly disfranchised and re-
duced to the condition of slaves under
masters lash and frenzied temper7
as 1t not an astonishing revelation to
see the toiling masses debarred of their
citizenship, deprived of their rights be-
fore the law, excluded from testifying
on oath and prevented from having a
hearing of any kind?
Even savages allow the accused vic
tim hearing of some kind, but-did
the bull pen victims have hearing of
any kind whatsoever? Did they have a
nearing within the customary "a
hours? Did they get one within "a DAYS.
or within "a weeks? Will they ever
have one? Is there any salvation?
Are the laws of the state of Idaho so
crude, SO imperfect, so obliterated that
Dame Justice is lost in cloud of cor
poratlon befoggery, and the manual
toliers left to the mercies of grim and
feroeious land pirates, highway depre-
dators and corporation torture fiends?
And is the constitution and the
statute laws of the United States be-
coming so old, so obsolete and antiquat-
ed that it Is in danger of being lost
sight of by our domineering authori-
ties? Are the legal lights and luminous
bodies of the judiciary constellation on
the wane, or are they too busy to at
tend to these matters?
Have any charges against these vic
tins of the bull pen torture been pre-
ferred or maintained? Is there any
chance of redress or remuneration for
time lost or injuries received in prison?
Are there any authorities willing to
listen to their demands or must the citi-
zens OF Idaho resort to the old-time
vigilence committees to establish peace.
enforce their rights and protect their
pursuit of life, liberty and happiness?
VIII the people of these United States
tolerate such usurpation of power by
plutocratie tyrants, who cry treason
every time patriotic utterance fs |
heard, or need we another declaration
of independence?
III 10 ieoiiy lHe nucleus or the dOmi- |
nant party? Is it the royal Morgan
Hanna-ROckefeller triumvirate? Are
they blowing the ground for de-
veiopang genuine Roman evolution? !
Are they striving to fertilize the con- !
dltions of society and the people in gen.
eral for the necessity of a Dictator |
dictator or Caesar of these United
States? Are you people ready to dis |
card your patriotism and fall prone
on your face before this Caesar. czar
kaiser, king, emperor or tyrant of anv
kind?
Are you people ready to sing, to stand
up In body, all of you, and sing:
George IFS fat body lies moIderins in
the grave,
But his spirit we worship in song.
standard Oils vast body is accounting
us to save
With the soldiers and bull pen or
stockyards and slaughter house. butch
ers or cowboys, to round up and corral
the herd in our voting cattle-ranch?
What kind Of name should be applied
to such policy? Would It be right to
call 1t bull pen politics, and the partv
oh Il