The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-25
GOV. PEABODY AND sREr LABOR

4
body of Colorado issues an adroit APP
peal to the 'law-abiding" citizens and
conservative unionists of Colorado
to re-elect him to the position that
he has prOstituted that he may again
resume his reign Of despotism in that
fair state. His appeal overiiows with
general and indefinite charges against
members of the Western Federation
OF Miners. Nearly if not all of these
charges have already been proven abb
scoluteiy false by the prosecutors
themselves, who abandoned their pros
ecution before thrial in some instances.
nor himself by his failure to be spe-
cific.
And here follows the hypocritical
climax of his frenzied appeal
II have had to deal with an organ
ization which has no counterpart in
this country. It's official proclamation,
full of defiance and challenge, issued
from time to time, have amounted. as
has been said, to declaration of
war against the state.
II have met the challenge with a
policy none tco vigorous for the out
lawry was called to oppose. But
ject, and that to show the people of
Colorado that the laws will be upheld
that a criminal organization can not
dictate the policy of this adnlinistra-
ton, and that everywhere within the
borders Of Colorado, property shall be
secure and labor shall be free"
Labor shall be free, forsooth! Yet
every attempt to make the conditions
Of labor free in Colorado has been
frustrated by Governor Peabody and
his official mob After the people of
Colorado had voted in favor Of con-
stitutional amendments for the bet
terment Of the conditions of labor this
official anarchistic mob urged or by
the most corrupt elements of Colorado,
defeated that will of the people in The
state legislature. All this was well set
forth in @ recent Issue of MrClnre's
by Ray Stanard Baker and needs no
repetition here.
But the essence Of hypocrisy appears
in the expression that in Colorado
Tabor shall be free" This flattering
phrase is too often rung into the ears
Of members of organized labor. BE
free men," Free indeed Yet every
attempt of laborers to be free, truly
dcspots as Peabody. Who can honest
ly say that any laborins man is free
SO long as he must beg for leave to
toll? And having secured from mo-
nopoly the leave to toll, he must ac-
cept for his labor not what he honestly
earns, but what monopoly secs lit to
pay. Free indeed. How free is he
who leaves his home in the early
hours of morning without mouthful
of food, leaving the last morscl there
for careworn wife with hollow cheeks
who in her turn bestows it upon a
starving child? How free is he who
having left his home under such con-
ditions and tramped footsore ali Gay
long, secures at last from some cap
tain Of industry leave to toll. and
hears from that captain the words,
Your pay will be one dollar day.?
Can he say, Il think | ought to have |
two dollars day? Is he free? No,I
he will not say such things. He dare
not But with bowed head he stoops |
to kiss the hand of him who bestows !
upon him this blessing" No, it is not |
the freedom of labor that such fell
lows as Peabody desire. 1t is the
more complete dependence, the more
abject enslavement of those who toll.
When an attempt was made year or
two past to pass constitutional
amenment in Colorado that would
have lifted from the back of labor its
burden of taxation and freed the store
house of nature that labor might apply |
its genius and enrich itself in ma
lures bounty. thereby DOING much to |
free labor" did Peabody and his |
official mob aid the cause? Far from
il. II is hardly likely now that the
labor unionists and the American, lib
erty-loying citizens of Colorado will be /
deceived by the governors hypocritical |
appeal They wiz assert their rights
and their manhood. and show To him
and his kind what free labor" really |
means.
>>$&S$$S
LABOR DAY.