The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1906-03-30

Last Thursday evening at Carpen-
ter's hall, H. A. Floaten of Denver, late
socialist candidate for governor of
Colorado, addressed a large gathering
on the subject of the recent troubles
in Colorado and the arrest OF the head
officers of the Western Federation of
Miners, who are charged with the as
sassination OF Ex-Governor Frank
Steuenberg of Idaho. The meeting was
designed as protest meeting" and
as such was distinct success. Mr..
Floaten is conservative, logical
speaker whose evident earnestness is
impressive, and as he went through
the troubles Of which he spoke he is
in a position to deal with the subject
first-hand
A great many people have conceived
the idea that union labor is determined
to protect Meyer and Hayward regard.
less of whether they are innocent or
guilty. This is, OF course, ridiculous,
but there are a lot of people who be-
lieve it. The fact is that organized
labor is determined only that Meyer
and Hayward shall have a fair trial.
This they will not get if the Citizens
Alliance has it's way. This is proved
by the illegal method taken to arrest
them and then abduct' them, taking
them from Colorado to Idaho on a
|trumped-up charge and then indicting
them for murder and throwing them
into Jail without bail or even a chance
to consult with their friends. The only
evidence against the men is the al
legged confession of a man named Or
chard, whose confession is so ridicu-
lous that even General Bell had to
laugh at it, and Pinkerton detective
named Mcfarland, who claims to be
the same man who broke up the
"Mollie Maguires" in the Pennsylva-
mia coal fields quarter of century
ago. Mcfarland is very evidently
trying to earn his money.
In his speech Mr.. Floaten did not
venture to prejudge the case against
the accused men, but he told, plainly
that section Of the country. The So
cialistic part of the address was Incl
dental to the main theme, although the
speaker took occasion to present the
interesting way.N
The ruling elass," declared the
speaker at the opening of his dis
course, "is the class that lives the
easiest Because of immense wealth
they not only interpret the laws, but
| they sec to their enforcement SO that
they can continue to live above the
people. The big man or capitalist
makes his living by owning something
The laboring class must sell their la
Dor every day, or it is useless. The
struggle between the capitalistic and
the working class is growing fierce1
and iercer every day. This is espe
cially true in the gold and silver min
| ing districts. It may take years, but
this condition can be remedied.
Socialists" further stated the
speaker, uphold trusts. We do not
want them like they are being held at
this time, but we want all the people
to be on the inside of them. When
this state of affairs exists, it will bring
about better conditions for all classes
II the laborers all over the world be-
come unionized they will be worse OF
than they are today Why? Because
we will have the scabs in the union
and the workingmen will still be de-
pendent on the capitalists. They must
have work to live, and as they don't
own. the tools, they must look to the
owners as they are doing now.