The Topeka state journal., 1908-04-03
RAP The COURTS.
Socialists Dip Into the appeal
to Reason" Fight.
Endorse Editor Warren, Who
Is Now Under Indictment.
WANT LESS WHISKY.
Say That LabOring Men Should
Cut Out Liquor.
Adopt a Short and Clear Cut
Platform.
WANT LESS WHISKY

At their convention this morning the
Kansas Socialists came to the defense
of The Appeal to Reason and it's man.
aging editor. Fred D. Warren, who are
both in trouble with the federal au-
thorities. The Appeal to Reason is the
Sirard weekly owned by J. A. Way
land, and Mr.. Warren is in full charge
Of what the paper prints.
Not only did the Socialist state con-
Fention defend Mr.. Warren and his pa
per, but they started a boom for War
rem for the Socialist nomination for
governor of Kansas.
The trouble between Warren and the
federal courts started when the Social
tst editor sert broadcast over the coun-
try an envelope bearing on its face a
statement that the Appeal to Reason
would pay 81 900 reward for anybody
who would kidnap Governor Taylor of
Kentucky and return him to that
state. This offer was made, it is claim
ed, with no hostility to Taylor, but as
protest against the method pursued
by the officers in kidnapping Haywood.
Meyer and Pettibone, the three officers
of the miners union accused of COM
plicity in the Stuenenberg murder.
However Mr.. Warren was indicted
by the federal court for sending defam-
soon to stand trial for that offense.
Shortly after that. the postmaster
general of the United States, Won
Meyer, suppressed an anarchistic news
paper at Paterson, N. J., and stated
in an interview that he was keeping a
close watch on a similar paper publish
ed in Kansas, meaning the Appeal to
Reason. The inference was given out
that the Appeal to Reason had. in
violent attack on the president, threat
ened his life.
George D. Brewer, who is here at
tending the state convention at Repre-
sentative hall, is the associate editor
of the Appeal to Reason. In speaking
of the troubles that paper and it's man
aging editor are having, he said this
morning: ~sts
1.-THE Appeal to Reason is not an
principles, and always has been. It
is the most unjust accusation to make
against the paper. The charge against
Mr.. Warren is absurd; the Appeal to
Reason has no personal feeling against
Governor Taylor; we did not want
him kidnapped, and did not expect
anyone would attempt to kidnap him,
and as a matter of fact no one has
attempted to kidnap him. The object
was simply to show the atrocity of
the kidnapping of Haywood, Meyer
and Pettibone by putting the shoe on
the other foot"
The resolutions endorsing Warren
and the Appeal to Reason were adopt
ed by the convention this morning as
follows:
Whereas, Comrade Fred D. War
rem through the Appeal to Reason
has at all times and especially in
the trial of Haywood, Meyer and Pet
tibone, fearlessly and forcefully
championed the cause of the working
class and
Whereas. he and the Appeal to
Reason have thereby aroused the ire
scouting Comrade Warren through
their hireling courts now therefore
be 1t
Resolved by the socialist party of
Kansas in convention assembled, that
we denounce the technicalities upon
which Ccmrade Warren is being tried
and transparently fimsy pretexts and
announce our firm conviction that the
real issue at stake is the right of free
expression, the very life of the work.
ing class press, and be 1t further
Resolved. that we congratulate
Comrade Warren on having fought
the good fight so efficiently as to have
Nirawn upon himself the capitalistic
IRE and be 1t further
Resolved, that we individually and
collectively pledge to Comrade War
rem our heartiest support to maintain
and which are with him on trial.
The convention this morning also
passed resolutions condemning in
most earnest manner the use of in
toxicating liquor. The convention
did not endorse the prohibitory law;
# simply urged all working men to
"cut out the booze" so that they may
be better able to understand the prin-
ciples of socialism. The temperance
resolutions follow:
Whereas. The use of intoNcat-
ing LIQUORS as beverage is ad-
,nittedly detrimental to the health
and welfare of human beings. and
Whereas To carry the class
struggle to a successful issue will re-
ouire the steadiest brains and the
steadiest nerves that the working
class can produce, therefore
"Be It Resolved, BY the socialist
marty of Kansas in convention as
sembIed. that we heartily endorse the
stand of our last international con-
gress on this question, and earnestly
recommend total abstinence from the
use of intoxicating beverages to the
working class of our state so that they
may better be able to study and
comprehend the reasons for their
present exploitation and may take an
intelligent part in its overthrow and
in the establishment of the co-opera-
tive commonwealth"
Adopted a Brief Platform.
The Socialists also adopted their
state platform this morning The plat
form is much better than the average
political platform because it is short,
and gets right down to business. 1t
tells what the Socialists want in short.
crisp sentences, and there is no ambig-
uity The platform was adopted by ths
convention by unanimous vote, and
II is as follows:
1--WE. the Socialist party of Kansas in
convention assembled at Topeka. Kan
sas. on the End and 3rd of April. 1908,
reaffirm our allegiance to the prin-
ciples of international socialism as set