The Peoples Voice (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, May 23, 1902 Page: 1 of 8
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VOLUME 10.
NORMAN OKLAHOMA, FRIDAY, MAY, 23, 1902
HINDRANCES TO REFORM
An Old Guardsman Shows Up The Crying
Cowards and Venal Hirelings
of Plutocracy
Every honest worker in the ranks ot
reform will find by experience if not
otherwise that reforms work slowly
they start out at the bottom and work
up, and have a hard road to travel.
The three bottom factors in civili-
zation are these; free schools, free
speech; and free press, and pulpits.
Now when the press and pulpit are
against a reform measure it is not
difficult to see how and why reforms
work slowly, for they have not the
public ear, and to get the public ear
is the first necessary step of all pro-
pagandists.
The trouble about reform work in
many cities is that they are not large
enough to support a newspaper with
an editor that dare attack the crook-
edness of various crooks that infest
business, politics and religion. Should
he do so they at once with draw their
advertisements and you know adver-
tisements are the chief means of
revenge, hence it is that the press
ceases to be a friend of the masses,
and what is said about the press is
largely true as to the pulpit for
should a minister attack these ele-
ments of public vice he is at once
charged with trying to be sensational
in order to draw a crowd and as these
same crooks are in a greater or less
number members of the church, they
at once "set down on him" and he is
at once notified to "let up" or move,
hence it is that the press and pulpit
are voiceless and that justice remains
on the cross and crime on the throne.
Should a citizen write a clean cut
article for the uplift of the morals
of the community the editor wants
pay printing it. but should the same
writer get on a beastly drunk and
visit the "bad land district" this same
editor would print free of charge
every act and every vile word and fill
the homes with the dirty vile degrad-
ing rot, and yet editors talk about
"traitors," "anarchists," "copper-
heads" and "moral lepers," while they
are ever ready to sell the laborer to
capitalists and pander to the vicious
elements, all "for revenue" while com-
bines, trust and monopolies wave
their flag of defiance over all law
and^ense of justice while the unpaid
laborer confronts the military
and his family the chilling blast of
approaching winter.
Redpath, the historian, says; "The
nobility and privileged class of the
old world by force of arms on the one
hand and by a constant appeal to
the religious prejudice of the nation,
on the other hand, continue to rob the
toiling masses until the poor become
slaves and toil to support their
masters It is from this slavery that
the oppressed of earth have struggled
during all the ages past and is still
fighting." Again the same author
says: "The privileged classes of j
mankind have no conscience on the !
subject of their privileges. History j
does not adduce one instance in which ,
a nobility or even a monopoly en-:
trenched in precident and custom
has ever voluntarily made restitution
to society of the rights of which it
had been despoiled. The iron jaws
which close on the marrow bones of
privilege never relax until they are
broken " Such, friends is the language
of history concerning the privileged
class that has preyed and is still prey-
ing on the laboring class. Who j
among us who have watched the moil-,
opoli°tic tendency of the age can
fail to see that had it not been for
organized labor that today laboring
men would be at the mercy of petty j
tyrants. Intellectual advancement |
along economic lines with
;
the
courage to apply the lesson at
the ballot box is the only way of es-
cape from industrial slavery that
now confronts the laboring man.
Special privileges are the creat-
ures of special legislation and special
legislation lays at the bottom of our
national ills, for after all, monopoly
of the public land, public highways
and all the natural resources place
the nation's resources of wealth in
the hands of few who, in turn, be-
come the masters of the whole people.
Bad legislation is the result of greed,
and wherever you find greed enthron-
ed by law you will find labor dethron-
ed by law; wherever you find labor
dethroned you will find "property" by
law more sacred than "life" by law.
We are living in a trying time—a
time when the mad, insane rush for
the "almighy dollar" rules, while
Christian conscience is trampled un-
der foot to plunder the communion of
their God; a time when those high in
authority violate the laws of .the
land: a time when riots and mobs
parade our streets, a time when our
militia shoot down the laborers; a
time when our public officers are
bought and sold; a time when mono-
poly is enthroned in law and drives its
golden chariot over the liberties of
the people; a time when a cheated
and deluded multitude obey their
masters and shout "anarchy" and
j "traitor''to all who dare call a halt
| or defend the rights of man and de-
I rnand equal rights and equal oppor-
j tunities for all. Capital and labor in
j the very nature of things ought to be
friends. They go hand in hand. The
j common theory that capital employes
labor has had mischievous effect, for
I the truth is, labor employs capital.
Do you think a man would put his
I capital in a coal mine if no one could
be had to mine coal? Let a number
of men agree to work, then capital is
invested. Why? Because labor puts
j the capital to work. It must be evi-
dent that labor produces capital and
capital in return shares with labor,
and the whole difficulty arising be-
tween capital and labor grows out of
the amount labor shall receive of
the capital it has produced. Now the
conflict that follows this truth is one
that is hedged about with many diffi-
culties. One that confronts us is
that mine owners may induce a large
body of miners to move into their
houses on a certain scale of wages,
tnen after a time reduce the scale,
be the cause stated what it may to,
the laborer, it means two things:
First, taking advantage of his en-
vironment, and, second, depriving
him of his rightful share of that
which his labor has produced. Know-
ing this and seeing the necessity of
meeting the issue miners' unions be-
come a necessity.
Now these unions must become a
school to teach the economic condi-
tions of the country and prepare each
member for a better citizenship to
the end that if the union expects
friendly legislation they must stand
at the ballot box for those who tand
for them in the halls of legislation,
and that, too, regardless of party
politics. Here then is the remedy:
Agitation, organization and political I
education.
And as monopolists will support no
one for office who is opposed to their
interest, so likewise must the labor-
ing men support no man for office who
is opposed or unfriendly to their in-
terest. Voluntarily monopoly will
never surrender. It is a creature of
law and by law you must down it. 1
It. is not charity you want, lint a j ist
share of the product of your labor •
the right to be treated as a man.
Remember you are a part of this
great country. Study to know the
truth and be bold, just, independent,
and stand for your rights where
justice points the way.
Ignorance and superstition are the
two strings on which the godless few
play and fill the world with poverty
and tears. For a thousand years Eu-
rope had been a general battlefield,
until the battle extended to America
and now we can look over two conti-
nents and see fierce passions, tower-
ing am bi tions and conflicting In te rests
still wasting the resources of Church
and State with no settlement in sight.
And when we cast about for a rem-
edy the only answer that comes to us
is this: Religious and political
rights come to all without distinction
as a result of intellectual advance-
ment. Man must apply his intellect-
i ual discoveries to his social needs and
I wherever and whenever he fails to
j do so slavery is the result. Science
teaches man the best mode of apply-
ing brain and muscle; and, as the
system of life has two sides, the vege-
table and the animal, which interlock
to form a whole, so our industrial life
must have organization and education
to form a correct face for the activi-
ties of life. Our republic has the
ballot box for the Ark of Covenant
and here we must meet God and man
and build for the future or else take
up the march and hasten back to
j barbaric night where lost liberty
| sinks in oblivion and hope drops into
the ocean of dead thought and howl-
I ing winds sweep over the ashes of
j dead republics.—Col. Felter, Spring-
I field, Mo., May 4, 15)02.
Table of the Congressional Vote Cast in
Oklahoma Since 1890-
The statistical history of the con-
gressional elections in Oklahoma as
shown by the records in the office of
the territorial secretary.
Vole ot 1H1M, Willi seven counties:
Republican D. A. Harvey 4,478
Democratic J. , McCoy............ 2,446
fopulmt Samuel Crocker l.sau
Scattering 25
Total vote 8,478
Vote ot lsyi. witu lifteeu counties:
itepubllcau D. 1. flynn . . . y,47R
lleinocl'tdic O. H. Tmve'... ....7
Populist aril 1,348
..i'l.ild
..20,4411
.12,1168
. .1S.IIH8
. 48,41(5
Total vote
Vote ot 18!l-t, wttli twenty-two counties
Republican . .. D. T. Flynn ... ...
Democratic Joseph Wisby
1'opulist Ralph Iteauiiiont.,.
Total vote....
Vote ot 1811(3, Willi twenty-Uiree counties:
Republican D. T. flynn 2li.2ti7
fusion. J. Y.Callahan ....27,435
Total vote 53,702
Vote ot 18118, with twenty.tiiree counties:
Republican.., .1). T. flynn 28,458
fusion .James 14. Keaton .111,1188
Independent,
Populist Arthurs. Hanklus 1 2tili
Total vote
Vote ot iskxi, with twenty three countiei
Republican D. T. flynn
fusion Ilobwt a. Net!
Independent,
PiipulisL Johns. Allan
Social 1 I .. K. I. Tucker
48,813
38,253
33,5211
7 3,867
Total vote....
We call your attention to the Popu-
list vote and how it grew before
fusion was attempted. The vote of
1892 almost trebled vote cast in 1890
and the vote of 1894 almost quadru-
pled vote of 1892. During same time
the republican vote was not quite
doubling itself each two years and
the increase in the democratic vote
each two years does not show as large
a per cent of gain as the republican.
In the face of the above figures who
has the hardihood to say fusion elec-
ted Callahan in 1890. As a matter I
of fact it came near defeating him j
and it would have defeated him had
he been strictly a fusion candidate, j
He was nominated by the Populists;)
but placed 011 the ballot as the "Free
silver candidate" and but for the
anti fusion counties in the territory ;
this move would have resulted in '
deft it. I11 1890 Greer county partici- j
pated for the first time in the elec- j
tion in Oklahoma. In the election of
1894 the republican vote in Greer
county was 27 and the Populist and
Democratic vote about 1200 with the
Populist vote the larger. In 1890
Flynn receive practically every re-
publican and democratic vote in
Greer county getting practically the
same vote in Greer county as Calla-
han. The increase vote cast in the
territory in 1890 over 1894 was about
5,000 and the net gain made in
vote was over 5500 while net loss in
the vote of opposition was about
1000 with a loss of an additional
1000 which Greer county should have
furnished to opposition. For every
two democrats who voted for Calla-
han one democrat voted for Flynn.
Since the election of 1896 the repub-
lican vote in this territory shows
a net gain of about 12,000 and the
fusion gain about 0000. In 1894 the
anti republican vote in the territory
was "000 more than the republican
vote. In 1890 only 1100 more, ift 1898,
0300 less, and in 1900, 3000 less. The
fusion vote of 1S98 and 1900 reveals
clearly that the Populist party is
second party in this territority for
the fusion candidate in 1898 was a
democrat, in 1900 a Populist, or at
least so understood to be, though we
understand he gave the democrats
to understand just before he was
nominated that he would enroll as a
democrat when he went to Washing-
ton. He did not get to Washington
to enroll but to show the democrats
that he was a democrat and had
only used the cloak of Populism to
deceive the Populists into voting for
him, he declared himself a democrat
at Enid convention last week and
announced himself in favor of Olney
for President in 1904. Olney was one
of old Grover's cabinet officers and a
gold bug among the gold bugs. It is
in order now for the Populists who
voted for Neff in 1900 thinking that
he was a populist to go to their wood
sheds and get hold of the crank on
their kicking machine.
Revival Meetings.
The revival meetings, going on at
the First Presbytrian church conduct-
ed by Rev. Toy assisted by Singer
Fisher are growing in interest every
day. Many of the people in Norman
don't know what they are missing b£
not coming out to these meetings.
Rev. Toy is one of the ablest evang-
elest who ever visited this city and
Mr. Fisher is a singer of exceptional
ability. There have been so many
things goingon connected with the
schools on in this city during the
past week, interfering to some extent,
no doubt, with attendance at Rev-
Toy's meetings; but we feel quite
sure if Norman people only knew and
realized the power of Rev. Toy as
an evangelist the First Presbyterian
church in this city would be unable
to hold the number of people who
would turn out each evening to heaJ
him. The meeting's will continue
very afternoon and night closing
next Wednesday evening.
The Norman Mill has just received
another large consignment of
toweling bags for their "N. B."
Flour. Ask your Grocer for the
"IN. B." and get the best flour you
ever used as well as a fine towel
with every sack. There Is no
flour sold I11 the county that can
compete with the"N. B." In quality
and the mill's guarantee is behind
every sack of It. 4 4-tf
We are just from market, where
we secured some of the choicest sum-
mer merchandise that you will see
this season, and the prices are so
reasonable. We have the Cameo
percals, swiss lawns, Luzon cord,
Durban cloth, batiste, dimities (all
colors), swiss tissue, Arabian mulls
poplins .Sc. L. C. oliver. 43-4t
NUMBER 44
Memorial Day Proclamation-
I he nations that have lived in his-
tory, song and story, are the nations
that have been true to the memory of
their defenders. Patriotism has been
the guiding star of all national pro-
gress. Liberty-loving people never
fail to express their patriotic senti-
ments in word and deed. In our great
republic the patriotism of a grateful
people has been demonstrated by a
day which has been set apart to hon-
or the memory of our beloved dead.
Ihe thirtieth day of May is a day
sacred to every one who loves freed-
om's starry ensign, whose heart beats
time to Liberty s march and whose soul
is thrilled by the memory of patriot-
ic and heroic deeds. It is right that
the memory of those who died for their
country should be cherished by the
present and by coming generations,
and their are no more fitting symbols
of love than the garlands of flowers
which we, every year, decorate our
solders graves. These floral emblems
are the offerings which a grateful
people bring to Freedom's alter.
The purpose of this is not to stir up
the bitter animosities of the past;
not to excite the sectional strife and
differences of other days; not to
boast of military achievements or
victory over a vanished foe; not to
please the ear of leadership with
flattery's wily commendation; but to
pay our tribute of love and honor
to the nation's heroes who fought in
Freedom's holy crusade. Not only in
these beautiful cermonies do we hon-
or and cherish the memory of th«5
dead, but we impress upon the mind
and heat t of the rising generation,
which will be perpetuated to genera-
tions yet to come, the true lesson of
patriotism and love for flag and
country.
lherefore, I respectfully reccom-
mend that the
THIRTIETH DAV OF MAY, NINETEEN
HUNDRED AND TWO.
He observed in an appropriate man-
ner as authorized by law and estab-
lished by custom, by all people of
Oklahoma.
Let us lay aside the ordinary duties
and pursuits of life and heartily join
in the exercises held under the
auspices of the Grand Army of the
Republic, to perpetuate tenderly and
lovingly the memory of the nation's
dead.
And, while we strew flowers upon
the graves of those who consecrated
their lives for the preservation of the
Union, let us not forget that we have
new graves to decorate, that there
are also those of a later day and
generation, who, in the hour when
the storm-cloud again hung darkly
along the horizon, enlisted in the
war for Freedom and carried our star-
ry banner to a foreign shore. They
came from the north, the land of the
stately pine and the apple blossom;
they also came from the south the
land of the willow and the magnolia
bloom; they all fought gallantly
under the one flag, and some of
them died heroically while defending
it. Today that flag stands sentinel
in the distant islands of the sea, keep-
ing vigils over their graves. When
we strew our floral tributes of love
upon the graves of the soldiers of the
Civil War, let us remember the sol-
diers of the Spanish-American War.
let us bring our heartfelt offerings,
consecrated anew at the altar *of
Freedom, and lovingly place a gar-
land of flowers for every soldier who
has upheld the honor of our star-
spangled banner, either upon land
or upon sea.
Given under my hand and the
Great Seal of the Territory of Okla-
homa. at the City of Guthrie, this
eight day of May, nineteen hundred
and two.
[seal] T. B. Ferguson,
Wm. Grimes, Governor.
Secretary of the Territory.
Too Much Business, to Tell You All the Good
Thing's We Have.
If you come and look you'll linger. If you buy
you'll save Money.
G. M. WINANS & CO.
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Allan, John S. The Peoples Voice (Norman, Okla.), Vol. 10, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, May 23, 1902, newspaper, May 23, 1902; Norman, Oklahoma Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc117576/m1/1/: accessed March 29, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.