Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-11-14

In the current issue, the NOrth-
Western Railroader, published at st.
Paul, attributes the recent defeat of
the republican party iD Iowa to the eff
forts of railroad employees. 1t states
that the corporations did not interest
themselves, but that the employees with
out organization or mutual understand.
ing quietly walked to the polls and vot
ed the democratic ticket. This authori-
ty estimates that the employees could
control, if united, 5000 votes, but fur
thfr states that without organization
they cast from fifteen to twenty thous
and votes, or enough to make the re-
suit what they may choose, The Rail-
roader comments:
The railway employees have awakened
| TO The knowledge of their own strength.
/ They have learned that their cause is
not the granger cause, and that they
have nothing to gain and everything to
lose by policy OF oppression of the
companies from whom they get their
work, their salaries, their bread and
butter. Republicanism and democracy,
in the abstract, have no interest for
them. They are not swayed by party
motives, and are no more under the
leadership Of party BOSSES than of "the
corporations. But wtsteyer the party
may be, that strikes at their Y6ry Hfaps
of living, that party or that man will
feel the weight of their enmity at the
polls. The great counter-balance, long
needed, has been found, 1t is the vote
of the organized railroad men.
1t will prove very unfortunate II the
railway employees have concluded to
cast their votes against the people, and
against the party which has enacted
railroad legislation. 1t las legislated
in the interests of employees as well as
of the people, and we believe the delib-
crate judgment will concur in the state
ment. When train service was restrict
ed last spring it was done for the pur-
pose of creating dissatisfaction among
the people and employees, but when the
Rock Island was placed ip a position
where it was compelled to prove that
such restriction was necessary because
of decreased receipts, it refused to dc
so, and resumed regular service. In a
: large measure, however, their effort to
, prejudice opinion was fulfilled, and tn
result is painfully apparent.
} The principle Of control of corpora
= lions by the state will prevail. Th,
l state intends no wrong to invested cap
= ital or employed labor. AS disinter
: esteQ mediator it purposes that capita
e shall realize Just dividend, that labor
J. shall be equitably remunerated, and thai
f the public shall be served at just rates
r without discrimination. Railroad leg
/. islation in Iowa has not impaired divi
dends, and has but little decreased thu
{ cost Of service to the public, but it ha'
\ done away witu discrimination which
!, in many instances made mosE 44jlsj
; charges. 1t has not effected the wei
: fare Of employees, except that their labor
!. has been arbitrarily managed managed
for the purposes Of influencing public
Q opinion. The state has done no wrong
J. to its railway constituents, and while
: public opinion may fluctuate, the prin,
/ Iciple of corporation control and state
e authority has been firmly established
!, Both parties and al parties must rec,
ognize this fact IN their platform OF
they will be repudiated by the people