The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-07-15
DePeW HIS OWN BOOMER.


In the current number of the North
American Rerien Chauncey NJ. Depew
rises TO make a few remaks on Rail
way Men in Politics" a subject with
| which he is entirely familiar, and which
he discusses with that charming grace
of manner that has made his name a
household synonym for urbanity and
courtly~ elegance. More remarkable in
his present effort than his Chesterfield
ian style, however, is the engaging
frankness with which hetalks about his
candidacy for the republican presiden-
tial nomination in 1883, and the adroit-
ness with which he gently insinuates
that the objections that were then
raised against him are fast disappear
ing and will have totally vanished by the
year of our Lord 1892. There is no mis-
taking the significance of his utter
ances.
Mr.. Depew is convinced that the
feeling against railroad men in politics
has never existed in New England. and
has never assumed formidable proper
tions in the state of New York. IL has
been confined almost exclusively To the
West. Mr.. Depew points out that the
representatives of five states said at
Chicago in 1855 that the candidacy of
a man prominently identified with rail.
roads rs an officer OF manager would
certainly lead to q reduction of their
majorities, the loss of their legislatures
and representatives in congress and
probably of the electoral vote of their
state"
That this prejudice" is fast dying
ont, Mr.. Depew is firmly persuaded.
lie does not believe there are two
states in the Union to-day where a rail
way man running for Office would be
cut 10y any considerable body of the
members of his party on account of his
business" The writer also informs ms
that recognizing the animosity SO re-
Gently manifested toward them rail.
way men have of late frequently thrown
aside party affiliations and combined AT
the polls for their common interests:
Results which have aslnnishcd everybody and
for which mo- one could account In state elections
for governors aud members of The legislature IN
the past two years have been due Ia this cause
some remarkable eases have come under my oh
scrNatton. where the employees, with all their
supposed hosllitics ~ capital hccamc its prnt"c
tors. They quickly saw that certain measure,
against thu companies were intended not Il
remedy evil. hut Ia cripple the earning power III
the companies. They argued that this meant
huth a reduction ~ force aud If wages and thril
attitude toward the promoters became >,
threatening that the bills Were either modified 81
dropped. The railway men were teaching IN,
politicians the lesson that their votes were JUS
as good as those ofanyhody else, az course, TIL,
could not occur more Than once without The Iues
tion aud It's causes and remedies being eNhans
lively discussed. II has led Ia "A very remark
able revolution Ia sentiment. not only In rcgaTt
To- railway men, hut Ia railway corporations.
Having thus disposed of the oh.
jections against him, Mr.. Depew pro.
ceeds to unfold his elements OF
strength. lie reminds his readers that
there are about one million men EN-.
ployed on the railroads i'm this %countr,
and probably rs many more indirectl,
through railway supplies. Those who
come actually under the head of rail
way employees comprise one'thirteentl
of the voting population of the United