The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-22
A NEW KIND OF AGITATION.
Aims of the Railway Employees Club OF
Minnesota.

| statement of the aims and objects OF the
| Railway Employees Club, Of Minnesota, has
| Just been issued, and will be circulated in
large numbers throughout the state, says
| the Northwestern RalrOader:
| The Railway Employees Club, of Mime
| sofa. has been organized solely for the pur-
poses of protecting the interests Of the en-
ployes and securing and maintaining rea-
sOnable wages and permanancy and regu-
| larty of employment IL is not necessary
| TO state here how much this protection is
| needed, or how much employees have suf-
| fered during the last few years, and are
| suffering to-day. from poor wages and un-
| certainty of employment.
In the year 1889 there were in the State Of
Iowa more than five thousand fewer en-
Dloyes than in the year 1888. These men
were laid of because the railroad companies
found il necessary to cut expenses as much
as possible, and had to reduce train service.
decrease the number OF their shop hands,
and in every way work down their payroll
to the lowest notch.
In the State of Minnesota in the year
1889 there were nearly eight hundred fewer
employees than in the year 1883. At the
same time there was an increase OF 2OO
miles in the amount of railroad operated in
the State an increase of over 100 lOcOmO-
tiyes, and an increase of over 1000 cars.
Instead Of there being 500 fewer men en-
plOyed there ought TO have been nearly 1000
more.
Why was it necessary for the railroads 10
reduce their forces i'm this way: There is one
and only one reason for it-namely, the re-
ductI0n in earnings caused by the constant
~ increased reductions in rates. Ii the
rates in force ten years ago had remained in
force up to to-day, the railroad companies
would last year have earned about twelve
million dollars more than they did earn, and
there would have been no occasion, or at
least no excuse. for the economies and re-
ductions in the forces which have taken
place.
This constant decrease Of rates and earn
ings have been brought about, and : still
being brought about, by what is known as
the granger policy Of the Northwestern
States.
IThe Legislatures have only one object in
yIew-namely, to pass laws which will help
the farmer. and VIII win the farmer vote.
The Railroad Commissioners owe their
places TO political influence, aud if they
wish TO retain their places must show them
selves, on every occasion, friends OF the
farmers. IL was under these conditions,
under the necessity Of winning and keeping
the farmer vote, that the granger policy was
adopted in the Northwestern states, and
uds been followed unlil tue present COuul-
tiOn Of affairs has been reached.
The Granger politician asserts that the
railroad companies are earning even now
more money than they deserve. and that
millions Of dollars which ought either TO go
to the public in reduced rates, or else be
paid to employees in increased wages, are
being swallowed up annually by stockhOld-
ers. AS matter Of fact, the amOnnt OF
money paid as dividends 10 stockholders IN
the Northwestern States during the year
1889 was less than one-half Of per cert. on
their stock.
In the whole United states. the average
return from all investment in railroad pro-
perty was only 3 per cent, which is less
than is paid by the railroads Of any other
country in the world, and less than is earned
by the investment in any other line Of busl-
ness in the United states. Under these cir
cumstances, when five out Of every six rail
roads in the Northwest are to-day failing to
earn their expenses and fixed charges, and
are on the very edge of bankruptcy, the
claim of the granger that the railroads are
earning too much money Is longer de-
| fensble.
But the granger does not care whether
the investors in railroads get any money or
not, nor whether the railroad emplOye il
paid wages that he can live upon all the
year round or not.
But it is perfectly evident that the rail-
road companies cannot pay their employees
money which they do not earn.
| 1t is also plain that nobody else is going
to come forward and protect the interests of
| the employees against the granger unless the
employees do it themselves.
With this conviction the members OF the
Railway Employees Club have come to-
gether. The Club has nothing to do with
any political party nor is it tied to any pO-
itical gang. The Club has nothing to do
with any existing organization among en-
ployes. 1t does not interfere with any
| brotherhood, order, association, federation,
or society now in existence. Ii is Intended
10 include the members OF all Organiza-
tions, and employees Of all classes OF every
department. of every railroad in the State.
There are twenty thousand railroad EN-
plOyes in Minnesota. and they can infu-
ence twent thousand other votes in addition
to their own. When the granger politician
and the granger commissioner understand
that these votes will be cast against them,
and the influence Of these thousands will
| be used. to thwart their ambitions, they
will not dare TO continue, as they have done
in the past, to ignore the welfare OF the rail-
road employees, TO pass laws which will rob
! the employe OF his wages, or TO issue orders
which strike at the employees means OF
| liylihood aud the comfort of his home.
There is no employe in the State, who, IL
once he understands the situation thor
oughly, will not Immediately Join the Club.
There is DO employe who can refuse to
assist us in our aims without being untrue
10 himself, his order, and his home.
We are able TO protect ourselves. 1t is
cowardice as well as folly not to do 1t.