The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1891-11-20
TO RAILROAD EMPLOYBS.

TO RAILROAD EMPLOfbS.
The campaign is now passed and
the proper time has arrived for
fair review of the causes aud results
Not wishing to be tedious we will
say that it was represented all
through the canvass that the peoples
party movement was lnimical to the
interests of the railroad employe.
The especial bill of the alliance
house last winter, that was the great
bugaboo, was house bill No. TAB
which provided for the establish
ment of a state board Of railroad
commissioners, to be elected by the
people, and which proposed a reduc-
tion of IL per cent on freight rates,
which reduction left the rate still 20
per cent higher than the rates in
Iowa. This bill was killed by the
senate. But we will also name two
other bills that were proposed. by the
house and killed by the senate.
House bill No. II prohibiting rail
read companies from employing or
using private armed detective force
during railroad strikes, or other
disputes Arising between railroad
companies and their employees, and
providing penalty for the violation
thereof.
House bill No. eos regulating the
discharge of corporation employees,
to prevent the blacklisting of rail-
road employees, and providing pen
slties for the violation thereof.
Now here were two bills that were
certainly in the interests of railroad
employees proposed by the alliance
house but killed by the republican
senate.
We are glad that some of the raid.
road men fully understood the situa.
, ton and wers not Influenced by false
and misleading statements on the
+ subject in the late campaign. 1t i,
refreshing to find in the Trainmen'.
Journal for November an article thai
) puts the question in its true light:
, Just now 1t Is the policy of certain organs
supporting corporation interests to dIstort
and misrepresent facts to the end that the
\ railway employees may combine Ia opposing
the political issues sgi tatsd and upheld b.
the farmers. So clearly Is this wool pulling
manipulated that IN certain parts of tn
T country rHTlroSd zen have already been In
: duced TO organize themselves into clubs fol
the avowed purpose of lighting the farmers
interests. The main argument used Is, tina
the prosperity Of railroad corporations 4
] threatened by the reforms proposed by tn
q alliance and that the wages Of employees ar
Influenced by the receipts Of the employer
This letter is obviously untrue and the fac
t that the idsa - advanced by organs which
= are pledged to the support OF corporation
principles shopld be sufficient warning e
the railroad employees.
Wages are adjusted by the ratio Of supply
{ and demand Of skilled labor and not by IN.
I. employer. To make this fact perfectly plai
1t is only necessary for the reader TO call {,
mind the most prosperous business hrrn
t with which he Is familiar and compare tn
q rates Of wages paid with those Of other les
prosperous firms. He will dad that 10 tn,
same city the millionaire merchant paws TIA
r same wageslss the trembler upon the verR
Y OF bankruptcy, So II Is in railroad matte n
, the prosperous road pays no more than tn,
:, road which Is running upon an unproHt
y able basis. II Is, of course, to the interes
g Of = corporation to hire its help as cheapl
as possible but the laborinz m An OF today Il
in = position 70 say to any employer; ''ThI
II tAe standard rate of pay and will worI
I for no less-"
q The farmer has no interest in iowerfn
the wages OF the working man, In fast, 1t 1
:, for his best interest to raise them. The far
q msr Il, to al extent, the producer of tn
n eommeR necessities which the laborinK mar
IF consumes, The wages Of the woTkingma
means more profits 70: the farmer, an
better facilities for the farmer mean
a cheaper products TO cell % the lAborel
a The harder 81 IL fer the farmer to pay hi
- debts the mere Prost he wishes to max
from his farm PRODUCES. That some
q these farm products must pass through ii
d hands of . manufacturer makes more n
II mote. but does not alter, the mutual rels
ions OF the farmer aad the lAborer.'
The rAilrssa man should not Be deceive
3; into the bellsf that IN helping railroad co
Dr. pOratiou, be i helping himsslf. He stand
in just the same position toward polite.
principles - the nam who handles q
n L.