The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-03-18


tains. We are not required to so much
as suggest that all railroad employees
should be identified with tho active
workers of the peoples party; but the
question arises, wherein does the peo-
pies party antagonize any demands Of
railroad employees In what plank of
its platform is to be found hostility to
the interests of labOrp
In response. it will doubtless be said,
in some quarters, that the peoples
party has evinced hostility to railroads,
and because of this unfriendiness the
interests Of railroad employees are jeop-
ardized.
The question arises, in what way is
the peoples party unfriendly to rail-
roadsP In discussing such PROPOSE
ton let us be frank,
The peoples party express the OPP
ionion that the water in railroad stock
should be squeezed out; that railroads
should do business on honest invest
ments AMI not upon basis Of fraud,
and that they can afford to reduce
rates of transportation for persons and
freigbts, MS to make them what they
were designated TO be, blessing to
the country.
Railroad corporations at once set
about to defeat such legislation, and ut
this juncture comes into view strategic
movements on the part of railroad COR
porations of astounding audacity.
In the first place, the corporations
say to the states, "if you reduce rates
we will reduce the number of trains. y"
This reduction of the number of trains
is to operate in the way of penalty
upon the sovereignty of the people, the
sovereignty by virtue of which the cor
poration exists.
In the next place, the corporation
prepares petitions to be presented to
legislatures, requiring their employees
to sign them under threat, direct OF
implied, that their work and wages
depend upon their compliance
In addition to this, the corporation
having immense facilities ut hand, sent
forth their henchmen to organize theil
employees into clubs for the express
purpose Of antngOEizing the farmers
the farmers alliance and the peoples
party, to the end that such legisla-
ton rs the farmers demand shall not
| be had
In view of these strategic movements
how stands the case Of railroad en-
ployes who demand, and ought to have
certain important laws enacted fol-
their protectionP
If railroad employees antagonize the
farmers, what more natural than thai
the farmers shall reclprocate this
hostility Throughout the middle
southern and western states the farm
ers, if united, will dictate legislation
That they will unite in logical con
clusion. because everywhere their in
terests are practically identical.
1t is urged by some, that the polio.
mapped out by the farmers are imprac
ticable; that they are victims of vag-
aries. But is it not said in certain
quarters that wOrkingmen are "th'
enemies of capitalP' and that whel
they strike for their rights or agains
worongs that they become the enemie
|
of society and constitute "dangerou
element" and Me not corporation
ceaselessly deyIsing schemes.by which
they hope to disrupt aud destroy labo
organizalionsP
But such discussions are foreign q
]
the purpose Of this article, and, return
ing from any seeming digresson, W
ask, what are the advantages railroa'
employees expect to gain by antagoinz
ing the farmers or the farmers ALI
ance.
Is it believed, if railroad employee
succeed in defeating the farmers, tina
the corporation will aid them in crush
ing out the Pinkerton infanyP Do rail
road employees, those engaged in th
train service, so much as dream tina
the corporation will, when the farmer
are defeated, demand Of legislature
that the cO-rmpIoye iniquity shall n
longer disgrace the jurisprudence q
the country DO railroad employe
have so much as molecule Of eyi
dence that the corporation, when /
has used them rs tools TO defeat legis
lation IN the interest of the farmers
will, for such exhibition of aquiei
nnnnn ~ nncn nrncned 10 incrense fheI