The herald., 1894-11-04
WHY RAILROAD EMPLOYEES
SHOULD VOTE FOR PATTON.

Coils P. Huntington, the president OF
the Southern Pacific Railroad company
OF Kentucky, in his mad efforts to de.
feat George S. Patton for congress, has
sent out word to his henchmen in Los
Angeles to influence the employees OF
that road. Their plan is, by computing
the figures OF the last election. to ascer-
tain approximately the round vote OF
each party in each OF the precincts in
which the railroad employees live, and
then inform their men that ii certain
number of votes are not cast for the
railroads candidates the men them
selves will be held responsible and their
positions forfeited. This is certainly
verv cunning scheme. But will it
work? Not if the railroad employees
consult their own interests. Ii the
Southern Pacific can keep competing
lines from coming to this coast it can
limit the demand for laboiers engaged
In transportation, and thus dictate to its
men it's own rate OF wages. II on the
other hand competing lines do come
u6I0, tA0 oChnho W. A9ifooA iN0Si AZ
instantly increased, and instead OF ten
men seeking one railroad job, ten job
will seek one man, with the result that
the wages of the railroad employees will
be higher, while their positions are con-
slant and secure, and the fare and
freights to passengers and clippers will
be immeaeursbly decreased. How can
this result be brought about? in the
first place the Democratic nominees for
congress are pledged to use all efforts to
secure the foreclosure OF the govern.
ment lien upon the Central and Union
Pacific roads on the maturity of the
bonds, and have them bid in
by the government and maintained as
great national or interstate highways
for the benefit OF the people. II these
great highways Of commerce are owned
by the government and thrown open to
the free and Unrestricted use of all,
what would be the result? Why, whore
one train is run today four and FIVE
dition of free use, thus enormously in :
creasing the demand for the labor oil
transportation, to the great advan tage Of
the railroad laborer as well as the ship
per and producer. In like manner q
harbor at San Pedro means more COM
peting lines, whereas hsrDor at Santa
Monica means the monopoly of ell
transportation by one company--the
Southern Pacific. A hsrbor at San
Pedro means, therefore, not only lower
ireights to the farmers. producers and
shippers, but higher wages to the rail-
road employees as the result of ths in.
Heased demand for their labor brought
lbout by the entrance Of new and COM
peting lines into this territory; whereas
harbor at Santa Monica means the
shutting out of all new or competing
lines. Now, where do the candidates
stand upon these propositions? Thc
Populist candidate for congress- in this
district stated in an interview some few
weeks ago that he had not studied the
harbor question up to that time, moi
have we heard that he has studied i
since. Mr.. McLachian says he is in
favor OF forecloeng tho government
lien upon the C,ntral and Union Pacific
railroads, but he has not declared in
favor OF the government bidding in these
soads and throwing them open as grsa
interstate highways for the use OF all
On the other hand George S. Patton il
the untiring champion OF governmen
ownernhip of these great steel highway
and OF San Pedro as a deep sea herbcr
He 10 the author OF the plank in tht