The record-union., 1895-09-16
PROSPEROUS WAGE-EARNERS
To Have Them There Must Be Pros
porous Wage-Payers.

porous Wage-Payers.
From the CoIusa Sun
1t may be that twenty i've per cent.
can be cut Oft the gross earnings of the
railroad company without forcing the
company TO cut down the wages Of its
employees, or it may be entire justice TO
so reduce the charges without regard to
effects. but the mode of arriving at IL is
not Dusiness-like or proper. Politicians,
with no more Information of the subject
matter than HottenIot, write a platform
demanding thus and so, and candidates
swallow the pledge. Then come certain
newspapers and cram the pledges down
the tnroats of the successful candidates.
First all the Com mlSsioners were carlca-
tured and held up 10 scorn and one pro-
posed a reduction; then tho other TWO
had d siege Of abuse for weeks. They
were caricatured III every possible way,
and all the choicest English was leveled
at them, not in argument, but in ridiculs
and abuse. Under such pressure the
commission had to consider the matter.
The Sun hopes that the reduction can be
made and without jar on the business
interests OF the State, but ii can never in
dOrSe the methods no matter how it
works. If an officer is honest and re-
duction is necessary, he will make it
without all the abuse that was heaped
upon the mem Ders OF the commission; il
the abuse influenced him it was just as
dishonest as though he had been inha-
enced by money. The only influence
should be the merits of the case.
May it not be possible that the plat
form makers and the caricaturists of
officers may be hoisted by their own
peIard? II is a matter OF fact that the
railroad company sets the rate of wages
in this State. auC it is a tact that rates
can be so cut as that the company can
not afford to pay wages. II will become
apparent to The employees OF the COM
pauy that such could be the case. Now
suppose these employees should, in a
body, conclude that the reductions pro-
posed by the commission would do just
that thing? What would become of the
political aspirations of those who bank
on getting into Office by war on the COM
pany? Acting in concert, the railroad
employees have the power to carry any
election. They can carry every laboring
man with them. and of course if they
make an appeal for the company they
can sustain il by such reasons as TO carry
a majority of men, OF whatever calling,
with them.
The men and papers who have made
the demands on the commission have
gloated over the idea Of forcing the
southern Pacific into the hands of a re-
ceiyer, and il is evident that that would
State. \ one of the roads III the hands of
receivers have made prompt payment of
wages; none have made prompt payment
of interest. Such IA condition for the
largest employer of labor in the State
cannot be good. There can be no pros
porous age-earners without prosperous
wage-payers. The one condition must
precede tie other. There can be no pros
pority IN any business without healthy
adjustment Of business relations, and an
ignorant neddliug with these relations is
as dangerous as an ignorant meddling
with tie affairs around q powder mill.
Now the Sun is not maintaining that the
action OF the commission is not just right;
Ii does not profess TO know, but Ii will be
a great miracle Ii 1t is right, because it
comes OF as great a mass OF ignorance as
WAS ever brought to bear on any QueS-
lion. ii is TO be hoped that it viii all
come around right. There is something
in an overruling Providence IN the affairs
OF nations, and II may be that Providence
chooses to work with ignorance as a tool.