The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-28
BETWEEN THE EYES
THAT'S HERE LABOR C0MMtS-
sIoEER LACY STRIKES
PHO ECCI0N.
NO GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP

The Proposition TO Create Nationa
Pension for Old and Disabled Rail.
road employees is shown TO BE a Dan.
eerouS and Unwise Pian--SOme Pro
tecticp Fsliacie> Exposed From The
Stautn.,in uf a :'ra c,icaI MfchaI IL =
The Pension Idea Run Mad.
There is published at DolgeVille, \.
v. a paper called the Herald which IS
circulated largely among the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers and 9th
er skilled mechanics. For some time
it has been agitating a pension to be
voted by the General Government 10
all in the railroad service when unable
TO work longer by reason of old age,
ill-health or accident.
Recently the Herald sent circular
letter.to Mr.. b. Il. Lacy, State Labor
Commissioner. and in the letter was
this paragraph:
The Herald has been agitating this
question of National Labor Pension
Fund for several years and by its eff
forts has secured it's endorsement by
the New York State Republican
League. 1t seeks to obtain its adop-
ton as plank by both National Con-
yentions.'
Replying TO this letter Mr.. Lacy
pours hot shot into the policy of pen
sions. protection and other class legis-
lation. yoicing the opinion of the most
intelligent and progressive mechanics
in the country. He wrote:
RALEIGH, n. c.. Dee. %.
DOLGEVILLE HERALD PUB. CO..
DOLGENILLE. NEW YORK.
Gentlemen: Your very frank circu-
lar letter OF December 10th asking my
support. by subscription of your paper,
has been received. Ny political opin-
ions are very decided. | am unaltera-
bly opposed to Government ownership
of railroads, and unless they do own
them. | am opposed TO the Govern
ment pensioning the employees of cor
porations. This pension idea seems
to be the bridge between the paternal
ism and Capitalization of the Republi
can and the wild-goose yagaries of the
grab-all Populists. Your plea of self
interest is generally a very strong one,
but the injury TO our country will far
offset any personal gain | might re-
ceive. Your frankness about Pro
lection" is refreshing. You certainly
are not sailing under any false col
.ors," but again show clearly that your
ideas OF what is good for our common
country are radically different from
mine, or for that matter every friend
and acquaintance | have. We think
protection for protection sake is lit
tie short of crime, and that we have
paid tribute long enough 10 the protec-
ted barons of the manufacturing in
dustries. Ii YOU want protection for
the good of the masses. restrict imm-
grafton. | have worked for more than
twenty years as a mechanic: am AN
active member OF the brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers. and we are a.
bout the best paid mechanics III this
country; although the Government has
made our railroads pay several times
what things were worth: so such men
as Andrew Carnegie can give libraries
TO foreign cities. Protection has made
me pay several prices for all things.
and has never protited me cents
worth Of good. and as there are no rich
Republicans TO benefit by it. there is
no law to keep my business from be-
ing over.9un by cheap men from a
broad
Yours for the good OF our people,
who are our country.