Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-06
orE1crous 1NrnRMEpp11Na.

A special dispatch from New Orleans
ito the Atlanta Constitution of last Sun
day relates that quite a sensation was
created in that city last Saturday by the
information that the superintendent of
the New Orleans and Mobile division of
the Louisville and Nashville railroad had
forwarded the names of every one of It's
employees to the republican campaign
committee, and that it was understood
that all the other division superintend-
ents had done the same, under instruc-
lions from the central officers of the COM
pany, also that President NJ II. Smith
had sent out circulars to the men en-
ployed by the Louisville and Nashville
railroad asking their views on the finan-
cial question.
Much color is given the above by the
fact generally known and freely COM
mented upon in this city during the past
two weeks that the same road had been
engaged in the same business on its De-
catur and Montgomery division a fact
so notorious that certain of the local la
Dor organizations a few days ago deter
mined to investigate the matter.
If it be true as stated that the names
and financial views of its employees have
been furnished by the Louisville and
Nashville railroad to the national cam
paign committee of the republican party,
1t was for no less purpose than furnish
ing that party with information to be
used to its advantage and to the damage
of the democratic party. Nor would it
be a violent assumption to say that that
road will aid the republican party by any
means in its power, and they are many,
in the national election. 1t has never
been overly modest or backward In
pressing it's own views upon its employees
and attempting to influence" them by
various methods to vote the way 1t de-
sired in elections, and since 1t is taking
such an active interest in serving the re-
publican national campaign committee
it is quite probable it will take a direct
hand in influencing" its employees to
support the republican party in the No
yember election.
BY what right or authority this or any
other corporation or employer assumes
to directly or indirectly control or in
f1uence the political views or actions of
It's employees is not clear. 1t contracts
and pays for their labor, and not their
conscience, manhood or political indie
pendence, and any interference or inter-
meddling with their absolute freedom of
political thought and action is unwar-
ranted, and il carried an inch too far
becomes oppression and subversive of re-
publican institutions and the subject of
judicial inquiry, and, If need be, legal
punishment. The state charters corpora
tons and permits their existence for the
public convenience and the purposes of
legitimate business, and not to become
the dictators and controllers of the po-
ltical policies or affairs of itself, it's SUBJ
divisions or Of the nation, much less for
the purpose of giving aid and comfort
to any particular political party or It's
candidates, especially one which 80 per
cent of it's white population, wealth and
Intelligence repudiates and condemns as
inimical to their interest and the well
fare of the country. and when they go
beyond the lawful purposes Of their crea-
ton and trespass upon the do
main of the personal and po-
IiticaI freedom OF those whose labor