The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-26
The "Rube" in Politics.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
I have been railroading for the past ff-
teen years. During that time I have been
employed between Michigan City and In
dianapolis nine years by the Lake Erie &
Western Railroad Company. L have been
and still employed as freight conductor.
Boys do you remember when you made
application for position brakeman that
you were green and the old timers on the
road called you "Rube?'' AS you grew older
and more accustomed to it you had the
same chance to call somebody else 'Rube."
L have heard you say that Rube doesn't
know any thing about railroadil4g." and YOU
would wind up by saying that he (the
''Rube') would be the cause of a wreck or
collision if you didn't watch him. Now,
there is another 'Rube'' riding over your
road trying TO learn something about your
business. He is like all ''Rubes;" he is try
ing to tell you your business from the rear
end of Pullman while you are out in
the rain and cold working for an honest
living trying to support loving wife and
children. That is the kind of a "Rube"
you must shun he is the kind of ''Rube''
that is gong to cause the wreck on your
road Tor just as soon as o3-cent donar
strikes one that is worth 100 cents there VIII
be Il collision that you Will feel the effect
OF for the rest of your life. He thinks he
knows your business now better than you
y,
he is on the ground, off the end OF a stub
switch, when ne says, Oh poor coerced
empioyes, If ne, necessary, walk in their
and then you come like a good little boy
and vote for your uncle Willie l wonder
II that "RuDe thinks railroad men are
Tot of fools. Thank fortune, there but
few on our line. He tells you that you nave
TO do as the railroad COM oany wants you
to do or you can't expect TO hold q Job.
That much of his or your argument is all
right; the railroad gives you a time card
its instructions or you can't work; that
time card says: In case of doubt, take the
for long time; you have never mad col
lision or a wreck. Are you going to dis
are going to take the safe side, the side
that has paid you many a dollar and has
always stood by you in case OF doubt. He
tells you that the railroad people control
your vote, and when you are marching in
line to show your honest colors the thugs
on the streets tell you you have to do it or
lose your job. You know how much of that
is SO; you know that you are allowed TO
say or DO as you feel on this line Why
you saw Mr. organs train come into Peru
yesterday TO attend the barbecue given by
the Democratic party; it was the finest
decorated train that ever came into Peru
and that train was decorated by the con-
ductor who had charge OF it at his own ex-
him to do it. and he will not be discharged
for doing IL. / know he won't be dis
the same conductor decorated gravel
train at KCkomo with flags and BRYAN
pictures when Mr.. Bryan spoke 10 a $50
house at that town, and he wasn't dis
charged. This same palace-car "Rube"
likes 70 see the trainmen decorate for him
he got so well acquainted with the con-
ductor that he would address him as Tom
Old boy, and told him he was all right
and Tom says he is Just too nice for any
thing. Now Tom has changed his ideas
about 'Rubes,' for when he used to stop
box ears for me he hated "Rubes and
would never show them anything There
are few 'Ruhes'' on our line. If Mr. Bryan
hanpens through Peru on his little ear
steps about the 18th of November he will be
Convinced that the railroad people are not
as easy they seem. EAIPIOYE
Peru. Ind. Oct. q