The herald., 1896-08-22
The Southern California Roads
New Departure
A MILD FORM OF COERCION
Shcpmeu Invited TO Join Q Sound Money
Club
Much Dissatisfaction Caused by the Conn
pany's Attempt to Influence the
Votes Of Its Employees.
Some Kicking

It developed yesterday that the South
ern Pacific is not the only railroad COM
pany that is going to do politics this
year. Hitherto "the railroad" in the
politicians vocabulary meant only the
Southern Pacific company of Kentucky,
but now there are others.
1t was a foregone conclusion that all
the great corporations would bring their
| influence to bear to elect the goldbug
candidates in this campaign, but 1t was
hardly to be expected that the Southern
California railway, whose treatment of
| its employees has always been manifestly
| fair. would resort to Southern Pacific
methods in its zeal to defeat free COIN
age. Yet, from evidence at hand, this
| appears TO be the case.
This new departure on the part of
the Southern California smacks of be-
| ing an attempt to coerce employees to
vote the sound money" ticket. though
TO threat is coupled with the request for
| them to do so. They are simply asked
| to enroll themselves as members of the
"RailWaymen'S Sound Money club" and
| sign pledge promising to support and
| vote for sound money" as against free
| silver coinage. OF course they are not
obliged TO sign it. but many a man will
do so against his better Judgment rather
than run the risk of incurrng the dis
pleasure of those who have the power of
depriVing him of work.
The attention of The Herald was yes
terday called to one of these papers that
was circulated in the Santa Fe shops
for the employees TO sign 1t was type
written document and no opportunity
was had to copy it, but as near as can
n 1tat, lilsorn htIr ind
it read in substance like this:
I'VE. the undersigned, employees of the
Southern California Railway company.
enroll ourselves as members Of the Rail
waymen's Sound Money club of Los An
geles and pledge ourselves to support
and vote for sound money as against
free silver in the present campaign. be-
lieving that by so doing we subserve our
best interests as wage-earners of the
United States"
This paper was in charge of the fore
man of the shops, who asked each man
under him to sign 1t. Most of them
complied with the request, but very re-
luctantly, as the majority have been
outspoken for Bryan and free coinage.
Several refused to sign, and one or two
said frankly that they were silver men,
but would sign the paper If the COM
pany required it, The foreman, who
seems to command the respect of the
men, however, assured them that they
did not need to sign it, if they could not
| do so conscientiously. On this assurance
| several who otherwise would have
| signed refused to do so.
1t is very evident that the circula-
ton of the sound money" pledge has
| caused displeasure and uneasiness
| among the men. Most of those approach
| ed We're reluctant to discuss it, for fear
| Of saying something that might jeop-
arIiSp III cir iOhs pf tlnGa m
| bold enough to talk about it said:
Il do not think that the company would
go so far as to discharge any man sim
ply because he refused to pledge himself
to support the gold candidates. 1t is a
good company to work for apd we are
always treated fairly. SO do not ap-
prehend that any man will lose his job
because he refuses to support the gold
pogramme, but you can readily see that
1T places us in an embarrassing posi-
ton. Most men hate TO refuse to comply
with their bosses wishes, especially
when those bosses have treated them
we'll, and yet a man shrinks from sign
ing pledge against his convictions
Now Will tell you what think about
the signatures made today. l think they
were made for policy's sake. and with a
mental reservation. l know number
that signed it simply because they were
asked. but on election day they viii vote
the other way. The Australian ballot
will stand them in good stead Under
the Australian system it is one thing to
get a promise of votes and another to
deliver the goods. My fellow employees
regardless of their politics on former
years, are almost to a man for Bryan
and free silver, and will vote that way
70 matter what pledge they may sign
for fanciful security of their Jobs. AS
matter of fact, I know of only one
outspoken Mckinley man in the Santa
Fe shops, although you would Judge by
the signatures made today that there
are quite number"
1t is understood that Sound money"
clubs are also being organized among
the Atlantic and Pacific employees. on
that road, as well as on the Southern
California the large majority of train
men and mechanics are said to favor free
silver.
1t is thought that the circulalation Of
the sound money pledges, presuma-
bly, from headquarters. will have at
least one effect. that of causing advo-
Gates of free silver coinage to do less
talking, especially when under the sI-
pervision of their employers 1t will
practically put an end to silver propa-
ganda in the railroad shops and offices.
as the men will be afraid to talk silver
for fear of being considered offensive
partisans.
Whether or not all the Southern CAL
foinia employees have been asked to
sign the sound money" pledge has not
yet been ascertaired.
An effort was made last evening to
get an official statement of the matter,
but no one authorized to speak could be