The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-11
the railroad men will prove their loyalty to

900 railroad employees in the country, OF
whom 10000 are voters. In an article In the
North American Review for May. 1898. Mr..
Robinson pointed out the influence which
the railroad men might exercise on the af-
solidly on any given policy. He called at
tention to the fact that they were scattered
through every State in the Union instead
of being massed in small districts, as the
coal miners are, for instance. He asserted
that in almost every State of the Union the
railroad men are more than equal in mum,
ber to the normal majority of the dominant
party. He expressed the opinion that the
men in this industry by massing their vote
could carry majority of the States. Here
are recent estimates of the railroad men in
certain Western States which have been
called doubtful by the political mana
gers:
Illinois As 600 Iowa .0cO
Indiana ..2s 'oo0 Michigan: So'ooo 81 0oo
Nebraska 600 Texas. .......... 4O,UOo
OF the 10000 members already enrolled
as members of railroad mems sound-money
cubs it is believed 10000 are Democrats. 1t
is thought this class of wage earners is
largely Democratic, as whole, but In
regularly because of the difficulties put in
their way by the peculiar requirements of
inson show that they are enthusiastic this
year and thoroughly awake to the import
ance of the issue. There will be a deter
mined effort among these sound money
men to get out every vote possible for their
cause, and as the railroad managers are
practically unanimous for sound money 1t
is believed they will do all they possibly
can to help the men to get In their votes.
The organization OF railroad men t,i Is non
the Democratic platform proposes TO cut
their wages in two and increase the cost or
such amazing rapidity that Mr.. Robinsons
rosy predictions have warrant in facts. Fne
| first club was formed at Hammond, Ind,
| July 27, by employees of the Erie railroad.
| The second was organized Aug at LIN
coln Neb: the home Of candidate ,s BIyan, SE;a5
| 60. burlington & Quincy system west or
| the Missouri river. From that time reports
| OF new clubs came thick and fast, hrst by
| twos and threes each day, then five and six
day, and now as many as twenty Gay.
| ganized with memberships of IS to $50 In
| the next six days 5iXty-Six clubs spfanS
into existence, and the 100 mark was
A review of this remarkable growth
| shows that there was one clab Aug. J.
| Aug. "a there were 100; Sept.1 the 20J mark
was passed; Sept. there were 800. Iester-
days results are fair sample OF the way
fne THrK s of the " Of G he
| following new clubs: Cincinnati, coo mem
bers; Omaha, goo; Plattsmouth, Neb; zS1
Chicago, 1853; 'riffin, o.. 3O;, Hopewell. O.,
150; Indianapolis, 1903; Toledo, o., Council
! Bluffs, Ia.
| The Chicago club was formed by EN-
ployes of the Pennsylvania lines at Fifty
| fifth street. There are about dozen such
fba IN 1de forged IN that cgY he obe
| having a membership of 362. The Toledo
and Council Bluffs clubs did not report
|
| clubs are both within about nifty miles OF
Mr.. Bryans home.
| The clubs in this movement are scattered
| from Massachusetts TO California; The
| majority of them, however. are in the Mis-
sissippi valley, States. where they vii 90
| over Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
| Nebraska, Kansas, Michigan arpl Indiana.
They are also strong in West Virginia and
Texas.
An analysis of sixty-sx consecutive or
ganizations shows their geographical dis
tr-ib Hon foil Arl<ln q
MIA, 2; District of Colurupia, ]; Illinois, 5;
Indiana, A Iowa, 5; Ka1s1s, |: Ohio. 6,
haylado Missoilr 2; Nebraska' qa al : New 2 York /;
PInennsyy1l,yanias yy1,ss ;; Texas, g.. virginia d
West @ virginia ia 6; & WisGons a. bayo gee
clubs, marching clubs, f.1ie3 auEiiiaries,
etc; Some have adopted oi'lcial buttons,
and many of them are doing missionary
work among other classes of citizens. In
Minnesota the clubs have united in state
league. On every hand there is abundant
evidence of an intense earasstnass and an
infectious enthusiasm.
This movement appeals to patriotism and
self-interest and not to partisanship. Mr..
Robinson is the editor of the Railway Age,
one of the most influential class journals
work. The Railway Age is not political
publication. but goes to Republicans and
welfare of railroad men at heart, and it's
editor. seeing a great uanger to them In
the Democratic platform, is loyalty trying
to protect the men whose prosperity is at
stake He bases his campaign on a single
proposition of the Democrats, who insist
that the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer at the ratio of 16 to / will make higher
prices and cheaper dollars. 1t takes no
elaborate argument to show that such a
result would mean disaster to railroad en-
Dloyes.
that the cheap dollars of the silver men
would cut the wages of railroad men in
two and there would be no hope of a raise
in pay In many States the rates Of trans
where public sentiment is an all-powerful
agency against any considerable advance in
rates, even If the competition of the lines
controlled by law could not prevent it.
Many railroads have mortgages whose
principal and interest are payable in gold.
That would make an additional tax on the
resources of the companies, and they would
probably be forced to curtail expenses.
On the other hand, the Democrats promise
that all food supplies will be increased in
price. That means further hardship for
the wage Garner. The railroad man sees
clearly that the Democratic platform was
shaped to catch the vote Of the farmer at
the expense of the men in other industries.
The railroad men object to being a cats
paw for Mr.. Bryan
This movement has been so formidable
that the Democratic leaders have been
forced to take notice of it. Mr.. Bryan
himself has devoted a considera BILE part of
some of his late speeches to it. These
leaders do not attempt to reply to Mr..
Robinson's arguments. They raise a class
ing to coerce their men. Mr.. Robinson
plies that the Democrats first made class
Issue Dy promising TO make the farmer
rich at the expense of the rest of the Ma
tion, and he holds other classes have a
right to protect themselves. He denies
that the managers are trying to coerce the
railroad employees. He insists that the
managers are not idiots. The managers
know their interference would arouse op-
position and probably lose more votes than
1t would make, particularly where the
Australian ballot prevails, and they trust
TO the intelligence of the employees to see
that all railroad men have the same in
terest al stake in this campaign.
The action of NJ. f. ingalls,, president of
the Big Four and the Chesapeake & Ohio
railroads. is quoted as significant of the
sagacity of the managers and a rebuke to
the false assertions of the Democratic
leaders. In speaking to his "fellow-em-
ployes'' at Clifton Fort, Pa. Saturday
he said: What | ask YOU to do is 10 go
home read all on the subject you can get
hold of think over it, and then vote as
you decide best. If, after studying the
question you decide to vote for Bryan and
Sewan against what we consider to be the
best interests of the Chesa oeake & Ohio
and if anyone discharges you for so voting
come to me and 1 will discharge the man
who discharged you and put you back"
Indiana Clubs.
The Times Herald article fails to do In
diana justice as to number of railway
mems sound money clubs and strength of
membership. There are at least a score of
clubs in the State, and the membership in
Indianapolis alone is about $500. The PAN
handle employees have one club with a