New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-16
THE RAILROADS AND FREE SILVER.

THOMAS p FOWLER TELLS HOW THE HERESY
WOULD AFFECT THE wAGEEARNERs.
Thomas p. Fowler. president OF the New -
Ontario and Western Railway. said yesterday;
IF silver dollar IS worth today ABOUT MY
two cents In gold the free and unlimited coinage
of silver would almost Immediately. result IN a
ouotat.on for gold approximatng two hundred
With q considerable premium on gold, g!ahce
through .Poors Manual will convince any one that
three-quarters Of the railways OF this country would
either be obliged default In the payment Oh III
terest on bonds or repudiate the payment or such
interest-in gold Either course would mean uiti-
mate bankruptcy and ruin BY far the largest
number OF security holders are people OF moderate
means widows and orphans, who hold four or rVe
thousand dollars of such securities, and wage earn-
ers VINO have invested the savings or years III d
sinGe bond Banking Institutions and life insur-
ance and trust companies perhaps the largest
holders Of irst-class gold bonds. such hduciary
corporatons again represent thousands OF persons.
who In one way another are dependent upon
the absolute sovency and ability OF these insutu-
tons to promptly all proper demands upon
them
"The wage-earners, too land the railway corpora
tons OF this country employ hundreds Of thousands
OF men, are or should he. vitality concerned in the
outcome OF this momentous issue The enforce
ment OF silver money upon railroad corporations,
large proportion OF their liked charges in gold,
would mean that wages must be reduced, ana OK
penses curtaed in all drectlons-that every, obli-
CATION not expressly payable in gold should ne
paid In silver, Including wages-and in the struggle
Tor existence the burden would fall most heavily
upon the small and needy investor and wage-earn-
er There are no courageous, intelligent or
respectable in the country than those IN ser
vice In the operating branch OF our railroads
During the ten years that have been president
OF the New-YOrk, Ontario and western halfway
Company. | have !nterfered with or at,
tempted in any manner TO control the poht cal
preferences OF a single Of our employees. |
would resent any attempt to control my individual
action or Interference with my private rights But
AT this time the situation demands that all OF us
who are employees OF the Ontario and Western
Company-from the highest 70 the towest-Should
stand Loyalty by those whom we represent and
serve. | shall therefore, do what properly may
do 10 place the present issues. as see them. and
on the outcome o, which depends the welfare and
future OF this company squarely before all or those
who. like myself employed by II. hope that
we may Ia November next be OF one mind and not
present a single break in ranks from New-York
to Oswego.
above this little company's present and future.
there is a much higher duty, an Obligation we all
owe to our common country We must do What We
can every OF to protect our countrys credit
and the National honor OF the land we live in and
love This duty IS. It seems 10 me- solemn trust.
and We can only discharge the obligation by laying
aside all other considerations and preferences and
BY voting ourselves and doing what We properly
can do to influence all associates. friends and
ac1uaintances regardless OF former political ailia
tons to vote against anarchy, reputation and re-
bellion and in favor OF honor. sound money Nc
Kinley and Hobart