The Saint Paul globe., 1896-10-16
WERE NOT C6ERCED'
GREAT NORTHERN EMPLOYEES WHO
WE'RE LAID OFF WE'RE NOT
VICTIMS
OF POLITICAL OPPRESSION.
ONE OF THEM ExoNERATEs THE
ENLARGEMENT FROM OFFENSIVE
PARTISANSHIP.
And Gould Not Have Been for
Bryan Even Were They So In
cIined.

Master Mechanic Kelley, Of the west
ern end of the Great Northern rail-
road, has been the subject. of bitter at
tacks on the part OF the Populists and
free silver press upon the charge of
discharging eighteen employees from
the railway shops at Hilliard for re-
fusing to join the Mckinley club Or
ganiZed at that place The charge
appears to be wholly ridiculous and un-
founded, in view of a letter which the
master mechanic has addressed to the
public on the question. In his letter
Master Mechanic Kelley says that
fourteen, and not eighteen, men were
laid off, and that the statement that
the men were discharged because they
would not join the sound money club
was a deliberate and malicious false
heed The men, he says, were laid
off On account of a lack of work in the
shops, and that the men affected will
be the first ones to be given work as
soon as the business warrants. The
men themselves back up the defense
of the master mechanic, which is evil
dence enough that there was no CO.
ercion tried. An investigating COM
nittee was appointed to look into the
matter and the result of the commit
tees work showed that a majority of
the men were not entitled to a vote at
all on account of a lack of legal resi-
dence in the county and state. The
communication of one of the dis
charged men is interesting on account
Of its directness. He says concerning
the men:
"F. G. Mortons came here from Ore
gon on June II, and is, therefore, not.
entitled to a vote.
Robert Akin was sent to the shops
at LeavenWorth and not even laid off.
two months ago. Not entitled to
vote.
"H. r. Neiderlander was willing to
be laid off in order that he might take
a better job with same company as
brakeman at Kalispell.
Louis Varney came here from
GAINESVILLE Feb 10 and is not entitled
to vote here
Henry Backman is a Mckinley
man. He is not in the city. He was
never asked to sign a Mckinley roll,
or he would have done so.
John Kelley came here from Chica-
go July 6. He is not entitled to
vote.
Charles Robinson is not a voter
here. He lives and votes at Rosalia.
Samuel Zimmeril is Mckinley
man. He himself asked for a lay-ofr
until spring.
David Roberts took a voluntary lay
OH for thirty days.
William Williams was only laid off
for one day He is now back at work
in place Of a man who was hurt
John Alberts, I am reliably inform
ed, is not a citizen and consequently
cannot vote.
John p. Reynolds Is supposed to be
a silver man. He has gone to Butte
Il myself have been lifelong Re-
publican and shall vote the straight
f1Rl<Rf In1~ Ir11O
lively that we were laid off on account
Of lack of work in the shops, and
have assurances that we shall return
to work as soon as there is anything
to do. Such statements as those pub
ished are calculated to prejudice the
honest workingman in the eye of his
employer, and I am mistaken as to the
mettle of the railroad employees if they
do not show their contempt for this
class of politics when they go to the
polls ON the 3rd of November
The report is signed by William
Williams, who is one of the men laid
off, and his statements have had the
effect of silencing the coercion talk.
Eugene V. Debs and Terence ".
Powderly come into conflict in st. Paul
next Tuesday night, as they have in
other places in times past The two
men are on opposite sides of the cam
will make strenuous efforts to get out
big audience and make a better
showing than the other fellow Pow
derly will make a sound money talk
at Market hall. He comes at the in
stance of the Republicans, and is
billed to talk under the auspices of or
ganized labor. Debs will speak at the
Auditorium under the auspices of the
A. r. U. and organized labor. With
Mr.. Debs will be John f. kel!iher, also
an orator Of no mean ability, and one
of Debs' companions in arms and later
comrade in difficulty in the vicissitudes
of the labor leader, Immediately fol-
lowing the collapse of the big strike
of '94. That the two halls will be well
filled is a certainty. When it was
learned that the dates of the two labor
orators confiicted, the Democrats
sought to make other arrangements in
order that every one might have a
chance to hear Debs, but were unable
to procure the services of the A. r. u.
leader except for that particular even
ing.
Voters of st. Anthony Park will have
an opportunity to learn what sort of
man the Democratic candidate for the
legislature is tomorrow night John
Owens, of North st. Paul, who is run
ming for the legislature from the
Twenty eighth district, will speak in
Odd Fellows hall, and. with F. l.. Nc
! Ghee, will discourse on the advantages
of free coinage.
A sound money meeting solely for
the unemployed workingmen1 of the city
will be held at 112 South Robert street.
tomorrow night. The meeting will be
addressed by workingmen, including
the foremen of several Of the big man
ufacturing establishments of the city
Soren Listoe. e. G. Rogers. L. z. Nc
Donald and James Morrow will be the
speakers at the sound money demon
sitration to be held at George and Ohio
streets tomorrow night