The record-union., 1896-11-02
Railroad Employees Nail a Campaign
Lie.
Two Hundred and Eighty Railroad
Men Issue rlanifestO and
Challenge.
(From the San Francisco Bulletin.)


cion' of railroad employees. The Rail-
road Mems Sound Money Club of this
city delegated Colonel J. w. Spencer and
H. w. Allen Of their order to visit the
Bulletin" and place before the readers
OF this paper a statement that will blast
as a falSehood the report circulated by
silver-collar Democrats that American
citizens loyal to country and flag have
condescended to permit themselves to
be coerced into voting for Mckinley and
wearing Mckinley collars when their
sympathies are with the Silverites.
Two hundred and eighty men, without
consent or knowledge Of their employ
ers, have quietly signed their names to
statement which they hope tersely ex-
presses their contempt for methods un-
american such as the Bryan managers
hint Of. One hundred and fifty en-
ployes Of the railroad company, honest
~ and fearlessly, announced that their
political affiliations were such that they
could not support the gold candidates.
These men are held in respect by their
business associates, and these latter de-
clare that at no time and on no occa-
sion, public or private, have the silver
railroad men ever been intimidared by
heads OF departments or by fellow
Workmen.
Every man whose name Is signed to
the appended article personally chal-
lenges the Bryan mana gers to prove
that he has attached his signature fear
ing the wrath Of the railroad officials.
The man who allows himself to be CO.
creed In the matter of his vote is, in the
opinion OF these 2S0 men, a moral cow
ard, whose weakness is equaled only by
that OF the oficious demagogues whose
lack Of argumentative persuasion forces
them to resort to the practice Of cast
ing asperstons upon the names Of Amer
lean citizens with courage enough not
to hide their political convictions under
the shadow Of false representation.
Here is the declaration of principles
and the railroad mems appeal to voters:
1--WE, the undersigned, workingmen
and voters Of San Francisco County,
hereby appeal to all citizens Of San
Francisco County to unite with US in
defense Of our wages, our homes, the
prosperity Of our State and the honor of
our country.
I'VE are the employees of the Southern
Pacific Company. It has been asserted,
not once, but many times, that in advo-
eating the cause Of honest money in this
campaign we are being 'coerced' and
1ntimidated' by our superior officers.
1t is charged that we are guided in our
political actions by subservience to the
company's interests and fear OF official
displeasure. This is not only totally
false, but it is a gross and gratuitous in
suit to cur manhood and intelligence.
We are men, not towards. We are cit
izens. not slaves. We resent the insult
which is offered to us and propose to
show our resentment at the polls.
We shall vote as a unit for sound
money, and we shall do it because, Of
our own free will and judgment, we are
convinced that the free and unlimited
coinage of silver at the ratio Of 16 to /
would be injurious to our individual in
terests as wage earners, detrimental to
the welfare of the State, and disastrous
to the United States as a nation. We
have not come to this decision unthink-
fngly. We have reached the conclusion
which we have deliberately; and hav-
ing reached it we earnestly appeal to our
fellow-citizens to stand with u.s.
THE free coinage OF silver ait a ratio
of 16 to l must result in a deprecated
currency and cheap dollar. The silver
advocates confess as much when they
claim that the price Of all commodities
would rise when measured IN our coin.
We do not want cheap dollars. AS in
dividuals we are entitled to good dollars
for our good work. AS a nation this
best country on earth is entitled to the
best currency.
1.-THE depreciation of our silver COIN
age must inevitably drive all gold out
Of the country. History proves this,
and nobody denies 1t. All our debts
abroad are payable in gold only. To
pay these debts would take twice their
face value in 5O-cent dollars. If, as q
nation. we tried to pay these debts thus
doubled In value It would be certain
bankruptcy. If we did not try, but in
sisted on paying every debt, dollar for
dollar, in our deprecated coin, it would
be Reputation. We do not wish to see
the nation a bankrupt, nor do we wish
to see the stars and stripes Haunted be-
fore the world as an emblem of repudia-
ton and badge Of commercial dis
honesty.
'Thirty-five years ago when Lincoln
called for troops the railway men Of the
West responded so that many of the
railways could hardly be operated. The
danger which threatens the country to-
day is, we earnestly believe, no less
grave than It was then; and, once
again, we, as railway men, propose to
respond to our country's call.
I'VE appeal to you to stand by us.
We appeal to you as our friends and
comrades and as fellow-citizens of a
land that we all love. There Is no
"enemy's country in the United States.
We are all one people, whatever State
we live in, or whatever our calling may
be, and we appeal to you've call on you
we impfore you-to stand shoulder to
shoulder with us now. We ask 1t for
the sake OF our country. We ask It for
our own sakes, to protect our own
wages, our livelihood and our homes.
We ask It, too, for your sakes-fn be-
half OF your own business, in behalf of
all the industries and commerce of the
American people. We appeal to you to
vote for sound money. for honor and
for prosperity
Here follow the names of the 2SO
signers.1
A Tried and True Servant.
There is no office in the gift Of the