Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-12

VAST SCHEME ON FOOT.
Organizing All the Railroad En-
pIOyees to Defeat Bryan.

washington Post of Yesterday
Word has been received in Washington
that the organization Of the railroad
forces of the country is to be an i'm
portant factor In this campaign. 1t has
been begun on a systematic basis, Is d.
rected from the national headquarters,
at Chicago, and it is expected that thou
sands and thousands of votes will be
enrolled for Mckinley through this
agency.
AS far as can be now learned, the or
ganization is TO be made effective in the
Northern and Western States. 1t has its
inception in the formation of railroad
clubs in d campaign in Kansas some
years ago, when the Santa Fe road
went into politics, and cut a wide swath
with its clubs of employees. Senator
Plumb was, it is said a great believer
In this sort OF campaign work, and used
1t most effectively One of the railroads
which has gone into wholesale organiZa-
ton in the West is the Michigan Central
road. sound money clubs being formed I'm
all OF the shops and among the employees
on the trains. Each employee is asked
to sign paper. reading as follows:
1--WE. the undersigned, do hereby make
application for membership in the Rail-
way Mems Sound Money Club OF West
Detroit, and pledge our votes and our
influence for the defeat Of free coinage
OF silver at the election next November.
believing that the free coinage of silver
would be to our personal injury, as earn
ers Of wages. as well as disastrous TO the
United States. as nation"
A GENERAL PLAN OF ORGANIZA-
TON.
The existence of a general plan is
shown by the fact that IN Indiana "A large
number OF the roads are circulating SINH
lar papers, or ara securing the pledges
of their employees In other ways In
Iowa and Illinois, and further West. the
Chicago. Burlington, and Quincy is the
principal anti-Bryan agent The Cinc!n-
natl. Hamilton and Dayton road is active
In Ohio in the formation of sound-money
clubs. not only among its employees in
Cincinnati, but at the small towns along
its line. The Pennsylvania railroad is
making a gallant fight. The Chesapeake
and Ohio road. under the active direc-
ton of President ingalls,, is another
powerful force in McKinley's behalf.
There are large clubs OF employees at
Huntington. w. Va, and at other points
along the route. and a few nights ago
Mr.. Ingalls, made trip TO the railroad
shops at Clifton Forge, in order to per-
sonally address the workingmen Along
the Chicago, Cleveland. Cincinnati. and
ST. Louis railroad between Cincinnati,
Chicago, and st. Louis. missionaries for
sound-money are being sent out 10 adj
dress the section hands and other en-
ployees the idea being to disprove the
arguments of the silver men and show
that the free coinage of silver would be
a serious detriment TO the laborer. The
l. ~ o
silver monometallism should ensue 1t
would be impossible for the railroads Of
this country 10 hold bonds up to par.
that extensions and improvements would
cease. and that thousands and thousands
Of employees would be forced into idle
ness. 1t Is said that these arguments
are having great weight with the men.
who had not been shown the DISASTROUS
side OF the silver question.
THE EFFECT IN MARYLAND.
In Maryland the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad is undertaking to perfect tho
rough organization among its men.
Literature by the carload Is being ship
ped to points along the line for distri-
button 70 the men. and in almost every
town of any population at all eound-
money railroad clubs are being formed.
The Baltimore and Ohio road represents
these voters stand by the road. as II is
expected they will do. the effect will be
far-reaching 1t Is known that the OPP
position OF tho road TO the German ticket
in MARYLAND last fall contributed con-
siderable 20 the success OF the Republican
ticket. and it's same influence will this
year be for Mckinley.
The Republican Campaign Committee
here Is in daily receipt of letters asking
for literature to be distributed among the
railroad employees. A prominent engi-
neer of one of the western roads yester-
day wrote that he had three hundred
men under him. and he wanted to make
Il certain that they would vote the right
way He asked for plain, easily-under-
stood literature, which would come with
IN the comprehension OF the men. He
said In his letter that he was a Democrat.
but he could not vote for Bryan. and he
felt sure he could keep his men from
voting for free silver.
II Is said that the Republican Campaign