Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-08-22
A RAILR0ADER
Replies Effectively to an appeal of the Gold
Bugs in the Subsidized Railway Age.
McMechen, w. Va, August 81, SO.


To the Editor of the Register.
Sir:-If you will allow me the space
in your columns, I would like TO make
a few remarks in relation to an article
published in yesterdays evening paper
with this heading: Appeal issued to the
railroad men Of the country-Railway
Age gives reasons why they should not
support the Bryan ticket. The Railway
Age has sent out a strong circular ap-
pealing TO railroad men TO organize and
vote against the Bryan ticket for their
own protection"
QuesdOn-Since when has the Rail-
way Age begun advocating organiza-
ton?
Answer-Since this campaign has
been opened.
QuesuOn-Does the Railway Age ever
advocate the interests of railroad en-
ployes?
Answer-Assuredly not, as it has ever
be5n the policy OF the Age TO oppose the
employees in all measures OF benefit TO
themselves, and among the rest, or
5anization. On, the inconsistency Of
subsidized periodicals
After the introduction, in which the
pertinent inquiry IS made as 70 what
would be gained by the payment of
wages in 90 cent dollars the first appeal
Is made 10 railway men OF the South in
che following language:
The Southern organs of the free sill
yer party say they do not believe that
the railroad employees of the South can
be organized against the Democratic
party and its candidates. Can you
not? Can you not BE- organized to work
for your own protection and against hay
ing your wages paid in dollars worth
so cents? VIII you be inundated by
NemagOgues sheltering themselves be-
hind the name of great historic party
"a party which has repudiated them,
their doctrines and their candidates?
VIII You let those men hOodwink you
into voting for your own and your coun-
Jrys ruin? Give them the lie! Organ
ize and work.
l think the word pertinent" in the
second line Of the above quotation is
misplaced, and in my Judgment, hood
winking, misleading, or some similar
word could have been used to better
advantage.
The first senten~e in the quotation
from the Age is about correct, as an or
ganization advocated by a journal that
has always been an open opponent, or,
make IL stronger, determined enemy, TO
railroad organizations, written by enc
mics of labor and published at so much
per line or column, which is usually
misleading and frequently false as the
warmer cline, from which, l hope. the
author may escape, can be of no benefit
to these poor men in which the Age
takes such a loving God save the mark
interest?
In answer to the first line or two in
the second question in the quotation, viz:
Can you not be organized for your own
pr0tecuOn?' l answer, Yes; but God
forbid that Americans, born and raised
under the Star Spangled Banner
which, I hope. every railroader loves
more dearly than life itself, "Old Glory, "
under which our ancestors have marched
to victory, under which they have bled
and died when fighting the same in
fuence that is now working for our
financial enslavement, England, should
ever subscribe his name and influence
to a movement that would have ten
denCy 10 impair our credit at home and
abroad. at the dictates Of a subsidized
Ojurnal, noted for its hellishness of pur-
pose where railroad employees are con-
crned. when every man, woman and
child with two ideas above an ayster
knows that the so cent (of ignorance
and rascality combined with treasOn)
dollar passes current for its face value
now.
When a market is opened for the white
metal by free coinage, does any intel
ligent man who has made any study Of
the law Of supply and demand, honestly
in his heart, as an American, think sill
yer will remain in its present debased
position on the markets of the world?
Does he doubt the ability OF the gov
eminent to uphold the parity Of the two
metals, when it is potent to any man Of
INTEL gence and study than when S714
grains of pure or 1922 grains of stand
ard silver Is worth a dollar Of 100 cents,
that the owner of bullion would GER
tainly require a guardian if he would
sell his material for 80 cents just to save
the trouble of taking 1t TO the mint?
To the question: will you be intimi-
ted by demagogues shelJering them
lives behind a great political party-a
party which has repudiated them, their
doctrines and their candidates?
To the first clause, No; neither will we
DE inundated by a subsidized journal
! which has always antagonized railroad
employees. and tried intimidation to de-
sIroy that which it now so highly rec
ommends, organization.
Repudiated whom? the English gold
bug.
Repudited what doctrines? What
were the p,anks in both the Republican
and Democratic platforms in 1876 re-
gardug free coinage? and then answer
me. who are the repudiatOrs OF doc
| trines rs old as our government?
Regulated what candidates? Men
who were traitors TO party pledges trait
Ors 10 their constituents aye, traitors TO
our government even.
Again. "Wu YOU let these men hood
wink YOU into voting for your own and
vOur countrys ruin2' Assuredly not
sgcb as edit and control the Railway
Age men who are owned soul and
body by Enblish corporations, and who
have tried this same plan Of hoodWInk-
ny before. but. no thanks TO them, IN
successfully on the line they followed,
and it is TO be hoped that their success
will be equally as poor in this attempt