The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-01

The following signed statement - SEX
explanatory. II Is such a statement as
only an extraordinary campaign. an ex-
traordinary crisis, could pring FORTH 1t
is an appeal to the voters of King county
TO aid in saving the Union from disaster,
And i, is signed by employees Of the North
ern Pacific. Seattle & International and
Columbia & Puget Sound railroads. The
appeal is as follows:
AN APPEAL TO THE VOTERS OF
KING COUNTY.
We, the undersigned, working men ana
voters of King county. hereby appeal 10
ali citizens of King county to unite with
US in the defense of our wages our homes,
the prosperity Of cur state and the honor
OF our country.
We are employees of the Columbia &
Puget Sound, Seattle International and
Northern Pacific railway companies. 1t
has been asserted, not once, but many
times. that in advocating the cause OF
honest money in this campaign we are
being ''coerced" and ''intimidated" by our
superior officers. 1t is charged that We
ara guided in our political actions by sub
servience TO the companies interests ana
fear of official displeasure. This is not
only totally false. but it Is q gross AMI
gratuitous insult to our manhood and our
We are citizens. not slaves. We resent
the insult which is offered to US and pro-
pose 70 show our resentment at the polls.
We shall vote as unit for sound money,
and We shall do 1t because, Of our own
free will and Judgment. we are convinced
that the free and unlimited coinage of sill
Yer at the ratio OF IL to
would be Injurious to our In
dividual interests as wage-earners, detri-
mental to the welfare Of the state and
disastrous TO the United States as a ma
ton. We have not come TO this decision
unthinkingly. We have reached the con-
clusion which We have. deliberately; and
having reached II we earnestly appeal TO
our fellow-citizens to stand with US.
The free coinage of sIser at a ratio of
Is TO must result, in a appreciated cur
rency and a cheap dollar. The silver ad-
vocates confess as much when they claim
that the prices of all commodities would
rise when measured in our coin. We do
not want cheap dollars. As individuals We
are entitled to good dollars for our good
work. AS a nation this best country on
earth is entitled to the best currency.
The depreciation Of our silver coinage
must inevitably drive all gold out of the
country. History proves this and nobody
denies It. All our debts abroad are paya-
BILE in gold only. To pay those debts would
take twice their face value in 50-cent dol
lars. If. as nation, We tried to pay those
debts thus doubled in value, il would be
certain bankruptcy. II We did not try, but
insisted 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 before
all the world as an emblem of reputation
and a badge of commercial dishonesty.
Thirty-five years ago when Lincoln call
ed 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 today is. We
earnestly believe, no less grave than 1t
was then: and once again. we. as railway
| men. propose to respond to our eountry's
| CALI
We appeal to you to stand by US. We APP
! peal to you as our friends and comrades
| and fellow-citizers of land that We
| all love. There is no ''enemys country
| in the United States. We are all one peo-
/ pie. whatever state we live in or what
ever our calling may be, and we appeal
| TO you've call on you've implore you
| to stand shoulder to shoulder with us
| now. We ask 1t for the sake of our coun-
| try. We ask il for our own sakes. to
| protect our own wages, our livelihood and
| our homes. We ask it, TOO, for your sakes
lin behalf of your own business. in be-
half OF all the industries and commerce OF
the American people. We appeal to you
to vote for sound money. for honor and
| for prosperity. Signed: