The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-10
The American Railway League.

There has been formed in Chicago an
organization which if it realizes the
exrectaticns of it's promoters, will one
day be able to turn the scale in ma
tional election. 1t is called the Ameri-
can Railway League, and while in de-
tail it's purposes are vet 10 some extent
a secret, in a general sense it's endeavor
will, it is said, be to bring to bear on
legislatures, municipal. state and fed
enl, the concentrated influence Of
workers and capitalists engaged in
railroadinG for honest intelligent and
considerate legislation affecting the
traffic in transportation.
The League, as one of its eXploiters
puts it, does not plan to have anything
to do with the problems that arise be-
tween employers and employed, for it
wishes to bring both classes together to
work for objects of benefit TO both. In
so far as it does enter this field it will
oppose itself sharply to all violence in
the dealings between the two ard will
discountenance strikes, Debsism and
anarchy of all kinds. Neither does the
the brotherhoods that already exist
among the different classes of railroad
men. 1t will leave the brotherhoods of
engineers, of firemen, OF conductors, of
brakemen and of telegraphers to carry
on their own work, and will take to it.
| self instead a special sphere of activity,
in which all are equally interested. This
| ;e pf q ixyitx xtrl,f ,faI,
the league will make especially its own
| in all phases, from the technical legisla-
| ton needed from councils and state Leg
| islatures to the great questions of pub
! lie interest which are decided by the
people of the whole country in their fed
eral elections.
The president of the league, r. S.
Kayler of Columbus, o., gives these
additional PARTICULARS:
The American Railway league was
formed because the railway men of the
country needed an organization through
| which they could give better effect tO
the political! power they possess. II will
be primarily political organization
working in a broad-minded way for the
welfare of all railway men. The first
task we have before us is work at the
polls, we wish 10 see Ialf men electeu
TO office, men who can be trusted to work
for the interests of their constituents and
not merely for the welfare OF their owl
pockets. We shall be strictly non-parti'
san in this and aim always for the sue
cess Of the best man. The next set of OBJ
iects we have Is to secure necessary legts-
laton in railroad matters. We wish, fol
instance, TO make It compulsory for the
railroads to use the improved coupler sys
TEN on occount of the greater safety Il
gives. Then we shall work for a Law
making the interlocking system at cross
ings compulsory. Important as this sys
TEN Is for the safety of trains there 4!
not a single state in the union which re
quires 1t. Another good law would be on,
abolishing grade crossings wherever thai
Is practicable We are against the OF
tempts that are made from time TO tim'
to secure a 2-cent mile fare, and WI
shall do our best to defeat such measure,
wherever they are brought forward. w
recognize that anything that cuts dow
the receipts Of the roilroad companies il
that way would react on us and caus'
the reduction of wages. We are furthe
against the free pass system for reason
OF railway economy, as well as on ac
count of the amount OF influence that 4
exercised directly or indirectly on rail
road companies by means OF II. Gu
plans do not contemplate at present an,
direct activity in national political af
fairs, but when AN emergency arises
think we shall undoubtedly do our shar
to bring about intelligent views.
It is evident that such an organiza
tion must be judged less by its promise
than by It's results but If the aims out
lined above are steadfastly kept in viey
and the tendency resisted TO Transform