The record-union., 1898-10-30
RAILROAD employees CLUB.
HIGH JINKS AT OLD PAVILION
LAST NIGHT.
A Large Assembly and Some TX
celIert Speeches and a zine
Entertainment.

The Railroad Employees Pohtlcal
Club held a high jinks last mgnt d
the Old Pavilion, which was well llleu'
all employees, whether members or ho1'
being invited.
The meeting was called to order by
the President, E. S. Reguin, VINO made
brief remarks on the organization anu
its utility, and alluded to the slurS
that had been cast on rallroad EN-
ployes by politicians. He announced
that James /. Felter would preside as
Temporary Chairman.
Mr. Felter said the organization or
the club was simply a matter of pro-
tection protection TO themselves as CO.
workers and protecting the company
they work for. In doing this they were
simply doing their duty as loyal men,
worthy of employment by a worthy and
liberal company. Could they stand ana
remain neutral at this time when for
years they had seen that men had been
elected to fill offices while pledged on a
platfrom to destroy the interests of
their employers? The time had come
when all, irrespective of former politi-
cal proclivities must stand together and
vote for no man who would on every oc-
casion vote to destroy them indirectly
by attacking the railroad interests of
this great State.
Were they to stand silent when they
were called bad names? Were they to
stand quiet and let the Railroad Com
mlsioners threaten to reduce freights
and fares % per cent? If they would
stand firm their influence would be
felt, and the bowling anti-railroad men
would be taught a lesson they would
not soon forget They should vote for
no men that are trying to destroy them
Labor and capital are inseparable
Destroy one and they both fall He
asked them when they cast their bal
lots to remember their friends The
Central Advisory Committee would.
after investigation, advise them as to
who their friends We're If they stood
united, their victory would be a great
one.
A piano solo by Charles Stfckney
opened the program, and was excellent,
receiving an enthusiastic encore.
William n. Lamphrey, candidate for
County Clerk, and a rail Dad employe
OF many years standing, was called on
Tor a speech and received with liberal
applause. Twenty-seven years ago. he
said, he had commenced working for
the company. He had ever since been
In its employ. He had given it his
best services, and had ALWAYS received
his pay for his work 1t had been an
advantage to him and to the COMPANY
He felt that all present were happy that
they were working for comDanv that
pays liberal wages. He had seen men
grow old in its service and pass awav
and he had seen demagogues and howl
ers pass away.
In 1871 the sandlot hOwlers and agi-
tators began their campaign against
the railroad. He was at Blue Canyon
when the notice was posted of a 10 per
cent. reduction of wages. That was the
agitation that caused capitalists to take
their money from the State and 60 to
Europe. The reduction of wages was
the work of the demagogues. The en-
gineer, the fireman and the brakeman
as they went about their work in the
mountains thought of their families
ana the reduction of their wages. The
mechanics, the cabinet-makers and the
blacksmiths sOrrowed over the reduc-
ton. Something must be done. for that
cut in wages meant much to them. Did
they go to the sandlotters and dema-
sogues? No. They sent a committee
10 San Francisco to see I.e-
land Stanford. They went as
gentlemen and were received by Pres
ldent Stanford. He asked them ,vhe-
ther they came as strikers o.. as good
Samaritans. They told him they had
come in relation to the 10 per cent. re-
duction and to ask if it could not be
rescinded. They were told to go home
TO their families and he would call the
Board of Directors and s<e what could
be done. He called the directors and
A. n. Towne, and they consulted with
him, and the reduction lasted only ten
days. A message was sent to restore
the wages.
Was it the sandlot agitators that did
It? No.
Every one knows that the Southern
Pacific Company does not want 10 go
into politics, but it is brought into
them by demagogues. He knew what
he was talking about In the past two
sessions of the Legislature he had seen
the most damnable cinch bills intro
duced by the San Francisco buns for
the purpose of getting money or passes.
They would introduce them and wait
for the sack to appear, and when it
did not they continued their abuse of
the road. Is that the way to keep the
railroad out of politics? These same
buns will travel one year on passes.
and the next year will turn around
and howl against the railroad
He asked them to think tonight
where their interests lie. How did they
get their homes? Not from dema-
gogues He asked them to lay politics
aside and vote for those who employ
and support them.
When nominated, 1t was said of him
that he was a good enough railroad
man, but knew nothing of the County
Clerks office. There are 1000 men in
the shops Do any of them hold good
offices in this county? No. They
should think and vote for their friends.
Applause).
4 vocal solo by e. V. McManus fol-
lowed and was loudly applauded. 1t
was followed by a guitar and mandolin
duet that was encored.
vocal solo by P. Zeigler Of carshop
3 followed. and was well rendered and
received enthusiastically and encoTed,
and for the second encore he gave a
bone solo, accompanied by the piano.
Thomas Heffron. Secretary of .he
club. next gave a fine recitation. The
Tramp" and in response to a rousiEg
encore gave Casey at the Bat"
H. l.. Sanborn Of San Francisco.
Chairman Of the State Advisory Com
mittee. said he would not address them
like Senator White did. as perjured viii
lains, but. rather as fellow workers.
For quarter of a century ii has been
the practice of officeholders to drag in
the railroad question and the time for