The record-union., 1898-11-04
ABUSE OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.

ABUSE OF RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.
The opposition press is privileged to
make of itself a fooI-there is no stat
ute forbidding it. Yet while such folly
helps the Republican ticket, we can
not refrain from rebuking that same
press for it's vulgar and indecent as
sumptdons concerning employees Uf
railway companies. It happens that
very many Of these wage-earners have
organized, as was their right, to pro-
tect their own interests. They find
themselves better conditioned than
railroad wage-earners elsewhere. They
have respect for the wage-payers, and
the latter have confidence in their en-
ployes The workers have organized
to stiffen and cement these good rela-
tions and to protect them from as
sault.
1t was voluntary act-it could not
be involuntary. These men see in
senseless, mendacious and malicious
assault upon transportation interests
assault by indirection upon themselves;
they fear that crippled railroad indus
try would mean reduction Of their
wages, not from choice. but from ne
cessity. Whether they are right or
wrong in this judgment cuts no figure
in the question, since their right to do
their own thinking cannot be dis
puted.
They affirm with all the manliness
and strength of truth that in organiz-
ing they have done so freely, without
suggestion or attempted coercion. They
are entitled to have that declaration
respected. But the rabid press, head
ed by the San Francisco Examiner"
has seen fit to question the integrity
and honesty of their declarations; to
say that the men have been driven into
the organization, and that it has par
tisan significance.
The organizers retort that these
charges are cruel and vicious lies; that
the organization is not political in a.
party sense, but is protective; that they
will vote as they please and for their
friends wherever they find them. That
is pretty much what everybody else is
going to do. AS for Republicans as
party men they manfuIly preach the
doctrine that national as we'll as local
issues are involved, and that the
friends of the best national policy, the
friends Of the Administration, should
indorse and commend at the polls the
Republican President and sustain him
by electing the whole Republican
ticket.
But the railway workers have not
even made declaration on these lines;
they leave party appeals out Of their
procedure, we observe, and simply en-
deavor to unity railway workers for
the benefit of railway wage-earners.
For thus doing they are called by the
fusion press hireIings, base servitors
and slaves. Some Of the appeals treat
them as rascals who, processing one
thing, will vote another; miserable
hounds. who would lie at the polls and
on the platform to crafty the malice
of the opposition, since these fusionist
assailants seem to assume that as a
matter of course the railroad men are
expected to vote the Republican ticket,
thereby, we think, paying tribute to
their good judgment and wisdom.
But the opposition press makes a silly
mistake, makes a fool Of itself when it
stigmatizes railroad employees as cow
ards, cheats and driven slaves, whose
souls are not their own. If they only
knew it, it is bad politics to talk and
act in that manner; precisely as bad
politics as it would be TO urge the
railway employees to organize to do in
jury to interests which are inter
woven with their own.
But, then the fusionists have shown
no political wisdom at any time, and it
is rather too much to expect it Of them
now. Whatever the position of the
railway mems organization, it remains
that the fierce assault made upon it
by the opposition is insulting, vulgar
and coarse, and worthy Of being re-
sented by every self-respecting man.
The issue of Petit Bleu' of Paris
yesterday, in commenting upon the sit
uation before the Peace Commission.
declared that if the United States
should turn back to Spain the Philip
pine Islands. Spain could not suppress
the rebellion or hold the country. AS
a result, Germany would come to her
aid. Immediately France, England and
Russia would step in, and international
intervention would become game OF
grab what you can and there would
be a pretty fight all around. This, we
take it, is a good forecast. 1t en-
nhasizes what we have all along
averred. that we cannot let go the