The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-20

ton. He was an American citizen and
proposed to exercise the right of suf-
frage free from the dictation of any
one. He had joined the Railway Mems
Political Club for an honorable pur-
pose and he was not ashamed of it. One
thing he did not propose should pass
without his protest was the statement
of the Los Angeles Times that he was
slave and a Serf, and that the employees
of the Southern Pacific had been robbed
of the right Of franchise and their man.
hood.
Ninety per cent of the men whom
the Times had designated as serfs,
said McGonigle, own their own homes
in this city. They are honorable and
respected citizens and have as much
right to organize political club as any
other body of citizens
President Clough stated that one of
the questions at issue in the campaign
was whether the Los Angeles Times
was the Republican party of California
or not.
eff that coura geous and able leader,
Major Mclaughlin" said President
Clough, had submitted to the insolent
dictation of the Times, then indeed
would the party in Southern California
be in pitiable plight. But Major Nc
Laughlin stood by his manhood in
naming the executive committee and
thereby incurred the enmity of the
Times; but he demonstrated his manly
independence
1t was finally decided that it would
be ill-advised to place the organization
on the same plane as the Times, so the
clause referring to Otis was stricken
out and the resolutions as amended
were adopted by unanimous vote.
For the benefit of the railroad men
present, who had not yet joined the
club, President Clough made a brief
statement as to it's objects and aims.
Among other things he said:
I'VE are not organized for the pur-
pose of accepting dictation from any
one as to how we shall vote. We are
organized to protect ourselves and to
see to it that men In the employ of
railroad corporations are not, because
of that fact, debarred from political
prominence and preferment. In this
campaign we do not expect to accom-
plish much, but two and four years
| from now we do expect to be able to
| put a railway employee on the State
| ticket of the two parties and to get
representation on the county ticket.
| We are entitled to it and we are going
to see to it that we get it. Right now
we neither ask for nor expect anything.
II myself handed to the editor Of the
| Times a circular setting forth the OBJ
! jects and aims of this organization and
asked for favorable notice. He used
the circular | ave him and styled us
serfs and slaves We see no reason
why a railroad employe is not entitled
to recognition politically as well as sa-
| loon buns and, professional politicians
who never do an honest days work in
their lives. We claim that by united
action we can make the railroad en-
ploye a factor in politics and put down
the impression that he is a political
| outcast."
T. ]. McGonigle made brief address
condemnatory of demagogues, in which
he said:
1--WE all know that Uncle Coils is not
a philanthropist. He pays us the best
wages. though, paid by any railroad in
the country. If you cut off the en-
tire revenue of the Southern Pacific
Uncle Coils will not be compelled to
fast, but we will starve. We, there
fore, propose to see that our employers
interests are not unjustly assailed by
selfish demagogues and self-opinion-
| ated cranks."
Some fifteen new members signed the
roll and the session closed.