The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-09
HOW THEY WORK IT.

1 II
adjournment of the last Congress that
the failure of the Senate to pass the
| Esch-Townsend bill designed to enable
the government to control the greed
of great railway systems in making
rates on interstate business, would
not deter the President from urging
such needed legislation upon the pres
ent Congress, the railroads proceeded
with energy and unanimity to create
sentiment throughout the country in
imical to the Townsend or any
other legislation which would tend to
bring about the desired reforms. AS
the bulk of the freight business is in
ter-state in character and such bust
ness under the Constitution can only
be regulated by Congress. it seemed
tory to strangle the reform even be-
fore it had chance to cry aloud. There
fore the interests back of rebates, dis
ordinations and high schedules to
the smaller wholesalers and merchants
and, therefore, to the consumers. en-
Chicago and imagined the fight al
ready won. How great mistake that
confidence implied the earnest atti-
tude of Mr.. Roosevelt. the hearty re-
Spouse which his utterances on the
subject received throughout the coun-
try and the defeat of many men
known to be opposed to such legis-
lation or under the influence of the OPP
position showed in way to put the
great corporate interests to despera-
ton. The literary bureau at Chicago
was shut up as having proved its
worthlessness and other methods of
opposition which would appear plaus-
ible were earnestly sought.
Already practically beaten by the
expressed approval by the people of
the proposed legislation, the plan sud
denly shifted from expressions by
large manufacturers and pass carriers
to a cry that the interests of labor
were endangered by the bill. Formerly
the battles of the great railroad sys-
TENS have been fought out with the
weapons of subsidized influence. with
the powerful Washington lobby re-
bates to important interests and the
corrupt expenditure of thousands of
dollars in the channels known to
great aggregations of capital. They
would have preferred in the rate reg
ufation war to use the same means
because the method finally determined
upon was practically the first recog-
milton of the employees VINO do the
work of the lines. AS long as they
could continue their policies of ex-
tortion without the aid of the army
of railroad employees. they would be
better able to ignore the employees
when they asked redress of
grievances or increase of pay.
That they should now appeal
to the element which it has been their
religion to despise shows the extent
of the corporate alarm at the ground
swell of popular demand. Appeal to
employees carried with it recognition
which would render the usual attitude
of indifference more difficult, but the
railroads took the step. An appear for
help gives the lever for demand. |
But, in their dilemma as to whether
to act justly with the public or put |
themselves in the attitude of implying |
a promise to their labor, the roads |
took what seemed to be the cheapest |
avenue of escape for graft. With this |
they came frankly and |
benignantly before tho railroad en- |
ployees asking help in their battles |
against "socialistic' public and hold
ing up the threat of reduced wages |
unless support in their opposition was
forthcoming. OF course every we'll |
informed man knows that railroad |
wages rise almost invariably at the |
of the employees and never |
at the initiative of the corporations, but
along this line was specious |
and astute and in some instances GER
tain labor organizations appeared to |
have been deceived. Notably was this |
true with respect to the Central Labor |
Union of Salisbury, whose declarations |
in a set of resolutions in opposition to
the Esch- Townsend bill were scatter !
ed broadcast throughout the country. |
Some few other labor bodies passed |
similar resolutions and the railroad |
waxed fearful in their admira-
ton and their pity. When the same |
passed by the Salisbury |
were presented to the |
American Federation of Labor at its
meeting in Pittsburg. however. they !
were laid on the table without dis
senting voice. AS this body is rep
of 100000 of working
men, it would seem to have settled the
attitude of labor on the question. but
such evidence as the Salisbury resoiu-
tions seems to constitute the last card |
of the monopolistic program. In spite |
of the declaration of the national or
ganization, it is still being sought to
secure the opposition of local lodges
of labor against the measure. So in
tereSted is the Salisbury organization,