The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-07-17
Fred L. Feick, Widely Known
Organizer in the West.
Spoke to the Railroad Men
Of Richmond Tuesday Night
IRATlIEF AND WATSON
GIVEN DUE NOTICE.
Neither Can Expect Anything
From Labor--Senator Kirk
man Commended --MaChine
Party Candidates.

Fred L. Feick, one of the most widely
known labor organizers in the west,
and chairman of the legislative com
mittee of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen, was in Richmond Tuesday
evening. and in Odd Fellows hall ad-
dressed a meeting of railroad men. De-
spite the fact that there had been no
advance announcement of the meeting,
there was a good sized assemblage of
Significance to them.
Mr.. Feick took occasion to criticise
public men who are alleged to be I'M
friendly to labor: at least who have
not been identified on the side of labor
in the consideration of various mat
ters of legislation. Representative
Walter S. Ratliff, of Wayne county,
was declared by Mr.. Feick, to have
been opposed to bills during the re-
cent session of the general assembly,
which were in the interests of labor;
mended. the speaker saying that he
voted with labor; Joint Representative
r. n. Elliott, who represented Fayette
and Wayne counties, was placed on the
doubtful list; Daniel Sims and Samuel
Ralston prospective candidates for Nthe
Democratic nomination for governor.
were declared to be antagonistic to Ia
Dor, as also were Charles w. Miller
and Congressman James Z. Watson,
both of whom have been spoken of as
possible republican candidates for gov
ernor. In part Mr.. Feick said:
Ratliff Is Arraigned.
During the session of the fifty-ninth
congress l happened to represent the
interests of labor upon several import
ant measures and when that great lead
er of the people, Senator LaFollette of
Wisconsin, standing upon the floor of
the United States senate, advocating
the enactment of these measures,
which, by the way were backed by the
president he was frequently interrupt
ed and sneered at by many who were
sent there by the people upon promises
that they would do all within their
power, if elected. to legislate in the in
tereSt of the masses. The same thing
happened during the last Legislature of
the state of Indiana. The men who
were sent to the legislative halls to
represent the interests of their fel-
low workers, were kept very busy tell
ing some of the representatives and
senators that it was their duty to sup
port measures that were of vital inn
portance to the people OF this state.
want to mention here that a represent
ative of your district, w. S. Ratliff
bitterly opposed measures that were of
vital Importance to the laboring men
of this state and he frequently took
the floor in the interests of the rail-
road corporations, and | want to en-
phasize the fact that it is the duty of
the laboring men in the city of Rich
mond to see to it that that gentleman
shall never return to the state legisla-
ture by the votes of labor.
On the other hand / wish to say that
Senator r. E. Kirkman aided and as
sisted US in every way possible. and
wish to say that the laboring men
should appreciate this very much. for
he will be in a position to aid and as
sist you in the future for he is a hold
over senator and it will therefore, be
his duty to return to the coming ses-
sion of the state legislature. AS to
R. n. Elliott and T. B.
Barclay, they are placed on the doubt
full list and if they ever expect any
thing from the working people of this
state they will have to line up and
show us where they are
Plan Is Obnoxious.
ssyTo hove what ;c l-poup oc Tho vol
untary Relief association on many of
the railroads in this state; men are
to join these associations in
order that they may get employment,
and when they are injured out on the
road. before they can receive one dol
lar of insurance. which they are justly
entitled to. they must sign a release,
releasing the railroads from all suits
and damages: this is very obnoxious 10
the employees when seeking justice in
the courts, and many of our judges
have held that the signing of these re-
leases keeps them from getting JUS
tice. Therefore, I expect to have this
matter taken up, not only in the state
but in the coming session
Of the United States congress. they
have been running these associations
since 1899 and have accumulated MIL
lions of dollars from the poor railroad
employees in order that the officials OPP
Grating these departments may feather
their own nests. | feel that a thor /
ough investigation of these depart /
ments will expose one of the greatest
crafts ever inaugurated in this coun- |