The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-12-31
observation-disclosures
e.

| lnal OF tue investor are lnsepAfaDly
linked In a partnership, only you
have twice as much at stake as the
Investor in the gross earnings Of the
railroads OF this country. what can
we hope to gain by our politicians
continuing TO stamp the bankers and
capitalists as body as INSCRIPTIONS
in their business methods in dealing
with our corporations and lnstitu-
lions?
The American Railway Employees
and Investors association has been
formed-not for political purposes or
for any purpose detrimental or plac-
ing unfair burdens upon the public,
but as set forth in the articles Of
organization Ito do whatever lawful
things may be necessary in order to
SECURE fair return alike to capital
and labor invested in American rail-
roads with due regard at all times
to efficient service, fair treatment
and safety to the public"
George Harris, president Of the
Burlington, told ME that his company
last year purchased 10000 tons Of
new rails against none this year. II
requires, on an average, two tons OF
iron ore, one ton OF coke and one
half ton OF limestone, all of which
must be supplied by labor, to make
one ton Of steel rail, This one rail-
road not purchasing It's requirements
means the loss OF 10000 carloads Of
freight 10 the railroads, which loss
falls largely on the employc, as he
loses forty-two cents of every dollar
that would have been earned in NOV
ing this freight. The number OF
tons Of new rails and fastenngs pur-
chased by all the railroads OF the
country during the year 1907, was
100000 tons, which meant the
movement Of 13,5OO,OOO tons OF raw
material and finished product, or a
total of 100000 carloads OF freight.
This is taking money from the en-
ployes pretty fast This forcibly
illustrates the doctrine and the prin-
ciples which we should preach that
any political party or any candidate,
either for national or state office,
who stands for policy that means
the retarding of the growth OF this
country and the building Of new rail-
roads, the Improvement Of the old
ones, stand for policy that takes
the throttle from the locomotive en-
glneer, the shovel from the locomo-
tive fireman, the bell cord from the
conductor, the lantern from the
brakeman and the flagman, the key
from the telegraph operator, the
hammer and the chisel from the shop
man, and the track tools from the
trackman. Further war against cap
ital means war against labor; war
against your wages; war against the
farmer and merchant who nede ade-
quate facilities and safe and com
Portable travel; war against the well
fare Of every manufacturer in the
country and against every workman
employed by them.
Any policy that stirs up Internal
strife, that preiudices one interest
against another, that Injuries or en-
dangers our groundwork of coop
Grafton is hurtful alike to all. AS
a nation We should stand shoulder
to shoulder for the rights Of both
the public and the law-abiding cor
porations, and the indiscriminate de-
nunciaton of all capital of the coun-
try should cease. ,.,
Those who have the true interest
Of the country at heart should work
for the enforcement of the laws
witch have been made effective in
the last few years, vigorously prose-
cutting every violator
In conclusion, | wish to say that
| am heartily in sympathy with you
in your work. ! believe organized
labor and organized capital can bet |
ter work together and the future will
so demonstrate. believe every
man who works is entitled TO be
classed as working man, and / am
still working, and | have worked, |
as most of you know, in the different
departments of railroading. My |
first railroad work was on a section. |
From there to the traffic and oper-
ating departments until ] reached my |
work Of construction. Within the
last twelve years have planned and |
carried out the construction of more |
than five thousand miles of railroad. |
| am proud OF this work. The rail- |
roads have built are now employing |
5000 men, and with the employees
and their families those railroads are
now supporting over 100000 souls.