Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-16
RAILWAY MEN IN POLITICS
Employees Will, Conhne Efforts to AZ.
fairs in This State.
wn1NoT GO INTO EITHER PARTY
Nebraska organization Establishes
Headquarters at Hotel Rome
Esebew National Conn
pIicafions.

Permanent headquarters Of the Nebraska
State Railway Employees Protective asso-
citation nave been opened at Hotel Rome
and one or more members Of the executive
committee will be in charge from now on
10 look after the interests OF the railroad
men and their campaign against needless
agitation Of the railroad question and re-
ductions Of rates which promise nothing
for the general good, but threaten TO cut
the revenues Of the railways to such an
extent that wage reductions and decreased
forces will be necessary"
I'VE are not going to enter the national
campaign In any way said s. c. Macom-
Der. member Of the committee from North
Platte. I'VE have no idea OF declaring
ourselves for either Mr.. Taft or Mr..
Bryan. Our interest is wholly within the
state Of Nebraska and we will not be
identified with any movement to support
either national ticket. But we are in poll
tics lust the same-Nebraska politics, and
when the time comes we will be found
looking out for the interests OF the rail-
way wage earners by knowing something
about the men who are to be elected to the
Nebraska legislature and who will be up
for election to places on the State Railway
commission.
Not n Partisan Move.
'Tnese are the places we are going 10
watch ana the places which similar or
ganizations in other states will watch, but
let IL be distinctly understood that the or
ganization as an organization will not
bubble with either the republican or demo-
cratic parties as 70 the national injunction
question OF other similar questions which
may agitate some Of the labor organiza-
lions or which may arouse the labor or
ganizations and brotherhoods to which our
members belong
The members Of the executive committee
say the organization in Nebraska is grow
ing rapidly and at present over 50 per cent
Of the railway employees in the state are
enrolled. Several meetings are being held
in different parts Of the state every week.
but Mr.. Macomber and Chairman F. NJ.
Ryan denied that the organization ever had
a thought of calling a state meeting as
suggested by the Evening Pinklet.
Purpose of Organization.
To make the purpose of the organization
clear a circular letter has been prepared
which is being sent to all railway employees
Of the state. This letter says in part:
We desire to make clear that 1t is not
our purpose to prevent, oDstruct or oppose
the passage OF any measure which the
general WelIare OF the STATE demands, out
we do propose to see to IL that our in
terests shall hereafter receive the same
consideration as all other classes of citi-
zens. taxpayers and voters, instead of being
ignored by the professional politician who
imagines he is doing our thinking for us
and whose only stock in trade is an extern
sive vocabulary composed principally OF
hot air. Not only is our numerical strength
a gratifying feature, but the intelligence
OF each and every member is an inspira-
ton prompting every member to greatef
efforts toward securing the results for
which this association is formed. We wish
to especially direct your attention to the
coming political campaign, and impress
upon you the necessity of carefully looking
into each candidates record as to his abll.
ity and his attitude relative to our. inter-
ests. II must be clearly understood by
those who will give our interests the full
and fair consideration accorded to others.
We do not antagonize the interests Of the
banker, merchant, manufacturer or farmer,
but regard them as our friends whose in
terests and ours are mutual. We believe
the interests OF the q, 900 employees OF. this
state arc too important to be continually
subjected 10 such political juggling as in
the past. We have already gone on record
f~avoring federal supervision of railroads
and the adjustment of unfair rates, and
stand ready at all times TO support legis-
lation which tends to promote equally the
interests Of all, through which prosperity
will surely follow.