Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-17
CAMPAIGNS FROM HANDCAR
J. W. Johnson Makes Trip in Interest
of Railroad Men.
SAW DEMOCRATIC "BLACKBIRDs"
Comments on Situation In "Report' to
Executive Committee of Nebraska
Railroad Employer Az
ISOLATION.

II the men who work on the railroad sec
tons Of the Northwestern line do not join
the Nebraska Railroad Employees associs-
ton, It will not be the fault nor negligence
Of J. w. Johnson section 0. s." Arlington.
While the democratic hosts were meeting
In Denver to nominate a president; while
plans were being made to take campaign
tours in carriages. automobiles and special
trains, johnson was making one of the
most unique tours ever made for any poll
teal cause. And Mr.. Johnson was travel
ing in the interests of a political cause
when he made his trip. 1t was from South
Omaha to Lincoln on the Northwestern
line. and the audiences which Mr.. Johnson
addressed comprised from four to eight sec
ton hands each. He did not speak in halls
nor have reception committees wear him
out by jostling him In crowds. but he
pumped his special car" up to where the
section men we're working, pulled It off
on the right of way, took a drink of water
with the section men, wiped the perspira-
tton from his brow with the same kim Of
a red handkerchief which the men were
using, and made his talk"
As the result OF the trip of Mr.. johnson,
Chairman F. M. Ryan OF the executive
committee believes the section hands are
effectively lined up"
Like Flock of Blackbirds.
Returning to Arlington, Mr.. Johnson
arrived just in time to see the democrats
returning from Denver and he wrote a
sort Of report to the executive committee
of the Nebraska Railroad Employees Pro-
tective association, which now has head
quarters at the Hotel Rome:
Il passed several trains Of delegates for
the Denver convention writes Mr.. John
son. "A gay looking crowd they were,
with their streaming badges, for all the
world like a flock of blackbirds returning
in the spring, as the birds are a sure sign
of spring, so our gay, chattering droves
Of delegates are a sure sign of a coming
election.
"Of course, as the season advances, there
are other signs. The citizen with political
aspirations, and every community has a
few of them. They get very friendly with
us working men, give us a glad hand, talk
patriotism, the oppression OF the laboriug
classes and other things too numerous to
mention.
at is alright, however. Lawmakers and
representatives we must have and a great
many men seeking positions arc honest
and earnest in their desire to help US, but
49, Nh~a AWeS ~ Ut ~ Az
trying to ~equalize conditions they restrict
and cut down the earning power of our
industries, claiming that they are making
too much money. Our employers r~otaliate
by cutting down wages and laying off men,
and that is the sort of benefit we working
men get from II all. We do not complain
because others are making too much,
but because we are not getting enough.
WANTS Everyone to ProsDer.
"Our interests cannot ne promoted by
tearing down the interests of others. We
want the farmer, the merchant, the rail-
roads and thu mine wners-everyone who
employees men-to prosper. We know there
will be no employment for labor II a
profit cannot be made on it, and we
know also that there cannot be any lasting
prosperity unless labor is well paid. II
you add Is cents per day to the wage OF
our 100000 laborers 1t means an increase
In their purchasing power of sl,25O,OOO per
day. Don't you think that would influ-
ence the price of farm produce more than
a cut in freight rates?
"In the coming election party lines arc
going to be cut in a way they never were
before. We laboring men cannot afford
TO divide any longer and fight each other,
nor can we afford to cast our votes for
men who's avowed purpose is to kill or
cripple the industries that give us employ.
ment. We mean to live and let live; We
mean to vote for men who will maintain
conditions in Nebraska so that every in
dustry will thrive, so that capital will
come INTO our state ard not be driven out,
for we believe such a policy is TO our in
terest, as we'll as to the great benefit OF
our state"