The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-10-16
4 Railroad Scheme


The Unit published at Oklahoma
City, in the current issue, is authority
for the most intensely interesting ar
ticle az the yaar insofar as commercial
minds travel
Conchcd In language showing that
q master Is TO drive the chariot of In
dustrial war II il must be driven, the
Unit answers an effort TO or gduize
against the interests Of Union Labor
in martial spirit. siill showing the
whito-gloycd hand Of fairness II met
half way. lie enters the gladiator
arena as follows:
''ln a circular Just issued by The So
called Railway Employees Pcotec.
tive Association OF oklahoma" the
railroad companies admit that they
are hard-pressed by the constant
growth of labor unions. that labor un-
ions are tho best and only hope for
the laboring man to protect himself;
that they need money with which 10
fight labor unions. and many other ad'
mission that are very obvious.
"Ths circular has been mailed 10
every railroad employe in Oklahoma.
TO those who are unversed In union
ism Il viii appear to 6e The real ariicic.
while many others will recognize the
sword Of the corporations and get I'm
der cover by making immediate ap.
plicaiion for membership.
"The circular is unaddrcssed and
unsigned, but Il Is stated on the very
best OF authority that the Santa Fe'
Frisco and Rock Island railroad Off
cials are responsible for the Railway
Employees Protective Association OF
Oklahoma, and II Is the first declara-
ton of war that is to be waged in Ok.
lahoma by the corporations against
organized labor.
There has been a movement or
foot ever since the adjournment of the
last Oklahoma legislature to form al
army TO battle with organized labor
Leaders in union circles have know
that such a move was on foot. but die
not know what form II would take
Several attempts have been made tt
Incite dissentlons in labor's ranks
which have so far been unfruitul Bu
the circular just issued is the frs
declaration of open war.
The plan contemplated by the cor
porations Is to form unions of theii
loyal 90 employees. THESE mem
bers" will solicit tf0 membership o.
their fellow-worker Every man who
fails or refuses to s,,il this protec
tive (Gud save the mark association
will be reported as disloyal" These
"disloyal'' employees will be gradual
ly weeded out by such charges a.
negligence 'carelessness, "insu
hordination.r and the thousand ant
one charges that officials are so wei
acquainted with-provided of course
that The association" shows strength
enough to Justify Then what viii hap
pen? The loyals will receive the
usual reward lower wages, WDnge
hours, heavier duties, and all the rest
But what will be done with tn
Tees and dues paid in by the loyalsf
, A committee maintained at Guthrl,
'as explained in bylaws In othe
words, TO see that no legislation faVo'
able 70 organized labor Is enacted.
The circular merely states: Fol
your Information II says:
Tho present financial depres-
sion, The continued attacks on
railroad revenues and the con-
stahlly increasing demands and
adverse rulings OF the state rail-
road commissioners, have reach
4 ed a point where Il threatens the
interests and welfare of every
railroad employe in The state of
oklahoma"
Isn't II peculiar that the members
OF the Order Of Railway Conductors
reviews the Unit. the Engineers and
the Trainmen have not noticed this
aud commented upon it2 And yet they
usually are so quick 10 protect then
interests. Here, under such threaten
ing conditions, they have let the rail-
roads be the first TO see dire calam
iiy approaching The circular goes
/ ahead:
One feature which threatens
the railroads is the persistent ef-
forts on the part OF certain ele.
mehis TO induce the Corporation
commissioners 10 force reduc-
tiOR in rates"
To which the Unit chirrups thus:
And for fear their revenue will be
reduced they ask their employees tC
furnish the money to fight these re
ductions."
The circular Is again quoted:
we believe the time has ar.
rived when every emplOye-no
matter what his position is or
what wages he receiyes-should
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