The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-07

organization. known as the Railway
Employees Protective association" has
given out an official statement in
which 1t is admitted that the organiza-
ton has for its object the defeat of
anybody who Is "assailing" the rail-
ways. 1t may be that the railway
politicians, railway attorneys and rail
way corporations are not back of such
a movement but people are likely to
assume that they are.
Chairman Henderson Martin of the
Democratic state committee gives out
this denial of the statement that the
railways want to defeat Brisow and
elect his opponent, Farrelly:
Concerning the report that one w.
H. Thomas is organizing or trying to
sas into protective association and in
which it is insinuated that Mr.. Thomas
is acting at the instance of the rail
way corporations and in the interest
of the Democratic party, have to say
that / would be surprised out of my
boots if 1 should find that the railway
corporations or any of them is sup
porting the Democratic ticket or any
part of it.
"Of course, we want the railway
employees to support the Democratic
ticket. I have not even the slightest
knowledge of Mr.. Thomas's purposes,
but whatever they may be 1 sincerely
hope the railway employees of Kansas
port our ticket at the November cleo
ton"
E. w. Sumpter, president of the Kan
sas City branch of the Railway En-
ployes Protective association, in a
statement given out Sunday, said in
part:
II do not believe the railway attor-
neys are back of this movement. This
is a spontaneous movement on the part
of the employees, and while no doubt
J. Ito %,J
from the fact that the organizing of
these associations brings the local Off
Gals and the employees in closer touch
with each other and gives them an OPP
portunity to talk over matters with
reference to the more economical opera
ton of the railways.
II believe also that If there is any
further diminution of business, If
rates are reduced further, or indeed If
some of the present low rates cannot
be raised the companies will have to
make further retrenchments that will
affect the employees materially.
II have always held that work done
by the railway companies along these
lines is not effective. the motives of the
railway officials are misunderstood, ana
when they say that the railway situa-
ton is critical and that the railway
service is not bringing the owners OF
the property proper returns, this warn
ing is unheeded and it is taken for
granted that the railway officials are
talking for effect. 1t is a fact, never
theless, that the margin between profit
and loss on railways is now so slight
that it is both wise and necessary that
the employees should wake up to the
fact that they are being made the cats
paw to pull the political and other
chestnuts out of the fire. Granting that
this is true the work must be done, the
question arises as to whether the rail-
way companies should assist therein
financially.
Having talked with Mr.. Thomas on
this point, I can say that he fully
agrees with me that for them to do so
would be a mistake and would thWart
the very purpose which the employees
desire to accomplish.
81 believe that time has passed when
the railway employees throughout the
United States will stand idly by while
their interests are assailed, and their
rights swept aside for the sole purpose
of benefiting some politician VINO
seeks the credit and emoluments Oh
Office at their expense. desire to
make it clear that 1t is not the pur-
pose of the organization to prevent,
obstruct or oppose the passage of any
measure which the general Welrare OF
the state demands but we do propose
to see to it that our interests shall
hereafter receive the same considera-
ton as those of all other classes OF
citizens, payers and voters, instead
of being ignored by the professional
politician whose only SlOCh III II oNC 70
an extensive vocabulary composed
mostly of hot air. 1t will undoubtedly
be clearly understood by those seek
ing office that we will support only
those who will give our interests the
full and fair consideration accorded to
others. We do not antagonize the IN
terests of the banker, the merchant,
the manufacturer, or farmer. but we
regard them as our friends, whose IN
terests and ours are mutual. We be-
lieve that the interests of the 1 u mill
lion railroad employees of the United
States are too important to be sub
iected to a continuous political jug
Cling. We have already gone on rec
ord as favoring federal supervision of
railways. and the adjustment or I'M
fair rates, and stand ready at all times
to support. legislation which tends to
promote equally the interest of all,
through which prosperity will surely
follow"
Ex-senator J. r. Burton of Abilene
has rendered his services to the Demo-
cratic state committee for the present
campaign. and will speak for Bryan
and Rotkin wherever the Democrats
want him to speak. J. M. Lewis, who
is in charge of the speakers bureau at
Democratic headquarters, says that he
will send Burton out whenever there is
a call for his services.
FULLY Scott, formerly of Oberlin,
Kan. and at one time Democratic can
didate for congress in the Sixth dis
trict against w A. Reeder, is now a
resident of Weld county, Colorado, and
at a convention of the Democratic