Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-21
LOOKER.ON IN IOWA
Observation-Disclosures III

Ackley, Jan. 21-The talk was along
the line of the fight of men for office.
Some one wondered how it was that
Shaw could call on Cummins, spend an
hour or more in mis- private office, and
come out alive mo blood or gore being
in evidence 1t reminded one man in
the crowd of a bit of personal exper-
icnce. Smith and Jones We're rival
candidates for congress from the
Steenth district. The story teller was
something of politician himself, as he
buckled on his armor and worked
nights and Sundays to send Smith to
Washington Meanwhile things had
gone so far in the campaign. that
Smith called Jones prevaricator, and
Jones remarked at a public meeting.
that if Smith said that. if ever he said
that 50 and so was so and so, why
Smith lied. The next thing was that
candidate Jones absolutely refused to
recognize the story teller. altho preVi-
ously Jones was as pleasant as
basket of chips. That made the story
teller as mad as a wet hen and he
worked harder than ever for Smith.
While the fight was the hottest. when
Smith was liable to kill Jones any time.
and Jones was equally blood thirsty
our story telling friend was one day
taking a short trip on the cars. The
conductor told him that candidate
Smith was in the diner, SO he natural
~ went in to see him And to his as
constituent Smith and Jones were sit
ting at the same table having an awful
nice time and a cold bottle or two
to drown their enemity. And the con-
ference lasted so long our story teller
was unable to see Smith before he got
off at Nextown.
The general public is not aware that
another strike on the part of the tel
egraphers is possible in the near fu-
t,lre. The railroad companies early last
month sent out a circular to all oper-
ators. saying in substance that the new
nine hour law concerning continuous
work on the part of operators and
others who have to do with the NOV
ing of railroad trains, would necess
tate a reimbursement of wages now paid
and in compliance with an agreement
with the telegraphers' union, they
gave a sixty day notice of the pro-
posed change. Every man the writer
has talked with, that is. every railroad
man. says this means lower wages, and
they won't stand for it. Any one can
see that this nine-hou law means in
many places that three operators will
be required to do the work formerly
two men attended to. The rule now
Is the day operator goes on at a.
M, and the night man takes the key at
I'D. m. This means an additional ex-
pense to the railroad of 80 per cent
more for labor to run depot OF tel
egraph station 1t is unquestionably
true that the general business of The
railroads since the panic began has
fallen off tremendously The G. & N.
w. railroad thru one of their officials,
claims to have lost million of dol
lars since that time. And this railroad
and others, have been cutting expenses
everywhere possible Trains have been
taken off. notably the night passenger
between Jewell and Ames. Night sta
lions closed, and as usual the poor
ianitor fired This retrenchment is
supplemented by this circular to the
operators and they understand that
readjustment means less pay for their
work. This they will not accept unless
forced to. One might man" tells the
writer that when they go out" not
only will all operators leave their Keys.
but the Western Union and Postal
company commercial telegraphers go
with them. That tho these men were
whipped in the last strike, they are
ready to try it again. when a general
strike occurs. He says that while the
railroad operators did not strike with
the commercial operators, they did
send the strikers $4,000, and now they
will work and strike together. All Of
which, to say the least, is interesting
to the general public.