Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-17
FALSE REPORTS
ON NORTHWEST
Southwestern Railroads in Cam
paign of Misrepresentation

oEOhANGt WhbH's ApEH IT,
People in the middle western, east
ern and southern states are being de-
llberately misinformed and imposed
upon by land agents of southwestern
railroads, who are responsible for
the publication OF false reports con-
corning labor and Industrial condi-
lions In the northwest. These men do
not hesitate TO stoop TO anything and
as a result OF their lies hundreds of
desirable men and women who could
better their condition are kept out
of the country"
John X. Cook OF West Union, Ia,
special representative Of the Chicago,
Milwaukee 4 st. Paul railway, made
the foregoing announcement in Spok-
ane at the close OF a thorough inquiry
into matters In Washington, Idaho
and Montana. He said In state
ment:
Il came to Washington for the
special purpose OF looking into the
labor situation. II Is being repre-
scented to the people throughout the
east that the northwestern states
present an uninviting field for emil
grafton. One OF the reports circulat-
ed Ii that there are thousands OF men
out OF employment in Washington
and that the conditions on this &C
count are particularly deplorable in
Spokane and Seattle. Accounts pur-
porting to describe the situation say
the authorities IN Spokane and Seat
tie recently paid for the transporta-
ton Of 500 men east. they having
concluded that such method OF get
ting rid OF the unemployed Is more
economical than providing for them
during hard times.
"As matter of fact the disturb
ance in eastern financial centers did
not have any effect In the northwest.
The country Is prosperous and every
able bodied man who wants work
can get employment in the fields,
lumber, mining and construction
camps. as well as in the towns and
cities.
Other reports are to the effect
that contractors on the Chicago,
Milwaukee 4 81. Paul extension and
other railroad construction work are
turning away men who are begging
TO be given employment at so cents
a day and board.
After an investigation of the sit
uation am prepared to say there
Is absolutely no foundation for such
reports. do not find any distress
or soup houses In Spokane or else
where In Washington for feeding the
hungry unemployed, and / have not
seen any signs announcing that one
cent meals are served. ! can not see
anything to indicate that labor and
Industrial conditions In Washington
and the northwest generally are be-
low the normal. ~ at all.
Land agents Of the southwestern
railways are the originators of the
reports that are being told OF hard |
times in this section. They are spread
those reports in connection with their
efforts to induce people to go to the
panhandle OF Texas. Those who have
gone into that district have not
found It as desirable a place as the
land agents have represented to them.
The frequent crop failures and
the terror created by the green bug
are keeping people away from there.
and the only way the land agents
have found to OFFSET those and other
objections TO the country Is fabricated
accounts OF worse conditions prevail
ing In districts that are attracting
home seekers.
las result OF my Investigations
our company win give widespread
publicity to conditions as have
found them. There are thousands OF
men In the middle and eastern states
who have accumulated some money
which they would be glad to put into
farms. Many OF these men would
come TO the northwest II they were
assured that they would at least have
an opportunity to secure work to as.
Hist themselves In acquiring homes,
and they are kept away by the re-
ports that there is a surplus of labor
in this part OF the country. As a mat
ter Of fact there is a constant demand
for men in the Spokane country at
wages ranging from s2.5O 70 Ss.75
a day. The last named Is on rail-
road construction work"
LOYAL TO BRUTE