The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-10-08
CHICAGO NEWS LETTER

Chicago, Oct. 5-For the successor
to Senator Lorimer, in the event the
Burrows committee vacates his seat
in the United States senate, there is
increasing talk in Illinois of the for
mer senator, William E. Mason, who
in Chicago has been popularity known
regard for his ld-fashioned honesty.
The name of B. A. Eckhardt. also
of Chicago, a member of the railway
and warehouse commission and mil
uonaire, also Is mentioned.
Former Senator Mason, was the
father of the present pure food law
and the first champion in the senate
of the postal savings bank bill. His
greatest strength lies in his record of
integrity and since the Lorimer in
quiry has become almost a national
issue party leaders have realized the
need of such a man to fill the Lorimer
seat if it should become vacant Mr..
Eckhardt's reputation is also high but
his millions are likely to count against
him when the public is to be appeased
has publicly stated that he would not
seek the toga because he felt that he
was needed to prevent the state from
icing looted" Congressman Foss, who
who was one of the candidates dur
ing the Springfield deadlock which re-
suited in the election Of Lorimer, ran
behind his ticket in the recent pri-
maries in his district. Organized Ia
Dor has repeatedly endorsed and sup
ported Mason and the farmers have
had occasion to regard him, while SEN
ator, as a stalwart champion of their
interests. Southern counties of the state
have been Mason counties. The de-
feat of Mason by Hopkins was looked
upon at the time as due to the liberal
use of money and under such condi-
tons as would result from a humil-
iation of Lorimer by the senatorial
Investigation the return of Mason
would be urged from many quarters
as a recognition of his services by
the voters in year when money did
not dominate the choice of senator.
The increase of deaths and injuries
caused by the railways of the United
States has brought forth a plea for
conservation of men" from r. c.
Richards, general claim agent of the
Chicago & Northwestern road, one of
the few roads that have boldly admit
ted the facts publicly and set about
attempting reform. Each year and
each quarter of each year has seen
the totals of casualties mount higher,
the Interstate Commerce commission
dgures for the last ten years being
S6S,003 killed or injured, the total
number killed being 94,39O More
men than were killed on the Union
side during the Civil war;" Mr.. Rich
ards, In a booklet he has just complet-
ed, says in referring to the number
killed. During ten years in the pur-
suit of peaceful industry we have
killed more people than were killed
In a five years war" Mr.. Richards
points out the enormous total time
lost as result of injuries, a loss of time
that increases the hazard and expense
of the railways because Ii diminishes
their efficiency. He adds the omi-
nous fact. 1.-THE last report made by
the Interstate Commerce commission
was for the year. ending June 80, 1908.
The record of calamities on the rail-
roads of the United States for that
year was very much worse than for
an average time during the last ten
years" The great number of rail-
road employees injured, 52,305 in ten
years time, is the reason for Mr.
Richards plea to railway employees:
snow, is it not time we should do
something to change all this? Is it
not time that you men who are rum
ming this railroad,--it isn't the Of
acers but you people who are abso-
lutely operating the railroad, you and
no one else can change things for the
better,--isn't it time to begin? Even
with all Of these improved safety cars.
safety appliances safety brakes
and safety engines, the average per-
centage of men killed and injured
among employees, has increased in
stead OF decreased on all Of the rail-
roads of this country. In the United
States in 1899, there was killed one
railroad employe out Of 40 men, wom-
en- and children employed. In 1907,