The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-26
RAILROAD NEWS.
Where the Votes of Railway
Men Should 60.
Topeka Santa Fe Employee
Urges Action.
SUPPORTTHE COMPANY
James Mullen Says Prosperity
Depends Upon It.
Other Items Of General Interest
in Traffic World.

At meeting of the American Rail-
road Employees and Investors associ-
alton held here not Ing ago, a paper
was read by James Mullen, assistant
blacksmith foreman in the shops of the
Santa Fe. Mr.. Mullen took for his
subject the question of Where the
Railroads Vote Should Co." In dis
cussing it he said:
Should the railway employee exer-
else his right of suffrage in defense of
his interests and of the interest OF his
employer?
we believe and maintain that he
should lay aside all party ties and
party Affiliations in defense Of his own
personal interests. It seems that with
in the last few years there has existed,
on the part of the public, a certain
prejudice against the railroads of this
country. The feeling on their part has
been kept alive by agitators and poll
ticians who wish to ride into public
Office through the agitation of these
questions.
There was a time in the history of
the railroads of this country when
these questions did not enter into pol
itics, but that time seems to have
passed, and a class of political dema-
gogs has arisen who expect to advance
their own interests by destroying the
very interests that have made this
great country what it IS today We
see this fact demonstrated by the adj
verse legislation that is being passed
by the national congress and by the
legislative bodies of the different states.
I'VE, as railroad employees, must
bear in mind the fact that these men
are elected to represent the interests of
all the people-not the farmers nor the
shippers, nor any one class of indus
tries to the detriment of another.
There is where our political interests
must center; that is in the election to
Office Of men who are clean and honest
and who are above taking advantage of
political hypocrisy in order to work
on the feelings of any class of people
again, we must take into considera-
ton the fact that the railroads OF this
country employ the most intelligent
and best paid class of labor in the
United States today A great percent
age Of the railway employees own their
own homes or are buying and paying
for them, showing that they are help
ing to bear the expense of running the
government, and are therefore entitled
to the respect and consideration OF
our legislators. both state and national
I'VE must recognize in this case the
old adage that self preservation is the
first law of nature, and argue that
the time has arrived in the history of
the railroad interests of this country
when we, as employees whose very ex-
isteIice seems to depend upon their
prosperity. and their right to manage
their own property, should emphasize
in no uncertain manner, by our votes,
that we are tired Of the political graIt
that would destroy one of the greatest
interests of the nation.
THE railroads of this country always
have been the advance agents of pros
perity. They have by their untiring
energy and perseverance colonized and
made the great western prairies bios
som as the rose. What, may l ask,
would the great state of Kansas be to-
day without the railroads.
1--WE admit that our people nave
been Industrious and have passed
through many privations; yet without
reached the prosperity they enjoy to-
day. and the people Of the great west
should not forget the foundation upon
which rests the ladder they have
climbed to their present prosperity
They should accord to the railways
and their employees the same rights
they themselves enjOy-untrammeled
bv adverse legislation that in the end
will destroy their usefulness and take
the bread and butter out Of the mouths
of their employees and those dependent
upon them for support.
Then in view of the results or the
present adverse sentiment OF the pub
lie and Of the many oppressive laws
that are being enacted by our law
makers. should not we. as employees
of our great railways, rise up in the
strength of our manhood and assert
our rights and the rights Of our en-
blowers, in antagonfzing by our votes
and by the influence that we have at
our command the men who are trying
to tear down the greatest industry the
world ever has known"