The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-06-08
A FRIEND OF LABOR
That's What Frank B. Kellogg Proved
Himself to Be to Employees
of the Great Western.
Labor Showed It's Appreciation Later
by Urging His Appointment
to Supreme Court Bench.

That Frank B. Kellogg, now conspic-
uous in the public eye because Of his
candidacy for the republican nomina-
ton for United States senator, was
one time seriously considered for the
supreme bench Of the United States is
not generally known.
That organized labor was response
BILE for the movement in his behalf
may possibly be a surprise to some,
yet such is the case, and there are
cords both at Washington and in
xssssession of several well-known labor
organizations to bear out the state
ment5 Geographical difficulties alone
prevented realization.
The story of how this well-known
attorney all but became attached to
the highest court in the land, and how
organized labor lent its best efforts in
his behalf, is one of human interest.
1t may sound commonplace in the
telling, but it is of interest just the
same, and if nothing else, forcibly
illustrates the point that labor is not
always ungrateful. At any rate it
was most gracious in Mr.. Kellogg's
case and the memory of it all still re-
mains.
Born to toll himself, spending his
youth at the arduous tasks of the
farm, making his own way almost
from his youth up and securing his
education by dint of sacrifice and
economy, Mr.. Kellogg knew the life
Of the man who tolls, knew how a
dollar made it's way into tie pocket
of labor, and when the opportunity
offered he showed himself a friend Of
the man whose struggles were similar
to those which he had undergone in
reaching the position in life that he
had attained. Organized labor learned
of his friendship in peculiar way, and
although he had not been in position
to demonstrate his fealty to the man
in the overalls, and had not come in
contact with them except in casual
way, his heart and mind still chung to
2 cause and only opportunity was
: :cessary to throw the light upon his
devotion.
Back in 1908 the Great Western
railroad was placed in the hands of
receiver. Its moving spirit was A. B.
Stickney, still venerable and vener-
ated citizen Of St. Paul. AS head of
the line he had been recognized as
friendly to the men who toiled with
their hands, but owing to the fnan-
cial and business conditions, and es-
pecially the cramped financial condi-
ton of this line, he had been unable
to demonstrate his friendship.
It was following a period of strin-
gency and business depression that the
receivership came. The panic of the
fall of 1907 had practically paralyzed
business. Wall street was wild and
the feverish excitment of that bourse
had spread its evil to all parts of the
land and to all avenues of trade. Even
small business men were anxious and
the big banking centers were unable
to sleep. In many of the larger cities
the clearing houses were issuing GER
tificates in place of currency, factories
were closing or running on short time,
and the country was in grave concern
over the condition that prevailed.
AS is usually the case the first to
feel the pinch were the laboring men.
Retrenchment was general and it be-
gan with the cutting of payrolls, the
lowering of wages and the laying off
of men. It was thus with the Great
Western railroad when the receivers
took charge.
Frank B. Kellogg of St. Paul was
general counsel for the Great Western
when the order for retrenchment came
from. the receivers. Mr.. Stickney
picked him up when he was strug-
Cling attorney down in Olmsted coun-
= ty, to take charge Of the legal end of
his growing properties. He was a
keen Judge Of the stuff that is in man,
and right here labor was to be the
beneficiary of his insight. The period
in question was a crisis, not only in
the case Of the employees of the Great
Western, but it portended disaster
also to the workmen Of probably
every other railroad in the country.
1t simply meant that if a cut was
permitted in wages on the Great
Western that a similar retrenchment
would spread to the other roads of the
country and vast and costly strike
would follow. The leaders of organ
lied railroad labor were naturally
worried.
As retrenchment in big business
usually begins with the reductions of