THE ALLIANCE -INDEPENDENT.
HUM
mm.
The Bailroadi Seek to Combine Their
Employees Against the People's
Party.
A Circular With Comments Thcieon
An Appeal to Railway Employees.
The following is a copy of a circular
that is being sent to railway employees
in all parts of Nebraska:
Omaha, Neb , August 23, '92.
Dear Sir and Brother: The text
of the enclosed documents is "Protec
tion to the Interests of Railway Em
ployees and Investments," and we are
proud to record, that there is not a
man in the service today who cannot
intelligently grasp the situation as it is
here presented.
How to act together In this matter is
briefly told in the enclosed outline of
the Railway Employees' Club and its
work in Nebraska.
Every employee owe3 it to his family,
to work with the club in the inerc3t of
his order. Can you not be counted
upon for one?
L?cal ciub3, wi h a total membership
in excess of 4,000, have been organized
at the following points:
Ashland, Alliance, Aurora, Blairj
Beatrice, Chadron. Columbus, Emer
son, Fremont, Gibbon, Grand Island,
Holdege, Hastings, Kearney, Lincoln
(2), Long Pine, McCook, North Platte,
Norfolk, Nebraska City. Omaha, Ox
ford, Piattsmouth, Red Cloud, Raven
na, Sidney, Schuyler, Seneca, South
Omaha. Valparaiso, Wahoo, Wjmore,
York.
To join the club simp'y fill up the
blank space on the stub of enclosed
folder, detach it, and send by U. S
mail to the "Secretary Railway Em
ployees' Club" at the po'nt nearest your
voting district, with such dues as you
may feel able and willing to pay at five
centa per month, or if preferred, same
can dq mailed to general secretary,
who will assign you to proper club, and
attend to enrollment and issuing of
membership card. If unable to attend
the meetings of the club, you will be
kept advised by the local secretary bf
any action taken by it.
Only by organ:zing as railway em
ployees and working and voting together
for men and measures that ofter us
protection, can we hope td maintain
even the present standard of railroad
ing, and wages.
You will be surprised to fini how
much your influence can accomplish if
you will but lend it. If you doubt this,
make the effort and be convinced.
In a cause like ours, those with
means help those without; do not,
therefore, stay out becau3e you cannot
afford to pay any dues. Your vote and
influence are what we desire most money
is secondary, although very acceptable
in paying expanses.
Our chief aim is to combine th! employees
in each county, so that they may be a power
in county as well as state elections this
year.
There was never a better opportunity
for railway and express employees to
make their power felt than in the com
ing elections, and if their interests fail
to receive proper recognition at the
hands of office-seekers, the fault will be
largely with themselves.
If already a member, please hand to
some employee who is not, and en
deavor to enroll him as a member.
Yours fraternally,
O. E. Coombs, Gen'l Sec'y.
W. W. Conk Li NT, President.
COMMENTS.
For nearly two years men working in
the interest of the corporations have
been at work in the northwestern
stages trying to organize the railway
employees into clubs for political pur
poses. The chief object set forth by
the promoters has been stated to be
the defeat of "granger legislation."
The men are approached with the
specious plea that if the freight rates
are reduced by legislative action the
profits of the "roads will be cut down
and their . wages will have to suffer.
The whole argument is based on the
idea that when a man hires to work ;
for a corporation ho should serve that
corporation on election day as well as
every other day; in other words the
railway employee should cease to be an
independent citizen, and become a po
litical slave.
Railway employees ought to have
learned by experience long ago that
the corporations pay no more wages
than they can help, nor do they give
any better treatment than they are
forced to give. The wages paid to the
men are not governed by the profit the
corporation secure?. Dj corporations
which are raakiog big profits pay any
better than others that make small
profits? As a matter of fact does not
the B. & M. which is part of the bast
paying system in the west, pay the
poorest wages and require the hardest
service?
Isn't it a very sup'cious circumstance
for railroad men to encourage organi
zation among their employees? Have
they ever done it before? The B. & M.
especially has been the deadly enemy
of organized labr. Remember the
great Burlington strike of 1887? Were
not Pinkertons imported into Nebraska
to shoot down organized men, and
crush one of the greatest organizations
of railway employees?
This is an attempt to array the labor
ing men of tho cities against the pro
ducers of the country. ,The farmers are
the true friends of every class of city
laborers. They have shown this in
every possible way. They are fighting
to secure justice and protection to
laboring men. They favor the use of
coupling appliances that will save the
railroad hand from danger to life and
limb. Thev favor ultimately govern
ment ownership of roads. Under this
system, every emp oyee would gee gooa
wages, fair treatment, and a pension if
injured, or his family would get one in
naaa he lost his life. How is it now?
If an accident occurs, the matter is
speedily hushed up, and if possible the
whole blame is thrown on to tho em-
rjlovees.
Suppose an employee is killed or
crippled for life Can any adequato
damasres be secured?
What has the crippled employve, or
the wife of the man who dies crushed
and mangled by hia engine to hope for
in a legal contest with a giant corpora
tion? Litt'e indeed. In such cases the
road usua'lv sends one of its legal tools
around to compromise the matter for a
few Daltrv dollars.
No, it is not the aim of the people's
party to injure any class or laoorers,
but to make all labor more profitable.
Tne laws they propose to pass, will not
lower tne wages oi railway empiujees,
unless hired attorneys, and lobbyists,
and officers who draw princely salaries
are set down a? employees. These
reforms will help the railway employees
by making greater openings for em
ployment. By Increasing the produc
tion of wealth they will increase the
business to be done by tho roads. By
opening up other avenues of employ
ment they will create a demand for
labor in other directions, and thus en
able men in all trades to demand better
wages.
The railway employees of Nebraska
should think well over these matters.
There is a crisis approaching in this
country. The great battle between or
ganized labor and organized capital is
on. They must take their stand on
one side or the other. The two old
parties are controlled in the interests
of organized capital. The people's
party stands for the laboring man and
the producer. Is it possible that the
railway employees of Nebraska will
cast their votes in the interest of or
ganized capital at the coming election?
Laboring men of Nebraska, your em
ployers can no longer march you to the
polls and vo'e you on peril of losing
your jobs. You have the Australian
ballot. You are free when you stand
in the voting booth. You can vote for
yourself, your wife and babies, and
none but yourself and your God need
ever know how you voted. Will you
doit?
No Debate at Crete.
The third of the joint debates be
tween Dech and Hainer which was ad
vertised for Crete, Oct. 6th, was put off.
It was to be at the fair grounds and the
management would not consent to stop
the racing, so the debate was put off.
It will occur at Wilber the 17th.
SIcKeighan and Andrews In the
WoolyWfst.
Venango, Neb., Oct. 5, 1892.
Editor Alliance-Independent:
I want to tell you something about
the woolly west. On the 4th inst
there was a political joint debate in our
thriving little villege of Grant be
tween our congrosjman W. A. Mc
Keighan and that other want to be
congressman, Prof. Andrews. Now I
want to ask, does the g. o. p's. take us
for cattle out here? If they do they
will be badly mistaken on the 8th of
next November. Now we went there
to hear a joint debate but McKeighan
had the joint and Andrews was diving
for the bait. He got it too, in the neck.
If a man was a half judgo of human
nature and watched " the countenances
of tho two men, ho could not help pro
nouncing Andrews argument a fraud
from beginng to end. Why, the con
founded rascal had the audacity to pro
duce to us glassware and plate ware
that was (or said to be) manufactured
in the United States. If ho is a com
mercial traveler representing some
firm of th's kind, why id'nt Andrews
show us that English brand under that
paper when requested? Oh no, that
would have been a dead give away.
Should I have gone home from that
grand jollification and told my children
that Ardrews told the truth, I would
want to bo blown up with dynamite.
Now that honest cool Jheaded McKei
ghan sat there like a roan whlU ndrews
threw mud and slush in all directions.
I want to tell you he had no platform
to base his arguments on. He had no
platform to stand on for when a half
dozen of those 200 imported yelpera
got on the stand to yell for him, she
broke down and likewise did the glass
ware break. Oh well, we were all in
dependents in this county but 29 and
McKeighan got 25 of them, and the
other four ar) going out west, so wo
are all right. Hurrah for McKeighan,
toll the Professor to go back in Posey
county and talk to the boys.
I have seen many campaigns , but I
don't think I ever heard a speech made
that caused more enthusiasm than the
one McKeighan made here. I think
the boys abused him. They come near
shaking his hands off then they carri
ed him on their shoulders for half a
mile. Well, William you do as well by
us again down in the capital as you did
before and when you come to old Per
kins again we will do you the same
way.
Andrews told us he was going to
Washington next winter, but wo didn't
half believe that unless he was going
to follow McKeighan down.
There is one thing I do denounce and
that is the disgrace that was brought
upon the fair name of cur county by
the "-importing of about 200 yelping
coyotes to disturb a public meeting. If
you fellows have mothers that you have
any respect for, for God's sake the next
time stay at home. Jones paid the
freight on you. Andrews lost 25 votes,
and you knocked the bottom out of the
republican platform and broke the
Professor's wares but hurrah for Mc
Keighan. Little John.
Tell the Truth.
Book Walter, Neb., Sept. 2e, '92.
Editor Alliance-Independent:
I am a reader of The Alliance-Independent
and am delighted with the
course you take in the people's cause.
Give the people true facts and nothing
else. Do not exaggerate even to the
smallest item, as the papers of the two
wings of the old party do. For the last
twelve years I have been in the same
nosition (Doliticallv) as Thomas Jeffer
son was: I conld not stand with the
republicans neither could 1 stand with
the democrats. But I stood in the
middle of the road and my stand is
there to stay until labor receives just
compensation and dominates over
capital. I had the honor once of voting
for James B. Weaver, and I expect to
vote once more for him if I live until
the 8th of next November.
Yours as a true worker,'
J. P. Weidner.
mm
Our "Songt of the People" Have Created
Tor Themselves a Nation-Wid 9
Demand Which Enables
Us Now to Reduce
the Price.
We have all along contemplated reducing1
the price of our songs Just M soon as we pos
sibly could do io, and we are exceedingly
glad to announce that prices will be way
down from this time forward. Tbo flnt coat
of sheet musio is heavy, and wo bave been
forced to eel! hitherto at nearly ordinary
prices. We shall now tell our new, popular,
splendid, unequalled songs at rates within the
reach of all.
Chairman Tsuboneck says: "Tour songs
aie the very best that bave been prepared
for our people , Hope you will do all In your
power to push the work. It Is badly needed
in every state." ...
The Arena says: "The songs just Issued
for the Industrial millions will, it we mistake
not, add tens of thousands of votes to the
ranks of the people's farty."
President Loucks, of the National Farmers'
Alliance, says: "Thei are admirably adiptod
for campaign songs.'
The Journal of the Knights of Labor says:
"They should be la the hands of all lovers of
liberty."
The New Forum sate: "The sentiment of
these songs is grand."
These words of unsolicited pralne Indicate
the enthusiastic reception they are .meeting
with everywhere.
Do you want songs that will bring down the
house? We have two that are regular swivel
guns, loaded with fun and. thunder, and each
worth more In making votes than a hundred
dry orators. Tneyare: "We Have the Tariff
Yet," and "The Taxpayers Sett.e the Dills."
"Get Off tho Earth," Is equally popular.
Mrs. Mary Baird Finch, our Nebrask pool,
saya: "If I culd write any thing as good as
'Oct Off the Earth,' 1 sheuld consider my
name and fame permanently established."
"The Workers' Battle Hymn -of Freedom."
istbenewMarseilalsehymnset to the won
derously thrilling French air. Nothing could
be more moving and insplr.ng.
"dons of America" is a now tune like the
Marseillaise, and we believe equally stirring
and tine. .
"The Alarm Beat." is our trumpet call to
actiou. It is one of our best quartette cam
palgn songs and arouses much enthusiasm.
"The Flag of Liberty" is tub patrlotto song
of the people's party. It will quicken the
pulses of all who love their oountry and hato
oppression. The Farm Field and Stockman
seleoted it from all our list to present to their
readers this week. '
"God Bave the People" is another son
that will Jive long. It touches a popular
chord.
You are hearing a gocd deal about "An
Honest Dollar." We have a song on that
subject (ready next week) which can't be
bear. Send for It at ence.
"Truth's ApproacbiDg Triumph" is a song
of the "tho isaud Tears." the reign of right
eousness for which we are lighting. It is a
beautiful, inspiring composition, refreshing
as a song of the angels to those who have be
come weary waiting.
Tne Weakest Must Go to the Wall" gets in
some tremendous blows again Ht the mony
land and transportation monopolists.
4 Lossi s and Lies" shows up where prone
come from and how obtained. It is red hot.
'-The Millennium Army" is Mrs. Lease's
favorite and she has reason to thiiik it our
best. .
Space lacks to tell the merit of the others.
NOW NOTICR: Any one of these songs
heretofore sold at 35 cents sow can be had for
20 cents. Three songs your cboioe, ftr 6J
cents. Seven songs for SI. 00. The entire
series, sixteen ia number, for f 1.50.
Order at once and get ready for t'ae great
est, grandest, most tnthuslastlo campaign tne
country has known.
The following is a list of the songs:
The Workers' Battle Hymn of Freedom. .
Right Shall Reign.
The Weakest Must Go to the Wall.
The Taxpayers settle the Bills.
Sons of America.
Get off the Earth.
The Flag of Liberty.
The Coal Baron's Song.
Truth's Approaching Triumph,
God Save the People.
We have the Tariff Yet.
The Alarm Beat.
The Millennium Army.
That "Uonest Dollar. , .'
Tj-mttpa anrl T,1ah
Tourists Trips.
Round trips to to the Pacific Coast.
Short trips to "the Mountain Resorts
of Colorado.
The Great Salt Lake. -
.Yellowstone National Park the most
wonderful spot on this continent.
Puget Sound, the Mediterranean of
the Pacific coast. .. -
And all reached via the Union Pacific
System. For detailed information call
on or address, ;
J. T. Mastin, C. T. A., 1044 O St.,
E. B. SLOSSOtfGen. Agt..
Lincoln, Neb.
