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The Commoner.
OCTOBER 18, 1912
3
M
Railroad Men and Other Toilers
"Stop! Look! Listen!"
' How Figures Will Lie When Twisted by
Republican Politicians
The republican national committee (Taft
branch) is distributing circulars among tho
railroad men predicting a panic and hard timos
In tho event of democratic victory.
Following is one of the extracts from this
circular:
RAILROAD MEN
STOP! LOOK! LISTEN!
LEST YOU FORGET
$71,338,870.00
Big sum of money, isn't it?
Nevertheless, it's exactly that much more paid
to tho railroad employes of the United States
under tho administration of President Taft in
1010, than was paid in 1007, tho year beforo
Air. Taft became president.
This is a sample of tho old timo republican
habit of claiming credit for all natural progress
credit oven for good crops.
It is true that in 1910 the "wages, of railroad
employes amounted to somo seventy-one million
dollars moro than in 1907.
But that represented THREE YEARS pro
gress. Stop! Look! Listen! to this:
In 1906 tho amount paid to railroad employes
was $900,801,653. In 1907 it was $1,072,386,
'427. This was an increase IN ONE YEAR of
$171,584,774. This was an increase IN A
SINGLE YEAR preceding the Taft administra
tion amounting DURING A SINGLE YEAR to
more than -double the increase DURING THREE
.YEARS of the Taft administration.
As a matter of fact 1908 was really "tho
year before" Mr. Taft became president; and
it will be seen that tho first year of Mr. Taft's
administration (1909) showed a falling off in
railroad employes wages, as compared with the
year 1908. This falling off aggregated $47,113,
834. The republican national committeo (Taft
branch) forgot to say anything about railroads
sold under receivership. Let railroad men
"stop, look, listen" to this:
During the four years preceding the Taft ad
ministration twenty-three railroads were sold
under foreclosure. These comprised 1,193
miles and involved stocks and bonds aggregat
ing $47,031,000.
During three years of the Taft administra
tion (1909, 1910 and 1911) forty-two railroads
were sold under foreclosure. TheBe comprised
5,115 miles and involved stocks and bonds ag
gregating $384,434,562. This shows an in
crease of RAILROAD FORECLOSURES UNDER
THE TAFT ADMINISTRATION aggregating
'(the increase) more than a quarter billion of
dollars.
In another circular Issued by the republican
national committee (Taft branch), the follow
ing statements are made:
The total number of railway employes In
1805 was 785,034.
The total number of railway employes in 1911
was 1,000,800.
Under republican administration tho number
of railway employes has increased from 785,
034 during a democratic administration to
1,000,800, an increase of 014,775, nearly ONE
MILLION men.
Do you want a democratic president and re
turn to conditions and number of employes of
1805?
The Taft committee has chosen 1895 so that
It may point out that the Wilson tariff bill was
on the statute books at that time. But the com
mittee fails to say that that was the culmination
of the hard times beginning and continuing
under the McKinley high tariff law.
This temporary falling off really began under
the McKinley high tariff law. In 1893 while the
McKinley bill was on the statute books the
number of employes amounted to 873,602 or
Si 5 employes for every 100 miles of railroad.
In tho following year (1894) th number ot
employes decreased to 779,608, or 444 to the
100 miles. This was a decrease in the aggre
gate of 93,994 and in tho number of employes
per 100 miles of 71.
Bear in mind that tho McKinley high tariff
law was on tho statute books from October 6,
1890, until AugUBt 27, 1894. On August 27,
1894, tho Wilson lower tariff bill becamo a law.
Now tho number of railroad employes began
to increase In 1895 (under tho Wilson lower
tariff law) after tho panic (which began No
vember 11, 1890, under tho McKinley high
tariff law) had spent Its force.
In 1895 (under the Wilson lower tariff law)
the number of employes increased to 785,034,
an Increase of 5,426. In 1896 (under tho
Wilson law) tho number of railroad employes
increased again to 826,620 an Increase in one
year of 41,586.
Now the year 1897 was the first year of the
McKinley administration. During that yoar tho
number of railway employes fell off to 823,476
a decreaso of 3,114 in the aggregate, or a do
creaso of five employes to every 100 miles.
The truth is that these Quotations wero not
duo to political conditions. The country has
grown and will continuo to grow in spito of any
thing political parties may do.
It is not true that domocratio administration
means hard times. On the contrary, it is truo
that every panic since the civil war (and wo
have had four of them) began under republican
administration and under high tariff law. This
was true of the "Black Friday" of September,
1869, when the republican party was in power
and was entering upon a new lease of national
administration. This was truo of the Jay Cooko
panic of September, 1873, when tho republican
party was in power and had but a few months
before been re-elected to another four years'
term. This was true of the so-called "Panic of
1893," which began November 11, 1890, under
a republican administration and a little more
than thirty days after the McKinley tariff law
had been put upon tho statute books. This was
true of the panic of October, 1907, diying which
panic every banking house in the country sus
pended cash payment The DIngley high tariff
law, the highest then known, was on the statute
books and the republican party was In full con
trol of every branch of the government Whito
House, senate and house of representatives.
To revert to the number of railroad employes.
There has been a steady increase In the number
during the last thirty yoars averaging about
one hundred thousand every year, with tho fol
lowing exceptions: 1894 when under tho Cleve
land administration there was a decrease of 93,
994; 1897 when under republican administra
tion there was a decrease of 3,114; 1904, when
under republican administration, there was a
decreaso of 16,416; and 1908, when under re
publican administration, there was a decrease
of 235,799.
In 1894 the decrease amounted to seventy-one
men for every one hundred miles of railroad.
In 1897 the decreaso amounted to five men for
every one hundred miles of railroad. In 1904
the decrease amounted to twenty-eight men for
every one hundred miles of railroad. In 1908
tho decrease amounted to 112 men for every one
hundred miles of railroad.
The fact is "God's In His heaven, all's right
with the world" particularly America. But
railroad men, as well as all other working men,
and all sorts of men for that matter together
with every honest industry upon which men de
pend for livelihood will bo In better shape
under an administration (such as Woodrow Wil
son's) that will be free from trust control and
In a position to strive for "the greatest good to
tho greatest number."
RICHARD L. METCALFE.
If Mr. Roosevelt is losing more than Mr. Taft
It must be remembered that he had more to
lose. Mr. Taft has lost as much as he could
under the circumstances.
NKW DEMOCRATIC CLUHS
Now clubs reported to Tho Commonor up to
and including Friday, October 11, 1912:
Wilson Club, Princeton, Nob. Henry Snooker,
president; J. B. Pasloy, vico president; Henry
Riley, socretary and treasurer.
Woodrow Wilson Club of Clatsop County,
Astoria, Ore. Olaf Anderson, prosldont; C. W.
Mullins, socretary; Geo. Kaboth, treasurer.
Woodrow Wilson Club, Narborth, Pa. Chas.
E. Humphreys, president; David J. Torry, vice
prosldont; Kdw. S. Haws, secretary and treas
urer. Wilson Club, Titusvillo, Pa. J. J. Marron,
chairman.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Camden, Ind. II.
S. Case, president; J. H. Lesh, socretary.
Young Mon's Woodrow Wilson Club, Gary.
Ind. D. J. Droughal, president; Emmet N.
White, vico president; Clarence Dorman, socre
tary; G. Burscher, treasurer.
Woodrow Wilson Club, Warronton, Oro. V.
II. Coffee, president; Leo Straus, vico prosldont;
G. II. Greer, secretary and treasurer.
Wilson and Marshall Club, OBhkoBh, Wis.
E. S. Hinman, president; F. C. Stewart, vice
president; A. H. Gruonwald, secretary; F. S.
Ideson, treasurer.
Wilson-Marshall-Ayors Club, Tazewell, Va.
J. S. Bottimoro, president; T. A. Repass, treas
urer; S. M. B. Coulllng, Jr., secretary.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Vlnita, Okla.
J. J. Spencer, prosldont; E. N. Williamson, soc
retary. Wilson and Marshall Club, Hooposton, 111.
G. E. Russell, president; Dr. F. P. Johnson, vice
president; A. D. Munson, secretary and treas
urer. Democratic Club of Bergen County, Hacken
sack, N. J. F. M. Taylor, president; A. T. Hol
ley, vico president; R. N. Heath, secretary;
Edwin Lowls, treasurer.
Wilson Club, Towner, Colo. R. J. McGrath,
manager.
Wilson-Marshall-Dunno Club, Boardstown,
111. John Brockor, president; E. E. Schultz,
vice president; C. H. Wynno, socrotary; C. C.
Garm, treasurer.
Wilson-Marshall-Ferrls Club, Bay City, Mich,
Walter J. Bill, secretary.
Wilson Club, Wichita, Kan.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Hopodalo, III.
L. J. Ilannlg, president; Jacob Henderson, vice
president; T. E. Saltormann, secretary; Jos.
Augsbergor, treasurer.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Pottsvlllo, Pa.
W. F. Shoperd, president; M. A. Goulden, sco
re tary.
Woodrow Wilson Club, Oakland, Cal. J. W.
Albright, president; E. L. Ormsby, secretary;
Major M. J. Bartlett, treasurer.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Lako Placid, N. Y.
M. T. Brewster, president; James Hendocs,
vice president; L. Carroll, secretary; P. Carroll,
treasurer.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Wotumka, Okla.
J. A. Long, prosldont; T. W. Mackoy, Yice presi
dent; Noah Dllback, secretary; P. H. Foster,
treasurer.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Reedsbnrg, Wis.
Henry Sorgo, president; Hugh W. O'Connor,
vico president; T. H. Motcalf, secretary; Emil J.
Backman, treasurer.
Young Men's Democratic Club of Wheeling,
Wheeling, W. Va.
Mr. Roosevelt gave us Mr. Taft He was the
Santa Glaus who put him 1& our stocking. Di
he know that the toy walked backward?
BOOSTING THE COMMONER CIRCULATION
P. J. Hendrlckson, Chairman Democratic
County Committeo, Columbus, Kan. Herewith
find check for $11.10 to pay for tho enclosed
club of campaign subscriptions. Later Here
with find check for $13.20 to cover tho enclosed
list of campaign subscriptions to Tho Commoner.
E. D. Fitchette, Publisher "Tho Arena," and
J. P. Lamb, Chairman Democratic County Cem
trcfl Committees, Michigan, N. D. Enclosed
plcaso find check for .$100 In payment for sub
scriptions to Tho Commoner. Please include a
many copies of the issue of September 27th as
yon can. This will make about 1100 subscrip
tions to Tho Commoner from Nelson county.
John O. Kccfe, Secretary Democratic National
Committee, Cavalier, N. D. I send yon here
with draft for $30.00 in payment for suhsczie
tions to The Commoner mb per enclosed list.
M. W. Clark, Sheldon, HI. I am endowing list
of 102 campaign subscriptions to The Coinmomer
running until after ejection and enclose here
with draft to pay for the same.
Wm. T. Layfield, Princess Anae, Md. Yew
will find enclosed list of 100 campaJga gubecrJp
tions to The Commoner ronnlag nstil after eleo
to and say check to pay for the same.
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