Shawnee Drum-Beat from Topeka, Kansas • 1

Stute Historical Society, KANSAS RAILWAY EMPLOYES ORGAN; ALSO OFFICIAL OltGAN OF THE BROTHERIIOOI) OF BRIDGE BUILDING MEN, AND BROTHERHOOD OF STATION MEN. Vol. No. 22. TOPEKA.

FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1893. Morgan Dunn, Editors. COIIIEITS, TOE AH) OTHERWISE. I'ci-HonnlN, City and Slate F.vonl Portal ulna to Hallway Employe and Other Luboriiitf Men. 1 of ibis department of the club.

Mr Bigler also says that many inquiries are reaching him regarding Ihe feasibility of the plan and I hut many nru expressing a determination to take out certificates. As soon as the printed mutter is ready active efforts will lie nmde all along the line to push the club foi ward. The Trades and Labor Assembly of this city had a welcome visitor at heir regular meeting Friday night iu the person of A C. Baker, chief clerk of the labor bureau, who gave them a short history of the recent efforts of that bureau to secure the enforcement of the eight hour law. At the close of his remarks he was warmly applauded and a vole of thanks was extended him with a liearly invitation to call again, A committee of three, consisting of J.

G. Sumuelson, M. L. Gos-horn and Mr. Orii was appointed loculi on the attorney general and the board of public works and urge them to take such steps as would make the eight hour law effective.

This committee met with considerable encouragement. A representative of the Register was also present at this meeting and made a talk in the interests of the only laboring man's paper la the state. Members of the assembly highly complimented the paper and gave it substantial encouragement. We made a call Messrs. Ady, Deters Nicholson while in Newton last week, and were very much edified in hearing Mr.

Ady talk upon the Ricks, Taft Co. decisions. Mr. Ady does not think that those decisions are near so far reaching or detrimental to the interests of organized labor tis has been supposed. He expects to use those decisions against the companies in his argument before the court of appeals in the trial now in progress at St.

Raul, where he is seeking to dissolve the Trans-Missouri Freight association. and asks for a perpetual injunction against fifteen railway companies to prevent them from making any such combinations. which he claims is in yiolation of the act of congress of July 2, 1892. lie presented us with a copy of his brief in this case, in which he shows plainly, to bur mind, the unlawful character of such an association. lie says that there is nothing in the Ricks-Taft decision to enjoin trainmen from striking or quitting woik at the terminii of their ruus, but that it only prevents them from leaving their trains in precarious positions or quitting work when by so doing they would make the companies violators of the interstate commerce law.

lie pointed out where those judges decided that employes could not be kept from striking under ordinary circumstances, and where out of seven strikers it was held that only one had been guilty of contempt of court by the time and manner in which he struck. Mr. Ady is one of the most lucid, clear and explicit talkers we have ever met, and the vague and perplexing legal points which harass the mind of even an. editor are by him made clear aud satisfactory. He is most heartily in sympathy also with the purposes of organized labor.

Tlie Laboring Man. To what class does the title, laborer, belong? To no one class. Those who "toil not, neither do they spin, are very few. The butterfly clement among mankind is of comparatively small size. The man who possesses millions frequently tolls more hours and ut more exhausting labor Ilian he who works leu hours per day for wages.

The lawyer and I lie merchant, the banker aud the priest find but few hours free from toil of some character, while they who till the soil and they who wield the hammer, ply the saw, feed the furnace or cast the net in the briny waters, or dig the ore, all work early and late and their frames grow, weary with toil Eveu the beasts of- prey among mankind, the thief and the confidence man, usually toil harder than would be required to provide a sustenance at honest labor. The term, laborer, and the phrase, laboring classes, are frequently missap-piied. As usually employed it refers to those who earn their living by physical labor. But this is a distinction with but little difference. In this day of intellectual progress and achievements, the brain worker is as necessary and is us much a laborer in the broad sense as the hand worker.

This misapplication of term and phrase leads to a misapprehension of the paramount question of the present hour, the relations of the laboring classes and an equitable adjustment of the differences existing. If the phrase, laboring classes, is understood to apply to all whose labor is of a physical nature only, the problem will never be solved for the actual necessity for readjustment of relations is between the employe and employer classes. It is Ihe mine earner, they who toil wilh mimele and brain for wage, aud they who pay them for their labor that are being agitated in this industrial unrest. Now if the term, laboringclass, is under-stood to apply to wage earner there will be no misapprehension, and the problem for readjustment of relations presents itself iu a proper aspect, mid the student is started aright. This divides humanity into two great classes; those who earn their living by receiving a stated wage for their toil und those who live by their own toil supplemented by the profits derived in their employment of the other class.

It becomes evident that if there is any real need for union on the part of Ihe laboring or wage earning class in order to obtain what they deem a reasonable and just recompense for their labor, that tin union of all of the wage earning class would lie beneficial. It is with this end in view that the laboring, i. the v.age earning classes, have been organizing for decades past, nnc' it is because that their organization Is growing so rapidly and that the employing class is beginning to feel the pressure of their demands, there1 appears the present industrial unrest and agitation. Is labor, i. e.

wage earners, well enough organized as yet to meet their opponents on equal ground? If not, it would be well for it to "make haste slowly for fear of rout and consequent disorganization. Most of Ihe mechanical, construction and transportation olas-os are fairly well organized, but by far the largest muss of the wage caru-rs are as yet unorganized. Unskilled labor lias ns yet but little conception of organization and of union with others in order to obtain a fair aud just recompense for its services, aud unskilled labor is, by far, the largest and most numerous cl.t'S of wage earners. Iu this state, for instance, railway employes are generally organized, except station men and track men, and these two classes constitute the nuijoiity of thefoice'. Now, in order to succeed iu elevating the plane of labor, tlie organized element among railway cm pit yes should not hold aloof -from the unorganized classes but should use all means to get them organized aud in acoudilion to stand shoulder to shoulder with the organized element in the great work for the uplifting of the masses.

What is true of railway employes is also true of other classes. Outside of the larger cities but very few of the ordinary wage earning trades are organized, but the largest class of the wage earners of this state, and elsewhere, are as yet unorganized, and have no thought or any idea as to what organization means or as to thr benefits to be derived therefiom. This, class is composed the farm hands, which, in numerical strength are greater than all other classes of wage earners combined, numbering at a conservative estimate at least 70,000 in Kansas. As was stated, in order for the wage earning class to be successful in its efforts for elevation to a higher social and moral plane, it is necessary that it be united or organized. This applies to unskilled as well as skilled wage earners, for if the skilled laborers are organized and the unskilled laborers remain unorganized and do not have, the principles of union iu-stilledin them, they prove the greatest check to the advance of the wage earners.

They hinder advance in main ways evident to the thoughtful person. Therefore it becomes necessary that organized labor must not be content with the organization of its own class, but it must also use every means to teach the principles of organization to every other wage earner, including the long neglected farm hand. It is in order that the laborer may know irbo is his friend aud to whom he must look for fellowship and assistance that the term, laborer, and tlie phrase, laboring man, should not be misapplied, but in this great movement it should be used in a restricted sense as applying to wage earners. Understanding this and realizing the necessity of union the intelligent laboring man will recognise in another wage earner, who toils for a stipend with either muscle or brain, his genuine sympathizer and coadjutor and will endeavor to show his sympathy for him by lifting him up from the low plane of an individual struggle in which his hand is agaiust every man and every mans hand is against him to a plane where he will find a union of brethreu who are willing to aid him. The laboring men, the wage earners, whether of brain or brawn, of mind or muscle must unite in this great struggle for equal rights to all mankind.

if Ids suggestions were followed out much of the trouble that now urines would come up no more. We will not eudeavor to give any synopsis of the article; we want every railway employe reader of the Register to read it for himself. However, we will say that Mr. Kelley touches the right spot when ho springs the idea that assurance cf permanent employment at reasonably good pay would lead to more satisfaction. Too many men are discharged without sufficient cause, und the tcuuro of position is too precurious to ep employes contented.

It would be well for railway employe's organizations to turn agieatdealof their attention toward securing from the directors of the railway companies the establishment of rules leading to the results mentioned by Mr. Kelley. The organizations railway employes should not be defensive alone; they should not only live to protect that which ttyey have secured. They should follow the exnmple of the pioneer, who going forth upon the wild lauds is not content with building a fence around the few Meres which he has improved and the little cabin which he has erected, Imt continues to increase his domain and erects better and more commodious buildings. So the railway employe should secure greater liberty' and more advantages, always being careful, also, to protect the interests of the capital, which in combination with his mental anil physical labor gives him employment.

The additional ndyantnges which the railway employe can consistently labor for are, permanency of situation, shorter hours of toil, less hazardous appliances with which to labor, and a day of rest. Tlie leaders of railway organizations might well give their best thought and most serious attention to these subjects, and devise plans ly which Hip officials who represent the interests of the capital might consistently and advantageously grant them. Force and numbers alone qsunot accomplish these things, but intelligence and reason can. The following encouraging item is clipped from the Midland Mechanic of May 19: "The Carpenters and Joiners of Kansas City are rapidly organizing. The first open meeting of No.

ICO was held on Thursday evening of last week. Although Mr, It. C. Langsdon, the organizer of the district, was not able to be here until a day or so after, the ball was started a-roll-ing. On Saturday evening another meeting was held and on Monday evening still another, with the result that 106 new members have been added to the union.

The carpenters of Kansas City ueed organization badly. They suffer from long hours and a poor rate of' pay, and the work of enlisting them in the cause of unionism will continue till the great bulk hold honorable working cards. The Register is always glad to note the growth of any bona-fide labor organization. Increased membership in these unions means increased intelligence, more education, brighter prospects and higher planes for laboring men, and it is only by the elevation aDd uplifting of the toiling masses that the world can be made better. These organizations can be made better thnn they are even now, and the Register hopes to seo them set a higher standard of life, and strive for a broader field than they have yet done.

Much has been accomplished, but greater things will reward intelligent effort, which is inspired by pure and unselfish motives. The past aims have been, and the present hopes are, too sordid, but a brighter dawn is breaking for labor, and the darkness of prejudice and class superstition is passing away, dispelled by thd glorious light of freedom. A Gift to a Giver. A special dispatch of May 27, from Sedalia, to the Kansas City Journal says: "At the last annual meeting of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, in Cincinnati, Ohio, $2,000 was appropriated to purchase a home for J. II.

Leach, who is known to the brotherhood as 'Dad Leach, who founded the order in 1863 at Port Jarvis, N. Y. To-day Grand Master P. Sargent and F. W.

Arnold, grand secretary of the brotherhood, arrived in Sedalia from Terre Haute, and met Messrs. Bowser of Sedalia, Mair of Parsons, and Keeler of Houston, Texas, composing the purchasing committee. The residence built for Dad Leach was inspected, and the keys turned over to the founder of the order with appropriate and very happy ceremonies. Workingmen, come together. Draw near each other.

Forget your own woes in your sympathy for those of others. Lay aside prejudice in your study of the great problems which present themselves to you for your solution. Above all, If you really desire ahighcrplauoof life, oractice those principles of sobriety, industry, temperance, charity and loyalty which elevate, and as each individual does so, thus will the mass be lifted. The Worlds fair was thrown open to the public last Sunday. The Register has taken no part in the controversy raging on this subject.

Many arguments which seem unanswerable have been presented on bctli sides. Meanwhile, whether the Worlds fair is open or closed on Sun day, Gods kingdom moves steadily forward and will eventually prevail throughout the earth, even unto the uttermost parts thereof. If all men will practice the teachings in their every day lives of Him who said the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath," all these wranglings will puss away. The Kansas City Journal has a hobby. It is the great changes that are to result from the recent discoveries in electrial sciences and in chemistry, According to the these are to revolutionize all the present idea, even to social customs and theological dogmas.

They are to point out the truth as to biology, or the beginning of life, and to change the accepted theory of creation as enunciated in scriptural phrase, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the Well, hobbies arc usually harmless and truth will prevail. Has the editor of the Kansas City Journal embraced the Moslem religion? What shall we say of the American Railway Union that wonderful organization which is to be born In a day, while trumpets blare and the great leaders of advanced thought among Iaboringmen pour forth words of burning eloquence, scorching all who oppose and carrying onward to certain victory all those who join the procession What shall we say? Wait. We confess that we hare a hesitancy about accepting anything which promises to suddenly and radically revolutionize the existing order of things. Not but what there is much in the "existing order that might very consistently and beneficially be radically changed, but experience and observation has taught us that great bodies move slowly, and thut when they move too swiftly there is generally a crash, and it takes a long while and much labor to gal her up the debris. If the American Railway Union can do all that is claimed for it in knocking out the cumbrous and expensive machinery of the present organizations, and at the same time give railway employes the same or greater benefits and protection, amen and amen.

But lets wait and see. A great many of the judges of the United States courts are making notable decisions of late. Judges Sanborn, Thayer and Shiras handed a concurrent decision from the court of appeals at St. Paul, which has quite an important bearing upon naturalization. It is hold that the power granted to Congress by the constitution of the United States to establish a uniform rule of naturalization is exclusive, and the naturalization laws enacted by congress in the exercise of this power constitutes the only rule by which a foreign subject may become a citizen of the United States, or a state within the meaning of the federal constitution and laws.

A foreign subject who is qualified to become a citizen of the United States under the revised statutes does not become such by filing his declaration of intention to do so. That section requires that he shall renounce allegiance to the sovereignty of which he is a subject, take an oath of allegiance to the United States and comply with the other conditions prescribed in the second and third paragraphs of section 2,165 of ihe revised statutes in order to become naturalized, and until he docs so he remains a foreign subject. On the inside pages of the Register of May 20 was an article from the pen of J. II. Kelley, who has his "remedy for the antagonism that exists between railways and their employes.

While the Register cannot altogether agree with him in his implied condemnation of the methods of the present organizations among railway employes, yet the fact remains that he tells some wholesome truths, and that Dan. Hiller, foreman of a bridge and building gang, has been transferred from this division to the Chicsgo division. The Typographical Union of lhis city meets next Sunday in regular monthly session, at Trades Assembly Hall. There are eight of these unions in this state. The bookbinders union of this city met in regulur session Monday night.

It is the best organized class of labor iu the city, there being but one bookbinder in the oily who is not a member and he is coming. Capital Lodge, No. 10, B. M. met in regular bi-monthly session on the 23th.

A fail ly good attendance and a very interesting session characterized the meeting. Some scores were cut preparatory to making the chips ily. J. G. Smith of Arkansas City and L.

L. Bigler of the general grievance committee on the Santa Fe of the O. R. C. have been iu the city several days this week consulting with tlie officials.

Two bettei men for this kind of work can scarcely be found. J. B. Ilulil, a young Santa Fe telegrapher, who just returned from 'Winfield the other day where he has been filling a vacancy, called on the Register Wednesday. lie goes to Chanute soon to till the position of night operator, while the gentleman who fills that place at present takes layoff, The Register man is under many obligations to several railroad boys for courtesies and kindness showu while in Newton; especially, Mr.

L. L. Bigler, Mr. A. 11.

Glazier and Mr. E. F. Brady. The latter kindly consented to act as collector for the Register at Newton, and as there are a number there who are indebted to the Register for a year or more we hope they will call on him and pay up in the next week or two.

Charley Maddox of Newton, who has beeu in the train service of the Santa Fe for the past thirteen years, severed bis connection with that corporation on the 23d iust. and accepted a position with the renowned Travelers Insurance company. He will work among trainmen particularly on the "great Santa Fe between Kansas City aud Denver and Kansas City and Purcell. He began work immediately. Maddox is well and favorably known among the men, and is a straightforward, honest and upright man, who will meet with favor.

The Register wishes him success his new vocation. While at Newton last week Hie Register representative was entertained for a short time at the residence of L. R. Thomas, by that gentleman and his amiable lady. Mr.

Thomas is becoming rather famous through his invention, mentioned several times in these columns, of a convenient attachment to ordinary lanterns by which they cau be transformed in an instant to any colored light. A supply of these appliances have already been furnished the men on the Chicago division of the Santa Fe and they are delighted with their convenience and simplicity. Mr. Thomas has also Inveuted several other simple aud convenient contrivances, which, as they are not patented yet, we cannot describe They are all meritorious and bear the marks of genius. Mr.

Thomas is one of the most genial men we have ever met and yery properly takes great pride in his inventions from which he should reap a rich harvest. L. L. Bigler of Newton, and A. McAllister of Hcriugton met with Messrs.

Naylor and Currier of this city Wednesday to perfect the plans for coroorating and setting in motion the beneficial department of the Railway Employes Club of Kansas. They ordered a number of folders containing the by-laws of this department printed for distibution, and took steps to incorporate it under the laws of the state. The directors chosen for the first year are A. McAllister of Ilerington, L. L.

Bigler of Newton, D. C. Naylor and LeRoy Currier of Topeka, and Leo Orr of Eldorado. Other charter members are A. R.

Glazier and M. McConnel of Newton, C. II. Sheffield, Henry Martin and W. L.

Root of Topeka, Dan. Sweeney (also treasurer) of Belleville and J. B. Eckard of Arkansas City. Mr.

McAllister reports that the employes whom he has met on the Rock Island art very anxious to be partakers of the benefits.