are often heard to wonder why for the benefit of its members, and workingmen are not more united, said benefits to come from some and give the advice that they other person. They invariably should be. How can such be ex- seek to restrict the number that pected when everything a person can reach that particular class. sees from childhood up are actions Suppose every branch of particular directed to benefit some class, or knowledge, skill or strength should set of persons, as against some bring about iron-clad regulations, other set of human beings? It is what else could be done than to found in our social, religious, com- enact that all the surplus be put mercial and industrial organiza- to death? tion. The motive underlying It is certain that any plan of nearly every one of them is to that kind would not benefit humanseek an advantage over other ity or solve any of the difficulties human beings. It is not to seek that humanity is combating to-day. benefits by drawing more from Yet it is such teachings that are nature, or to increase the product surrounding every person born of human ingenuity in gains from into the world. Can we expect nature's storehouse, but to direct anything else but man against what is gained toward this partic- man? ular set or that. In form they are The Knights of Labor were orconspiracies-even as to the ganized on principles that work on proper route to reach the "pearly a different plan than that, and gates." when lived up to bring results. Everything encourages a divis- The organization has not always ion of men, and it must necessarily been able to follow it because of show in practice. It will be true its contamination with its surof the laboring side of humanity roundings; still, it has made until all are forced on to a more greater advances in its comparacommon level; until all feel a com- tive short life than centuries of the mon force from one direction. It opposite method. is seen from too many directions now for mutual action against it. Those who would benefit humanity should teach the equality of It is practically impossible to human rights, not only teach it, map out a proper course to pursue but practice it. In a generation or without going back in our imagin- two results would begin to be seen. ation at least to an original state, Such persons should consider the and from that point map a course methods of every association they for humanity to pursue that will are connected with that has for its give to every person equal rights object the benefit of any portion of and opportunities, and make it society, and if those gains are to impossible for one to take advant- be reached by restricting or inage of another. Otherwise, in fringing on the rights or opporattempting to straighten out the tunities of any other person, or existing snarls in human relations, teach the superiority of any parwe are more than apt to transfer ticular breed or sect of men, drop an injury to one to an injury to them at once as a curse rather another, and map a course benefi- than a benefit to humanity. What cial only to our own limited en- is right needs nothing but its vironments or social circle, or run afoul of some one else's course. Look over the vast field of our labor unions. Analyze the objects of each, and it will be found to be demonstration to uphold it. If it cannot stand on that it is not worthy of consideration. And all are justified in following right, no matter where it may lead. The decision of Judge Ricks has other countries to enjoy the blessadded one more argument to the ings of freedom. They boast of many for the government owner- having captured the weapon by ship of railroads. If the relations which freedom can be gained and of railroad companies and their maintained; you have always had employes are now so much subject it, and yet what good use can you to law or court decisions, how can say you have put it to? it be expected to be equitable until government becomes the employer? Every labor trouble on railroads is adding weight to the arguments for the government it should be taken from us, and ownership of railroads. The workmen of Belgium have gained a foothold so that they can make themselves felt. The only question is, Will they use the right of franchise they have obtained or will they follow the example of American workmen and unwittingly use it to give greater power to their masters? Will they divide themselves between two machines, that back of the scenes are controlled by the same class? We do not believe they will for a generation at least. What they have gained cost them a struggle, and consequently they will value it accordingly. The right of citizenship cost the present generation of men nothing; it is valued accordingly. If it could be taken. from them for a few years, it would be the best possible thing that could come to them. "We never miss the water till the well runs dry." A struggle to regain it would unite all; once gained, at great cost, it would be appreciated and used as it was intended it should be. Just think of it, American workmen who have been complaining, your brothers in Belgium considered they have opened the way to freedom by gaining a right of voice in the government, the law-making power. You have it and use it not. Beware lest those foreigners outstrip you, and Americans seek It is not in the having but in the using that gives value to what we have, with the possession goes the duty to use. If it is not used. given to those who will. "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." Constant use of the means to maintain it is the price of its possession. WHAT SHALL IT BE? TRADE, OR LABOR ORGANIZATION? librium or equality between the service and the recompense, between what the one returns and the other gives. This should be the fundamental basis of all society. Through the strict adherence to these principles, we have not only gained the confidence of the highest Union Pacific officials, but we have gained the respect of all sensible people who have taken the trouble to investigate our principles Since 1884 we have maintained an 'organization of railroad employes on the Union Pacific system, based on principles that conform to the Declaraof Independence. In fact, it was the declaration of independence for the Union Pacific employes. This organization has been known as the Union Pacific employes. In March, 1885, it or examine the foundation on which was placed under the jurisdiction of District Assembly 82, Knights of Labor. At that time there was a union established on this system worthy of the name. At that time men did not exhibit the selfish feeling of superiority because of their occupations. At that time they did not consider those in humble occupations as inferiors, and the only reason some men do not associate with their inferiors to-day, is because they never meet with any. our organization rests. Since February, 1886, we commenced the publication of the UNION PACIFIC EMPLOYES' MAGAZINE, in which these principles have been advanced to the best of our ability. Our motto has been: "Your light shines none the less by shining for others." Equal rights for all must be recognized by organized labor, to be of lasting benefit. Trade unions can only thrive where a selfish feeling of superiority reigns supreme. Mechanics who can be drawn into them with the worn-out argument of centuries past, are mostly those whose zeal outstrips their judgment. In 1884, all were united to defend themselves against all oppression. A certain Scythian king ingenuously demonstrated the strength of such a union on his death-bed, when he called Too often they are individuals who his children to him and asked one of are continually aching to be at the head them to break the bundle of arrows. of some trade union and be recognized While those disunited, abandoned as leaders. Any one who has studied each to his own personal strength, fall the history of craft guilds and trade into all the inconveniences attendant unions can see that many of these labor on an insulated state and individual leaders are never content unless they weakness, those who made it possible are forming some new society with the to divide this "bundle" on this system` understanding that they are to be the into numerous other organizations, leading officers. In this way some of made it possible in that ratio that ten the oldest organizations extant, clothed is to one, for a great corporation to with a new name, are still being utilbreak each bundle separately if it was ized for the advancement of selfish deemed to be to the interest of the cor- interests. poration. From the very beginning of the Union Pacific employes' organization, or more especially since it has been under the jurisdiction of District Assembly 82, Knights of Labor, we have insisted that there are reciprocal duties between employer and employe. These duties consist in the practice of actions that are respectively and justly useful to both; the rule and measure of these respective actions is the equi- stony ground. If the real object is to educate the people in the true principles of organized labor, why did these men who came here since not co-operate with those who had made possible the conditions existing here? The reasons they could not thrive here was because the best soil for the cultivation of true principles had been pre-empted. Their seeds were sown on We predicted from the beginning many labor leaders; some must be new the me between seed-time and harvest would be too short to suit the "alway outejais. relegated to their former stations in life to stop the useless expense of their maintenance, and to stop the continual flow of the wage-earner's surplus being treated like the present flow of gold into Wall street, New York, said to be like pouring water into a rat hole. August, 1592, when the petition was circulated for a separate agreement beweed he anions and the company, we circulated a counter-petition, securM ̧ our signatures to their one for the marinedance of General Order No. 61. I am glad to see that such men as Hexore the acc could be made known, Eugene Debs, just lately elected presiamod committee at Omaha suc- dent to a railway employes' organizawooded Paving their agreement tion, sees the necessity of different gded; The company being aware that methods, and hope they will see the Yove was dea being taken whether further necessity of adopting principles o suhide if the agreement was that will admit something besides the cased. They now claim one clause wage question; something that will cocuk has been most flagrantly make it a school for the advancement ccadae ucu were employed of economic principles; something that hours was being worked. will increase the educational qualificato convoice those who are not in- tions of its members. We are being taught some valuable lessons by the consolidation of capital, for this reason the vast army of wage-workers are commencing to be opposed to maintaining a host of leaders in numerous organizations. They know that the business of the whole can be done by one organization at much less cost of maintenance. It matters not what you call the organization so long as it is founded on justice to all. A story is mecanio hold his told of the meeting of three men, a Greg & coacrary course? locomotive engineer, a locomotive fireagy had railed in their man and a railroad official. ben_gel-gement, and dining together the first-named said: dod former success, "Let each of us propose a toast." The Mkwa up a engineer rose, and in the tone of the X much later, so boldest of his craft, said: "Here's to vetemed walk alone, the B. of L. E., whose sun gives light Vsega polerade refusing to all other crafts." The fireman was " copy that portion of Article belt rectuent relating to this, mea reads as follows. "The force nereused while the time is excala, odcept when absoe carry on the work Cho emphasis on A " ་ ་ rock red over employ men 、、་ While ave to the same almost knocked out on the first round, werd have be resorted but finally proposed: "Here's to the the that one had B. of L. F., the moon of organized Menace the strike that crafts, whose magic rays move the tide beeres branother of all the rest." Wazine will peal Onter No. Then arose the railroad magnate, and with an air of quaint modesty, said: vega ju såp køet demands "Here's to the C. B. & Q., the Joshua Any further of railway corporations, who com All the manded the sun and moon to stand demed ex months with the still-and they stood still." These two ganisation are organizations, the strongest, it has been peness of so claimed, in the country, with the moral aid and financial support of many the communities, not excepting human others, failed. Is it not folly to longer beings as slaves. attempt such methods? H. BREITENSTEIN. MONEY. Perhaps there is no subject within the sphere of political economy to which more study has been devoted, and is less understood, than money. As the onward march of progress continued and mankind was ever advancing to a higher civilization, the institution and offices of governments were increased in number, the variety and complications of trade were multiplied; capital began to accumulate, and it sometimes became necessary to pay over large amounts of the article used as the medium of exchange, which was found to be cumbrous and troublesome when in the form of salt, tobacco, grain, etc., and the inconvenience suggested to their minds a material of rarer value, and silver and gold were adopted. These metals, silver and gold, with copper or other substances for convenience as aliquot parts of the gold or silver unit, when fractional parts of these metals were too small for convenience, have proved the best adapted and most satisfactory materials for money from time immemorial to the present. We trace the use of silver as money through the grandest and most glorious period of Roman history, when the legions of Rome were "Necessity," it is said, "is the mother of Invention," but in money and the banking systems it has engendered for its wise and economical circulation, in a manner that it cannot be profitably hoarded, but kept in the channels of trade; it can scarcely be said to come under the head of inventions, but was born into existence by necessity, nevertheless, as the natural evolution of changed conditions and environments. But, however, this thing called money constitutes one of the most important and responsible factors in National economy. Money in gold and silver is a measure of value, a standard of value, having an intrinsic value, therefore the best medium of exchange. In the early and rude stages of civilization, crowned with victory and glory on when the human race consisted of wandering tribes, and the will of the chief was the law which inspired obedience, a medium of exchange was unthought of, and unnecessary, and exchange of commodities by the rule of barter was sufficient for the age; but as time rolled on and communities became established and organized, and agriculture was added to the primitive arts of hunting, fishing and tending of flocks and herds, the cultivation of crops and the need of requisite imple- chivalry and feudalism—and has stood ments and other appurtenances put new life into their affairs, so that trading in the way of barter began to perplex transactions, and it became apparent it (barter) had outlived its usefulness, and something as a medium of exchange was first introduced. every battlefield, and their achieve- The the test of the crushing extravagance of despots and tyrannical aristocracies, who lavished in luxuries the most licentious and dissipated; and it paid the cost for several centuries of almost incessant wars. At different epocs within the past In those times different materials two centuries, agitators of an exclusive had been used as money, in accordance paper currency, to be issued by the with the convenience and necessity of government, have advanced theories |