all banking business. The final struggle, how- Amy Paxton was lost by boiler explosion, She ever, will be hard one. The cry here now is boycotte the east, and it is a righteous cry, the less we have to do with the eastern states the better; they have too much "anglo-mainiasm" among them any way. L.A. 3218 still keeps solid to the front. Masterworkman Gorman has been away a month taking in the World's Fair. It is expected he will have gained some new ideas on the labor question while there, and we will all get the benefit of them on his return. Everything moves along smoothly in the shops, though the reduction in force is seen at a glance. Politics will be coming to the front soon and workingmen ought to see the need now of taking a hand in it themselves. Even the new party, with its grand platform for their benefit, will prove of no good to them if they do not take a personal and practical hand in the party and political affairs, and not let the professionals run it for them. It was that element that made the old parties what they are, a disgrace to a people's government. XXX. PORTLAND, Ore., August 16, 1893. Editor Magazine: A few months ago I arrived in Portland and after looking for work for some time I at length found it at the Albina shops. I am a constant reader of your Magazine and have been for years and I am always interested in the local correspondents wherever I chance to be located as I consider that department the most important. Whoever your local correspondent here is I know not, yet I notice he does not touch on points I think he should. I find this place bad as far as treatment of men goes. I do not wonder at it as I have learned there is eight or nine different labor organizations here, and a majority of them working for self alone, and they actually are alone, and very lonely at that. I have also discovered that there is a great aversion here for the Knights among the employes. This I must attribute to prejudice or ignorance, since I find a number here who once belonged to the organization, and yet they know less of the aims and objecls of the organization than those that never belonged. They continually prate about oppression and yet they do not know that they are the ones to blame. I find several members of the order here, but from close observation I think they are poor assembly visitors; and a number of them seem to be in bad standing, yet they seem to have money "despite the hard times," for other organizations and amusements of all kinds. We all agree that times are hard, but had it not been for the K. of L. times would be worse on this road, as any man who worked on the road in 1884 can tell you if he will. Thirty-five hours per week is small that is true, but take 10 per cent from it and it will be smaller yet. Work is accumulating notwithstanding all the hurrying and hustling, regardless of dull times on the road. On August 14th, steamer did the company's work on the Snake River between Lewiston, Idaho and Raporia, Washington. Several lives were lost and a number of persons were injured. Six banks exploded in Portland the last week in July. The Portland Savings Bank being one of the number, and hundreds of depositors are destitute under "the best banking system the world ever saw." An over-production of depositors caused the explosion. No wonder "Grover the great Jehovah" wants a rest; the conditions that confronts him would make men less corpulent than he is, weary. Conditions are such as to cause a person to think, and I have been thinking of late what has caused the calamity that now confronts us. There is one thing positive, every true K. of L. can have a clear conscience, as we have warned the people of this country and of the world for years of the impending danger. For twenty-four years the Paul Reveres within our ranks have lit the watch-towers from Bangor, Maine to Portland, Oregon and from the frozen Lakes in the North to the Gulf in the South. By night and day they have rode, not as Paul Revere of 1775, but by lightning express, but the minute men have been hard to arouse from their slumbers; they have not been on guard as the heroes of old. Oh, shades of Washington, Knox, Green, Wayne, Marion, and the spirits of the heroic dead who fell under their leadership, look down with complacency upon the people you shed your blood to free from kingcraft and oppression, and inspire us with the courage you possessed when you drove King George's hireling Hessians and robbers from our shores, and enable us to regain our lost liberty, that we may hand down to posterity the liberty you left us. A TRAMP. SHOSHONE, Aug. 19, 1893. To the honorable senators and representatives of the State of Idaho in congress. We the members of Local Assembly, 3810, Knights of Labor, desirous of making known to you our views upon certain measures of public interest now before congress, take this opportunity to do so, and believe this can best be done, and done briefly, by indicating to you how it would please us most to have you vote upon these different measures as they may be presented to the Legislative body of which you are a member. In the hope that our views on these questions will harmonize with those of yourself and colleagues, we submit the fellowing: On the question of the further issuance of bonds, we are most emphatically opposed, for the reason that the amount of silver that might be mined and minted is sufficient to meet this present emergency, and if it were not, congress had the power to authorize the issuance of noninterest bearing treasury notes, that will serve every legitimate purpose which it is intended the bond shall serve, and we urge the repeal of that portion of the Act of January 14, 1875, which permits the Secretary of the Treasury in his dis- and also our gang boss. The general foreman cretion to issue interest bearing bonds, will see that none of the boys get into mischief until he returns. We are opposed to the Government entering into a compact or partnership with a private company or corporation for the construction of the Nicaragua Canal; or the giving of any subsidy or bonus to a company, or the taking stock by the Government in a private enterprise for the construction of the canal. On the other hand we advocat the Government acquisition of the right of way for a Nicaragua canal, together with the Government construction and ownership of such canal, as outlined in the bill introduced by Senator Stewart. In the latter case there would be no conflict or contention as between the interests of private investors and the Government. We are opposed to, as unnecessary, any further strengthening of the military arm of the Government, as indicated by the recommendations of General Schofield and Secretary of War, Elkins. Believing that money intended for that purpose could be put to a much better use by expending it upon irrigation works in the arid region, or the employment of idle labor on various river and harbor improvements. The increasing use found for the military for display purposes at succeeding inaugural, is unnecessary, un-American, and smacks too much of European practice. We urge your support of the resolution for a constitutional amendment for the election of United States senators by direct vote of the people. We would earnestly protest against any reduction of the tax on national bank issue, from one per cent. to one half of one per cent. per annum, also against an extention of their right to issue notes to the full amount of bonds deposited, in short we are opposed to any further legislation favoring that privileged class, the banker and money lender, until the interest of the industrialists, have received some attention from Congress. Our desire for silver is expressed in a word. Free and unlimited coinage at a ratio of sixteen to one of gold, without compromise. Respectfully, F. A. CHAMBERLIN, M. W. H. W. MITCHELL, R. S. NORTH PLATTE, Aug 23, 1893, Editor Magazine: I scarcely know what to write this month as there is a good many important questions agitating the people's mind at present. We are working seven hours a day only, since the fourteenth of the month. This will pinch the laboring men that are working for $1.65 per day for ten hours. At present they won't make but $1.15 When they pay rent and buy coal they won't have much left to live on. There has been a few men layed off here in the last two weeks. They were helpers in different departments and some round house men. A number of the shop boys have taken a lay off nd gone to see the sights at the World's Fair I understand some of our local foremen have been doing a good deal of guessing concerning an article in my last letter that if one of their number did not keep his eyes open, his name would be mentioned in our next letter and so it would. I mentioned that for the benefit of the foreman himself, but I notice a few days ago that he opened his eyes wide open, and he wants to keep them open or his fine haired friend will do him if he gets half a chance. Yours truly, MCGINTY. Resolutions adopted by, L. A. 3810, K. of L., August 12, 1892. Resolved, That, as an industrial proposition the silver question appeals with peculiar force to all America, inasmuch as six States and three Territories, comprising one third of the area of the country, are largely dependent on mining, and the industries allied to it, for their prosperity, that in addition to this, vast trans-continental railway and transportation interests are dependent upon vigorous prosecution of mining in the States and Territories and the country cannot afford to see that industry destroyed. Resolved, That it is the duty of the senators and representatives of Idaho in the matter of silver, as in other matters, to regard the will and interests of their constituedts and of the people, rather than the wishes of the party leaders and the President and that these representatives of this State should so serve the public regardless of patronage or party advantage. Resolved, That as silver is the money of the constitution, and its rehabilitation has steadily been opposed by the money loaning class, therefore the time for trifling has passed, and we call upon our representatives in congress to work and vote for the free and unlimited coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1 with gold, without compromise of any kind. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to each of our representatives in congress, and copies sent to the reform press of the State. LOCAL ASSEMBLY, 3810, UNION PACIFIC EMPLOYES' MAGAZINE. VOL. VIII. OCTOBER, 1893. UNITY THE FIRST ESSENTIAL. No. 9. widest possible opportunity for development, the greatest liberty, The history of mankind is but and the purest of happiness. All the history of a great organism. the difficulties lay within the orWhen we speak of civilization, we ganism itself, and, as it is the refer to a growth of that organism, major portion who have not this and it can be but a comparative at present, in just that proportion term. What its possibilities are to the whole, does the fault lay cannot be imagined. The civil with themselves? ized of the present era may be the barbarious of the next. com The labor movement, as monly understood in its practical The forces for this growth arise every-day application, is confined within the organism itself. Parts to the relations between employer contend against parts. A reform and employe, hirer and hireling, movement but represents one or a master and servant. Comparicombination of these parts. It sons of our present civilization gathers strength and nears the with that of earlier periods shows goal sought as it gains in size, as advance only in the degree that the individual units realize the the latter class have risen to be need and come together. It may considered of more importance in have its start in one of those units, but generally arises first as a resistive force against the destructive influences of other parts. A true reform movement can only be one that gives growth to the social organism. The forces it contends against are necessarily destructive. the social organism, or have asserted their right to a higher place in it. The true solution will have in it the elimination of the two classes. There can be no solution while there is an opportunity left for contention. The every-day labor movement The labor movement being a must be principally confined to movement for the elevation of the adjusting, as the way is prepared major portion of humanity, which through the light of educational as a whole, makes this great social influences, the relation between organism, includes in its scope all the greater, employee, and the other moves for the betterment of lessor, employer, classes. The mankind, or, all movements for larger is on the progressive side, the improvement of social rela- the side that is building a broader tions, of the workings of this great structure for humanity. The first organism, are but different forms of essential, then, for any movement the labor movement. The object on its part is unity. There must sought is to give to each part the be a pulling together in the same direction; if not, no force is exer- become united on some common cised, or it is expended on itself. point. Such large bodies of them It matters not so much as to the have one common employer, and scope of the principle all agree the influences affecting employon, as it does to be united on ment are so near alike to all, yet it something and in the right direc- has never been an accomplished tion. Those labor must contend fact yet, notwithstanding efforts against, knowing the power possi- made in various directions. ble to gather. even from unity on Federation of the various organone thing, seek only to destroy ized bodies did not succeed, bethat, or prevent such existing. cause each body was organized for That there is a wage-labor ques- the special interest of those it emtion to be considered to-day, is braced, and that in many ways due entirely to their success in came in conflict, and a true fedthat line. Labor has not been eration was thus impossible. The able to establish the first thing es- first essential-unity-could not sential to its success. Grand at- be established. Yet the need is tempts have been made at it, in recognized by all when the pracplaces slightly successful, as shown tical power of organization is in the results, but never as affect- wanted. Railroad employes ought ing general conditions, and until to be intelligent enough to solve it does become accomplished but this question and become practilittle progress can be expected. cally united. They ought to be The true reformer, than, the one ready and willing to recede from who is doing some practical good, the various individual positions is the one who is using his energy assumed in the past for the sake in establishing the main and first of establishing this first thing thing needful, unity. It would needful. terms, discuss questions of common interest and plans for aiding them, but the moment one brings forward the organization he has been allied with as his reinforcement, a chasm is at once discov seem like an easy task when the It is a possible and a decidedly comparative condition of the pro- needful problem to have solved. ducers, the wage earners, are con- Effort at organization in the past sidered; so much so that all could have resulted, practically, to drivagree upon that they would like ing them further apart. We see different, and could have without men meet on the most fraternal further effort than simply uniting for it, still; as practice has proven, it has not been. The principle is often forgotten in disunity over some non-essential, as the name of the movement, as if a rose would not smell as sweet with one name ered between them, the organizaas another, and unity is quite as often destroyed in personal prejudices, arising over some question that has no practical need of consideration there. So marked is this that many a man has given up in despair his attempts to bring about unity in large bodies of men. Break down the destroying causes in one particular, and it appears in another. Railroad employes, of all other wage earners, ought to be able to tion takes the place of the individual, and between the organizations there is a gulf, a repelling force created at some other time and practically impossible to neutralize. Such is having more to do to prevent unity than anything else. Remove that influence, and at once between such individuals unity prevails; they are ready to care for those mutual interests. The illustration will apply to thousands as well as a few. Destroy as was ever seen before a throne? A power existing only in imagination, which, if we as a people would only deny, would at once vanish, as have thrones when people disregarded them. every organization of labor to-day, support of custom as ever a mother and the animosities that have ex- on the banks of the Ganges did isted between thousands of work- when throwing her child to the ingmen would be wiped out with crocodiles, or the widow who gave it. It does not seem as if such a her body to her husband's funeral step should be necessary; that the pile? Do we not bow in as great same result can be reached by humiliation to a recognized power stopping and reasoning together for a few moments, if the opportunity to get together is afforded, and the good of past efforts is retained, while only the bad is destroyed. Yet this end should be reached even if it be necessary to Go into our crowded cities and begin over again, starting as if no there see mothers forced to see attempt had ever been made. It their babies starve, in holy subwas on such a plan that the mission to a condition, a custom Knights of Labor started. Its learned to be regarded as the dipractical feature was to first bring vine will, that makes the parents men together. It can continue on unable to feed them; and was those lines, yet thousands went throwing them to the crocodiles into it for personal ends, and any more barbaric? See the widow either having accomplished them working her fingers to the bone or failed and then deserting it, in humiliating submission to the and as an excuse condemned the demands made by society upon organization, thus sowing the seeds her, and under the conditions it of opposition. In some localities creates living a slow death, and is this opposition must be recog- there anything less honorable in nized, and to establish unity some- the quicker death on the funeral thing working in the same direc- pile? See the average farmer tion must take its place. Let the toiling night and day to pay the effort of all true men be to over- interest on an obligation he has come the mistakes of the past assumed in order to have the use and do that which will aid the of some of mother earth, and what uniting of men. Let some means is there more barbaric in bringing be established where those great tribute to a king? principles underlying the whole question may be studied, and where confidence and respect for each other may be created and propagated. BARBARISM OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. We, who are living in places called civilized, congratulate our selves on the improved state of our surroundings and customs, as compared with ancient or present barbarous peoples. But have we so much improvement to boast of? Do we not suffer as much in We do these things because we have been taught to. The barbarian, so-called, did the same. To him it was no worse or more galling. We are slaves to custom. We hesitate to question the rights of its dictation. The farmer struggles along in a hopeless contest simply because custom recognizes ownership in what no man can show a deed to, other than was created by force. He agrees to pay for the assumption of what the other thus held, and pay interest on the amount agreed upon. The other performs no labor, but receives on an average more than the surplus product |