Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-10-28

Belgium and the low wages of the
working people, but he says nothing
about the financial and industrial pres
sure compelling the low railroad rates.
The Belgians are spirited and patri-
otto, as well as an industrious and
thrifty people; and there is limit to
the amount Of oppression and starva-
ton they are willing to endure. Brus-
sells is cousin-german to Paris, and the
Belgians, when goaded to desperation.
are quite as capable of making their
tyrants tremble as the people of France.
Their wages nre low, almost to the
point of destitution. Out of their small
incomes they can spare but little for
car fare. Hence car fare must be low,
or, wages must be raised A strike for
higher wages is very serious matter
in Belgium. 1t may mean great de-
struction Of property, involving loss of
of time with much blood shed. Only
few years ago Qss6) when the Belgians
were goaded to resistance, on the
''bread or blood" question, many mil
lions of dollars worth Of property was
destroyed by the fury Of the storm and
he "riot" was suppressed by the mill
tary power Of the government. An
earnest riot Of starving men in Bel
GUM means much. The government
breads it; the railroad management,
whether part of the government or
not, breads it; and, great precautions
are taken to prevent the dreadful cat
astrophe. Among those precautions
one of the most Important is the low
ering of the car fares to working men.
President Ripley says they are low
cred to working men only. That proves
my position. The management well
knows the danger point. The rates
are lowered under compulsion, and not
by the free will of the managers of the
roads The pressure is taken off where
it is most dangerous. The men must
be kept at work at all hazards; and it
must be done without raising wages
Hence fares must be lowered.
The problem is simple when all the
facts are stated. Men in most Euro
pean countries have, mainly, but two
methods Of relief; migration and insur-
rection. Belgians, Germans, English,
Irish, Italians and many others, use
both methods in varying proportions,
owing to the varying conditions and
the spirit Of the people. 1t this way
they ward off much oppression and get
special relief at the points of danger.
Belgium has her riots; and, also, her
out flowing stream Of migration. In
this latter way the population has
been somewhat reduced, as stated by
President Ripley. The slow rates to
working men only" come, then,
through fear of violence, on the one
hand and the fear of losing their best
workers on the other.
But, do these low rates, varying from
one-fitth to three-6fths of cent per
mile, pay the cost of serviceP Presi-
dent Ripley admits they do as follows;
"If the people of Kansas can fur
nish travel, let us say, one half as
heavy as the people of Beugium fur.
nish, will guarantee, on the part of |
the Santa Fe road-I think can speak
for all the railroads ,in Kansas-to
make one half the Belgium rates"
That is TO say, when the Belgium
railroads are carrying working men at
an average rate Of half cent per mile
for each person, the roads are making
one hundred per cent above living pro-
fits; and that it would still be a paying
business II both the car fares and the
were reduced one half. That
is an astounding statement TO be made
By the President Of the Santa Fe rail- |