The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-21
RAILROAD news.
President Ramsey Addresses
Trainmen and Conductors.
Urges Them Not to Go Out on
Strike.
QUESTION OF WAGES.
Claims That They Are II to 30
Per Cent Higher.
Says "Outside Influence Is Be-
ing Exercised.

of tee MANAGEMENT on me wage CUES
ton. Mr.. Ramsey says.
Having been advised that the olIi-
Gals of two Of the brotherhoods have or
dered a vote of the trainmen Of the
Wabash lines in the United States for
or against a strike. to enforce the de
mand for q i Per cent advance on
freight and u per cent advance on
passenger schedules over the schedules
in effect January 1, 1902. and believing.
as 1 90. that a vote on such a serious
question should be cast with a full IN
derstanding of the situation and the
facts in the case. feel that it IS my
duty to the employees. as well as to the
company. TO submit 10 each one the
I following statement OF facts and tbs
company's position.
The Wabash system of lines Is
unique, that Is it IS operated under con
ditlons different from any other system
Ii is the only railroad, operated as one
system. from soints west OF the Mis-
sissiD9i river to points east in trunk
line territory. All other western rail-
/ roads terminate at St Louis or Chicago.
and all other eastern railroads terui~
nate at Chicago or East St Louis. or
points east of the Mississippi river The
Wabash. although having lines west of
St Loufs-t0 Kansas City and Omaha
has always been classed as an eastern
line. and the traffic it receives at these
western points Is 90 per cent. eastern
traffic, and is taken in competition with
eastern lines 1t is well known fact
that all eastern tariffs. from the Mis-
sissiugi river east. are on a much lower
basis than western tariffs
Heretofore the Wabash wage SEIZED
ules have been the same over all its
lines. the western division men getting
I no more than the men east"
President Ramsey here submits q
table showing the comparative wages
paid TO engineers. fremen. conductors.
brakemen and baggagemen between the
years 1929 and 1892. In 1899. conductors
were paid from $50 to $40. in 1902. from.
800 to 1928. Brakemen in 1899 received
rom S45 TO s55i in 1902, from S5S to S66-
These are both in the passenger class
Switchmen are being paid the standard
Chicago scale. President Ramsey says.
which IS an advance Of about Is pei
cent Continuing President Ramsey
SAYS.
The above shows advances since June
80. 1889 ranging from 12ta to % per cent
the freight conductors and brakemen
getting y per cent passenger cOnduc-
tors II to 10 per cent. passenger brake
men and baggagemen Is to 20 per cent
Inc advances of July 1. 1899 and of De
cember I, 1892 were made voluntarily by
the company.
The advance of December /. 1902. nut
the Wabash rates above any eastern
lines and fully up to, If not above, vest
ern lines and today the Wabash is up
TO any line operating between St. Louis
and Chicago and ahead Of most lines
and as high as any road which does not
run west of Kansas City It is only
some of the western trunk lines running
through the west and southwest that
now pay more than the Wabash west of
the river When the demand was made
for a general advance on the Wabash of
u and Is per cent, it was declined alb
soluteIy. with the suggestion from me
thar If the Wabash employees are will
ing the line should be drawn at the
Mississippi river and no claims made by
the divisions east on account Of ad-
vances to the western division. I am
willing TO consider the western division
schedule on its own merits.
Il have reliable Information to the
effect that the Wabash men were viii
ing 10 do this. and that the present stu
alton and polling of the road is due to
outside influences and IS not the v0lun-
tary act OF our own men, and yet our
own men viii be those who must bear
the evil results Of a strike. and thew
should be permitted to decide this I'M
portant question for themselves. The
management being willing to divide the
system at the Mississippi river, the ter
nina ton Of the conference is no reason
why the change should not he made
and a new schedule of rates and some
important changes in rules. etc, has
therefore been issued, effective March l.
1909.
Under this schedule while the vest
ern division receives the fun advance
the other divisions receive some very
material benefits in the abolishing of
light mileage. doubling hills and
terminal allowances. Redistribution of
engines and on work trains and local
runs. In addition. roundhouse and fuel
department rules viii be issued, which
VIII relieve engine men of duties they
now perform The company has gone
10 the extreme limit in the schedule now
issued and the rates urGer this new
schedule are up to any line east or
west. and if the vote is in favor Of
"a r inc he. --4-
Wabash lines or strike then q strike
must result
Whenever the eastern lines with
which the Wabash is competitive ad-
vance above its rates east of the river
the Wabash viii advance and not be
fore Statements have been made. and
they will be repea ted, relative to the
president Of this company. with the
purpose OF Influencing votes. shall
not answer these false statements. but
VIII let the employees of the Wabash
who know me and those who know of
my actions SO far as the interests Of
the employees were concerned, answer
these statements for me.
My actions in the past are the best
proofs of what my course viii be in rle
future The present Wabash manage
ment has no desire to disrupt any or
ganiZaUi0u and never Disseminated
against any man on account Of brother
hoods politics or religion. Tt only asks
that man shall be competent TO per-
FORM MS CuL1eS- No emploEe OF en-
ployes have ever been denied hearing
by me or turned away without an in
vestiga ton Of his or their complaints.
No one ever VIII he
AS every employe is Interested in
anything which might cause strike.
and as a strike in the train service VIII
shut ID nearly all classes of service. I
am sending copy of this circular to
engine men. shOpmen. traiumer and
others / have confidence in the good
judgment. conservatism and fairness Of
the Wabash men, as a whole and do
not believe that the battle CRY of few
men Follow the flag to victory or so
soil fl that it VIII never be raised again.
+ viii be Endorsed by any great number
of our men.
~ RAMSEY IL Presidant.s