The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-16
RAILROAD news.
Real Meaning of the Wabash
Strike Order.
Article In Railway Age Ex-
plains Whole Thing.
MORE ROADS INVOLVED
Is Thought That Increase VIII
Be D emanded Of Eastern Hen.
Higher Wages Paid by Western
Roads Than by Eastern Roads.

In regard to the trouble between the
management of the Wabash railroad
and the fremen and the trainmen the
last issue of the Railway Age says:
While there were a few minor ques-
tions unsettled between the fremen and
trainmen of the Wabash company and
the management when the Brother
hoods of Railway Trainmen and Loco
motive F'iremen ordered a vote to be
taken in regard to a strike, the real
question is a deeper one and involves
many roads besides the Wabash. The
wage schedules on western roads have
long been fixed on a higher basis than
those on roads east of the Mississippi
river, while in turn the Pacific coast
lines pay stin higher wages. The Wa
bash is exceptional among the roads
reaching St. Louis in operating lines
both east and west of the river. The
western lines were originally owned by
a separate company, and from an oper-
atlVe standpoint are as distinct from
the eastern roads as the lines which
start on the west side of the river.
The original demand Of the train
men was that the wage distinction be-
tween eastern and western lines should
be abolished on the Wabash and that
the company should make an advance
Oh l. per cent lot DdSSEIlRSE. Dfz1kEFn8n
and baggagemen on all the $500 miles
of the system, except the line in Can
ada. subsequently the BrotherhoOds
offered to compromise by having the
increase apply only on roads west of a
line drawn from Chicago south TO Dan
vile. This would add the middle divi-
sion, with rs miles, to the lines west
of the river leaving a little over 60U
miles in the eastern division besides the
Buffalo line in Canada, which would be
exempt from the present demand for n
increase.
On March 1. 1903. the company ad-
vanced rates Il and Is per cent for the
western division, in addition to a previ-
/ Gus advance. making them at least equal
i to those in effect on other western roads.
In announcing this increase the presi-
dent said: THE advance cannot be ex-
tended east of the river on the middle
division until other lines in this terri
/ tory, competitive with the Wabash, ad-
vance above present Wabash rates.
which are now above most of these
roads. The trainmen declined to ac-
+ cept the practical compliance with all
their demands for the lines west of the
+ river and to leave the question of an ad-
I vance in the eastern territory in abey-
ance until it was met by the Wabash
competitors. In statement by the
( heads Of the brOtherhoods of trainmen
and firenen, published on March ,, they
4 say: While Bir. Ramsey has lately pub
lished an increase OF 10 per cent for
4 freight service and u per cent for pas
senger service west of the river over
/ rates in effect on January 1, 1902 it IS
difficult to make the men east of the
river believe that their services are not
worth just as much as those west of the
river This statement seems to confirm
the other indications that the movement
! which is now directed entirely against
I the Wabash is intended as the entering
wedge for demanding a general increase
/ of wages on all lines east of the Mis-
/ slssippl, including the St. IOuiS-ChicagO
4
east from St. Louis in competition with
/ the Wabash. 1t is, therefore, a question
! of requiring the companies to abolish
/ the difference between eastern and west
/ ern wages, which has always existed
and which has been believed to be JUS
tilted by difference in the cost of living,
+ in lengths Of runs. difficulties of train
service and other operating conditions.
I The fact that the Wabash operates lines
on both sides of the river is not suf-
4 ficient to make it an exception.
! The mere question of corporate relations
! has no reference to the duties and pay of
/ the operatives. If it has. the 5rotherhoods
+ viii doubtless reason that, as the Chicago
and Eastern Illinois has been acquired Icy
ter company should extend its wage IN
4 crease to Chicago If that should be done.
4 of course all the Chicag COST Louis lines
would be required to pay equal wages and
( the same would be the demand on all other
roads east of the Mississippi. It seems,
] therefore, to come 10 d question OF p1in-
ciple in which all roads are involved, while
/ the Wabash has been selected as the fight
( ing ground 1t would have been fairer TOR
the trainmen and firemen to make sheir
! request for equalization of wages on ali
I the roads concerned. instead of selecting
one and clouding the real issue by minor
! cOnsideTati tons. 1t IS popularity of this
movement that the men the Wabash
/ lines east of the river for whom the ad-
! vance is demanded, have. to large OK
4 tent, voted against the strike and thus in
4 Dictated that they are satisfied with present
/ conditions. or, at any rate, do not approve
of attempting to force change on many
roads by a disguised assault upon one.