New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-22
WOULD QUELL 4GITATION
RaiIscqy Supply Manufacturers Fear
Business Depression.

A petition, signed by manufacturers in the rail-
way supply trade, representing two hundred and
twenty-five thousand employees. protesting
AGAINST further railway agitation and legisla-
tion is being circulated among business men
generally. It was the result of a recent meeting
in Chicago of men interested in the railway sup
ply business. The petition says:
Fact l-Business has been and is prosperous.
There IS apparently no commercial reason why
we should not enjoy a continuance of such pros
perity unless some unnecessary conditions in
tervene.
Fact 2-The national government has been and
is investigating the railroads. The state legis-
latures have pending four hundred bills none Of
which is for the benefit OF the railroads, but
every one OF which is designed 20 reduce in some
way the net earnings of the roads Many vii
lage and town authorities are passing ordinances
which interfere with the operation of the roads
and reduce their revenues. The [Iblic press has
given wide circulation TO all OF this agitation,
and in many instances approved the same
Fact 3-The railroads stopping all unnec-
essary expenditures for this year. For instance,
one road has stopped construction on seven hum
dred miles of new track: another has cut its ex-
penditureE 50 100000 and stopped work on four
hundred miles Of track in addition MANY roads
have issued instructions 10 use stocks on hand
and not 10 buy anything for six months, except
10 meet great emergencies. Furthermore rail-
roads generally have stopped all plans for ex-t
penditures for 1903. No orders are now be-
ing placed by the roads for next year
We. In view OF the above facts call public at
tention TO the present situation. We are the
nearest TO the railroads. and. therefore know
the situation, and the first TO be affected
AT present business is good on old orders hut
We believe that business VIII be bad unless this
agitation is stopped.
We know that il present conditions continue
ell classes Of labor and every business interest
VIII be injured We know that every manufact-
urer. Overy Jobber and every retailer IN the
United States does business directly or indi
recty. with railroads or their officials and en-
plOyes. We know that the railroad interest Is
next 10 farming, the largest In the country we
know that when railroads begin to econonnize a.
that under such conditions labor will suffer
very greatly. and that men VIII be seeking en-
ployment.
We believe that now is the time 10 act before
the damage is done. and that every man who
reads this should act. If 20 per cent OF the men
in the United States would to-day write 10 the
Governors OF the states in which they live and
70 their Representative in the state legislatures
stating that this agitation was injuring theiI
business and that Il must be stopped e would
be stopped. Every one OF these public servants
would listen, because every writer Is q voter
We do not object 10 the regulation OF the rail-.
roads by the national government IN the prone,
manner, but we do object 10 going through !
period Of hard times similar 20 that between
1893 and 1897 IN order 20 accomplish alleged
railroad reform. The situation Is serious. I'm.
mediate action Is necessary, or business VII
diminish; bank accounts viii be reduced; profit,
VIII disappear; salaries will be cut; wages de-
creased; men discharged and thousands will bs
looking for work Every labOring man, ever
business man, every professional man, in fact
IL sac VIII be affected. She should act now.