The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1908-10-15
RAIL MEN THINKING
MANY OF THEM ARE CONSIDER.
ING PRESENT DAY coNDl-
TloNS.
some interesting Figures Given BY
o. r. Yoakum In an Interview
with a New York Times
Reporter.

RAILROAD employees, according 10 B.
r. Noakum, chairman OF the Execu.
tive Committee OF the Rock Island.
Frisco lines. are losing every day
through the present depression in
trade s1,00OO0O or S2500O000 a
month" says the New York Times.
"one.quarter OF them or about 100000
men, are out Of employment and are
living on their rapidly diminishing
savings
Construction OF new lines has al
most entirely ceased ana for every
1000 miles OF new track that are not
built 5000 men lose permanent en-
ployment and $4,000 people a good liy.
ing. Tho railroads arc purchasing
supplies at the rate OF S50O,0OO, 600. In.
stead of $3.50, 100000 u year
Mr.. Yoakum has been speaking late
ly In Texas and st. Louis. and urged
there that the most important element
In the present industrial conditions
was the enormous losses In wages and
the stagnation caused by the stoppage
OF the development OF the country.
He has considered this phase OF the
present crisis deeply"
A reporter OF the New York Times
sought him recently at his farm at
Farmingdale, l.. l.. and asked him
how he believed the railroad men OF
the country would vote this year. Mr.
Yoakum declined to answer directly.
but said he could at any rate say
what is pressing itself day by day on
tho minds OF the railroad men. lie
said:
Hard times are now costing rail.
road employees $4,000. 000 G. month
or sl.000.O00 for each working day
This decrease Of the employees pay
roll is approximately the same amount
as the Governments daily deficit
at Washington. The Governments
deficit OF sl.00O.00O Is shared by the
entire population OF $4,000 900 people
while the other $1,000. COO daily loss is
borne by the railroad employees
This loss in wages indicates that
the means OF living for 100000 rail.
road men has been cut OF and that
not only themselves but the 100000
persons comprising their dependent
families are living out Of their saw.
ings OF better days.
Il have been asked how the rail
road men will vote In November.
Frankly l do not know. but believe
know OF what they are thinking.
They are thinking OF next Winters
fuel. clothing bills, and keeping their
children in school. They are wonder.
ing what will be done to remedy the
present industrial conditions and stop
the appalling loss from enforced idle.
mess
ha lroad workers are thrifty and
they help one another Their savings
and mutual bearing OF the burdens OF
adversely have prevented much suf
fering up 20 this time, but they have
greatly reduced their surplus bank ac
counts, and when winter comes tho
story Will be different unless business
conditions materially improve
TIE more than million and a
half OF former rail,oad workers have
in mind that onefouith OF their num- I
be, are out OF Jobs or on short pay
They are thinking OF their los. Job
not worrying over forcisu policies 81
tariffs on imports. or how this Gov.
ernment shall deal with the Philip,
pines, and such questions. which tho
Government authorities and Congress
must deal with.
The railroad employees are moro
Interested in what Is going to be done
r.e start up the work which will bring
tback To them regular and permanent
employment. They are tired OF seeing
= dead engines, idle cars, neglected
tracks and rusty signs of dlsuse. |
will not try to say what they think
should be done, but | do know that
they are listening for words OF en-.
couragement
ITO think what It means In thou.
sands OF homes is not a pleasant topic,
but We should look the situation
squarely in the face, ana each mau
should be pressed to share his re
sponsibility in seeking n remedy.
"Tho campaign orators Of Ser;cm.
ber and October must face the ooun.
try full OF men out OF employment.
The stump speakers viii be seeking
votes aud the idle will be seeking
work
"0t what else cnn the railroad men
be thinking except OF what caused
the reduction in their income Of $780,.
100000 year? They are listening for
those who have suggestions as to how
TO get on tho payroll again and at old
wages"
But there are other factors in tho
railroad situation2" it was suggested
TO Mr, Yoalium.
''Tho railroad cmploye." he replied,
els the most important factor in the
railroad situation from every point
OF view, Tho owners OF the railroads,
known as bond and stockholders, are
less in number than the employees and
have less at stake. One year ago
there werc, according TO the Inter.
State Commerce Commissions figures.
1,675,000 employees. and they received
81 OI5 600 OOO ag Waupg and accord.