The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-07-28

THE resent move on the part of
not only the railroad men of Ne
braska, but those of other states, is
almost spontaneous, and. has been
brought about by the batting Of rail-
roads, which has been quite general;
undoubtedly for the reason that this
great corporate industry is more
vulnerable than others and, from its
magnitude, more conspicuous Peo-
pie feel that something is wrong that
must be corrected. That there Is
something is undoubtedly true;
THAT THE FAULT DOES NOT LIE
WITH THE RAILROADS AT
PRESENT is SUSCEPTIBLE OF
INDISPUTABLE PROOF. In the in
terests Of the general public, fairness
must prevail and a calm, dispassion-
ate survey of the situation obtained.
To seriously cripple the transporta-
ton facilities of the country will be
a disaster much greater than can be
conceived of. and will reach every
man, woman and child in the
Commonwealth"
NOTWITHSTANDING THE GREAT
PROSPERITY enjoyed by the peo-
pie of the United States during THE
PAST FEW YEARS THERE SEEMS
TO HAVE GROWN UP A SENTI-
MENT THAT THE RAILROADS
AND THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE
NOT TO BE PERMITTED A FAIR
] SHARE THEREOF. In
many instances merchants advanced
their prices sufficient to Immediately
absorb all the increase granted to
] a. ,.,fth rnt, 80
/ justification. On the other hand
commercial organizations took ad
vantage of the situation by endeavor-
ing to reduce the revenues of the rail-
ways; THE EMPLOYEES IN MANY
I INSTANCES, working into their
/ hands, HAVING BEEN DECEIVED
BY PROMISES OF LEGISLATION
IN THEIR BEHALF which, when it
materialized, gave the other fellow
some substantial advantage and the
railroad employee the privilege of
paying his fair; or freight charges on
his household goods If through mis-
fortune he was required to change
his position.
IF railroad construction and
maintenance expenses are to in
crease land there is no other pros
pect) and the rates are to be reduced,
the invitable is one of two things
a reduction of wages, or an effort to
make good the inroads on the revenue
by increasing the train load"
After stating in detail the we'll
known facts covering increas in mill
age OF railways during recent years,
the increase incost of materials,
wages, taxes, and other expenses of
operation and the voluntary and
legally enforced reduction in pas
senger and freight rates, the pamph-
let presents the members plea for
recognition as constituting a very
large and representative per centage
of what is termed The Public"
which in part is as follows:
THERE ARE EMPLOYED i'm
mediately and dependent UPON THE
RAILROADS of the United States
over SIX MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
EIGHT HUNDRED MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ARE DISTRIBUTED IN
WAGES through them to as many
more engaged invarious vocations."
IT IS QUITE APPARENT THAT
RAILROAD MEN AS A CLASS ARE
BEING MADE A CATS PAW TO
PULL POLITICALLY AND OTHER
CHESTNUTS OUT OF THE FIRE
THE natural tendency is a general
advance in freight rates rather than
a decrease, which must obtain if the
country is to continue on its road to
universal prosperity. The railroads
are the very arteries through which
the Commercial life flows If they
are restricted or harassed, stagnation
followsand will seek out even those
who imagined they were merely
spectators. Many are now astonish-
ed to find that their financial and
even domestic affairs are concerned,
although they cannot connect them
with the railroads. They have been
either applauding or amusedly cogni-
zant of the railroad batting"
train, the Railroad employees oS
Railroad employees themselves
have been Indifferent to the agrees
siyeness of the anti railroad element
This letharggy has enabled those who
are playing to the galleries to profit
politically and financially, until THE
RAILROADS MAN NOW FINDS
HIMSELF HOLDING THE SACK. :"
He is handling more cars in each
train, the fireman is throwing more
shoyels full of coal each mile. He
has in d superficial way attributed
this to the railroad management
NOW HE IS COMING TO ANALYZE
FOR HIMSELF THE CAUSE, AND
! FINDS THAT IN SUPPORTING THE
MANY DRONES IN THE HIVE HE
is REQUIRED TO TAKE ON HIS
BACK GREATER BURDENS"
Let him cuggest that the taxes be