The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-18
ARMY OF THE IDLE
Will Cut Big Figure in Cam
paign, Says Yoakum.
Says That 100000 Are Now
Out of Work.
THEY ARE THINKING.
Does Not Know How They Will
Vote.
Both Parties Will Have to En-.
courage Them.

Chicago. Aug. 1s.-RaiIroad en-
| ployes. according to B. F. Yoakum,
chairman of the executive committee
of the Rock Island-Frisco lines, are
losing every day through the present
depression in trade 100000 or $685.
100000 a month. One-quarter of them,
or about 400, 900 men, are out of en-
ployment and are living on their rap
idly diminishing savings. They will
not forget this on election day, Mr.
Yoakum says.
Construction of new lines has al
most entirely ceased, and for every
1000 miles of new track that are not
built 5000 men lose permanent en-
ployment and $4,000 people a good
living. The railroads are purchasing
supplies at the rate of $500. 000, 900 in
stead of $3.50. 100000 a year. These
facts. Mr.. Yoakum believes will have
marked influence upon the political
situation at the November elections.
Mr.. Yoakum has been speaking
lately in Texas and st. Louis, and urg-
ed there that the most important ele-
ment in the present industrial con-
ditions 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.
Hard Times Cause Loss to Workers
A reporter sought him yesterday at
his farm at Farmingdale, L. l., and
| asked him how he believed the rail-
road 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 the minds of the rail-
road men. He said:
Hard times are now costing rail-
road employees SIS, 100000 a month or
1 mn nm n xi,,o hi
decrease of the employees payroll is
approximately the same amount as
the governments daily deficit at
Washington. The governments def
cit of s1.000,000 is shared by the en-
tire population of S5,OOO,OOO people,
while the other $1,000, 900 daily loss
| is borne by the railroad employees.
This loss in wages indicates that
| the means of living for 100000 railroad
| men has been cut off. and that not
only themselves but the $500. 900 per-
sons cc-Iprising their dependent fami-
| lies are living out of their savings of
| better days.
II have been asked how the railroad
men Will vote in November. Frankly.
1 do not know, but believe 1 know of
what they are thinking. They are
thinking of the next winters fuel,
clothing bills, and keeping their chill
dren in school. They are wondering
what will be done to remedy the pres
ent industrial conditions and stop the
appalling loss from enforced idleness.
Railroad Workers Thrifty.
Railroad workers are thrifty and
| they help one another. Their savings
| and mutual bearing of the burdens of
adversely have prevented much suffer-
| ing up to this time, but they have
| greatly reduced their surplus bank &C
| counts, and when winter comes the
story will be different unless business
l conditions n1QtPrial1V
The more than million and a
| half of former railroad workers have
| in mind that one-fourth of their num-
Der are out of jobs or on short pay.
They are thinking of their last jobs,
| not worrying over foreign policies or
| tariffs or imports, or how this govern
| ment shall deal with the Philippines,
| and such questions, which the govern
| ment authorities and congress must
| deal with.
THE railroad employees are more in
| terested in what is going to be done
| to start up the work which will bring
| back to them regular and permanent
| employment. They are tired of seeing
dead engines, idle cars. neglected
| tracks. and rusty signs of disuse /
will not try to say what they think
| should be done. but 1 do know that they
are listening for words of encourage
| ment.
ITO think what it means in thous-
4
but we should look the situation
| squarely in the face and each man
| should be pressed to share his re-
| sponsibility in seeking a remedy.
| Issue for Campaign Orator.
| 1.-The campaign orators of Septem-
| Der and October must face the coun-
| try full of men out of employment.
The stump speakers will be seeking
| votes and the idle will be seeking
work.
| "Of what else can the railroad men
be thinking except of what caused the
| reduction in their income of 100000
| 900 a year? They are listening for
| those who have suggestions as to how
to get on the pay roll again and at
| old wages.
| There should be no difficulty in
| surmising the thoughts of the railroad
| man. He knows that one of every
| four of his fellow workmen is idle or
working short hours. He fully real
| ICES that something is wrong. He I'M
derstands that the man who constructs
| 1000 miles of railroad gives actual
| and permanent employment to 5000
| railroad men, and thereby furnishes
the means of living for $4,000 souls
constituting their families, and he is
| looking around for the party which
holds out the most encouraging hopes
for a quick return of prosperity to all
classes.
HE is thinking and hoping for bet
ter times The vital issue will be the
man and the job. and the candidates
of both parties will have to meet it in
both national and state campaigns,
| with due regard to the public welfare,
| at the same time encouraging full
restoration of confidence in the coun-
try's institutions that construction, re-
construction, manufacturing, and gen.
eral business may again assume their
normal activities