The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-09-19
RAIL MEN THINKING
MANY OF THEM ARE CONSIDER
ING PRESENT DAY coNOi-
TiONS.
Some Interesting Figures Given Dy
3. r. Yoakum in an interview
with a New York Times
Reporter.

Railroad employees, according to Is.
r. Yoakum, chairman OF the Execu-
tive Committee of the Rock Island
Frisco lines, are losing every day
through the present depression IN
trade $1.000,0OO, or $25,OOO,O00 q
month" says the New York Times.
"One-quarter of them, or about 4oo,Ooo
men, are out of employment and are
living on their rapidly diminishing
savings.
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 liy-
ing. The railroads are purchasing
supplies at the rate of $500, 1000, 900. in
stead of $780, 100000 a 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 or
the country would vote this year. MT.
Yoakum declined to answer directly,
bat said he could at any rate say
what is pressing itself day by day on
the minds of the railroad men. He
said:
Hard times are now costing rail-
road employees s25,000,000 a month
or $1,000,000 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 $1,000,000 is shared by the
entire population of S5,0O0.000 people
while the other s1,000,00 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 off, and that
not only themselves but the 1880, 1000
persons comprising their dependent
families are living out OF their saw
ings of better days.
II have been asked how the rail-
road men will vote in November
Frankly / do not know, but believe
I know of what they are thinking
They are thinking of next Winter
fuel, clothing bills. and keeping their
children in school. They are wonder
ing what will be done to remedy the
present Industrial conditions and stor
the appalling loss from enforced idle
ness.
Railroad workers are thrifty and
they help one another. Their savings
and mutual bearing Of the burdens Of
adversely have prevented much sui
fering up to this time. but they have
greatly reduced their surplus bank &C
counts, and when winter comes the
story win be different unless business
conditions materially improve.
THE more than a million and ;
half Of former railroad workers have
in mind that one-fourth Of their mum
Der are out of jobs or on short pay
They are thinking of their lost jobs
not worrying over foreign policies o.
tariffs ON imports, or how this Gov
eminent shall deal with the Philip
pines, and such questions, which TIT
Government authorities and Congress
must deal with.
THE railroad employees are NOR
interested In what is going to be don
to start I'D the work which will brin
back to them regular and permanent
employment. They are tired of seein
dead engines. idle cars, neglecte
tracks and rusty signs Of disuse-
viii not try to say what they thin
should be done. but l do know tina
they are listening for words Of Ell
couragement.
ITO think what ii means in tho,
sands OF homes is not pleasant topic
but we should look the situatio
squarely In the face, and each ma
should be pressed to share his r.
sponsibility in seeking remedy.
The campaign orators of Septen
Der and October must face the coul
try full Of men out Of employment
The stump speakers will be seekin
votes and the idle will be seekin
work.
"Of what else can the railroad me
be thinking except of what cause
the reduction in their income OF $30t
000. 600 year? They are listening Il
those who have suggestions as to no
to get on the payroll again and at o
wages"
But there are other factors In Il
railroad sltuation?" it was suggests
to Mr.. Yoakum.
The railroad employee" he reptile
''is the most import ant factor In Il
railroad situation from every poi
Of view. The owners of the railroad
known as bond and stockholders, a
lace a. number than tho arnrloyos a,