The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-09-14
RAIL MEN THINKING
MANY OF THEM ARE CONSIDER
ING PRESENT DAY CoNbL
TioNs.
Some interesting Figures Given BY
3. r. Yoakum in an Interview
with 2 New York Times
Reporter

F. Yoakum, chairman Of the Execu-
tive Committee OF the Rock Island
Frisco lines. are losing every day
through the present depression in
trade S1.00O,OOO, or 325,OOO,00O 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, and for every
1000 miles Of new track that are not
built 5000 men lose permanent EN-
ployment and $4,000 people good liv-
ing. The railroads are purchasing
supplies at the rate OF $500, 100000, in
stead OF si.250 600, 600 year
Mr.. YoRkum has been speaking late
" In Texas and 81. Louis, and urged
there that the most important element
in tho 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
the minds Of the railroad men. lie
said:
Hard times are now costing rail
road employees 100000 a month
or 81 ,0O0, 900 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 81 100000 Is shared by the
entire population of e5.OOO,OO0 people
while the other 100000 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 1,500,00
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 / 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 stoT
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 suf
fering up to this time, but they have
greatly reduced their surplus bank sc
counts. and when winter comes The
story will be different unless business
conditions materially improve.
The more than a million and 1
half OF former railroad workers hav,
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 8
tariffs on imports, or how this Gov
ernment shall deal with the. Philip
pines, aud such questions. which tn
Government authorities and Congress
must deal with.
= The railroad employees are NOR
interested in what is going to be don
: TO start up the work which will brin
back 10 them regular and permanen
employment They are tired OF seein
dead engines, idle cars. neglecte
tracks and rusty signs of disuse.
viii not try 10 say what they thin
should be done. bnt l do know tha
they are listening for words OF ei
couragement.
ITO think what it means in thol
sands OF homes is not a pleasant topi,
1 but We should look the situatio
sQuarely in the face, and each ma
+ should be pressed to share his r.
/ sponsibIlity in seeking a remedy
a The campaign orators Of Septen
Der and October must face the coui
d try full Of men out Of employmen
s The stump speakers viii be seekin
: votes and the idle viii be seekin
work.
a "Of what else can the railroad me
a be thinking except Of what cause
/ the reduction in their income Of sS0(
600. 900 a year? They are listening Il
Il those who have suggestions as to no
d to get on the payroll again and at O
e. wages"
e "But there arc other factors IN Il
railroad situation?" II was suggest,
TO Mr.. Yoakum.
"The railroad employe.H he replie
E rs the most important factor IN a
railroad situation from every poi
Of view. The owners Of the railroad
known as bond and stockholders, a
less in number than the employees al
have less at stake One year al
there we're, according to the Int
State Commerce Commission figure
1,675,000 employees. and they receive
81 07b 00n 0nn ne wavpq and necOr