Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-09-09

are the ones who are now asking the
most pertinent questions. They have
more at stake than the owners, and
are just as capable of deciding for
themselves and taking care of their
own interests.
The AZ cents for the employee and
the Fl cents for the bond and stock.
holder only account for SO cents of
each dollar earned by the railroads.
but 1t shows the combined interests
of 100000 employees, bond and stock.
holders in the railroads OF the Ma
ton. OF the remaining 81 cents of
the dollar cents go for taxes and in.
surance, and the balance OF 80 cents
largely for material and supplies, in
the manufacture of which labor is
the largest Item
The loss to the entire country on
account OF inability of railroads to
purchase supplies is as serious to the
public as the forced reduction in the
payrclls. Last year the total amount
OF the railroad purchases was one and
a quarter billion dollars. At the pres
ent time they are only buying at the
rate of nne-haIf billion dollars per an
mum. which at this rate means loss
TO the manufacturers and the general
trade of the country of more than
$3.50. 100000 a year, or two million
dollars a day. If to this is added tho
approximate one million dollars a
working day which the railroad EN-.
ploye is suffering of this heavy loss.
it is apparent that the business of the
country is losing at this rate approx.
imately three million dollars day on
account of shrinkage directly connect.
ed with railroad operation.
do you wonder why the Labor
Commissioner of the State of New York
is reporting that one-third of the
union men are idle, because there is no
work, or that Jacob Scniff is appeal.
ing to the city officials of New York
to open up municipal work for their
relief?
There is another phase of railroad
activity not included in the foregoing"
Mr.. Yoakum added 1T is one which
is seldom mentioned in connection
with figures dealing with employees.
wages and material l refer to con.
struction Of new railroads and more
extensive Improvement of existing
ones TO meet the growth of the Ma.
tons traffic. l refer TO the army of
men usually employed in this work
and the large amounts expended for
supplies, tools, fuel and other mate
rial, the greater part OF which has
been cut off,
The railroad employees are well-in.
formed and capable citizens. They
give due credit for the good which
has been accomplished through healthy
reforms within the last few years.
The; are not unmindful that proper
regulations to prevent abuses and
10 give fair treatment to the public
are necessary.
There should be no difficulty in
surmising the thoughts of the railroad
man. He knows that one out of evevv
four Of his fellow-workmen is idle or
working short hours. He fully real
ICES that something is wrong. He un-
derstands that the man who con.
5tructs 1000 miles of railroad gives !
actual and permanent employment to
5000 railroad men, and thereby fur
lishes the means of living for $4,000 |
souls constituting their families.
He is thinking and hoping for bet.
er umes. The vital issue will be the
nan and the job, and the candidates
If both parties will have to meet it !
n both National and State Campaigns,
With due regard to public welfare, at |
he same time encouraging full restore-
ion Of confidence il the country's in
titutions that construction, recon.
manufacturing and general
business may again assume their nor
nal activities"