Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-02-28
IkAREASE AGAIN WHEN
EARNING S2,500,0O0
Report From Labor Headquarters at
Chicago Is That Strikes VIII Tie
Up All Systems i'm Country IL Re
trenchmcnt Policy is Carried Out
Financial Depression Called
"A Farce"

Like a bolt from clear sky
comes proposition from the Nor
folk & Western railroad to all OF
Its employees to decrease salaries un-
til the earnings of the road return
to an average of $2,5OO.OOO a month.
| The road, in eXtenuation of its pro-
posal, pleads Financial depres-
sion"
simultaneously with this an
nouncement comes a dispatch from
Chicago, the home OF the railway
unions, TO the effect that IL the rail
roads of the United States insist
upon n retrenchment policy. strikes
Will follow which will tie up all Of
the principal systems in the country.
The plea OF financial depression
is referred to by the unions as n
farce"
The heads OF the various railway
! organizations have received n cir
cular letter from General Manager
Nicholas ID. Maher with the full text
OF the Norfolk & Westerns proposal
in it, They have been asked to
have meetings at the earliest posi-
BILE time, and to return speedy
answers to the office OF the general
manager.
week. at least, Il is declared
must elapse before the various
unions will be able to act upon the
proposition. The matter is an alb
sorbing topic in railroad circles, but
the rule Of secrecy" always a
golden rule" so far as railroad
men are concerned, is being strictly
observed with reference to this cir
cular 1t was impossible to secure
a copy of the document.
Just how the men will take the
matter, cannot be said A desperate
fight, too, along with the proposed
reduction OF wages, and the telegram
from Chicago, is to be made by the
Norfolk & Western to secure a sus-
pension OF the nine-hour law.
The following dispatch from Chi
cago. headquarters OF the unions.
sets forth the present situation:
Trainmen, engineers, firemen. CON
ductors. switchmen and other en-
ployes OF practically all the large
railroads are preparing to join forces
In contesting the proposed reduction
in wages. a strike will be the last
resort OF the employees, but their
leaders declare that IF a strike is
necessary TO prevent the lowering Of
wages they stand ready to tie up
every road in the country.
Despite the threatened strike the
executives OF the railroads are going
along with their arrangements for
a general wage reduction The rail
road officials declare that a cut IN
wages is absolutely necessary in
view OF the decreased earnings OF
the roads A conference represent
ing forty-nine roads west Of Chicago
will be held in St. Paul early next
month TO decide upon the wage re-
duction. The Gould system has al
ready notified its employees to pre-
pare for the cut The Southern rail-
way is preparing for a reduction and
similar action will be taken soon, 30
Is expected by the Louisville and
I Nashville and other leading roads in
the south. 10 is believed the loco
motive engineer will be the ohicl
/ sufferers by the reduction though no
branch of the service will be spared
100000 AFFECTED.
More than 100000 employees will
be affected by the wage cut. Some
Of the organizations Of railroad
trainmen are not in favor Of an
immediate strike. while others OK
| press the belief that the decisive
| struggle might as we'll come no1 as
any time
That the railroads will stand firm
| in their determination to reduce
wages is positively known The
| president Of one or the most pfom-
ncnt roads entering Chicago in a
recent interview said.
or have great confidence in the
good sense Of railroad employees and
do not believe they vii seriously zee
sist The contemplated reduction.
| All the employees need do Is to sean
the current report or earnings 20