Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-09-12
RAIL MEN THINKING
MANY OF THEM ARE cONSIDER-
ING PRESENT DA~ CONDL
TONS.
Some interesting Figures Given by
3. E. Yoakun1 in an Interview
with New York Times
Reporter.

tive Committee of the Rock Island
Frisco lines, are losing every day
through the present depression in
trade S1,000,00O, or s25,0o0.000 a
month" says the New York Times.
"One-qLarter 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 a good liv-
ing. The railroads are purchasing
supplies at the rate of $500, 900, 900, in
stead of $3.50, 900, 900 a year
Mr.. Yoakum has been speaking late
1y 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 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. He
said:
Hard times are now costing rail
road employees $25, 00O, 900 a month
or S1,OO0,000 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 s1,00O.O0O is shared by the
entire population of S5,O00,O0O 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 rail-
road men has been cut off, and that
not only themselves but the 1900, 900
persons comprising their dependent
families are living out of their saw
ingS of better days.
81 have been asked how the rail
road men will vote in November
Frankly l do not know, but / believe
1 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 stop
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 ac-
counts, and when winter comes the
story will be different unless business
conditions materially improve.
The more than a 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 lost jobs,
not worrying over foreign policies or
tariffs on imports, or how this Gov
eminent shall deal with the Philip
pines, and such questions, which the
Government authorities and Congress
must deal with.
The railroad employees are more
interested in what is going to be done
20 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 I do know that
they are listening for words of en-
couragement.
ITO think what it means in thou
sands of homes is not a pleasant topic.
but we should look the situation
squarely in the face, and each man
81 hn 70
sponsibility in seeking a remedy.
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 $780,
000.0 900 a year? They are listening for
to get on the payroll again and at old
wages"
But there are other factors in the
railroad situation?'" it was suggested
to Mr.. Yoakum.
THE railroad employee" he replied,
sis the most important factor in the
railroad situation from every point
of view. The owners of the railroads,
known as bond and stockholders, are
less in number than the employees and
have less at stake. One year ago
there were. according to the Inter
State Commerce Commissions figures,
l,675.000 employees, and they received
SLOTS. 0OO.000 as wages. and. accord
ing to Slason Thomps !. statistician.