The Nevada County picayune., 1908-09-03
RAIL MEN THINKING
MANY OF THEM ARE CONSIDER ING PRESENT DAY CONDi-
 TONS.
Some Interesting Figures Given by B. F. Yoakum in an Interview with a New York Times
 Reporter.

five Committee of the Rock Island Frisco lines, are losing every day l through the present depression i'll trade $1.000,00O, or $25,OO0,OoO 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 | .O00 miles of new track that are not built 5000 men lose permanent em- ployment and 24000 people good liy- ing. The railroads are purchasing supplies at the rate of $500,000,OOO, in stead of $l,250, ,000,0 900 year.
 MT 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 of the country would vote this year. MT Yoakum declined 10 answer directly, but said he could al 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 $25000. 000 a month This decrease of the employees pay roll is approximately the sane amount as the Government daily deficit at Washington The Government deficit of sl 100000 is shared by the entire population of S5000,0 ,000 people while the other $l .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 of, and that not only themselves but the 100000 persons comprising their dependent families are living out of their say ings of better days.
 T have been asked how the rail road men will vote in November. Frankly l do not know, but believe l 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 10 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 diversity have prevented much sui 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 million and a 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 or tariffs on imports, or how this Gov ernment 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 q c mn bn fgI, ,,-fgl back 10 them regular and permanent employment They are tined of seeing dead engines, idle cars. neglected tracks and rusty signs of dlsuse. will not try to say what they think should be done, but do know that they are listening for words of 6n. conragement.
 To 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 should be pressed to share his re. sponsibility in seeking a remedy.
 The campaign orators of Septom- Der and October must face the eoun. 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 $500. 100000 year? They are listening for those who have suggestions as to how to get on the payroll again and at old wages"
 But there are other factors in the railroad situation?" it was suggested to MT, Yoakum.
 The railroad employe," he replied. is 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 Commission S figures l-6'5,OOO employees, and they received S5Ol5,OOOOO0 as wages. and, accord Ing to Slason Thompson. statistician.