The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-09-04
RAIL MEN THINKING
MANY OF THEM ARE CONSIDER.
q ING PRESENT DAY coNDl-
VII TIONS.
Some Interesting Figures Given by
B. F. Yoakum in an Interview
with New York Times
d Reporter.

r. iOdhuIl, CudlTIlldU OF the EXeCu-
tive Committee of the Rock Island
Frisco. lines, are losing every day
through the present depression in
trade s1,000,O00, or $25,00O,000 a
month";" says the New York Times
"One4uarter of them, or about 400, 900
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 arc purchasing
supplies at the rate of $500,000,000, in
stead Of $l,25O,000,000 a year.
Mr.. 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. Mr..
Yoai1um 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 $25,0OO.00O : month
or S1,090,000 for each working day.
This decrease of the employees pay
roll is approximately the same amount
as the Governments daily deficit
mt Washington. The Governments
deficit of $1,000000 is shared by the
entire population Of 85,000,000 people
while the other $1,O00,G00 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 100000
persons comprising their dependent
families are living out of their say
iugs of better days.
Il have been asked how the rail
road men will vote in November
Frankly do not know, but l believe
i know Of what they are thinking.
They are thinking of next Winters
fuel. clothing bills, and keening 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
adyersity 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 million and
half Of former RAILROAD workers have
in mind that one-foul tn of their num-.
be, are out of jobs or on short pay.
They are thinhing of their lost jobs
not worrying over foreign policies OF
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
fnl, will 1,,.ip
back to them regular and permanent
employment They are tired OF seeing
dead engines, idle cars, neglected
tracks and rusty signs of disuse. l
will not try to say what they think
should be done, but l 90 know that
they are listening for words Of en-
enlargement
"T0 think what 1t means in thou
sands of homes is not pleasant topic,
but we should look the situation
Bquarely in the face, and each man
should be pressed to share his re-
spOnsibhity in seeking remedy.
THE campaign orators of Sertem-
Der and October must face the coun-
try full of men out OF employment.
Tho stump speakers will be seeking
votes aud the idle will be seeking
work.
"0f what else can the railroad men
be thinking except Of what caused /
the reduction in their income of $780, |
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 situat;on?" it was suggested !
10 Mr. Yoakum.
'The railroad employee" ne replied,
rs 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,
1,6T6o00 employees, and they received.
81. OF, o10,0 900 as wages, and, Accord
ing TO Slason Thompson, statstician,
there are only 100000 of both bond
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