The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1908-09-04
MANY OF THEM ARE CONSIDER
ING PRESENT DAY CONDl-
TlONS.
Some Interesting Figures Given by
B. r. Yoakum in an Interview
with New York Times
Reporter.

Frisco lines, are losing every day
through the present depression in
trade $l,0OO0O0, or $25,0O0,000
month" says the New York Times.
"One-quarier 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 6,000 men lose permanent EN-.
ployment and 24,00O people a good liv-
ing. The railroads are purchasing
supplies at the rate of $500, 000, 900, in.
stead of $l,250, ,OOO, 900 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.
lie 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. lie
said:
Hard times are now costing rail
road employees $25,000,000 a month
or $4,000 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 Sl,000,000 is shared by the
entire population of S5,O00,O00 people
while the other 1000, 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 say
ings Of better days.
]
road men will vote in November.
Frankly | do not know, but ] believe
| 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
! a
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 mp 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.
ber 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
to 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 do know that