The Globe-republican., 1908-09-03
RAIL MEN THINKING
MANY OF THEM ARE CONS'DEH-
ING PRESENT DAY CoNDi-
TONS.
Some Interesting Figures Given by
3. r. Yoakum in an Interview
with a New York Times
Reporter.

frisco lllts, aic io"ihS
through the present depression III
trade $1,OOO,OO0, or $25'oOo,ooo
month" says the New York Times.
,.One.ouarler of them or about 4O0,ooo
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
900 miles of new track that are not
built G,0OO men lose permanent EN-
pIoyment and $4,000 people a good Nv
ing The railroads are purchasing
supplies at the rate of 5OO,OO0,0oO, In
stead of sl,25O,OOO,OOO a year
Mr. Yoakum has been speaking late-
" in Texas and st. Louis, and urged
there that the most important clement
in the present industrial conditions
was the enormous losses in wages ana
the stagnation caused by the stoppase
of the development of the country
He has considered this phase OF the
present Crisis deeply'
A reporter of the New York Ilmes
sought him recently at his farm at
Farmingdale, l.. l., and asked nm
how he believed the railroad men OF
the country would vote this year MI
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 a.e now costing rail-
road employees $25,OOO,0OO month
or s1,OOOOOO for each working day
This decrease of the employees pay
roll is approximately the same amount
as the Governments daily deticlt
at Washington The Government S
deficit of $1,OOO,O0O is shared by the
entire population of S5,OOOOOO people
while the other $1,OOO,OOO 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 1,5OO,O0o
persons comprising their dependent
families are living out Of their say
ings Of better days.
Il have been asked how the rail-
road men will vote in November.
Frankly | do not know, but | believe
I know Of what they are thinking.
They are thinking of next Winter
fuel clothing bills, and keeping thell
children in school. They are wonder
ing what will be done to remedy the
nresent industrial conditions and stoI
the appalling loss from enforced idle
ness.
Railroad workers are thrifty anC
they help one another, Their savings
and mutual bearing of the burdens O
adversely have prevented much SUI
fering I'D to this time, but they have
greatly reduced their surplus bank ac
counts. and when winter comes TIT
story will be different unless business
conditions materially improve.
"The more than million and
half of former railroad workers hay
in mind that one-fourth of their nun
her are out of jobs or on short pay
They are thinking of their lost job
not worrying over foreign policies 9
tariffs on imports, or how this GOV
eminent shall deal with the phil
pines. and such questions, which IN
Government authorities and Congress
p must deal with.
"The railroad employees are NOR
/ interested in what is going to be don
TO start up the work which will brln
back to them regular and permanel
:. employment. They are tired OF seem
h dead engines, idle cars, neglecte
e tracks and rusty signs Of disuse.
r will not try to say what they thir
q should be done, but ! do know I'M
they are listening for words Of e
couragement.
j. "To think what it means in tho
,e sands of homes is not pleasant top
g but we should look the situate
suuarely in the face, and each mi
r should be pressed to share his
sponsbility in seeking remedy.
THE campaign orators Of Septe
sr her and October must face the cot
try full of men out Of employmel
ID The stump speakers will be seeki
or votes and the idle will be seekl
IL work.
"Of what else can the railroad m
be thinking except of what caus
su the reduction in their income OF $3C
~ 900, 900 a year? They are listening
ne those who have suggestions as to h
er to get on the payroll again and at
'e' wages"
en- But there are other factors in
railroad situation?" it was sugges
to Mr.. Yoakum.
i no 1.-The railroad employe," he repli
~. "is the most important factor in
,u' railroad situation from every pc
20 of view. The owners of the railroa
~. known as bond and stockholders,
' less in number than the employees
- have less at stake. One year
there were. according to the In
State Commerce Commission flgu
ma 1,675,OOO employees, and they recei
ga 81 ,O75, 100000 as wages, and, acc
rs. Ing to Slason Thompson, statistic
req there are only 100000 Of both b
us ard stockholders receiving less I
EN- half the amount paid as wages
ana Out Of every dollar earned by
~ railroads the employe gets AZ G.
no Of It in wages. while the bond