The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-02-06
The Appalling Slaughter Of
Our Railway Trainmen

The death and disability roll of the |
employees of our American railroads is
terrible indictment against the in
humanity of the service. That much
of it is unnecessary is admitted by
every practical railroad employe, but
it has been going on for years with
out undue adverse comment from the
public or the press, until the railroads
have accepted this slaughter of their
employees as one of their rights, sort
of vested one, as it were, in the lives
and limbs of the men who care for the
transportation service of the country.
This condition will maintain, too, I'm
til there is cetrain forceful legislation
enacted, that will compel railroads to
exercise greater care in train opera
ton. The report of the interstate COM
merce commission for the year ending
June 80, 1907, tells tale of injury
and death that is not appreciated be-
cause it's effects are not felt. in their
entirety, or even understood in any
part of the country.
Instead of the catastrophe that
spreads death and desolation over a
limited territory in moment and,
therefore, draws to itself the full
realization of the results, the death
and disability roll, as shown by the
report of the commission, proves the
never-ending grind that continues day
after day in every part of the country
but because of the isolated nature OF
| the casualties, they are not noted as
they would be if our press dispatches
announced that more than fifty thou
sand men had been killed or seriously
injured at one time. Imagine, if you
|of the nation under stress of such
I1,ews. Compare the casualty reports
Iof any great battle, and judge what
this peaceful, industrial slaughter
lmeans to the nation.
The report of the commission shows
Il that during the period for which it
was made, there were 3,8O7 killed and
s5.254 injured while in the perform
ance of their duties. What else need
he, said of the terrible industrial sac
rifice demanded, or what greater evi-
dence of the necessity for compelling
the railways to adopt every precaution
for safety, and to set aside certain
part of their earnings to be used for
the maintenance of the injured and
be fair, and no more than just to
the employe.
AS long as the death and disability
list was more closely confined to the
railway employees, the public did not
give much heed to the dangers OF
the service. But contempt for danger
as it applied to the employe has been
lost by the gradual creeping in OF
greater danger to the passenger. H.
is commencing to sit up and take
! notice of it,
: Railroad casualties to the public
: have brought the extreme dangers at
2 tending railway operation home to 1t
! Although the public has not, as yet
become very insistent in its demand.
for reforms in operation, it has com
menced; and if constant remindin.
the public of it's danger, because o
railway wrecks, will do any good, thu
! question of safe and sane operation
will very soon be brought to the at
I tention of congress to the end tina
J, the powers of the interstate commerce
: commission will be enlarged to NEE
t the situation.
vi Practical railway employees, and b.
O this we do not mean managers VIII
;. are doing as their directors bid, bu
the men in the service, who are ruI
ming engines and trains, have lon
been cognizant of the increasin