The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-11
IN THEIR DEFENSE.
Railroad EN- ployees Plea FOr'In-
terests of Lines.
Mammoth Petitions Prepared
For Circulation Today.
MEETING IN TOPEKA
Mass Conference Of Rock Island
and Santa Fe Leaders.
Prayer to Government For Raise
in All Freight Rates.


Topeka today, is the center OF one oi
the greatest movements ever taken pS
the railway employees of the Ohlteo
States. Hundreds of reilroad men from
all over the lines of the ROCK 1sidiiu
and the Santa Fe are holding secret
sessions, the outcome of whlch VIII
mean the circulation of mammoth Pc
titions which Will be signed by every
employee of every railroad in the west
These petitions are made out as
plea, to the interstate commerce coni-
mission, the governors Of the western.
states. the United States senators anC
rcprcsentatives, the state legislators
md the state railroad boards, ASKING
them that the freight rates be ralseu
and showing them the reasons LOT sucli
a move .,4 o-
The plans for this great movement or
iginated with the American fOall"ay
TSnopIovees Investment association IN
[ hicago. These plans have pee'l heps ~
secret and not until the petitions reach
the .emDloyees ir the different sectlons
cf the country will the movement De
known generally, although the rallroau %,
men have been working on the Peei-
tion for some time. 4
Santa Fe trains have been bringing
representatives of the employees Iroiu
different divisions to Topeka Ine Dis
general meeting is being held TINS d.
ternoon and the plans for the olstrlou-
tion of the petitions are being maue.
The Rock Island with Its 5000 miles
of read and the Santa Fe with Its Sow
miles of lines expect to cover every
divieion every section and every sta
tion with the petitions. All of the rall-
roads in the country centering IN Cii-
cago AID all of the roads attected py
the recent freight rate trouble are 90
ing the same today, although the TACT
is known only to the employees.
First Active Interest.
This is the first time in the history
of American railroading that the en-
ployees of a road or roads have taken
sn active interest in the business OF
the company they have been working
for. 1t is the first exclamation OF the
railroad employees in favor and IN CO.
cneration with the interests OF the COM
pany. 1t is a movement instigated
wholly among the employees and IN To-
pcka the general officials know moth
ing of the plans which are being ap-
proved at the meeting this afternoon.
Believing that with higher freight
rates their wages will be raised, their
pocketbooks fattened, their homes i'm
proved. their prosperity assured and
their personal interests affected, the
railroad employees have started this
appeal to the national and state leg
islative bodies. In the petition the
employees point out the reasons why
their interests and their welfare is at
stake. 1t is an appeal that will take
the country by storm and is the signal
of a vast change in the attitude and
association of the railroad companies
and their employees 1t is move
ment that has grown around and has
IL IL Lob
unions, and has entered the offices of
the railroads through new door.
When these petitions are circulated
and signed they will be forwarded at
once to the legislative officials named
in this article. The local associa-
tions will be active in connection with
the commercial clubs, the business
mems associations, the newspapers
and all public organizations. In To-
peka the mployees-more than $500
in mum mber-will try to get an express
sion from the Commercial club, the
Ad club and all business organizations
of influence. Petitions will be sent to
Governor Stubbs. the state board of
commissioners, the state Off
cials. Senator Curtis and several
others.
Petition Is Being Approved.
The petition in full, which is being
approved this afternoon and which
will be circulated all over the west
ern section of the United States, is as
follows:
I'VE, as citizens of this country, be-
lieye in fair profits and good wages,
and we, as railroad employees, realize
arably associated with the prosperity
of the railroad, our employer.
The increased cost of materials. Ia
Dor, taxes and other essential ele-
ments entering into the cost of oper-
ating the railroad is a matter of com
mon knowledge. The public demands
better time, greater safety. better ac-
commodations, Better equipment and
generally better service. The public
is constantly receiving improved serv-
ice from the care devoted to the oner-
alton of the railways by their man
agements. The public ought to be
willing and we believe is willing to paw
for such service.
"All of this points to the necessity
that the railroads receive a higher rate
for the transportation they furnish
Increased rates for transportation will
insure regularity of our employment
ana the STABILITY OF our earnings and
In all fairness this is due us as well as
the railroads.
I'VE support the railroads in their
known efforts to secure higher rates
for the transportation they furnish.
ana we urge all tnoSe who have to do
with the rate Question-Whether the
Interstate commerce commission stale
railway or public service commissions.
national and state legislators-to deal
fairly with this vital question. We
have had much legislation involving
the regulation of the railways and
much politics in connection with the
operation and control of the RAILWAYS
in the recent past
''The fund from which our wages
are paid can not be constantly de-
pleted without injuring US as en-
ployees-- we know that transportation
rates have nothing to do with the in
creased cost of living and we feel now
that our employers, the RAILWAYS.
most need increased compensation in
order to secure increased earnings.
"As employees of railroads we have
rf-nnd this oaffffno 4