The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-05
Rail Men Win More Than $780,
900, 900 in the Year 1910.
Organized Labor in Nation Gains
Big Wage Increase.
NEILLPOWERlIN PEACE
Diplomacy and Skill in Recent
ArhitratiOns.
Other Items of General Inter
est in Traffic World.

Chicago, Jan. 5-Organized labor
particularly the portion comprising the
four great railroad brotherhoods, is re-
joicing over the wage results attained
in 1910. In other industries also the
year just closed has been one OF gen
eral progress and prosperity for work
ingmen.
To railroad employees Of the country
it was the banner year in the history or
the brotherhoods, SO far as wage IN
creases, are concerned. Officials of the
brotherhoods estimate that the in
creases granted by the railroads dur
ing the year amount to total or $40,
100000. More than 100000 men are az
fected.
The great wage movement of railroad
employees, begun in the fall of 1903
was the biggest labor feature OF the
year just ended. Every dispute was
settled amicabIy, though several
strikes were threatened.
OF Significance in connection with the
disputes was test to which the Ero-
mann law was put and the oemonstra-
ted utility of that federal stature IN
preventing disastrous railroad strikes.
both the railroads and the representa-
tives of the employees displayed a I'D
era1 spirit Of give and take.
Praise Arbiter Neill.
Both sides Joined in giving unstinted
praise to the diplomacy and skill In ar
filtration Of United States Labor Com
Employees in every branch of rail-
road service were given wage advances
amounting to an average OF from TO
10 per cent. The employees raised IN
Clude switchmen, firemen, engineers
conductors. trainmen, and telegraphers.
1T is understood that on several rail-
road systems the clerical force ana
draughtsmen in the engineering depart
ments will receive a raise in pay after
New Year.
- - fT,o
railroads Of the entire west were car
rfed on in Chicago, beginning early in
the year with the switchmen and end
ing on Thursday, December 70, WITH
the conductors and trainmen. Some OF
the employees obtained their advances
by direct negotiation with the general
managers and others left the dispute to
arbitration under the Erdmann law. In
every instance where the question was
submitted to arbitration. the men got
sn increase.
SwftcEmen's Union Profits.
The first demand for a raise was
made by members Of the Switchmen' s
Union of North America employed on
railroads in the northwest. They re-
fused arbitration, struck, and were de-
feated. Profting by this example, the
members of the same union in Chicago
early in 1910 consented to arbitration
and succeeded in getting a raise of !
cents an hour virtually for all switch
men in the west.
Following the switchmen came the
demands Of the locomotive f1remen. La
Dor Commissioner Neill succeeded IN
averting strike. An arbitration
boards decision gave the men an in
crease of about 10 per cent.
Wage conferences in behalf Of the To-
connective engineers began in Septem-
Der and in behalf of the conductors
and trainmen in November.
After threatening to strike Commits
eioner NELL succeeded in bringing the
two sides together on a compromise
agreement. A settlement was made or
the basis of 10 per cent increase.