The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-29
ENGINEERS MAY
TIE Up COUNTRY
Head of Brotherhood Declares
He Holds the Key to
the Situation
CAPITAL SHUNS
RAILROAD STOCK
Death Rate Heavy--Inter-
Z state Commerce Commits
sion May Be Respon-
sible for Trouble

NEW YORK. March 2s.--During
an exclusive interview with the In
ternationai News Service today Grand
Chief Warren s. Stone. of the Broth
erhood OF Locomotive Engineers. said:
public attention should be closely
directed to the situation which has
arisen on the railroads.
THE railroads of the Eastern ter
ritory--and that means east of Chit
cago, with the Illinois Central as the
dividing line and north OF the Ohio
river. with the Norfolk and Western
the divtding-have directed our de-
mands for an increase. They have
not advanced, for the reason that
freight rates have been SO reduced
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion that they are unable to afford
the increase.
Wow the public must understa nd
that 1 accept the statement from the
railroads as true until it is proved
untrue. 1t seems to resolve itself
into this:
III the railroads are not telling the
truth and existing rates are fair and
just. the railroads should be compeli-
ed to make fair increases in the pay
OF engineers.
III the railroads are stating the
facts truthfully, the Interstate Com
merce Commission. to meet public
clamor. has arbitrarily forced rates
down below fair figure, and the pub
lie should insist that those rates be
readjusted upon q basis that will
permit a fair wage to the engineers.
Holds the Key TO Situation.
Now, ! realize that l hold the key
to the situation. as far as our posi-
ton upon our demands for an in
crease goes, and that l have held 1t
all the dme. represent men who
cannot be replaced. But have never
lure ana 1 am not doing SO now.
AT present conferences are over.
and no date has been fixed for am
other meeting. I shall leave here
probably within twenty-four hours.
Ballots Will be sent TO our members.
They will vote upon the situation. On
April 10 our delegates will return
and the ballots will be opened A
letter. containing the result, will he
sent to the railroads. That will pu;
the situation up to them.
IN the event of a strike. every
railroad in the Eastern territory will
be tied up. except the Jersey Cen
trai. Our contracts on that road
Adu IT. July ISL.
Now let me state few facts. Our
men have endured more. hardships
during the past winter than they have
Tor years. Our death rate has in
creased to an appalling figure.
Death Rate Heavy,
During the past twelve months cal
Of our members have been killed
while performing their duties. The
day that ] left my Office to come
to these conferences We received
seven death claims. and six OF those
men were killed on duty
To meet the public demand for
limited trains the Eastern railroads
endeavor to maintain speed which
the equipment roadbed and general
physical material construction cannot
stand
t'The severity Of the past winter
has, Of course, brought this more for
cibiy to the public notice, because OF
disastrous wrecks.
Il have been interested in the steel
rail agitation az one OF the primary
causes. Good steel rails are made
and can be obtained. But. like every
thing else. II makes more monew 10
get the very best The use OF soft
wood for ties. II constantly increas-
ing. ~ Oak ties nre harder Than ever
to obtain. Hemiock ana pine il being
used. The treatin~ process does not
increase the efficiency II the tie. It
merely serves to proiong its life.
Concerning the hazard to their own
lines. and the tremendous RESPONSE
bility OF other lives that rests upon
them daily, II Is absurd to refuse the
engineers better wages. Mark you.
the railroads have not said that uor
demands are unjust or unfair. They
simply say that they cannot rfford
airy Increases under eEssting freight
Capital Shuns RAILROADS.
tCApitaliA1s are not Investing any
money in railroads. With the ex-
ceptton OF the terminal improvements
now being made In New York. prac-
ticaily no Improvement work Is being
(Cbntinued on Sixth paGe)