Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1914-04-28
Freight Rates
by I. J. CmdH.)

..yx.v Managers at the present The demand come,
~, from one OF several railroads. but from the Amcri-
-, Federation o. Railroad Manager. as a whole
An incrca-e freight rates will benefit the railroads
h viii give them money with which fight labor
h xn enable them make larger opra,ions to the
;.,Lno, fund with which strikes financed 1t will
nv. them nor money with which purchase favorable
Lsula,ion .tinny increase in freight rates will
h.oeht the railroad managers-and else.
The railroad managers have reasons for advocating
he Increase hut railway employe. have whatever
The employee consumers. and if increased
ne consumers will have to pay the price Shippers will
have to pay the railroads higher price for moving com.
modites and they will put the charge upon the
eonsumer--the peope-by raising the pr,ce of
Aer commod1es.
Some railroad employees have been ulled INTO the
.se belief that the railroads are their interest.
that with in freight rates an increase in
Aer wage. val, be automa,ca ally procured This how
ever j. deu,ron Prior the Illinois Central strike
Ma company applied for in rates for hauling
coal In order make it. demand effective the com
p.ny held demonstration meetings terminal point. IN
Illinois The employees asked sign petitions and
make special prayers their political representatives that
dn increase coal hauling rates be granted The en-
poyes fell for and the petitions the
legislature and the increase was granted This increase
has then amounted millions OF dollars but when
he employees asked the company their wages
and thus divide with them OF the money the
had allowed them increased rates. the Illinois Central
decd 10 doors and locked them out.
And still there working men who cry
as for in freight rates. The ralroad. are
running short OF money with which to fish, labor orsan
s6ons and prosecute s.rkes and ss there employees
vho .y that right thas he ra2roads shosld be a.
bssd s1ffie;ent moesy 10 kssp - ths
~ - ~h.t -
Thy may be sincere. but blind.
II the railroads had saved the money that they have
psnt in the last fifteen years fighting organized labor
~ could wages today. I'D decrease freight
sa Can any intelligent person believe that the rail-
esds entitled to increased rates taking into consd
sa6oa the Of money that has been squandered
= he Santa Fe. l. & NJ. c. c. W.. NJ o. q c.. Pere
Marquette and illinois Central and Hartman lines ssrkesp
Can any person with . we'll balanced mind furnish any
asonabe basis for granting railroads higher rates for
moving freight after taking consideration the Alton
forty million dollar steal in 1897. the New Haven nsn
eial scandal of today the holding companies that have
robbed the Rock Island lines in the last few the
frseo steal and the other financial scandals
hat have taken place railroad circles the last few
yeanp
And still there are railroad workers-union men
crying for in freight We met Of
oen At the Kansas City convention. II a stranger had
dropped during the freight debate he would have
6easht he a general manager convention. Yes.
nd they the railroads fair with and if help
6em get increase in will get increase in
wasea
This is the modern bunk Of those who can into
@s misone-below the surface Of todays problems.
ow railroad is fair usl They still under the Inn
Preston that there than railroad company.
but this false idea. and thus their entire philosophy
. faise. All the railroads concern-one COM
ps"y-under different and different local manage
nenss but directed from the main office Wall
S6eet And, while this office is engaged in fighting
union labor several railroads, 1t appeals to
union labo, the other railroads help it get
crease in make the fight against union
Aoor more effective.
Yes. still have union who can't see the
bsnco game
But let make them look cheap with their own
Arguments Let that railroad not owned
Wall Street the Of employees be