National news. (Chicago, Ill.) 1915-19??, 1915-12-31
EIGHT HOUR DAY FOR RAILROAD men
CONTINUED from page II 4

railroad employees. because when the
progressive spirit was alive. there was
"A universal demand for safety legls-
lation such a. placing u minimum
number Of men on trans. limiting the
length of trains and equlpplng cars
and locomotives with safe appliances.
The railroads. fully approaching the
truth of the old adage. Child Is the
creature Of lis environments" fill the
circumambient atmosphere with dole
ful cries about the poor railroads.
In due time these heartrendng APP
peals, injecting and permeating the
public mind. brIag the desired results
II Is an axiom Of progresslyeness
that befonn capital is entitled 10 any
reward labor Is entitled 10 wage
commensurate TO the amount Of
wealth il produces This humane and
economic principle was pronounced by
the immortal Lincoln in the following
words: There is one point which |
desire 10 call 10 the attention Of the
Congress Of the people. il is the at
tempt being made TO place capital
upon an equal footing with, If not
above, labor Labor is prior and in
dependen, of capital. capital Is but
the fruit of labor and never could
have existed II labor had not first ex-
isted, therefore. labor deserves much
the higher consideration. The men
of today occupying high positions do
not practice this unselfsh principle,
and it is doubtful whether their
thoughts even entertain il, for il was
shown by the investigation of the
Commission on Industrial Relations
that, THE wealth OF the country be-
tween 1890 and 1912 increased from
65 to ls7 billions. or lss per cent,
whereas the aggregate income of
wage earners IN manufacturing. min
ing, and transportation has risen be-
tween 1889 and 1909 only IS per
cent, from 2.5l6 millions in 1889
-. i.9l6 millions in 1909 Further
more, the wage earners' share OF the
net product of industry in the case of
manufacturers was only 40.2 per cent
in 1909, as compared with 44s per
cent in 1889" In the face Of this i'm.
partial finding, can any just and fair
minded person say that the working
people have not right TO expect that
wages shall BE- increased and work ~
hours reduced in keeping WI ~
progressiveness and produc,vene.. II
the times.
The railroads maintain IN Washing
ton. ID. G., a so-caled Bureau Of Rail
way Economies. which recently pub
hshed a statement and presented fig
ures to show that the average daily
wages Of al classes Of railroad labor
has increased. A statement Of this
KIND. standing alone, makes a good
appearance. but 1t Is uncorrobora,ed
by the circumstances and conditions
If the working people To show how
weak and lmmateria /, Il, il Is onl,
necessary to compare the figure. with
the enormous increase m wealth which
has taken place IN this country largely
as a result Of the labors - tn. uark.
ing people.
Another method % alstpr'Iug fac
Is evidenced by tho stafen.er'. scr,
broadcast over the cpurtrs dIr.rg tFo
wage movement - 20. "a IT,
earnfHss Of a fre.gt' tr4s.s.- Vsr.
800 pr mont. IT, s'a'ea.en.
looked good or pap. z. al 20 .ae.b, ~
as'faga h4s1es- 80 =. ma. ? "a
a. go a. naF. -. - 80 = ?
IA BE- 'a,'. Ms - - I--..s. ta.f
day. or 500 pr nu.,t - - -
to4r dags. and IL ey.r.... -. VS.
- p'f heur L. az. - 's.#st..
lres. " fad tha' q tra..a - -. g.
Work = hour p. n..ss. - "a.
pr ma.'h OF J. hour cast. -. order
TO earn $500 A. ~. aga
nothing Vas sad about tne portion y
this 90 thai the brakeman VA
compelled to expcnd for living eap.ns
- when on the road.
The clam that high-wage iner.as..
and reduction m working hours will
lmpoverlsh the railroads Of the coun.
Try Is spurious. The greater d,str.
button u wealth does not create nov
erty, nor docs i retard production an,
consumption. 1t il the very founda
ton Of greater opportunities for IN.
many poor people u acquire the rea
sonable comforts Of life. and does no
permit a feS TO prosper and wax IA
on the poverty Of the many. Dorin
collective wage movement IN 1911
the employees or certain railroa
asked for an increase amounting
10000 annually. The president ,
the company. who was broad, III
eralminded man. was willing 70 gral
the increase but was very Doubt
whether the earning of the road cou
stand the burden. The employees Dc
sisted. however, assuring him that 4
gross earnings Of the road would
crease 5000 900 annually II the