Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1916-06-29
ROADS APPEALING
TO THE FARMERS
ON WAGE RAISE
n Demands Are Granted Farmers
VIII Have To Pay BIG Part
OF Increase


Washington, d. C.-Though farm
ers Usually feel little interest In
railway labor disputes and are dis
posed to think that such troubles are
remote from them and cannot touch
them directly. In the pending ques'
ton between the Brotherhoods OF
freight trainmen and the railways OF
the country the railways evidently
are making special effort to inform
the farmers on the points involved
and to enlist their attention.
II Is argued by the railroad man
ayers that the final disposition Of the
dispute will be made by public sehti'
ment They reason that the farmer,
when II comes 10 q final "shsw'
down." really controls not only the
political power but the sentiment OF
nearly all the states. Therefore. they
are trying TO appeal 10 his horse
sense. They are sending out a good
deal Of literature directed especially
10 the farmers-probably the first
time such a course has been taken
in any great labor struggle. They
say they are convinced Of the gene
raj public's confidence In the horse
sense. the insight and the fairness Of
the American farmer. and that. there
fore. his influence must be powerful
Ht-L uy..-. A.. n.Ia
They are dwelling especially on the
argument that the freight trainmen
already are the highest paid laborers
in the world They submit hgures 10
show that n many instances frelgs'
train employees earn from $500 a
month for the trainmen. or brake
man" a. they used TO be called, TO
$4,000 a month for engineers. work.
inlg from 22 to 20 days month.
They are asking farmers 10 inquire
into the facts and convince them
selves that most OF the talk OF ex.
cegslve hours Of labor on railways Is
empty and contradieted by the facts.
More than sixteen hours Of continu.
Gus work in railway sorUee Ia for.
hidden by law The Instances Of
men kept on duty 80 long as sireen
hours are a very small fractional per.
centage OF the total employment:
they become less every year. and al
most invariably are due 10 accident
-. ..... .,..u.I ~.ath.r rnnalflan.
The managers OF the railway com
panies point out that the
farmer. himself accustomed Ia
from twelve 20 fourteen hours
n day OF steady work and
rarely earns In a year "A much cash
money as a trainman on duty from
ten to twelve hours. and never con
tinuously nj work. can earn. restine
from labor from onefourth 10 one
third Of his tina In the south Il 4
q familiar maxim that 10 takcs thir
teen months to make a cotton crop.
The man who raises ten bales Of cot
ton Eets for Il In money from $4,000
20 $4,000. and from this must pay
his living expenses. fertilizer bill
and labor. ,The tralnmen are sal,
TO average $4,000 a year. this belnl
the estimate Of the brotherhood lead
ors themselves. and the engineeri
draw from $4,000 TO s2.50O0O I
year. the conductors aud nremsT
earning wages bctween those Of tn
trainmoR and engineers
Farmer vitality interested
Aside from the question OF Justice
~ l. pointed out that the farmer
direct Interest IN the matter Is tha
hls welfare demands frcight traia
adequate 20 the needs Of the country
and that whatever Injuries the rat
roads or hampers their operation o
prevents their development Is dlrec
injury % him, II tie trouble shoul
develop a general strike Of the trolgh
train employees. resulting In Il,
NJ % tralsc. the farmer would be ~
able TO ship ont what he raises o
~ gct iu what be wants He viii b
asked O. consider whether the raj
rosds Should be crippled by beln
compelled 10 pay IS per cent iucreas
in vogcs 10 men already rcceiyln
far more than the average prsspei
Jus flru,r with resulting injury {
the farmer hlmsei'-and II the raj
roads arc compelled "a graut the 30
crease arl have 90 raise their irelgh
rates. a. .amcg SD. have 90 pay