Iditarod pioneer., 1916-08-26
Advertising Rates on Application
EIGHT-HOUR DAY FOR RAILROAD MEN

The attitude of President Wilson in the railroad controversy which he is attempting mediate will be disappointing to the big interests The of eight hour day for railroad
 who formerly compelled work twice that number of hours of the law will be regarded revolutionary For many months paid advertisements have peaed in all kinds o pubhcalon setg out the 1mPoSSo' of operating the railroads the basis of the proposed the organizations of railroad employees and showing that under the plan proposed SOOOOOOOO would be added to the operating expenses They have sought by both and ndous means work up public sentiment opposition to the demands of the
 But they appear have been unable to stampede the Pres dent who earnestly desirous of avertmg strike and gests that the shorter work day be given trial
 Like every legislative enactment that has been put into opera
 ton for the betterment of the condition of the railroad and for the safeguarding of life and limb of and anmen the eight hour day. according the railroad officials spells rum for the transportation companies.
 railroads compelled by law fit their with couers dacng the anticipated methods which were responsible for the loss of hundreds of lives annually the same old set The expense attached to the change was be yond the of the impoverished railroads But the coue installed within the liberal time limit allowed and Tn spite of this railroads have continued flourish to extend their opera
 and pay dividends And the loss of human life and limb has mmeasuraby reduced The calamity howl observed when brakes insisted The heavy outy connected with this installation such that they not in many years after their introduction Yet today he old hand brake is obsolete even urban lines So was when the number of hours of continuous service enacted the railroad officials were to be believed the of ranmen from being duty anywhere from fourteen thry hours continuously that railroad the United States would be in the hands ot receiver time But when found that large percentage accidents and consequent loss of life attributable to the fact that the ranmen had been duty for such unreasonable lengths of that their faculties numbed the law enacted and enforced And there few disasters railroads the falling asleep his post of exhausted gneer the that sleepy brakeman had failed to set signals The farce enacted with reference 10 the legislative bodies safe and scientific methods of signalling the installation of the block system. It has continual fight the part of the people for the safe guarding of life and limb of and employees the hand and the opposition of these QuaSpubc nst the railroads defeat the reforms the of omy That t has been shortghd policy the part of the railroads shown by the fact that those companies which made point o sang no expense to insure safety and comfort rewarded with the bulk of the traffic which had much effect as the legislative bringing about the general prOvements
 It is more than likely that the eghthour day will become accomplished fact ultimately railroads well in other tepres and it would be at all surprising few years from the pleas made opposition its introduction be looked upon line with those made other reforms in the evolution of the railroad business