Evening journal., 1916-11-02
Peoples Column
FROM WITHIN THE LINES.

To the Editor of THE EVENING
JOURNAL,
sir:-I appeal 20 the railroad train
men Of the United Slaves. II has now
been nfty-eight days since the social
ed eight-hour law was enacted. It
Is Of vital Importance to your future
welfare that you Immediately take
some definite action regarding the
true Interpretation OF the same. and
find out the actual affect the law will
have on the wages you earn, before
you vote next Tuesday
Immediately after the law was
passed. several railroad presidents
protested against it, but they soon
stopped doing so.
In a few days. President Under
wood, of the Erie. announced that he
would support Woodrow Wilson for
reelection his action was followed by
several other railroad presidents and
general managers. Mr.. Underwood Is
not a politician. he is a keen, long
headed railroad man, who is not look
ing for any political appointment, but
doing all in his power TO increase the
revenue of the Erie Railroad The
more he reduces the pay OF his en-
ployes. the larger the net earnings OF
his railroad will be.
At the present time. throughout the
country. the railroad presidents all
apparently are satisfied with the Ad-
amson law.
II is impossible for the railroad
companies and their employees both to
make more money by law that does
not increase rates. Either one side
or the other will be duped, which Will
IL be?
The only way to solve this problem
is to have your grievance committee
interview your president or general
manager. and get a plain written
statement from him what he will do
when the law goes into effect January
In. 1917. Whether he will continue to
pay the old highly paid trainmen by
the mile, or wheher he VIII pay them
by the day. thus constituting the law
to mean eight hours service consti-
tutes a days wages, regardless OF the
miles covered II he refuses to make
a statement. il Is positive proof that
he intends To STRICTLY follow the law,
as il reads. which does not mention
miles at all. II they refuse to make
such statements OF try to keep you
waiting until after election. as they
surely will it should convince you
that they intend to abandon the mile
age system of payment. II so. then
you are the dupe OF the most infa-
{ nous swindle ever perpetrated on 9
highly important class of American
citizens. And your vote should be
against Woodrow Wilson. as the prin
cipal author Of this perfidious law.
n the Adamson law should prove
TO be all the most gullible trainmeI
believe i. 20 be. then IL is nothing bu
an undiseuised attempt TO bride you
to vote for a policy that Will destro'
not less than one-third of all the rail
road business OF the country at tn
close OF the European war
The history of the railroad business
of the country tells but one story, ant
Il tells Il plainly.
That when foreign competition
closes the mills. facto.,es and mine
Of the United States. Il empties III,
freight cars that are the principa
source of railroad business and en-
ployment.
A number of PASSENGERS carried or
the railroads generally increases OF
, d'minishes I'M the same ratio as thu
freight business. While they may no
Law OFF as many cars they will run
I them only partly full
Remember this when you vote mex
| Tuesday.
, EDGAR JAY DIVER.
Formerly Chief Engineer OF Contra
= Engineers