The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-09-02
|EMPLOYE TELLS
WHAT IS ASKED
Shorter Freight Trains and Shorter
Runs i What the Men Are After,
According 70 One Of
Their Number.
MAY LOSE PENSIONS
Some of the Veterans Face This and
Not All Of the Mon Want Gen.
erai TIe-up, This Rail-
reader says.

erai Tie-up, This Rail-
reader says.
A veteran railroad man discussing
the situation this morning said that
the older men such as the veteran
conductors and engineers were
naturally opposed to general strike
because It meant that great many
of them would be retired permanent
" from railroad service If they
struck. while veterans employed by
many railroads who in few years
will be retired with pensions, would
surely lose their pensions. The veter-
ans. particularly the conductors. had
nothing at all to gain and everything
to lose. They were satisfied with
conditions as they were, as nearly all
have runs of eight hours or less good
salaries, and excellent working condi-
tons.
The public does not understand
what the men in the train service are
fighting for said the veteran this
morning. They do not expect an
eight-hour day such as the cigar
makers. painters and other union
men have. What they really hope to
do Is to force the railroads to operate
shorter freight trains on faster and
shorter schedules as the roads did be-
tore the advent Of the huge loconfo-
tives now in service on all big sys-
tebs. 1t Is impossible to get freight
trains of sixty to eighty cars from
Kansas City to Quincy, or from Gales
burg to Chicago in eight hours or
even ten hours. Often, the big trains
do not make 1t In the maximum time
Of sixteen hours provided by law for
continuous service for train and en-.
CINE men. But IL the roads are copl-
PEELED to shorten their trains and adj
Just their schedules to conform with
an eight-hour basic law, they will
schedules. eliminating the frequent
long delays on sidetracks which often
are unnecessary anyway.
For Better Service.
THE public does not seem to under
stand and appreciate the important
fact that all of this will necessarily
result In better freight service in
that freight will have to be gotten
over the roads In less time. That
| u the feature in which the public.
especially the shippers, should be
deeply concerned. The public will
really be ~ greatly benefited in one
way az will the railroad men in an
other way. There is no good reason
why railroad men should not have an
eight-hour basic day IL an eight-hour
| day is good thing for union men
throughout the country. The eight
hour day IL practical and reasonable,
and 1t eventually will come. SO why
not now?
1T is to be regretted that thousands
Of other railroad men, who will not
be benefited directly by the eight
hour basic day, will be thrown out
OF work II strike Is ordered and
enforced. But unfortunately it is I'M
avoidable il the railroad managers
will not be reasonable. However, vet
cram conductors are unwilling to
strike and in Nebraska and Kansas
have obtained injunctions to restrain
the Order OF Railroad Conductors
From enforcing the strike order. These
meh do not want to lose their jobs
at their age and, in addition, lose
their pensions. And no one can blame
them for feeling that way about it,
Be Shorter Trains.
Shorter trains can be handled to
much better advantage on all lines,
and can be gotten over the road in
less time, making for better service.
With shorter runs, the men can make
more trips In a month, SO the total
mileage may be about the same as
under the existing order of things.
II the public thoroughly understood
the situation, everybody would recog-
nize the Justice of the mems demands
and support them in their fight. But
very few people not in the service
fully understand existing conditions,
nor do they understand what Is to
be gained for both men and the pub
lie by the proposed eight-hour basic
day and the other demands OF the
brotherhoods. In time, the public Will
know Just as the men know now.
This trouble has been brewing
ever since the railroads began run
ming long trains on slow schedules
and. sooner or later, the blow-up was
bound to come. But nobody wants
general strike. II possible, some
plan should b. devised to avoid It,.
and think President Wilson and
congress will find the solution OF the
problem. Wilson has accomplished
big things during his administration
and he will see this thing through
finally bring about a settlement satis-
factory to all concerned except per
haps the big moneyed men VINO
operate the railroads. They are OPP
posed to giving anything to employees
Or the public that Will cost money.
posToFFIcE ANNOUNCEMENT.
Labor day, Monday. Sept 4, 1916,
there will be one early delivery ana
collection by carriers over the entlre
city. General delivery and carriers
windows open from 1900 a. M 10
1900 m. No delivery on rural routes
number one and two. Evening coliec-