Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-20
many RAILROAD MEN SIGN
LOYALTY PLEDGE CARDS
Others Object tn What They Term
$50 "Flsg-Waving Pretense of
-si. Patriotism"
WANT PLEDGE FROM MANAGERS
Would Forcgo Right to Strike Dur
Ing War II Railroads Would Agree
Ito Fulfill Promises rs to Eight
Hour Day and Overtime.

ALPHABETICALLY all employees OF the
Richmond. including officials dire ting
the tpeIation Of trans. siGneS and
turned in yesterday the loyalty pledge
cards. II was stated at the Offices Of
the railroad. There are more than $50
employees of the Seaboar I'd in this city.
The cards were distributed Thursday
and collected yesterday. Considerable
criticism of the loyalty cards continued
yesterday.
Many railroad men declared they did
nor have to advertise their loyalty.
and that they did not care to wear
buttons TO show that they were stand
Ing by the government" In some quar-
tiers the movement was declared to
have been untinely. for there were no
more patriotic set of men anywhere
than the railroad men in Richmond.
Criticism OF the railroad was also heard
because OF its treatment of clerks. many
of which are now working twelve hours
asday, seven days in the week with
out the overtime payment promised in
D:rector-Ceneral McAdoo's wage ad-
5ustment when the principal of the
eight-hour day was officially recog-
nized.
B. L. Hammer. industrial agent OF
the. Seaboard Iir Line Railway, who
addressed the employees in Richmond
on Thursday and distributed many
pledge cards. yesterday telegraphed
The Times Dispatch from Norlina y. C,
as follows:
The President. members Of Con-
Eress and Federal officers take oath of
office Are labor leaders adverse to
pledEinG loyalty to government? All
railroad employees are Federal en-
plcyees. We are the army behind the
lines.
ADMINISTRATIONS PLEDGED
TO FAIR AND LIVING WAGE
-"on wage and other questions adj
living wage; none doubt integrity of
the government Is tho flower OF
American manhood to suffer horrors
or war 10 save a people who discuss
wage scales. overtime and hours OF
service At time like this? DO they
do.it? Both work for the government
Each is essential to the winning Of
the war. Sympathe,ic understanding
and patience and honest cndcavor is
all that is asked"
The pledge card signed by the mon
which is said to be in pursuance OF
the request OF William q. McAdoo. di-
rector-gencral OF railroads. is as fol-
lows:
II hereby pledge to give my whole
hearted. loyal and best efforts TO the
Performing of my tasks and duties
/. and that l will not consciously do or
say anything that Will tend to create
characterization. dissatisfaction or to
interrupt the most efficient operation
OF the railroads OF this country"
III reply to Mr.. Hammer. labor men
say that the railroad companies are at
tempting, under the Euisc OF patriotism
to- induce them to foreEo their rights
Of self-protection for the period Of
the war. The men have been appealed
toto work unusually long hours. with
out off days. on the ground that the
troop trains must he kept moving, and
yet there are known cases where the
railroads have declined to employ adj
ditional men, or TO make any effort
to tighten the twelve hour-a -day,
which many yard and freight clerks
for overtime.
Those who object to the signing Of
the pledge cards say they would readily
agree to >foreEo all rights To str Ike
and TO give their utmost efforts toward
efhcient operation of the railroads of
the country during the war il the rail
road managers were bound by tn" Sd me
pledge. So long as the managers fail
TO carry out their word TO the men
or 10 make any eTori to put into ef-
feet the eight hcurN'd " oi' TO pay for
overtime to NY m@n hot in tho strongly
tntrenrhed brothcrhoods. they claim
that these same railroad mana,crs
should not come to them with so much
or naG-waNinG prctcnsc of patriotism.