New-York tribune., 1918-05-26
Crashing of Teeth
To the Editor of The Tribune.

Sir: On Monday, May 10, read an ar
ticle on your editorial page entitled "The
Brotherhood Disarmed." In my opinion,
the above title gives a clear insight into
the workings of an editorial brain controlled
by capital "The Brotherhood Disarmed"
sounds like an echo from the weeping and
wailing and gnashing of teeth which fol-
lowed the enactment of the so-called eight
hour law
For my own information I recently con-
Quoted a straw vote campaign among rail-
road men for the purpose of ascertaining
to what extent The New York Tribune and
other papers were read by railroad men
in general. After poll of $50 men, the
straw vote stood as follows: "New York
Globe" 81, "New York Call" 30, "New York
American" 3, "Ncw York World" 48, "New
Ycrk Times" 12, miscellaneous "a, New
York Tribune 7. You win note from the
above straw vote that The Tribune does not
pol very strong among railroad men. The
Tribune's policy Of antagonizing every move
of the brotherhoods' workings to better
working conditions, etc, is the only reason
for The Tribune making such small show
ing in this straw VOTE
When the editor of The Tribune writes on
a question which involves the welfare of
something like 100000 men engaged in
railroad work he should at least consult
some one who has some knowledge Of rail-
road conditions and brotherhood activities
For the advice of Tho Tribune | shall en-
deavor to give brief statement of the
average wages paid to those in the train.
service.
To wit: Regardless of the prevailing
opinion of the public at large, and you,
my unenlightcned editor, I would say that
railroad brakemans average wage is $3.50
:<.l.4
an increase comes the Railroad Managers
Association never speaks Of the average pay,
but lays great stress on the fact that some
Of the brakemen receive from 81 to $5
day. An investigation on any of our trunk
line roads will show that for every run
paying the maximum wage you will find
four runs that pay only the fiat rate of
$2.b5 day.
What is your opinion, Mr.. Editor, regard
ing such extravaganza on the part of the
railroads? What could you do, Mr.. Editor,
on $2.55 day with the present high cost
of living staring us in the face? Probably
If we railroad men could be satisfied with
an editors lunch of milk and crackers we
would probably be able to save something
out of the $685. but on account of the nat
ure of our labor, which draws heavily on
our energy and endurance, we have got to
fatten the protitecring butchers by buying
their beef
] take exception to the paragraph in your
editorial which says that the railroads while
in private hands had to yield to threats
and had to raise the pay of the brother
hoods who had the power to bring about
a national disaster; that the roads were
moved to raise the pay of the brother
hoods in order to avoid an "unpatriotic out
burst" In answer. I would say that the
railroads have never been known to volun-
tarily raise wages or improve working con-
dltlons. 1t needed compulsion to free our
selves from England in the Revolution; it
required compulson on the part of the
masses to dethrone the Car of Russia:
and you will admit that the above method
OF compelling and forcing through the hopes
ana desires OF the masses has Welded us
untold and fertile fields for advancement.
AS regards the action of the railroads in
preventing an "unpatriotic outhurst," this
statement bears close resemblance to the
utterances and attitude of the Tories in
l776. AS to your belief that the brothe rhoods
would have been wrecked from within had
they carried out their threats of nation
wide strike, | would say that if you will
only be honest with yourself you will ad-
nit that the brotherhoods were not bluff
fng.
NelaIiVe 10 thoSe receiving from $14 to
SIG week and for whom you show such
sympathetic concern, l have this to saw:
The brotherhoods have always been willing
to aid our more unfortunate brothers in
their fight for higher wages, but when these
same unfortunate brothers refuse to helm
to organize and to fight for themselves
how can you expect the brothe rhoods
to fight their battle for them? These
same $14 and SIG a week wage earn
ers have never attempted to organize and
have absolutely refused to extend financial
support to any movement in their behalf.
When the brotherhood chiefs held their
conference with President Wilson two davs
before the nationwide strike was to he
called our President showed a clear un-
derstanding and sympathetic attitude in
Justlhcatlon of our claims. In pushing the
olght-hour law he threw a bomb into tho
ranks of the Managers Association. which
sent them back to their homes with a sour
stomach and desire to rip things apart.
and the editorial Of The New York Tribune
is but an echo of the retreat of the "dollar
patriots" the so-called Railroad Managers
Association, so that we railroad men can
accept the vaporing of The Tribune with
smile, knowing that the day is drawing
near when The Tribune to save it's own fare
Will have to flop to the support of labor or
discontinue publication.
DO not for one minute suppose that Won
will publish this letter, for we railroad men
nave never looked for fair deal from
The Tribune, but there are other papors
IN New York who will publish this letter.
we rely on "The New York Globe" and
The New York Call" knowing that we car
be assured Of square deal on any oues-
tlon pertaining to labor. H. C. KEYES.
New York, May %. 1918.
lin the editorial referred to by Mr..
keyes The Tribune warmly indorsed the
report of the Railroad Wage Commission
recommending the largest increase of paw
to railroad employees that has ever been
considered, amounting to $500 100000 a
wear: and 1ua no rt;n,,lo .1.x L,