The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1921-10-28
LEE GIVES REASONS
FOR RAIL WALk0UT.

Cleveland, Oct. 22.-Causes for the
strike for railway workers, set to be-
gin in general at a. M, Oct. 30, are
enumerated by w. G. Lee, president
of the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men. The statement was issued, Mr..
lice explained, because "the public is
rather confused" as to its causes,
some believing it is for higher wages.
Three causes were ascribed by Mr..
Lee:
First-The wage reduction of July
1st.
Second-Proposed further reduc-
/ tions.
/ Third-Proposed elimination of
rules which would mean still further
Productions.
Mr.. Lees statement as to the cuas-
es of the strike follows:
"The public is rather confused as to
| the causes for the railway strike.
There is a belief on the part of some
that the strike is for higher wages,
and it is not understood to be a DEM
onstration against a wage reduction
Ito which has been added propositions
further to reduce wages and eliminate
rules which would mean still further
reductions.
Railroad transportation employees,
even when peak wages were paid, did
not receive advanced wages in keep
ling with the increased living costs.
The daily rate paid transportation
linen was fixed for all classes in the
United States in 1913, and, regardless
of the increased cost of living, there
were no increased wages for these
femployes until Jan. /, 1918, and only
ithen after most searching investiga-
tion had been made by the Lane
4 ICommission to determine what should
be the reasonableness of wages paid
Transportation employees. This COM
OMISSION reported that wages were in
ladequate, and, contrary to public opin-
1 ion, did not measure with wages paid
4 in other classes of service.
"The rate of a freight brakeman
between Chicago and New York was
IS2.67 day which was referred to by
the railways as princely wage, and
the public, naturally supposing that a
'tbusiness representing so much as the
railroad business would tell the truth,
accepted the railway statement with
out question. It does not take long to
.)determine how much could be earned
lins d month of 80 days at rate of
81 par dav. IInfil Jan l.s..1a18
T$80.10 was. the princely wage some
fifty-odd thousand railroad men re-
ceived in what is known as the east
ern territory. Other wages were in
proportion to the wages of the freight
brakeman.
with the reduction in wages of
July l, 1921, the present wage of this
employe is $134.40 for 80 days in the
month, and he is fortunate indeed if
he is able to make every day in the
month. The hazards Of the service,
IeXposure to the weather and very
many other reasons all contribute
their share toward making him an in
termittent as we'll as a piece worker.
Transportation employees are not paid
by the month, but by the day or trip.
If business requires they work. If
not, they lose the time. There are
comparatively few men making full
time. There are thousands Of these
men out of work, many of whom have
as high as Is years. service, because
there is no need for them, while thou
sands of others have to try to live on
a few days month which is all the
railroad service requires from them.
Let it be understood that no trans
portation wages are paid unless the
time is made. 1t is true that the rail-
way companies show wages earned in
much higher amounts than those
quoted, but they do not tell that the
higher monthly amounts represent
full time and overtime 1t is fair to
assume that everyone who is forced
to work extra time expects to be paid
| for it.
"The railroad companies have not
been fair in their propaganda against
the employe, and it is to be hoped
that before the trouble is over that
prejudiced opinion based on railway
! publicity misstatements will under
stand the exact wage that may be
earned throughout a normal days
work. ."-Commercial Appeal.