AN 22 1918 W EDITORIAL The New Order of Things By H. B. PERHAM, President OODROW WILSON, President of the United States, has by virtue of law taken possession and assumed control of the railroads, effective at 12:00 o'clock noon, December 28, 1917. As far as railroad employes are concerned a new order of things commenced on that date. It is reasonably expected that the Congress will strengthen the President's hands by suitable enactments, but the character and scope of such enactments are intangible subject floating about in the blue ether at the time this is written. Whatever may betide it is reasonable to suppose that matters will be on the upgrade as far as our membership is concerned and that many of our long standing grievances will be abated and eventually removed. While we stand at the threshold of the new era, eagerly anticipating what fate may have in store for us, let us review what was accomplished during the year 1917, after thirty years of getting ready. Contrary to expectations, all records were excelled during the year 1917. It was supposed that the war would have an adverse influence and that the pace we have kept up for many years past would be slackened. But such, happily, was not the case. The fighting spirit now in evidence all over the world reached into the towers, offices, stations and places where our members are employed, and there appeared a general resistance to the unjust conditions that have prevailed there for many years past. The increases in wages in other lines of employment, the constantly increasing. cost of living necessities, the rise in rents, and many other influences made it well nigh impossible to proceed along the old lines, and those who had found it convenient to work all day and every day for a bare subsistence were at last stirred into resistance. The result is that 130 new and revised schedules have been accomplished during the year with only one lockout strike to mar the record. Following is a list of railroads where new and revised schedules have been secured: Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo, January 1st. Big Four, January 4th. Canadian Northern (Western Lines), January 8th. Express Agents Can. Northern, January 11th. Grand Trunk Pacific, January 13th. Denver & Rio Grande, January 23d. St. Louis Southwestern, January 30th. Wheeling & Lake Erie, February 1st. Quincy, Omaha & K. C., February 8th. New York, New Haven & Hartford, February 9th. Missouri & North Arkansas (new), February 19th. Central of New England, February 22d. Toledo & Ohio Central, March 3d. Boston & Maine, March 3d. Chicago & Northwestern, March 14th. Queen & Crescent, North (C. N. O. & T. P.), March 19th. Queen & Crescent, South (N. O. & N. E.), March 23d. Lake Erie & Western (Vol.), March 25th. Zanesville & Western, March 28th. Ann Arbor, March 30th. Kansas City Southern, April 1st. Clover Leaf, April 6th. C., St. P., M. & O., April 9th. St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico, April 11th. Chicago, Terre Haute & S. E., April 12th. New York, Ontario & Western, June 1st. Southern Pacific (Atlantic System), June 8th. Missouri Pacific, June 13th. Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western (new), June 15th. Grand Trunk Ry., June 15th. Central Vermont (new), June 15th. Chicago Great Western, June 28th. Quebec, Montreal & Southern, June 30th. Napierville Junction Ry., June 30th. Chicago & Eastern Illinois, July 2d. Rutland R. R., July 7th. Edmonton & Dunnegan (new), July 14th. Delaware & Hudson, July 14th. C. I. & L. (Monon), July 14th. Cent. Can. Exp., E. & D. Ry. (new), July 14th. Pere Marquette, July 16th. Kanawha & Michigan, July 17th. Union Pacific, July 18th. Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic, July 18th. Chesapeake & Ohio, July 19th. Boston & Albany, July. Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis, July 30th. Maine Central, August 6th. Southern Ry., August 11th. Canadian Northern, Eastern Line, Au gust 13th. Halifax & Southwestern, August 14th. Tennessee Central (new), August 15th. Southern Express Co., M. & O. (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., So. Ry. in Miss. (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Danville & Western (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Georgia & Florida (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Augusta Southern (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., N. O. & N. E. (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Ala. G. S. (new), August 18th. 2-82 Southern Express Co., C. & W. C., August 18th. Southern Express Co., Norfolk Southern, August 18th. Oregon Short Line, August 27th. K. C., Mexico & Orient, September 12th. Evansville & Indianapolis, September 23d. Southern Express Co., Norfolk & Western Ry., September 26th. Northern Pacific, September 28th. New York, Susquehanna & Western, September 29th. Quebec Central, September 29th. Boston Terminal, October 23d. |