Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-03-01
R. R. EMPLOYEES CONVENTION.
They Held a Large Secret Meeting in
Des Moines and Consider the J
Railway Bills.
Full Text of Their Resolutions on the
TWO Cent Mile Propositions
Laboring Mons Views
Plainly Expounded.
STRONG RESOLUTIONS.


The representatives of the different rail-
way employee organizations met in conven-
ton in Des Moines, February 21st 1887.
The meeting was largely attended, and dele
cations were present from the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers, Order of Railway
Conductors, Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men, Brotherhood of Railway Brakemen and
others. The President of the meeting was
Mr.. Lewis Ziegenfus, of the c., ID. 81 @. Ry.
The meeting was harmonious in every re-
spect, and the following stirring resolutions
concerning current railway topics were
passed:
WHEREAS, The Twenty-second General As
sembly of the State of Iowa, nowsn session,
has certain measures pending before 1t relative
to reduction of passenger and freight rates
on Iowa railroads, and Issuing of passes to
families Of employees; and
WHEREAS, The standing committees of the
Senate and House of this Assembly have favor
ably reported bills which will cause material
reduction of passenger and freight rates, and,
if they are embodied into law, will inevitably
result in a reduction of wages of laboring men
dependent upon the railroads for livelihood;
and
WHEREAS, Section 0 of Senate File No. is
shuts off the possibility of our immediate fam
lilies procuring free transportation, which
would prevent the same from reaching us In
case of sickness, accident or death, which fire.
quently occurs, unless by paying fare; also that
we are itinerate in great many instances, ne
cessitating temporary change of residence,
which is continually going on; also, it is
well known that railroad companies have what
are known as floating gangs and are continual
ly changing from place to place, and the adop-
ton of said section virtually amounts to a re-
ductiOn in our earnings, If required to pay
transportation of our families; and
WHEREAS, Senator w. w. Dodge, a member
of the Senate Railway Committee, did on Feb
ruary 10, 1888, present to the Senate minority
Jon, Sataat 10 10 No, n,.fts oh Il. III Co.
act fixing the rate Of passenger fares on rail-
roads within the State of Iowa, on class A, two
cents; class b, two and half cents; class G,
three cents per mile, for transportation of any
person, with ordinary baggage, not exceeding
one hundred pounds in weight; therefore, belt
ReSol1td, Ihas the representatives OF the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Order
of Railway Conductors, Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen, Switchmen's Union, Brother
hood of Railway Brakemen, Yard Masters Aid
and Benefit Association, and all other employees,
assembled In the city of Des Moines, and rep
resenting in our official capacity more than
thirty thousand laboring men connected with
the various railroad corporations In Iowa, do
most heartily and unanimously endorse said
minority report presented by Senator Dodge,
and we do most earnestly ask its adoption by
the Twenty second General Assembly
We believe that, Notwithstanding the ques-
ton of reduction of passenger fares on rail-
roads within the State of Iowa was inserted in
the various platforms of the political parties in
Iowa, that it was done in haste, and without
due consideration as to the injury that would
result therefrom to the laboring men employed
in the various Departmental Iowa railroads.
There is but one railroad in the United States
limited by law to two cents per mile, and
statistics show that the railroads of Iowa
are not charging higher passenger fares
than other railroads in neghboring States. We
believe that any material reduction in the
earning power of railroads will inevitably result
in the dismissal of a number of the employees
in all the various departments OF the railroad
companies OF our State, and unquestionably re-
duce the wages Of Others. The companies will
be compelled to abandon many local passenger
trains, and cause permanent dismissal OF the
crews of men running them. Though we dread
to predict it, yet we fear that such radical legis
lation will ultimately cause trouble and strikes,
as wages are now as low as men with families
can possibly live upon.
We are prompted to adopt this resolution as
matter of self preservation to the members OF
our respective orders and all railway employees,
who have instructed'us to watch their interests
which may possibly be affected by legislation
enacted during the present Assembly. The
railroad companies in whose employ we are,
DO not control in any way, shape, manner or
form our action in this particular. We stand
alone, organized to protect against encroach-
ments Of railroad companies on our rights, as
well as other matters detrimental to our inter-
asts; and we appeal, in the name Of thirty
thousand railroad employees Of Iowa, and also
gate number about one hundred and fifty
thousand, who will be affected by the passage
of the law against which we are protesting.
Resolged, That copy OF these resolutions,
signed by the representatives of the various la
Dor organizations connected with the railways
of this State, be presented TO each Senator aad
Representative of the Twenty-second General
Assembly and that we shall endeavor to sus-
tain the report OF Senator Dodge, as 1t fully
meets our views and is in the interest Of the
wage worker and the day laborer in the employ
OF the railroads Of this State. And we farther
protest against any radical legislation, as indi-
Gated by House Files 373 and 374, and as re-
strets giving passes to employees families.
Lewis Ziegenfus |. s. Willard, T. +. Shan
non, l.. g. krull, James Fowler-Ex. Com. b.
of l.. Il.
+. S. Butler, Z. d. Young, d. f. Dana, G. A.
StaDchneld, John A. Perry. C. +. Allen, A. ID.
MaXon, L. l.. Moore-Ex. Com. Order Railway
Conductors.
w. II. Cummings, S. J. Francis-B. of L. r.,
II. NJ. Ralf, N, II. Thurston, IL. Q. Weeks
b. Il. II. b.
7. j. CAROLS. NJ. A. & B. A.
John II. McPartland-Y. NJ MBA.
A mothers prayer has power to save from
Y Al. LII ~