New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-04
TIE FEW AGAINST THE MANY


has had an honorable and unique reputation
among labor organizations Its conduct had
been on the whole so judcious for years, and
its demands so moderate, that it had gained
more of public respect than any other labor
organization But according to MEMBER
whose statements were published on Saturday,
the tendencies Of the order have radically
changed, its conservative influences have been
crippled, the less worthy members have gained
control of the order and it has started on the
path trodden by so many labor associations,
which leads through selfish disregard of the
true interests Of labor to final overthrow. In
commenting upon the statements OF this men,
Der of the Brotherhood, it must perforce be
assumed for the moment that they are correct,
because they entirely fit and explain all tho
facts known up to date. some of which are not
vet explained on any other theory. If it should
hereafter appear that these statements are in
any respect erroneous, the conclusions to which
they lead may require modification.
Formerly tho organization was exceptionally
conservative in entering upon strikes. The
Chief, Mr.. Arthur had a veto power which was
in many cases wisely exercised. But in tho
burlington case a strike was ordered for ques-
tionable reasons. and apparently in hostility to
the principles which Mr.. Arthur had often
avowed The Brotherhood had claimed to-
encourage the ambition of workers to attain
higher compensation by superior excellence;
now it has based a strike on the demand that
the best and the worst engineers shall be paid
alike. For years the Brotherhood was under
stood to receive no member until he had been
an engineer for full year, thereby recognize
ing difference between experienced and I'M
tried men. Now it demands that any man, the
instant he becomes an engineer at all, shall
receive as high a rate of compensation as the
oldest and most experienced can earn.
According to the statement made by men,
Der, the younger " fighting element has gained
control. 1t has deprived Chief Arthur Of the
veto power, and left him only single vote
with the grievance committee Of the roads in
terested in deciding whether strike shall ba
ordered. This is no strange thing. In most
labor organizations, unhappily, the younger
men and those who have not the responsibilities
of wife and family. or who do not regard those
responsibilities, sooner or later get control.
Now dozen or fifteen members of grievance
committee OH any road, chosen by the numer-
ical majority Of members on that road, meet
with Chief Arthur and il one moro than
majority Of them vote for strike, he is out
voted and overpowered.
The object Of this strike Is to grasp for en-
ginecrs monopoly Of the employment. and to
prevent the promotion of flremen. twas found
that the companies all preferred to promote
their own fremen, when they became qualified
as engineers, instead of hiring men from other
roads This was natural because the fremen
had learned tho road and its peculiarities as
we'll as the duties of engineers. But the
brotherhood found that this did not give en-
gineers as complete monopoly as they wanted
If any engineer was discharged, whether for
incompetency, bad habits or INSTRUMENTATION,
he found it difficult to get employment because
other roads preferred to promote their firemen.
Tho demand that classification Of engineers
shall be abolished, it is now stated. is intended
to break up this state of things to check the
promotion Of fremen, and to secure the prefer
ence for engineers who are out of work.
This statement, unhappiy fits the changed
conduct of the organization in the Burlington
and Quincy case. II it proves true, tho
brotherhood has begun the same warfare
against the rights and interests of all labor, for
the benefit OF a few which so many other
organizations have waged to their own destruc-
ton.