The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-03
PREVENTION OF RAILROAD STRIKES.
Charles Francis Adams FavOrs a Repre-


sentative Council of Employees.
From M Interesting and Important Article in the
April scribuer.
IL will be impossible to establish perfectly
good faith and the highest morale in the
service of the railroad companies until the
problem of giving voice TO employees and
giving it effectively, is solved. It can be
solved in but one way; that is, by represen.
tation. To solve it may mean industrial
peace.
IL is Of course, impossible to DISPOSE Of
these difficult matters in town meeting
Nevertheless the town meeting must be at
the base Of any successful plan for disposing
OF them. The end in view is to bring the
employed-who in this case Is the company,
represented by its president and the board of
directors-and the employees into direct and
immediate contact through a representative
system. Wnen thus brought into direct and
immediate contact the parties must arrive at
results through the usual method-that Is,
by discussion and rational agreement.
IL has already been noticed that the opcr.
ating department OF a great railroad COM
pany naturally subdiyidCs itself into those
concerned in the train movement, those con-
cerncd IN the care Of the permanent way,
and those concerned in the work of the me-
therefore, that a council OF employees should
be formed, OF such number as might be
agreed on. containing representatives from
each OF these departments. In order 10 make
an elective representation, the council
would have to be large body.
For The present purposes aud for the
SAKE OF Illustration merely, IL might be
supposed that, In case OF the Union Pacific.
each department In division OF the road
WnNII1 - .fHHFs Ia. q a.
ploycs' council. There are five OF these
divisions and three departments in every
division. The operating men, the yard and
section men, aud the machinists of the
division would, therefore, under this ar
rargcment choose given number of repre-
sentaiives. II one such representative was
chosen To each hundred employees in the
permanent service those thus selected would
constitute n division council.
10 perfect the organization, without dis
turbing the necessary work Of the company,
each OF these division councils would then
select certain (say, for example, thrce) OF
their number, representing the mechanical,
the operating and the permanent way de-
parlments, aud these delegates from each OF
the departments would nc certain periods OF
the year, 10 be provided for by the articles
Of organization, all meet together at the
headquarters Of the company In Omaha.
here suggested would consist of fifteen
men; that u, one representing each
Of the three departments OF the
five several divisions. These fifteen men
would represent the employees. II would be
for them 10 select Board OF DelcrnteS. a
small Executive Committee. 10 confer directly
with the President and Board OF Directors.
Here would be found the organization
through which the voice Of the employees
would make itself heard and felt In matter,
which directly affect the rights Of employees,
including the appointment " a tribunal 10
pass upon the cases of misdcmcanor. aud the
management Of all institutions. whether
financial or educational 10 which the en-.
pl0yes had contributed and in which they
had n consequent interest.
Could such a system a. that which has
been suggested be devised and put in prnc.
teal operation there Is reason 10 hope that
the difficulties which have hitherto occurred
between the great railroad companies and
those In their pay would not occur in IN.
turc. The movement l. the natural aud !
necessary outcome Of the vast development
referred 20 In the opening paragraphs Of this
paper. II is based ON simple recognition |
of acknowledged facts, and follows the lines |
Of action with which these people arr most |
familiar. Tho path indicated Il that IN |
which for centuries they have been nccus. |
toned 20 tread. IL has led them out OF |
many difficulties. Why not out Of thlsl