The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-12-24
The Railway Carmen.

EDS. RECORD UNION: Seeing in your
journal of to-day a resolution by the
Federated Trades condemning our
Brotherhood, and also that they resolved
to do all in their power to, in the future,
suppress it, 1 think it becomes necessary
for me to state some of the facts. In the
first place, saw their Secretary in re-
gard to their hall to meet in, as l was adj
vised by some of the carmen in Sacra-
mentO to do so. 1t seemed their Secre-
tary didn't really understand who were
eligible to join us, or to what class OF
work our order holds itself. He at the
time thought it meant street-car en-
plOyes, etc.
At last | succeeded in explaining
enough to him that he could see it was
railway carmen, and not street-car
drivers, who composed our order. 1t be-
ing decided at the last convention that
there were none or few colored people
employed IN our department by any
railway company, and therefore the con-
stitution in regard to them was inserted by
delegates, and not by me; and that clause
may, If deemed proper, be removed, but
not until the annual convention.
Our Brotherhood does not, as your in
formant wishes to have it, include any or
all sorts of men. Only men of experience
in car work are entitled to join. And we
intend to stick to that also The trouble
is not the color line, but the fact is that
the newly-fOrmed Carbuilders' Union at
Sacramento thinks it's going to interfere
with them. | spoke to the President OF
that union previous to any of the meet
ings ] held while in Sacramento. And
also requested them to be present, in or
der to have an understanding of their
union to our Brotherhood. But thew did
not appear; at least not to my knowledge.
/ found atIerWard that good number
of their members did not have the quail
| tications to join us. SO [ thought to go
ahead with some Of the oldest of the
Southern Pacific Company's men in Sac
ramento, and the lodge is in their hands
now, and ii viii also remain there. And
not that alone. We shall not stop until
we have placed every carman in this
coun try in one organization. But, on the
other hand, neither / nor any one | know
have ever said that we shall use any undue
means or force in doing it. And our
vows do not state, nor do we intend to
try all in our power to down any one OF
existing labor organizations to accom-
plish it.
But, on the other hand, we aim to build
up harmony between all honest labor.
But especially amongst those who are in
any way connected with the many rail-
ways in this country. A still further fact
is, that we are doing all we can to get in a
general federation, but have not come to
any definite conclusion as yet. And l am
sorry to see that the Sacramento FEEDER
ated Trades have now prevented us from
doing so-or at least try to.
It's one thing, certainly, that the Fed
Grated Trades in Sacramento do not
know, and that is, that our Brotherhood
has few mem bers outside Of Sacramento.
And l think it would be wise for them to
get more information before it concludes
it is no good.
We do not claim to be much dudish in
our work. But, nevertheless, ! and we
all know it is as important branch Of
/ labor as any outside Of the railway. Ii
anyone wants trouble it will not be the
carmen to start it, and when the men in
different classes of labor try to do all in
their power to cut each others Threats, |
think it will be seen also by someone
amongst the more cool-headed tradesmen
in Sacramento that it is time 10 stop it.
The lodge of our Brotherhood in your city
is in good hands, and, [ think, it would
be better for all TO work for each others
interest, than TO start war. With the best
wishes to all concerned, l remain. respect
fully, HY. BERGMAN,
District Organizer, B. Of r. r. Carmen of
San Francisco.
San Francisco, Dec. %, 1891.