The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-04
RAILWAY CARMEN.
What the Principles of the
Order Are.
Pointed Letter From the Grand Sec
rotary of the Grand
Lodge.

Brotherhood of Railway Carmen was re-
ceived yesterday. Mr.. Keliher appears
70 think that the RECoRD-UNIoN has con-
demned the Brotherhood of Railway Car
men. The fact is this paper has expressed
no opinion whatever in regard to the con-
troversy between the brotherhood and
the Federated Trades. On the 2lst ult.
We gave the objects of the brotherhood
as laid down by A. Bergman, the Deputy
Organizer, and on the 22d simply re-
ported the action of the Federated Trades
In regard to it. Subsequently we pub
Hshed letter from Mr.. Bergman, ex-
planning the aims of the brotherhood
more fully. We have simply published
what we considered news to large num-
Der of our readers, and we print Mr..
Keliher's letter for the same reason.
The Grand Secretary writes as follows:
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: Am in receipt
of the copies of the RECORD UNION dated
December 2lst and 22d, in which appear
comments on the lodge of the Brother
hood of Railway Carmen recently organ
lied in Sacramento, and would ask for
space in your columns to say few words
in behalf of our brotherhood, that you
seem so willing to condemn. In the first
place, you are in error when you say that
Pacific Coast. We have two lodges in
Washington and one in Oregon that were
organized about eight months ago, and
are to-day in most prosperous condi-
ton. Our laws, as they now stand, were
adopted at the convention held in Pueblo,
Col, in August last and at that conven
ton were representatives from twenty
three States, which included points from
Pennsylvania in the east to Oregon and
Washington in the west, and from
Canada in the north to Texas and Ala
bama in the south. 1t was because none
of the organizations in the field gave the
carmen the protection their condition de-
manded that our brotherhood was started
in the first place.
You err again when you say that we
include all men working around cars. They
must have worked one year as car repair
ers, carbuilders, carinspectors, carroll
ers or at framing cars before they are
eligible. Are you not aware that the
lives of the general public, the safety of
the thousands of dollars worth OF roll
ing stock and freight depends upon the
judgment and integrity of the carmen.
a slight crack or break overlooked by
an inspector might cause a serious wreck
and heavy losses Of both life and prop
erty. This might be the result of negli-
gence but is more often caused on account
of ignorance on the part of those perform
ing these duties. A great many people i'm
agine that any one can oil cars. They can,
and do very often, but generally succeed
in covering the outside and ties with oil,
not knowing If the bearings where the
oil should properly reach has been suffi-
GENTLY oiled to insure the safety of the
car. They should also be able to Judge
what pattern of barring will fit the differ
ent size and kind of journals-and it is to
have none but competent men in our
brotherhood that we require that they
ri aYn
eligible.
AS to our being what We pretend and
responsible, l would refer you to the
Northwestern Labor Union of this city,
the Labor Herald of Fort Wayne, Ind;
the Union Record, st. Louis. Mo-; the
Midland Mechanic, Kansas City, Mo-;
George w. Howard, Past Grand Chief of
the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors,
started in California in 1888. His address
is now Chanute, Kan; Eugene V. Debs,
Grand Secretary and Treasurer of the
Brotherhood ofLocomotive Firemen. and
editor and manager Of their magazine
at Terre Haute, Ind, or j. A. Hall,
editor and manager of the SiOitchmen'S
Journal, IA and 10 Pacific avenue, Chi
cago, Ill. l could go on and name many
others that are familiar with our every
move since the start. We especially in
vite thorough investigation into our
record, into our objects and aims, etc.
Now, as to the action of the Federated
Trades of Sacramento, they have made
mistake that has caused more trouble in
labor circles and has done more to retard
the progress of labor organizations than
anything else-that of taking fancies for
facts and listening to the spout of Jealous
and designing persons. The trouble arose
with the so-called "Carbuilders' Union"
large portion of which were house car
penters and never built even part OF
car in their lives, or drew one penny Of
pay from a railroad company.
Now, if.they are true trade union men
why don't these house carpenters join the
Carpenters and Joiners' Union. That is
where they belong instead of floating UNI
der the nom de plume of carbuilderS.
Are they displaying the true principles of
trade unionism and feeling of fellowship
that should exist between all labor or
CARNATIONS? l think not. Instead Of
joining hands and working together for
the emancipation of the toilers and fight
ing our common enemy, they declare
war against our brotherhood and wish to
coerce and force the carmen into remain
ing in a union that cannot give them the
protection their condition demands. Ours
is a strictly railroad brotherhood, and we
will not admit other than the class of
men above mentioned as carmen in our
qualifications for membership. We want
no carmen in name only; in our ranks
and do not wish or ask any one to join us
unless they think it is to their interest to
do so.
Our brotherhood has passed that point
IN Its history when we are an experiment
and are now an assured success. We
mean to organize all worthy railroad car
men in the country. In doing so we do
not wish to clash with any of our sister
organizations, and any union man, no
matter what his trade or calling, will at
any and all times receive from our broth
erhood all the assistance and aid we can
offer him, and when carmen are satisfied
that our brotherhood is the proper place
for them and join our ranks, we will I'M
der any and all circumstances protect
their rights and interests as best we can.
This trouble in Sacramento 1 in no
way consider as clash between the
American Federation of Labor or even
the Federated Trades of Sacramento.
and feel sure that the trouble can be
sifted down to few men. They had to
have something to find fault with and
they thought that the color line in our
laws would be good grounds for them to
work on, and if they will give the matter
careful thought they will see how slim
are their arguments. The American
Federation drew the same line at one
out only when they discovered that it
would be to the best interests of the
American Federation to do so. Look up
the constitution of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, the Brotherhood
of Conductors, the Brotherhood of Rail
way Trainmen, Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Firemen, the Switchmen's Mutual
Aid Association and in their qualifica-
tons you will find that an applicant must
be white born,' and in drawing this
line the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen
followed in the steps in that respect of
every railroad organization in existence.
They all still have this clause in their
constitution, and while the time may
hon EoI-