The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-28

were to be decided by competent and final
authority; that the decision was TO be vital
to the present plan of labor organization.
Several ears ago there was federation OF
four railway labor observation-disclosures
conductors yrairmen and ewitcbmen. lt
was based on the doctrine that no strike
could be ordered unless the supreme coun-
ell composed OF three officers OF each or
ganization, voted in favor of q strike. and
the members OF all four organizations were
90 take part. A series OF a half dozen ac-
tions to check the tendency toward i'll
advised strikes were adopted. Much quiet
work was done to get the Brotherhood or
Engineers to join the federation, which had
Its inspiration at the firemen's headquar-
ters, chiefly through Eugene Debs. Who. as
secretary aud treasurer, had seen the
brotherhood grow from handful TO nearly
forty thousand Many engineers retained
their mbership in the brotherhood after
brcomiDg engineers and members OF the
brotherhood of EDgneers They were. as
rule. in favor of federation. Twice the
proposition was defeated In the national
convention. Chief Arthur opposed it-be-
cause he feared that in some of the orders
were men who were ZOO radical. too hot
headed" ana. as he Is quoted. too much
Inclined to throw coupling pins during q
STRIKE" The swItcbmen violated the or
ders of the federation and struck on the
North western road. Trainmen who are
brakemen. Mostly took their places. There
was a quarrel and the federation was dis
the public by refusing to countenance the
Knights of Labor strike on the New York
Central.
Eugene Debs then began devoting his re-
marksUle ability for organization Of labor
toward establishing brotherhood that
would meet the requirements of united
strength which he believed absolutely es-
sential In obtaining what be believed TO be
labors just rewards and consideration
from the railroad companies Last fall he
naA IA oil mil
convention reelected him in spite of his
protest. but retained the editorship of the
Firemen's Magazine. the official organ of
the brotherhood. which has circula ton
OF more than thirty thousand copies A
month ago be called together. in Chicago.
dozen leaders among railway employees.
representing nearly every branch OF serv-
Ice. A committee was selected. OF which
he IS chairman. TO prepare constitution
and bylaws. This is row being done and
the order will be instituted in the next
sixty days. Mr.. Debs bas talked freely of
Its object since the Ann Arbor strike.
80 freely. indeed, that he Is be-
ing criticised by members of the
mary purposes of the new order are. first,
che education of ITS members; second. the
abolition of strikes; third, the maintenance
OF harmonious relations between employ
ers and em ployes. and. fourth. the mimi
MIXING of the cost of membership. The ex-
listing organizations have not been entire
Nv successful. he says because of Imperfect
methods. Ill adv sed strikes have occurred
and men have lost their situations. There
are too many examinations and not enough
organization" 10 his comment. In round
numbers there are 100000 railway
employe s in the United States. Canada and
Mexico. of W hIch not to exceed 10000 are
members of the several organizations. The
first reason he assigned for the small men,
bership Is the cost of mem bersbip incident
20 the complicat.d machinery of the vari-
Ous organizations. In numerous cases men
lose their situations. and. unable to pay
their dues. are expelled. with the stigma Of
being scahs placed ON them. Then again.
labor organizations have pursued and per.
secuted those who have not seen fit To join
them" he says "A policy under which
a nOnuDiOn man Is treated as well as
union man. Is as sure Ia win him TO the
ranks as tho present policy has been 10
provoke him to hostility" In the new or
ganization all employees in the service are
eligible to mem bership. There 10 Co be
board of directors and the one-man power
is TO he abolished. The board Is to sustain
abont the same relation to the organiZa-
tIon that the board of directors does TO
railroad corporation. The standing grew
ance committees. which he says have been
a fruitful source of unrest and discomfort
IN the past, will have no place In the new
scheme of organization. There VIII be no
secret designs and no mystery. Commit
tees will be- appointed TO consider grew
The cost OF membership Will not be to ex-
ceed 81 a year for each member He in
sists that if there be any trouble about
wages or any other matters no effort Will
be made TO adjust it until after the worlds
far. 1t is the purpose to establish a
daily paper at Chicago, in addition
20 a magazine. MIR. Debs estimates the
present cost of bership at $50 year.
which includes the mutual ineurance.
which is conducted in defiance of bust.
ness principles The death benefi: is 81
500. ana naturally. with the growth of the
order. the older members diving off, the
younger members feel the weight of the
burden. which the older ones will not re-
Hnquish after having paid SO much TO re-
ts N mem bership.
Mr.. Debs. perhaps. has q wider and closer
acquaintance with local labor leaders than
any other man In the country. He has
been with them in their lodges in nearly
every city, and he Is one of the men who
makes a personal friend OF every one be
meets for an hour. He Is good public
speaker, and talks on labor affairs in n
way TO impress wage carriers. He has not
acquired the newspaper reputation yet. his
work having been mostly through cOrre-
spondeHce and in tho halls of labor as
sembies. In the rext few years his name
will be known to the people In general
moro Familiarity than that of any other
labor leader.