St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-26
MIR. DEBS' REPLY.
He Argues the Case From the
Stand point Of the Men 81

He Argues the Case From the
Standpoint OF the Men.
''Now, gentlemen, I submit that If this
condition of affairs actually prevailed,
that this committee has not been author;
lied to represent the employees or to,
negotiate any contract in their behalf.
that is one thing. But l think 1 can
satisfy the gentlemen beyond any ques-
ton Of doubt that this committee repre-
sents, not merely majority of all the
employees, but majority of all the eui-
ployes i'll all Of the several departments
in the service OF this road. Now, gen.
tlemen, it is customary in all such
matters for employees TO speak through
a majority OF their humber. | don't
know when committee of the brother
hood of engineers, or Of any other
organization has ever been required to
Identify themSelveS-their very appear
ance, and the fact of their names liav-
ing been on the payroll, is prima facie
evidence that they are all authorized
committee to represent their class.
Now l desire on behalf of this COM
mittee to present their proposition, for
the purpose of showing that they are
not here to quibble or split hairs, but
to come to the point at once and define
their position: Ii you do not think
we represent the majority of employees
on this road, l ask that you send repre-
sentative with us and poll the road in
every department. If we cannot show:
that We represent majority, over their
own signatures, of the engineers, con-
dnctOrS, SWitchmen, brakemen, and
men in every department, and major
ity of the shop employees; generally, this
committee will Withdraw from this con-
ference. As far as any department may
be concerned i'll which IL is claimed we
do not represent a majority number, l
submit that there are number of or
ganiZatiOns based Oh this system. Tie
engineers have been heard through
their organization; the same is. true
of the fremen, trainmen and ali
of the other organizations in the
train service. 1t is fact. never.
theless, that majority of these
men no longer desire to be heard
through these organizations but to be
heard through this American Railway
union, and | admit that the majority
and not the minority should prevail.
We have men here belonging to each of
these different organizations. We have
men here who are connected with the
Brotherhood of Firemen. Trainmen.
etc, and they know and can speak for
themselves as to whether they wish to
be represented through the American
Railway union or not. There is no pur-
pose Oil the part Of this committee to
miSrepreSent anything whatever. We
want to meet you in the spirit of fair
| ness. If we did NOT know that we rep.
resent beyond question of doubt a
| majority of the men in all of the several
| departments, certainly we would not
| expect you to consider any proposition
| that we might submit
Now Mr.. Hill says that they have
| heard since they were in conference
this morning from the various repre-
| senIariveS OF the various organizations,
and do not doubt the statement, and
| to the effect that they did not want to
be represented by the A. r. u, and
would not recognize any action which
| they might make, and in reply to that
statement / will say that those are the
men, some of them, who are not in sym-
| patny with our organization, and that
their acts have been repudiated by the
majority, and it is because of this fact
that some of their men are here today.
Their representatives, the engineers,
made settlement that never has been
| settled. In the case of the engineers
| there were eight repreSentativeS-fou
voting for the agreement, new schedule,
| and four against it, the chairman cast
ing the deciding vote. The engineers
voted upon the agreement and rejected
it, but the original agreement was set
! aside, and the schedule of the trainmen
also was never accepted, and that can be
| proven beyond a question of dOuD t.
But, gentlemen, l still insist that
the majority of engineers, switchmen,
brakemen, want to be represented
through the American Railway union.
| Now. in view Of this fact, there can be
no question but what any agreement
that might be entered into between this
organization and the company would be
binding on the employees, but want TO
say right here that to my knowledge no
| organization has ever been asked, so far
as know, to prove thelI representa-
ton, and | will stake my reputation,
although it is all that have got in the
world, that any agreement or contract
that this committee enters into wilIbe
lived up to; if did not know this to be
true l would not be here in the capacity
in which serve. -
Now, unless it is admitted that we
have right to make an agreement, we
have no mission here, and had better
withdraw; but while am on this point
l will say that wish to state our posi-
tiou, that is. the position of the commit
tee, and then leave the matter with
you. You will understand that so far
as the officers of this organization are
concerned, we have no voice in determ-
lining the matter: whatever our functions
are, are purely advisory. And, in con-
cluSion, wish to state, as did in cur
written proposition to you this morning,
that the wages of this road were arbi-
trarily reduced, and we protest against
L, and we now request that those wages
be restored to them. and unless they are
so restored it is the purpose of the men
tor emain out of the service Of the COM
pany-and we will have to fight 1t cut
| on present lines. -