The record-union., 1895-02-04
Special to the RECoRD-Uxrox.

opeCldl 10 iue iNFCORD-U MON.
CHICAGO, Feb. 3.-The fight between
the American Railway Union and the old
railroad brotherhoods, which has ante
dated the strike of last summer. and he.
came more bitter at that time because the
oId brotherhood mon refused TO ioin in
the strike, has not been softened bv tho
hand OF time. Instead, the feeling be-
tween the rival bodies has apparently be-
come more intense.
To-day the subject was discussed at
length by two hundred or more leaders
OF the Order Of Railroad Conductors. and
an almost unanimous expression was
1ouhu IN the adoption of a resolution
recommending to the coming biennial
convention of the Grand Division that
the line be drawn in the order to exclude
all mem bers who refuse to renounce aIIe-
gIance To tho American Railway Union.
Inefe are many members Of the order
VINO are also mem Ders OF the American
railway Union. The leaders in to-dav'a
Ihe9tlhg insisted that no man could serve
TWO masters; that no conductor could
hoId membership in two organizations
whose interests were ininiCal and be-
tween WhlCh there was constant war
lare. They said the avowed object of the
American Railway Union was TO absorb
all the railway employees Of the country
ana the districts, and that OF the older
organizations.
lhe meeting to-day was called by the
three Chicago divlsions-No's. 3, Al and
Zo5. IL was union meeting and circu-
lars had been sent to every division in
tne country, and il was urged to send
dneIr delegates to the grand division.
Inc response was larger than expected,
1elnperS were present from nearly
every division north of the Ohio
hlVer, ana between Kansas City on the
west anu PlttSburg on the east, with
lew scattered members from New York,
omaha and San Francisco. The purpose
OF the meeting, or rather caucus, tor such
IL was, was announced in the circular to
discuss matters Of importance which
would come up before the next biennial
convention OF the order in Atlanta, in
May next. Grand Chief T.. f.. Clark,
Grand Nice-Chiet Wilkinson and Grand
Secretary w. L. Daniels were present
and addressed the meeting.
For some time charges of mismanage-
ment have been talked of in the order
against the officials OF the Home for Dis
abled Railway Men located in Chicago
and committee from outside diyisions
spent all OF last week in investigating the
nome. 1t was reported to the meeting to-
DAY that The charges were without found
atlon, and that the home could not be
better conducted.
haw Valley Division has issued cir
cuIar to the mem Ders of the order asking
cooperation at the convention of tho
Grand DIVISION TO strike out the per-
manent mem bership feature of the laws
OF the Grand Division. Under the law
all mem Oers of the order who have
served four consecutive terms as dele
gates to tue grand body become life
members, and the circular alleges that
the number Of such permanent members
nave grown to be menace to the order,
and that men representing no local di-
vision were practically controlling tho
Grand Division. The caucus was evenly
olVlded on the question, and no agree
ment was reached.
Another circular discussed was one
from the Lackawanna division, insisting
upon the extension OF the life insurance
Dement'S 10 such members in whose fam
lily certain diseases. such as paralysis and
apopleXy, were hereditary. The meet
ing was practically unanimous in con-
demnlng the adoption of such an amend
ment.
Inc friends of L. A. Soper of Wasatch
division sought to obtain the recon-
mendatlon OF the caucus for the setting
aside OF the decision of the Insurance
committee and the Board of Directors in
refusing him total disability benefits.
The laws OF the order require the loss OF
hand at the wrist 10 be eligible for total
disability benefits. Mr.. Soper lost all of
OF the fingers on one hand and four on
the other. he was said to be totally dis
abIed as II he had lost his hands at the
wrist. Inc caucus was disposed to take
up Soper's claim, and at the Grand Di-
vision meeting an effort will be made to
amend the laws so as to include such
cases as his.
Other questions of laws of minor i'm
portance were taken up and discussed,
and then the action on the dual mem ber-
ship in the order and the American Rail-
way Union was had