The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-05-03
TO DISCOURAGE
TIE FEDERATION
important Letter Read at
+ a Railroad Mems
Meeting.
One thousand Visiting Con-
duc.ors Are Expected in
a Few Weeks.
The Chinass Cousu Knows of No
Soft Snaps" for Railroad MN
in the Orient.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
qO8 Broad Way. Nav 2

908 Broadway, May =.
Chairman ". Y. Spaffard of Calstoka,
chairman OF the grievence committee of
the D. r. c. system, has written letter
to the Federation of Railway Employees
that has been received as a damper on the
proposed plan of federation OF the five
powerful railroad unions on this coast.
The letter came in response TO a request
from Secretary L. J. Bulen whom the fed
Grafton in this city asked to ascertain the
standing OF the grievance committee as
constituted prior to the A. R. U. strike.
The answer was read this afternoon to a
few representatives of the federation, and
is as follows:
On May s, 1894 the o. R, c., B. R. T., B. L.
+, .. K. L. and S. NJ. A. A. met through their
represen tatives and signed the system fedora
ton Cedar Rapids pIan). l was elected Sec
rotary OF the board and G. E. Swain of the
B. R. T. was elected chairman. Two months
later came the strike. The S. NJ A. A. an d
the b. l. F. walked out almost to q man, so
THAT there was not enough of them left upon
the system to carry out their laws and dis
elapsed and l should think that the whole
matter has lapsed under the statute of limi-
tations. There have been many changes in
the material that comprises the different
orders and do not believe tina: the member
ship generally would be willing to recognize
the authority OF board OF the 81 fedora
tlon. This, OF course, is only my personal
opinion, but it seems to me that in order to
ascertain the feeling a vote would be neces-
sary.
Owing to the failure of some one in
sending out notices there was no meeting
OF the representatives. Of the various rail-
way orders this afternoon, hence no
official action could be taken on the COM
munication, but those present expressed
dafa ton - kao
the federation along The old lines. Some
of the men accuse the writer of being op-
posed to the scheme of federation on the
ground OF his being as far up as he can
get and hence cares nothing for his less
fortunate brother workingmen. This is
said to be the cause of several other in
stances of indifference. However, the
matter will be pressed to completion at
an early date.
The Golden Gate Division, No. 1854 o. R.
G. met tonight and scussed the plans
for the reception of the visitors who Will
come to Oakland and San Francisco at
the close of the session of the Grand Di-
vision IN Los Angeles about the Goth inst.
Thomas E. Painter will represent the
Golden Gate Division in Los Angeles when
475 delegates from all over the United
States, Canada and. Mexico will be pres
ent, besides 1900 or 1900 visitors. Tn y
will come in special trains from Boston,
Chicago St. Louis and Atlanta and at
the cose of the meeting come TO Oakland
and San Francisco for a couple of days.
The Ladies Aid Society of the o. r, G.
will meet at the same time and place.
Mrs, NJ. Plumb, of 9l8 Centre street will
represent City Of Oaks Division, No. 1O7
of this City.
The L. A. of o. R. c. gave a very en- joy
able social at the home of Mrs. NJ. Plum b.
9lS Center street, last evening. Whist
and other card games were played and
light refreshments served. These monthly
gatherings are greatly enjoyed by the
railroad men and their former families.
The statement telegraphed from New
York several days ago that Chinese EN-
bassy was at work securing American rail-
road men to 60 to China created consider
able excitement in West Oakland. A
delee ation of the men waited upon the
representative Of the fiowery kingdom in
San Francisco to ascertain the truth of
the statement. They were greatly disap-
pointed when tol that mo such soft
snaps had been heard Of" by the Consul.