The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-15
FEDERATION OF EMPLOYEES.
F.. u. Sargent Discusses the New
American Railway Organization.

American Railway Organization.
CHILLICOTHE O.. July IA. = The
Federation of American Railway En-
ployes, which began its existence on
the 1st of last April. has thus far prov
ed to be a success in every way. F..
p Sargent, the head CT the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen, stated
this today, and added many details of
the working of the organization which
are not known to the general public
or even to the majority of railroad men.
-Four out Of the five railway orders
belong to this federation said Mr.
Sargent, 'the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers being the only one
which has not yet seen fit to join us,
but which will, l believe, eventually
come into the fold. We are governed
by thirteen articles of federation,
which are our constitution and bylaws.
These articles define the government
of the federation"
The following sections of the articles
of federation are the most important:
Section 2. If the federation is form
ed between four OF the organizations
named, the fifth will be admitted upon
filing with the secretary Of the execu-
tive committee notice of their ratifica-
ton of the plan and desire to become
a member.
Grafton may be used through it's execu-
tive committee in favor of, or in oppo-
sition to, national legislation which in
wolves the interests of the membership.
and upon which the committee are full
ly agreed. Where circumstances will
permit, the opinion of the membership
In general will be secured before action
IS taken.
Section 6. Each organization, party
to Mis- fedratioD. shall have regularly
established local and general grievance
committees or boards Of adjustment
on each system of railway, as provided
by their laws
Each organization shall handle it's
own grievances and those of It's mem
bers under it's own laws up to sI1ch
time as 1t has exhausted it's efforts
and Is, in accordance with its laws.
ready to enter upon a strike When
the executive Of an organization has so
exhausted his efforts and Is ready TO
approve a strike, he may call upon
the chairman of the executive commit
Tee to convene the federal board. The
chairman of the executive committee
VIII notify each of the other chief ex-
ecutives. setting time and place of
meeting. and each executive officer will
notlfy the chairman and secretary of
the general committee of his organiza
ZION FOR that system to attend such
meeting of the federal board.
Each organization snail have one
vote on this question and that vote
shall be determined by TIE three repre-
! sentatlves of that organization, the az
hrmative vote of the executive officer
and one other member being necessary.
Ii each organization votes in favor cf
strike, strike on the part of the
members of all the organizations party
to the federation employed on that sys-
tenn will be declared by the executives
at an hour fixed by them; and every
member employed on that system Of
railway shall promptly respond there
to.
'No member Of any organization.
party to this federation, shall enga ge
In any strike Of railway employees which
is not sanctioned by this federation in
| accordance with this section
section Z. In the event of a strike
the executive committee of the feder--
alton shall be the recognized leader.
section 8. If strike is declared by
this federation it may be declared off
at any time by the federated board bv
the same vote by which it was sane
toned. After a strike has been In
progress Tor period Of two weeks. If
the federated board cannot agree as
to declaring 1t off. the disputed point
snail be submitted to the chaIrmen of
the boards Of trustees or executive
committees Of the organizations iona
from each organization, who shall
nave authority to decide II by a ma
Jorlty vote OF their number.
1T Is a curious thing" continued
MT. Sargent. "how little publicity has