The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-04
CAMERAS
TIE III. LIEBER COMPANY.
"a West Washington Street
THE SWITCHMEN'S union
NATIONAL ORGANIZER CONNERs AD-
DRESSES A MEETING.
He Tells His Men Why They Should
belong to the UnfOn-Broth erhOOd
of Railway Trainmen.

The Switchmen's Union held an open
meeting in Morrison Hall yesterday after
noon, which was addressed by James q
Connors. a national organizer, Of Chicago
The meeting and address vas for the pur-
pose of enlivening the local organization
The Switchmen's Union in Indianapolis has
had a hard row because the movement was
blocked by the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen. Mr.. Connors came to tell the
switchmen why they should belong to the
Switchmen's Union and not to the Brother
hood Of Railway Trainmen. His speech was
a recital of the differences that have existed
between the Switchmen's Union and the
Brotherhood OF Railway Trainmen since the
former was organized Connors did not
mince words in denouncing P. H. Morrissy
and w. G. Lee. the head officers of the
trainmen. He said that wherever the train
men have contracts with railway compa-
nies a part Of the agreement is that the
brotherhood will furnish men to take the
places OF switchmen should they strike. He
said Morrissy and Lee even made contracts
with railway officials without consulting
their own organization. Wherever a sched-
EIe has been made for the switchmen by
the trainmen, Connors said, their pay was
reduced and their hours heightened. He
named a number Of different yards where
this had been done.
Concerning the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen itself he said he had no griev-
ance against it, but he had no use for its
officers. He said trainmen ought TO belong
TO the Brotherhood of Trainmen, but
Switchmen had no business in that organ
tzation and ought TO be organized in their
own class. The work of the two classes is
entirely different and one should not have
Jurisdiction over the other
In the course Of his remarks he took occa-
sion to say some things about uniOnism.
He said the switchmen do not want men in
their organization who come with griev-
ance. Let them first settle their affairs "
said he. land then the switchmen will take
them in and look after them. We are not
looking for trouble, we do not want trouble
and We are not going to borrow trouble
but when We have trouble of own, we
will fight IL out" He also said the union
did not want incompetent men. What we
want" said he, "are switchmen thoroughly
competent and ready and able to fill any
place about the yards at any time. If q
man applies for membership in our organ
izatfOn that Is not a switchman, let him &c
TO the other fellow; we don't want him"
He admonished the switchmen when they
go TO a company with a grievance to &c
prepared. You must be able 10 show the
managers how much liquor they drink
what their earnings are, what they spend in
the different departments of their system
he said. He added that If the local unior
of the switchmen had the same percentage
OF the men IN the yards the Brotherhood
OF Railway Trainmen the schedules on tn,
Big Four and other roads entering Indian.
apolis would soon be settled.
The only permanent remedy for strikes
he declared, was a federation of all tn,
railway employees under one head, but eacf
maintaining its classified organization.