Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-03-13
TRUE BROTHERHOOD
EUGENE v. OEeS 1O1hE NEW ORGAN
IzATiON OF RAILWAY MEN.
The Necessity For United Force
Which Shall Embrace All EN-
plOyees-Present Brotherhood Used
Against Each Other

The following communication was
recently sent to the officials of the
Brotherhood Of Railway Employees:
You are having and will continue to
have for some time an uphill work,
but this is the kind strong men under
take and the kind that develops their
best qualities and gives their names
to history. The opposition you have
will serve benetcent purpose if your
members meet it with an unconquera-
reach their goal
The railway corporations are all
against you for the same reason that
they were opposed to the American
Railway union, and they are not to be
blamed for looking out for their own
interests. They are against any or
ganization that attempts to unite their
employees. They are for every or
ganization that divides them. The
grand officers of the several special
class "brotherhoods" travel on annual
passes. The officers Of your organiza-
ton pay their fare. 1t is such an ael-
vantage to belong to the former in the
way Of securing corporation favol's
and privileges That an army of men
keep up their membership in them.
though they have not for years been
employed in the railway service While
Yl,n;,
your brotherhood because Of what
they call its "miXed' membership, ev-
cry one of them has every branch of
the service represented in its own
membership, from a conductor to IL
wiper, and beyond that, from a preach
er to policeman.
For many Years | have seen and felt
the necessity of a united organization
of railway employees. The reason for
this in this day of capitalist concentra-
ton is so obvious as to be self evident
The railroad corporations are of course
against it. y large number of SalAri"d
labor leaders are also against it, net.
withstanding their organizations fail
every time they are subjected to til :
supreme test. They failed in iS1.33,
they failed in 1877. in 1883 and in 1851
They will fail again when the crucial
test comes in the next twelvemonth
more or less.
During the "bo0:l" tiE'ns of the last
three or four yeas the rli,.oads have
been making an army of new rail
road men. The iyns Of depression are
already beginn ng to appear. The let
down is inevitable, and among the first
things that will happen will be sweep
ing reductions of wages. The army Of
surplus men will be available in case
of d strike, and the leaders will doubt
less advise their followers. as they
have in the past, that "half a loaf is
better than no bread" If under such
conditions they strike. they will be
beaten, and if they don't strike their
wages will go down, and the fruit of
their boasted victories will turn to
ashes. This has happened over and
over again. Must it continue to happen
for another century before the eyes of
the working victims are opened to the
fact that they must unite from end to
end Of the service and present solid
front to protect their interests?
In their present form the railroads
can and 90 Use the 'brotherhooas''
against each other. and as for any ac-
tual federation, it will never be accom-
plished. for at that point the railroads
will fight them, and that is not in har-
mony With their policy of identical in
terests."
The simple, effective way, and only
way, to unite railway employees is
within a single organization. Each
class is within its own subjurisdction
and in control of it's own affairs, sub
ject only to the supervision Of the gen
eral organization. The United Broth
erhOod recognizes and acts upon this
fundamental principle. Sooner or lat
er the railway employees will have to
come to 1t. 1t is simply question as
to how long they prefer division to
unity, defeat to victory. Your organ
ization is in the critical period of its
development, and it remains to be seen
If your leaders and rank and file are
of the fiber that defies failure and
which the coming organization must
have to fulfill it's mission. Judging
from those have met and know. your
membership will stknd firm, however
severe the tempest may rage, until
victory is assured. The next few
months will bring you your great op-
DOrtunity. and I shall hone that. being
familiar with the lessons of the past,
you will profit by them. When the
"panic'' comes and thousands are
thrown out of work and wages begin
to sink, the need of unity will be felt
far more than you can teach it and
preach it in peaceable times.
EUGENE V. DEBS.