The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-06
UNION PRINCIPLES.
High Praise for the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers.

From the Iron Trade Review
In a recent interview which was pub
lshed in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Wal
rem S. Stone, grand chief of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, clearly
and In a most interesting and impressive
manner explains the principles and
methods of operation Of that great order.
When asked whether an engineer who IS
not a member of the Brotherhood can get
employment, Mr.. Stone replied:
Yes; a tenth of the engineers in this
country are not in our organization. We
give them no trouble and make no effort
to deprive them of their places. All that
we do is to insist that they be paid broth
erhood wages, work brotherhood hours
and be given all of our own conditions
and privileges. These matters we ar
range with the railroads and not with the
men themselves Some of those who are
out would be welcome and some would not
be accepted by us under any circum-
stances"
In other words, instead of resorting to
all kinds of violent methods, including
murder and intimidation of all who are
not members OF their union, the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers puts itself
on the high plane of selecting for men,
bership the best of the engineers, and
then working for those who are not menu
bers to obtain for them the same condi-
lions as those enjoyed by the members.
OF course, there Is a selfish motive in
volved, but the selhshness is akin to al
truism because 1t Is a kind which helps
the other fellow. When a union tries to
force all members Of trade to enter its
ranks, the inevitable result is that men of
the lowest as well as the best character
are initiated, but the Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers has succeeded because
it insists upon high character as one of
the tests for membership. Mr.. Stone ex-
plains that the union does not allow
drunkenness nor does 1t tolerate insubor-
dinaton or incompetency. 1t also de-
mands that engineers pay their legitimate
debts and 1t is a matter of record that
distinguished member of the order, who
was one OF its founders, was not permit
ted to attend one of it's conventions be-
cause of his ill-treatment of his wife.
Mr. Stone states that men who are intem-
perate are dropped from the brotherhood
and the employers are notified. Respon-
siblity for further action then rests upon
the railroads. 1t is not possible for any
officer of the brotherhood to order
strike, but the grand chief can veto the
action even after two-thrds of the en-
gineers of the brotherhood. order one.
Utmost care is taken to obtain deliberate
action before resorting to q strike; con-
sequently it is seldom found necessary to
resort to this extreme measure. The
Brotherhood policy has been to mind its
own business and not to participate in any
sympathetic strike. When condemned by
other unions for lack OF sympathy, the
brotherhood points to its achievements,
for its members have constantly been bet
tering their wages and conditions and be-
lieve that these results are justification of
its policy.
The labor unions of the country may
well look to the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineer for guidance. Until
the bludgeon is given up and all attempts
to force men to Join their ranks are aban-
doned and until good character ana ef-
ficient service are insisted upon, the
unions cannot hope for permanent sue
cess.