The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1907-05-24
DECLARES PURPOSES OF BRIT.
p. H. MORRIssEY. GRAND MAS
TER, SPEAKS AT ATLANTA.
Right OF Every Man to Work, But Not
TO Degrade Standard OF
Living.

In last weeks paper we reported
briefly the eighth biennial convention
OF the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men, which is being held at Atlanta,
Ga In a letter to this paper, Mr.. H.
V. Felt, a delegate from GOOdland
lodge No. 327, enclosed the speech OF
Grand Master P. H MOrriSSey, which
IS an interesting document because it
outlines the principles and purposes
Of that great labor organization
Where a labor organization stands
and what it advocates ought to be a
subject Of interest not only to railroad
men but TO the public in general, and
for this reason we herewith reprint
the splendid address OF Mr.. MOrriSsey:
The delegates to this convention,
to the number Of $50, represent their
associate wOrkmen on every line of
railroad in the United States and Can
ada They have come TO your city to
carefully consider such questions as
they believe will better conserve the
interests Of their organization, and, in
turn, confer corresponding advantage
on all workers They represent 10000
as good men as can be found any
where on earth Their right to be so
called has been proved in the terrible
injury and death that is annually told.
When 1t IS remembered that each
year the railroad men suffer casual
ties in number equal to the entire
army Of the United States, the awful
sacrifice necessary to carry forward
the transportation business Of these
two great countries can better be ap-
preciated.
More Dangerous Than Battle.
I'm this country, where the profess
sionaI risk Of dangerous occupation
annually claims a half million victims,
there is no one class that sacrifices so
much Of life and limb as our brothers
OF the rail. When ] tell you that in
the year 1906 for every sixty-twO
z
one death or total and permanent dis
ability claim, you can understand the
force OF my statement when 1 say
there are no better or drawer men in
our industrial life
The report Of the interstate com
merce commission for the year ending
June so, 1906, shows that there were
595,456 men employed in the trans
pOrtatiOn service, and that OF this
number 55.524 were either killed or
injured. There are few, if any, battle
field records that equal this yearly
showing OF death and disaster-this
tribute OF human life and distressing
injury paid by these soldiers in the
great army Of commerce. One Of the
most distinguished judges on the fed
eraI bench, Hon Emory Speer, whose
citizenship Georgia proudly claims, IN
q recent decision sustaining the con-
stitutiOnality Of the national employ
ers liability act, said of the service TO
their country Of the railway men:
But congress has at length deter
mined that there shall be a uniform
law for the protection Of that army OF
more than 2 million men engaged IN
interstate traffic, an army whose cOur-
age, decision, patriotism and intelli-
gence may not be surpassed
The Brotherhood Of Railroad Train
men is a fraternal, Insurance. pro-
tective association, twenty-fOur years
OF age. In its comparatively short
life, as we measure time, il has paid
almost fourteen millions Of dollars IN
death and total disability claims; II
has increased wages and decreased
hours Of service for the classes Of en-
pioyes that it represents that mean an
average increase in earning capacity
per man Of more than so per cent Its
fraternity is not Of the high-sOunding
kind that contents itself with attend
ing the last sad ObseQuies Of the de
parted but It is the kind that stands
by man through life, that makes the
fellowship Of association a living evil
dence Of the brotherhood OF man.
when it comes to the parting OF
the ways, and the passing over into
the Great Beyond, the brotherhood is
there steadying the faltering life shad-
oW with assurances Of protection IoI
those left behind, and after hfe's
course has been run, IL reaches out us
strong arm OF b6nevOlence, ana taxes
care OF the widowed and fatheriess
There are not so many fancy allegO-
rfes attached to our fraternal feature
but there is that feeling Of mutual
concern that is to be found only Where
all interests are in common We say
we viii protect our brother and we dc
It quietly, sympathetically and we be
ueve, effectively
Where. the Order Stands.
The brotherhood is in full Sympa-
thy with all honestly organized and
rightly managed labor associations II
does not question the right Of any OF
Eanization to manage its affairs &C
cording TO its own ideas, and IL re
serves to itself the same right but
when other organizations presume %
unwarrantedly interfere with Us in the
exercise OF our rights, and TO question
the policy OF the brotherhood when II
IS carrying out its obligations fairly
and squarelys according 10 It's Jaws
then we say most emphadcally, hands
or
I've recognize the right OF every
nan to work and earn his living
Further than that, we recognize the
necessity for every man 70 take care
OF himself and his family, consistent
with the best established living stan