Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-24
RAILROAD MEN ON BOARDS
Practical Workmen for State Commits
sions, Says S. M. Fitch.
WILLING FOR ONE ATTORNEY
Executive CommItteemen of the state
Railway employees Association
Organize Big at PIats-
mouth,

1.-TWO railroad men and one attorney
should compose every state railroad COM
mission, as required under the Wisconsin
law, and 10 secure commissions composed
Of such men will be the aim of the railroad
men now organizing on the plan of the
Nebraska Railroad Employees Protective
association. in seventeen other states says
Samuel NJ. Fitch, past chief conductor OF
Chicago division No. I, order of Railroad
Conductors, who is in Omaha enroute IN
a trip over the entire nllnois Central syG-
tenn for the purpose of organizing local
protective associations Of railroad employees.
Mr.. Fitch went at once to the head
quarters Of the Nebraska Railway En-
ployes' Protective association at Hotel
Rome, where he met Will the members Of
the executive COMMITTEES and w. II. Thomp-
son, conductor Of the Rock Island company,
who is starting on a trip over the entire
Rock Island system for the purpose of
orEanizlng ASSOCIATIONS similar to that IN
Nebraska and.wltlthe purpose Of entering
the struggle OF the railway employees to see
that the state railroad Commissions are
composed Of men who know something
about the railroad business and not poll
ticians riding into office BY abusing the
railroads and shouldering the loss on the
employees"
Big Local at PIattsmouth.
Members of the, executive committee Of
the Nebraska ASSOCIATION returned Thurs
day morning from Plattsfnouth, where they
met $50 railroad employees Wednesday even
mig and organized, "A 'loeal' association in
Plattsmouth. Those who went from Omaha
were f. M. Ryan, chairman OF the execu-
lime committee c.. d. hopkins, IF. II.
Crosby, s. C. MRSppqspIqs sne executive
committee; G.. w Norman, = -cs. dent Of the
Omaha Machini&s' thtoH 'aad w. II. E.
Daniels. .t
I'VE had a most satisfactory meeting in
Portsmouth" said Chairman Ryan. II
believe l can say It was the. most successful
meeting we have ever held and the en-
ployes who-dttended the meeting are now
thoroughly iIAbued WIKI the idea that t
is time to stop this. thing Of making sweep
ing REDUCTIONS in railroad rates to benefit
no one ut spartieular except the whole
salers, not take a cent off the cost to the
consumer and give seIf-seeking politicians
an opportunity TO make good with the
voters BY Announcing now and then a or
10 per Ccnt reduction IN freight rates. The
railroad men are determined that the Rail
road commission Of Nebraska in the future
will be composed Of men who know some
thing about the railroad business and one
member at least, who is a capable attor-
ney.'E ~ 80" . = -.
Plans for Other Meetings.
The executive COMMITTED began at once
to make splAns for meetings in Norfolk,
Columbus and Auburn. Next week at
least two members OF the committee will
go to North Platte. where a big meeting
win he held.
Almost tie entire day Thursday was
spent b. Messrs, Thomas and Fitch Of Chi
cago IN conferences with members of the
executive committee Of the Nebraska as,
s citation. 'N a. ''
I'VE have, rot organized in Illinois az
yet sa d Mr.. Fitch. but as soon as we
,anrgst the employees to understand the
purpose. Of tins Qrgapization. we expect
10 call a meeting and then will have meet
.ngs pt Division points pursuing the same
course as in Nebraska.
We arepRet an politics with either. ma
tional partS and ant want to be. As to
the lntersSate Copamsrce commission. we
believe bqtA The traffic managers and rail-
road mepsyn gepsral%as well as the ship
pers, have the greatest confidence In the
body. Mn Clark was formerly the head
Of the ondsr Of Raiproad Conductors In the
United states, lie knows the railroad bust
HNS" rum Nho Aloht fIHSttcdl standpoint
Other merrbers OF the Interstate Commerce
eommAssioH are similarly equipped will
an intimateak nswsedse Of the railroad busl,
ness from,A trafAo 10 q. legal standpoint.
What sass railway employees want +.
state conshltsions composed OF men SINH
liarly equipped And in whom both shipper.
and carriers win have confidence"
Trip Over ROck Island.
Mr.. Thomas started Thursday Afternoon
on his trip over the Rock Island system
and MIR. Fitch will leave Friday morninl
for Fort Dodge and a trip over the entir,
Illinois CeptEal system making his frs
stops and ~pesinnihg the work Of o~rganiza
ton IN Iowa,
The ideas OF the IllirJois organizers NEE
with the mast hearty approval OF the Ne
braskans. c. d. Hopkins said:
The Wisconsin, provision Is a wise on.