Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-10-04
Railway UNIONS
ENTER POLITICS
PROPER PLACE TO SETTLE
QUESTION IT At BALLOT
Box" SAYS LEADER.
"CATECHI:M" TO BE PREPARED
seriee Of Eight Questions to Be Sent
Out to All Car.didates.-Favor
increase Of r. r.
Rates.

New York, Sept. 26.-For the first
time in the history of railway unions
members and delegates representing
meE Of the four great divisions OF
railway employees in the East voted
unanimously at a meeting here to
take concerted action in national and
state politics.
1.-THE proper place to settle ques
tons affecting labor is at the ballot
box" said Warren s. Stone of Cleve
land. Ohio. grand chief of the Brother,
hood of Locomotive Engineers.
Whatever your political afIilia'
tions, do not let party lines blind you
to your true interest or prevent you
from doing what you think is best and
right. See that the men you vote for
stand for principles. regardless of
party, and support the men who meet
the requirements. and you will not
only be doing the best thing for your.
self, but for the public.
This is not political move at all
as is generally understood, but a move
to get away from the old lines of
partisan politics.
Candidates to Be Questioned.
In pursuance Of this plan the meet
ing voted to send out series Of eight
questions to state and national candi-
dates, particularly to candidates for
the legislatures and house of repre-
sentatives. asking for definition of
their attitude on the universal adop-
ton of safety appliances, and an en-
ployers' liability law where such
does not already exist-company pen.
sions for superannuated employees,
hours of labor and other matters of
kindred interest.
This catechism will be drafted by
W. G. Lee of Cleveland. president of
the Brotherhood of Railway Train
men. and A. B. Garretson of Cedar
Rapids. Iowa, president of the Order
of Railway Conductors, and by them
distributed to all the executive officers
of subordinate unions and locals.
Many Attend Meeting.
There were 5000 members and dele
gates at the meeting. representing the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers;
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and Engnemen. and the Order of
Railway Conductors. They met by an.
nouncement to define their attitude
toward the application OF railways,
now before the |. c. c. for permission
to increase rates, and, as had been
expected, they passed resolutions ia.
voring an increase.
1t was decided that The repre-.
sentative meeting of the railway
brotherhoods request our chief execu.
lives to appear before the I. C. C.
during the pending rate hearings,
State our case and support
the proposals to reasonably increase
the existing rates."
Pennsylvania Attends In Body.
The legislation board of the Broth
erhood OF Engineers of Pennsylvania,
representing 10000 engineers, who re.
Gently concluded sessions in Harris.
burg. Pa. attended the meeting in a
body and reported resolutions which it
was claimed typified the attitude on
the rate question Of railway employees
in general as expressed in many 9th.
er scattered resolutions. They find
that THE various railway companies
by whom our members are employed.
have recently enormously in.
creased their operating expenses and
fixed charges, by reason of a general
increase in wages and the increased
cost OF MARTIAL and the incessant de.
mand of the public for improved ia.
cilities and service"
In letter to Mr.. Flannery, chair.
man of the executive committee of the |
engineers at Buffalo. Chief Stone ex
presses himself in thorough sympathy
with the movement.
"One thing is sure" he writes, III
the railroads are to continue to exist,
some way must be found to meet the
increasing demand on their
gross earnings"