Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-10-01
union men BACK
UP EMPLOYERS
Appeal TO Taft TO Allow Rail-
roads TO Raise Rates.
DEMAND A SQUARE DEAL

Leaders Say II Marks Growth Of Fair
ness Toward Companies That Pay
the wases-Represent $4,000 Work
men.
The most significant council OF rail-
road employees ever held IN this coun-
try instructed, at the Amsterdam
Opera House In New = ork, the chiefs
OF the four great organizations Of rail
road workmen to go TO Washington
and appeal to the government OF the
United States for a square deal to
their employers.
The meeting was characterized by
the brotherhoods themselves as the
most momentOus since the first spike
was driven into the first road for these
reasons: 1t was the first out and out
pronOuncement that the interests OF
employer and employees are identical"
1t was the first time the power OF the
unions have ever united TO back up
the railroad companies by going direct
20 the government. II marked. as the
leaders of the brotherhood agr(Sd. the
growth OF a spirit OF fairness and mu-
tuality toward the companies that pay
the wages. IL served notice that. while
the brotherhoods are not minded TO be
tags for any political party. they In
tend 10 scrutinize the attitude of can
didates for Office particularly for fed
eral ofhce) as TO how employers as
well as employees shall be treated by
the lawmakers and law enforcers.
5000 Delegates Present
Three thousand delegates. represent
ing the Brotherhood OF Locomotive
Engineers. the Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Firemen and Enginemen. the
Order OF Railway Conductors and the
brotherhood OF Railroad Trainmen.
gathered at the Amsterdam Opera
House. listened TO speeches from War
rem ). Stone. grand chief OF the engi-
neers; A. h. Garretson. president OF
the conductors; w. G.. Lee. president
of the trainmen; z. H. Morrissey. pres
ident OF the American Railroad In
vestors' and Employees association: G..
H. Sines. vice president OF the train
men, and other executives.
The delegates came with the au-
thority from $4,000 railroad workmen
on sixty-three railroads east OF the
Mississippi river. and they represent
ed 100000 voters dependent for a
livelihood on the railroad companies.
After a four hours conference they
addressed a memorial 20 President
Taft the interstate commerce commits
sion and all national and state law.
making bodies. The memorial contains
resolutions which support the proposal
OF the railroad companies that they be
permitted 10 make a reasonable in
crease in rates
The brotherhoods didn't take action
suddenly or unanimously. The pro-
posal 10 stand by the companies had
been talked over for several months
in all the lodges. II had been threshed
out thoroughly. and the delegates
came to the council with one idea IN
mind, that the employees were in the
same boat as the companies. They
were In absolute harmony on all OF the
principal points brought up at the
meeting. These were that:
Everything the railroads must buy
had gone up in price and the only
thing taat they sell has gone down.
The companies are required TO make
a greater outlay every year for per-
Iected service, safety appliances,
wages and supplies.
The rates now permitted are too low
20 enable the companies 10 make a
fair profit, pay fair wages or to con-
tinue 10 provide high class service TO
the public.
The employees can obtain fair wages
only by supporting the Companies in
an appeal 10 the government to au-
thoriZe railroad increases which ex-
perience has shown TO be necessary.
The companies need the backing of
their employees. especially in view OF
the constant agitation of manufacture
ers' associations. jobbers. middlemen
and politicians for still lower rates.