Milford chronicle., 1910-09-30
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 Wages--Repressnt $4,000 Work.
men.

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 /
to the government. 1t marked, as the I
leaders Of the brotherhood agreed, the |
growth of a spirit of fairness and mu- |
tuality toward the companies that pay |
the wages. 1t served notice that, while /
the brotherhoods are not minded TO be
tags for any political party, they in
tend TO scrutinize the attitude of can
didates for office particularly for fed
eral office 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
the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Firemen and Enginemen, the
Order of Railway Conductors and the
of Railroad TTainmen,
gathered at the Amsterdam Opera
House. listened to speeches from War
rem s. Stone, grand chief of the engi-
neers; A b. Garretson, president of
the conductors; W. G. Lee, president
Of the trainmen; P. H. Morrissey, pres
dent of the American Railroad In
'estors' and Employees association; G.
H. Sines, vice president of the train
nen. and other executives.
The delegates came with the au-
hority from $4,000 railroad workmen ,
N sixty-three railroads east of the
river, and they represent
d 100000 voters dependent for a
livelihood on the railroad companies.
After a four hours conference they s
a memorial to President 6
'aft, the interstate commerce commits :
ion and all national and state law :
making bodies The memorial contains
which support the proposal
f the railroad companies that they be
ermited to make a reasonable in f.
rease in rates.
The brOtherhoods didn't take action
uddenly or Wmultuously. The pro- ?
osal to stand by the companies had !
cen talked over for several months
D all the lodges. It had been threshed I
ut thoroughly, and the delegates /
anne to the council with one idea IN
lind. that the employees We're in the n
anne boat as the companies. They i,
ere in absolute harmony on all of the
rncipal points brought up at the p
Ieeting. These were that: .
Everything the railroads must buy
ad gone up in price and the only
ling taat they sell has gone down.
AC NDAAA pdulG5 al ANAulltu " udhE ! e
greater outlay every year for per- =
cted service, safety appliances, 9
ages and supplies. =
The rates now permitted are too low n
enable the companies to make a =
ir profit, pay fair wages or TO con- -
nue. to provide high class service to
e public.
The employees can obtain fair wages =.
lly by supporting the Companies in III
! appeal to the government to au- IN
orize railroad increases which ex- Ie
irience has shown to be necessary. Ut
The companies need the backing Of OF
cir employees, especially in view Of tN
e constant agitation of manufacture
S associations, jobbers, middlemen
d politicians for still lower rates.