The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-09-26
SEEK INCREASE
FOR EMPLOYERS
rrainmens' BrotherhOodS
Want Higher Rates.
TO PETITION PRESIDENT

Three Thousand Delegates From 63
Railroads East Of the Mississippi
River, Representing 100000 Vot-
ers, Meet and Decided to Memoir
lslize Congress to Permit Roads to
Boost Freight Rates In Order That
Wage Increases May Be Made.
New York, Sept. 26.--The most sig
nificant council OF railroad employees
ever held in this country instructed
at the Amsterdam opera house the
chiefs of the four great organizations
OF railroad workmen to go to Wash
lngton and appeal to the government
OF the United States for square
deal to their employers.
The meeting was characterized by
the brotherhoods themselves as the
lost moments since the first spike
was driven into the first railroads for
these reasons:
Ii was the first out.and-out pro-
nouncement that the interests OF en-
ployes and employers are identical.
Ii was the first time the powerful
unions have ever united TO back up
the railroad companies by going dt-
rectly to the government II marked,
as the leaders OF the brothechoods
agreed, the growth of a spirit of fair
ness and mutually toward the COM
panies that pay the wages. 1t served
notice that while the brotherhoods
are not minded TO be tags for any
political party, they intend to scruti-
nize the attitude OF candidates for
Office particularly for federal oitice)
as to how employers as well as EN-
ployes shall be treated by the law
makers and law.enforcers.
Three thousand delegates, repre-
senting the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers, the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen,
the order of Railway Conductors and
the Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men, gathered at the Amsterdam op-
era house and listened to speeches
from Warren S. Stone, grand chief
OF engineers; A. b. Garretson, presi-
dent OF the conductors; w. @. Lee,
president Of the trainmen; p. II. Nor
ri.sey, president OF the American In
yostors' and Employees association;
@. p. Sines, vice president Of the
trainmen, and other executives.
The delegates came with authority
from $50 900 railroad workmeh on So
railroads east of the Mississippi riv-
or, and they represented 100000
voters dependent for a livelihood on
the railroad companies.
After four hours conference they
addressed a memorial to President
Taft, the interstate commerce com
mission and all national and state
lawaking bodies. The memorial CON
tains resolutions which support the
proposal OF the railroad companies
that they be permitted to make a
reasonable increase in rates.
Everything railroads must buy has
gone up in price and the only thing
they ssll-transportatien gone
down.
The companies are required TO
make a greater outlay every year for
perfected service, safety Appliances,
wages and supplies.
The rates now permitted are too
low to enable the companies TO make
fair profit, pay fair wages or to
continue to provide high-class ser
vice to the public.
The employees can obtain fair
wages only by supporting the com.
panies in an appeal to the govern
ment to authorize reasonable rate
advances which experience has
shown to be necessary.
The companies need the backing
OF their employees, especially in view
OF the constant agitation OF manufac-
turers' organizations, middlemen and
jobbers for still lower rates,
There is no confession OF weak.
ness on the part OF the organizations
In their defense OF the companies.
They will continue to insist on
higher wages, more favorable work,
ing conditions, shorter hours and ad'
equate compensation for workmen
injured or killed in the service, but
the companies must have more earn
ing power to meet these demands.
There will be no political agitation
but candidates for office will be re
quested to answer questions concern
ing their attitude towards employers
and employees.