The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-26
RAILROAD MEN
ENTER POLITICS
Train and Enginemen Form AL
lance to Protect Their
Own Interests.
GREAT MASS MEETING
HELD IN NEW YORK
Want Candidates to State Posi-
tions in Railway Matters
and Rates.

NEW YORK, Sept 25.-For the first
time in the history of railway unions,
members and delegates. representing sos,
900 men of the four great divisions OF
railway employees In the east, voted
unanimously. at a meeting here today. to
take concerted action in national and
state politics.
1.-The proper place TO settle questions
affecting labor Is at the ballot box" said
Warren s. Stone of Cleveland, o., grand
chief OF the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers.
Whatever your political affiliations
do not let party lines blind you 10 your
true interests or prevent you from doing
what YOU think is hest and right See
that the men you vote for stand for the
right principles. regardless Of party, and
support those men who meet the require
ments, and you VIII not only be doing
the best thing for yourselves, but for the
public.
This is not political move al all. as
is generally understood. but move to
get away from the old lines of partisan
politics.
In pursuance of this plan. the meeting
voted to send out A series of eight ques-
tions 10 state and national candidates,
particularly TO candidates for the legisla-
ture and house OF representatives,. asking
for a definition OF their attitude on the
universal adoption OF safety appliances
and an employers liability law-wnere
such docs not already exist-company
pensions for superanpuatcd employees.
hours OF labor. and other matters of
kindred interest.
This catechism will be drafted by w.
c. Lee. president of the Brotherhood Of
Railway Trainmen. and by y. B, Garrett
sou. president of the Order of Railway
Conductors, and by them distributed to
all executive officers of subordinate
unions and locals.
Train and Enginemen.
There were 5000 members and delegates
al the meeting today, representing the
Brotherhood OF Railway Trainmen, the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers, the
brotherhood Of Locomotive Firemen and
Engnemen, and the Order OF Railway
Conductors. They met by announcement
to define their attitude toward the appli-
cation OF railways. now before the inter
state commerce commission for pcrfnlS-
sion 10 increase rates, and. had been
expected, they passed resolutions favor
ing an Increase.
1t was decided that "this representative
meeting OF the railway brotherhoods re-
quest our chief executives to appear be-
fore the interstate commerce commission
during the pending rate hearing, state
our case. and support the proposals rca-
sonably to Increase the existing rates"
The legislative board OF the Brother
hood OF Engineers Of Pennsylvania. rep
resentinS lu,VUo engineers, which recently
concluded sessions in Harrisburg, Pa. at
tended the meeting in body and report
ed resolutions which, IL was claimed,
tyDifled the attitude on the rate question
pressed in many other scattered resolu-
tons. They find that 1.-THE various rail-
way companies. by whom our members
are employed, have Recently enormously
Increased their operating expenses and
fixed charges by reason Of a general in
crease In wages, and the increased cost
Of material and the incessant demand of
the public for improved facilities and
service"
In u letter to NJ FlanDery, chairman
or the executive committee OF the engl.
neers at Buffalo, Chief Stone expresses
movement.
'One thing is sure he writes. "if the
railroads are TO continue 10 exist some
way must be found TO meet the con
stantly increasing demand on their gross
earnings