The herald., 1911-10-19


who have the odds in their favor in
the way of immense wealth, stand
willing to aid you in whatever way
can. The great labor leaders of this
country have told me that a strike
cannot be won by violence, and l have
been told that not only do they advise
the union men not to commit acts of
violence when they talk in public, but
they also advise against violence when
they speak behind closed doors. Don't
listen to the follow who sits on the
curb and whites stick and tells
you what to do and then leaves you
to do it. See first of all what he will
do for you.
The corporations of the country are
to-day doing on large scale what you
are trying to do on a smaller scale,
organizing themselves for mutual ben
eft, and trust that you will succeed
as well as they have done"
H. d. French of the Railway Con-
ductors followed, but Mr.. French and
Mr.. Christy of the engineers organiza-
ton, who spoke later, both declared
that they spoke as citizens Of Algiers,
and not as members of any organiza.
ton. Both declared they were in
hearty sympathy with the movement;
both offered their financial support, as
they had already given their moral
support, and both assured the men
that they would do all in their power
to aid their cause.
Defends Federation.
Roland James, past president of the
Machinists' Union, said in part:
1--WE have out to-day practically 3d..
900 men on the Hartman and Illinois
Central systems. The railroads are
trying to get some of these men to go
back to work. They have stated that
We have not lived up to the thirty-day
clause; they have said that We asked
concessions that were impossible to
grant. They say We ask for some
thing no other roads have given to
their employees and yet these officials
know as well as / do that there are
thirteen railroad systems that have
now recognized the system federation
of employees.
IF E. II. Hartman were alive to-day
we would not be having this trouble,
for he advocated making a contract
with the entire shop forces OF his sys-
TENS. Mr.. Hartman said, come up to
the general Offices of the road and let
us make contract to cover $4,000 men
and let's be done with it, let's not have
one craft coming in to-day to make
a contract for one shop, and the local
of another shop of the same craft or a
different craft coming in tomorrow to
make another contract E. H. 'Harri-
man was firmly for the system fedora
ton idea and if we can get the heads
of the Hartman and Illinois Central
systems to sign up with the system
declarations, it will mean the end of all
strikes on those lines in which en-.
ployees who are affiliated with the
system federation are concerned. We
don't want strikes. Strikes have cost
the machinists s150,52025 per year for
the last twenty years in strike benefits.
We want to get away from the curse
OF strikes and what they entail.
No one who understands the situa-
ton can blame us for organizing the
system federation and getting away
from strikes. For with the system
federation in operation, a committee
from the federation can easily adjust
all matters between the employees of
the road and the management. We
want the last man hired laid off when
men are to be laid off, and not some
old employee, who for some reason has
incurred the enmity of the master me-
chanic at some point In a case of
that kind, If man was discharged
without just cause, he could appeal to
the federation and a committee could
investigate the matter. It would not
mean that every man with some slight
grievance could take his troubles to
this committee and cause a lockout
along the whole system, but that is the
idea that the railroad company is try
ing to instill into the minds of the
public. In conclusion l want to appeal
to the business men to give the strik-
ers as much credit as they can, and I