United labor bulletin., 1911-09-21
Federated EMPLOYEES
ISSUE Statement
Support Justice of Their Demand
in a Clear Review of Facts.

| of the results both by the general public
and by the officials of the system. AS
usual, the officials of the company are
using their utmost means to prepare
public opinion for the struggle that they
believe will come when the shopmen
have finally decided that delay will gain
them nothing from the hands of the off
cials-which delay is only giving the
company time to prepare itself for the
battle.
The corporation press throughout the
country is teeming with argument pre-
pared by corporation lawyers, telling
why the recognition of the Federation
would be disastrous to the public, and
why the demands of the Federation are
unreasonable. To correct these misead-
leading statements, representatives of
the Federated System have issued the
following statement:
The company officials have seen fit
to discuss our proposed agreement article
by article. They have laid great stress
upon the un-American principle of our
apprentice system. Regarding that mat
ter, that which we have requested is at
the present time in existence, and in de-
fense of our present apprentice system
We beg to submit the following reasons
for its existence, namely:
That it became necessary to estab
lish an apprentice system ON account OF
various employers, which were, that a
boy could continue his apprenticeship in
definitely and grow gray in the employ
of the master without receiving just
compensation. We do not deny the right
of any boy to acquire thorough knowl-
edge of our various crafts. but We do
insist upon the right to judge the moral
standing and educational qualifications
of men who are to succeed us in our
yocauons, and thereby increase the in
telligence and moral character of our
crafts?
1t has been customary with various
employers TO make specialists of their
apprentices, instead OF permitting them
TO acquire a full knowledge of the trade,
and thereby placing them at the mercy
of unscrupulous and mammon-worshiping
employers. We can not see anything
un-American in the stand we have taken
for the betterment of the American me-
chanic and the working class at large.
Another statement made by the Off
cials is that we object to the physical
examination and personal record system
This has been fought out and abolished
and We insist that il remain so-that is
in so Ear the men employed in the
shops are concerned. We do not dispute
the right OF the company to examine
men in various departments where 1t is
absolutely essential for the safety OF
with the law. such as inspectors in the
car department. But we do insist that
no man shall be subject TO the un-Amer-
lean treatment similar 20 the days pre-
yiuus TO 1861. when a black man was
placed upon the block and his teeth,
eycsieht mind and muscle examined.
We contend that our employers buy
only our labor power and not our per
sons. They have foremen and bosses to
judge whether man is physically able
to do the work required OF him and they
have the right TO dismiss the employe If
he does not meet the requirements.
Another statement made by the COM
pany officials concerns the hospital sys-
TEN. We contend that the men who fur
nish the money to maintain the hospital
should have a voice in the management.
one OF the causes OF the revolutionary
war was taxation without representation,
and the American people still revolt
against that principle.
We are told that the amount contrib
uted by the employees is not sufficient TO
meet the running expenses We are only |
told this. We have no means either to I
prove or disapprove this statement.
There is not man in f'fa employ OF any
Of the roads in our s-Fisdiction who I
would hesitate for moment to pay I
twice the amount he is paying today il
he had voice in the administration OF
the money. We believe that men who /
are hurt or disabled should be accorded /
the best treatment possible and we are 4
willing TO pay for ii. II this is unrea- 1
sonable we have no proper understand /
ing of justice.
There have been instances where
men have been discharged from the hos
pital before a cure had been effected /
for the simple reason that the time
allowance had expired.
Particular stress has been laid upon
the subject of pensions. as though this
was desired by the majority of the men
We state for the benefit of the public
that there is no guarantee that our old
and disabled brothers will receive the
benefits of this pension. In most cases
when a m&n becomes old and disabled
he is laid off during times of retrench.
ment and ofttimes not re-employed. Fur
thermore, there is no guarantee that the
men who are now receiving these bene-
fits will continue to do so. Ii is only an
act of charity at best In case of a job
on Wall street the management of the
roads might change hands. Then what
assurance would these old men have that
they would be taken care of by the new
managers? What the average American
wants is not charity. but fair living
wage. whereby he can provide for his de
clining years and for those depending
upon him.
Much has been said regarding the
unreasonable demands OF the men for
an eight-hour day. Men who have studied
the economic questions of the day are
forced 10 admit that the trend of the
times is toward shorter work day.
Where the eight-hour day is in effect
more work and better results have been
obtained by the railroad companies.
The company officials speak of the
large increase in their shop expenses
that 1-cent fiat increase would make,
claiming that in some instances II would
be as high as 40 per cent. 1t readily can
be seen that this is absurd. II any men
are working In any of the shops on the
Hartman system for 10 cents an hour
thlA mr. rArt ninlN nt,titlIAl n n 70