The Washington times., 1913-06-03
F|REMEN CONSIDER
CAPITAL OFFICES
One Of Changes Before Engine.
men Is That of Having Quar-
ters In Washington.

Closer affiliation with the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers. revi-
sion of the constitution, TO include a
raise In the salaries of officers. and
changing the headquarters from Peoria.
Ill, to some other city, probably
Washington, are the three most I'M
portant matters which will come before
the twenty-sixth annual convention Of
the Brotherhood of Railway Firemen
and Enginemen now in session at .he
Arcade.
The LOO or more delegates who are
assembled here seem strongly in favor
OF establishing the headquarters In
washington. and It Is probable this
change will be made, although this
matter will not be brought up until
the constitution of the organization mas
been revised.
Closer Affiliation Probable.
II was stated by leaders in the con-
vention, whose sessions are being held
behind closed doors. that closer affi'ia-
ton with the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers viii certainly be dis
cussed and probably adopted at this
convention. This does not mean, now
ever, that the two bodies will In any
way become amalgamated.
Two separate organizations will. II Is
stated. continue to be maintained. out
win be brought into closer harmony.
such a. 10 believed to be nece ,sary to
the accomplishment Of the best results.
A large part Of the time for the next
three weeks, during which time the
convention will be in session practically
al day. IL being devoted to individual
claims which do not come under the
routine claim department.
Revision Of the constitution also will
take up several days. as each article
and paragraph 10 to be debated and
vSted on separately: The question OF OF
the matters which may cause conten-
doa on the floor.
VIII Visit President.
Tomorrow afternoon no business ses-
slon will be held, but the officers, dele
gates. and their wives will be received
1t 3:3o o'clock by President Wilson in
the East Room. This will be followed
by Q special Marine Band concert
The feature Of the opening reception
q Memorial Continental Hall last night
was an address by William B. Wilson.
Secretary OF Labor, In which he told
how he happened to leave rsilroading
and entered upon the field that has led
him to Q position In the Cabinet.
II had been on the road continuously
fer seventy-two hours as q fireman."
said Secretary Wilson. and at the end
OF the seventy-two hours l was ordered
out again. ] refused to go and was
permanent and ever since have been
working for fewer hours for firemen and
enginemen."
The labor head declared himself in
favor Of an anti-injunct.on act designed
TO prevent courts of equity from :ssu-
ING Injunction in labor disputes. He
also predicted that the time Is not far
on when q general eight-hour law viii
b established for railroad men. four
hours straightaway run. one hour for
lunch, and q four-hour run back home.
He warned the fremen and enginemen
that whenever Il becomes necessary for
them to strike. they should avoid all
forms Of violence and stated that Or
eAnised labor has lost more strength
through violent acts than from all other
causes.
Labor Union Necessary.
Judge Martin A. Knapp. Of the Com
Derce Court. declared labor organixa-
tiens are necessary. because in this day.
when q single company employs tens of
Thousands of men. il would be worse
than useless for one man to strike for
higher wages. 1t is through united ef-
fort. he declared. that results have been
and can be attained
Frank Morrison. secretary OF the
American Federation Of Labor, re-
viewed the part played by organized
labor in the development of the country
during the last sixteen years.
Other speakers at the reception in
addition to Commissioner Rudolph and
Mr.. Callahan, were w. p Borland,
AhAt NJ b.
Mrs. Maude E. Moore. grand president
Of the ladies' society that is co-operat-
ing with the Brotherhood: William L.
Chambers. T. v. Powderly, Of the Bu-
reau Of immigration: W. S. Carter,
President Of the Brotherhood; William
H Lei