The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-08-07
The Enginemen Strike.
AS Given Out by the Employees

1AS "A'OH VuU ~ tHt LWplOypS
During the past week there has been
distributed in all small towns and ci-
ties OF the northwest a pamphlet enti-
tied the strike question by the loco-
motive enginemen. This is the fl st time
IN the history OF organized labor that
| a labor union has conducted a syste-
matte publicity campaign in its own
behalf, but the experience Of years OF
negotiation has proven the fact that
the public papers as we'll as MANY
periodicals. and maga zines are not free
falr, and are especially hostile to the
interest OF organized labor. The la
Dor union during its years of exis-
tance has had its troubles and tri-
umphs, It's mistakes and gains, its
friends and foes
But its aim has ever been for good.
t has increased wages, shortened
hours OF labor. regul ated hours of fe.
male employment, secured legislation
favorable to numerous public safety
devices, and is the avowed foe of child
labor In the sweat shop, and is today
The most powerful factor in the indus
trial world for the social, moral, ed
ucational and financial betterment of
its adherents.
The brotherhoods of enginemen are
among the most powerful of the labor
unions, behind the International pres
ldents stand nearly 200, 600 men. The
fraternal ties of brotherhood connect
far off Sydney. Australia with Prince
Rupert, B. c., Tampa, Fla, with the
golden gate, and where ever transpor-
tation by rail exists on the North
American continent the Brotherhood is
working for its members.
The life of an enginemen is at best
hazardous, the average insured life is
but IL years 2 days, this fact taken
from the beneficiary department whose
records extend over period of thirty
years. The working conditions are
hard and irregular. OF every hum
dred men who start fireing but nine
teen run an engine, and but four Of
the nineteen ever hold steady pas
senger. and the pay when compared
on an hourly basis, is very inferior
to any OF the skilled trades. The
cause OF present crisis is the absolute
refusal OF the railroad managers to
grant any concessions and wage ad-
vances and the taking away of the
working conditions which have been
80 years in the making, and substitu-
ting in their place conditions that
would work great hardships on men.
The refusal of the men to arbitrate
may seem irregular to some, but the
brotherhoods have had much exper-
lence with arbitration. and awards
under both the Erdman and the New
lands bill.
We have awards that have never
been applied, and no less an author
ity than Attorney General McReynolds
has declared that there is nothing but
a moral obligation binding on a cor
poration in regard to application of
an arbitration award. With these
facts in view, is it strange that after
spending much time and money to Sc
cure some concessions, the men are
10th to go to arbitration.
In conclusion, we wish to state that
we have confidence in our leaders: We
believe any demands that they may
make will be just and fair, and that
the taking away Of our working con-
ditions-for which we have labored
for thirty years will precipitate a
struggle which will have no parallel
in industrial America.
b. K. STARR,
4