The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-10
LOCAL STREET CAR
MEN ORGANIZING
Ben Commons Is Here in
Charge of Work
NO DEMANDS MADE
Officials of Company in Touch With
Situation and Have Shown
No Opposition to the
Movement

The organization of Birmingham street
car motormen, conductors and repairmen
will be perfected and officers elected to-
night, when the organization will hold
its first meeting, in the Machinists' hall,
19201a Fourth avenue, north. A large ma
jority of the employees of the Birmingham
Railway, Light and Power company has
already signed up and the remainder are
expected to be enrolled tonight, according
to the statement of Ben Commons, fourth
vice president of the International asso-
citation, who is in Birmingham.
Rumors of the organization of the street
railway men have been afioat for more
than three weeks and the work of Or
ganizing has been carried on for that
period of time. While the work has been
carried on quietly, the organization OF
the men has not been kept secret. The
company has been aware of the move
ment for more than two weeks.
The organization will be perfected I'M
der the auspices of the Amalgamated AS
ISOLATION of Street and Electric Railway
Employees of America. While the organ
ization of the street car men began local.
ly, Ben Commons arrived from Memphis
Friday and took active charge. Since his
arrival the organization of the men has
progressed rapidly.
RUMORS DENIED
Rumors of alleged demands that will
soon be made of the Birmingham Rail-
way Light and Power company for an
increase in wages and shorter hours were
denied fatty by the labor organizer $50
far as demands are concerned" said Mr..
Commons, there could be no demands
made until there is an organization. The
men have merely signed up, and have
not formed themselves into a compact or
ganization.
LAS for the strike rumor. there is little
probability of a strike. In the first place,
the organization will want to avoid a
strike if possible. and while they are OF
the opinion that they will meet with little
may not have their demands recognized.
In this event the associations rules are
that the matter be left to arbitration"
Officials of the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company would advance
no opinion yesterday, other than that
they knew something of the organizing
of the men. AS no demands had been
made they were unable to say what the
probable position of the company would
be in reference to the matter. There is
no opposition offered to the organizing,
and they stated that nothing was being
done by the company to prevent the men
from carrying out their plans.
PEVEAR IN NEW ORLEANS
J. S. Pevear president of the company,
is in New Orleans, but is in touch with
the situation. He has expressed no opin-
ion on the matter yet, and it is thought
will have nothing to say until further
steps have been taken by the men.
After the meeting tonight another meet
ing will be held Friday morning, at which
time those on duty who cannot attend
tonight will have the opportunity of join
ing the organization. A card urging the
attendance of all men is being distributed
by Mr.. Commons. He will be in general
charge of the meeting, which will be held
behind closed doors.
This is the third attempt to organize
a street car union in Birmingham. The
first was in June of 1907. and is well
rememb cred on account of the serious
ness and defeat of the movement A
lighter strike was made in May of 1913
but did not disturb traffic in the way
the former strike did.