The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-20
UNIONS ORGANIZE.
100000 men FOR
.8-H0uR STRUGGLE
BrOtherhOOdS Reach Working
Agreement With IL of Fed
Grafton Bodies.


Agreement With ~ of Fed
Grafton Bodies.
Washington, Nov. 20.-At a secret
meeting yesterday an amalgamation
erhoods of railway trainmen and the
12 unions of other railway workers af-
fhated with the American Federation
Of Labor, the object Of the amalgama-
ton being to make an organized effort
to obtain the eight-hour workday for
all railway employees.
The ibrotherhoods did not agree to
join the Federation Of Labor, and the
railway unions in the federation did
not agree to affiliate themselves with
the brotherhoods but it was empha-
sized that in all matters affecting the
attainment Of the eight-hour day in
every organized department of rail-
way employees the four brotherhoods
and the II unions would work to-
gether.
About 100000 railway workers, in adj
dition to the 100000 trainmen who are
affected by the agreement. With this
strengthening of their, forces, the
brotherhoods win use their influence
to prevent adverse legislation by Con-
gress and to obtain the enactment of
laws that will assist their cause. It
was said that the heads of the broth
erhoods probably would call on Pres
tdent Wilson with the object OF per-
suading him not to. press legislation
affecting labor to which he committed
himself at the time Of the threatened
railroad strike last summer.
Oppose Compulsory Investigation.
Representatives Of the brotherhoods
made it plain that they were unalter-
ably opposed to the Presidents recon-
mendation that Congress enact law
providing for compulsory investiga-
ton Of industrial disputes, with pro-
vision that no strike or lockout should
be permitted pending the outcome Of
the investigation. -.
The action Of the brotherhoods and
the railway unions affiliated with the
Federation of Labor is the most i'm
portant move that has been. made in
the direction Of compelling capital to
grant concessions Of workers since the
brotherhoods compelled Congress to
grant the eight-hour railway work day
through the medium Of the Adamson
law. Encouraged by the way. in which
this legislation was brought about, the
brotherhoods and tTes railway FEEDER
ationists have added 100000 workers to
their numbers, and will be able to
claim that 100000 voters are behind the
demands that they intend to make on
the railroad companies.
Sundays secret meeting! was held
at the headquarters Of the American
Federation Of Labor here. Samuel
Go1npers, president Of the Federation,
came over from Baltimore, where he
has been attending the national com
vention of the Federation, and partici-
pated in the meeting. The brother
hoods were represented by w. G.. Lee,
CHA. Of the Brotherhood of Railway
Trasnmen; Warren S. Stone. Chief
Engineer of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers; w. S. Carter, Chief
Of the Brotherhood Locomotive Fire
men; and L. E. Sheppard, Acting
Chief Chief Of the Brotherhood Of
Railway Conductors. A. B. Garretson,
chief Of the conductors, who was the
directing spirit in the contest that re-
suited in the enactment of the Adam
son law, is taking an extended leave
of absence.
The heads Of the brotherhoods and
Of the Federation Of Labor consulted
last night with regard to ways and
means to combat President Wilson's
proposal that a Federal compulsory
investigation law be enacted. It is
expected that the President will re-
new this recommendation when he
addresses Congress on Dec. s. The
President is now preparing data to
incorporate in his annual address and
while no authoritative information on
the subject has been furnished to the
press, there have been various indi-
cations that he will renew before Con-
gress the features of his railway pro-
gram which were not taken up by the
House and the Senate at the time
when the brotherhoods were treaten-
ing to bring about a general strike OF
railway workers If, the trainmen were
not granted the eight-hour day.
The new regulation Of railway
trainmen with those employed in
shops and other labor departments Of
the transportation systems of the
COQuLI 40 OAPOSSCo W LII IAoAl q PoW~
erfuI weapon to the brotherhoods in
their present dealings with the COM
mittee Of railway executives in con-
nection with the renewed demands OF
the trainmen for a permanent eight
hour day.
Heretofore the fight for the eight
hour day has been carried on by the
four branches Of railroad labor, rep
resented in the Brotherhoods Of train
men. The shopmen, switchmen, the
telegraphers, the carmen and other
labor employees who are affiliated with
the American Federation Of Labor did
not share in the demands of the
Brotherhoods. witch have maintained
a separate confederation. In their
common desire to bring about the re-
election Of President Wilson for his
part in the enactment Of the Adam
son law, the leaders Of the Brother
hoods and the federated unions have
come to have kindlier feeling for
one another and yesterdays harmoni-
zation of views and purposes was the