The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-09-11
RAILROAD MEN
IN CONVENTION
DISCUSSSTRIKE
FUTURE OF LINES MAY HINGE
ON FARLEY Or SHOP AND
MAINTENANCE MEN AT Ar
CADIA, OHIO.

Vital problems. affecting not only
the labor conditions in the United
States, but the country's general well
fare, viii be discussed during the two
weeks convention of the United
brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Employees and Railway Shop EN-
ployees, which opens in Arcadia
Monday
In point of numbers a well as in
influence the United Brotherhood is
the most powerful railroad labor or
ganization in the world. having
membership of almost 100000. 1t is
also the third largest of the world $
labor organizations. being outnumbered
only by the United Mine Workers
and Carpenters and Joiners' unions.
1t is an organization of an interna-
tionaI character and embraces in it's
membership craftsmen, road masters,
section foremen and workers, bridge
foremen, iron workers. carpenters,
time keepers and railway shopmen.
One of the big questions which
likely will be decided by the conven-
ton is the strike for increased wages
and improved working conditions. A
poll of the entire membership has just
been completed and of the ballots Pc
turned. to the International head
quarters in Tits city, $4,000 members
declared themselves for the strike and
| only 5000 against.
| The chief issue involved is a stan
| dardization of wages for the same
| classes of labor throughout the coun-
! try. A committee of fourteen is now
in conference with Walker d. Hines,
| director of the railway administratio
| in an effort to arrive at a settlement
of the demands without referring the
matter to the general convention.
| This committee is empowered to
| make terms with the railway admin
| istration, but if no conclusion is
reached with Mr.. Hines the question of
whether the organization will STRIFE
will be decided in the Detroit con-
i vention.
Some time during the session here
the United brotherhood also Will throw
| the weight of its influence into the
| nationwide campaign against the
| high cost of living. Prices obtaining
| December IL, 1915, and on August 1
| 1919, on standard list of foodstuffs
and household commodities have beer
compiled by members in all sections
of the country and this list will be
made the basis of recommendation
| to the government.
a considerable program of educa-
ton, embracing practical courses in
the everyday work of the members
OF the brotherhood and the granting
of scholarships in engineering schools
TO members having high school e6iu-
cations, also will be launched dl1rine
the local session. Night school courses
Tor members possessing no education
whatever are also included in the
| program.
Famous Men Convene.
While all of the business session,
OF the conventions will be closed "a
the general public, the hall will bs
thrown open Wednesday,. September
TO- when several speakers will be
: heard.
Among them are Secretary w. p
wilson of the Department of Labor,
Gideon Robertson, Canadian rniniste
of labor: Walker ID. Hines. head q
the railway administration; Glenn F,
Plumb. originator of the Plumb MA,
of railway operation; Frank Morrison
secretary of the American Federatio,
of Labor; w. s. Carter director q
the division of labor of the railwa,
! administration: Thomas Moore. chair
man of the Dominion Trades an,
Labor Congress of Canada. and PAT
rick Draper, secretary of the sam
| body