The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-04-04
RAIL WORKERS
PREPARE TDFIi;HT
n y Convention Asks Right TO
Organize District Council.
WOULD RESIST ATTACKS
Urged as Essential to Combat "Cor.
centratcd Attacks by the Execu-
tivCs' Association

Nc.,- York. April 4.---ltrprr>entativr
/ Of I,..Ot}D organized railroad employees
| in special convention here called upon
| the executive heads nf the recognized
national and international railroad
unions 10 sanction he formation of
district "OfirnSiNr and defensive" al
| li;lnrt,S railroad district couucilS-iu
! the New York district and 1T other
! "slr;,t,@ic points in the railroHding in
! duStry.
These district organizations are
, necessary, il was stated in Il letter
sent 10 the executive union officials,
To clii'l" railroad employees to better
| re>:>. the concentrated attacks of the
| Railway Executive Association and
no bring about closer utilization Of
| all railroad employees and perfect a
| l0D per cent organization in all crafts
| by stimulating interest in their OWN
welfare ami educating them in the
value of solidarity"
! Delegates 10 the convention. VIII"
represented all local railroad unions
in The "rc;,lrr New York district. urg-
cd that "a state of status quo should
| he declared by the American Fedora
/ tiun of Labor So as To clear the way.
| and make ii possible for what are
now commonly known as III" tr;tnSpnr-
| tatiun brOtherhoOdS to affiliate with
| the American Federation uf Labor"
Through this action, it was stated,
! the 'preamble> and resolutions that
! gave birth 10 industrial autonomy by
the formation of the general depart
ment$ within the federation would Ice
! preserved"
More than 30 representatives of
! local unions in the New York district
| attended the convention, which was
called by district officers of the United
brotherhood of Maintenance of Way
Employees.
This district is regarded by the I'M
ion leaders as one of the largest and
most strategic in the United States
as it Lot only takes in the workers
/ in and about New York city and
Brooklyn. but those in Newark, Tren-
ton, Hoboken, Jersey City, Paterson
and 50 far west as Easton, Pa, all
Long Island points, and as far north
rs Hartford, Conn.
| The delegates affirmed their conf
| drnce in their International and ma
lional officials and pledged To them
our all in their untiring efforts to
secure and maintain for the railroad
employees the working conditions ana
the standards of living that they are
50 justly entitled to-
I'VE further believe that it would
! be to the best interest IF all concern
ed, added the communication, that
the present existing Pact between the
| sixteen recognized. railroad union; he
reafIirmed and continued indefinitely,
and that the principle of craft ANAL
gamation, and industrial autonomy, be
not only recognized as q principal, but
to be heralded by railroad workers as
IN accomplished fact"
/ Formation of the district councils
was declared to be imperative at this
moment of concentrated opposition on
the part of those who would divide the
railroad employees in order to destroy
their economic organizations"
Besides promoting closer utilization
between the various unions, ii was eX-
planned that these councils would dis
Seminate such knowledge to our mem
bership and Information to the public
consistent with the policies of the
Railway Employees Department of the
American Federation Of Labor as will
give Il clear understanding Of our pur-
poses"