The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-04
RA|LMEN, LEADING
 175,OOO EMPLOyES, MOVE FOR CONCERT
Assistance Is Pledged Mainten- ance of Way Union In Effort to Resist Lower Wage
 Scale
By Associated Press

New York, April Representatives of l75,ooo organized railroad employees in special convention here today called upon the executive heads of the recognized national and international railroad unions to sanction the formation of district offensive and defensive" alliances railroad district councils-in the New York district and at other "strategic points in the railroading industry."a
 These district organizations are neces- sary. 1t was stated in a letter sent to the executive union officials, to enable the railroad employees Ito better resist the concentrated attacks of the Railway Executive association and ito bring about closer affilation of all railroad employees and perfect a 100 per cent or ganization in all crafts by stimulating interest in their own welfare and edu- eating them inS the value of solidarity
 Delegates to the convention, who rep resented all local railroad unions in the Greater New York district. urged that "a state of status quo should be declared by the American Federation of Labor so as to clear the way and make 1t pos, sible for what are now commonly known as the transportation brotherhoods to af filiate with the American Federation ot Labor
 HELP IS PLEDGED
 Through this action, it was stated, the preambles and resolutions that gave birth to industrial autonomy by the for- mation of the general departments within the federation would be preserved
 More than 25o representatives or local unions in the New York district at tended the convention. which was called by district officers of the United Broth erhood of Maintenance of Way Ehi- ployes.
 The delegates affirmed their confi- dence in their international and national organizations and pledged to them "our all in their rntiring efforts to secure and maintain for the railroad employees the working conditions and the standard of living that they are so justly en- titled to-"
 We further believe that it would be to the best interest of all concerned,S added the statement, that the present existing pact between the 16 recognized railroad unions be reaffirmed and con- tinued indefinitely And that the prin- clple of craft amagamation and indus trial autonomy be not only recognized as principle but to be heralded by the railroad workers as an accomplished fact"
 ANOTHER MEETING
 Formation of the district councils was declared to be imperative at this mo- ment of concentrated opposition on the part of those who would divide the rail- road employees in order to destroy their economic organizations"
 Besides promoting closer affiliation be- tween the various unions. it was ex- plained that these councils would dis seminate such knowledge to our mem bership and information to the public, consistent with the policies of the rail way employees department of the Amer.- can Federation of Labor as will give clear understanding of our purposes.
 As soon as word has been received from national and international ln:on executive officials, Anthony Spair, presl- dent of the New York district council of maintenance of way and railroad shop laborers' locals. was authorized to call another special convention of final ac- ton on the proposal