The Connecticut labor news., 1923-12-01
From Organization of Eleven Men Formed After Killing of Fei- low Worker N O w Numbers l18,OOO and Roads 100 p. C. Organ ized.

New York, Dec. 1.-Ahalf century of growth, during which it's membership has increased from II to 118,O00 will be celebrated throughout the United States and Canada Dec. by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Bremen and Enginemen.
 The fifteth anniversary of the found ing of the brotherhood, efnds the rail roads, so far as the firmen and hostlers are concerned, 100 per cent. organized.
 In the past several months an inten- sive membership campaign has added 30OOO to the rolls, and the observation of the anniversary which will center i'll Is American and Canadian rail centers, will be largely in celebration of the achievement of the 100 per cent. or ganization."
 Eleven locomotive fr1nen of the Erie railroad organized the brotherhood at Port Jervis, N. Y, Dec. 1, 1875, after George Page, fireman, was killed Tn an accident. The meeting was prompted by the necessity or devising means to aid ,fhe widow and children of the unfortu- nate firrnan.
 The first lodge was sDere Park Lodge, No. 2.p Ten years later when the tenth annual convention as held in Den yer the Brotherhood had IFS lodges and a membership of 7,337. At this time Eugene V. Debs was secretary and trea- curer and editor of the Brotherhood Ma gazine, having been elected in 1880.
 The last convention at Houston, Tex, nm May, 1922, showed the brotherhood with 950 lodges and 107,6l1 members. The "peak" membership was reached in 1920 when 126,637 were enrolled.
 ~Business depression and the expul- sion of thousands of members for parti- al-. ~f made heavy inroads into the member ship.
 'sThe story of the formation and de- veIopment of this institution" says the announcement of the anniversary cele-I bration plans, "has been almost phenon- iral and doubtless much of its success an popularity can be ascribed to the fact that its agreements (wage schedules and rules governing ernploynent) are held in viloate During the fifty years of its existence the brotherhood has never re- pudiated an agreement. Where repudia ton has been attempted by individual members the penalty provided by law has been enfor~--
 The insurance division of the organi- zation has paid out total of $28,315,- 400 in death and disability claims and $1, ,32o, ,45O foa relief where claims were not payable. It also has a pension de- partment and shares in the maintenance of the home foraged and disabled rail- road employees.
 Plans for the anniversary celebration call for meetings wherever members can be brought together, but the principal meetings will be held in the following cities:
 Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Denver. Kansas City Minneapolis, Mon treal, Pittsburgh, Port Jervis, NEW YORK, San Antonion, St. Louis, San Francisco, Seattle and Winnipeg.
 Among those who will address the meetings are Gov. Walker. of Georgia. Gov Sweet of Colorado, Gov Davis, of Kansas. Gov. Blaine of Wisconsin, for mer Prime Minister Meighen. of Cana da, Lieut.. Gov. Lrmn, of New York, Lieut.. Gov. Davidson of Texas, Cover nor Hyde of Missouri, w. C. McAdoo, Gov. Hart of Washington, and Sir !. A. M Aikens LIEUT.. GOV. of Manitoba 1