The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-28
TELEGR HERS
DODGE June 18th
And JULY FOURTH
''Nonpartisan" Attitude
in Politics Taken
BIZ J. a. HAMILTON.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 27.-The
Order Of Railroad Telegraphers 20.
r. To- closed its tri-ennial convention
here after two-weeks' session. The
old officers, E. ]. Manion, president,
and L. R. Ross, secretary-treasurer,
were reelected. The next convention
will convene in 1927 in st. Louis, the
headquarters city.
The convention endorsed the How
ellBarkley Bill, now under considera-
ton by congress as a substitute for
the Esch-Cummins Act, supported by
the sixteen standard railroad unions,
as far more equitable measure than
the present law. 1t was voted to sub
scribe for the entire membership of
$1,000 to Labor" the weekly, pub
lished in Washington by the railroad
unions.
The policy Of non-partisan political
action was endorsed but no definite
actions proposed, either as to repre-
sentation at June 18th or July 4th,
or as to supporting any presidential
candidate. Amalgamation did not
come up for discussion. Demands
for wages and conditions do not come
before the conventions but are taken
care of by the various System Divi-
sions" or organizations of the tele-
graphers on each railroad system.
The Photographers Union claims to
have practically 100 per cent Of the
railroad telegraphers organized in the
United States and Canada. There
was a delegate from Newfoundland,
and one from the Panama Canal Zone.
The so-called North Pole Division"
has been organized to include the
telegraphers on the Alaskan Railroad.
The eight-hour day, six-day week. and
time and one-half for overtime, have
been secured. The telephone has
been widely introduced as an auxiliary
to the telegraph in controlling the
movement of trains, but it is said
that the telegraph is the main re-
lance, being less subject to bad
weather, and allowing the transmits
sion of orders with less opportunity of
error. Telephone operation is pro.
vided for in the union schedules.
The telegraphers have at st. Louis,
one Of the Labor Banks, which has
deposits of over five millions and re-
sources of over six millions. The
union does not supply insurance, but
has a mutual benefit department
which pays only death benefits to a
wi, - O~n 30 10 oh 81
general grievances of the men is
against the Railroad Labor Board, be-
cause Of it's custom of settling dis
putes in favor of the companies.
The telegraphers are not organized
in local unions but according to the
railroad system for which they work.
There is local division with a local
chairman to correspond with the sec
ton of the railroad under charge Of
a superintendent. For each railroad
system there is system division,
with a general system secretary-treas-
urer, to whom are sent the dues of
the members on this system. The
whole organization is known as the
Grand Division" The supreme
agency between conventions is the
board of directors, which does not in
clude the resident officers, whose
duties are therefore more confined to
administrative work than in dictator
ships, such as the miners union. The
655 delegates at the convention were
elected by referendum of the men,
bers of the various system divisions;
for example, the Pennsylvania Sys-
tenn Division sent Al delegates. The
basis Of representation was approx
mately one delegate to 100 members.
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