The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-29

the assurance OF common action on
the part of some others are making
the first steps toward reorganization.
$4,000 for Drive.
Chief among them are perhaps the
machinists. The machinists' union
has not only appropriated $4,000 for
campaign to increase membership in
the railroad shops, but has assigned
some organizers to the task. The ma
chinists were hard hit by the failure
of the shop crafts strike in 1922 and
have had their activity hindered since
by the problem of fines levied against
members Of the organization who went
back to work when the strike col
lapsed but before it was officially
called off. While not in any way ap-
proving Of this action, progressive
members of the union point out that
the numbers who returned to the job
are so large that to continue to bar
them from union activity by prohibit
tive fines means virtually condemning
SO many followers of the trade to non
membership that the union itself is
weakened. The question is still much
under discussion, but the executive
council at its May session has re-
mitted the fines, and it is very prob
able that the majority in the union is
with them. II their action is well sus-
tanned the union will begin to more
rapidly recover numerical strength.
Many to Win Back.
The convention Of the Brotherhood
of Railway Carmen, held last Septem-
Der, is on record in mild resolution
to rebuild. The fact that they have
not reeained more of the 10000 men,
bers they lost during 1922 is more due
to lack Of energetic organization than
to any other cause, altho there are
circumstances that hinder.
The Switchmens Union of North
America is in the midst OF really
vigorous organization campaign, and
is having success, The nremen and
oilers are engaged in a national cam
paign that is very active and success
full in some places.
The newly-elected international
president of the blacksmiths, VIM.
Kramer, was prominent in recent
organization conference and can be
relied upon to do his best to start
something In the way OF bigger
union.
The newly-born Pullman Porters'
Union has been making excellent prog
ress during its short life. About 49,
900 porters and maids work for the
Pullman Co., and other thousands for
railroads that do not take Pullman
service. The union now has about
20 per cent of the Pullman porters in
its ranks, and there they stick. in spite
Of all manner OF dirty tactics on tho
part OF the employers. which include
the spreading of wild untrue rumors
about the collapse OF the movement
or about dissension in the ranks and
in spite OF personal attacks on the
character Of the officials.
Porters Get Results.
The Pullman Porters' Union has
raised wages already from s67.50 per
month TO s72.50. The scale It will
fight to have adopted is 500 per
month.
The Brotherhood Of Railway Clerks,
which has had violent fluctuations in
membership during recent years, leap
ing from about 5000 members to
about 10000 during the u. s. rail-
way administration period. and then
falling to considerably less than 1907
900 since then, is one Of the unions
that has just been given slight in
creases in wages. In tho case of the
clerks II is a very slight ono, running
from cent per hour to three cents
mar hossu