The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-07-09
RAIL WAY DEPT.
MEET ADJOURNS
WITH ELECTION
Officials Hopeful of New
Law and Policy

The convention of the railway en-
ployes' department of the American
Federation of Labor adjourned Friday
afternoon after the election of officers
for the next two years. Bert M. Jewell
was reelected unanimously for presi-
dent. J. M. Burns of the Steel Metal
Workers was elected as secretary
treasurer after much balloting, there
being four candidates for that office.
The former secretary, John Scott,
was voted a years salary as extra
compensation, after much sympathy
had been voiced by various delegates.
Scott charged his defeat to a we'll
oiled machine which had come pre-
pared to defeat him and had done its
work.
Not Sign of Amalgamation.
The newly elected secretary, who is
a typical conservative, told the dele
gates that he was federationist but
that he would always be loyal to the
international union from which he
came, and that he would never forget
the laws of this craft union, so there
is very little hope for any talk of
amalgamation from the official staff
of the department.
A resolution calling for the organ
ization of the unorganized workers on
the roads and directing the executive
council to work but practical plan
for a uniform drive to bring this
about was unanimously adopted by
the convention. The question of a
wage increase was referred to the
executive council to make such recon-
mendations as they would deem adj
visable at this time.
Support British Miners.
A resolution, introduced by Ryan of
the Carmen, calling for support of
the British miners and calling upon
the membership of the department to
render financial aid in order to bring
the struggle to a successful conclu-
sion was unanimously adopted by the
convention.
In contrast to the 1922 convention
this was very tame affair and the
main thought was that of adjusting
the workers to the new legislation,
the so-called "Watson-Parker law"
The various officials at times referred
to the strike of 1922 as something hor-
rible and some as a mistake.
1t was relief to see a couple of
delegates get up during one of the
sessions and defend the shopmen's
strike and even Jewell, the president
If the department, stated that it was
The only way red blooded men. could
answer the challenge of the employ
srs.
Live on Hope.
The great danger of the so-called
Watson-Parker law was not noticed
by the convention altho a few pro-
gressives there were convinced of
those dangers, but the prevailing
opinion was to give it a chance.
Watchful waiting is the slogan I'M
til Coolidge and his mediation boards
will hand down another governmental
surprise la the Daugherty injunc-
ton. In spite all the struggles the
railroad workers have gone thru these
gentlemen have learned little or moth
ing.
May Do Some Real Organizing.
The only bright spots in the con-
vention were the proposals for pro-
portional representation, the adoption
Of the two-year convention against the
attempt of the machine to have it only
every four years and the adoption of a
resolution for organization of the I'M
organized. The resolution, altho weak
can be the basis for a real drive on
the roads.