Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21
NEGOTIATIONS OPEN
FOR TRAIN UNIONS
.TOL|NK TOA.E.OF |.
Trainmen President Names
Committee to Meet With
Federation Agents.
CHANCE FOR AGREEMENT
VIEWED ENTHUSIASTICALLY
William Green Credited With Start
ing Conversations to Form
"Solid Front"
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
CLEVELAND, December 20.-A new
campaign was in progress tonight to
affiliate the major railroad labor
brotherhoods with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor to enable organized
labor to meet its future problems with
solid front" of 100000 members.
Negotiations to this end, instituted by
William Green, president of the fedora
ton, were disclosed today by Alexander
F. Whitney, president of the Brother
hood of Railroad Trainmen, when he
announced the appointment of a train
mems committee to confer with COM
mittee from the federation.
In the belief of many labor leaders,
the proposed af1liation of the brother
hoods and the federation is one OF the
most important undertakings IN the
history of organized labor in this coun-
try.
100000 Members.
Thus far, the negotiations with the
trainmen's brotherhood are the only
ones revealed, but labor leaders are con-
fident the plans will include similar pro-
posals to the Brotherhood OF Locomo-
tive Engineers. the Brotherhood of Fire
men and Enginemen and the Brother
hood of Railway Conductors. Together
with the trainmen, they have a men,
bership of approximately 100000.
Should an agreement be reached DUR
ing the next several months, the pro-
posed affiliation will be submitted 10
the federation convention probably IN
october next year.
In the past the almost utter lack OF
connection between the Big Four broth
erhoods and the federation has kept
them from enjoying the supporting
strength of each other. A number Of
dificulties hitherto have prevented al
filiation.
President Whitney seemed optimistic
over afIiliation possibilities today, now
ever. IT don't think there are any in
surmountable obstacles in the way OF
agreement" he said. Time has brought
about better feeling and think there
are possibilities for an af1liation."
Problems to Be Solved.
Among the old disputes between the
federation and the major brotherhoods
has been the question of jurisdiction on
electrified railroads. The Amalgamated
Association of Street Railway Employees.
a member of the federation, has claimed
its scope should include employees OF the
electrified roads. To this the brother
hoods have refused to agree.
Another problem remaining TO be
solved is the federation requirement
that there shall be no duplication OF
organization in its membership. A
dozen railroad brotherhoods already be-
longing to the federation would in some
measure be In conflict with the Big Four
brotherhoods on that principle.
The committee appointed by Presi-
dent Whitney to confer with the feder-
atoms representatives consists of James
A. Farquharson, legislative representa-
tive: S. r. Harvey, assistant president,
and Mr. Whitney.
Firemen Not Included.
d. B. Robertson, president of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
and Enginemen, denied emphatically
that his organization is party to any
movement toward aff1liation OF the
brotherhoods with the federation.
There is absolutely no truth in any
report concerning our organization and
such a movement" Robertson said.
GREEN is HOPEFUL.