The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-25
Railroad Brotherhood Officials in
the Role OF Company Spies

CLEVELAND, Ohio-Pres A. F. whitney, OF
the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen is seen
in the role of company spy in correspondence
between New York Central officials, which has
just been brought to light. Fearing that wage
cuts, Brotherhood sell-outs and constantly
worsened conditions will drive the men to mill
liant resistance under the leadership OF the
Trade Union Unity League, Whitney and his
brother fat boys have been using an employers
detective agency against the railroad workers
And now they are appealing to the railroad
companies to aid them in their spy activities.
These facts are exposed in memorandum
sent out by E. Erickson, New York Central Of
fetal at Collinwood, Ohio, to other Cleveland
New York Central officials. The memorandum
is marked personal" and urges the officials to
spy on T.UUL. activities. Most Of IL is devoted
TO quoting q letter from j. G. Walber vice
president in charge OF personnel of the New
York Central, to R, D. Starbuck, another vice.
president.
Walber's letter, as quoted, shows how closely
Brotherhood officials and company officials
work together against the rank and file of rail-
road labor. 1t was through such under-cover
connections as these that the Brotherhood chiefs
and the companies worked out their strategy
for putting over the recent 10 per cent wage
Gus Railway Audit and Inspection Bureau, an
employers detective agency which specializes in
curbing labor activity. Erickson's memorandum
follows:
NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD
COMPANY
a. Collinwood Ohio, July 8, 1881
File 1SI
Personal
Mr.. C. NJ Kittle, Mfr L. c. Widham,
Mr.. L. j. Collins, Mr.. A. Frank.
Mr.. C. E. Reed
am quoting letter from Mr. Jno G. Wal
Der under date of June "a to Mr.. Starbuck
which is self-explanatory and would be very
glad if you gentlemen would endeavor to
procure such information as might be pos
sble regarding the activities of the Trades
Union Unity League as referred to in Mr.
Walber's letter.
Please give this your prompt attention and
let me have any information you might be
able to develop and forward it to me under
personal cover:
"Vice President knott Of the Brotherhood
Of Railroad Trainmen called on me to as
certain what we know about the activities
Of the Trade Union Unity League.
President Whitney has file on these ac-
tivities going back a great many years.
He has been getting the recent reports
about the Wangerin outfit (Rairoad Work
ers Industrial League.-EdO at Chicago He
has had Investigations made through the
lodges Of the BRIT TO ascertain ii any OF
their members were joining the Trade Union
Unity League, or were active in that direc-
ion He has not been able to get any evid-
nee, but about all the information they have
cen able to OBJ ain is that contained in the
eports of the Railway Audit 81 Inspection
bureau MIR. knott told me also that he
called on the Pennsylvania peoplr and they
4 advised him that they have been unable to
verify the Railway Audit s. Inspection Bu-
reau's reports.
Mr.. Whitneys interest in the matter is
due to the general understanding that
Grunau, who started the outlaw strike of
1920 was in the employ of the Communists
and on account Of the depression he de-
sired to keep Informed and be prepared for
any similar move. Mr. knott showed me
tho results of the Investigations which he has
been making personally He stated that he
could get very little evidence and could not
understand The agitation
The Pennsylvania people promised to keep
him informed OF anything they might learn
and he suggested that it might be wise for
W TO take en- interest in Che situation.
&C Dim chat be @Sghs have his Deople az