The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-05-23
By DreSO RsGrsO''

feel we're wanted-and that's sOmsthins no one hsrs
 we've got serious problems and unless ws can ret an ear We may have to 90 to the Republican side of the street" tsr1
 steslman threw up his hands in horror.
 Don't ever think of doing that' he said Its unfortunate the President hasn't been able to see you-but you know he has been terribly busy with international affairs and hasn't had time to see half the people he'd like to See lately You just sit tight and I'll arrange an appointment just as soon as pos sible."
 Brotherhood men say this incident has been fOr- gotten and the boys bear no grudges. Nevertheless the incident symbolizes the growing coolness toward the Democratic Party on the part of some labor groups. 1G
 Most people don't know it. but the railroad men had great deal to do with re-electing Harry Truman as Senator when some politicoes considered him on the ropes in 104O Even some of Harrys best friends including John Snyder, feared he was dead duck But the railroad brotherhoods came to his rescue collected q each from their membership and finally raised Q campaign kitty of $16OOO.
 It was partly their energy which finally sent Harry Truman back to the senate-and. later on. to the Presidency. .
 NoTE-Truman paid off in the fall of 1o4s when called Truman Resolution" giving railroad labor an 6-cent-an-hour increase, despite RooSevelts de- termination to hold the price-wage line. Roosevelt threatened to veto tie resolution if it passed.
 Real power behind the R.R. strike is the son Of an Iowa preacher, A F. Whitney. The other strike leader Alvanley Johnston, of the Locomotive En- gtneers, is described by RR. men as merely the whistle following the calliope". He is content to follow, though never quite where Whitney will lead him. . Johnston was born and educated in Canada, did most pf his railroading the Great Northern BSth Whitney and Johnston are roundly hated by the three other brotherhood lead ers The RlR brotherhoods have proposed A rules regulating working conditions. though some seem to have lot to do with pay These rules are in addition to the demanded 2O-cent pay increase. Here some of the rules: Extra night pay of 10 cents an hour for working between 6:30 P. M. and 6:30 A. M. l.. Time and half for Sundays and holidays i. Stop-over pay for travelling em- ployes after 12 hours. Changes in overtime pay rules for yard service employees. :. Brotherhoods are by no means together on what they want. They broke apart at Chicago mediation councils early this year when 1Whitneys Trainmen and JohnstonB Engineers refusd arbitration. The Switchmen, Fire men and Conductors, on the other hand agreed to have their wae dispute (not the rules disputel go before arbiration board. The 16-cents-an- hour increase swarded by the board wasn't received with joy, however, by any of them.
 Besides the five operating" brotherhoods which the trains there are IS incorporating brother hoods who don't run trains and who also demand pay increases of IA cents above IS cents already awarded. A strike vote shows they mean business. :. Some Washington observers wondering if the upshot of all tnis won't mean Government ownership of the rails. Pushed between airplanes and motor trucks, the RE2s can't increase their costs too much and stay in business ,5a