Clerks that have returned to the service of the Southern Pacific Company. Immediately following this strike increased pay and better rules of service were voluntarily granted to the Clerks in the employ of several connecting lines and the strike-breakers used by the Southern Pacific Company were shown more courteous consideration than the officials had ever manifested toward their former Clerks.

We have every reason to expect that in future we shall meet with no opposition upon that line, as the officials have given their promise in writing that no Clerk would be discriminated against because of his membership in the Clerks' organization. The officials have now learned most thoroughly, and paid dearly for the knowledge, that their old Clerks were worth far more to them than any they could replace them with. This is proven by the fact that during the last two months of the strike every conceivable effort was made, excepting to yield to their demands, to induce the strik ing Clerks to return to the service.

No like punishment was ever inflicted upon this company by striking employes, and the approximate cost of this strike has not yet been realized by the officials, but enough is already known to them to ensure that they will not again desire to provoke a repetition of it.

As this was our first strike it was important that a good precedent should be established, and all things considerel the results are highly satisfactory. If the officials had yielded soon after the strike began we would have won a victory, but those officials and others might still have entertained the belief that experienced Clerks were not indispensible to the proper handling of business; and if the strikers had not held out as lond as they did such officials might still have thought that Clerks would not make a strong and stubborn fight.

And because this strike was necessary it will prove of great value to the Railway Clerks of the country and the organization which is destined to secure them justice. It has already attracted the attention of many non-member Clerks, who previously knew nothing about the organization, to the fact that it exists. It has taught many Clerks who before had given no thought to the subject, to see and recognize the necessity for organization and the benefits that effective organization will make pos

sible of attainment. It has shown all concerned that an earnest, determined effort is being put forth by Railway Clerks to gain equal rights and justice; and the good effect will follow.

was

It is the determined effort to gain our class rights which will win us sympathy and support, and ultimately reward us with victory. This struggle has already stimulated interest and enthusiasm where all apathy and neglect before. One lodge that long struggled hard to maintain its charter with six or seven members who finally disbanded, now proposes to reorganize with between fifty and a hundred members to start with; and all are very much in earnest and enthusiastic. Many inquiries as to the proper method to pursue in forming lodges and in becoming attached members to the Grand Lodge, are being received from every direction, and the prospects for increased growth and rapid development of the organization were never better.

It is the persistent, stubborn effort to win which will ensure success; and who ever heard of a true American citizen that gave up a just cause? This strike will nerve us to more determined effort than the successes gained upon the Illinois Central, Texas & Pacific and Lake Shore roads.

THE A. F. OF L. VS. BRO. SHURTLEFF. In the November number of The Clerk appeared a letter from Bro. Wade Shurtleff in which he bitterly assailed the American Federation of Labor and opposed the proposition that this Brotherhood affiliate with that organization. Good, calm, logical argument, supported by citations of pertinent facts, does not characterize that let ter; instead, the writer assumed the attitude toward the A. F. of L. that a vicious bull is expected to do. if a red flag is flaunted before him, and though the red flag had not and would not injure the bull he nevertheless will become terribly enraged and seek gore whenever opportunity permits. So it was with Brother Shurtleff when he wrote that letter; he was so vindictive toward the A. F. of L. that he struck out frenziedly at everything and everybody in sight, and Brother Riley and I did not escape his view; but as every statement which we had made was and is supported by actual fact, his attacks upon us was wasted.

Thanks to Bro. Riley, Bro. Shurtleff's let

ter was most satisfactorily answered in the December Clerk. And no member of this organization is better equipped and more thoroughly competent to handle the question at issue intelligently and wisely, than is Brother Riley. He has been with this organization from its inception to the present time, continuously; he has had personal and practical experience in affiliation by this organization with the A. F. of L. and knows how beneficial it then proved; he has given careful study to the past history of this Brotherhood and its prospective future, and no member is actuated by a more unselfish desire to have it prosper and to promote its best interests than is he. Brother Riley has not strayed after strange gods, as has Brother Shurtleff.

Were it not for one paragraph in Bro. Shurtleff's letter I should omit further mention of it; I refer to the second paragraph on page 422, of The Clerk for November, in which suspicion as to my policy in this connection is expressed and the sugges tion is made that our membership is to be "worked like the O. R. T. was, and landed in the F. of L. without our knowledge." This feature of Bro. Shurleff's letter is so wholly unfair and without excuse or foundation that it should attract attention to the fact that all of the statements in that letter are made in the same spirit, and are as recklessly unfounded.

At the Houston convention I informally introduced the question of affiffiliation with the A F. of L. for the then avowed purpose of provoking discussion and investigation of the question; and it was at my suggestion that a motion was made and adopted to the effect that the question be discussed in the columns of The Clerk. In the September issue of The Clerk I called the attention of our members to the action taken by the convention, and instituted this discussion by requesting arguments for and against the proposition, for publication in The Clerk; and in the October issue an opposing argument was published and the writer chided for expressing a doubt that his letter would be given space in The Clerk.

In view of these facts was it fair for Brother Shurtleff to try to discredit my purpose and cast suspicion upon my method in that way? Or was there any foundation for the implied allegation? Of

3

course not; and practically all his assertions sarcastic insinuations and inquiries in that letter are just as widely and recklessly made. I will be more considerate of Brother Shurtleff than he was of me, by now saying that I do not believe he intended to do me, the A. F. of L. or anyone an injustice; but that his prejudices have been formed against the A. F. of L. and, like so many men in this world, railway clerks particularly, he has done his talking first and will learn of his errors later.

Brother Riley adverted to and commented briefly on the fact that Bro. Shurtleff is engaged in organizing for the "Industrial Workers of the World," an organization that is a competitor and is bitterly antagonistic to the A. F. of L. And he is not only against the A. F. of L., but is also against any other form of organization except the I. W. of the W.; in proof of which statement see his letter elsewhere in this issue of The Clerk, anent the recent strike of the Firemen on the Atlantic System of the S. P. Ry. And to correct his views regarding that strike and its bearing upon and toward the B. of R. C. and the eroneous impression his letter would otherwise create with our readers who are no better informed than is Brother Shurtleff, I will also ask attention to my report of that strike, which can be found in these columns. This again confirms and justifies my criticism of Bro. Shurtleff's tendency to jump at conclusions, and to let his impulses and prejudices run away with his reason. To further show that he is prone to unduly scoff at the achievements of any organization affilffiiated with the A. F. of L. I will call attention to the latest conquest of the International Typographical Union near Kansas City; this was the unionizing of the office of the "Sedalia Bazoo," the Associated Press report of which is reprinted in this issue under the caption "Bitter Pill for Goodwin," and the Typographical Union is making gains almost daily, regardless of his denials. Out of about 45,000 members of the Typographical Union, upwards of 40,000 are now working under eight-hour day contracts; yet Bro. Shurtleff says they lost the eighthour day fight.

Why is it that the Industrial Workers of the World are so bitterly antagonistic to all other organizations? Why is it that its members take such particular delight in

trying to cast discredit upon and tear down all other organizations of wage-earners but their own? If it is really in sympathy with the employes instead of the employers, it should rejoice at and encourage all efforts at organization on the part of the employes; and if it, the Industrial Workers of the world, has yet been able to gain any greater benefits for its members and at less cost than have the organizations it goes out of its way to antagonize, then let its members show the fact to us, in a fair and frank way, and we will join them. But no, its policy toward other organizations is not a fraternal and sympathetic one, instead it would cripple, hamper and destroy. Were I disposed to be as illogical and unjust as Brother Shurtleff has been I would insinuatingly repeat the declaration I have several times heard made, to the effect that the I. W. of the W. was an organization formed and working in the interests of the enemies of organized labor. But I do not believe that to be true; instead, I firmly believe that its founders and at least a large majority of its members are honestly sincere as such, but mistaken in their views as to their own organization.

To further enlighten our members regarding both the A. F. of L. and the I. W. of the W., and to emphasize Brother Shurtleff's inconsistency in attacking the former, let us consider the latter organization for a moment. The I. W. of the W. is a purely socialistic movement and its purpose is to gather all working people into one vast or ganization, taking a butcher here, a baker there and a railway clerk at another place; or in greater numbers and in whole classes at a time if it can get them in such ways. Of course it must then sub-organize into classes, and becomes a Federation of Labor just exactly like the A. F. of L., insofar as the form of organization is concerned, SO there is little difference in that respect; the only difference being that the A. F. of L. accepts membership in classes only, and then aids in completing and making effective each class organization. Then wherein lies the important difference, which causes members of the I. W. of the W. to entertain such bitter hatred toward the A. F. of L. and, in fact, all other labor organizations? Simply this: If the butchers were to strike it would have the bakers refuse to eat meat supplied by the meatmarkets concerned, even if there were no

other way to get meat; it would also have the bakers refuse to deliver or sell bread to the meat-market people or those doing business with and for them; and it would make such action compulsory upon the part of the bakers, no matter what the ef fect would be. To illustrate clearly to our members how impossible it would be for a class to comply with this requirement under all circumstances I will cite a supposi tional case: On a certain railway the trainmen are fairly well organized and demand of the management an increase in pay, which is refused and the trainmen strike; then the clerks employed by the same line, who are also members of the I. W of the W., must refuse to handle any freight or do any other work for that company until it has granted the demands of the trainmen, though but twenty-five per cent. of the clerks are members of the organization, and as a result the twenty-five per cent. of clerks very promptly lose their jobs without having benefitted the trainmen. Of course the theory is that all the employes of the railway shall be members of the I. W. of the W. and all shall promptly strike in sympathy with the trainmen; and if that did not suffice, all I. W. of the W. members in any and every ocupation, should promptly refuse to do business with or for any company or individual that undertook to do business with or for the refractory company. As Brother Riley has said, it is "a beautiful dream;" and dreams seldom come true. When the millenium comes, if it has not passed, then the "Brotherhood of Man" may be accomplished through the instrumentality of the I. W. of the W.; but it is a long time hence to wait for the whole loaf-and I would prefer taking now the half loaf offered by the A. F. of L. The only difference then between the I. W. of the W. and the A. F. of L. is the optional sympathetic strike or boycott provided by the first, where conditions justify its application, and the compulsory use of the sympathetic strike and boycott upon the part of the I. W. of the W.

The A. F. of L. simply operates along conservative and rational lines; utilizing every possible means of promoting the interests and welfare of the wage-earners everywhere. Though some insist to the contrary, it positively does not try to tear down or hamper the efforts of any class of employes, organized or unorganized, to

better their condition. It positively is not antagonized by any of the great railroad brotherhoods, not even the trainmen, and is in harmony with them all; elsewhere in this number of The Clerk is reprinted an editorial report of the fact that "The President has listened to the demands of the A. F. of L. and ordered all government work carried on in the future on the eight-hour day basis;" which is taken from the Railroad Trainmens Journal for this month, January. If the older organizations of rail. way employes do not yet affiliate with the A. F. of L., a close intimacy and working relationship is sure to occur at no distant day; I look for affiliation because it is the logical thing for them to do. At the Minneapolis convention, two months ago, sev eral accessions to the federation took place; one of them being an organization of farmers, said to have a membership in excess of 100,000.

In conclusion I desire to repeat what I have so many times previously declared, viz: Every member shall have full use of these columns for the discussion of any question of interest to the Brotherhood at large; no effort will be made to mislead, or to take snap judgment upon, any member or members; and instead due effort will be made to fully advise our members regarding all matters concerning the organization, that is of importance to them; and I shall fearlessly and frankly advocate and do whatever I deem to be for the best interests of the Brotherhood at large while duly observing the laws of the organization and respecting the will of the majority.

WILBUR BRAGGINS,
Grand President.

FIREMENS' STRIKE.

Early in 1903 the officials of the Atlantic System of the Southern Pacific Company and the Firemen in its employ entered into a contract to govern the services of the lat ter with the company. Later a ruling or an amendment giving the Firemen jurisdiction over the Switch Engineers upon the system was adopted. In May of last year the of ficials of the company entered into a contract with the Engineers wrich gave the latter jurisdiction over the Switch Engineers regardless of the fact that the Firemen had been previously exercising such jurisdiction; such is the contention of the Firemen. This

statement of the case may not be entirely accurate but it is sufficiently so for the purpose of this article.

An occasion having arisen to bring into conflict the rival claims of each organiza. tion in this particular the general Board of Adjustment of the Firemen met in Houston at about the same time as did our Board of Adjustment, in the latter part of September. The Firemens' Board of Adjustment not succeeding in effecting a satisfactory settlement of their grievance called to their assistance the Second Vice Grand Master of the organization, Mr. Timothy Shea, who arrived in Houston about the first of October. Learning of his presence in the city, I called at his hotel to pay my respects to Mr. Shea and later, together with the general chairman of the Board, Mr. Barr, he called upon me at my hotel.

At this time the prospects of an early strike by the Clerks in the same employ were not apparent, as it was hoped that the officials would yet grant an audience to our Board of Adjustment and enter into consideration of our proposition without the necessity of having to resort to a strike. This fact is mentioned for the purpose of showing how unfounded is the suggestion made by Brother Wade Shurtleff, in a letter published elsewhere in this issue of the Clerk, to the effect that the Firemens' strike was due to the fact that the Clerks' strike was in progress and that the company would therefore be less able to resist successfully an effort upon the part of the Firemen to gain redress of their grievance. When the Firemens' Board of Adjustment met and when the assistance of their Second Vice Grand Master was called for, there was no expectation on their part that the Clerks would strike.

A few days later the active efforts of the officials to discourage and disrupt the Clerks' organization by discharging some of the more prominent members, precipitated the calling of the Clerks' strike. In consequence thereof the negotiations between the Firemens' Board and the officials, which had been under way, were indefinitely postponed and the Firemens' representatives had to patiently await the time when the company's officials could again take up the consideration of their grievance; this did not occur for about three weeks after our strike began.

Frequent and numerous interviews OC

curred between the officials and the Firemens' Board thereafter but without an agreement being reached. Finally a committee of the Engineers' Board of Adjustment and an official of that organization came to Houston and joined in the consideration of the Firemens' contention, in the hope that some amicable solution might be arrived at; but this also failed of its purpose. Finally every other possible means having failed the Firemen agreed to submit the dispute to arbitration, which proposition was rejected by both the company officials and the Engi

neers.

An ultimatum was then issued by Second Vice Grand Master Shea to the effect that unless the officials of the company receded from the position which they had assumed before noon of December 23d, the Firemen on the system would suspend work; copies of this ultimatum were sent to the higher officials of the company.

The officials of the company would not yield under this pressure but appealed by wire to the Commissioner of Labor at Washington requesting that he interfere to prevent the strike; but as there was no provision in law which would permit of such intercession the strike was duly instituted at 5 p. m. Sunday, December 23d.

In response to the telegraphic request of the officials of the company Commissioner Neal of the Department of Commerce and Labor went to Houston and endeavored to bring about a settlement of the dispute but was able to accomplish nothing in that direction and returned to Washington.

The company had little difficulty in supplying the places of the striking Firemen on that system because of the fact that the engines used there are oil burning engines and are in consequence very easily tended. Scarcely any delay to any of the trains upon the system was experienced in consequence of the Firemens' strike. Not onetenth part of the delay and loss occasioned by the strike of the Clerks, resulted in consequence of the Firemens' strike.

Finally Grand Master Hannahan of the Firemens' organization served notice upon the higher officials of the company and upon Mr. Harriman, that unless some adjustment satisfactory to the Firemen was reached within a designated period, the strike of the Firemen would be extended to all lines embraced in the Harriman system. If this threat had been carried into execution great

loss and trouble would have been occasioned to the companies concerned as the engines in use upon most of those lines are coal burning engines and the services of expert Firemen are highly essential to the proper handling of them. In view of this fact and knowing that the Firemen were determined, well organized and had ample funds to enable them to engage in such an extensive strike, the officials of the company were obliged to yield to the extent of agreeing to submit the question in dispute to arbitration, which was done. And thus ended the Firemen's strike.

If in the above recital of actual conditions and facts leading up to the Firemens' strike there is any warrant for the assumption of Brother Shurtleff that the Firemen were simply taking advantage of the Clerks' strike, I am unable to see it. During the same period all other organizations, through their proper committees, were in frequent consultation with the officials of the company for the purpose of presenting their claims for increased pay, improved conditions of service and the adjustment of grievances; and during the same period a strike of the Machinists and another of the Iron Molders occurred and with equal plausibility it might be asserted that those strikes occurred for the same reason. During the same interval the Trainmen, the Conductors, the Telegraphers, and the Maintenance of Way employes all presented their cases for the consideration of the company and I do not believe that Brother Shurtleff will contend that such action was due to the fact that a strike upon the part of the Railway Clerks was in progress.

W. B.

GRAND EXECUTIVE BOARD CHANGE. Due to his time being too fully occupied otherwise to justify his acceptance of the duties of a member of the Grand Executive Board, Bro. N. G. Underwood tendered his resignation of the position immediately fol lowing the election. Chairman Manlove held up the resignation for several months in hopes that he might succeed in inducing its withdrawal, but without avail.

As successor to Bro. Underwood the Grand Executive Board has finally chosen Bro. C. M. Bailey, of Providence Lodge No. 103.

Bro. Failey has been a steadfast and zealous member since June, 1903, he having