Richard T. Ely

“ The Grand International Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the oldest and most powerful of the railway unions, was organized August 17, 1863, as the Brotherhood of the Footboard, and reorganized under the present name one year later. Between the biennial national conventions the supreme powers are centred largely in the grand chief engineer, who is elected by the convention for a term of four years, and receives a salary of $5000 a year. ”

“ The adjustment system makes it extremely difficult to declare a strike. The local grievance committee, the general board of adjustment, and the chief executive officer must all attempt to settle the grievance by peaceable negotiations with the railroad officials before a proposal to strike may be considered, and then, in most of the brotherhoods, it must be indorsed by the chief executive, the board of adjustment, and two-thirds of the members who will be involved. ”

“ In 1880, however, the strike policy was abandoned and the national officers were changed, with the result that since that year the brotherhood has grown from about 3000 members to 45,112 at the beginning of 1903. The government of the Brotherhood of Firemen does not differ materially from that of the engineers and conductors. Each member is assessed 50 cents quarterly for a protective fund, assessments ceasing when $250,000 have been accumulated. Members on strike are paid $25 a month for a period not to exceed three months. The brotherhood maintains a useful and successful employment bureau. ”

“ The Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees was organized September 15, 1892, and admits any competent street railway employee of good moral character, except managers, superintendents, and foremen. No protective fund is maintained, but a benefit of $75 is paid upon death or total disability. ”

“ The International Association of Car Workers was organized May 22, 1901, from local lodges affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, and admits all men employed in the construction and maintenance of passenger, freight, and electric cars. ”

“ The mutual benefit department, which was not established until 1898, is governed by an insurance committee as in the Order of Railway Conductors. The protective fund is fixed at $50,000, for the establishment of which members are taxed $1 a year. No fixed amount of strike pay is guaranteed. Up to 1902 the order was regarded as the weakest of the large brotherhoods, but from January, 1902, to April, 1903, over 18,000 new members were initiated, making the total membership about 30,000. The official journal is The Railroad Telegrapher, published monthly at the headquarters in Saint Louis, Mo. ”