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Show LODGE MOTION STIRS UP ROW Switchmen Say B. of R. T. Members Favor Standing Behind Yardmen Efforts of striking switchmen to pass an alleged illegal motion at tho mooting of Looal OS, Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, held yestorday at tho Eagles club, wero thwarted by of flclals of the union, according to" announcements an-nouncements made this morning. Trouble arose, it is stated, when a motion was put before the assemblage which, it is stated, did not cany tho true attitude of the majority of B. of R. T. members towards tho prcosnt switchmen's strike. A vote was called, members allege, but beforo it could be taken, the meeting was adjourned by Hyrum Williams, president of the organization. Statement Given. Yardmen prepared the following statement which was presented to the Standard-Examiner for publication: "B. of R. T. Lodge 6S, assembled at their regular meeting place Wednesday Wednes-day morning. April 14, with an attendance at-tendance ol S7 members, passed a resolution res-olution unanimously standing oslidly' behind tho yardmen In their present ' crisis with tho exception of three members who would not go on record cither way. The meeting was presid-i ed over by its regular head who, when he saw how the vote was going 10 j stand, toolc it upon himself to adjourn ihe meeting arbitrarily, but did not1 succeed in doing so until the expressions expres-sions of the men were registered. Tills is ihe way things have been conducted conduct-ed heretofore, until it came to such a pass that tho men who were supporting support-ing this brotherhood have lest all confidence con-fidence in those in charge, and there would have, been none' of the present trouble if those who were paid by the men to represent them had not gone directly against the sentiments of their organizations. This is in answer to statements coming through outside press reports. Any statements made by. local officials of local, lodge- B. of R. T. havo not tlie sanction of the rank and file as is shown by this report re-port of the meeting yesterady." Explanation Made. , Officials of the B. of R. T., when questioned regarding the meeting, stated that the motion brought up at ih'e meeting by switchmen was in direct di-rect opposition with the laws governing govern-ing the organization, and advocated a measure which the brotherhood would not countenanco. The adoption of a resolution similar to the one brought: before yesterday's meeting resulted in the loss of a local charter to a Cali- rornla B. of u. T. local, it was stated, and it was with the view of keeping j their organization from being without a head that the officers look steps to protect members of the organization from losing their standing with tho grand lodge. Officials of tho organization stated that no expression of sentiments of yesterday's meeting was recognized because of tho fact that the sentiments senti-ments wero directly in opposition to the rules of theo rganizatlon. Allegations that officers of the Brotherhood of Railway Conductors were not carrying out their duty towards to-wards the men of thco rganizatlon were denied by -yrum Williams, president, this morning, who stat-id that the "officers wero fighting for the life of their organisation which the course of action as suggested at yesterday's yes-terday's meeting would absolutely destroy." de-stroy." Statement Received. The following statement was received receiv-ed bv Chief Engineer D. B. Rowlands of Division 35, B. L. E., from W. S. Stone, grand chief of the B. L. E. The message was sent from Cleveland, Ohio: "The present strike that is spreading spread-ing to all parts of the country Is not only illegal from start .to finish but is an effort to destroy all legitimate labor la-bor unions. Back of it afl Is the one big union idea. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Switchmen's Union drganizations arc bring in their members from outlying points in an effort to break the strike, save their organizations and protect their contracts. con-tracts. Do everything possible to havo our members continue at work and carrv out the contract we have entered enter-ed into in good faith. Members going' on strjke. refusing call, or refusing to work with new crews will forfeit positions posi-tions and laws of organization will be enforced. Nothing can be "gained by present strike. Labor board has been appointed and everything possible possi-ble has been done to expedite on wage requests." no |
