ADDITIONAL STATEMENT OF MR. W. H. PIERCE. [Grand Lodge Brotherhood of Federated Railway Emloyees.] LEWIS K. BROWN, HARRISBURG, PA., May 27, 1915. Secretary Commission on Industrial Relations, Transportation Building, Chicago, Ill. DEAR SIR: In answer to your request regarding information in regards to the Brotherhood of Federated Railway Employees, I hereby make an official statement covering the question asked me by your honorable commission. A. I. Kauffman, who was general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen in 1913, made a partial confession to me that he received money from the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. in the early part of July, 1913, and a full confession in the month of August, 1913. This will, I think, answer the two first questions. No; the knowledge was not known generally. I had informed two members of Kauffman's own lodge at Altoona, Pa., and one member who lived in Harrisburg, and also W. S. Carter, national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, of Peoria, Ill. It did become known in June, 1914, in a general way to all members who attended meetings, and most of them were displeased with the action of the general chairman, and I attended the annual meeting of the joint protective board in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., and there told the joint board that Kauffman was crooked and not to reelect him to office, and they defeated him. I was then a member and am still a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. I belong to Lodge 477, located at Galesburg, Ill. Mr. W. G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, did make a statement at a meeting held in the board of trade hall in the afternoon of November 30 and in White's Hall that same evening, in the city of Harrisburg, Pa., that the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen had 135,000 members and $3,500,000 in their treasury, and that they (the Brotherhood of Federated Railway Employees) would have the backing of the entire organization of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen if one of the employees of the P. R. R. was discharged for joining the union. He also said in White's Hall at the evening meeting that if the shopmen would follow W. H. Pierce, he, Pierce, would lead them to victory. STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, County of Dauphin, ss: W. H. PIERCE. Personally appeared before me the undersigned, an alderman in and for the said State and county, W. H. Pierce, of the city of Harrisburg, State and county aforesaid, who, being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say that the facts above set forth are both true and correct. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of June, A. D. 1915. [SEAL.] J. WILLIAM BAYLES, Alderman. My commission expires first Monday in January, 1916. STATEMENT OF CHARLES LIEBAU. HARRISBURG, PA., June 12, 1915. To whom it may concern: At a regular joint fifth Sunday union meeting of the railway brotherhoods held at the Board of Trade Auditorium, Sunday afternoon, November 30, 1913, which I attended as a member of Lodge No. 673, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, I personally heard W. G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, distinctly state in the course of remarks, in speaking of the shopmen's organization, that the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen had 135,000 members and three and one-half million dollars in its treasury, which would be used to back up the shopmen if any were discharged for joining the union. The above is a true and correct copy. [L. S.] CHAS. LIEBAU. STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA, County of Dauphin, ss: Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, an alderman in and for the said State and county, Charles Liebau, of the city of Harrisburg, State and county aforesaid, who, being duly sworn according to law, doth depose and say that the facts above set forth are both true and correct. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of June, A. D. 1915. [SEAL.] My commission expires first Monday in January, 1916. EXHIBITS. PERHAM EXHIBIT NO. 1. AN AGREEMENT. The duly authorized representatives of the Commercial Telegraphers' Union of America and the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, for the purpose of more clearly defining their relations to each other and for the further purpose of avoiding disputes and securing harmonious cooperation in joint defensive action, do hereby agree: 1. That for the purpose of this agreement a joint board shall be created, as follows: The president and the general secretary-treasurer of the Commercial Telegraphers' Union of America and the president and the grand secretary and treasurer of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. 2. That the joint board may adopt rules of procedure in the conduct of business that may properly come before it which shall not conflict with this agreement or the laws of the organizations parties hereto. 3. That meetings of the joint board shall be held upon the joint call of the presidents of the two organizations. 4. That the presiding officer at meetings of the joint board shall be elected by a majority vote at each meeting, provided that should a tie vote occur any other method mutually agreed upon may be adopted. 5. That three votes in the affirmative shall be necessary to adopt any proposition before the joint board, and when so adopted shall be binding on both organizations parties hereto. 6. That each organization parties hereto shall bear equally the incidental expenses of the joint board. 7. That when a joint demand is made by committees representing members of both organizations parties hereto involving either questions of wages or hours, all conferences and business with the employer relative thereto shall be conducted by joint committees of the organizations parties to this agreement, and in case a strike or lockout shall result each organization shall bear its own expenses. 8. That when a strike or lockout occurs where a joint demand has not been made, but where one of the organizations parties to this agreement shall be involved, it shall be compulsory, without further notice, for members of the other organization to protest against handling telegraph business other than that handled before the strike or lockout occurred, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to mean that a sympathetic strike can take place before being constitutionally legalized. 9. That telegraphers employed by a railroad company shall not be admitted to membership in the Commercial Telegraphers' Union of America. 10. That telegraphers employed by a commercial telegraph company, brokerage firm, or press association shall not be admitted to membership in the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. 11. That the officers of the Commercial Telegraphers' Union of America shall insist on all members of that union now in or hereafter entering the railroad service joining the Order of Railroad Telegraphers without delay. 12. That the officers of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers shall insist on all members of that order now in or hereafter entering the commercial telegraph service joining the Commercial Telegraphers' Union of America without delay. 13. That nothing contained in this agreement shall be construed to mean that any telegrapher shall be prohibited from continuing membership in both organizations parties hereto. 10290 14. That upon proof being furnished that a member of either organization party to this agreement worked for a firm, association, or corporation during the continuance of a legal strike charges shall be preferred against such member by the officers of the organization in which he holds membership, and such member shall be tried in accordance with the laws of that organization. 15. That this agreement shall be effective on and after the date of its signing. Approved. C. E. LAYMAN, Board of Directors, Order of Railroad Telegraphers. R. J. FOWLER, S. J. KONENKAMP, Jos. M. SULLIVAN, C. E. HILL, Grand Executive Board. Agreed: H. B. PERHAM, President Order of Railroad Telegraphers. S. J. SMALL, President Commercial Telegraphers' Union of America. This agreement became effective on October 1, 1906. PERHAM EXHIBIT NO. 2. MIDDETOWN, DEL., July 12, 1912. Mr. J. R. DONOVAN, Division Operator, Wilmington, Del. DEAR SIR: I am called on committee work for July 15, and I would be glad if you will kindly arrange to relieve me from July 15 and until further advised. Yours, truly, T. W. TRUITT. [Telegram.] WILMINGTON, DEL., July 14, 1912. T. W. TRUITT: Will relieve you July 15; advise your address in order that we may reach you if needed. S-N., 4.31 p. m. J. R. D. WILMINGTON, DEL., August 6, 1912. Mr. T. W. TRUITT, 3415 North Twenty-second Street, Philadelphia, Pa. DEAR SIR: On account of the unusual number of men on our sick list we are unable to further extend your leave of absence, and it will be necessary for you to report for duty at once. Please arrange accordingly and acknowledge receipt. J. R. DONOVAN, Mr. J. R. DONOVAN, 3415 NORTH TWENTY-SECOND STREET, Philadelphia, Pa., August 9, 1912. Division Operator, Wilmington, Del. DEAR SIR: On account of death in family I have been out of town, and just received your letter. I am sorry you are in need of men at this time, as it is 38819°-S. Doc. 415, 64-1—vol 11- -15 impossible for me to return for duty at once, owing to the fact the telegraphers' committee is expecting an audience with the officials any day, and it is necessary that I shall be present when this audience is granted: I will report for duty as soon as I am relieved, which should be in a short time. Yours, very truly, T. W. TRUITT. WILMINGTON DEL., August 23, 1912. Mr. T. W. TRUITT, 3415 North Twenty-second Street, Philadelphia, Pa. DEAR SIR: Referring to your leave of absence granted July 15, my letter to you dated the 6th and your answer of the 9th, will advise this leave of absence is terminated, and it will be necessary for you to report for duty Monday, August the 26th, or else you will be dropped from the rolls and your position advertised. Please acknowledge receipt of this letter. Yours, truly, J. R. DONOVAN, Division Operator. HEADQUARTERS OF GENERAL COMMITTEE, 3415 NORTH TWENTY-SECOND STREET, TIOGA, Philadelphia, Pa., August 24, 1912. Mr. J. R. DONOVAN, Division Operator, Wilmington, Del. DEAR SIR: Your letter of August 23 received. I regret to have to say that I am unable to report for duty on Monday, August 26, as requested, for the reason that I am a member of the telegraphers' general committee, which is now in session and endeavoring to establish a schedule and wage scale on the Pennsylvania lines. I hereby protest against being dropped from the rolls and my position being advertised, and I notify you that such action on your part will cause me to make it one of the grievances we have against the company. Yours, truly, T. W. TRUITT. Mr. T. W. TRUITT, Operator, Middletown, Del. WILMINGTON, DEL., August 28, 1912. DEAR SIR: Yours of the 24th instant received. As you have been working for this division for 24 years and received your living from them, I consider your first duty toward them when you are needed in the service. Any employees given leave of absence are likely to be recalled at any time when the service requires, and you, of course, understand the result of refusing duty and insubordination. J. R. DONOVAN, Division Operator. MIDDLETOWN, DEL., January 10, 1913. Mr. J. R. DONOVAN, Division Operator, Wilmington, Del. DEAR SIR: Having about completed my duties as committeeman for the operators I am now ready to resume duty, please advise at your earliest convenience when I shall report for duty at my position here, and oblige, Yours, truly, T. W. TRUITT. MIDDLETOWN, DEL., January 18, 1913. Mr. H. B. PERHAM, St. Louis, Mo. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: I am attaching herewith a copy of the letter sent to Mr. Donovan on the 10th,' as per your instructions. You will notice I did not recognize that I had been discharged. This was due to the fact that Mr. Donovan has never officially notified me to that effect. 1 Printed in this exhibit. |