Among the minor railroad labor organizations the three immediately following closely resemble the great brotherhoods in their conservative policy, emphasis upon mutual insurance, and general form of government.
(6) The International Brotherhood of Main tenance of Way Employees was organized as the Brotherhood of Railway Trackmen of America August 15, 1887, operated as a fraternal society until 1898, and adopted its present name in January, 1903. At the latter date the brother hood comprehended 294 divisions with about 10, 000 members. Its official journal is The Advance Advocate, published monthly at the headquarters in Saint Louis, Mo.
(7) The Switchmen's Union of North America, the successor of the once powerful Switchmen's Mutual Aid Association founded in 1881, was organized in 1897. Its growth and power have been seriously hampered by the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, which also admits switchmen, but at present it seems thriving. In January, 1903, the membership was 14.000. The official journal is the Journal of the Switchmen's Union. published monthly at Buffalo. N. Y (8) The Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America was organized in December, 1900, and includes all men engaged in building, inspecting, repairing, oiling, and cleaning railway ears in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This organization has always been weak, and in the last few years has barely maintained an exist ence.
(9) The National Railway Clerks' Association of North America was organized in 1901, and in April, 1903, had 4000 members, organized into 35 local divisions. The Official Journal of the N. R. C. A. is issued monthly from the head quarters in Akron. Ohio.
The two organizations inunediately following are affiliated with the American Federation of Labor and bear no peculiar resemblance to the other railway brotherhoods.
(10) The Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees was organized September 15, 1892, and admits any competent street railway employee of good moral character, except man agers, superintendents, and foremen. No pro tective fund is maintained, but a benefit of $75 is paid upon death or total disability. The official journal is the Motorman and Conductor, published monthly at Detroit, Mich.
(11) 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 ears. In May, 1903, there were 135 local lodges with a membership of 20, 000. The official journal is The Car 'Worker, published monthly at Buffalo, N. Y.
(12) The United Brotherhood of Railway Em ployees was organized in January, 1901, and its membership, which is growing rapidly, is prac tically confined to Canada and the States west of the Mississippi River. The constitution of the brotherhood is exceedingly complex, and makes provision for local and general benefit depart ments and boards of adjustment similar to those in the older brotherhoods; but it is strongly op posed to the narrow trade or class organization of the older brotherhoods, and aims to unite in a single industrial organization all classes of rail way employees, particularly the lower grades. The brotherhood is affiliated with the American Labor Union, the most prominent exponent in America of the alliance between organized labor and socialism.