Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/198

 were fighting as one, and there had been a localised strike at Hull, The Barry men asked permission to tender their notices in April, in support of three A.S.R.S. men, said to have been victimised. Activities on other companies had rather better results, for on the G.W., for example, a new agreement secured immediate advances to 2,386 firemen (nearly 80 per cent. of the total) and 527 enginemen (nearly 18 per cent. of the total). It resulted in enginemen spending one year less at 5s, 6d., and rising direct to 6s. 6d. instead of remaining at 6s. until promoted to a higher class, and receiving 7s. per day at least five years earlier than under the old terms. The firemen's 3s. a day was abolished, and the total concessions represented £17,000 a year more for members. Will Crooks was busy advocating his Trades Disputes Bill, and Mr. Fox had drafted a new Federation scheme, drawing a distinction on behalf of separate movements by locomotivemen. Subsequently, it was rejected by the A.S.R.S., for Mr. J. E. Williams wrote on October 5th, 1911, from Carlisle:-

"'Having given careful consideration to Mr. Fox's suggested scheme of Federation, and the further extension of sectionalism contained therein, we hereby decide that having regard to past experience, and the decision of the Executive Committee and the A.G.M., we cannot possibly entertain the idea of any such Federation scheme; but having, in our recent action through Joint Executive Councils, proved that solid and united action has been most successful, we are of opinion that one railway union will prove to be most beneficial for all railwaymen, and hereby agree to a Conference for the purpose of discussing and arranging terms of amalgamation.'"

But great movements had been stirring in the interval between the submission and rejection of this scheme. The railway companies had given very little away under the Conciliation Scheme, and were determined to maintain it. There were loopholes for separate interpretation in every concession, and it cannot be wondered that men rose in a body. Since 1907 the position of companies had