On this date 100 years ago, Frank L Pierce was off work to attend a conference in Chicago. Pierce was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen and in that capacity was often travelling to promote the rights & safety of his fellow workers. In 1915 an arbitration award changed many practices with the rail road, but the issue of an 8 hour day, which many workers today take for granted, had not yet been adopted by the railroad. Frank's mission on this date was to promote the eight hour day and overtime at one and half times pay. He was very often a member of groups meeting with Superintendent Titus of the Alton Railroad.
Frank Pierce was born in Joliet IL, but lived his adult life in McLean County, born in 1881, he was a relatively young man when he was very active with the Brotherhood. He continued his advocacy into his seventies and died in St. Louis en route from a meeting of the Brotherhood in Mobile Alabama on October 16, 1954.