Garretson, A. B.

Garretson, A. B. (Austin Bruce)

(1856–1931) labor leader; born in Winterset, Iowa. He apprenticed as a wheelright but then became a railroad brakeman and eventually a conductor. He joined the Order of Railway Conductors in 1884 and served as chief conductor (1906) and president (1907–19) of that union. He campaigned successfully for the eight-hour day for railroad workers and served on the Federal Commission on Industrial Relations (1912–15).