In the summer of 1916, the railroad brotherhoods threatened to shut down the national transportation system.

The party represented a farmer/labor coalition and was endorsed by the Socialist Party of America, the American Federation of Labor and many railroad brotherhoods.

Labor unions were active in Denver, especially the construction and printing crafts affiliated with the American Federation of Labor (AFL), and the railroad brotherhoods.

The railroad brotherhoods postponed their strike in the face of political and public opposition, but the United Mine Workers under John L. Lewis went forward.

There was an effort to establish a new industrial union to take the place of the railroad brotherhoods.

The Scranton Declaration acknowledging voluntarism was adhered to, even though the craft-based railroad brotherhoods had not yet joined the AFL.

The ARU vanished and the traditional railroad brotherhoods survived, but avoided strikes.

The attorneys for the railroad brotherhoods, who were parties to a similar action coming up for review, addressed the President's inherent powers.

Wolfenden then paraded his letters of endorsement from the national American Federation of Labor and four railroad brotherhoods.

Many Knights locals transferred to the less radical and more respectable AFL unions or railroad brotherhoods.