The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-07-21
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Asnss, aaA 81 RAAlrsaA stssezApaasEs
rArssehsus the CSantfy.
At special session Of a. Grand Interna-
tionAl Division of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers, the following sddnss wAs
reported by committee, whose names are
attached: q -vvs32
Grxr1rxES We most respectfully SIX
you % give the following statement an in
partial perusai:
First, we feel it our duty to state to Jon
frankly, that we are organized as an Associ-
alton under the name of the brotherhood OF
Locomotive Engineers. At the present
time there are over eighty separate divisions,
las they are styled located in almost every
State in the Union, and comprising nearly
four thousand members, acknowledging a
Grand international Division, which Is com
posed of one delegate from each sub Division.
The objects of this organization are mainly
to improve the condition of Locomotive En-
gineers; first, by insisting that they must be
men of good character, and that practices
that have been common since the commence
ment of railroads in this country, such as
drinking TO excess, or being guilty of any i'm
proper conduct that would tend to injure
their reliability as engineers, or characters as
men. must be abandoned, or they could not
commune 10 Dc TlcmbGFS VI IuiS QTEdufZHllUu.
1t is asserted by some that the object is solely
to make arbitrary demands for wages This
we cannot admit, as the history OF our Asso-
citation win not warrant any such conclusions.
On many of the roads where our Organisa-
ton is the most thorough, there has been the
least trouble between the company and their
engineers, and we are willing to let the CON-
panies that are the best informed in regard to
the intentions or practical working OF our or
der answer this objection. Some Assert that
we wish to dictate rules for running the roads.
This assertion we are willing to leave to the
same parties before alluded to. We are
aware that difficulties have occurred and exist
al the present time, which perhaps will not
warrant the above conclusions. EiEE
After fully investigating the difficulty alu,
ded to above, namely, the strike on the Mich
igan Southern and Northern Indiana Rail
road. we can come TO no conclusions other
than blaming both parties. A little conside
ration could have prevented an immense loss
TO the company and great distress and trouble
to the engineers. Many things have been
done by both parties that we're not right. and
should not be sustained by the community at
large, on which both parties are dependent
for their future prosperity. Men holding Of
fetal positions are apt to allow temper to in
having their own way netwith standing the
ruin that must ensue to the property entrust.
ed to their charge, if they pursue their wilful
and personal aims.
As regards this Michigan Southern difficult
ty il was matter entirely their own, SO far
as the company and engineers were concern
ed, the Brotherhood at large not knowing that
any trouble was anticipated until the strike
had actually occurred. It has been one of
the principles of this Brotherhood to leave all
matters like this dispute between the Mich
gan Southern company and their engineers,
TO be settled by the parties themselves, and
by all fair means prevent the interference of
the friends of either party. This course was
advised TO be observed in this case. But it
was soon represented that other railroad com
panv officials were making great eyertions to
assist the Michigan Southern company. This
We think is true, as we have evidence that
viii justify this assertion. The public papers
fearing the injury or loss TO the company by
This interruption 10 their business, came to
the rescue, and by every unfair misrepresen-
tation and advantage, assisted the company
by representing the trains running on time
when the men having the trains in charge had
special orders not to make card time. They
also cast slurs and implts.tiens UPON tie old
engineers, at the same time praising and ex
tolling the new ones. This state Of things
greatly tended TO widen the breach that al
ready existed. We are willing TO leave the
reputation Of these engineers to reliable au-
thority for their decision. There are quite a
number of prominent railroad officials that
are now connected with otherroads, that were
formerly employed by this company, and who
are personally acquainted with most c. these
engineers. They all agree in giving them
reputation that might well be envied by any
SET OF men, saying that forreliability and good
behavior they could not be excelled on any
railroad in this country. Many of these men
were raised on this road. and are well known
by the citizens on the line; we are informed
that all join in giving them previous good
character. We 60 l.ct wish 10 xeaIy you
with discussion OF the details Of thrs difficult
ty The particular point that we wish to call
Your attention to is this: Do yon think it
right To have these lnen prescribed by the
different railroad officials, because they are
in difficulty with tins one company We are
able to show you that they were men Of good
character up 10 the time Of this strike. We
are also able TO show yon that they have had
great provoeation for the course they have
thought fit to pursue, and we Indignantly de-
nv that they are guilty Of the many charges
brought against them, such as committing any
unlawful ect as body, or eeuuteuancing the
raj conenet Of airy 81 their members. II the
least disposition had been manifested on the
part Of the company, and its right hand assis
fant IN this affair, ''Ihe Press, TO settle the
matter, il could have been accomplished long
ago. At present there seems to be deter
mination 10 not only pursue these men 10 the
bitter end. but TO break up an organization
that they happen TO belong to. but which had
=. ,b,S ,ro.t1.1a ,,,4 he
mencement than the most distant thing i'm
aginable. TO this we wish 10 enter orr united
protest, and appeaito you Tor help to avert SO
terrible calamity as must ensuc in the at
tempt to break up or destroy our organiza-
ton. We cannot believe yon will consent
TO any such conspiracy or combination,
If yoa f1lly understand our objects
and future intentions. We have rell-
able information tina, lists Of the names OF all
the men in any way connected with this strike
are in possession of most of the railroad
companies throughout the country. and that
some of the officials have given out word
that not one Of these men can ever get Job
on their road. This NAV be all right, Int It
would seem 10 us q better way to first try q
nan before you convict him. If it shall APP
near. upon an impartial investigation, that
these men have been guilty Of miscon-
due; that should forever prevent th~' ,;a,,,ne
efnn .e 49,. .nen we assure you that the
Brotherhood will not try to sustain them.
But until those who have taken this matter
in charge can show some good reason other
than prejudice to the Brotherhood why these
men must be prescribed aud the Brotherhood
broken up, we feel bound to try and secure
for these men that which every respectable
citizen ought 10 be entitled to-that is, the
right to work where labor is needed without
prescription. We do not wish to be under.
stood as claiming the right to dictate who
shall be hired by any company. but We feel il
TO be our duty to use all the influence in our
power to protect all in their just rights. II
the Michigan Southern Railroad Company
think It to their advantage to employ such
men to run their engines they have EN-.
ployed since this strike, then we are forced
to admit that they have the right to emplo,
them. provided the public are served just a:
well as they would be should they employ al
first class men. 1t is not necessary to refel
to the present engineers employed by til,
Michigan Southern Company. You can, b.
A r