The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-02

in the treasury, and he was thus without
the necessary means TO carry on the under.
taking.
A printer in Lafayette, Ind, was finally
induced to print one thoaaand copies oi
the constitution and by-hws, on the credit
OF the Grand National Divini1n, and wifh
these Mr.. r. sSarssd ON lin minnion. o..
dsrs had hssn issasd BY tho oficsz ~ IN
Michigan Central, Toledo, wabash ID
Western, ans. some other Western roads,
prohibiting engineers and conductors from
passing him on trains free, on pain of dis
missal and as he was without means to
pay his fare, how he contrived to appear at
the different points at which he operated
and organized Subdivisions was often O
puzzle to those astute officials. But he
kept marching on, riding ON engines
and in freight cabooses At night, over roads
where he was prescribed, and ON one Occa-
sion, friendly freight conductor gave him
the exclusive use of an empty freight car,
and thus helped him ON his way for dis
tance Of about fifty miles.
During this time he was also busy with
his pen, contributing numerous articles TO
the public press in the interest of labor,
and particularly one which appeared in the
TrGdes ReUsetr, entitled Combination, -
which attracted marked attention from the
friends of labor reform.
When the Grand N National Division again
convened at Indianapolis, Ind, in August,
1854, hfty-four subdivisions had been or
ganlzed, the debts Of the Grand National
Divislon were provided for, and the affairs
Of the Brotherhood were beginning to as
sumo a prosperous condition.
At this convention Mr.. Robinson de-
hvered an address entitled Labor vs..
Capital Or Diffusion against Centraliza-
ton, which we have perused with consid-
cradle interest. The predictions made by
HIM have proven true with such minute
exactness that we are forced to look upon
him as a man whose Judgment Of things in
the future and faculty Of foretelling com
ing events is unsurpassed by any man in
the labor movement to day. In his ad-
dress his superior scholastic attainments
are well drawn out. Every word spoken,
every sentence uttered, bears upon it the
indelible imprint Of a great truth. He
evidently had spent years Of unceasinG
study Of the great labor question in order
to qualify himself to handle the subject iI
such a mastery manner. Our perusal Of
his giant arguments and eloquent utter
ances fill us with a spirit of real disap.
pointment when We reflect upon the actor
of the Indianapolis convention Of the B.
os l. " in the selection Of one Wilson al
the successor Of MFR. Robinson. particularly
when we consider the miserable failur,
which that individual has proved himself
to be. Mr.. R., for some reason, declined
to become a candidate for reelection Il
the position of Grand Chief Engineer, bu
upon the earnest solicitations of many
staunch and true friends in that conven
ton, he consented to the use of his nams
as a candidate for the Office Of f. @. A
E., and was defeated by a small majority
through the hostility Of Wilson, who WA
elected G. G. f. at that time. Such amend
ments and additions TO the constitution a
were deemed necessary were effected, anC
the title Of the organization changed t.
the International Brotherhood Of Locomo
tive Engineers.
In 1865 he was elected to represent
Division No. D, at the session Of the G..
D., held at Rochester, New York, but wa
refused seat IN that body, through tn,
influence Of that same vindictive spiri
which defeated him at Indianapolis.
There remaines little doubt now as I,
the real motives that prompted the actor
Of his chief opponent. Influence anC
power seemed to be the main objects o
that man. Time, the great leveler Of al
things, has developed the true charactel
of the principal actor in the traducemen
Of Mr.. Robinson, which blinded the dele
gates to the justness Of his claim to a sea
in that convention. The sum and sub
stance of the whole matter was simply /
fear on the part of his successor-whos,
whole energy and ambition seemed wrap
ped up in an insatiate hankering for a re
election to position he could fill will
little or no credit-that education and in
telhgence would triumph over palpabl
ignorance. Strength as it my seem, con
niviDg, cunning ingenuity, bolstered by al
uncalled-for prejudiciAl hatred, was agail
triumphant, and Mr.. Robinson was denieC
a seat in q body which which owed its ex
istence alone to his untiring energy an'
perseverance. Still this did not dampeI
the ardor or change the principle Of tn,
man who had sacrificed 10 much for tn
emancipation of his fellow workmen VII,
had suffered 20 much persecution, becaus,
of his bold and fearless advocacy Of tn
rights of labor. He pushed boldly on
prescribed and prosecuted, but not dis
mayed, always the same, never changing
and unfAltering spirit in the face Of ali hi
adversity. Although hin connection viii
the Brotherhood was severed by the nc
tion Of the Rochester Convention, th
time would surely come when his Vindica
tion would b. complete, and apparent +
ali. He continued non-member unit
about the LIST of May, 1873, when by tn
unanimous vote Of Subdivision No. o. n
again became . member Of that Division
On the 18th of February last, . specis
convention Of the Brotherhood convene
IN the city Of Cleveland, Ohio, TO conside
some grave questions that had arisen i
the organization, through the perfidy an
pusillanimity Of the Grand Chief Enginee
questions which ut one time threstene
serious consequences, which waee svoide
only through the timely action Of the loyl
members Of the order. MIR. Robinso
wan present at that convention, throug