, 1874-02-19
Letter from the Grand Chief Engi-
neer---Tho Principal Point
EyadCd,
Constitution Of the Illinois Railway
Association.
Reduction Of Passenger Rates to the
East.
Business in the Lake Superior
Iron Region.


The article published in these columns fow
weeks ago asserting TINT new Btriko is contcm-
plated by tho Brotherhood Of Locomotive Eu-
ginoors, has called out roply from Mr. Ohar!es
Wilson, tho Grand Chief Enginoor, In which
tint genllcman
ADMITS THE GENU1NENEss
Of tho circular printed In connection with tho
article, md, while ho does oven admit that
strike may bo in contemplation by tho Brother
hood, as asaortel by THE TRIBUNE, denies that
tho circular is an original Or personal plan Of Ills
own, but thu. it waa COTTON up In conformity to
thotr rulos, and, therefore, is all right.
TIE LETTER.
1lr. Wilson'S letter Ia as follows:
CLEVELAND, Fob. 10, 1874.
my attention called to article ln your paper TO-
asing to tho engineers strike, and our circular Of
Jan. s.
dcsro to say that all the action takon by mo In re-
gard to tho striko tho Tcnnsylvanin railroads
with view to maintaining tho rules Of tho Brother
aro to induce tho engineers to return 10 work before
their placos were occupied by men. i appears to
10 general error that have thu authority vested IN
mo to order strike. Such Ia not tho caac butt with
this tlea In tho minds Of many men, much more m-
portance ia atached to my Office than II s entitled TO-
hav0 authority to order sttlko than any ln.
diyiluRl member Of our orgauzston.
THE TRIBUNE ASSERTS that Rtrlke la contemplated,
and prints our circular to provo Its nssortton
tha. tho circular is an original or pcsaona plan
Of any Of our ocialB or that 1t proposes or advises
general strikc l. erroneous and ~ not ct Injustice
all membera Of tue brotherhood Tint have already
shown disposition to use oil honorable mems to pre-
The circular is in conformity to rules and It ia
oil right. It embolcs the only principle that has
mhdo reputation for cur Brotherhood
submitting a vexol questions TINT como np In
anhliviaos to tho consideration and decision Of al!
poscs to DO ow Tic misonno hao s becp that ape
subdivisions have totally dierogarded a'l rules and
acted upon their OWL responsibility. do not bc1ieyo
strike unless tho is sufficient to infuco TnE
TRIBUNE and every other honest newspaper to aBtan
them. rug danger ai lies III the excitement Of tho
moment. A little tisno for calm reflection on both
sides sually brings matters right urt avoids oil dam
gor OF strike Honce my falth in our rulca requiring
IN appeal to ali such dtviaons III settling al exciting
Thero ia only ono plan beter than ours to provent
strikes, and that ta arbitration. lii my opinion the
rastona nns1 tlc,r employees to acttlo MI their incnl
tics that would intcrforo with ts public, iy arb!tra
range system Of arbitration, We hayo adopted the
ne1t best plan, which ts OK parto arbitration:
Our circular Of jan. p is not intended. neither does
Tho trouble docs not infect onlys part Of tho divisions
5ono Of tho divisions that lava Ind their nenlbcrs'
ai6n but n reference is Ind 10 cI as arc content 10
accept tue rductlr' Tor tme or 10 largo number
Of divs!onRthnt havo nut been reduced In pay, to
Buch ave not been reduced, or to such have o-
taned restoration Of pay. II only reiera TO auch ~
hayo applied for authority through tho proper channo
to make einana for the restoration OF their pay.
have nlready stated that the rus Of tho Brotherhood
Indicate the right pan to avoid strikes, and bclleyo
that wo should havc tho encouragement md, support
Of all good men to aaBst IN carrying out plan that
would be Of immense advantage to tho public and
everybody concerned.
You INSERT TINT was at the bottom Of tho whole diff
culty IL regard to tho Michigan Southern strike which
occurred several years since.
have only to cay that tho frat tnmntion Ind Of
that strike was through tho Chicago newspapers It Ia
proper to add that tho Broslerhood had rules at
thnt ttno to prevent any division from striking when
1t pleased,
do mol suppose you Intend to bo unjust towards
any man, but think your criticisms my ncta aro
to act Justly by who trying to simply perform
CHARLES WILSON, 9, G. E.
POINTS AVOIDED.
It will be Heeu by tho above letter that Mr..
Wilson carefully avoids my mention Of the most
obnoxious sentence in his circular, which reads
as followB:
Wa must not overlook tho fact thnt II VIC a1o abIo
compel railroads by force to accede to our tcrs,
then shall be abo to demand and obtain all their
ings II NO dealro to do Bo-
as long aB Mr.. Wilson does not explain this
sentence, which ia tho ono which has brought
out all tito criticisms Of which he complains, he
must not complain If no ia charged with playing
q double game. Flo also omitted to say anything
about the Convention Of tho Locomotive Engi
neors to bo held at Cleveland on the 28th, a call
for which appears in tho Locomotive Engineers
Journal, and upon the action of which, accord.
ing to tic Chiof Engineers own words, tho life
Of tho Brotherhood depends. Will Mr. Wilnon
please rise and oxp1afn2