The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-08-17
EMPORIA NEWS,
FRIDAY, AUGUST II, 1877.
CHIEF Arthur on the sItuaaIOn.

The New York Herald, of late
date, having printed an article In
relation to the organization known
as the Brotherhood OF Locomotive
ENGINEERS, which, according to the
Grand Chief Engineer of the order
Hon. p. n. Arthur, contained false
statements, that gentleman writes q
lengthy communication to the Her
aid correcting these statements. and
giving Information about the Broth.
erhoOd, which Is both interesting
and valuable. This article is impor.
tant as coming from the representa-
tive head of one of the leading and
best organized labor associations In
the country. Mr.. Arthur is a man
OF twenty years. experience as an
engineer on the New York Central
railroad, has a practical knowledge
Of railroad management, ana writes
with intelligence and force.
From this article we learn that
the Brotherhood was formed at De-
trolt, In August, 1868. "Onr mot
to-" says Chief Arthur, is, "Sobriety,
Truth, Justice and Morality. "Our
rule; do unto others as ye would
they should do unto yOu, and so full
I'll the law"
We copy from the Herald: "Mr.
Arthur gives brief history of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Eugi-
neers, Of which he is at present the
Chief, and Of its purposes. The So
ciety has at present one hundred
and ninety-two subordinate divis-
ions, he says, and we learn from
other sources that 1t has in fact about
thirteen thousand members and g
fund of nearly half q million OF dol
lars. Mr.. Arthur says that among
Its objects one IL to insure the lives
Of its members, securing to the fam
lily Of each, In case Of death or disa-
bility In the line of his duty, the
sum OF three thousand dollars. The
society has paid nearly q million of
dollars a. insurance, and fifty thou
sand dollars moro to needy mem
bers. This at least is good work.
Il IL generally admitted, we believe,
that the society inquiries of its men,
beers sobriety, faithfnlness to duty
and general good conduct.
Mr.. Arthur describes In detail the
rules which have been adopted by
the Brotherhood Tor the prevention
Of strikes and the harmonizing of
differences between the members
and their employers, and these seem
to as unexceptionable and excellent.
He asserts that by the conferences
and deliberations enforced by these
rules, strikes have been prevented
on thirteen different roads during
the past three years. he makes al
20 one extremely important declara-
ration. Admitting that the society
Sympathized with the strike OF the
train men and believed they were
justified In refusing work under the
last reduction, "and in persuading
and hiring others not to take their
places" he says, ''beyond that they
had no right to go, no matter how
much they felt aggrieved, and all
those who have resorted to violence
have forfeited all claim to public
sympathy, and are looked upon and
treated as outlaws" We are very
glad to read these words from the
chief and representative of so i'm
pOrtant and influential an organiza-
ton of workingmen. In this fun
damental matter they are in harmo-
ny with justice and the laws of the
land"
After emphatically denying the
statement that the Brotherhood had
instigated the late strike, and assert
ing that they knew nothing Of it
till they read the accounts in the pa
Ders, Mr.. Arthur proceeds to tell
some wholesome truths about the
management of railroads, which is
interesting, and which shows plain
~ the trouble now existing on ma
ny Of the trunk lines. It Is the lit
tie thieving "rings within rings
which Is sapping the roads Of their
earnings, and disgusting the public
with their way of doing business.
We quote from Mr.. Arthur's letter
WINDING AND APPLYING a REMEDY.
The sytem Of railway management and
or paying railway employees has undergone
. very radical change within the past ten
years, and 20 this change we can attribute
the present trouble.
The financial embarrassment and bank
ruptcy Of many Of the trunk lines, to say
nothing Of the minor roads, has been occa-
stoned by the criminal mismanagement
OF those who were originally put into Of
nee BY the stockholders, but who have IL
nally, by means OF the opportunity thus
obtained, become themselY yes the practical
owners Of the property. Originally en-
ployed ut stated salaries, to give their ex.
elusive attention TO the details and gener-
~ man Agement Of the stockholders prop
ertys IN simple right and justice they had
NO better right TO engage In outside trans
actions, even II such outside interests did
not confct with their employer interests.
than the humblest employe upon the road
and had such railroad managers given
their time and attention exclusively 10
the work they were TO perform, not one Of
them to-day, from the legitimate income
OF his salary, could honestly lay claim TO
moro than q modest 100000. But what
are the fActsf These managers, known as
presidents, first. second, third and fourth
vice presidents, general managers And as.
ststant general managers, have taken adj
vantage OF their official and Controlling
positions to direct revenues Justly belong
ing 20 their employers, the stockholders,
into their own pockets. Let them reIuud
TO the various railroad corpOl atoms these
diverted revenues, and there will be NO
necessity for taking ten and twenty per
cent on the poor employees 20 pay the in
terest on railway bonds In foreign coun-
tries 70 keep them out Of the sherifi 9
hands. Furthermore what have these
same mAgnntes dene with their millions
o. diverted railroad reVenuesp They have
manipulated the stocks OF these enormous
corporations, whose interests they were
originally employed TO protect, in such
manner ~ 20 make themselves absolute
owners Of the railroads. Where are the
stockholders that can now Dust the pres