The New York herald., 1877-10-18
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS.
Annual Convention of the Inter-
national Brotherhood.
CHIEF ARTHUR'S ADDRESS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. !

/
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers opened at
New Era Hall, IN this city, to-day The greater por-
tion OF the forenoon session occupied in the pre-
limnaries incident to preparation foa days.
cave and tho examination and approval OF tho cro-
dentials OF the several delegates The Committee on
Credentials reported that there were 140 delegates
present, representing l92 divisions, these divisions
being scattered all over the United and Cam
| adas.
OPENING ADDRESS GRAND CHIEF ARTHUR.
Peter NJ Arthur OF Cleveland, Ohio, Grard Chief OF
the Brotherhood. delivered an elaborate address He
first congratulated tho Brotherhood upon the largo
gathering present, thanking Divine Providence for
wondrous preservation during many years. He then
proceeded TO statement OF the important events OF
the last year. naming the difficulties OF eng neers
with several railroad companies, and continuing
| The cause Of the difficulty the Philadelphia ana
Reading ROAD was OF different character than the
others True, tie brothers lad petitioned for an ad
vance Of wages, which was their prcrogave do but
that did not justify Franklin b. Gowen demanding
them to renounce their allegiance TO the brother
hood or leave the service Of tho company; u
the only alternative offered and to their honor
bc said with few exceptions they refused to sur.
render the rights and liberties inherited from their
fathers or yield TO dictatorship SO devoid OF every
sentiment OF justice and right Finding that his
Infamous edict had aroused public sentiment against
him. ne changed his tactics AMI attempted 10 justify
hmsc oy falsely accusing u.s. through the pubic press
OF boastng that We could with a wave OF the hand,
stop the railway traffic of the country thereby stop
He SAID It was Impossible for him to compete In the
coal trade with this sword hanging his head and
every engine liable 10 stop ut the wave OF one mans
hand. very strong argument appeal Tor public
sympathy u true. But the people know Franklin b.
Gowen too well TO DO dcuded by such statements;
they had too much believe that organiza
ton that had existed for fourteen years, whose solo
as a TO sS It's oss for
man with such absolute authority. We had the ex-
" IRENE pleasure Of rsiut,ng his false statement a.
present, and challenged him to disprovc our asser-
lions.
The engineers the Reading road were two well
known 6y the people Tor hcm to believe that they
would belong to an association Of the character repre-
sentod by Gowen. He had his employ the
reliable, trustworthy engineers that could be
found anywhere. During the rush TO the Centennial
Exhibition at PhadcIphia thousands upon thousands
OF people conveyed salcly from hoir hons
daily without delay or accident. The newspapers
praised the management, and they spoke In adm'ring
terms OF the excellent time made by tho engineers
These men had been in tho employ Of tho company
from their youth up TO that time; many had become
extra dutles used extra caution diligence without
extra pny or praise Tor the but they believed
now carry them along. Instead Of thanking them
Gowen, without provocaticn, without tho least
them to either leave the Brotherhood or leave the en-
poy OF the company. Leave your little homes,
scattered hero and there along tho road fruits OF
your nard earnings sacrifice them; give up whatever
advantages you have Tor educating your children
or give ~ the organization that has helped to keep
you IN Tho paths OF sobriety that has saved you
from yielding TO many temptation; that has
richly provided for the wives your
ceased brothers, Be false to your brothers, break
your VOWS leave my service But these brothers
had suffered their wages to bo cduced, had
patiently worked day day and never N murmured
nor complained, who had always renamed faithful to
the interests OF their employers, whose record was
without spot or blemsh, could not stand this. and
they left the employ OF the company.
FREEDOM SLAVERY?
1t is contest in which the principles OF freedom
slavery are involved; ono that every lover OF truth
and justice Is Interested in; that should
feeling OF resentment IN the breast OF every WORKING
man. Not satisfied with their force onslaught upon
tho Brotherhood, they have attacked other secret
societies thoy discharged members of the Knights Of
pytnas Of 81. Clair schuylkill county for attending
of these facts, what Is our duty? The path is plain
and slmple-unted intelligence backed up by deter
minedand well organized effort in using our rights to
our own advantage. For daring 10 assert man
hood and resist IN lawful manner the reduction OF
our wages, and unknd treatment. We have
been assailcd every hand. Circulars have
been issued and scattered broadcast over the
lard By inscriptions, u6prnciped, cowardly rene
gades who Tor price are willing TO sell soul aud body
TO railway managers. AZ much some oi them might
desire our 90 not believe they would trust
the author OF tho Molly Maguire circular with their
designs, tearing lest no would betray them
also Some OF the newspapers have teemed with abuse
and misrepresentation; ws have been denounced and
stgma;izod as Communists, demagogues and bull
dozers; laws have been enacted In a number of tho
OF engineers; a charmed circle has been drawn
around the railroad corporations Of those States
law which demands recognition and obedience from
the workingmen In their humber, though not less
honorable sphere.
CLASS LEGISLATION
If there is rock now hidden from the sight of the
great masses oil the American people upon which this
glorious Republic is In danger OF gong to pieces IL
the great and increasing tendency toward class legisa
top. Liberty is rapidly becoming byword, aud
Justice is almost farce from the mar ner In which il
is dispensed ny would-be dictatvrs and autocrats
assert in face OF whatever insInuat!ons may have
been or may De thrown out by corporations or their
allies that the brotherhood has ior It's object the
provement oi morals and the development OF greater
proficiency among the engineers of the country pro.
vision Tor sickness and DEATH to which we are con-
stantly exposed, and The honorable and laudaDe de-
sire TO secure Just aud equitable compensation
the discharge OF our duties What individual.
single handed ana alone, secured
ccssions or even justice from wealthy and dictaoral
corporations? Wo are banded together Tor self pro-
tection, anu in these days. when capital SO rcmorse
essy sets It's iron heel upon the nccks OF the laborng
classes wo ask in the name Of God and humanity Are
wo not justified IN using every honorable means TO
provide Tor the daily wants of ourselves and families?
STRIKES JUSTIFIED.
IL has been assorted not sufficient
for q strike on the Boston and Maine road that IL
was merely question Of ton cents a day. Ono hun
dred and years ago a patry tax q lew
chests OF tea IN Boston harbor was deemed OF SUN
cient Importance to precptate woud-be nation into
a bloody aud devastating war. Ten cents day Is
small matter, but the spirit OF some railroad corpora
tons, SO antiAmercan and go undemocralic, has pro-
nounced 10 the orla that workingmen have no rights
which capitalists bound to respect Much has been
said by the Railroad Commissioners OF Massachus
Bronernood ana tho former engineers Of tue Boston
and Name road; every trinng ndiscretion OF
which the employees Of the road have
ever been guilty has been magnhed into
penal offence They fail TO report to the
pubic, In whose behalf they made their dsinterested
investigation. that the sworn testimony OF Engineer
Smith, which was neither disproved nor dcned,
showed that some OF the boilers were SO rotten that
they actually crumbed away when attempts were made
TO repair them. Nor were any facts rejecting In
any manner upon tho management Of the
road mentioned In the report. We had antici-
pated at least fair and impartial statement
OF the case developed by the sworn testimony
submitted at the hearing but regret TO admit that
the proverbiai tendency in most public reports of
toadyism TO capital Is strkingy noticeable in the
Aforesaid document. Tho commissioners forget to
mention that after paying the usual per cent div
dend the road had surplus Of over $4,000 to be
placed TO their credit, and that the plea OF poverty
set up by the President was an unmanly
subteruge by which TO evade the payment TO
the employees of a decent compensation. Nor do
they auuc to the fact that the salaries OF the Pres
dent and superintendent had been recently advanced
$500 each per wear. They do not recommend that
railroad corporations shall be compelled 10 employ
only practical and experienced Tor presidents and
superntendens nor do they suggest that statute bo
enacted making It punishable offence Tor stubborn
and self-willcd men TO squander the funds
OF the widows and orphans, which money they