The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-08-09
What Strikes Cost the Locomotive En-.
gineerss

Stikers, under the rules of the order.
are entitled to S60a month until en-
ployed, and as there are now 396 of this
unfortunate class on the payrolls, it costs
the brotherhood $23, 400 a month to sus-
tain them. A special assessment of So
member was levied last week, in addi-
ton to the regular dues, to help support
the unemployed. This assessment is made
payable on demand, under penalty of ex
pUlsiOn, and of course is promptly met.
This has created an i'll feeling toward the
brotherhood among many engineers. who
deem it hardship to be compelled to
contribute towards those who are idle
without just cause, and they particular
ly object to being further assessed to pay
the grand chief $4,000 year for incen-
diary speeches and provoking needless
strikes. The brotherhood is regarded as
about broken, " for" said the detective,
g it Is nearly bankrupt and the members
are resolved hereafter to study the vel
fare of themselves and families, and not
participate in any more strikes.
Mr.. Arthur recognizes as an inevitable
result the downfall of the locomotive
! brotherhood, and he is now busily en-
| plOyed in perfecting an organization
which he believes will prove much more
! formidable than either of its prede-
! cessors. It includes engineers, con-
ductors, brakemen, and fremen, to re-
ceive degrees in the order named. "The
| object of this trainmen's union" stated
the detective, els shown in a private
circular issued by Mr.. Arthur, a copy of
which we have. It is proposed to form
an alliance of every branch of railway
service, and bind them together by the
most solemn obligations to stand by each
other and make a general strike in the
fall if their demand for higher wages is
not complied with. The employees OF
thirteen roads are known to be enrolled
in this new society: The Pennsylvania,
New York Central, Erie, Lehigh Val
ley, Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern, Lake Shore and Michigan, Northern
Central, Pittsburg, Fort Wayne and
Chicago, Cleveland, and Columbus,
Cincinnati and indianapolis, Indian
apolis, st. Louis, Cleveland and Pitts
burg, and Philadelphia and Erie A
membership of 1 200 in the United States
is claimed"
In response to a question as to whether
the detectives had been able to trace out
RACES to the brotherhood, as an organiza-
ton, the detective stated: Mr.. Viii
son, in letter to the brotherhood after
being deposed, openly charges the mem
bars with having encouraged violence
and says that men who were known tC
have turned switches and placed OBJ
structions on the tracks, endaDgering
human life, have sat in general council
and been listened to unrebuked. In the
investigation of the Outrages perpetrateC
on the Boston and Maine railroad, evi
dence was furnished of men being selected
I ~ ho1 LODI 10
the road by representing themselves al
non-union men, and, if successful, to de
, strOy the engines and ruin all other rail
road property they could. The evidence
; is conclusive that all plots for misplac,
: ing switches and tearing up rails during
= strikes originate in the lodge of the
brotherhood, and the persons to perform
the task are selected by lot as was done
l in the Mollie Mcguire lodges"