The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-16


The news OF the strike received here TO-DAY with
much SURPRISE and It conceded that the men have
display ed good gcneralshp Theyewere very quiet and
suffer- the impression be created that they would
weld and then having resolved 10 strike they struck
a. once Public opn,on here, as iar as expressed ~
that they may win The action OF the company
Is regarded ms very arbitrary and uncalled for
CHARACTER THE ENGINEERs.
The engineers OF the Reading Railroad are . fine,
int lgent set OF men. competent, sober and hard
working. They have quietly submitted 70 three reduc
given trouble. Their record is almost unparalleled
with s saou, loss % Of life Tn
attributed to the working Of the Brotherhood II 10
easily recoeced when the engineers OF this road used
10 take whskey bottles into The cabs and make
their trips while drunk, the entire control Of
the engines devolvlng on their nremen Wrecks and
smash ups were the order OF tho day For seven years
there was not Sunday that the wreck car was not
out on the road with OF score Of men, while
tor Se 10
the Brotherhood and the company will, II Is predicted,
lind IL costly experiment TO run their engines with
this intellect.
SUMMARY OF SITUATION.
ON summing up It may be said that the men having
assurances OF support from the brotherhood, will not
yield al any time. rho result Of the meeting In Now
York Saturday night. reported IN to-day's HERALD,
was eagerly read here and has given the men much
RECENT WRECKS on THE ROAD
1t is singular circumstance since the issuing Of the
circular by Manager Wootten that there have been
very costly wrecks OF coal trains on the Reading Road
Yesterday week loaded coal train was wrecked below
Tue track up and the coal scattered IN all drec
TONS. Last night an axle broke on car OF loaded
coal tram at q point below Schuylkl Haven. loaded
coal train which was following was sianaed. and
ran the stationary train, smashing tho engine OF
tho last train, wrecking large number Of cars tear
by those will run up into the thousands OF
dollars
THE CONFLICT IN Observation-Disclosures OF
THE BROTHERHOOD.
SCRANTON Pa, April IA, 1877.
The impending conflict between the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad and Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Engineers is watched with most intense interest,"
not only by railroad men, but by tho representatives Of
labor and capital in every calling Tho brotherhood is
regarded by those acquainted with its strength the
ne Mus ultra Of labor organizations and II is generally
conceded that II the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
Company Is successful in breaking II up thon thore
ia no longer any hopo for labor seeking to
cope with capital organizing to redress its wrongs
In similar way the Reading Railroad Company struck
at this formidable labor society as being worthy OF Its
s,ecl and assured that II Il out victorious from
this contest the problem OF dealing with 'unions' In
the future was solved. The engineers other roads
arc confident that the company Will not succeed this
time, and an veteran dong duty the Delaware,
Iackawanna and Western road remarked TO Today.
while speaking on the subject thai President Gowan
made n mistake when he declared the Brother.
hood sHc thinks" said my bronzed informant,
hat he will be successful in bul-dozng the Brother
hood same he whipped the miners into submission.
but he IS mistaken There il not ono Of US In the
limited States or Canada that won't chcerfully sub
scribe his pay need DO to support the boys
in twenty years against the road-yes, for life
rather than give in and throw up our grand organiza-
tion.'
STRENGTH OF THE UNION.
yOur a..
l,eve there about 49, 900 OF all told In this
try and Canada, so that II would not cost US much
ap,ece TO keep the 400 employed on the Reading.
The men are just solid, andtney ain agon TO be bam
boozcd by iair imsy bait held out by Mr. Gowen.
al see tho company about TO establish
benefit and life assurance associations for all
.hc'r rssnonse at Is easy for them TO cstap
lsh insurance an benevolent associations from the
amounts they Will be able TO reduce their working
men wages when they have them under their thumb.
II they cut down cnginecr's salary $50 month,
what Tor them than to be benevolent 10 him
10 the value of So or $40, Ms the case may boz"
rnc Brolherhoo God determined, tnen, 10 stand by
the men OF the Reading roady"
s.To the last, you may be sure. want you to cor
rect m Inc HERALD statement gong the rounds
OF the papers tho effect that tue men are giving In
To the company. They won't do II. Their delay -
caused by the action OF the committees You geo,
don't act In hurry without proper consideration;
but when act you may be sure we won't 60 back
on ourselves"
Several other engineers with whom l conversod
ascertain the state oil sentiment among tho mon OK
themselves
unm,tcd faith the strength Of their organization, TO
which they devoted with enthusiastic loyalty.
BENEPITs BRoriiERuooD.
Aside from It's character az labor union tho
| brotherhood offers lie insurance scheme, to which
the entrance fee Is fixed at moderately graduating
| scale according to age. For u man OF twcnty-one
Years tho entrance fee Is 3d. thrtynvc years Of age
and over $40; annual dues, $226 This entities the
| holder OF a policy TO $4,000. On tho death Of mein-
Der there Is assessment OF each made among tho
surviving brethren and Is always paid freely Out
OF every 80 thus paid 81 are used directly and the
balance paid into surplus fund IL member should
be thrown work he does not forfeit his policy,
| neither is 1t forfeited by the disabilities or mis-
| fortunes OF age. During It's history for tho
mast fourteen years tho Brotherhood has failed
10 nay its insurance claims OF $4,000 m every
into what is known as the widows. orphans and DIS
abcd engineers branch there assessment OF 500
each per annum paid. Last year surplus oil $g5,OO0
was transferred to the widows fund which Is created
| by sinking fund.- together with small contributions
| and tho earnings or tho Enginsers Monthly Journal
| widow with child receives $3.50 year; with two
children 5000 with vu children, $500, ana extra as
sstancc required. rhe families and orphans OF de-
ceased members are cared Tor with friendly hand.
and In this other respects the brotherhood sur
passes any labor organization ever established In the
! New or the Old World.
OFFICERS.
Board OF Trustees has charge OF the charity funds
The principal officer OF tho organization at present -
Mr. =. NJ. Arthur, OF Cleveland, who IS Grand Cniei
Engineer and receives a salary or So 900 year. me
| ia enabled