New-York tribune., 1877-07-20
ENGINEERS BROTHERHOOD WEAK.
ORIGIN AND WORKING OF THEIR UNION.-PLANs
FOR A MORE FORMIDABLE ORGANIZATION.


FOR MORE FORMIDABLE ORGANIZATION.
The great strike on the Baltimore and ONO
Railroad attracts attention to the organization among
railway eulployes intended control the relations OF
c,pitaI and Labor Although the brotherhood OF Loco
motiy. Engineers has not caused the present contest
has brought about many conflicts between raiiioad
EMPLOYERS and employed in the past, that rcVe"
~ ,t tis,orv and present condt is now OF special III
terest The frequent strikes which it has ordered at
various times have been as disastrous to it
"a similar arbitrary actors have proved to
other tr,dcs-unions, and these strikes have
nearly broken up this once powerful organization. III
conversation with the manager Of a welEkno"n pr
yatc detective agency. TRIBUNE reporter was told
that in 1865 the locomotive engineers organized NJ
Brotherhood of the Foot Board, and continued az such
for few years when, defeated in general strike they
enlarged their plan OF opera Ms and changed their title
TO the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engineers. UP to
last February the organization was very strong, ana
was regarded the formidable trade society IN the
country The detective gave the following statement OF
the Brotherhood's history:
la the wpter OF 1874 after an unsuccessful strike on
the Pan Handle Road, convention Of engineers were
called aud Clei Wilson deposed because OF bis opo
sition TO resort to strikes f. NJ. Arthur was elected
Chief solely because he pledged to aggressive action
lie began his official career by warning upon 'he
different roads, and forcing tLcm to terms. No lul
portaut strikes occurred until 1876, when at mdnlgh'
every engineer the New Jersey Central Railroad
ceased work and walked or leaving his engine wherever
il happened TO be at that hour Passengers were thus
colnpeiled to remain in a cold walk miles fre-
quently to a station In few days the demands Tor
more pay acceded TO- and the strikers returned
10 their work The same thing happened to the
Grand Trunk Road Of Canada, with similar ter
minatIon In February last the Boston aud Maize
Railway was selected the theaer OF act on, and the
engineers threatened to strike unless an Objectionable
engiueiispatchcr was discharged. The matter was In
vesgaed aud the superintendent declined to accedt to
their demand. Grand Chief Engineer Arthur was sent
for and he ordered a strike. his printed circular
TO the engineers directing them TO endeayor to
influence as many lremen to join them as
possible, and at a given hour all were to cease
work. procession was formed with music ana
ransparcucies; the strikers marched around the depot
hooug and i,ering at the President and superntend
ent. The latter James T. Furber, had anticipated The
strike and on every train, among the passengers was
a noI-uuion engineer and fireman. and there
was Therefore no delay IN the running OF
the trains. The strikers next attempted 10 buy of
the new men, and succeeded iu few instances, but
others stood ready supply their places and the con
spraors were fOed Their step The threat and
intimidation dodge, but stur0y policemen confronted
them and they were finally compelled TO retire from the
field OF contest Seventy engineers participated in TINS
strike not of whom was ever permitted to return
THIS failure weakened tine Brotherhood and 50 ucensed
Chief Artuur, tiat ne maze an
Faneuil Hail. fercey assaing the Old Colony and Boston
and Albany roads for aiding the Boston and Maine ne
aud stating that il became necessary to sustain the
strikers they would stop every line OF railroad from
coming into Boston" The Railroad Commissioners
then took the matter up and in their report they
bitterly denounced AitauT and prepared IA law
which was afterwards passed by the Legislature
making it felony for engaged in strikes TO do any
act that would endanger commercial interests Penn
syvana Ncw-Jersey. Delaware Maryland and Missouri
passed similar laws, and thus check ws placed upon
tie outrage OF stopping trains AT unseemy hours and III
dangerous places. TINS aroused the members Of the
brotherhood and in sorne of the lodges disposition
manifested 20 denounce the conduct of Arthur.
Dues BEGAN ~ fall Of and signs OF decay were
evident sIpt. WoOten oi the Pbiladcpha ana Reading
Road soon after TINS issued circular TO engineers in his
euplOy giyguOtice that after certain date no member
Of e brotherhood would be permitted To remain the
road and 500 employees quit work at one time Tier
places promptly hllcd Dy HOh-unOh men ana the
fnod 4 now inn ys well hut more cheaply than hereto
oie The trunk lines have recently reduced The
pay Of cmpOICs ana most eases rcInousrauces alone
have resulted, the Brotherhood declining TO order a
strike"
Mr. Arthur recognizes as an inevitable result the
downfall OF the Locomotive Brotherhood and lie is
busily employed in perecng organization which he
believes will prove much more formidable than either OF
its predecessors. II includes engineers conductors
brakemen and forcmen receive degrees IN the order
named The object OF this Traiumeus Union," stated
the detective, els shown in private circular
issued by Mr.. Arthur copy OF which have
1t is proposed to form alliance Of every branch Of
railway service, and bind them together by the
most solemn obligations TO stand ny each other
and make a general strike in the Fall II their
demand for higher wages is not complied with
The employees OF thirteen roads known to
be enrolled in this Society - the Penn
sylvania New Yolk Central, Ere, Lehigh Valley,
Delaware, Lackawanna amt Western, Lake Shore and
Michigan, Northern Central, Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne
and Chicago Cleveland Columbus, Cincinnati aud In
danapois, Indiana polls and ST. Louis Cleveland and
Pitt-UuTgn and Philade phia and Er e. membership
of 200 in the United States l. clam ed"
II is understood that meeting Of Railway General
superincndents is being arranged, to take decisive
STEPS against employing Trades Union and to form
coalition resist the arbitrary and unjust demands
the new Trainuens Union.
tTTTHpJ' sT HIET- HURnED