The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-15
RA.ILROAD-mEN I'm COUNCIL.
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN
RAILWAY SlhsTEE 3fEcHANICs-AD:
DRESS or wELcoME-REPORT7 oF TIE
i pREsIDENT--NEwrM MEMBERS, &c.,ac.sa.a

81 GA g4st3 -ga4 -..s -..-:,--- togs
The. Eleventh Annual Convention Of the
American Railway Master Mechanics Asso.
citation commenced its sessions in this city
yesterday at the Ballard House ut 10 O'Clock
A. NJ. 1l}ei!S -.Eaii-!i 2 - ~
The Convention was called to order by
N. E. Chapman, OF Cleveland, Ohio, presi.
dent, and the proceedings opened witch
prayer by Rev. Dr.. Charles Fl. Read.
Owing to the unexpected indisposition o!
Mayor Darlington, ex-M Mayor Kelley. briefly,
but in bis usual graceful and felicitous man.
ner, welcomed the members OF the Conyen-
ton TO the city and to its hospitalities,
trusting that the deliberations Of the Con-
yention might not only be harmonious and
pleasant, j but rebound to the prosperity OF
the great railroad interests of the entire
country. Mr.. Keilev's remarks were warm
ly applauded.
MEMBERS PRESENT.
The roll was called. and the follow
ing officers and members answered to
their names N. Z. Chapman. Cleveland,
Ohio, president; Reuben Wells, first vice
president, Jeffersonville, Ind; j. N. Lau-
der, Concord. N. H., second vice-presi-
dent; S. j. Hayes, treasurer. Chicago; j.
N. Setcbel. secretary Cincinnati; j. D.
Barnett, Grand Trunk railroad, Montreal; !;
Fl. L.. Cooper, I. y. and w. railroad, Urban
ma, H.; Charles 81. Cory. c:and V. railroad,
Carmel. ILL.,; John F. Divine, Wilmington
and NJ. D. w. railroad, Fltchburg, Mass. !;
| Charles Graham, l.. and B. railroad, Kings
ton, Penn; q. 7. Ham, Buffalo Steam
Gauge Company, Rochester, N. T.; w. S.
Hudson, Rogers's Locomotive-W orks, Pat
erson, N. j.; G. w. Holister, Valley rail-
road, Hartford, Conn.,. Jacob Johann. Wa
bash railroad, Springfield, Ill.,; W. 81.
Lewis, D. l.. and w. railroad, Kingslaud,
N. j.; William Lannon, Washington, D.
c.; John Mcfarland, Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, Richmond, Va; George Richards,
Boston and Providence railroad, Boston; !;
James Sedgely, L. S. and NJ. S. railroad,
Cleveland, Ohio; A. j. Sanborn, L and St.
Louis railroad, Mattoon, H.; w. F. Tur-
ref, l.. s. and IT. V. railroad, Black River.
Ohio; w. Woodcock, Central railroad Of
New Jersey, Elizabethport, n. j.; and
Martin Walls, P. and E. railroad, Sunburg,
Pa. Associate members: NJ. n. Forney,
New York Railroad Gazette, and F. 3.
Miles, Philadelphia.
The following new members signed the
constitution and were admitted as members
OF the Association Amos Pillsburry, Hart
u. I
S, Pjlson, Louisville, Cincinnati and Lex
ington railroad; James Maglenn, Caroline
Central; Robert King, Western Railroad Of
Alabama; James Eckford, Cincinnati, Ham,
iltou and Dayton railroad; j. Mlnshall, New
York and Oswego Midland; J. B. johnson,
Arkansas Central; George W. Reynolds,
B. G.. T. and N. g., Taunton, Mass. !;
Thomas L. Cloppman, Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, Richmond.
The president then delivered the follow
ing address:
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Gentlemen.-Permit me to congratulate
YOU upon the favorable auspices under
which we come together upon this our ele-
yenth anniversary, the commencement OF
our second decade.
think the members Of this Association
have reason to be proud OF its permanency.
One of the healtbiest features in the events
of the past year is the prompt manner IN
which many Of the companies represented
by you have responded to the circular
which was drawn up by the General Super
visory Committee at meeting held by said
committee in st. Louis, after the adjourn
ment OF the Convention, requesting the
various railroad companies to donate GER
tain amount towards defraying the eX-
penses OF printing the proceedings or re-
port of our annual meeting; which was
promptly and heartily responded to by
many OF the railroad companies addressed.
On my way here met in Cincinnati with
our secretary and first vice-president, and
visited the bank where our Boston fund
is deposited, the nucleus OF which was pre-
sented to the Association by the merchants
and manufacturers Of that excellent old
city in 1872, short time after our meeting
there. -..-.,.. s....
At our neXtannual convention, by order
OF the members, it was placed in charge OF
the Supervisory Committee, who invested
il in Government bonds as per your sccre-
tary's report.
4 train OF thought was started in connec
tion with this visit and discussed by us
whether the time would not come within
few years when the fund would enable the
American Railway Master Mechanics AS
soclation to have Il
BUILDING OF THEIR OWN
in which to hold their annual meetings and
store the accumulation OF drawings, &c.,
belonging to them and which are fast accu-
mulating on the hands OF our secretary.
I throw out this idea to the members for
what it. is WORTH and that they may con-
slider the question at their leisure.
There is one subject which, although not
exactly pertinent to those matters the dis
cussion of which has brought us together,
vet it is one deserving OF as much, II not
more, study and consideration. -.
It must be admitted by all thoughtful and
candid men that the evidences are that the
present condition Of society is not healthy,
and has not been, when we see sucn proofs
OF the antagonism OF capital and labor rs
were displayed last summer. l reierto
TIE GREAT STRIKE OF LAST JULY,
harmless enough in the beginning. per-
haps, but ripening speedily into the most
extensive riots the country has ever known.
Tt is not of the strike especially that |
would speak, though that should not have
been-not, perhaps, to have been prevented
through any act OF Congress or State Lee
cistures. but through the self-interest OF
the men concerned keeping them from
any such suicidal course of action as strikes
have always proven to be-but of the
riot which followed the strike, and the class
Of DeopIe who were the active element in
it, and also OF the support which it OBJ
taiued during the first few days OF its in
cipient existence from the populer feeling
OF hostility to railroads, to which even thar
most conservative class OF people, "busl-
ness. men," contributed, until the riot cul-
minated in the vast destruction OF property
at Pittsburgh, which alarmed the whole
country. .:..,, ..--
All must admit society to be 80.
IN A VERY CRITICAL STATE
when body OF totally irresponsible men
can seize upon whole city, and with utter
defiance OF the lawful authorities place it
under an actual state OF seige, as Pittsburgh
was, and yet have popular sympathy on