The New York herald., 1878-02-20
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS.

CIRCULAR THAT HAS STIRRED Up BITTER
FEELING AMONG EMPLOYEES OF THE NEW
JERSEY CENTRAL RAILROAD.
Less than week ago circular, printed In the
HERALD OF last Sunday, was sent abroad among the
engineers belonging 10 the Brotherhood Of Locomotive
Engineers in the employment Of the New Jersey Cen.
Railroad to obtain their signatures TO agree
mont that within five days from the of the docu-
msnt they would voluntarily withdraw from The
organization aud promise again TO connect
themselves with 1t or join In any strike whatever, but
At all times perform their duty faithfully to the best
interests OF the Central Railroad OF New Jersey. A
circular to the same effect also sent to the ire
men, 1t bore NO signature and far could be
traced had official authorization. At the office OF
the New Jersey Central noboay In authority had any
knowledge OF the circular and declared that If
such paper existed IL must have originated outside.
of the Office
The i've days. grace allowed the engineers to make
up their minds about aflxing their names 10 the
cular expired yesterday, and HERALD reporter paid
visit TO the round house at Communipaw find out
the results among the engineers, who are generally
found there in force. number Of locomotives were
drawn up under shed describing hall circle, and
in blue cotton shirts and pantaloons moving
busy about with Jumps of cotton waste In their
hands polishing up rod or wheel here and jour
nal or "a bell there. Their iuces. Tor the most
part, were soo.y looking and their eress
was none OF the clcanost They had LITTLE
" say TO themselves or to anybody else. They were,
ior the most part, rescen and troubled looking and
somethng OF az unpleasant nature seemed % weigh
upon their minds rhcy looked and talked like men
whose spirits were cnahng under some cruel indg-
nlty, ana their aearls were evldentiy not in their
work. Selecting tall, frank laced, blond haired
gnesf, one likely TO be more communicative than
his fellows the reporter inquired him he
memoer OF the brotherhood, and ii he had read the
circular. 10 both OF which questions he answered IN
the affirmative.
tho arYj
81 did, but not with wiling heart Suppose you
were u Freemason or an Oad Fellow or a Good lem
your employment how would you ike ny well That
isJusL the way II 10 with US. Ahe brotherhood Is u
good rigns to be numbers OF " aod be as undis-
Iurbed relations 70 IL as IN being members Of
q religious congregation"
THE HARD AND HONEST WAY.
..But the circular leaves 1t optional with the 10
siga not just Is tnsy please There Is NO PEN
atty mentioned ior not signiDg It,"
ssTnar may bc SO, out the effect IS the same. We
would rather they did like the Reading road, that
with circular saying il the engineers did
consider themselves discharged, and the circular
signed by General superintendent Downs. That was
hard, but II PLAIN ana honest"
'sWho IL supposedly authorized this circular ?"
"we satisfied 1t is somebody high IN authority
let himself De known, because the thing Is opposed
TO American notions OF freedom and IL nothing but
tyranny In disguise that II would hurt any one who
might stand up 10 avow It,"
.'Aow did Inc circulars como into your hands ~
"Thoy were distributed by Mr.. Williams, the master
mechanic OF the shop, but they were sent 70 him by
somebody else.
.what Is the feeling among the men concerning the
matlerf"
"Tney do not like 1t one Bit They look on It q
blow ~ their independence as men and they resent
IT.
''what action 90 you suppose the Brotherhood will
takeYD
"Cannot say. They are bound. suppose, to take
action, ior this Is only the beginning OF
tempt 10 break up The organization all over The coun
try If they succeed on this road It viii be tried on
another and so on.h
SHOW many men here have signed It, and how many
have notf'
IL thiuk about thirteen or fourteen, and six men
have refused to sign"
"What has been the consequencc7"
s'Nothiug has happened. fhe men who declined to
put down their names are working away just usual
All but three OF the nremen signed but l Am told
there more complaint about In the shops At The
other emo 0t the lIne."
Mr.. Williams, the master mechanic, declines to toll
who II was furnished the document which be gave
the men, but tue men themselves c0nvinced-
body outside oi the management would take upon
hmself the responsibility oil originating such thing