The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-11-14

has any regard for the future welfare Of bis
family and his chosen profession, to protect
and foster it at all hazards.
| The locomotive engineers, prior to the for
| nation of the brotherhood, did nothing to
commend them to public recognition. Ma
ny OF them were addicted to habits OF dis
sipation AID intemperance, squandering
| their earnings; and in many Instances their
families were in want, and suffered for the
necessaries of life in consequence thereof
Our association of twenty five years with
! them, enables us to speak Understandings
of their habits, and note the marked change
that has been wrought, both morally, social
| ", intellectually and financially among them
since the inception Of the order. 1t has
turned many from the paths OF vice to vir-
tue; it has brought peace, Joy and comfort
to home that were desolate and cherries
it has enabled US to pay one million ten
thousand one hundred and forty-four dol
! lars to the widows and fatherless children Of
our deceased members, and one hundred and
Atty thousand dollars to the needy and dis
tressed; and that is has, enabled US to es-
| tablish and nsintain higher rate Of wages
than we would otherwise have received, all
honest me1 will admit; and not member
can truthfully say that he has suffered in
the slightest degree on account Of maintain
| ing such an institution.
With these facts before US, ask, could we
have accomplished It without organized ef-
fort? Did engineers, as rule, do anything
to benefit humanity previous to the forma-
ton Of this order? If they did, we are ig-
norant Of the fact, and would like to be en-
| lightened on the subject. Hence, we claim,
despite all the assertions to the contrary,
that it has been and is now not onlya bene-
fit but blessing to society, railroad compa-
MES and engineers. Where this is not the
case 1t owing to the uniaithfulness Of the
members and 1t certainly would be unjust
to condemn the whole body for the wrong
doing Of the few. History teaches us that
there never was an association whose mem
beers were without spot or b!emish. Yet WHO
can estimate the great good accomplished
through associated action? Their works
are inscribed on the records Of past history.
and their noble deeds OF charity and broth
erly love are among the highly -honored per-
! formances Of humanity.
! The utility of the different societies, and
their connection with the great category of
divine instrumentalities which Providence
| has employed in various order for the educa
| ton and advancement of the human race,
| must not escape our notice. Even the Sc
cret societies Of antiquity were of this char
| acter. They were the prolific fountains OF
ancient art, literature, science, philosophy
and education. Through them came new
| revelations Of life which contributes to the
| progress of humanity ; while those of the
present, true to the spirit and genius of
their fundamental teachings, are no less en-
gagged for the veal of man.
HOW STRIKES ARE CAUSED.
We have been told by some that they hear
tily approve of the benevolent features of
our Institution, but disapprove Of our strik-
ing policy. To all such we say we have no
striking policy, only such as the emergencies
! Of the case may demand. Our Law require
that every honorable effort shall be exhaust
ed before strike is resorted to, and we have
invariably adhered to the rules, and insist
that all the strikes we have had could have
been avoided had the officers of the road
shown the least disposition to treat us fair
ly. The idea prevails to some extent that
the brotherhood was formed for the purpose
OF debating to railroad compan les what
they shall or shall not do-how many engi.
neers they must employ, and how much
wages they should receive. To dsabuse the
minds ct all those entertaining that idea, I'VE
assert, and challenge investigation, that in
no case have we, as an organization. ever
dictated to any company the number of en-
gineers they should employ, or the amount
Of wages they should pay them nor have
we any rule that prevents a member from
STIMULATING what he shall work for, or in
terferes with his religious or political opin-
ions, or the duties he owes to his God, his
family and his employer. We claim the right
to approach our employers in a respectful
manner, and present our grievances through
q committee OF our own selection, from
among our associates right and privilege
that all honorable men would concede as
just and proper. Yet we have been denied
this privilege and our committeeman singled
out aud discharged on the slightest .pretext
by the officials on some roads-clearly eyin-
cling spirit Of despotism that no body of
int al Ifuopt man oouId to1orofo
The whole aim Of the brotherhood has
been aud is to inculcate those principles OF
honor, integrity and moral worth which are
the crown and glory Of true manhood. How
far we have succeeded, our past record will
show. We confess that as rule, no real or
permanent good was ever gained by strikes
and we disclaim all responsibility for those
we engaged in as an organization-they
were forced upon us. We would gladly have
submitted our grievances to arbitration, as
we believe in that mode Of adjusting dis
putes and earnestly recommend that here
after all differences arising between engi-
neers and their employers be submitted to
arbitration instead Of resorting to strikes.
lie SIcdt LulSIOTLtttic has UeCIl tfIaC, III
many instances, ignorant. self-conceited,
unprincipled men have been placed In posi-
tons of authority, who knew nothing OF the
practical workings of railroad or the du-
ties and responsibilities of trainmen, and to.
them can be traced the direct cause of all
difficulties that have occurred upon the
roads. Whenever we have had good, prac-
teal, common sense men to deal with there
has been no trouble. II superintendents
and master-mechanics, instead of proscrib-
ing members of the order, would mingle
more freely with them, visit them at their
nails, occasionally cheer and encourage them
in good works, make them feel that they are
interested in their welfare and happiness,
you may rest assured it would do more to es-
tablish friendly and harmonious relations
than any coercive measures that can be
adopted. Man is so constituted that when
you attempt to drive him he is sure to 90 the
wrong way. Coercion may succeed for
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