The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-11-08
THE LATE CONVENTION


The manner in which this body of
men were received by the people of In
diana, and the general success of the con-
ventiOn deserve more than passing no
tice. For fourteen years this organiza-
tion has lived, struggled ard fought its
way to the public notice, and to respect
able notoriety. No other labor organic
alton ever organized on this earth has
had the opposition TO meet, the obsta-
Giles to overcome, the prejudice to re-
move, the patience 10 endure, that this
has. From the start 1t had to face the
- combined railroad capital of the United
States and Canada, and the suspicion of
society at large. But through all this,
through partial failure at times, through
trials and temptations, through evil re-
port and good report, it has emerged to
stand triumphant upon its own merits,
as the reception of rts representatives in
convention at indianapolis will testify.
Not half of the American people know
the principles or the character of this or
ganiZatiOn, but this is incident to every
organization, and characteristic of the
American people which time and pa
thence alone can cure. 1t is true the or
ganiZation has made mistakes; but this
is attributable mainly to the fact tn at
some very unworthy men have been adj
mitted 10 membership, and in the last
two years the order has cleansed its ranks
from nearly all such. 1t would have been
better had this order paid more attention
TO the subject of quality" than that of
quantity" But is not this manifest
weakness and mistake to be found in ev-
cry undertaking, no matter of what char
acter, whether of religious" political, -
scientific" or that of ''labor?" But
right will conquer in the end and in
time, and we propose to bide that time,
and wait patiently until full justice Is
accorded it everywhere as it is now only
in sections.
The convention, agreeable to- adjourn
ment, met October 10th at Indianap oils,
the greatest inland centre of railroad in
terests on this continent. Its meetings
were held in Masonic hall, and its rep
resentatives, from almost every state in
the union, and from Canada, were heart
lily welcomed by mayor Cavan and the
city council. The first day was spent in
reception and organization. The second
day, with closed doors, the convention
proceeded with its business, which was
10 legislate for the best interests of the
many thousands of locomotive engineers
throughout the United States and Can.
ada; To elevate their standing in society
as men; to protect their interests as
skilled laborers. Letters rendering the
courtesies of the many arilroads cen.
tering there from presidents, general
managers and superintendent, came
pouring in. The convention could not
accept them all But they visited the
water-works of the city, in company with
the superintendent of the fire department
(whO by the way is an old locomotive
engineer) and mayor Cavan and mem
bers of the city council also took an eX
cursion to Brightwood, to visit the mag
nificent shops of the Bee Line road, in
company with Mr. McAlpine, superin
tendent of machinery. From there they
went to the magnificent court house
costing two and half millions, ant
while assembled there mayor Cavan or
dered the fire alarm sounded, and in les.
than three minutes twelve streams of wa
ter, from 80 to 100 feet, were thrown in
To- the air. The convention gave then
three hearty cheers. In no city in tho
United States is there better organized
fire department than in indianapolis.
we could only have had its use for ever
one hour our own beautiful Commercial
street would not at this time be bounded
by n blackened ruin. On Sunday thu
II. 4
TO listen to an eloquent discourse prepaT
ed for it by Rev Dr. Sloss. On Monda,
an excursion to Terra Haute was tender
ed by Gen. Mexican, of the Vandalia
and accepted. They left at u. IN. on
special train. On arrival they were me
by Mayor Wilder and the common coun
Gil, escorted through the extensive shop
of the Vandalia company, then to tn
"Rose Pyrotechnic Institute" thence tC
the city hall, where we were entertained
by senator Dan Voorhees,, Col. Nelson
Col. Ravens, and others, and thence to
magnificent banquet at Dinners hotel
Never to be forgotten is the visit of til,
delegates to the beautiful city of Terri
Haute, and at the close of the labors o
the convention, which occupied five day
of interchange of friendly opinions, ant
in discussion, and in making provision
for the future, not satisfied with thei
many tokens of esteem and good will, w
were notified that banquet at the Crane
hotel was to be rendered us by MI. Ptingst
the proprietor. The delegate from En-
poria had the honor to preside at tina
banquet, and he never will forget tn
ringing, cheering words of senator Vol
hees, in response TO the first sentimen
he otfered-"Our country, the grandes
on earth !" nor TO the third sentiment 81
eloquently responded to by mayor Cavan
of ndianapolis-"The hoosier state, he
fertile fields and populous cities are tn
homes of Williams, of Colfax, of Morton
of Hendricks, and the tall Sycamore G
the Wabash" The fourth-"Indiar
apolis, a capital of worldwide fame; on
of the great centers of civilization, wealtl
and advancement, whose citizens ar
railroad men," was eloquently RESPOND
ed to by Grand Chief Arthur, in whic
he rehearsed the generous reception an
the many kindnesSes received while i
convention in that city. Toast five wa
1.-THE ladies, whose presence brighten
and ornaments every occasion - respons
by w. II. Smallwood, of Div. 4S. Toa:
siX-"Our brothers in Canada; thong
separated by roaring food, by catarac
and inland sea, are one in heart wit
us" was responded TO by brother Wn
Robinson, of Toronto. Toast seven
THE Brotherhood of Locomotive Engil
GERS" responded to by T. l. Ingrahan
First Grand Engineer. Toast eight
1.-THE golden gate; the metropolis of I'll
western world" response by Bro. Roya
of San Francisco Toast nine-"OI
host, the prince of hotel keepers" r
Spouse by Bro. Horton, of New Yorl
Toast ten-"Our parting guests" WI
eloquently responded to by Gen. Da
MacCauly, of Indianapolis. The Ion
tables grounded beneath their loads
delicacies, pyramid cakes and costly b
Ducts. Almost 800 guests were seate
and the presence, of senator Vorhee
mayor Cayan and members Of council
Indianapolis, mayor Wilder and cOu
Gil, of Terra Haute, members of legisl
ture, representatives of the press, an
other invited guests, did honor to the O
casion and contributed to make lastiI
impression on all present. And in tn
happy manner did this convention tai
leave of the generous, warm-hearted pc
pile of Indiana.
This convention, the representatives
an organization which has paid out ov
one million of dollars to the wives al
orphans of their number who have IN
an untimely fate in their hazardous ca
ing; which has paid nearly two hundr'
thousand to crippled and manned brot