Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-18

IN annual SeSSl Oh at the rooms OF DIVISION
No. 40, on Jackson street in this city, at
$50 a. M. yesterday, ard was called to
order by Grand Chief Conductor G. S.
Wheaton, of EImira, N. Y.
The usual committees on credentials,
etc., were appointed, but as stated in the
GLOBE of yesterday, the proceedings were
secret, and hence no detailed report of the
proceedings can be given. A number of
delegates arrived yesterday, however, in
addition to those whose names were given
in yesterdays GLOBE.
After the reading of the minutes of the
last annual session and disposing of other
preliminary business, the Grand Chief
Conductor presented his
ANNUAL ADDRESS.
GRAND OFFICERS AND BROTHERS: On this,
the occasion of our fifteenth annual session,
I respectfully beg leave to present to you
my annual address and report for the last
fiscal year.
My brethren, we are assembled to-day
under peculiarly fiattering circumstances,
the year that is passing has been one so
far of unbounded success, large and re-
munerative crops have rewarded the farmer
for his toll. We recognize in this the
foundation stone of all industry. We must
as railwcJ men, many, if not all, depend
upon this source for our revenue during
this year; just how far this has stimulated
the growth of our order cannot say, but
that it is one of the factors in obtaining the
result. 1 am sure. Let US trust that in future
Industry of all classes may be stimulated
by the same successful industry.
Among many classes of our co-Iaborers it is
true there has been discomfort and in some
cases strikes have occurred, operating as
they always do to the detriment of all those
who engage therein. While there may be
real or fancied grievance of employees
of any grade it has always seemed to us
to be poor policy to give one employer an
opportunity to educate man to take one
place, yet not only give him an opportun-
ity, but force him to do so in order to
prosecute his business. Can any one show
me the gain in one of these strikes? HUI
man nature is the same the world over and
Should you coerce man, he be employe
or employer, rebellion may occur; but
the weaker party must eventually sue
cumb. and who is there that will dare to
say that capital is the weaker factor of the
two composing the great system of to-day i?
We do not pretend to give a solution
OF this great problem that has for years
puzzled wiser men than we, but we do
say that all parties should be governed by
sense of discretion in these matters, and
we must add that we believe the platform
OF our order is the only true one in this
case: "Resercing the right to prosecute
our OOn business according to the dictates
OF our OaUn conscience and ayithin the law
and according to every other man the same
right" We, as members of this honored
fraternity, occupy a peculiar position in
this respect, and our labor is in some cases
a thankless task, as I am sorry to say that
some of our associate employees who have
charge of us are bound to belittle our ef-
forts, let them be whatever they may, bat
an earnest, united front will in time over
come this, and when once overcome the
position of our members will be doubly
strong. 1t is fact that you, as
members of any organization,
will be respected and your
influence extend just in proportion to
the respect you show your organization.
Why is the Masonic association to-day re-
spected above all others? Simply because
the members are faithful to its teachings,
and show by their acts that they respect
the association. The same is no less true
of the independent order of Odd Fellows
and the kindred associations of the same
class, but it still has more force in case Of
an order that is endeavoring to gain for
itself standing and reputation against
the popular tide. A division of the order of
Conductors is organized. The citizens are
informed by the papers of the facts, rail-
way officers also, and all ask with one &C.
cord, what are the principles of this order!
and as one and another are interviewed and
the object given, they are given
to the world through the press,
and the eyes of all are up
on you; if they see your meetings
are we'll attended, that the members are
prompt in discharge of duty and live
somewhere near what they obligate them
selves to do. they begin to say believe
that order is good thing and ought to be
encouraged; and can assure you that this
public sentiment goes long way towards
educating the public mind in our favor.
But mark the reverse. Members do not at
tend meetings, are lax in duty, and the
idea will soon go out that our order does
not amount to much. There arc many
citizens of this great country who take the
common sense view .of this matter, and
saying they know it is a good order they
try to impress all with whom they come
in contract: with that such is the case.
Would to God thatssthis was the case with
our membership. wish could impress
it upon the minds of every member, that
this is as much his order as mine
and all act together in one accord to press
it forward to success. Never let an oppor-
tunity pass without saying good word
for our association. When asked if you
belong, say yes, and not as one of our
brothers did last summer, say no because
he thought the feeling was against it in
the party of which he was member. The
greater the odds, the greater the honor, and