The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-09
cn1Er ARTHUR SUSTAINED.
The Locomotive Engineers Approve the
Course Pursued by the Head of the Order.

The Locomotive Engineers Approve the
| Course Pursued by the Head of the Order.
Scranton (Pa Special.
| A union meeting of the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers attended by about five hum
! bred members of that organization, was held
| here at the Academy of Music. Special trains
| from New York. Philadelphia and Buffalo
| brought large delegations of the order to Scran-
ton during the forenoon, and Immediately upon
their arrival business session was held at which
| matters of Importance to the brotherhood were
discussed. The animadversions of certain men,
| bers of the Knights of Labor upon Chief En-
| gineer Arthur and the brotherhood during the
strike in the Southwest called forth spirited
discussion, which resulted in the unanimous
adoption of the following resolution offered by
| Nat Sawyer of Division No. 145, and seconded
| by George Fl. Vantassall, third grand assistant
| engineer:
| Resolved, That we, as the representatives Of the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers assembled in
union meeting in the city of Scranton Pa, sunday,
Sept. 5, 1886 do at this time express to our Grand
Chief Engineer P. M. Arthur, strong and decided
approval of his action during the labor troubles
in the West and Southwest regardless of the state
ment of the labor demagogues to the contrary viz.
That the brotherhood did not his actions
We desire TO say to him Continue in the future as
have in the past every act of yours has given
entire satisfaction to every loyal member and we'll
| wisher of the brotherhood We adhere strictly to
| your agreements with the several companies Carry
out to the letter the compact and if the agreement is
broken let it not be said you the first TO break
in existence, remembering our motto, We ANAL
| gamate with none.
Soon after the union meeting of the Brother
hood public meeting was held at which the
principal address was delivered by Grand Chief
Engineer Arthur. who Sketched the origin and
growth of the organization He said that much
had been heard In the past year about labor or
CARNATIONS in this country, and that good deal
of prejudice existed against such societies He
was sorry to- say that much of the prejudice was
daSarva0 I'm ma viSha0 it n ma hat "a "
understood that there was a distinction between
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and
all other organizations. While he believed in
organized labor he also believed that capital
had rights which are entitled to as much respect
as labor There were two sides to the question,
and both should realize the important fact
that their interests are Identical. He de-
seribed the first meeting OF five engineers,
at which the foundation OF the pres
ent great organization was laid, with
"Sobriety, Truth. Justice and Morality" as its
motto. Now. the brotherhood has 321 subdvs-
ions. with a mbership of 10000 In the past
seventeen years it has paid nearly So 900, 900 to
widows and orphans, and another $500, 900 TO the
needy and destitute. AT present, ne said, the
brotherhood was the best of terms with the
railroad companies of the country. and its prin-
cipal aim to settle all such disputes rs might
arise amicably. Labor and capital should rea.
son together in disposing of their differences.
He said that had it not been for the fact that the
brotherhood had a written contract with the
companies it would have been impossible to hold
the men duriuc the strike on the Gould system,
A written contract with the brotherhood was re-
earded sacred, and would be kept involate.
Any organization could not expect to succeed
that resorted to the pistol, the torch and the
bludgeon. The employers we'll as the en-
ployed should observe the golden rule. Ad-
dresses were also made by Congressman Scran.
ton and Mayor Ripple.
The Times's representative called on Chief
Arthur this evening, at his hotel. and asked what
were the circumstances which prompted the
adoption of the pointed resolution of confidence
in the Grand Chief. Mr.. Arthur said: 1.-THE or
ganization known AS the knights of Labor
found fault with the position took during the
| trouble in the Southwest. They were anxious
to have our men join them in the strike, and we
advised the members of the Brotherhood to alb
stain from that strike, and do nothing that did
not properly belong to them AS locomotive engi
neers- This gave offense to some Knights of La
Dor. and led them to censure me severely as the
head of the organization. 1t became necessary
for me then to explain to our men what said
and did during that trouble, and they have in
dorsed my action and pledged me their support
in the future have always advised members
of the brotherhood to keep aloof from other or
CARNATIONS. believing it to be 20 their best in
terests to do so. Strenuous efforts were made
in various localities to get men to join the
knights of Labor. They were threatened and
prosecuted and every effort was made to get
them 10 join the Knights in the Southwestern
strike, but constantly advised them not to do
1t, not that had anything against the Knights
of Labor, but because I wanted men to carry
out the original policy of the order and form no
alliance whatever with any other labor organiza-
ton"
Mr.. Arthur said he regarded General Master
Workman Powdery as an honorable man. and
thought if the Knights of Labor carried ont the
principles advocated by him they could accom-
plish great deal of good.