San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-10-19
THE BRAKEMEN,
THE BRAKE TWISTERS' RECEPTION
BY THE ALAMO CITY.
An Overwhelming Attendance to Wei
come Them--Gallant Speeches,
Music and Dancing-Morn-
ing Session

Ing Session.
The FIRST days programme FOR the enter
taiun"rl Of the lirvth' rtOCd OF railroad
. Bias Cm"I passed Oh yesterday Afternoon Is a
first C.a~s Success M the springs The pro.
granmv was carried out a published In the
/ LIGHT Yesterday, bul Governor ireland kent
the ,Ou mtiUC waiting lite longer than
necessary, a. when he did come compelled
the hIdiCuCr to listen to very mediocre
speech OF short duration uud not at ali credit.
abe to he governor oil Texas. II was "A mis-
take In the first place for the committee to
invite man with such an unti-ruilrOHd record
10 make speech before "A national convention
Of railway brakcmcn. anyhow.
However, Dir. Cochran, the republican
candidate fOrgOvCrnOr more than made up for
the governors deficiencies and won applause
ana the respect Of his listeners 10y his fine and
manly speech, showing he was not afraid of
the labor question, aud his opinion of strikes
and their origin is worthy of the highest APP
prOyal
Tine written address Of Grand Master vii.
kinSOn was lull Of rhetoric and well rounded
sentences. He gave the boys good advice
and then launched into the work of the order
and its objects:
"Our purpose is to surround our members
with the best attractions, to educate them
morally and encourage all to follow rs clearly
rs possible the Divine law, and teach them
that sOCabiIity Is one of hcimpOTtaRt factors
to h-lp one another in this greet battle of life.
Next, to impress them intellectually Is one OF
the essentials to brighten our lives and homes;
to study Them for Improvement in nur fellow
mans life. our motto is bcnevOlenCe. so
briefly and industry; three words that are
fTauRht with good deal of meaning to us.
BeneVOCnCe is the great cardinal principle of
our Brotherhood, givi ~ tOOne another, never
knowing how soon it viii be returned, and
with interest, following the Divine law, "lt is
better to give than to receive SUbriety is a
word that means more to railroad men than
any Other that appears in our language.
Industry is our next, and It is a highway TO
success in all things; IL will be given to all
that are deserving in our Brotherhood. How
necessary IL is for all to study and practice
this. You al expect promotion, then labor
for 1t and you will surely be recognized.
We bury the sdCad respectfully and pay the
sum of $500 to remaining relatives; the same
sum is given in case of total disability.
Subordinate lodges pay sick benefits ranging
from So to so per week. Our Brotherhood
was organized at OneOnta, n Y, september
%, 1883, by eish men who were the peers of
any. They recognized the fact that they
were the only ones in the train service who
were not tryingIto better themselves by or
ganzaton. Six months elapsed before lodge
No, took her place in Inc. AT our hTst con-
VcntIOn ~ lodges had been organized, 29Of
whom were represented. Our second year
witnessed the largest growth has ever Oc-
Cured in the histor OF railway organizations;
l24 lodges added to the list, while ll9 delegates
attended our second annual convention held
at Burlington, Iowa. This year So more lodges
have been added, so you can see the progress
we have made when represented
We have no desire to antagOniZe the inter
ests of any, but simply ask Justice from all.
We claim that arbitration is the only proper
way TO settle difficulties arising between en-
plOyer and emplOye.
IN presenting our grievances, tney are nfSt
made by the local committees and presented
to the proper officer, and it he can not grant
them, they are taken to the next higher officer
until they reach the general manager, and IL
no salts Cactun can be gained there, it is re-
terrJd to the grand lodge; we then use all
means in our power to reach an amicablC set
tlcmcnt failing in this, we are then left to or
der the men out, or stIikc las it plcases you"
| Now do not misunderstood US, as we do not be
IicvC in mObS. riots, or destroying life or prop
| erty. but simply ask justice, fair and i'm
"a Ri A "a
| verdict that honest opinion w.il give US. We
| are proud of our record Of the past, as
| have never had cause TO enter into any strike
| thus far, and hope for like success in the
| future, we have been treated with kindness
| on all sides by the leading railroads. We have
| found the officers gentlemen in every respect.
| II is a conceded fact we receive more COurte-
sizes from general managers and supcrintend-
| entS than from subordinate officers. The
world has heard the bravery of the engine
men resOunded for years. While we have no
| desire TO take from them anything that is
| theirs by right, we ask you 20 notice the dis
| crepancy, first the difference in pay, second
| the danger that Is encountered. In wintC.
| they are housed from the searching blasts
| while brakeman must stand amidst the howl
ing elements rcgardcssy Drawing death at
| every step, holding the train down the hills
and mountains. But this, my friends, is the
smallest part of it; in switching, who is it that
| is constantly in DANGER The brakeman or the
| engine mann How often you read caught in
| frog or guard rail and crushed and man
| glcd beyond recognition" or caught between
| Inc uCddWOOu, hdnu gone, not mucn; nut we
| ask you to-day do you think we are Ovcrpaidl
| When we are helpless cripples we are
| given lifetime job at crossing or
| throwing switches at 81 - per day, sometimes
| less. DO you ever think when at home, sur
rounded by all the comforts OF life, or the poor
| brakeman We are afraid not, unless you
| have some one dear - you that is following
| that vocation. In looking around me to-day ]
| miss some faces that should have been here.
| but death has sought them; they sleep their
| last sleep. We hope That their future was
| assured them. that all the requirements
| made both ready and willing to meet the Mas
ter of all. You have now heard the aims and
| Intentions of the brakcmcn's brotherhood and
| thatin future all of our members will practice
| its virtues, showing TO the world that a man
| can be gentleman and follow our humble
calling and meet just recognition from all
| classes.
After Mr.. wilkinson, Mr.. George Peschal
| made very iOwery and beautiful address,
| which was wei received and was followed by
| Division Superintendent Van Week, OF the
| Sunset. in r few words 30 the boys.
G. :. 4;ObinsOn, an orator who uses beIuti-
| full langUHTe, but is handicapped by poor
| delivery, next followed in a lengthv speech:
| he was heerd with interest and aztec wards
| with patience. He told . good many Il Jths
| and cOmplimented the brakemen in unmeas-
| ured terms.
| Hon Osca; Bergstrom was down on the
| programme for speech, but was not pres
| ent. Hon. }. h. Copeland followed Mr..
| Rob nson aud spoke shortly ard TO he point
| sud the PDDlause was very liberal. He carried
| away wild i'm large plumber OF Ire cards of
| the br7Nenen, which were pressed upon
| him al It's conclusion.
Rev. JoJn Weston did not deliver his speech
| as the bOut Crew aIe. Rev. DIR. Scudder, OF
Madison Square church pronounced the bene-
dictiOn anu return to town and TO supper
was made by the assembled multitude.
| Ai,er supper the delegates aud invited
| guests reassembled at the SOrings aud engaged
| in u bell which occupied the hours until
| ea~ly this morning. The grounds and
| bob dancing halls were beautifully
| ii = " deco ated and the upper hall at the
Springs was filed with ga''an brakemen and
| their lady II lends of san Antonio. The local
| reception committee did their utmost to make
| ait company, particularly the delegates. at
| home, and the ladies, bless them, contributed
| nObly by responding TO the call upon them and
making the strangers welcome by their side
during the evening.
PRoCKEDINGs THIS MORNING.
The Grand Lodge of the brotherhood of
Railroad Brakemen of the Western Hems.
phere assembled ip convention at the knights
of Labor hail, on LosOya street, this morning.
The hall was tastctully decorated for the Occa.
sion, aud at the east 'ru end of it a rssed dais
decorated wih United States flags ard hunt,
ing, was erected for the grand officers.
Tue hall was also arranged in accordance
with the regulation of the order. Grand Master
Wilkinson presided, and all the officers occu,
ped their respective seats. Prayer being Of
fered, hymns sung, the roll was called and
about 10 delegates answered to their names.
The LIEUT. has complete list of the deega.
ton and regrets that pressure upon its space
prevents its publication, A committee on
credentials was then appointed and the meet.
ing then adjourned.
The convention meets again this afternoon
and then the delegates will be seated in nc
| cOrdanCe with credentials. This done, bust
ness Of formal opening character will be
Transacted and an adjournment will follow