Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-31
VOTE THIS MORNING.
THE ENGINEERS TO DECIDE THE CUES
TON or FEDERATIOH.
This Momentous Subject Discussed Nearly
Six HOurs-Ball Last Night-To
Hear Jasper

"ShalI we sdopt articles OF federation or
shall we join with other organizations OF
railway operatives iu a cooperative systemg"
THIS is the knotty question that faces each
Of the three hundred and seyenty-6ye mem
bers OF the Brotherhood OF Locomotive kn-
gineers, whose convention is now In session
here, and ss il is turned over and over in
their minds and maturely pOudered and
carefully considered the more they appreci-
ate its i'm o0rtance.
The committee OF seventeen wTested with
the difficult problem for nearly two weeks,
and then they had to make msiority and MI
nority reports, the one recommending co.
oneFation and the other federation. The
division IN the committee doubtless fairly
reflected the conflicting and diverse views
OF the entire body. These reports were sub
milted at a late hour Monday afternoon, ard
very little time OF that day sessions was LEFT
for the consideration OF them.
TO VOTE rHTs MORNING.
The delegates assembled at Belyldere Hall
promptly yesterday morning, and spent the
whole OF the two tbree-bour sessions In the
discussion Of the two reports Of course
arguments numerous and forcible were Of
fered pro and con, and a resolution was
adopted providing that final vote shall be
taken &C t0-daV's forenoou session. The dis
cussiOn would have occupied much more
time after the presentation OF the reports
had not the subject been taken up informal.
| ly, and manv OF the delegates had an oppor-
tunlty to ventilete their views. No other
subject that has or will come before the con-
ventiOn has attracted so much attention,
either in or outside OF tbe Brotherhood's
membership, as this one does. II is in fact
OF Vital importance 10 the Engineers, aud its
decision win possibly haYe great effect on
the railway commerce Of the country.
THE OUTLOOK.
The delegates are n very Teticent body, and
they are not often induced 10 let drop the
slightest intimation % what is done inside Of
the convention ball. A Dispatch reporter
sounded a number OF them yesterday, but
nothing tangible as TO the status OF this im-
portant matter could be gotten hold Of. The
| impression. however, Is that there will be a
| cooperative system but no federation.
BALL LAST NIGHT.
Armory Hall presented a brilliant specta.
| Gle las, night. the occasion being grand
| complimentary hop 20 the twenty. .dith annual
| convention Of the brotherhood OF LocOmo-
| tive Engineers. The hail was already pret-
! ty decorated for the Walker Light Guard
festival. which practically suspended for the
evening except in the sale OF souvenirs. The
| guests began 10 arrive at an early hour and
continued 10 pour IN until after O'Clock, Mt
| wbIch time there must have been at least five
or six hundred persons present. The assGm-
blqgc wss indeed fine-oOking one. Most
| Of the ladies' were those who accompany the
| Engineers, though there were goody NUN.
| her from both this city and Manchester, MEM
| bers of engineers families.
Dancing commenced about Q o'clock, when
some Gity or more couples took their posi-
! tions In an open square and iuAugurated the
! ball witt a quldrille. This was followed by
| lanciers, wnltZrs, pOlka5, quadrllles, galOps,
racquet, and Highland sch0ttschc. Pro-
fess0r Siein's Mozart orchestra furnished the
music, ard the scene was very picture que
one with the couples gliding over the floor.
| Most OF the dancers were young folk, but
bald heads and gray hairs we're not at all uD-
frequent sights. Supper, with covers lad
for four hundred, was served in the lower
ball from II b 1 O'Clock. and the dancers
and others who had remained so late did
ample justice to the sumptuous repast.
A. the guests came into the Armory they
were handed supper tickets, and upon their
entrance to the ballroom they were pre-
scntcd with nicely-gotten-up dsncing-pro-
gfammes, with I blank page on which 10
note the engagements made. The evening :
entertainment comprised eighteen numbers,
one hall q which were executed before
supper and the other pine afterwards. Al
together the evening passed of very plea
sanity, without the slightest hitch, AMI in
the small hours oi morning the ladies and
| gentlemen repaired 10 their hotels or homes
to rest from the nights dissipation.
TO HEAR JASPER.
The convention yesterday accepted an in
yi,auOn 10 attend The sixth NJ. Zion church
tonight and hear Rev. John jasper presch
/ hts celebrated sermon "De sun DO Move"
The Brotherhood viii meet at FOfd's and so
| 20 The church IN body.