Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-19
FEDERATION OR NO?
THAT'S TIE BIG QUESTION FOR THE
LOCOMOTIVE BROTHERHOOD.
Favorable Action on The sunday-Restp 7
Petition-Notes on Yesterdays
PrOceedinRs

Yesterday was the second day Of the an
nnaI convention Of the Brotherhood Of Lo-
comotive Engineers In session in this city.
The skies were clear, the atmosphere plea
sant. and altogether The engineers had most
auspiclous day, and they made good use OF
1t, putting in SIX close hours Of earnest la
Dor.
Chief Arthur called the body 10 or
der IN Belyidere Hall promptly at 9 O'Clock,
and the attendance was quite large for that
hour. About two hours time WAS required
in which 10 complete the examination oi the
DELEGATES credentlals aud 70 receive reports
from the 397 local divisions m the United
States, Canada, and Mexico.
The roll showed that out OF possible 397
members 3s4 were present personally and
the remaining thirteen or most OF them were
represented by proxies. In addition to the
delegates there are present Que hundred or
more guests who are accorded the privileges
OF the hall.
THE SESSIONS.
Work OF a strictly routine nature engaged
the attention OF the Brotherhood most 0i the
DAY. Among other things determined was
that the convention van hold two sessions
Z. VI. Unless The pressure OF business de-
mands such a change there will be no night
sessions,
sUNDAY.RssT BILL.
The Brotherhood received an unexpected
visitor ia the afternoon In the person
OF Rev. Wilbur +. Crafts, pastor Of
the First Union Presbyterian church in
New York city. He arrived on the
fas. mall went directly 10 The ban. ac-
complished his purpose. and returned home
on the 6:20 i. VI. Unbound train. Mr..
crafts came to Ask tue convention to endorse
The following petition to the United states
Congress. which ils already been endorsed
by nearly five millions Of pe0ple-indtyi,
duais. churches. and labor organizations:
"1he undersigned. adult residents ot the
United states twenty-one years Of ace or
more, hereby earnestly petition your hon.
orablc BODY 10 pass a bin iorbiddmg, Ia the
nations mail and military service. and in
interstate commerce, and In the District Of
Columbia and the Territories, all Sunday
traffic and work. except works Of religion
and works OF real necessity and mercy, and
such private work bY those who observe an
| other day as viii Uether interfere with the
general rest uor with public worship"
MR. CRAFTS SPEAKS.
The petition, which has been printed, Is adj
dressed IN duplicate to the Senate and House
OF Representatives. aud on both sides it has
blank spaces in w1ich 10 insert the name OF
the county and State from which presented,
how nlny signer7 here arc and underneath
is space for ;bcir names. The petitions are
TO be returned to Irs. !. &. Bateman, Paines-
VILE. Ohio; % Hon. G.P. Lord, Elgin, H. !;
10 Pearl Of DJBS. n Bible house, New
York, or Rev. Wilbur +. Crafts, II east
NiUeticth street. New York.
Mr. Crafts m,dc somewhat lengthy adj
dress In support Of this measure, which IL
intended 10 bring pressure 10 bear on Con-
gre,, to pass the Sunday-rcst" bin, which
Senator Blair has already introduced, and
which it is believed Will. II made law, ac-
complish the desired end.
ADOPTED MD APPLAUSE.
His speech before the convention was lis
tened 10 a'tenuyely, snd after be had an
sWered numerous questions, the petition wa,
| endorsed by luminous vote and amidst
the widest applause.
PERSONAL.
Mr.. Crafts Is the author of the book " The
Sabbath for Man, which has had such "a
large circulation. " huteyer he has realized
| from bis publication he has thrown back into
! channels likely % advance this sabbath re-
| form which, 10 Use bs expression, is his
pet scheme Ot beueYOfeuce." lie has dis
| tributed The book wherever tins question
! has been agltated and justly takes 30 his soul
the nlttering uncti0n that its careful perusll
hqs been accompanied by beneficial results.
Mir. Crafts j. a gentleman Of pleasant adj
dress and commanding appearance. and
seems thoroughly IN earnest In ths work.
When the northern and southern Prcsbytc-
rinn Assemblies mct on the sgme day 10 dis.
tsnt cities tins gentleman laid the proposition
before the former In Phllal olphla in the
forenoon and tho latter in Baltimore In the
afternoon, and both bodies endorsed V. It
Is proposed 10 obtain 1O000.000 signatures.
TIE FEDERATION sCuENE.
The convention very wisely decided to
| enter into the consideration Of the icdeTa.
tion scheme this morning as soon as the
| opening routine Is over. This is perhaps
the most important question with which The
Brotherhood has 70 deal. and iis decision,
one way or another, may greatly affect the
| future prosperity, power. aud usefulness OF
the Oryan.Zation. The members will there
fore await with anxiety and Interest the sell
tiement Of this matter, and even when the
body shall have reached a conclusion, It does
not yet appear with any great degree OF GER
| tsinty what The outcome may be.
The scheme has afforded the ebiei theme
of conversation since the delegates reached
Richmond, and the proposition has many
earnest aud warm supporters IN the BODY,
while 90 the other hand some OF the best
talent will lead the opposition and endeayor
To point ous In what respects this alliance Is
undesirable and unwise as well.
a DiSyQtch reporter yesterday sounded
many Of the delegates on this point, and the
majority appear to favor federation. Cmei
Arthur Is pronounced IN approval Of it, and
he will most probably deliver the opening
Grafton In IT, favor afttr the FIremen's Com
mittee shall haze presented il. The discus
sion on tbs score promises TO be exceeding
is interesting, and it VIII probably occupy
several days, but it cannot yet be predicted
Who will be the speakers. The indications
are that the Dlap will be endorsed after 4
hkht. and il may be amended in some re-
spccts.
The TERMS.
Grand. Master Sargent, Grand-Secretary
Dabbs, and Nlce,Presilent Iiannahln, OF
the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Fremen,
are here as committee 30 present % the
convention the articles Of federation adopted
hy the FIremen in their convention held in
Atlanta, Ga, about a month ago. Each OF
these gentlemen wifi probably be given a