The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-16
The Eng,neers' Request for Aid.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal.
In your issue of Friday. the 18th inst. APP
peared short comm unication, signed Charity"
well calculated to do many worthy citizens of
Indianapolis great injustice. No greater mis-
take could be made than TO intimate that loco
motive engineers and firemen court idleness or
ask for charity. They are everywhere self
supporting Woodworking honorable men and
good citizens, who know their rights and have
the courage of their convictions. For CHARITY"
to insinuate anything to the contrary shows that
he is totally ignorant of the men he refers to.
and doubt if Charity" has the manliness to
give his name to the public
At union meeting of the engineers and fire.
men, held Sunday evening, the 9Th inst, when
at least four hundred of these engine men. were
assembled, it was determined to solicit aid from
such of the citizens of Indianapolis might be
disposed TO contrlb butte. not for charity. not TO
promote idleness or mendicancy. but to enable
men, long and deeply wronged, to secure their
rights from a corporation which, by the trick of
classification. managed to rob its engineers of
not less than 100000 annually. money honestly
earned by them, and which, by considerations
venal as ever influenced men to perpetrate
wrong was withheld Aud what is true of the
mercenary practices of the Chicago, Burlington
g Quincy roads towards the engineers. is equally
true in the treatment of its fremen and the Pc
cunary wrongs inflicted upon these two classes
of wage-men enriched the corporation to an
amount of not less than $500 600 year
Locomotive engineers and fremen ask OF the
press only fair statement of the case in their
struggle with the Chicago, Burlington 81 Quincy,
and this done, they challenge criticism. In q
case where the right is struggling against the
wrong. every citizen who has the welfare of
ciety at heart afford to do something to
maintain the right. The c., B. 81 @. corpora
tion perpetrated most outrageous wrong
against its engineers and fremen, wrong
glaring that even Charity" if he is not
blinded by prejudice. should it, and
nounce it. To aid the wronged men to obtain
justice, is not q contribution to idleness, but to
working men. Il 10 not difficult task to fit
tngly characterize men who tamely submit
when they know they the victims of wrong
and injustice. and when men become cegen-
crate, SO craven, that they will not contend for
principle, they become abiect to q degree which
in this country is alarming; and when
munlty ignores appeal for aid to maintain
righs and justice, and is willing to its work
ing men crushed and defrauded. a condition of
things has been reached well calculated to cre-
ate anxiety.
There are in indianapolis not less than 1000
locomotive engineers aud firemsn. For Char
ity' to insinuate that these men favor idleness
or ask for charity is redeemed from vicioushess
only by It's stupidity. These men earn not less
than 81 900, 900 annually, nearly all of which
goes into the channels of trade; and it Is only
necessary to say, if q movement were set on
foot the part of their employers to rob them
of quarter of that sum. society would be pro-
foundly interested, and would seek by various
methods put a stop the iniquity. The c., B.
q O.. as have shown has robbed its employees
of money honestly earned, and in resisting the
wrong the engineers and 6remen on that road
have the Sympathy OF the engineers and fremen
of Indianapolis. The fight is for principle of
right. of justice. Of fair dealing 1t is for honest
wages for honest work, and any citizen of In
dianapolis who contributes money TO aid the
defrauded men OF the c., b. @. honors him.
SELF. honors his city, dignifss labor and contrib
utes to the future welfare of Indianapolis The
two great Brotherhoods of Locomotive Engineers
and Locomotive Firemen are not mendicant
ders. Amidst ceaseleas perils, the members OF
these examinations earn their money They
take care of their sick and disabled N emb ers;
they bury their dead. and the widow and the
orphan cared for; they do not ask for char
ity; they are not found in tho haunts OF idlers,
and when any corporation wrongs them, blew
is aimed at the peace and prosperity of society;
and when men contribute aid them to main
tain their rights, their donations go to maintain
PRINCIPLES as vital as any fundamental truth
upon which the welfare of society rests.
FRANK b. ALLEY, Committee.