Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-15
The President Turns Out a Grist OF
Nominations.
WITCTIMEN In CONVENTION.
A Workman Who Deprecates
Needless Strikes.
THE DAYS NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
A swITCHMAN's SPEECH.
Important Convention OF Switchmen in
Buffalo Today.

BrFFaLo. " Y, Sept la-Noarly two hum
dred delegates representing nearly every rail-
road system in the United States and Canada
are here This morning to participate in the an
nual convention Of the Switchmen's Mutual Aid
Association OF North America. In view Of the
numerous local strikes which have taken place
IN dlierent parts OF the country during the
past year. and OF the fact that the
representatives. OF the grand lodge of the
order Participated IN the recent conference
o. the Federation OF Railroad employees at
Ierre hauie. which declined 90 order out its
employees IN aid OF the knights OF Labor, the
present convention Is by all odds the most i'm
portant ever held under the auspicis Of the
order. To quote one OF the members OF the
grand lodge: I've, in common with othnr rail-
ROAD orders. have reached point where the
utmost wisdom and skill is required 20 safely
pliot the order through the dangers which
threaten II within the coming wear That other
orders have the same grave questions
to face can be no consolation 60 US nor can IL
inspire MS with confidence 20 meet them. We
alone are responsible for the fate of onr or
ganizailon and no friendly hand from any other
order can move one single stone from our path
way. The dangers arise within the orders
themselves and must be met and overcome by
their own membership or the story of another
labor organization on the rocks will be re-
peated."
The official headquarters OF the grand officer,
Tor tie nth annual conclave are at the Genesee
House, which was besiegcd throughout the
early hours by delegates from distant parts OF
the country. At this afternoons session Of the
convention Switchman Frank Sweeny OF Chi
cago delivered his annual address, which. in
part was as follows:
Our efforts TO bind together consciously
those whom nature and the laws of social de-
velopment have subjected 10 the same process
huherings or pleasure have hitherto been
crowned with success 10 such "A degree that
even the most sanyuine hopes have been left
behind. In consideration of our hazard
ous occupation and the amount Of work
VIC are expected to perform We re-
quire OF our employers nothing that
Justice and equality do not countenance IL 10
not unreasonable TO ask fair days pay for a
faIr days work. or TO demand little rest from
the exhaustive labOrs. or the time 20 get Rc-
qualnted with our families and renew the ac-
quaintance about once a week. Yet there are
railroad officials on record refusing faithful
ana trustworthy employees who have grown gray
IN the service of the company even a hear
ing II complaints are made that should call for
an investigation. Ii In the prime aim and OBJ
Jcct OF the Switchmen's Mutual AID Associa-
ton to alleviate that distress OF those only too
numerous uniortunates who have become in
capacltated from work at their trade by one Of
those accidents which are so common among
our craft. That IL has carried out tins primo
object and relieved untold distress can be
proved by the thousands and thousands Of
dollars paid out of our treasury for death and
total disability claims TO widows and orphans
OF our unfortunate brothers, as well a. for as
slstance OF the brothers themselves.
WORD ABOUT sTRIKEs.
"As to strikes desire to be explicit in order
that our position may be fully understood. IL
Is erroneous TO suppose that the labor organi-
cations are in favor of strikes OF iomenting
Trouble. The very reverse is true. The better
organized trade is the less trouble do en-
pioyers experience with their employees
In the first place no strike can be or
dered by any lodge in our organization without
first obtaining the sanction of the highest
officers OF the association. IL a grievance
exists on any railroad our laws require that q
committee must endeasor % have coafor-
ence with the officials Of the road and use
every honorable effort 10 bring about an ami
cable adjustment OF the question. Failing in
this effort they must cali IN the grand master
OF the association, TO whom the grievance
must be submitted and who thereupon will
once more endeayor to induce the officials
TO come 90 understanding on a p.ace-
able basis. If this effort also fails then is
the time 20 bring up the question OF striking.
The local lodge will not have the backing from
the association unless the grand master sane
tions the strike, AMI the latter is supposed TO
be impartial enough and above local preju-
dices 80 as not 60 give his sanction TO a strike
unless the grievance is of sufficient gravity to
warrant such radical measure. IL is my cx-
periencc that wherever the officials will meet
anu Heat with inc men there has never been
any necessity OF a resort TO extreme measures
and whenever radical measures are taken YOU
may be sure that II II because the respective
railroad officials refuse TO give the complaints
of the men proper consideration. I say. al
Vlsedly, that II is refusal TO even consider tho
grievance which IN most cases leads TO trouble
not refusal TO grant whatever NAV be asked.
never knew of a working man who wanted
strike until he was driven TO il by absolute
necessity. There have been some strikes which
do not answer to this description. They must
be attributed TO errors OF judgment in the Sc
lection of men TO manage the common affairs
of the craft"