The morning call., 1890-09-09
VISITING FIREMEN.
A Reception Given Them at the
Bijou Theater.
Words of Welcome by the Governor, the Mayor
and 0thers-Tha Grand Masters BIZ
eunial Address.

| Der OF ABOUT lUUU ATTENDED,, anu ny lTeQueul
and hearty bursts of applause manifested
their appreciation of the programme which
had been arranged for their entertainment.
The musical part of the latter consisted of
! operate elections and Railroad Galop'
dedicated TO Grand Master Sargent by r.
l.. Yanke. The exercises opened with a
briet prayer by Rev. w. W. Case, after
which G. II. Nevens introduced Mayor f.
| Z. Pond, who delivered brief address of
welcome.
The Mayor was followed by Governor
| Waterman, Thomas X. Fitch, NJ. A. Dorm
and d. j. Brown. The address of Mr.. Dorm,
in behalf of the Native Sons of the Golden
| West, went straight to the hearts of the fire
men and the speaker was frequently cheered
| to the echo.
The biennial address was delivered by
| Frank p. Sargent Grand Master of the
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Firemen. His
! effort was a masterpiece, and the Brother
| hood OF Firemen may we'll be proud of their
| able and conservative leader. Upon being
introduced, Ar. Sargent said:
THE GRAND MASTERS ADDRESS.
Gathered in this assembly of distinguished
| men and beautiful women are the representatives.
| Of HE Brotherhood OF Locomotive fEemen WHO
| have jourutyed from the rock bound coast OF
Maine, where the orb of light first starts on its
daily Journey, casting us rays alike upon tUt just
| and unjust, The rich and the poor, the man OF
leisure ana The man of toll from tie north where
the sturdy sous WELD the AK 10 fell the forest
trees furnishing lie material to construct shell
Ter for tile use of man; from lie balmy south
where nighIiug les aud orioles minele their notes
with the songs of The cotton pl ckers and cane
gaIherers; and from The west where, by eneg y
and thrill the plains have been populated and
the Cesett caused 10 bloom with the choicest of
natures productions; The seemingly impossible
mountains penetrated by the ingenuity and pei
severance OF man TO the Golden Gate, the mecca
OF the gonaut, 10 be received with open arms
by the Inhabitants of one of The most enterprls
Ing hosnllable cities OF Amerlca-lhe metropolis
OF Sau Francisco
know l speak the sentiments of the brother
hood here assembled when l say We are glad,
thrice glad 10 be the guests OF such people as the
citizens OF The City OF the Golden Gate. he
welcome of his EXcellency, The Governor, has
won its way TO every heart and made us almost
wish we were his subjects, residents IN his DO
man His Honor Tie Mayor, who has greeted
Us so warmly upon our entrance INTO the city,
fully conveys 10 US the true fellowship and
kindly feeling OF The people with whom we are TO
sOj0ufn for Il few days While performing service
III the interests Of our constituency, the Brother
hood of Locomotive kiremen, and am confident
that The organization could have selected 10 BET.
ter place for The second biennial session OF the
Grand Body than IN the Golden Stale and within
the portals OF the Golden Gate.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen is an
organization OF labor. It's membership is made
NJ OF men who earn their bread by the sweat of
lhelr brow; honest toilers III Gods universe,
proud OF the vocation they follow, and gentlemen
day represents this class of men.
AN ERA OF ORGANIZATION.
In his day and generation, there Is no subject
that comes mOIe prominently before the leOple
than that OF organization. 1t Is au era of OfgaulZ-
alton. Societies are being formed among all
classes and natioualitleS OF mankind, but those
that receive the most attention, the closest
scrutiny, are the labor organizations. such is
The Brotherhood OF Locomotive FiremeD, aud to-
day We come before you and the people OF Cali
fornla and lay our aims aud nuri oseS before you.
EnnUtDpr IN WNtph an
Is engaged is one that comments Itself 10 all
fighImlnded men.
First oig9niZed in 1878, as a benevolent asso-
citation, 10 provide means for the support of
those Of its membership, who, through sickness
or accident were in need OF aid, and In case of
death support for widow ana Child, mother or
sister, in the year 1885 The brotherhood be-
came a labor organization, and adopted pro-
tectige policy On what Is commonly known as
striking platform. Up 10 that time We had done
much good in the way of charity, but II was
iOund the time had arrived when The locomotive
fremen should protect their tights as working
men; maintain good wages and command fair
treatment at the hands OF their employers.
What has led The brotherhood of Locomotive
Fliemen 10 change its policy and become a pro-
lecuve organization What causes labor to
organize? The total disregard OF corporations
OF The rights OF WGrkingmen. 10 be allowed the
privilege of being locomotive fireman in the
employ OF some railroad corporation was re
garded rs all the rights fireman had; that lie
had 10 ight 10 set Il price upon his Labor; that
no matter how long and faithfully lie might serve
corporation he lad 10 right 10 promotion, and |
II tue CuulIdly saw Ill 10 MN ne was NOT
allowed 10 ask The reason why, and If he did ask, |
no satisfaction was given him.
NOT ADVOCATES OF STRIKES.
master mechanic OF rOund.hOuse foreman !
swell d up with lis own cOncelt, treated locom0- |
tive hremen not as men, but as slaves and when |
fireman dared approach The general manager, |
where, as general rule, we now hnd justice
dealt UuT, he was referred back to this arrogant
subordinate aud of went his head for having
had the moral courage 10 assert his rights as a
free American Citizen THIS Is what caused The
frfn tfrfnf.d
gather up and DISPOSE of some OF the abomina-
tons that were pIactlced upon its members.
We do not advocate strikes III our entire his
tory as an organization We have always eGdeay-
ored 10 avoid them. We believe That VIXEN
locomotive htemen have just grievance they
have a tight 10 90 TO lheir employers and make
known their complaint, and seek redress
by personal appeal through a committee of
hremen. We do not believe i'll making unjust
demands, nor do we fail 10 remember that cor
pofatons have certain rights which we as EN-
plOyes are bound TO respect but am TO
bring about, by mutual understanding, by arbi-
tration by communion between official and
empuye, satisfactory settlement OF all our
grievances and, II possible 10 avoid strike, yet
We wish all to know that we have striking ma.
chinery and We Keep il well oiled.
FIVE years have elapsed since The brotherhood
began 10 look after the wages OF lis members, |
aud protect them when uujustly assalled. rem
state them when discharged without SUFFICIENT
cause and give attention 10 subordinate officers
who take advantage of the little authority vested
10 them TO make all honest mau's lie almost I'M
bearable.
NOTHING UNFAIR Is ASKED.
Sometimes II has been our painful duty TO be
called and use what little ability we possessed |
and the authority invested In us to convince the
officers Of the business OF the claim OF the men,
and We believe little has been accomplished.
lor II IS on record. sened by the President and
General Manager, as the case might be- but IL
has always been our aim to ask nothing unfair;
10 be ready 10 meet the corporation III a friendly
spirit ana II possible, TO obtain what we believe
is just for the men we represent Yet when we
meet man who is devoid of reason, who will not |
give his employees what Is acknowledged 10 be
fair then III my official capacity and with all the
az M? command we VIII WELD the |
WeaIon organized labor has provided for It's MEM
bership-sttike and strike hard.
II that Is wrong, then | have no faith In the |
ultimate triumph of labor With the weapon at |
hand sheathed but not drawn except when every
other measure has tailed with men counselUrs
aud leaders WHO are rational In their understands
ing OF the rights OF labor. with true to obi
CATION, faithful in the discharge OF every duty
SOBER, industrious coming IN TO tue full stature OF
true manhood, the laD0rlng classes Will ultimately
gain that recognition at the hands OF corporations |
and employers that Will give them good wages
lay ASIDE OF their earnings so that when cd age
comes they can rest from their labors and enjoy
ne blessings OF ell-spent life OF toll
| have no fOrebOdngs OF evil, rather see a
bright future for all woikfDgmen. With honest
men al The head OF organizations, and such prac.
tlcai oincia!s ID charge OF the railways as the
gentlemen 10 whom we, representatives to
this second biennial session, are under 50 many
obligations and one OF whom California is proud |
uho "Hoin every fdHfOau man eSleemS, MIR. A. n. |
Iowne, with 81. John. Miller, Sloan, Mellen,
Harahan, Hallstead, Hewitt CLappell, Ingalls,
and others, who regard men in their employ as
entitled 10 hearing when they call upon Ihem
all differences Will be adjusted in an amlcable
way peace and harmony will prevail; but if Tie
CORPORATIONS conceive, bring to light and raise up
CoiDhs, Stones, Gowans and men Of like charac- |
Ter, who regard au honest workingmau as
Save 10 DO their bidding, with no tights but to |
accept what they offer, or quit, then organiza-
IONS VIII assert their authority. and the strength |
OF Iedei alton VIII be manifested
AT PEACE WITH THE WORLD.
am pleased 10 be In a position to report at |
this time that the Brotherhood Of Locomotive
tiremen is at peace with all the world we cher
lsh no III Will toward any one; our friends we
and hope by a faithful adherence 10
those tnnoblng principles which form the motto,
VIZ: Protection, Charity, Sobfiety and Industry,
10 retain their friendship and grow In their es-
.eem. For our enemies we have The kindest
feeling as an organization, and We hope the day
v III come when The good spirit will so work upon
heir Denighted understandings that they Will |
eallze that The brotherhood Is organized for a
loDe and unselflsh puTpose-that of eevating |
ia nix ind.
My brothers. you who have been selected from
80 many as delegates 10 the meeting of The grand