Los Angeles herald., 1890-10-20
THE TRAINMEN.
Their Convention Which Will Com
mence This Evening.

The seventh annual convention of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the
largest organization OF railroad employees
in the world, opens in this city this
evening, and will in all probability last
about ten days. OF the 3S4 delegates
who are expected to attend, from all
over the United States and part of Can
ada, large number have already ar
rived, and are domiciled with their
wives, and in many cases their families,
at the various hotels and lodging houses.
The local branch of the brotherhood,
Paradise lodge No. "a, has been busily
engaged for the past week in making
arrangements for the reception and ac-
commodation of the visiting delegates,
and as they have been promised the
hearty support and cooperation of
Mayor Hazard and the city council,
their efforts will assuredly be crowned
with success.
The merchants and business men were
requested by the mayor, in a circular
issued on Friday last, to decorate their
places of business today in recognition
of the honor conferred upon the city by
the order, in selecting it as the place in
which to hold its convention, and the
request will doubtless be complied with.
The programme for today consists of a
grand street parade at 8 O'Clock, in
which the various societies of the city
have been invited to participate, fol-
lowed by reception at Hazards
Pavilion in the evening, at which ad-
dresses will be made by a number of
prominent citizens.
The brotherhood was organized at
Oneonta, N. Y, September %, 1885, by
eight brakemen, for their mutual bene-
fit. 1t now has a total membership of
10000, and is comprised of conductors,
baggagemen, brakemen and switchmen
from every road in the United States.
There are over $40 lodges in the order,
and each will send at least one delegate
to the convention.
The object is to unite the railroad
men, not only for their mutual protec-
ton, but also for their social and moral
elevation. Since it's organization it has
adjusted innumerable grievances for
conductors, yardmasters, brakemen and
switchmen very successfully, without
resorting to single strike. Its mem
bers receive weekly benefits in case of
sickness, and disability or death entitle
the family of the unfortunate member
to a claim of $1,000 cash.
The brotherhood of trainmen is a
member of the united order of railway
employees, which embraces B. of r. c.,
S. M. A. and B. L. F., representing in
the federation over fifty thousand men
in the train, yard and engine service.
The list of officers. all of whom will
be in attendance, is as follows
Grand master, S. E. Wilkinson of Gales
burg, ILL.,; first vice-grand master, P. H.
Morrissey, Galesburg, H.; second vice.
grand master, T. Y. Slattery, Butte,
Mont. third vice-grand master, G. N.
Turrell, Savannah, Ga. w. A. Sheahan,
grand secretary and treasurer, Gales
burg, Ill. These officers are supple
mented by "a grand board of trustees.
The business to be transacted at the
convention consists for the most part OF
the election of officers for the ensuing
year, settling of disputed claims, and
revising the constitution of the order.
The badge of the order is gold
brake wheel and coupler, on which thu
mystic letters B. r. T. are engraved.