Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-29
AUTONOMY THE WORD
The Twenty-Seventh Annual Conven-
tion of Engineers to Close by
DECIDING AGAINST FEDERATION.
Chief Arthur, on Retiring, Will be Asked
to Accept the Office Of
GENERAL COUNSELLOR TO THE ORDER

But morning session Of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers Convention wal
held yesterday, the afternoon being giver
up to an excursion to Wilmerding, where
the airbrake works were visited. Of the
three remaining officers to be elected two
were chosen; George r. Dority, OF Division
81, Charleston, Mass, reelected Grand
Chaplain, and R. NJ. Clark, Division 1856
| Denver, as Grand Guide The remaining
official will be selected to-day.
There will be no convention held next
year. The time Of the year for holding the
annual meeting has been changed to MAY,
and as very considerable expense is at
| tached to each convention, the next will not
be held until May, 1892. Atlanta, Ca, will
be selected as the place. The visit to Viii.
merding had more interest for the delegates
than anything they have yet seen here.
They were afforded opportunity of witness
ing the construction OF the brakes which en-
ables them to keep their trains under such
complete control, and, as one of them re-
marked: SIT was one OF the best practical
lessons ever received.".
LAST OF THE CONVENTION.
This is the last excursion the convention
will allow its members to take. AS it was,
there was considerable opposition to those
undertaken, on the ground that the members
were here for business and not Sightseeing 1t
is likely that in future years the lost days will
be very few, the feeling being prevalent that
the expense of each additional day could be
better directed to other purposes
The proceedings of this convention will be
concluded tomorrow night. or at farthest in a
morning session on Friday. The only matter
of public interest to be decided is that of fed
Grating with the Federation of Railway EN-
ployes. While there is said to be no unanimity
oil the matter, sufficient has been said to war
rant the statement that the Brotherhood will
retain their autonomy. This decision is based
on the feeling that its present high position as
an organization is essentially due to the
Brotherhood minding its own business, and
legislating solely in the direction of the
interests of its own members. 1t has pursued
conservative policy from the start. and, under
its present leaders, there is no probability of
this policy being departed from. Delegates
are very free in giving all credit to Chief
Arthur for his efforts in guiding the organiza
tion, through many shoals and quicksands to
its present position. He has now been at the
head of affairs for IL years. and his attitude on
the question of a surrender of his organjza.
tion's individua ality in favor of an amalgamation
with others, SO we'll known as being strongly
opposed to federation, had its weight with the
delegates who saw in the scheme an accession
OF strength without any we'll Defined gain 10
the Brotherhood.
EACH LEFT TO GOVERN ITSELF.
The question of system federation will be
left to the Board of Adjustment and the chair
men of divisions of each road. Where an
affiliation is deemed advisable limited feder-
alton with other railroad organizations contin-
ing their operations to the road on which their
members employed will be prosecuted.
This is a matter on which the employees of each
road are allowed to act as they deem best.
In selecting an assistant TO the Grand Chief
in the person of Mi. A. b. Youngson, of Mead
vile, the convention chose such a man as would
pursue the existing policy of the organization.
assume the functions of the Grand Chief and
uphold the traditions Of the office. 1t was
said last night that the Grand Chief might not
fill his full term of Office and that he might re.
sign at the expiration Of another year; In this
event. however, the Brotherhood will not be
deprived of his services. A resolution is at
present before the convention creating the
Oftice of Counselor 20 the organization, and
this, with an adequate salary attached, MIR.
Arthur will be invited to accept. 1t is said that
position that the Brotherhood will use every
effort to induce him to accept it: SO strong is
the feeling that the organization cannot afford
to be without his advice.
The convention this year distributed $4,000 |
in charity, exclusive, of course, of the distribu-
tions by the insurance department.
1t is also interesting to note that the entire |
profits from the publication of the official or |
gan. the brotherhood of Locomotive E,,1ineeyy |
Journal, are distributed in the same direction.
between 900 to Sl4, 600 The Journal has a |
monthly issue of 10000 copies, and each MEM
Der of the Brotherhood is entitled to CODY. |
Grand Secretary Harry q. Hays is the editor. ,