Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-09-20
THE sWlTCHMEN.

WfiA ANNUAL Conclavo OF Their Order M
I4to--The Most Important Convention
lu thN History of the Organization.
bvrrALo, N. Y, Sept. 16.--Nearly zoe
tsIcta' IS, representing nearly every
e.rosl system in tho United States
end 1.a lda, are here to participate in
,ne aHnual convention of the Switch.
mons Mutual Aid Association OF North
America. In view of the numerous local
strikes which have taken place in diff
ferent parts OF the country during the
past year, and of the fact that the rep
resentatives of the Grand Lodge of the
order participated in tho recent confer
ence Of the Federation of Railway EN-
ployes at Terre Haute, Ind, and which
declined to order out it's employees in aid
of the Knights OF Labor, the present
convention is by all odds the most i'm
portant ever held under the auspices OF
the order. To quote one of the NOM
bers OF the Grand Lodge:
"We, in common with other railroad
orders, have reached a point where the
utmost wisdom and skill is required to
safely pilot the order through the dam
gers which threaten IL within the COM
ing year. That other orders have the
same grave questions to face can be no
consolation to us, nor can it inspire us
with confidence to meet them. We alone
are responsible for the fate of our or
ganization, and no friendly hand from
any other order can move one single
stone from our pathway. The dangers
arise within the orders themselves and
must bo met and overcome by their own
membership, or the story OF another
labor organization on the rocks will be
repeated"
The convention was called to order in
Central Labor Union Hall at two
o'clock Monday afternoon. The exer-
cises were preluded by street parade
in which about 1000 men, comprising
lodges of switchmen, trainmen, firemen,
the Grand Lodge officers and delegates
and alternates participated. After the
parade the delegates repaired to Music
Hall, where Mayor Bishop delivered an
address of welcome. Grand Master
Sweeney made reply. Addresses were
also made by Hon. William F. Sheehan
and District Attorney Quinby. Sessions
will be held morning and afternoon
every day except Wednesday afternoon,
when an excursion to Niagara Falls will
be made. The business sessions will all
be secret, but press committee will
give out for publication such action Of
the convention as it may deem advisa-
Bile to make known.
Quaker City Lodge No. 7S, of Philadel-
phia, presented q resolution, which was
unanimously adopted in which the Su-
preme Council of the Federation Of Rail-
way Employees was indorsed for its ac-
tion in the New York Central strike,
and also the position taken by the grand
lodge officers in the recent Chicago
trouble, and recommended Grand Mas
ter Sweeney for reelection. The tele-
gram to the convention from Grand
Master Sargent Of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemon, states that the
convention of that body in San Francis
CO has unanimously indorsed the admin
istration of tho grand lodge officers
Grand Master Sweeney was asked IL
he will present report on the meeting
of the Federation at Terre Haute. "rhe
minutes OF the conference will be read" :"
he replied, 'but they will not be given
to the public" When asked if tho as
sociation as a body approved of the ac-
tion of the Federation in declsling to
order general tie-up, Mr.. Sweeney re-
piled: sit indorses it unanimously"