Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-03
THEY WILL LFEDERATE
Railway Employees Organizations to
be Under One Jurisdiction.
THE ENGINEERS WILL MEET HERE
In One of the Largest Conventions Ever
Held in This City.
TWO NEW FIRMS SIGN THE IRON SCALE

Arrangements are about completed for
the Twenty-seventh Annual Convention of
the brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers,
which meets in this city Tuesday, October
IA. 1t will be one of the largest meetings
of railway employees ever held in the United
States. There are about 450 divisions,
each of which is entitled to at
least one representative, and many Of the
divisions will send more. 1t is expected
there will be about 1000 delegates here,
and as many of them will bring their wives
and families with them, it will undoubt-
edly be great gathering. Every division
in the United States and Canada will be
represented.
The meetings will be held in Old City
Hall, and it is thought the convention will
last about a week. The most important
Grafton of all railway employees organiza-
tions. The conductors, switchmen, brake
men and fremen have already voted upon
this question, and it remains for the engi-
neers to say whether or not all of these Or
CARNATIONS shall be brought under one
head.
A SECRET BALLOT.
The engineers have already taken popu-
divisions, and this vote will control the rep
resentatives at the October convention.
While the ballot was a secret one, and is not
supposed to be made public, it is thought
the majority of the men are in favor OF the
Federation.
The object of the Federation is to promote
the generalswelfare of the various Brother
hoods; not merely to strengthen them in
numbers so as to be able to force demands,
but to bring the organizations closer together
and put their business affairs under one
head. The main object Is to prevent strikes
where difficulties between the companies and
the men can be settled in q more pleasant
manner.
The law Of the Switchmen's Mutual Aid
Association is that strike can be ordered
by two-third vote of a subordinate lodge,
approved by the Grand Master. In the
other Brotherhoods it is much the same way.
Under the proposed new order of things
grievances will be carried up through
proper channels until they reach General
Executive Board of the Federation, and
only after all efforts of the subordinate
officers have failed can strike be re-
sorted to.
MAINTAINING THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.
The switchmen, brakemen, fremen, en-
gineers and conductors will, as they have
always done, maintain their distinctive
organizations, but will be under the juris-
diction OF the Federation, which through its
officers will have supreme control over the
affairs of the organization.
An effort will be made in the convention
to secure legislation compelling companies
to abandon some of their laws that are held
to be obnoxious and very much out of date.
For instance, there is the examination
through which a man is put when he ap-
plies for position on road. He is severe
ly tested as to his ability to select col
ors and to distinguish shades in
manner, it is claimed, of no prac-
tical use whatever to him. Many
of the roads will not employ a man who is
over 45 years of age. The men desire a
remedy here. They claim the majority of
men are most valuable at that age. Other
matters pertaining to legislation will
but as P. M. Arthur, of Cleveland, has held
the Office Of Grand Chief Engineer ever
since the Brotherhood was formed there is
not likely to be any change there. The
other grand officers are: First Grand En- |
gineer, T. s. Ingaham; Second Grand En-
gineer, Deloss Everett; First Grand Assist |
ant Engineer. H. c. Hays.
STOPPED BY RAIN.
There was to have been meeting of the |
local committee of arrangements last night |
at the house of E. B. Martin, 213 Bidwell |
street, Allegheny, but the heavy |
rain storm prevented them from securing |
quorum. The committee, however, has |
about completed its work. On the opening |
day it is expected that Mayor Gonrley |
will welcome the delegates on behalf |
of the city and Governor Beaver on |
the part of the State. A committee
on transportation has secured passes for |
the delegates and their families over the |
various lines centering in the city. During |
the convention excursions have been ar
ranged for to take the visitors to the various
points of interest in the city and up the
river on an excursion. One day
has been set aside for q trip
to Altoona, where the shops
of the Pennsylvania Railroad will be in
spected. The Pennsylvania Company has
offered the use of special Pullman train to
take the delegates out. The officers of the
local committee are: Chairman, f. x.
Adams, of Iron City Division No. 14S
CHARTERS; Secretary, G. G. Brainard, S. s.
Brown Division No. $40, Hazelwood; Treas
urer, William Jordan, keystone Division
No. 293, of Allegheny.
While the Brotherhood of Engineers are
here the Ladies' Auxiliary will also be in
session. in Allegheny. This organization is
composed of the wives of engineers, and its
principal object is to care for the wives and
families of engineers in case Of accident or
death. The president of the auxiliary is
Mrs. w. A. Murdoch, of Chicago, and the
secretary is Mrs. Harry st. Clair, also of
Chicago.