The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-08-29
A LEyEI-AEADED MAN
Is the Chief of tho BrothOrhood-A Prae-
tIcal Talk by Him.

teal Talk by Him.
F. NJ. Arthur, the grand chief Of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers,
was introduced by Chairman Dufey,
and spoke as follows:
at is extremely gratifying to me to
be present on this occasion. have
read a great deal about labor organiza-
tions, and / have heard many argu-
ments for and against them. take
this position: AS the tree is known by
its fruit, SO men are known by their
works, and societies Of every name are
known by what theydo. While l stand
here as the champion and defender Of
the Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engi-
neers. want you to understand that |
am also the champion OF all organized
labor, conducted on sound principles.
/ concede TO others the same rights and
privileges that l claim, have my
views and opinions US to tho best
methods of conducting labor organiza-
tons. We find ourselves often criticised
by members OF other organized bodies
OF workingmen, because we don't think
as they do. Any man who will not
concede to others tho privilege he
claims for himself, is an enemy to organ
lied labor.
"This is my position on the labor
question, and l can point with pride,
without being egotistical, to the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers.
We have had our trials, our conflicts
and our difficulties. We have been
threatened by enemies from within and
by foes without. But by patient toll,
after twenty.eight years of hard labor,
we stand before the country entitled to
the respect of every right thinking
man. Why? Because We respect our
selves, and self-respect always COM
mands respect from others.
I'm they 1868 twelve men founded
the organization and adopted the motto
which you all know, and have followed
the Golden Rule; DO unto others as
you would have others do unto you
II we could impress upon others, en-
ployer and employe, the beauty and
the Justice of this rule, what a happy
family we would be.
"From that little band OF twelve men,
in twenty-elght years, we now have 800
subdivisions, and membership OF 3d.
600, Canada and Mexico included. Our
organization represents 30 per cent Of
thelocomotive engineers OF those coun-
tries and of our own.
'fWhat have we done for the benefit
OF the families of the locomotive engi-
neers? 1 was locomotive engineer, and
Iknow what railroad men were before
the Brotherhood was established. have
seen men get on their engines while un-
der the influence OF liquor. In the early
days every eating house habits bar, and
the train crews ate and drank free.
1.-THE avowed purpose OF the Brother
hood is to better the condition OF the
men. Any man must have one years
experience as an engineer before he
will be admitted to the Brotherhood.
He must be man OF sober habits, and
alter his admission he must behave
himself, or he will be expelled. We
endeavor to furnish the railroad com!
panies with sober, reliable men.
Eve commenced to publish maya
zine and on January l, 1867, the first
number appeared. We now have
circulation OF 5000 copies monthly.
We have life insurance on the assess
ment plan, and have paid out S., 000, 900.
We disburse annually from twelve to
fifteen thousand dollars to the families
OF needy members. Is not the organi-
cation which does that entitled to the
respect and admiration OF right think
ing menu
1--WE have had strikes. Hope the time
will never come, when we will say, that
under no circumstances will We strike.
consider the strike last resort, but
whenevor We had ono, it was caused by
injustice on the part of railroad man
ayers. II they had been as willing to
meet us half way, as we were to meet
them, no strike would have occurred.
We have always been willing to arbi-
trate disputes, and hold that the only
proper way. A man who WON'T con-
sent to arbitration, cannot have good
cause to plead. The government passes
laws to punish US Tor stealing or COM
hitting any other crime, and it has
right to establish board of arbitra-
ton, and to compel parties, who can't
agree, to submit to it, In not having
already established this board the gov
eminent is derelict in its duty. When
We had our great strike on the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy railroad, We agreed
to submit our cause to the arbitration
Of three railway managers. But the
managers OF that line Of railroad, whom
approached with d view to agreeing. to
arbitration, said: Our men have left
Us. We have nothing TO arbltrate.' My
theory has always been, as in the
words OF Holy Writ: Come, now. let
us reason together.'
attribute the success OF the Brother
hood to our policy of non-interference
with others, and our carrying out OF our
promises to our employers Labor or
aanizations are the hope and the salva-
ton Of the laboring man. II could
have my way, labor would be so organ
ized. that, in case Of difficulty, no man
could be found to take another's place.
AZ 1t is now, the place OF the striker is
frequently soon filled by another.
Many times has labor aided capital to
defeat labor.
NCapiial and labor are one; their in
terssts are the same, and the sooner we
iiGprcss that fact on both, the better
for our country it will be. Let capital
and labor go hand in hand, but let labor
be organized, so that il can protect
itself from imposition by organized
capital"
6hief, Arthur soundly scored the
habits OF some railroad men, who sit
around tho round house or in the
caboose, and spend their leisure mo.
mcnts playing cards He cautioned
them to avoid wasting their spare time,
and advised them to spend It in read
ing and the pursuit OF knowledge.
"Ry your daily walk" he concluded,