The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-10-19

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Union Meeting of r. r. Employees.

general meeting of the employees Of
the c. & O. railroad was held in Hunt
ington, w. Va, Oct. 18th. The meeting
was called to order by Mr.. A. F. South
worth of B. l.. E., acting as Chairman,
who introduced the. ReY. W. P. Walker.
D. D., who offered o prayer which was
very impressive and appropriate to the
r. r. Brotherhoods. The Hon. Geo. |.
Neal, Mayor of Huntington, delivered
an address of welcome to the railroad
employees. He said 1t afforded him
great pleasure to welcome the K. K.
Brotherhoods to the Second City of W.
Va. and a great railroad centre. He
said that the growth of Huntington was
due to the railroads and railroad en-
ployees, and for that reason he said that
he welcomed the railroad employees with
more enthusiasm than he had ever vel
coined gathering in Huntington. He
said: ''Gentlemen, extend to you more
privileges than l as Mayor ever extended
to any gathering before; the town is
yours and you are welcome; make your
selves at home"
Next introduced was G. II. Vikings,
Assist Grand Chief of the Conductors
organization, who explained the object
the meeting was to bring about a family
feeling between railroad employees by
exchanging ideas and conversing on
things that are of interest to all organi-
zation in train service. He stated that
owing to circumstances other Grand
Chiefs in train service were unable to be
present. He stated that when he started
his railroad career railroad employees
were looked upon with scorn and that
they were ostracised from society; that
the b. of L. E. was first to organize, and
was soon followed by all the men in train
service, and through the influence of
these organizations the railroad employ
ees had reached their present high stand
ing, that they are esteemed by the pub
lie and their gatherings always heartily
welcomed as they had been in Hunting
ton. In concluding he explained how
the widows and orphans had been bene
fitted by the insurance of the Brother
hoods.
Hon. Eustice Gibson, of Huntington,
was then introduced and after express
ing the regrets of several public men |
who were unable to be present, delivered |
a very appropriate speech, in which he |
showed himself an able orator and a |
firm friend and advocate of labor organi- |
cations and offered many wise sugges-
tions which were duly appreciated.
Hon. w. R. Thompson of Huntington,
who followed, commenced his remarks
by stating that the ground upon which
he was going to speak had been covered
by those preceding him, but that he
was of the opinion that cooperation was
proper move for the Il. r. Brother
hoods: that he believed in the federation
of interests. He remarked that other
trades and professions had organizations
for their protection and he saw no reason
why railroad employees should not fed
crate to protect their labor. He said
that he knew the orders in train service
was not in politics, but when men were
dissatisfied with laws that were against
ballot, and railroad men would receive
the consideration due them if they were
careful with their ballots.
Mr. Thompson was followed by ex
Governor E. w. Wilson of Charleston,
who made very eloquent and witty adj
dress which kept his audience laughing
or applauding continuously He ex-
pressed himself thoroughally in sympa-
thy with the Brothernoods, and said his
kindly feeling for the railroad men was
increased by the remembrance of the
large vote they gave him when he ran
for Governor.
After the Chairman expressed the
thanks of the Brotherhoods to the Mayor
and the other gentlemen who addressed
them the meeting closed, and at 7:30 p.
m. the Brotherhood went into secret
session to consider system. federation and
cooperation, which was amicably ar
ranged to the entire satisfaction of all
concerned.
THE above was kindly furnished us
by Engineer w. E. Snapp, who was in
at the meeting.