The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-04-23
SIX ORDERS IN ONE.
Employees Of the Consolidated Road
Form a Federation.
Not Organized for Trouble, but to
Become Better Acquainted With
Each Other.
Bu The Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn, April %. - Three
hundred OF the employees of the Consolij
dated Railroad company met here ysster-
day for the purpose of discussing the ad-
visibility of forming a federation TO be
made up of the six labor organizations
into which the employees are divided.
The meeting was purely in the interests
Of employees of the Consolidated, although
there were quite mum ber of guests from
lodges in other parts of the country. .
The organisations represented were the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
the Order of Railway Conductors, Order
of Railroad Trainmen, Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemen, Order of Railroad
Telegraphers and Switchmen's Mutual
Aid association. The question of form
ing q system of federation was fully dis
cussed, and a big majority were in favor
of the proposition. A committee made
up of one mem Der from each Of the or
ganizations was appointed to visit every
lodge throughout the system and report
at further meeting.
An Open Meeting.
At 3 O'Clock in the afternoon public
meeting was held in the Grand Opera
house. c. A. wilkins Of Chicago. as
sistant grand chief conductor of the Order
of Railway Conductors, said that the
meeting did not necessarily mean that
the men were planning n disturbance. AS
n matter of fact, the relations between the
Consolidated and their employees were
entirely pleasant, and nothing was more
remote than the prospect Of trouble be-
tween them. The meeting was simply
for the purpose of becoming acquainted
with each other and ascertaining whether
or not it was the general opinion that a
system Of federation would best cement
the present cordial relations between en-
ployers and employed, and promote the
best interests Of all concerned.
Rev. DIR. Pullman told the men that
the time was coming when there would
be no such thing as strikes, but employers
and employees would be organized into u
common brotherhood.
Church and Labor.
p. H. Morrissey of Galesburg. Ills, first
vice president Of the Order of Railroad
Trainmen, touched on the question of the
relations between the church and the
organizations, and said that il was the
duty of the latter to be closely in touch
with the church. The organizations
themselves would much prefer to hold
their meetings on week days, but owing to
the nature of their employment Sunday
was the only day on which they could
meet. The organizations took pride in
the fact that no infidel or agnostic could
become q mber.
Grand Master Sargent of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen adjured the
men to remain faithful to the obligations
assumed by them on entering their re-
spective organizations, and to faithfully
execute the trust reposed in them by their
employers. He mentioned the fact that
there are now $4,000 members of the
Brotherhood of Firemen and over $4,000
members Of the different railway organi-
cations, comprising the grandest indus
trial army in the world.
A united organization. composed of
conductors, telegraphers and every de-
partment of the road, was formed.
A letter of regret was read from Chief
Arthur of the Brotherhood of Engineers,
who was unable to be present