The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-20
low The oRpeR BEGAN.
Origin of the brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers.

great organizations are generally remem-
bered by the class of people who are most
benefited by them, but once in a while at
tention is called to the fact that great
benefactor is being neglecte !, has quietly
disappeared or has long been dead. Tho
truth of this statement was brought to the
mind of the writer recently by q CONVEX
sation with MAI" Mccormick, a retired
canal boatman, who is known from one
end of the Erie canal to the other.
Among the thousands of locomotive en-
gineers in the United States and Canada
to-day, it is doubtful if there is one dozen
who have met one of the Il brave fellows
who organized the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers in the city OF Detroit
| way back in the sixties, or. i'll fact, that
there are not more than 100 who were
on the road in those trying times to the
| rairoader. Since those DAYS the strap
rail has given place TO the 1UO-pound steel
track. and the little 14x20 engines weighs
ing 25 10 30 tons to the monster moguls of
so to 100 tons weight.
The II men who organized the Brother
| hood have scattered IN all directions, and
| If they ever again assemble in one room
it will be in the great hereafter, aftey they
have been judged for the deeds or mis-
deeds performed on earth. Some of them
have gone to their long home, having met
| violent deaths while at their post of duty;
others drifted away from tho railroad
| into other business, and one, at least, is
to-day resting upon his oars, having
saved penny or two for old age. One of
| the contest homes in tho beautiful city OF
| Rochester, n. Y, is that of Mat McCor-
mick. 1t is on Briggs place, IN the vest
ern part of the city. and there Mat lives
| hic ,s.if ii nbtlIran with
concern, apparently, for railroads, canals
or any other line of business.
II used to have a good memory" said
the veteran railroader, land it is not very
bad now. but have forgotten many of
tine little incidents which led to the revolt
of the men. / recollect, enough, however,
to suit the purpose and will tell you my
| story.
III was in the fore part of May-I don't
| recollect tho exact date-in 1868 when l
was invited to meet several of the boys in
a room of the building OH Jefferson avenue
| in the city OF Detroit. We had long been
subjected to good deal of abuse by the
railroad off Gals, and ii was decided to
| get few of the best known men together,
| talk tho matter over and see if we
couldn't organize in some way and
overcome the difficulties. / was rum
ning on the Grand Trunk at the
| time, and so was Dick Van Allen,
who had been selected with myself to
| epresent thai road al the meeting. Dick
and | went to the room together, and
there we met w. ID. Robinson, Fred
Wortsmith, Ell Harrison. Linus Keith,
George Q. Adams, Sam Hill, Ed Nlckles,
| Hank H,iford and two others, but can't
call their names to mind. Robinson was
In. 81, toll
he made a ringing speech. lie went into
the details of our grievances at length,
and when he concluded the foundation
stone of the Brotherhood of Eng neers
had been laid. After further remarks We
all arose and joined hands, and Robinson
read the obligation, walking around the
circle of the men as he read and laying
his right hand upon the clasped hands.
"The scene was an impres-ive one, and
it will always remain und.mmed in my
memory SO long as / have my senses.
| Robinson read but few words at a time,
and then paused for us to repeat them.
The obligation having been taken we pro-
ceeded to- elect officers. We, OF course.
honored Robinson by elect ng him oh eff
engineer. George Adams was elected as
sistant chief, Ell Harrison secretary. and
they selected me for third assistant
engineer. During the balloting for oflic-
ers ii happened in an amusing way that
was the only representative of the Grand
Trunk. Dick Van Allen was taken with
n severe attack of bleeding at the nose.
| He left the room and was unable to re-
turn. l don't suppose l would have been
made an officer if it hadn't been for
Dicks nose. The rest of the business
transacted ut the famous meeting con-
sisted OF the appointment of n committee
to select hall in which to hold meetings.
We finally adjourned subject to the call
of Chief Robinson.
"The next meeting was held in n hall
which the committee engaged on the left
hand side of Jefferson avenue, just above
Woodward avenue, and there many q
red-hot meeting was held during 1868 and
1861.
"You talk about the Lexow committee
showing up the New York police as bride.
takers. don't think they are to he com
pared with u fellow we had to deal witt
on the Grand Trunk in the early days oil
the brotherhood. They have had som6
daisies down in New York. 1 admit, bu
the Grand Trunk chap could give then
cards and spades. His name was Hard
man and ms position was a sort OF walk
ing master mechanic. Nowadays hC
would be called superintendent Of
motive power, as he had author
ity over all the division master me
chanics. Every day Hartman went t
the engineers on the Canada side and eX
torted from s. TO SIS rom them, and they
had to pay II or lose their job. HardmaI
had a different class of men to deal will
on the Detroit d Port Huron division, how
ever. and when he saw that he couldn'
make them give up part of their hard
earned wages every month he commenced
n clcaning-out policy, but every move HI
made streug hened the brotherhood more
and more. The first man be discharged
asWilliamRoss "A member OF our division
Hartman sent a tauadlan of the name o
George Cooker TO take Bills place. Well
there was trouble in the camp right away
! -. - u - IIrr,u ala h.