The record-union., 1895-01-29

The last annual convention of the en-
gineers' brotherhood held when [ was
Chief, was held in Philadelphia in Octo-
Der, 1873, and no society ever met under
more promising and tiattering circum-
stances. We had about $4,000 in the
treasury, and had been dispensing from
$1,000 to $4,000 yearly in charities to
widows and orphans and disabled mem
bers, yet we had never assessed the MEM
bers to exceed 81 per year. z. NJ. Arthur,
the present Grand Chief, was the third
official in rank and Auditor. At that
time, in his official report, in 1873, he says:
Never before in the history of our
brotherhood has its business been so
prosperous, or its prospects SO encOurag-
ing"
In my annual address I tried to define
the purposes of the brotherhood, and
make few extracts to show the princi-
pies and purposes of the organization at
that time. LAS / understand the princi-
pies OF the BROTHERHOOD" | said. they
are intended to protect the mem bers in
their rights so far as they can, by the use
OF moral influences. If we fail in OBJ
tanning justice by mild measures, we
must be content to wait until prejudices
can be removed.
I'VE have never undertaken to say
what kind Of men railroad companies
shall employ. II the members OF our or
ganiZation cannot compete successfully
with non-mem bers, then l cannot see any
reason why they should have the prefer
ence. We claim to use our utmost efforts
to improve the ability and character of
our mem berS. We also claim to watch
over the conduct OF our mem Ders, and
thereby make them more efficient, and in
case they prove unreliable and unsafe, we
report them to the officials of the road.
| The main prejudice against our organlZa-
ton arises from the suppositon that we
are organized upon the same plan of
other labor organizations. Men do not
stop to investigate the matter, but con-
| denim all alike.
The difference in our organization
| from other trade organizations consists,
| first, in requiring qualifications for mem
| bership. such as character, education, eX-
| perience and ability in our calling as To-
comotlye engineers; second, we try to
| manage our business SO as to secure the
! confidence and esteem of our employers,
| and work entirely in harmony with
| them, insisting that our mem bers must
pursue proper course OF conduct, etc. !;
| third, we rely entirely upon our merits
| for strength to obtain what we are Justly
entitled to; fourth, we stand alone, seek
| ing no entangling alliances with other
trades, nor forming com binations with
any view of forcing compliance with
| our demands. We do not believe in de-
| epithet that language can invent, but
prefer to treat them with respect, be-
! lieving that we can obtain better pay and
| treatment ii we manage to maintain a
| friendly feeling between the official and
the employee"
Iappend 1 the following extract to show
the kind of advice we received from min
listers and other good meaning men.
| They are in part responsible for the force
plan. Some OF our Sanguine friends ad-
wise the engineers TO take the whole mat
| ter OF Sunday work into their own hands
| saying that IF the engineers refuse to run
| the traffic Will be at an end at once" Our
answer to this proposition is that our
| brotherhood was not organized, neither
| has it been maintained with any purpose
| OF dlctation. If we assume to dictate in
| one case, then why not in all? Our his
| tory proves that we have thus far sue
| ceeded much the best by using only per-
| suaslve measures. We do not wish to be
| understood as advising quiet submis-
sion to any unjust requirement, but as a
| general rule we have been successful in
obtaining respectful hearing, and if any
! real grievances existed they have been
removed, and l belive that as soon as our
purposes are fairly understood, with
proper management we shall have no oc-
| caslon to resort to extreme measures to
obtain anything within the bounds of
| reason.
| Let us by all means adhere to our fun
| damental rules and requirements of abil-
! ity and character for our mem bership.
| and insist upon strict observance of all
! our rules In conducting all our affairs,
| trusting to proper recognition of our
| merits Tor our final success.
| If any working man has the remotest
| idea that complete organization and
| consolidation OF all the working men of
the whole country can organize a strike
that viii stop the business and traffic of
this country, l wish to tell him that he has
made very bad mistake. No man. or
body of men, will interfere with traffic
and trade OF this country to any great ex-
tent, unless they have the power to take
possession Of the Government itself The
! best way to restore confidence between
lemployer and employe is to join hands