The record-union., 1896-08-24
RAILROAD BR0THERHO0DS.
ARTHUR AND SARGEANT SCORE
DEBS FOR HIS UTTERANCES.
The Former Would Close the Saloons
and Warns the Workingmen
to Avoid Them.

TERRE HAUTE 0nd), Aug. 23.-The
union meeting of the Railroad Brother
hoods to-day was made sensational by
reason of the fact that the local trades
unions declined the invitation to attend
and did SO in such terms as caused Chief
Arthur of the engineers and Grand Mas
ter Sergeant of the firemen to make bit
ter replies to the assaults on the old
brotherhoods. 1t was known that Eu-
gene V. Debs, President of the American
Railway Union. is the admired labor
leader here at his home and what
Arthur and Sergeant, especially the
former, said to-day is accepted as re-
plies to the statement often made by
Debs that the old class organizations
has passed the day of their usefulness.
There We're four or five hundred rail-
road men present many accompanied
by women members of their families.
The Terre Haute trades union men were
not represented by as many as a dozen.
Sergeant showed his feeling in the in
tense way in which he defended his or
ganization from the implication that it
had not been fraternal in its relations
with the other railway unions, that it is
an aristocratic labor union. The Cen
trail Labor Union had said in the reso-
luton that the brotherhoods had held
aloof from the other labor organiza
tons and that Chief Arthur had said
the engineers organization is not a
labor union.
Sergeant said the firemen's brother
hood takes no exception to the views of
others in regard to labor but it viii not
permit to go unchallenged the asser-
tion that it is dying and in disgrace. It
remains in Terre Haute by it's lodge
composed of good citizens and it is going
to remain here. Referring to the po-
litical issues of the year he said the men
should discuss the issues among them
selves without regard to party. They
must not wait until some one in au-
thority told them how to vote. In the
lodge room they must strip themselves
of the influence of party, clique or cor
poration. When they do this the day
of salvation for the wage Garner will be
here.
Chief Arthur followed Sergeant, be-
ginning with the assertion that he was
there to defend the engineers. He had
seen the statement that he had said the
brotherhood is not a labor organization
falsehood He has always said ii was a
labor organization composed Of men rep
resenting a branch of labor he consid-
cred to be Skilled labor 1t is true it is
confined to one class of labor. If all
classes of labor We're thoroughly organ
lied in their respective classes there
would be no difficulty in each securing
it's demands. If all firemen We're in the
organization and there should be occa-
sion for all the firemen on one road to
quit work the company would be unable
to get men to take their places.
ITO show that P. NJ. Arthur is not
what he has been represented to be- .
said he, Il want to say that l COM
menced as wiper and was promoted
to be a fireman and then engineer. 1
always knew my place / would ad
wise men to shun saloons and gambling
dens. If that is preaching aristocracy
/ am an aristocrat If l had my way I
would close all the saloons and there
would be no occasion for a Keeley Insti-
tute. The working men are their own
worst enemies, but the brotherhood is
making better men of the men in train
service 1t is said the engineers broth
erhood has failed to give protection to
its members. Wherever it has so failed
it has been because of the perfidity and
treachery Of the members themselves
on the road where the grievance ex-
listed"
He challenged any one to truthfully
contradict this statement. This was in
| reference to the statement by Eugene
V. Debs recently that thirty engineers
had been discharged from the Plant
System as part of the policy of the man
ayers of that system to drive organized
labor off the road, and that no attempt
was made by Arthur to protect them.
Chief Arthur said that the brotherhood
had paid $4,000 900 insurance To-day
is has 107 written contracts with rail-
road companies as to wages. In one
year it expelled $40 members for drunk
| enness and it was steadily raising the
moral standard of engineers.
Chief Clark o fthe conductors also
| spoke, but In a general way.
Grand Master Morrissey OF the train
men, in the course of his remarks said
the politicians were filled with promises
or dire predictions, but the only way in
which the wage standard can be main
tained is through organized labor. The
political parties win not do it.
Secretary Austin of the Order of Tele-
graphers also spoke.
PERSONAL MENTION.