The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-08-26
DEFEND BROTHERHOOD
Arthur and Sargent Make Reply
10 Oebs.
BOTH MEN SPEAK WITH FEELING.

Debs Had Said That the Old Organizations
Had Passed the Day Of Their Usefulness
and Arthur and Sargent Deny the Asser-
ton In Emphatic Language-Brothsr-
hood Men Working In Har.nony-Poli-
ties and the Workin gman.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. Aug. 24.-The
uni1n me ting Of the railroad brother
hoois Sunday was made sensational by
reason of the fact that local trade unions
declined the invitation To attend, and did
so In such terms as TO cause Chief Arthur
OF the engineers and Grand Master Sar.
gent OF the firemen to make bitter replies
to the assaults on the old brotherhoods
1t was known that Eugene V Debs, presi
dent OF the American Railway union. is
the admired ,bor leader here at his home,
and what Arthur and Sargent, especially
the former said Sunday Is accept as re-
plies t. the statement often made by
Debs that the old organizations have
passed the day of their usefulness. Grand
Master Sargent, who lived here until the
headquarters were moved TO Peoria,
showed his feeling in the intense way in
which he defended his organization from
the implication that il had not been fra
ternal In its relations with the trade I'M
ions, and that il is an aristocratic labor
organization He said:
Wants All To lie Organized.
1.-The Central Labor union has said in
It's resolutions that the brotherhoods have
held aloof from other labor organizations
and that Chief Arthur had said that the
engineers organization is not labor un-
ion The Firemens Brothe hood has no
other organizations but, on the contrary
wants all TO organized strongly. 1t takes
no exceptions TO the views of others in re-
gard TO labor but 1t will not permit to
go unchallenged the assertion that 10 is
dying and in disgrace. 1t Is represented
in Terre Haute by its lodge, composed of
good citizens and 1t is going to remain
here. There has been too much jealousy
between organizations in the past, and the
selfishness of some of them has caused a
bad feeling, but the time has come when
they are working in harmony. The
brotherhood men should discuss the polit-
ical issues among themselves without re-
gard to party. They ought not 20 wait
until some one In authority over them tells
them how TO vote. In the lodgeroom they
should strip themselves of the influence
of party or clique or corporation. When
they do this the day of salvation of the
wage Garner will be here
What Chief Arthur Said.
Chief Arthur followed Mr.. Sargent.
Beginning with the assertion that he was
there TO defend the engineers, he said: ~
concede to every man the liberty of his
own opinion, and ask IL for myself. If
cannot say good word will say moth
ing. / have seen the statement that
have said the brotherhood was not Ia
Dor organization and want to brand it
a wicked falsehood. have always said it
is labor organization composed of men
representing branch of labor consider
to be skilled labor. 1t is true il is con-
fined TO one class Of labor If all classes
of labor was thoroughly organized in their
respective classes there would be no diff
Guilty in each securing its demands l
commenced as wiper and was promoted
to be a fireman and then an engineer. l
always knew my place. l would advise
men TO shun saloons and gamblin dens.
If this is preaching aristocracy l am an
aristocrat Ii had my way l would close
all the saloons. and there would be no oc-
casion for Kelley institute.
Their Own Worst Enemies.
1.-THE workin2men are their own worst
enemies, but the brotherhoods are max
ing better men of the men in the train
service. 1t is said that the engineers
brotherhood has failed TO give protection
to It's members Wherever IL has so failed
it has been because of the perfdity and
treachery of the members themselves on
the road where the grievance existed
challenge any one to truthfully contra
dict this statement.
Chief Arthur said that the brotherhood
had paid so,000,O00 insurance Today it
has l07 written contracts with railroad
companies as to wages Grand Master
Morrissey of the trainmen said the only
way in which the wage standard can be
maintained is through organized labor.
The political parties will not do it.