The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-14


jured members and heirs of deceased
mem bers
In addition TO that sum thirty or forty
thousand dollars have been disbuised by
each convention for widows and orphans
RAILWAY CONDUCTORS.
The beginning Of the Conductors Asso-
citation was In 1868, when tho conductors
of the Illinois Central Road at Amboy
organized and their example was immedi-
ately followed by the conductors OF the
Chicago Burlington and Quincy road
The two associations were consoiuhteu
July q 1868. with the title "Conductois
Brotherhood -
This beginning. however, was not
very successful. The conductors on tho Z.
Is. a q. were Obliged 10 leave the broth
erhood or lose their positions. In tho
Amboy division there were other COSTA
Giles and both parts Of the combination
nnally gave up the struggle for existence.
The next attempt was Inade by the con-
ductors on the Pittsburg, Fort WAYNE ana
Chicago Railway aud they called CON
vention in Columbus, Ohio, in 1868.
lhe second start was a successful ono,
although the first year was continual
struggle To keep alive.
At the eleventh annual session Of tho
Granu Division. held at Chicago, in Octo-
Der, 1878, the name was changed to "Or-
Ger or Railway conductors Inore Nere
then thirty seven subdivisions.
Up to 1890 the organization had pro
ceeded on the belief that the protective
policy for labor organization was "A mis-
taken one, and that moro could be gained
by reliance on the gratitude OF the en-
pluyers for services rendered. This belief
was abandoned in that year. and a change
of front made. The organization has
been growing, but has since that time,
m don "A
rapid rise.
When the change was made there wore
IL, 600 mem bers on the rolls, with about
1900 in the benefit department Now the
membership is II, 00O with Ii, 500 in the
benefit department.. Ihe order was then
practically bankrupt, while its condition
today Is first class. All claims against
the benefit department are paid with
great promptness and the order Is power
on the roads.
BROTHERHOOD OF FIREMEN.
The Brotherhood Of Locomotive Fire
men has been organized TOR 20 years, start
ing from a snail meeting of IL dremen
in switch shanty at Port Jervis, y. Y.
AT first it was purely AN insurance order,
but " hen the membership had reached
II, 600 the order. at the 18th annual Con
ventiOn in Philadelphia. adopted pro-
tectivo policy, and began its efforts to ad-
vance the wages of its mem bers and to
further their general welfare
The effort has succeeded in great meas
ure, and the locomotive firemen OF today
are recognized on most of the railroads OF
the country. The standing of tho order
has been advanced, the members have
been benefited, and mem hership in the
order has become hallmark to dis
"A sober, steadfast reliable man.
The present President is Il. L. Sargent.
KNIGHTS OF THE KEY.
One of the most important Of the orders
is the Order of Railroad photographers of
North America, which was organized ut
Cedar Rapids Iowa. June @ 1885, the
elimination of several other efforts 10 or
ganiZe the telegrapbers. For the first five
years il was fraternal society simply,
but even then made splendid showing
In 1891 it became protectiveo society.
and it is now spread over the United
States and into Canada aud Mexico.
The order has grown rapidly and now
has headquarters aU Peoria, H.. in the
building with the Brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Firemen and the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Trainmen. Its membership
is large, the head OF the order being w. V.
Powell, Grand Chief.
LOCOMOTIVE TRAINMEN.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive Train
men is the flfth of the great organizations
of tranmen. IL was organized early in
1888. at Albany. n. Y, by men n the en-
ploy OF the ID, ware and Hudson Canal
Company, having for it's obie,t the pro-
lection OF tho mem bers against sickness
and disability by mutual assistance. The
second lodge was formed at Oneonta. N.
Y. in June, 1883, but the two lodges
failed to agree and separated
The Ousonta men decided TO organize
arx In md nrIf ts,Ixs ,..,I
Oneonta Lodge. Brotherhood of
Railroad Trainmen, in july, 1883.
This was composed exclusively of
brakemen, and soon grow into the
Grand Lodge OF the Brotherhood and an
international order. The name of the
brotherhood was altered in 1882 the
character of the embership having
charged from brakomon alone TO train
men.
The insurance department has paid out
almost g. 600, 0C0. raised by tho men for
the alienation of distress. Tho policy of
the brotherhood has been ono OF fairness
Co all, and caused it TO prosper. When the
organization was formed no railroad in
the country had any agreement with its
employees. Now nearly every road is
working under an agreement with the
brotherhood. The men have heen bene-
flied in every wny, and the work has not
been confined To this cuuDtry alone for
the first lodge In Carada was organized
in November, 1855.
OF the order OF railroad men. the second
oldest il the Order OF RAILWAY Conduc-
tors. which had its nucleus I'm tho Con-
ductors' Union. formed in 1853 by the
@ conductors onploved on the Illinois Cen
trail at Amhov. Ill. This was followed by
the organization Of the conductors of the
Z. B. q q. at Galeshurg. Ill At n CON
ference between the two ORGANIZATIONS
tho Conductors Brotherhood was formed
.Tuly g. 1868. Opposition developed from
the railroads and the four divisions organ
lied finally disbanded.
The real formation OF tho present So
cety came in November 1868 at Column
hus, O. The first regular session of the
Grand Division Of the Conductors Broth
erhond was held at Chicago, June II, 1862
when delegates were present from seven
divisions. The present name OF the order
was adopted at the Convention at Chi.
cago, In 1873