The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-16
GOOD ADVICE.
Trainmen Warned Against
Gambling.
Grand Chief P. NJ. Arthur's
Address at Music Hall.
All Nom Union Men Urged to Join
the Br0therhOOis.

| OF the brotherhood mon in Music hall
yesterday, created a great deal of excite
ment by q statement TO the large NUN Der
of union and non-union ralIroadimen and
they manifested their appreciation with
| yehemence
He answered question from the floor
as TO his opinion on federation. Said he:
$50 far as the engineers are concerned
they put themselves on record at their
convention in ST. Paul All you have to
do IL you want federation on any road in
| this country is 20 vote for il, and your
Grand Chief will approve of il. These
words were received with an enthusiasm
with evidently high appreciation of Chief
| Arthur's position on the matter.
The number Of local employees present
was augmented by delegations from
| different points in New England and New
| York. Special cars were run Sunday
morning on the Providence, Worcester.
| Taunton and New York divisions of the
| n. Y, n. III. and ii. X. r., to accommo-
| date these delegations. The speakers
were the Grand Chiefs OF the several
orders. Opportunity was given those on
the floor to participate in the discussion,
| but they preferred, for the most part TO
| listen to the chiefs. The principal subject
discussed was the value Of organization
| to the employees, and the results which
| had followed from organization. Score
| tary John Wood Of the committee that
arranged the meeting acted as chairman.
State Railroad Commissioner Collin Of
Iowa opened it with prayer
| lGrand Chief T.. NJ. Arthur of the
| Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers was
the first speaker of the afternoon. II the
course of his address he said TO his asso-
ciatesis
MY advice to you is to keep out of these
places where chance games are played,
and where sometimes whole months S
! wages are lost BE honest, and lay aside
little something. Give the family the
benefit of your salary.
The leader OF the brotherhood under
stands very well the inclination of men
| to risk something for the sake OF more
and he knows that policy snarps, poker
| fiends and faro bank cappers are thick in
every community whose business IL Is to
get the product OF honest toll into their
| hands
Were il not for this money the profess
sional gamblers would starve to death.
because it is this money. divided among
them, that prevents from starvation and
keeps them off the street as subjects OF the
jail as persons without visible means Of
support. Chief Arthur continuing his
address said:
II have no other object in view than
TO sec the railroad men of this country
occupy such position that people will
envy them. And it is in the power OF us
all to do it. We are banded together for
justice. That is all. We want the men
TO obtain the salary that is commensurate
with the service. i will take you back
to the days when there were no organiza-
tiops Of railroad employees began my
career on the New York Central as a
wiper. Then / was fireman, then an
hrOt a
into existence the wages of engineers on
the average amounted TO $50 a month, those
of firemen S30 Not until the railroad
men became organized did they succeed in
getting an increase of pay. This Is the best
evidence possible that if railroad men
wish to get anything they must be orga16rl
ized We have succeeded in advancing the
pay of locomotive engineers in this coun-
try and Canada 81. 80 more per day than
they ever got before. We tried To secure
an advance in pay before we were organ
lied. but failed. When we were organ
lied we succeeded. Gentlemen, we nre
banded together to protect one another
and we intend to do it. Through organi'
Zation we have secured fayors that we
never expected.
Again. we have been instrumental in
educating our men up TO higher stand
ard of excellence. We have shown them
the necessity of being economical, OF keep
dens. so that il tho time came when they
had TO be out of work they would not
have TO raise plea for aid
Another thought. in the way Of eau
tion. You remem ber few years ago mon
went around the country saying that the
Drothor.oods had outlived their useful
ness. / raised my voice then in warning
OF these men. We have lost and other
organizations have lostigood men through
what are called 'sympathetic strikes L
tell you beware of sympathetic strikes
"Ihcre is n history worthy OF exanina-
ton connected with all of thoso organiza-
tons. l say that the memher OF these or
ganizations who takes no interest in the
meetings is drone in the hive and ought
TO be turned out. Better no organization
at all than one of dead members IL Is of
the utmost importance that you keep or
gGnized To protect your interests.
I'VE cannot tell. A notice may como at
any time that affects your interests III
you have not been keeping up your con
nection with your organization, how will
you meet the emergency My advice is IL
you love your organization. be ready at all
times TO meet the emergency that may
arise.
II am not now talking from religious
point, but lot me impress 10 upon you,
brothers. that il Is your duty to so live
that when the summons come. whether
on engine caboose or car, you VIII be
ready You will never know when the
time will CONS, and you should make
provisions so that your loved ones will
not bo left dependent upon the charity OF
cold world.
These organizations have been instru-
mental in saving many man who, IL he
had been left TO himself, would nave
sought urunkard's grave. Too much
cannot 10 said in favor of these brother
hoods. would have every fireman. con-
ductor engineer. every branch OF labor so
organized that there would DO no men To
take their places should they DO vacated.
Pardon mo II / allude To another evil
which has been creeping into the Brother
hood OF Engineers. l refor To what Is cali
ed the A. p A. warn you against the
A. II. A. / say we have no right to allow
anything 20 cross our lodge doors that
will imperil our influence or create dis
cord, strife and contention, and divide the
house against itself. We have no right tn
say how "a man shall worship God. III you
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