Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-22
A CLEAR TRACK
Continued from page ~


But to get back to the meeting which
was held in the new City hall. The
front of the stage had been beautifully
decorated with cut flowers, ferns and
palms. The platform itself was cover
ed with elegant easy chairs for those
who were to be placed there and this
with the setting Of the scenery made a
very attractive picture. When the eX-
s ercises began there was an audience Of
about 1e0e present, made up chiefly of
engineers and their friends, but with a
good sprinkling of citizens. Represent
tatives of the business interests, city
government. the churches and profess
sions We're on the stage with represen-
tatives Of various divisions of the
Brotherhood. Halls orchestra was en-
gagged to furnish music for the after
noon and this contributed no small
share to the success of the meeting, the
selections being heartily applduded
again and again.
1t was a splendid audience, represen-
tative OF the very back bone OF New
England and It's little wonder that the
speakers We're inspired to their best eff
fort and that all were enthusiastically
applauded and greatly enjoyed. 1t was
certainly a splendid meeting and the
Brother hood is to be congratulated Oh
its success.
The opening prayer was made by
Grand Chaplain Dority. j. 5. Paul
a. who presided, spoke very briefly in
opening and introduced Hon Charles
F. Johnson as the first speaker, who
was greeted with hearty applause
when he came forward. 1t was MI
Johnson's lot to speak the first words
of welcome to the city and he did it
in his own characteristic graceful and
whole-hearted style.
In opening, Mr.. Johnson mentioned
the fact that there was a live mayor
of the city on the stage, two ex-
mayors and the mayor of Portland, so
that formal welcome would not be
lacking. if indeed a formal welcome
was necessary. Waterville is a rail-
road city and many railroad men make
their homes here and the city has al
ways respected and esteemed them as
among her best citizens. The city mas
also had great respect for the Brother
hood While the train service has
steadily increased and improved, the
engineer has been called upon for an
increase in knowledge and has fully
met the responsibilities that have fall
en- to him.
- He believed that no body of men has
more intelligence a broader knowledge
gineers. AS the business of railroad
ing has progressed the engine has de-
veloped from the little wood burner
of n few years ago to the great mogGl
of today and man has kept pace with
the machine. 1t is well to reflect On
what has made this possible. How
little we think when we board a Spler-
did train of how much responsibility
rests on the man at the throttle. He
has realized his duty and met his re-
sponsibilities. SO, too he has realized
his duty to his family and to others
engaged in the same business as him
self, so this Brotherhood has developed
and made men of brain, men of in
teligence and men of character.
Waterville is honored in being chosen
as the first place for n public meeting
of the Brotherhood in the State and
proud to bid you a hearty welcome.
May the prayer of your chaplain that
when the last run is made you may
hear the "WeH done, thou good and
faithful servant" be answered. We
have heard even here in Maine of your
chief and watched his wise ami
capable management of the interests
of your order. We are glad to wei
come your wives and daughters ara
are glad to welcome you. If | had
the keys of the city | should be
pleased to give them to you. We visa
you to feel welcome to enter its por-
tails whenever you desire. sure of a
hearty welcome. Again / wish to well
come you on this beautiful Sabbath
afternoon.
Mr.. Johnson was heartily applaudcd
when he had finished. His speech LETT
no doubt as to the feeling of the city
as to the visitors and of the welcome
il wished them to receive.
After n selection from the orchestra.
Chief Arthur was introduced by Mr..
Paul. The chiefs address was the
principal feature of the meeting and
the thing for which many had travelled
so far to hear When it was finished
not one in the large audience fe;
disappointed but amply repaid for all
the cost. When Mr.. Arthur rose 10
speak he was greeted with a storm of
enthusiastic applause. He spoke in
part as follows:
II am very glad to be present on
this occasion as it is one that ] have
looked forward to with great deal of
interest. being the first public meet
ing to be held under the auspices of
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers in Maine. What is the object
of meeting thus on this Sunday af-
ternoon 60 give ne chief an oppor
tunity to explain the aims of TIE
BroiheThood-to tell the old, old stor :
which we have been telling for 40
years and which, like the story of the
Cross, will bear telling again and
again--and tell you what can be done
by organization? l like to tell the
story, because it is true. The record
of the Brotherhood has stood for 5?
years. There may be few of the
members who have done things not
to be commended. but as an organiza-
ton have done nothing to bring
the blush Of shame to any good MEM
Der. We do not claim to be perfect,
but we can point with pride to every
act
The Brotherhood is the pioneer.
- We have blazed the way and we are
. glad to say that others have followed
and that now Wn have the Isrnt bar