The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-28
Political Announcements
Lind and the Coupler Bill.
HM Wroad Men Show Their Appreciation
of His Services to Them.
MINNEAPOLIS. Oct. %, 1902.

Minneapolis, Oct. %, 1902.
Editor of The Journal:
Knowing that T h j o u r a reaches
the homes OF more railroad men than any
other paper, kindly permit me to recite
few facts taken from the congressional
record Of the fifty-seventh congress, Sec
ond session, page 1866 and following,
showing Honorable John Lind's position
and work In connection with II. r. $3.50,
known as the automatic coupler bill.
Which. through his efforts, became a law
and has now gone into effect on all the
railroads in the United States. I spent
some time examining the record and re-
viewing the rocky road that this bill en-
countered while pending in the house and
the devices adopted by it's opponents to
defeat it. From the time it was taken up
in the house until its final passage, it
was strenuously opposed at every stage.
The record shows that Mr.. Lind took the
floor at o'clock p. m. and held it con-
tinuously through the night until $50 the
next morning, parrying and defeating
scores and scores of dilatory motions and
motions to adjourn. At the latter hour,
the opponents Of the bill had to give up.
as it's friends were reinforced by the
members returning for the next days
work and the passage Of the bill was ac-
complished. One cannot help adrniring
the intelligence, the tenacity Of purpose
and parliamentary skill displayed by Mr..
Lind in managing this important measure
and securing it's passage.
We may differ from him in politics. but
no railroad man can look upon Mr.. Lind
in any other light than as friend and as
a man who has contributed more OF his
time and intelligence to the saving Of life
and limb, and making our occupation as
safe as modern appliances permit, in a
greater degre than any other man in pub
lie life. Nor can any fair minded man
withhold a tribute Of admiration and re-
spect for his genius and ability in guiding
this bill through the house and securing
its passage. 1t has saved annually an
army of lives.
After the passage of the bill Mr.. Lind
received congratulatory kilograms on hfs
success from P. NJ. Arthur Of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers, F. P Sar-
gent of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen, Samuel Gompers Of the Trade
and Labor Council, j. Kelliher Of the Rail-
way Carmen, w. P. Daniels of the Rail-
way Conductors; also from Frank Swee-
ney. G. D. Buchanan, H. Warner, William
A. Silnsrot and Charles Parson. A sample
telegram from T. S. Ingraham of the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers,
which appears in the record, expresses the
feelings of the engineers at that time on
the Importance Of that measure.
1.-THE locomotive engineers of Amer.
lea watching with slight de-
gree of Solicitude the action of con-
gress on the coupler bill, believing
that if passed it will be a potent fac
tor in reducing the number Of killed
and manned Of railway employees.
The hundreds of thousands of men
in the service will hold to a strict
accountability the senator or repre-
sentative who, by his voice and vote,
shows that he has no care for the life
and well-being Of this great class OF
faithful but long suffering men,
IT. 8. Ingraham."
Mr.. Lind needed no watching. His
heart was as loyal to our cause as his
ability was sufficient to further it.
My only excuse for writing this letter
is the information that has come to me
| that outside interests and men from
Washington. D. c., have been brought
here for the purpose Of influencing the
railroad men of this district against the
candidacy of Mr.. Lind's return to con-
gress. Respectfully, John Burns,
| Member of the Flour City division, 1914,
B. Of. L. E.