The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-19
Opening Meeting I'm TOmIinson Hall
EnIivened by Eloquent Addresses of
welcome and Congratulations.
FOR W0MEN'S AUXILIARY
STRONG EFFORT WILL BE MADE To
INFLUENCE CONVENTION.
Grand Ball Given at TOmlinson Hall
Picnic and Trolley Party Plan
ned for To-Day.


er the delegates had paraded through the
downtown streets and had received share
of the applause the city always has for Wis
itors and the messages of congratulation
delivered to them by the representatives of
the city and State.
The first session of the convention was
held I'm Tomlinson Hall and the 800 dele
gates, joined by their friends in Indian
apolis and the friends of the union in the
State, made 1t an enjoyable occasion. Dur
ing the morning session speeches were the
order Of the day and from the address or
H. p. Brunaugh, on behalf of Mayor Book
walter. who was forced to be absent, to the
response and thanks Of Grand Master Haw-
ley. in expressing to Indianapolis the APP
probation of the union for the courtesies
extended, the morning meeting was sue
cess.
IN THE AFTERNOON.
During the afternoon the switchmen met
in Masonic Hall. the place designated for
the first week of the two weeks meeting of
the delegates, and transacted little rou-
tine business. The meeting was closed to
the public at o'clock and nothing of the
transactions inside the closed doors was
made public with the exception of the an
nouncement of the appointment of the Gre
dentials committee. The committee. con-
sisting of w. A. Haviland. OF Cleveland;
w. W. McIlleny, of Dennison, Tex, and
w. B. Wilkinson, Of Chicago, met yester-
day afternoon in the Occidental Hotel and
received the certificates of the delegates
who have been sent to the convention. Few,
IL any, contests of election or disturbances
in locals over the selection of delegates
have been reported and the committee on
credentials had little more to do than TO
compile roll of the delegates. The unions az ms
represent a membership of about 10000
switchmen, who work at their trade from
coast to coast and whose employment ex-
tends into all parts of the North American
continent, from Canada to Central America.
Yesterday morning Harry z. Brunaugh
told the delegates to the convention on De-
half of Charles A. Bookwalter mayor or
the city, that Indianapolis felt honored,
and would act, by the presence or SO
many delegates representing union OF
workingnfen whose skill and quickness or
from the liability of accidents so common
to railroad work. Daniel Z. Storms, secre-
tary of state, added his voice of welcome to
Mr.. Brunaughs and on Dehan OF tne
State of Indiana congratulated the switch
men on the splendid gathering of delegates
and the happiness OF their choice or con-
yention cities. Mr.. Storms spoke for sew
eral minutes in addressing the switchmen,
and was followed by w. II. wilson, secre-
tary of the United Mine Workers or Amer
lea. Mr.. Wilson apologized Tor the aose esioe
workers. who had been invited to speak: and
in his behalf voiced the friendship of the
miners for the switchmen: MI wilson
caused much applause during his speech
by his references to the success OF labor
and by his congratulation of the switch
men on the manner in which they nave con-
Quoted their labor difficulties
JOHN FELTMANS SPEECH.
Of Ind 10
man for the Central Labor Union, told the
switchmen what Indianapolis laboring men
think of their actions and also of the pleas
ure it gave the delegates of the Central
Labor Union to applaud their purpose in
coming to this city to meet in biennial
convention. Feltman's speech was con-
gratulatory in part to the switchmen on
the success of their endeavors to. secure
more pay and their methods of conducting
such troubles with the employers. The
next speaker was William ID. Huber, pres
ident of the United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners. who spoke for some
minutes in an address of welcome to the
delegates.
In responding to the welcome received by
the switchmen Grand Master Hawley said
the switchmen appreciated the friendship
of the Indianapolis people, and were pleased
by the cooperation of the labor bodies rep
resented in the meeting, and thanked the
his trade. Mr.. Hawley talked on unionism
at some length. He said the arbitration OF
differences between employers and employees
resulted in agreement satisfactory to
one or the other, and always brought a
speedier termination of the difficulties
Mr.. Hawley spoke of the antipathy of the
present organization of the switchmen to
sympathetic strikes, and of the impossi-
billy of the members of the union trying TO
tie UP commerce by refusal to work in
the railroad yards.
John T. Mcmillan, mayor-elect of Ashta-
bula, o., also spoke. Mr.. Mcmillan was
elected to the mayorality of the Ohio city
in the last election on a union labor ticket
His presence at the convention is explained
by the fact that as swftchman working
in Ohio he was elected from his local union
in Ashtabula to represent 1t as a delegate
in Indianapolis. Besides the speaking some
music served to enliven the programme. ].
Russell Powell. I'm coon songs made de-
cided hit with the switchmen, and his eff
forts were so loudly applauded that he was
called back to respond to encores after each
number given.
TOMLINSON HALL BALL.
Last night the switchmen were enter
tanned with ball in Tomlinson Hall, which,
beginning shortly after o'clock. was a So
cial success until an early hour this morning.
The grand march. In which more than 200
couples participated, led by Grand
Master Hawley, of the Switchmen's Union.
After the adjournment of the executive
session to be resumed in Masonic Hall this
morning the swtchmen will proceed on a
| picnic planned for them by the local re-
ception committee. Tonight the switchmen
will be taken on a trolley excursion to
| Fairview Park.
Probably during this mornings session
| the question of the recognition of a woman's
auxiliary to the lodge will be brought up
The women connected with the members Of
| the union have long wanted to organize
| an auxiliary TO the union, put the sugges-
! tion has always been ignored by the switch
men. In May, 1900 at the Detroit conven-
| ton the delegates refused to sanction the
organization and voted to refuse to affiliate
with the auxiliary, and the matter rested
until the next convention at Milwaukee, A
similar resolution was voted down in Mil
waukee, and the convention refused to re-
consider the action of the Detroit conven-
ton. The meeting to-day will probably be
devoted TO the auxiliary proposition. A de-
cided change in sentiment relative TO the