The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-15
OFFICERS OF SWl1CHMEN
THEY ASSEMBLE HERE PREPARA-
TORY TO THE CONVENTION.
An Effort VIII BE Made to Bring the
Headquarters to This City-ses-
sions and Entertainment.

The biennial convention of the Switch
mems Union of North America will begin
Monday morning in Tomlinson Hall and
last for two weeks. During that time the
800 delegates who will be in attendance will
authorize notifications in the constitution
and bylaws. make alterations in the insur-
ance system of the order, receive the re-
ports of the executive officers of the union.
declare its position in relation to the in
functions being issued by courts in favor of
and against organized labor and place the
union on record as fav0ring amicable adj
justment of labor disputes by arbitration
of grievances between employers and en-
ployes. New officers to succeed the pres
ent incumbents will be chosen and in
stalled and it may be possible that the del
egates will be prevailed upon by the local
entertainment committee, a committee
from the Indianapolis Commercial Club
and one from the Board of Trade to move
the national headquarters of the union
from Buffalo, N. Y. to this city.
NATIONAL OFFICERS HERE.
To prepare for the convention the ma
tional officers. directors and committees on
finance and constitution have arrived in
the city and are busy in consultations at
the Occidental Hotel, headquarters of the
union during the convention. Grand Mas
ter Frank T. Hawley and Grand Secretary
and Treasurer M. r. Welch. from Buffalo,
were the first to arrive. Following them
the three grand directors of TIE order, S. J.
Scanlon. of Hoboken, n. j.. p. w. Quigley,
of Buffalo, and Dan Smith, of Chicago, reg
istered at the hotel and prepared to assist
the officers in preparing a report of the
growth and condition of the order, as well
a =
the union. The finance committee, COM
posed of +. G.. Brandt, of Houston. Tex;
Joliet; Harvey Kurtz, of Little Rock, Ark,
and j. u. Johnson, of Terre Haute, met
yesterday in the hotel and began to audit
the accounts of the order. The report of
the finance committee, which meets quar-
terly at the national headquarters. will en-
body all of the financial dealings of the
union during the two years past, with the
expenditures in payments of insurance poll
cies and benefits to sick and injured
switchmen.
CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE.
The constitution committee also met yes
terday. This committee consists of r. J.
Martin, OF Minneapolis; Thomas ID. Hag-
erty, of Halstead, Pa: Ed Allen. of Kan
sas City; S. E. Heberling, Of Denver, and
| w. III. Thomas. of East st. Louis. The
members of the committee have the task
before them of formulating the modifica-
| tons TO be made in the constitution and
| bylaws, and, in fact. of acting a COM
| mittee on organization of the convention.
| The committee is conversant with all of the
shortcomings of the existing laws of the
| order and its needs, and will expedite its
work. so that the members will be able to
assist the other general officers in getting
ready for the meeting.
The convention will meet Monday morn
| ing in Tomlinson Hail. and in ii repre-
| sentation of the 20.Oo0 members OF the union
| in the delegates assembled on the basis of
one vote to every 100 fraction of that
number will be seated. The opening ses-
| sion viii be public so that as many people
| as possible may attend. The committee
on arrangements from the local lodge has
| invited representatives from the manufac-
/ turing Industries of the city TO be present
| TO hear the speeches that are TO be made
/ by labor leaders. President Mitchell of
| the mine workers, and Mayor Bookwalter
| will be asked 10 address the convention
and 10 the mayors address of welcome
| Grand Master Hawley will respond
IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
! After Monday the sessions of the conven-
ton will be executive. and such informa-
tion of their progress as is made public
will be impaired by press committee to