The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-23

position among the other employees of he road which they have to-day. He said that while other bodies Of employ es have troubles the firemen stand by and take care of themselves. These re- marks were greeted with enthusiastic applause.
 Vice President Todd said that while he had accepted the invitation when it was first received, yet he had had con siderable trouble in reaching the city in time to be present. He esteemed it a great pleasure to meet and mingle with the men and spoke particularly of his meetings with Mir. Kelly. Some of the sessions had been at least three days long. but he had found Mir. Kelly to be fair in every respect and he tried to be. He said that considering the many thousands of employees of the road there are sure to be abuses which will creep in. It is the policy of the road to meet these and deal with them as conserva- lively as possible. There was never any difficulty in the men reaching the off, cials of the company when they were approached by authoritative representa- tives. It was always certain that jus tice would be done, and that an amic- able adjustment would be reached even though it often took days to do SO. If such an agreement could not be reached with the other officials then it was perfectly possible to appeal to the president. He said that there would be no difficulty in reaching reasonable settlement.
 MT. Todd further said that he expect ed the railroad business, both freight and passenger departments, to be bad in the next few years, and that there will be some very hard times. It was in consequence necessary that every em- ploye keep a clear and level head and each do his best to maintain proper conditions on the road. He urged that the same conservatism be shown by the other organizations as has been shown by the iremen, and that they go on selecting such men to represent them as MT. Kelly.
 Following this was vocal selection 1 by E. J. Todd, after which Colonel N. G. Osborn was introduced. He made one of his characteristic speeches in. which he said that it was a pleasure and privilege to meet with the as- semblage, and especially with the mem bers of the F7iremen's union. He had l been fairly well informed of their feel ings in the past by reason of the prom thence given to their grievance commit tee, and he was glad of this opportutni- ty to learn of the mems ideas. He said that he had written many things con cerning labor troubles in the past and all purely from an academic point of view. He could go to the officials and
 talk, but it was a difficult matter to get at the men and learn of them. Thus 1 this opportunity was gladly accepted. He spoke of the great dangers which would result to the body polite if the New York, New Haven and Hartford road, which, he said, should be called I the New Haven road, should cease to carry both freight and passengers for even a space of twenty-four hours. This great army of life has to be main tained and the men should consider all things before going on strike
 The address of President Charles S.. Mellen, while brief, was nleaty and evil denced the exact status which he has < assumed toward the men employed on 4 the road. He addressed the assemblage as Fellow employees" He said that he considered this invitation to be present great compliment, and esteemed it as an honor to meet with the men and discuss relations. He said that the ac- ceptance of the invitation was one at tended with much difficulty, and that other matters of much importance were necessarily laid aside. yet gladly be- cause the opportunity was one which he had sought for some time. He was compelled to forego numerous other matters so that he might look into the eyes of the men and tell them directly that the officials of the company, from himself down, were with the men in every sense of the word. He said: You are working for me, and I am working for you, but we are both
 working for the company Thus all are fellow employees, and alleworking in the interests of the company. There were l little differences but these should all be
 brushed aside and everyone do his best Ito enhance the interests of the road. He said There is no frost on the door which leads to my office, if any employe of the road fails of satisfaction else- where, and I don't believe that they Twill have to try any of the other knobs This was greeted with tre- Imendous applause. He said that the en- tgineers and f1remen had been the most lconservative bodies of ali railroad em- lployes and he considered their influ- lence had been very great among the lother organizations. He! said that he thought the firemen owed more to Mir. Arthur and MT. Sargent than to most lanyone else for their present fine condi- ltion. These men were owed a debt of lgratitude not only by the men, but by the corporations. The f1rerlen were one lof the first and one of the best in the Head for conservatism, but still there were two or three little things of which he desired to speak direct to the men.
 He said Do you not think you are too closely fixed on what you can get from the company, and do you not think that you have too many griev- lances against the company?" He said that here was too much mental tissue
 wasted in thinking over matters of
 this nature and in hunting for member l~.1-4 -A I. -0.- lI-