The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1904-10-31
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LARGE ASSEMBLAGE or DELE
GATES PRESENT.

President sIeIIen Talks on Railroad
aatters-Mr. Todd Urges Men 10 DO
Their Rest work for Their Road
Warner Han Presented Fine Appear
anee-Banquet served BY stewart.
Warner han. decked in its Sunday
best, was taken possession OF yester-
day BY the Order Of Railroad Conduct
ors for union meeting Of the New
Haven and several adjacent divisions
of the order. About three hundred
members were present, representing
sixteen of the 416 divisions into which
the organization is divided in this
country. The session was in the ma
ture Of fraternal gathering, and the
members Of the New Haven division
acted as tbs hosts.
The morning was passed in executive
session, and all that could be learned
about it was that It was taken up with
the transaction of unimportant rou-
tine business.
After a recess the delegates ASSEMBLE
ed at about 2:SO in the hall, where cow
ers were laid for 325 guests. Besides
members of the order President Charles
S. Mellen and First Vice President
Percy S. Todd of the New York, New
Haven and Hartford railroad were
present as guests from the railroad
company.
The handsome hall was simply dec
GRATED with potted palms banked about
the platform, and with yellow and
white chrysanthemums adroning the
| banquet table. Stewart catered, serv-
ing a most enjoyable entertainment for
1 the inner man.
/ Upon the conclusion of the satisfying.
of the physical being, after dinner
speakers were Mr.. Prent of Boston,
Mr.. Percy r. Todd, Of this city, E. g..
Clarke of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, head Of
the National Order Of Railroad Con-
ductors, and President MelIen Of the
Consolidated.
Mr. Todd discussed railroad condi-
tons and asked the conductors to give
their best works to their railroad. He
requested them to take pride in the
road they worked for, and to consider
it the best road in the world, remark
ing. that If this was not true, the very
best way to make it true was by each
man believing 1t.
Mr.. Clark followed with plain talk
on the order. He strongly supported
Mr.. To6d's plea.
On introducing President Mellen, Mr..
Wall, who acted as master Of cere-
monies, spoke Of Mr.. Mellen as gem
+ tlepan known almost as widely as the
president Of the United States. He
said it was now the custom to keep the
best speaker for the last, and the fact
that Mr. Mellen was reserved for the
last was a case of 'ithe first shall be
last
Mr.. Mellen was received with most
hearty applause He commenced in a
ocular manner, addressing the con-
ductors as "brothers.p He said that
he felt that be could call them by This
title, because Miiie perhaps some of
his vice presidents referring especially
to Mr.. Todd. who had stated that he
had been on the carpet once or twice
himself-night have been on the car
pet only once or twice. he was on the
: carpet all the time. This sally evoked
great laughter and applause.
Mr.. Mellen then proceeded to the
main part of his speech. He said he
was not in favor Of the rule Of senior
: ity prevailing at present, whereby con-
! ductors were chosen with reference e
the length of time they had been In the
service. He said he did not think Il
right that ambitious, enegetic young
men should have their path blocked by
: rule that placed above them men who
were in many instances not SO CAPABLE
Not that he had any prejudice at al
against the older men, but he did not
think there should be any tronclad
rule.
He also discussed the matter of bring
ing appeals to the officers of the road
, by the committee Of the order. He said
that in many instances appeals were
brought where they could do no good
and were not important. IL only the
cases In which the men had good caus-
es were brought, they would receive
better attention. because when great
number of unimportant complaints
: were brought before busy officials tbs
more important ones suffered, while Il
, only the important ones were presented
they would not be dismissed as un.
substantial.
In the course Of his address President
> Mellen stated that II was his hope, u
! possible, to establish a four hour trair
| between New York and Boston some
day.
| Just as the evening shadows were
beginning to fiji the big hall the as
} sembly dispersed. Expressions of ap
, probation of the remarks Of the speak
/ ers were to be heard upon the stairs