The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-30
Firemen and Enginemen Are
Welcomed to Capital.
PROMINENT MEN SPEAKERS
Commissioners MRcfarland, +. p. Sar-
gent, It. v. POwderly, Charles +.
Neill, II. p. Fuller. and c. II. VIII
son Among the Speakers of the
Evening at Masonic Temple.

claiiy In reference to their own oceupa-
tons. LOCO members of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen
opened two days union conference yes
terday at Masonic Temple.
Accompanying the delegates are the
members OF the Ladies Auxiliary, b. of
l.. F. and E. There are $50 feminine
delegates. They will hold their first
meeting to-day. at o'clock. in the hall
at 5l6 Ninth street northwest.
There were two sessions OF the broth
erhood yesterday. In the afternoon
secret meeting was held. At night promi-
nent speakers. associated with labor. ad-
dressed the meeting. which was open to
the public.
Speakers of Evening.
Among the speakers were Frank P.
Sargent. Commissioner of immigration;
Terrence Y. Powderly, chief of the di-
vision of information Of the Bureau of
immigration of the Department of Com
merce and Labor: Labor Commissioner
Charles p. Nell, District Commissioner
mcfarland. Mrs. F. p Sargent, presi-
dent of the Ladies Auxiliary; II. ?. Full
Ter. legislative representative OF the
brotherhood and kindred organizations.
and Charles H. Wilson. vice grand mas
Ter of the B of L. F. and F.
At the secret meeting. after credentials
had been inspected. ice Grand Master
Wilson reported that the wage question
with the Erie system had been satisfac-
torily adjusted on March q. and that
there would be no reduction ~ present.
After July I. i the Erie system desires
20 reduce the scale. Mr.. Wilson said, The
system must give thirty days notice of
its intentions.
The rest of the meeting was devoted TO
routine business.
Large Audience GreetS Speakers.
Fully POO delegates were present at the
night session. The hall was gayly dec
GRATED with wreaths leaves and bunting
Vice Grand Master Wilson opened the
session by calling on J. J. Lahey of
Philadelphia. the blind chaplain Of the
order.
Mr.. Wilson escorted Chaplain Lahey
from his seat 10 the center Of the stage.
In a deep. musical voice. the blind chap
lain prayed for blessings on the order.
J. NJ Hall. Of the general committee OF
arrangements, a member OF Potomac
duced Commissioner mcfarland as the
first speaker.
Welcomed by Mcfarland.
Commissioner mcfarland expressed his
pleasure in welcoming the delegates 10
the city.
Il represent the executive government
OF the National Capital, said Mr.. Mac
farland, IN welcoming you here. The
National Capital welcomes your members
of this brotherhood and your ladies of the
auxiliary, not only for yourselves, but
for what you represent
Commissioners Macfarland eulogized the
brotherhood for efforts 10 effect a prac-
teal solution OF problems that affect
them.
Vice Grand Master Wilson, replying to
Commissioner Macfarlands welcome.
said:
What is good enough for Washington
IS good enough for me-"
In behalf of the delegates, he thanked
the Commissioner.
Labor Commissioner Charles P. Neil
expressed his greetings for the Bureau Of
Labor.
Il feel a thrill of pride and joy in
American citizenship in standing before
this body" said Mr.. Neil The wage
worker is going to advance. lie is going
to secure a larger share in what he pro-
duces. And this he will get through or
ganiZation.
Sane Movements OF Labor
Commissioner Neil said there were two
ways Of securing these rights-by the
sane movement OF organized labor or
radical socialism. Those who war on
trade Unionism must chose between
rationallsm or radical socialism.
Yours is sane" he said. "and means
the salvation OF the present order of
society. I believe the worst enemy Of
this present order is the man who be-
lieves in destroying unionism in order to
bring about the millennium"
In behalf of it's 5000 members Mrs
George NJ. Sargent, of the Ladies' Aux
ilaries of the B. of L. F. and E.. greeted
the delegates. She traced the history Of
the auxiliary from its small beginning at
Tucson. Ariz.. in 1884. to its present size.
and advocated liberal support of the
organization, which. she said. is doing
untold good.
Edward A. Moseley, secretary Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission de-
picted the Importance OF the railroad in
dustry. He said the service the delegates
perform daily is exacting. and none but
perfect specimens of physical manhood
are allowed TO enter the service.
Heavy LabOrs of Railway Men.
THE locomotive fireman has been aptly
called the engineers understudy. Engi-
neers are selected from the ranks of fire
men.
1T was recently stated 10 me by a vet
eran engineer that it was not uncommon
for his fireman TO shovel $1,000 pounds OF
coal into the firebox OF his locomotive
during single trip over the division, the
trip occupying from twenty to twenty
four hours Think Of that for a moment.
Thirty tons of coal and twenty hours on
duty. and that not uncommon.
And you men do not need to be told
that shovelng coal into the frebox is but
one part Of a fireman's duty. although Il
is hard to understand how a human being
could find time TO do anything else under
those conditions.
Il once asked the fireman of one OF
those monster locomotives how often he
had TO bend his back in going over the
division. Only once he answered.
When this mill is in action 1 never
have the chance to straighten UP.
1T is to be hoped that the recent law
limiting the hours OF labor of railway
employees will bring relief to you men in
the direction of shorter hours OF labor
II is also to be hoped that railroad COM
panies may find that the practice of load
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