Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-30

1000 railroad men in attendance at the
conference. Accompanying the DELEGATES
are the members OF the Ladies' Auxiliary.
B. OF l.. F. and E.. who are holding their
street.
In welcoming the delegates and their
ladies District Commissioner Macfarland
In his address at the open meeting last
evening said in part:
THE National capital welcomes you
heartily as representatives of men TO
whom we are all indebted and whom we
all delight to honor. The wonder Of our
swift transportation. no less a wonder
because We take II as matter Of course:
the arrow flight from point to point on
the railway. depends upon your skill and
fidelity. AS We ny from city to city in
these shuttles that make the rich and
growing web OF commerce possible We are
stupid as we'll as ungratetul if We do not
think Of the men on the engine. into
whose hands We place our lives and our
property. No trust has been better exc
cuted than theirs.
Never Play the Coward.
II never heard OF any one Of them who
played the coward in the. hour OF crisis
or sacrificed his obligations, the lives Of
men and women and children, or even
the property in his care. to save himself
alive. Rather IL their story splendid
tale OF honor. They do not like to be
called heroes. but there Is no other name
for them or for any others VINO have
proved that the fittest place for man to
die is where he dies for man. Even in
the commonplace everyday run. when
nothing happens out Of the ordinary, they
stand like minute mon waiting for the ex-
traordinary emergency that may come at
any moment.
TT is the glory Of humanity that thou
sands of men do perilous service to the
world in cheerful. nlatter-of-course and
modest fashion. and take whatever comes,
great or small simply Is part OF the days
work. with steady courage and ready
wisdom.
Your brotherhood has a special CLAIM,
to our hospitality. because You have done
SO much to preserve right relations be-
tween employer and employed"
Views Of Other Speakers.
The other speakers included Frank P.
Sargent. commissioner Of immigration:
Terence V. Powderly, chief Of the d.
immigration Of the Department OF Com
Charles P. Neil: Mrs. F. P. Sargent.
president OF the Ladies' Auxiliary; H. P.
Fuller. legislative representative of the
brotherhood and kindred organizations:
Charles H. Wilson. vice grand master Of
the B.: Of L. F. and E.. and ]. J. Lahey
brotherhood, who delivered the opening
prayer.
Labor Commissioner Charles P. Nell ex-
pressed his greetings for the bureau OF
labor.
II feel thrill o. pride and joy in Amer
lean citizenship in standing before this
body" said Mr.. Neil. THE wageworker
is going to advance. He is going to secure
larger share in what he produces, and
this he will get through organization.
Greetings From Ladies' Auxiliary.
Mrs. Georgia NJ. Sargent, In behalf OF
the 5000 members Of the Ladies' Auxili-
AIRY 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. depicted
the importance OF the railroad industry.
He said the service the delegates perform
daily is exacting. and none but perfect
specimens OF physical manhood are al
lowed to enter the service.
Immigration Commissioner Sargent who
has been grand master OF the brotherhood
and member for thrty-seven years,
traced the growth Of the union from a
few members. who organized in a shanty
at Foft JerVis, TO the present time. when
it numbers IS. 900 members. He said the
railroad men OF today stand In the front
rank Of industrial citizenship. He said
they have all the Observation-Disclosures
fidelity, love Of family and love for coun-
try:
Your record since 1855 gives testimony
to the wisdom Of deliberations" Commits
sioner Sargent concluded. land the Amer
lean people need never fear an industrial
explosion as long as the safety valve Is
controlled by the railroad organizations
Of this country. They ara always ready
to reason and take advice
Address by T. v. Powderly.
T. V. Powderly of the division Of infor-
nation OF the bureau of immigration. who
has been switchman, brakeman, fireman
and engineer. urged the delegates to be
united and to practice discrimination,
moderation and tolerance. He urged the
brotherhood to remember the trackman,
them in their efforts.
At the executive session yesterday the
credentials of the delegates were passed
upon, and Vice Grand Master Wilson re-
ported that the wage question with the
Erie system had been satisfactorily ad-
1usted March "a. and that there would
be no reduction at present. After July /.
IL the Erie system desires to reduce the
scale Mr. Wilson said, the system must
give thirty days notice Of it's intentions.
The rest of tho meeting was devoted to
routine business.