The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-26
SEEK REVISION OF
MORAL CODE OF
B. OF |. {.
Some Engineers Say Rules Barring
Them From Saloons and Race
Tracks Are Too Rigid and
Fight for Modification
Debate Grows Torrid, But It's hn-
probable That Concession Will BE
Made To Sporty" Element.

Proposed changes in the moral coue
of the Brotherhood OF Locomotive Ell
Eineers brought on the most animaVea
discussion Wednesday morning mat
has featured any OF the sessions OF the
convention now being held In Detroit'
The rules laid down by the Brother
hood for the conduct OF its members
when on duty as well as When on
duty. are OF the strictest sort. A mem
Der must not frequent gamphhs
houses, saloons, race tracks, poOl
rooms or like places, and VIOLATIONS
Of these rules are punishable py OK
pulsion from the order, which means
practically cutting short a mans ca
reer as an engineer, for man VINO
has been expelled from the brother
hood stands mo. more chance than
rabbit" OF securing employment Win
any Of the big roads.
Under the constitution, these rules
OF conduct come up for discussion al
every biennial session and are con-
tinued In force with such changes as
may be deemed advisable. some Oh
the delegates believe that they are 700
rigid and 1t was this element that
started the discussion "Wednesday
The debate waxed SO warm at times
that the voices OF the speakers pene'
trated beyond the outer guards STA
ton. at the end OF the hall farthest
from the scene OF conflict.
One of the delegates took the POSI-
ton that, under the rule prohibiting
gambling In any form, member could
not even give q card party In his own
home.
even II the game played is only
progressive pedro, and you give prizes
to the winners, that's gambling and
as such is prohibited by the rules" he
commended.
On the other hand II was argued
that no such application Of the rule
was intended and that the members
were free to entertain at cards In their
own home without any fear OF having
charges preferred against them.
Assistant Grand Chief Engineer Bur-
CESS, who acts as spokesman for the
brotherhood in giving out information
TO the press, was confident that the
rules would remain unchanged.
In the light of this fronclad moral
code, the welcome signs displayed In
the especial benefit OF the visiting en-
gineers take on the nature OF JOKE.
Not only are the engineers very poor
patrons, but the rank and file OF the
organization resent this play OF good
fellowship on the part OF the saloon
keepers. Even II they were disposed
TO accept the invitation to come In and
loosen up" they could not do so with
out running a long chance OF being ex-
PEELED Were q delegate to come into
the convention with liquor on his
breath. or IL he should even be seen
I'm a saloon and the fact were report
ed to the officers, he would be prompt.
~ sent home and another delegate
would be sent for TO take his place.
Charges would also be preferred
against the delegate and II sustained.
he would be expelled.
II Is to the credit OF the men In at
tendance that no delegate has been
cent home from the present conveu.
ton, and such instances are excep.
Jionally rare in the history OF the or.
ganization.
ITO outsiders these rules OF ours
may seem too strict" said Mr. Bur.
CESS to The Times. They are strict,
to be sure, but they are necessarily so.
An engineer in charge of train has
the lives of the passengers in his keep
ing, and he cannot afford to do any
thing that will shatter the public's
confidence in him. Suppose you are a
travelling man. You are on the road
a good deal and you come to know the
engineers pretty we'll Suppose you