The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-13
ENGINEERS GIVEN
 HEARTY WELCOME Nearly 2500 Brought Here By
 Convention OBJECTS OF THE ORDER Today Will Be Given Over Entirely to Pleasure md n Trip to Besse- mer Industries VIII Be
 Feature
OBJECTS OF THE ORDER

Seeking a more perfect and intel ligent understanding of the needs of
 the railroads, their employees and the
 public. the convention of the Brother hood of Locomotive Engineers and the
 Ladies' Grand International auxiliary convened yesterday morning in the city hall.
 Last night they were welcomed to Alabama and Birmingham by Coy. B.. B. Conner, Mayor Culpepper Exum,
 James Bowron, Dr. John w. Stagg and pr. H. A. Elkourie in a public meet ing at the Jefferson theatre which was characterized by eloquent tributes to
 the "men behind the throttle.' "The state Is yours" said Governor Conner. "and if there is anything you want. even if 1t Is marriage license, ask for 1t and you shall have it." The governor spoke of the high class of
 men in the order and the bravery with which they daily face death. He told how Birmingham had been built up by the aid of the railroads and said that these roads are now more pros- porous than ever. With pride he point ed to Greater Birmingham and said
 that every section joined with him in his welcome.
 10. M. Chase Presides E. M Chase presided over the meet ing and in opening read a letter from President W. ". Finley of the South ern railway. The stage was beauti- fully decorated in palms and ferns, with l the emblems of the two orders, the star and dove, of the brotherhood, and the star with a crescent, of the auxfl- | iary, covered artistically with flowers | on each side of the stage. Between two United States flags hung the motto of the organization: "Sobriety, truthful-
 ness, justice and morality"
 Seated on the stage were J. T. Whil- den of Macon Ga, T. ]. Bissett of Bir-
 mingham, Charles Brown of Columbus, Miss W. E. Swine and H. J. Arrasmith of Birmin gham s. T. Watkins of At
 lanta, T. J. Hoskins of Knoxville. s. W. Pettibone of Louisville, George Gar rett, Charles K. Hall of Birmin gham, Mrs. w. A. Murdock of Chicago, Mrs. Crttenden of Knoxville, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Van Arsdale of Birmingham, Governor Conner, Mayor Exum. Dr. John W. Stagg, James Bowron, Dr. II. A. Elkourie and others.
 Response By Hoslxins I. u. IlOSklHS Ol huOANllle uelN cred the response to the governor. He said that the engineer whom the gov
 ernor called "the power behind the throttle" is care free. He runs his en-
 zine while he lives, and no more. He
 has no thought of danger and Is, of
 course. indifferent to 1t.
 He took the opportunity to explain
 to the public that the brotherhood is
 a labor organization organized "to i'm
 prove our interests as class. We have
 reached the point now where we can
 no longer remain apart, but must ask that the public become the keeper of our destiny in company with their own. We seek good to ourselves only by de- serving 1t, and In uph olding the ob- | jects of our order"
 Especially did Mir. Hoskins insist that | the time has come for the railroads | and the public to care for the widows and orphans of men Killed in service,
 and he protested against the laws which condemn a man for accidents which are not intentional. MT. Hoskins also de- tended the right of labor to demand the right to say for whom and for what price 1t will work on the same ground that the farmer gets his price for his produce.
 Mayor Exum said that he welcomed the engineers to Birmingham with