About December 1, 1864, a meeting was held in the Olympic Theatre building, corner of Washington and Howard streets, to consider the question of organizing a division. Maynard Banister, Samuel Hobart and J. M. Alger, of the Boston & Worcester road; James H. Prince and L. Cole, of the Boston & Providence, and John T. Otis, of the South Shore, were present. It was decided to organize, but adjournment for one week was had without definite action. In the following week, the engineers of all roads running out of Boston were interviewed and invited to participate in the movement. The next meeting was held in Hospitaller Hall, on Washington street. After full discussion, John T. Otis was appointed a delegate to secure the work and a charter, with authority to organize. He went to Rochester, N. Y., and joined Division No. 18 there, December 17, 1864. He then secured a charter from the Grand Chief, and authority to organize. At the following meeting, Friday evening, December 30, at Hospitaller Hall, five members were initiated, as follows: Maynard Banister, S. B. Hobart, J. H. Prince, L. Cole, and W. E. White. One week later they initiated fourteen more. Permanent officers were chosen, as follows: John T. Otis, Chief Engineer; S. A. Bragg, First Assistant Engineer; M. A. Banister, Second Assistant Engineer. Division 63 was organized at Springfield, Mass., March 3, 1865, and Division 57 was organized at Providence, R. I., April 27, 1865.

These first few months, closing with the organization of the divisions in Boston, Springfield, and Providence, practically cover what may be termed the formative period of the Brotherhood. Its growth since then has been steady, but not uniform. It now has a membership of 20,000 in round numbers, divided among 319 divisions. Various causes, from time to time, tended to delay its development. The chief officers, however, in the face of all difficulties always insisted upon using every possible argument before authorizing a strike, and continually urged upon the members to attain so high a degree of excellence as to command the highest wages without objection by the companies. The annual conventions

BENEFIT FUNDS ESTABLISHED.

321

were held in prominent cities through the country, and were frequently attended by prominent city and State officials. These conventions were generally held in October. At the Convention of 1866, the Locomotive Engineers' Journal was established, which has since reached a very general circulation through the Brotherhood. Its pages each month were filled with topics of general interest to the members, — special correspondence from brothers, communications from various officers and editorial comments on current topics of particular interest to engineers. It has been a great power in building up the Brotherhood. This convention also established the Widows', Orphans', and Disabled Members' Fund, of which P. M. Arthur, Anson Gustin, and J. H. Prince were the first trustees. This fund was subsequently, after it reached the sum of $14,639.48, transferred to the General Charity Fund. On the 3d of December, 1867, the Locomotive Engineers' Mutual Life Insurance Association was established, and it has proven a source of great benefit to the members.

In 1868, trouble arose between the engineers at St. Louis and the roads, when the right of the Brotherhood to strike on all roads because of trouble on one came up. Chief Wilson claimed that as the companies combined to help each other, so their employees had the same right. His own plan, however, was to have each road settle its own difficulties independently. In 1870, it was voted to establish headquarters in Cleveland for the following ten years, and there they have remained ever since. An order of burial-service was also adopted at this convention. In 1871, it was determined to procure an international act of incorporation, if possible; if not, then a charter from the United States, so that the Grand International Division might be recognized as a legal body. It was proposed to incorporate the chief officers and one delegate from each State. An act of incorporation was drawn up, but it died in Congress. Division 33 was incorporated in Tennessee in 1870, but as the division died a natural death in 1877 the brotherhood is not now incorporated in any State. In 1872, the convention voted to expel all members engaging in strikes without the direction of their divisions. The grand

officers were also unanimously instructed to do all in their power to induce the companies to discontinue Sunday trains.

A special convention was held at Cleveland, February 25, 1874, when the resignation of Chief Wilson was asked for and received. His successor was P. M. Arthur, who had been prominent in the Brotherhood almost from its inception, and who has held that place ever since. The cause for this convention was as follows: In November, 1873, the engineers learned that the railroad officials throughout the country had combined to reduce their wages, on account of alleged decrease. of business and earnings. The engineers did not believe the reasons given were the true ones, and successfully resisted the attempted reduction on one principal road, and checked it on many others by timely remonstrances. An attempted settlement with the Pennsylvania road and leased lines failed. Chief Arthur claims the road did wrong in posting a ten per cent. reduction while it still had a written agreement with the engineers that they should receive a stipulated sum for certain services. The reduction was made on a day's notice. The engineers thought such action arbitrary and unjust. They claimed they should have been consulted, and that they would cheerfully have submitted to a reduction, had a good reason therefor been shown. Failing to secure a restoration of wages, they struck at an appointed hour, first having given due warning of their intention. For this Chief Wilson denounced them through the public press, although he did not condemn the officials of the road. His action caused an immediate demand for his resignation, which was given, as stated above.

Many chapters could be written simply upon the strikes in which the Brotherhood has been engaged, although they have been comparatively few. But they vitally concerned the general public, and were followed with the closest interest while they lasted. In general, it may be said that they were all, or nearly all, caused by attempted reduction of wages and attempts to break up the organization. The Brotherhood, as its records abundantly show, first exhausted all *pacific