Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1903 — CHIEF P. M. ARTHUR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHIEF P. M. ARTHUR.

Head of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and His Career. P. M. Arthur, grand chief engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, dropped dead while speaking at the banquet at the close of the annual union convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers at Winnipeg, Man. Mr. Arthur had Just arisen to respond to a toast, opening with: “It may be my parting words to many of you,” when he fell backward and expired a few minutes afterward. Although born In Scotland 72 years ago, P. M. Arthur was In spirit an American, for he reached the United States while still a lad and was brought up amidst American environments. Ue went to work In the shops of the New York and Ilarlem Kailroad Company as a blacksmith's helper, and while there became interested In machinery and ultimately learned that trade. , He also made his start hs an engineer In the same shop, beginning ns an engineer's wiper, and served his entire apprenticeship to the end of manning a throttle himself on the New York Central Railroad. When, In 1803, that great single labor power, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was formed, he was one of the foremost and most radical leaders in the movement. Afterward be did much toward making It what It now Is, the strongest and most conservative organisation In the world, for when clothed with power, he recognized the fact that more could be accomplished by going slow than by aggressiveness. As a reward for these labours and to show their faith In his Judgment, and as a tribute to his executive powers, the members of the brotherhood made him their unanimous choice for the position of grand master of the order, when, In 1873, that office was made vacant by the death of Grand Chief Blanchard. Not only was Mr. Arthur looked up to and respected by the men among whom he was the acknowledged leader, but he enjoyed the trust and confidence of the entire railroad directories of the country. So true was this that he could go direct to any railroad magnate in the Ykuid and at any time get for his follow-i era any concession that they could In reason demand. Strikes were In later yean Chief Arthur's abomination. He discountenanced them. He came to believe that the motto of the order he represented could not be lived up to If such events were allowed or encouraged. This motto Is "Sobriety, truth. Justice and morality.*'

Mr. Arthur resided In Cleveland. Senator Depew said he was the cleverest labor champion lu the country. Be this as It may, while he made errors himself. Chief Arthur certainly prevented the railroad employes of the United States from making many grievous errors of Judgment. He filled

the position of grand master of the brotherhood with great success to the order and with signal honor to himself.