. These had always come through their local unions.
I rapidly took up and adjusted what each one of the representatives
of his order claimed, and then a man said: "I represent the
locomotive engineers."

My response was: "You have no business here, and I will have
nothing to do with you. I will see no one of the locomotive
engineers, except their accredited chief officer."

"Well," he said, "Mr. President, there is a new condition on
the road, a new order of labor called the Knights of Labor. We
are going to absorb all the other unions and have only one. The
only obstacle in the way is the locomotive engineers, who refuse
to give up their brotherhood and come in with us, but if you will
recognize us only, that will force them to join. Now, the Brotherhood
intends to present a demand very soon, and if you will recognize
our order, the Knights of Labor, and not the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers, we will take care of what they demand and
all others from every department for two years, and you can take
your trip to Europe in perfect peace of mind. If you do not do
this there will be trouble."

I declined to deal with them as representatives of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers. Then their spokesman said: "As this
is so serious to you, we will give you to-night to think it over
and come back in the morning."

I immediately sent for the superintendent of motive power and
directed him to have posted by telegraph in every roundhouse that
the request of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, of which
this committee had told me, had been granted. The next morning
the committee returned, and their leader said: "Well, Mr. President,
you have beaten us and we are going home."

Then I appealed to them, saying: "I am a pretty badly broken-up
man. The doctors tell me that if I can have three months without
care I will be as good as ever. You must admit that I have at
all times been absolutely square with you and tried to adjust
fairly the matters you have brought to me. Now, will you take
care of me while I am absent?"

They answered unanimously: "Mr. President, we will, and you can
be confident there will be no trouble on the New York Central while
you are away."

I sailed with my mind free from anxiety, hopeful and happy, leaving
word to send me no cables or letters. After a visit to the
Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau in Upper Bavaria, I went into the
Austrian Tyrol. One night, at a hotel in