The Railroad Telegrapher Volume 35, Part 1 January-June 1918
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JANUARY VOLUME XXXV NUMBER 1 Published at St. Louis, Mo., by the Order of %
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La Salle Students and Graduates can now be found employed in the exec- utive departments of practically all the large railroads, business, houses and commercial organizations in the United States. Many prominent business con- cerns can be named in each of which 100 to 900 or more LaSalle students or grad- uates from our several specialized de- partments are employed m responsible positions. For instance— Pennsyhan in It. It . . . . 91S American Telegraph & Telephone Company . U. S. Steel Corporation . . Baltimore «£• Ohio It. R. . . Armour & Company . Chicago & N. W. It. It. Ford Motor Company Swift & Company . . Standard Oil Company . 259 tso 561 m $92 lit 187 HO Railroads also need more men with broad knowledge of transportation problems. The Interstate Commerce Commission needs them. Cities and Chambers of Com- merce need them. One city alone in the Middle West pays its traffic expert a salary of $10,000.(0. States are employing men skilled in this field to act in the interests of their shippers. The demand is con- stantly growing. This is one uncrowded profession. If you are dissatisfied with your pre- sent position or if you now know some- thing about traffic but want to add to your knowledge, send for particulars about the Interstate Commerce, Railway Traffic Course and Consulting Service, given by LaSalle Extension University. Among the numerous firms end cor- porations employing 60 to 100 or more LaSalle students or graduates are the following: Western Electric Company International Harvester Co. B. F. Goodrich Company Wells Fargo Express Company Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and every important railroad company in the United States. More than 125,000 men in active busi- ness life including a large number of corporation officials have Deon enrolled and are reaping the benefits of LaSalle training and service. Over 20,000 new students now enroll annually. The La- Salle organization consists or 800 people, including a staff of 300 business experts. firofessional men, text writers, special ecture writers, instructors and assist- ants. LaSalle students and graduates occupying responsible positions^ean bo found ttarougnou* “ ‘‘ ” speaking world. Free Consulting Service As a LaSalle student, you will also be entitled to the free use of our Consult- ing Service which gives you the privil- ege of calling on our staff of experts in any department at any time when you Study By Mail No matter how small your salary may do, is so low and the monthly payments are so small can have this LaSalle Course in Interstate that they will place no appreciable tax upon urse in Interstate imerce — you can be trained by these experts “ The tuition you < Conn „ — . In traffic without feeling the cost, your income. Write for information and get our free books now. The coupon will bring them. 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GENERAL COMMITTEE, HOCKING VALLEY RAILWAY
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1M *924 r f THE RAILROAD i L _ k a ^ TELEGRAPHER Published Monthly bt thb Order or Railroad Telegraphers C. B. Rawlins - Editor and Manager. Entered as Second-Class Matter December 20, 1912, at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., Under the Act of August 24, 1912. Subscription Price - - - $1.00 Per Year. Vol. XXXV JANUARY, 1918 No. 1 The New Order of Things By H. B. PERHAM, President WOODROW WILSON, President of the United States, has by virtue of law taken possession and assumed control of the railroads, effective at 12:00 o’clock noon, December 28, 1917. As far as railroad employes are concerned a new order of things commenced on that date. It is reasonably expected that the Congress will strengthen the President’s hands by suitable enactments, but the character and scope of such enactments are intangible subject floating about in the blue ether at the time this is written. Whatever may betide it is reasonable ^o suppose Hhat matters will be on the upgrade as far as our membership is concerned and that many of our long standing grievances will be abated and eventually removed. While we stand at the threshold of the new era, eagerly anticipating what fate may have in store for us, let us review what was accomplished during the year 1917, after thirty years of getting ready. Contrary to expectations, all records were excelled during the year 1917. It was supposed that the war would have an adverse influence and that the pace we have kept up for many years past would be slackened. But such, happily, was not the case. The fighting spirit now in evidence Digitized by v^oooLe
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4 The Railroad Telegrapher. all over the world reached into the towers, offices, stations and places where our mem- bers are employed, and there appeared a general resistance to the unjust conditions that have prevailed there for many years past. The increases in wages in other lines of employment, the constantly increasing cost of living necessities, the rise in rents, and many other influences made it well nigh impossible to proceed along the old lines, and those who had found it convenient to work all day and every day for a bare sub- sistence were at last stirred into resistance. The result is that 130 new and revised schedules have been accomplished during the year with only one lockout strike to mar the record. Following is a list of railroads where new and revised schedules have been se- cured : Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo, January 1st. Big Four, January 4th. Canadian Northern (Western Lines), January 8th. Express Agents Can. Northern, January 11th. Grand Trunk Pacific, January 13th. Denver & Rio Grande, January 23d. St. Louis Southwestern, January 30th. Wheeling & Lake Erie, February 1st. Quincy, Omaha & K. C., February 8th. New York, New Haven & Hartford, February 9th. Missouri & North Arkansas (new), Feb- ruary 19th. Central of New England, February 22d. Chicago & Alton, March 1st. Toledo & Ohio Central, March 3d. Boston & Maine, March 3d. Chicago & Northwestern, March 14th. Queen & Crescent, North (C. N. O. & T. P.), March 19th. Queen & Crescent, South (N. O. & N. E.), March 23d. Lake Erie & Western (Vol.), March 25th. Zanesville & Western, March 28th. Ann Arbor, March 30th. Kansas City Southern, April 1st. Minneapolis & St Louis, April 6th. Clover Leaf, April 6th. C, St. P., M. & O., April 9th. St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico, April 11th. Chicago, Terre Haute & S. E., April 12th. New Orleans, T. & M. (new), April 16th. Detroit, Toledo & Ironton, April 16th. Pittsburg & Lake Erie, May 1st. Bessemer & Lake Erie, May 3d. Western Maryland, May 3d. Norfolk & Western, May 4th. New York, Ontario & Western, June 1st. . Buffalo R. & P., June 2d. Southern Pacific (Atlantic System), June 8th. Missouri Pacific, June 13th. Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western (new), June 15 th. Grand Trunk Ry., June 15th. Central Vermont (new), June 15th. Chicago Great Western, June 28th. ' Quebec, Montreal & Southern, June 30th. Napierville Junction Ry., June 30th. Chicago & Eastern Illinois, July 2d. Rutland R. R., July 7th. Edmonton & Dunnegan (new), July 14th. Delaware & Hudson, July 14th. C. I. & L. (Monon), July 14th. Cent. Can. Exp., E. & D. Ry. (new), July 14th. Pere Marquette, July 16th. Kanawha & Michigan, July 17th. Union Pacific, July 18th. Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic, July 18th. Chesapeake & Ohio, July 19th. Boston & Albany, July. Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis,' July 30th. Maine Central, August 6th. Southern Ry., August 11th. Canadian Northern, Eastern Line, Au- gust 13th. Halifax & Southwestern, August 14th. Tennessee Central (new), August 15th. Southern Express Co., M. & O. (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., So. Ry. in Miss, (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Danville & West- ern (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Georgia & Florida (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Augusta Southern (new), August 18th. • Southern Express Co., N. O. & N. E. (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Ala. G. S. (new), August 18th. Digitized by LaOOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 5 Southern Express Co., C. N. O. & T. P. (new), August 18th. Southern Express Co., Southern Ry., August 18th. Southern Express Co., S. A. L., August 18th. Southern Express Co., A. C. L., August 18th. Southern Express Co., Nor. Ala., August 18th. Southern Express Co., G. S. & F., Au- gust 18th. Southern Express Co., Cent, of Georgia, August 18th. Southern Express Co., A. B. & A., Au- gust 18th. Southern Express Co., C. &,W. C., Au- gust 18th. Southern Express Co., Norfolk Southern, August 18th. ^ Oregon Short Line, August 27th. Trinity & Brazos Valley, August 28th. Western Pacific, September 1st. Bangor & Aroostook, September 12th. K. G, Mexico & Orient, September 12th. Virginian Railroad, September 13th. Texas & Pacific, September 14th. Chicago, Terre Haute & Southwestern, September 20th. Evansville & Indianapolis, September 23d. Southern Express Co., Norfolk & West- ern Ry., September 26th. Northern Pacific, September 28th. Erie Railroad, September 29th. New York, Susquehanna & Western, September 29th. „ Quebec Central, September 29th. Canadian Pacific, October 3d. Buffalo & Susquehanna, October 5th. Boston & Maine, October 18th. Boston Terminal, October 23d. Wabash, October 24th. Atlantic Coast Line, October 26th. Central Vermont, October 30th. G R. I. & P., October 31st/ Hocking Valley, November 1st. Clover Leaf, November 1st. Gulf, Mobile & Northern, November 5th. Bessemer & Lake Erie, November 5th. Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac, November 7th. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, Novem- ber 13th. Illinois Central, November 15th. Intercolonial Railway, November 17th. Esquimalt & Nanaimo, November 17th. International & Great Northern, Novem- ber 18th. Missouri & North Arkansas, November 20th. Chicago* Burlington & Quincy, Novem- ber 22d. Mobile & Ohio, November 27th. Seaboard Air Line, November 28th. Central oF Georgia, December 11th# Danville & Western (new), December 11th. Southern Pacific (Pacific System), De- cember 12th. Winnipeg Terminals (new), December 13th. Canadian Government Railways, Decem- ber 13th. Canadian Northern (Western Lines), December 13th. Northern Pacific, December 21st. . Ulster & Delaware, December 22d. Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo, December 24th. Baltimore & Ohio, December 24th. Staten Island Lines, December 24th. Soo Line, December 24th. Chicago & Eastern Illinois, December 26th. Georgia Southern & Florida, December 27th. Chicago & Northwestern, December 28th. Minneapolis & St. Louis, December 28th. With the object of making the comparison clear to all, we furnish a list of the number of schedule negotiations successfully com- pleted in each year since the organization became active. It is as follows: 1902... . 21 1910 ....78 1903... . 38 1911 .... 42 1904... . 28 1912 .... 59 1905... . 36 1913 .... 54 1906... . . .i . . . . 48 1914 .... 44 1907... . *61 1915 .... 19 1908... . 41 1916 .... 84 1909... . 24 1917 ....130 Each and every one of the schedule ne- goiations carried increases in the wage rate running from 7 to 32 per cent, but calculat- ing by averages does not help the situation. It is a play in mathematics that does not re- lieve want. Digitized by v^oooLe
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6 The Railroad Telegrapher. There was much of comfort and value in the rules and fairly good progress was made in that direction. When the eight- hour day becomes general, proper compen- sation arranged for Sunday and holiday work, and our men are relieved from carry- ing the mail through the streets, the ques- tion as to rules will be well on the way to satisfactory settlement. Since the New York Central Lines arb! tration case in the year 1916, the movement for pjfy for Sunday work has gained im- petus throughout the United States. In Canada, where the Sabbath observance is more general, the practice of minimizing Sunday work and paying for it at in-' creased rates wherever such duties are ab- solutely necessary, has been in effect for years past. The railroads where pay hhs been secured for Sunday work may be enumerated , in part, as follows: Baltimore & Ohio. Bay of Quintie. Canadian Pacific. Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. Canadian Northern . Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. Chicago & Northwestern. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. Chicago & Eastern Illinois. Dominion Atlantic. Grand Trunk. » Grand Trunk Pacific. Halifax & Southwestern. Illinois Central. Intercolonial Railway. Michigan Central.* Maine Central. Minneapolis & St. Louis. New York Central, Lines West of Buffalo. New York, Chicago & St. Louis. Northern Pacific. Pere Marquette. Quebec Central. Staten Island Lines. Southern Pacific (Pacific System). Soo Line. Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo. All these rules in regard to Sunday pay differ in one respect or another; some pay double the regular rate, others pay time and one-half, some at agreed overtime rate per hour, others at the regular pro rata rate. In some the same rate is -provided for holidays as well as Sundays. On a great many other railroads not in- cluded in the foregoing list the hours of service on Sundays have been lessened and the validity of the principle thereby ad- mitted but they are so far from being satisfactory that they may be regarded as being only in a transitory stage. The eight-hour day is beginning to be established by contract for all classes represented by our organization, such prom- inent roads as the Norfolk & Western, Chesapeake & Ohio," Seaboard Air Line, Central of Georgia, Virginian and the Southern Pacific (Pacific System) have recently secured that measure of justice. Numerous roads have conceded the eight - hour day for continuously operated and relay offices, but that question is not satis- factorily settled until the man on the one- man fob is included . We quote a few of the rules that have been agreed to respecting carrying the mails through the streets: Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific : “At any office where the United States mail is alleged to be excessive or for any other rea- son a telegrapher considers himself over- worked and complaint is made to proper officer, a prompt investigation will be held at that station, at which he may have the general or local chairman present, and if the complaint is well founded, relief will be granted/’ Illinois Central: “At stations where the United States mail is so heavy as to require additional expense to handle same, the com- pany will assume the expense.” Chicago & Alton: “At any office whete the United States mail is excessive, or for any other reason, a telegrapher considers himself overworked and complaint is made to the proper official, a prompt investiga- tion will be held at that station, at which he may have a co-employe of his choice present, and if the complaint is well founded relief will be granted.” Oregon Short Line : “Same as Chicago & Alton. Southern Pacific (Pacific System): “If on any trick at any station United States Digitized by v^oooLe
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. The Railroad Telegrapher. 7 mail exceeds 500 pounds, or twenty pouches, sacks, or pieces per day, based on an average of thirty days, telegrapher on that trick will not be required to handle.” Central of Georgia: “At stations where United States mail is extremely heavy, and the agent has no help, the company will consider the advisability of relieving him of handling such mail, where it is found burdensome for him to do so.” Train dispatchers generally are getting their bearings on the subject of organiza- tion, and on many roads they have found it to be to their advantage to affiliate with the telegraphers they work with and joined the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. The result is that their wage scales have been adjusted and agreed to, advantageous work- ing rules formulated and adopted, and their grievances satisfactorily settled oil sev- eral important railroads, atnong which may be enumerated the Canadian Government Railways, Canadian Pacific, Canadian Northern, Chesapeake & Ohio, Dominion, Atlantic, Grand Trunk Pacific, Intercolo- nial, Michigan Central, Norfolk Western, Seaboard Air Line, and there are many others. The story of advancement has only been told in part, but taking the statements herein at their f^ce value it^must be ad- mitted by all that the Order of Railroad Telegraphers has done a public service of inestimable value in that the work has been accomplished without clash, friction or strikes. Now that the Government of the United States has taken possession and assumed control of the railroads, we may reason- ably expect that our working conditions will be equitably arranged, because the President has publicly promised fair treat- ment A proper method of representation, such as the Order of Railroad Telegraphers affords, will be an absolute necessity un- der Government control the same in the future as in the past. Those who have withheld their member- ship on account of coercion, intimidation, brow-beating, fear of discrimination, or for other reasons, may brush all such consider- ation aside and without any sort of mis- giving join hands with their fellow work- ers for the good that is to come. If there is any road left unorganized and minus a schedule and wage scale by the end of the year 1918 the men will have only them- selves to blame. President Wilson, in his speech at the Buffalo convention of the American Feder- ation of Labor last year said, “Everybody on both sides has now got to transact busi- ness, and a settlement is never impossible when both sides want to do the square and right thing. Moreover, a settlement is al- ways hard to avoid when the parties can be brought face to face. I can differ from , a man much more radically when he is not in the room than I cap when he is in the room, because then the awkward thing is he can come back at me and answer what I say. It is always dangerous for a man to have the floor entirely to himself. There fore, we must insist in every instance that the parties come into each other's presence and there discuss the issues between them and not separately in places which have no communication with each other.” It is not recorded that our President had it in mind at that time that a few 'weeks after he would take possession and assume control of all the railroads in the United States, but that has happened. The way is now clear for the men on railroads where their committees have been refused admittance and their organization ignored. As to the partiotism of the telegraphers as a class, they are 100 per cent citizens, thousands of them have left home for the trenches, both from Canada and the United States. That those who remain be- hind will loyally assist their Government in the fight for democracy and justice needs not to be promised or even written, it has already been demontrated and proven in a thousand different ways. THE NECESSITY FOR CONTINUED ORGANIZATION. IN urging better conditions of employ- ment and higher wages for post office employes, the following, from the Cleveland Press , may be of vital interest to our members, for since the Federal Govern- ment has taken possession and assumed control of the railroads of the United States a large number of our craft may be of the Digitized by v^oooLe
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8 The Railroad Telegrapher. opinion that labor's troubles will cea$e and every grievance will be remedied and ad- justed. However, while many difficulties will be more easily overcome, it is necessary to have an established and effective organi- zation to cope with the situation and right matters in the proper way : “When a living, breathing human victim of injustice knocks very often at your front door, sometimes as often as twice a day, you are pretty near the Hun class if you sit back in solid comfort and refuse to be interested.” “Does it ever strike you,” says this paper, “that if great injustice is being done these faithful fellows, it’s because of your indif- ference, your absorption in self? “Now, don’t try to dodge the responsi- bility. Don’t try to satisfy yourself that it’s up to Congress. It is your Congress, your money, your employes, nobody else’s, and so the whole responsibility is yQurs. “You have given them one increase in forty years — just ten' years ago, when a dollar would go twice as far as it does now, as you well know. Their minimum wage is $2.22 per day, the maximum $3.33, or much less than you’ll have to pay to get ordinary ditch diggers. And, at that, your postal employes have to work, on the aver- age, nine years to get that maximum. “While your postal employe is off duty through illness he is also off the pay roll. You grant him no pension. You make him buy his own uniform, the cost of which has advanced 50 per cent since you gave him that raise ten years ago. You make him work long hours of overtime, but pay him the regular hourly wage for it. You work him so much nights that he has to sacrifice his social life with family and friends. When he has loyally stuck by the job for, say, forty years and becomes unfitted for anything else, you ‘turn him out to grass’ himself, exclusively, to find the grass. “That’s the way you’ve been treating your postoffice clerks and letter carriers. And, last year, your postoffice department returned you a net surplus of $5,827,236.07 !” For years the postal employes have been endeavoring to effect an organization that could assist them in securing redress of their grievances, and since their affiliation with the American Federation of Labor, ex- tra efforts have been put forth during the past few months to complete their organi- zation. Postmaster-General Burleson has objected' to the activity displayed, as the following excerpt from President Gomper’s letter indicates : “Postmaster-General Burleson, conceives it to be his duty to run the postoffice de- partment as a n^oney-making institution instead of an agency to render service to all of the people. He outlined policies for the postoffice department of the worst corpora- tion kind, seeking to show balances at the end of the year with no thought or care for the human needs or aspirations of those employed. Protest against this policy has come from the postoffice employes who stand . for the humanization of work and hold that public undertakings must be con- ducted'with regard to human interests, even at the expense of profits. “In his annual report Posmaster-General Burleson recommends the repeal of the law that gave postal and other government em* ployes the right to maintain their own or- ganizations in furtherance of the interests of members, free from the domination of department heads, and also restored to them their constitutional right of direct petition to Congress. This law, known as the anti- gag law, was enacted by the sixty-second Congress and approved by^the President. It was secured only after a hard fight. Be- fore its enactment government employes had no way to present wrongs and secure redress of grievances. The law gives these employes the rights of free men and women. All liberty-loving men will insist upon re- taining those rights. “The association of the postal employes with the American Federation of Labor is purely a voluntary one. These men have come forward voluntarily in recent years in large numbers to become identified with the labor movement. This indicates only too well that working conditions for them are not as ideal as the postmaster would have the public believe. These workers have the right — yes, it is a public duty — to organ- ize and make known their grievances to their employer — the American people — so that an aroused public opinion can speedily correct any administrative defects that may be harmful to the workers and the service. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 9 “To deny the right of workers in our largest governmental agency to organize is to make a mockery of our faith in democ- racy. If autocracy is harmful to the morals of our alien enemies abroad, then let us not introduce a species of it into our largest federal institution by attempting to disfran- chise industrially the army of postal work- ers. “At a time when .governmental activities are being extended into every industry con- nected with the successful prosecution of the war and thousands of workers are either already in the government service or potentially government employes, it is important that their right to organize and to petition Congress be not interfered with. We can conceive of nothing more harmful to the necessary extension of government control and regulation at this time than the adoption of the Burleson idea of our government in its capacity of an employer. “The A F. of L. stands prepared today to back up its position of 1906, when it fought for the rights of the government employes. We differ from Mr. Burleson in his view that the anti -gag law has oper- ated to build up organizations of employes that are a menace. We fear that the men- ace lies, not in the employes’ organizations but in the denial to citizens of fundamen- tal rights. “Remember Mr. Burleson, that we are not operating under a kaiserdom such as exists in Germany/ but in accord with the spirit and the genius of our free republic.” The foregoing proves Conclusively that* federal control and possession will not les- sen the need of a thoroughly established organization of our craft. The Order of Railroad Telegraphers con- tinues to see an important work ahead of it. THE BALTIMORE £ OHIO ARBITRA- TION CASE. ONE of the chief objections urged against submitting labor disputes to arbitration has been the delay caused in preparing the case, arranging the arbi- tration board, time occupied in hearings, and then a long wait for the award, which might be favorable or otherwise. With the object of ascertaining whether or not it was feasible to shorten the time taken up in such proceedings, new tactics were recently employed in the controversy between the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the teleg- raphers, levermen, agents and towermen in its employ. After several months devoted to direct conferences and mediation proceedings un- der Federal Statute, it was eventually agreed to submit the two most important questions to arbitration. - Mr. Commissioner Hanger was success- ful in bringing about a settlement of fifteen points in the controversy by means of medi- ation, but those relating to Sunday pay and a general increase in wages refused to re- spond to his expert treatment, and they were submitted to a Board of Arbitration. The mediation conferences ended on De- cember 11, 1917, and arbitration of the two remaining questions was agreed to, and the employes named their members of the arbi- tration board on the same day. The company acted just as promptly in naming its members, and the first meeting of the four representatives took place in Baltimore on December 14th. 'They failed to agree on the selection of two neutral members, and on December 15th they wired the United States Board of Mediation and Conciliation to that effect. On December 18th the two neutral mem- bers were appointed, thus completing the board. On December 20th the hearings com- menced and the employes completed their statement and closed their side of the case the same day. On December 21st the company com- menced and ended its statement, and after final statements in the way of a general summary from both sides the hearings were closed. It had been previously agreed between the two parties that each side should put on the stand but one witness, and that there should be no cross-examination by counsel although both witnesses might be interro- gated by members of the board. The award was handed down on the evening of December 24th, and this, we believe, constitutes a record showing for speed, celerity and directness in such mat- ters. Digitized by v^oooLe
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10 The Railroad Telegrapher. A statement containing the award fol- lows: In the Matter of the Arbitration Between the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- pany and the Telegraphers, Levermen, Agents and Towermen in the Employ of Said Railroad Company. Statement. The Board of Arbitration, consisting of Francis E. Leupp, George H. Camp- bell, F. E. Blaser, J. J. Dermody, J. F. Miller and Charles A. Woods, appointed by the authority of the act of Congress approved July 13, 1913, as recited in the agreement to arbitrate entered into by the respective parties December 11, 1917,. and also by the letter of appointment of the Board of Mediation and Conciliation of December 12 and December 17, 1917, met in the United States Circuit Court room in the Federal Building, in the City of Baltimore, State of Maryland, Decem- ber 20, 1917, and organized by electing Charles A. Woods, chairman, and Fran- cis E. Leupp, secretary. The board held public meetings on December 20th and 21st, during which the respective parties without objection adduced their testimony and filed sundry exhibits and other papers for the infor- mation and guidance of the board, and after hearing the arguments of coun- sel on both sides, the board took the matter in controversy into executive con- ference. The questions submitted to the board were as follows: “1. All salaries shall be based on the actual days of each month exclusive of Sundays. Employes will not be required to work on Sundays except when abso- lutely necessary to protect the company’s interest. When required to work on Sun- day, they will be so advised on the pre- ceding Saturday. Employed required to report for duty on Sunday shall be paid for such service on regular overtime basis. The hours required to work on Sunday shall be within the regular daily 'established hours of the employe af- fected. Any employe’s* trick split more than twice on Sunday, the employe shall receive pay for the entire day. The above to apply to both road and relay positions covered by the schedule. “2. An increase in wages of 20 per cent in the aggregate over the present rates of pay at all positions specified in the present wage scale effective August 1, 1916, and such additional positions as are included in the revised wage scale, same to be apportioned as may be mutually agreed upon between the representatives of the company and the committee repre- senting the employes.” After due consideration of the evi- dence and argument, the board hereby concludes and announces its award as follows: “The award of this board is that the following be substituted for the first proposition submitted: “When employes are required to work on Sunday they will be so advised on the preceding Saturday. Employes required to report for duty on Sunday shall be paid for such service at the regular pro rata rate based upon calendar month, such pay to be in addition to their regu- lar monthly wages. “The hours of work required on Sun- day shall be within regular daily estab- lished hours of the employe affected. If any employe’s trick is split more than twice on Sunday, employe shall receive pay for the entire day. The above is to apply to both road and relay positions covered by the schedule. “It is awarded — “That the second proposition be adopted; with the substitution of 10 per cent for the 20 per cent proposed in the text. (Signed) C. A. Woods, Francis E. Leupp, J. F. Mn.um. J. J. Dermody, , Geo. H. Campbell, F. E. Blaser." Two of the members of the board filed their dissent as follows: “We, the undersigned arbitrators, dis- sent from that part of the award which granted to telegraphers pro rata pay for Sunday work in addition to tneir regular monthly wages, believing that conditions of employment do not justify imposing such a burden on the railroad company. Under present arrangements the men are given fifteen days’ vacation annually with full pay and 75 per cent of them have an eight-hour day. This award assures them the equivalent of approximately sixty- five days’ pay per annum in addition to their regular wages. (Signed) Geo. H. Campbell, F. E. Blaser." l In testimony whereof, witness our sig- natures this 26th day of December, 1917. C. A. Woods, F. E. Blaser, Francis E. Leupp, Geo. H. Campbell, J. F. Miller, J. J. Dermody. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 11 For the benefit of those who may wish to pursue the subject further, we print the transcript Of the hearings, although the hearings consumed less than two days they are too voluminous for one issue, and neces- sarily they will have to be continued in our next. Committemen who read the proceed- ings may find something that may repay them for their time. ARBITRATION AGREEMENT. This agreement, made and entered into this 11th day of December, 1917, between the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, party of the first part, and the committee repre- senting its telegraphers, party of the second part, witnesseth: First : The parties hereto mutually agree that the matters in dispute between them, as hereinafter stated, shall be and are hereby submitted to arbitration under the provisions of the act, approved July 15, 1913, entitled “An act providing for media- tion, conciliation and arbitration between certain employers and their employes.” Second : There shall be a Board of Arbi- tration, consisting of six members, to be named and selected as provided in said act. In case the arbitrators appointed by the respective parties fail to select the neutral arbitrators or either of them within two days after their first meeting, and shall re- port to the Board of Mediation and Con- ciliation that they can not agree upon the neutral arbitrators and shall request the board to immediately appoint such neutral arbitrators, it is mutually agreed that the Board of Mediation and Conciliation may then and at once appoint the neutral arbi- trators without waiting for the expiration of the fifteen days named in the act. Third: That the questions to be sub- mitted to said Board of Arbitration for decision are as follows : 1. All salaries shall be based on the actual days of each month exclusive of Sundays. Employes will not be required to work on Sundays except when absolutely necessary to protect the company's interest. When required to work on Sunday, they will be so advised on the preceding Satur- day. Employes required to report for duty on Sunday shall be paid for such service on regular overtime basis. The hours re- quired to work on Sunday shall be within the regular daily established hours of the employe affected. Any employe’s trick split more than twice on Sunday, the employe shall receive pay for the entire day. The above to apply to both road and relay po- sitions covered by the schedule. 2. An increase in wages of 20 per cent in the aggregate over the present rates of pay at all positions specified in the present wage scale effective August 1, 1916, and such additional positions as are included in the revised wage scale, same to be apportioned as may be mutually agreed upon between the representatives of the company and the committee representing the employes. Fourth: That a majority of said board shall be competent to make a valid and binding award. Fifth : That the said board shall com- mence its hearings, which shall be held at the city of Baltimore, Md., within ten days after the appointment of the arbitrators necessary to complete the board, as above to be constituted. Sixth: That said board shall make and * file its award within thirty days from the beginning of its hearings. Seventh : It mutually agrees that the award made by said board on the first of the questions enumerated in the third stipu- lation of this agreement shall become effective from the date of the award, and that the award made by said board on the second of the questions enumerated in the third stipulation shall become effective from September 1, 1917, and that the same shall continue in force for one year from the date of the award, and thereafter, subject to thirty days' notice, by or to said rail- road, but such notice may -be given before the expiration of said year. Eighth: Thstf the respective parties to the award will each faithfully execute the same. Ninth : That the award and the papers and proceedings including the testimony re- lating thereto, certified under the hands of the arbitrators, and which shall have the force and effect of a Bill of Exceptions, shall be filed in the clerks’ office of the District Court of the United States for the District of Maryland, and shall be final and Digitized by v^oooLe
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12 The Railroad Telegrapher. conclusive upon the parties hereto, unless set aside for error of law apparent on the record. Tenth : That any difference arising as to the meaning or the application of the award made by said board shall be referred back to the board for a ruling thereon, which ruling shall have the same force and effect as the original award; and if any member of said board is unable or unwilling to serve, another arbitrator shall be named in the same manner as such member was orig- inally named. Signed on behalf of the party of the first part by J. M. Davis, vice-president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and on be- half of the party of the second part by J. Yeager, General Chairman of the Teleg- raphers* Committee the day and year first above written. For the railroad : (Signed) J. M. Davis, Vice-President. For the employes: (Signed) J. Yeager, General Chairman Telegraphers’ Committee. In the Matter of the Arbitration Between The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and The Committee Representing Its Telegraphers. December 17, 1917. In the above-named controversy, the con- tending parties having agreed to submit the matters in dispute to a Board of Arbitra- tion of six members, as appears from their written agreement of December 11, 1917; And the railroad having named as its ar- bitrators Mr. George H. Campbell and Mr. F. £. Blaser, and the telegraphers' com- mittee having named as their arbitrators Mr. J. J. Dermody and Mr. J. F. Miller; And the four arbitrators so named hav- ing failed to agree upon the remaining ar- bitrators necessary to complete the Arbitra- tion Board and having so notified the United States Board of Mediation and Con- ciliation ; Now, therefore, by virtue of the authority conferred by the Act of Congress, ap- proved July 15, 1913. the United States Board of Mediation and Conciliation have selected and appointed and do hereby ap- point as the arbitrators to complete the Arbitration Board Hon. Charles A. Woods and Mr. Francis E. Leupp who, together with the arbitrators named by the respective parties, will constitute the Board of Arbitration provided for in said agreement. ' (Signed) Martin A. Knapp, Chairman; United States Board of Media- tion and Conciliation. In the Matter of the Arbitration Between Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and The Order of Railroad Telegraphers. Room. 305, Federal Building. Baltimore, Md., December 20, 1917. Present : Hon. Charles A. Woods, Mr. Francis E. Leupp, Mr. J. J. Dermody, Mr. J. E. Miller, Mr. F. E. Blaser, Arbitrators . Appearances: Mr. C. J. Crawford, Chief Bureau Rates of Pay, for the Railroad. Mr. H. B. Perham, President of The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, for the Telegraphers. At 10:00 o’clock a. m. the board held an informal meeting, and the following pro- ceedings occurred : Mr. Crawford : Judge, one of our arbi- trators in this case. Mr. George H. Camp- bell, is on a delayed train coming from Louisville. He should have arrived about 8:25, but we understand he won’t get in Washington until about 10:00 o’clock, and will not be over here until about} 11:00, and we would like to ask for an adjourn- ment until, say, 2:00 o'clock this afternoon, if it suits the board. / Mr. Woods : All the arbitrators are agreeable to that ; so it will be noted in the minutes that we met at 10 :00 o'clock one of the arbitrators was delayed by the non-arrival of a train, and that the Board Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 13 of Arbitration adjourned then, at the re- quest of the railroad, until 2:00 o'clock. (Whereupon, at 10:00 a. m., an adjourn- ment was taken until 2:00 p. m.) In the Matter of the Arbitration Between Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company and The Order of Railroad Telegraphers. Room 305, Federal Building. Baltimore, Md., December 20, 1917. 2 :00 p. m. Present: Hon. Charles A. Woods, Qiairman; Mr. Francis E. Leupp, Mr. J. J. Dermody, Mr. J. F. Miller, Mr. F. E. Blaser, Mr. George H. Camp- bell, Arbitrators. Appearances: Mr. J. M. Davis, Operating Vice-Presi- dent, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and Mr. C. J. Crawford, Chief Bureau Rates of Pay, for the Railroad. Mr. H. B. Perham, President of The Order of . Railroad Telegraphe-s, for the Telegraphers. Proceedings. Mr. Leupp: xI suppose the first thing we are called upon to do is to organize and elect a chairman, and I would suggest and move that Judge Woods be invited tn act as chairman. Mr. Dermody : I second the motion. (Judge Woods was unanimously elected chairman.) The Chairman: Gentlemen, I suppose the first business will be for the arbitrators to file their appointments with the secre- tary. Mr. Secretary, those are the designations of the two neutral arbitrators. (Handing papers to secretary.) Gentlemen, I suppose the first step to be taken, will be the statement of the ques- tions involved, and the position to be taken by the telegraphers in the matter. Then we will hear the statement of the views of the railroad on the subject, and after that the testimony, if that is agreeable to those ^ho are interested. Mr. Davis: Mr. Chairman, I may say that Mr. Perham, representing the teleg- raphers, and I, representing the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, have verbally agreed — I will ask Mr. Perham to confirm this state- ment— that in this arbitration each side will have one of its persons present in the case and file the exhibits, confining the arbitra- tion to one witness on each side, and we have agreed verbally that we would not do any cross-questioning whatever. Mr. Perham: If I may be permitted, I appear for the telegraphers employed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. My name is H. B. Perham, President of The Order of Railroad Telegraphers. The agreement was that we would present our case through a witness; so it is our inten- tion to put a witness on the stand to pre- sent our xcase, and not to cross-examine any witness. That is my understanding of the way the agreement was made between Mr. Davis and myself. — (To be continued.) THE PRIZE CONTEST. IN an endeavor to reach our sixty thousand goal, and in order that the efforts of members in securing new applications may be rewarded, a prize con- test has been inaugurated which will be be in progress from January 1 to December 31, 1918, and members participating therein will be required to adhere to the following rules and regulations; otherwise credit will not be granted :. It will be necessary for each member claiming credit to have secured the peti- tion personally, and not through anyone else. The purpose of the prize contest is to inspire individual effort; therefore, transfer of credit for securing new mem- bers from one contestant to another will not be permitted. To the member securing five or more new members during- the year 1918, and Digitized by tjooole
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14 The Railroad Telegrapher. who fails to secure any of the other prizes offered herein, will be given one of the official emblem rings. To the member securing ten or more new members during the period named herein will be given free dues in the Order for one. year, their dues being paid by the Grand Division. To the member securing fifteen or more new members during the year will be given a specially made emblem watch charm or $15.00 in cash. To the member securing twenty or more new members during the period named will be given a fine solid gold watch chain, or $20.00 in cash. To the member securing twenty-five or more new members during the period named will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $50.00, or $50.00 in cash. To the member securing forty or more new member during the year 1918 will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $75.00, or $75.00 in cash. To the member securing fifty or more new members during the period named will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $100.00, or $100.00 in cash. The individual member securing the greatest number of new members during the year 1918 will be given $150.00 in cash. The division reporting the greatest num- ber of new members during the year 1918 will be awarded $15&00 in cash. In the foregoing contest, secretaries and officers of divisions, and all other members receiving salaries or expenses, or both, for their services, are barred from participation. In securing new members, it will be necessary to immediately forward the Grand Secretary and Treasurer a notice to the effect that a new application has been secured, and unless that is done, credit will not be allowed; neither will credit be granted where a member permits his list of new applications to accumulate and does not notify this office until some months afterward or until the close of the contest. This office must be notified at the time the new member is secured, and the form of notification should read something like the following : 1918. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo.: I have today secured the petition for membership of and collected $ and have forwarded the petition and money to Bro Secretary and Treasurer Div. No Please credit me with this petition on prize contest. (Signature) Cert. No Div. No ■ 1 1 " 1 T HEARINGS PERTAINING TO EIGHT- HOUR LAW FOR TELEGRAPHERS. THE hearings which have been pub- lished in The Telegrapher in serial form for several months, have clearly shown that this organization, through its executive officers, has exerted every effort at its command in an endeavor to do every- thing possible to secure an eight-hQur day for all telegraphers and telephoners, not only by agreement with the management of railroads, but by legislation. There is much interesting testimony offered by various wit- nesses before this committee, but lack of space prevents continuing the article after this issue; therefore, am submitting Presi- dent Perham’s closing remarks on this sub- ject before the' Congressional Committee. PART VII. (Continued from page 1761, December issue.) Further Statement of Mr. H. B. Perham, President Order of Railroad Telegra- phers, Star Building) St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Perham : Mr. Chairman, it seems necessary to make reply to some of the matters that have been brought forward in the hearing this afternoon. I am sure I am very gratified to hear from the gentle- men representing the railroads, how well the nine-hour law suits their purposes. I remember that in 1907 everybody seemed to be very much opposed to that enactment, but it seems that the situation has changed and that everybody is now in favor of a law that they then opposed. In regard to the minimum fines that we mentioned this morning in our testimony about and which Digitized by c.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. IS. wc filed an exhibit, I may say that those figures were obtained from the Interstate Commerce Commission, and that anyone in- terested may find out the name of the rail- road and the district court in which the cases were tried. We preferred not to bring the precise details of those matters Into the testimony this morning for reasons of pol- icy. I will say that the effect of those decisions was that the United States had no cause for appeal when a decision was rendered fixing the penalty at 1 cent “per count. If the decision had been adverse to the United States there would have been grounds for appeal. As the decision was in favor of the United States there was no ground for appeal. I might say that that was a very expensive proceeding for the people to send their attorneys to those dis- tricts where the violation occurred, to gather their witnesses and pay# them, and that after a corporation is found guilty and fined 1 cent per count it turns this law into a farce. Mr. Faulkner : Then do you not suppose that the costs were paid by the railroad even on the 1-cent penalty? They made the rail- roads pay all the costs, did they not? Mr. Stevens: They paid just the legal fees. Mr. Perham : I am speaking of the cost to the people of sending attorneys from Washington, D. C.f to this place where the trial was had. That is paid by the people and it costs money, and ol course this had a discouraging influence on other parties in bringing suits under this law when they see that is the result after all the labor, trouble and expense. Mr. Cullop: Let me ask you, were the fines assessed against the roads or against "the person' controlling the roads, the officials ? Mr. Perham: Against the railroads in every instance. Mr. Cullop: Is there any provisional do not recall it — as to whether the officials should be fined or the railroads should be fined ? Mr. Perham: There is no provision of the kind. The road is responsible for the penalty. Mr. Cullop : Do you not think that ought to be amended so that the men responsible for the action should be punished and not the corporation? Mr. Perham: I do not, for the reason that it would be very difficult to locate the person who was directly responsible for the violation of law. I remember that there was a question put to some witness this morning in regard to that, and it was al- ways supposed that a railroad official was the cause of the violation. I have reason to believe that is not the case, that it is probably the gentlemen who own or control the road that cause the violation. Mr. Cullop : And therefore if you should make the person whose duty it is to make provision for the men or the appliance the punishable one, do you not think that would remedy the matter? Mr. Perham: May I state that that par- ticular subject has been gone over pro and con a great many times, and it was the usual consensus of opinion that it was so really difficult to find and locate the person upon whom justifiably to attach the blame that that was not thought to be feasible, that a railroad employe has to obey orders, and those orders come from other men, and they come down the line to him? Mr. Cullop : I am heartily in favor of the President’s message of the other day that we should not fine the corporation, but fine the individual who is responsible for the corporation’s acts. I think that is a solution of a great deal of the trouble my- self. Mr. Perham: I think Senator Faulkner mentioned this morning a sort of maximum sum of $11,500 against some railroad com- pany. I should like to point out that where a railroad company is earning $100,000,000 a year that sum does not amount to very much money to that railroad company. It would be about the same .as my losing one red cent, considering my salary as the in- come in comparison. Mr. Cullop: Yes; but if you get after the individual and punish him, the man who is responsible, it amounts to something to him, because he can not collect it from the public and the corporation can. Digitized by v^oooLe
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16 The Railroad Telegrapher. Mr. Elliott : If you will permit me to in- terrupt for a moment, 'the commission ruled in Ruling No. 287, that the penalty was applicable either to the corporation or to the officer of the corporation who was re- sponsible for the excess service, but was not applicable to the employe who did not have any control over the railroad. That is„Subsection F of Rule No. 287. Mr. Perham : I submit that it is very difficult to locate the individual who is re- sponsible. Mr. Cullop: Yes; but if you will name in the law the offitial or employe who is responsible for it, and make him amenable to the law, you will not have any trouble in finding out who it is, for the reason that the rules of the company will define the duties of the several employes. Mr. Perham: With all due respect to your opinion in the matter, we fear such a provision, for many reasons. If you can pass a law that will make a railroad official responsible for the violation of this law it might come bapk on the employes so that they would be liable for something else. That would be very disastrous to them, and they surely have been harassed enough in the past without having fresh troubles to meet. Mr. Fitzgerald: Mr. Perham, is it not a fact that our organizations are con- fronted with many cases annually of men dismissed for insubordination because they refused to carry out instructions of subor- dinate officers which are in direct conflict with the rules? Mr. Perham : It is absolutely true. Again, in regard to the point that the gentlemen who represent the railroads do not want the emergency defined, I can briefly state that it is very much to their advantage not to have emergency defined. For the employes I will state that we are very anxious to have the word “emer- gency” defined, and that* part of Section 3 cleared up so that we may know precisely what is our position. While on that point, I shall like to say that where an emergency exists? as we see an emergency, we have no objection to a train crew or an engine crew using the tele- phone or telegraph, or any other means of communication, so as to get them out of their difficulty. That is not upon our mind, to obstruct that kind of action. But our objection is to orders being issued to train- men and enginemen, to get their own orders at night or at any other time as a regular method of procedure. All of the employes object to that. In regard to the agreements being reached as to the law not being car- ried out, I know nothing about such agree- ments. I never have anything to do with such an agreement. A great deal of stress has been laid upon the fact that if an eight- hour law is enacted it w^ll give no time for transfers. The gentlemen who talked about transfer time, if you recollect, always talked of the train dispatcher. In this instance we are not representing train dis- patchers. The railroads, I believe, by agree- ment, have prevented my organization* from representing train dispatchers. They have cla'imed that the train dispatcher was part of the official family, which in some peculiar method of reasoning exempts them from belonging to the kind of an organization which I represent. The train dispatcher who used to be in our organization has left it. He >yorks on the eight-hour day as a general thing throughout the United States. There are only one or two ex- ceptions where he works any longer than that. The train dispatcher has a book that he places the train orders in, and when the order is fulfilled he puts his initial on that to show that there is nothing more to that order, and then when he transfers to the man who is going to relieve him he points out to him the orders on the book that have not been fulfilled, or have not been canceled,, and that are now to be carried out. So he would say to him, “There is order so and so.” “There is order so and - so,” and see that the relieving dispatcher reads them, so that he understands the vari- ous movements. In addition to that he may show him the train sheet and say, “There is ftetra so and so on the road at such and such a place;” he may say that an extra is ordered for 4 a. m., “and I have ordered the engine and the crew,” or “There is a wrecker wanted for so and so, and I have got everybody advised.” There may be in- Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 17 formation that may take him 10 or 15 minutes on the average to give. As to the telegraph operator or signalman being re- lieved, the usual and general rule is that if he has train orders in his desk he makes a transfer sheet. It provides, “Order No. 23 for train so and so;” “Order No. 4^ for train so and so,” and so on all down the sheet, and when the relieving man comes in he may say, “Where is your transfer?” He reads the numbers, possibly checks,, the train orders to see if they are all mentioned on the transfer sheet. He does not read the orders to see what they mean. All he has got to do is to deliver those orders. It takes him possibly five minutes at the outside to make his transfer. I know of no case where it would take two telegraphers more than five minutes to transfer their orders and make arrangements for one man to relieve the other man who is going off. The gentleman who stated that he worked four hours relieving another man — that must have been an extraordinary situation. I have worked at train dispatching and telegraph operating and signaling for a good many years, and I never saw an instance of that kind, and if there is any occasion for that we desire to prevent that. Mr. Faulkner : Suppose one of the relief men, by reason of missing a car, or some- thing like that, should not get there promptly on time. Would not that stop the whole road under this eight-hour law until he did get there ? Mr. Perham : I think that no suit would hold under the circumstances, Mr. Faulkner: Why would it not? Mr. Perham: Because of a reasonable explanation, Senator. Mr. Faulkner: The court says this is a mandatory statute and therefore it must be strictly construed and enforced in that way. ( Mr. Perham : In regard to that end of it, I presume that no law can be made upon this subject but that one side or the other is bound to get a little, bit the worst of it. After this law was enacted giving the rail- road companies so much leeway we put up with that patiently, and these great numbers of suits, these great numbers of instances of violations, show what the railroad com- panies will do if you give them a little leeway. Now, I want the Congress to give us the advantage and see if we disobey the law or if we make lawsuits. Mr. Faulkner: You will put a penalty on a man who does not get there on time? Mr. Perham : Not any legal penalty. Mr. Faulkner : That is what you put on us if we do not do the right .things. Mr. Perham : A railroad corporation differs from an individual. I submit that the assertion was made here by one of the witnesses that the reason why excess hours were worked was because the employe did not show up. I challenge that assertion. I state that if an employe does not show up he is usually suspended about ten days as a warning to him to show up promptly. They do not allow men to interfere with one another in such a way as that on a railroad. All the men are promptly on time. You will find no example anywhere such as the railroad men can show you quite generally as to punctuality, and I am inclined to believe that that statement is an exaggeration. The assertion was made by the gentleman representing the New York Central that they worked very little on Sundays. I will leave it to you that between Buffalo and New York, say on the four-track line be- tween those cities, the train service on Sun- day is quite extensive, and those gentlemen who started in to do a little work on Sun- day many years ago are now doing a full day’s work on every Sunday, and they can not be spared at all in that territory that I speak of. The reason that I want to make it clear to you as to why there should be some restriction about trainmen handling the telephone is that it has been asserted here that after a man works a lengthy period of hours that he is not then men- tally alert sufficient to make sure about a train order, and I maintain that that is the case. We have here in this table of statis- tical analysis of carriers’ monthly hours of service report which shows, for instance, that, say, the New York Central Line, has in its train service inclusive periods of continuous service in hours, 16 to 17 hours, 4,527 men; 17 to 18 hours, 4,415 men; 18 to 19 hours, 2,266 men; 19 to 20 hours, Digitized by v^,oc e
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18 The Railroad Telegrapher. 1,355 men ; 20 to 21 hours, 751 men ; 21 to 22 hours, 392 men ; 22 to 23 hours, 255 men ; 23 to 24 hours, 131 men; 25 to 26*hours, 38 men; 26 to 27 hours, 24 men; 27 to 28 flours, 27 men ; 28 to 29 hours, 3 men ; 29 to 30 hours, 5 men ; 30 to 31 hours, 7 men ; 31 to 32 hours, 12 men; 32 to 33 hours, 4 men; and there is 37 to 40 hours, 3 men; a total of 14,307 cases. That is for the year ending June 30, 1913. Where men have worked excess hours, such as indicated here, I maintain that* they ought not to handle telephone orders for their trains. Mr. Cullop: Does that mean continuous hours of service with no intermission at all ? Mr. Perham : The heading for that table that I read is, “Inclusive periods of continu- ous service in hours for trainmen.” Mr. Cullop : Is that only occasional with the s^me individuals, or is it for any con- siderable consecutive period ? Mr. Perham : This is for the year, and — Mr. Stevens : Those are emergency cases, I suppose, where they run over 16 hours and 16 to 30 hours ? Mr. Perham : Yes ; those are in excess of the 16-hour period mentioned in the statute. Mr. Esch. It includes all employes, does it not ? Mr. Perham : Those in the train and engine service; not the telegraph operators. The telegraph operator comes under a dif- ferent table. Mr. Esch: . You gave that to us this morning? Mr. Perham : Yes ; you have those fig- ures. There is one more part oft the argument that I should fike to be able to meet, but which I am not, and that is in regard to certain suits where it has been decided that flagmen and switchmen came under the nine-hour proviso of the Hours-of-Service Law. There was a case last year in Kansas City, Mo., in which the Kansas City Ter- minal Co. was defendant, and it was pretty clear that two switchmen who were en- gaged in telephoning and throwing switches and directing the movement of trains by hand signals did come under the present Hours-of-Service Law. In another case, in Cleveland, Ohio, in which the Big Four was defendant, the United States District Court decided there that switchmen engaged in the movement of trains by the use of tele- phonic circuit, namely, a telephone, did come under the nine-hour proviso. I will endeavor to obtain copies of the court’s de- cisions in those two cases, so that you may understand precisely the court’s attitude in regard to that particular phase of this question. In regard to an assertion made, I be- lieve, by the last witness about the number of men — those gentlemen who were on this committee at the original hearing in 1907 may remember that that was, one of the chief objections to the Hours-of-Service Law, that the men could not be supplied, and that the organization which I represent was engaged in minimizing the number of men who might learn telegraphing. I stated at that time that there were 8,000 men eager to get employment on the rail- roads at good wages. I make the same assertion now. Wages are gradually in- creasing, it is true, but they have not reached that stage yet where they would be very attractive to a man who was able to make a living at some other business. At the present moment my organization is supporting about forty telegraphers in the city of St. Louis who are looking for a job. I am very glad to hear that Mr. Selden, of the Baltimore & Ohio, needs men. I will be able to send him a few. The telegraph profession has been ridden to death by low wages and bad conditions. And a ^great number, many thousands of men, have quit the business to go into other lines where they can get more desirable conditions and perhaps better remuneration. That is the reason why we are seeking to get an eight- hour day so as to retain the best men in the service. I am quite sure if this committee should make a favorable report upon this bill and it should eventually become a law, the rail- roads will come here in a few years’ time and say it is just exactly the thing that they asked for. I thank you for your patience. (Thereupon the committee adjourned un- til Wednesday, January 28, 1914, at 10:00 o’clock a. m.) THE END. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 19 Our slogan for 1918: Sixty thousand members , an eight-hour day, overtime for all work performed on Sundays and holi- days. : The “annual” cards are pronounced classy. Purchase one. A New Year resolution — Join the Pen- sion Fund and guard against the infirmities of old age. Farewell 1917, most generous to our membership. Here's trusting 1918 will be a repeater. * Repeal of the law under which American women marrying aliens take on an alien statuses to be urged before the House Im- migration Committee. The St. Louis & San Francisco R. R. and its organized telegraphers have failed to adjust wage differences, and the matter is referred to federal arbitration. Protect your beneficiary at all times by forwarding your remittances in payment of both dues and assessments before Febru- ary 28th and August 31st of each term. By amending the Texas compensation law State Legislature has given less pro- tection to workers than formerly, according to State Labor Commissioner Jennings. The Minnesota minimum wage act was held to be constitutional by the State Supreme Court. The court holds the legis- lature had authority to create this com- mission. One thousand three hundred and forty- seven new members were initiated into the Order during the month of December. Seven thousand seven hundred and seventy- eight new members is the total for, 1917. At this early date, keen interest is being manifested in the prize contest, the rules and conditions of which are published in this number. Get in and assist in carrying into effect our 1918 slogan. Government possession and control of railroads does not mean the millenium for employes has dawned. The article in the editorial columns is an illustration of some of the difficulties government employes en- counter. The new uniforms of the women con- ductors on the Flatbush line of the B. R. T. will, fashion experts say, consist of the regulation cap, blue skirt and blue coat with brass buttons. A neat little pocket will hold the transfers. Germany is about to restrict use of the telephone. “Rationing” is what they call it. The postoffice authorities who control the telephones complain that tbe telephone and telegraph service are burdened with useless talk and messages. Many crops this year exceed the produc- tion of other years, while the value of the country's farm products, with* a total esti- mated unofficially at $21,000,000,000, far exceeds any other year in history, says the Department of Agriculture’s report. The message on the cover of the Decem- ber issue, “What Hath God Wrought,” has elicited much favorable comment, espe- cially from our old-timers. This was the first Morse message and was transmitted by a niece of Prof. S. F. B. Morse, the inventor. Another step toward the long fore- shadowed move > of making the National Capital bone dry has been taken by the introduction of such a bill into Congress by Digitized by v^oooLe
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20 The Railroad Telegrapher. Representative Randall, of California. The recent prohibition law did. not bar the im- portation of liquor for personal use. England’s trade unionists and laborites favor an early restatement of war aims. The Parliamentary committees of these two parties adopted resolutions urging it was “desirable that Britain make an early definite declaration of its aims and objects in continuing the war.” The “slacker” (non) is a menace we always have with us. He objects to cer- tain members; he objects to certain officers; he objects to organized labor. He does not, however, object to the improved working conditions and increases in wages secured through the efforts of this organization. i War emergency measures for the effec- tive mobilization of the country’s indus- trial resources and for the maintenance of indispensable protective standards for labor were presented at the eleventh annual meet- ing of the American Association for Labor Legislation held in Philadelphia, Decem- ber 27th-29th. Syracuse, N. Y.’s vast pottery industry, which produces 35 per cent of the vitrified china manufactured in ,the United States, may be shut down, because the Government, it is stated, believes this industry should be placed in the list of non-necessities. The pottery makers here are preparing a protest should such action be taken. The’ Food Administration’s sugar ration will be three pounds a month for each per- son during 1918, according to an announce- ment that will be sent soon to the 12,000,000 persons who signed food conservation cards. Each person in the country is con- suming about six pounds a month, and be- fore the war each consumed nearly eight pounds a month. The recent ruling by Attorney-General McGhee that private liability companies can not do business in Ohio, because of the Ohio Workmen's Compensation Act, is not acceptable to these concerns. They have secured a temporary injunction against the State Industrial Commission and are now preparing to fight the ruling to the State Supreme Court, if necessary. The Council of National Defense re- quests friends and families of soldiers not to send them food. An abundant supply is being furnished in the camps and can- tonments, the statement said, and a large quantity of privately sent food is being wasted. In some cases the food has been spoiled on account of having been conveyed long distances in heated express or mail cars. War risk insurance for soldiers, sailors and members of the nurses’ corps has reached the two billion mark. The Govern- ment is issuing this insurance to its mili- tary forces for the purpose of replacing the old pension system. The maximum policy is $10,000, and the lowest is $1,000, and these are issued at costs ranging be- tween $6 and $8 per thousand, according to age. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. announces that the semi-annual 10 per cent bonus to its unorganized employes will be continued in the form of a straight salary increase, payable monthly. This concern is notoriously low-waged and paid the bonus only to its unorganized. Since the Government has taken over the control of railroads and guarantees divi- dends, the Santa Fe receives a lot of free advertising without cost. Any attempt on the part of Postmaster- General Burleson to deny to postal em- ployes the right to organize will be bitterly fought, is the announcement of President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor.^ Mr. Gompers denies any threats to strike and further declares that under present conditions he sees no danger of strikes. If the men are denied the right to express their grievances, such action may result, he fears. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 21 Congressman Keating, chairman of the House Labor Group, asks Congress to in* crease the wages of all federal employes. The proposed increases range from $300 a year for workers receiving less than $1,200 a year, to $60 increases between $1,800 and '$2,000. Increases for per diem workers are as follows: $2 a day or less, $1 a day; between $2 and $2.50, 80 cents; between $2.50 and $3, 60 cents ; between $3 and $3.50, 40 cents; between $3.50 and $4, 20 cents. - Senator Smith, of Michigan, roundly assailed the Fuel Administration. “A theoretical coal dictator,” was the way he described Administrator Garfield, with- out naming him. Mr. Smith declared children had died of cold and exposure, and that it was a dis- grace. He denounced putting inexperienced^ men in charge of the fuel supply, and de- clared that much slate was being sold in coal, and that there was no high grade in- spection. Centering its attention on the urgent need of providing a system of highways adequate to the transportation requirements of the country, in war and peace, the fifteenth annual convention of the Ameri- can Road Builders’ Association, will be held in St Louis, February 4th to 7th. High- way construction has received a serious set- back the past season, owing to the short- age and high cost of labor and the extreme difficulty of securing transportation of road- building materials. That women should work in arsenals and inspect government uniforms, thus releas- ing men in these occupations for war serv- ice, is the suggestion offered yesterday by Mrs. Frances C. Axtell, of the United Em- ployes' Compensation Commission. She is the only woman ever named by a President for such a federal commission. Besides these occupations Mrs. Axtell be- lieves that women could make rope and twine and also smaller arms. In fact, she sees no limit to woman’s ability to perform work now being done by men. Labor leaders received a call of 10,000,000 working women throughout the country to organize to obtain equal wages with men It was signed by Ethel M. Smith, of Wash- ington, chairman of the Suffrage Commit- tee on Protection of Women’s Labor in War Time. The call pointed out that women in war work compete with men at lower wages, and even in some cases act as strikebreak- ers. It urged that in fairness to the men, women should not undercut male workers. President Wilson’s attention has been called to the fact that the Department of Agriculture is employing girls in large num- bers at a salary much below the standard living wages, as recognized by the laws of various States and by labor organizations. These girls are paid $25 a month by the stretching of an old law permitting the de- partment temporarily to appoint “student assistants” — young men and women who wanted to continue their scientific studies during college vacation periods. These girls, however, are acting as clerks, or “skilled laborers,” and regularly shoul- 'dering a large part of the greatly increasing work of the department. There is ample labor to meet war de- mands on the farm if properly distributed and efficiently employed, said E. V. Wilcox, of the Farm Management Bureau, Depart- ment of Agriculture, in an address in Phila- delphia. “There are more than 5,000,000 boys in the United States between the ages of 16 and 21 years, and a constantly increasing number of women seeking and obtaining employment on the farm, either at outdoor work or as helpers for farmers* wives. This constitutes a force which may be depended upon to render efficient service in the event of a shortage of farm help.” The Victory Loan in Canada, from latest returns, bids fair to break all records in one respect. It comes nearer to the ideal of counting a subscriber for every family unit than any other loan yet placed by any na- tion, so far as information is obtainable. Digitized by v^oooLe
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22 The Railroad Telegrapher. The record of the United States is a sub- scriber for every twenty-seven of the popu- lation. In Great Britain the record is a subscriber for every twenty-three of the population. The record of Canada, so far as ascertained, is a subscriber for every ten of the population. 'The family unit is usu- ally fixed at five persons. Canada has been doing marvelous things ; maybe it will beat its own record next time. Mutual Benefit Department members who are contemplating enlisting for military or naval service, are urged to arrange for the payment of dues and assessments within two calendar months from January 1st and July ist of each year . Should a member who has enlisted forfeit his membership in the Mutual Benefit Department, he will be unable to reinstate in this department while engaged in such service, therefore it is hoped that our boys will realize the neces- sity and importance of keeping in good standing by remitting both dues and assess- ments prior to February 28th and August 31st of each semi-annual period . Government ownership of the Washing- ton telephone system is provided for in a bill introduced into Congress by Senator Gore, of Oklahoma. Any surplus of the postal service for the fiscal year of 1918 is to be made available in buying the system, its operation is to be placed under the Post- office Department. The Postmaster-Gen- eral'has several times recommended that the Government take over the telephone and telegraph systems of the country, and a similar bill was introduced at the last ses- sion by Senator Gore. The taking over of the District of Columbia telephone system would be an entering wedge along that line. To facilitate the direct sale of products the bill would establish experimental tele- phone service connecting the farms lying about the district. In eight cities investigated by the Federal Children’s Bureau, 28 per cent of the fathers earned less than $550 a year, and the death rate for their babies was 162.5, or one in every six. Only about one-eighth, or 13.1 per cent of alf the fathers earned $1,250 or .more, and the death rate for their babies was 62.5, or one in sixteen. The* combined figures for the eight cities, which includes industrial centers and fash- ionable residential sections, show that the mortality under one year of age among children born into families with incomes of $1,250 or over is less than two-fifths that of children whose fathers earn less than $550 a year. In the course of his address on America’s need in the war, Congressman Medill McCormick, who recently returned from an inspection of the- Italian and French fronts, told members of the Associated In- dustries of Massachusetts something of* the conditions in Germany, saying that sound reason to believe that Germany lacks fat and meat, that she has vegetables and wheat enough, that although she has sugar, she has less than the Allies, that material for textiles is very short, and she has so drawn he/men into the armies that her in- dustrial machinery and her railways are in grave disrepair. Congressman McCormick added a word to the assembled manufacturers of the new spirit in Europe and of the way the hand of the Government, supported by the peo- ple, finds its way into every nook and cor- ner of England, Italy and France. Only taxicabs, busses, munitions workers and executives, doctors and emergency men can buy gasoline to run private motor cars, it is reported. France is following Eng- land’s example on that score, and is tight- ening the screws every day. Permissions issued by the municipal authorities to pur- chase gasoline have been useless for weeks, because the retailers are unable to find the fluid. Passes for automobile circulation beyond the limits of any department are issued only in cases of proved necessity and national in- terest. The roads are guarded day and night to prevent illegal motoring. Many private car users have stocked up with sup- plies of gasoline, profiting by the compara- tive abundance last summer, but those who live in Paris are unable to circulate be- Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 23 yond the small circle that the Department of the Seine forms around the capital. Even if the case is approved by the munici- pal authorities as indispensable to the pub- lic interest it must then be carried to the military authorities, who are likely to find a reason for using the automobile. Do not fail to keep in good standing at all times. For the information of certifi- cate holders in the Mutual Benefit Depart- ment, the signing of the so-called “appli- cation for reinstatement f or “war waiver *” is required of members who have allowed their membership to become delinquent, by failing to pay their dues and assessments within two calendar months from the begin- ning of a semi-annual dues period, in ac- cordance zvith Article XV of the Mutual Benefit Department laws. In order to avoid signing this “application for reinstatement ,” members are urged to keep their member- ship continuous by forwarding remittances in payment of both dues and assessments prior to February 28th and August 3 1st. of each semi-annual period, the beginning of which periods are January 1st and July 1st of each year. The signing of “ supplement to application” is required of all new mem- bers. Numerous wage increases made October pay rolls in the chief industries of the United States among the most bountiful ever known. In the iron and steel trade, 61 out of 110 establishments reported increases, and the total pay rolls amounted to 49.2 per cent more -than in October, 1916. In the woolen industry the year’s in- crease was 41.6; hosiery and underwear, 22.2; paper making, 21.1; cotton finishing, 20.6, and in boots and shoes, cotton manu- facturing, men’s ready-made clothing, car building and repairing, cigar manufacturing, automobile manufacturing and leather man- ufacturing, lesser increases. Only silk workers received a smaller total than last year, the decrease being 19 per cent. The greatest increase in^the nujnber of employes was 11.4 per cent in the iron and steel mills. Seven other industries, boots and shoes, cotton manufacturing, hosiery and underwear, silk, car building and repairing, automobile manufacturing and leather, employed fewer persons than a year ago. Compulsory labor on farms and in other • industries where it is most needed was urged in Albany, N. Y., at a conference be- tween Governor Whitman and a delegation of farmers and representatives of industrial interests from Oneida, Herkimer and Onondaga Counties. It was suggested that such a bill should be passed by the legisla- ture. “I told them,” said the governor after- ward, “that I would give them every aid in getting such a law if it can properly be obtained.” The members of the delegation thought it would be possible to force idle men into occupations which are now going begging 'for workers and which are vital to open- ing up the food supply and industrial wealth of the State. Conscription of males between the ages of 16 and 65 and confiscation of land for the duration of the. war were recommended, but Governor Whitman doubted the consti- tutionality of an out-and-out conscription measure. He contended that the federal government alone had the power to pass such a bill. He believes, however, that some legislation can be enacted which will greatly relieve the farm labor situation. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The following births have been reported since the last jssue of The Telegrapher: To Bro. and Mrs. J. W. King, of Stuart, Fla., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. Ed. Tilt, of North Bay, Ont., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. A. P. Niles, of Tracy, Minn., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. A. P. Niles, of Tracy, Minn., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. Wm. Simpson, of Bar- ron, Wis., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. J. L. Beeson, of Rosa- mond, Cal., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. R. M. Carrell, of Kin- derhook, 111., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. A. C. Cooper, of Solon, N. D., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. R. L. Holt, of Weyer- hauser, Wis., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. A. 'W. Nordholm, of Bennett, Wis., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. F. G. Creach, of Web- ster City, Iowa, a girl. The following marriages have been re- ported since the last issue of The Teleg- rapher : Bro. G. L. Carr, of Div. 71, to Miss Leo Hartman. Bro. O. W. Miller, of Div. 164, to Miss Lila Davis. Bro. J. W. Hibbard, of Div. 76, to Miss Helen Jorge. Bro. H. S. Life, of Div. 126, to Miss Bertha Banne. Bro. E. P. Gipson, of Div. 53, to Miss Nell Adkisson. Bro. Arthur Martilla, of Div. 54, to Miss Agnes Lauritson. Bro. Frank Turvey, of Div. 54, to Sister Julietta Freshauer, of Div. 54. At Ritzville, Wash., Bro. G. W. Donelly, of Div. 54, to Miss Ruth Harding. At Alanreed, Tex., Bro. J. H. Steger, of Div. 126, to Miss Willie McKnight. At Sorel, Que., Bro: Armand R. Noiseux, of Div. 12, to Miss Alice Blanchette. The Telegrapher extends congratula- tions to the happy couples. The following deaths have been reported since the last issue of The Telegrapher: Bro. H. R. Ford, of Div. 53. Bro. W. A. Weeks, of Div. -6. ' Bro. Paul C. Wol(e, of Div. 76. Bro. W. W. Hunter, of Div. 173. Bro. John McConnan, of Div. 89. Bro. John McConnor, of Div. 89. Bro. E. E. Cummings, of Div.' 19. Bro. Charles O’Maily, of Div. 14. Bro. J. L. Sackett, of Grand Div. Bro. Henry C. Karsten, of Div. 53. Wife of Bro. E. F. Hull, of Div. 146. Bro. Homer Lee Vaughan, of Div. 45. Mother of Bro. J. J. Zeigler, of Div. 17. Wife of Bro. D. E. Wilson, of Div. 168. Son of Bro. M. H. Bonewell, of Div. 7. Father of Bro. Chas. F. Mayer, of Div. 18. Brother of Bro. W. J. Thigpen, of Div. 31. Father of Bro. M. H. Kanade, of Div. 40. Sister of Bro. A. M. Potter, of Div. 43. Mother of Bro. E. E. Stolte, of Div. 54. Son of Bro. D. A. McGrath, of Div. 89. Mother of Bro. J. E. Smith, of Div. 93. Sister of Sister C. S. Bosworth, of Div. 54. Wife of Bro. L. D. Willmering, of Div. 130. Father of Bro. J. M. Stevenson, of Div. 130. Mother of Bro. M. F. Schneider, of Div. 170. At Fargo, Ark., Bro. E. B. Kern, of Div. 182. Bro. J. L. Whiting, of Div. 161, and his son. Digitized t. v^.oo<?Le
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The* Railroad. Telegrapher. 25 Father of Bro. David W. Gilbert, of Div. ia Father of Sister Bernice M. Dickey, of Div. 21. Daughter of Bro. M. L. Richardson, of Div. 31. Wife of Bro. J.* H. McDermott, of Div. 89. Daughter of Bro. A. R. Pendarvis, of Div. 96. At Chatsworth, Cal., Bro. H. C. Powell, of Div. 53. Father of Bros. C. S. and B. Chandler, of Div. 93. At Walnut Grove, 111., Bro. L. E. Dooley, of Div. 130. At Toledo, Ohio, wife of Bro. Frank E. Fogel, of Div. 19. At Waterloo, Iowa, father of Bro. C. R. Dewey, of Div. 54. At York, Neb., father of Bro. G. C. Rhodes, of Div. 130. Wife of Bro. C. E. Laymon, and mother of Bro. R. L. Laymon, of Div. 126. Mother of Bros. J. F. Pierron, of Div. 27 ; E. E. Pierron, of Div. 6, and O. A. Pierron, of Div. 54. The bereaved relatives have the sympathy of all. % WANTED. Present address of E. E. Daugherty; last heard of working for sortie western road. Important. E. E. Delaplaine, Baltimore Hotel, Muskogee, Okla. Present address of Telegrapher J. D. Freeman; last heard of working some place on U. P. Freeman, if you see this, please write me at Sallisaw, Okla., would like to get a job out there. ' W. W. Neel. Present address of Henry A. Miller. This boy left home October 30th, and his parents are very desirous of locating him. Notify J. C. Miller, Richfield, Wis., or Ed. R. Derrickson, 309 Drexel Bank Bldg., Sta. M., Chicago, 111. Present address of E. F. Nelson, former telegrapher B. & O. S. W. Ry. ; last heard of in hospital at Ft. Sam Houston, Tex. Nelson, if you see this, please write us. Mrs. J. H. McIlroy, Butlerville, Ind. H. K. McIlroy, 1711 Baird Ave., Portsmouth, Ohio. Present address of Telegrapher Joseph T. Cook, who was working for the Mo. Pac. Ry. at Moscow, Ark., a few months ago. Holds letter from me stating he walked out on strike which is now void, as he returned to the “Katy” and worked while strike was on. Important. E. E. Delaplaine, Baltimore Hotel, Muskogee, Okla. Whereabouts of H. B. Long ; age, 35 years; height, 5.11 inches; weight, 175 pounds. Dark complexion, smooth shaven and wore glasses. Wore gray and black pin-striped suit, brown soft hat, tan shoes, raincoat and traveling bag. Probably go- ing under an assumed name. Mrs. H. B. Long, Unity Station, Pa. Whereabouts of Harry Burtless, who worked in Old Mexico with me during 1916. Whereabouts of Rube Schillcutt, who worked with me at Springfield, Mo., in train service, during 1907 and 1908. If you fellows should be settler enough to see this, drop a line to one who has be- come a home guard. H. E. Boyd, Littleton, N. C. LOST OR STOLEN. Card No. 40380, Cert. 897, Div. 49, for term ending December 31, 1917. Card No. 38889, Cert. 853, Div. 11, for term ending December 31, 1917. Card No. 4639, Cert. 254, Div. 145, for term ending December 31, 1917. Card No. 38212, Cert. 1866, Div. 23, for term ending December 31, 1917. Card No. 24339, Cert. 3655, Div. 7, for term ending December 31, 1917. Card No. 42076, Cert. 6622, Grand Div., for term ending December 31, 1917. Digitized by v^,oo<?Le
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THE LABEL MAN. By Mrs. Kate E. Carr, President. . There’s a label on his shirt and belt, a label on his hose, A label on his traveling bag and on his working clothes ; There’s a label on his patent shoes, a label on his ties, A label on his coat and pants, qn every suit he buys ; ' Cigars he smokes are union made; a label on his hat, And when it comes to underwear, you’ll find there’s ' one on that ; His barber shop is a union house; his bakery goods are fair, And when he orders printed cards, the label’s always there ; There’s a label on his household goods, the granite ware and rugs ; The neighbors claim this union man is simply label bugs; Perhaps he is, but he’s a gem — consistent all the while, For “Union Goods for Union Wage” help our whole rank and file. — Retail Clerks ’ Advocate. The union label is placed on articles to show they are made under conditions that are fair, equitable and sanitary. In buy- ing label goods the buyer automatically deals a blow to the open shop. He liter- ally endorses a protest against long hours of labor. A purchase bearing the union label is a stumbling block for child labor, coolie labor and unsanitary conditions in the factory, mill, cannery or other places of employment. Only a few weeks ago we learned with horror that Escambia County, Ala., had just made a most advantageous contract with a certain employing concern, wherein the county leased its women convicts for a period of two years for the munificent sum of 15 cents per day. During this time they are to be housed in filthy stockades. Women sold into slavery to the highest bid- der, to do whatever that bidder desires; work, slave, toil through the days; rest in stockades, filthy and unfit, for the nights ; truly a picture upon which every union man and woman interested in the conditions of the toilers might look with some concern. And yet, were he or she to refuse flatly the non-union products when making purchases, the incentive for such labor would be de- stroyed and tragedies of this nature would belong to the past. The union label does not tolerate the prison product. Every dollar expended for non-union goods is a dollar waved for the continua- tion of such atrocities. Every non-union purchase is an excuse for the industrial fostering of child labor, open shop, sweat shop, long working hours and other unde- sirable working conditions. Every union earned dollar traded for non-union prod- ucts stimulates and encourages the presence of the unfair employer, and hence creates a demand for the employment of the or- ganized workman’s most trying enemy — the scab. Whenever a union man or woman buys union-made commodities they encourage the employment of union labor under the best working conditions to be obtained. Let us, therefore, be consistent with our union principles by demanding union-made goods in exchange for our union earned dollar. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 27 Women Travelers. Employing women in the dress industry to take the place of salesmen who have been called to the colors has been put to test by a number of manufacturers on a larger scale than ever before. The expedient is said to have proved so successful that, in the opinion of several authorities in the trade, the innovation has come to stay. * Not only have most of the women who havtf been given a fair trial done as well as the men whose places they are taking, but, in many cases, they have gotten more business out of the territories allotted to them than the best records in a corresponding period made by the salesmen formerly covering these sections. “The women we have sent out on the road,” said one dress manufacturer re- cently, “have, in most cases, made so good a showing and have been so well received by the trade that it no longer is a question with us as to whether or not women, as a class, are qualified for this kind of work. There is no doubt at all that they are, and the women whom we have taken on, and who make good with us, we shall employ per- manently. “We started out originally several months ago with two women on our force of traveling representatives, and since that time we have been constantly adding to our staff, until now we have eleven women out and are planning to take on several more in the near future. Where a woman does not make good, and thus far the percent- age has been remarkably small, we no longer ascribe it to her sex, but rather take it as an indication that^ she personally is not suited to this particular kind of work, just as there are men who can never be successful as salesmen. * “Though the idea of employing women for this work originally occurred to us as a means of doing our bit toward releasing men for government work and military service, and because we felt that this was no time, if it could possibly be avoided, to compete with the Government for male help, the success we have met with in find- ing women so well adapted to the work re- quired of them causes us to regret that we did not hit on the plan long ago. “Though naturally we shall not dismiss the traveling salesmen we still have on our force to make way for saleswomen, we shall most certainly hereafter fill whatever vacancies may occur with women, and con- tinue them as our traveling representatives, even after the war is over and men are no longer so urgently required for other and more pressing purposes. “In the selection of women for this work we so far have not found it to be abso- lutely essential that the candidate have pre- vious dress experience, or even that she must have had business experience of any sort. She must, however, be well educated, keen mentally, use good English by instinct, and be refined. If she has a fairly liberal supply of these qualities it does not take us long in our school of salesmanship and preliminary training to whip her into shape for the road. “One of our most successful saleswomen, for instance, is a lady about thirty, who had never before been in any sort of busi- ness or earned a penny in her life. Like all women of moderate means, however, she was familiar with dress materials and styles, and from experience gained in her shopping tours was a fair judge of values. She has a keen intelligence and is quick to grasp a? situation and make the most of it. It did not take her long under our tutelage to learn the fundamentals of salesmanship and the minor details of how to take and make out an order. Had we turned this young woman down simply because she had never worked before we would have missed a valuable addition to our sales force. “Another field from which we have ob- tained several very successful saleswomen is the dress department of some of the large department retail establishments. This of course, is the ideal training for a girl who proposes to become a traveling saleswoman in the wholesale end of the business. Such girls are thoroughly famil- iar with dress lines and prices, and their experience in selling over the counter is a valuable asset to them. They frequently are able to give buyers suggestions on merchandising methods and to cite little experiences of their own when they were selling over the counter, which adds weight Digitized by v^oooLe
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'28 The Railroad Telegrapher. i i what they say, and gets for them respect of the buyer, without which very little can be accomplished. “Wholesale and retail salesmanship, how- ever are two very different propositions, and the fact that a young woman has been successful in a retail store does not neces- sarily assure het* success as a traveling sales- woman to the trade. With this in mind, and also in consideration of the young women we may take on who have had no previous experience, we have mapped out a course of instruction in salesmanship through which we put these young women after they are employed by us and before they are sent out on the road. And, in as much as many of these women have never traveled, to any extent at least, alone, we even go so far as to instruct them in rail- road and steamship time-table reading, buy- ing their tickets, selecting hotels, routes and other things wfrich to the ordinary man might seem trivial. “We instruct and drill them in the most elementary principles of salesmanship and lecture them as they develop to the higher stages on the various sales methods which we have found by experience to be the most productive of results. We conduct discus- sions, give them some puzzling questions and situations to solve, and drill them in the manner of handling them that we have found to be the best. “With women doing the selling, however, we have realized from the first that some radical changes in sales methods would, in all probability, be accomplished, though what they might be and how successful they would be was the problem which only actual trial could solve. For this reason we have endeavored to impress upon these young women that they are not, necessarily, to go out and try to sell merchandise by the same methods that men use,, but that, with the benefit of the experience of men to draw on, they must tzdce what is useful from them and depend on their own indi- viduality to originate and devise methods, which, because of their sex, would be more appropriate. “It is evident, from reports from our saleswomen, that they have adopted some original tactics, and with very pleasing re- sults in the way of increased volume of business from these sections. At this early stage of the experiment, however, though it has proved beyond doubt to be practical, it is hardly possible to compile a manual of ‘saleswomanship/ ” — From the New York Times. Digitized by v^ooole
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THE LIGHTNINGS FLASH. “TN my early experience with the tcle- 1 graph business,” said a Western oper- ^ ator who made one of a group of story tellers, “I was located at a place called M , a small group of shanties on the N Railroad, as operator, railroad and express agent. M could be classed among the towns as being thirty miles from nowhere. What little business was done was on account of a mining settlement some thirty miles back in the mountains. “One night, after a day of the most sultry weather that I had experienced for months, I was detained at my office on account of delayed trains. A continuous roll of thunder, accompanied by sharp flashes of lightning in the distance, warned me of -an approaching storm. I fretted and stormed, as I wanted to get to my shanty, about a quarter of a mile up the country road, before the storm broke, when sud- denly a voice broke upon my ear : “ ‘Hold up your hands, quick !’ “Glancing up. I saw a huge revolver pointed through the little window in the wall through which I sold tickets, and be- hind it a weird mask with terrible shining eyes. In endeavoring to comply with the command, especially the latter injunction, my chair swung around, my head struck on the edge of the table, and unconscious I rolled to the floor. '‘When I regained my wits, 1 found my- self lying on the floor of the outer wait- ing room, bound hand and foot, with a tall, ungainly-looking fellow standing guard over me with a Winchester. The storm had broken over us, and the wind, rain, lightning and thunder were something terrific. “All at once my trained ear caught the sound of the telegraph sounder, and, turn- ing my head, I perceived a man at my desk working away at my key. He wore a mask, but this did not disguise the fact that he was a young man. As the char- acters were ticked off and came to my ears, I knew he was feeling his way as to the location of the delayed trains. I also noticed that he frequently arose and made use of the ground wire from the switch- board, which cut off the main office, in which was located the train runner of the division. At frequent intervals sharp cracks of lightning would re-echo through the room as they struck the arrester on the switch. But the man worked on, totally oblivious of his surroundings. “Suddenly I caught the drift of what he was sending out over the wire, and was horrified to learn that he was trying to manipulate the train orders so as to cause a wreck. Trains Nos. 47 and 48 passed each other about five miles up the road from my station, and he was sending out orders with a cool, steady hand to Train 47 to take a siding about ten miles east of Medicine Hat, and for Train 48 to pass 47 at the regular place. These orders would have thrown the two trains, which were heavily laden with passengers and express matter, together very near my station. “I could easily hear the sounder, and from his orders knew the would-be wrecker was an expert telegrapher and thoroughly familiar with train-running. Every now and then the wrecker would raise his hand from the keys as a more severe stroke of lightning would come in over the wire, but he was too intent upon his deadly work to desist. The tramp of heavy boots on the platform outside told me that the con- templated wreck was an organized scheme for robbing the express company and pas- sengers. Muttered curses frequently came Digitized by v^oooLe
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30 The Railroad Telegrapher. from the man at the key as his plans for wrecking the train would meet with obstacles in the shape of pertinent ques- tions from operators up the line who wouldn’t follow the new order of things without fully understanding their import. “The storm continued to increase in force, and peal after peal of thunder re- echoed over and above the little station. Still the wrecker at the key kept steadily at work weaving his web of destruction. Suddenly he called out in a voice of mingled satisfaction and devilish glee: “ ‘Ah, that fixes the matter all right. Forty-seven has signed the orders at the water tank, and in ten minutes they’ll go together. Tell the men to spread up — ’ He never finished the sentence. A blind- ing flash at the switchboard, a shriek from the wrecker, and the office appeared to be one mass of flame. My guard rushed from the building, and, with a mighty effort, I wrenched my hands free and pulled myself through the door. The little station was as dry as tinder ; the oil from the train- men’s lamps added to the combustible na- ture of its make-up, and in a moment flames were breaking out in every part. With loud cries, several of the wrecker’s confederates dashed toward the little room to pull their leader out, but the heat drove them back, and as voices were heard up the country road coming toward the sta- tion, they all disappeared in the darkness. “A man untied my legs, as my hands were useless on account of the numbness occasioned by the tightness of the thongs, and I explained the situation to him. He hunted up a lamp and dashed down the track and around the curve in one direc- tion, while I swung the lantern upon the train coming down the straight piece of track to the station in the other direction. My lantern was not seen by the engineer, but the burning station acted as a danger signal, and the train drew up at the station, the engineer totally ignorant of the danger they were escaping, and only intent upon helping subdue the flames. Twenty-five words explained the situation to the engi- neer and the group of passengers that gathered around, and as Train 47 slowly rounded the curve from the east my story was substantiated. “In all my experience with lightning, that was the luckiest bolt that ever hugged a wire,” said the narrator, as he finished his tale. — Express Gazette. “CROWNED.” THEY had celebrated together the ad- vent of each New Year since the first year of their acquaintance. That meant five celebrations. And each had ended with a declaration from him which she parried, and a question from him to which she would not give a definite answer. That night they sat in the glittering restaurant, part of the noisy hilarious crowd, and yet by their sincerity and sim- plicity differentiated from that crowd. The extravagance of such surroundings was not ordinary for either of them, and they chose New Year’s eve for their appearance in the setting because that was a time when the rest of the world seemed better worth looking at. In her heart was marvelous satisfaction, the satisfaction of work well done and reward about to be attained. Tonight she intended to listen to his plea, and to ex- plain why she had kept him waiting those long years. He was splendid she thought, looking at him. And what fidelity he had shown in this world of multitudinous ap- peals 1 The thought of that happiness for them which she would no longer deny — that happiness so near — irradiated her, brought tears to her eyes and smiles to her lips, gladdened her so that reveling in her own joy, she failed to see beneath the surface of his mood. With the rest of the crowd they ate, drank and laughed, adding their little clamor to the din, now submerged, now rising, now drowned again, by the tumult of the orchestra. And the orchestra sang of love. One after another of the love arias from the operas were played with all the feeling that can be drawn from stringed instruments of many tones, and with each aria her heart welled afresh. With sudden recklessness she looked straight into his eyes. If ever eyes spoke Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 31 to eyes, hers said, “tell me.” And if ever eyes refused to answer, his refused. It was as if her heart staggered. A bell struck, and at the sound the great noisy throng hushed suddenly, voluntarily, expectantly. A distant door opened and a silken silvery page led in a rosy child, typifying the New Year. A thousand chimes rang out. The diners sprang to their feet and the scene in the restau- rant became pandemonium. She alone was silent with a fixed smile. As her escort joined those about them in the cry of Happy New Yearl she only smiled and smiled. Had she emitted a single sound, it would have been a cry. The first confusion over, they settled in their chairs again. Her eyes were fixed upon her plate. Before raising them she must be sure that they were veiled. Last year he had seized this moment to speak to her. This year — could she live through this year? He was relating a story, doubtless amus- ing. With an effort she gave him atten- tion. Something was wrong. He no longer cared. Could she keep him from know- ing that she did, that after all, she did? He would not speak. Would the wretched evening ever end? Was she. the same woman who had trembled in surging hap- piness at that table an hour ago? Rather abruptly he leaned back, as if he, too, wearied of the farce they played. “Aren’t you bored with this, Alice? It only lasts — so long. Let’s go.” She nodded and rose. He held her wrap, and as she slipped into its loose, warm folds, his fingers touched her shoulder. She could feel his warm blood rise to that touch, and miserably conscious, she fas- tened her wrap without a glance in his direction. He picked up her white gloves and handed them to her. She observed, with dull surprise, that his hand was a bit unsteady. In a flash she recollected — she was almost positive of it — that the fingers touching her shoulder had trembled. She looked up at him swiftly, caught him off his guard, and read the bitterness in his eyes. * Threading her way before him, through lines of colorful sparkling tables, the dis- tance to the door seemed interminably long. She must verify that glimpse into his soul. If she had seen aright, then he still cared. It was only indifference that proved the death of love. As the cold air of the street smote them, they breathed deeply of its freshness. “Let’s walk,” he said. Again she only nodded. “Now,” she thought, “now, perhaps he will speak.” But they walked on in silence, a silence almost unbearable to both of them. It was after they had traveled many blocks, passed out of the district of garish merry- making, were approaching the threshold at which they must part, that she took her fate in her hands. “Tonight,” she said, endeavoring to speak casually, lightly, “we have omitted a part of Our ancient and honorable formula.” “Since it is only a formula,” he said, “it is better omitted. The times are against formalism.” “But the occasion is not complete with- out it,” she persisted, with a soft laugh, the while her eyes were blank with pain. “It is not only complete, but finished,” he said. They walked on. She was praying for strength to carry her through the little distance remaining, until — until the end. So he thought she had trifled with him! He would not understand. A wild deter- mination came to her. He should under- stand ! As though they had both been speaking frankly, she said, “I will answer your words of last year, and the year be- fore, and the years before. I could not give myself to you while I was a failure. I should have been less worth winning. I have succeeded now. The commission has come to me, to make the mural paint- ings for the New Center. It will be in the papers tomorrow. You are the only one who knows.” “Then you are worth winning now?” he asked, calmly. “Now,” she said to herself, “my heart will surely break.” “It is only when you love that you are worth winning. When you love, and when I love you.” Digitized by v^oooLe
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32 The Railroad Telegrapher. “Now,” she said to herself, “my heart i> surely broken. It does not matter what I say now.* To him she said, in a voice like death, “I understand. It is too late.” “I am hitter against you,” he said. “I am sorry. It is hard for a man to for- give the woman who does not want him, the woman who prefers success to love.” “But I am not that woman,” she said, throwing what was left of her pride to the four winds. He asked, scarcely above his breath : “Do you mean — that you care — for love — my love?” And now she would not answer. They had reached the threshold of their part- ing. They passed over it and into the dimly-lighted, deserted hall. He gathered her into his arms. “I want success,” she whispered, “only — to crown my love.” — By Emily Bee, in St. Louis Globe-Democrat. INGENIOU8 METHODS. Used to Collect Insurance on Bogus Injuries. THE call of “easy money” might be termed the “lure call” of the United States citizen. For, just as surely as the turkey answers the summons sent from the hunter’s bone pipe, the average Amer- ican answers the call of “easy money” in some way or another. But they don t always find it “easy money.” The game of “easy money” is an elusive one. From the gas-pipe thug to the race- track touts who dope their horses, all have found the game hard, either through the opposition of nature or the regulations of society. The game of “easy money,” like virtually all others, is one that must have both a loser and a winner; but often it turns out that the seeming winner is just as much loser as the party appeared to be the loser in the first place. In the game there are two participants ; and often one of them is unwilling to play. In fact, it is often the case that one party does not know he is “sitting in” the game until the money has been extracted from him and all is over but the shouting. It is a recognized fact that in one of the methods of playing this game, that insur- ance, transportation and manufacturing companies are legitimate victims, and that they may be made the second — and los- ing— party to the game, ofttimes without their knowledge, and certainly without their being willing to participate. This is a branch of the game which has many devotees, if one may accept the state- ments of adjusters and investigators for such public-service corporations; and one in which the pickings are comparatively easy in some instances ; and if one does not mind the partial mutilation of a hand or foot, the game is almost certain for the party of the first part. The game of mulcting insurance com- panies and transportation corporations for payments on policies or damages for acci- dents is an old one, but there arc new an- gles and variations of it constantly being sprung by .ingenious players of the game of “easy money.” Since the laws have made it extremely difficult for a man to take policies on a building or stock of goods and burn it to get the insurance, those who wish to collect under false pre- tenses from such companies have trans- ferred the-risks to their persons. Not that they plan to take life insurance and have some other person profit by a sudden death, but that they are able to insure themselves against accident, make passable pretense of injury and then suddenly recover when the value of their policies has been collected and cached away. The play against the transportation com- panies is not so easy as against those insur- ance companies which sell accident policies. There is one advantage in the transporta- tion company game, however, which is that in a jury trial the complainant is given the benefit of every doubt, and juries seem to believe that if any person can get money out of such a company they are entitled to all that is forthcoming. It is particularly true in the Southern States that a jury trial invariably goes against the defending companies in suits by persons to collect damages for alleged injury, or to collect on insurance policies on similar allegations. A representative of Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 33 a large life insurance company stated re- cently that it is very difficult to get a ver- dict for the defendant in such a suit in a Southern court, and that most companies prefer to settle cases by compromise rather than to go to the expense of a trial with the almost certain knowledge that they will have to pay a verdict in the end. He declared that the Southern courts are not equitable in so far as their juries are concerned, though he did not cast any as- persion on the merits of the presiding jus- tices. As an instance of this there was quoted a case in Atlanta, Ga. A case was brought against an insurance company by a person who held a policy and claimed to have been injured by an automobile one evening in a certain part of the city. The plaintiff was very positive in his evidence, giving the exact location of the accident and the number of the car by which he was struck. At the trial the defendant company proved by several witnesses that the automobile said to have been the one that struck the defendant was in another part of the city at the time of the alleged accident; yet, despite this, the jury brought in a verdict for the plaintiff and the company had to pay. With the transportation companies, espe- cially street car lines, the play is generally started by persons who actually have been injured in some manner at some time pre- viously, generally through their own fault and in such a way that they were unable to claim damages from any other party. Then the “easy money” call offers them vast possibilities in the way of collecting damages. The only drawback is the fact that several others must be taken in on the scheme, which necessitates a division of the profits and thus requires the player to repeat the stunt several times before a satisfactory sum can be accumulated. The usual method is for these people to associate themselves with some unscrupu- lous attorney and physician, according to the experience of the United Railways in St. Louis. After establishing satisfactory connections, they board a car as a regular passenger; then, when leaving, manage to stumble from the platform just as the car is coming to a stop. This gives the appearance of an accident. The party playing this game, however, does not admit at that time that he has been injured ; but, instead, in response to the questions of the conductor and motorman, who are required to make a thorough re- port of such affairs, declares that he has not been hurt, makes light of the affair, re- fuses to give his name and leaves the scene without betraying by limp or otherwise any apparent hurt. Naturally, the repeated questioning of the car crew and the appearance of an acci- dent have attracted a large crowd to the scene. The unscrupulous attorney always is numbered among those who gather, and he proceeds to ascertain names of a num- ber of those standing about, in order to call them afterwards as witnesses. Then, some months later, a demand will be made on the company for damages and a suit filed if they are not forthcoming without protest. Usually a large amount is asked and a permanent injury alleged, the fault being ascribed to the employes of the company. Then, when the case comes to trial, the lawyer summons those who witnessed the affair, and they testify that there was an accident and that the plaintiff apparently was injured. The company hav- ing only a record of the fact that there was an accident at the spot alleged on the date stated and being without the name of the party hurt, is unable to refute any of the evidence. Then the conscienceless physician gets in his work by describing the injury this per- son is afflicted with, and thus a clear case of injury is made under which any jury will return a verdict for the plaintiff. More skillful are some of the persons who play the “easy money” game against the accident insurance companies. Some of these have natural disabilities — or abilities — in their make-ups, which enable them to fake every appearance of injury without feeling any of the real effects of one. They proceed, generally, along the same lines as the street fakers — ally themselves with an attorney who is a “fixer” and can procure witnesses to testify to anything he desires ; Digitized by v^oooLe
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34 The Railroad Telegrapher. then a suit is brought, the plaintiff ap- pears in court apparently suffering from the results of the injury, testimony is given by the paid witnesses and a jury verdict is returned for the plaintiff. Many of the insurance companies, real- izing the hopelessness of combating such cases except through long research and at heavy expense, have adopted the system of compromising them for as little as they can get off with — and generally that is a pretty heavy item. The man who is able to dislocate his hip has a great advantage over the insurance companies in this variation of the game. The case related here is one that started in Buffalo, N. Y., and ended in the uncov- ering of one of the smoothest cases that had ever drawn golden coin from the treas- uries of corporations. One day the agent of a casualty company in Buffalo received • an application from the Niagara Falls of- fice from a man for a policy of $5000 acci- dent insurance. Two days afterward a message came by telephone from the emer- gency ward of a local hospital, stating that this man had suffered a dislocated hip and that he was then in the hospital. An in- vestigation was made by the company’s physicians and the man found to really have a dislocated hip. Settlement, how- ever,- was postponed, because only an appli- cation for the insurance had been made. Some weeks later, in Cleveland, Ohio, the company’s adjuster, who had handled this case in Buffalo, was walking down the street when he caught sight of this plaintiff apparently walking as well as any other person on the street. He watched for a short time; then the man caught sight of the adjuster and recognized him. He im- mediately began to limp and appeared to be suffering painfully. The adjuster, fol- lowing up the hint that had been given by the man’s perfect walk when he thought himself unobserved, prosecuted an investi- gation which, in the end, revealed that this person had the ability to throw his hip in or out of its proper place at will; and it subsequently was learned that a number of other insurance companies and several railroads had been victims of the scheme. Even when discovered, this man demanded a lump sum for a settlement, but finally was compelled to withdraw from the “easy money” field. Otherwise respectable and upright peo- ple when they get hard pressed for ready money will take long chances and resort to dishonest methods of obtaining it, de- clare insurance men who have handled many cases in all parts of the country. The story is told of a man, some of whose investments had gone wrong, leaving his institution tightly pressed for ready funds. It was afterward found out that he took out $10,000 accident policies in several com- panies at the same time, without any one of them knowing that the others had as- sumed the risk. Then he boarded a train. He was carrying a shotgun at the time, and as he stepped aboard contrived to stumble in such a way that the gun was discharged and his foot shredded so badly that it had to be amputated. Apparently it was a legitimate accident; but when it was learned that he had so recently taken out heavy insurance with so many companies, an investigation was made and it was learned that he was in ex- tremely bad financial condition. At that the companies found themselves unable to dispute his claim absolutely, and the cases were settled on a 50 per cent basis. Some people, if they can be reasonably assured of plenty of money for the re- mainder of their lives, do not mind suf- fering the loss of a hand or foot, say the insurance adjusters. Then, too, fakers will take desperate chances of actual injury in order to make the insurance companies “come across.” Many of these games are detected, and the companies refuse to pay ; but in many others they have to give up at least part of the money their policies call- for. The case is told of a school-teacher who took out several policies with various in- demnity companies, and, in order to col- lect on them in such amount as to be assured of future income, managed to let a street car run over an arm, crushing it so badly that it had to be amputated. The awkwardness with which this plan was car- ried out, however, aroused suspicion, and Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 35 an investigation by adjusters revealed the plot to get some of the “easy money.” . The average policy of this sort is so ar- ranged that double indemnity is paid for persons hurt while passengers on a moving transportation vehicle. One “easy money” plotter figured that since he was going to collect he might as well get double money, so he hired a taxi, and, during the ride, attempted to cut off his left arm with a hatchet. Either the hatchet was too blunt or his nerve failed, for he didn’t manage to do a thorough job; yet he injured him- self sufficiently to give cause for' making a claim against the insurance company. And, it was found when investigators delved into the case, that he was one of those determined characters who would press such a claim and that there would be prospect of his winning out in a jury trial; so in order to avoid the notoriety and un- favorable comment on the company which such suits are likely to cause, the matter was compromised and the man received some of the “easy money” he had fig- ured on. In some cases, however, either because the grafter is inexperienced or because he is careless, the work is so done that the intent to defraud can be detected easily. There is the case of a young man in Georgia who desired some money and de- cided to get it via the accident insurance route. He proceeded to blow off his left hand with a shotgun ; then made the claim that the gun went off accidentally when he was attempting to pull some papers from the top shelf of a closet. However, the investigators in this case found that there were no blood marks near the closet and no small shot in the walls and floor, as there would have been had a shotgun been dis- charged there; whereas, in the center of the room there was a large pool of blood and several shot marks were found there. It also was demonstrated that this gun was provided with a safety attachment and that it could not be discharged unless some person with deliberate intent released the safety catch and pulled the trigger. The investigator, calling at the place to settle the matter, told the interested parties of this fact and offered to pay double the amount of the claim without further pro- test if they could make the gun go off once in ten trials by throwing it against a wall or on the ground. He also offered to con- duct the demonstration himself, in order that there might not be further damage to the injured party; but the claimant refused to permit any such demonstration to be made with the gun, thus convincing the in- vestigator of the correctness of his sur- mise and enabling him to maintain suc- cessfully that the company was not obliged to pay a cent in the case. New wrinkles constantly are being de- veloped by the fakers in the chase for “easy money,” and the insurance and rail- road investigators have much skill and cun- ning to contend with in making their in- vestigations, but sooner or later they get onto all of them and the “easy money” artists are forced to “dig up a new one.” The call of “easy money” is loud; many hear it and are lured by it; many develop riches from it; but in a majority of cases, he who wins in the game also is the loser in the end. “Easy money 1” — Exchange. Digitized by v^oooLe
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Happy New Year. We hate to see you go, old year. You’ve been so good a friend, But, like all goods things else in life, You have to have an end. There is a peach tree in the yard. Its branches brown and bare, To one who casually observes. But we know what is there. Each bud so insignificant Within holds folded up Soft petals, color of the rose, Protected by its cup. Soft veinings tell where summer bees Shall trail the honey dew, The old goes ever in the world. To make way for the new. Here, at the threshold of the year, We stand, nor can we guess God’s plan for us, and yet we know There’s no haphazardness. As blossoms in the May unfold So. when it is God's will, We'll know what part of the great plan We’re destined to fulfill. And so, kind friends, I wish for you. Great courage for your part, A soul above all petty things, Firm hand and kindly heart. — Frank Fair. Don’t Be a Slacker — Join the O. R. T. When the sounder is clicking and the weather is fine, And you know all is well along the whole line, It’s the rarest treat yoij ever have seen. To reach over and get your O. R. T. magazine. Start at the front and read it right through, You’ll find it so interesting, straightforward and true Advertisements, locals, miscellany, and all. That you’ll hardly remember to answer your “call.” Stand by it, boys, it’s our one best bet, It’s stood by us for years and yet There arc fellows among us who grumble and say They would f‘like to join, but come around some other day.” — J. R., Columbus, Ga. The Beginning of the Day at Nenana Station. (As Observed by William Nelson Growden, U. S. Signal Corps.) Six o’clock in the morning, with a jingling the' alarm goes off; Growden, third trick, slowly and painly awakens with a cougH, Cuts the line through to the west, fills the stoves with wood, Begins to tidy up the office as all good “third tricks” should. Eight o’clock in the morning, a groan and a grunt are heard, Scanland, wire chief and boss, soon shows up as the early bird. Feels around in his pockets, gets the “makings,** rolls a smoke; Listens to test and what he thinks of Gibbons makes him choke. Eight-thirty o’clock in the morning; a muffled thump and a roar; Mathews, chef, ruefully awakens to see Growden beat it out of the door; Slowly he dresses, as, with a far-away look, he hopes for the day When Growden will say, “How much money do I owe you? I’ve come to pay.” Nine o’clock in the morning, and slowly, one by one, Kelly, the casual; Morris, first trick, and Mes- senger Dickenson Appear upon the scene with clothes half on and dragging feet, Smile and flirt with the cook, wondering when they will eat. Ten o’clock in the morning; breakfast is ready to be downed; Believing all present “check” is about to be taken all around, When a vision of remorse approaches slowly through the door; It is Eckcrson second trick who washes and hangs the towel on the floor. At last the gang is all present and another day begun ; Before night some will be drowsy, some merrily on a Inin; S onward through life they go. toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing, All except Growden and Eckerson, who go through borrowing. — W. L. MORRIS. Digitized by kjooole
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With Food Soaring. “Do you think two could live on $12.00 weekly ?” "Weakly is the only way they could live on it." — Boston Transcript. Diagnosed. First Nurse — He's very feverish, and his temperature has risen to 105 degrees. Second Nurse — I think he must be going to propose, dear. — London Opinion. The First Time. "When did you first become acquainted with your husband?” "The first time I asked him for money after we were married." Such is Married Life. "Archibald 1” began his better half in angry tones, "my mind is made up" "Heavens!” interrupted the husband, "is that artificial, too?” — Puck. Misplaced. He — At the club a motion was made to buy a handsome velvet carpet, but it was laid on the table. She — What a queer place to put a velvet carpet. — Brooklyn Citizen. Unpatriotic. "I wonder why they don't put the stars and stripes on our stamps?” "Why every tongue would be against the act of exposing our national colors to a licking.” — Birmingham Age-Herald. Reminiscent of Job. He (weakly) — It is good for you, Mrs. Houston, to come and see me when I'm so ill. She (gushingly) — Not at all; I wish it were more often. A Hint. Departing Diner — I’d like to give you a tip, waiter, but I find I have only my "taxi” fare left. Waiter — They do say, sir, that an after- dinner walk is very good for the 'ealth, sir! Mr. Fortune Hunter. A lucky man on being asked how it felt to be engaged to a great heiress, 're- plied : "Fine 1 Every time I kiss her I feel as if I were clipping a coupon off a government bond." His Reply. "Are you sure that you will be happy with me all your life?" she asked him. "No,” he replied, "but you are the only girl I’ve ever seen with whom I'd be fill- ing to take the chance of being unhappy with." — Detroit Free Press. Not Melodiously Gifted. "Don’t you like our song, The Star- Spangled Banner ?’’ "I do," replied Senator Sorghum. "Then why don’t you join in the chorus?" "My friend, the way for me to show real affection for a song is not to try to sing it." Squelched. The man who stops to watch a new building going up isn’t necessarily a loafer. The other day a young man thus employed was spoken to by a solemn individual who said : "My friend, arc you treasuring the pre- cious moments as you should? Do you realize that time is fleeting and — " "That’s all right, mister," interrupted the young man; "I want it to fleet. If time were stationary I’d he out of a job. I’m a watchmaker." Digitized by CjOOQte
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38 The Railroad Telegrapher. Different Views. “Did you see the pleased expression on Mrs. Ward’s face when I told her she looked no older than her daughter?” asked Mrs. Gibbs. “No,” said Mrs. Bates, “I was looking at the expression on her daughter’s face!” Preferable. A father, fearing an earthquake in the region of his home, sent his two boys to a distant friend until the peril should be over. A few weeks later the father re- ceived this letter from his friend: “Please take your boys home and send down the earthquake.” The World’s Whirligig. Octavius — Yes, I had a little balance in the bank, but I got engaged two months ago, and now Gerald — Ah, love makes the world go round ! Octavius — Yes, but I didn’t think it would go round so fast as to make me lose my balance! A Nice Prayer. Little Raymond returned home from Sunday school in a very joyous mood. “Oh, mother,” he exclaimed, as he en- tered the house, “the superintendent said something awfully nice about me in his prayer this morning.” “Isn’t that lovely! What did he say, pet?” questioned his mother. “He said, ‘O Lord, we thank thee for food and Raymond.’ ” — Harper’s Magazine. Sure He Could See. Mrs. Brown is a very large woman. Be- sides her great number of pounds, she is also possessed of unusual timidity about crossing streets where the traffic is heavy. One day she stopped a policeman in the middle of the street. “Officer,” she asked, “could you see me across the street.” The officer turned and regarded her closely. “Madam,” he replied, “I could see you for half a block!” — Judge. Immune. A country school tdacher was cashing her monthly check at the bank. The teller apologized ior the filthy condition of the bills, saying, “I hope you’re not afraid of microbes.™ “Not a bit of it,” the school teacher re- plied. “I’m sure no microbe could live on my salary!” — Tudor Jenks. Kindness. Private Simpkins had returned from the front, to find that his girl had been walk- ing out with another young man, and natu- rally asked her to explain her frequent promenades in the town with the gentle- man. “Well, dear,” she replied, “it was only kindness on his part. He just took me down every day to the library to see if you were killed.” — Chicago Ledger. His Support. A certain magistrate had the reputation of being very hard on vagrants. One of these came before him charged with loiter- ing, and, after he had pleaded guilty, the magistrate put some questions to him, which he answered ready enough. “Have you any visible -means of sup- port ?” “Yes, your Worship,” replied Joe, as quick as lightning. Then, turning to where he perceived his wife in the audience, “Stand up, Mary, so that His Worship can see you.” The Silver Lining. Crash ! Bang I Wallop ! Mrs. Newman rushed out to the dining room and saw Sara Ann sitting among the ruins of her best china. For an instant she was speechless with horror and anger. Then she cried : “Sara Ann, what on earth have you done?” Sara Ann retrieved her cap from a sea of gravy and grunted: “It’s the dinner things, mum! And oh, mum, what a good thing I hadn’t washed ’em up!” Digitized by v^oooLe
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SOME SLACKERS. THE smallest and most contemptible thing on God's earth is a slacker. The creature that will not stand up and fight for its own and permit others to battle in its defense, comes far from de- serving the name of man. I can tolerate a thief, I can put up for a time with a liar, but God deliver me from a slacker. But then there are 'slackers and slackers. Those who refuse to shoulder a rifle and fight in defense of their homes and their dear ones, and the institutions that make it possible for them to live and grow fat in security may possibly plead the excuse of physical fear. They may be constitutional cowards, the degenerate offspring of mor- ally deficient ancestors. But how about the industrial slacker, the man who persistently refuses to join his labor organization, who refuses to help support those who are fighting to secure better working conditions, who, like that other species of slacker, accepts the protec- tion and benefits won by others but refuses to help pay the bill? Is ne, too, the' inbred offspring of deficient ancestors? He is worse. The other slacker seeks to gain the same benefits that his more cour- ageous brother receives without earning them. This slacker is not content with that; he wants more. He is not only a coward, but a greedy, selfish, conscienceless hog as well. He reasons that if he keeps out of the fight against the employer class he may be rewarded by his employer by being given some of the spoils that are being taken from labor and given some official position in which he may more efficiently assist in the skinning of his brother. Labor's fight against capital can become effective only when practically every labor- ing man is lined up on labor’s side. The man who is not for labor is against labor. There can be no middle course, for the laboring man, at least. The working man who does not belong to his labor union is a traitor and a renegade as well as a coward. He is labor’s most dangerous enemy to- day, much more dangerous than the capi- talist himself, because owing to his moral deficiency he will do things against his fel- low workingmen that the average capitalist would not stoop to. Indeed, practically all of capital's dirty work, the spying, the murdering of strikers, and other contempt- ible things, is done by renegade laborers. For the good of humanity it is impera- tive that the Kaiser and the Junkers be driven from power. The strangle hold that they have on the German people is not in keeping with the ideals of the twentieth century. Not only must they be driven from power, but they must be exterminated or placed where the world will be safe from them and their tenth century am- bitions. But while that battle is raging we must not forget that we have another battle here at home, a battle just as important to the welfare of humanity and much more im- portant to us individually. We have a few Kaisers here at home, just as overbearing and autocratic, lacking nothing but his in- sane desire to rule the world. And this battle of which we speak, this industrial conflict, is waged just as ruth- lessly as the conflict in Europe. Perhaps not so many able-bodied men are being slain ; but when we count those who every day are being hurried prematurely to their graves through overwork and the worry incident to supporting a family on an in- sufficient wage, and the little children who either die just as they are beginning to taste of life or are doomed to go through life with a weak, stunted body as a result of lack of nourishment and the unsanitary conditions under which they are forced to Digitized by v^oooLe
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40 The Railroad Telegrapher. live, and the hard work they are driven to perform before reaching a mature age, we find that there are quite as many casualties in this conflict as in the other. And the man who refuses to do his bit toward lifting the burden from the backs of our old men, our women and our chil- dren at no risk to himself, is immeasurably smaller and more contemptible than the man who is too big a coward to risk his life in helping to lick the Kaiser. C. M. Miller, Greenville, Pa. THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH. There are still large numbers of people in the church who believe that it is their chief business to save their own souls and to convict other men of sin. There is just a grain of truth in this conception, but it is a mighty narrow, stingy outline of Christianity. It is true that a man must become the possessor of that which he offers to another. As a matetr of fact, ac- cording to the teachings of Jesus, when a man seeks to save the lives of others, by that same act is saving his own. Indeed, it is only as he saves other men that he, himself, will be saved. Some excellent people are saying that the message of Christianity is to the individual. True enough, but here’s the message : “You are not strictly an individual, any more than the hand is an individual. You do not live for yourself. If you try to save your life, you will lose it. If you are willing to for- get your individuality, you will be saved.*' It is not the chief business of the individual to save his own life. As to the matter of the church convicting men of sin, this is also quite in harmony with the teachings of Jesus. But it does not refer merely to sin in the abstract. It means that the church must convict men of sin in concrete cases ; the sin of child labor; the sin of the sweating system; the sin of under-pay and over- work ; the sin of insufficient protection from fire in a shirt- waist factory; the sin of killing little chil- dren with a tenement house as well as with an axe ; the sin of an economic systefn which deprives men of their natural rights. This is the business of the church. Rev. Chas. Stelzle. THE WORKERS. By “Mack." PART IV. (Continued form page 1787, December.) Castes. One of the greatest handicaps to the gen- eral uplift of the worker is the “Caste Ideal,” a heritage of bygone days that still holds to life with a feeble grip fostered by clerical and many secular educational insti- tutions of present organized society. While the “Caste System” of far off India is looked on by the average worker in a feel- ing of semi-disgust and humor, still labor's ranks are not totally immune from its effects here. It has created some craft unions who have adopted the old Father Noah story as a guide, “I am sailing, let the rest sink.” Craft organizations that look with disdain on the idea that their interests along class lines are identical with all who labor for a wage return, and assume a more holier than thou attitude, they are victims of a false ideal that places labor organizations in the respectable, semi-re- spectable and repulsive classes notwith- standing that all are organized on the same fundamental principles. Assist those who sell labor for a wage return. An analogous caste condition can be found in the last dying kicks of chattle slavery in America, when the planter-master picked a likely looking colored man for a house servant, arraying him in a suit of livery with brass button attachments, another was assigned to work in the hostelry, caring for the do- mestic animals. The former looked on the latter in a disdainful manner as some- thing beneath him, while neither would vio- late their dignity by talking to the common field nigger whose full-dress suit consisted of nothing more than a gunny sack. The master desired it this way, for a purpose, and the poor illiterate black man (that the laws of various States made it a crime to teach the alphabet) was not aware while enjoying these artificial caste distinctions that the blanket of slavery covered them alb This analogy may seem ridiculous to the average wage earner of today, but not more so than the worker who imagines be- cause he turns a brake he has nothing in common with the one who makes a hat, or
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 41 the man who makes a hat thinks he has no identity of interest with the man who pulls a throttle, or manipulates an electric lever, lays a brick, runs a linotype, mines a ton of coal, or any other craft in the industrial world. The line that divides wage earners are (as with the slave) purely artificial and not based in economic laws. The blanket of wages cover them all. A wage earner is a wage earner regardless of dress, or clothes, no matter if he is dressed in over- alls and blouse, or in broad cloth and brass buttons, if his face is covered with perspi- ration and grime, or decorated with van- dyke beard and gold rimmed eye glasses, pushing a pen or wheel barrow makes him a worker just the same; all have the same aspirations, all suffer the same wrongs that are part and parcel of the modern indus- trial order, while a slight difference may manifest itself in degree, it does not in kind. When the workers will do their own serious thinking they will refuse to be caught in the web of “Caste,” and when they throw it on the scrap heap of antique things one of the greatest obstacles to the progress of the working class will be re- moved, to their advantage. Labor Press. The early days of organized labor found no friend in “The Press.” This great moulder of public opinion bent supinely to the predominating economic force — capital. Editorials on the labor question were in- spired, or edited in the business offices of industrial employers. The news columns were passed over to the counter to the highest bidder. Its attitude toward the workers was guided by how will it pay, in- stead of is it right. In this respect it has not improved in many, to many instances yet. The early trades unionist depended alone on organizations working in the in- dustrial field to improve his conditions, by request if possible, by force if necessary. The incentive that drew the units into mem- bership was furnished in the bitter school of experience, with necessity as a school master. Educational methods to increase membership, and with it progress and de- fense, were little used. With the growth of business organizations into community of interest groups came a special business press to defend their acts, advertise their general business welfare, sugar coat a busi- ness scheme for public consumption, or be- smirch the efforts of workers’ organiza- tions. Organized labor was not slow to discover that they could expect nothing from the secular press, little from the re- ligious press, and only vilification from the journals of trade set to work to take ad- vantage of printer’s ink, paper and brains as an educational and defensive measure, that today there is hardly a craft that does not issue a weekly or monthly publication outlining craft interests. In addition to these, in large labor centers, daily, weekly, semi-weekly and monthly publications pre- senting labors’ views on passing industrial, political and sociological subjects. To this can be added the great Socialist propaganda press, published in every language of the Caucasian race, and beyond it, and no mat- ter how many wage earners may differ with its philosophy, they must acknowledge that this movement is filling a wonderful part as an educator, teaching the working class and enlightening them on subjects that in days gone by was confined to the privileged few. Professors in seats of learning and other intellectuals. The workers of today are studying political economic problems as they never did before. They are not the mysterious problems they were to the wage worker of half a century or more ago. While this school of materialistic science is often accused of fomenting strife and in- oculating the masses with revolutionary ideals the opposite is the truth. A review of history discloses the undeniable fact that all violent social upheavals that assumed revolutionary proportions in the past was a result of the ignorance of the masses of society on economic questions coupled with the efforts of the privileged and ruling powers to impress them that the prevailing conditions (no matter how cruel and intol- erable) were unchangeable. Herein is the labor and Socialist press, and its classics acting in the nature of an insurance against such horrors as the French revolution. Educated people adapt themselves to evolu- tionary changes with more harmony and less travail than where illiteracy is the lot of the masses. With all this advancement Digitized by v^oooLe
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42 The Railroad Telegrapher. in the educational field there is still a large gap to fill, many prejudices to banish, many jealousies to forget. There are many of the labor journals that could increase their efficiency along the line» of education but for fear of the “Bogy0 of being considered radical, time will dispel this fear. History proves what is the radicalism of today is the conservatism of tomorrow. The knowledge is slowly entering these sanc- tums that if labor is to receive an advance education that will be beneficial to the laboring masses the entire labor press (craft journals included) must take the lead in doing so. Progress will be slow where a knowledge in great industrial questions are confined to a few leaders and ignorance to the lot of the many followers. All other educational institutions of society are either opposed or passive in an advanced educa- tion of the worker on these great problems. Labor’s press (if it wishes to be educa- tional) must adopt the policy that when you use a worker’s money to publish a labor journal, every word, phrase and sentence should be educational from a worker’s standpoint. Other educational business publications confine their efforts in edu- cating their patrons to their own economic interests. The wrongs of workers are not in publication, but in commission, and truth is never radical. Political Action. A perusal of history discloses that in bygone economic periods the slave master and the baronial master had their greatest power in Government control. Legalized privilege was then, as it is now, eagerly sought and generously granted to the pos- sessor of wealth and property. The fran- chise privilege was withheld from the worker, and only granted in a limited and conditional manner to others. There never was a special privilege granted by authority that did not have a concomitant in a special victim. In modern industry the same unchangeable law rules, and labor organizations soon realized they filled the role of special victim. A few decades of years ago the adult franchise the worker enjoyed was used in a blind partisan way. The idea of bettering labor’s conditions by legislative enactment was not thought of by the average wage earner, and the desire to do so never entered the mind of the average legislator. Adherence to a political party was controlled by several customs, many received their political leanings as they did their rheumatism — inherited it — others were swayed by light frothy prejudices that had no connection with their welfare as work- - ingmen, and many followed whatever band wagon was capable of making the loudest noise, too many do so yet, automatically deposit their ballot swayed by party label, regardless of party policies and their effects on themselves as workers. It is little won- der they received scant consideration in party platform declarations; a few empty platitudes generally completed the part al- lotted to the laboring class. Legislative bodies regarded their requests as a joke, executive officials forgot them as soon as the ballots were counted, unless they hap- pened to make a militant effort to better their condition, and then he remembered them in a way that unfortunately they did not desire, but in many cases the impress aid not remain until the next election, and they came back to lick the hand that smote them, last but not least the judiciary never forgot the worker. A review of this de- partment of Government in its attitude toward labor and labor organizations can hardly leave the reviewer in a rational composure. Every aggressive weapon of labor organization was made impotent by judge-made law of injunction, actions that constituted no crime under ordinary circumstances became a grievous one in a labor dispute. Some employers were enjoined for giving preference to union labor, some employers sustained be- cause they would employ nothing but non- union labor. Blanket injunctions were at times issued that enjoined the protesting worker from every right, but the right to think, but as the latter was a mental func- tion that could only be suppressed by death it was permitted to escape the judicial ban. Labors edict, “We will not patronize those who are unfair to us” had its teeth ex- tracted by the judicial dentist. A working- man can withdraw his patronage from an unfair employer or dealer, but he commits a serious crime (according to judicial inter- Digitized by w.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 43 pretation) if he informs his fellow worker about it. Volumes could be filled in the recitation of similar “justice” (?) as the result of indifference, and the workers lack of intelligent thought in the use of his franchise. Within the last few years a slight improvement is noticeable in labor’s political thought, for the reason the work- ing man is slowly but surely contracting the habit of thinking first and voting after- ward. The artificial halo around the judicial head has lost considerable of its lustre in the revelation that the wearer is none other than a former corporation or trust attorney and none the less one when dressed in a gown and assuming a dignified look. Workingmen are realizing that they art* only human after all, and many hold i heir exalted position at the suggestion of some corporate or trust magnate for the purpose of rendering “justice” according to magnates’ conception of it. Slight advancements have been made as the result of labor organizations’ efforts in the political field. Executives give labor a partly respectful hearing, and working- men themselves fill legislative seats — State and National. Humanitarian legislation is given a partial consideration. Political ac- tivity on the part of organized labor did not escape censure of employers who in many cases themselves were politically ac- tive. This censure at times assumed a degree of open hostility. Trades unions were informed their functions should be confined to the industrial field alone, where only a few .short years ago some of these same employers looked on them in the industrial field as something akin to semi- criminal. Organized business interests, through force of habit, looked on legisla- tive control as a kind of property right exclusively theirs, and labor organizations were in the light of trespassers. Labor has entered the political field to stay re- gardless of its reception. Its efforts may meet rebuffs and failures, and success for a time be limited, but solidarity in the politi- cal field will in the future equal and per- haps exceed that shown in the industrial. (To be continued.) Digitized by Google
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FRATERNAL NOTICE. All matter for this department must be in the hands of the Grand Secretary and Treasurer on or before the 25th day of the month in order to insure its usd in the following issue. New Haven, Conn., Div. No. 29. .V. V., N. H. & H. R. R., New Haven Division — As an explanation for the rising price of honey, the humorous clipping from which we quote seems about as plausible as some of the reasons advanced by the grafting profiteer, who at the present time rules more or less supreme in spite of governmental supervision of the necessities of life: “The vibrations in the air, caused by the firing of . the big guns in Europe, cause the bees in America to tremble so that they spill most of the InSney in flight from the blossom to the hive.” The clipping attracted our attention as being pertinent to an important event in the history of our local organization rather than for its under- lying humor. For some years there has been a disposition on the part of the greater number of the train dis- patchers in our territory to cast their lot with our organization. Given to understand that they were considered as serving the company in an official capacity, the company has from time to time im- pressed upon them the fact that such alliance would render them undesirable. For reasons, therefore, that may be readily understood, the situation was ope requiring con- certed rather than individual application for mem-* bership. Each recurring effort to this end had increased in intensity and recruits, but as regu- larly the noise, vibration, sense perception, or whatever you may choose to call it, of hostile guns, caused them to abandon further effort. They had, therefore, never been able to reach and de- posit their mite in the hive wherein has been con- served the fruits of many years’ collective bar- gaining. Recognizing the difficulties encountered, and appreciating the spirit that prevailed in the face of temporary defeat, we may well forget the past in now recording the election of sixteen dis- patchers to membership in Division 29 at the meeting of December 7th, with a total of seventy- five having been elected in Divisions 35, 37, 89 and 29 out of a possible eighty dispatchers em- ployed on the system. The event is one which can not help but result in a mutual benefit to all concerned. Along with an addition to our mem- bership they bring a certain prestige. In return they will have invested and receive benefits not from an experiment, but an organization whose record of accomplishment stands second to no other in the railroad world in a like number of years from its birth. Nor is there any reason why it should prove detrimental to the company's service, but many reasons why the service should be improved. But argument along this line is more or less out of place here. As their entrance into the organiza- tion involves striking out the words .“train dis- patchers’’ in Rule 1 of the schedule, it will be argued out across the general manager’s table in the soon-to-follow negotiations. That arguments alone are unable to secure jus- tice may be adduced from the action just taken by our new friends. It is no less the experience of organization itself. In the final analysis issues are not reasoned out but fought out. You may talk for months across the table without avail i? argument is the only weapon. Being already con- vinced as to the justice of your claims, the thing is to make them admit it. And that is what or- ganization is for. There is nothing of the firebrand about this. It is but what every sensible employe and official knows. If any proof of the contention be needed, the records will show that a strike ballot must be taken just as regularly as . negotiations are en- tered into. The fact is, much time would be saved if the ballot were put out at the start as a matter of formality. To call this “diplomacy’’ is only to give it a high-sounding name. The end can never be a voluntary act. Force must always be brought to the rescue of reason. Diplomacy in negotiations may be typified by the following story: In a nearby asylum an in- mate escaped to the roof for the purpose of jump- ing off. Pursued and caught by the keeper, they rolled in the tussle to the edge of the roof. Both about to be dashed to the ground, the keeper said to the nut, “Let’s go down and jump up.’’ “All right,” he replied, and the incident was closed* The only difference is, the members of a general committee arc not “nuts.” The crux of the matter, of course, will come, not from paying a relatively few men increased salaries, of whom it may be said they are in rela- tion to their responsibilities among the most poorly paid class of employes, but, njther, that another unit of strength is to be added to an already effective organization. Discouragement to this end has previously come by a slight increase in the dispatchers’ salary after each of our own schedule revisions. In recalling the words of a great thinker, “small favors they do but lull men to sleep — both as to caution and industry,” it reflects credit to their wisdom as will a< their courage, that they have seen the light and an- now facing the other way. Digitized by kjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 45 In numbers, enthusiasm and all things that go io make a meeting worth while, the meeting of December 7th left little to be desired. A new member was taken in who acknowledged f<» forty four years’ experience. While falling some- what short of the fifty-year man presented by “Old Stub,” no less credit is due Bro. Tourtel- lotte for this application. The new brother has only to present himself at a meeting to receive the hand of fellowship as a mark of appreciation in which his application is held. The general committee having been in session for some time building the new schedule which was presented to the company on December 3d, General Chairman Ross read the same and an- swered many questions in regard to points of its application. That it embodied nothing more than a just and fair expression of the needs of the hour was voted in unanimous approval. Among other things, it requested: An eight-hour day, a six-day week, time and a half for Sundays and holidays, vaca- tions for all, and 30 per cent increase in salary. This means 30 per cent on the pay roll, the indi- vidual apportionment to be agreed upon later on. The six-day week means that the increase shall be added to the present weekly salary, this amount to be the salary for six days’ work. If compelled to work Sundays and holidays, these are to be paid for in addition at a time-and-a-half rate. In the greater number of these things we are asking for no more than what has been secured by several roads who have settled during the course of the last few months. Conditions absolutely require it, and there will no doubt be a much quicker settlement than that of the last schedule revision. Coming from such a distance, it must be en- couraging to the general committee to note the number who arc coming from the Highland and Hartford Divisions. With the thermometer near- ing zero, it requires some spirit to come and re- turn by auto to Waterbury at midnight. Prac- tically every chair was occupied, and thus no complaint is in order, but it somehow puts to shame the many stay at homes in New Haven who do not have to do much more than walk across the street. Letters were read from several of the boys at the front — Bro. Leinweiber, who is at Camp Dev- ens, and Bro. W. W. Kelly, from somewhere in France. The resolutions drawn up upon the death of Bro. Ball, dispatcher in Waterbury, having been engrossed and framed for presentation to the family, were brought to the meeting by Bro. Dowd, chairman of the committee, and lay upon the altar during the session. The beautiful sentiments ex- pressed, together with the perfect hand work done w'th the pen received much favorable comment. The work was done by former Bro. Doolan, of Waterbury, to whom a vote of thanks was extended for his contribution to this worthy end. Being out °f the service for some time, it is hoped, never- theless, to welcome him as a brother once more •n the near future. A vote of sympathy having been extended to Bro. Joslin, of Division 35, upon the death of his father, the secretary was instructed to convey the same to him in his bereavement. Bro. Colwell, of “Nil” general office, who under- went an operation in the New Haven hospital for intestinal trouble some weeks ago, is reported to be getting along favorably and gaining in strength. Bro. Wheaton, of Waterbury, who was operated on for stomach trouble in New Haven some time last winter and has been trying to regain health at his home in Canada for some months, is re- ported to be improving, with the expectation of soon returning to work at the key. Bro. Stevens, of East Lyme, has been absent from duty for some time on account of sickness, with no immediate prospect of his return. Bro. Bruhns, of Lyme, has returned to duty after a few days’ vacation spent visiting friends in Poughkeepsie, New York City and the interme- diate territory. Bro. Bruhns carries the creden- tials of being one of the honor men in the organ- ized commercial field during its eventful life of years ago, and with no less vigor always to be found at the meetings and actively engaged in the organized railroad life of today. Bro. Robillard, of ”NH” general office, together with his son, spent Thanksgiving Day in a jaunt to New York. Bro. Joyce, dispatcher in *‘BS” New Haven, entertained his brother, M. J. Joyce, and wife over Thanksgiving. Employed on the Ulster & Delaware R. R. at West Hurley, N. Y., he was enjoy np a two weeks’ vacation visiting New England and. other points of interest. Bro. Skibbe has returned to duty after several weeks’ lay-off on account of sickness. W. B. Shalkop, Div. Cor. Providence, R. I., Div. No. 35. There were nearly 100 present Saturday night, December 15th, at our regular meeting, an unusu- ally large attendance, many of whom came to learn something in regard to the new schedule just handed the New Haven Company. Both General Chairman Ross and Local Chair- man Joslin were on hand and gave us encouraging news, as every member should get it, first-handed and in the lodge room. Details can not be en- tered into here, but we can say that the outcome is reassuring as to results anticipated. A good batch of applications was received and acted upon, a hopeful sign showing that on this re- newed demand for a revision of schedule we are working together as one man, as never before — the power behind the general committee as it progresses with the task in hand. We are glad to learn also that our sister divisions are adding many new members to their list. This was also the annual meeting and election of officers of our Beneficial Association, and the night when the annual refund was handed out; Digitized by Google
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46 The Railroad Telegrapher. this time being $10.80 to each member in good standing. Coming as it tfoes just before Christmas, was very timely for many for holiday use and also afforded some of them ready money with which to step up to the desk of the division secretary-treas- urer and pay their dues — a splendid thing any way you wish to look at it. The year’s work showed splendid results, under the leadership of Bro. W. J. Brenner, Secretary Bro. Eaton and Col- lector Bro. Fletcher Brady; the interests of the association having been ably handled, which was fully appreciated by everyone who enjoys the benefits of being a member. Bro. Eaton, feeling he must retire because of a change in his work which made it impossible to serve as the duties of the office require, requested that he be not re-elected, and his request was granted with regret because he has rendered able and efficient service, and a new secretary-treasurer and one new member on the board of managers were the only changes in the officers for the ensu- ing year, the result of the election being as fol- lows: President, Bro. W. J. Brenner; vice-president, Bro. J. D. Vanderbeek; secretary-treasurer, Bro. Harold Webster; collector, Bro. Fletcher Brady. Because of other exacting duties, Bro. G. E. Joslin retired from the board of directors and was suc- ceeded by Bro. Gaffney. In the absence of President Brenner, Vice- President Vanderbeek presided over the annual meeting. There should be many additions to our member- ship as {he new year opens. Great good is being done through this department. If those not in it could hear the testimony of the • good derived by members who have been helped by it, they would quickly be found presenting an application card, properly filled in, and share in the benefits to be derived as necessity may require. We are glad to hear that Bro. Fred Knowlton, after spending eleven weeks in the hospital fol- lowing a successful operation for appendicitis, has resumed at first Olive street, Attleboro, relieving Bro. W. O. Brosseau, who returns to second trick East Junction, vice Bro. Oscar Demers, back to the spare list. The record for 1917 has been completed, and, all things considered, it has been the best ever for our grand organization. New schedules have been put into effect, almost too numerous to men- tion, with the outlook for even better ones during 1918. On many roads they were the first schedules ever secured, while on many others they were re- newed contracts, every one showing an improve- ment over previous ones. We are nowhere near the top yet in many of the things due us, which we must continue to labor for, but being a pro- gressive organization, the new year will no doubt have in store for us many agreeable surprises. Believing this to be the supreme object and effort of both officers and members, it affords me the greatest of pleasure to wish you all the happi- est and most prosperous New Year ever. J. D. V., Div. Cor. New Rochelle, N. Y.r Div. No. 37. Our regular meeting, Friday evening, December 14th, was called to order by Chief Telegrapher Woods, Bro. Tiger acting as past chief in the ab- sence of Bro. McMahon, Bro. Sullivan as marshal and Bro. Duryea as guard. F. L. Northrup, L. L. Seeley, H. S. Gilbert, J. Finelli and F. Wandfphlug were elected to mem- bership and welcomed as new brothers of this division. General Chairman Ross and Local Chairman Tiger both gave us an interesting talk. A system division was talked of but no action taken, as those present were of the opinion, as * we have gotten along very nicely so far, that we can continue to do so in the future, as far as this division is concerned. Bro. McDonald, who relieved Bro. McGuire on third S. S. 12 several nights, also relieved En- right, third S. S. 4, one night, and Waterbury, New Rochelle, one day, later relieving Bro. West- over, second S. S. 20, for several days* hunting trip. Bro. Liebfried,' first leverman S. S. 22, was relieved a few days by Bro. Wooley, who also assisted at Stamford, December 2d, and later relieved Bro. Clay, first S. S. 8, several days; Bro. Christman, third S. S. 23, several nights; Bro. Putnam a few days, and also several days on second S. S. 12, West Chester yard. Bro. Haniquet went to second S. S. 22 as lever- man a few days; relieved Bro. Frank Taylor, first levefman S. S. 4, Oak Point, several days on ac- count of sickness; relieved- several nights at Mt. Vernon, and also relieved Doxey, third cabin 2, on the “Bridge." Bro. H. S. Gilbert is on second . cabin 2. Bro. Putnam and wife enjoyed a trip to New Haven recently. Bro. Tiffany, first S. S. 33, was also a recent New Haven visitor, scouting for “sugar," and met Bro. Brown, of Division 29. Bro. Place bumped Wiley, third leverman S. S. 44, South Norwalk, on account of leverman S. S. 27 being abolished. Switchboard operators at S. S. 38 were also abolished, causing Bro. Duryea to bump Smith, S. S. 21, Bro. Ferguson bumping Mace, second leverman S. S. 22, and Bro. Davis resigned when his job was cut out. Bros. McMahon and Nugent, Port Chester, worked twelve hours for several days; Bro. Gould, nights there, being off on account of sickness; Bro. Rielly, first S. S. 21, and Smith also worked twelve hours one day recently, also Bros. Durkin and Taylor, at S. S. 4, a few days, owing to the shortage of men. Bro. Stamford worked third S. S. 21, Mt. Ver- non, several nights and first “BM" several days. Local Chairman Tiger, while on schedule work, was relieved several nights on S. S. 38 by Bro. Brophy, who also went to first “PF" a few nights. Brothers, pay your dues promptly and get in the few nons; also come out to the meetings. Our committee is negotiating for a new schedule, and the meeting is the place to find out what is going on; also remember, “No card, no favors." “NC," Cert. 190. Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 47 New York, N. Y., Div. No. 44. Bro. Croope, third Queens, was off a few days recently on account of .sickness. Bro. Carlough, third Floral Park, is again laid up with a bad attack of rheumatism. Bro. Maxwell, second Blissville, called in the draft was relieved by a new man from the Panama Railroad. Bro. Argust is temporarily on third ticket job at Jamaica, relieved at Hollis by Bro. Powell. Bro. Gray, first “YD” cabin, St. Albans, was disappointed at not being relieved on vacation to help more the heavy potato crop from his farm in South Jersey. It probably would have re- duced his aldermanic corporation somewhat. Bros. Thoma and O’Rouke, while on general committee work, were relieved by Hanlon and Baird. Bro. Wilkins on sick list, relieved by Bro. Hughes on third Hempstead Crossing; Kelly on first there, vice Bro. Pierce, to Hicksville second. Bro. Groth, who relieved Bro. E. V. Willis, first Queens, several days on account of sickness, later hid in Hammels Jet. second. Bro. Curiale, third leverman “J” tower, Jamaica, was off sick several weeks recently. Bros. A. F. Morganweck, R. E. Jordan, E. S. Oliver, W. B. Gordon, N. B. Passwater and M. Goldman have been drafted and are now at Camp Upton. We are sure they will all make good soldiers for “Uncle Sam” and hope that they will return safely to us when the war is over. Cert. 94. Pittsburg, Pa., Div. No. 52. Pittsburg 6- Lake Erie R. R. — Our regular meeting, held Saturday night, De- afer 15th, was attended only by the regular hunch. There are a lot of first and third trick oen who could attend these meetings very handy “d see what is going on, instead of calling each other up on the wire to find out if the committee ha* gone in yet. . We are glad to welcome our new brothers, Telegrapher Hawthorne, second “CH” tower, and Telegrapher Mueller, extra “MA.” Bro. Eicholtz to first “JM” tower vice Win- ters, to “DE” Pittsburg. Bro. D. M. Laurence, Beaver days, has re- signed and enlisted in the navy, and Mathews, swond “CA” tower, has gone South. Operator ate very scarce and it's hard to get relief. All yard masters were given a raise of $15 a ®onth, effective December 1st, with two days a ®onth off, making their salaries $165; some money compared to ours. Understand Bro. Shaffer, third “FM” tower, has invented a machine to give long-distance grand °P«ra at $3.05 a performance. Eleven jobs were up for bids on the last sheet; plenty of chance for an extra man to get a regular job. Bro. Boyer, second “DU” Thirty-fourth street, was relieved by C. L. Allen several weeks on ac- count of sickness; Cook, a new man, relieving Allen on second Rankin. Cert. 742. Grand Trunk Ry., Div. No. 1. Twenty- fifth and Twenty-sixth Districts and C. S. & M. — I am very much disappointed with the response of the members to our appeal to contribute one month’s increase. The Chicago Division is the lowest on the system; less than 20 per cent having contributed to date. It is necessary that these contributions be sent in if we are to hope for an early revision of our schedule. The expenses of our last negotiations were heavy, and before we can undertake to meet the management again it will be necessary to collect. Some of the brothers seem to think that the dues should be sufficient to meet all expenses, in- cluding those of a schedule committee, but if they will stop and think they pnly pay each year into the division treasury $12.00, of which the Grand ‘ Division gets $4.50, and expenses take up what is left. Every time we hold a meeting we pay for the hall. Postage amounts to a neat sum in the course of a year. The expenses of the local chair- man, general chairman, general secretary and treas- urer and organizers all come out of those dues. Then consider the expenses of a committee and figure how long it would take to accumulate enough out of the dues to pay them. Bro. Eddy has said that the committee is ready to go to Montreal in the interests of the members at* any time, but it can not be done with ouf pres- ent finances. If you want the Order to help you, you must help it by doing your part to keep it financially able to do so. In any event you get more out oi the Order than you put into it. The second meeting since Bro. Hogue was elected local chairman held in South Bend, Novem- ber 23d, was called to order at 8:45 p. m. Pres- 4 ent: General Chairman Eddy, Local Chairman Hogue and ten members. Bro. Eddy gave figures showing the standing of this division on voluntary contributions compared with the rest of the system. It appears some of the members nurse a griev- ance because the first-trick men get more pay than second and third trick. Generally speaking, the first hours are the heaviest. A schedule committee has a big, complicated job, and it is impossible to avoid some mistakes. Bro. W. H. Hogue, local chairman, when the last agreement was made, said: “We see now that we made some mistakes, but if we were to do it over we could do no better.” Making the system a “closed shop” was dis- cussed, and the method employed on the Boston Elevated of leaving it to the company to deduct the dues from the pay roll and turn them over to the Order was mentioned, but the proposition that advances in wages and changes in rules should apply only to men holding an up-to-date card was held to be more satisfactory, as it would leave no doubt that the Order had secured the raise. This would not make membership in the Order com- pulsory, but the nons would have to admit that “The Order is the Thing” and make them get in voluntarily. Mrs. N. M. Burke, agent Mt. Greenwood, and C. D. Smith, extra, are our new members for November. Digitized by Caooole
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48 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. C. D. Smith relieved Bro. Koon and Rice and Lee, at Schoolcraft, on vacations. The two latter do not hesitate to take this two weeks’ vacation each year, and we should see that they join. Assignments: Bro. R. R. Sharma to Blue Island third, vice F. S. Daniel to first there, vice Onyan to Imlay City agency; Mr. Watson to city passen- ger and ticket agent Chicago when passenger agency Bay City was abolished and passenger accounts taken over by the freight agent there. F. F. Carroll, from the K. C. SM to second Belsay; Bro. Steel to Port Huron, vice Bro. Cheadle, resigned, to locate nearer home; Bro. H. Davis, second Sed* ley, to first Marcellus; Bro. J. H. Miller, from third, to first Griffith; L Mead to Elba agency, pending bids, vice Bro. J. K. Banks, to first Davidson; Bro. Rex to first Saginaw pending bids, vice Bro. C. V. Hart, gone with an auto factory in Flint. Bro. Harmon’s wife has been very sick and his little son had his leg broken. He has had more than his share of bad luck. Bro. Burk, Pt. Huron, was relieved a week re- cently by Browell, a new man, on account of the death of his father. Bro. Fairchild, Pt. Huron, while on vacation, stopped off to see the boys at Charlotte, and Bro. T. G. Wright, Bay City, spent a Sunday in Chi- cago recently. Bro. Watrous, second Bellevue, relieved Bro. Westwood on first there, while being operated on for appendicitis, and Bro. Clifford, second Emmett, was relieved for the same reason by Hij)bard, who also relieved Obert, at Harvey, on vacation. Bro. Haun is now at Camp Farragut, Great Lakes, 111., where there’s lots of eats and fine barracks. He says the first few weeks of army life consist mostly of shots in the arm. Dispatcher Cornell was off a few days recently with the grippe. Agency Elba, first Trowbridge, second Belsay, and third at Flint, Morrice, Lansing and Griffith are up for bids. Bro. Hogue made a successful trip over the line recently, in a drive after new members and back pay. It is time to pay semi-annual dues and get our new cards. Don’t put if off until the last minute, you probably will be just as short February 1st as you are now. Tell the grocer that you used the money to pay your dues in the organization that makes it possible for you to pay your grocery bills, and he will let you off until next pay day. “Hib,” Cert. 2509. “Big Four” Ry., Div. No. 3. Cleveland Division — Bro. II. T. Sloan, first Galion; is on committee work. Bro. Clutter, third St. James, was off sick re- cently, and Bro. Collins, second there, was off a few days on account of the death of his mother; relieved by Miss Flannery, from the Erie. Bros. Pane and Colmery were obliged to double several days at Cardington, Bro. Gallagher, of third there, being on the sick list. Assignments: Second Ashley to Bro. Doods; third to Bro. Joe McCarteny; agency Lewis Center lo Bro. Thomas, and third Crestline to Bro. Mar- ring. On bulletin: “JD” Lindalc, second Long- ville and third Clark avenue. Some of you brothers ar^ not living up to the motto, “No card, no favors.” I wish some of the brothers would send me some news, as I can’t get all of it. H. W. C., Cert. 1499. P. & E. Division — Harvey Bever assigned second Tremont, vice O’Leary, killed by auto turning turtle near Pekin. Bro. Hodges, agent Linnsburg, off with la grippe, which terminated in a wedding ceremony. The newlyweds are spending their honeymoon visiting in Peoria. Congratulations. On bulletin: First dispatcher’s office Indian- apolis and Urbana yard; second at Veedersburg and “KD,” and Oakwood agency. Operators are very scarce. Bro. Rood, agent Gillmer, was called very sud- denly to attend the funeral of his sister. We ex- tend him our deepest sympathy. Bro. Gossett, second Veedersburg, has joined the colors, and Bros. Jefferson, agent Fithian, and Reese, agent St. Joseph, are contemplating enlist- ment in the signal corps. Brothers, don’t forget to send me items from your station. It is hard to get them any other way. Cert. 2217. The brothers were all sorry to hear of the death of Bro. I. D. Stevens, agent at Elizabethtown for several years. We will miss the old familiar voice on the wire for car reports each morning. Bro. Wiley is relieving Buchanan on second Manford. Bros. Howard and Myers are trying the examin- ations for the aerial corps. Bro. Tracy, Griffith, was relieved a few days on account of his son at Camp Chillicothe being sick. Sister Mamie, at Fairland, has on exhibit a train order dated 1907, during the high water, copied over the trolley wire of the traction line operating between Lawrenceburg Jet., carrying 2,200 volts. An engineer who went to Panama and returned several years later to Fairland, also has a copy of the order, and a reward is being offered for the original. Cert. 2292. C.r St. P., M. & O. Ry., Div. No. 4. Western Division — Owing to the fact that most all the roads in our territory have revised their schedules, outdis- tancing the salaries paid by the Omaha, we are nearly depopulated as far as telegraphers are concerned. Our revision a year ago overcame the embarrassed condition then existing in the telegraph department, but we now find ourselves in straightened circumstances, and an immediate relief must be forthcoming or the few telegra- phers we will be able to retain will be more sorely embarrassed. It is to be regretted that any Digitized by c.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 49 business firm or individual should take advantage of the war to practice profiteering on the strug- gling and patriotic population of this country, but this is being done in many of our little vil- lages, larger towns and cities. Home products are being commissioned, stored and held for higher prices to such an extent that many carloads con- trolled by commission merchants have been left to spoil while the people are in want and suffer- ing. Prices on meats, flour and other necessaries of life have been doubled, and in some instances trebled, in price until the stage has been reached where the average wage-earner must go without them because his salary is not sufficient to permit him to purchase them, and relief must soon be forthcoming to avoid acute suffering this winter. The patriotic solicitors make no secret of the fact that railroad people meet their solicitations readily. We have met the call of the “Red Cross,” “the Y, M. C. A.,” “Liberty Bond” and “Home Guard” move- ments, and every other patriotic movement through- out our country, and in return for this we realize each month that more and more of our hard- earned money is being taken from us by the realistic “high cost of living” until we have reached a point where we can not even further respond to solicitations for patriotic movements no matter how much inclined we may be. But in the horizon we believe we see relief, as we be- hold the splendid concessions recently granted our brothers on the C. R. I & P., C. M. & St. P. and C. B. & Q., and with bated breath listen for the result of the C. & N. W. negotiations, hoping that our committee will soon be able to bring to us that which we are so earnestly looking for. Bro. Win. Werner, relieved at Lime Creek by Rice, a new man, dropped in for a few moments* chat recently on his way to visit relatives in Illinois. We are pleased- to learn that Bro. Kleeman’s wife is improving and that he will soon be able to take his job at Avoca, now being held for him by C. L. Slaybaugh. Assignments: Bro. E. F. Smith, relieving on third Blue Earth, has been transferred to Shako- pee, vice H. Phillips, to third Belle Plaine tempo- rarily; B. F. Fuller, Pipestone, to second Savage; Bro. Mason to Le Sueur temporarily, relieved at Lawrence by Johnson, a new man. Bro. C. F. Ziebarth, now with the N. P. in Montana, is visiting relative^ and friends at Man- kato. Bro. J. N. Alvord, of St. James, was in Man- kato on December 22d, renewing old acquaint- ances, etc. Fifty -one new members, including three ladies, were received during the past two months. Quite a record. Bro. V. B. Mitchell, our new local chairman on the North, is doing himself proud. In addition to bringing about a change of heart in our old friend Lindquist, at Cumberland, he also secured the application of 'Miss Moehlen, of Cornell. Many of the boys, in remitting their current dues, seem to labor under the impression that they received the wrong “notice of dues slip** and change it to their original certificate number. This is wrong. Every member above No. 7 has been given a new number and we trust that none will allow themselves to be delinquent or to be dropped from the rolls for the non-payment of dues under the new certificate numbers. Show our new sisters that there are no “slackers” in the ranks of the male telegraphers on the Omaha. Bro. A. R. Mann, Jr., is now at Sibley, Iowa, in the real estate business, which we predict he will make as great a success of as he did in teleg- raphy, and hope he will continue his membership in the Order just the same. Bro. C. J. Rathman is one of the busiest men on the Omaha road in his new capacity of travel- ing freight agent. His wife is visiting friends in the South. Brothers and sisters, the year just closed has been a great one from many standpoints. Our work has been much heavier than in any other similar period, and our membership has grown larger than in any previous twelve months in the history of our organization. As we look back over the past year, we arc fully grateful to you one and all for the assistance you have lent us; for your active and earnest co- operation at all times; for the pleasant recollec- tions experienced in our transactions with you and my associate officers, where harmony has ever been the predominating feature, and without which no such success as we enjoy could be obtained. Your auditing committee will soon tell you of the business your organization has done; the con- ditions it finds things in at headquarters and whether or not yours truly has carried out your wishes. We counsel you at this time to care- fully study the reports of this committee, scrutin- izing every item, each one of which is indicative of a certain function. Give importance to your membership at the close of the year and also the financial conditions; then look back over the his- tory pages a few years and compare the progress made by your organization. With the kindliest feeling toward every one, I wish you all a profitable, happy and enjoyable New Year. I). O. Tenney, G. S. & T., Mankato, Minn. Eastern Division — We are pleased to note that it is again Bro. Johnson, at Tunnel, one of the old guard, who, owing to misfortune and bad luck, became delin- quent. We also welcome Bro. Hoey, exclusive agent at Neillsville, to our midst, making that place solid again after a number of years. Bro. Erickson, agent Hustler, was relieved a few days by Bro. Haberman, who later relieved Bro. Bartness on first there, to work in munition plant at Washburn. We are sorry to lose him. The new man who relieved Bro. Haberman on third Sheppard, fresh from the Minneapolis ham school, will consider our proposition to join the O. R. T. after the war. Bro. Kuhn, Knapp, also relieved a few nights on third Sheppard. Bro. Westbcrg, who relieved Bro. Moore on second Levis, who relieved Bro. Wold on first, while he went out and brought home the deer, later went to Menomonie Jet third. Digitized by v^ooole
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50 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Cutler has resigned and gone to the Mil- waukee. Bro. Liddane is busier than a hen with a large brood these days. He is right there with the goods. We have a splendid bunch of men on the committee and should .help them in every way possible. Cert. 7. Northern Dhnsion — We have now entered another year; when we look back over our accomplishments of the one just closed we wonder what is in store for us this year, how many will be with us, what our circum- stances will be, wondering if we can see a ray of hope ahead. But if the past year has not been to us what it should have been, let us determine to fight on and on until the highest pinnacle of suc- cess is reached. First let us all make a solemn vow that we will devote the best that is in us to the interests of this noble Order, not only in a financial way but by being a live one, and pulling for its success, as it is our only salvation. Give no rest to the nons until we get them into the fold and make our strength what it should be. If every brother, this coming year, would get just one into the fold, there would be no nons, as we would be 100 per cent strong. Let every brother make an effort to do this, and we will be well repaid for our labor. Bro. D. G. Knapp, recently called home on account of the sickness of his father, is back again on Hawthorne third. Bro. Gormelly, off some time on account of sick- ness, relieved McGarrah, third Itasca, a few days recently, on a deer hunt. C. F. Strausbcry, Rockmont, was off a few days recently. Bro. L. W. Johnson, returned from vacation, is on third Hawthorne pending bulletin. Solon Springs is again solid, Bros. Jann and Lund having handed me their applications re- cently. Two fine boys. We are glad to welcome them into the Order. Shell Lake is also solid, as it is now Bros. LaValle and Bergen. Bros. Steiner and Stouffcr having helped me greatly to line them up. We have two good solid brothers at Tascott, but “Meff” won’t pay up and help carry his part of the burden. Keep after him, boys. Your local chairman had the pleasure of a pleasant visit from Bro. Brooks, of Spooner, a few Sundays ago. Every one is always glad to see “HI,” and glad he has the chance to get out once in awhile. J. W. Quinn is back on the road again at Bay- field as agent. Glad to sec Jim with us. Here is a chance for some of you brothers on the Wash- burn line to get busy. We have several ladies on the system now. Mrs. Muehler, at Cornell days, has promised to get in line. You boys on the Cornell line show these ladies every courtesy and have patience with them. I want to wish you and yours the happiest kind of a New Year, and hope that 1918 may shower many blessings upon you, and those dear to you. Cert. 330. Bro. F. R. Hallisey, Ferry first, who went to St. Joseph’s hospital to undergo an operation for appendicitis, was relieved by Bro. W. D. Whitaker, relieved at First St., Sioux City by J. Shearer. Bro. Geo. Fox is on third Ferry, vice Bro. B. A. Laharty, gone to the Western Union. Bro. E. Wood, unsuccessful in getting into the navy, has returned to First St. third. We arc glad to see him again. Bro. L. A. Thomas has gone to the navy, and as yet no one has relieved Bro. Strumpf, at Lyons, of the day telegraphing. Bro. Craig, at Bancroft, has been facing the same proposition for several weeks, likewise Bro. A. G. Clausen, at South Sioux City. Bro. Wm. Brooks was recently married, and the members of the Nebraska .Division extend their congratulations and wish the happy pair unlimited happiness and success. Bro. P. M. Shearer and ye lowly scribe made a trip to Omaha recently, where they had the pleasure of meeting one of the old-time members of the Nebraska Division, Bro. Stava, now in the U. P. relay office. Salary $108.00 for eight hours work. C. J. Weygandt, L. C. Kansas City Southern Ry„ Div. No. 5. Members of Division Five: Greetings — With reference to the action taken on the co-operative agreement recently voted on by the membership, this is to advise you that it is now in the hands of General Chairman Ochcltree, signed by the following officers of the five brother- hoods: B. of L. E., Bro. W. O. Van Pelt, chair- man; Bro. A. R. Billingsley, secretary. B. of L. F. & E., Bro. F. W. Lewis, chairman; Bro, C. F. Newman, secretary. O. R. C., Bro. Oscar Bush, chairman; Bro. F. D. Orr, secretary. B. of R. T., Bro. R. F. McLaughlin, chairman; Bro. H. A. Carroll, secretary. O. R. T., Bro. R. C. Ochel- tree, general chairman; Bro. J. D. Townsend, Sr., general secretary and treasurer; and approved by Bros. T. S. Stone, grand chief engineer, and Presidents W. L. Carter, A. B. Garretson, W. G. Lee and H. B. Perham. Thus you see that on the old K. C. S. it is “The Big Five’’ now instead of the “Big Four.'* Each man put his shoulder to the wheel, make every non get a card and help pay his way, which will make your load lighter and make a difference in the next schedule obtained for the telegraphers on this line. Eliminate all “slackers.” We don’t need them any more than the Government needs them. Remember "The Katy.” Help the boys win their fight. Fraternally, J. D, Townsend, Sr. Watts to DeQueen — Bro. Worrell, Rich Mountain agent, relieved by Bro. Dulaney, nights there, two weeks, while tak ing in the sights in and around Indianapolis. Bro. Shirley, from Arkansas Central, South Ft. Smith, on third Westville; took him only two Digitized by u,oo<?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 51 weeks to get right after landing. It pays big to have that little card. Bro. Dick Fretwell, clerk to the chief dispatcher, and Mr. Dempsey, clerk to trainmaster, at Heav- ener, came to Ft. Smith to do their Christmas shopping. Bro. Dulaney, Rich Mountain nights, was also in Ft. Smith recently. From the amount of packages he departed with, some one on the hill was well remembered on Christmas. Bro. Dark, first DeQueen yard, with the K. C. S. since August, 1905, is now with the Oklahoma Pipe Line Co., at DeQueen. We are sorry to lose him, but wish him success. Bro. Miner, Heavener relay office nights, was on sick list with the grippe, making it necessary for Bros. Townsend and Wolf to double two nights account of scarcity of operators. Bro. England, from the "Katy," worked a few days at Panama, then relieved Bro. Hoover, Salli- saw third, on account of sickness in his family. Glad to get the "Katy’’ boys on a good road. There is always room for one more. Bro. Noble, agent Panama, accompanied by a friend, was a recent Bench, Okla., visitor. Bro. Ligon awarded second Panama, declined by Bro. Hart. Brothers, get after the nons as soon as they land, and remember that dues now payable should be sent in promptly. Don't wait until the last minute. Let's put this division in the 100 per cent class. We can do it with a little effort on each ones part. Put your shoulders to the wheel, brothers, and push. Answer the dispatchers promptly. Don't wait for them to call you for an "OS," hand it to them as soon as you pos- sibly can. We have a mighty fine bunch of them over here, and should give them the best we have; they will all appreciate it. Assignments: Bro. Leroy to Spiro third; Bro. Me Raven, Page nights, to Ft. Smith second; Bro. Langwell, Ft. Smith third, to Coal Creek agency. The boys on the I. C. recently received an in- crease of $9.75 per man, also Sunday overtime and an eight-hour day, which makes a telegraph job worth having and worth staying with in these days of high cost of living. Bro. Townsend, general secretary and treasurer, has again started a flower fund, and wishes every member to send him 10 or 15 cents each month. Brothers, this is a worthy cause. Let’s all remit this amount to him at Box 323, Heavener, Okla., every month promptly. Bros. Leroy, Spiro third, and Henry, Sallisaw first, were in Ft. Smith, December 19th, doing their Santa Claus stunt. Ye scribe showed them over the city and directed them to where they could buy the most with the least money. Bro. Ligon, Panama second, was also in the Twin City on December 22d. No news from the last district. Boys, send me a few items for the write-up next month. I can only get as far as DeQueen south, and if I don’t get a little help from that end, we don’t know what’s going on down there. Want to thank Bro. Ligon for the bunch of items he sent, they were certainly appreciated. Keep the good work go- ing, "Rosie." S. D. Collyer, Cor. Canadian Pacific Ry., Div. No. 7. British Columbia Division, District One — A meeting was called in Revelstoke on Decem- ber 4th by Local Chairman Ashdown, and a total of eighteen of the brothers put in an appearance. The territory between Field and Kamloops was well represented, and it was good to have several of the boys who don’t as a rule attend. The working of our new schedule, which took effect on August 1st, was explained by Bro. Ash- down and discussed at length. A unanimous vote of thanks was extended by the brothers present to Local Chairman J. W. Ashdown for the interest he has taken in our welfare and for the work he so successfully handled in connection with our schedule negotiations. Our conditions and pay are now decidedly im- proved, and we do not hereafter have to confine our breadwinning energies to the snow-capped mountains, but can now look forward to the day when our seniority commands a position "where the sun shines on both sides of the fence." The following will explain the working of the seniority over the general superintendent’s divi- sion: "Should you wish to transfer to any dis- trict other than your own, you will write a letter to your superintendent to that effect, and he will supply you with bulletins of vacancies taking place on Jhat district. You send your application to your superintendent, who sends it to the super- intendent of the district affected." Don’t, overlook the fact that you owe the Order of Railroad Telegraphers the amount .equal to your first month’s increase and make your remit- tance to Bro. R. C. Wilton, general secretary and treasurer, Kenora, Ont., making order payable to "The Royal Bank of Canada.” Assignments: Bro. R. S. Gullivan, agent Arm- strong; Bro. H. F. Stewart, agent Arrowhead; Bro. B. Kellogg to Ross Port nights; Bro. A. F. McCarthy to Ruby Creek days; Bro. Paul Storey, Taft nights, to second, relieving dispatcher, re- taining his position at Taft until appointed senior relieving dispatcher. Bro. Becker, Sicamous nights, on holidays, re- lieved by Bro. G. C. Cobb. Bro. J. W. Ashdown, called to Vancouver on account of the sickness of his daughter, was re- lieved by Bro. Ireland. Bro. Bill Morrison, night chief Salmon Arm, enlisted in the U. S. Navy. Here’s wishing him the best of everything. Bro. C. E. Robitailler is working Salmon Arm alone. Cert. 2336. New York Central R. R., Div. No. 8. Mohawk Division — Bro. W. N. Austin, ticket agent Oneida Castle, enjoyed two weeks’ vacation in New York, and Ted Galbraith, chief clerk Oneida Castle freight house, a month in Philadelphia and New York, relieved by Mr. Loomis, former billing clerk at New York Mills. Mr. Galbraith, who was sixty- nine last August, has two clerks and both are over seventy years of age. Digitized by Caooole
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52 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Bob Farley is at Chittenango agency pend- ing bids. Bro. Ira Bross attended court a few days re- cently in Hoboken. Bro. L. V. Evans, agent Chittenango, was also in court several days, re- lieved by Extra Relief Agent Vibbard. Some of the boys seem to have trouble working the combination in order to raise “UT” since- the selector system has been installed there. No more calling — simply work the combination and it lights up a small light. The same system is being installed in '*DA” office, Albany, but will not be finished much before April 1st. When completed this will make “DA” and “UT” two of the finest equipped offices on the system. They are surely entitled to this improvement, for it is one con- tinuous grind in either place. Mr. Van Sand is a new man from the Western Union working extra in and around Albany. One of the first things he asked for was application blanks which were promptly furnished him. This is the proper spirit and should shame some of these hard-shelled nons, who can't seem to see a good thing. Div. Co*., Cert. 183. Hudson Division — The Thanksgiving basket was awarded to Eris Terwilliger, Tivoli, holder of ticket 638, sold by Bro. C. Bauer. The meeting on December 18th was very well attended and was a very interesting and profitable one. We are very sorry to hear of the death' of the beloved wife of our friend and brother, .W. V. Bidwell, local chairman of the St. Lawrence Divi- sion, and the Hudson extends to Bro. Bidwell sincere and fraternal sympathy in his very spd bereavement. Brothers, it w/is very clearly demonstrated on this division recently that it pays to have an up-to-date card. With it you will have friends to stand by you when the hour comes that you need their help. Let us see that the few men on this division still without the protection that member- ship in the O. R. T. affords come in at once, so they will not have to stand alone when trouble conies, as it does sooner or later to the best of us. Bro. Lockard, S. S. 52, relieved by Bro. W. J. Bumpster a few days recently on account of sick- ness. Bro. Donnerly, S. S. 96, was off several days from the same cause. It's Bro. W. O. Trent and Bro. Secord now. Bro. L. L. Williams was relieved a few days on S. S. 58 by Bro. G. P. Clark, and Bro. L. Bauer, S. S. 74, several days by Bro. W. O. Trent. Bro. Manion, S. S. 57, enjoyed his vacation seeing the sights of Poughkeepsie and New York, and Bro. Ashley, S. S. 91, viewing the beauties of Albany. Bro. A. Smith, of the dispatcher’s office, who tiled to enlist in the radio department of the U. S. Army, was turned down on the physical test. The government’s loss is our gain. Bro. Tucker, our regular relief, is making good in the dispatcher’s office at the car distributor’s desk. The brothers on this division did not take very kindly to putting women students in their offices. One old “bach” says women always did make him nervous. The semi-annual dues notices are out. Brothers, make yourself a New Year’s present of an up-to- date card. Bro. Brophy, transferred b^pk to the tower service at his own request, was succeeded by Bro. O. L. Pitts as assistant agent at Castleton. Bro. C. Bauer went to third S. S. 50, temporary. This division closes the year with a membership of about 96 per cent — a very healthy working majority, but the local chairman can see no reason why it should not be 100 per cent, and hopes the brothers will make a New Year's resolution to do their best to make it solid in 1918. Cert. 149. Delaware & Hudson Ry., Div. No. 12. Susquehanna Division — Bro. Harry L. Barnes, who has been serving “Uncle Sam” at the Spartanburg, S. C., camp, has been released and returned to the telegraph service. We are all glad to hear “BR” on the wire again. Bro. Dykeman, first “GX,” was recently made “pa” for the second time. Bro. Tulloch, first Kelleys, is also a “papa.” Bro. Cook, first Trunnel, was recently relieved a few days by Bro. English on account of the death of his father, and Ticket Agent Haydon, Sidney, was relieved by Bro. Morah on account of the death of his brother. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended. “What way is that wire open?” has frequently been in the cars of the men along the line north of Oneonta. The linemen arc stringing new copper telephone wires from Oneonta to Mechanicsville, and we arc all glad that the task is nearing com- pletion. Phones arc to be installed in the sta- tions and at blind sidings, and before long trains will be dispatched by telephone between Oneonta and Delanson, and the “composite phones,” which for so long have impaired the telegraph seryice, will be removed. Another telephone line is to be strung from Oneonta to Albany, and all dispatch- ing north of Oneonta done by phone. When the new third track between Schenevus and Summit is completed, the “old Susquehanna” Division will be more like an up-to-date railroad than the old “canal line” in which it has so long been classed. Let us all work together to make the operations of the “ne,w Susquehanna” Division up to the highest standard obtainable, and show that there are still brains enough left to make “bulls.” The dispatchers have lined up, and we hope they will retain their “roster rights” and be repre- sented by the O. R. T., the same as the rest of us. W e congratulate our new brothers for the wise step they have taken, ami will render all assist- ance in our power to help them along and prove the efficiency of organized labor. Let us all do our bit toward this end. Cert. 845. Digitized by C.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 53 Q. M. 6r S. and N. J. Rys. Division — I wish to all the members of the Order, in behalf of the committee, a prosperous and happy New Year. We are very busy loading and shipping hay. This traffic is very heavy, and we all hope it will continue until our next revision of schedule; then we can show that we are working for every cent we earn. Our best regards to Bro. Noiseux, dispatcher Sorel office, on the occasion of his marriage to a “Miss” of Ste. Madeleine (G. T. R.). On their honeymoon they visited St. Armand, Que., St. Cesaire, Que., and Montreal. He was relieved by O. W. Petit. Members, be sure that your M. B. D. assess* ments are paid not later than February 28, 1918; otherwise you become delinquent and will have to sign a war waiver application for reinstate- ment. Also send the dues for your card to our secretary and treasurer, Dresden Station, N. Y. In case you do not receive your assessment slip or notice for the payment of dues, send the usual dues just the same, with a copy of your letter, to your chairman, and thus save all trouble. Ex-Bro. A. Cote is back with us again after an absence of nearly nine months. Do not let the green grass grow out there before you brothers have him lined up. A. J. P., Cert. 752. Norfolk & Western Ry„ Dlv. No. 14. Scioto Dizrision — The meeting at St. Clair Hotel, Portsmouth, December 15th, was one of the biggest and best we have had for some time. General Chairman I-anc presided. The main topics were: ‘‘Slackers’’ (those who fail to “do their bit,” but who hastily grab any advantage received through the O. R. T., you know the nons); the use of the ’phones by others than the operator in charge, and the new wage scale, which is expected to take effect Janu- ary 1st. Out committee has been promised a hear- ing immediately after that date. Remember, our committee needs the money, so be prompt in send- ing in dues and back dues, then, after paying for your “wheatless bread” and “meatless hash,” in- vest your surplus (?) in U. S. Thrift Stamps, thereby helping your Order, your Government and yourself. Bro. Pratt resigned “KM” last trick to devote his time to the mercantile business at Chattaroy. Bro. Gentry, from “CX” tower, expected to take “KM” last trick. Sister Pack, Glen Hayes second, resigned, go- ing to housekeeping at Dunlow, where her husband is employed as operator for an oil pipe line. Mrs. Gordon, Prichard second, resigned, going to Huntington, where her husband is employed as switchman for the C. & O.. They have a new home there. Extra Operators Hulbcrt and Emerson have re signed, leaving for “parts unknown.” Bro. Klepinger, of Division 36, relieving at Eastwood second, lias resigned, to take effect on the arrival of Bro Abbott, spending his vacation in West Virginia, relieved by Bro. Pickering, from second trick. Bro. Stratton assigned to Naugatuck first. A new man, J. S. Noe, slacker, on Naugatuck third extra. Bro. Burling, manager “KM,” taking his vaca- tion in Florida. Cards indicate he has visited Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West. Relieved by Bro. H. K., whose resignation as local chairman has not yet been accepted, and probably will not be, at least until the present negotiations with the company are settled. Duvall agency has again been placed on a salary basis, instead of commission. Several members on this division have failed to contribute to the Layman memorial fund. The rounds are being made on all three districts to try to get every one in on it. Bro. C. E. Thomas has been reinstated at Rarden agency through the efforts of the O. R. T. (Hurrah.) Bro. Scott goes back to McDermott and Bro. Bias to the extra list. Bro. Huddleston’s agency at Gravel Pit was closed December 21st. Expected he will bump second Newton. Bro. Brown, at Seaman, on vacation, relieved by Bro. Sheridan. Bro. J. A. Mcllroy spent a few days recently with home folks in Indiana. There has been some talk of putting chief dis- patchers on a three tricks, eight-hour basis. The clerks, who are organized about 400 strong on the N. & \V.# received a 10 per cent increase recently. Bro. Lane advises the S. A. L. boys (where he has been assisting with strike vote) received a fine increase, and that dispatchers lined up solid, and got a fifteen-day vacation clause, which is some- thing new on the S. A. L. While there, Bro. Lane also helped organize the Florida East Coast. Read carefully the two editorials, “Respecting Commercial Telegraph Commissions” and “Tips to Insure Prompt Service,” by President Perham, in the November issue of the journal. From these articles we learn that the telegraph companies have for years been paying the railroad companies a certain amount for the handling of commercial telegraph business by operators of the railroad companies. We do not know what the railroad companies have been doing with the money, but it is certain that the operators who have had the telegrams to handle have never received a cent of it. The ten cents on a dollar’s worth of receipts the telegraph companies allow operators, is not considered as a wage at all, but as a “Tip” to make the operator hustle for another dollar’s worth of receipts; just as you would slip a dime under the edge of your plate in a restaurant to try to get the waiter to bring you your next cup of coffee in twenty minutes, instead of thirty. We know now who is gnawing the other end of this “bone of contention,” and our committee can handle it directly with the railroad company. Cert. 1507. Digitized by kjooole
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54 The Railroad Telegrapher. Atlantic Coast Line R. R., Div. No. 15. Second Division , Montgomery District — We did not have any notes from this district for December on account of ye scribe having a siege of la grippe and not being able to get them together in time. We have all received our first increase and back time for September and October, and are working under our new contract. Now let’s show our appreciation by giving the company our maximum service during this exceedingly heavy rush of business. Our dispatchers have more work than one man can do to keep everything moving with delays, and we should do everything in our power to help them move the business by answering our calls promptly. Business is heavier on this dis- trict now than ever before, all train crews work- ing full time and a lot of tying up on account of heavy trains. At this writing it don’t look like any of us will get a holiday vacation, on account of the scarcity of relief men. Our chief hired some new men in the last few weeks, but the company opened up Dothan, Tennille and Grady nights and used them all. The chief will do all he can to relieve us when we want to get off, when he has the men, 60 we must stick to our jobs with good feeling and help him out. Most of us have fifteen days coming to us within the next twelve months, and we should not all ask for this time during the summer, but distribute our requests for the time for the winter months, same as summer, and we will all be more likely to get our time. Ardilla agency closed on account of the A. F. & S. E. extending its line up to Cowarts. Bro. Hodges seriously objected to this extension, as it interfered with his pension. His station is now an important transfer point and lots of work to do. Bro. Dean bid in new second Dothan, and Bro. Dupree took the Donaldsonville clerk-telegrapher job. Bennett, a new man, appointed agent Water- ford, no bids. D. O. Dean, at Tennille nights, when it was closed three years ago, is back there. Brown, a new man, to Grady nights. Bro. Black, New Brockton, relieved thirty days by Bro. Walker, while visiting in Texas, is agent for the Woodstock typewriter at Enterprise, Ala., and asks that any of the brothers in need of a machine to give him a chance before buying else- where. Bro. Thames, Luverne, relieved a few days by Bro. Walker. Bro. Mosley, freight agent Ozark, has resigned to go to his farm, succeeded by Local Chairman R. E. Stokes, on bid. Ashford agency on bulletin. Cert. 120. Norfolk District — I overlooked the write-up for the past two months, and I regret it very much, as it doesn’t look right for every district to be represented ex- cept ours, and it is a great pleasure to me to give a little write-up each month when I can think of it. Brothers, if you haven’t your new card for 1918 get it at once, don’t let the general secretary and treasurer have to remind you of it. Bro. Parker recently transferred to Wilmington, leaving “SU” third pending bids. Bro. Stover left us recently, much to our sor- row. We wish him much success. Boone first also on bulletin. Bro. Johnson working it, relieved by Doghtie, a newcomer from the N. & S. We all regret very much losing Bro. Sprowell, from “KN,” now doing Government commercial work. We wish him success. Bro. N. Parker bid in “KN,” and we are glad to have him back with us. I always hate to see the old men go who are faithful to the Order, as we never know who the newcomers are and whether they will take their places or not. Bro. Taft recently resigned, relieved by Bro. Barnes, extra, at Pt. Norfolk, pending bids, who also relieved Bro. Brown, at “SX,” a few days. Bro. Robinson is very much pleased with the new job recently opened up at Kingsboro. Bro. Pender was relieved by a newcomer, Mr. Moore, a few days. Boys, get after these new- comers, and see if they are up to date. Bro. Parker, local chairman, will give you their names and tell you who’s up to date. We want our dis- trict solid. Don’t put off your card, put off your store account for one month for the sake of keeping up to date and not be delinquent. Also don’t for- get your assessment of $5.00, which Bro. Parker will call on you for if you haven’t already re- mitted it to Bro. Williams. I trust every brother will pay this assessment as it is very small, and not do like some of the brothers did before. We all receive the same benefit and should all pay the same. It is not right for some to pay for what the others receive. Each of us should realize that the committee did great work for us during its stay in Wilmington and Washington, and we certainly ought to appreciate it enough to pay the small amount of $5.00 in order to keep our treas- ury in good shape. I presume a lot of the boys like myself are very uneasy that this draft will get us. They won’t get many, as the Government understands when they take away the operators and agents. tl|ey will have poor success in getting their stuff across the country. Boys, Bro. Parker is still making that good flour. Don’t forget that you no doubt can save enough in the run of a year by buying from him to pay for a six months’ card. Try a bag. He also makes bran and chicken feed. The big snow recently inconvenienced traffic between “GD” office and “RA” very much. Bro. Bailey and Herring are making great suc- cess with their gin and saw mill at “GD.” Brothers, I want to again ask all of you to show our new Grand Secretary and Treasurer that our district is the most up-to-date one in the country, and we never have to be reminded of anything but once. Bro. Brown recently bought a new Columbia car, and it’s a beauty. Boys, keep your war tax straight. There is an inspector out checking up each office. When he strikes you, be fixed so he will give you the O. K. mark. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 55 I don’t think any of the brothers will be both- ered with all that red tape keeping liquor records any more, as this new ruling has completely cut it out. Many of our brother agents are overworked; yet. I trust our new superintendent will soon see that it is to the interest of the company to furnish them more help. Cekt. 1140. Michigan Central R. R., Dlv. No. 16. Middle Division and Branches — As soon as replies are received to a circular sent out to members, the arbitration board will convene to consider our differences with the com- pany. With the increasing cost of living, we are . having a hard time to make both ends meet, but we arc assured of back time from August 15, 1917, so extra men and all keep close track of your time. Be very prompt in paying your dues and in- surance assessments. Keep right up to date and give good backing to our committee. Assignments: Bro. F. Moneith, second nights Hastings freight house; L. A. Baker, first, and Bro. E. K. Donner, second nights Augusta; Bro. C. D. Quigley, first, and Bro. J. F. Shane, second nights Centreville; G. W. Wilson, second nights Dowagiac; Bro. J. F. Hafer, first, and Bro. F. C. Guffin, second nights Dutton; Bro. W. W. Hol- brook, nights Miller; W. F. Chapman, Hill days, leaving second nights Niles up for bid; Bro. M. C. Salter to “SF” Jackson, extra, vice Bro. F. R. Alden to “F” Detroit. Sorry to see “R” go, but wish him success in his new home. Bro. H. K. Poulson, agent Middleville, was sick a few days, relieved by Bro. B. Gillette, and he by Bro. Beamers, from the P. M. Bro. McEldonny went to Pearl street, Jackson, days while Bro. Lloyd took his wife to the hospital for an operation, which wo are glad to learn was successful and that she was doing nicely at last report. Bro. F. Miller was at Bay City several days, relieved by Bro. Ed Seydell. Certs. 288 and 747. Northern Division — Assignments: First nights Water Street Jet. to Bro. John Green, vice Fredenburg, gone West; Bro. Muscott to Swan Creek agency, vice Bro. Nadeau, entered the government service, relieved by Bro. McCalpin pending bids; Bro. Cole, from Linwood second (closed) to Chesaning first, vice Bro. Jack Rice, entered government service. Bro. Ward Kille later relieved Bro. Cole pending bids; latter to Horrigan days, Bro. Booth returning to third Gaylord; Bro. Doc Gilbert to second “DI” Bay City, relieved by Bro. Hank Ramsey on third Bay City, W. S.; Bro. Wilson Shaw to first “DI” Bay City, vice Bro. Geo. Stokes, to dispatcher's job at East Jordan; Bro. Preston, Beaver Lake nights, to West Branch third, vice Bro. Geo. Bond, transferred back to west end by request. Bro. D. D. June, relieved by Ross on third Laings- burg, to Bath agency, vice Bro. Frank Smith, accepted by the draft board and left for canton- ment. Frederic days up for bids, Bro. Ed Preston returning to school. Bro. H. H. Allen, agent Topinabee, is back, feeling much better after his vacation, relieved by Bro. Muscott. Bro. Flodel, third Wolverine, on vacation in Detroit, was relieved by Fralick, from the main line. Bro. Hank Ramsey, relieving at Bath, injured his back while loading heavy express and was obliged to be relieved by Bro. McCalpin. Bro. Art Bonnett, first Wolverine, off on account of serious illness of his sister, making it necessary for Bro. Harry Crecine and Mr. Fralick to work twelve hours each on account of shortage of men until relieved by Bro. Winters, from Waters, closed as two-trick job until Bro. Bonnett's re- turn, Bro. Burch working twelve hours. Bros. Hi Robinson and Sutherland, Cheboygan, also worked twelve hours each for several days on account of Bro. Diffenderfer being sick, and Bros. Bowden and Thoms, Owosso, worked twelve hours while Bro. Schram was sick. The heating plant at Lansing went out of business for several days recently when the weather was down below zero, giving Bros. Higgins, Dorriell and Whitney a taste of trench work while it was being repaired. The Northern Division can be figured upon doing its part in any good cause; Bros. Cole, Decker, Frank Smith, Rice, Gould, Nadeau, Ausum, Lammiman, Flodel, Beedle having an- swered their country’s call; also Bro. Harry Adams, “HS,” located at Camp Lewis, Tacoma, Wash., as sergeant Company L, 364th Regiment of Infantry, and Bro. Mead, “M,” with the Signal Corps at Camp Kearney, Lina Vista, Cal. We are proud of the men who have gone from this division, and wish them the best of luck. Bro. Geo. Needham, who relieved the dispatchers on the Bay City Division, is now relieving on the Mackinaw Division. The meeting at Fordney Hotel, Saginaw, No- vember 23d, was not as largely attended as had been promised by the Saginaw Division boys, but what was lacking in attendance was made up for in interest. Bro. Flood went over schedule nego- tiations, explaining what had been done to secure a new schedule and better working conditions. Bros. Hill, from Holt; Higgins, Lansing; Roe, St. Charles; Frost, Paines; McCalpin, Swan Creek; Porter, Saginaw; Schram, Owosso; Van Scoter, Zilwaukee; Flood, Berry, McQuaid, Gilbert, Kerby and Rafferty, Bay City; Price, from Reece, and Foster, from Denmark Jet., were present. The Northern was the only division of the M. C. that had any notes in the December issue. Cert. 63. Penna. R. R. Lines East, Dlv. No. 17. West Jersey and Seashore Division— Every member should remit his division dues promptly to Bro. W. M. Skinner, 115 S. Potomac street, Baltimore, Md., and M. B D. assessments direct to Bro. C. B. Rawlins, St. Louis, Mo., before February 28th, and avoid the necessity of signing the war reinstatement slip. Boys, this is important to your beneficiaries. Don't neglect it. Digitized by v^oooLe
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56 The Railroad Telegrapher. F. Patterson, who helped out at Oil City, Pa.,, during the strike, has been awarded the professor- ship of the telegraph school opened in Camden, N. J. Since nearly all telegraph instruments have been removed and the telephone adopted ■for railroad work, these poor innocents should be put wise and not be allowed to waste their time in a “ham factory,” trying to learn something at which they will make less money than in any other calling. Bro. Frank C. Ackroyd, who resigned in prefer- ence to giving up his card, is now with the Penn- sylvania Shipbuilding Co at Gloucester, N. J., getting more money and in far more congenial sur- roundings. If any official will dismiss an em- ploye because he is a union man, when men are so much needed, there is a way to bring such matters before the proper tribunal and have them adjusted, but this can’t be done when a man re- signs. Be governed accordingly. Assignments: Joe Rice to “PO,” Broad street, Philadelphia, Pa., and E. A. Rassman to first “BR” drawbridge tower; Roy Van Meter to third “SA” tower, Camden, N. J., vice Bro. F .C. Ackroyd; A. H. Rickards to second “W” Woodbury, vice Prof. Patterson. Constant changes are taking place but we are not posted well enough to name them all. “HN” tower second held by W. F. Thompson on temporary bid, is up for permanent assign- ment. E. C. Heath, second “HI” tower, Haddonfield, N. J., spent one of his cut-o'ff days in New York. The men on every road in the country have re- ceived from 10 to 18 per cent increase, and here we have not received 10 per cent because we don’t stand up for our own interest and join the O. R. T. that got the increases on these other roads. The organization in 1917 got over $8,000,000 in- creases for the telegraphers, and still men seem afraid to invest $16.20 a year for an up-to-date card which also includes $1,000 death benefit. All over the system the men are coming in. We made a nice gain the last term against all the intimidat- ing schemes. We only need a few more to be able to enjoy contractural relations with the company which would greatly benefit it as well as the men. . I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. Div Cor. Allegheny Division — The recent unfortunate affair on this division has left its imprint on each of us in some way, but it is hardly indelible and can be erased. That is the primary task here it would seem of the accredited organization of our craft. Our only hope for harmony is fratcrnalism gained through the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. We are not children and can understand that ‘‘A house divided against itself can not stand.” The best way to prevent the seeds of discord sown by other so called organizations from ripen- ing and bearing fruit (no matter whether done at the behest of certain company officials or not) is by organization, harmony and fraternalism. Those who are trying to blame the O. R. T. for the late colossal blunder know better, and when men come blustering around declaring that they will never tie themselves to a labor organization again, it’s a safe bet they have never paid a cent into the O. R. T., although it’s barely possible they may have at some time or other filled out an application blank with a promise to pay the money next pay day, and that pay day nei’cr came, as far as keeping their promises to the organizer, who probably called a dozen different times before he even got the application signed up. If you are told by the party you are after when soliciting applications, as I have been, that he is through with the O. R. T. because he was refused strike benefits during the walk-out over here, you can make up your mind that he never applied to anyone authorized to perform such service for our organization, as members of the O. R. T. don’t have to ask for strike benefits when they are entitled to them by going out on an authorized strike. All such details are arranged for long before such action is taken by such bona fide labor organizations as the O. R. T. ,and not only that, but men who are forced out on account of being members are taken care of without having to ask that it be done. The “ethics of labor” draw a fine line of dis- tinction as to what constitutes a strike. The only official in the O. R. T. authorized to call a strike as a last resort is the president, and while Presi- dent Perham may have heard that there was “a walk-out” on the P. R. R., it had nothing to do with the O. R. T., as no action of that kind, or any other to cause the company trouble, has been taken over here by the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers; nor is it likely to be. This being the fact, then, it behooves each one of us to be more careful in the use of the word “scab.” It means too much to a real union man to be handled carelessly, especially by those who are not up to date themselves. We can not hope to organize a railroad where one-half of the teleg- raphers use epithets to the other half that they don’t even know the real meaning of. Brothers and sisters, let us make “harmony” our watchword. Try to get the others over here whom we hope in the near future to call brothers and sisters into the O. R. T., the only organiza- tion on the American continent that ever has done anything for the railroad telegraphers of this country in the way of better salaries and pleasant working conditions, and the only one that can do anything for them. An up-to-date card in the O. R. T. is a protection against the unorganized efforts of other so-called telegraphers* organiza- tions that are kept in existence by unfriendly em- ployers to keep us in an unorganized condition. The O. R. T. is no experiment, and the grand results it has attained have been peacefully achieved. Organizing a vast number of telegraphers such as this company employs is no small task. Do your part by lining up the unorganized in your office and in offices on cither side of you. If everyone of us will do this, it will not be long until we will be sufficiently strong to send in our Digitized by o,oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 57 committee to ask for a schedule similar to those enjoyed by the telegraphers of other roads jn our territory. The organization stands ready to do its duty by us and get us all we ask for. but we must do our individual duty by keeping up to date our selves and see that our neighbors do likewise. The inevitable law of “supply and demand” may soon compel the company to raise our salaries fairly in proportion to what our brothers are getting on the roads around us; but remember this is merely meeting another company’s bid for our only commodity, our labor, and only because condi- tions force it to do so, and we must not cease our efforts to help organize those who are still outside the O. R. T., and it should be a greater incentive to pay our dues promptly. Be true to yourself and you can be false to no man, is a good adage. As sure as the sun rises in the East the day is not far distant when we will gain recognition; then we can openly wear the emblem of our craft and treat the nons as enemies of our kind. Cert. 3136. “Nickel Plate” R. R., Div. No. 18. Third District — Bro. W. L. O’Kuly was relieved by Bro. F. W. Johnson a few days on account of the serious ill- ness of his father. Bro. J. G. Adams is on second, and Narber, from east end, on third Oakwood, latter pending bids. Bro. J. W. Walker, agent McComb, on vacation, relieved by Relief Agent Doster. Bro. D. E. Wolfe, Mortimer, was sick several days, and Heckman and Thompson doubled; no operators available for relief. It is now Bro. Hannah, second at Rocky River. Assignments: Third tricks — Ft. Wayne, Bro. M. S. Lowe; Payne, Bro. F. W. Johnson; Oak- wood, Bro. B. S. Statler. Div. Cor. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas. Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and love, has seen fit to call to his eternal home, where parting and sorrow are unknown, the beloved father of our esteemed Bro. Chas. I*. Mayer; and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to His will, knowing that He does all things for the best; therefore be it Resolved , That the members of the N. Y. C. & St. L. R. R. System, Division No. 18, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing brother their sincere sympathy in this sad hour of his bereavement; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved brother, a copy filed with the division records, and a copy forwarded to The Telegrapher for publication. E. A. Hill, W. A. Stover, F. F. Cowley, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and love, has deemed it best to call from our midst to his eternal home the beloved father of our esteemed Bro. David W. Gilbert; therefore be it Resolved, That the members of Nickel Plate Division No. 18 extend to the bereaved brother our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in his sad be- reavement; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be handed to Bro. Gilbert, a copy sent to The Teleg- rapher for publication, and a copy spread upon the minutes of the division. R. E. Kbugh, F. F. Cowley, W. A. Stover, Committee. N. Y. C. R. R. Lines West, Div. No. 19. Alliance Division — Everything is moving briskly on this division. Paris, Augusta and Mechanicstown closed as Western Union offices, and Mt. Union as train • order and block office recently, owing to the short- age of men. Bro. Kirkbride, agent Minerva, is now with the Morgan Engineering Co., at Alliance. We are sorry to see him leave, but wish him success. On bulletin: Agency Mechanicstown, clerkship Newton Falls, agency Augusta and Paris, Berg- holz second and third, and Amsterdam third. Assignments: Bro. Dennis, from Augusta, to agency Minerva, vice Bro. Kirkbride; Bro. Orwick, Palmyra, to Bergbolz, vice Bro. Mottice to yard- master there; Bro. Lloyd, from Newton Falls, to Palmyra; Conductor Moore to yardmaster Min- erva; Roberts, a new man, to Alliance agency, vice Frank Thompson, assigned to other duties; relief agent is still at Mechanicstown. Our membership is fast leaving us, and we must get right after these new men coming in, and write them up. With the new schedule coming up we need their support and funds. It is rumored that we are to have a new super- vising agent on this division. If you get a chance drop the brothers in the army a letter; you don’t know how they will ap- preciate it, and you may be there next. Bro. Cummings, agent Mechanicstown, Ohio, passed away at Mercy hospital, Canton, Ohio, at 9:00 o’clock p. m., December 1st, following an operation for appendicitis and gall stones. He was stricken while on his way home from work the evening of November 22d, taken to the hospital early the next morning and operated on. The appendix and twenty-one gall stones were removed, after which gangrene set in, causing his death. Bro. Cummings had been a loyal member of the O. R. T. since entering the service December 26, 1914, always working for the best interests of the brotherhood. Being the first of our membership on this division since its organization to pass into the great beyond, his death came as a shock to the entire division. Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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58 The Railroad Telegrapher. The floral piece contributed was a basket two feet in diameter and stood about three feet high, costing $14.50, the entire amount of the contribu- tion. A card was attached bearing the inscrip- tion: “From the Employes of the Alliance Divi- sion, N. Y. C. R, R.” Memoriam and card of thanks follows. Local Chairman Bettis, who made a trip to Cleveland recently to see the general committee and Vice-President Brown assembled there, reports that schedule negotiations are coming along satis- factory. L. L. Allen, Div. Cor. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Ouj heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and love, has deemed if best to call from our midst to His eternal home, where parting and sorrow are no more, our beloved Bro. E. E. Cummings; therefore be it Resolved , That the members of Alliance Division, of the New York Central Railroad System, Divi- sion No. 19, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, ex- tend to the bereaved parents and relatives our sincere sympathy in their sad bereavement; and • be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family, and a copy published in The Railroad Telegrapher. J. G. Bettis, L. L. Allen, E. G. Dickinson, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to thank the agents and operators em- ployed on the Alliance Division of the N. Y. C. R. R. for the beautiful floral offering, at the death of our beloved son, Elmer E. Cummings. Wish to say that it was very much appreciated and as beautiful a piece as we have ever seen. Cordially yours, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cummings and Family. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to His heavenly honlfe Lucy Braun Fogel, beloved wife of our esteemed Bro. Frank E. Fogel, of N. Y. C. System Division No. 19; in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy be it Resolved , That the members of N. Y. C. Sys- tem Division No. 19 extend to the sorrowing brother and the members of the afflicted family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this their sad hour of bereavement; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. F. P. Highthorn, Geo. E. Kipp, G. R. Smith, Geo. D. Walker, Committee. N. Y. O. A W. Ry., Div. No. 20. Southern Division — Bro. H. A. Smith, third Cadosia, who resigned November 29th, is now a deputy under U. S. Marshal Hon. C. L. Wheeler, at Utica, N. Y., at a much better salary than he was receiving at Cadosia. He tells me he had two other positions offered him as soon as he was lose from the rail- road company. One at $21.00 a week with Satur- day half-holiday and no Sunday work, and one $180.00 per month, which goes to show that the only thing necessary to do to get more money than is being paid railroad telegraphers, is to let others know you are ready to accept another job if there is money enough in it Bro. Dingee, agent at Hortons, succeeded Bro. Smith, of Codosia, and Operator Long bid in Weehawken. We are glad to learn that Bro. Topping, who has been absent on account of sickness since last May, is back again at Luzon. It has been suggested to me that it is about time telegraphers on <his line were relieved of Sunday work, and that we had all legal holidays free from duty, or extra pay for this service, just as our brothers on so many other roads are doing. Write Bro. Connor what you think about this. With a very few exceptions the men on this division have had their vacations as per schedule so far as they have gone; if impossible to relieve a man at the specified time he has been paid for the time, over and above his salary, or given his vacation at some other convenient time. Once again I ask some of you brothers on the Kingston Branch and on the south end of main line to send in some news items to me before the 20th of the month, as all news must be in St. Louis by the 25th of the month to appear in The Telegrapher the next month. H. J. de Graw, Div. Cor. C. I. A W. R. R., Div. No. 21. Bro. O. E. Lewis on vacation passed through Indianapolis on his return. Mr. Stephenson, first trick dispatcher on west end, was at Hattiesburg training camp visiting his son and our Bro. P. R. Stephenson during Thanks- giving, and reports Bro. Paul doing fine; says he has gained nineteen pounds in weight and has received a commission, which we are glad to hear. Dispatcher Sappenfield, second trick west end, relieved by Extra Dispatcher Shotwell on account of bad eyes, relieved on the car desk by Bro. Houck, and yours truly on message wire; Ewbank relieving me at Moorefield. We were sorry to hear of the dea^h of Sister Dickies’ father, and extend our sympathy to her in her hour of sadness and bereavement. * Bro. Blasse was in Indianapolis a few minutes several days ago while on sick leave. Our general chairman is fattening his rabbits for market. A new schedule has been presented to the man- agement to take effect January 1, 1918, and it is your duty to help your committee. See if the fellow next to you is carrying an up-to-date card. Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 59 and help to make this division 100 per cent strong. See what the I. C. boys got by being organized and sticking together; let's be as game as our other brothers. Let’s all pay our dues promptly and help to swell the treasury for the new schedule. Brothers, please send me some notes, as I am unable to leam all the news. “CU,” Cert. 169. C., M. d St p. Ry., Dlv. No. 23. Kansas City Division — Bro. L. M. Ward, Northern Jet., relieved by Dovenspike several days on account of sickness. Bro. Claude Carey, at Lawson, relieved a few days by Operator Frogge, an old-timer in the mer- cantile business at Jerome for several years. Bro. Jno. Park, first Coburg, visited his parents in Laredo a few days, relieved by Jimmy Mc- Carthy. Bro. F. T. Williams, who has worked on several divisions on the system, relieved on second Coburg several days while the writer made a short visit in Iowa. Bro. Chas. Cross, of Ottumwa ticket office, has resigned in order to devote his full time to his interest in a big store there. Bro. Gallagher has been lining up the boys, and the following may now be addressed as brothers: L. G. Lennox, L. M. Ward, H. L. Brown, J. H. Carroll, M. A. McDaniel, S. B. Regan, N. R. McCulloch, F. L. Swafford, C. Black- man, E. W. McNabb and D. D. Barnes. Two good meetings were held on the division recently, one at Ottumwa, November 25th, and another at Excelsior Springs, November 26th. The latter meeting was called to order by Bro. G. L. Gallagher, at 7:45 p. m,, who talked on the new schedule until 8:35 p. m. We were advised that the daily wage would be figured on a twenty-six-day month; Sunday time to be figured pro rata; mini- mum call on Sunday, one hour; calls, 65 cents; overtime, 40 cents per hour; minimum for 121 positions K. C, Division and eleven positions K. C. Terminal Division, telegraphers, $75.00, and *gmts, $77.50. Those present were: J. O. Paul- ky. C. Maytum, W. A. Hatfield, F. L. Mc- Donald, I. S. Williamson, F. A. McCarthy, I. K. J. W. Zungs, J. R. Weber, W. A. Kelsey, C. L Carey, C. C. Carnes, R. D. Adkins, G. M. Rcisch, Jno. Park, D. J. Martin, T. E. Manso, M- K. Blackman, W. E. Balkey, A. M. Lindner, W. D. Wright, W. T. Schoonover, H. O. Hoover, R- M. Grilling, J. R. Kendrick, F. C. Johnson, M. G. McCarthy, H. F. Owne, Belmont Beistle “d G. L Gallagher. At Ottumwa, Bro. Gallagher gave a short talk 011 the Seattle convention and outlined the busi- ness done there, telling us just how the Order stood on the handling of mail. Western Union commission and various other items of importance. He then went into the new schedule and explained the most vital changes; treating on Sunday over- tlme, hack pay, one and two-man jobs and the ®ctbod of distributing the money award. Chief Dispatcher Klahn was present and welcomed the hoys- The following members were on hand: G. L. Gallagher, L. H. Wilson, W. L. Ireland, J. E. Wells, J. McEwan, T. R. Benn, Glen Martin, Wm. Roberts, P. H. Fluck, Bruce McKay, O. E. Sisk, L. W. Knight, C. E. Brown, A. J. Jones, T. H. Tuomey, W. I. Wendall, W. E. Ferrell, K. F. Klardy, J. W. Fagan, Maul Sisk and J. L. Wright. Bro. Fagan relieved by Campbell, at Rutledge one night, to attend a big feed. Sister Sisk on sick list a few days, relieved by W. C. Brown, who later went to Williamsburg, hunting rabbits. Rutledge agency, pending assign- ments, filled by Operator Carson, who went to Braymer, then by Mr. Kelly. At Ottumwa Jet., Bro. Pogue on third and Geo. Shaw on fourth, pending bulletin of vacancy caused by Bro. Wilson going to first “VN.” A card has been received from young John Nolan, now a radio operator on one of Uncle Sam’s submarine chasers. Bro. Barnard, in France, is a sergeant in a railway regiment. He had the mis- fortune to lose his father in an auto accident shortly after he had gone to the front. Bro. E. R. Williams moved to Titus agency, relieving Operator Carson, extra. Bro. S. A. Allen to Gladwin agency, relieving Extra Kelly. Practically all of the three-trick positions have been put on an eight-hour basis now, although a" number of them were kept on nine-hour basis until just recently, making some easy overtime for the boys. Amana and North English are additional offices which will be closed all day Sundays. Assignments: Third tricks — Braymer to Bro. G. W. Ewing; Northern Jet., temporary, to Bro. L. M. Ward. Second — Washington to Bro. C. N. Smith. First — Ottumwa to Bro. L. H. Wilson. Agencies — Gladwin to Bro. S. A. Allen; Rutledge to Bro. K. Lewis. Bro. Al. Lindner, Kansas City freight, relieved a few days by Bro. Williams, for a minor operation. Bro. A. J. Jones and wife were Sunday visitors in Bro. Jones’ old home town, Williamsburg, re- cently. J. V. T., Cert. 1045. Superior Division — ' W. E. Barbee appointed agent at Chilton, leav- ing side wire at Green Bay dispatcher’s office open for bids. You all have no doubt received your circular from the general secretary and treasurer, regard- ing settlement which has been secured by the com- mittee. As soon as you receive your schedule, study them carefully and live up to the rules, as everyone of them mean so much money to us. It is not fair to yourself or to your hard work- ing committee not to get wnat are -your rights, after the rules have been secured; and don’t for- get 4o send your contribution to replenish the treasury. Now is the time to line up the nons and the delinquents, who have no ground now to stand on with the back pay and overtime that everyone will soon get. They surely can see now what an enormous amount of good can be accomplished with a solid front. Everybody line up the ones working with you or in your vicinity right now. Bro. Gray has resumed as agent at Ontonagon. Digitized by Google
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60 . The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. A J. Holmes is back at White Pine after a short visit to his home at I'ishtigo, Wis. Bro. W. S. Cole is at St. Joseph’s "hospital, Menominee, Mich., with a bum leg. Wc hope to soon see him back. Would appreciate any items anyone would send to help give us a good write-up. A. F. Johnson, Cert. 2121. loua Division — Bro. A. M. Bollinger relieved recently on third Browns by Mrs. J. B. McGuire. On vacations: Bro. P. A. Parmeter, third Par- alta, two weeks in Canada, relieved by G. H. House; agents Waucoma. Preston, Elwood and Morley, relieved by Helper Snyder, Strawberry Point; Bro. F. Doyle, Neola, relieved by Bro. O. J. Atkins; Bro. M. Warmer, agent Dunbar, on a trip East, relieved by Fred Harvey; Bro. B. F. Iloffner, while on a visit, relieved by Bro. M. J. Marchant on Sabula second, who also relieved Bro. T. E. Minchart, second Paralta, several days, while his wife was undergoing an operation. The three Elder boys are now in Sioux City dispatcher’s office; Alva and Phonce are dispatch- ing, and Chet on side table. Wc were sorry to lose such good men from this division, where they still hold their rights, and we hope they will keep their dues up. Bro. II. H. Dollarhide, at Neola, who has en- listed, and R. E. Ogg, third Sabula, expect to be called to the army soon. * Bro. G. L. Bucknam is on second Council Bluffs yard pending bulletin, and Bro. Oley Oleson is back on first there, after three months at Straw- berry Point as agent. II. P. Buswell is in Perry dispatcher’s office nights, on account of Vinner’s illness. R. L. Brown, third Portsmouth, was taken- to hospital recently for an operation. We hope for his speedy recovery. The following new members have been secured by Bro. W. H. Robinson: D. A. Arrasmith, O. J. Atkins, F. W. Bean, O. P. Byrd, G. L. Bucknam, A. J. Campbell, Dewey Chastain, Freeman Doyle, W. 1). Fox, II. C. Gustafson, W. C. Mouser and C. B. Whitney (reinstated), Thos. Hays, T. L. Howlett, Lylle Hulsizer, L. A. Loscy, I. A. Mad- sen, F. A. Morton, L. C. Rawson, J. V. Richard- son, P. J. Rogers, G. W. Ryan and C. W. White. This is a good showing, leaving only one or two delinquents and a few nons on the division. Each member should get busy now and make it solid. Bill Uptegrovc and R. L. Brown, second and third Portsmouth, have fitted up the section house as bachelor quarters. It keeps Brown busy cook- ing the game Upte brings in. No meatless days with them. We should show our appicciation for the splen- did settlement just made by our committee by re- mitting our dues promptly and getting in the few remaining nons at once. Assignments: C. L. Schafer, agent Strawberry Point; Wm. Uptegrove, second Portsmouth; Bro. J. V. Richardson, second Van Tome; C. A. Sea- right, third Council Bluffs; Bro. Warner, agent Covington; Bro. Clark Lewis, third Coon Rapids; Bro. W. J. Sweening, third Manilla; Bro. Lylle Hulsizer, third Capron; Irene Rogers, third Earl- ing; Bro. B. F. Hoffncr, agent Dunbar; Bro. C. B. Whitney, Omaha City office; C. K. Priddy, Council Bluffs freight office; Bro. W. II. Resting, second Manilla; Fred Harvey, second Earling. Open for bids Sabula, Defiance and Council Bluffs second, and Herndon third. Div. Cor., Cert. 423. //. <5 * D. Dh ision Xotes — Local Chairman Walker held meetings at Aber- deen and Montevideo, November 28th and Decem- ber 6th, respectively, to discuss provisions of the new schedule, effective September 1st for salary, and November 1st for rules. Every employe drew $30.00 to $40.00 back pay December 15th, which came in quite handy for Christmas. Everyone working nine hours or more will have quite a little overtime coming when our hours are changed to what the new schedule provides for, but we won't be able to put on our slips for the extra hour per day until the “chief” changes our hours and the new schedules are distributed. All who have this extra hour coming should insist on getting it. Regarding news items for our write-up. The only time I have ever had any from any of the members was when I wrote asking for them. It should not be necessary for me to do this, as you all know as well as I do when these items should be sent me, and that when changes take place at your stations you should advise me of them. You are disappointed when you get your Telegrapher and find nothing in it from this old "Hot and Dry” division, and you will continue to be disappointed as long as you are indifferent as to whether or not you help the correspondent. If I was a mind reader I would be running a "one- horsc” station, as I could get more money telling fortunes. Please try and help me with the write-ups; as soon as there’s a change or a new man at or near your station, drop me a line at Watson. If everyone would send just one item, wc could have a good, newsy write-up in every issue. You brothers on the branch lines especially should try your best to send me the news, for it’s been a long time since anyone from the branches have had their names in the journal. B. F. Fuller, Cert. 1366. Missoula Dizision — Our chairman passed over the division recently to explain our new schedule and line up the few remaining nons. While wc have not attained all wc desire, still it is a long step forward. As 1 think back to my first railroading days in the Eastern States on the wind-whipped prairies, I can not understand why there should be any nons left to line up. Then salaries ranged from ’ $25 to $40 — the very top. Switch lock freight houses, parrot conductors and overtime slips were as yet unknown. Operators were subject to call twenty- four hours a day and 365 days a year, with the exception of every fourth one, when another day was sneaked in the latter part of February. Just Digitized by o.ooole
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Tin-; Railroad Telegrapher. 61 who tli^covcretl this extra day has not yet been tlctermined. but some great railroad manager should receive the honor. Back in the early nineties the hours were never less than twelve, and on the one-man jobs you reported to dispatcher at 7 a. m. and remained on duty until you received "GN," the time de- pending on business and the local, which in those days ran the whole division, and if it showed up by 10 p. m. you were lucky. It came in more fre- quently at 2 or 3 a. m. and unloaded several tons of freight any old place for you to truck in before you could go to bed. If no extra happened to open up its S. O. S. call before it was time to arise for the next day's sport, then all you had to do before you reported to the dispatcher was to pick up from four to a dozen switch lights, which you cleaned during the day in readiness to place on the switches in the evening before sun- down. At night offices, if these lights went out, it was "Mr. Owl’s" duty to "hike out" and light them up, with the mercury around 30 or 40 below and a huricane breeze raging; they had a regular habit of blowing out. I recall returning from many trips of that kind with my fingers frosted and the end of my nose peeled off. Every Job in those days carried an assortment of duties for the "ops" at 'terminals. You called the crews and delivered calls to the roundhouse for engines. Installing telephones for such duties had not yet been thought of. At other places you weighed cars or did anything the section men wouldn’t do. We never knew for certain from one pay day to the next what our salary was. A little slip might be attached to our check, "Reduction in salary has been found necessary." Schedules or con- tracts were unheard of; but with all that they were practically days of real sport, as we had no Hoover and eats were plentiful and cheap. "Old-Timer," Cert. 2705. Mobile 6. Ohio R. R., Div. No. 24. St. Louis District — I desire to take this means of acknowledging the receipt of numerous letters since the com- pletion of our schedule, and desire personally to express to you all my appreciation for the kind expression of thanks contained therein. Your loyal support by standing firm very mate- rially assisted the committee in its most successful negotiation, and this expression of confidence is very much appreciated by the general committee. With best wishes, I am, Fraternally yours, L. T. MurdaUgh, General Chairman, Jackson, Tenn. St. Louis District — Everybody is pleased with our new contract. Figuring the vacation, increases in salary and overtime, our money increase is 27 per cent. All of the agents at stations not heretofore included have either joined or will do so as soon as Bro. Murdaugh can get to them, as they are thinking men and know a good proposition. We still have a few nous who received as much and in some cases more than the rest of us, and are still out, but arc -risking for the back pay and vacations. During the last ten years we have increased our own and their salaries 95 per cent, and are not through yet, and it is the duty of every member now to help line them up. There were no bids on Perry second. Bro. Teague is there, extra. Assignments on bids: Bro. McCord, Murphys* boro third; Bro. Taylor, Henderson first; Bro. Gentle, Wheelers second; Bro. Brewer, Pomona agency; Bro. Utley, Wheelers third; Bro. Mc- Dermott, Cahokia first; Bro. Rose, Red Bud third; Bro. T. D. White, fourth, Bro. J. R. White, second, and Bro. Richardson, Corinth third. The two last named brothers have joined Uncle Sam’s forces for service “over there.” Here’s "Good Luck and God Bless You" to them. W. R. Smith, who bid in Ruslor third, promises to join pay day. A happy New Year to all. Div. Cor. "Cotton Belt” Ry.p Div. No. 27. Jonesboro to lllmo — Our new system division has been given number 27. We should now all take an interest in the work and strive to make our new division a com- plete success. Remember that the O. R. T. and Division No. 27 belong to every member who car- ries an up to date, and who takes an interest in his own welfare and encourages others to do the same. We must put our entire support into the cause in order to obtain better conditions, which we surely deserve. You have elected your gen- eral committee to represent you, and every mem- ber should put forth his best efforts and give it a 100 per cent backing, as it can only secure such conditions for you as your support warrant. Re- member, brothers, if we do not look after our interest, no one else will. We must keep after the nons and slackers who wait until the last moment to pay their dues, for we can not bank on such men. It should be our aim to complete thorough organization on the "Cotton Belt.” The time is near at hand when your committee will enter into negotiations with the management for a schedule revision, and every member should get on the firing line and give their entire support to the committee. With living expenses increased nearly 100 per cent in the past year, it is high time that we secure that which is rightfully ours. Show me an investment in anything other than the O. R. T. that pays better interest on our money for the little we invest in the O. R. T. It sure does pay a mighty large interest. Every time a railroad gets a new revision of its schedule, it generally divides it up so each man gets from $60 to $150 per year more pay. It costs him only $12 to $20 per year to belong to the O. R. T., so look at the large interest you receive on the money you invest therein. Every member added makes us that much stronger, and we will gain for ourselves in the long run what we deserve. 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62 The Railroad Telegrapher. Just keep sticking to that O. R. T. card and you will be O. K., and the O. R. T. will take care of you. It is getting better schedules and work- ing conditions on some road, or a lot of them at the same time, every month in the year. Bro. R. W. Day, is relieving cashier-operator Dexter while on ninety days’ vacation. Bro. G. A. 'Horn has returned from a three months’ stay in the West, to second Malden. Bro. Baldridge, second Paragould, was relieved by Bro. McCutcheon, of Division No. 32, one day on account of sickness. Let’s all get busy and get a 1918 card quickly. They are sure pretty. T. H. Robinson, Cert. 101. Seaboard Air Line Ry., Div. No. 28. Alabama Division — Bro. R. J. Cannon, second Collins, has left for Camp Gordon with “Uncle Sam’s” fighting forces. Some of the rest of us are likely to be called upon soon, and if we are, we will do our best to make good soldiers. Bro. R. L. Wood bid in second Americus, vice Sease, to “SA,” leaving first Vidalia on bulletin. Bro. Matthis, Omaha, is off for his health also Mr. Mills, second Richland. Bro. Fanning, freight agent Vidalia, is having a tough time with *a short force, being unable to se- cure the clerks needed. Bro. Hamilton, third Vidalia, visited home folks at Collins a few days recently. It is now Bro. A. P. Thomas, agent Lyons. We are glad to have him with us. This leaves only about three nons on this division. It is also Bro. Harrison, at Clisby Park, Ala.; Bro. Davis, at Plains; Bro. W. B. McGowan at Shops; Bro. G. G. Stanford, at Sledges; Bro. N. M. Woods, at Weston; Bro. Jno. D. Williams, clerk-operator at Columbus; Bro. W. R. Arnold, at Parrott; Bro. H. G. Blackshear, at Leslie; Bro. V. M. Beecher, clerk-operator at Dawson. A few of these were delinquents; now all are up to date. Let us all remit our 1918 dues promptly and keep up to date. We are all proud that our contract covers our dispatchers. We now have as good, if not a better, contract as any other road, and we are proud of the work our committee did and of the loyal sup- port given it, dispatchers included. Give me all the news items you can, for I can* not keep up with every move made on the entire 'division, and I desire to have all the information possible. Understand the clerk-operator job at Mont- gomery is being handled by a man who can not telegraph, the wire work being done by the pres- ent rate clerk. This is being investigated. Boys, stay on your jobs now. The company has a right to demand it. Let’s all see how well we can attend to our duties. H. L. Carter, Cert. 1423, Vidalia, Ga. Missouri Pacific R. R.« Div. No. 31. Illinois Division — It is sad enough to lose our loved ones by death, but we are almost unable to appreciate the extreme sorrow that must come to one, who after such an experience is unable to locate the remains of a relative. Such was the recent experience of Sister Jewell Sackett, of South Dupo, 111. Her brother, Bro. J. L. Sackett, on his way home from Buffalo, N. V., where he had been for treatment, became speet^iless and helpless while waiting for connections in the LaSalle street sta- tion, and was taken to a Chicago hospital, where he died on November 18th, without regaining con- sciousness. Before reaching the hospital some miscreant de- void of all the instincts of humanity robbed him of all his personal belongings, including his card, money, watch, etc., not leaving a thing whereby he might be identified. As he had wired home from Chicago, November 16th, that he would be there on the next train if able, the suspense of expectancy and subsequent disappointment by his non-arrival, and sorrowful sleepless nights spent by Sister Sackett trying to find him through the Chief of Police of Chicago, can hardly be imagined. , She finally located his body through the coroner, and had it brought home for burial December 7th. Bro. J. LI Sackett, who carried a card in the Grand Division, was a train dispatcher, but had not worked in that line for the past four or five years. He was beloved by all who knew him. Cert. 399. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Bro. J. L. Sackett has been called to his reward in the great beyond; therefore, in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved , That the members of Missouri Pacific R. R. System Division No. 31, of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the family of our departed brother our sincere and heartfelt sym- pathy; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family, and a copy published in The Railroad Telegrapher. (Signed) H. J. Mohler, F. C. Ahrens, N. S. Morgan, Committee. Memphis Division — IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, The Supreme Being, in His in- finite wisdom, has called to Himself the beloved daughter of our esteemed Bro. M. L. Richardson, and we bow in humble submission to Him who doeth all things best; we realise that our sympathy can best be expressed in words of condolence; therefore, be it Resolved , That the members of Memphis Divi- sion Missouri Pacific Division 31, Order of Rail- road Telegraphers, extend to the bereaved brothei Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 63 and his family their heartfelt sympathy in their sad bereavement; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent the brother, a copy mailed The Telegrapher for publication, and a copy spread upon the min- utes of the division. T c* J. F. Proctor, Operator Paikin, Ark., E. H. Briggs, Local Chairman, G. M. Flippin, N. S. Morgan, Committee. Joplin Division — Bro. E. C. Hawkins, second Rich Hill, is now at Jefferson Barracks in the service of “Uncle Sam.'* Another good brother gone from our ranks, but our loss is our country’s gain, as no better man ever worked on the Joplin Division than Bro. Hawkins. The best wishes of all the boys go with him, and we sincerely hope that he may return to us unscathed, covered with glory. Bro. J. A. Broyles bid in Pittsburg first, vice Bro. Roy Christel, promoted to relay department. Bro. T. W. Wolfe bid in Butler second, and R. E. Greenlee third there, being the only bidder. Bro. R. L. Rader, Mound City, is on sixty days’ leave. Bro. L. H. Weaver, Horton second, has decided to stay in Idaho. We are sorry to lose this brother, as he is made of true blue stuff, and those are men that make our battle front inconquerable. We are glad to welcome Bro. S. E. Honey, extra Pittsburg, to our growing family. First Joplin, second Rich Hill, Sheldon, Pitts- burg and Horton are on bulletin. We have lost several good men in the last six months, and in most instances their places have been filled with men without cards. This reduces our percentage, and we must not forget to impress upon those working near you the importance of getting an up to date. We should soon be 100 per cent strong, and with each member doing his duty we can easily accomplish it. The committee is up for a revision of the schedule, and we will be the best road in the ter- ritory when we attain it, so let's all buckle to it and eliminate the non. C. V. Rowe. Eastern Division — Assignments: W. L. Bettis, of Napoleon, to third Lees Summit; Bro. F. C. Haub, of Grays Summit, to 23d St., St. Louis; Bro. F. A. Wilson to second “DO" Sedalia, succeeded on third there by Bro. A. S. Bryan. On bulletin: Agent-telegrapher New Haven, Grays Summit and Malta Bend, and third Eureka. Bro. Howell, Independence, while attending court was relieved by R. H. Beverburg a few days, who also relieved Bro. S. S. Johnson, local chair- man, second Lees Summit, on a trip over the division, hunting nons; Beverburg later bid in third Lamonte. Bro. W. Polney, second Tipton, relieved by J. W. Young on account of sickness. Bro. Stemmons has returned to Houstonia agency, and A. Eberhardt to California. T. M. Farris has resigned and gone to Kansas City. Bro. L. O. Kennedy, relieved by F. K. Farris, of Lamonte, at “CD” Kansas City, is at “CY” extra. Brothers, help us on the write-up each month and to get in the nons. Wishing you the seasons greetings. Yours fraternally, Al. S. Bryan, Cert. 381. Central Kansas Division — Bro. Thigpen, called to Denver on account of the sickness and death of his brother, was relieved by Bro. Morgan, from Carlton. The new 1,500 class engines are now being used for pusher trains *on the east end, and the 6,400 class for helpers. Bro. Mills, at Wagstaff, says it takes lots of patriotism to hand nineteen orders to the new 1,500 class engines, the way the engi- neers go by a red board. Extra men are so scarce on this division that it’s almost impossible to get relief. Bro. Duff relieved Layton for Allen, who was relieving McClellan, Herington third, on account of sickness. Bro. Thigpen, of Elmo, who relieved Bro. Neale when he resigned as local chairman, advises that several non-telegraph agencies on this division are now being held by brothers with up-to-date cards. If the non-telegraph agent at $40.00 a month can do that, we who are getting twice that amount for telegraph jobs, should be able to do so. Brothers, if you have a non working by you, keep after him until he joins. Let’s all get our cards for the new year and start it right. Get in the few delinquents and remember, "No card, no favors.** The K. N. & D. boys now have their offices equipped with the main line sounders, which does away with local batteries. Bro. Deal, first “CO” Grove, who has taken the Kansas City Star and Times agency in order to get more exercise than handling the thirty-two levers and other work, relieved Bro. Neale when he went to St. Louis on committee work; Bro. Owens to second and G. B. Glasner to third. Rantoul bid in by McClellan, third Herington, vice Bro. Wells, resigning to go on his farm. Third trick put on at Geneseo is up for bids. Bro. Briggs has gone to the Western Union at Kansas City, Dodson first being pulled off. Bro. Day, Osawatomie yard second, was relieved several days by a new man from the Santa Fe. The committee is up with the management for a new schedule. The way for us to get what we are entitled to is for all of us to get in line with a new 1918 card. Men in our line are hard to get, because they can get more for common ordi- nary labor, and work only six days a week, while we work seven. The railroads are making more money now than they ever did before; surely we ought to have at least enough to live on. We must stand behind our committee. It is asking for Digitized by Caooole
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64 The Railroad Telegrapher. better rules and increased salary at our request, and we must give it our solid support. Bro. Weaver, agent Blue Mound, on vacation, was relieved by Henderson from Stilwell. Cbrt. 749. ‘Frisco” Ry., Div, No. 32. Bro. E. F. Blomeyer, agent Caruthersville, Mo., has resigned to go with a wholesale grocery com- pany there. We regret very much to los» him. He was relieved on bid by Davidson, agent Festus, Mo. Bro. V. E. Hopkins, agent Marston, has been assigned to first Hayti, succeeded on bid by Bro. J. A. Shain, agent Matthews, relieved by Extra Finn pending bulletin. Bro. C. A. Jobe is back on third Hayti. Bro. Libscomb, Kennett, Mo., bid in first Cape Girardeau. Bro. J. A. Shain, agent Matthews, was off ten days attending court at Jonesboro. Bro. John Lafont, first Sikeston, Mo., visiting relatives fifteen days, was relieved by Ohear. Bro. F. H. Blomeyer was off one day visiting his sick parents at Farmington, Mo. Bro. L. Berry, agent Holland, Mo., was off a few days recently attending court at Memphis. Bro. Zimmerman, agent Malden, has resigned and entered the Government service. Other changes have been made that I am not familiar with, and would be pleased to receive items each month for publication. J. H. Grabiel. Baltimore A. Ohio R. R., Div. No. 33. In lieu of references by the different correspond- ents of the system to the provisions of the new schedule, we submit the following: Headquarters General Committee, Hotel Rennert. Baltimore, Md., December 24, 1917. All Members B. & O. System Division No. 33 — Greetings: As a result of the negotiations which began in Baltimore on August 20th, the following changes in the old rules and new ones secured are hereby submitted to you for your information and guid- ance: Article 4. (b) The words “prior to three days” have been eliminated. Article 6. (a) The following words have been added to first section of this paragraph: “Seni- ority shall not be accumulative after holding the above positions one year.” (b) after the words “shall assert their senior- ity” the words “in writing” have been inserted. Article 9. (c) and (d) The words “not relieved from Sunday duty” have been eliminated. In the future it will not be necessary for exclusive agents to perform Sunday service to obtain vacation. New paragraph (e) has been added, as fol- lows, which will take place of the words “This article does not apply to extra employes.” (c) The foregoing paragraphs of this article do not apply to extra employes but when an ex- tra becomes a regular employe, the accumulated days worked extra shall be credited to his service record, and when added to Jiis time worked after becoming regular, shall form the basis for vaca- tion, allowance as per this article at the salary of the position which he holds. Article 10. (a) Overtime rate increased from 35 to 40 cents per hour. (b) “Call” increased from 50 to 60 cents. (c) New paragraph, secured by arbitration. When employes are required to work on Sun- day they will be so advised on the preceding Sat- urday. Employes required to report for duty on Sunday shall be paid for such service on regular pro rata basis, based on calendar month, in addi- tion to the regular monthly salary. The hours required to work on Sunday shall be within the regular daily established hours of the employe affected. Any employe’s trick split more than twice on Sunday, the employe shall receive pay for the entire day. The above to apply to both road and relay positions covered by the schedule. Article 11. (e) Changed to read ten consecutive days instead of eleven. Article 15. (a) No change. (b) Amended to read as follows: “in two trick offices eight consecutive hours shall consti- tute a day’s work.” (c) “In one trick offices nine hours, exclusive of meal hour, shall constitute a day's work. Except as relieved for meals, the hours shall be consecutive.” The meal hour period on the B. & O. S.-W. and B. & O. proper will remain as in the old schedule. (Hours for exclusive agents and levermen re- main the same*) Article 17 (b) has been changed to comply with Article 10-c. (d) Overtime increased from 45 to 50 cents. (f) Will be rearranged so as to provide for Toledo Division. (h) Substitute the following for the old para- graph: “All telegraphers or telephones in relay offices shall receive the same rate of pay for that office.” Article 22. Substitute $3.00 per for $2.75, and eight hours for nine hours. Article 24. (New.) It is not the disposition of the railroad com- pany to displace operators by having trainmen or other employes operate the telephone for the pur- pose of blocking trains, handling train orders or messages, except in bona fide cases of emergency. This does not apply to train crews using the tele- phone at the end of passing sidings or spur tracks in communicating with the operator. In regard to the handling of United States mail, the management was agreeable to the fol- Digitized by u.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 65 lowing understanding: “Where the United States mail increases to such an extent as to interfere seriously with the duties of the employes, the matter will be taken up locally for adjustment.” In regard to the application of certain features of the agreement to the Staten Island Lines, it was agreed that the same increase in rates of pay and the same Sunday overtime rule as se- cured on the B. & O. proper would be granted to these employes. It was further agreed that the overtime and “call” rates would be given that part of the system. In the matter of exclusive agents, it was agreed that all those receiving salaries ranging from $45.00 to $95.00, inclusive, shall be included in the wage scale. It was also agreed that a certain number of ticket agents, assistant agents and levermen posi- tions will be placed in the wage scale subject to the agreement. The questions arbitrated were the increase in wages and the rule providing for Sunday over- time; the result of the award on the Sunday over- time question will be listed as Article 10, para- graph (c), which rule goes into effect the day the award is filed with the district court in Balti- more. An increase in wages of ten (10) per cent was granted, same to be apportioned as - may be mutually agreed upon between the committee and representatives of the company. This feature will date back to September 1, 1917. The rules changed and the new ones secured, either in conference with the management or through the mediator, go into effect as of Decem- ber 11th, on which day the mediation agreement was signed. The award was not as liberal as we hoped for; however, taking into consideration the vacation rule we have, and the valuable changes in the old rules which were secured, the settlement was about on a par with others of recent date. It is estimated that the cost per annum of this settle- ment will run approximately $620,000.00, which is the largest ever secured by the employes of this system. In response to the circular letter dated Decem- ber 12th, with request to mail your committee an- swers to the questionnaire, beg to state that the returns were indeed gratifying; it clearly demon- strated that you were alive to your own welfare, and on the day of the hearings (December 20th) we were able to turn over to the arbitrators one thousand and eighteen of these answers, and over two hundred were received too late for presenta- tion; about two or three from each division were read into the records. The arbitration board was composed of the following gentlement: Judge Charles A. Woods, of the Court of Appeals of South Carolina, and Mr. Francis E. Leupp, of Washington, D. C., neutral members; Mr. George H. Campbell, assist- ant to the president of the Baltimore & Ohio, and Mr. F. E. Blaser, assistant general manager of the Baltimore & Ohio, representing the railroad, and Bros. J. J. Dermody, fourth vice-president O. R. T., and J . F. Miller, chairman of the board of direct- ors of the O. R. T., for the employes. The hear- ings were begun at 10 a. m. Thursday, December 20th, but on account of Mr. Campbell being de- layed en route to Baltimore, they were postponed until 2 p. m. Our case was presented by Bro. Perham in a most able and efficient manner, and Mr. J. M. Davis, vice-president, presented the case for the Baltimore & Ohio in a like manner. The pro- ceedings were most cordial and harmonious throughout. We concluded our testimony, which was given through one witness, as had been pre- viously agreed to by Bro. Perham and Mr. Davis, the general chairman acting as witness for the employes, and Mr. C. J. Crawford, chief bureau rates of pay, for the company. The entire afternoon of the first day was taken up in presenting the employes* side of the case. Our witness was on the stand nearly three hours, after which Bro. Perham closed the case and an adjournment was taken until 10 o’clock the fol- lowing morning. At 10 a. m. Mr. Davis presented the case for the railroad company, placing his witness on the stand, filing the usual exhibits and closed his case about noon, after which the entire matter was left in the hands of the arbitration board. In behalf of the general committee, I desire to express our appreciation to the entire member- ship for their untiring, patient and loyal support in assisting your committee to bring these nego- tiations to a definite conclusion. As you are no doubt aware that these negotia- tions were a source of considerable expense to Division No. 33, and as you are about to receive a considerable amount in back pay, better wages and working conditions, I trust you will show your appreciation by remitting your dues promptly to General Secretary and Treasurer Bro. Shaffer at your very earliest convenience. Allow me to suggest that those of you who can conveniently do so, remit $12 for an annual card for 1918; also see that the non near you is supplied with appli- cation blanks and invited to become a member of this organization. Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year, I am, Yours fraternally, J. Yeager, General Chairman. Indiana Division — Probably by this time all have recovered from the effects of the Havana terribles and chew- ing barber-stick candy, and made good excuses to the forgotten friend. Rube Boileau, third Oakley, is still out; unable to comprehend the advantages of a good clean name among his associates; and of the highest and most cherished ideals of the human race. Charles Frey, of Seymour, has entered our midst, standing for the principles of true Americanism, Freedom and Justice. We greet him from the heart out, and hope we shall ever be able to address him as our friend and brother. That the men of our profession are among the most intelligent, well read, clean cut men of the world, and the poorest paid of all occupations, including section men and common labor, is a fact that can not be disputed. The starvation wages, Digitized by Caooole
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66 The Railroad Telegrapher. upon which a telegrapher is forced to exist for the highest nerve-racking profession that a human can choose, is an explanation of the cause for there being probably two telegraphers in other occupations for every man working at that pro- fession. When the world considers the handling of lives as precious as the delivery of letters, and the com- pensation for telegraphing is equivalant to that paid a common deliveryman, the return of men to this profession shall equal any demands that can be placed upon it. In order that better conditions shall exist and for the security of food for our dependents as well as ourselves, there is but one course open. We have chosen it, and it is for us ourselves to maintain the path, that others to come may fol- low. Get after the non. In fact it comes sur- prisingly close to being the non, as our division is only a small fraction short of perfect. Bro. O. O. Shortridge, cashier for the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, at St. Louis, has re- sumed duty as agent at Medora. Bro. E. L. Carrico, having suffered several months with an ingrown toe nail, had several toes amputated at Indianapolis, when the trouble proved of a serious nature. Ed. is doing nicely and expects to be back shortly. Non R. P. Dorset, who has had excellent work all summer and exhibits a fine talent for excuses, is relieving him on second Shoals. East Norwood agency has been abolished, ac- counts being handled by Agent Gabriel, at Nor- wood; East Norwood ticket agency is being# handled by former Agent Woodmansee, and all interchange freight by an interchange clerk. All local shipments of freight are handled at Norwood. Train dispatchers for the Cincinnati Terminals have been moved from Eighth street depot to Cin- cinnati Junction (old C. H. & D. Junction), on the site of the old dispatcher’s office of many years ago. Crew dispatchers at Eighth street handle the distribution of train crews for both divisions. No change has been made in the method of opera- tion on the Toledo Division (C. H. & D.). Assignments: L. J. Swengel, North Bend third, and E. O. McKay, second; J. M. Mack, Dearborn second. Vacancies: Dillsboro third and “SG” Cincin- nati midnight trick. Remember the M. K. & T. strike is still on. Div. Cor. New Castle Division — Thanks are due Bros. Rupert and McCannon for news items this month. Come again, boys, it sure helps. Bros. Van Wraken and Reese are now on first and second at Nova. Bro. Burch, pn six months’ leave, working in Lorain, relieved by R. D. Shar- ritt, from the “Big 4.” Bro. Post, late of Camp Sherman, is back on second at Newton Falls, having been discharged from the army on account being married. Bro. McCannon, at Girard, got skinned up some when a Pennsylvania train broke an arch bar while going over the crossing, tearing up the track and putting a rail through the front of the office. Bro. Hunter, formerly at “UN” tower, is back again and working second “UN;” Assistant Yard- master Taylor, from Painesville, is on third there. Dispatchers were recently moved from their summer home in Painesville to the old stand at “NC” Jet., and the Lake Branch added to the west end. A timetable has been put in effect on the New Castle Branch and is now handled by the dis- patchers, and all trains are required to get a clear- ance by telephone from. “OA” tower, which adds considerable to the work at this point. Bro. Haney is the newest recruit in the O. R. T. ranks; it it also Sister Rattigan at Haselton yard, transferred from Division 17. We are sure glad to get the ladies. Bro. Stout has finally been checked in as agent at Rittman, having secured exemption from mili- tary service. Keep after the nons; there are still several of them loose on the division, and to make the Order a complete success on the B. & O. they must be eliminated. Several have asked me about new seniority lists. If any of you are interested enough to help out on the printer’s bill, I will see that we get them. I had the last bunch printed, as it had been several years since we had had a list, but my finances won’t stand it again. So if everybody helps just a little, the lists will be printed. Do your bit. G. A. M. To Members Cleveland Division: Received a long letter from Bro. Baul, located at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., member of Company C, 6th Field Bn. Signal Corps., who, by the way, will carry an up to date to France. He sends best wishes to all his friends, and reads our letter every month with interest. Bro. Landis relieved a few days by Mr. Payne, a new man, recently, on account of the sickness •>f relatives. Bro. Tope, of Seville, was relieved a few days by Prof. Miller, Seville High, an ex-brass pounder who got away from the game. We may soon lose our dear friend at Peninsula. The only non holding a regular position. We ex- pected to land him in time, but it seems that victory will be denied us. Paste these few lines upon your window: No card , no favors. No notes, no letter. No interest, no benefits. No schedule, no increase. No O. R . T., no protection. Hold to the agreement at all times tuithout fear or favor. Fraternally yours, W. A. McCab*. Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 67 Pere Marquette R. R., Div. No. 39. Members Division Thirty-nine: You will not be disappointed in the progress made the past year, when you receive the annual report. Your committee appreciates the interest being shown, and you can not help but make progress if each brother will continue to put forth just a little effort. It has been a pleasure to serve you during the year just passed, and the relationship between us and the officials has been all that could be de- sired. The management in its transactions with us has treated us fairly, and every grievance I have taken up for adjustment has been satisfac- torily settled. Let us, therefore, continue to put forth our best efforts. Notwithstanding the splendid revision we se- cured, several brothers have written us relative to another. These letters should be sent to the secretary treasurer, where they are kept on file for record. We were chosen to represent you, hence your expression of wishes govern our actions. We owe our deepest gratitude to our brothers who have answered the call of their country. The Grand Division does not deem it wise, or can not waive the dues of these brothers; but we have decided to make the current dues for all in the service $3.00 semi-annually, commencing January 1st; this waives almost all of our proportion. There is some misunderstanding on the vaca- tion clause which is seven days and includes one Sunday. If Sunday is regularly worked, seven days’ pay is allowed, but if Sunday is not worked, but six days* pay is allowed. With best wishes to every one of you for a happy New Year. Yours fraternally, R. M. Burr, General Chairman. Division Thirty-nine Notes — Bro. C. H. Hall, relief agent, who relieved at Wheeler a week, also relieved Agent Paulsen, at Gowen ten days, .went to Northern woods on a hunting trip, returning with a big fine buck, and later relieved Sister Miss Ola Higbee, operator- cashier, at Lowell, another ten days, on vacation. Bro. Freer, of Merrills, relieved by Agent R. H. Carroll, recently of Trufant, for ten days, and later went to Sandusky. Bro. Stroupe, of Breckenridge, who fell recently, breaking a rib, is being relieved by Relief Agent Whitehead. There is one station on our division where the agent and his wife have not paid their July-Decem- ber dues, claiming that hard times, high cost of living and sickness prevents. The two positions are paying better than $200 per, and the last revision were increased $26 per. Recently the agent was also awarded a $25 cash prize for the neatest, cleanest appearing station and most accurate accounts, and still no funds to pay dues. It sounds funny, to say the least. The annual circular and dues cards for first half of 1918 term have been mailed out. The constitution provides for “annual” cards, and we urge as many as possible to remit for the year instead of one term only; thereby saving time and postage, also any possibility of your becoming de- linquent. Also saves your secretary the time and trouble of entering your name twice in the ledger and making extra reports. When your remittances are received they are handled in order and re- ported weekly, i. e., the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st of each month. Owing to the 3-cent postage it has been decided not to mail acknowledgments of each remittance, unless it is for special contributions or specially requested by the remitter. Article XIV, page 5, of our present schedule, provides for seven (7) days’ vacation for all telegraphers that have been employed two years or more. Seven days constitute a week, one of which is a holiday we already have, and being paid on a twenty-six work day basis we can not therefore expect pay for that day; however it was understood that telegraphers required to perform a like number of hours of service on Sunday as during the week, will receive seven days’ pay, the same as for his Sunday work if performed, and those not compelled to perform full hours on Sun- days, will receive compensation as for one week's work. We admit this article is not thoroughly defined, and have already taken proper steps to rectify it with the next revision, so it will be plainly understood by ^11. There is to be a reduction of clerical and teleg- raphers’ positions at all stations wherever business actually permits during the dull winter months, claimed on account of the decrease of business and war times. We have all been informed that great sacrifices are to be made until after this war is over, and I presume this is one of them; the lot falling to the telegraphers and others in the station forces, making many of us double our work and labor long hours to perform the necessary duties. ** ’Tis true that we are in great danger; the greater therefore our courage should be.” Let us show our officials that we realize the sacrifices they have undergone, and as we are one of the main spokes of the great wheel of this nation (the grandest on earth), we should therefore sacrifice accordingly without a murmur. Div. Cor., Cert. 224. Members Division Thirty-nine: This is the first time a good many of us have received any increase since October 1, 1910. Fig- uring that it took us five years to gain our present schedule, we must figure that it will take us an equal amount of time to gain our next one, and I would suggest that every member write Bros. Burr and Neff and their local chairman and tell them what we want. These men do not know what we want or if we want anything unless we tell them we do, and we owe it to them and to our- selves to tell them what we want. They are all good, live men and working hard for us, and we want to back them up. If they had been supported as they deserved to be they would have been able to get us a much larger increase than they did. The M. C. R. boys are after a new schedule away ahead of any thing so far, and even now Digitized by Caooole
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\ 68 The Railroad Telegrapher. they are about $20 a month per man ahead of us. What will they be when they get their new schedule? Don’t let this matter get cold, think over it and decide what you need to meet the present high cost of living. Send in your dues to the secretary at once, and every man who thinks he should have a raise write a letter to both the secretary and chairman, advising them how he looks at the present situation. We will get actioi) if we only demand it. Our general chairman or secretary and local chairman will do just exactly what we instruct them to do. If we all show them that we want another schedule, then they will most certainly see that the proper steps are taken to put it before the management, but if we all sit back and go to sleep for a time, how are they to know that we want another? Don’t be afraid to let your opinion be known. Not only write to our officers as I have noted, but also try and put a word in the magazine once in awhile, so we will have a line up once a year at least. If we want anything we must go at it and work for it; not sit around and tell the towns people how hard we work and what our pay is. We have been doing that for years and never got any- where. Write to the general chairman. Cert. 141 Hocking Valley Ry., Div. No. 40. Hocking and River Division and Branches — Some twenty-eight members were present at the meeting in Logan at the Depot Hotel, including our Local Chairmen McClain and Bayles, of the Toledo Division, the former in the chair. Every- body participated in a general discussion of the various points of the new schedule; Bro. McClain telling us how the schedule was gotten, and Gen- eral Chairman Hicks being voted the medal. Bro. Bayles was just starting to give vs a talk as No. 38 came in and the meeting disbanded. We hope to have this “big man’’ with us again. If you north end boys do not think we had a grand meet- ing, ask Bro. Bayles. We should see that all the boys on the Hock- ing Valley line up solid now, and work our motto for all there is in it, “A ro card, no favors .” They got an increase without spending a penny for it. If I put my hand into a “non’s” pocket and took out $5 every pay day in the year, the law would take care of me, yet we are allowing them to take a share of what we earn and pay for apparently without a murmur. Our next schedule should bear this foot note: “ These rates of pay shall not apply to non-members." This saving would prob- ably be acceptable to the company. The nons axe receiving enough each month in benefits we got for them to pay for a card. They are no friends of ours, and it is about time and to our interest to let them know’ what we think of them. Be careful not to ask them for any favors and do not grant them any. Let everyone take more interest in this matter and use the “slo- gan” as “patience has ceased to be a virtue” with them. You brothers know where such ones of this type are situated on the Belt Branch and Hocking Division. Up for bids: Second Sugar Grove, third Cum- mings and second and third Snow Fork Jet. Local Chairman McClain and Bro. Robinson, Valley Crossing, spent several days in Vinton County during the hunting season and got a few rabbits. Bro. Clark, Lockville, visited his parents at Cheshire, and took a trip to Cincinnati and Pitts- burg via boat route during his vacation. We are all sorry to learn of the death of the father of Bro. Kanode, second Old Town yard. Fifty-seven remitted a total of $14.25 for a floral design, carded “Telegraphers,” costing $10.00, leaving a balance in my hands of $4.25 to be set aside as a floral fund. When any of you brothers lose a relative, kindly notify your chairman or assistant chairman. I know of several cases re- cently where this has occurred and no one knew anything of it. I wish to thank all those who contributed the 25 cents each, and think we should have a “floral fund.’* Bro. O’Neil, Greendale, Ohio, has secured a patent on a relay sounder, doing away with local batteries and giving a much clearer sound. He will appreciate it very much if the brothers will help him to get the railroads to use it. He will send one to any address on receipt of $5. They are easily attached to the standard relay and save the operator the trouble of keeping up a battery and the company the expense of material. We have one and can recommend it. Brothers, in bidding on any positions, be sure and send a copy to your local chairman, this may save trouble. Telegraph service established at Hawks bid in by Bro. Duffy, second Marion; this position puts Duf at home. Bros. Albaugh and Evans, of Buchtel and Car- bon Hill, were recent Columbus Sunday visitors. Bro. Nihiser, second Logan, disposed of his two- wheel road duster and purchased a three- wheeler on the ninety-pound steel. On vacations: Bro. Lake, agent Enterprise, relieved by Relief Agent Pierce, ten days, visiting in Columbus and the southern part of the State; Bro. Worthman, first Armitage, fifteen days, en- joying the butchering and corn peeling on his father’s farm near Orland; Bro. Shockey, first Mound St., fifteen days, visiting his parents at McArthur and at his new home on Groveport Pike near Columbus; Bro. Davidson, first East Clayton, hunting and trapping; Bro. Thompson, second there, visiting his parents at Vinton, farm- ing; Bro. Krieble, Union Furnace, visiting at Che- shire, McArthur and Creola, and home on account of sickness seven days. We arc glad to welcome Bro. Wilson, first Lan- caster, into the Order. The delinquents south of Columbus, who were dropped January 1st, will have their names pub- lished in next month’s journal and also shown to brother trainmen for a “roasting.” Bro. McNamec, Arbestor, was relieved one day to go to Logan to fill out his questionnaire. Digitized by u.oo<?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 69 We were all very glad to hear that our com- mittee succeeded in having “HM” put on bul- letin list. Hereafter when new positions are created or vacancies occur in that office they will be advertised, and the oldest qualified employe in the service will be assigned there. The em- ployes in that office will also stand up first for promotion for train dispatcher. Brothers, let’s shake. Xow that we all have received our copies of the new schedule from General Chairman Hicks and have had ample time to thoroughly read and understand them, showing the effects of organiza- tion in every article and clause, let us show our unionism by boosting for a solid 100 per cent membership, keeping our cards always up to date and making a vow to secure that non working with us, thus benefiting all by being able to secure a better schedule next time. Brothers, throw out the life line for those vessels without propellers. We have elected Bro. C. W. McClain local chairman for the ensuing year. It will take our united efforts to make this one of our banner divisions a success. Bro. McClain is a live wire and will look after our interests faithfully, but we must give him all the assistance we possibly can. No one man can do it alone. We now have the best set of working rules we have had for years. Let’s stay in the front. Brothers, if you want a good write-up each month you will have to help. I can not get the news alone. The few notes I picked up this month I got on account of the favorable loca- tion. but can not hear what is going on on all divisions and the extreme end of the River Divi- sion and Belt. It would only take you a few minutes to drop me a card of any changes you bear of; when you are off for awhile, drop me a line telling me about it, also who is relieving you. “Wake up.” Bro. Nihiser and myself will do the write-up with your help. Yours in a whirlwind finish for 100 per cent. F. G. Deishlie, Cert. 1206, Assistant Chairman. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Again we bow in humble submission to the Divine will of our heavenly Father, who knoweth and doeth all things well, and has seen fit to call from his earthly home to a better world the beloved father of Bro. M. H. Kan ode, we should ever remember that their loss is his eternal gain. “Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shall return;” therefore, be it Resolved, That we, the members of the Hocking Valley Division 40, extend to the bereaved brother our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in his great loss; may the Lord bless our brother and fill up the vacancy with the presence of the Holy Spirit; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent the bereaved brother, a copy placed on the minutes of the division, and a copy sent The Telegrapher for publication. F. G. Deishlie, S. Nihiser, J. C.' Clark, C. W. McClain, Committee. t CARD OF THANKS. We desire to express our appreciation to the brothers of Division 40, H. V. R. R., for the beautiful floral design sent to us as a mute token of their sympathy extended to us in the sad hour of bereavement by the death of our father. Bro. and Mrs. M. H. Kanodb, Sisters and Brother. C. A O. Ry. of Indiana, Div. No. 40. Indiana Division — Bro. Swartz spent Christmas with his parents in Illinois, relieved by Bro. Wheeler. Bro. McVey has gone with the U. S. Steel "o. at Gary, Ind. We regret his leaving us, but wish him success. He was succeeded at Beardstown by Bro. House, of Miami. Bro. Duensing, of Division No. 2, is relieving Bro. Kenney, Summit third, who is laid up with a bad ankle, due to an accident while handing up an order at Peoria. Mrs. B. F. Shaw bid in Fernald second. Sister “Joe” Johnson relieved Bro. E. W. John- son on second Brighton a few days. Our November Muncie meeting was a great success, and we all enjoyed ourselves. Bros. Roy Johnson and Shanklin, of Losantville; Cain, of Economy, and Conningham, of Blountsville, east of Muncie, were unable to catch a train and came down in an auto. Come again, boys. Bro. Leach, of Converse, was also there and enjoyed the evening. We should impress upon the few nons and delinquents on the line that our employers are trying to manufacture operators all over the coun- try and that we must play to. unionism and every- one get into the game. When a new one blows in, get after him or her and give the local chair- man the dope. Let’s all get busy and make the Indiana 100 per cent strong. Bro. Roy Johnson relieved Bros. Shanklin and Martin, at Losantville, a few days each. We understand they have opened a rabbit market. We a?e unable to get them at Peru. Bro. Ward, train dispatching a few days at Peru, was relieved by Bro. Wheeler, and he on first Muncie by Extra Kinsie. G. H. Sparling to Beardstown until Bro. House is regularly checked in. Bro. Walter Johnson, agent Shandon, Ohio, was relieved for Christmas by J. N. Knipp, of La Crosse. Notices of Mutual Benefit assessments have been received from Grand Secretary and Treas- urer Rawlins. Let’s pay up as quickly as possi- ble; likewise our division dues; don’t get in ar- rears. Digitized by c.oo<?Le
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70 The Railroad Telegrapher. Let’s all pull together and give the company our best. The officials are up against great odds, and we should do all we possibly can to assist them in every way. See that the man next to you has an up to date; attend the meetings, bring one brother along, and live strictly up to “No card, no favors ” E. E. Middlekauf, Chairman. Boston A Maine R. R.v Div. No. 41. The Boston & Maine System Division is now an established fact, the following brothers having been elected local chairman: J. B. Bode, Port- land Division, eastern section and branches; J. D. Collins, Portland Division, western section and branches; L. P. Clifton, Fitchburg Division and branches; C. K. Potter, Berkshire Division and branches; J. D. MacDonald, Southern Division, south end and branches; F. H. Gage, Southern Division, Concord, N. H., to White River Jet., including Claremont and Bristol branches; C. R. King, Conn, and Passumpsic Division, White River to Sherbrooke; J. H. C. Richards, Conn, and Passumpsic Division, White River to Spring- field and Ashuelot branch; J. A. Wilson, Boston Terminal Division; C. A. Burnell, White Moun- tain Division; H. L. Jones, Worcester, Nashua and Portland Division and branches. These local chairmen will confer together either by mail or otherwise, in accordance with Section 72 of the system division statutes, at their earliest convenience and elect a general chairman and a general secretary and treasurer. We are looking forward to a bright future under the new system division plan, but realize that we must have the same hearty support and co-operation of the membership in the future that we have enjoyed in the past. Ouc membership is already 90 per cent strong, with a bunch of willing workers after the other 10 per cent, and hope by February 1, 1918, to have “gone over the top” and made the division 100 per cent in mem- bership. Portland Division Notes — Miss Billings, daughter of Bro. Billings, agent North Hampton, is operator and clerk at New- buryport freight house, no bids being received for that position. Southern Division Notes — November 8th, when our last meeting was held under the local division government, was a very disagreeable evening owing to the snow and rain, and the members did not turn out very well. However, those who attended passed a very enjoy- able evening. The affairs of Local Division No. 41 were brought to a close and turned over to the general committee. The roll of honor for this last meeting was: Bros. W. G. Lawrence, F. C. McGrath, E. G. Robinson, H. J. McDonald. T. J. Dority, B. G. Tuck, E. A. Joyce, J. A. Wilson, J. D. Collins, W. H. Dakers, Joseph Haggarty, S. Goodwin and H. J. Garrity. Assignments: Bro. S. T. Callihan second “WR” Winchester to second Mystic Jet. vice Bro. Cairnes, to “SD” East Cambridge engine house, vice Bro. Robinson, to third “GM;” Miss O’Brien, one of Mrs. Quilty’s students, went to “SD” pending bids; Bro. Tyghe, Canaan, N. H., to Cardigan, vice Bro. Webster, resigned to go farming. We wish him all kinds of luck. Bro. Lambert to New- port, N. H., ticket agency. Bro. Jones, Franklin, visiting his daughter in New York City, relieved by Bro. Kellogg, relieved on second by McDonald, relieved on third by Miss Murphy, later relieved by Miss Fitzgerald. General Telegraph Notes — Bro. S. D. Robinson, East Cambridge, bid in third, vice Tynen, there pending bids, gone with Houghton & Dutton, department store, at Boston. Bro. Rockwood to second Greenfield, vice Bro. Beaudet, enlisted. Bro. Azro Turner, our “champeen bowler” of “GM,” failed to win the turkey at the “turkey roll” at the Y. M. C. A. alley. “VN,” “GM.” C. & P. South- On November 28th, while crossing the tracks from the passenger station to the freight offices at East Northfield, Bro. Homer Lee Vaughan was struck by a northbound light engine on the Central Vermont tracks and instantly killed. Bro. Vaughan had been employed at the East North- field freight office for about seven years, and had just recently bid in the second trick at the pas- senger station and for a week previous to the accident had been posting a new man on the freight office work. He was a young man of un- approachable character, with bright prospects for the future, and by his kindly disposition had en- deared himself to all he came in contact with. He leaves a wife and two young children to mourn his loss. His funeral, held at his late home on November 30th, was largely attended, the many beautiful flowers showing the esteem in which he was held. In his death the O. R. T. has lost a staunch and loyal member, his family a loving husband and father, and the community a valu- able citizen. It is now Bros. Roland, Wells, Spooner, Manix and Bureaugard. We are getting up mighty close to the 100 per cent mark, and credit for what has been achieved to date must be largely given to our untiring local chairman, Bro. J. C. H. Richards, who has been elected to the same posi- tion in our new system division. Bro. D. R. Crowley (Doc) has enlisted in the signal corps and gone to Brooklyn to attend a radio school. Bro. Roland is now in the dispatcher’s office at Springfield. Bro. Smiley, who has just returned from his vacation in Pennsylvania, is in “WA” office. Bro. J. W. Martini’s son, Bro. Geo. E., of Jersey Shore, Pa., assigned to clerk and operator at East Northfield, is a chip off the old block in everything pertaining to the O. R. T. Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 71 Bro. G. G. Trottell, who recently enlisted in the navy, now attending the radio school at Har- vard College, called on old friends along the line during his Thanksgiving furlough. Bro. F. H. Gee, agent Putney, Vt., while off on account of sickness in his family, was relieved by Bro. John Slocombe, of South Deerfield, Mass. The joint meeting held in Commonwealth Hall, Greenfield, Mass., on Sunday, November 20th, was quite well attended, but there should be an im- provement, as the meeting point is most decidedly convenient, the hours of the meeting 2 to 9 p. m., making it easy for the members from different localities to reach Greenfield in time, and if the boys that do not attend could only understand the great gain in knowledge, friendship and co- operative spirit, I believe the attendance would take a big jump. Our local chairman is planning on a free banquet at our next meeting, and none of you must miss it. Come and get acquainted and maybe you will be a little more tolerant of your brother operator on the wire when working with him next time. You may be surprised to find him as human as you are, after all. There were ten present from the Conn. & Pass, and four from the Berkshire Division. Many interesting discussions took place, and the younger men in the station service were able to gain much valuable advice from the older and more experienced men. Bro. Potter, local chairman on the Berkshire Division, took the chair and gave a very interest- ing talk in regard to the last schedule negotia- tions and also spoke very entertainingly of his trip to the Seattle, Wash., convention as a dele- gate. You will all be advised as to the date of the next, meeting. I wish to thank Bros.. D. H. Mack, R. J. Slo- combe and J.* C. H. Richards for their kindness in furnishing me news items. Cert. 94, Woodsville, N. H., Formerly Local Division 45. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to the great beyond our beloved brother, Homer Lee Vaughan; and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things well; therefore be it Resolved, That, in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, former Local Division 45, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the bereaved family the most sincere and heartfelt sympathy; and.be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved family, a copy spread t jpofl the minutes of the division, and a copy scnt to 'The Telegrapher for publication. J. C. H. Richards, D. H. Mack, F. J. Morse, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. To the O. R. T. Members of Former Local Divi- sion No. 45, Woodsville, N. H.: Dear Members: The beautiful floral pillow expressed so much sympathy that I can not find words in which to convey my appreciation. It is such kindness that brings comfort and understand- ing to those left behind. Thank you and wishing your Order success, I am, Very sincerely yours, Mrs. Homer L. Vaughan, South Vernon, Mass. Erie R. R„ Div. No. 42. Brothers, I wish to again suggest that some good brother volunteer as correspondent of the Sus- quehanna Division, as my duties are many and I have not the time to get the line-up on the news that we should have each month. I had the pleasure of spending Christmas with my mother in Charleston, W. Va., the first time for many years. I hope you all had a merry Christmas, and ex- tend my best wishes for a happy New Year. E. J. Hesser. To the Brothers of the Delaware Division: I have been appointed local chairman of your division in place of Bro. Gallagher, who has re- signed. Although I am new at this game, I am going to serve you to the very best of my ability, and ask you for your co-operation to help me do this. Our organization is growing rapidly on this road, and if we all work together we will soon be classed among the best scheduled roads of the country. Let every brother get after the “nons” working with them. They have no excuse to offer now for not joining, after the transactions of the last year. They must be with us or against us. Yours for success, F. A. Galloway, Cert. 1305. Canadian Northern Ry., Div. No. 43. Superior District — Bro. Leavitt with Conductor Andy Schraeder spent a few days in the North Bay sub and landed a deer each this season. “Billy” Montgomery, the lightning car checker at “CA,” has donned the King’s uniform. Bro. I'airweather has also gone into military service, succedcd at Milnet by Bro. Chiswell, and he at Coniston agency by S. M. Brasher. Other assignments: Bro. F. A. Levis to For- resters Falls agency, and B. E. Ryan to Hillsport days. Up for bids until December 16th: Woodlawn agency and Nipigon, Jellicoe, Foleyet, Kashbaw and Sudbury Jet. nights. Has the shell at “HN” been cracked yet? The new man at “CN” needs a card. Some of the brothers have not sent in that in- crease yet. '‘Do it now Digitized by U.ooQle
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72 The Railroad Telegrapher. Don’t put your assessment slip and dues notice in your pocket and forget all about them. Pay up at once, be on the safe side and have an up- to-date card all the time. Do not fail to send Bro. Dixon, at Brent, Out., a copy of any application for bulletined positions and confirmation of appointments. Send your news notes to S. J. Cebt. 520. Western Division , Fourth District - — We are expecting to hear from our committee any day that we have a new contract which is very necessary, now that everything we buy is about double in price over a year ago. Roads in territory that is much better in the way of climate and comforts are paying better wages than we are getting, and ours should be brought up to where they justly belong. We should also have the nine-hour day. Our committee knows it has the backing of the entire membership, and it will do all it possibly can to get us what we want. A few of the boys were caught by the draft, but the company is supporting their appeals for ex- emption, also those of the trainmen and con- ductors. A new office has been opened with an agent and night operator at Mecheche. Marengo nights now on bulletin. Bro. Gallant secured Big Valley, and Bro. Wilson Munson agency. At the time this is being written, December 9th, a very bad storm prevails over most of the dis- trict. Freight traffic is tied up and passenger trains ten and twelve hours late, and this re- minds us that we have three months more of winter ahead of us. In previous write-ups I have asked that items of interest be sent me, such as the boys laying , off, sickness, etc., but up to this time I have not received a single response. If you expect a newsy write-up you will have to send me the items. Div. Cor., Cert. 961. Toronto District — Bro. Snider bid in Forfar agency, vice Bro. Cronk to spare; Bro. T. J. Flynn to Strathcona, vice Bro. Blair; vacant, Coburg days and new position in Toronto “B” office. We are pleased to hear that the company does not require any of the operators in first call for railroad exemptions. Bro. Leggill has been having two weeks’ siege with the dentist. Bro. Hall. Starkville, on the sick list, relieved by Bro. A. C. McDonald. Bro. Cronk is at Yarker nights, pending bids. Belreg agency also up for bid. Brothers, don’t forget your new card. Brothers, it’s pretty hard to make a write-up without assistance. Since I have been division correspondent I have received only notes once from Bros. Snider and Fierce. Let’s all turn over a new leaf and sec what a difference there will be in our write-up. Wish you all a happy New Year. J. II. Mealy, Cert. 981. Central of Georgia Ry., Div. No. 46. Southwestern Division — Our committee, through the assistance of Bro. Dermody, has just completed a new agreement with the company, with a nice increase in money, which has not as yet been apportioned; eight hours a day for all classes of telegraphers; 75 cents per call or for conductors copying orders, and a nice showing for those burdened with U. S. mail to get it off their hands. All who have not done so, please remit your special assessment to Bro. Travis at once. It takes a lot of money to accomplish what our gen- eral committee has done. Now we must show our loyalty by getting new cards and paying our special assessments. Our new eight-hour rules went into effect December 11th. Some of us nine-hour men are making overtime each day for which we should be paid. We get fifteen days’ vacation next summer with full pay. It is almost too good to be true. H. R. Frierson transferred to Macon Division, succeeded by V. S. Smith, trainmaster, effective December 15th. A good man in the right place. I notice several places on bulletin for twelve months. Everybody look out and see that these places are filled with union men. If they are not right, get them right. “No cards, no favors this will soon make them want to join the band. Bro. Chambers, agent Walker, is off thirty days, and Bro. Morris, agent Florala, on vacation. Boys, if you want our division represented in the write-up, please send me the news. We have four large districts and should have a good one, but I am unable to keep up with all the changes. Our new rule book went into effect January 6th. Every one. should get familiar with its con- tents, especially the handling of train orders and boards. When they are placed at stop, live up to the rules fully regardless of who it stops. Wish all a prosperous New Year. Cert. 702. Georgia R. R., Div. No. 50. We have been working along quietly for some three years now, and recently our labor has borne fruit in liberal increases in salaries and very much improved working conditions, effective De- cember 1st. These conditions include pay for over- time, seniority rights and the bulletining of vacan- cies. It is a blessed feeling to know that senior- ity is to be enforced on the “old reliable.” The O. R. T. on the Georgia Railroad has come to stay this time, and we hope soon to be classed with the other first-class railroads in this sec- tion enjoying the benefits of a modern contract. This can and will be accomplished if the mem- bers will give our committee their full oo-operation. If the nons on our line will now compare their salaries and working conditions with those of three years ago, when the O. R. T. began its campaign, we believe their sense of justice and appreciation will convince them that they should join the Order Digitized by kjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 73 4n«l support the organization which has helped to benefit them in the same proportion that it has its members. We have several genuinely good fellows who are not members of the Order, whom we expect to join our ranks, since they sec that we are in earnest and mean to amount to something as an organization. It is mighty good reading to see “operator- clerk” job at “CO” advertised at $90 per, and we hope that some of our brethren will bid this in and put that station on our roll call. Our chairman attended the convention at Seattle this summer, where he gained some information of value to our division, and he came back a stronger Order man than ever, and that’s going some when you know what kind of stuff he is made of. Bro. Morgan should be retainel in this position so long as he will serve us, for he has made good, and the Order under his leadership has accomplished something and we are headed for the desired goal. I believe this statement voices the unanimous opinion of the'1 membership. ’Tis true that we have never secured a con- tract, however we have won quite a number of concessions that we hope to have incorporated in a contract, and wre do not expect to let up until we have secured one of the modern kind. Rome was not builded in a day, brethren, and our neighbors who are enjoying these contracts had to wage a long and hard fight in each instance, and then only secured these good things by piece meal. We are following in their footsteps and headed for the same things and urge you to give your support to the Order and all will be well. I saw a little query in a Sunday-school room once, which impressed me very much, which read something like this: “What kind of a Sunday school would this be if every member was like me?” Make the application to our cause by asking what our present salaries and working conditions would be if every agent and operator was like yourself. Boys, rally to the cause and do your part by paying your dues promptly. Cert. 13. Southern Pacific Ry., Dlv. No. 53. Stockton District — Our general committee, after working earnestly for some time, has reached a settlement with the committee representing the Southern Pacific Com- pany, Pacific System. Wc have been granted a 12 per cent increase on present pay roll, the com- pany agreeing to raise all positions paying less than $75 up to that minimum, and further agreeing in case after the 12 per cent increase had been applied that any inequalities remaining would be adjusted. Other good improvements were made granting us an eight-hour day, a 26-day month, minimum overtime 50 cents per hour, special call one dollar, and Labor Day included in the list of holidays, making five during the year. Operators working a full day on Sundays and holidays are to receive a full day’s overtime. Many more important changes were made. The earnest efforts of our committee are surely appreciated by all. much credit being due to it for the tine schedule we now have. Bro. Bob Dcheny. who will receive about $600 hack pay, which was involved in a grievance, is wearing a smile that won’t wear off, thinking of those good times ahead. Bro. Kahuda, agent Madcia, operated on for appendicitis recently at San Francisco hospital, is doing very nicely. We are sorry to hear of his misfortune, and hope to see him back soon. Bro. Chase, relieving him, goes to Lathrop agency on his return. Bro. Hess, from the Mo. Pac., temporarily on second Madera, operated on for appendicitis De- cember 16th, is also doing nicely. Trust he will soon be back with us. Bro. Ickes, for four years on second Kerman, bid in first' Madera, vice Bro. Hess, to Madera second, vice Bro. Davis, to Elk Grove second. Bro. Surryhine from the agency school, tempo- rarily on third Madera, when relieved goes to second Manteca. He has shown the right spirit by lining up. The other agency school boys should take an example from him. Los Banos and Collins, Waterford, also recent arrivals from agency school, and Oakes, second Kerman, from the Santa Fe, have not taken out cards yet. There is absolutely no excuse for this, and we should keep right after them. A. McGuire is acting agent-operator Athlone. Many of the brothers have been unable to get vacations on account of the shortage of operators. We hope the company will soon be able to obtain some extra men. Bro. Martz, from the C. H. & D., is visiting his brother, Bro. T. M.. Martz, who recently re- signed Modesto agency to accept a responsible position with Shocmakc, the “bean king” there. We are sorry to lose him, but he says he will con- tinue to carry an up-to-date card just the same, which shows the right spirit. Bro. Hunter, agent Salida, on sick list, is being relieved by his wife, who reports him getting along nicely, which is good news. We hope to soon see him back at work. Bro. George Keppler, agent Livingstone, who made a trip to the Tracy Red Cross meeting, also journeyed to Stockton to “look them over a bit,” Bro. Ballard very capably taking charge and run- ning things as only “Jack” can do. Bros. Rieff, second, and Ouderkirk, third Mod- esto, drove to Stockton recently in the latter’s new “Dort” to “look 'em over a bit,” visiting the brothers there at “BR” and “KN.” I wish to thank Bro. Surryhine for the news items he sent me. Would be glad to receive a few from the other brothers, so we can have a good write-up each month. This is my first attempt. Help me to do better next time. Yours fraternally, E. L. Rieff, Cert. 760. Sacramento Division — New members: Fox, Morebeck and Idle. Since our committee has succeeded in securing us an increase in pay and a revision of our schedule. Digitized by c.oo<?le
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74 The Railroad Telegrapher. we should be able to show a goodly number of new members in our next write-up. Don't forget your time is getting short in which to remit for a new card. It is useless for us to give the names of the members on this division who donated to our worthy brother in Oakland, as nearly everyone who. sqw the petition on this division gave some- thing. "Nons* and Delinquents' Fund: 17, carried forward, $6.00; 18, C. Spork, 50c; 19, F. H. Jacobs, 50c; total, $7.00. A great number do not seem to understand what this fund is for. It is not to buy a card as a present for some non. If a new man on the division hasn’t the required amount, we will loan it to him. A man who will not pay for his card is of no help to the Order, and the Order doesn’t want him. Those who do not hold a card will notice other ways this fund will be used. Some of them will be getting a daily postal card to remind them that everybody has their number, and now is the time to do this. Do your "bit” by remitting to C. B. Mills, of Orland. The fund will not be used for some unfortunate (?) who can afford an automobile but not a card. Bro. Cooper, first Orland, and Bro. Mason, third Willows, are on the sick list at this writing. The former was relieved by Bro. Morebeck, the latter by Agent Brewer. Frank Jones, dispatcher over the hill, is also on the sick list, relieved by Bro. Bundy, from "H.” Sister Wells is back on third staff Spruce after a spell of sickness. Bro. Lighty has gone to the P. T. & T. as a student wire chief in Sacramento. Bro. Collins, agent Gold Run, had the mis- fortune to lose his house by fire. Bro. Adams, second staff Fulda, was’ relieved a few days by Mrs. Ritzenberger. > Mr. Baldwin, a former staff operator, was killed in Roseville yards recently while acting as car sealer. Bro. York relieved Bro. Burke, third Cisco, assigned to Troy, relieving Bro. Rodrian, who relieved Bro. Dusher, assigned Blue Canon, re- lieving Bro. Mathers, assigned Andover, relieving Bro. Kendricks, assigned Midas, relieving Bro. Harmon on account of sickness. Bro. Brown, third Blue Canon, is shooting ducks in the wilds near Gridley — nearly. Bro. and Mrs. Reese, back from their year's leave, are at Crystal Lake. All of us are glad to see Bro. McAdow among us again, looking fine and the same happy kid. Bro. Mathers, second Andover, while out for a little sunshine and air, lost his pocketbook, con- taining more than $100 in cash and also an up-to- date O. R. T. card. This purse was found by Conductor Bergantz and returned to its owner. Motto: Keep an up-to-date card in your pocket- book. "MN.” Los Angeles Division — Our new agreement with the company has been signed, and we are all grateful to the committee for the good work accomplished at such a small expense. Our entire committee and our popular fifth vice-president, Bro. Manion, who holds such a warm place in all our hearts, are all entitled to v our heartiest congratulations. We hope to have them all present at a Los Angeles meeting as soon as the salary disbursement has been made, when we can all express our thanks .to them personally and hear how it was handled. Local Chairman Geiger, relieved while on com- mittee work by Bro. C. C. Sheldon, now in the electrical business, stopped over in Los Angeles en route to San Francisco, and was called upon at his hotel by several of the brothers, who en- lightened him on the working conditions in their several offices. Assignments: Bro. Kalies to second Chats- worth, relieved at Edom by Mr. Parr; Bro. Had- duck, relieved by Riley at Santa Paula, to Calex- ico days, vice Bro. O’Grady, to Oakland to file exemption papers on the draft, thence to third Mecca; Davis, a new man, to Nordhoff, vice ex- Bro. Holman; Bro. Rutledge, from the Boston & Maine, to Anaheim; Bro. Baumgartner to Salton, vice Bro. J. I. Browta, to third Redlands Jet.; Bro. C. L. Butler, third Bassett, to Bertram days, vice Bro. Thurman, to third Edom a few nights, thence to Palm Springs, vice Bro. Wayman, to second Pomona; Holman, from Nordhoff, to third Bassett, vice Bro. Adams, to third Niland, vice Bro. Noel, to second Edom; Bro. Bill Fitzpatrick, relieved on second Shorb by Larson, to San Fer- nando days; Bro. Chaffee, relieved at *‘NG” by Bro. Carson, to Saticoy agency, vice Bro. Haworth, to Van Nuys, vice Bro. Moranda, on a hunting trip. Bro. Charlie Owens, Buena Park, relieved a few days by Bro. Clark while on a vacation trip to the jawbone country with Bro. Steere. Bro. Dresser, practicing osteopathy in Los An- geles, is -located in the Auditorium Building, Fifth and Olive, and still carries an up to date in Divi- sion 53, although out of the business for years. He will give you a square deal if you require his services. Sister Bailiff, agent Cabazon, was relieved a few days by Mr. Jones. Bro. Haworth relieved Bro. Moore at Ogilby agency, while off getting married. Other assignments: Bro. Kays to second Bloom- ington, relieved at Imperial by Bro. Rice; Bro. Stokes to second Bassett, vice Bro. Tom Brown, relieving Bro. Jesse Brown, Redlands Jet., on vacation; Bro, Zetsche to fifth “NG” Los Angeles on account of heavy business; Bro. Rawson to third Indio, vice Bro. Wade to third Chatsworth; Blough to third River Station. Bro. J. R. McKnight, Rosamond, wishes to ex- change agencies with some Los Angeles Division brother located between Burbank and Santa Bar- bara, or on the Santa Paula branch. Bro. Adams relieved by Bro. Wells, from the San Joaquin Division, on third Niland, when called to Montana by the serious illness of his father. Bro. Farwell is back in "HU” Los Angeles after several months’ sojourn on the L. A. S. L. Digitized by u.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 75 Bro. Burroughs, fourth Indio, on a trip to Los Angeles and Long Beach on account of Mrs. Burroughs’ sickness, relieved a few days by Free- man, who later relieved Bro. Liddy on fifth Colton, breaking in as train dispatcher at Indio. Bro. Schwartz, displaced at Imperial by the re- turn of Bro. Gale, bumped Kuhry, extra agent, San Bernardino, who relieved Bro. Kays, Bloom- ington second, on vacation. Bro. Cully relieved at Coachella for a few days by Mr. Freeman on account of sickness. Bro. G. R. Frew, formerly on third Amos, is now in the National Army, Company C, 115th Field Battalion, U. S. Signal Corps, at Camp Kearny. Bro. Hardisty, formerly at Somis nights, stopped off in Los Angeles to purchase a huge roll of blankets, en route to Palm Springs, vice Bro. Thurman to Salton second. Odgers, d new man from the Santa Fe, is on second Bertram. Bro. Herring, bumped at “HU” Los Angeles by the return of Gray, relieved Bro. Wells on third Niland several days, and then relieved Bro. Raw- son, resigned at Indio. Brothers, familiarize yourselves with the switch- board to be able to do patching at a minute’s notice, for that's just as much a part of our trade as sending and receiving. We hate to hear of a brother getting the wires balled up on account of not knowing how to make ordinary patches. Let’s show the company that O. R. T. men are the best to employ, and we will soon be able to bring about a condition where a card will be all the reference required to secure a position. Instructions have been issued by Mr. Whalen that there must be no visiting behind the counter at "NG.” Brothers who drop around, kindly be governed accordingly. We are always glad to you and say “hello,” and you are welcome to come in to use the wires or mills if there happens to be one idle, but no visiting. Bro. Dickinson and wife recently spent Sunday with Bro. and Mrs. Coyle at Newhall, where they were joined by Bro. and Mrs. Cambridge from Saugus, and served to a swell chicken dinner. All had a pleasant time. Bro. Rothenburg, agent Moorpark, was relieved for a few weeks' vacation by Bro. Haworth. Bro. A. F. Clark, San Joaquin Division, now on second trick at Somis. Understand Bro. Rover, the agent there, recently rode the Masonic goat at Oxnard. Bro. Adams, on his return from Montana, re- lieved Bro. Dort a few days, on account of sick- ness, at Burbank. It is with great sorrow that we chronicle the death of Bro. H. C. Powell, who passed away at hii home in Chatsworth, December 9th. Until September 1st he stood at the head of our senior- ity list, and we always spoke with pride of the fact that we had on our list a man who had been in the service since 1869, long before the most of us were born. All his fellow employes, in what- ever branch of the service they happen to be, in- variably spoke a good word for Bro. Powell, and will always remember him as “one of nature’s noblemen.” He always carried an up-to-date, thereby setting a good example to all telegraphers, and we will always cherish the memory of our “grand old man,” Bro. Powell. Bro. Kalies, second Chatsworth, relieved by Bro. Russell, while adjusting exemption papers. Bro. Clements, first Niland, has been enjoying a six weeks’ visit from an old family friend, Mrs. A1 Nielson, of San Francisco. Mrs. Fuller, wife of Bro. Fuller, agent Niland, was unexpectedly called to Chicago on account of the sudden illness of her mother. The Red Cross Bazaar benefit dance, given by Manager Bruhn, of the S. P. lunch car in Niland, was a decided success. Nearly one hundred and thirty dollars being cleared. It was held in the large school house, and largely attended by the people in that vicinity. Former Bro. Forshaw relieved Lineman Gardner on the Niland-Yuma District, who has gone with the Power at El Centro. Am indebted to Bro. Burroughs who helped me out on the write-up for November,, and to Bros. Clements, Hardisty, Kalies, Kays and others, for notes for this write-up. C. C. Dickinson, Div. Cor. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased God, in His infinite wisdom, to remove from our midst our beloved Bro. II. C. Powell, highly esteemed and loved by all members of Division No. 53; therefore be it Resolved, That the members of Southern Pacific Division No. 53, O. R. T., extend to the bereaved wife our heartfelt sympathy in this sad hour of her bereavement; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent the bereaved wife, a copy to The Telegrapher for publication, and a copy spread upon the min- utes of this division. E. W. Kalies, I. C. Villegas, C. C. Dickinson, Committee. San Joaquin Division, Jawbone Branch — Bros. Wilson, Kirkland, Maines, Doyle and Hogan, after visiting Mr. Nichols at Bakersfield in the examination car, all passed through home- ward bound with a smile. Main Line, Saugus to Bakersfield — Bro. Jepson relief operator and agent; Lang, a new man is on third Vincent. Let’s get busy, Bro. Castle. Bro. Beeson is back at Ravenfia, relieving Bro. J. H. Wollen, gone with the W. U. in Dallas, Tex. Klusmier, third Vincent, to Los Angeles, as a re- peater man with a telephone company. Bro. Tyler has returned to Fram, and is work- ing extra; Bro. Lemka is still there. Bro. Gage, of Cameron, and Bro. Frank Nejedly, of Warren, were recent Mojave visitors, the latter with his little dog, Jeff, buying meat for him. Digitized by Caooole
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76 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. l*'rank who relieved Bro. Curry at Larosc, later bid it in. Bro. Priest went to Rowen several weeks, while Bro. Johnson was in the hospital undergoing an ojieration. Bro. Starkey relieved Local Chairman Cartt while on schedule work in San Francisco. Bro. Corzine was off a few nights recently. Boys, help Bro. True, at Bakersfield, in case of wire trouble. It makes his work lighter. Bro. Gamble, second Mojave, is yardmaster there. Mason, from Altoona, Pa., is on third at Lang, pending bulletin. Bro. Gibson and wife have returned to Mojave from Kentucky. Main Line , Bakersfield to Fresno and Branches — Bro. Hodges, Selma, has gone to “GS” W. U. Two tricks put on at Dinuba, and three at Lind- say and Porterville during orange movement. Bro. Quinnlich, Division 49, to third Porterville; Parker bumped from second by Gebhart. Bros. Roy Hill and Bert Putnam, at American Lake, are getting along O. K., the latter having gained twenty-six pounds. Bro. Eldred Trumbo, from L. H. and St. Louis, to third Exeter, vice Bro. Gallion, relieving Urie at McFarland; Bro. Jarboe, from Mojave, to fourth Fresno, vice Bro. Pherson to second Selma; Bro. Underwood assigned agent Selma, relieved at Clovis agency by Peters, of Fresno. Bro. H. V. Lamme, agent Friant, resigned to enter the auto business, was relieved by Mr. Griffin, extra, “K.” Bro. Lemberg, agent Helm; Bro. Krim, first, and Hodges, relief agent Selma, have joined the signal corps. Bro. Ed. Frye has returned to Goshen Jet., after several months enjoying life among his grape vines. Bro. J. R. McKnight, of Rosamond, Cal., ninety miles from Los Angeles, no fog and very healthy, would like to hear from some agent on the Los Angeles Division from Burbank to Santa Barbara and Saugus to Montalvo and all branches therein, also on Coast Division. He has six years’ seniority. Will exchange descriptions of place with any in- terested party; wants to be nearer the coast. Bro. L. S. Jarboe, fourth Fresno, Cal., hours 6 a. m. to 2 p. m., with seniority from October 6, 1916, wishes to exchange with a brother on the Salt Lake Division. White him for further par- ticulars. Assignments not heretofore noted: Agencies — Lemoore, E. I. Weiler; Fowler, F. L. Hutchinson. Agent-operators — McKittrick, W. W. Martin; Famoso, D. T. Towles; Springville, G. W. Urie; Cartago, F. R. Kirkland, relieved on sixth Mojave by Bro. McCandless; Edison, J. A. Cooper. Oper- ator-clerks— Rosamond, D. L. Parker; Delano, W. L. Joyce. First operator clerk Fowler, J. E. Donnelly. Second operator-clerks — Selma, M. E. Jepson; Porterville, G. B. Gebhart. Second oper- ator-ticket clerk Hanford, W. J. Lewis. Third operator-clerks — Woodford, IL A. Ludolph; Lang, F. W. O’Lovesky; Goshen Jet., M. A. Douglas, manager and first operator Mojave, C. D. Liston; first operator Bealville, J. J. Stinson; second oper- ator Mojave, J. H. Shay; third operator Bakers- field, O. D« Day; fourth operator Mojave, E. P. Gibson; fifth operator Bakersfield, M. Krombeck; sixth operator Bakersfield, F. V. Collins. The few members who have not paid their special assessment of $5 should do so at once, and save Bro. Hammond a lot of worry. Let everyone make ourselves a New Year’s present of a brand new 1918 card. You can get nothing better. Let our motto be “No card, no favors/* Thanks to those who assisted in this write-up. Come again, boys. A happy New Year to all. H. A. Huckeby, Local Secretary. Shasta Division — Brothers, I am back in the harness after two months’ vacation. As my wife was called home on account of the sickness of her mother, I had to see that she got there all right. On my trip I picked up all the information from the boys of other divisions that I thought would be of use to us on this division. At Chicago I met General Chairman Thomas, of the C. & N. W., who was just finishing the schedule with that company; also met General Secretary and Treasurer Boying- ton, of the same company, who is chairman for the board of adjusters of the Chicago Terminal. I understand that the agents East arc all han- dling the express and making as high as $200 a month on commissions, while out this way when the express reaches a certain point the companies put in exclusive agents of their own to handle the business. Other working conditions are all becoming more uniform. Note in the November Telegrapher what a fine settlement the Rock Island got. The C. M. & St. P. Ry. also secured shorter hours, twenty-six days and a 14 per cent raise, same Sunday rule as the R. I. and I. C., minimum position $83.11. The Illinois Central got shorter hours and 13.2 per cent advance in salaries, aver- aging $85.52 to the position. Take the difference in the cost of living into consideration and the eastern schedule will be just about the same as ours. Positions are plentiful and the roads are pass- ing operators half across the continent in order to get them, and any road will pass an operator going to work on another road. If you want to work, the general offices will give you a position upon the asking. Only about 5 per cent of the women who re- cently started to work in roundhouses, yards, baggage rooms, etc., are sticking, five days being the usual length of service for them, so the plan to have them tajee men’s places for that class of work does not look very favorable. While in Omaha I met General Chairman Stumpf, of the Union Pacific. He has no use whatever for an operator without a card. Union conditions Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 77 arc good on the U. -I*., the men standing up for principle more now than they ever did. I was glad on my return to see the number of new members that had joined while I was aWay. II you new brothers have a non working with you. or one comes to your office, let me know and 1 will send you the blanks to line him up. Keep in good standing. Non-payment of assess- ments are as bad as failure to pay dues. I don't get anything for sending in these write-ups. I do it because I want to help the organization; so you do your part and keep up to date; then you will be able to pay your bills through the profits earned by our committee working for our in- terest. Without its help we would still be work- ing for $40 per. Help build up our division by sending me notes for our write-up in time so I can get them to St. Louis before the 25th of each month. Assignments: Bro. D. R. Howell to Gerber second, vice Armstrong, transferred from Los Angeles Division. See that he gets a card; Gerber fourth to Bro. Rochford, from Anderson; Red Bluff second to Bro. C. P. Cusick, from Edge- wood; Anderson agency to Bro. Douglas, from “CO;” Redding second to Bowman, a new man; Rennet first to Mrs. Walters; Rennet second to Bro. P. L. Bagby, from the Wabash; Smithson telegrapher to Bro. Beveridge, who has some little “Bevy's," too; Delta agency to Bro. Rodgers, from “CD;’* Dunsmuir manager and first wire chief to Bro. Tuttle; Ashland fourth to Bro. Mayberry, from the branch; Klam Falls agency to Bro. Berry; Bro. Joyce, from the Unioh Pacific in Wyoming, to “DO;” Mr. Mitchell to Dunsmuir; Bro. Blortholm to first “KN,” from the Union Pacific; Bro. Longmeycr to Red Bluff second; Bro. Vaughn relieved Bro. Cobcr at “BG” while he helped out at “DR” a few days. No bids on Weed second or Red Bluff, Sisson or Montague third. Wells, third Siskiyou, has gone to the army in the wireless. Congratulations and all that goes with it for success to Bro. J. F. Corby and the bride he got from San Francisco. Bro. Johnson is very sick and has gone to San Francisco hospital, relieved at “DR” by Car Cleric Small. Bro. Tuttle, first wire chief, relieved Dispatcher Davis, third south end, while off sick. The brothers in “U” Omaha sent their regards to Bro. Kerr on second. Bro. Hueni has gone to San Francisco and joined the army. We hope for his safe return. Redding has two ticket clerks now drawing $5 less than the operators who were doing the work there. These are strenuous times. Do eight hours’ good work and don’t let “Uncle Sam” catch you • violating: the law, even to finish your work. Our bulletins will be out every thirty days now. Bro. Bowman, agent Siskiyou, has resigned and is now living in Sacramento, relieved by Mrs. jm L. Logan pending bulletin. Bro. O. B. Merrick is back at Oakland Pier. He wishes to thank the brothers for their timely assistance in bis trouble, and will be pleased to meet any coming his way. Bro. B. A. Cober, at Gerber, has been trans- ferred from Division 172, and Bro. Russell, agent there, has brought his wife from the South and is nicely settled in a little bungalow. R. H. H. Sims, ' Ass’t L. C. and Div. Cor. Tucson District — A telegram received from General Chairman Cull contained the good news that an agreement had been reached in which our original demands had approximately all been granted, which made the holidays happier for all of us. Too much praise can not be given the reduced general committee and General Chairman Cull, who have brought about, in conjunction with the good offices of one of the best of all the general officers, Fifth Vice-President Man ion, the best agreement this system has ever had and as good as any other in the country. The dating back of this agreement to Septem- ber 1st leaves absolutely no ground at all for our “slacker” friends who have stood by anxious for every advantage to be gained, venturing nothing to get it, by staying out of the Order; and the flash- ing of this news should be the signal to see that every non on the division is lined upf! Assistant Local Chairman J. E. McNeil doing extra work, during a shortage of men, in “HU,” which kept him off the division until after the holi- days. The change will doubtless do “Mac” good, as he has certainly been “hitting the ball” in “UN” right along. Bro. L. H. Williams, local secretary and cor- respondent, has been having a hard time of it, owing to the illness of his mother and himself dur- ing the past few weeks. Pity we have not a few more like him. The earnest work of Bro. Williams has done much to keep the division lined up. Another brother who is right there when it comes to helping things along is Bro. H. A. Pritchett. He has been with us not quite six months, but has shown more interest than some of our other brothers have in the same number of years. A few brothers who have transferred to this division recently are: J. M. Floyd, J. W. Spivey, C. T. Perry, L. E. Greer, E. J. Goodale, E. E. Gardner, J. B. Moore and J. F. Boulter. New members: Bro. Ash, Gila, and Bro. Wm. O’Brien, transferred from the Sacramento. We are glad to have all of these boys with us, and hope they will give a good account of thmcslves in helping to keep things lined up. The Tucson Division is well represented in the army: Bro. J. C. Bostick, Co. K., S. R. C., Fort Sam Houston, Tex.; Bro. D. V. Cronin, Radio Co. 109th Field Signal Battalion, Camp Cody; Deming, N. M.; Bro. Spaulding, Camp Cody (assignment not known); Bro. E. M. Joyce, 1st Lieut., 9th Field Battalion Camp, S. F. B, Morse, Leon Springs, Tex.; Pat Bancroft, until recently T. P., and F. A. and E. E. Taylor, who used to work at “UN” and “DG,” and left this division Digitized by c.ocK?Le
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78 The Railroad Telegrapher. to become student officials several years ago, are recent volunteers at Camp Cody. Bro. I. F. O’Maley left Sentinel on December 12th to volun- teer at Fort Bliss, Tex. There are others whose location I do not know at this writing. Drop these boys a line once in a while, they will appre- ciate it. Wishing all of you a happy and prosperous New Year. Fraternally, John F. Bechtel, L. C. Salt Lake Division — Positions advertised ten days late. Lots of jobs up for bids. “SI,” at Parran, and “AR,” at Hazen, have a special code of their own for notifying each other of the train that bears their letters; .suppose we will be hearing a new voice on the fone one of these days. Phones are being tested out betwen Ogden and Montello, and we will shortly be on speaking terms with one another on this district. Bro. Compton and wife. Promontory Point, are on an extended visit East. It is time now to get that new card if you have not already done so. Bros. Puryear and Morris doubled while I was sick, a couple of tricks recently. The correspondent’s job is hereby declared up for bids. Feed W. Adams, Div. Cor. Texas & New Orleans R. R. Division — Bro. D. A. Norton spent the holidays in " Dear Old Georgia," his native land, and Bro. Black, ‘‘HN,’’ spent his in Mississippi. Bro. Rathburn is acting night chief at “HN,” pending assignment. Bros. Jordan, third, and Powell, second Galves- ton tower, doubled while Bro. Cherry, of first, was courting. Bro. Cantrell, who relieved on “HD” second a few days, and Bro. Holland, on first “BE,” re- lieved by Mrs. Cantrell on second Crosby. Assignments: Bro. Stuckey, of “CA,“ to Wood- ville; B. H. Byrd to Harrisburg tower third; E. T. Warbasse to West La Porte agency; C. G. Moseley to “HN” sixth. Felicia nights still begging for a regular applicant. Bro. Dunks, with a new saw mill under way at Devers, is having a rushing business. On account of no vacant houses in the village he is camping in the depot until other arrangements can be made. All roads appreciate us poor operators now, and a good many are offering nice inducements for “ experienced ” men. How about us asking for ten-day instead of thirty-day bulletins? It would get regular men on a job in much shorter time. Let’s hear from you. Send your notes in and let’s have a write-up each month. It looks better and we all like to see them in print. Thanks to Bro. Bush for what he sent me. Cert. 1965. Northern Pacific R. R., Div. No. 54. Dakota Division — Bros. Johnson and Nason wired me, December 21st, as follows: “Opened negotiations December 1st, settled to- day, secured overtime for all employes covered by schedule for all work performed on Sunday; increased six-day positions $5, and relay operators $2.50 per month; increased overtime rate to 45 cents on line, 60 cents in relay; calls 65 cents; secured overtime in relay for four holidays; new schedule effective January 1st; particulars by mail. Merry Xmas.” These negotiations started without the knowledge of the rank and file by our far-sighted general chairman and secretary, was certainly a fine Christ- mas present for the boys. Coming so soon after our recent general increase and eight-hour day it is an achievement meriting the commendation and congratulations of every telegrapher on the system. Hats off to the “brains” of Division 54 at North Branch, Minn., whose motto is “ Do it now.*’ There now remains no logical excuse for any man to further withhold his support from us, and we can not countenance a non any longer on this division. Our loyal and energetic Assistant Local Chair- man David Chas. Poindexter, of Sterling second, has enlisted in the Signal Corps Department of the army, and left for Jefferson Barracks, Mo., only advising us by this short curt telegram, “ Have enlisted, will meet you in Berlin /” Glad to hear it, old top, even though we lose a good worker. Know you will serve Uncle Sam well. At this writing Bro. Harry Flowers, of “KD’,’ is in the hospital at Glendive, being made physically fit to follow Bro. Poindexter’s footsteps as soon as con- valescent. Misses Bess Dallier and Irma Ingalls, of Jamestown are relieving Bros. Flowers and Poindexter, respectively. Will issue a seniority list after January 1st, prefixing all nons names with a (#), and announc- ing through The Telegrapher when to remove after they join. If we miss any one in mailing them out, write for one. We'll take your note for a few news items. Those who have October 1st list will remove (*) from Wm. F. Lemberg, Geo. Olson, E. L. Smith and Jacob Schorosch. Expect several others soon, as I have faithful promises from almost every starred man. The new ruling granting the retaining of senior- ity rights by enlisted or drafted telegraphers was greatly appreciated. Bro. Raeshke, second Bismarck, has been giv- ing us much assistance in missionary work. Bro. Roy Pravitz, Wilton, has hahdled the largest shipment of cars for the lignite mine there this fall and winter than ever before. Bro. Colby, at Beulah, predicts the lignite mines there are going to eventually come up to Wilton’s class. Bro. E. L. Smith took Chaseley agency; Bro A. L. Warren going to McKenzie agency, vice Bro. Gust Berquist to “J.” Bro. F. A. Sommars, agent Mercer, has been helping a few of the Mercer lads prepare for entrance into signal corps. Numerous other Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 79 agents are doing likewise, and it is a meritorious service in these days of Uncle Sam’s needs for more telegraphers. Bro. B. E. Donley relieved Bro. R. L. Wilson, at Fort Rice, who enlisted in the signal corps and left for his home in Manchester, Tenn., for a visit. Bro. H. S. Schmoldt is relieving Bro. Brewster at Cannon Ball. After the recent increase of $7.50 and an hour’s overtime in most jobs, there is no further excuse for a non on the Dakota. Go get ’em. We have a letter from Local Chairman C. V. Rowe, of the Mo. Pac. at Purcell, Mo., saying he received a copy of our new schedule and likes it so well that he is coming to the “Route of the Big Baked Potato” to work. She's the best road “what am.” Come on, boy. Bro. J. W. King, agent Regan, went to Brain- erd hospital to have his tonsils removed. Bro. W. W. Jaynes went to the new agency at Lark, relieved temporarily by Bro. Lemberg at Werner, later by Bro. J. E. Bohlig, of Ypsi* lanti, relieved by H. E. Moyes. Bro. H. D. Flowers acted as agent Halliday while Bro. L. Brockhoff was called East on sickness. Bro. A. G. Spiering, agent Sanger, moved into a private house at Sanger on account of the depot being too cold to live in during the winter. Bro. Ross Whit- come is now managing “JY” office and Bro. Ralph Whitcome managing “J” office. Mock, Sylcr and Guinn are working the main line tricks, and Woods, Andre and Rich the branch tricks, and Vincent is in charge of the telegraph school at Jamestown. Received a card from former Trainmaster Don Colby, at Honolulu, as first lieutenant Engineer Corps U. S. Army, on way to Russia; also former Dispatchers Ydstie and Grant. Above all, brothers, don’t let your assessments go delinquent after February 28th, as it will be necessary for you to sign a war waiver same as a new member. Pay your assessment same time you do your dues. The new $5 increase for the six-day positions was obtained by the committee to offset the Sun- day overtime paid to seven-day positions as over- time on four Sundays a month should average about $5 or better. This also remedies the fact that most six-day positions were $5 less than seven- day positions. The majority of six-day men did not appreciate this differential or understand that it was worth $5 to have to work Sundays. Taking an average position on the Dakota, tig- ering the $7.50 increase, the one hour less work- day, which means another overtime for most jobs, and now on top of that Sunday overtime, or $5 increase with overtime, and calls increased, aver- ages a monthly increase of approximately $17.50, or $210.00 a year. A card costs $12 a year in an organization that made these things possible. The man that still withholds is a “slacker” in the fullest sense. Fraternally yours, H. H. Ellsworth, L. C. Members Idaho Division: In a recent issue of, the journal I effected a special appeal to all the members of this division to lend their utmost support in bringing the year to a close with an absolutely solid Idaho Divi- sion, to which a great many responded most gra- ciously, resulting in applications flocking in from all directions. Mighty few nons succeeded in evading us. , I extend my sincere appreciation to every mem- ber who responded to my appeal even in the small- est way, encouraging others and myself as well. You who volunteered your assistance and those who failed to do so can still help, as some have promised in January pay day and others have not set any definite time to jpin. We must look after each one of these and not let them go sliding along with nothing more than a promise. When January pay day comes, remind them of their promises, lest they overlook them. A postal card will bring you a list of the nons and just as much information regarding the few left as a big long letter. Do not delay further, but make your request for the list at once. A great many of our worthy brothers are enlist- ing and while, in spite of the fact they are serv- ing Uncle Sam, wc can not help but mourn their loss, and hope for their hasty return. This, of course, brings many new men to the division, some of whom have up to dates on other divi- sions while others have none at all. I wish to impress upon all the importance of keeping me informed of such cases so we can transfer the former and line up the latter. When any new man comes to your station, let your first inquiry be of his organized standing. If lined up, secure his certificate and division number, sending both to me for transferring; if not lined up, impress upon his mind our motto, “No card, no favors ,” and maintain that attitude during his stay until he joins. Do not let your big heart get the best of you with any non. You have him tamed to eat out of your hand; your next move is to put the halter on, brand him with O. R. T. and then let him in on the green grass. Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year, I am, Yours fraternally, R. B. Irwin, Local Chairman. Idaho Division — Almost every periodical newspaper or magazine these days contains advertisements of ways and means to acquire a position whereby one can earn a livelihood by Easier means than that of a small- salaried job with some company or corporation. Among these advertisements are those of numer- ous correspondence schools, which no doubt carry out their contracts to the letter, as the purchasers of their correspondence courses ^re obliged to do some hard studying to carry out their part of the contracts they sign, in addition to the payment of the stipulated fees for such courses. Unfortu- nately, however, there are some irresponsible so- called schools which usually do not advertise, but depend upon the reputation of the institutions that do so to assist them in getting the unwary to take up their schemes of education in that line and sign notes for the payment of the courses they offer (which we understand is not required Digitized by v^ooole
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80 The Railroad Telegrapher. by the reputable schools that do advertise). The agents of these so-called schools are usually the agents, also, for some funding company, which acts as the collection agency for these institutions to force the purchasers of such courses to pay the notes they have signed. I unfortunately, by personal experience, became familiar with one of these institutions that I have not yet seen advertised, and am submitting this as a warning to our members, in order that they may not be victimized as I have been. Anyone interested will be furnished the name of the so-called university and that of the agent to whom this warning refers by addressing me through General Secretary Nason, of the Northern Pacific Division No. 54, North Branch, Minn. Cert. 1730. Idaho Division Notes — Bro. F. K. Sims, who enlisted in the signal corps, was relieved on Paradise third by C. R. Mitchell, and Bro. R. O. Harris, relieved M. E. Schroder, third Hope, on a trip to Spokane to enlist, who was turned down on examination. Bro. W. E. Krietz, who enlisted in the aerial corps, was relieved by Bro. S. F. Peterson. Since Bro. Paul M. Anderson enlisted in the signal corps, Bro. N. A. Smith lias been doing the wire work at Wilbur owing to the scarcity of oper- ators. Several positions closed recently on that account. On vacations: Bro. T. D. Miller, first Eddy, .relieved by Mrs. M. L. Stevens; Bro. Earl W. Hartman, third Ramsey, relieved b'y C. R. Mitchell; Sister Olson, called East owing to the illness of her mother, relieved by Sister M. J. Kay on third Trout Creek, was accompanied by Sister Jensen, who spent the holidays with home folks. Sister Percy, second Kildee, spent the holidays with her husband and daughter in Tacoma. Mrs. Emma Schmitz, mother-in-law of Bro. G. C. Williams, passed away at St. Luke’s Hos- pital, Spokane, Monday, December 17th. The bereaved relatives have our deepest sympathy. Bro. Hughes, second Sand Point, extra, has returned to the “Big 4,“ relieved by Bro. Potts. Sand Point was recently made a two-trick posi- tion, with hours from 10 a. m. to 7 p. m. and 1 a. m. to 10 a. m. Assignments: Bro. E. S. Smith to second Cocolalla, vice Bro. E. L. Combs, to the agency there; Sister Olson, third I^cldy, to third Trout Creek, vice Bro. Vawter, to Hope second; later Bro. S. J. Henry went to third Trout Creek from Otis Orchards agency (closed), the apple season being over; Bro. H. C. Hackney, a new man, is relieving at Granite agency pending bul- letin. Bro. Morse E. Anderson on a trip to Spokane, relieved by Bro. S. F. Peterson, a new man, who later relieved Sister McNearney, second Velox, a few days. New members: Sisters Margaret Sullivan, Plains, and Margaret J. Kay, Trout Creek; Bros. H. C. Hackney, Granite; C. V. Fauss, third Cocolalla; Earl W. Hartman, third Ramsey; S. J. Henry, agent Otis Orchards; S. F. Peterson, second Athol, and O. F. Roos, agent Fenn, Idaho. This looks like we are going to realize an absolutely solid Idaho Division in the near future. Let us all work for it with our utmost ability. The heavy rain prevailed over the entire West has caused much trouble with trains on the First Subdivision in the way of slides. Some of our passenger trains were detoured via Milwaukee. The big rock slides near Hope on Sunday even- ing, December 16th, tied up the main line for over twelve hours. All wires east of Hope being down a big part of the time, Bro. Taylor, second Trout Creek, sat in as dispatcher, with headquar- ters at “J” and kept trains moving on that end until the dispatcher could get a wire through. Bros. E. W. Richey, of Ferdinand, and G. C. Williams, of Kildee (post office, Belknap, Mont.), have been appointed assistant local chairmen. Both are live workers and will get results wher- ever they are to be gotten. They are supplied with application blanks and will gladly furnish them to anyone wishing to join. Make a New Year’s resolution with a determined mind to insist on “No card, no favors” and live up to it. Div. Cor. Lake Superior Diznston — Assignments: Bro. El wood to Moose Lake agency, relieved on Wyoming second by Relief Agent Bro. Darby Gray, and he by Penrose, a new man; Bro. Moen to second Wyoming, relieved at McGregor by Bro. McGillis, a new man; Bro. R. B. Maupin to third McGregor; Bro. F. W. Hoffman to first Aitkin, vice Bro. Roy Beall, resigned; Bro. R. F. Trueblood to second trick Aitkin, and T. A. Sebasta, agent Moose Lake, to second there. Bro. Gray relieved Bro. Trummer, Pillager, dur- ing the Christmas holidays. Bro. F. Brousseau, third Cromwell, went to Superior, when the soldier boys entrained for Camp Scott, Cal., to bid his brother farewell, who was among them. Business on the third district has picked up considerably, extra night offices having been opened at Hugo, Willow River and Mahtowa. It is now Bro. Brandt, agent at Hugo. Bro. Nason reports good progress in lining up the nons and bringing in the delinquents on this division. Considerable credit is due him on ac- count of his activity since he became general secre- tary and treasurer. We now have only three de- linquents on this division, but this is three too many. Let’s get busy, boys, and line them all up. If you boys want to see a write-up in the journal each month, send your notes to Bro. Kncdel, Wyoming, before the 20th of the month. If we depend on a few to do it all, we are bound to miss some of the news, so send it in, even if you have only one or two items, send 'em in. I hope to see a better write-up next month. Div. Cor., Cert. 396. Montana Division — Bro. Carll is again at work after some time at Chico Springs for rheumatism. Bro. Rightmire, of “TN,” is looking after business affairs at Spokane. Digitized by kjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 81 Bro. Macey, of third, has resigned and gone East. Bro. Koppen relieved Miss Hazel Troup, extra, at TN" and “ME.” Bro. Payne, “MT," has gone to war. Bro. AUyn Carson has also enlisted, relieved by Bro. Hickey. Bro. Burns, “CO,” visiting a few days in Butte, relieved by Miss Ehler, and Bro. Tietz, visiting friends in Michigan, relieved by Mrs. Brcckenridge at “WS.” Bro. Swarts visiting his folks in Washington, re- lieved by Bro. Godfrey; Bro. Gabriel is visiting his folks in Illinois for a month; Sister Schroeder visited with her folks near Huntley two weeks, and Sister Sutherland spent the holidays with her folks at Hamilton; Bro. Carleton visited Billings and other points recently, also looking after busi- ness at Great Falls. Assignments: Mrs. Kabrich to third “BD;” Miss Ruth McClatchey to third “MU,” vice Miss Henrietta Troup; Miss Genevieve Glasgow to “MX.” Bros. Balbinot and Leach resigned,* latter to the Milwaukee train service. Bro. Frank Turvey, one of the most popular boys along the line, having been on the division since 1913. and bride, formerly Sister Julietta Freshaucr, a charming young lady of Billings, are now at home at Rapids. They have our best wishes for the future. Cbrt. 1523. Ye limestone Division — The cycles of time have brought us to the be- ginning of another year, and it is fitting and proper that we stop and reflect on the past twelve months. For the country as a whole, it has been an unprecedented history maker- We have been plunged into a world war; many of our good O. R. T. workers have joined the colors, and we are very proud of them. But there are left behind greater tasks than we have ever faced. That of keeping up the organization is going on with the same spirit that our brothers are fighting the battles “over there.” With the taking away of our men, the women are being brought into the service through the medium of schools of teleg- raphy and telephonery, and we are proud to note that in the greater number of cases they are join- ing our ranks, generally anxious to come into the organization. We have in the year Just closed, notwithstand- ing the war conditions, secured one of the best schedules in the West, perhaps in the country; because of a good committee with the backing of the greater percentage of the telegraphers of the Northern Pacific. If we could have had 100 per cent membership and 100 per cent support, there » no telling how much better the committee could have done. It behooves us to increase this 90 per cent of the employes and secure still greater benefits for all. Any one who works for this road six months should become a member of the O. R. T. Every member should make it a personal duty to see that all in their own offices are lined up with the organization. It is your duty as much as it is the local or assistant chairmen’s duty. They are no more in duty bound to this work than you, and are not salaried for that purpose, but look after your welfare free gratis, and a heart full of gratefulness. We hope that the next six months will see the Northern Pacific solid O. R. T. from end to end. This is the largest division of the system, in the number of employes in this department, and our standing in the organization is excellent, not- withstanding we have, no doubt, more ladies com- ing to us than any other division. We want to thank Assistant Local Chairmen Meehan, Wilkins and Allen, and Correspondent Murray and Assistant Correspondent Tronstad, for their faithful work, also to the number of brothers and sisters in the ranks who have lent a helpful hand, we extend our grateful thanks. We hope each one will be filled with renewed courage this coming year, and go forth to do greater work than in the past. With the greetings of the season, and best per- sonal wishes to all, I am gratefully yours, E. A. Brand, L. C. Yellowstone Division Notes — Bros. Johnson and Nason have just closed another schedule, incorporating Sunday overtime for all Sunday work for all operators, at rate of 60 cents for calls, and 45 cents for overtime. The Relay Division secures this and four holidays per year in addition. It is thought that this will apply to all employes covered by our present schedule. Bro. and Sister Golden, of Sweet Briar, are en- joying themselves with their new Auburn four. The 'first sub is coming into its own and hopes soon to be solid. The lady operators are to be congratulated for the way they are joining, showing our “Old Moss Backs” that they are made of the right stuff. The automatic block between Glendive and Man- dan was put into effect at 1 p. m., December 5th. We need no longer break our necks rushing out with a “soup,” as tMs has been done away with at last. However instructions have been issued for us to be out for all trains, in case there might be a hot one or a message. One of the brothers suggests that we have a non list printed in large type and nailed on the side of box cars. A pretty good idea. We are glad to state that Ott, on second Man- dan, for a brief spell, has left probably for that unorganized road where he claims he received bet- ter treatment than on an organized one. Bro. Murray, our division correspondent, has returned from his motor trip to Bismarck, accom- panied by Bro. Meehan, who states that it was necessary to go over to the heating plant at Man- dan to thaw out. Bro. Murray inspected the hos- pital at “GI,” also other points in Montana, including the crops, etc. It is now Sister Williams and Sister Dcsforges, making South Heart solid. Bro. E. O. Murray, Hebron second, visited his daughter in California several weeks recently. Sister West visited her parents at Sweet Briar a few days before assuming New Salem second. Digitized by c.ooQle
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82 The Railroad Telegrapher. Assignments: Second tricks — Mandan, Mrs. D. M. Wilkins; Colgate, Margaret Brown; New Salem, Isabel West. Third tricks — Hodges, Florence Schmudlach; Zero, Edwin O’Reilly; Worden, Charlotte Lewis; Custer, C. A. Sharp; Curlew, Miss Edna Stanley; Huntley, G. A. McDonald; Beach, E. E. Cavanaugh; Zero, Harley Stevens. Agent-operators — Hysbam, R. O. Rea; Medora, P. J. Gallagher. Bro. Tronstad, of Forsyth, writes that he is hav- ing trouble securing notes from the members, so the west end is not as well represented as usual. Ninety-nine per cent of our membership seems to expect the other 1 per cent to be posted on all changes, etc. If each member would just write down the changes he hears of and send them to the correspondent, we would always be well repre- sented. Don't worry about your news being dupli- cated by some one else, the editor will take charge of that. Cert. 391. Pasco Division — Sister Griffith is relieving Sister Henton, at Fishtrap, on account of sickness. It's now Bro. C. Dey, agent Sprague. Con- gratulations. Assignments: Bro. Howbrook to second and Bro. G. Schrader to third Badger; Bro. La Marche, brother of our local chairman, to Tokio, vice Sister Rueff, to Providence second; Bro. Whit- ing, third Lina, to Cunningham agency, vice Bro. Duggan, who was assigned to Gibbon, the terminal for the local freight, where all trains stop for water. Sister Duggan, also assigned to Gibbon, was relieved by a new man on third Cunningham. Bro. R. L. Maden, second Connell, to third Pom- ona. Bro. J. S. Langois, second Ritzville, is off on account of his eyes. We hope they get better. Bro. and Sister Duggan have left Cunningham and will be missed on the east end by the brothers and sisters. They recently received a letter from Bro. V. C. Jones, who wen* to Portland to have his eyes treated, and they are so bad that he may not be able to return to work. Bro. and Sister Pierce are both laid up with bad colds. The sister was off at second Cunning- ham several months, having her nose treated. Sister Collins, first Glade, made a trip to Spo- kane recently. Bro. R. H. Wolfe and Bro. Corb are on second and third there. Cert. 768, Div. Cor. Tacoma Diiision — The Chambers Prairie Echo reports the produc- tion of a “three-reel screecher,” in which Bro. Allan Neal appears as the hero. Part one shows Bro. Neal and the heroine boarding a luxurious passenger train and departing for the city of Tacoma. Part two: Bro. Neal and heroine arrive in Tacoma and proceed to take in the whole city. After an all-too-bricf but joyous day, they turn their faces stationward only to find upon their arrival that 413 had already departed. Our hero is distressed but not discouraged. Spying No. 423 about to depart, he quickly places the heroine aboard and they are off for “somewhere near home.” Part three: Bro. Neal and heroine arrive at St. Clair jungle, seven and some tenths miles from home; here our hero borrows a “velocipede” from the stationmaster, Bro. Graybeal, places the heroine abroad said vehicle and heroically proceeds to put in his best work, pumping one speeder for seven miles and some tenths. The end. I ask Bro. Leahy’s pardon for the error in the November notes. I understand Bro. Leahy for- feited third Vader in favor of Mrs. Leahy, and was later informed that Bro. Leahy was called upon for extra work, and Mrs. Leahy asked to relieve him at Vader. Later Bro. Leahy bid in third Tenino. Bro. H. A. Long was off recently having dental work done. Bro. Emerick is down with la grippe. Bro. De Shields was a recent Olympia visitor. Bro. and Sister Sherwood and Bro. and Sister Tompkins are waiting for relief for a trip back East. # Sister Graybeal tenders her thanks to the brothers and sisters for flowers sent her while in the Olympia hospital. Assignments: Bro. Goodwin to Lebam; Bro. Strzelecki, Yacolt; Bro. Weyand, third Centralia; Bro. E. T. Wyse agency Rochester, relieved on second “RH” by Mrs. Wheeler, later by Miss Bryant; Bro. Savage, first Aberdeen Jet.,' to second, vice Wilson, who relieved Mrs. Minor on second St. Clair and later relieved Bro. Gaudette on third South Tacoma, assigned second Rochester; Bro. Wheeler, from the S. P., to Hoquiam first, vice Bro. Napper; Mrs. Wheeler to third Hoquiam, vice Sister Rubish, to third Montesano, vice Sister Dee, to second St. Clair. Bro. Stolte returned to Pe Ell, vice Smith, who relieved Bro. Coppersmith on second St. Clair. The new depot at American Lake is quite an improvement over the improvised affair. Sixteen men are now employed there and thirteen in the express office. Helpers put on at Dryad Gate and Lakeview on account of good business, which is getting still better. Bro. Dean, of Chehalis, gone back East on ac- count of his wife’s illness, was relieved by Miss Bryant, who later relieved Bro. Hooven on third Gate, later relieved by Sister Vose, Bro. F. T. Wright going to Chehalis. Bro. Cuff, agent Orting, was off a few days recently, and Bro. Hartl is on ninety days’ vaca- tion. Don’t forget the social fund when making up your 1918 budget. Pay up for a year in advance and you won’t have to worry about it until next December. Sister Bosworth, in Minnesota, where she was called by the death of a sister, acknowledges the resolutions sent her by members of this division, in part as follows: “I want to thank the entire division for their kind thoughtfulness shown me, a new member of your division, in sending the resolutions. It makes me feel that I am indeed one with you.” We will all be glad to welcome this good sister back among us again. Digitized by kjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 83 Bro. Carr got too intimate with a rusty nail; result, a very sore foot, a day in the rocking chair and the necessity of learning the lame duck bop. Moral: Don't argue with a rusty nail; better to miss it by a foot than to make close connections. I wish you all a prosperous and joyful New Year. E. A. Mielke, Div. Cor. Seattle Division — The meeting in Seattle on Sunday, December 16th, was well attended, considering the weather, and although twice as many could have been there bad they so desired, I am pleased at the turnout and believe those who attended were as well pleased as I was, and hope they will come again next time. When Bro. Ackley, from the end of the division, could attend, it rather shows up some of the brothers in a bad light who are less than half that distance away. If the brothers would all show that kind of spirit, we would have to hire a hall. We were honored in having Sister Leeper with us, the only sister present, who also came all the way from the east end to attend. We hope other sisters will be encouraged to attend next time. The meeting being called for a general discus- sion, many good points were brought out. There is no limit to the amount of benefit we can derive from these meetings. Several of those who at- tended expressed a desire to hold meetings regu- larly, and this we hope to arrange for after the worst of the winter is over. It was decided to print new seniority lists about the first of the year, in the little leaflet style same as last year. As the expense of printing and mail- ing them comes from our local fund, it was unani- mously agreed that nobody would be entitled to one who had not contributed to that fund, which is entirely voluntary. We feel that it is a benefit to all to keep up this fund, the amount — 50 cents every six months, less than 10 cents a month — be- ing so small that it is no financial embarrassment to anyone to contribute. One of the main purposes for which this fund was established was to purchase flowers, etc., for sick members while in the hospital or for floral pieces in case- of deaths. It is the duty of any- one knowing of some member being in the hospital to notify either L. S. & T. Bell or myself, and we will see that something is sent them. It is impossible for us to keep track of such things, but a very small matter for someone to call us up on the wire or drop us a line telling us of such things. A common expression from members now is: “I can not see how old-timers can have the nerve to stay out of the Order any longer after the good things we have gotten for them.”. It is strange that it takes so much to make some men (?) open their eyes, but persistency has its rewards; so if we keep after them possibly we shall yet be able to make them ashamed of continually taking everything and giving nothing. Brothers, when a new man comes to your sta- tion, let me know whether he is a member and what division. If he is not a member, get his application. It is your duty as a union man to do this, and while I can keep after the old ones regu- larly, I can not keep a line on the new ones all the time. With best wishes to you all, I am. Yours fraternally, R. C. Bergum, Local Chairman. Seattle Division Notes — Bro. Bayer, third Kennedy, was a Seattle visitor recently and stopped off at Auburn to take in the sights. Palmer Jet. days Sister H. M. Nash instead of Bro. Floberg, as per bulletin, on account Sister Nash's bid getting in after bulletin was out.* We should be more prompt in our bidding. Surely seven days is plenty of time to get your bid in within the time limit (5 p. m. on the day bulletin closes). We all know how ft feels to be dis- appointed. Assignments: Second tricks — Bro. Carr, Au- burn yard; Sister McIntyre, Bristol (new posi- tion); McGurk, Easton; Bro. Bassett, Clear Lake. Third tricks — Bro. Kallandar, Stampede; Bro. Mc- Intyre, Bristol (new position) ; Mrs. Sands, Sno- homish. On bulletin: Second Black River and Ravens- dale, Sumner days and agent-operator Nooksack. Remember the slogan, “Sixty thousand strong for 1918," and get after the “slackers." They have absolutely no excuse for staying out, letting us carry the burden. We have a good schedule, and they should be willing to let go of a dollar a month out of that extra ten they are grabbing every pay day. All the new operators on this divi- sion need is to be asked, and each one of us should try to get at least one member. If the material runs out, you can reach over on some other divi- sion where there may still be a few left. Sister Jones took a rest before moving to first Auburn. Bro. Powell is back on first Auburn depot after harvesting his “spud" crop; relieved by G. II. Plaxton, from Superior Division, who later went to second Black River pending bulletin. Bro. O’Connor, third Kanaskat, relieved by Major Hamm two days to “ride the goat." Quin, from Minn. Division, 1 6 days Palmer Jet. pending bul- letin. Bro. Love, “SP," to second Black River, extra, relieving Plaxton, to* extra agdnt and operator Nooksack; later Bro. Love to second East Auburn pending bulletin, relieving Bro. Jaiger, from Divi- sion 23. Sister Morgan to second Black River, temporary; Bro. Cosgrove to Sumner days, bring- ing him nearer home. North End Notes — Sister Jonas to Delvan, opened again on account of heavy log trains; Reitzel to third Arlington; Dickinson to Deming agency, relieved by Gayer on second Arlington, who also relieved Bro. Gross there while taking the visual examination at Ever- ett; Worley, extra Deming, to extra Nooksack, vice Sister Nash; Bro. Darbee to second Arlington, vice Gayer; Mrs. Sands to third Snohomish; Plax- ton to Noksack, vice Worley, extra, gone East; Digitized by Google
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84 The Railroad Telegrapher. Barto, operator Sumas for the past fourteen years, to Nooksack agency. It is rumored that our trains will be running into Vancouver, B. C., in the near future. Brothers, don’t leave the office without telling the dispatcher. It will make it easier for him. I am indebted to Bro. Heine for north end notes. Come again. Would also like to hear from some other brothers. It’s hard to keep track of all the news. Let me have your items not later than the 15th of each month. I wish you all a happy New Year; it’s a little late, but never too late to mend or get on the right road. This applies to our list of non-mem- bers. Come on, boys and girls; get yourselves an up-todate card for a New Year’s present. Everett True, Div. Cor. Wheeling 6 Lake Erie Ry., Div. No. 55. Toledo Division — ■ x Bro. Maloney is back on third Norwalk yard after helping out for several months as second trick dispatcher west end at Brewster. Jack had the privilege of staying in “DI” regular, but preferred ”NY.” Bro. R. A. Breymaier, from “D,” who succeeded him, is a general favorite, and all wish him unbounded success. Bro. C. D. Smith, former relief agent, on third Norwalk yard during Malo- ney’s absence, bid in second there vice Bro. G. W. Lucas to “D” some time ago to train dis- patcher. Bro. F. C. Ames, extra at Norwalk yard for several months, bid in his old trick, third Lime- stone, soon to be opened again. The company’s “ham factory’* at Canton re- cently flooded the system with its graduate female phoners. Much to the disgust of the operators, the company has placed these innocent girls in various offices, where they are expected to finish their training, and all for the magnificent salary of $50 a month. Watch them closely, boys, and as soon as they are competent to hold a phoner’s position, instead of allowing them to crowd us out and force a lower standard of wages, secure their applications and organize them. It will not take them long to learn what a heartless monster a rail- road corporation really is, and the benefits of our organization will quickly appeal to them. Once organized, we can depend upon them to stand by us to the bitter end in all controversies. Ye mar- ried guys, do I not speak the truth? Huron South yard closed December 12th, re- leasing Steadman, Menuez and Gregory. The latter goes to Limestone, extra, the two former into retired life at Huron. Why talk of a shortage of operators? Here are two good men who might accept regular employment as operators if the salaries offered were sufficient to buy a corncob pipe and a pair of socks after the board bill was squared. E. R. Richlin, first Homestead, who tops the seniority list among our confirmed nons, in a wire conversation with another “hardshell” at Curtice, Ohio, recently, wras boasting of a small increase that had been handed to him and told how “ we ” were going up for more money, which was sorely needed. What a nauseous pain such talk gives a good healthy O. R. T. man. It reminds one of the old story of how “we killed a bear.” What right have they to even pick up the crumbs from the O. R. T. table? Richlin has been solicited by tvery organizer who has covered the road since November 26, 1899, while the other fellow once attacked a persistent, yet courteous, organizer with a stove poker. “By their works ye shall know them.“ Both should listen to a good ser- mon, the text to be taken from the twenty-third chapter of “Proverbs,” ninth verse. Assignments: R. H. Dilley to Cherry street, Toledo; R. D. Wickwire, agent Brilliant, to sec- ond Ilartland, later to Gremont operator and clerk; Stone, from Miner, succeeded Wickwire at Hartland. Bro. E. A. Thoma, second there, bid in the agency, vice G. H. Gray, Hartland, re- signed to go farming; Bro. II. Bartholomew to Scio agency pending bids, relieved by Relief Agent Davis at Clarksficld, who also relieved J. D. Bran- • del, agent Limestone, on vacation. One of our operators (I think he is up to date), who lives in the vicinity of Orrville, seems to take great pleasure in running about to other stations, assisting, gratis, in doing station work where the company should furnish more paid help. It sometimes happens that an agent is sick, and instead of sending a competent man to relieve him, the company allows girl students (genuine, made- in-Canton variety) to handle affairs. Then our friend is more free than ever with his services, asking the dispatchers to allow him to quit a couple of hours early so he can go over to the next sta- tion to help out. He also copies the Western Union business and transmits to the student over the telephone. It’s queer how blind some people are to their own interests and those of their fellow workers. We now have three dispatchers at Brewster, each working eight hours: W. J. Jenkins, first; T. H. Palmer, second, and Jimmy Melson, third. L. C. Conoid, former day chief, has been advanced to superintendent of telegraph, advancing T. H. Palmer from first trick dispatcher Clevelahd to second chief, succeeded by Dispatcher Elmer Gour- ley, Charley Syler taking first trick west end. We have nine trainmasters on 534 miles of track. Deep drifts of snow and extremely cold weather have caused considerable delay to traffic during the past few weeks. Engine failures are a com- mon occurrence. We are the poorest paid operators in this sec- tion of the country. Get that straight in your “noddles.” A “Hunkic” section laborer (not the foreman) recently drew one dollar more on his pay check than the writer, who worked one day more during the period than said “Hunkic.” An old darkey ditch digger who doesn’t know his A-B-C’s, will find plenty of employment at $3 per day. We operators seem content to struggle along on $70 per month minimum. If I received as much pay as the old darkey I would draw $93 for my month's labor if it was a 31-day month. I am in favor of asking for a day wage instead of a monthly salary. Digitized by U.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 85 A recent derailment at Mittingers of fifteen cars, heavily loaded with coal, caused the death of one trespasser, who, during the distressing coal short- age, was attempting to secure enough coal to relieve the suffering in his household. Another trespasser, a young boy, was hurled several rods into an adjoining field and landed uninjured be- neath the spreading boughs of a huge elm tree. He was so frightened, however, that when ques- tioned by trainmen, it was discovered that he had temporarily lost his power of speech. T. E. Friend, operator and inventor at Norwalk, has been helping out lately at various points in the vicinity of his home town. Bro. E. A. Shulenberfcer, third Lodi, is being relieved by one of the fair young misses from Canton. Bro. A. J. Mack, who formerly worked a trick in Brewster yard office, is now conductor of a yard engine there. Business has fallen off considerably since the close of navigation on the lakes, and the company has leased several small engines to other lines. Understand the 683 went to the Hocking Valley and 671 and 675 to the Clover Leaf. The long hospital trains that are hauled West at irregular intervals, prove beyond a doubt that as well as being profit-makers, the huge new mallet compounds arc an enormous expense to the com- pany. It was found necessary to enlarge their tanks so that their coal capacity would be about seven tons greater, as they experienced consider- able difficulty in making into terminals ' without setting out on account of shortage of fuel. Cert. 293. Queen A Crescent (North), Div. No. 62. First District — Bro. L. C. Thompson, “G” Cincinnati, has re- signed and gone with an eastern road. Bro. J. N. Trougott, first Ludlow, was off a few days on account of the death of his father. Bro. Ray Gardner, after several months’ de- lay, has gone to third Ludlow. He has passed pre- liminary examinations and expects to be called ftito the army soon. Bro. Homer Crain, first “WS” tower, is taking his half-month vacation, relieved by Hardie, a new man. Bro. J. W. Gardner, Blanchet agency, has just returned from a short vacation. ‘Bro. Wise, second Georgetown, spent a short vacation during December, relieved by B. Wilson. Bro. J. O’Connor, third Georgetown, was off sick at the same time, relieved by M. Rice. Mrs. Bessie Price, agent Donerail, is taking an extended vacation, being relieved by Roy Gardner. Bro. S. D. Ison is back at Burgin, after being relieved by Wright, a new man from N. & W. Pay your dues promptly, and by all means escape the delinquent list. Remember those not paying up assessments in the M. B. D. within sixty days after the beginning of each semi-annual period will be required to fill out the “war waiver,” thereby de- priving themselves of insurance if they are later called to the front and fall. Continuous members or those not becoming delinquent are not required to sign the “war waiver.” E. W. Shadoan, Local Chairman. Second and Third District — Let’s renew for 1918 the resolutions to stay in good standing; carry an up-to-date card this year; pay our dues early; see how many new members you can enroll, and strive for success. The double track work is going to cause a few operators to move their boarding house, and some of the younger telegraphers may expect to b6 dis- placed when this is done. When you receive your new annual pass, just stop a minute and ask yourself why did the com- pany send this to me? War times are making our wages very small based on their buying capacity. In fact we can not buy as much for a month’s salary as we could ten years ago. A new position has been installed at Somerset, with Bro. Hieatt on first, Miss Singleton on third, and H. B. Willis on second, pending bulletin. Should a ticket clerk give the dispatcher informa- tion on trains when the operator is off duty? Boys, please help me get an interesting report each month. We have brother operators in the army who will be glad to read about us. J. G. Van hook. Cert. 593. Minn. & St Louis R. R., Div. No. 71. Bro. Hain, Hopkins, has resigned, and Mr. Roark has enlisted in the signal service. Bro. Funk has resumed at Carver. T. H. Koer- ner, returned to the service, is now on second there. Bro. Perkins, agent Montgomery, is working first there on account of the shortage of operators. Bro. Lyans has resumed on first Waseca after thirty days, relieved by Bro. G. P. Madden. Bro. Gaughen, second Waseca, spent a few days in Minneapolis recently. ' Bro. A. H. Henry, from C. & N. W., Janesville, Minn., now on third New Richland. Local Chair- man Madden is at Minneapolis on committee work. Local Chairman Zeigler was called to Spencer, S. D., on account of the illness and death of his mother. Belview station in charge of the section foreman on account of the shortage of agents. Bro. W. D. Dixon, a former agent, with the Soo Line for years, is now agent at Gibbons. Bro. Losen, second Gowrie, on ten days’ vacation, spent Christmas with his folks at Decorah, Iowa, relieved by Mr. Shoemaker, formerly on the St. L. & R. I., but out of the game for several years. Victor, three-year-old son of Bro. Hanson, Grand Jet., is in Des Moines hospital with throat trouble. We all hope for his speedy recovery. Bro. Beard, Dallas Center, has promised us some news for the next issue. General Secretary and Treasurer Sandmier is with the committee at Minneapolis, relieved by V. W. Munsell, son of Bro. Munsell, at Rippey. New members: Agents — H. A. Crose, Hunting- ton; W. J. Boyle, Gowrie; C. A. Anderson, Ice- land; F. V. Johnson, Dayton; P. C. Roth, Esther Digitized by Uaooole
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86 1 The Railroad Telegrapher. ville; C. S. Swart*, Gilmore. Operators — A. L. Losen, Gowrie; J. S. Young, Corwith; R. F. Williams, Albert Lea; A. W. Vanderhoof, Hum- boldt. This increase in membership cleans up our non list considerably, and I hope we will soon have the pleasure of announcing a few more. The branch from Ft. Dodge to Angus is now 100 per cent solid, and there are only a few nons now between Ft. Dodge and Des Moines. Brothers, show your appreciation of the commit- tee going up for a new schedule before our old one ran out, trying to secure us better working conditions and more -money, which owing to the way living expenses are going up we need to keep the wolf from the door, by putting all your efforts to lining up the few nons left. Semi-annual dues for the first half of 1918 are now payable, and all members are urged to take out a yearly card when can * can conveniently do so. Don’t fail to send Bro. Sandmier your first month’s increase, always customary with all roads to donate to the Order in helping to defray ex- penses while fighting for our interest. S. J. B., Div. Cor., Cert. 451. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our heavenly Father and All-w-ise Ruler of the Universe to take unto Himself the beloved mother of our deat Bro. and Local Chairman J. J. Zeigler; in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy be it Resolved, That the members of System Division No. 71, of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing brother and members of the afflicted family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sad hour of bereavement; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, a copy spread upon the minutes of the division, and a copy for- warded to The Telegrapher for publication. A. L. Gardner, J. C. Sandmier, J. J. Madden, Committee. Eastern Division — Bro. Field has gone with M. B. & S. at Musca- tine, relieved at Elrick Jet. by Bro. Callahan. Agent Kyle, of Brighton, off a week on account of the sickness of his mother, relieved by Bro. White. Bro. Bartlett, second Brighton, is back from vacation visiting with his brother in Minne- apolis. Bro. James Moward is relieving Bro. McLin at Richland, serving on the committee at Minneapolis. Mrs. Howard doing the work at Martinsburg. Bro. Mitchell is at “SK” Oskaloosa days, and Tom Gogerty nights. Ross Brown is back dispatching on third north end. Bro. Griffith is relieving General Chairman Gard- ner at Steamboat Rock while serving on the com- mittee, relieved at Ackley second by Holmes, from Eldora. Bro. Tim Landfear is now on second, and Bro. Covey on third Marshalltown; Bro, Kitelinger and Paul Crowder having gone to war. Bro. Kime, agent Fremont, visiting his mother a few days, was relieved by Bro. Davis, manager of the telephone company there. Brothers, let’s not forget to pay our dues promptly, and our M. B. D. assessments which go direct to Bro. Rawlins, at St. Louis. Let’s start the new year right, and resolve to have an up-to- date card in our pockets each day of the year 1918. You will find that is one of the very best ways of backing up your committee. If a brother hasn’t got interest enough in his Order to keep his dues up, the committee don’t know whether it can depend on him or not. C. & N. W. Ry., Div. No. 76. In order to avoid correspondents duplicating the provisions of the new Schedule, effective on the Chicago & North Western January 1, 1918, we mention a few of the important changes made in the agreement: Ten consecutive hours including meal hour Tor one-man stations; nine consecutive hours including meal hour at two-trick offices, or one-trick oper- ated during the night. Overtime for operators working in “SJ” and “J” offices on Sundays or holidays. Overtime for all other telegraphers re- quired to work on Sundays, based on a twenty-six day month. Calls, 65 cents; overtime, 40 cents. Many other minor rules have been changed, which no doubt will be noted in the printed schedule, which should be in the hands of the membership in the near future. Minnesota Division — Assignments: Telegraphers — First trick — Jud- son, M. J. Thomas; Canby, A. E. Hunt. Second. St. Charles, Bro. G. E. Burgess; Eyota, A. J. Durgan; Springfield, J. G. Tower. Third — Janes- ville, Bro. L. E. Scott; Watertown, Bro. G. E. Burgess; Lewiston, J. F. Merrick. Agent and telegrapher — Revere, P. W. Miskie; Elgin, Bro. E. W. O’Connor. On bulletin: First Lewiston Minneota and Watertown; second Burdette, Lamberton and Can- by; third telegrapher Eyota, Burdette, Spring- field, Marshall and Canby. Bro. W. H. Blanchette, from Marshall, now at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., for training, sends his ”73” to the boys back home. We hope to have him with us again when the war is over. Bro. B. F. Wells, agent Burdette, is working under a big handicap these days owing to the illness of his wife. Dad is sticking to the key, however, and we hope for his wife’s speedy re- covery. Chief Dispatcher Prescott one Sunday recently was riding between Winona and Rochester in a caboose, sitting in front of one of the windows, when a bullet fired by a boy ip a field passed through the crease in Mr. Prescott’s hat — an es- Digitized by u.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 87 cape much too close for comfort. The young man, doing target practice, was located the following day and is now doing other kind of practice that will teach him that caboose windows are not in- tended for marks to shoot at Dick Pfefferlee, formerly telegrapher on this division, has resigned as cashier at New Ulm and gone witth the U. P. out West. Dick was always a prime favorite, and the best wishes of the boys will follow him wherever he may go. The revised slackers* list shows fewer names than the last one, and we hope the yellow card will soon disappear for want of names to put on it. If the O. R. T. is a good thing for 97 per cent of the telegraphers, why is it not a good thing for 100 per cent? Bro. W. F. Swanson, formerly Springfield first, now with the signal corps at Louisville, in train- ing, was*home on a five-day furlough for Christ- mas, says he can now copy twenty-five words per minute in the Continental code — fine progress for the time Bill has been learning. He looked healthy, happy and fine in his uniform, and we hope to soon welcome him back safe and sound. Bro. Herzog, Minneota, has resigned to enter the service of the “Soo Line.** Our best wishes go with him. Bros. Lampe and Niles have exchanged tricks at Tracy owing to illness in the family of the latter. We are very thankful to the boys for their help on the news items. It is nearly impossible for one man to keep tab on all the changes. Dispatcher* Billie Cutler, who has been on the sick list most of the month, was relieved by Bro. Jim Allen and Bro. Highlen, extra dispatcher. B. A. Leland, one of the oldest engineers on the division, passed away at% Winona the forepart of December after a lingering illness. Brace was very popular with the men and will be missed by a host of friends. He held many offices of trust in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Dispatcher McLennan, of the Winona force, who belongs to the Home Guards, called to St. Paul for a few days in connection with the recent street car strike, was relieved by Bro. Dan Car- roll. The touch of real winter weather the first of December and the heavy holiday business, making trains late, added somewhat to the worries of the brothers handling the telegraph as well as the other employes. Max Hossfield, formerly agent at different points on this division, for the past few years with an electric line in Idaho, was called back home re- cently owing to the death of his brother, Charles, an engineer on this division. Max will be remem- bered by most of the boys on the division, .who extend their sympathy and hope his next visit back among us will not be for such a sad purpose. Former Dispatcher R. M. Morse, of the Winona force, now with the Russian railway expedition, wrote recently from Honolulu, where they were being held pending political developments in Rus- sia, that they were being treated royally and en- joying themselves immensely in the fair land of flowers and Hulu-Hulu maidens. Another poem from the pen of Bro. Elmer Johnson appears in the January number of the Railroad Man's Magazine. If you want additional proof of his ability along those lines you should procure a copy and read it. The settlement made by our committee, of which more will be given in detail later, was very satis- factory indeed. In taking the annual inventory of our achieve- ments for the past year and laying our plans for 1918, each telegrapher on this division should ask himself what he has done for the Order, whether he has kept his dues paid up and lined up all the nons in his territory and done his bit at all times for the betterment of the Order. If you are satis- fied with what you have done during 1917, see that there is no letting up on this during 1918 and try to improve it, if possible. No one can say at this time what is ahead of us the coming year, but .one slogan is going throughout the land today which sinks in deep and rings true, that is, “You must be 100 per ‘cent American.** Let us make that our watchword also, and say you must also be 100 per cent O. R. T. We can say without hesi- tation that 1917 has been the banner year not only for the O. R. T. in general, but for System Division 76 in particular. Wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year. D. J. M. East Iowa Diiision — Bro. A. J. Ward, third Fifth street yard, Clin- ton, off a few nights owing to vaccination, was relieved by Bro. White, from third “EC,** relieved by leverman. Bro. Walters to operator “MH," succeeded as agent there by G. H. Meyers. Bro. Thersdahl relieved Bro. Haworth on vaca- tion. Bro. A. W. Dickinson, Tama, off sick, relieved by Bro. Anderson. Bro. Dickinson has gone to Rochester, Minn., to undergo an operation for rheumatism. Assignments: Bro. Earl Lcaton, operator “HP** yard, vice Bro. Dickinson, to third “D** Tama; Bro. L. H. Green, first operator “BN** yard, vice Bro. C. F. Toenings, to “BE** dispatcher's office second operator, vice Bro. Fromknecht, to Sioux City as train dispatcher; Bro. O. B. Anderson, third “BN" yard, vice Bro. Radcliffe; Bro. H. E. Woodruff, agent Norway, vice Bro. Eick, to agency Lisbon, vice Bro. O’Mera, gone to his farm at Petersville; C. C. Pontsler, agent Baldwin; Bro. R. F. Fcrgucrson to second “VN,** vice Bro. O’Daniel; Bro. Letho to McVille, vice Bro. Con Beck, to chief clerk Cedar Rapids freight house at $125 per; Bro. Letho back to Luzerne on next bulletin, leaving McVille open for bids. Bro. Ben Dixon, agent Comanche, is now with the Postal at Clinton. Bro. J. E. Horn to “BN" second pending bul- letin. Bros. Radcliffe and Watson, who enlisted in the Railway Telegraph Signal Corps, former as first class private, latter as sergeant, spent Christmas with their relatives. Bro. Radcliffe in Oklahoma, Digitized by c.ooole
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88 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Watson in Minnesota, and left for France on January 1st. Bro. Anderson on vacation, relieved by Bro. Lynch. L. E. Duke agent Quarry, resigned for mili- tary duty, relieved by Earl Wolf. We have a number of tricks, especially third, filled by men who can’t telegraph owing to so many of our brothers enlisting, whom we all hope will safely return in the near future. A burglar attempting to open the safe at Fairfax, was surprised by Agent Bro. Snyder and cap- tured. Bro. Snyder recently lost his typewriter and has been waiting for a chance to get even. Everybody get in line and get in the few nons. I thank the brothers for the help given me on this write-up, and hope you will all keep up the good work. One man can not get all the news over the division, so let’s have a little help from everybody. G. H. E., Cert. 2883, at “CF.” ' Lake Shore Division — The meeting at Green Bay, November 17th, was well attended, taking into consideration the poor train service. Bro. Tiedke opened the meeting with the following other members present: Mar- tell, Heinig, Wall, Hudon, Armstrong, Van Roy, Dunlap, Halverson, Goldie, Houlette, Peterson, A. A. Markus, Sohre, Welland, Williams, Walsh, Mcllree, Drengler, Barkman, Hanske, Geo. and W. W. Liesch, Kroehnkc, Bruger and Larson. The recent settlements made by the C. R. I. & P., I. C. and C. M. & St. P. Rys. were gone over, and it certainly was gratifying to learn that they had made such splendid contracts. We also went over our own proposition, presented to our officials October 26th. I sincerely hope that some of our boys will contribute some news items, as there is no reason why we should not have a monthly write-up. Boys, do not leav/: everything to your local chairman. It is just as much the duty of every individual member as it is the chairman’s to make things a success, so send in your notes and land the nons. F. W. Tiedke, Local Chairman. Madison Division — Line up every non, and let us all pay our dues promptly this time. Bro. Odell spent a few days on his farm, re- lieved by Bro. Jenks, and he by Bro. Tillema, help- ing out extra while waiting for Uncle Sam to call him to the colors. Mart Keefe to second Frieland. Bro. H. L. Lippolt to Butler fourth, relieved at Benton by Maddock, and he at Evansville by A. Smith, who relieved Bro. Jack Kucher, on a trip through the West. Miss H. V. Daylen, Wisconsin Division, to “BA” second, extra. Paul Muske to Evansville several nights, is now at Revere on Minnesota Division. Bro. Hintz to side wire Adams, vice Art Sayles, who relieved Dispatcher Livesey. Bro. Kronberg is now with the Great Northern, and Bro. M. Phenew is a full-fledged car knocker. Bro. Billy Frank makes tracks for Ablemans every Sunday to enjoy mother’s Sunday dinner. Bro. J. W. Hibbard and bride, of Baraboo, took a trip through Minnesota on their honeymoon. Bro. Dave Smart, from “SJ,” wrote from San Francisco that they left there November 18th for Russia on the same boat he went to Ireland on a few years ago. Russia couldn’t have called on a better organizer at this time than Dave, and be will make it as solid as* he did this line, if they give him any show at all. Hazel Green Jet. open again after a brief idle- ness due to lack of telegraphers. Couple of freshly shod, slippery young tempters made a raid on the gum machine at Sullivan re- cently. War tax pennies are in great demand. Many thanks to Bros. S. and J. for the news. Do it again. Cert. 18. Wisconsin Division — We must give the Order our financial backing as well as our good will. Let the knocker say un- kind things about the O. R. T., but the fact still remains that it is the guiding star leading and helping the poor down-trodden telegrapher to bet- ter things in this life. Keep after the new men, secure their certificate numbers, when paid to and on what road, so they can be transferred to our division, and line up all the nons; report all violations of the schedule to the local chairman promptly, so that action can be taken at once to have them stopped; also live up to our part of the contract. Remember that becoming delinquent and drop- ping out now is a losing transaction. Just be- cause we carry an up-to-date card we haven’t fulfilled our duty, ’ that is only a starter. See that all the men working in your office after at least two pay days, are lined up, and show them no favors until they join. Let us all give the best service possible, and this company then will have no excuse for not giving us the best salary. Greater efficiency will prevail among us if the standards of life and labor desired by the work- ers are both established and maintained, and any lowering of these standards means a reduction in the productive capacity of the workers both indi- vidually and collectively. Labor unions are trus- tess of the welfare and strength of the working men and women of this nation and of their children. Let us arrange with our local chairman to have a meeting, and everyone attend who can possibly do so. Find out what is going on along the line and get better acquainted. This will create a general good feeling among us, making our meet- ings so interesting that all will be glad to attend, and more anxious to arrange for regular meetings. Freight congestion on steam railroads in the Middle West, caused principally by the transpor- tation of war supplies, are to be partly relieved by through freight service on the electric roads of Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. Delivery is to be made in Chicago and St. Louis of 100 of the largest and best locomotives for use in re- lieving the freight congestion in the Pittsburg Districts. The moving of engines was called for by the railroads’ war board, as a new develop- ment of the pooling plan under which all rail- Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 89 r<»a\ls in the country are to be operated as one great system. Each engine of the 100 is capable of hauling 100 loaded freight cars at a time. The demand for freight cars is greater today than ever before. Advising the shipping public where you can unload a car in the forenoon, so that some other shipper may load it in the after- noon, would be giving our company good service. Captain Sherwood says the key and sounder and buzzer will play a great role in the prosecu- tion of this war, and some unusual opportunities arc offered to qualified, red-blooded operators who are anxious to do their part. Those who have not paid their dues should remit at once and protect their beneficiaries. Get your happy New Year card, as the division needs the money. Remember Bro. E. J. Thomas’ advice in regard to important work (or all of us to perform per- taining to the “slackers’’ who dwell in our midst retarding our individual progress. Make them show their cards or no favors. O. A. Glasscock, now on third, and J. Dugan on second Milwaukee line dispatcher, enlisted in a railway contingent for Russia, relieved by \V. F. Holden, new line second trick dispatcher, relieved by Paul Gray, from “SJ.” C. W. Bretzlopf, agent Hunting Ave., is with 332d Machine Gun Battalion, Company B, Camp Grant, Rockford, 111. Bro. R. K. Canary is alone at “NY” tower. L. G. Bergeron, third West Bend; Shorty Shore, second Highland Park; H. L. Hammond, second I~ake Bluff tower; W. C. Lang, Cary agency; R. F. Pfieffer, Zion City; Bro. W. R. Fischenick, third operator dispatcher’s office, are a few recent changes. About thirty-two telegraphers on this division will be called as drafted army men soon. Bro. W. P. Livensey, third Lake Bluff, has re- turned from ten days’ vacation. Bro. H. Repke is on second Lake Forest. Bro. E. E. Orner, agent at Willmette, has been appointed traveling freight agent, covering Galena and Southern Iillnois Divisions, relieved by Bro. Mullen, from Hubbard Woods, pending bids. Bro. Moorehouse has received his questionaire from the Exemption Board. Thanks to Bros. Anholdt, Fischenick, Faussett, Orna and E. J. Thomas for notes this month. Brothers, send in some items occasionally. It takes but a few minutes. It is desirable that the Wisconsin Division be represented in The Teleg- rapher each month, and it should not be neces- sary to have to make an appeal to you for the news. A. S. M , Div. Cor., Cert. 1914, Glencoe, 111. Chicago Terminal District — It is not necessary to mention the kind of meet- ings we had on December 18th or who were there, as I believe every member in the Terminal at- tended either the morning or evening session and knows what transpired. A "service flag” will be placed in each tower, one in the regular meeting place and one in 511 Webster Bldg., representing the brothers from the Terminal District who arc serving at the front. An interesting letter was read from Bro. Rice, who is in France. Bro. Cone distributed a calendar for 1918 in each tower in the Terminal, as a reminder that another year’s dues are acceptable as well as payable. The wife and daughter of Bro. Cheney, second Lake St., went to Los Angeles to visit her mother, who fell and fractured one of her legs. Bro. Curtis, second Dcering, was elected secre- tary of the morning session to fill the unexpired term of Bro. John Byrne, who was assigned to first Clybourn. The Milwaukee Terminal was again represented by four of its loyal members. Bro. Cone worked one day, vice Bro. Reming- ton, first Canal Junction. Bro. Metz, third Canal Junction, lost four days on account of getting the chicken pox. We understand Bro. Harry Gladish went down- town a few days ago and purchased a small ward- robe. Good luck, Harry. Bro. Dixon has been “braking in” Bro. Michand, at Mobile St. second. Bro. Sibbons served thirty days on third Willmette. Div. Cor. Western Maryland Ry., Div. No. 82. Eastern Division — Bro. M. R. Huntzberry, third Hancock, relieved a few days by A. D. Rice, later relieving Bro. H. Breichbill, third Highfield, a couple of days; Bro. F. H. Rockwell, third Kirk, off a few days; Bro. G. H. Ogle, first Union Bridge, off several days, relieved by Bro. G. C. Angell, later relieved Bro. C. L. Angell on second; Bro. M. Flickinger, third Hanover, off sick, relieved by Mr. A. D. Rice; Bro. W. C. Dubbs on vacation. Bro. W. I. Renner, agent Emmitsburg Jet., now has Sundays off. Now pretty weather is wanted and automobiling will be fine. Assignments: Bro. R. G. Morrison, first Kirk; W. N. Boyd, third Clearspring, temporary; W. S. Steffey, second Big Pool; F. Kuhn, third Big Pool; Bro. W. R. Berger, second Hancock; Bro. C. F. Ruth, first Highfield, temporary; A. A. Fisher, second, and Bro. G. N. Holtz, third Se- curity, and H. R. Robinson, first Wingerton, tem- porary. Repairs to P. B. & W. tunnels have been made, and our trains for Union and Hillen stations are now going through them instead via Green Spring branch. Trains Nos. 2 and 3, running between Balti- more and Pittsburg have entirely new all-steel equipment. These cars arc the latest product of thfc Pullman Company, and have every conven- ience for the comfort of the traveler, including electric lights, electric fans and sanitary ice- cooled drinking water system. New members: W. C. Shindledecker, C. E. Marker, E. L. Myers, E. C. Gilbert, P. W. Reisner, W. S. Shamcr, S. A. Bosley and Samuel Rogers. Some good work. Digitized by G.ooole
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90 The Railroad Telegrapher. It would be a good idea for agents to forward to their local chairmen copies of their comparative statement of business for three successive months twice a year and for operators to mail a written statement of their work for three successive months, carry this work out for one or two suc- cessive years. This would be good information and a good record to have. Be sure to give true statements. It necessitates assessing each and every mem- ber $3 for the purpose of carrying out the confer- ence with the railway management for our next revised schedule. The step up we want to make will put us where we ought to be — right in line with roads running transverse or parallel with us. Our present conditions are miserable — a steady grind day after day and no relief, simply because we lay under these conditions; even do not get re- lieved any more, because operators go to better paid roads. Are you going to remain slave or are you going to take advantage of this good opportunity and be a free man? Be punctual in paying this assessment, as it will mean dollars rolling into your pockets monthly to help the high cost of living. A man with years of seniority to his credit and not a member of the organization is disloyal to his fellow workmen and his dear ones at home. We pay his expenses and he lets good and honest men do the work accepting without hesitation the benefits we secure. Straight seniority wisely endorsed by our gen- eral committee again, not only protects the men, but it builds up a division. When a position is abolished or a reduction of force is made, the last man affected is practically an extra man and can endure the hardships better in his younger life than when he gets older. It is no fault of the employes that these cuts are made by the com- pany, and straight seniority more conveniently places affected parties with no suffering, prevents men from dropping out of the service, and is a protection that can be looked forward to by all. Let a man use all the seniority he has. Don’t tie it down to a certain extent; it won’t work. The non problem is a hard one. I sometimes think we are just a little too mild in our dealings with a certain portion of them. No doubt all but a very limited number could join. Those who could join and don’t should have very little good- will extended to them. Those not really in a posi- tion to join can be excused. Prosperous divisions pay semi-annual dues of $6 to $7; so we must not mind assessments, and always be loyal to our organization throughout all proceedings. Div. Cor., Cert. 94. Texas & Pacific Ry., Div. No. 88. Eastern Division — General Chairman Abney has just returned from a trip to Chicago, where he attended a meeting of the general chairmen of the lines covered by the Wells-Fargo Express Co., whom he advises per- fected an organization and drew up an agreement to be presented to the Fargo management, which, if secured, will give to our agents improved condi- tions in the express business. We note in a letter from our general chairman to the membership that our committee contemplates in the near future asking the management of the railroad for a conference to discuss a revision of our agreement, which we are pleased to learn. I am much pleased with the information that a good number of those who were delinquent with their special assessment are paying up, thereby placing our division in a position to handle mat- ters promptly. Greater things may be expected only when each member throws himself into the work and acts as a unit of a great body, making special effort to eliminate every non and pay dues without delay. Changes have come so rapidly within the past month or two that it has been impossible to keep up with those on our division. We welcome Bro. C. W. Johns back to Queen City agency after three months* illness. Bro. G. H. Riddle, who relieved him, bid in Lawrence agency. Bro. W. L. Johnson is now acting agent Atlanta pending assignment by the superintendent’s office, relieved on first there by Chas. D. Woods, re- lieved on second by Bro. H. A. Page. A. B. Stealy is at Kildare nights pending assignment. Bro. O. C. Allen, assigned Hawkins agency, is being relieved ninety days, on account of ill- health, by Bro. A. L. Barbier, whom we are pleased to have with us after several months in training for naval service. Sister Kerrell, on sick list, was relieved by her daughter, Miss Mabel, now on second Woodlawn. Bro. J. P. Abney was relieved on second Long- view Jet. by Bro. C. R. Tucker, late of Halls- ville third. Bro. J. R. Henderson bid in second split Longview Jet., and Bro. G. B. Huey, from Fair Grounds first, is now on third there. Bro. B. B. Campbell, first split Longview Jet., con- templates trying out switching in Longview Jet. yard. We wish this nervy brother a world of success in his new vocation. Bro. L. R. Anderson, from Paris, Ft. Worth Division, is now in ”AF” Marshall. It is said that Bro. M. C. Hunt, third “AF” Marshall, contemplates moving out to Hoard, on the “block.” We have heard that this brother was not afraid to work, but now we are inclined to doubt it. Let someone on each sub portion of our division send in notes to Bro. Abney, at Longview, before the 18th of the month, so that we may have a good line-up in each Telegrapher. Cert. 371. Fort Worth Division, West of Fort Worth — The editor and manager, Bro. Rawlins, is to be highly commended for the Christmas number of The Telegrapher. It was certainly a master- piece of editorial ability. We are glad to see all the divisions represented once more with a write-up. We should strive to keep this up, as it undoubtedly increases inter- est among the members. Bro. A. L. Rushing, Tioga, has kindly offered to act as correspondent Digitized by c.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 91 east of Ft. Worth, and will appreciate any news items sent him. Assignments: Bro. Tom Rawls to Benbrook, vice C. F. Thompson, to Putnam agency; Bro. Harris to “GO” Dallas, relieved on third Cisco by Bro. Moore, and he on second there by Bro. Smith, a “Katy” striker; Bro. McIntosh to Ranger first; second Putnam, Eastland and Mingus to Bros. Wingo, O. T. and E. K. Thornton, re- spectively. Bro. Joe Marshall is back on third Eastland after two months' leave, visiting his brother, Bro. Carl Marshall in the aviation corps at Buffalo and spending some time in the “Windy City,” in Buffalo and other northern points. Bro. Will Cox is back from the hospital and will soon be able to resume his duties on first Mingus, where he was relieved by Mr. McCulloch, who later relieved Bro. Bradford, at Santo, and Bro. Bently, Mingus. Many thanks to Bro. Bently for the items. Wish more would adopt the habit. Weekly reports from G. S. & T. indicate that there is still considerable delay in renewing and paying special assessments. Brothers, please wake up and pay up, as the assessments are for reim- bursing the committee who were put to personal loss securing the last contract. They are con- siderably past due, that is still more reason why they should be paid. The old year, with all we have done or not done, is now a matter of history, something we can not undo; therefore let us try our best to live up to our new resolutions for 1918, profiting by the mistakes of 1917. W. A. C. Rio Grande Division — I wish each member to get his November Teleokaphkk, turn to page 1707, read, study and figure out the report of C. R. I. & P. general committee, and when through hand or send it to the “non” nearest you. Bro. Marshall assigned Toyah second; Baird and Iatan stations on bulletin, Bro. Adams relieving at former; Bro. Rowley to Peco9 agency, vice Bro. Lewis to Ft. Worth Division, Ralph transferred. Working five men at Baird on account of heavy business. Mason, 6 a. m, to 2 p. m. ; Pittman, 2 p. m. to 10 p. m. Later Mason to El Paso, re- lieved by Ehler, a new man. It’s now Bro. Mills, at Baird, and Bro. Allyn, at Eskota. We welcome the brothers to our midst. Bro. Rowley, agent Pecost and Bro. Ellis, third Colorado, were off several days on account of ill- ness. Bro. Morgan, third Midland, transferred to Fort Worth Division. Let's start the new year solid. Boys, remit your dues and premium on your policy promptly. The future holds good things for all of us, if we will all do our part. Don’t wait on the “other fel- low,” but if you know of some news send it to your local chairman before the 18th of the month, so he can get it to St. Louis before the 25th. Clyde now all night office; Pitzer on second, and Chenault, from Santa Fe, on third. Later Pitzer relieved Ralph at Iatan, called to Sulphur Springs on account of illness in his family, and Chenault relieved Jones, third Abilene, who bid in second Sweetwater, and was called to Bisbee on account of the serious illness of his mother. Clyde third being closed, no relief man being available. Smith, a new man, is relieving on third Abilene. Eskota is now an all night office, second filled by Beard, a new man from the W. U., Dallas. Dispatcher Percy, third west end, Big Springs, transferred to Ft. Worth, relieved by Bro. Robin- son, from Colorado, relieved by Cobb, a new man. Bro. Dashiell spent Thanksgiving with home folks at Roscoc, relieved by Smith. Bro. Morgan relieving on second at Midland, relieved on third by Sanders, from Santa Fe. Cert. 82. Illinois Central R. R., Div. No. 93. Tennessee Division — A very nice meeting was held on Saturday, December 15th, in the Director’s Room of the First National Bank, Fulton, Ky., and considering the very bad weather a very good crowd was in attendance. Local Chairman Cosgrove had charge, and after going over a number of matters relating to local conditions, General Chairman Mulhall took the floor and in a very able way gave a full account of the recent schedule negotiations and how the settlement was finally arrived at through the Federal Mediation Board. All present praised the work of the general committee, pronouncing the settlement the best ever made on this or any other railroad in this vicinity. We are commencing to enjoy the things that are ours by right. The “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” were: The Pyramids of Egypt, Pharos of Alex- andria, Walls and Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Diana at Ephesus, Statue of the Olympian Jupiter, Mausoleum of Artemisia and Colossus of Rhodes, but is there anything more wonderful than what the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers has built up and accomplished within the last — say ten years? And still there is a great work ahead to be done. The world is turning a critical corner. Mighty things are doing. Civilization is in the awful thros of rebirth and this stupendous upheaval will in all probability vitally change our lives and the lives of every living man and woman about us. We must keep organized and be prepared. Some of the most startling and tragic events of the world wide war now going on has been the sac- rifices of unprepared armies and unequipped soldiers. Armies have been victimized by in- trigue and treachery. Guns have been sent to the front without ammunition, and ammunition with- out guns. Supplies were provided, that when unpacked proved to be rubbish. Left stranded by communications that broke down under slight pressure, the brave soldiers were hurled them- selves again and again against foes perfectly pre- pared. Every member should keep himself in good standing at all times, and use every honorable Digitized by Caooole
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92 The Railroad Telegrapher. means to bring the very few who do not belong into the organization, so that ‘we will be always prepared to do things which are of vital im- portance to all of us and when the opportune time comes, wc will then' be in a position to strive for something new. The things that haven’t been done before, Those are the things to try, Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore At the rim of the far-flung sky, And hi9 heart was bold and his faith was strong As he ventured with danger new, And he paid no heed to the jeering throng Or the fears of a doubting crew. The man may follow the beaten track With guide posts on the way, They live and have lived for ages back With a chart for every day. Some one has told them it's safe to go On the road he has traveled o'er And all that they ever strive to know Are the things that were known before. The few strike out without map or chart Where never a man has been; From the beaten paths they draw apart To see what no man has seen. There are deeds they long alone to do, Though battered and bruised and sore, They blaze the path for the many who Do nothing not done before. The things that haven’t been done before Are the tasks worth while to do; Are you one of the flock that follows, or Are you one that shall lead the way? Are you one of the timid souls that quail At the jeers of a doubting crew? Or dare you, whether you win or fail. Strike out for a goal that’s new? Cert. 332. Louisiana Division—* Owing to our correspondent being situated in a very busy office, one which suffered a reduction in force, which made business flushing, our little w'rite-up has been overlooked entirely, and this neg- ligence was noticed by a number of our up-to-date members. The full force now being back, we will endeavor to have our division regularly represented. In order to do this we must all take more inter- est in this matter, and drop our division corre- spondent notes of changes, etc., at the various stations in time, so he can arrange and get them to St. Louis before the 25th of the month, and make a nice showing from the ‘Flower” Division. We still have a few nons among us, seemingly blind to the many concessions they are enjoying secured by the O. R. T. Failing to shpw their manhood, we should remember that “No card, no favors” always works wonders in awakening this class of Slackers, and use it to the limit. We are very much elated over our new schedule; the wage scale became effective October 16th, and the rules November 16th, as it is the greatest victory of all our past endeavors. Notwithstand- ing the increase in salary and the valuable new rules, the hours have been reduced on this divi- sion something near forty-five on the day, mean- ing quite an improvement in a month’s run. We must now put forth our best efforts to show both our committee and the company that we are worthy of every concession that has been granted ns. We regret the loss of Dro. Ed. Bordages, who came to us in 1905 and soon landed a sign in the New Orleans office, where he remained during his stay with us, with the exception a few months spent in “JD” office. All personal or wire ac- quaintances always received a square deal from old ‘‘BO,’’ and learned to love him. With his kindly disposition he will make good anywhere and among any people. We wish him success and regret exceedingly that he can not be with us longer. Assignments: Rhearns to first, Bro. Myers to second, and Bro. Holt to third, newly created positions at Orleans Junction, following the abo- lition of Kenner Junction. The additional duties made by this change caused Bros. Granberry and Haydel to choose the extra list. Bro. Akers to third Gwin; Bro. Wade to Mileston nights; Bro. White to restored ”JD,” and Bro. Wilson to re- stored “MO” positions, latter succeeded on third “MO” by Bro. Ellzey, succeeded at Yazoo City ticket office by Bro. Foard, succeeded by Bro. Bennct on third “FD;” Bro. Holliday to fourth “MO;” Bro. Boddie to third Canton, succeeded on first Harahan Jet. by Bro. Adis, and he on second “FD” by Bro. Cooper; Bro. Wilson to message trick in “BD;” Bro. Granberry to third Harahan Jet.; second there and at Harahan Jet. and third “BD” on bulletin . Yazoo District, Cynthia, Forlorn, Tinsley, Eden and Mileston nights abolished. Flora, Anding and Bee Lake operated continuously as telegraph offices, all tricks now pending bulletin. Kindly address all mail for Local Chairman Foard to the ticket office at Yazoo City. Cert. 1239. IVisconsin Division — Our committee was able to bring our new schedule to a finish without a special assessment or raising our dues, and Division No. 93 bought a $1000 Liberty Bond, and still has several thou- sand dollars in the treasury, which shows that the entire proceedings were handled in a business- like manner. The establishing of a 26-workday month was a big step in the right direction. The ten-hour day (including meal hour) was made universal, and many other concessions in the rules, with a cash increase of $9.75 a man per month. We now have as good if not the best schedule in the U. S. A. and a shortage of men. If any good O. R. T. man wants a job, let him come this way. Each man should make a special effort to pay his current-term dues and know his neighbor (let it be in his own office or at the next station) has done likewise. We must stay organised to make more headway and hold what we already have. There is no reason why we should have a non or Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 93 delinquent on this entire system, and if each member will do his duty, we won’t have any — not long, anyway. Local Chairman Kelly called a meeting in Free- port on December 8th, attended by fifteen, not- withstanding the bad weather. General Chairman Mulhall went into details of the new schedule and made each paragraph clear. Many had their atten- tion called to some point which they had not noticed which meant money to them, so they were well repaid for braving the blizzard. Future meetings will be held on Saturday nights, permitting more to attend, as a large number now have no assigned Sunday hours and can take all day Sunday to get home — if needs be. We are glad to learn that Bro. Nolf has re- sumed work after three or four months’ lay-off on account of .poor health. Bro. Schilt and family visited in Central Illinois, relieved by Bro. Corwin. Newton, the only non on the I. C. in the State of Wisconsin, has resigned, and Madison is up for bids. E. Hinrichs. chief clerk to Chief Dispatcher Richards, has an up to date. Sitting in the chief’s office all these years, he has noticed what the O. R. T. has done for the telegrapher, and he’s “for it.” He is now “hitting the extra list.” Bro. Taylor is now at Harvard University, in the radio corps, completing his wireless education. Bro. Ritz, of Haldane, withdrew his bid on the vacancy, being unable to secure a house in Minonk, and it was awarded to Bro. H. Hinrichs. Bro. Leith, of Dixon, had the misfortune to have his auto burned up in a garage fire there. With his Sunday overtime and the new raise he can soon replace it. Bro. Olson is back at La Salle after several weeks’ extra dispatching, Bro. Gilman taking sec- ond again; McDowell, a new brother, breaking in on third to relieve Bro. Bechly, who joins the signal corps. Quite a number of our boys are now in Uncle Sam’s service, and more will fol- low; Bros. Bradshaw and Sibley, at Camp Grant; Taylor, at Cambridge, Mass.; Huisinga, with the railway engineers, “somewhere in France;” Foucht, at Camp Kelly; Cox with the signal corps in South Carolina, and Devaney, at Camp Dodge. Division No. 93 takes care of the dues of any member who enters the military or naval service in time of war. Don’t forget these brothers; drop them a cheery line now and then and occa- sionally a few smokes, etc. ’Twill be appreciated. We regret to chronicle the death of Bro. Haynes’ mother, of Wenona, who was buried at El Paso. We extend him our sympathy. We note that the “official list” of the First National Bank at Minonk shows Bro. Aufdenspring as president. Congratulations. Telegraphers will come into their own. % Drop down to Kappa and visit with Bro. Hop- kins a few days. You will go home feeling like a new man. He has some (real) rabbit and fish stories that will do you good, and will give you a sample to take home. It is rumored that some of the good O. R. T. brothers on the north end lost some change when Barber Bros.’ private bank at Polo failed. Years ago bank failures never affected telegraphers, but times have changed. We are glad to learn that Bro. Schlaf, of Rock- ford, is rapidly improving. For several days he was dangerously ill with double pneumonia. Business is so heavy at Rockford on account of Camp Grant that one can scarcely keep track of the men. Bros. Wheeless, Hart, Roberts, Atkinson and Urna are there at present. Re- ceipts of the ticket office alone have run up from around the $20,000 mark to three times that, and they are now working five men in the office in- stead of two and three. Johnny Funk, one of our old-time members, who quit telegraphing to go braking, has been working extra around Freeport lately, as his health would not permit him to continue the road work. We welcome him any old time. Bro. Bradley, of Broadview, has gone to Phoenix, Ariz., and entered other fields. Bro. Crawford, of Genoa, has asked for six months'' leave, and the position is bulletined. It’s pretty hard now to pick up a competent man to handle a position like Genoa. Bro. Sibley, of Camp Grant, has been promoted to corporal. He will make good in any position Uncle Sam sees fit to assign him. Since the telegraphers received their* increase the dispatchers have also been granted a $10 raise — an echo from our committee work. If the dis- patchers were in our organization they would enjoy even more of the benefits, such as overtime for Sunday, etc. A hint to the wise is sufficient. Do it now, boys. The above also applies to the large agencies. The “official” feeling they have simply works against them. Wake up, boys; you are tearing the sheets. “Wanderlust.” Iowa Division — An interesting meeting called by Bro. W. R. Foster, local chairman, Williams, Iowa, was held December 1st in the Commercial Club Rooms at the Wahkonsa Hotel, Fort Dodge, Iowa, for the purpose of discussing the new schedule, which our committee secured after many months of hard and untiring efforts. Other matters of general interest pertaining to the Order were also discussed. Superintendent T. H. Sullivan, of this division, from Ft. Dodge, honored us by his presence and gave a very interesting talk, congratulating the members in securing such a substantial increase in salary. Bro. J. M. Holland, of Dunlap, ex- pressed the opinion and sentiment of the members, both present and absent, in thanking the general committee for its efforts in securing such a satis- factory settlement. The use of the club rooms was secured through the courtesy of Mr. R. O. Green, secretary of the Digitized by u.ooole
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94 The Railroad Telegrapher. Fort Dodge Commercial Club, to whom Bro. Foster sent the following letter of thanks: “Williams, Iowa, Dec. 6, 1917. “Secbetary Commercial Club, “Ft. Dodge, Iowa. “Dear Mr. Green: “I take this opportunity to thank you in behalf of the Local Division of Railroad Telegraphers, No. 93, of which I am local chairman,' for your courtesy in throwing open your committee rooms for our use at the time of our meeting, Decem- ber 1, 1917. “Will you permit me to personally say to you that this kindness was appreciated by our member- ship, who desire me to inform you that if there ever comes a time when we, individually or col- lectively, can be of service to you or your club, you have but to command us. “Again permit me to extend our thanks for your kindness. Yours truly, (Signed) “W. R. Foster, L. C.“ Those present at the meeting not previously mentioned were: F. B. Sudmeycr and L. L. Jones, Lemars; W. H. Diesner, Marcus; C. L. Mitchell and R. N. Sherrill, Ft. Dodge;' J. W. Sayre, Blairsburg; R. F. Wightman, Durlcombe; O. J. Judd, .Dow City; J. T. Williams, Correction- ville; C. D. Calhoun, Parkersburg; W. J. Kearney, Remsen; A. K. Stivers, Alta; E. Recknagel and P. L. Rowcn, Fonda; F. G. Warner, George; J. J. Little, Primghar; H. J. Warm, Calumet; N. S. Libby, Rock Rapids; T. J. Cochran, Rich- ards; F. J. Spmharney, Barnum; C. H. Smith, Merrill; W. A. Shoemaker, Larrabee; E. G. Voss and G. B. Litchkey, Rockwell City; J. A. Dunn, Gypsum; N. O. Nelson, Archer; F. S. Prater, Webster City; C. W. Stoker, Matlock; M. Weber, Washta; E. O. Richardson, Knierim; C. N. Thwing, Logan; H. G. Livingston, Meriden; J. W. Smith, Quimby; J. M. Holland, Dunlap; C. M. Reeves, Austinville, and O. E. Johnson, Manson. Assignments: Bro. C. L. Burgess, Merrill, Iowa, to second Manson tower; Bro. W. W. Hollingsworth, extra, to third Rockwell City tower pending bulletin; Bro. Pat Steinbaur to third Webster City; Bro. H. A. Love, Hills, Minn., to Oyens, relieved by Bro. Dix pending bulletin; Bro. Sumna to Hinton, vice Eaton; Bro. G. F. / Dise, of Rowena, to second Manson tower; Bro. F. S. Buzetti to third Fonda, leaving Macy on bulletin, vice Bro. McDonald, relieving pending bids; Bro. J. E. Saxon to third Cedar Falls, vice Bro. S. West, to second Storm Lake; Bro. R. N. Sherrill to third “G“ Ft. Dodge, vice Bro. Berry, resigned; Bro. Doll to Hinton a few days; Bro. L. W. Kuhl to second Webster City, leaving third Manson tower on bulletin; Bro. J. G. Burton is now with the U. P. Bro. Mitchell, of “A,” was called to Webster City recently by the company on a criminal case. Bro. Tidsworth, Cleghorn, was recently married. Congratulations. Bro. Eaton has enlisted in the signal corps. Having been in the service seven years, he was granted a commission as first lieutenant. We all wish him a safe return. Dispatcher Geyer, Cherokee, was relieved by Bro. Blackledge for Thanksgiving. Bro. H. R. Akeson copied cars for a few days. Boys, when you notice any changes, please make a note of them and mail them to me in time so I can get them to St. Louis before the 25th of the month. I wish to thank Bro. Burgess for the many notes he sent me. Keep after the nons, boys; keep after the nons. Cert. 2958. Chicago Great Western Ry.f Div. No. 96. Southern Division — Brothers, you should be prompt in paying this term’s dues. It is with them that the committee will have to be sent in for another revision, as our time will be up before the next term becomes due. Let every one become an organized and do his bit to get a solid line up before sending your committee in, as it is the brothers at home who back it up. Several of our brothers working with nons should keep after them and do everything possible to line them up. Now, brothers, don’t pass this up, but get busy, so we can secure better working conditions, which will include overtime for all Sundays and holi- days, the same as other lines are getting Don’t leave it all to your chairmen, as they can’t find all the nons; they all work a job the same as you do. Make the first term of 1918 a record breaker. We are glad to see Bro. W. D. Watson, former agent, back from a visit to his mother and father in Arkansas. He is now on third Diagonal. Bro. Miller, who was at Parnell so long, has resigned. We are sorry to lose such a good brother. We are glad to see Bro. Harkness back on third “RO“ Kansas City, after he and his entire family being quarantined with smallpox. He say* it’s worse than being in jail. He was relieved by Bro. F. C. Williams. Bro. McCullough, at “SF,” is being relieved by Bro. M. J. Collins. Bro. G. M. Green, from Frisco, is on third Conception. First Vice-President Brown paid Bro. Coleman a visit on business matters the early part of December. Telegraphers are very scarce, several offices be- ing closed on account of the shortage of men. Dispatcher F. C. Bakie was relieved by Chief Dispatcher W. G. Hunter one day recently on account of a bad cold, W. G. H. seemed to have a grouch that day, even though he didn’t have much to say. Bro. Walter King is back at “FB,“ after reliev- ing at “SX” several months. Bro. S. E. Raber, while attending the funeral of his brother-in-law, was relieved a few days by Mrs. Yonkers, and she by Mr. Whitechurch, who is in business at Savannah. Brothers, when you hear of any changes or news items mail them to Bro. S. J. Walker, freight office, St. Joe, or to General Chairman A. L. Coleman. Send in a few items each month so that our division may be represented. Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 95 Bro. Lusk bid in Rea agency, and Bro. Morris, second, vice Lewis, a new man, there pending bulletin. Line him up, boys, and everybody keep after the few other nons on the division. Remem- ber, “No card, no favors /' and pay your dues promptly, so we can get into action without any delay. Thanks to Bro. J. A. Smith, third Savannah, for items. Bro. W. W. Henry, Dearborn, who was relieved a few days by a new man, has his application Cert. 43. CARD OF THANKS. Bro. Harkness and family desire to express their gratitude and sincere appreciation of the aid and assistance rendered them by operators and others on the Southern Division, because of their recent illness. A. L. Coleman, G. C. - Ulster A Delaware R. R., Div. No. 113. Happy New Year to all. Our motto this year is, “Solid O. R. T. in 1918.” J. P. Elmendorf resigned agency Phoenicia be- cause no leave of absence would be granted him to go South for the winter. Considering the wages and the high cost of living and the cost of coal, ’tis much cheaper to live on in the South in the winter time. Bros. Ecker and Merrihew are at Phoenicia and Mt. Pleasant until positions bid in. Bro. Grover Hedges left just before Christmas, going South for the winter on account of his health. We hope he will return in good health. J. C. Mould, the oldest agent on the roster, has been pensioned. His position as agent at Rondout should be posted. His son, Irvin Mould, who once was agent at Roxbury, died in Rochester recently, where he was employed by the Western Union Tel. Co. Bro. Jim Joyct, Cold Brook, is all smiles be- cause of a Christmas present of a fine boy. Bro. Winchell, who recently bid in first Oneonta, has bid in “SN” agency. On account of Bro. Hedges going South, 1 will look after the write-up each month, provided I ran get the news. If you hear of any brother getting married or losing $10,000 dollars, write me all the particulars. Remember, if you want a write-up each month, I must have the news. In union there is strength, but in co-operation there is much more strength. This has proven true on the D. & H., the_N. Y, Central Lines, the N. Y.f N. H. & H. and also on the U. & D. Our engineers, firemen, conductors, trainmen and agents and telegraphers in this co operating movement each received 7x/i per cent increase. The $5 increase for each agent and telegrapher is just the manner in which we desired our increase distributed. We certainly are all deserving of this small increase during these hard times, and it is gratifying that we all share alike. We heartily thank our committee for the good work it performed under the existing conditions on the U. & D. P. D. L., Cert. 4. “8oo Line” Ry., Div. No. 119. The following is self-explanatory: *'2921 Chicago Ave., "Minneapolis, Minn., December 24, 1917. "Mr. H. B. Perham, President, "St. Louis, Mo.: "Dear Sir and Bro. — It is with pleasure that I am able to advise you that we have this date reached a settlement with the management in regard to the revision of our schedule. The wage scale to become effective as of December 1, the rules January 1, 1918. "Our proposition as presented requested an eight-hour day for all employes. We secured ten consecutive hours, with a meal hour, for all one- man positions; nine consecutive hours, with a meal hour, for all two-men positions; eight consecutive hours for three or more trick positions. This is an eight-hour day for ail positions except the one-man positions, which is nine hours actual service for a day's work. "We requested all Sunday work as overtime. We secured this based on a twenty-six-day month. Sunday hours to be assigned within the spread of the week day hours, and not subject to temporary changes, with a minimum of one hour for each time the men report. If no Sunday hours are assigned they do not have to report on Sundays, and if called to the office they are entitled to a call of 50 cents. After working their assigned Sunday hours they can be held longer if necessary on a pro rata basis, but if excused after working their assigned Sunday hours and called again they are entitled to a call of 50 cents. “We requested a vacation rule. We were offered the vacation, rule granted the Rock Island by arbitration. The committee rejected this and traded it for more money, and we secured no vacation rule. This is all the changes in the rules that we requested in our original proposition. "We requested an increase over the present rates of pay of 20 per cent. We secured a small frac- tion over 17 per cent. The basis of the settlement was $12 per month for each position, to be dis- tributed as mutually agreed upon, which enabled us to give every position a minimum increase of $10 per month and a maximum of $16. "Our negotiations were started on November 21st, and concluded December 24th. The negotia- tions were handled entirely by the committee, without the assistance of a Grand Officer. "Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, I remain, "Yours fraternally, "G. W. Lewis, General Chairman." IV. and P. Division — The following brothers attended the meeting held in Minneapolis, Sunday, December 16th, go- ing on No. 7 and back on No. 8: Win. Schultz, North Crandon; F. W. Louks, Hawkins; W. H. Bates and Wm. Simpson, Weyerhauser; E. Smith, Baroon; F. R. Devine, Amery; V. W. Packard, Canton, and Hanson, from the Fifth District. Digitized by Google
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96 The Railroad Telegrapher. There may have been others, but we did not know if from this district or not. Every one was well pleased when our committee announced that it had come to an agreement with the management the evening before. The 17 per cent and all Sunday work overtime, looked good to us. We listened to a number of good short talks that were right to the point, especially those of General Chairman Lewis. Two members of the striking street car men addressed our meeting and presented their side of the disagreement with the company. A collection was taken for the benefit of their families, and the money presented to them in the name of Order. Members from the First District, who could have been there with very little effort on their part, missed a good meeting. Bro. Demeres went to Tony agency, relieved at Amery by Bro. Devine. Bro. Good, who drew Shoreham second, is now on Rhinelander third, wating a call from Uncle Sam, having enlisted in the signal corps. We hope for his safe return. The last news from Bro. Harry Anderson, he was on board a transport bound for France, and Bro. R. Emerson at Camp McArthur, Waco, Tex. Nothing lately from Bro. Fogert. Brothers, send me a few notes. Remember our slogan, "No card, no favors/' and get the nons in line. It may soon cost $5 more to join, so get in line and stay there. W. H. B. Mo. River Division Notes — New members: H. F. Matson, Ryder; W. H. Gabel, Cogswell; E. E. Ayers, Burnstad; Marie Ehlers, Douglas; R. B. White, Herried. Only two nons now; 98 per cent solid; fine work from everyone. On account of the lack of men, it is impossible to take a vacation. Assignments: Bro. Harrison to Venturis agency, vice Bro. Bailey, to Kintyre, vice Bro. Grabel, to Cogswell agency, vice Bro. Massengill, cashier Oakes, transferring agents. Third Trick Dispatcher C. H. Boyle, only mar- ried six months, lost his wife after a severe ill- ness. He has the sympathy of all. Interment took place Sunday, December 23d, at Jamestown, N. D., where she was a school teacher and had lived for several years. Mr. Boyle was a dis- patcher on the N. P. there before coming to the “Soo Line” last spring. In the next issue will give a full report of the flower fund donations. Please let me hear when any member of the O. R. T. or any of his family is sick, and we will arrange to send flowers, which will be greatly appreciated, I feel sure. The re- sponse from all for this fund was fine and will go towards cheering a good many. Bro. Peterson, Garrison, relieved a week by Bro. Simshaw, Max, N. D., called to Bismarck on a federal case involving the improper handling of beverages by a former agent. Bro. Riley, Baldwin, comes to Bismarck occa- sionally to take in a hop. Scribe and family spent Thanksigving Day with Dad. Bro. G. A. Richardson and family journeyed to Bismarck the morning after with his “tin liz'* and took three hours and a half to go twenty- eight miles; some trip. Consequently, he showed up to work rather tardy. W. B. Richardson, Cert. 918, 422 Eleventh Street, Bismarck, N. D. Chicago Division, Southern District — Just before going on committee, Local Chairman Frost asked me to act as correspondent. I appre- ciate the honor and will do the best I can in taking the duties from Br.o. Frost, as with his duties as local chairman and his regular work he is kept quite busy. The work is gratis, and it is not fair, nor hardly possible, for one man to do it all, so I will have to depend on the boys out on the line to keep me posted on any changes and other news. Drop me a line any time you know of anything and I will send it in for the next Issue. Items to get into the next issue must be in before the 20th, but you may send them to me any time. Let everyone who can help out, and let’s have a good write-up each month. Assignments: Bro. A. S. Larson to Kolze first, relieved at Manitowoc by Mitchell, from the Minn. Division; Bro. W. R. Jahns to Fond du Lac first while Local Chairman Frost is on com- mittee work at Minneapolis; Mrs. Jahns on third; Bro. L. V. Peterson, of Nelsons, to “FN” nights; Harry Peters, Silver Lake, to second Stockton (later resigned), vice Lepinski, to third Stockton, vice Erickson, to Nelsons first; Lepinski later re- lieved a few days by Bro. J. A. Fonstad; Hanson, a new man to third Medina Jet., vice J. R. Freder- icks to second Neenah; Bro. W. Drumm, agent Templeton, to Mukwonago agency; Sister V. Elmore to Waukesha second, vice G. J. Martin, relieving T. V. Singer, Hancock, several months, traveling; former Bro. Wm. Hinds, whose job at Oshkosh freight house was abolished last spring, to Oshkosh ticket job. Glad to see him get a posi- tion at home again. New members: W. R. Thompson, first Waukesha; E. P. Provitz, agent Mukwonago; E. H. Hocpner, second Theresa; J. E. Erickson, first Nelsons; J. H. Frederick, second Neenah, and E. F. Roethke, “FN.” Let us all make an extra effort to get in all we can, as with the phoners coming in during the war there will always be some uncertain quanti- ties which we must make effort to offset. Our committee is now in session with the man- agement at Minneapolis for a revision of the schedule. Every non who shows his disinterested- ness by remaining outside weakens our efforts just that much. It is only logical to expect that a re- quest made by one hundred men will receive twice as much attention as one made by fifty men; therefore, keep after the nons. Bro. A. E. Rupple, second Medina Jet., called for service in the signal corps, now at Camp Taylor, Ky., 309th Field Signal Batallion, was re- lieved by Hills, later relieved by Hinds. Digitized by kjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 97 I am obliged to Bros. A. S. Larson, Ford, A. E. Shurley and J. A. Fonstad for items this month. Come again; they are appreciated. Bro. P. D. Steeves, second Fond du Lac, on ten days* vacation, is visiting his brother at Waco, Tex., who expects to leave December 23d for France. The former was relieved by Mrs. W. R. Jahns, and she on third by Bro. Joe Chamber- lain, relieved on third Byron by Belle Balthazor. Figures just in show that there was $58.75 sent in to help Bro. Otto Loek, second Kolze, and this was turned over to Mr9. Loek. She wishes to extend her thanks to the boys along the line. Most of the boys responded promptly, while a few seemed to have mislaid the call, but it is not yet too late. A donation of a few dollars is never missed by a man that is working, but it looks big to one who has met with misfortune. Bro. Loek has been in the hospital several months with a tumor on the brain, his recovery being doubtful. He has always been a good member and an effi- cient employe, and we greatly regret his affliction, still hoping for the best. Fraternally, A. T. Meyer, Cert. 486, Div. 119. C. R. I. & P. Ry., Div. No. 126. General Offices — Trenton — Bro. Christensen is baching a few days while the family is visiting home folks. Bro. Schreiber spent a day at Stockbridge re- cently visiting with his brother, who was home on a furlough from Camp Funston. Last report from Bro. Freeman he was trying to make an average digging trenches, but the company was a little fast for a man of his experience. The recent cold weather just about put the Missouri Division out of business, but things are moving again and there’s lots of work for every- body. Fairbury — Bro. Carver, off ten days “herding Moose,’* was relieved by Bro. Harrison, whb later went to El Reno. Bro. Shankland is at Jefferson Barracks in the radio service. Bro. Shortridge writes from Mares Island that he has taken his last examination and expects to be ordered overseas any day now. It is rumored they go to the North Sea. The force is the same as usual; business heavy; lots of overtime. Chicago — Bro. Phelps recently passed around a box of some very superior cigars to celebrate the arrival of his baby girl. Bro. Packett tore his cigar open; but it proved O. K., so he chewed it. Bros. Carroll and Oehmke have enlisted in the radio service. They will be called about January 10th. Bro. Mangan has returned from a ten-day jaunt to Tiskilwa, Blue Island, Englewood and the loop. We all received Christmas greetings from Bro. Ford, “over there.” There is a mysterious “all-cap Underwood” go- ing the rounds up here (which accounts for date lines that look something like this: “HERING- TON JAN L L9L8”). We asked about the mills, but it is a question of such pit and moment that it must be carefully guarded. Our general chair- man also asked Mr. Hood about the 20-minute eating clause in the schedule. Inasmuch as it reads “when convenient,” or other words to that effect, it is to be understood that if there is an unsent message in the room that it is not con- venient; so there you are. Bro. Stansbury invested in a pair of skates re- cently. He should have a care. Only last July he invested in a swimming suit and dived from the sand dune out at some south side beach into nine dark inches of Lake Michigan and came up looking like he had been dragged through a barb- wire entanglement. We lost El Reno some time back on account battery off in “NO” office. It was suggested im- mediately that we get a Western Union circuit; but we won’jt tell who suggested this. W. U. circuits are as a rule good, but not so good that they work without battery. Bro. G. K. Simmonds, second mate of this galley- foist, with the misnomer of a telegraph office, is on jury. Anyone pleading a case before George can rest assured of a square deal. Bro. Hanson had shock absorbers put on the heels of his shoes since he has to carry around that No. 10 Remington. Bro. Simmonds made a remark that six of somebody’s best friends were going to be running around borrowing black suits if somebody didn’t come to work some day with matches, and Bro. Lee sent out right then for a box of safeties. We have “GO’*’ solid again with the exception of the manager and wire chief. Haileyville — With the exception of the manager, this office is again solid after several months of delinquency. Bro. Hutchinson, on sick list several days re- cently, was relieved by the manager, no oper- ators being available. Eight hours, overtime Sundays and holidays, looks pretty good on pay days. Bro. Blevins, on a fishing trip recently, fell in the creek. The question of what luck he had is being held up. Superintendent of Telegraph Hood paid us a visit in December and gave one and all that big hand-shake and smile which he carries with him at all times. Business on the division is good. With 98 per cent of the offices closed Sundays, the O. R. C.s continue to “copy 3” on the pole-set telephones, regardless of the temperature. M. C. Sally, who for several years has worked second trick at Shawnee yard, has been pro- moted to third trick telegrapher Haileyville, vice J. J. O’Brien, night chief. Our friend and brother. Bill Matthews, local chairman of the Indian Territory Division, has resigned and the position is being filled by Bro. Chas. Harding, Shawnee, until an election is held. All regret~to see Bill leave us, as he was han- dling the situation very satisfactorily. There are several delinquents on the division and a few nons. With no Sunday work, shorter hours, larger salaries, higher rate of overtime pay, Digitized by o.ooole
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98 The Railroad Telegrapher. etc., the man on the Rock Island without an up to date is unquestionably a slacker. Goodland — Lafferty resigned, relieved by Bro. Harrison, later bumped by Cummins and went to Fairbury. Business fell oil several days and the force was cut one man, relieving Walker, but an unlooked- for troop movement doubled our business next day, and we needed several more men. Cummins was called home owing to the serious illness of his mother, and we got Walker back for a few days, when he was called to the car distributor’s desk, relieved by our old friend Lafferty, whose resigna- tion didn’t "take.” Bro. Harding was in the turkey business again this Christmas, but not on quite so large a scale as last year. Bro. Snyder is still in poor health, but expects to improve when he gets on the farm again in the spring. * Bro. George Manion and his O. R. T. hounds are bagging a few coyotes now and then. Here’s wishing a happy and prosperous New Year to all O. R. T. men on the Rock Island and all other lines. Herington — The roll of honor continues to grow in the Relay Division. Bro. Shankland, of Fair- bury, is in the radio service now at Jefferson Barracks; also Bros. Rollins and Harper have en- listed in the radio service, who reported at Kansas City on January 2d. Bros. Pearsoll and Rogers “did their bit,” but could not get by the physical examinations, so they are back waiting to be called regardless of a crooked arm or bum optic. Rogers says he can’t see why they turned him down on account of his left eye, as he always shuts it when he shoots. “Happy” tried to argue with them, but they wouldn’t listen to him. Several others enlisted recently from the relay offices; but the details are not at hand, my corre- spondents having failed to keep me posted. Had a letter from each of the “Big Three” on the New Haven — Stub, Tom and Bill — recently. They were with the Rock Island bunch on the way to Seattle last May, and wish to be remem- bered to all. Stub says he would like to hear the “quartette” render “alfalfa hay” once more. Bro. Campbell, our efficient third trick wire chief, enlisted as electrician, first class, and re- ported at Kansas City on January 2d; thence to Great Lakes training camp for about six weeks, then to Columbia or Harvard for a course in elec- tricity. The “star with the annual” that we got from Des Moines some time ago turned out to be a “flivver with nothing.” Several roads have settled on the 26-day month basis since the R. I. did in October, and no doubt others will do likewise; but Division 126 set the pace, which is a source of pride for those who take an active interest in the matter. Several other roads have better schedules than the Rock Island, but_ that is a matter for future arrangement. We are in good shape now, many new members com- ing in during the past month, and if e cryone would do their share it would only be a matter of a very short time until 126 would be the banner division of the organization. Let us all get in the game this year. Don’t wait until you have a grievance to let it be known you are a member. Was looking through the December number of The Telegrapher and note that out of twenty divisions on the Rock Island only six of them had write-ups. Some of the divisions are never mentioned. Could use some more items from the relay offices to good advan- tage. Haileyville is solid again, with the usual excep- tion. Bros. Wyatt, Hutchinson and Blevins all came together and they are going to stay with us this time. Time to pay your dues, brothers. Don’t wait for the second notice. Also, don’t ovrelook the contribution. The division needs it, and we can easily afford it out of the back pay recently granted us. R. D. Stover, Local Chairman. Kansas Division — Bros. Surry, R. J. Patterson and Bellinger have entered the navy in the radio service. Bro. Forbes could not pass the physical examination. First tricks put on at Marion and Holton to give the agents a chance to get up town, meet the public and get business for the road, which they could not do while working a trick. Many new men and yet many wanting relief can not get away on account of the shortage. Mrs. C. E. Laymon, wife and mother of Bros. C. E. and R. L., died at her home in Topeka on December 17th. Resolutions of sympathy follow. The son of Bro. F. E. Huggins, at Zeandale, is very sick, and he has asked for ninety days’ relief, as the doctors say he can not stand the winter here. Everyone is pleased with the new schedule and glad of the shorter hours and longer pay. Those who have not paid their dues should do so at once. Have been doing my best to keep the division lined up to the top notch, and there are only a few out. Got thirteen new members for Decem- ber. most of whom have been working here but a few months. With our almost solid standing, we are in good shape to start the New Year. Sister Beebe, working her first job as relief operator at Marion, lined up before she had been working a month. The wife of Bro. Ussery, of Dwight, has taken the examination as operator, but not yet assigned. Local Chairman Shaw was relieved by Bro. W. L. Hackleroad ten days while covering the division. Bro. Strain, now nicely located on second Marion, is kept busy while off duty chopping wood on account of the coal shortage. Cert. 406. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to the great beyond the beloved wife and mother Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 90 of our Bros. C. E. and R. L. Laymon; therefore be it Resolved , That the members of Division No. 126, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the bereaved family their sincere and heartfelt sym- pathy in this sad hour of affliction; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this division, a copy sent to the bereaved family, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. M. W. Shaw, C. M. Surry, F. H. Munzer, Committee. Oklahoma Division — Bro. Wilday, local chairman, Oklahoma City passenger station, was off a few days to do a little missionary work on the nons. The wife of Bro. Nichols, Oklahoma City yard, who had a severe case of pneumonia, is reported better. We all hope for her speedy recovery. Assignments: Driftwood agency to Bro. H. J.t Bongeno. Elk City agency bid back by Bro. T. H. Ward. The $120 looked good to him and others also, as there were thirteen bids received. Yukon first trick to Bro. W. E. Carter; agency Choctaw to Bro. C. R. Frye; agency Dale, which has been a~ non-telegraph station, now opened up as agent and operator, to Bro. B. A. Hogg. Brothers, it is impossible to give you all the news with not one of you sending in any notes. A. L. Martin, Div. Cor. C. B. A Q. R. R.f Div. No. 130. Relay Division — Our committee closed negotiations with satis- factory results to all concerned, showing the effect of that grand old motto, “In unity there is strength ." Brothers, it's the duty of every one of us now to get busy and help to complete thorough organi- zation within our ranks, giving our committee our full support at all times. As many as can con- veniently spare the money, purchase a yearly card, thereby showing our appreciation. Do not fail to emphasize our motto freely: “No card, no favors.“ We have a solid organization in “GO" office and every office on the Relay Division should fol- low suit and obtain a solid front. Wre have a dandy schedule, but we must stick together in order to keep the benefits we have gained. Pay your dues promptly and be up to date at all times. Bro. Bill Reynolds was off a few days having bis tonsils removed. Bro. Abie Coats made a trip to Winchester, Ind., during the zero weather to see his mother, and returned “all froze up." Bro. Rose was called home unexpectedly from office on account of Mrs. Rose receiving a bad fall. She is now in the hospital, but hopes to be out soon. We all extend her our sympathy. Bro. Jim Castle, first “WC," called home on account of the serious illness of his mother, re- ports she is improving slowly. Bro. Winchell spent Thanksgiving with his par- ents at Alma, Mich., and Christmas with his wife's folks at Montpelier, Ohio. Bro. Kaiser, at local freight office, spent a few days visiting his brother in the army at Houston. J. J. Rose. Aurora Division — Assignments: Bro. Dinwiddie, day operator and ticket seller Ottawa, to second Somonauk tower, -vice Bro. Eldred, returned to Leland; Bro. Nor- deen to second Wataga tower, protest by Bro. Foster, of Kewanee cabin, claiming seniority, being investigated; Bro. Heneway, second Steward Jet, to first there, vice Bro. Duck, to first Rochelle depot. Telegrapher Hemrick, Wyanet extra, made Local Chairman Todd a short visit, and before he left he was up to date. The Mendota and Denrock branch, which Bro. Todd made solid in one day last summer, needs fixing again. Several nons over there now. Mr. Chambers, formerly second at tower 38, now on third Montgomery, is the only wow be- tween Mendota and Bcrwin. Those nons on the C. & I. said they would join if they got the same increase and working condi- tions that the main line proper got. They got it in the new schedule. We must now see that they keep their promises; also Wilks and Engle, at Streator, who got $10 increase, shorter hours and pro rata for Sundays. No excuse now. Keep after them. Cert. 5. Galesburg Division — Everyone is extremely well pleased with the splendid increase secured by our committee. While in Chicago making the spread I was re- lieved by Bro. Datin, from third, and he by Bro. Dewitt, from Maquon. Later Bro. Datin was called to Bussey, Iowa, by the serious illness of his wife and transferred back to the Iowa Divi- sion on that account. Bro. Gookins to Yates City, taken sick, relieved by McCleery, later opened third Farmington a few nights until called for draft; Swigart, third Lewistown, relieving. Bro. A. R. Lisenby to Monica agency, vice Bro. Miner, who relieved him at Castleton. Bro. Chinn, first “YD" Galesburg, recently made a trip to Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the funeral of a relative; he is now off sick, Bros. Walker and Jordan doubling; later Bro. Mills, from Santa Fe, relieving. Bro. Higgins, helper St. David, has gone tele- graphing, leaving Bro. Mullen alone with the sta- tion work. Bro. Antrim, agent Oak Hill, relieved by Yates, second Edwards (closed), called to Camp Logan, Houston, Tex., by illness of his son, Leo, for- merly third Lewistown. Digitized by Caooole
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100 The Railroad Telegrapher. Agent Fleisher, Elmwood, working first trick a tew days; Moore to second; McCleery to third Yates City, relieving Dewitt. Conner to first Elmwood, permanently relieved on first Canton by Bro. Hoskins. Assistant Local Chairman Jones, of the Quincy branch, visited in Chicago recently. Bro. Peluse, of Augusta, visiting in Chicago in anticipation of being, drafted, was called home by Superintendent Fuller with a request to work until he had to report. Not a word from the north end this month. Best wishes for a happy New Year. Local Chairman. Beardstown Division — It is now Bro. Shepard at Jacksonville and Bro. O. M. Cherry at Girard. Assignments: Bro. Jack Whorton to first Vir- den; Bro. R. M. Willie to third Christopher; Mr. Kell to third Centralia yards, relieved by a new man at Centralia, 111. All the boys are now work- ing eight-hour tricks and arc well pleased over the new schedule. Now let us get the nons lined up and help the committee next time they go up for a change in schedule. Let's all pull for that 100 per cent strong and keep it that way. There are only two or three nons left over here on the Jack line. When you find you arc working with one of them, tell him what the Order has done and will do yet; talk kindly to him, and he will see he is wrong and come in with us. On the morning of December 6, 1917, the sad news flashed over the Jack line that Bro. L. E. Dooley, of Walnut Grove, 111., was dead, and the following contributed for a floral tribute: Bros. J. H. Mann, H. V. Spanchower, L. W. Yowell, M. H. Cole, Jim Dagon, R. N. John- son, F. A. Snow, J, W. Allen, Geo. Mastaler, R. H. Chipman. J. Wilgus, G. H. Stephenson, J. L. Akins, F. Cooley, O. M. Cherry, R. Willie, H. L. Jones, B. Nestcr, T. H. Agnew, W. Van Velson, C. B. Featherstone, J. Champ, L. S. Sav- age, R. Picrcy, J. T. Cole, S. S. Dycus, H. Kirk- patrick, E. Bird, T. E. Akers, H. Cook, G. Ven- tres and R. Ambrow, and friends: Lee Clark, J. J. Elvidge, J. N. Yowell, F. Corkhill, A. D. Haste, Ed. Renolds, R. P. Wossmiller, C. E. Koker. J. H. Mann, Ass't L. C., Cert. 745. La Crosse Division — Bro. V. C. Smeltzer, relieved at Savanna tower by Bro. Frommelt, from Nelson second, relieved Bro. Woods, agent Trevino, a few days on ac- count of the sickness of his mother. W. D. Johnson, second Crawford, on sick list, relieved by Bro.. Tate, from third Nelson. The two jobs at Bad Axe are closed, Hastings and Wetterlin returning to Victory, reopened. Assignments: Higgins to second Prairie du Chien, vice Bro. H. B. Lindner, to Pepin days, vice Bro. H. L. Sterling; Bro. Van Loon to third South Jet. several days later, relieved by Bro. Coleman; Bro. V. C. Smeltzer to Nelson third. Bro. Otto Hermanson, second Trempealeau, was relieved by G. O. Farber, an old-time agent, a few days to take his wife to La Crosse hospital. Wc are glad to report that she is able to be back home. Bro. W. E. Garber, agent Trempealeau, visited his folks at Diamond Bluff on Thanksgiving Day. No one seems to want second Savanna. It will pay about $100 per. Bro. Ed Woods, Trevino, is again on the ex- emption board at Durand. Thanks to Bros. White and Sands for this write-up. Wish more of you would drop me a note, so we could have a better one. Don’t forget to remit your dues for the next card and see that your neighbor does likewise. Div. Cor., Cert 227. Hannibal Division — “X" Office, Hannibal — Bro. W. E. Kenning spent Sunday recently at Jefferson Barracks, visiting his brother, Russell, a member of the U. S. Aviation Corps. Bros. Baker and Ainge were down at Saverton recently chasing cottontails. The boys here received their first half Decem- ber pay on the 22d and like the looks of the new figures on the pay checks very much. Tucker is at Wymore Relay, relieved by Phoner Hays. It’s time these two boys were lining up. Hannibal Division Notes — Bro. C. R. Chipman, third Elsberry, and wife visited his mother at LaBelle on Christmas. Bro. Ringo relieved C. L. Bushman, agent Elsberry, while visiting his son, H. R., at Fort Sill. Old Monroe agency being on bulletin will likely- open up several offices again. We hope to be solid on this envision by Febru- ary 1st. The checks just received for the first half of December look good to the boys. Our chief dis- patcher advises that a special roll is being made up for the back pay, which will reach us in the near future. Callie ^Jays, L. C. St. Joe, Mo., Division — - The new’ schedule meets the approval of every one. It is the best settlement we have ever se- cured, and the committee is to be congratulated for its earnest and untiring efforts in our behalf. The loyal support of the membership at the right time must have been very gratifying to the com- mittee. Bro. H. S. Shaudy bid in second Langdon; F. T. Brennen, agency Nishua, and Bro. M. Terrill, third Barkville. New members: Sister Alice McClure, “RM” Kansas City; Bros. II. C. Birch, “CA” Clarinda; R. E. Lillie, Farley, Mo., and J. T. Birmingham, agent Forest City. We are glad to have this sister and brothers with us, and hope a few more will soon follow their good example. I was off one day recently, taking in the sights at St. Joe, relieved at Cain by former agent Bro. C. II. Waldruff. L. J. Millrn. Loc. Cor., Coin, Iowa. Digitized by c.oo<?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 101 Ottumwa Division — Assignments: S. A. Gilland to agency Frederic, and Bro. Wilmering, from M. & St. L , to Glad- stone third, account of no bids received; Bro. R*. A. Best to first agency, Bro. H. F. Ross, third Dudley; Bro. A. C. Sefrit, third, and Bro. W. R. Crossland, second Mt. Pleasant; Mrs. B. B. Stroup, third West Burlington; Bro. G. H. Trib- ler, third Murray; Bro. J. A. Houston, Biggs* ville agency. We welcome to our ranks the following new members: C. T. Stafford, J. B. McKenna, G. S. Wilson, E. F. Jones, P. F. Goltry, M. A. Merich and W. E. Snyder. Bro. Menzie, extra dispatcher, is working first “LTK,” while Bro. Mason is trying out a new position in Mr. Messenger’s office. We regret very much to lose our worthy local chairmas, but Bro. Mason has the best wishes for his success from all of the brothers on the division. Bro. O. F. Miller is back at Maxon until called out to Camp Dodge. We regret to lose Bro. Miller, but no doubt after a few months' train- ing Bro. Miller will learn to dodge the bullets and prove an asset to Uncle Sam's army. Bro. P. E. Haist, exempted from service, now on extra, relieved on second Agency and third Gladstone one night, and a few nights on second Albia, and on third Murray a short time. We regret to anounce the death of Bro. Wil- mering’s wife, who died recently at Keithsburg, 111. Owing to the fact that I was not advised of this, we failed to send flowers for the funeral, had some brother on the east end notified me, we would have arranged for them by mail. Bro. Wilmering has the sympathy of us all in this sad bereavement. Let us show our appreciation for the new schedule secured by our committee by lining up the few remaining nons and help the good cause along. Providing all promises work out we should soon have a solid membership on this division. I wish you would all send me a few items each month. With no assistance whatever you can not expect much. Our secretary desires all who can to take out a yearly card, which is $10. This will save the trouble of remitting dues again in six months and eliminate a great deal of book work. Thanks to Bro. Tribler for the items. Come again. P. E. H., Assistant L. C. CARD OF THANKS. I desire to express my sincere thanks and appre- ciation to all the O. R. T. brothers and friends for the beautiful floral design given for the funeral of my father. j. \f. Stevenson. Omaha Division — We have no delinquent members, a number have remitted for their new cards and some have been received, a number of which are annuals. All who can should remit for the entire year, saving considerable work and expense for our general secretary and putting finances back to normal again. If not able to put up the amount for the whole year, pay up for the six months. Bro. Yocum will visit home folks in Missouri a week, as soon as relieved. The ice business started at Laketon about December 15th, had to close on account of warm weather. Bro. Gleason, in charge, returned to Walthill, and was used a few days at Ferry on M. & O. position, owing to shortage of men. Bro. Hawkins, from Mo. Pac., on second Fre- mont, when ice business closed relieved Bro. Russel, Greenwood second, who bid in Belden. Bro. Thackery, third Plattsmouth, off several nights sick, Bros. Moore and Mayfield doubling. Bro. Baum, Prague, enlisted in navy, relieved by his wife, Sister Baum. It is now Sister Shaunessy, third Waverly. Bro. Dell, at Gretna, has accepted position with bank there. We all wish him success. Relieved by Bro. Simons, pending bulletin. Bro. Miller coming back into service as operator at Gretna. Bro. West went to Lincoln with Bro. Denton to receive instructions on new schedule. We are all glad to hear of the recovery of Bro. Denton’s wife from her recent sevefe illness. Bro. West stopped in “G” office Omaha en route. Bro. Navel, of Edholm, was also an Omaha visitor recently. Brothers, we can just about claim the banner in percentage of membership. The few nons left ' have no excuse to remain out, and we must have them all this year. Wish you all a happy New Year. H. L. Gilbert, Wann, Neb. Wymore Division — Assignments: Bro. E. A. Cox, Bennett; R. A. Brinson, nights Pawnee. New members: C. Coffey, Nebraska City; A. J. Beverka, Fortescue; O. D. Samsel, Bladen; H. B. Burke, Rulo. Dispatcher Martin transferred to Sterling, Colo. Bro. F. H. Haley was off a few days on account of the death of his brother-in-law at Pawnee. R. A. Stinebock is relieving at Salem, vice Bro. A. M. Russell. Does any one know of his where- abouts? Bro. C. C. Sheeley at Salem nights. C. B. Wade, trying out at Rulo, promises to be one of us in the near future. It was very nice of the company to get us our back pay and regular check for first half of December in time for Christmas, and I am sure the boys appreciate the kindness. Show no mercy to the nons, keep right after them. There is absolutely no excuse for one non on this or any other division now. We did not lose a single member this term through non-payment of dues. Let us all put our shoulder to the wheel and see if we can not bring our division up to the solid O. R. T. mark. There are only a few left and we can accomplish the necessary by a little extra de- termination and persuasion. Live up to the rule, “No card, no favors ” in each and every case. Cert. 36. Digitized by Gooole
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102 The Railroad Telegrapher. Sterling Division — We have now got one of the best all around schedule we ever had, and in dividing up the increases I did my best to put the money where it belonged. We now have a $70 minimum on this division, and not an operator’s position that pays less than $80, with no Sunday work on the High Line, except Curtis and Holyoke, none on the Cheyenne line, and no more than is abso- lutely necessary on the other branches. Some of the boys showed their appreciation for what the committee has done for us by making a little donation towards a draft given to Bros. Denton and Rogers on Christmas morning. We were late in getting it started, which no doubt prevented several more of the boys donating. Those who sent me $1 each were: Bros. R. E. Gavin, Dalton, Neb.; R. O. Close, Angora, Neb.; Baker, extra agent, Bro. F. E. Crees, Gurley, Neb.; C. W. Wright and Operator. Branson, Mitchell, Neb.; M. A. Shipman, Operator Elston and Wallick, Sidney; Mr. McLean and Coppon,. Morrill, Neb., and H. M. Benkley, Henry, Neb. Seven non-members, which with my little donation and $3 later received from Bro. Marcy for Knight, Townsend and himself, at Bridegport, Neb., made a total of $18 from this division. Now, brothers, let’s line up the nons and get the division up to a 100 per cent. There is no excuse for any body staying out of the Order now. If^ou will all help, we can do it. Let every one see that every non in his vicinity is made an O. R. T. member with the least possible delay. The superintendent advises me that we will all get our back pay on January pay day, and that will be the best time in the world for all the nons to send in their applications. Let’s strike while the iron is hot and get them all lined up. It is now Bro. Harris, agent Haxtun, Colo , vice Bro. Dell, Banister, now cashier in a bank there, whom we wish all kinds of success. Send me a few items, so we can have an inter- esting write-up every month all year. Let me have them in time, so I can get them to St. Louis before the 25th, and remember our motto, “Ao card, no favors F. A, Sense, Local Chairman. McCook Division — Brothers, the new schedule has been working now for about a month, and the most of you have ere this been assigned the proper hours and got your back pay since August 1st. Thus you see by staying together and pulling all together we got a real schedule revision, asd we should show our appreciation by giving the company the best service possible. It behooves us to get the nons lined up and strengthen our organization in order to get any other conditions or maintain the ones we have, so let’s all get busy. I have asked Bro. Weyl to give us a write-up each month; with his assistance we hope to keep posted on the changes. Bro. Hunt was relieved while on schedule work by Merriwether, Nash and Morris, the latter now Bro. Morris; the two others have left. Bro, Sweeney, agent Lyons, is now running that station without an operator. Bro. L. E. Skinner, of the Brookfield Division, is now cashier at LaFayette. We extend him the glad hand, he sure is a good man to have with us. Recent appointments have been very slow in accepting their places, and has caused the new bulletin to be put out, where if one does not accept after he has been appointed he goes on the extra list, so, boys, be careful and know you want the place before bidding, for it sure will be enforced. Sometimes the chief has had to make three or four appointments before getting a man to accept. C. R. Hunt, L. C. McCook Division Notes — T. L. Jones to second Arapahoe, vice H. T. Mathews, to Eckley third; A. L. Morris to third Arapahoe, vice Cheehey, joined the army; Bro. C. W. Richards to Holdrege second, vice C. E. Rickard, gone with Holdrege Lumber Co. as cashier. J. T. Baggett, first Holdrege, was a re- cent Visitor at Camp Funston. Brothers, talk to the nons working with or next to you and stay with them until they are members in good standing. Where would we have been with our last schedule had it not been for our committee being backed by our wonderful and powerful organization. We should not rest until we have a 100 per cent membership to retain what we now have. We need all the nons in the fold, don’t give them any rest until they join, remembering ’Wo card , no favors .” It should be a very easy matter for the non to come in„ the delinquent to pay up, and all pay a full year’s dues for the next term, with the back pay they are getting in the new schedule, without costing them a penny. I have asked all the brothers to send me notes, but it seems they all overlook it or forget to tell what changes have been made at their stations, so I am going to appoint some one on each line that I can’t get to by wire, and see if we can’t have a good write-up in the journal each month. I must have the notes in time to get them to St. Louis before the 25th. Business is good now, especially the moving of freight, and we should all give the best service to the company possible. Bro. Hunt will announce a meeting at MeCook sometime in the near future, and all who can pos- sibly get there should attend. If we take it up personally, Mr. Runnels will use the trains to accommodate us. So watch for it, and when it is announced commence planning how to get there. H. R. Weyl, Cert. 202. Sheridan Division — It begins to look as though a number of us will soon be at the front. Some of the boys be- ing taken that I am not being notified about. Send me this information and all the news you can by the 18th of the month, so I can get it to St. Louis before the 25th. Bro. Essex Upton, agent O’Neil, Neb., on a company case, relieved by Bro. Ray Thompson, Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 103 second Upton, expects to go to St. Louis on a trip after he leaves O'Neil. New Castle has three helpers now. It is get- ting to be a booming town. • Bro. Beitel, treasurer Campbell County, is on third; Bro. Mead, cashier Gillette Bank, on sec- ond, and C. G. McQueen, a commercial operator from Chicago, on first Gillette. Mrs. Mary Thompson, Sister G. Shaughnessy and her sister worked a few nights at “NA,” then went to Verona. Bro. C. B. Caldwell resigned at Felix, relieved by^ Bro. £. J. Wesbinskey, and he at Echeta agency by Bro. Allen Hunter, relieved on second by Bro. L. B. Mooney, who later went to Sheri- dan, and was operated on for appendicitis. Reports second day following were that he was getting along nicely. Hope he continues to do so. Quite a number of changes I was unable to get, but I hope you will all send me the news next month. Wish you all a happy New Year. Yours fraternally, E. J. Wbshinskby, Cor. Casper Division — The boys on this division are very pleased with the new schedule. I now have the promise of six applicants, and that shows that they appre- ciate it. There is no excuse for the nons not to join now, as one month’s increase will pay for their dues for a year. We were sorry to hear of Bro. Roberts, agent at Manderson, quitting this division, also Bro. Ewton, of Poder River, but wish them success wherever they go. Operator Kauble, from Douglas, to Wendover second, and Operator Johnson, from the Creston Division, returned from vacation, went to third Wendover. Bro. Mills has received his new card and is very proud of it. The third trick man at Glendo says he will take a card out pay day, making Glendo solid. Let’s make them all that way. Several good jobs were put on bulletin last month, but I have not got the names of the parties getting them. No one sending me any news at all this month. Now, boys, being you only have to work eight hours per day, please let me have at least fifteen minutes of one of those hours and send me some news this month. Get it to me by the 15th, and we will try and have a better write-up. Ce*t. 298. Florida East Coast Ry„ Div, No. 160. We are now after a contract for the first time, as the brothers have at last woke up and decided that we were railroading with the exception of a contract, and see where we could have better jobs, better hours and better pay; so we are now 90 per cent strong, are going into it the right way, and going to have it if all the boys will stand by the committee, which everyone has prom- ised they would. We have the best climate — the dear old sunny South, where the oranges, grapefruit and all kinds of citrus fruit grows — and there is no excuse why we shouldn’t have a good contract and splendid working conditions. During the tourist season we have twelve pas- senger trains each twenty- four hours, and two Cuban freight trains each day and extras. Why sit down and work for the salary we are getting now. The road raised all tricks — first, $80; sec- ond and third, $75, with a minimum of $70. We have had this minimum for over one year, and can not pay the prices for board, etc., on this salary. Some of the boys are getting a chance at some of the agency work now. Assignments: Gray, from Ft. Pierce, to Ful- ford agency on account of Bro. Gatewood entering the army; Bro. Edwards to Hobe Sound agency, relieving Bro. Hinton, to Homestead clerk and telegrapher. Bro. Childs, second Key West, will come up to the Miami dispatcher's office and be third trick dispatcher on the south end during the winter season; Bro. Riddle, “MX" Miami, will take second trick dispatcher, and Bro. Rey- nolds, now clerk for the chief dispatcher, who returned December 20th from a few days’ vaca- tion, will be first trick dispatcher. Boys, let's all stand by the committee and get that contract; then we can get more money and better hours for the agents, and send in what few items you have to the secretary and treasurer, Bro. J. H. Myers ,at Hallandale, and have a good write-up each month. I am taking this on my own self this time, only just to start things off, while the others are busy with the contract. This is not much, but will let the brothers of other railroads -know that the old Florida East Coast is going to reach the top with the others. “KN," Cert. 66. O.-W. Ry. & N. Co., Div. No. 161. Cleveland Darbee, second Duncan, resigned; waited three weeks and then had to leave the job unfilled. Understand he went to the N. P.; better wages and conditions. It was necessary to close third Huron, sending Miss Sailor to Duncan. Assignments: Sister and Bro. Frederick to second and third Duncan, unable to get living quarters; company has promised to furnish them an outfit car; Calvert, Meacham, to third La- Grande, relieved on vacation by Cassell; Bro. Geo. MacDonald to Hilgard agency; Mrs. Myrtle Woods, on third Hilgard pending bulletin, to “RA," vice Stearns, resigned; Sister Ruth Hart, extra Pendleton, to Baker; Bro. Reilly to second Kalema, vice Bro. Watters, to ^leacham agency; Sister Prudence Hauser to second North Powder, closed for a few days; Hazcn, Sr., extra at Hinkle, to third North Powder; Bro. White, agent Wal- lowa, to third Pendleton; Bro. Lyons to “RA" second. Bro. E. McCann, second Meacham, gone with the S. P. in California. Digitized by c.oo<?Le
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104 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. L. V. Thomas, fourth Huntington, on vaca- tion; other boys at Huntington having to double most of the time. Bro. McLaughlin, first LaGrande, has entered the radio department of the aviation corps. Mike Walsh, dispatcher, has also joined the colors. New members: Owen C. Smith, Cosmopoiis, Wash.; J. D. Lawrence, Seattle, Wash.; Richard W. Fulkerson, Wyeth, Ore.; Wesley E. Sego, Arlington, Ore.; A. J. Flessler, Ayer Jet., Wash.; F. E. Adams, Page, Wash.; H. G. Cooper, Arling- ton, Ore.; A. E. Blackburn, Arlington, Ore. W. H. F. Davis, G. S. & T. Ann Arbor R. R.f Div. No. 164. Bro. Gumm, Hallett, was off several days on account of the death of his brother-in-law, Frank Corning, former roundhouse foreman. Bro. S. J. Cox is back at “CS” from his trip to Florida. Bro. Terrill, offered Frankfort agency, has de- cided to remain at Dundee. Business in Manhattan yards is getting heavy. On account of the shortage of engines on the H. V., the A. A. are sending their crews direct to the H. V. yards for trains. Boys, let’s all get our dues in as soon as pos- sible and also see if we can not get the nons lined up. Cert. 2. Westbound business a little light, eastbound very heavy, averaging seventy-five cars iron ore for Detroit a day from Menominee, keeps two boats on the Menominee running continually, also doubling two of the large 180 class engines in handling it south. Car Ferry No. 6 is just out of dry dock after a month’s over hauling for winter service; No. 4 now in dock for same pur- pose, averaging three heavy trains southbound a day out of Frankfort. Bros. Werkman, Welker and Potter are still holding down these three tricks. The moving of the freight agent’s office to the freight house has eliminated a lot of work from the operator, which now gives them more time for their regular duties. Bro. Schriebe, Beulah, on a two weeks’ trip West, came near locating their on account of his wife’s health. Glad to hear he is going to remain with us. Never a livelier agent has “BN” had. Bro. Elder, Thompsonville, is still without an operator on account of the shortage of men. He has been given a clerk, but this does not answer the bill at a point like “MO.” Here’s hoping he gets ample help. Bro. Chamberlain, from Mesick, is now at Owosso in the local freight agent’s office, relieved by Sherwood. Bro. Strong, still at Harrietta, does not have to sit around the station all day Sunday as he did a year ago without being paid for it. Bro. Ben Taylor, on Selma first, is waiting relief to take charge there as yardmaster. Cam- mon, on second, should notify the management that he is not desirous of any increase, so that the committee can spread his share on someone who does. Bro. Clark, on third, is waiting for relief to open up Lake George. • Brothers, the committee have drawn up a new schedule and forwarded it to the management, asking for a date for a conference. Remember our motto, “No card, no favors .” Cert. 42. Chicago A. Alton R. R., Div. No. 168. Our committee met the management in Chicago on December 3d, and, after a short conference, negotiations were broken off and the matter is now in the hands of the government mediators. All brothers are requested to pay their dues . promptly, so that our committee can be properly financed for any eventuality. Northern and Southern Division Notes — Bro. Wilson has resumed on second Girard after ninety days off, taking his wife to Coqway, Ark., for her health, which, we are sorry to say, failed to improve, and she passed away September 27th. The members of Division 168 extend their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved brother. Bro. Homer Deaton, working as wire chief for the A. T. & T. Co. at Bloomington for the past six months, has enlisted in the aviation branch of the signal corps. We all wish him good luck. Extra Bro. Hart bid in Ashland tower nights. Bro. Guyman, second Sherman, off a week, recuperating and visiting the doctor at Decatur, was relieved by Extra Bro. Steele. Sister Karr, off a few days nursing an attack of la grippe, relieved by Bro. Cuttis, of third, who later relieved Bro. Jacobs a few days, visiting friends in Chicago, Bro. Davis doing the extra work. Extra Bro. Vanderpool, relieved at Girard by Bro. Wilson, was sent to Salsted street, Chicago, selling tickets. Bro. Banks and wife, of Atlanta, ate Christmas turkey with the former’s parents at Arrowsmith. Bro. Hilligress, agent McLean, has been pro- moted to car distributor. All wish Bill good luck in his new position. Brothers, if you have a non working with you, be sure and see that he gets to read the article “What Are You Doing for the O. R. T?” on pages 1781 and 1782, December issue. Remember the M. K. & T. boys are still locked out and need our help. Use the slogan in all possible places, “Help Win the M. K. & T. Strike.” As per bulletin, we will have four new posi- - tions in our schedule — Lemont nights, Jerseyville third and Manches second and third. Every member on Division 168 should work for the prize which the Grand Division offers for new members during the year of 1918. Certs. 225 and 291. Digitized by u.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 105 Wabash R. R., Div. No. 170. Springfield Division — Superintendent of Telegraph Church is going to make a wholesale reduction of the numbers and length of the telegraph messages used on the Wabash in the new cipher code, which will cover the needs on ordinary messages. The new code is the stereotyped expressions which refer to tracings of different matters in freight handling translated into short, sugges- tive words whenever possible; this new facility will do away with a large part of work for the operators. The management also suggests that all messages not of great importance be mailed. Hope the brothers will appreciate the outline and all try to work in harmony with each other. Give the dispatchers the best services, boys; they are good fellows, and your co-operation will be appreciated. Mr. Kearney says he wants us to get what's coming to us, and in good faith, too. We must return the compliment. Owing to the severe cold weather and heavy business, five dispatchers are now moving the trains over the Springfield Division, making the cut at “JA Bro. H. P. Flint’s little son fell recently, while playing at the station, and it was necessary to remove him to the hospital, where he is resting nicely. Sister Leeper, we are sorry to announce, is re- ported sick, making it necessary for Bro. Leeper and TIatfield to work twelve hours on account of the shortage of operators. Assignments: Agency Bowen to Bro. Zimmer- man; third Bluffs to Bro. Frank Marshell. Riverton third temporarily closed on account of the resignation of Operator Hatfield, reopened again by the assignment of Louis Bisconti, a new man, who expects to be in our midst soon. "Have you remitted for that new card yet t" A. E. Zold. Decatur Division — The meeting held at Decatur on Saturday night, November 24th, was attended by the following brothers: Hyde, H. A. Long, C. S. Long, A. L. Piggot, R. R. Lowery, M. Meyer, J. E. Me Intire, J. M. Lankford, J. R. Hefner, R. V. Williams, A. G. Dixon, F. A. Rock, W. R. Kearney, Roy Beach, M. Thornburg, O. and L. Graybeal, E. W. Hedburg, G. Hudson and the general chairman and local ^chairman of the Decatur Division, also the following brothers of the Springfield Division : Local Chairman Unglaub, A. E, Zold, H. P. Flint, L. W. Abbott, W. Wolff, and from Moberly Division, Bros. Nixon and Bro. Collins, of “GM.” The meeting was called to order by our Local Chairman and General Chairman Nash at* 8 p. m. The meeting was very interesting and some very important questions were brought up regard- ing our working conditions; the most important being in regard to sending our committee back to to St. Louis in the next few months for schedule negotiations the majority of the brothers saying they were not entirely satisfied with the present schedule which went into effect the* 1st of last November, as in percentage it does not ’come up with other lines running parallel with ours and several other 'roads over the country. It was finally decided to mail a letter to every brother, and let him vote according to what be thought in regard to this matter, and let the ma- jority of the vote rule. This has been done , so let every brother vote according to his own opinion. Bros. Williams asd Operator Wells are doing the extra work in “XD” while the company has on the extra dispatching force at Decatur. Assignments: 47th St. second, Bro. O. Gray- beal; Foosland second, Bro. Keller; “GM,” 4 p. m. to 12:01 a. m., Operator Tally; “GM,” 3 p. m. to 11 p. m., not assigned. Cert. 740. Sixth District Notes — Bro. O. E. Hulse, second 47th, resigned to accept a better position elsewhere; was one of our ablest and staunchest members, and while we hate to lose him, wish him success in his new field. . Bro. Marrs, second Chicago Ridge, enlisted as an operator in the engineering corps, and Bro. Leeper, third Orland, signed out as a sergeant in the same corps. Bro. Gruenwald, second Cerro Gordo, also enlisted. Bro. Rufty, late of third Chicago Ridge, now in France, advises that he is workisg an “OS” job on a narrow gauge not far back of the lines. Chicago Ridge agency granted an additional $10 increase by the company, was bid in by Bro. M. O. Nelson, from 12th St., Chicago. The car inspector’s third raise during a period of nine months puts their salary at $108, which makes our recent increase look rather puny. Several north end offices have doubled recently on account of the shortage of men. Dispatcher Sullivan, second Forrest, promoted, causing rearrangement of tricks. Dispatchers McCormick, Renner and Fightmaster now work first, second and third, respectively. Our long promised three-position manuel block signals have failed to materialize, and the caution card still reigns supreme. Let us draw up some resolutions regarding this matter at our next meet- ing and present them to the firm. Cert. 740. Members of the Western Division: Our new schedule secured recently, effective November 1, 1917, gave us a very good wage scale and improvements in working conditions. I de- sire each member on this division to secure a copy of this agreement, read it carefully and familiar- ize himself with it, so he will get what is coming to him. Don’t forget to turn in time for all overtime and deadheading. This means something to the men it affects. In case you are not allowed time, do not throw it in the waste basket and think it can not be allowed, forward to me and I will see why it is not allowed. We still have some nons on this division reap- ing the benefits of what the membership paid for. They sit back and think it’s fine, too, with a Digitized by LaOOQle
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106 The Railroad Telegrapher. thought “it did not cost me anything .” These fellows should get this out of their head, and ask themselves if it is fair to accept and not assist in securing it. , If any of you have a non working in the office with you do not let him rest until he gets right with the O. R. T. They can not say the O. R. T. has done nothing. At any time you need appli- cation blanks, call me on the wire or write me, they will be furnished upon request. There is no reason why we should not be 100 per cent strong. It is now time to pay our dues. Don't forget this, as it is very important. The address of our secretary and treasurer is, Bro. M. Fohey, 450 Crane Ave., Detroit, Mich. Bro. Fohey desires each mon to be on time with dues, as it saves him much work. We can all do it, if we only try. We got a nice increase. Now let’s support the great organisation that secured it for us. C. J. Bittike*, L. C. Western Division, Seventeenth District — Bro. Swearingen, who relieved Mr. Ferrill, “DE,” while visiting sick folks in his family in Kentucky, later relieved Bro. Cantrell, third Ex- celsior Springs Jet., a week. Bro. Bittiker, local chairman, while in St. Louis on committee work, was relieved by move*up; Bro. Bybee, to first, Bro. Richardson to second, Bro. Lynch, extra list, to third Brunswick. Bro. Carter, first Huntsville, heard the bad news of his mother and sister being injured in an auto wreck at Moberly. We wish them a speedy re- covery. Bro. Lynch, extra list, protected Silver City while on bulletin. Bid in by Bro. J. B. Doven- spike. Bro. Squires relieved Agent McCurry at Dalton, on sick list. Bro. A. B. Cox, first Salisbury, visiting the boys at Camp Funston (and looking over his future home, he thinks), relieved a week by Bro. Byrum, second Salisbury. Bro. W. J. Cox was off a few days attending court. J. A. Doyle, No. 1 on the senority list, who went to work for the Wabash in 1870, making him in the service forty-seven years, a large por- tion of which time he has been agent at Hunts- ville, has retired on a pension, and is going to California. We, the agents and telegraphers on the Western Division, congratulate Mr. Doyle upon his long service rendered the Wabash R. R., and regret to see him leave. He was a fine gentleman and very accommodating, and we wish him well. Bro. Squires, who attended the Tiger Jahawk at Columbia, Thanksgiving, relieved Bro. Richard- son several days while he was making the lights shine bright around Kansas City. In getting the news along the lide it seems almost impossible to get every member to con- tribute just one news item. Some of them are pretty good, and I don’t have to ask and beg them to give it to me, but the majority never con- tribute anything, and it seems like it is an insult if I ask them for news. If there is any of that kind on this division, they certainly have the wrong idea of brotherhood. If we live up to the full true meaning of the O. R. T., we must fulfill our obligations. If every* member will just help me a little, you will see a great change in the news items. Make a note of everything that happens of interest, and inside of thirty days you will find that you know something when I ask you for news, instead of the wornout saying, “I know nothing.” Come on, boys, everyone to the wheel, do your bit, and when you find out that “in union there is strength,” you will say, “My, but we have a large space in the journal.” I am not saying this to hurt any member’s feel- ings, wouldnt* do such a thing, but we have come to the point where we need wakening up. I thank every brother who contributed this month, and hope you may do more next month. Get all the brothers interested. Now, let's go. E. W. Miller. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and love, has seen fit to call to her eternal home, where sorrow and parting are un- known, the beloved mother of our Bro. F. Schneider; and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to His will, knowing that He doeth all things for the best; therefore be it Resolved, That the members of the Wabash R. R. System Division No. 170, Order of Rail- road Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing brother their sincere sympathy in this sad hour of his bereavement and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved brother, a copy filed with the division records, and a copy forwarded to The Telegrapher for publication. C. J. Bittiker, F. W. Hagemann, E. W. Miller, Committee. Peru Division — Bro. Chase assigned to first Tilton. Mr. Skinner, a new man, is on third Attica, Miss Smith is on third West Point, and Mr. Smith on second Williamsport pending assignment. Former Night Chief Martin is working first Peru to Tilton, and Dispatcher Bartlow, third Peru to Tilton. Let’s hope he stays. “QP” Jones, who joined the signal corps, is now somewhere in England. Bro. Smith, Logansport, was called home on account of the serious illness of his mother, and Bro. Robertson and Mr. Medricker had to double. Bro. Keiff, extra Tilton, off sick, was relieved by Bro. Murray, from West Lebanon, and Bro. Wheatley and Lidgard doubled two days on ac- count of the shortage of men. Bro. Engler, third Maumee, who relieved Bro. King on vacation, has married and gone to the "Clover Leaf.” Our best wishes go with him. I was unable to get any notes from the east end. If you lay off or know of anyone that does, or Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 107 toy other news, please drop me a line or tell the operators at Wayne or "JN,” so they can tell me. Let txs have these items every month. There is plenty of it on this division, if we could only get it all together. “Lid.” Moberly Division — Assignments: Bro. West to first Moulton; Bro. Williams to second Thompson, vice Bro. Romjue, to second Sturgeon; Bro. Marion to second Ferguson; Bro. Gwinn to third Macon, and Bro. Craig to second Bridgeton. Correction of October journal: Bro. Stephens, agent St. Peters, off three weeks on account of sickness, relieved by his wife, Sister Stephens, third St Charles, who was off one week on account of the death of her mother. Others off owing to sickness were; Bro. Lindenmier, extra Wells* ville, relieved by Bro. Blanton; Bro. Scott, third Thompson, several weeks; Bro. Gwinn, third Macon, relieved by Bro. Scott. Bro. Meyers, second Foristell, was relieved a few days by Bro. Blanton, and Bro. Robinson, third Clark, by Bro. Koch. Bro. Bashaw, agent Benton City, was in Mexico two days attending court, relieved by Bro. Gwinn, of third Macon. Bro. Adams, agent Green Top, relieved by Bro. Mitler, and Bro. West, agent Queen City, relieved by Bro. J. G. West, second Moulton, and he by Bro. Sterritt, were also off two days attending court. Bros. Cauthorn, agent Thompson, and Dornon, Birthold and Morton, Luther, lost their stations by fire. Bros. White, agent LaPlata; Richardson, Moul- ton, and Sweeney, Macon, attended the O. S. A D. meeting at Moberly. Bro. White, agent LaPlata, visiting in Kansas City a few days, was relieved by Bro. Begole, of first there, and he by Bro. Haines, of second there, and he by Bro. Hughes, a new man, whom we welcome. Bro. Cameron, agent Bussey, relieved a few days by Bro. Hughes. Bro. Jackson, first Moulton, has resigned, re- lieved by Bro. West, of second there, and he by Bro. Lindenmier. Bro. Marion, second St. Charles, at Columbia, relieved by Bro. Sterritt. Ben Oney, Div. Cor. Central Vermont R. R.f Div. No. 171. Southern Division — We should enter the new year with a stronger determination than ever before to work for the welfare of our system and its members. More at- tention should be given to the write-ups in our journal and never a month pass without one. I am going to try and have something in every issue. ' You can make my task easier if you will send me a few items of interest to those out of the service who look for our write-ups to learn what is doing on our system. While to us your item might not seem worth bothering about, to them it might be very interesting. We have taken another step forward and se- cured pay for Sunday work and increases of from $5 to $10 per month. Practically all positions are included in the wage scale, and there are some other minor concessions, and, taking everything into consideration, we feel that the committee did splendid work and should receive from every em- ploye the backing that it deserves. It is only a matter of time until we will be as well paid as the telegraphers on any other system in this terri- tory, but to bring this about we must educate the non. We have a few on this division who think they can continue to reap the benefits de- rived from organization and not pay a cent toward its support. We know who they are and intend to start a campaign of “No card, no favors The new schedule has been issued and we are all figuring on our back pay, which we never before received in the history of our road by our branch of the service. This has been brought about by the organization, and yet we have those with us who say the organization has not benefited them. Let our motto be this year: “Solid mem- bership and the Grand Trunk schedule.” The general agent’s position at East New Lon- don has been abolished, and D. J. Lynch ap- pointed transfer agent. Bro. Claude R. Wilson, who bid in Norwich ticket clerk and operator last June, when Bro. Brittin resigned, has enlisted and been assigned to the ordinance department as clerk. He ex- pects to eventually be assigned to the aviation corps. We all wish him good luck and a safe return. Mr. Allen relieved him pending bids. Bro. Bugbee, West Willington, confined to his bed some time by sickness, has resumed work again. Mrs. Bugbee acted as agent during his absence. Bro. Heath, Lebanon, Conn., has purchased a new Metz touring car and spends the most of his spare time seeing America first. Sister J. L. Palmer, South Windham, Conn., spent a few days in Boston and other places o* interest during her vacation. Bros. Carpenter and Chamberlin, of Willimantic, managed to get their vacations by doubling up their work, which kept them hustling for awhile to keep caught up. Bro. Isham, South Coventry, continues to attend to* his duties, although he is the oldest agent in the country in continuous service. Bro. Randall, Mansfield, Conn., has had a large increase of business due to the enlarging of the State institution for the feeble-minded. Bro. and Mrs. Parkhurst spent two weeks in St. Albans, Montreal, and places of interest in that section. Bro. Powell, Stafford, Conn., spent a few days visiting friends in Vermont. Bro. Adams, Monson, Mass., granted a month's leave, has been delayed in leaving on account of difficulty in getting relief. We hope he will aoon be relieved and return feeling better. Bro. Rushworth, Palmer, Mass., was a recent caller on friends at South Windham. Digitized by CaOOQle
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108 The Railroad Telegrapher. Mr. Kennedy, Grand Trunk, assigned Three Rivers temporarily, vice Mr. Hartley, to Palmer third. Bro. Bothwell, Belchertown, enlisted, relieved by Ahern, temporarily. Bro. Chapman relieved Ralph Wilson, agent Willimantic, several months, the latter having met with an accident while assisting the trucker to handle a heavy piece of freight, and was under the doctor's care, but has recovered sufficiently to resume work again. Bro. Smith, Vernon, Vt., relieved Sisters Nash and Foss at Brattleboro recently. Mr. Stebbins, for the past eight or ten years dispatcher at New London, Conn., resigned and was succeeded by Bro. Perkins. Bro. Cooney bid in the operator’s position in the dispatcher’s office. A similar position in the yard office is still vacant. The committee is planning for a meeting at Palmer, Mass., in the near future, and is trying to get one of our Grand officers to be present and give us an address. When we receive the call, let us all try and make it a rousing meeting. The schedule just secured will be the main subject dis- cussed. Bro. Wheeler, Townsfield, Vt., was a recent visitor in Brattleboro, Vt. He' spends his spare time tutoring pupils in shorthand and typewriting, and has turned out a number of very bright ones. My address is Uncasville, Conn. I thank the members who have furnished me a few of these items, and hope you will keep them coming. F. M. Webber, Cert. 13. T. & O. C. and Z. & W. Rys., Div. No. 173. The general committee made one trip to meet the management, but on account of traffic con- gestion, due to storms, the officials were too busy moving snowbound troop trains, etc., to do busi- ness. The committee is to be recalled just as soon as conditions, will permit. Dues-paying time is here, and in order to carry negotiations to a successful conclusion, every member is requested to pay up promptly. Those who have not yet done so should get busy at once, as we need every brother and sister behind the committee. It takes money to carry us through, but if we will all be prompt in paying dues, it is probable no special assessment will be necessary after the schedule revision is concluded. Bro. Cusac, Zanesville, has paid up, being the first; Bro. H. L. France, Mt. Perry, second; Bro. Devore, Thurston, third, and Bro. Underwood, Bowling Green, fourth. We should follow in these brothers’ footsteps to protect our interests. Following we greet as New Year members: L. Miller, Columbus, Ohio; C. F. Swartz, Corning, Ohio; Miss Margaret Fleming, Moxahala, Ohio; Mrs. Elsie B. Glassford, Wapakonetta, Ohio; A. O. Riffle, West Mansfield, and O. N. Spung, Shawnee, Ohio. Our secretary and treasurer, Bro. W. T. Cox, 1061 Palrawood avenue, Toledo, Ohio, advises that many members change their addresses without notifying him, and as a result mail is returned to him unclaimed. It is desired that each member drop him a card advising him of the change, giving the old and new address when transferred, as the postage bill on our division is unusually high, and returned letters are just a waste of funds. This refers to regular assigned members ,and extra men when permanently placed. You who have changed recently please advise him your present address. The recent circular letter regarding the floral fund has only been replied to by a very few. Brothers, if you were sick, would it not cheer you to know the boys thought of you during your illness? Flowers were sent to Bro. Hunter during his illness, and, as before stated, a wreath from Division 173 was also sent for the funeral. To refrain from using money from the general fund, you were asked to donate a small sum. Please remit to Bro. Cox. He advises 25 cents from each is sufficient. Positions bulletined: Agency McCutchenville, and second Clay bank, Landgraf and Beagle. No advice as to recent assignments. Mr. Sheldon, ‘KO,” on two weeks* vacation, is visiting his folks in Colorado, relieved by Mr. McCoy. Both nons, boys. Try and line them up; also Mr. Wagner, “KO,” who has promised. Bro. Elliott recently had a foot pedal installed on his phone, which was very bothersome at first. Mr. Clark was off several days on account of his son, Clyde, being run over by an auto, neces- sitating amputation of one limb above the knee, at Kenton hospital. Bro. McDermitt, taken sick December 18th, caused a double at “WI;” later relieved by Crowe. Bro. Powless was relieved by Bro. Tennant the latter part of November to bid his brother fare- well, who enlisted in the aviation corps. Bro. Cornwell, “HA,” off a few days, and Bro. Williams, “PD,” transferred to Granville on bid; both relieved by Crowe. Bro. Johnson, Columbus, has gone to the C. & M. V. There are several nons still with us who should be induced to join. A couple of them subscribed for Liberty Bonds and paid cash for them. One in particular took out a $2,000 bond, yet he does not help to maintain the organization. Don’t give them any rest, and do not favor them. Letters were recently written to several nons and a stamp enclosed for reply. They were asked to state their attitude towards the O. R. T., if they could not Join, but to date there has been no re- sponse received. They, brothers, are the ones who take the increases and never make a noise only when they do not get as much as they think is due them. Fight shy of them, and remember, “ No card, no favors “BD,” thank you for notes. Wish more would do the same thing. Come again. “CO,” Cert. 49. CARD OF THANKS. Order of Railroad Telegraphers, T. & O. C. Divi- sion 173: Dear Friends — I want to thank you most heartily for the lovely flowers you sent my dear husband Digitized by U.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 109 during his last illness, also for the beautiful floral wreath. I appreciate very much your kind thoughts. Very sincerely, Mas. W. W. Hunter, McCutcheonvillc, Ohio. November 29, 1917. Mo. & North Ark. R. R.r Div. No. 182. On December 5th your committee received a system division charter, and the entire member- ship has been transferred to this division. It is now the duty of each member, individually, to advance his own interests, as well as that of the organization, by making it solid from Joplin to Helena. One dollar commission will be paid by the secretary and treasurer to any member who secures and sends him application papers from one of the few nons left on the line. No special assessment for securing the new schedule will be made, as it is the policy of the general committee not to levy any special assessments if it can be avoided. However, your committee has found it necessary to increase the membership dues to $6 semiannually, as authorized in Section 73, page 81, of System Diyision Statutes, in order to carry on the necessary work of the division and pay for stationery, postage, actual expenses of the committee, etc., as no provision is made in the Grand Division for these expenses. Heretofore this has been met by private contribution, but as it is for the benefit of all, it is only fair that all should share the expense equally. This increase represents only a fraction of the monthly increase in pay you received in the new schedule of Novem- ber 19, 1917, and each one should cheerfully do the necessary if they wish to carry on the good work that has been successfully started. All of this can not be accomplished by a few, and we will only be successful as far as the membership as a whole takes a personal interest in the Order. Get in touch with the new arrivals on the line and invite them to join. “No card, no favors Bro. W. J. Ahrens has reurned to Batavia, and Bro. M. G. Beaty bid in Wheaton, Mo., agency. Bro. R. L. Clay relieved Dispatcher Nash a few days and also relieved Dispatcher Varner while , he spent Christmas at Searcy. Bro. R. S. Swain, Everton, did his Christmas shopping in Harrison. R. D. Pierce relieved E. G. Moore, operator Leslie, who went back into the train service. Bro. H. Luter has returned to Arlberg as agent after thirty days’ honeymoon. Bro. T. R. Thomas was in Little Rock a few days attending Masonic meeting. Bro. O. L. Jennings, agent Miller, has joined the navy, being relieved by Mr. Hooton, who has been checking baggage at Joplin for the Union Depot Co. He promises to come in. It is now Bro. Russell on third Heber Springs. Bro. E. N. Finn, Division No. 2, assigned Moro agency, vice O. J. Smith, resigned, will transfer to Division 182. Bro. E. B. Kern joint agent for the “Cotton Belt” and M. & N. A. at Fargo, was murdered about 6 p. m., December 19th, by a robber who tried to hold him up. He resisted and was getting the best of it when the robber shot him twice, killing him instantly. None of the company’s funds were secured. The new schedule makes all jobs desirable, the ten-hour day making a little overtime for the boys on the north end on account of No. 2 being late owing to heavy express and baggage business. Extra men are scarce and no relief in sight, but other roads are in worse shape than the “North Arkansas.” If any of you have a grievance, take it up with the local chairman at once, and I am sure it will be fixed up without delay. Keep after the nons and let’s make Division 182 solid for a starter. Send any news notes or correspondence for The Telegrapher to R. L. Clay, P. O. Box 366, Harrison, Ark., before the 20th of the month, so he may get them to St. Louis in time for the current issue of The Telegrapher. Cert. 5. Digitized by Caooole
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110 The Railroad Telegrapher. Index to Division Directory Name of Division. No. Addison, N. Y..... 108 Annapolis Royal, N. S 114 Ann Arbor Ry 164 Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry 128 Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Ry 146 Atlantic Coast Line R. R 15 Baltimore & Ohio Ry. # 33 Baltimore & Ohio — Chicago Terminal 33 Bangor & Aroostook Ry 83 Bessemer & Lake Erie Ry 51 Boston & Maine R. R 41 Boston, Mass 89 Boston, Mass 156 Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Ry 92 Canadian Government Rys 11 Canadian Northern Ry 43 Canadian Pacific Ry 7 Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Ry. ^ 175 Central of Georgia Ry 46 Central Vermont Ry 171 Chesapeake & Ohio Ry 40 Chicago & Alton Ry 168 Chicago & Eastern Illinois Ry 34 Chicago & Northwestern Ry 76 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Ry 130 Chicago Great Western Ry 96 Chicago, 111 ‘ 91 Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Ry 9 Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry 23 Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Ry 126 Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha Ry. . 4 Chicago, Terre Haute & Southern Ry. 180 Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western Ry 21 Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Ry. 3 Cobalt, Ont 99 Colorado Midland Ry 81 Danville & Western Ry 59 Delaware & Hudson Ry 12 Denver & Rio Grande Ry 49 Denver, Colo 77 Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Ry 48 Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Ry 116 El Paso & Southwestern Ry 137 Erie Ry 42 Florida East Coast Ry .... 160 Fort Worth & Denver City Ry 145 Georgia Ry 50 Georgia & Florida Ry 167 Georgia Southern & Florida Ry 56 Glace Bay, N. S. .. . . 133 Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry 36 Grand Trunk Ry 1 Grand Trunk Pacific Ry 1 Great Northern Ry 70 Green Bay & Western Ry 142 Gulf Coast Lines 166 Gulf, Mobile & Northern Ry 80 Hamilton, Ont 155 Hocking Valley Ry 40 Illinois Central Ry 93 International & Great Northern Ry 25 Kanawha & Michigan Ry 118 Kansas City Southern Ry 5 Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Ry 163 Kentucky & Indiana Terminal R. R 181 Lake Erie & Western Ry 120 Lehigh Valley Ry 124 Name of Division. No. Maine Central Ry 140 Michigan Central Ry 16 Minneapolis & St. Louis Ry 71 Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Ry. 119 Missouri & North Arkansas R. R 182 Missouri, Kansas & Texas Ry 22 Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf Ry • 174 Missouri- Pacific Ry 31 Mobile & Ohio Ry 24 New Haven, Conn 29 New Orleans Great Northern R. R 179 New Rochelle, N. Y 37 New York Central Ry 8 New York Central Ry. West 19 New York, Chicago & St. Louis Ry 18 New York N. Y 44 New York, Ontario & Western Ry 20 Norfolk Southern Ry 147 Norfolk & Western Ry 14 Northern Alabama Ry 59 Northern Pacific Ry 54 Northwestern Pacific Ry 165 Oregon Short Line 172 Oregon* Washington Ry. & Navigation Co 161 Panama Ry 158 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines east of Pittsburg and Erie) 17 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines west of Pittsburg) . . 36 Pere Marquette Ry 39 Philadelphia & Reading Ry 10 Pittsburg, Pa 52 Providence, R. 1 35 Quebec, Que 115 Queen & Crescent Route (North) 62 Queen & Crescent Route (South) 69 Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Ry 125 Rutland Ry 157 St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Ry 31 St. Louis, Mo 2 St. Louis-San Francisco Ry 32 St Louis, San Francisco & Texas Ry 177 San Antonio & Aransas Pass Ry 141 San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Ry Ill Seaboard Air Line Ry 28 Southern Ry 59 Southern Ry. in Mississippi 24 Southern Pacific Ry 53 Springfield, Mass 38 Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Ry 99 Tennessee Central Railroad 178 Texas & Pacific Ry 88 Toledo & Ohio Central Ry 173 Tring Junction, Que 131 Trinity & Brgzos Valley Ry.... 144 Ulster & Delaware Ry 113 Union Pacific Ry 6 Virginia, Minn 127 Virginian Ry 13 Wabash Ry 170 Wabash, Pittsburg Terminal Ry 35 Washington, D. C 60 Western Maryland Ry 82 Western Pacific Ry 153 West Side Belt Ry 55 Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry 55 Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Ry 93 Zanesville & Western Ry 173 Digitized by v^ooole
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GRAND DIVISION Mutual Benefit Department Assessment No. 141 is due January 1, 1918 Time for payment expires February 28, 1918 AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENTS. On $ 300 00 (Series A) . .$2 40 per year On 500 00 (Series B) 3 60 per year On 1,000 00 (Series C) 7 20 per year BENEFITS PAID DURING NOVEMBER, 1917. Claim No. Name. Cause. • Cert. Div. No. Series. Amt. 2217.. Angus D. McDonald.. . Acute Nephritis .. 33.. 38386.. A. .$ 300 00 2218. .T. J. Newman . Pulmonary Tuberculosis. . . . . 23.. 22877.. C. . 1,000 00 2219.. Wm. J. Hall ..Accident .. 23.. 7378.. B. . 500 00 2220.. Martin Braden . Neuralgia of Heart .. 53.. 324.. C. . 1,000 00 2221.. Emile Jodoin . Railroad Accident .. 12.. 48694.. C. . 1,000 00 2222.. W. X. Krasinsky . Gastric Ulcer-Peritonitis.. . .. 23.. 48055.. A. . 300 00 2223.. F. C. Melvin . Myocarditis .. 17.. 24600.. C. . 1,000 00 2224.. W. H. Currie . Acute Nephritis .. 93.. 31008.. B. . 500 00 2225.. A. J. Crew ! . Alcoholism .. 1.. 2566.. C. . 1,000 00 2226.. C. B. Williams . Pulmonary Tuberculosis... ..168.. 40812.. A. . 300 00 2228.. James L Whiting . .Acute Nephritis ..161.. 23547.. C. . 1,000 00 2229. .Alexander McPhee .. . . Pneumonia .. 5.. 32028.. C. . 1,000 00 2230.. Daniel E. Ball, Jr . Pulmonary Tuberculosis. . . .. 29.. 30899.. C. . 1,000 00 2231.. B. N. Rice . Organic Heart Disease .. 14.. 21231.. A. . 300 00 Total. . .' $10,200 00 FINANCIAL STATEMENT— MORTUARY FUND. Receipts. Received on Assessments to November 30, 1917 $1,990,801 60 Received on Assessments December, 1917 15,696 87 Total $2,006,498 47 Disbursements. Death Claims paid to November 30, 1917 $1,368,077 47 Death Claims paid December, 1917 10,200 00 Assessments refunded account rejected applications 2,263 92 Assessments transferred to dues 315 03 Cash on hand credit Mortuary Fund, December 31, 1917 625,642 05 Total $2,006,498 47 C. B. RAWLINS, Grand Secretary and Treasurer Digitized by v^oooLe
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112 The Railroad Telegrapher. Official Directory General Offices, St. Louis, Mo. GRAND OFFICERS. II. B. PERHAM President St. Louis, Mo. VV. T. BROWN First Vice-President 6039 Rhodes ave., Chicago, 111. G. D. ROBERTSON Third Vice-President R. R. 3, Welland, Ont., Can. E. J. MANION C. B. RAWLINS. .Grand Secretary and Treasurer St. Louis, Mo. T. M. PIERSON.. Second Vice-President Central Square, N. Y. J. J. DERMODY Fourth Vice-President 970 Kirbert ave., Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio. Fifth Vice-President Room 814, Star Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. J. F. Miller, Chairman, 2916 Huntingdon ave., G. E. Soyster, Room 309, Drexel Bank Bldg., 763 Baltimore, Md. Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. B. E. Nason, Secretary, North Branch, Minn. II. G. Alexander, 122 Tate st., Greensboro, N. C. Geo. O. Forbes, Sydney, N. S. ADVERTISING. All correspondence pertaining to advertising should be addressed to The W. N. Gates Co., Managers Advertising, Garfield Building, Cleveland, Ohio. , Division Directory GRAND DIVISION — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or territory. Tl. B. Perham, President, St. Louis, Mo.; C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo. No. 1 — Division covers the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Rys. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. M. Eddy, Gen’l Chair- man Grand Trunk Ry., Marcellus, Mich.; M. R. Brewer, Gen’l Chairman Grand Trunk Pacific Ry., Atwater, Sask.; D. L. Shaw, Gen’l S. & T., 867 Waterloo . st., London, Ont. No. 2, ST. LOUIS, MO.— Meets 3d Monday of each month at 8 p. m., Small Hall, South side, third floor, Masonic Temple (Odeon bldg.), Grand and Finney aves., St. Louis, Mo.; L. W. Quick, Chief Telegrapher, 8th floor Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo.; R. J. McElhinney, S. & T., 4110a Arsenal st., St. Louis, Mo. No. 3 — Division covers C. C. C. & St. Louis Rail- way System. I. E. Schlosser, Gen'l Chairman, 1019 South Third st., Pekin, 111.; Geo. Laven- good, Gen’l S. & T., 404 Monroe st., Alex- andria, Ind. System meeting held at Spencer Hotel, Indianapolis, Ind., subject to call of the Gen’l Chairman. No. 4 — Division covers the C., St. P., M. & O. Ry. W. J. Liddane, Gen’l Chairman, 1687 Berkley ave., St. Paul, Minn.; D. O. Tenney, Gen’l S. & T., 328 Fulton st., Mankato, Minn. No. 5 — Division covers the Kansas City Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. R. C. Ocheltree, Gen’l Chairman, Siloam Springs, Ark.; J. D. Townsend, Sr., Gen’l S. & T., Heavener, Okla. No. 6 — Division covers the Union Pacific Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. E. L. Stump, Gen’l Chairman, 433 Keeline bldg., Omaha, Neb.; John H. Hughey, Jr., Gen’l S. & T., Box 294, Junction City, Kan. No. 7 — Division covers the Canadian Pacific Rail- road. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. M. Mein, Gen’l Chairman, 41 Noble ave., Elmwood, Winnipeg, Man.; A. E. Chapman, Chairman Eastern Lines, 265 Piccadilly st., London, Ont.; R. C. Wilton, Gen’l S. & T., Kenora. Ont. No. 8 — Division covers the New York Central Ry. H. B. Morey, Gen’l Chairman, 904 Jefferson ave., Utica, N. Y. ; A. E. Blim, Gen’l S. & T., Chili Station, N. Y. No. 9 — Division covers the C. I. & L. Ry. J. E. Hollon, Gen’l Chairman, 2815 Cornell ave., Indianapolis, Ind.; M. T. Parks, Gen’l S. & T., Box 2, Bainbridge, Ind. No. 10 — Division covers the Philadelphia & Read- ing Ry. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., St. Louis, Mo. No. 11 — Division covers the Canadian Government Rys. J. J. Trainor, Gen’l Chairman, care of P. E. I. Ry., Charlottetown, P. E. I.; Wm. Par- sons, Gen’l S. & T., Drawer 201, Drummond- ville, Quebec. Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 113 So. 12 — Division covers the Delaware & Hudson Ry. System, Quebec, Montreal & Southern and Napiervillc Junction Rys. Regular meetings 4th Saturday of each month at 7:30 p. m., in A. F. of L. Hall, Congress st., Troy, N. Y. Other meetings subject to call of Chairman. G. A. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Room 21, Stanwix Hall, Albany, N. Y.; Jos. Perrault, Chairman Canadian Lines, Iberville Jet., Que. ; O. C. Benjamin, Gen’l S. & T., Dresden Station, N. Y. No. 13 — Division covers Virginian Ry. 'H. W. Hix, Gen’l Chairman, Box 18, Salem, Va.; J. E. Goodwin, Gcn’l S. & T., Box 24, Eggleston, Va. No. 14 — Division covers the Norfolk & Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. C. B. Lane , Gen’l Chairman, Crewe, Va., J. L. George, Gen’l S. & T., Box 402, Roanoke, Va. No. IS — Division covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. B. F. Wheeler, Gen’l Chairman, Oviedo, Fla.; J. H. Williams, Gen’l S. & T.f Wilson, S. C No. 16 — Division covers the Michigan Central Rail- road. Meets 3d Monday of each month at 7:30 p. m.. Prismatic Hall, 130 First st., Detroit, Mich. J. C. Culkins, Gen’l Chairman, Albion, Mich.; J. K* Staley, Gen’l S. & T., Box 1314, Welland, Ont. No. 17 — Division covers Pennsylvania Railroad Lines east of Pittsburg and Erie. J. F. Miller, Gen’l Chairman, 2916 Huntingdon ave., Balti- more, Md.; W. M. Skinner, Gen’l S. & T., 115 S. Potomac st., Baltimore, Md. No. 18 — Division covers the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad System. F. F. Cowley, Gen’l Chairman, 519 W. Lincoln st., Findlay, Ohio; C. O. Crisenberry, Gen’l S. & T., Knox, Ind. No. 19 — Division covers New York Central Rail- road West. G. E. Kipp, Gen’l Chairman, Blas- dell, N. Y.; G. R. Smith, Assistant Gen’l Chair- man, Rockwood, Mich.; E. D. Graham, Gen’l S. & T., Mishawaka, Ind. No. 20 — Division covers the New York, Ontario & Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. R. Conner, Gen’l Chair- man, Cottekill, N. Y.; H. D. Pfoor, Gen’l S. & T., P. O, Box 28, Jermyn, Pa. No. 21 — Division covers the Cincinnati, Indian- apolis & Western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. H. Carter, Gen’l Chairman, Mar- shall, Ind.; J. V. Cummins, Gen’l S. & T., 1147 North Mount st., Indianapolis, Ind. No. 22 — Division covers Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway System. G. H. Beck, Gen’l Chairman, 522 Jefferson st, St. Charles, Mo.; R. C. Jack- son, Gen’l S. & T., 818 East ave., B, Temple, Tex. No. 23 — Division covers the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, Bellingham & Northern Railway, Big Blackfoot Railway, Gallatin Valley Railway, Puget Sound & Willapa Harbor Rail- way, Seattle, Port Angeles & Western Railway and Tacoma-Eastern Railroad. G. E. Soyster, Gcn'l Chairman, Room 309, Drexel Bank bldg., 765 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111.; Ed. R. Der- rickson, Gen’l S. & T., Room 309, Drexel Bank bldg., 765 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. No. 24 — Division covers the M. & O. and Southern Ry. in Mississippi. L. T. Murdaugh, Gen’l Chairman, 513 N. Royal st., Jackson, Tenn.; C. E. Hendley, Gen’l S. & T.,- Artesia, Miss. No. 25 — Division covers the International & Great Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. C. Berry, Gen’l Chairman, 510 East Guenther st., San Antonio, Tex.; D. D. Hungate, Gen’l S. & T., Jewett, Tex. No. 27 — Division covers St. Louis Southwestern Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. C. Friaielle, Gen’l Chairman, Bearden, Ark.; C. B. Welch, Gen’l S. & T., St. Francis, Ark. No. 28 — Division covers the Seaboard Air Line Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. D. May, Gen’l Chairman, Carlton, Ga.; F. O. Cumming, Gen’l S. & T., 15 Dinwiddie st., Portsmouth, Va. No. 29, NEW HAVEN, CONN.— Meets 1st Fri- day of each month at 8 p. m., and 3d Tuesday of each month at 10 a. m., in Red Men’s Hall, 48 Church st., cor. Crown, New Haven, Conn. O. S. Culver, Chief Tel., 170 Grafton st., New Haven, Conn.; G. F. McCormack, S. & T., 95 Main st., West Haven, Conn. No. 31 — Division covers the Missouri Pacific Rail- way Systpm. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Mohler, Gen’l Chairman, Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo.; N. S. Morgan, Gen’l S. & T., Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 32 — Division covers the St. Louis-San Fran- cisco Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. G. Kelso, Gcn’l Chairman, 519 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo.; M. T. Fulling- ton, Gen'l S. & T., 519 Woodruff bldg., Spring- field, Mo. No. 33 — Division covers the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. Yeager, Gen’l Chairman, 2227 West Liberty ave., Pittsburg, Pa.; B. C. Lewis, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Williamstown, W. Va. ; E. A. Shaffer, Gen’l S. & T., Oakland, Md. No, 34 — Division covers the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railway System. Meets subject to the call of Chairman. H. H. Skiles Gen’l Chair- man, R. F. D. No. 5, Evansville, Ind.; O. A. Hixon, Gen’l S. & T., 606 Jewel st., Danville, 111. No. 35, PROVIDENCE, R. I.— Meets 3d Saturday of each month in Swarts Lodge, Odd Fellows* Hall, 96 Westminster st.. Providence, R. I. A. H. Haddock, Chief Tel., Ill Narragansett st., Edgewood, Cranston, R. I.; D. M. Callis, S. & T., Touisset, Mass. Digitized by Google
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114 The Railroad Telegrapher. No. 36 — Division covers the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pittsburg. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., Star bldg., Sf. Louis, Mo. No. 37, NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y. — Meets 2d Friday evening each month, 7:30 p. m., in Metropolitan Hall on North ave., near Huge- nut st., New Rochelle, N. Y. Geo. E. Woods, Chief Tel., 265 Greenwich ave., Stamford, Conn.; B. E. S. Seaman, S. & T., 1143 Long- fellow ave., New York, N. Y. No. 38, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.— Meets 3d Sat- urday each month 7 p. m., in Harmony Hall, Myrick bldg., Worthington st., Springfield, Mass. Frank P. Sargent, Chief Tel., 36 Colton ave., Merrick, Mass.; M. J. Walsh, S. & T., 15 Moseley ave., Merrick, Mass. No. 39 — Division covers the Pere Marquette Rail- road System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. R. M. Burr, Gen'l Chairman, Central Lake, Mich.; C. P. Neff, Gen'l S. & T., Lock Box 334, Lowell, Mass. No. 40 — Division covers the Chesapeake & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio of Indiana and the Hocking Valley Rys. L. E. Hicks, Gen’l Chairman, Craigsville, Va.; J. W. Kiser, Gen'l S. & T., Box 792, Huntington, W. Va. No. 41 — Division covers Boston & Maine R. R. Meetings subject to call of General Chairman or Local Chairman. J. B. Bode, Gen’l Chairman, 50 Tudor st., Chelsea, Mass.; L. P. Clifton, Ass't Gen’l Chairman, 41 Morton st., Waltham, Mass.; H. L. Jone9, Gen’l S. & T., R. F. D. No. 37, Fremont, N. H. No. 42 — Division covers the Erie Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. E. J. Hes- ser, Gen’l Chairman, 364 Wallace place, Elmira, N. Y.; C. L. Bridge, Gen’l S. & T., 21 Allen st., Deposit, N. Y. No. 43 — Division covers Canadian Northern Rail- way System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Louis F. Muncey, Gen'l Chairman, 761 Broad- way, Winnipeg, Man.; A. Chard, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.; G. H. Palmer, Gen’l S. & T., Dauphin, Man. No. 44, NEW YORK, N. Y.— Meets 2d Saturday each month at 8 p. m., in Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y.; C. B. Van Nos- trand, Chief Tel., Hempstead, N. Y. ; L. Mer- inger, S. & T., 1244 Chestnut st., Richmond Hill, N. Y. No. 46 — Division covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. C. H. Livsey, Gen’l Chairman, East Point, Ga. ; O. S. Travis, Gen’l S. & T., 49 Lee st., Route 127, Atlanta, Ga. No. 48 — Division covers the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. R. L. Palmer, Gen’l Chairman, 95 W. Main st., Jackson, Ohio; D. R. Murray, Gen’l S. & T., Good Hope, Ohio. No. 49 — Division covers the Denver & Rio Grande Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. H. J. Fulton, Gen'l Chairman, 112 E. 11th st., Leadville, Colo.; J. C. Brannan, Gen’l S. & T., 1014 S. Union ave., Pueblo, Colo. No. 50 — Division covers the Georgia Ry. R. B. Morgan, Gen’l Chairman, Dearing, Ga. ; J. P. Luckey, Gen’l S. & T., Dearing, Ga. No. 51 — Division covers Bessemer & Lake Erie Railway System. Meets the 4th Thursday of each month in Eagle's Hall, Greenville, Pa. C. M. Miller, Gen'l Chairman, 11 First ave., Greenville, Pa.; E. E. Keane, Gen'l S. & T.. Box 103, Greenville, Pa. No. 52, PITTSBURG, PA.— Meets Saturday, July 1, 1916, and each alternating Saturday there- after at 7:45 p. m., 231-233 Fifth ave., 3d floor, Roberts bldg., Pittsburg, Pa. H. H. Kreiser, Chief Tel., Aliquippa, Pa.; R. W. Bees, S. & T. , Box 314, Beaver, Pa. No. 53 — Division covers Southern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. T. Cull, Gen'l Chairman, 303-305 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal.; A. E. Laisure, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, 622 Euclid ave., Houston, Tex.; A. M. Hammond, Gen’l S. & T., 303-305 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal. No. 54 — Division covers the Northern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. Sam Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, North Branch, Minn.; B. E. Nason, Gen'l S. & T., North Branch, Minn. No. 55 — Division covers the Wheeling & Lake Erie and Wabash Pittsburg Terminal and West Side Belt Railways. Meets 3d Saturday even- ing of each month at Harmon, Ohio. J. O. Peo- ples, Gen’l Chairman, Bolivar, Ohio; C. E. Balt- zer, Gen’l S. & T., Box 246, Navarre, Ohio. No. 56 — Division covers Georgia Southern & Florida Railway System. G. L. Siebert, Gen'l Chairman, Valdosta, Ga.; F. H. Cason,, Gen'l S. & T., Lake City, Fla. No. 59 — Division covers the Southern, Northern Alabama and Danville & Western Railroads. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. G. Alex- ander, Gen’l Chairman, 122 Tate st., Greens- boro, N. C.; J. W. Burgess, G. S. & T., 223 Ninth st., S. W., Charlottesville, Va. No. 60, WASHINGTON, D. C.— Meets 2d Wednesday of each month at 8 p. m., at 811 E st., N. W., Washington, D. C. J. E. Blades, Chief Tel., 1529 East Capitol st., Washington, D. C.; J. Webb Richman, S. & T., 1424 W st., N. W., Washington, D. C. No. 62 — Division covers the Queen & Crescent Route (North). J. W. Anderson, Gen’l Chair- man, Oakdale, Tenn.; L. C. Higdon, Gen'l S. & T., Battelle, Ala. No. 69 — Division covers the Queen & Crescent Route (South). Meets subject to call of Chair- man. H. O. Peavey, Gen'l Chairman, Meehan Jet., Miss.; E. G. Matthews, Gen'l S. & T., 125 Minerva st., Jackson, Miss. Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 115 No. 70 — Division covers Great Northern Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., St. Louis, Mo. No. 71 — Division covers the Minneapolis & St. Louis Ry. A. L. Gardner, Gen’l Chairman, Steamboat Rock, Iowa; J. C. Sandmier, Gen'l S. & T., Waukee, Iowa. No. 76 — Division covers the Chicago & North Western Railroad System. Meets subject to call of General or Local Chairman. E. J. Thomas, Gen’l Chairman, Room 511, Webster bldg., 327 S. LaSalle st., Chicago, 111.; R. B. Boyington, Gen’l S. & T., Room 511, Webster bldg., 327 S. LaSalle st., Chicago, 111. No. 77, DENVER, COLO.— Meets 1st Monday evening in each month at Markham Hotel, Den* ver, Colo. C. S. Guernsey, Chief Tel., Apt. 16, 2018 Calif, st., Denver, Colo.; F. Eppelsheimer, S. & T., 2341 King st, Denver, Colo. No. 80 — Division covers the Gulf, Mobile & Northern Ry. T. R. Craig, Gen’l Chairman, Falkner, Miss.; H. C. Hughes, Gen’l S. & T., New Augusta, Miss. No. 81 — Division covers Colorado Midland Rail- road System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. C. E. Crispell, Gen’l Chairman, Arkansas Jet, Colo.; J. F. Jones, Gen’l S. & T., Car- bondale, Colo. No. 82 — Division covers Western Maryland Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen'l Chair- man. K. M. Stover, Gen’l Chairman, Beryl, W. Va.; E. C. Kohlbaugh, Gen’l S. & T., 8 Third st, Hanover, Pa. No. 83 — Division covers the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. A. M. McNair, Gen’l Chairman, East Dover, Me.; J. L. Robbins, Gen’l S. & T., Grindstone, Me. No. 8ft — Division covers the Tejtas & Pacific Rail- way System. Meets subject to call of the Chair- man. J. P. Abney, Gen'l Chairman, Longview, Tex.; R. -E. Cedi, Gen’l S. & T., Opelousas, La. No. 89, BOSTON, MASS. — Meets first Saturday each month at 8 p. m., in Pilgrim Hall, also 3d Saturday each month at 10 a. m. (daylight meeting) in Pilgrim Hall, 694 Washington st., Boston, Mass. W. L. Enos, Chief Tel., Box 382 Cohasset, Mass.; J. H. McDermott, S. & T., 46 Crocker st., Mansfield, Mass. No. 91, CHICAGO, ILL. — Meets 1st Saturday of each month at 8:15 p. m., in Hall 912, Masonic Temple, cor. Randolph and State sts., Chicago, 111. Gardner Dal Jones, Chief Tel., Apartment 1, 4838 Vincennes ave., Chicago, 111.; W. E. Carter, S. & T., 5532 Broadway, Chicago, 111. No. 92 — Division covers the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Railway System. Meets subject to the call of Chairman. M. P. Burke, Gen’l Chairman, Falls Creek, Pa.; E. H. Eastman, Gen’l S. & T., 1001 West Main st., Punxsu- tawney, Pa. No. 93 — Division covers the Illinois Central Rail- road and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Rail- road. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. A. Mulhall, Gen'l Chairman, Clarkson, Ky.; L. M. Elliott, Gen’l Chairman, Y. & M. V. Lines, Roll- ing Forks, Miss.; G. E. Chance, Ass’t GenT Chairman, Mounds, 111.; R. L. Shannon, Gen’l S. & T., Anna, 111. No. 96 — Division covers Chicago Great Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. A. L. Coleman, Gen’l Chairman, 1941 Thompson ave , Kansas City, Kan.; C. E. Norris, Gen’l S. & T., Box 320, South St. Paul, Minn. No. 99, COBALT, ONT.— Covers Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Ry. Meets on call of Gen’l Chairman. R. Richardson, Chief Tel., Latch- ford, Ont.; R. Workman, Gen’l Chairman, North Bay Ont.; T. J, Baker, S. & T., Redwater, OnL No. 108, ADDISON, N, Y. — Meets subject to call of Chief Telegrapher. L. L. Lerch, Chief Tel., Knoxville, Pa.; C. E. Belcher, S. & T., Osceola, Pa. No. Ill — Division covers San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. D. McGee, Gen’l S. & T», 324 Concord st., Los Angeles, Cal. No. 113 — Division covers the Ulster & Delaware .System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. M. L. Klein, Gen’l Chairman, 74 Abeel st., Kingston, N. Y.; G. C. Hedges, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mt. Pleasant, N. Y. ; L. P. Riley, Gen’l S. & T., Phoenicia, N. Y. No. 114, ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, N. S.— H. A. Jacques, Chief Tel., Middletown, N. S.; Stanley Tavener, S. & T., Tupperville, Anna Co., N. S. No. 115 — Division covers Quebec Ry. Light & Power Co.’s Ry. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. E. Richard, Chairman, 1,99a Crown st., Quebec, Que.; J. E. Potvin, S. & T., Gifford, Quebec, Que., Can. No. 116 — Division covers the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway System. Meets 2d Sunday of February, April, June, August, October and December, in place designated by Gen’l Chair- man. P. M. Stillman, Gen’l Chairman, Seney, Mich.; C. W. Danielson, Gen’l S. & T., Chassell, Mich. No. 118 — Division covers Kanawha & Michigan Railway System. A. P. Hines, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Glouster, Ohio; R. M. Henderson, Gen’l S. & T., 839 South st., Toledo, Ohio. No. 119 — Division covers the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway System. G. W. Lewis, Gen’l Chairman, 2921 Chicago ave., Minneapolis, Minn.; F. C.. Paine, Gen’l S. & T. , Erskine, Minn. No. 120 — Division covers Lake Erie & Western Railway System. C. J. Turner, Gen’l Chairman, Ambia, Ind.; M. A. Steckel, Gen’l S. & T., Atlanta, Ind, Digitized by Caooole
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116 The Railroad Telegrapher. No. 124 — Division covers Lehigh Valley Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., 711 Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 125 — Division covers Richmond, Fredericks- burg & Potomac Railway System. Meets at 8 p. ra., the 2d Friday of each month, at Freder- icksburg. Z. Talbott, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Alexandria, Va.; J. C. Farmer, Gen’l S. & T., 712 Main st., Fredericksburg, Va. No. 126 — Division covers Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway System. W. F. Kay, Gen’l Chairman, Room 1, 304 W. 63d st., Chicago, 111.; 5. P. Ayers, Vice-Chairman, Windsor, Mo.; W. H. Dunnam, Gen’l S. & T., Room 1, 304 W. 63d st., Chicago, 111. No. 127, VIRGINIA, MINN.— W. W. Woodward, Chief Tel., Hibbing, Minn.; C. J. Keenan, S. & T., Calumet, Minn. No. 128 — Division covers the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. A. Tanquary, Gen’l Chairman, Board of Trade bldg., Pueblo, Colo.; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., St. Louis, Mo. No. 130 — Division covers Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. F. Denton, Gen’l Chairman, Sterling, Neb.; E. F. Todd, Ass’t Gen’l Chair- man, Sandwich, 111.; J. H. Rogers, Jr., Gen’l S. & T., 1505 Market st., La Crosse, Wis. No. 131, TRING JUNCTION, QUE.— J. E. Mar- coux, Chief Tel., Leeds Station, Que. ; E. Lafon- taine, S. & T., Tring Junction, Que. No. 133, GLACE BAY, N. S.— L. L. McNamara, Chief Tel., Glace Bay, N. S.; C. H. Dow, S. & T. , P. O. Box 4, Bridgeport, N. S. No. 137— Division covers El Paso & Southwestern Railway System. E. P. Waples, Acting Gen’l S. & T., 4459 Clarence ave., St. Louis, Mo. No. 140 — Division covers Maine Central Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. E. J. Hayes, Gen’l Chairman, Leeds Junction, Me.; H. N. Bates, Gen’l S. & T., Gardiner, Me. No. 141 — Division covers San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. H. Barnett, Gen’l Chairman, Gregory, Tex.; R. O. Little, Gen’l S. & T., Altair, Tex. No. 142 — Division covers the Green Bay & West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. Benrud, Gen’l Chairman, Blair, Wis.; L. P. Curran, Gen’l S. & T., Winona, Minn. No. 144 — Division covers the Trinity & Brazos Valley Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. II. Crockett, Gen’l Chairman, North Zulch, Tex.; N. W. Smith, Gen’l S. & T. Box 493, Teague, Tex. No. 145 — Division covers the Ft. W. & D. C. Rv. System. R. G. Wales, Gen’l Chairman, Box 976, Wichita Falls, Tex.; A. C. Atkins, Gen’l S. & T., 817 Hemphill st., Ft. Worth, Tex. No. 146 — Division covers the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen'l Chairman. Owen D. Gorman, Gen’l Chairman, Mauk, Ga.; C. A. Pye, Gen’l S. & T., Douglas, Ga. No. 147 — Division covers the Norfolk Southern Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Miss S. D. Taylor, Gen’l S. & T., care J. H. Williams, Wilson, N. C. No. 153 — Division covers the Western Pacific Ry. V. W. Breeding, Gen’l Chairman, 770 Eleventh st., Oakland, Cal.; H. B. Marshall, Gen’l S. & T., Pleasant Grove, Cal. No. 155, HAMILTON, ONT.— Covers Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Ry. Meets 2d Sunday of each month at 3:30 p. m., in I. O. O. F. Hall, Temple bldg., Gore st., Hamilton, Ont. J. J. O’Connor, Chief Tel., 45 Magill st., Hamilton, Ont.; E. D. Armstrong, S. & T., Box 98, Smith- ville, Ont. No. 156, BOSTON, MASS.— Meets in Rathbone Hall, 694 Washington st., Boston, Mass., 3d Thursday each month, day and night alternately, commencing with the day meeting in July. Day- light meetings 11 a. m., night meetings 7 p. m. Robert H. Buxton, Chief Tel., 8 Dresden st., Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass.; F. J. Dansereau, 5. & T., 65 Boylston st., Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass. No. 157 — Division covers the Rutland Ry. Ed- mund V. Page, Acting Gen’l Chairman and Act- ing Gen’l S. & T., Chatham, N. Y. No. 158— Division covers the Panama Ry. A. V. Losea, Gen’l Chairman, Box 17, Pedro Miguel, Canal Zone; P. A. Freehan, Gen’l S. & T., Box 6, Corozal, Canal Zone. No. 160 — Division covers the Florida East Coast Ry. A. F. Bauer, Gen’l Chairman, Jupiter, Fla.; C. Ross Gowdy, Gen’l S. & T., Espanola, Fla. No. 161 — Division covers the O.-W. Ry. and N. Co. J. V. Mitchell, Gen’l Chairman, • Multromah Hotel, Portland, Ore.; Wm. H. L. Davis, Gen’l S. & T., Pendleton, Ore. No. 163 — Division covers the K. C. M. & O. Ry. L. R. Cotney, Gen’l Chairman, Ft. Stockton, Tex.; D. O. Kennedy, Gen’l S. & T., Clinton, Okla. No. 164 — Division covers the Ann Arbor R. R. II. J. Werkman, Gen’l Chairman, Box 59, Frank- fort Mich ; E. C. West, Gen’l S. & T., 2238 Erie st., Toledo, Ohio. No. 165 — Division covers the Northwestern Pacific Ry. R. D. Shugrue, Gen’l S. & T., care N. W. Pac. Ry., Fulton, Cal. No. 166 — Division covers the Gulf Coast Lines, D. E. Young, Gen’l Chairman, Eunice, La.; C. L. Jackson, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman and Gen’l S. & T., Bloomington, Tex. Digitized by u.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 117 No.' 167 — Division covers the Georgia & Florida Ry. R. M. Cason, Gen’l Chairman, Uvalda, Ga.; D. F. Rush, Gen’l S. & T., Hazelhurst, Ga. No. 168 — Division covers the C. & A. Ry. E. E. Gentz, Gen’l Chairman, Braidwood, 111.; Thos. Riley, Gen’l S. & T., Atlanta, 111. No. 170 — Division covers the Wabash Ry. O. C. Nash, Gen’l Chairman, Carpenter, 111.; M. E. Fohey, Gen’l S. & T.f 450 Crane ave., Detroit, Mich. No. 171 — Division covers Central Vermont Ry. H. J. Gibbs, Gen’l Chairman, Yantic, Conn.; L. J. Mannie, Gen’l S. & T., St. Alexandria, Sta., Quebec. No. 172 — Division covers the Oregon Short Line Ry. R. H. Wagner, Gen’l Chairman, Pocatello, Idaho; S. B. Summers, Gen’l S. & T., Roy, Utah. No. 173 — Division covers the T, & O. C. and Z. & W. Rys. F. H. Simon, Gen’l Chairman, 302 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio; W. T. Cox, Gen'l S. & T., 1061 Palmwood ave., Toledo, Ohio. No. 174 — Division covers the Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf Ry. Ira S. Bond, Gen’l Chairman, Clarita, Okla.; W. H. Ryan, Acting Gen’l S. & T. , Allen, Okla. No. 175 — Division covers the Carolina, Clinchfield, & Ohio Ry. S. A. Dorsett, Gen’l Chairman, Spartanburg, S. C. ; C. G. Taylor, Gen’l S. & 'l., Dante, Va. No. J77 — Division covers the St. Louis, San Fran- cisco & Texas Ry. J. S. McMillan, Gen’l Chair- man and Acting G. S. & T., Box 43, Prosper, Tex.; DeWitt Hall, Gen’l S. & T., Bluffdale, Tex. No. 178 — Division covers Tennessee Central Rail- road. Chas. C. Wimsett, Gen’l Chairman, Rock- wood, Tenn.; W. C. Loden, Gen’l S. & T , Emory Gap, Tenn. No. 179 — Division covers New Orleans Great Northern R. R. W. H. Carr, Gen’l Chairman, Abita Springs, La.; F. P. Barron, Gen’l S. & T , Angie, La. No. 180 — Division covers Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern. R. H. Owen, Gen’l Chairman, 1307 West 10th st., Bedford, Ind.; W. D. Hysop, Gen’l S. & T., 1312 K st., Bedford, Ind. No. 181 — Division covers Kentucky & Indiana Terminal R, R. H. A. Boston, General Chair- man, 422 N. 20th st., Louisville, Ky. ; C. C. Fears, Gen’l S. & T., 2656 Bank st., Louisville, Ky. No. 182 — Division covers Missouri & North Ar- kansas R. R. James Roy, Jr., Acting Gen’l Chairman, Cotton Plant, Ark.; S. E. Brasfield, Gen’l S. & T., Searcy, Ark. TWIN CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Regular meeting 2d Wednesday night of each month, Columbia Hall, Prior and University aves. G. W. Lewis, Pres., 2921 Chicago ave , Minne- apolis, Minn.; S. H. Lester, S. & T., Flat 7, 912 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. CREAM CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets the 2d Juesday of each month in Film Oper- ators* Hall, 226 Third st., Milwaukee, Wis. W. T. Houlehen, Pres., 363 Madison st., Mil- waukee, Wis.; B. A. Gothompson, S. & T., 738 Fortieth st., Milwaukee, Wis. PRETZEL CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF FREEPORT, ILL.— Meets 3d Wednesday of each month at Ladies and Knights of Security Hall, 107 Stephenson st., Freeport, 111. P. H. Murphy, Pres., 145 Delaware st., Freeport, 111.; H. B. Kiester, S. & T., 60 Second st., Freeport, 111. CORT CLUB (Chicago O. R. T. Club)— Meets 1st Saturday of each month in Room 912, Masonic Temple, D. C. Smart, Pres., 2258 Lin- coln ave., Chicago, 111.; C. L. Craig, S. & T., 817 W. 64th st., Chicago, 111. DES MOINES O. R. T. CLUB— Meets in Assem- bly Room, Kirwkood Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa, subject to call of President. M. R. Davis, Pres., care C. R. I. & P. Ry., Des Moines, Iowa; S. S. Price, S. & T., Grimes, Iowa. CEDAR RAPIDS O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 8 p. m , the 3d Friday of each month at Hotel Montrose, corner Third ave. and Third st.. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. F. E. Conover, Pres., Low Moor, Iowa; J. L. Halpin, S. & T., 512 South Four- teenth st., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. LITTLE ROCK O. R. T. CLUB— Meets subject to call of S. & T. C. C. Jacklin, Pres., Room 224, Union Station, Little Rock, Ark.; H. W. Gibbs, S. & T., 516 E. Eighth st., Little Rock, Ark. THE TOPEKA O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 8 p. m., 2d Sunday of each month at Throop Hotel, Fourth and Kansas ave., Topeka, Kan. R. D. Stover, Pres., 305 Western ave., Topeka, Kan.; A. S. Carver, S. & T., 329 Lake st., Topeka, Kan. THE PANHOMA TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets Saturday evening following the 21st of each month in Assembly Room, 2d floor, City Hall, El Reno, Okla. G. A. Barnard, Pres., El Reno, Okla.; F. G. Sinclair, Sec’y, Okeene, Okla.; P. L. Peacher, Treas., El Reno, Okla. EVANSVILLE, O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 3d Sun- day each month. L. E. Crandall, Pres., Chris- ney, Ind.; C. McCleary, S. & T., 712 Mulberry st., Evansville, Ind. THE IIOOSIER O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month at 8 p. m., Room 109, Oneida Hotel, Indianapolis, Ind. J. W. White, Pres., 2166 Avondale place, Indianapolis, Ind.; W. G. Brenneman, S. & T., 2327 Prospect st., Indianapolis, Ind. Digitized by u.oo<?le
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118 The Railroad Telegrapher. THE KANSAS CITY RAILROAD TELEGRA- PHERS’ CLUB — Meets subject to call of Presi- dent. M. Williams, Pres., 2115 Walnut st., Kansas City, Kan. THE FORT PITT TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF PITTSBURG — Meets subject to call of Secre- tary. H. K. Klingensmith, Pres., 124 Suburban ave., Beechview, Pittsburg, Pa. THE HOUSTON O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 2d Thursday night of each month. Hotel Cotton, cor. Fannin st. and Capitol ave., Houston, Tex. Chas. C. Webncr, Pres., 425 Mason bldg , Hous- ton, Tex.; E. B. Hill, Sec’y, 1027 Yale st., Houston, Tex. *THE DU-O R. T. CLUB OF DURAND, MICH. — Meets 1st Thursday each month in I. O. O. F. Hall, Durand, Mich. A. E. McNamara, Pres., Drayton Plain, Mich.; H. F. Link, S. & T., Lansing, Mich. THE C. O. O. R. T. CLUB (Co-Operative O. R. T. Club) — Meets 8 p. m., 1st Friday of each month in Red Men’s Hall, South Bend, Ind. O. O. Replogle, Pres., 631 East Bronson st.. South Bend, Ind.; D, A. Crum, S. & T., 817 Lindsey st., South Bend, Ind. THE CHICAGO HEIGHTS TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets 9:30 a. m., 2d Sunday of each month at Chicago Heights, 111., in Trades and Labor Council Hall. J. Welles Begbie, Pres., St. Anne, 111.; J. C. Marceau, S. & T., St. Anne, 111. THE SPRINGFIELD O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 2d Saturday night of each month at St. Nicholas Hotel, Springfield, 111. W. Stone, Pres., Marine, 111.; W. R. Endicott, S. & T., 113 E. Jefferson st., Springfield, 111. THE GOLDEN RULE TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets 7 p. m., 3d Tuesday of each month at Crowe Hall, corner Broadway and Seger ave., Toledo, Ohio. F, H. Simon, Pres., 302 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio; Geo. D. Walker, S. & T., Flickenger Flat No. 2, Toledo, Ohio. THE MONUMENTAL O. R. T. CLUB— Meets monthly in Baltimore, Md., subject to call of President. W. R. Johnson, Pres., 3743 Morley st., Baltimore, Md.; W. M. Shawen, Sec’y, 3637 Roland ave., Baltimore, Md. THE STATEN ISLAND O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month, 8 p. m., at the Cherokee Club, No. 12 Cross st., Stapleton, S. I. D. B. McMullen, Pres., 8 Woodlawn ave., Cranford, N. J.; J. P. Tully, S. & T., 276 Delaware ave., Dongan Hills, N. Y. General Committee Directory on Railroads Covered by Local Divisions Boston & Albany Railway — M. J. Walsh, Gen’l Chairman, 15 Moseley ave., Merrick, Mass ; Ray L. Hyde, Gen’l S. & T., 242 Union st., West Springfield, Mass. Boston Terminal Co. — S. E. Haseltine, Gen’l Chair- man, 21 French ave., South Braintree, Mass., H. J. Lionctt, Secretary General Committee, Dorchester, Mass. Boston & Maine Railroad — J. B. Bode, Gen’l Chairman, care of B. & M. Ry., Chelsea, Mass.; H. L. Jones, Secretary General Committee, R. F. D. No. 37, Fremont, N. H. Buffalo & Susquehanna R. R. — E. E. Haskins, General Chairman, Sinnemahoning, Pa. Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Ry. — R. E. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Jersey ville, 111.; H. C. LeMas- ters, Secretary General Committee, 426 S. Orange st., Havana, 111. Intercolonial Ry. — C. C. Charters, Gen’l Chairman, Point du Chene, N. B.; R. A. McMillan, Secre- tary General Committee, Charlo Station, N. B. Long Island Railroad — C. M, Scully, Gen’l Chair- man, College Point, N. Y.; E. Frank Webb, Secretary General Committee, 23 Amherst ave., Jamaica, N. Y. New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad — Leonard J, Ross, Gen’l Chairman, 457 Welling- ton ave., Auburn, R. I.; M. W. Handy, Secre- tary General Committee, Box 885, New Haven, Conn. St. Louis Southwestern Ry. — H. C. Frizielle, Gen’l Chairman, Bearden, Ark.; E. E. Nettles, Secre- tary General Committee, Kerens, Tex. Toledo, St. Louis & Western Ry. — H. S. Walters, Gen’l Chairman, Gas City, Ind.; H. B. Livesey, Secretary General Committee, Sorento, 111. Digitized by L.oo<?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 119 Ladies’ Auxiliary Directory OFFICERS. MRS. KATE E. CARR Grand President 529 Swan st., Olympia, Wash. MRS. FLORENCE P. PI ERCE.. Grand Sec.-Treas. Box 33, Halethorpe, Baltimore Co., Md. MISS CLARA J. BRADY.. First Grand Vice-Pres. 91 Wood st., Providence, R. I. MRS. D. H. PARKER.. Second Grand Vice-Pres. Speed, N. C. MRS. GEORGE GILBERT.. Third Grand V.-Pres. Kenora, Ont., Can. MRS. J. E. CO WGILL.. Fourth Grand Vice-Pres. San Carlos, Cal. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. Mrs. John W. Banker, Chairman, Schaghticoke, Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3854 Cleveland ave., St. X. Y. Louis, Mo. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Secretary, Smithville, Ga. Mrs. Iris U. Henderson, Midland, Tex. Mrs. E. McDonough, Clintonville, Wis. All correspondence for The Telegrapher should be addressed to C. B. Rawlins, Editor, St Louis, Mo., so that it will reach him not later than the 5th of the month. Grabd Division — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or territory. Mrs. Kate E. Carr, Grand President, 529 Swan st, Olympia, Wash.; Mrs. Florence P. Pierce, Grand S. & T., Box 33, Halethorpe, Md. Division 2 — Meetings subject to call of Acting President, Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3854 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo.; Mrs. Evva L. Quick, S. & T. , 3854 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo. Division 3 — Covets the C. C. C. & St. L Ry. System. Meetings subject to call of the Presi- dent Mrs. S, D. Solomon, President, 1912 Locust st., Anderson, Ind.; Mrs. Hazel Elliott, Gen’l S. & T., Ashley, Ohio. Division 7 — Covers the Canadian Pacific Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President. Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan, President, Chapleau, Ont., Can.; Mrs. S. S. Campbell, Gen’l S. & T., Verona, Ont. Division 8 — Covers the* New York Central Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the Presi- dent Mrs. M. B. Lynch, President, 963 State st, Schenectady, N. Y.; M. J. Wood, Gen’l S. & T., South Schenectady, N. Y. Division 15 — Covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Meets subject to call of the President. Mrs. B. F. Wheeler, President, Oviedo, Fla.; Mrs. J. H. Williams, Gen’l S. & T., Wilson, N. C. Division 23 — Covers the Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul and the Puget Sound Railway Systems. Meetings subject to call. Mrs. S. Olive Lester, Gen’l S. & T., Flat 7, 812 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Division 31 — Covers the Missouri Pacific System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Chas. M, Bodle, President, Benton, Kan.; Mrs. H. C. Harkins, Gen’l S. & T., Lupus, Mo. Division 33 — Covers the Baltimore & Ohio Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President. Mrs. Mary A. Bell, President, New Concord, Ohio; Mrs. Anna S. Gillum, Gen’l S. & T., Shinnston, W. Va. Division 35 — Meets 3d Thursday of each month at 2:30 p. m., in Manheim Hall, 433 Westminster st., Providence, R. I.; Mrs. Bertha Haddock, President, 111 Narragansett st., Edgewood, Providence, R. I.; Miss Clara J. Brady, Gen’l S. & T., 91 Wood st., Providence, R. I. Division 44 — Meets 2d Saturday of each month at 8 p. m., in Hall No. 2, Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. Mrs. A. Filby, President, Vandeveer Park Station, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Mrs. J. E. Shields, Gen’l S. & T., 1034 Bergen st., Brooklyn, N. Y. Division 46 — Covers the Central of Georgia Rail- way System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Gen’l S. & T. , Smithville, Ga. Division 53 — Covers the Southern Pacific System, G. H. & S. A. Ry. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. J. E. Cowgill, President, San Carlos, Cal.; Mrs. F. E. Waters, Gen'l S. & T., Ashland, Ore. Division 59 — Covers the Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of the President. Mrs. C. L. Watson, President, Veechdale, Ky.; Mi's. Logan Watson, Gen’l S. & T., 534 First st., Shelbyville, Ky. Division 76 — Covers the Chicago & North Western Railway System. Meets upon call of the Presi- dent. Miss Erna L. Schneider, President, Dous- man, Wis.; Miss Irene O’Connell, Gen’l S. & T., 207 W. Sixth st., Marshfield, Wis. Digitized by c.ooole
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120 The Railroad Telegrapher. Division 81 — Covers the Colorado Midland Rail- way System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Mae L. Potts, President, Ivan- hoe, Colo.; Mrs. Ida Downing, Gen’l S. & T., Cascade, Colo. Division 93 — Covers the Illinois Central Railway System. Meets subject to call. Mrs. E. L. Mathis, Acting President and Gen’l S. & T , 1172 Mississippi blvd., Memphis, Tcnn. Division 113 — Covers the Ulster & Delaware Sys- tem. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Harry Halstead, President, R. F. D. No. 3, Oneonta, N. Y. ; Mrs. Sinclair Snyder, Gen’l S. & T., South Kortright, N. Y. Division 140 — Covers the Maine Central Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Acting President. Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Acting President, 470 Main st., Bangor, Me.; Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Gen’l S. & T., 470 Main st., Bangor, Me. Division 146 — Covers the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Railw'ay System. Mcets^ upon call of the President. Miss Dita May West, President, 319 East Georgia ave., Atlanta, Ga. ; Miss Pearl Gorman, Gen’l S. & T., Mauk, Ga. Digitized by c,ooQle
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When addregalng our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Tumraphib. 37 MUDGE SECTION CAR TOP For Old Hand Cars Assembled complete with “Wonder -Pull” 6 H.-P. Engine, 14-inch Split Steel Pulley, 4 -inch High Speed and Weather-Proof Belt, and every bolt and nut in place- ready to mount on your old hand car. Just bolt it to the center sills, or cross sills, apply the split pulley and belt, put fuel in the tank and you are ready for action. Ask any section foreman who owns a Mudge what he thinks of it. He wilt tell you a story of satisfaction. Let us give you detailed in- formation and explain our “ Easy- to-Buy” plan. Fill out coupon and mail it NOW. MUDGE_& COMPANY, 443 Railway Exchange, Chicago: Send your free Motor Car Booklet and Time Payment Plans. Name Occupation. Town H. R. T.-2-18 JR. R._ -State. RMAR Digitized by LaOOQle
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Digitized by v^.oo<?Le l. RUTHVBN, Q. 8. LITTLEFIELD, R. R. CECIL, J. P. ABNEY, General Chairman O. R. T. GENERAL COMMITTEE, TEXAS & PACIFIC RAILWAY
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Published Monthly by the Order of Railboad Telegraphers C. B. Rawlins - Editor and Manager. Subscription Price Entered as Second-Class Matter December 20, 1912, at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., Under the Act of August 24, 1912. $1.00 Per Year. Railroad Wage Commission. DURING the past thirty days, hundreds of letters have been received at the general offices of the organization, making inquiry as to whether our organization would petition the Railroad Wage Commission Board for a general increase in wages, as the press reports indicated that the four- train service organizations were taking this action. For the purpose of safe- guarding the interests of our constituents, President Perham proceeded to Washington early in January, as it was anticipated a board of this kind would be formed after the Government assumed possession and control of the railroads on December 28th. We have informed all inquirers that the officers of this organization would protect the welfare of all railroad employes who were eligible to membership in the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. The hearings opened before the Railroad Wage Commission, at Wash- ington, D. C., January 28th, at 2 p. m., and President Perham made the first appearance before that body, representing seventy-five per cent of the teleg- raphers, train dispatchers, agents, line repairers, levermen, train directors, telephones and staffmen employed on all railroads, because of their member- ship in this organization. Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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124 The Railroad Telegrapher. In order that all members and read- ers of our journal may be Informed as to the procedure in this matter, Presi- dent Perham's petitions to the Commis- sion are herein reproduced: FIRST HEARING. Present: Hon. Franklin K. Lane, Sec- retary of the Interior (Chairman) presid- ing. Hon. Charles C. McChord, member of the Interstate Commerce Commission. Hon. J. Harry Covington, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. Hon. William R. Willcox, of New York. Appearances: Mr. Frederick W. Lehmann, counsel of the Commission. Mr. W. A. Ryan, secretary to the Com- mission. Mr. H. B. Perham, representing the Or- der of Railroad Telegraphers. The Chairman: In opening the public hearings of this Commission, it may be well to incorporate in the record the au- thority under which we are acting. ‘‘Director General of Railroads Washington January 18, 1918. General Order No. 5. Pursuant to the authority vested in me as Director General of Railroads by the President of the United States in his proclamation of December 26, 1917, I here- by create a Railroad Wage Commission and name as the members thereof, Frank- lin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior; Charles C. McChord, member of the In- terstate Commerce Commission; J. Har- ry Covington, Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court of the District of Columbia, and William R. Willcox of New York. It Is Ordered and Directed That: The Commission shall make a general investigation of the compensation of per- sons In the railroad service, the relar tion of railroad wages to wages in other industries, the conditions respecting wages In different parts of the country, the special emergency respecting wages which exists at this time owing to war conditions and the high cost of living, as well as the relation between different classes of railroad labor. The Commission shall begin its labors at once, and make report to the Director General, giving its recommendations in general terms as to changes in existing compensations that should be made. Officers, agents and employes of the rail- roads are directed to furnish to the Rail- road Wage Commission upon request all information it may require in the course of its investigations. (Signed) W. G. McAdoo, Director General of Rail- roads/9 This Commission understands that its duty is not to sit as a body of judges to determine a contested case as between the railroads and their employes. The government has taken over the control of the railroads for the period of thd war and to meet war needs. It is a matter of necessity that we secure from the roads their fullest usefulness. They must be made to play their part to the limit in the making of war, the carriage of goods and men. To this end it is fundamental that the employes shall feel that a spirit of Justice animates the government. We should seek to give not what may be af- forded by contest, struggle, intimidation and coercion, but what is fair, all things considered. This is , our attitude. We look at the problem before us as not, what does organized labor or unorganized labor demand, but what, with war upon us and living costs as they are, should be the compensation given for the services rendered. We seek for no counsel of per- fection. The status of labor for all time is not to be determined by our studies. We shall not expect to give all that un- der pressure the workmen might compel any more than we shall ask him to accept the wage that our soldiers receive for their unequaled sacrifice. But a work- ing basis must be arrived at between the government and those who are em- ployed on the roads by which good feel- ing shall be maintained and the fullest service obtained — for this is the prime need of the hour that each man’s hand and brains shall serve the Nation now Digitized by v^ooqIc
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 125 as never before. We wish, la short, to stimulate production by doing what is just This being a government Inquiry we shall hear those who wish to contribute anything that is helpful, but It is man- datory that we shall reach a quick con- clusion. Therefore the greater part of the data upon which we must act will be gathered for ourselves. There are 1,800,- 000 emloyes on our railroads. Some are organized and have great power for self- help. The great majority, more than two- thirds, are, however, not organized. We shall consider both classes, and upon an equal footing, so far as that may be prac- ticable. This very statement of the num- ber employed makes evident the un- paralleled size of the task that is before us. If with this fact is considered the extent of the territory covered and the significance of the different conditions obtaining in the varying sections of the country it will at once be realized that no such hearing as this has been held before, nor one that carries such possi- bilities in affecting for good or ill the mass of our workers in all industries and the part they will play in carrying on the pressing duty of making war with char- actertistic American energy, enthusiasm and masterfulness. We wish first of all to know what present conditions are. What data has already been gathered as to the number of employes, their classi- fication In groups according to their du- ties, their compensation in money and that compensation converted into terms of support for themselves and their fam- ilies. This leads into a study . of the present cost of living as contrasted with the cost at other periods. The various governmental agencies, the railroads themselves, the larger organizations of labor and individual studies will doubt- less prove to have already gathered the greater part of these facts. Wher- ever there is a shortage this must be supplemented, and to this end we shall feel free to call upon railroads and em- ployes, the government departments and other agencies for such facts as they can furnish. We shall also seek from for- eign governments and from the indus- tries of the country for the presentation of methods by which conditions such as we must meet have been met In a word, we shall make this inquiry upon the broadest possible lines consistent with an early closing of our research, and the great body of the material we shall gath- er will, we trust, come to us in compact written or printed form rather than by oral statement. Each one who appears in person or otherwise shall be regarded as being animated by the same pqrpose that animated the government itself. No sel- fish or narrow ends are to be served by this hearing. We are looking to the greater welfare of the nation, and through service to the nation we seek the wel- fare of mankind. Our end is not to jus- tify a theory or to reach or approximate an ideal, but rather as practical men to deal with a situation present in a spirit of fair-mindedness. 1 understand that as a result of a con- ference between Judge Lehmann, our counsel, and the various representatives of the employes, it has been decided this afternoon to hear Mr. Perham, on behalf of the telegraphers. Statement of H. B. Pebham, President of the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers, Star Building, St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Perham: My name is H. B. Per- ham, President of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. We represent telegra- phers, train dispatchers and directors, station agents, line repairers, levermen, in ter lockers, tower men, telephoners, block operators and staff men, approxi- mately 84,233 railroad employes within the boundaries of the United States, who want a 40 per cent increase in wages . We present our reasons for that re- quest. I may state that up until the time this Honorable Commission was created we had been negotiating with rail- road companies, by direct negotiations between committees of employes and the officials representing the .railroad com- panies. We had been pursuing that line of business for over thirty years, and we have been able to maintain peace Digitized by tjooole
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126 The Railroad Telegrapher. most of the time, and we feel that har- monious relations have been established by that method. The Chairman: What percentage of the men that you have mentioned in those employments are organized under your union? Mr. Perham: In our organization we have over 50,000 of them, and the num- ber stated is 84,233. I might say at the commencement of these proceedings, that I shall be pleased to answer questions at any juncture in the proceedings, that I have prepared by subjects so that I can refer back to them, and If I do not make it clear in any respect I will be very glad to be interrupted, so that we may dwell on that point until it is made clear. The publication in regard to the re- quest for an increase in wages, made by other classes, so excited the members of the organization that I represent, that they wrote me thousands of letters and requested me to come here and represent them, if it were to be permitted, and I am pleased to say it was permitted, and I am here to state their cases, as best I can. My idea would be that the rate of wages, for some years past, might be illustrated, and then as near as possible show the ex- isting rate of wage. We claim that we were never adequate- ly compensated. That would be reason No. 1 for our request for a 40 per cent Increase in wages. We will endeavor to show that where we have made settlements by means of di- rect conferences, or by means of media- tion or by arbitration, it has never been at a rate that satisfied the men. It was always a compromise agreement. In 99 per cent of the cases we might state that we accepted the wage offered by the rail- road company rather than go out on a strike — that we chose the least of the two evils, a low rate of wage, or the risks inherent in a strike, and that ac- counts for us making so many settle- ments In the past, at rates of wages which were far below the wages paid men in other classes of employment, in the cities, towns, villages and communities where our people live. The Chairman: Did you present this request to the railroads, and if so, at what time prior to the taking over of the railroads? Mr. Perham: The request for a 40 per cent increase in wages, generally, has never been presented to the railroads. It is now presented to this honorable body for the first time. The Chairman : Was there, at the time the government took over the roads, a request pending on your part to them? Mr. Perham: At that time there were about twenty committees on twenty dif- ferent railroads, in session. There were three mediation proceedings under way, and there was one arbitration case at that time. At this present moment we have, I think, twenty-three committees in session; about seven that have been denied an audience, on account of this Commission having been created, and four mediation proceedings. We just closed an arbitration case in St. Louis the day I left there to come here. The Chairman: When you say, “com- mittees in session,1’ you mean that they are dealing with the railroads at this time? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. Now, I will go back to the wage ques- tion, as far as the statistics are avail- able. I will read from Statistics of Rail- ways of the United States for 1906, pub- lished by the Interstate Commerce Com- mission, on page 47. This shows the average daily compensation, in dollars, for the years ending June 30, 1906, to 1896. With your permission I will com- mence at the earliest date and come for- ward, year by year. I refer to the daily compensation of that class of employes known as sta- tion agents. The average daily compen- sation for those, in 1896, was $1.73; 1897, $1.73; 1898, $1.73; 1899, $1.74; 1900, $1.75; 1901, $1.77; 1902, $1.80; 1903, $1.87; 1904, $1.93; 1905, $1.93; 1906, $1.94. In the same compilation for telegraph operators and dispatchers, 1896, $1.93; 1897, $1.90; 1898, $1.92; 1899, $1.93; 1900, $1.96; 1901, $1.98; 1902, $2.01; 1903, $2.08; 1904, $2.15; 1905, $2.19; 1906, $2.13. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 127 Shall I leave these documents? The Chairman: We hare access to those. Just give us the reference to the pages. Mr. Lehmann: That is the volume for 1906? Mr. Perham: This is the volume for 1906. Now, the next I read from is Statistics of Railways in the United States, 1914, published by the Interstate Commerce Commission, page 28. Station agents, 1907, $2.06; 1908, 82.09; 1909, $2.08; 1910, $2.12; 1911, $2.17; 1912, $2.22; 1913, $2.28. For telegraph operators and dispatch- ers, 1907, $2.26; 1908, $2.30; 1909, $2.30; 1910, $2.33; 1911, $2.44; 1912, $2.47; 1913, $2.52. About this time there was a change made in the methods of keeping these tabulations in the Interstate Commerce Commission, and it was* arranged that the compensation should be on the hourly basis, and thereafter the reports show the compensation on the average hourly basis paid. ^ Commissioner' McChord: When was that change made, in 1907? Mr. Perham: This change came in 1915 or 1916, I think. We have the fig- ures here, by the daily rate, up to 1913, complete, and later on the change was made, and also I understand that the change has been made from the fiscal year to the calendar year; so for the first time, the year 1917 will appear as the calendar year in the figures furnished by the Interstate Commerce Commission. Owing to some delays in the print shop, the figures for 1916 are available, but for 1917, they are not. I go to the latest obtainable figures, which are contained in the report of the Eight-Hour Commis- sion. This was the Commission formed under the Adamson Act, in regard to the eight-hour law, and affected the engine- men and trainmen, but it shows here the rates of compensation for the period end- ing with the calendar year 1916. Train dispatchers and directors, aver- age number at employes in the service, 4,716. Average rate of compensation per hour, 55.6 cents. The Chairman: You mean the station agents were 4,786? Mr. Perham: Train dispatchers and directors; that is the smallest body of them all. It is shown here, six classes instead of two, as given in the other com- pilations. Here are six classes, and I thought it might be of interest, as a mat- ter of general information, to show the number of men in each one of those classes. Telegraphers, telephones and block operators, average number of employes, 19,487; average compensation per hour, 28.2 cents. The Chairman: Notj, do they get paid the same wage? Mr. Perham: This is the. average of all. The Chairman: Yes, I undestand; but do these telegraphers and the other men get paid the same wage? Mr. Perham: The train dispatcher gets twice as much as the telegrapher. The Chairman: No; you have got three classes named in that one line. Mr. Perham: I understand you now — telegraphers — The Chairman: Are they properly classified? Mr. Perham : They are all in the same , class. The Chairman: Do they get the same wages, on the same road, for instance? Mr. Willcox: You said the average was 28? Mr. Perham: Those men are paid ac- cording to the responsibility they assume on the railroad, as well as the work they do. At a place where trains are just passing by, and there is no switching or signal movement, the men will report the train by telegraphing that it passed at a certain time. Commissioner McChord: Some receive more compensation than others? Mr. Perham: Those men would receive the least compensation. Cbmmissioner McChord: I know, but ydu have got thrcto classes there. Digitized by v^oooLe
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128 The Railroad Telegrapher. Mr. Perham: My remarks would refer to a telephoner or a block operator. Commissioner McChord: I am talking about what you are reading from. I want to find out whether they are properly classified, and whether they ought all to be in one class. Mr. Perham: They are properly classi- fied as they are, because their work is similar. Commissioner McChord: Ought they all to receive the same wages? Mr. Perham: No, sir. The Chairman: A block signal man and a*telegraph operator and a telephone operator are all included in that line, are they not? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. The Chairman: Now, then, on any railroad, does a block signal man and a telegraph operator get the same wages? Mr. Perham: No, sir. The Chairman: They get different wages? Mr. Perham: They get different wages, according to the duty they have to per- form. The Chairman: A block signal man at a particular station may get $3 a day, while a telegraph operator may get $2.50 a day? Mr. Perham : Yes. The Chairman: And a telephone oper- ator at the same place may get $2 a day? Mr. Perham: It depends upon the man’s responsibility on the road. Mr. Lehmann: And the men in the same service, at different points, may re- ceive different rates of pay? Mr. Perham: They do. Mr. Lehmann: Because there is more of the same kind of service at one place than at the other? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; it should be understood on a study of this wage scale, that these men are liable to troubles to a greater extent than other employes. They may become criminally liable for an error they commit— any one of the men in those three classes, Just an ordi- nary mistake. An ordinary mistake for ordinary persons means tremendously to them. That is, he may be arrested and put under a ten thousand dollar bond, and may go to prison for two years for the mistake he made. The Chairman: As to those three par- ticular classes of men, the block signal men, the telegraph operator and the tele- phone operator, can you tell us, or do the railroad statistics tell how many block signal men there are, and bow much they get; how many telegraphers there are and how much they get, and how many telephone operators there are and how much they get? Mr. Perham : It does, in a certain way. Now, we have grouped three classes there, because their work is so similar that they ought to be grouped. Judge Covington: Now, getting away from the report of the Adamson Eight- Hour Commission, for a moment, and getting down to what we are Inquiring about, the actual rates of compensation of these different classes of men, and whether they are entitled to an increase, is there anywhere, outside of the Eightr Hour Act, either from figures you have in your possession, of figures that the railroads have in their possession, in- formation as to what the actual rates of compensation are for each of those different classes? It may be that a teleg- rapher does not get as much as a block signal man, but what does the teleg- rapher get and what does the block sig- nal man get? Those are the arbitrary figures that we must be concerned with, and we would like to get those from some source. Mr. Perham: The way to get those fig- ures is along these lines: We have con- tractual relations with practically all the railroads in the United States. We have a wage scale and a schedule, which can be furnished this Commission. The pay roll of the company can also be fur- nished this Commission, which will show the actual amount paid that man. Now, if an operator was rated at $80 a month and he was paid $86 on the pay roll, the $6 would just show the amount of over- time that he earned. That is the direct way to get that class of information. (To Be Continued.) Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 129 THE FAMOUS MOONEY CASE. THE Tom Mooney case is one of the most dramatic in the his- tory of labor events. The work- ers of the nation have been intensely interested in the outcome of this par- ticular case, as it has been the cause and instigation of strikes and dis- orders throughout the Western part of the country. Union labor is of the unanimous opinion that Mooney was being “railroaded” to the death chair, and owing to its resentment of the evi- dent intention of the “interests” in and around San Francisco to put Mooney in the electric chair, the Presi- dent of the United States appointed a special investigating commission to inquire into the circumstances attend- ing the conviction of Thomas Mooney and others connected with the alleged plot in connection with the Prepared- ness Explosion on July 22, 1916. The report of the Commission fol- lows: "To the President: "Agreeable to your instructions, your mediation commission, informally and without publicity, inquired into the cir- cumstances attending the Mooney case, and herewith begs to report the result of its investigation. "1— On July 22, 1916, while the San Francisco preparedness parade was in its early progress, an explosion occurred on one of the city’s side streets, filled with Paradere and the public. Without ques- tion the explosion was murder-designed on a large scale, and Its purpose was ef- fectuated. Six people were killed outright and about forty wounded, of whom three or four subsequently died. Indisputably a most heinous crime had been com* mitted, and the identification of its per- petrators alone had to be established. "2— The community was deeply stirred. Aggressive activity was at once under- sell by the police department and the Press was filled with clues and theories for solution of the tragic mystery. No Premonitory acts furnished a clue, except *bat a number of letters were mailed, Prior to the parade, to prominent citizens and leaders in the parade threatening destruction if the parade was undertaken. These letters undoubtedly had a corn- mon source. They all avowed pacifist purposes, threats against such manifesta- tions of 'militarism' as a preparedness parade was conceived by them to be. The public authorities, however, did not deem the letters significant and the identity of their writers has never been estab- lished. Different Quarter. "3 — The police and district attorney turned for an explanation to a different quarter. Arrests were made of Thomas J. Mooney and his wife, Rena Mooney. Warren K. Billings, Israel Weinberg and Edward D. Nolan. "4 — The antecedents of these five per- sons, particularly of Thomas J. Mooney, have occasioned the war importance of the case. Mooney, at the time of his ar- rest, was a well-known labor radical on the Coast. He associated with anar- chists ; was a believer in ‘direct action’ in labor controversies; had once been in- dicted for attempted dynamiting of the property of a San Francisco public utility, but after three trials was acquitted. Recall Car Fight. "In the spring of 1916 Mooney and his wife were the leaders in a bitter and un- successful fight to organize the car men of the United Railroads in San Francisco. Only shortly before the preparedness par rade explosion it was sought to connect Mooney with the recent dynamiting of towers of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. In a word, there can be no doubt that Mooney was regarded as a labor agitator of malevolence by the pub- lic utilities of San Francisco and that he was an especial object of their opposi- tion. "Mrs. Mooney, a music teacher, respect- ed by a wide circle of pupils, was sympa- thetic with his Socialist views. Billings, a youth touched by the radical propa- ganda, was one of Mooney's friends. He too, was a believer in ‘direct action.’ He had previously been convicted of carry- ing explosives on a passenger car. Wein- berg, whose son was a pupil of Mrs. Digitized by v^oooLe
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130 The Railroad Telegrapher. Mooney, was a jitney bus driver who had occasionally driven the Mooneys. Mooney is the center of the case. The other de- fendants have significance only because of their relation to him. Sought to Get Him. i45 — The utilities against which Mooney directed his agitation or who suspected him of mischievous activities undoubted- ly sought ‘to get' Mooney. Their activi- ties against him were directed by Swan- son, private detective. It was Swanson who had engineered the investigation which resulted in Mooney’s prosecution. It was Swanson who was active in the at- tempts to implicate Mooney in the dy- namiting of electric towers in 1916, at- temps which failed, it appears, because Billings and Weinberg refused offers of a 'reward' by Swanson to Implicate Mooney. Shortly thereafter the prepared- ness parade explosion occurs. Immediate- ly Swanson takes a leading part, acting for the district attorney and the police in the investigation of the crime. Within four days, under Swanson’s leadership, the arrest of Mooney and the others is made. Clash of Forces. “6 — Instead of an ordinary criminal case, or even a case of extraordinary in- terest, there thus emerge elements of a clash of forces of wide significance. On the one hand, a community long In the grip of bitter labor struggles and out- raged by peculiarly wicked murders. Ac- cusation is made against a group whose leader has been widely associated with views which justify violence, at least in Industrial conflict The public mind was therefore easily aroused to a belief in the guilt of the accused. An attitude of pas- sion was stimulated by all the arts of modern journalism. It is not surprising, then, that Billings and Mooney were tried in an impregnating atmosphere of guilt. Symbolized Labor. “On the other hand. Just as Mooney symbolized labor for all the bitter op- ponents of labor, so he came to symbolize labor, irrespective of his personal merits, in the minds of workers and their sym- pathizers. ‘The Mooney case' soon re- solved itself into a new aspect of the old industrial feud instead of a subject de- manding a calm search for the truth. “7 — Billings was tried first, undoubted- ly in the hope that the pressure of his conviction would lead him to implicate Mooney. He was ^convicted. His convic- tion has been sustained. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment. He has not implicated Mooney and he protests his Innocence. “Mooney was tried early in January, 1917, and in February, 1917, was con- victed of murder in the first degree. Mrs. Mooney was tried and acquitted. Wein- burg was recently tried and acquitted. Nolan has never been put to trial. Justice Biased. “8 — The convictions of Mooney and Billings followed trials in accordance with the established course of American proced- ure. It is familiar to students of juris- prudence that no system of criminal ad- ministration in the world hedges such safeguards around the accused as an American trial. Conviction, in other words, is based on evidence narrowly con- fined to specific issues. Furthermore, proof of guilt has to be established be- yond a reasonable doubt and established to the unanimous satisfaction of a Jury of twelve persons selected from the peo- ple. Conviction by an American Jury is guilt determined by a very democratic in- stitution. There is no question but that the jury acted in good faith upon the evi- dence submitted. It is because of the subsequent developments that doubt ex- ists of the justice of these convictions. Following the trials of Billings and Mooney there was a change in the evi- dence, which not only resulted In the acquittal of Mrs. Mooney and Weinberg, but also cast doubt upon the prior con- victions of Billings and Mooney. Leaves Uncertainty. “Thus it is that evidence submitted on four trials, taken together, aimed as it was at the establishment of a single is- sue—their joint participation in the crime — leaves the mind in the greatest un- certainty as to the complicity of the ac- cused. While each record in Itself pro- Digitized by LaOOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 131 sent* evidence which would justify the Appellate Court in sustaining the ver- dict of the jury, the evidence of the four cases in their entirety must shake confi- dence in the justice of the conviction. This is due to the dubious character of the witnesses, subsequent revelations con- cerning them and conflict in the testi- mony of the same witnesses as the need for change in the testimony developed to fit new theories of the prosecution or new evidence by the defense. “But it was not deemed within the province of the commission to establish the guilt or innocence of Mooney and his associates. We conceived it to be our duty merely to determine whether a solid basis exists for the feeling that an in- justice has been done or may have been done in the convictions that were ob- tained and that an irreparable Injustice would be committed to allow such convic- tion to proceed to execution. W e find in the atmosphere sur- rounding the prosecution and trial of the case ground for disquietude. This feeling has been reinforced by one factor of con- trolling importance. The most damag- ing testimony produced against Mooney came from a witness named Oxman. It was Oxman who testified, with convinc- ing detail, to the presence of Mooney and Billings at the place and at the time where it was essential for them to have been if proof of their participation in the crime was to be established. To “Suborn Perjury." “After Mooney’s conviction there came to light letten confessedly Written by toman prior to his having been called to testify. The plain import of these let- ters is an attempt by Oxman to snbora Perjury in corroboration of vital testi- mony which he was to give and which he Aid give against Mooney. It is true Ox- man was tried for attempted subornation of perjury and acquitted, but this is be- side the present consideration. The fact is he did write letters which tend com- pletely to discredit any testimony he might give, and no testimony from Ox- man, in the light of the letters, would Motive credence necessary to lead to con- viction. In fact, after the exposure of Oxman the District Attorney did not call him, though available, as a witness in the trial of Mrs. Mooney. When Ox- man was discredited, the verdict against Mooney was discredited. “10 — As soon as the Oxman letters were disclosed, the judge who presided at Mooney’s trial called upon the Attorney- General of California to take steps to- ward a retrial of the case. Up to Governor. “The Attorney-General asked the Su- preme Court that, in view of the Oxman exposure, the case should be returned to the trial court for a new trial. The Su- preme Court, however, under the laws of California, found itself without jurisdic- tion to consider matters outside the rec- ord. The case now before the Court of Appeals is to be disposed of solely on errors appearing from the record of the trial. If the Supreme Court should find error, reverse and grant a new trial re- lief the situation needs would be provided. If the court finds the record discloses no reversible error, and therefore, confirms the conviction, relief will have to be sup- plied through executive action of the Gov- ernor of California and co-operation of the prosecuting officers." In conclusion the report discussed the international aspects of the case, saying: International Interest. “It Is now well known that the atten- tion to the situation in the East was first aroused through meetings of protest against the Mooney conviction in Rus- sia. From Russia and the Western States protests spread to the entire country un- til it has gathered momentum from many sources, sources whose opposition to vio- lence is unquestioned, whose devotion to our cause in the war is unstinted. “The liberal sentiment of Russia was aroused, the liberal sentiment of the United States was aroused because the circumstances of Mooney’s prosecution, in the light of his history, led to the be- lief that the terrible and sacred instru- ments of criminal justice were conscious- ly or unconsciously made use of against labor by its enemies in an Industrial con- flict Digitized by v^oooLe
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132 The Railboad Telegrapher. Far Beyond California. “However strange, or however unex- pected it may be, the just disposition of the Mooney case thus affects influences far beyond the confines of California, and California can be depended upon to see the wider implications of the case. With the mere local aspects, with the political and journalistic conflict, which the case has occasioned, neither the commission nor the country at large is concerned. “But the feeling of disquietude aroused by the case must be heeded, for if un- checked, it impairs the faith that our democracy protects the lowliest and even the unworthy against false accusations. War is fought with moral as well as ma- terial resources. We are in this war to vindicate the moral claims of unstained process of law, however slow at times such process may be. These claims must be tempered by the fire of our own devo- tion to them at home.” THE ST. LOUIS & SAN FRANCISCO ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS. After several months of direct nego- tiations between the committee represent- ing the telegraphers of this organization employed on the Frisco System and the management of that property and no sat- isfactory settlement reached, appeal was made to the United States Board of Mediation and Conciliation. Commission- er. G. W. W. Hanger brought about an arbitration agreement of the unsettled questions remaining. H. D. Teed, Super- intendent of Telegraph of the Frisco Sys- tem, was selected by the company and C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treas- urer, was selected by the organization. Aft- er three conferences these two arbitrators selected J. A. Frates, of Miami, Okla., as the neutral arbitrator. This the first in- . stance on record of the opposing arbi- . trators agreeing on the selection of a neu- tral arbitrator as a member of the Board and is not only unique in that respect, but in the fact that Mr. Frates is Pres- ident of the Mineral Belt Railway, and a man of many years’ experience as an operating officer. The Board of Arbitration met in St Louis, January 15th, last, and opened the hearings. Fourth Vice-President J. J. Dermody acted as counsel for the em- ployes and Mr. B. T. Miller, counsel for the company. The hearings consumed two days, and after due consideration of the evidence and arguments, the Board concluded and announced its award on January 23rd, as follows: Award. 1. Requested by Employes: Employes request an increase in wages of $15.00 per man per month for all em- ployes covered by the schedule as pro- posed. It is awarded: In addition to the $6.00 per capita per month granted telegraphers and the 10 per cent Increase granted exclusive sta- tion agents, October 1, 1917, an additional monthly increase in wages aggregating $4,600.00 be allotted to the positions to be listed in the new wage schedule, this sum to be distributed by joint committee of the management and telegraphers. ( This is approximately $ 10.65 per month per capita .) 2. Requested by Employes: Employes request that article 1 of the present telegraphers’ schedule be amend- ed by adding the words: “All exclusive agents except St Louis, Kansas City, Memphis, Birmingham, Ok- lahoma City, Wichita, Springfield, Monett, Enid, Sapulpa, Hugo, Fort Smith, Gape Girardeau, Fort Scott, Joplin, Tulsa, and Muskogee,” after the words “receive and forward written messages by telephone.” It is awarded: That the following exclusive station agents’ positions shall be included in the telegraphers* schedule and wage scale. Then follows the list of positions. (This list includes 171 exclusive station agents.) Article 2 of the telegraphers* schedule effective August 1, 1916, will not apply to the foregoing positions. Paragraph 6, Article 9, of the teleg- raphers* schedule, effective August 1, 1916, will not apply to the foregoing positions until after July 1, 1918. Eleven consecutive hours, including meal hour, shall constitute a day’s work for exclusive station agents; sixty con- secutive minutes shall be allowed for Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 133 meal hour between 11 o’clock a. m. and 2 o'clock p. m.# and if not allowed within specified time one hour overtime will be paid. 3. Requested by Employes : Employes request that Article 12 of the present telegraphers' schedule be amend- ed by striking out all of the article and substituting the following: "All service performed on a calendar Sunday shall be considered overtime and paid for as per Article 3.” It is awarded: All telegraphers required to report for duty on Sundays shall be paid at the reg- ular pro rata rate (with a minimum of one hour for each time on duty), based on 26 days per month, such pay to be in addition to their regular monthly salary. The hours of work required on Sunday shall be within the regularly established hours of the telegrapher affected. If any telegrapher *8 trick is split more than once on Sunday , such telegrapher shall receive pay for the entire day. All exclusive station agents required to report for duty on Sundays shall be paid for such service at the regular pro rata rate (with a minimum of one hour for each time on duty), based on 26 days per month, such pay to be in addition to their regular monthly salary. The hours of work required on Sunday shaU be within the regular daily estab- lished hours of the exclusive station agents affected. 4. Requested by Employes : Employes request that Article 14 of the present telegraphers' schedule be amend- ed by adding the following: •'When an agent-telegrapher's position is changed to exclusive agency, such posi- tion will automatically become an exclu- sive agency covered by this agreement without reduction in salary.” It is awarded: An agent-telegrapher's position becom- ing an exclusive station agency position, the wages will be fixed in conformity with similar positions, and the position will be considered an exclusive station agent’s position within the meaning of this agree- ment, and will be covered by the rules as provided herein. 5. Requested by Employes: Employes request a new article in the schedule as follows: "Telegraphers shall be given fifteen con- secutive days’ vacation each calendar year without loss of pay. During January of each year each telegrapher shall be noti- fied in writing by the company of the date he will be relieved for the fifteen days’ vacation; if for any reason this fifteen days’ vacation is denied at the time set, fifteen days extra pay at the employes regular rate shall be paid in lieu thereof.” It is awarded: All telegraphers and exclusive station agents who have been in the employ of the company and who have five years’ seniority and less than ten years’ senior- ity shall have seven days* annual leave with pay, or in lieu thereof, seven days' additional pay based on regular salary of their position. All telegraphers and exclusive station agents who have been in the employ of the company and who have ten years or more seniority shall have fourteen days' annual leave with pay, or, in lieu there- of, fourteen days’ additional pay based on regular salary of their position. In Testimony Whereof, Witness our signatures this 23rd day of January, A. D., 1918. (Signed) J. A. Fbates, Chairman, H. D. Teed, C. B. Rawlins. One member of the Board filed his dis- sent as follows: In the matter of award made by the Board on request number one , I dissent from such award for the reason that I do not believe the wage increase granted is sufficient. (Signed) C. B. Rawlins. A LETTER FROM THIRD VICE- PRESIDENT. G. D. Robertson. All Officers and Members: — It has not been customary for your Third Vice-President to contribute much to the columns of our journal. On the occasion of his retiring from active serv- ice of the Order, temporarily at least, Digitized by v^oooLe
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184 The Railroad Telegrapher. to devote his whole time to his duties as a member of the government and of the Senate of Canada, a word in explanation of his action may be of interest Since our Grand Division Session in May, last, the work of the organization in Canada has made good progress. Every schedule in the territory has been re- vised during the past twelve months save one and negotiations are proceeding there. Since June 1st, last, and during a period of seven months there has been added to the income of our 6500 teleg- raphers in the Third Vice-President’s territory the sum of one million, three- hundred thousand dollars per annum. Im- proved rules, particularly the one provid- ing for payment of overtime and Sunday service on basis of time-and-one-half, based on a 26-day month, has been made effective on five railways. Our Canadian railway managements have frankly rec- ognized the growing need of increased compensation and the increases in rates ranged from ten to thirty dollars per month, beside betterment in rules. This consideration, in the fact of tremendous- ly Increased cost of operation, together with serious financial difficulties exper- ienced by some of our railways, merits —and receives— appreciation by the em- ployes even though the measure of re- lief obtained does not yet fully compen- sate for, nor ofTset, the advanced cost of living. In his capacity as a Senator, your Third Vice-President actively assisted in press- ing Canada’s Parliament for legislation desired by the railway employes and the results of those endeavors are set out in his legislative report to the Canadian membership, therefore need not here be commented upon. A copy of that report is being sent to Bro. Rawlins, our editor, for publication, if space in the journal permits. During the summer of 1917 and as war activities increased in Canada the inter- ests of laboring men became more and more prominently a matter of public and government concern. The Prime Minis- ter of Canada announced first a desire, and then an intention to give labor and agriculture direct representation in the government. Your Third Vice-President was subsequently Invited to serve as the representative of labor Interests and on October 23, 1917, became a member of the Cabinet A wider field of opportunity for use- fulness both to labor and to national serv- ice in this period of emergency has thereby presented itself. The appointr ment is for the period of the war and demobilization, only, unless results should render a continuation desirable. In ad- dition to being a member of the Privy Council, the special duties assigned are: 1. A member of the sub-committee of the War Committee of the Cabinet to deal with cost of living and food supply problems. 2. A member of the Reconstruction and Development Committee dealing with problems peculiar to that period after the war, preparation for which must be undertaken now. 3. A member of Special Committee of the Cabinet dealing with the railway problems now facing our government and which are of serious moment to railway employes. 4. Chairman of a Special Committee dealing with labor problems and of which the Hon. Minister of Labor is also a member. It can, therefore, be readily realized that proper attention could not be given to the above subjects and also carry on the work of Third Vice-President In view of the fact that ap early ter- mination of the war, for which we all devoutly hope, would probably release him from his present post he has sug- gested to the President a desire for leave of absence, if consistent for the remain- der of the current term. He has no de- sire to sever his association with the work of the Order in Canada so long as the officers and members wish otherwise. Whatever betides, it will always be my duty and pleasure to assist in every way possible to promote the welfare of our Order. I cannot in closing, refrain from Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 135 expressing the pride I feel in the sub- stantial progress made during my term of service as a Vice-President, and grate- ful appreciation of the loyal support of our officers, committees and membership in tasks undertaken. To sever these pleas- ant and intimate associations brings very keen regret indeed which can only be compensated for by the joy of their cher- ished memory. Trusting that a mantle of charity and forgetfulness may cover my many mis- takes while trying faithfully to serve the best interests of the Order and its mem- bers, in the days that lie behind us, and, with good wishes for all during the years that lie before, I am. Yours sincerely and fraternally, G. D. Robertson, Third Vice-President. THE BALTIMORE 6 OHIO ARBITRA- TION CASE. (Continued from January Issue.) The Chairman: When you speak of cross-examination, gentlemen, I think the arbitrators certainly — I speak for myself and I believe I may speak for the others —if the witness should omit anything which we think would enlighten the arbi- trators, we would not regard it a viola- tion of the agreement to call the atten- tion of the witness to that on either side. Mr. Perham: That is our understand- ing, that any member of the Board may put any question he wants to any wit- ness on either side, to get all the infor- mation he needs, but the idea was to save time by eliminating cross-examinations between counsel, who usually waste so much time without getting any result. For the information of members of the Board who are not already familiar with the subject, we desire at the outset of the proceedings to submit a statement, show- ing what transpired prior to this date in relation to them; what line of action we in- tend to pursue in presenting our case, and briefly outline our argument in support of our contentions. Employes of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road who are members of The Order of Hailroad Telegraphers have had agree- ments with the employers for over 20 years which have beep revised from time to time as the circumstances seem to war- rant and as were mutually agreed upon. The class of employes Is that known as station agents, telegraphers, telephoners and levermen. A proposed revised schedule and wage scale asking for an increase in the rates of pay and improved working conditions was submitted by the employes’ commit- tee to the employers on June 29th, 1917, with the request that any changed condi- tions that might be agreed upon should become effective on August 1st, 1917. Conferences were commenced on Au- gust 20th, 1917, and were continued from time to time without satisfactory results being reached as far as the employes were concerned. Congress having enacted a law provid- ing for mediation, conciliation and arbi- tration in such controversies, this law was invoked and under its provisions mediation proceedings commenced on' Oc- tober 26th, 1917. Under the process of mediation about 15 questions were solved in a manner more or less satisfactory to both parties and these matters already settled, along with the award expected from this honorable board of arbitration, will be Incorporated in the revised sched- ule and wage scale and form the new working agreement which will be binding on both parties for one year from the date the expected award is handed down. It will be observed that there are two questions to be arbitrated, one relating to the payment of overtime for all work, duty or service performed on Sundays, the other a request for an increase in wages amounting to 20 per cent in the aggregate. It is our intention to place but one witness on the stand, through whom we will Introduce our testimony and what- ever exhibits may be necessary. It has been agreed by both sides to the contro- versy that each side shall place but one witness on the stand. In the early days of the railroad busi- ness when the locomotive and trains took the place of stage coaches and other primi- tive methods of transportation it was cus- Digitized by v^,oo<?Le
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186 The Railroad Telegrapher. tomary for the station agent to go down to the railroad station on Sunday to meet one or perhaps two passenger trains to receive the malls and do other necessary things and after working a little while return to his home and spend the rest of the day with his family. As the rail- road business Increased and the coun- try prospered it became necessary for him to spend more time at the station each succeeding year and he was eventually ordered to stay on duty continuously. What was at first meant to be an accom- modation on the part of the station agent was eventually converted into a duty by the employer. In those days the station agent had not thought of protecting his interests by means of organization and had to do everything as he was instructed on pain of Instant dismissal. Consequently, he then had nothing to say as to the condi- tions of employment and being in a help- less position many irksome conditions were thoughtlessly Imposed upon Jim. Sunday work without pay was one of them. No other class of employes work on Sunday without pay as far as our knowl- edge goes. Train and enginemen get paid by the trip in most instances, and where they do not get paid by the trip, but have reg- ular stated runs, they enjoy lay-off peri- ods that are not given to station agents, telegraphers, telephone rs and levermen. Shopmen and others get time and one- half for work performed on Sunday and In many instances double the regular rate. Officials who receive a salary as con- tradistinguished from wages may work on Sundays without overtime pay, but those who earn wages generally receive an extra rate with the exception of the classes herein represented and on this railroad they receive nothing for such work. In many places, at the present time. It Is not necessary for the station agent to stay on duty all day Sunday. In some instances the employe could be spared from Sunday duty, but he is required to stay on duty on the ground that his services might be required and it does not cost anything to keep him on duty. If under such circumstances it was nec- essary to pay the employe at overtime rates he would be excused from service. It is well understood by all concerned that railroads cannot be successfully operated without the employes being re- quired to perform duty on Sundays, but the employes assert that there is more Sunday work required than is actually necessary. They need one day off In seven the same as everyone else and wherever it can be done they prefer the day of recreation and rest rather than the money that can be earned by such service. We have prepared and sent out to the employes a letter with a list of questions to be answered referring to the questions to be arbitrated, a copy of which will be filed as an exhibit. This letter was sent out from Baltimore on Wednesday, December 12th, 1917, the day after it was agreed to arbitrate these questions. The information contained In the replies comes direct from the employes con- cerned in this arbitration. It is up-to- date, and fairly illustrative of the opin- ion of the men and tends to show the con- ditions prevailing at this moment It is our Intention to read some of these re- plies into the record of the case through our witness and submit the others for the inspection and use of the Board of Arbitration, but not necessarily as ex- hibits. In passing, we may state that it Is our experience through arbitration proceedings In the past that it is prefer- able not to cumber the records with many and voluminous exhibits. We de- sire to popularize such proceedings as these, make them as brief as possible and at the same time submit nothing but that which is strictly germane to questions at issue. With reference to the second question to be arbitrated wherein an Increase in wages is asked for amounting to twenty per cent in the aggregate. We assert that the class of employes herein represented has never been ade- Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 137 quately compensated for the services per- formed and the risks assumed; that not- withstanding the many revisions of the existing schedule and wage scale that have taken place in the past, the wages paid never came anywhere near satisfy- ing the employes. They accepted what they could get rather than go out on strike with the hope that at some future time they might be able to get the em- ployers to see the subject in the same light as they do. They were about the last class in the railroad transportation department to or- ganize and have their claims for ade- quate compensation considered and con- sequently they are a long way behind in the matter of working conditions, that is, when compared to other classes of em- ployes in the transportation department of the railroad. As a matter of fact, cir- cumstances forced them to organize for self-preservation, and since they became organized they have made some progress. They purchase their groceries and other necessary things at the same stores as do other working people and pay the same prices as do other wage earners who enjoy better wages. There are no rebates for them on account of the con- ditions under which they labor. It is necessary for the station agents, assistants, ticket clerks, telegraphers and others of that class to dress respectably because they are constantly doing busi- ness with the public and are more or less Important members of the commu- nity in which they reside and represent the railroad. It Is necessary for them to bring up their children as others bring up theirs, to provide them with suitable clothing, to have them attend school and church, and to do all this in a presentable way costs money. Many of them after working a full month of week days, Sundays and holi- days do not have a dollar left "when their bills are paid and some of them find themselves in debt. As an altogether secondary considera- tion we will refer to the constantly in- creasing prices and the cost of living as shown by data furnished by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States De- partment of Labor, in which respect we intend to file some exhibits. Many of the employes have informed us recently that they will be forced to resign from the service of the railroad for the reason that they are not earning enough to keep them going on account of the advancing cost of living. We have induced them to stay a while longer until we ascertain whether or not we shall be able to ameliorate their condi- tions. It does not seem to us right and proper that men who have been In the service for a long period of time should be forced to begin life over again some- where or try their hand at a new or strange business. The separation of fam- ilies under such circumstances, and the hazards incident to such shifting, are matters to be avoided if it can be done. The two questions presented to this Honorable body for solution have been the subject matter for consideration by arbitration boards on other railroads re- cently. It is our intention to file ex- hibits and submit the original awards in these cases for your inspection and read the salient parts into the records. Several railroads have granted the rule in regard to pay for Sunday work in di- rect negotiations with the representatives of their employes. It is our intention to read those rules into the record, file ex- hibits and submit the schedules for the inspection of the board. With reference to the risks assumed by the class of employes herein represented, in the case of station agents and others who handle money for the railroads, it is necessary for them to give a strict ac- counting for every cent they receive. Should they sell a ticket for less than the tariff rate, make an error in giving change, deliver freight and not collect sufficient charges, and in many other ways, they are directly and financially responsible and must make all losses good out of their wages. These men are all under bond to the railroad for their integrity and right action while In the employ. Digitized by v^oooLe
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188 The Railroad Telegrapher. In the case of employes who handle train orders and signals controlling the movement of trains the slightest error may make them indictable for man- slaughter. We contend that the assump- tion of such risks should be a factor when their compensation is being con- sidered. With that opening statement, we will place our witness on the stand. We will call Mr. Yeager. J. YEAGER was called as a witness and, having been first duly sworn, testi- fied as follows: Direct Examination. Mr. Perham: Please give your name and address. Mr. Yeager: 2227 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Perham: What position do you hold with the railroad? Mr. Yeager: Telegrapher In their re- lay office at Pittsburgh. Mr. Perham : How long have you been In the employ? Mr. Yeager: Thirteen .years, next April. Mr. Perham: All of the time as a re- lay telegrapher? Mr. Yeager: No. Mr. Perham: In what manner were you first employed? Mr. Yeager: As telegrapher on the ex- tra list, capable of working any of their positions. Mr. Perham: What position do you hold with the employes? Mr. Yeager: General Chairman. Mr. Perham: How do you get that office? Mr. Yeager: I was elected by the mem- bership of our organization, employed on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Mr. Perham: Are you familiar with the working conditions that surround sta- tion agents, telegraphers, telephoners and levermen in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad? Mr. Yeager: I am. Mr. Perham: You gained that famil- iarity, because you are the general chair- man and chief representative of the em- ployes on the system, did you not? Mr. Yeager: Mostly through that source. Mr. Perham: Have you a copy of the existing schedule and wage scale? Mr. Yeager: I have. Mr. Perham: Does that show the con- ditions prevailing, as to wages paid, hours of service, and the like, for June, 1917? Mr. Yeager: Yes, sir. Mr. Perham: There are three sched- ules covering the entire system, are there not? Mr. Yeager: Up until the conclusion of the mediation, yes. Mr. Perham: That is, up to the time of June 1st, 1917, there were three sched- ules? Mr. Yeager: Yes, sir. Mr. Perham: We offer as an exhibit, three copies of the existing schedule and wage scale for the three parts of the system. I might explain that at this time it was necessary to have three sched- ules and wage scales, on account of the railroad being In a different state of or- ganization at that time to what it is at this time. Consequently, we offer the three schedules as an exhibit in the case. Mr. Yeager: Those would cover Bal- timore & Ohio proper, as of June, 1917. (The papers were received and marked Employes' Exhibit No. 1, December 20, 1917.) Mr. Yeager: Employes' Exhibit No. 2 would cover what was then known as the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern, or the southwestern district (The paper was received and marked Employes' Exhibit No. 2, December 20, 1917.) Mr. Yeager: Employes’ Exhibit No. 3 would cover then the Cincinnati, Ham- ilton & Dayton, now known as the Tole- do Division. (The paper was received and marked Employes’ Exhibit No. 3, December 20, 1917.) Mr. Perham: If there is no objection, they will be Exhibits Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Have you a copy of the mediation agree- ment which was reached on December 11, 1917? Mr. Yeager: Yes. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 139 Mr. Perham: Is that agreement to be incorporated in the revised schedule and the wage scale, when completed, which will constitute the new agreement? Mr. Yeager: That will constitute the new agreement Mr. Perham: We offer as an exhibit, the copy of the mediation agreement of December 11, 1917. (The paper was received and marked Employes’ Exhibit No. 4, December 20, 1917.) Mr. Perham: Mr. Yeager, do employes who perform Sunday duty get paid for it? Mr. Yeager: No. Mr. Perham: How does it happen that they don’t get paid for Sunday duty, when other employes do? Mr. Yeager: Other employes — men on toin and engine service, shop trades, known as boiler makers, machinists, etc., they get paid by the day, and we are PaM by the month. Mr. Perham: How did that situation come about? Mr. Yeager: In our case, the situation came about in the early days, that the men located In railway stations, only tmd a train or two a day to meet and sell a ticket for, or check a trunk or so, which only required a few moments. Tbea. as the traffic on all railroads be- came heavier, it necessitated their being at the station at all times, until it came about that It was compulsory on the em- ployes—they had to be there; so it is today. Mr. Perham: Is It necessary for all of the men you represent to work all day Sunday? Mr. Yeager: No. Perham: Some of them can be ex- cused, because they are not wanted all the time on Sunday; Is that true? Mr. Yeager: That is correct. Mr* Perham: Are there any instances where men now do not work on Sunday at any 0f station agents' positions, especially? Mr. Yeager: Yes. Mr. Perham: A certain number? Mr. Yeager: A certain number. Mr. Perham: And there are others that work a few hours, during the day? Mr. Yeager: We have that condition. There are those of that nature. Mr. Perham: Are there Others who work three quarters of a day? Mr. Yeager: Yes; we have that situ- ation. Mr. Perham: And they are excused a part of the time? Mr. Yeager: That is right Mr. Perham: Now, in the case of men in charge of signal towers on the main line, do you deem it absolutely necessary for those men to stay on duty all day Sunday? Mr. Yeager: They would have to per- form the same duty, the same number of hours on Sunday, as they would during week days. Mr. Perham: Which would the em- ployes prefer, extra pay for Sunday work, or being relieved from the duty? Mr. Yeager: They would prefer being relieved absolutely of all Sunday work. Mr. Perham: What is the reason for that? Mr. Yeager: The reason for that is that they would like to be off Sunday, the same as any other citizen or worker of the country. Six days a week is enough to work. Mr. Perham: Have you the original award In the New York Central Lines ar- bitration case of August, 1916? Mr. Yeager: I have. Mr. Perham: Is the award from the New York, Chicago ft St Louis Railroad, otherwise termed the “Nickel Plate" con- tained therein? Mr. Yeager: Yes, sir. Mr. Perham: Please read those parts of the award that relates to Sunday pay, both on the New York Central Lines west of Buffalo, and the New York, Chicago ft St. Louis Railroad? Mr. Yeager: On the New York, Chi- cago ft St. Louis, the Nickel Plate Mr. Perham: I think if you will read the New York Central Lines first it will be better. Digitized by v^oooLe
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140 The Railroad Telegrapher. Mr. Yeager (reading) : “It is awarded salaries shall be based on the regular working days of the month. Overtime pro rata will be paid for all hours worked on Sundays.” That is the New York Central Lines, west of Buffalo. The Nickel Plate pro- vides : “It is awarded that telegraphers will only be required to perform such work on Sundays and holidays as may be neces- sary to protect the company's Interests, but when required to perform any serv- ice on Sundays or holidays will be paid at overtime rate for all such service, in addition to their regular wages. The Sun- day and holiday hours shall be within the regularly assigned weekly hours and shall be consecutive.” Mr. Perham: We offer the original award and five copies thereof, for the in- spection and use of the Board. Have you the original award in the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific case, Octo- ber, 1917? Mr. Yeager: Yes, sir. Mr. Perham: Please read that part of the award, relating to Sunday work and pay. Mr. Yeager: It is awarded so far as possible telegraphers will be excused from duty on Sundays and holidays. Telegraphers required to perform any service on Sunday will be paid pro rata for such service. Mr. Perham: Is that all of the article? Mr. Yeager: That is all that relates to Sunday duty that I find. Mr. Perham: We offer the original award and five copies thereof, for the inspection and use of the Board. Have you a copy of the mediation agreement, dated November 15, 1917, on the Illinois Central Railroad? Mr. Yeager: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read the para- graphs relating to Sunday duty and the increase In wages. The Chairman: I think.it would be well, where the witness has copies for the arbitrators, for him to pass them over to the arbitrators now, perhaps. Mr. Perham: Very well; we will fol- low that course. I might say there are five copies of the New York Central award, but the original arbitration award makes six. Mr. Yeager: The Illinois Central, ar- ticle 18, reads as follows: “Section 1. Telegraphers shall be ex- cused from Sunday and holiday duties as much as the conditions of business will .permit “Section 2. Telegraphers In offices un- der the jurisdiction of superintendents of telegraph required to work on a Sun- day or a holiday, will be paid pro rata for all Sunday and holiday work. All such work to be consecutive. “Holidays referred to are New Year’s, Decoration Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. “Section 3. Telegraphers In offices other than those covered by Section 2, required to work on Sundays, will be paid pro rata for such service. Sunday service shall be arranged in not to ex- ceed two periods within the spread of the weekday hours, and with a minimum of one hour each time they report. The Sunday hours will be assigned and not subject to temporary changes; for all service outside of such assigned hours, overtime will be allowed as per overtime rule.” Mr. Perham: Is that all of the para- graph relating to Sunday pay? Mr. Yeager: That is all I find. Mr. Perham: Will you now turn to the paragraph respecting Increases in wages? Mr. Yeager: I find that reads as fol- lows: “The railway companies grant an amount of $165,321 per annum to be applied as an increase of the present pay of employes covered by the schedule. This sum to be distributed by the joint ac- tion of the representatives of the railroad companies and the committee represent- ing their telegraphers. This amount shall be so distributed as to make it a fair and equitable adjustment of salaries. In the event of a disagreement between the parties in the wage distribution, the mediator in this case shall be called upon Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 141 to act as umpire in the matter. This increase shall be effective October 16, 1917.” Mr. Perham: We offer the original mediation agreement and five copies thereof, for inspection and use of the Board. Have you a copy of the mediation agreement, dated November 22nd, 1917, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad? Mr. Yeager: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read the para- graph relating to Sunday pay and the increase in wages. Mr. Yeager: As to Sunday pay, it pro- vides: i | “So far as possible, telegraphers will be excused from duty on Sunday. “Section B. Telegraphers in relay of- fices required to work on Sunday or a holiday will be paid pro rata for all Sunday and holiday work. All Sunday and holiday work to be consecutive. Holi- days referred to are New Year’s, July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas. “Section C. Telegraphers in offices other than those covered in Section B required to perform any service on Sun- day, will be allowed extra pay pro rata, with a minimum of one hour for each time they are required for report, for all Sunday work, within the assigned Sunday hours, assigned Sunday hours to be with- in the spread of the week day assign- ment. For all service on Sunday outside of the assigned Sunday hours they will be allowed overtime as per overtime rules.” (To be continued) C. D. HAQLER and Q. T. KELLER MEMBERS, C. & O. SYSTEM, DIVISION No. 40. Digitized by v^.oooLe
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BRIEFS Join the crusade for one of the prizes. Your efforts will yield dividends. Have you protected your beneficiary by forwarding your remittances in payment of dues to the Secretary and Treasurer of your Division and Mutual Benefit De- partment assessments direct to headquar- ters in St. Louis t If not , do so at once , as a few hours9 delay often spells disas- ter. The time limit for the payment of the current term assessment expires Feb- ruary 28th. Ten hundred and fifty-five new mem- bers were initiated into the Order during the month of January. Keep thoroughly posted on what the organization is doing by reading the edi- torial pages of The Telegrapher. The Chesapeake and Ohio, Norfolk and Western, Seaboard Air Line and all rail- roads in Canada include train dispatch- ers in telegraphers' schedules. The mailing list will be revised after this month's issue of The Telegrapher, and only members in good standing to June 30th next will receive future copies of the journal. The article in the January Telegra- pher, "The New Order of Things," enu- merating our achievements during the year 1917 has excited much interest. It has been suggested that every member forward his January issue to a non. If the number of new members ini- tiated into the Order during the month of January is an indication of a coming event casting a shadow before it, our 60,000 mark should be attained before the close of the year. The British government have decided to send representatives of British trade unions to America. Among the delegates will be W. A. Appleton, general secre- tary of the General Federation of Trade Unions. Keen Interest is being manifested in the prize contest, the rules and condi- tions of which were published in the Jan- uary number of The Telegrapher. Get in and assist in carrying into effect our 1918 slogan. Government employment service of the United States and Canada have entered into an agreement whereby neither coun- try can import laborers from the other without consent of the respective gov- ernments, the Labor Department has an- nounced. In a report by the Illinois State Direc- tor of Labor at Chicago it is stated there is no evidence of women radically dis- placing men. He says reports of women taking men’s places in factories have been exaggerated. They are in demand for elevator operators and in banks and similar lines of business there is a tendency to employ women, he said. The normal shortage of labor in some industries has been slightly intensified. In urging workers to enroll in the United States employment service for possible future use, the Department of Labor makes this official announcement: "Let the entire country understand that there is no labor shortage at this time, that the problem is purely one of distri- bution, and that the facilities are now provided through tile United States em- ployment service and its public service reserve." Opposition to the importation of Chinese labor was reaffirmed at the quar- terly meeting of the California State Federation of Labor Executive Board, which declared that "we are opposed to Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 143 any weakening of the immigration law relating to other aliens, until it is con- clusively shown that there is a real labor shortage in our State in regard to the harvesting of crops during the ensuing year/’ We are in receipt of a copy of a chain letter, requesting all agents and telegra- phers to write to ten other agents or telegraphers , sending a copy of the letter to Director General McAdoo. This let- ter requests an increase in wages for agents and telegraphers. Read “ Railroad Wage Commission*' in the editorial col- umns of this issue. Our affairs are be- ing handled along legitimate lines, in ac- cordance with the Constitution , by the of- ficers elected for that purpose. The Railroad Wage Commission, ap- pointed by Director General McAdoo, opened hearings in Washington, D. C., Monday, January 28th. . All railroad or- ganizations were represented. Among those present who heard President Per* ham make his request for a forty per cent increase in wages for our class of employes were J. F. Miller, Chairman of the Board of Directors; C. B. Lane, Gen- eral Chairman, and other members of the General Committee of the Norfolk and Western Railroad and the Editor. After five days of walking, riding trucks, jitneys, automobiles, limousines, and adapting many ingenious methods for reaching one's destination, employes at the General Office are rejoicing with the other patrons of the United Railways Company of St. Louis on the successful termination of the tieup of the street car lines. The company has agreed to recog- nize the Union and handle the griev- ances of its conductors and motormen in conformity with the ethics of fair em- ployers. Virtually providing for control of pri- vate financing during the war, the Ad- ministration War Finance Corporation bill was introduced simultaneously in the Senate and House. Financing of war in- dustries hampered by present conditions is the principal object. In requesting prompt passage of the bill, Secretary McAdoo has advised Con- gress leaders that it is necessary because many war and related industries are se- riously impeded by inability to secure new capital, due largely to the large drains made upon national resources by the government’s war loans. According to an article in a Leipzig paper, by Herr von Breitenbach, who un- til recently was Prussian Minister of Railways, the number of women employ- ed by the Prussian State railways is now 100,000 as compared with 10,000 before the war. Herr von Breitenbach says that In purely manual labor, the efficiency of women is from 50 to 75 per cent that of men; that In work which requires a com- bination of mental and physical abili- ties women cannot compete with men, but that in the simplest forms of railway service women are perfect substitutes for men. Mutual Benefit Department members who are contemplating enlisting for mil- itary or naval service , are urged to ar- range for the payment of dues and as- sessments within two calendar months from January 1st and July 1st of each year. Should a member who has enlisted forfeit his membership in the Mutual Benefit Department , he will be unable to reinstate in this department while en- gaged in such service , therefore it is hoped that our boys will realize the neces- sity and importance of keeping in good standing by remitting both dues and as- sessments prior to February 28th and Au- gust 81st of each semi-annual period. An urgent call for 400 laborers by a factory having a government contract was cited by the United States Employ- ment Service as evidence of the “wide- spread and unfounded belief” that a gen- eral labor shortage exists. Representa- tives of the service investigated the call before attempting to supply the men, and discovered that they would not be need- ed for two weeks, and that, in the mean- Digitized by v^oooLe
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144 The Railroad Telegrapher. time, there was no way to house them. The call had been sent out, it was said, because of fear that when the men were needed they cduld not be obtained. Hundreds of similar calls have been re- ceived by the service, tending to demoral- ize the labor supply and cause individual hardships. The Washington State Public Service Commission has refused the request of the Puget Sound Traction, Light and Power Company to employ women con- ductors. After public hearings, the Commission ruled that the health of women would be endangered. The trade union movement opposed this plan, as did State Labor Commission- er Younger, who said: “If the Seattle traction company will pay the wages demanded and if it can afford to pay the wages men require, it can get all the men it needs. The trac- tion company is not up against a short- age of men. The wages are too low, that’s all.” During the hearings before the Rail- road Wage Commission in Washington, D. C., several individual train dispatch- ers appeared before that body and re- quested that this class of employes be given a substantial increase in wages. This organization represents train dis- patchers wherever they have shown a dis- position to be represented, as was re- cently demonstrated on the Seaboard Air Line, where the train dispatchers were included in the telegraphers* schedule. This matter should be brought to the at- tention of all train dispatchers over the country, and they should be urged to af- filiate with this organization in order to receive the conditions and wages they are entitled to. Do not fail to keep in good standing at all times. For the information of cer- tificate holders in the Mutual Benefit de- partment, the signing of the so-called “ ap- plication for reinstatement ” or utoar waiver” is required of members who have allowed their membership to become de- linquent, by failing to pay their dues and assessments within two calendar months from the beginning of a semiannual dues period , in accordance with Article XV of the Mutual Benefit Department laws . In order to avoid signing this “ application for reinstatement ” members are urged to keep their membership continuous by for- warding remittances in payment of both dues and assessments prior to February 28th and August 31 of each semiannual period , the beginning of which periods are January -1st and July 1st of each year. The signing of “ supplement to ap- plication” is required of all new mem- bers. In a special message, Governor Whit- man, of New York, transmitted to the Legislature part of a letter he had re- ceived recently from Samuel Gompers defining the position of the Council of National Defense relative to the suspen- sion of labor laws. In substance, it said that existing statutes governing workers should be suspended only when the gravest war emergency demanded such action, and then only when their suspen- sion was properly safeguarded. The message was received without ac- tion in the assembly. In the Senate it was referred to the Labor and Industries Committees. The letter was written because of re- cent agitations among workers in oppo- sition to the bill of Senator Brown which would authorize the suspension of State labor laws during the war. A similar bill passed the Legislature last year, but was vetoed. Digitized by v^oooLe
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PERSONAL MENTION The following births have been report- ed since the last issue of The Teleg- rapher: To Bro. and Mrs. L. A. Gardner, of Charleston, S. C., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. H. R. Siler, of Tren- ton, Mo., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. D. H. Stephens, of Martensdale, Iowa, a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. P. C. Gardner, of Arlington, Md., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. J. Luther Robinson, of Velpen, Ind., & girl. To Bro. and Mrs. George A. Lallement, of Moose Jaw, Sask., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. J. H. Baker, of Les- ter, Ohio, a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. R. C. Fawcett, of Dun- can, B. C., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. A. B. Spence, of Coch- rane, Alta^ a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. Jesse I. Brown, of Redlands, Calif., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. R. J. Creedon, of, Painesville, Ohio, a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. R. L. Fuller, of Kings- burg, Calif., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. W. J. Hoffman, of Wyoming, Minn., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. C. O. Hay, of Livings- ton, Mont, a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. M. 0. Olson, of Ar- thur, N. D., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. G. H. Messenger, of Eckerman, Mich., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. W. B. Conger, of South Haven, Minn., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. E. H. Oswald, of Co- lumbus, Ga., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. S. B. Caudle, of Con- cord, Ga., a girl. The following marriages have been re- ported since the last issue of The Teleg- rapher: Bro. Lw L. Turnbull, of Div. 130, to Miss Golda Tolies. Bro. Harley L. Stevens, of Div. 54, to Miss Hazel Miller. At Wapato, Wash., Bro. J. L. Haw- thorne, of Div. 54, to Miss Mattie E. Oertli. Bro. Glenn Corzine, of Div. 53, to Miss Marie Martin. Bro. F. N. Sigmon, of Div. 54, to Sis- ter Ella Collins, Div. 54. Bro. G. W. Gaudette, of Div. 54, to Miss Vine Harrison. Bro. E. O. Jarstead, of Div. 96, to Miss Katherine Corrigan. Bro. D. C. Epps, of Div. 59, to Miss Cagle, of Riverdale, Ga. The Telegrapher extends congratula- tions to the happy couples. The following deaths have been reported since the last issue of The Telegrapher: Bro. Edward J. Collins, of Div. 71. Bro. H. V. Truitt, of Div. 44. Bro'. James C. Culkins, of Div. 16. At Des Moines, Iowa, Bro. El B. Parker, of Div. 23. At Grafton, Ohio, Bro. W. G. Saxton, of Div. 3. At Cupar, Sask., Bro. A. Fullerton, of Div. 7. At Jacksonville, Ala., Bro. H. L. Far- mer, of Div. 28. Father of Bros. J. E. and R. P. Bick, of Div. 53, and F. J. Bick, of the Grand Division. At St. James, Ohio., mother of Bro. W. G. Collins, of Div. 3. Brother of Bro. C. J. Sullivan, of Div. 37. Mother of Bro. J. J. Mooney, of Div. 8. . Brother of Bro. C. R. Robinson, of Div. 15. Son of Bro. R. A. Beard, of Div. 15. Father of Bro. W. T. Schoonover, of Div. 23. At West Haven, Conn., wife of Bro. George F. McCormack, of Div. 29. At New Haven, Conn., daughter of Bro. E. I. Phillips, of Div. 29. Wife of Bro. O. F. Myers, of Div. 33. Digitized by LaOOQle
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146 The Railroad Telegrapher. Wife of Bro. S. C. McCoy, of Div. 33. Father of Bro. David M. Callis, of Div. 35. Father of Bro. George E. Joslin, of Div. 35. Mother of Bro. S. Kofert of Div. 126. Father of Bros. George A. and Sam A. Hale, of Div. 59. At Belvidere, 111., wife of Bro. R. E. Dillingham, of Div. 76. Son of Bro. E. P. Allen, of Div. 62. Daughter of Bro. S. 0. Richman, of Grand Division. Wife of Bro. Floyd A. Walls, of Div. 71. Father of Bro. J. M. Combs, of Div. 130. Mother of J. W. F. Garner, of Div. 59. Mother of Bro. C. H. Wing, of Div. 130. Bro. Peter Schmidt, of Div. 111. Wife of Bro. F. Crosskill, of Div. 43. Father of Bro. Lawrence J. O'Donnell, of Div. 42. Mother of Bro. F. H. Lisenby, of Div. 42. Wife of Bro. S. A. Hering, of Div. 42. Wife of Bro. E. E. Horton, of Div. 42. Wife of Bro. A. Wilson, of Div. 40. At Terre Haute, Ind., the wife of Bro. Charles Whitehead, of Div. 34. Bro. Edward J. Sullivan, of Div. 8. At San Francisco, Calif., wife of Bro. J. D. Frank, of Div. 126. Bro. A. K. Winsor, of Div. 126. At Denver, Colo., the father of Bro. J. J. Hicks, of Div. 53. At St. Clair, Wash., Sister Ellen M. Graybeal, wife of Bro. J. B. Graybeal, of Div. 54. Mother of Bro. L. D. Weyand, of Div. 54. Bro. R. Downing, of Div. 81. The bereaved relatives have the sympa- thy of all. WANTED. Present address of Harry H. Wolf, last heard of working for Q. 0. & K. C. as agent some point in Missouri. W. C. Holmes, Jb., Mannsville, Okla. Present address of William Bartlett, last heard of working for C P. R. at Greenville Jet., Maine. Present address of Bro. Dan Doyle, working on Ann Arbor at Thompsonville, Mich. "Boys, if you see this, drop me a line.” G. E. Balsbaugh, Lock Box 178, Biggsvllle, 111. Present address of Raymon S. Craig, worked as night eng. dispr. for S. P. Co. at Tucson, Ariz., in 1913. May be em- ployed as yard clerk. Present address of James A. Single- tary, worked as yard clerk and operator at Benson, Ariz., in 1913. Jesse C. Long, No. 360 “D" St, San Bernardino, Calif. Present address of the following: Oakley Graybeal, last working as opr. at "CW" on Decatur Div. Wabash R. R. William McLaughlin, lately discharged from naval service and whom I think is working on B. ft O. S. W., somewhere in Illinois. Ben Polsen, last heard of several years ago working in Milwaukee, but is prob- ably on the C. ft N. W. "Boys, if any of you see this, won't you please send your old friend, who at one time worked with you In *DA\ a card?" Otto E. Teubeb, Box 94, Wells River, Vt. LOST OR STOLEN. Card No. 6055, Cert. 1033, Div. 59, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 1377, Cert. 430, Div. 44, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 511, Cert. 5678, Grand Divi- sion, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 274, Cert. 63, Div. 39, for term ending June 30, 1918. Div. cards in favor Cert. 373, Div. 32, for terms December 31, 1911, to Decem- ber 31, 1917, inclusive. Digitized by v^oooLe
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OUR WAR-TIME NEEDS. By Kate E. Cabb, President. In time of war as in time of peace it Is not only important, but very essential, that the people be well fed, clothed and sheltered. Victory does not depend on guns and soldiers alone; it depends as well on the efficiency of every man, wom- an and child back of the firing line. To maintain this efficiency there must be enough food and it must be so prepared and combined as to be both palatable and nourishing. There must be plenty of clothing of a good and suitable character provided for all. And the general up- keep, and hence material quality of our homes must not be allowed to deterio- rate. Since 85 per cent of the food in this country is consumed in the homes, we women literally become the na- tion's stewards. Every American woman should, if she has not already done so, get a good primer on human feeding. Make protein, fat, carbohydrates and calories household words understood by dfch member of our respective families. In order to carry the Allies through this war with sufficient foodstuffs to maintain their men at the front and their women and children at home, we must neces- sarily substitute fish, fruit, potatoes, vege- tables, poultry and dairy products for the foods which are transportable or funda- mental to Europe. Since the war has placed such a heavy demand upon the food output as to cre- ate a shortage in our so-called staple ar- ticles, we must learn to judiciously use these foodstuffs of which we have an abundance. With our entry into the war, a cry for economy and thrift was sent forth. Right- ly interpreted, it was a timely cry, but there is a wide difference between the economy that is timid, selfish, hoarding, and the economy that is wise administra- tion. The sensible woman does not stop short in the purchase of clothing or the day's legitimate needs. Such practice not only harbors undue and unnecessary privation upon our families, but stops the wheels of industry, thus throwing thou- sands out of employment For, since the principal market for manufactured goods and other commodities produced by labor is secured among the laborers themselves, a cessation of the demand for these prod- ucts can have but one result: a partial, and in time, total cessation of their production. As a natural consequence we would then have an oversupply of labor and the much dreaded competition for work among laborers would be sure to follow, thus causing the gulf between the high cost of living and the buying power of our dollars to be correspondingly more difficult to bridge for us all. There will be no money-shortage. There will be plenty of employment at high wages if the women who handle 87 per cent of the money spent in this country will exercise proper discretion and con- tinue to spend wisely and sanely. Providence, R. I., Local No. 35. The year, 1917, has passed most har- moniously and pleasantly. We have held regular meetings each month with a good average attendance. Our December meet- ing was unusually fine and enthusiastic. After a good business meeting, Sister Digitized by v^oooLe
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148 The Railroad Telegrapher. Moore entertained with songs, with Sis- ter Clara Brady as accompanist. Bach one brought a contribution for our lunch and we had quite a festival. Every member was presented with a card of greeting from President Haddock and a sheet of music from Sister Ross. At the January, 1918, meeting our pres- ident announced she could not be a can- didate for re-election in February. Noth- ing but praise can be said of President Haddock’s wise and efficient management in the past year and her retirement is greatly regretted. The meeting was followed by a “Hoov- erized” lunch served by Sisters Mehring and Haddock. Congratulations are extended to Broth- er and Sister George Hebert and Broth- er and Sister J. McCabe on the recent ar- rival of baby girls in their homes. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom, to call to his eternal home, the father of Brother and Sister Gedrge E. Joslin, therefore be it. Resolved, That the members of Auxil- iary to Division No. 35, O. R. T., extend to the sorrowing brother and sister their heartfelt sympathy in this their sad hour of bereavement; and be it further. Resolved, That a copy of the resolutions be sent to the bereaved brother and sister, a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publi- cation, and a copy spread upon the min- utes of the Auxiliary Local 35. Clara A. Wood, Addis C. Conant, Emma C. Welch, Committee. Digitized by AaOOQle
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CELLANH THE HOLDUP OF NO. 8. IN THE) early part of the 80’s I was holding down a sidetrack O. S. Job on the main line of the U. P. in Western Wyoming. There was only a depot, section house, and water tank at the place, the nearest neighbors being at the next station, sixteen miles away. I was fresh from the Bast; and the lonely nights I spent in that out-of-the-way place, listening to the doleful wail of the coy- otes and occasional screams of moun- tain lions, were indeed nerve racking. I had bought a Winchester and a Colt's six-shooter, and took great pride in “pack- ing~ It by means of a scabbard and belt, with the belt bristling* with cartridges, strapped loosely around my waist. The outfit presented a very formidable ap- pearance, and was the cause of many sly winks, nodding of heads, and indulgent jests on the part of the trainmen. While I presumed it had the opposite effect, my make-tip proclaimed the “tenderfoot" with emphasis. One night, while a crew was in the office getting orders and waiting for a stock train, a brakeman, who, by the way, was a jolly good fellow, spoke, as I took it, casually to the boys about an operator who had been killed by train robbers several years before at that very place. The conversation became general, and the boys entered into the scheme with energy. They told, with horrible detail, how the unfortunate operator was surprised at the very table where I was sitting by a gang of train robbers, and ordered to stop No. 8, the overland through express, due at my station shortly after midnight, and that the operator refused and showed fight, and was instantly shot and killed by the outlaws. I did not observe the sly winks exchanged between the crew, and was very much disturbed by the story of the tragedy. Ely Saunders, the engineer, asked me what I would do if train robbers tried to hold me up some night. I pointed significantly at my six-shooter and Win- chester and replied that I should make it hot for the outfit that tried It This was the occasion for a general burst of good-natured laughter that I never did understand until a great while later. The stock train showed up and the boys bade me good night, cheerily warn- ing me to be careful if train robbers or Indians should attack me, and I was left alone with the unpleasant reflections of the tragic end of my predecessor several degrees removed. The overland express, No. 8, was due at 2:17 in the morning, and I had until that time to take a few hours’ nap on the table. I lay down and tried to sleep, but couldn't. About 1:30, my fire being low, I went across the track to the coal house after coal. I opened the coal house door, picked up the shovel, and was Just in the act of shoving it into the coal pile when a rough voice from behind com- manded, "Hands up there, young fellar!" I whirled around only to confront a masked individual and the muzzle of a six-shooter stuck in my face; at the same moment another masked man deliberately stepped up and pulled my valued six- shooter out of its scabbard and put it in his pocket with a chuckle of satis- faction. The only means of escape seemed for me to crawl into the barrel of that gun, and it certainly looked large enough. Five masked men — train robbers — stood Digitized by Google
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150 The Railroad Telegrapher. around me. I was face to face with reality. “Wall, young fellar,” drawled the leader, “you jlst march into the house now, do what we tell yer, and no monkey business, and you may get out of this with a whole skin; and if yer don’t, I reckon we’ll have to pepper yer full o’ holes, for we ain’t goin* to be balked by a tenderfoot fresh from the Hast, not if we know who’s who, and I reckon we do.” I felt like one in a terrible nightmare. A chili forty degrees below zero ran trem- bling up my spinal column, down my arms, and oozed off of my finger tips. I could not have spoken a word if my life had depended upon it I started with trembling steps toward the office door. One ruffian took me by the collar and shoved me right along into the office and plumped me down in my chair. “Now, young fellar,” demanded the leader, “you just turn that red light ; then I guess we’ll have to tie yer down — yer might monkey with them tickers thar and spile our plans.” I found my voice, and tremulously pro- tested against being tied. But one of the party, with a harsh voice and wicked eyes, told me to shut up, and not make a d fool of myself, in language that could not be misunderstood. They pulled my chair back in one cor- ner of the office, tied me in it, and sat down to await the coming of the train. They talked over the plans of their at- tack freely, paying no attention to me. They were to wait until the conductor and engineer came in to sign their orders, hold them up, take charge of the train, rob it, and get away. One they called “Tex” was to jump on the engine and “nail” the fireman. The balance were to attack the express car and rob the passengers, leaving one they called “Griff,” who had my new six-shooter, to guard the trainmen when they got them into the office. How proudly the robber fingered my new six-shooter! They had also appro- priated my new Winchester, and my belt of cartridges the leader had buckled around him without a word of comment or even thanks to me. No. 8 was right on time, whistled for the station, answered the red signal, dashed up to the office, and stopped. The unsuspecting conductor, engineer, and brakeman ran into the office for their orders — and they got them. What a dif- ference came over those robbers from when they were dealing with me. This was actual business. “Hands up!” roared the leader, and four pairs of six-shooters covered the crew. The conductor and engineer in- stantly obeyed. The brakeman, a nervous little fellow, wheeled around, screamed “My God, I’m killed!” and bolted out of the door and down the platform, yelling “robbers” at the top of his voice. Griff blazed away at him with my new six- shooter as he went out of the door. “To your work, men!” shouted the leader, and three of the robbers started for the express car, the fourth command- ing the conductor and engineer to line up against the wall, keep their hands up and their mouths shut The robbers Area a few shots along the cars and proceeded to rob the train. I wondered if they would come in and shoot me In their ex- citement, and feared that they would. I could hear women screaming in the train, and men demanding in excited voices what was the matter. From the rear of the train revolvers began to crack. Few at first, then like a bunch of lighted fire-crackers, only on a larger scale. The shooting came nearer and the robber guarding the crew made a move as if to shoot the engineer, but the conductor said: “My God, man, don’t shoot us; we are defenseless.” At that instant the door burst open, a blinding flash, a deafening report, and Mr. Griff plunged forward with a bullet In his head, before he had timo to raise a hand. An officer, wearing the fatigue uniform of a captain in the United States Army, rushed into the room, followed by several soldiers. The firing had ceased. A detachment of United States Cavalry was on the train en route from one of the western forts to another. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 151 I was cut loose, and the first thing I did was to step timidly forward to where the dead robber lay, gather up my treasured six-shooter, and hand it to the captain, informing him that it was mine, and that I gave it to him. “Don’t want it,'* he replied in a kind but ?ery firm voice. I placed the gun in the table drawer, and went out with the sol- diers, conductor and engineer to see how matters stood. The soldiers were gathered in groups around the prostrate forms of the dead robbers. Four of them were dead, in- cluding the leader. The fifth had Jumped from the engine when the firing began and made his escape. That outfit of robbers had missed their calculation. They had not figured on a carload of soldiers being on the train with their side arms. They loaded the bodies of the dead bandits into the ex- press car and pulled out, leaving me alone at the station. I “0. S.'d" No. 8 with trembling hand, told the dispatcher what had happened, sent in my resignation, and asked for a pass back Blast. — By F. R. Dresback, in Express Gazette . HUMORS OF WAR. WAR has its humor. The brand is brutally frank and direct and lacking subtlety, according to war correspondents and others who have made a study of it on the spot. For ex- ample: Across No Man's Land one morn- ing there appeared in the German trenches the following poster: Irischmans The Englischmans are Shooting Your Wifes and Children in the Streets. No response was made during the day, but at night a party of Irishmen went over the top, cleaned out the trench and brought back the poster and with it some prisoners. According to Ian Hay, who saw a great deal of war as a captain in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders, the favorite diversion of the Tommies, whenever the trenches are close together, is to call “Waiter!" loudly and many times — an allusion to the occupation of many Ger- mans in England in the peaceful days. The spirit of fun has been in the trenches from the first and cannot be suppressed. In the early days when the men slept and obtained shelter in dug- outs not so comfortable as they are now, considerable ingenuity was displayed in making these quarters shrapnel and splinter proof, and also in devices to keep out, as much as possible, the rain. Favorite designations on placards on dug- outs were “Ritz Hotel," "Hotel Cecil," "Rue Dormir" and other names of Lon- don and Paris hotels. Signboards on roads leading to the front were marked: “This way to the Prussians," and on the other side of the line, before the Marne: “This way to Paris." Now that conditions are reversed there is a chuckle in the story of the German general who, to impress the inhabitants of Alx-la-Chapelle, marched his Belgian prisoners over the same route five times. Humor is not confined to the men ashore; the men afloat have their share of it and, doubtless, the war will develop a certain type of humor in the submarine and aerial branches of the service. But humor elsewhere can never be as broad or have so wide a range as the humor of the trenches, with its mixing of many nationalities. In the first naval fight off Heligoland, the British tars scratched on their shells, “Love to the kaiser." Even in the face of death humor will not be suppressed, and there is the story of the British boat blown up by a submarine. Two tars were struggling in tne water. Said one: “It’s a long way to Tipperary," the words of the song telling the whole story ot their situation in half a dozen words. "Yes,” replied the other Instantly, “if you are going to swim." Diplomacy sometimes deals with subtle humor, as witness the conversation be- tween a Russian and an Austrian diplo- mat The Austrian remarked that he Digitized by Google
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152 The Railroad Telegrapher. was surprised that the Russians were requisitioning so many autos, adding: “Your roads are so bad." “But yours are so good,” commented the other, quickly. Soldiers’ letters frequently tell of their work in a humorous way. Wrote a Tommy on the battle front when the Germans had it all their own way: “At 4 o’clock Monday morning they attacked us again, so we left the milk (303) on the doorstep and retired again.” The poilu is just as fond of his joke as Tommly is. At a temporary French post office not far from a trench was set up this notice: “We close from noon to 2 p. m. The Prussian cannon are requested to do likewise.” That Ivan has a grim humor is seen in the placard which a Russian left on a pile of bread which, in retreating, the sol- diers were unable to carry away. Upon the bread was poured gasoline. ,rWe hear that the Germans need bread and gaso- line; here they are,” the Russian wrote. One of the commonest pranks that the Tommies used to play on Fritz before the orders came to economize ammunition was to get a stick, put a cap on it and make it bob up and down to simulate a soldier moving about an observation post. Tons of ammunition have been used up on this hoax. Soldiers laugh at danger to forget fear. That is why the big shells are named “Jack Johnsons,” “coal boxes,” “Percy,” etc., and great is the delight of the Tommy who first discovers a new shell and names it At mess he inquires: “Have you met Percy?” and then has the opportunity to tell what “Percy” is like and its sound as it comes through the air. The Palmer shell got its name in a queer way. Palmer was nearly mad with a neuralgic pain in his head, when a shell burst near by. The explosion knocked him senseless for a time. When he came around, his first remark was, “Me neuralgia’s gone.” “And so is six of your mates,” replied a comrade. “Oh, crickey!” he replied, and that particular type of shell, on that front, thereafter was called “Palmer’s neuralgia cure.” And yet there are those who say that humor does not blend with war! that they do not make jokes worth repeating; that the business of killing does not encour- age wit! Listen to the story of the sergeant awaiting a meal in what was left of the kitchen of an inn after a 12-inch shell made its home there. The partitions separating the dining room and the bar' were riddled with bullets and fragments. The bar itself had its back broken and the tables and * chairs were in various stages of demolition. “What a fright you must have had!” said the sergeant, sympathetically. “Yes,” replied the simple old lady, who wras in the kitchen when the shell burst and miraculously had come through alive. “I was afraid the range was busted." The arrival of a chaplain in camp made it necessary to erect a temporary rostrum. Empty ration boxes were picked up at random and nailed together. The regimental chaplain ascended it and announced for the opening hymn, ‘“The Church’s Sure Foundation.” A hurricane of laughter followed. Being unable to proceed, the chaplain went down among the congregation. Then he, too, entered into the joke. The pulpit on all sides bore the brand of a famous whisky. The “Black Maria,” which at one sweep digs a hole 8 feet deep and 15 feet across, gives ten seconds' warning No flag signal man is needed to give the alarm, the red flag of danger having no place on the front. The men, when the whistle of the “Black Maria” is heard, take to what they call their rabbit war- rens. They themselves, because of their scrambling abilities in rushing to a place to huddle together, have nick-named themselves rabbits. When the scream of the shell denotes that it is coming in their direction, they cry out, “Here comes the gamekeeper!” No second warning is necessary. A British general driving the Germans forward was within 20 feet of a shell that exploded. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 153 “Twenty feet nearer,” remarked the general to one of his staff, “that shell would have caused a promotion in the staff.” An aviator chafed before he won his decorations because the work he was di- rected to do in the air was monotonous. “If only they would let me go and leave my calling card with Emperor William!” he once remarked. The lighter side of war is depicted in two incidents, one ashore, the other afloat A British cavalry subaltern was cut off from his men on the edge of a wood. He hid as best lie could and finally saw a German soldier patrolling the road. It looked to him like murder to kill the German under the circumstances, so when the opportunity presented itself the sub- altern gave the Hun a swift kick, which sent him screaming and running. A British Tommy with a keen sense of humor noted a cold storage car tem- porarily held up on the road. With some chalk he scratched across its sides the following; “This car is filled with hot stuff for the kaiser.” — From the New York Sun . TIM GROGAN, DETECTIVE. •«¥ SAY, you can't have her, Tim Gro- I gan. You’re a likely boy enough, * but I look higher for my Mary than a detective. You can’t have her, I tell you.” And Malachi Flannagan, the pros- perous contractor, leaned back in his chair and looked fierce. Detective Tim Grogan looked sadly at the floor and then he said: “Mary wants me, Mr. Flannagan,” and at that instant the door opened, and as an echo to his words pretty Mary Flannagan said: “Yes, I do want Tim, pa.” “Well, you can’t have him, Mary. What’s he done? He couldn’t catch a thief with a dragnet Let him do some- thing to show that he’s likely to get the chiefs place some day, and then maybe 111 listen to you.” But the next night found Tim Grogan there again and Mary smiling, though tearful.. “Are you here again, Tim Grogan? I tell you tonight what I did last night. Do something to show some day you can be chief of police and maybe I'll talk to you. Don’t you come round here again, Tim Grogan. I’m goin’ down tonight with plans in my pocket for the Nelson ware- houses. I saw about the bids yesterday. There's twenty men after this job, but I’ll beat ’em all out with these plans of mine, and the work’s worth $20,000 cold cash to me; and it ain’t the first $20,000 I’ve made with my brains, Tim Grogan. Why don’t you do something like that? Detective, are you? Look out a farmer don't sell you a gold brick.” And Malachi Flannagan put on his hat and left the house. At 11 o'clock he was back, white and agitated. “Mary,” he said, “I’ve lost the plans. I lost ’em coming home. The thing’s to be decided tomorrow night about the work, and I know from what happened at the office that I’d get the job; but the plans are gone, and I can’t duplicate ’em, and old Nelson won’t wait. I am out of $20,000, and that fool Grady will get the job. Just my luck. The plans were stolen, I know it. They were taken from me on the elevated.” "Call in Tim, pa,” said Mary. “You say he’s no good as a detective, but I know better.” “He isn’t any good, Mary, but I’ll give him a chance. If he finds these plans, he can have you.” Mary went to the telephone. In twenty minutes Tim Grogan was in the house. “Don’t tell me anything, Mr. Flannagan, excepting what you lost, and what elevated train you took home, and where you sat. If I find the stuff, I want you to know that I'm good at my busi- ness.” “I lost some building plans, and I took the Northwestern Elevated train that left the Madison Street loop station at 10:40, and sat in the rear seat of the middle car.” Tim Grogan disappeared through the front door. “Mary, if Tim finds those plans, he's better than that Sherlock fellow who Digitized by Google
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154 The Railroad Telegrapher. we saw in the play, and in a year he’ll be out of the front office, and upstairs a flight in the chiefs chair.” The next morning at 10 o’clock sharp Detective Tim Grogan walked into the Flannagan parlor and put the missing plans into the hands of the old man, who was just getting ready to go down- town. “There they are, Mr. Flannagan,” said Tim, “and I’ve saved you $n0,000 this day.” x “You have, my boy, and Mary’s yours; and how did you do it?” “Well, Mr. Flannagan, it’s not for you nor others who ain’t detectives to under- stand the workings of a real sleuth’s mind. I’ll tell you what I thought and how I deduced, as they say, other thoughts, and finally got the trail of the thief and the papers. “You told me you took the rear seat, right-hand side of the middle car of the 10:40 train. From that I worked. Now, Mr. Flannagan, .a lame man talked to you on the car.” Mr. Flannagan’s eyes popped. “How do you know it, Tim?” “Dead easy to a sleuth, Mr. Flannagan. I found the marks of his crutch on the floor in front of the seat where you sat. The lame man was an Irishman, and he came from County Kerry.” Mr. Flannagan’s eyes popped again. “Tim, you’re the devil himself. How’d you And that out?” “I know you, Mr. Flannagan. No man could get you talking enough and thoughtless enough to rob you unless he talked so you’d think you was back in your boyhood days, though you’ve dropped your own brogue long ago. The man smelled of musk, Mr. Flannagan, and he put his hand on your shoulder like this, Mr. Flannagan.” “Tim, you’ve got the devil beat.” “ 'Twas easy to find that out I knew it before I left the house. Your own overcoat smelled of musk, Mr. Flan- nagan, and if you’d see here on your shoulder, the fellow took hold of you so, fond like, and his nail caught up a thread.” “Tim, you’re equal to a whole tribe of devils for cunning. The fellow did have a crutch with a nail in the end of it, which made marks on the floor; he did come from Kerry; he did smell of musk, and he did grab me tight, affec- tionate like.” “He got off at Larrabee Street, Mr. Flannagan.” “And how do you know that, Tim?” “There’s a curve just before you get to the station, and I noticed two marks on the floor where he had set his crutch to steady him when he stood up.” “And how did you get the thief and the papers, Tim?” “Just trailed him, Mr. Flannagan. He’s a bad one, and he’s wanted for arson in San Francisco, and so we’re going to send him out there for trial, because he’ll get it harder for stealing your papers, and you won’t have the trouble of appear- ing against him.” * * * Tim Grogan and. Mary Flannagan had been married a month. The old man went to their modest little flat to make a call. He found them out, and sat down to await their return. Mr. Flannagan wanted a match. He couldn’t find one, and so he opened the closet door to con- tinue the search. The first thing his eye fell on was a crutch with a nail in the end of it. The next thing was a bottle of musk, which was smelling to heaven through the stopper. The next thing was a red wig. The Kerry man who stole Mr. Flannagan’s papers had red hair. On a hook were the queer coat and vest that the stranger wore when he opened up the conversation. A great light broke in on Mr. ITlan- nagan. “The rascal,” he said to himself. “Tim disguised himself, stole my papers, and then had an easy job finding them.” Old Mr. Flannagan was not without the forgiving spirit. Mary and Tim came in. “Mary,” said the old man, “Tim mistook his vocation. He’d make a first-class thief.” “Tim, my boy, you remember the fel- low who got the drink off Casey, Jim Mc- Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 155 Garry’s bartender? Jim said the stranger vtaa good for a drink if he already had it. “Well, you’ve got me where that fellow had Jim McGarry after he had the drink down. You’ve got Mary, and I suppose I’ll have to stand for it.” — By Edward B. Clark in Chicago RecordrHerald. AUTHORS AS FRIENDS. SITTING in my study, before a cheer- ful grate fire, surrounded with friends that represent the wisdom of ages, I gaze upon the storm that rages without and feel only the warmth of the fire and the charm of the companionship of my friends. How glorious it is that I may retire from the struggle with the world, escape from the discomforts of the elements, to revel in the undying splendors of my friends! I could dispense with the fire, exist without the study, but I should fam- ish without my friends. Who are these wondrous friends of mine? The prophets and wise men of Israel, of Greece and of Rome; the in- spired men of succeeding ages — Aurelius, Epictetus, Demosthenes and Cicero; the geniuses of a later period — Shakespeare, Bacon and Milton; those that border on our own time — Darwin, Spencer, Frank- lin, Scott, Dickens, Emerson, Longfellow, and a vast host of contemporaries ; those who are still with us in the flesh — Mor- ley, Bryce, Wilson and Roosevelt, added to which is a long line of women of re- nown—Catherine, Marie Louise, Eliza- beth, Eliot and kindred spirits of today —these are my friends, and they are ever ready to fespond to my call. Surely one may find a host of friends among the authors of all ages who are unstinting in their generosity and limit- less in their courtesy. They give us all they possess, and they come and go at our invitation. Such friends are priceless in value and yet cost us but little; they serve us with- out recompense, and bear with us no mat- ter what may be our mood. Cultivate the friendship of these master minds, and the best that is' in them will become a part of your own being, serving and comfort- ing you. — By Edwin Gordon Lawrence. BE A SOLDIER— IN THOUGHT, AT LEAST. IN THESE times, when anybody says “be a soldier,” we think they mean join the U. S. Army and go to France. But here is a different thought about it Many words have a descriptive mean- ing derived from their constant applica- tion to a certain thing. If you call a man a “hog,” everybody knows at once what you mean. If you say a certain person acts like a “mon- key,” you may have described him in one word a great deal more fully and more accurately than you could by any long description of other words. Now, do you get me, when I tell you to be a “SOLDIER.” A soldier is a man who has one object in life and who devotes all be is and has to it. He is not fighting for himself alone, but for you and for me. He sacrifices himself for the good of us all. He suffers any privation necessary without com- plaining. He takes all the risks of being wounded or killed as a part of his day’s work. You, sitting at home in safety and com- fort, complain because the government finds it necessary to tax your income or your property more than it did in times of peace. You complain because you have to work a little harder, now that so many who used to help you are required in the military service. You complain be- cause you cannot have the things, or do the things, that you could before all the world went to war. For heaven’s sake — BE A SOLDIER! Fight on the home line, if you can’t on the front. Sacrifice your selfish de- sires for the good of all. Suffer the little privations without complaining. Cheer- fully take the risks of losing a few pleas- ures, or a few dollars for humanity’s sake, without letting out the whine that shows' you up as a coward and a slacker. BE A SOLDIER!— By Chas. F. Jones, of Boston. Digitized by v^oooLe
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POKHCAI To the Boys Along the Line. When you have crowded every blessed minute, And planned on eating with the wife and kids; And beat the “mill" for every pound that’s in it; And done some things the book of rules forbids. When you, I say, have toiled and sweat and hurried. And then get stabbed an hour on a meet; Don’t curse that individual rushed and worried. Who’s holding down the train dispatcher’s seat. When you have copied orders till you’re tired. And still they come a-piling up on you. When you have wrestled levers and perspired, To see the rush of traffic safely through. Then hurried home to snatch a bite of dinner. And get called down for going out to eat ; Don’t call that harassed man a blasted sinner, Who’s holding down the train dispatcher's seat. And every time you stop to sign an order, Or break the circuit to report a train ; Remember, he’s the only one recorder, While you are one of many in his brain. He’s human — kindly spare him your derision, And when he makes an error, treat him fair. The hardest working man on your division. Is holding down the train dispatcher’s chair. By Elmer Edmond Johnson. Dropping the Doctor. A doctor sent a damsel a prescription for a kiss ; ’Twas a pleasing little caper, you’ll admit. He was shopping for the favor of the fascinating miss; But he failed to make the necessary hit. Her Immediate procedure killed the doctor’s dream of bliss; When he heard about the matter he was chilled. For the girl took the prescription he had sent for a kiss To a very handsome druggist to be filled. — Boston Transcript. Waiting. Serene, I fold my hands and wait. Nor care for wind, or tide, or sea; I rave no more ’gainst time or fate, For, lo ! my own shall come to me. I stay my haste, I make delays. For what avails this eager pace? I stand amid the eternal ways, And what is mine shall know my face. Asleep, awake, by night or day. The friends I seek are seeking me; No wind can drive my bark astray. Nor change the tide of destiny. What matter if I stand alone? I wait with joy the coming years ; My heart shall reap where it has sown. And garner up its fruit of tears. The waters know their own and draw The brook that springs in yonder height ; So flows the good with equal law Unto the soul of pure delight. The stars come nightly to the sky; The tidal wave unto the sea; Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high. Can keep my own away from me. — John Burroughs. The Man of Choice. Agnes wants a millionaire, With coaches and a car. Who’ll take her all around with him And travel near and far. Mabel \*ants a manly man. Broad-shouldered, strong and tall. While Nellie wants a stylish dude, Who’ll come at beck and call. Sarah wants a publisher, And lots and lots of space, And Carrie wants a handsome man. With a happy, smiling face. Martha’s choice a preacher is, With hair of glossy jet. And Nancy says she’ll have to take Whomever she can get. Mary aims so very high, She’ll never be content With any man upon this earth Except the President. I’m not sure I want to wed, But if I do, I pray I’ll get a man who’s wdse enough To let me have my way. Digitized by v^oooie
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A Good Suggestion. Poet — I seek a phrase that shall ex- press the joy of life in two words. Can you suggest anything? Unfeeling Friend — Received payment! Twas Ever Thus. “Here’s a fellow patents a contrivance to keep girls from falling out of ham- mocks.” “More machinery displacing men.” — Louisville Courier-Journal. A State of Mind. Mr. Saphead — On my army application there is a place to tell the condition of the mind. What would you advise me to answer? Miss Kutting — Leave it blank. — Judge. Beyond Repair. Fond Mother— My daughter’s voice has been a great expense to me. Visitor (who has been listening to it for an hour) — And you can do nothing for it? — Stray Stories. Doing Him Justice. First Editor — Here’s one of the most learned men in the country — Prof. Skim* merton — just passed away. What shall I say about him? Second Editor — You might refer to him as a finished scholar. Fraudulent Advertising. Sacca Bonna wants something severe done to people who don’t do as they ad- vertise to do. He says he saw a sign in a street car: “Buy O’Flannagan’s rubber heels; 50 cents attached.” And so he went and bought a pair, but there was no half-dollar attached, and he believes he has been swindled. — The Yel- low Strand, A Reason Why. One of our able senators was arguing a momentous naval question with an op- ponent. “You know I never boast,” the oppo- nent remarked during the argument. “Never boast? Bully!” exclaimed the senator. Then, in a more reflective mood, he added, “No wonder you brag about it.” Canned. “Is your wife putting up any fruit this summer?” “No, but I’ve canned a few peaches my- self.” “You have?” “Yes, I had three different stenograph- ers this year, and not one of them knew half as much about spelling and grammar as she did about the latest fashions.” Too Often ''Down.” “Do you go in for aviation?” he asked the beauty of the high class girls’ school. “No, not for aviation. One goes in for sea bathing, but for aviation one goes up.”— Tit-Bits. Stinging. Mr. Gnaggs— Oh, there are worse fel- lows in the world than I am. iMrs. Gnaggs— Don’t be such a pessi- mist! In Urbe. A little girl from a more leisurely part of the country was walking with her mother along that part of Olive street which skirts the Railway Exchange Build- ing. It was the noon hour, and the crowd was out and in rapid motion. The air was strong and gusts of it scurried past as they do in that vicinity. “I don’t like St. Louis, mother,” said the little girl. “Everything is in such a hurry — even the wind.” Digitized by v^oooLe
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158 The Railroad Telegrapher. Expensive Talk. Black — Could you give me just one minute of your time? I want to borrow $10.00. White — That would be giving you two lull days. I get only $30.00 per week. He Kept His Job. One of the bosses at Baldwin’s locomo- tive works had to lay off an argumenta- tive Irishman named Pat, so he saved dis- cussion by putting the discharge in writ- ing. The next day Pat was missing, but a week later the boss was passing through the shop and he saw him again, at his lathe. Going up to the Irishman, he demanded fiercely: “Didn’t you get my letter?” “Yes, sir; Oi did,” said Pat. “Did you read it?” “Sure, sure, Oi read it inside and Oi read it outside,” said Pat, “and on the inside yez said I was fired, and on the outside yez said ‘Return to Baldwin’s Locomotive Works in five days.’”— Lip- pincott's. Had His Answer. An Irishman with a very thick head of hair was one day the center of a ring of English farmers, who were endeavoring to crack jokes at his expense. “Why,” exclaimed one of them, “you’ve got a head of hair like a stack of hay.” “Ah!” returned Pat, unruffled, “that’s just what myself was thinking. That ac- counts for my having so many asses around me.” Under Restraint. Mike Murphy, a contractor, became rich and tony, and got a handsome auto- mobile. Mrs. Murphy invited Mrs. Clancy for a ride in it. “Whatever you do, Mrs. Clancy, don’t talk to the shoffer at all, not a word or whisper to him, for it takes his mind off what he is doing.” So they started out at a rapid clip. The chaufTeur went zip around the corner and whizz round another corner; sometimes the car would be on two wheels. Finally Mrs. Clancy touched the chauffeur on the back and said: “Mr. Shoffer, I beg your pardon, I was told not to speak to you at all, but let me tell you that Mrs. Murphy hasn’t been in the car for the last ten minutes.” Tact? “Tact,” said the lecturer, “is essential to good entertaining. 1 once dined at a house where the hostess had no tact. Op- posite me sat a modest, quiet man. “Suddenly he turned as red as a lobster and fell into a fit of confusion on hearing his hostess say to her husband: “ ‘How inattentive you are, Charley. Ycu must look after Mr. Blank better. He's helping himself to everything.’ ” — Sacred Heart Review . intelligent Youth. The boy was very small and the load he was pushing in the wheelbarrow was very, very big. A benevolent old gentleman, putting down his bundles, lent him a helping hand. “Really, my boy,” he puffed, “I don’t see how you manage to get that barrow up the gutters alone.” “I don’t,” replied the appreciative kid. “Dere’s always some jay a-standin' round as takes it up for me.” — Puck . And Politeness so Cheap. “Hey, you!” said the man in the auto- mobile to a farmer by the roadside. “Is this the road to Podunk?” “Yes,,” said the farmer, “that’s the road to Podunk, all right.” And then, as the motorist threw in the clutch and sped on his way without paus- ing to thank his informant, the latter grinned and muttered to himself: “If he’d been a little more polite about it I might have told him he’d get there quicker if he turned his car around.” Favorite Fare. A certain father who is fond of putting his boys through natural history examina- tions is often surprised by their mental agility. He recently asked them to tell him, “What animal is satisfied with the least amount of nourishment?” “The moth!” one of them shouted con- fidently. “It eats nothing but holes.” — Youth's Companion . Digitized by Google
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THE RAILROAD AGENT. r? HAS been noted and realized, espe- cially in the past few years, that the railroad agent is the representative of railroads to the public, how the railroads are protected against unjust claims and all claims are adjusted and settled through the local agent, how all matters of solici- tation which are “stirred up” or pointed out by a solicitor finally falls in the hands of the local agent; how the farm- ers* crops and amount and the dates they will move are watched to enable the car- riers to provide for same; how all mat- ters of public requirements are kept in touch with and reported. The local agent is required to be a first-class accountant and bookkeeper. Accounts of the railroads, I believe, are as complicated, as exact and as minute as any. The fact that many banks call on railroad agents to accept positions as cashiers proves this ability and knowl- edge. An agent must have his books and records in such condition that he can fur- nish any information or statistics on short notice. He must be accurate in all of his accounts as well as in the handling of large sums of money daily. Many agents pay shortages because of being too rushed to properly protect themselves in accounts and collections. He must be well posted on freight and passenger tar- iffs of all kinds, must post the many changes in these tariffs and keep an ac- curate file of them for ready reference and be able to quote correct rates from these complicated tariffs, be able to route freight and passengers the most practical and convenient routes ; must be posted on all embargoes and restrictions. At this particular day what could be a more im- portant duty than the handling of cars? The agent is the principal employe be- hind the car movement, releasing of and “loading-to-carrying-capacity” of cars. Most agents being the yardmaster at their station have been behind this campaign to the utmost of their ability. In addition to the above mentioned du- ties most agents hold the responsible po- sition of telegrapher besides being agent for the express company and manager for the Western Union which requires him to be an honest, intelligent and observing man with fair education, good judgment, business-like methods, sociable and cour- teous and an organizer of station force. The difficulty in securing this class of men to fill thousands of these positions, which has prevailed throughout the United States during the past years, is due to the fact. that the salaries and op- portunities of these positions in compari- son to the salaries of other positions such as bankers, managers and agents for other concerns and opportunities for self established business and even in com- parison to the salaries of fellow employes in railroad work do not appeal to the men capable of holding such positions. Many who have experienced the work of agents and succeeded have engaged in easier positions in the railroad service with less responsibility because of the unjust sal- aries under the difficult conditions. This is a time when we cannot consist- ently ask for additional help to lighten the agent’s burden. The character of the agent’s work is such that the hours of work cannot be designated because his duties and responsibilities continue throughout the twenty-four hours of each and every day of the year. Considering a railroad agent's duties, qualifications and his hours of service when compared to salaries of the other Digitized by v^oooLe
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160 The Railroad Telegrapher. employes of the railroads and of other industries I feel that under present con- ditions he is entitled to a large increase in salary. These points should be emphasized to the commission appointed by General Di- rector McAdoo to investigate the salaries of the railroad employes. Mybon E. Dams, Certificate 542, Agent Mo. Pac. THE WORKERS. By “Mack.” PART V. (Continued from page 43, January.) Organizing. Despite all opposition “Organized Labor” has grown, not ahead, but follow- ing '“Business Organization.” Not only have labor organizations increased numer- ically, but they have also extended their field of action, as outlined in preceding chapters. In its development it has met a trinity of objectors, hostility of the employer, censure of the public, and the objections of many who are wage earners themselves. The first arises from con- flicting economic interests that often 'ends in industrial conflict. Much has been written on the identity of interest of em- ployer and employe, that looks good in printed theory, but fails in practical usage. It can all be summed up in the following — In the production of wealth under the present industrial order the interest of capitalist and laborer are iden- tical in so far as both are necessary economic factors, but in the equitable division of this dual produced wealth the identity is hard to define even by the most conservative economic wTiters. It has never been satisfactorily defined, so that industrial strife is not so much the product of individual as it is systematic, and individuals and industrial classes are the creatures of an industrial order that foster clashing interests, and not the cre- ators of it. Strenuousity is considered a high qualification for business leadership and business success, removing restrain- ing obstacles is the chief work of the strenuous leader of business and it will hardly be denied that labor organizations are a restraint on overzealous officialdom exercising its free will regardless of its effect on the employes. This Is galling to the average employer that is partly responsible for his objections. Employ- ers have many objections of a more de- tailed nature, but we will dismiss them and state the first and basic objection of many of them — that labor organizations exist. Censure of what might be called the “public” composed of those who may not be directly concerned in the industry in- volved in strife, or the questions at issue are, nevertheless, made sufferers through circumstances they cannot control. In the battle of industrial giants “the pub- lic” receives some of the blows that in the present day vents itself in censure of one or both the giants; in the short past it was generally applied to labor. Sometimes it may have been unwarranted, sometimes perhaps deserved. Organized labor is not infallable. All these objec- tions retard the work of organizing to a degree, but the saddest and most irritat- ing objections often come from employes who are benefited by the power of or- ganization in the craft they may be a worker. These objections have in many cases their source in daily news sheets, or business publications and are absorbed by the unthinking workman who phono- graphically repeats them to his organized neighbor, or an organizer whom he may come in contact with. It is with many of the objections met by the organizer that wre will deal, and run through the crucible of thought, as there are few people in this organized age who have had the experience of labor officials and organizers in dealing with dissenters In the ranks and among those that should be their defenders. The first is the man or woman -who tells you, “I object to labor organizations on general principles.”- When specifica- tions are asked for they are generally lacking, and a few more queries disclose that they are not conversant with any Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Tei<egrapher. 161 of the principles, much less general prin- ciples. This poor misguided creature fails to realize that he is living in an age of organization, concentration of employ- ing interests are taking place almost ev- ery hour before his eyes. Merger fol- lows merger in the process of business centralization with these ends in view, first, to make money; second, to make more money, and you can follow this as far as numerals can carry you with the same monotonous object. He fails to see that there are but two basic methods to attain this end, one is by selling what the employer has to sell at the highest pos- sible figure, and the other is to buy what he must have at the lowest possible cost. The difference between these two prices represents his minimum, or maximum profits. Among the purchases of raw ma- terials is labor — (General Principle Objec- tor included) is placed alongside of other commodities, and the employer — great or small— adhering to business principles, that are underwritten by economic laws never pays more than he must for it, and how “Mr. General Principle Objector” ex- pects to protect himself from the power of organization only by counter organiza- tion he is unable to explain. When he desires to sell what he has — labor — he is confronted by highly organized corpora- tions and trusts organized, among other things, to buy him as cheap as possible. When he buys the necessities of life he faces the same problem in the organized manufacturers, the merchants* associa- tion, organized grangers, and many others, all organized to defend themselves and their general business, and increase the value of their wares, none organized for charity but for the express purpose of taking a business advantage of those who have not the organized power to withstand their assaults. Mr. G. P. O. sees no harm in any kind of organization, but the organization of workingmen. Ask him when he condemns labor organiza- tions. What is your substitute for them? and he is shorn of all argument and left stranded on the sea of reason. The at- titude of Mr. G. P. O. also has an analogy in black slavery, when the poQr illiterate colored servants hurled more abuse at the invading army of abolition than did the real beneficiaries of slavery. The slave of 1861-65 was the “General Prin- ciple Objector” of that day. The individualist — this type is often met by the organizer. He is one that in- flates himself and proudly announces that “he does not feel like sinking his in- dividuality in a labor organization.” To hear him speak one would be led to Re- lieve that he climbed the steps to a general manager’s office, and in some exaggerated cases the president’s, after receiving a Havana cigar he made a special contract to cover himself alone. This pompous individual would be considerably jarred, and his pride diminished if he could get a look at large corporate bookkeeping where his individuality was buried in a maze of figures representing dollars and cents, profits and expenses, where his name is lost and in its stead is the daily, monthly and yearly cost of running a de- partment of which he may be a unit. On the daily time sheet of the immediate chief of his department, if he has a pro- nounceable name, he may be entered un- der it, but if not, he is likely to appear as a number. Purchased in bulk a type of labor power of a hundred, a thousand, or more, in which so much money is in- vested for a profitable return. The wage is attached to the position, and not to the man. Individualism in industry has long passed away. We are living in an age of social production in which Industrial types furnish but constituent parts to- ward the completion of a finished whole. The employer has no less ceased to be an individual in the capacity of ownership. Operating officialdom has also ceased to be an individual, they are as much in- dustrial types as the wage earner. They are often prompted to say officially “Yes” when they personally would sooner say “No,” and “vice versa.” It sometimes compells them to do what the finer in- stincts of manhood abhor, or if they don't someone else will. The only real individualist of modern days was “Robin- Digitized by v^oooLe
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162 The Railroad Telegrapher. son Crusoe” and he only existed in fic- tion. Personal dislikes — this is an amusing cuss and would not attract much atten- tion from a logical standpoint, but does from the numerical. He is found almost everywhere. He would not think of con- necting himself with an organization to which Tom or Dick belonged, indeed he Is so assertive in his opinions that he leaves you under the impression that he would prefer “Hades” if he thought the object of his personal hatred would be among the spiritual elect. My misguided friend, yours is a foolish reason when you should know that personal dislikes are not confined to yourself; we are all tainted with it more or less, but we never give it as a valid reason for non-mem-, bership in our craft union. There are men in all crafts, both inside and outside of organization that there is good reason for not desiring them for social asso- ciates, but circumstances beyond our con- trol has made them industrial associates, and with them we must work for indus- trial improvement. You should not per- mit your industrial welfare to become en- dangered by personal dislikes. Labor organizations will never rise higher than the kind of men that em- ployers employ. All are human beings with all the failings and virtues of hu- manity. Using the same reason of per- sonal dislikes should prompt you to re- main apart from any other organized institution. Religious, political or frater- nal, indeed, in its final analysis your logic would land you outside of organized civ- ilization, for I am sure there are many in the human family whom you will con- sider as not conforming to your ideals and standards. Strikes — the organizer is often met by many who refuse because they cannot sanction “strikes.” They inform you they are opposed to them for no other reason. It is Just as reasonable for this working- man to oppose the government he may live under because it maintains an army or a municipality because it maintains a police force. So are all trades unionists opposed to strikes. Many of them have passed through industrial strife where stomachs were matched against bank ac- counts and they are not more anxious than the above type to enter a contest that involves hardships and sacrifice to them. If the non-member has any sub- stitute for strikes to defend an indus- trial right, or right an industrial wrong he should get into an organization that covers his craft and advocate it While it must be acknowledged that striking is a crude weapon in an acute industrial situation, it is about the principal one that labor has at the present time, but through organized thought they are grad- ually finding other methods to better con- ditions. To those who oppose labor or- ganizations in their militant program, we say, Just study the primer of modern in- dustrialism, and you will find no Sunday school ethics there. It will convince you that aggressive weapons are necessary. The organized workman, no less than you would like to see an industrial order where fairness and sober reasoning would predominate, but they must meet condi- tions as they are, and not as they wish. No sensible member of organized labor courts strife, but there may, and occa- sions have arisen where conditions of employment become Intolerable, and strife under such is preferable to despot- ism and injustice. Further, there is no more immunity from strife outside of labor organizations than there is inside of them, as some of the most bitter indus- trial warfare has broken out in unorgan- ized industries and communities, and it makes but little difference if you are a member of a labor organization or a non- member, strikes are likely to come your way and leave you the choice of getting into them in a manly way defending your rights, or often filling the detested part of a “strike breaker” burying your man- hood. Besides, if you are consistent, then associate yourself with your craft in an organized way, for the stronger the labor organization the more it lessens the chance of strikes. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 163 They are not beneficial — this is a pre- text put forward by some individuals that tails to the lot of the organizer to meet. This flimsy excuse for non-membefship is usually given by one who imagines that all human progress comes without human effort. My friend, your reasoning is re- butted by the evidence of employers themselves, many of whom would wish that your assertion were true. The fals- ity of it is disclosed by simple observa- tion, if you will take the trouble to ob- serve; perhaps you are a living example of bettered wages and working conditions that proves your pretext to bordering dose to prevarication. It would be rather a sad condition for yourself and others if there were no restraint on greed, fos- tered as it is by modern industrial codes based in the battle for accumulation of wealth, and the desire to amass the same at the expense of others. Labor organiza- tions have bettered conditions, it is bet- tering them today, slowly perhaps, but you must not fail to remember that wrongs rooted in customs are not changed as quickly as you flip a waffle iron. It takes tim^ it takes efTort, and it looks a little selfish for you to withhold yours. If the present Industrial system should remain intact, and by unforeseen and unfortunate chance all organized labor should pass out of existence, you would be among the first to bewail its passing and plead for its return. Dissatisfaction — Others excuse non- membership on the plea of dissatisfaction and despair, asserting that little or noth- ing is gained. This is usually an ex-mem- ber who has a very limited knowledge of labor’s problems of the past or the pres- ent He labors under the impression that the simple placing of his name on the membership roll will bring showers of “manna" from an employer’s heaven, and failing to realize his wishes he permits bis membership to lapse and becomes a double barreled fault finder. He is on par with the little boy who places his name on a school roll and labors under the impression that this simple act will bring him an education without any fur- ther effort on his part. There will never be a day when improved conditions for the toiler will grow on bushes, and the simple act of paying dues will be all that is necessary to entitle the payer to in- uiscriminately pluck them. Between yonr desires and -your realizations there will always be a wide gulf, but you run a better chance of reducing this to smalier proportions by remaining inside and col- lectively boosting than going outside and individually knockng. Another apologist is the individual that has no objection to the fundamental prin- ciples of labor organization, but he will not become a member because he differs in tactics and local business principles. In some cases it is too conservative, in others too radical, while not a few want ~it revolutionary; some wish to form cer- tain alliances with other organizations, some to cut loose from alliances already formed. To these all we can say is get inside, advocate your ideals. Labor or- ganizations, like all other organizations of modern society, want men with ideals. Try and convince the majority by reason, logic and argument that your opinions and methods are superior to accepted ones. If you fail to do so then remain an objecting minority. The latter is a healthy adjunct to any organization, and not entirely without power. It is child- like to display a feeling of “pique.” It is similar to the petulent little one that takes her dishes and goes home refusing to play because she cannot have her own unrestrained way. A strong and manly man never adopts such a plan. The day may come when the majority will raily around your ideal, and your opin- ion of the dissenter who carried his dis- sent to non-membership then might not look good in print, but he would occupy no more a ridiculous position than you do now. Organized labor has made mistakes; they will do so again. So has organized business, organized fraternities, so have we all made them, and you are making one when you strain at the shadow of tactics, and permit the substance of fun- damentals to pass without your protec- Digitized by v^oooLe
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164 The Railroad Teijegrapher. tioiL A little study will convince you that your reasons are very shallow ones. Feab. The most mournful human to meet is the non-member who remains apart for the reason he is afraid. He will not say so in so many words but actions often speak louder than words in his case. He has been told that to assert his right to membership would handi- cap himj in promotion. He was threat- ened with the decoration of “Improved Order of The Can/* and for that reason he would sooner you would pass him up, and let the other fellow enlist in the army of industrial defense. This unfortunate is not worth much to any cause. If hu- man progress depended on this type we would still be back in the primitive state digging roots and killing serpents for our midday meal. When you meet the above don t be afraid to give him a few parting kicks, he will never return them, and to point a pop-gun at him would make a new record in the sprinting world. It is perhaps as well if he is passed up— he fills a place in the industrial world even if the place comes close to being represented by a cipher. One more of a few that is left over, is the traitor despised by both employer and employe alike. The industrial Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde, who figures that while the many are trying to better con- ditions by asserting their manhood, “I will try better myself by burying mine,’* one who is always on the alert for inside news, to sell for a mess of preference pottage, who will betray his fellow work- man today, and If necessary his employer tomorrow, and in time be honored by neither. The best cure for this poor specimen is social ostracism. If you give him anything let it be a vacant stare or a gold brick. The one who writes his name alongside “Judas Iscariot** deserves no better. Conclusion. Brother Worker— Strife in the eco- nomic world is not confined to your short passing life. The struggles of the work- ers and their sacrifices cover the pages Qf history, and this will continue as long as conflicting economic classes exist. No matter how much we may pride ourselves that the present state of organized so- ciety is superior to those of the past, man’s inhumanity to man based in the struggle for accumulation still exists. The competitive order, that strife-breed- ing incubator that arrays man against man, group against group, and nation against nation, impresses its results on the human family with force today. In- dividual gain is the predominating fea- ture of industry, where production is the incident, and profit the object, and where profits tend to a maximum, and wages to a minimum unless met by a counter force of an aroused public as the consumer, or outraged workers as the producers. In- dustry is not overburdened with altru- ism. “The Golden Rule” plays little part in business ethics. As wage earners we have a commodity to sell and (as stated before) capitalistic industry is founded on the principle of profits. Sell your fin- ished wares at the highest possible price, buy your raw materials at the lowest pos- sible cost. For this underlying purpose great organizations are coming to life every day in the business world. In- dividualism has almost ceased in produc- tion. Everywhere you turn you see men organizing for all purposes, finding con- centrated action productive of greater re- sults for protective or aggressive rea- sons, and the worker’s individual chance of securing justice from highly organized corporate business is about on par with the fate of ‘’King Kanute** in his tidal experience. A single workman can easily be dispensed with, or he may cease work without removing a single harsh condi- tion, or improving the position for a fol- lower. It is only by collective or or- ganized action that wrongs may be righted, and progress made. No matter how much workers' organizations may be condemned as aggressive bodies, they must be acknowledged as a necessity as a defensive measure. In this great strug- gle of industrial improvement all should carry their share of the burden. Failure of some to do so only makes the task harder for those who carry it There is Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 165 no neutral position. You are either in front drawing the chariot of your indus- trial progress, or you are hanging behind retarding it The organized power to pur- chase labor must be met by the organized power to sell it It has assisted the work- ers in the past, it is assisting them today notwithstanding the denials of some who are being assisted. There is still much to be done. New conditions will bring new problems that only collective effort can solve. There never was any improve- ment of the working class that the work- ers had not to contend with opposition to secure it. They never possessed an “Aladdin’s Lamp” where a wish by some supernatural power became a reality. Join a union of your craft or industry, and work and watch, for as long as it pays to take advantage of you it will be done. J. H. McGRAIL. Digitized by v^oooLe
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FRATERNAL All matter for this department must b< Treasurer on or before the 25th day of the following issue. St. Louis, Mo., Div. No. 2. Clover Leaf Railway — The tragic death of Bro. E. B. Kern, with- in a few days of being 49 years old, has cast a gloom over this entire road, where he had friends by the score, having worked on the line as an extra agent for a long time and was agent at Van Buren, Ind., also for some time, making friends wherever he went. He leaves a wife, two daughters and two sons to mourn his loss, one of the young ladies being a school teacher. His mother, stepfather, three brothers and one sister also survive him. Brother Kern was an enthusiastic mem- ber of our order, always carrying an up-to- date card. He and I grew up as schoolmates in the same township, and have been friends all of our lives ; so his death came as a dis- tinct shock to me personally. He was a clean, upright man. Having joined the Salem Evangelical Church in 1885, near his old home east of Decatur, lnd., he was licensed to preach in 1891 by the Indiana conference, serving one year on the Payne circuit in Paulding county, Ohio, and then took up school teach- ing for a number of years before entering the railroad service. When Brother Kern left the Clover Leaf, he took service with the Cotton Belt Railway, and met his death at the hands of a burglar, defending the property of that road at Fargo, Ark. (where he was agent), on the night of December 18, 1917. He was still alive when found a few' moments after, being shot in one of his arms and the lower part of the abdomen, the latter bullet passing up through the thorax, nearly perforating his body. Among the few questions he was able to answer before he expired, was that he had been attacked by a w'hite man, but he did not get the money ; w'hich was evidenced by the safe being locked, and finding Brother Kern’s watch and $38.00 of his own money still on his body. He had first been struck on the head twice with a hammer and dazed, after which, judging from the papers scattered around the room and its disarranged condition, there must have been a fierce struggle before he was overpowered and shot with his own revolver ; the first bullet fired being im- bedded in the wall about two feet from the 1 *n the hands of the Grand Secretary and the month In order to insure its use in floor, probably before the weapon was wrenched from Bro. Kern’s grasp. Fargo, Ark., is a lonely little station of only four houses, but it is a railroad cross- ing and the company does quite a heavy business there. The special train rushed there with surgeons by the railway company did not arrive until after he was dead. Everything possible is being done by the authorities to apprehend his murderer. His body was taken by the railway officials to Brinkley, Ark., where it was met by Mr. A. S. Elzey, a brother-in-law, taken • to Ossian to be prepared for interment and later to Decatur, Ind., where he was buried on Sunday, December 23rd, from the Evan- gelical Church, the papers of that place pub- lishing over a column commendatory of his eventlul life. brother Kern held certificate No. 147 in the Cotton Belt Ry., Division No. 27. and was in good standing, being also insured for $500.00 at the time he was murdered. His tragic death is one of the many in- stances of the uncertainties of life. We none of us know how soon we may meet a similar fate, or otherwise instantly lose our lives, owing to the many vicissitudes of our every-day occupations; therefore, we should have our division dues and M. B. D. assess- ments always paid up to date, and be sure that we are in good standing all the time. Fraternally, H. S. Walters, General Chairman, Clover Leaf Ry. and Local Chair- man Toledo Dist., Gas City, Ind. New Haven, Conn., Div. No. 29. New Haven Div., N. Y., N . H. d H. R. R. — The new schedule read at December's meeting has been presented to the company and acknowledgment of the same received. At the time this is being written no meet- ings with the general manager have as yet been granted, General Chairman Ross having been advised that negotiations cannot be en- tered into until a more definite understand- ing is obtained as to the extent of govern- ment supervision in this sphere of finance. A reasonably sufficient time having now elapsed for some definite reply to have been received, coupled with the fact that, without solicitation, a raise of ten per cent was handed to the train dispatchers, effective Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 167 Dec. 28th,* the situation is one not without a measure of tension on the nerves. The feeling is unanimous that the train dispatchers deserved not only the ten per cent, but more. But they being incorporated in our new schedule, their increase becoming effective on this particular date, that upon which the roads went under government con- trol, suggests a coincidence that requires no undue exercise of gray matter to be con- nected with another move in railroad diplomacy. However, it is hoped time and events will serve to harmonize what now seems to be an inconsistency ; the right hand claiming lack of authority to grant an increase to one class of employees, the left hand at the same time bestowing it upon another. Notwithstanding the motive involved in the above it is felt that there may now be reasonably expected a definite expression of purpose, to deal or not to deal with the telegraphers; that in case the decision be, not to deal, ways and means may be taken in another channel to lift the telegrapher from an almost intolerable condition, the Inability to provide the common necessities of life for himself and family at the pre- vailing cost of living. No doubt before this appears in print some machinery will have been set in mo- tion to establish relief and justice. In the meantime circumstances seem to make pa- tience the best watchword. Some months ago It was voted by the division to pay the dues of those brothers who enlist or are drafted in the war. Prom time to time at the meetings information has been requested as to whether certain brothers have been taken care of in this respect, only to be informed on several oc- casions that the secretary has had no knowl- edge of their having left the railroad serv- ice. It may thus be seen how the interests of some brother may suffer through no fault of the organization. Everyone, therefore, who enlists or is drafted Is requested to in- form the secretary of the fact that he may be properly taken care of. It is also re- quested that every brother who knows of another who has at any time left the serv- ice for war, send such name, time of en- listment, present address, etc., to the secre- tary of Division 29, that a complete record may be had of all the brothers in the service. The new rate of dues, $1.00 per month, and initiation fee, $5.00, became effective on January 1, 1918, the $1.00 Mutual Benefit Fee to be collected in whatever month the application Is obtained. With an applica- tion in January or July there will then be collected: $5.00 initiation fee, $6.00 for six months* dues, and $1.00 for M. B. D., mak- ing a total of $12.00. For February and August, total, $11.00; March and September, $10.00 ; April and October, $9.00 ; May and November, $8.00 ; June and December, $7.00. Bro. Colwell, of "NH" General Office, is still at St. Raphael's Hospital, New Haven, after having undergone an operation for in- testinal trouble several months ago. The possible necessity of a second operation seems now to have been overcome. Bro. Culver reports him improving, bright and hopeful and sending his regards to all the boys. The deepest sympathy of all goes out to Bro. Phillips and family, dispatcher In “BS,” New Haven, in the loss of his daughter, Gwendolyn, aged 9 years. Death ensued from burns caused by her clothes accidental- ly catching fire from a gas stove, after every human aid was exhausted to alleviate the suffering and save the life of the bright and loving little daughter. Among the floral offerings was a handsome wreath from the office force in New Haven. Again the grim hand of death has been felt heavily In our midst in the call to final rest of the wife of our esteemed secretary and treasurer, Brov Geo. F. McCormack. Stricken with a shock several years ago from which, she rallied with hope for com- plete recovery, It was followed by another some months previous to the Seattle Conven- tion for which attendance plans had been made in company with her husband, Bro. McCormack, who had been elected as a dele- gate. Gradually regaining strength it was still hoped the long anticipated pleasure of attendance might be realized, but finally given up for possible lack of strength to withstand the long journey. Nursed with tender care, together with the best of medical attendance and much time spent in the invigorating spring and summer outdoor air, gradual improvement was made with again the hope of ultimate recovery. Cold weather setting in restricted more and more her life to within the con- fines of the home, from which time there came a gradual decline, followed by a third stroke that carried her away on Saturday evening, Jan. 5th. The funeral which was held Tuesday, Jan. 8th, was attended by a large number of relatives and friends, the remains being laid away in St. Bernard's Cemetery, New Haven. The pallbearers were Judge C. H. Martin, a nephew ; J. Lucy, brother of W. S. Lucy, stationmaster, New Haven ; F. Cowell and C. H. Martin. More than 25 floral pieces conveyed the last expression of love and honor in which she was held in many years’ official relationship to fraternal as well as an enlarged community social life. The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the O. R. T. be- ing started in Division 29, she was one of its first presidents and together with Bro. McCormack instrumental in raising it to a national organization at the Baltimore Con- Digitized by v^ooole
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168 The Railroad Telegrapher. vention. In the A. O. U. W. she had at- tained the degree of Lady of Honor. She had attended every convention of the O. R. T. from the one at Buffalo up to that held at Seattle, at which time the circumstances of our being an alternate privileged a close insight into their mutually lovable relations that was typical of their 29 years of mar- ried life. In 'prospective pleasure the journey was certainly one to put to the acid test unsel- fishness and devotion. Through all the time that probabilities of sufficient strength were carefully weighed, to dictate the wisdom of the trip, their inseparableness never once hung in the balance; both or none would go. The same sterling qualities that bullded for worth and appreciation in the home; companionship, helpfulness and affection, en- deared her to a host of friends and neces- sarily carried her to an honored and useful life in the fraternal fold. Sharers in a loss sustained beyond the scope of the home, sincere sympathies are extended to our secretary, and the hope that time and the memories of a faithful help- mate may make the burden more easy to bear. Bro. Stevens, of East Lynne, on the sick list for some time, has recovered suf- ficiently to resume duty. Bro. Gibbons, second "PF" Bridgeport, has returned to duty after several days’ absence on account of sickness in the family. Dispatcher R. F. Eustic, who was called out by draft some months ago, has recently been exempted by act of President Wilson, after the exemption was denied by the Local Board. As yet he has not returned to duty. Gerald M. Walker, of Ararat, Pa., has re- turned home after spending a pleasant visit with his brother, Bro. Walker, second “BS.” W. B. Shai.kop, Div. Cor. Providence, R. I., Div. No. 35. According to the old saying, it is darkest before dawn ; when the days lengthen the cold strengthens, and when the fighting is fiercest peace is that much nearer, and again, when the coal-bin gets lowest that the powers that be will speedily rush coal to our relief. We believe, more or less, in signs and most of us by intuition have learned to believe in not only those mentioned, but many others. Just now, with the coldest wave for more than 33 years passing, we are believing the coldest days are those Just before it turns warm. In like manner, the prospects for an Immediate new schedule look the dark- est, all things considered, but we have a par- oxcellepce general committee at work and when it fails to produce the cloud with the silvery lining, it will then be time enough for us to discard our optimism and cast aside our belief in signs and old sayings. Our case merits immediate attention adjustment. I do not believe the govern- ment expects us, the poorest paid employes of the most important arm in the railroad service, to do all that is expected of us on short rations and inadequate supplies. The brightest and most Intelligent workmen to- day are the telegraphers. No class of labor is needed to win the great war more than they and their just dues should come to them voluntarily. They are fully as loyal as any branch of labor and always trust- worthy. At a time like the present, when efficiency is the upper question in the handling of the railroads, we can assure the government that the best trained and experienced men are to be found in our grand organization, whose members are and always have been most competent and trustworthy. They have been schooled for many years in the practical work of railroading from every angle and should be placed where they can render the experimental knowledge essential under the needs of the hour. Saturday night, January 19th, will not be soon forgotten by those who braved the se- vere cold and participated in the stirring activities of our regular session. The at- tendance was good considering the weather and crippled transportation facilities. The proposition, laid over from our Decem- ber meeting, relative to the establishing of a System Division to supersede our present Local Division plan, was pretty well threshed out from both angles and at times the debate waxed warm. A majority, however, were not favorably Impressed with making the change as Division 35 'and the other divisions on the New Haven R. R. had pros- pered under the local division method of doing, our work. It was thought that there was no apparent cause for changing to a new and untried plan at this time. Some claimed we were behind the age and not getting the best results possible under our present system, but as we know of no other divisions doing any better work anywhere by the system division plan than is being done by the local divisions on the New Haven Railroad, the advantages of becoming a part of a system division did not seem to be proven. The large membership of Divisions 35, 89 and 29 and the result of our present method of doing things seem to justify a continuance of the same until we learn of a better plan and make application for its adoption. There are those who believe if an attempt is made to force a change upon us that it will have a bad effect upon our membership and their present interests. If, under our present plan of local divi- sion work, we have not accomplished more, the fault lies with the failure of the mem- Digitized by tjOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 169 bership to do their part and not because we have local divisions. A motion to reject the proposed change was carried by the members present. There are practically no changes on our lines to report in working conditions. Every- body is more than busy. We regret to an- nounce the death of the father of Local Chairman Bro. Joslin, the father of Secre- tary-treasurer Bro. Callis, the wife of Bro. McCormick, secretary -treasurer Division 29, and the wife of Bro. MacDermott, secretary- treasurer, Division 89. We tender our sin- cere sympathy to the bereaved families. Div. Cor. New Rochelle, N. Y., Div. No. 37. Regular meeting held Friday evening, January 11th, was well attended. The sub- ject of a system division was discussed and we went on record as opposed to the change. The remarks of General Chairman Ross were well received. Local Chairman Tiger was unable to attend, being on the sick list. Mr. Haslin was present and paid in $75.00 collected for ads In our year book. There is more money to be collected and the con- tract has been renewed for another year. With Mr. Haslin many new members are coming in. The following brothers were nominated to succeed themselves for the ensuing year : Geo. Woods, chief telegrapher, and B. E. S. Seaman, secretary-treasurer ; L. R. Tiffany for first and John Simmons, second vice- chief, and Bro. J. Hannon for trustee, were I he nominees for those offices. Bro. Tiffany tried to decline, but was prevailed upon by Bros. Seaman and Shields to accept. The result of the election on JPriday evening, Feb- ruary 8th, will appear in next month’s Telegrapher. The train dispatchers at Harlem River Terminal are now members of this division and we welcome them to our ranks. It might be well for the few nons left to note this and remember that our motto is still : “No card, nj favors Tt is now Bro. J. E. Gilroy’s first trick Cabin "B.” We hope “Joe” will keep after the second trick man there and get him in line. The train dispatchers recently received a little over a ten per cent Increase and our committee Is now In session on our schedule. Freight trains are now running over the Hell-Gate Bridge, and all four tracks In service. Cabins “A” and “B” on the freight tracks and Cabin 2 on the passenger side keeps the men at S. S. 3 Bungay St. on the jump looking after this added service and keeping trains moving. Bro. E. T. McGuire, operator' at Harrison, who has been sick for a long time, is im- proving, likewise Bro. Clooney. This is good news to their many friends. Understand Bro. Ferguson, second trick leverman S. S. 22, has resigned to take service as brakeman. Sorry to lose such a good brother and wish him the best of luck for the future. Bro. Maroney is now on the switchboard at New Rochelle yard S. S. 23. Bro. French, third S. S. 28, was relieved several nights on account of sickness by Bro. Haniquet, who also relieved Bro. Schwenk, second S. S. 3. “Bill” gave the automobile show the “once over” and re- turned with an armful of advertising matter and minus a day’s pay. Bro. Brophy, who relieved Bro. McDonald on third S. S. 26 “Rye” a few nights, is on the sick list, also relieved Bro. Carrigan, second S. S. 26, several days on account of Mrs. Carrigan’s illness. Bro. Wooley relieved Bro. Maize several days on second trick S. S. 12, the latter bidding in third S. S. 2 on the “Bridge” with Bro. Lynch on first and Bro. H. S. Gilbert on second. Bro. Northrop, who went to sec- ond S. S. 23 several days later, bid in third cabin B, and Bro. Fennelli first cabin A. Bro. Gilroy posted several days at S. S. 3, before going to first cabin B. Bro. Nugent from Port Chester Is now clerk in “Hy,” Harlem River. William Sullivan, brother of Bro. C. J. Sullivan, who died at Poughkeepsie. N. Y., on December 24, was laid to rest at his former home. Millerton, N. Y., on December 26. The funeral was attended by many of his railroad friends. He was a telegrapher of many years’ experience, and his loss will be keenly felt by all. Bro. D. A. McDonald relieved Bro. Christ- man several nights on third S. S. 22. Bro. Henry A. Flagg suffered a shock sev- eral^ months ago and has since been unable to work. The members of Division 37 and friends therefore took up a contribution for him amounting to nearly $100. Bro. and Mrs. Flagg are very grateful for this gen- erosity In their behalf and take this means of thanking all who so kindly assisted them in their time of need. We sincerely hope Bro. Flagg will improve rapidly and soon be able to resume duty. Pay your dues, brothers; keep in good standing and attend the meetings. Also sec that the man working with you has a card. “N. C.” IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased the All-wise Ruler of the Universe to take away the dear brother of our brother, C. J. Sullivan; there- fore, in our fraternal sympathy, be It Resolved , That the members of New Ro- chelle Division 37 extend to the sorrowing brother and members of his family our deepest sympathy in their sad bereavement, and, be it further Digitized by v^oooie
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170 The Railroad Telegrapher. Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to this brother, a copy sent to The Telegrapher and a copy spread on the minutes of the division. Geo. Woods, B. E. S. Seaman, L. R. Tiffany, Committee. New York, N. Y.f Div. No. 44. Long Island R. R. — I have Just been appointed division cor- reepondent and I am going to make a spe- cial effort to keep all the members posted on what is being done and going on in gen- eral. In order to do so I will have to have the co-operation of a few members out on the east end, whom I will write to and per- sonally acknowledge all notes of interest to our organization, no matter how trifling they may seem, and with the assistance of some of our good brothers and sisters on the west end, we will have a monthly review of what is being done on the good old L. I. R. R. The regular monthly meeting was called to order by our worthy chief, Bro. C. V. Van Nostrand with all officers present except Bro. McCook, second vice chief, Bro. E. L. Wood serving pro tern. About 60 members were present, which was a fair showing, but still there were plenty of vacant seats. It was not generally known that Vice Presi- dent Pierson was to be with us or more might have attended to do him honor. He gave in* his usual impressive manner a gen- eral outline of what has been accomplished on other lines, followed by other good ad- vice as to standing by our committees, at- tending meetings regularly and above all being true to our organization. Come out to the meetings, brothers; we are not always able to tip you off in ad- vance of any good news or surprises you may hear by being present. Remember the second Saturday of every month; you surely can spare one night a month. Gen. Chmn. Scully gave a review of the schedule negotiations as handled thus far by our committee. He told us the officials were willing to grant a few concessions and offered a flat increase to the signal depart- ment and a certain per cent to the station department, both of which were unsatis- factory to the committee, who notified the officials that they could not be accepted. Everyone of us must give our committee every ounce of strength we possibly can to help secure our demands; and give the com- pany every bit of efficiency possible, as a great responsibility rests upon us all. The grand division officers have taken charge of our schedule matters, the issue is now squarely before us, and we must do what is right. Remember, “United we stand, divided we fall.” We are proud to say our membership Is steadily increasing, four new ones were ad- mitted at our January meeting, which is a nice start for the New Tear. Brothers and sisters, individual effort is what is going to count this present year. Let every member heed the slogan, “Every member get a member ” Get after your undesirable neighbors, “the nons” and don’t give them any rest until you have convinced them that they have their orders mixed and are running against traffic, and the sooner they get Into the clear the better for all con- cerned. By so doing and paying your own dues promptly you will have contributed your share of the work toward bringing about our whole hearts' ambition of a 26 working day month and a pleasing Increase for us all. Local Chairman Truitt is canvassing his territory thoroughly and is getting good re- sults. The right man in the right place; more power to him. We were glad to wel- come Bros. Sawyer and Atkinson at our last meeting. Come again, brothers, and bring some one along with you. Bro. La Rue at Camp Upton has been promoted to Corporal. We all hope to see George return home with a silver bar on his shoulder. Bro. Anderson has enlisted in the ordnance department. We will all miss that broad smile of Bill's and that familiar O. K. A. O. Bro. J. W. Bodly, agent at Wantagh, and Bro. E. W. Fritz, first Freeport, have en- listed in the Naval Reserve as radio elec- tricians. Bro. Morganwick is back after having been pronounced physically unfit at Camp Upton, but he looks good enough to us. Bros. H. E. Place and M. J. Pape doubled at "FK" a few days owing to Bro. Car- lough’s illness. Don’t look as if the market was overflowing with operators. Bro. H. E. Place, after serving the com- pany meritoriously for over six years on second "FK” has been awarded first there. "Hank” says Floral Park "looks different” by daylight and that his hands will soon be as soft as a lady’s. Bro. M. J. Pape on second “FK" pending bids said he had a chance to get away from there, but asked to be put back, as he did not want to be called a "slacker." Bro. E. Abrams, second "YD,” on arrival home found that the stork had left him a bouncing boy. "Ned” says the more the merrier as long as the Increases In pay come in proportion. Bro. A. Leonard, while off sick, was re- lieved by a A. Partrick. "Talk business to Charlie, Andy." Bro. Thos. Gafney has bid In third "PD.” In a few weeks he will get his new trucking Digitized by LaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 171 business in Patchogue going full blast, then he will leave railroad life. We wish him success. lie was relieved by Mr. Enright on second “RJ“ pending bids. We have this gentleman's promise to soon get in line. Bro. Sami. Adams’ wife had a narrow es- cape from being burned to death in their horn* Someone placed a leaky oil can on a hod of coal. When she put the coal on the fire in the kitchen range there was an ex- plosion, causing her many painful burns. We all wish her a speedy recovery and ad- vise Sam to repair that oil can or get a new one. We were all sorry to hear that Bro. Nicholson, second “WJ,” has gone with the Pennsylvania R. R. There must be some other inducement other than scenery or Chester would have never have left the Long Island. Div. Cor., Cert. 332. Rounding up slowly on the Wading River Branch, we expect in the near future to address the following as Brothers : Darling, Cusack, Gunn, Furman, Bernstein and a few others in the non class. It is now Bros. Platt and Sullivan, operators St. James, and Agents Ketcham, Smithtown ; Oakes, Flower- field ; Atkinson, Setauket ; Williams, second “OY” Tower ; Murphy, asst, agent. Locust Valley ; Nicholas and Field, Greenlawn ; De Milt, Northport ; Furman, Wading River ; Sister Robinson, Shoreham ; Sister Dempsey, Millers Place. Local Chairman Truitt Is sure setting the pace; eleven candidates this" meeting and good prospects of more. He had hard luck on New Year’s Eve. His pockets were picked, and wallet containing railroad pass and current O. R. T. card taken. Ask Sullivan what he thinks of white po- tato pie. Bro. Emans, agent Northport Village, is being kept busy dispatching the trolleys dur- ing the cold weather. Bro. Hewlett, first "HX," Is showing his calibre on his spare time by rounding up the nons on Main Line from Hicksville to Ronkonkoma. If all members would get in and do as Brother Hewlett Is doing and show a little individual effort, we could soon boast of a 100 per cent road. Take notice, brothers, and get busy. Bro. R. P. Young bid in Stony Brook, vice Mr. Cusack to Kings Park. We hope his advance will enable him to sport a card. Owing to the weather, agents and opera- tors have been swelling their pay roll on account ol delayed train service. Bro. A. Corrigan is now operator at Smithtown, formerly agent Whitestone Land- ing. Remember the bid slogan: “No card, no favors ” and live up to it to the letter. It’s the only way to let the nons know the worth of a card. You will find in all walks of life that Die nons are always the most inquisitive aboqt increases. If they cannot put in their “little bit” and “get their shoulders to the wheel,” give them the above para- graph. Bros. Carnes, Syosset, and Overton, Port Jefferson, can now boast of solid offices. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of the O. R. T., secure at least one new member each, line up like several other roads, and get that 26 work days per month which we are entitled to. In- dividual effort and backing up our com- mittee will secure it. Cbrt. 430. Pittsburgh, Pa., Div. No. 52. Pittsburgh d Lake Erie R. R. — We are still doing business on the old stem working for "Uncle Sam,” and wait- ing for the raise the Hon. W. G. McAdoo is going to hand out to all railroad em- ployes ; we sure can use some of it. At the regular meeting held Saturday night, January 12th, only 7 members were present. Zero weather keeping the others by the fireside. Assignments : Bro. H. H. Kreiber to first "DX” Tower, Pittsburgh vice Bro. C. C. Campbell, resigned, appointed county detec- tive; Bro. J. G. Rothrock to third “DX” Tower, Pittsburgh ; Bro. Keadle to second and Bro. Phillips to third ”JM’’ Tower, Fallston ; Bro. Fulton to third “N,” Hasel- ton. Trains 21, 22, 18, 26 discontinued, with another big bunch to come off every Mon- day until March 25th, will make some of the boys, working away- from home, do some figuring. War is what Sherman says it was. Bro. J. J. Costello, first "DW” 34th St., on vacation during holidays, was relieved by C. L. Allen from Rankin, who will be with us soon. Bro. C. A. Boyer, second “DW” - 34th St., has resumed, after several weeks In the hospital with eye trouble. A new set of dispatchers has been put on In “DE," with Shannon, Otto and Mc- Millen on P. & L. E. Division ; Zortman, Matlock and Crouse on Yough Division, and McCabe, Arnold and Miller on Main Divi- sion. Bro. J. R. Reschenthaler, third “MR” Tower, is going to move to Coraopolis to get closer to the tower, as he is tired riding over the road. "MA" general yard office burned down from an over-heated furnace. The opera- tors are now located in a small telegraph office with the crew dispatcher. Digitized by v^oooLe
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172 The Railroad Teiegrapher. Brothers : It is time to pay dues for the term beginning: January 1st, 1918. If we pay promptly it will save our Secretary, Bro. Beer, a lot of work, and he is a very busy man. There are a lot of new men coming on the road, and each member should see that they have a card. If not, line them up. Cbrt. 742. Washingtony D. C., Div. No. 60. H. General Relay Office — No write-up for last month, as I was too busy to get the notes together. The Joy, happiness and good cheer which the holidays signify, was far from being in evidence as in past years. The great world tragedy now being enacted, in which the best blood of our own nation are participating in the fight for democracy of the world, no doubt had its effect on the spirits of the people. Another reason also which served to sober us, and help to change the spirit of the season, especially, railroad men and more particularly those who are known as “The Knights of the Key,” was the abnormal business and high tension we have been under for the past six months, since the United States entered the war, causing the greatest of traffic ever handled in the his- tory of the railroads. Business is still humming, and every one working hard. Manager Bailey has suc- ceeded in landing several new men now in D. C. We must see that they are up-to-date. This office is now solid as rock, with the coming in of Bro. Beckley. Now let us keep is so. Brothers, get your new cards, don't become delinquent. Our committee has done brilliant work as may be judged from the following rates of pay effective December 1st, 1917 ; ”H,” $106.70, and “DC,” $96.80. This put us on an almost even scale with other large re- lay offices. According to the January Telegrapher, the B. & O. boys secured a 10 per cent in- crease and a 26-day month, w'hich means overtime for Sunday work. I regret to announce that our former Brothers Delaplain and Slyer have dropped their cards to win a twelve-hour job, a few dollars more pay and “title” of Chief Train Director. Bro. W. L. Dent has returned after a week’s illness, relieved by Bro. Nelson, and Bro. Runkle has returned from a visit through the South. Bro. Brinckman and his famous “O Kay” has returned from a visit in Virginia, and won “PO” wire for a reg- ular job. He "met his Waterloo” one night, recently and when he told "MR” in ‘‘PO" to “hit the ball,” "Brinck" said : "The keys were on that mill, but he just couldn’t find them.” Bro. M. E. Price, with us again, recently promoted from “DC” does the hon- ors on the second side of “PO” with “VS.’* Bro. Mason has returned from a visit through Upper Maryland. Bro. Pitcher now uses a bug with both hands. It will be no surprise to learn later he is using a mill with his toes. Bro. C. L. Walker has been working the third trick so long that he had to get glasses when he was moved up on first, for a week or so. Bros. Coe and Kincheloe are still at "CH” temporary office, handling troop trains. Bro. E. L. Price of “DC,” was off three days trying to dope out his “Questionnaire.” Messenger girls “fine biz.” Miss Pyles doing the honors as floor “girl" on first trick, and Miss Mildred Blum on second. Sug- gest we buy ’em a pair skates, then we will be up-to-date. Yours truly has said good-bye to second trick, being slated for a daylight job, com- mencing January 19th. Gosh, hardly know how to act after 12 years of the “owl stuff.” Several new wires were cut through re- cently, adding to the business of the office. We are now in direct communication with Commission on Car Service, aide The Sea- board Air Line relay office of Norfolk. Un- derstand quite a few more are to be cut through. Two new tricks were inaugurated, one ten a. m. to six, won by myself ; another six p. m. to two a. m., by Bro. M. E. Price. Two new tricks were also put on in “DC” office, both covered by new men. No notes received from “DC,” “K” or **C” Towers, but they are all working hard. Keep yourselves in good standing, broth- ers. Remember, “H” office is solid now, and there are only three In the towers that don’t carry the Old Reliable. The boys in "DC” must see that the new men have cards, ana If they haven’t, see that they get them. “DC” has been solid for months, and we don’t want this good record smashed. W. L. Bruchey, Div. Cor. Boston, Mass., Div. No. 89. N. Y., N. H. d H. R. R. — IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, God, in His infinite wisdom, has called to her reward the wife of our Sec- retary and Treasurer, Bro. J. H. McDermott; therefore be it Resolved , That we, the members of Div. 89, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to Bro. McDermott our heartfelt sympathy in this hour of bereavement ; and be it fur- ther Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to thebereaved brother, a copy spre&4 Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 173 upon the minutes of our division, and a copy ser.t to The Telegrapher for publication. D. P. Drummond, H. J. Bardou W. L. Enos, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. I desire to express my sincere thanks to the membership in general for the many kind tokens of sympathy tendered to my family and myself during our recent be- reavement. John H. McDermott. Addison, N. Y., Div. No. 103. Buffalo a Susquehanna R. R. — In the last three or four years I have appointed a dozen correspondents, and we have not had a write-up in all that time. While we are not dead, we are awfully in- different. I wish every brother, working near a non, would keep after him until he is brought into our ranks. Don’t lay back ex- pecting some other brother to do this work for you. Brothers, our conditions must be remedied. Your committee must receive your undivided support It can only do as much as you back it up by your labor to accomplish, in making this division solid, which can be done if we will all do our mite. I have the matter up with Bro. Perham for the printing our new schedules, secured last October. Let’s see that all live up to those rules, especially regarding overtime. They were not all I expected, but the $15.00 increase per position helps out con- siderably, and we will try to Improve the rules next time. A copy of the new schedule will be for- warded to all the brothers in good stand- ing, and to each new member as soon as he joins. Explain this to all nons you come in contact with. We are too lax In fra- ternizing with the ones not belonging. We must make our motto, “No cards, no favors ” stronger, and all live up to it. Business is booming now ; second and third tricks were recently put on at Whar- ton and Tyler to handle the Erie coal. I do not know what is going on north end, and v*8*1 that some of you brothers would send me some notes the tenth each month. I will endeavor thon to send in a monthly write up. Let’s all get after the nons ; they are what is worrying me, and the old brothers who have been drafted. Ask your chair- man for application blanks and get after the drones. If you expect more money you will have to keep paid up. Yours fraternally, E. E. Haskins, General Chairman. Grartd Trunk Ry.f Div. No. 1. Ottawa Division (G. T. R. No. 1) — Dear Sirs and Brothers : The undersigned desires to acknowledge receipt of a beautiful gift, a smoking-den set, composed of a library table and two large leather upholstered chairs on Xmas day, from the Ottawa Division telegraphers. Needless to inform you that the above, and the expressions of affection accompany- ing same, were an agreeable surprise to mo inasmuch as the success attained by the membership of this division is not attributa- ble to my Individual efforts, but to the loyal support rendered by each of you at all times. My connection with the membership has been most pleasant, and I have enjoyed every moment occupied in any endeavor to a betterment of working conditions for the telegraphers, more so from the fact that I had the loyal support of the banner divi- sion on the Grand Trunk — a division with a record probably equaled, but not yet sur- passed— “ The Ottawa Division " — with a 99 per cent membership. 1 desire to express my appreciation or your gift, and assure you that I shall long cherish it and regard it as a mark of loyalty and affection on the part of my fellow telegraphers towards whom I am so greatly indebted. Trusting that the present year will be for yourself and family, one ot health, prosperity and happiness, I am, 4 Fraternally yours, F. A. Parent, Local Chairman. Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Districts — The G. T. was lucky, having no trains caught out in the recent blizzard. New members during December: Jewell and Lutes, Cassopolis ; J. Quinn, Elsdon ; Seeley. Emmettt ; Oakes, Lansing ; Marshall, Potterville ; Ettinger, Montrose ; Mead, Bat- tle Creek, and Mitchell, Blue Island. Bro. D. R. Hogue, L. C., who bid in re- lief agent, with headquarters at Flint, in- tends to have several meetings on the east end soon, and the members there should get out and make it a success. They have con- siderable better train service than we have and can easily get anywhere and back. Bro. Draves, operator Stillwell, on sick leave several days, visited his brother in Digitized by v^oooLe
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174 The Railroad Teirgrapher. Flint ; relieved by Bro. Booth, also taken sick and relieved by B. C. Hibbard one day. When Bro. Draves, who hasn’t had his va- cation yet, and was sick of working for- ever, returned Hibbard to temporary night office at Haslett. Bro. Garnett went to third Marcel lus, vice Higgins, resigned. I have not heard a word from tjje brothers who promised to drop me a line each month. I can’t get out a decent write-up unless you will let me know what is going on. All Die brothers should Jet me know of any- thing that should be published. My full address was in the November, 1917, Teleg- rapher, and you can send Items to your local chairman. He will see that they are published. You will have to co-operate if you want this division mentioned in the journal. "Hib.,” Cert. 2509. C., C., C. A St. L. Ry., Div. No. 3. Cleveland Division — Bro. Harold Clutter has been appointed official correspondent for this division. Any assistance you can give him will be appre- ciated. Death has again made inroads upon our membership, taking from our midst one of our oldest and loyal members, Bro. W. G. Saxton, Grafton, O., who passed from this life Friday, January 11th, after a short ill- ness, and as the relatives and those dear to him will miss him, so shall we miss him on the big hook, OSing the trains and do- ing his bit to the best of his ability. Our schedule negotiations have been pend- ing for some time now, and I appreciate the patience with which the brothers are meeting the delay. It’s hoped by the time this reaches you that we will have secured what we have been fighting for, #md thai you will give your committee credit for sticking out till the last, in order to get all there was for the men back home. We have quite a few new men on the divi- sion now, some of them already holding regular tricks, and I wish you would all get after these men and get them in line, and whatever you do, don’t, for your own sake, allow anyone to try and tell you that on account of the government taking over the railroads that you have no need of an or- ganization in the future, for you will need it just as much and probably more than when we were dealing w’ith a private cor- poration. However, you will be able to judge for yourself on this question, and your committee will continue to work for your betterment no matter where we go to get it or whom we deal with. H. T. Sloan, Local Chairman. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas., Our Heavenly Father, in His in- finite wisdom and love, has deemed it best to call from our midst to his eternal home, where parting and sorrow are no more, our beloved Bro. W. G. Saxton, of Grafton, O., and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to Him who floeth all things for the best ; therefore, be it Resolved, That the members of the Cleve- land Division, No. 3 of the Big Four Ry., Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing relatives their sincere sym- pathy in this sad hour of their_ bereavement ; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. H. T. Sloan, F. J. Gosser, H. Clutter, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. To the Brothers of Division No. 3 O. R. T. I wish to express my sincere thanks for the beautiful floral piece and for sympathy in this said hour of my bereavement in the death of my dear husband. Mrs. W. G. Saxton, Grafton, O. Cleveland Division Notes — We should all start the new year right by paying our dues promptly, keep in good standing at all times and line up the nons. We are working on a new schedule and expect to get it settled soon, so don’t get discouraged. Bro. Col merry, second Cardington working, relieved C. R. Mozer, Agency Edison, on va- cation. Bro. Marring, third Crestline, is back after several days’ illness. Bros. Gosser and Dep- pler doubling. Bro. Grephan, third Huff, was off a few days recently on account of sickness. Also Bro. Miller, third Edison, re- lieved by Bro. Gallagher, third Cardington, relieved by Miss Norman. Bro. Collins, second St. James, ■was off a few days on account of the death of his mother; Bros. Lavelle and Clutter doubling. Bro. Joe McCartney, third Ashley, off over New Years, was relieved, by Mis$ Corwin. Bulletined third Clark Ave., and Shiloh second and third trick lever job, DK lever job Huff, first Grafton, and second trick DI Bellefontaine. Assignments : Bennet to third Clark Ave. vice Quay, to Knob third. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrabheu. 175 IN MEMORIAM. Whereas., Our Heavenly Father has deemed It the proper time to call to His heavenly care the kind mother of our Bro. W. G. Collins, and though we bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things well, we realize the great - and sad loss suffered by our Brother ; therefore, be it Resolved, That the members of the Cleve- land, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis sys- tem, Division No. 3, Order Railroad Teleg- raphers. extend to the sorrowing family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved family, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publica- tion. Cert. 1499. CARD OF THANKS. To the Members of the O. R. T., Div. No. !f. We desire to express pur great apprecia- tion and sincere thanks for the beautiful floral offering sent to us at the time of the death of our dear husband and father. Mrs. I. D. Stevens and Children, Elizabethtown, Ohio. CARD OF THANKS. Indianapolis Division — I wish to thank all the brothers o£ the Indianapolis Division of the “Big Four” Ry. who so kindly helped me out in my wife’s recent operation and my illness. Brothers, your kindness shall never be forgotten. Yours fraternally, H. E. Ritter. Cert. 1442, Farmland. Ind. Aurora Branch — On Bulletin: Riverside tower and Beech Grove third. It Is now “Bro.” Buchanan second Man- ford. Bro. Pennington bid in “PD” offices, relieved by Bro% Hlmke, temporarily, and Bro. Evans assigned third “MI.” Sister Alece spent several days at Law- renceburg with friends. Bro. Williams says we may get a settle- ment soon. During the recent severe snowstorm sev- eral second and third tricks were closed, being unable to run any trains. The new cards are out and look good. Get one and be with the crowd. Remem- ber, no cards, no favors, and also no friends. Cert. 2292. P. d E. Division — It seems impossible to get the brothers to furnish any news, yet they like to see our division represented in the write-up. We are expecting a satisfactory settle- ment of our new wage-scale shortly. We have the promise of every non ap- plication this pay day on the division ex- cept one, and he will be calling for the mountains to fall on him when he learns that our new schedule will not benefit a non. We expect favors to be shown only he who holds a “card.” IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, The Grim Reaper has again visited our midst and broken up the home of one who has faithfuly served with us for the past 1$ years, casting a shadow of gloom and sorrow over the entire division when the sad news of the death of the be- loved wife of Bro. Garrigan, of Veeders- burg, was received ; therefore, be it Resolved, That the brothers of System Division No. 3, C.. C.. C. & St. L. Ry. .of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers extend their heartfelt sympathy to Bro. Garrigan and hiB two children in this, their sad hour of bereavement ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to the bereaved brother and family, a copy spread upon minutes of division, and a copy forwarded to The Telegrapher for publication. O. W. Parker, E. E. Livengood, C. H. Kedenbaugh, Committee. Cert. 2217. C., St. P., M. A O. Ry., Div. No. 4. Northern Division — The general committee met the manage- ment on January 7 and after being in ses- sion until January 15 we had the pleasure of signing one of the best schedules in the Northwest, carrying it with a working wage increase of 13%% and rules which we chal- lenge any road in this territory to compare with. They include the 26-day month, over- time for all Sunday work and an agreement that no one, including exclusive agents, will work over nine hours, without overtime for same, which rate was increased from 30c to 40c per hour. There are several other vital rules inserted in the schedule which will be of interest and a help to every man covered by the schedule. We have now begun to feel that we are being put on an even basis with the rest of the men who have no more grief or respon- sibility than we. Everyone should thoroughly dissect the working rules when received and see that they are understood and lived up to. They Digitized by tjooole
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176 The Railroad Telegrapher. were put there to be enforced and we must protest in the proper manner if we don’t get what’s coming to us. Anything you do not clearly understand take up with your local chairman who will be glad to explain fully the meaning of each rule, as he was present when they were drawn up. With this splendid increase in wages and the splendid rules obtained it should not be necessary to have your officers call your attention to the importance of paying your dues promptly, so that we will be in a posi- tion to again successfully negotiate for you when the proper opportunity arrives. We secured this splendid schedule without being compelled to levy a special assessment upon the members, which is indeed very gratify- ing at this time. After concluding schedule negotiations at St. Paul your local chairman was asked to cover the Eastern and part of the Northern Divisions and induce some of the hardshells to join, and he feels proud and glad to say that he returned home with 23 scalps hang- ing. to his belt ; which puts our division about as nearly 100% strong as we can hope for, and also shows the appreciation the “nons” felt after hearing of the new schedule. Your local chairman also acted on the audit- ing committee at Mankato three days before his return home. I want to call the attention of the mem- bers of the Eastern Division to L. R. Straus- berg at Wilson. He was given a raise In salary last March of $5 and another on the new schedule which just went into efTect of $7.50 a month, a nine-hour day, Sunday overtime and all the other good things which go with the new schedule. He gives the order no credit for this, but in return criti- cises it and the men connected with it, in- sinuating that we are grafters, that we are hurting his working conditions, instead of helping them, and that we are a general good for nothing lot all around. In all my experience as an organizer, I have met every click and clan, but he is the worst and cheapest guy I ever came in contact with. I implore you, brothers, to apply the rule “no card, no favors” to this man good and strong without any hesita- tion. He gives us nothing in return for what we have done for him but abuse. In all the territory I covered he was the only man that criticises the Order, and what it stands for. He Is trying to hurt us by “knocking” at every opportunity. Show him up to the trainmen. E. K. Hughes, from the “Soo” line, who relieved Local Chairman V. B. Mitchell, Itasca first, while on committee and sched- ule work, promises to soon be with us. He is too good an operator to be. outside of the Order. Sister Sophia Carlson, who went to Itasca to relieve Bro. Mitchell, decided it was too much of a graft and was sent to Draper nights. You trainmen on the log trains, have a heart. Bro. D. E. Gormley, after several months' leave on account of sickness, has resumed on second Superior East End, much im- proved. We are all glad to see him back with us again. Assignments : Miss Blanche Anans to Hawthorne third, promises to be with us soon ; Bro. Perry Trego to Minong Agency, vice Bro. P. M. Olson to side wire Spooner, vice F. D. Sinclair to Spooner third, vice Webster, a new man ; Sister Muehlen to Cornell days ; glad to see her get it. Bro. W. C. Soher Barronett, on Christmas vacation visiting his parents in Southern Wisconsin, was relieved by Edna Cringlea, a lady operator Just out of the shop, who seems to be making good ; you boys down on the south end speak a word to her and ask me for papers. Bro. Cook Park Falls, after many months of “watchful waiting,” was finally relieved of the burden of lugging the mall over the hill, the company having made other ar- rangements. I hope P. Imsuland, Ashland; J. C. Howe, Grand View, and A. E. MefTert, Wascott, will now show their colors and give the men who have been paying the freight for years the assurance that they appreciate what was done for them this time and get in line. We all felt sad on December 28 tb learn of the death of J. M. Siron, New Richmond ; he was always an ardent supporter of the order until his health failed and he had to Keek another clime. His heartbroken wife and family have the entire sympathy of us all. Our old friend, J. W. O’Shaughnessey, has joined the colors, having been assigned to the Engineers Signal Corps, and is now getting his first taste of army life in a Southern training camp. “Good luck,” Bill, and hope you will return safely. Some of the men have a wrong impression in regard to the lady operators. They make the very best kind of members and invaria- bly are the easiest to grasj* the idea of the strength of a solid organization. Therefore, I hope all the brothers will encourage them to join and help strengthen our ranks. We have them with us now and should see that they get in line and give us their whole support. I know that we can count upon them as our very best members. __ I would be pleased to learn of the where- abouts bf our worthy local chairman from the Nebraska Division since the close of our schedule negotiations in St. Paul, as I am wondering if he is still on earth or Just naturally dropped in. Cert. 380. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 177 .V ebraaka Division — The work of the general committee while In St. Paul should be fully appreciated by every telegrapher on the Omaha railroad. In addition to ajn increase of pay amounting to 13.4%, Sunday overtime, overtime for holidays, overtime rates increased to forty cents an hour, call increased to sixty-five cents, and a reduction of hours for every man , the allowance for expenses for a regu- larly assigned man doing relief work was increased from $15 a month to $1 per cal- endar day. Another matter than should appeal to the branch stations was the elimination of sec- tion 4, article V, of the old schedule, which required a telegrapher to meet one regularly scheduled train betwen the hours of 5 :30 A. M. and 8 :30 P. M. without extra compen- sation. The Increase in money was distrib- uted in amounts of $7.50, $10 and $12.50, and done with a consideration of the amount of express business that each particular place did, as well as the overtime that had been customarily made, and would be made under the Sunday overtime provision. Then, ' too, where it was clear from the information blanks that a telegrapher was doing work that should be compensated for, for which he had been given no consideration hereto- fore, this also had a bearing upon the amount he received. Taking all in aft, I do not believe that there could have been a more careful revision, although that does not say that the work could be done with- out error. We could well . have used a greater increase of pay, but each must re- member that we received approximately 9.5% increase in wages less than a year ago, making for the year a total of about 23% in wages alone. The increase in the payroll over the last revision is expected to total about 25%, taking into consideration over- time and all, which I think marks a bril- liant milestone in the progress of the teleg- raphers on this road. I hope that the very few who have here- tofore failed to come to our assistance in securing these better things, after observ- ing what organization has done for them, will now Join with us in our great move for better conditions. Brothers, do not become disheartened be- cause the government has taken over the railroads for management and fear for the safety and efficiency of our organization. Right now. if ever there was a time, is where our Order will be of more benefit than ever before. The more influence an individ- ual wields, the more strength he has to cope with the problems that confront him. There is no one in our organization who could go on alone and deal as effectively with the government as the Order as a whole can. No solitary individual can truthfully state that he has in the past assisted in the enactment, or caused to be enacted, the legislation for the welfare or labor that our Order has, nor could wield the political influence that the Order is capable of. Therefore it is necessary to keep our organization in the best possible shape at all times, and it remains for the membership to do this. The matter of our success is clearly checked up to each man, and I earnestly hope that he will not lose sight of that fact. It takes money to get money, whether you go into court, into busi- ness, op arbitrate for schedules, and the sooner the members realize that fact. Just so much sooner will be found a solution to their working conditions. It takes money to run a government — and do not lose sight of the fact that it takes money to run your organization. I hope that the brothers will give the rail- road the service that is now forthcoming. Look at matters in a different light, be- cause tfetter times are coming. I told you the same thing last year, and yet a few had their tongues in their cheeks at the time, thinking I was giving them hot air. Support your Order and await results. If you do not support the O. R. T. as you have done in the past, you had Just as well settle down for life on what you have, and maybe less in time. I wish to pay all due respects to our G. C. and G. S. & T., both of whom, with their long service and experience, have done much for the Omaha telegraphers — more so In fact than many of the members have possi- bly appreciated. This division is fortunate in being able to retain men of such experi- ence without putting them on a straight salary- practically every other road has, but owing to the smallness of the division we have as yet been unable to do so. C. J. Weyqandt, L. C. Western Division — Following postal card received on Jan. 21 : “Nagasaki, Japan, Dec. 28, 1917. “Hello DO : We arrived in Russia 26 days from Frisco — was in Russia four days, then sailed for this point. Was here ten years ago — it looks natural. Don’t know where we will go from here. Am well and having good time. 73 to all. As ever, “Davb Smart." Dave is one of the best, if not the best, organizers who ever covered a piece of un- organized territory. He gave up a position as relay telegrapher in the general office, C. & N. W., at Chicago, to go with the rail- road cantonment, and we predict as success- ful a future for him as he has shown in other capacities connected with the rail- roads. Digitized by v^oooLe
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178 The Railroad Tei^egrapher. We have been so veVy busy of late with schedule negotiations and other work per- taining to the secretary’s work, that we have been unable to secure much informa- tion that would make good reading matter, so if this does not come up to your expecta- tions just say to yourself, guess the corre- spondent didn’t get those news items I in- tended to send him, or else “he’s laying down on the job.” Either will fill in all right. Bro. Hix has taken up his new duties as agent at Ottawa, vice Bro. Tyler, who drew the third trick at Kasota. The change at Ottawa was made the 24th inst. Our old friend, Q. R. Bradley, relieved Committeeman J. P. Sisterman at Belle Plalne while the latter was representing the station agents, and Bro. H. L. Gllck relieved Bro. Tenney while in on the committee, but, owing to Dispatcher Gillett being laid up with a sore arm, he was recalled to St. James, and the boys at Mankato doubled for a week. Then Bro. C. T. Peterson of Lake Crystal was there several days, causing Bros. Richmond and Warner to each work twelve hours. Assignments : Bro. Hix to Ottawa Agency, vice Bro. Tyler to Kasota third ; Bro. G. W. Martin to fourth St. James, vice Bro. Glick to the handy list; G. W. Lasseck to Vernon Center, vice Bro. Ziebarth to Currie. Bro. R. P. Warner, for many years at Belle Plaine, to first Shakopee, relieved by Bro. Vose of Merriam. Bro. B. F. Fuller from Pipestone to Savage. The changes to as- signed positions are being made just aa rapidly as can possibly be. We personally know that this is a fact. Third Heron Lake has been created, and Bro. V. L. Reed is watching for the assign- ment. Bros. Jansen and Cochrane of Madella visited with Bro. Tenney at Mankato Jan. 22. Bros. Sisterman, Mitchell and Near, com- prising the auditing committee, finished their duties Jan. 22 and by the grace of this committee we are permitted to continue the work. Just how well they found things, we will leave it to them to tell you ; we are somewhat modest in matters of this kind. From the auditing committee work Bro. Mitchell returned to the Eastern Division, where he will endeavor in his own way to educate some of the boys along the lines of unionism. He visited Strausburg at Wilson, and after several hours’ laborious work was told that he would not join the O. R. T., as the proposed schedule would reduce his work to nine hours a day and cut out his over- time of $17.50 per month, notwithstanding a big substantial increase in salary and overtime for all Sunday work. The boys who work with him are in a measure to blame for this. If they would practice “no card, no favor,’’ it would mighty soon turn the tables. We will have a pleasant message for you next Issue, we hope. Just at this time we do not care to bring out the undeveloped facts. All the men except A. F. Burger in the Eau Claire office, gave Bro. Mitchell their applications, and he has promised to Join in the near future. Our St. James office Is a shining example of solidity, and many compliments are being passed along on the strength of it. Brothers, now that you have joined, or rejoined, as the case may be, stay in line ; DON’T drop out six months from now ; DON’T leave your O. R. T. as the last con- sideration ; DON’T put off till tomorrow what you should attend to today; DON’T listen to the knocker. The O. R. T. brings you in a greater return on your investment than any other venture you can or will ever make. Every time you allow your member- ship to lapse you lose. The time has come when we MUST all stand together. You are in now, and it*a your duty TO STAY IN. Our present schedule demonstrates what can be accomplished if we stand together. Don’t lay your dues’ notice aside — be SURE TO ENCLOSE IT with your remit- tance and remit promptly. Postage rates are high now and the second letter should not be necessary. My interest in this should be no greater than yours, your membership and personal interests should be greater to you than they are to me, therefore you will appreciate the fact that I am merely bring- ing these points to your notice as a re- minder. Bro. C. J. Rathman, recently appointed traveling freight agent to succeed Mr. Roche, with headquarters at Mankato, has been promoted to station auditor and ad- juster, A. B. Griffith succeeding Bro. Rathman as agent at Sibley. Cert. No. 2. Eastern Division — Bro. J. J. Donahue, agent Valley Jet., is on a vacation, relieved by Bro. Haberman, third Sheppard. He is contemplating mak- ing change, so as to get his children in high school. It is now Bro. Gerth on first and Bro. West berg on third Sheppard, pending bulletin. All the new men coming on the road are lining up in fine shape. It would be great if some of the older heads would do likewise. Quite a few ladies have been put to work on the system, and they take to the O. R. T. like a duck to water — they are very wel- come. We are glad to learn that our committee have signed up and we will all get a nice Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 179 Increase. We had a fine bunch on the com- mittee. Now that we have secured more money for the nons, yet each brother working with and near them see that they appreciate it by joining, to help us hold what we have secured for them without their help. Bro. J. Olson has been called to the colors and leaves next month for Camp Grant Quite a few of the boys have got their cards and expect to be called soon. Cert. No. 6. Kansas City Southern Ry., Div. No. 5. It Is time to pay our dues again. Our committee will soon go before the manage- ment Naturally we want to share the in- crease equal to that of other organizations, and if we expect our committee to secure it for us we will have to back it up by paying our dues promptly and sticking together. If you fail to pay your dues you lessen the power of our organization. We are not receiving as much for our services as we should, but we do not improve our chances of obtaining it when we allow our cards to lapse. Special assessment and information blanks have been mailed you and this spe- cial assessment should be paid promptly, as well as the current dues, as it is for taking care of our committee while meeting the management. Remit for It the day you re- ceive the slip; also send in the information blank the day it is received ; don’t wait till tomorrow, it might be too late then. The time has come when the patience of the man who has paid up should not be spent in trying to help one who "can help himself but won’t," and will sit back and enjoy the increases, working conditions, etc., secured through the untiring efforts of our Order without one cent of expense to him- self, giving us the flimsy excuse that the Order has never done him any good, al- though he never refuses to take the increase and the better working conditions we secure for him. Remember, brother, he is taking something that don’t belong to him, for which we have spent our good hard-earned money and the untiring efforts of our com- mittee. Let’s get the fighting spirit, and show these ungrateful non* that they are standing in their own light. It will be of great assistance both to our committee and our Order if each brother will speak to each relief man they come in con- tact with and if they are not up to date give them no rest until they Join. The Order of Railway Telegraphers will be ex- actly what its membership make it, and if you do not work on the nons in your office you can not reasonably expect the other members to do so. ( Jet after the non-— organize him. Some of our members do not seem to realize their own needs sufficiently to take up the work of organizing themselves, but leave it to someone else. Remember you are a com- mittee of one to help get every &cceptable man in with us, and have him pay his part in securing for himself what we have been getting for . him. There is no reason why Division No. 5 should not be SOLID. Remember, no cardSj no favors t and apply it as strongly as possible. Cert. 495. Watts to DeQueen — Bro. Latimer, Mena third, has purchased a nice ten-acre farm near there, and will spend his spare moments gardening. He has it well stocked with calves, chickens and pigs. We all wish him success. Bro. Webb, for the past three years West- ern Union manager at Mena, Ark., has been assigned to Poteau, Okla., agency. While visiting his son in the Naval Training Schoql at Chicago, he was relieved by Bro. For- sythe, relieved on Mena ticket Job by Bro. Sims from the Louisiana oil fields, now on first Mena, pending bulletin. He relieved Bro. McRaven, second Ft. Smith, four days on account of sickness, and Bro. Jerome and Ye Scribe had to double until Bro. Sims arrived. Bro. Sheehan, from the Katy, is on the night ticket Job at Ft. Smith. Glad to have him with us ; in fact, there is always room for one more brother from the Katy. The passenger station at Mena, Ark., Is being overhauled and the waiting rooms enlarged to meet the increased traffic, pend- ing the building of a new station. Business is very good at all points. Severe cold weather recently caused en- gine trouble and late trains. Mena reported 8 below zero the night of Dec. 13, and Ft. Smith 11 below. "Going some for the Sunny South.’’ Brothers, don’t overlook the Flower Fund. It is for a worthy cause. Ten cents a month won’t bust any of us. Let’s all remit at once. Have not heard this month from "Rosie,’’ who is always mighty "pronto." Wish some of the boys south of DeQueen would send in a few notes ; it’s mighty hard for one to get all the news, especially when there is no wire south of DeQueen. Some one get busy down in that neck of the woods and send in some items. Cert. 495. Union Pacific R. R., Div. No. G. Nebraska Division, First Dist. — No notes from the First this month. If you have any items of interest get them to me by the fifteenth of each month. B. D. York, extra second to third regular Gibbon, thence to third Gilmore Jet., and later to "U" Omaha on bid, which he turned down and Brewer, extra there, assigned. Bro. Moorehead, also extra “U," assigned Digitized by tjOOQle
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180 The Railroad Telegrapher. there regular. Bro. Cessna, cut off at “U” Omaha, going to Laramie; Reynolds from “U” Onjaha, to Chicago, relieving Bro. W. A. Wilson, drafted. Baker, “FR” Omaha, promises to come in this month. Bro. Lang- ley, second “FR” Omaha, assigned first ; Bro. Bruner, extra “FR” office second, and Baker to third on bulletin. We have several four-man stations which are solid. Some of you boys get your non members lined up. We ought to be stronger on the old Nebraska than we are. Let's all get busy. O. T. Steve, chief operator “U” Omaha, called to Chicago account death of his father, was relieved by John Timothy Hal- lisey, who also relieved three check boys at same time. Bros. Biggs of Schuyler, Hannum of Gothenburg and Byrne of Lexington called at the committee room last week. Whenever any of you are in town, look us up and get acquainted. Bros. Smith, Hamel and Lawler also called. Guess Bro. Lawler wanted to estab- lish an alibi, and Bro. Hamel was gassing as usual. Send in your notes and will do better next time. Cert. 1292. We should have a write-up from each di- vision in every issue of the magazine, as it is the medium which keeps us posted and all pulling together. Send in your notes to the correspondents, brothers, and let us be represented every month. Our new schedule now in the making eliminates the “promise list,” and gives the promisers a chance to demonstrate their good intentions, thus leaving only two classes, the workers and the drones. The new local chairman of this division, Bro. H. K. Phillips, appeared among the general committee as a “dark horse,” ap- pointed to fill the vacancy caused by Bro. Smith’s resignation. Just in time to help out with the present revision of schedule. “Doc” is a fine fellow, a hard worker for the cause and we are all back of him to make his appointment to the head of our division a success. We welcome to our circle our new Bros. Shaw and Mattocks. Government control of the railroads has not affected business in our department in such a marked degree as was freely pre- dicted, but this being the dull period of the year, the force in “U” office Is down to twenty-nine men and bears little resem- 'blance to the “U” office of six months ago, when every circuit was burdened to capacity and the file on Salt Lake stood several inches deep all day. Our honorable staff of cartoonists are not producing any masterpieces lately, probably from the fact that the staff suffered a severe blow when Joe was promoted to the phone room. Joe says the cartoons still appear in his imagination, but between wrestling with those “CX” reports and entertaining the girls on the line, he has little time for putting his thoughts on paper. Bro. “Hi” Hamel, our long boy, who re- ported losing 57 pounds avoirdupois on his last trip to Funston, has fully recovered and is “raring to go” again. Perhaps there will be several of us accompany “Hi” on his next trip, but we won’t return with him, unless the Kaiser puts up the white flag before we enter the fort. Only two men on extra list in this office now. Ed SchUcht is the youngest regular man, having been assigned on last bulletin. He seems heavy enough in at least twp dif- ferent ways to hold down that end of the list. If the boys along the line will slip me a note of the news and changes will be glad to include same for publication in next issue. Fraternally, Ted Baer. Nebraska Division, Second Diet. — Bro. Guy H. Smith has resigned as local chairman and joined the land radio contin- gent of the Signal Corps. Bro. H. K. Phil- lips, of “U” Omaha, was unanimously elected to the vacancy. The general committee tendered Bro. Smith a reception at Omaha and made presentation of a fitting, appro- priate and handsome memento as a token of their appreciation of his many years of un- stinted, consistent effort in behalf of the fraternity. The best wishes of the division go with Guy and regret is expressed on every side that the rank and file were un- able to have emulated the action of general committee, owing to the suddenness of his departure. He had resigned from the office, enlisted and gone to Great Lakes Training Station before news of his decision had got- ten around. Understand that after a brief period at the Great Lakes Station he was transferred to Philadelphia. The best wishes of the fraternity and community go with Bro. Smith. Stoddard and Rumpeltes also resigned to enlist in the navy radio and Bro. Black, third Gibbon, has resigned and gone to his home in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Bro. Jerry Cerney, formerly of "QD” Grand Island, on furlough from Mare Island Radio School, spent the holidays with home- folks at St. Paul and vicinity. Jerry sure looked as if the service agreed with him. He reported the boys from- this division, Ballinger, Dunn, Coleman, Hargis and oth- ers, as being in fine form and progressing nicely with “Theory.” Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 181 Retrenchments are now in, order — one trick pulled off at Cozad, one operator from “GE” and morning report man in "H" dis- placing Bro. R. J. Burr and necessitating a change of hours on men. in "GE,” but with no displacement since vacancy ensuing from Bro. Smith’s resignation to enlist in land radio had not yet been filled. Operator Curtis on Brady Island second pending bulletin displacing H. V. Miller, extra, who relieved Bro. Neal, extra “GE,” Grand Island, one night; then to Loup City to relieve Bro. Huber Snyder. Miller prom- ises to come across shortly. Bro. Kaltenbach is on 30 days’ leave. Drop your notes to Bro. “DA” at Grand Island, and see that copies of your bids for positions are mailed to Local Chairman Bro. H. K. Phillips, 433 Keeline bldg., Omaha, Neb. Bro. E. H.. Brown, extra “GE” Grand Island, was called to Topeka by illness or his infant son for whom a speedy and com- plete recovery is wished. Cert. 373. Western Division — This will mark the Western Division's first appearance in these columns. I have tried to find a correspondent but seems about the time I find one he is called to war. However, if no one will volunteer for this office, I will with some help from you brothers on the West End endeavor to have a write-up each month. Your local chairman is pretty busy these days looking after the many new men com- ing into the service. The brothers serving with the colors are : S. G. Thornhill, W. N. Thornhill Jr., B. L. McGuire, W. D. Wheeler, C. S. Farrah, S. M. Lacy and G. R. McGaw. Remember, boys, we should try to keep them in smokes. I have the address of some of the brothers should any of you desire to communicate with them. Bro. Wm. S. Whittaker has been rein- stated at Evanston, after several months out of the service. We are glad to see Bill back. Seems to be lots of street talk over the phone on the Seventh these days, several of them non-members. Let's clean house. Bro. Hambly, first Tipton, was recently compelled to give up in the middle of b*s trick on account of his eyes failing. Sorrv to learn of this. Bro. Hambly has been a faithful employee of the company for 35 years; also a member of the organization for years. We earnestly hope that he will regain his eyesight and soon resume his old trick at Tipton. Double track recently opened for service between Monell Jet. and Tipton. This makes the Seventh district double track all the way and further entitles us to be called “The Standard Road of the West.” Several new men on the division holding up-tp-date cards in other divisions, please give me their certificate and division num- bers and dates dues paid to, so that I may transfer them. Bro. C. B. Harshaw, Rawlins, recently returned from Tennessee, where he had been called to the bedside of a sick sister. We ar glad to learn she has improved, and that old “Honkshaw” is doing his bit back at “RS.” Some of our brothers, who recently re- signed to accept employment with the S. P*» are coming back. Once this Union Pacific gets in your blood, ’tis hard to shake it out. Recent delay in bulletins are due to a mix-up in positions and changes of officials. However, this has all been straightened out, and the superintendent’s office promises to get bulletins out on time in the future. Bro. R. M. Denney, assigned agency Bit- ter Creek; Bro. Jno. Ax to agency Granger; G. A. Cluff to agency Evanson ; H. W. Brown to agency Rock Springs, vice R. L. Sifford, resigned, scabbing on the Katy in Oklahoma. Bro. J. E. Anderson has been on vaca- tion since the abolition of Red Desert. Also Bro. A. H. Benningfleld, first Table Rock, relieved by Mrs. Stokes; Bro. H. J. Horst- man, second Tipton; Bro. W. J. Johnson, agent Point of Rocks, relieved by P. C. Stokes and J. W. Mclnturff, agent Rawlins, relieved by Bro. V. O. Metcalf from Carter. It is now Bros. Horstman, Tipton ; Wells, Green River; Porter, Evanston, and Ander- son, Wamsutter. Have several promises from others, but there are some I have no promises from. With a little co-operation we should soon have quite a bunch of new members. Mrs. H. L. Davis, wife of Bro. Davis, Green River, recently caught three fingers of her right hand In an electric wringer and came very near losing her hand, but, through the efforts of our efficient company doctor at Rock Springs this was avoided, and we are glad to say she is getting along nicely. Bro. W. F. Shaver, Green River, recently returned from the South, where he had accompanied his wife, this altitude not agreeing with her. Sorry to learn of this. Hope, however, that nothing serious devel- ops, and that Bro. Shaver will not leave us. Bro. C. A. McCullum, until three or four months ago an operator in “KI,” promoted to brakeman Seventh district. They say an operator makes a good brakeman. How about it, “Mack”? Some of you brothers mail me some notes from the West End, so we will be well rep- resented in the next issue. Digitized by tjOOQie
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182 The Railroad Telegrapher. Kansas Division — We are pleased to report the following new members: C. A. Martin, Ft. Riley sec- ond ; O. C. Babcock, Ellis, and C. E. Ander- son, Liillis third ; V. E. Emerson, Beloit, first, and C. E. Laeer extra. Assignments : Agencies — Bro. Wood to Yocemnto ? Bro. Cobb to Duluth ; Bro. Wal- ter Wilson to West End Relief; Bro. Emer- son to Beloit; Bro. R. T. Smith succeeded by Bro. Emerson on Beloit first, to Minne- apolis, vice Bro. Allan to Camp Funston agency, vice Bro. E. S. Stephens resigned to join the navy; Bro. H. G. Miller to Onaga, vice Bro. C. L. Sleeper to Ellis, vice Bro. Weed in drafted ; Bro. A. L. Brady to De- troit, vice Bro. R. B. Smith to Bunker Hill, vice Bro. Lacey to Salina "UD/’ vice Bro. Druley to ,4GN” Kansas City; Bro. H. A. Girton to Lawrence third, vice Bro. Schultz drafted ; Bro. Cox to Ellis second, vice N. J. Ackors to “GN” Kansas City; Bro. C. L. McCollough to Junction City third, vice Bro. Moore to second there ; Bro. O. L. Alspach to Junction City fifth (New) ; Bro. M. H. Smith to Plainville second, vice Bro. Poole to Wamego third, vice Bro. Ryder to first there, vice Bro. J. M. Brown to “GN” Kansas City. We now have twelve members from this Kansas Division somewhere in military service ; three have been heard from in France. Bro. W. B. Pierson, Milford agency, has resigned to go on the farm on account of ill health. Bro. A. Firebaugh, Miltonvale agency, also resigned and moved to Okla- homa. Bro. Lacey of Salina “UD”, interned for several weeks with a bad case of measles, relieved by Bro. L. G. Peyton, has resumed duty again. Bro. DeHart, Salina “UD”, and Bro. Sander, of Holton, recently underwent operations in Kansas City Hospital. Under- stand Bro. DeHart enjoyed his stay there, but Rro. Sander was there several weeks and sure had a hard time of it. He is back .on the L., K. & W. again. Business still continues to boom in spite of the severe cold weather. No positions have been added or closed in the last three months. Our committee is now in session with the management in Omaha and we are looking for a new and revised schedule, the best of any road in this territory. Let’s wake up and clean up the few remaining non-mem- bers and make our division solid. We should be 100 per cent perfect by June 30 or even in the next month if every member will Just do his best and get one non-member to join. This, of course, is impossible, for there is not enough to go around, but you fellows who live next to one will have a good chance to show your ability. Just start at it this way and say to yourself that you are not going to have a non on either side of you. If you get the men on both sides of you solid then you have done your duty. In our next write-up I am go- ing to publish the names of those who have succeeded in organizing and making their territory solid. Bro. F. W. Nickel, of Lucas, has started the New Year right by securing a member. Who will be the next? I would like to hear from everyone on this division at least once a month if any changes are made at your stations or you have anything for a write-up. It might not seem of much importance to you but at the same time would help. A postal will do, mailed to Bro. H. O. Brenner, care Union Pacific Telegraph office, Twelfth and Lib- erty streets, Kansas City, Mo. I failed to receive a word from anyone this time.' Cbrt. 1108. Colorado Division — In the following items I am unable to refer to all of the boys mentioned as broth- ers, on account of having just been appoint- ed correspondent, and your local chairman being in Omaha, I cannot secure the infor- mation as to who is who until he returns. We trust that no one will feel offended. We intend to do our best to help the local chairman round up every non on the divi- sion. W'e extend each of them an invita- tion to join and help support Division Six, as they are sharing the benefits on an equal basis with us. Remember, brothers, we are carrying the load for them and you should give them no rest until they get an up-to- date card. Four new members joined dur- ing the first fifteen days this year; Bros. Bradford, McAllaster ; McCauley, Hugo ; Murch, Cedarpoint, and Drury, Hill City. We welcome them into our midst. Assignments : Agencies — Bro. Gallavin to Byers ; Bro. Case to River Bend ; Bro. Mc- Cargo to Merino; first tricks — Bro. Doherty, Hugo ; C. L. Steed to Deer Trail ; Bro. Locker to Wakeney ; second tricks — Bro. Walker to W’atkins; later to second Merino, vice Kaley ; Bro. Lam born to Strasburg ; Bro. Morrison to Cheyenne Wells ; Holm- berg to Kit Carson; Rogers to Dent; third tricks — Barnett to Merino; Bro. I. J. Mar- tin to Cheyenne Wells ; Bro. Bradford to Deer Trail ; Montgomery to Platteville ; Bro. Bowlin to LaSalle; Bro. O’Brien to Speer, vice W. L. Martin, and Bro. “Spaghetti” to Ft. Morgan days. Bro. Folks, second Ster- ling, relieved a few days by Montgomery from Crook ; later to second Platteville. Bro. Folks reported a few days, but had*to return to his bed, relieved by Bro. Bilbo from the E. P. & S. W., whom we welcome into our desert He says thjs is sure a high Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Teleurapher. 183 and dry spot. Ho later relieved Bro. Bow- lin at La Salle, where It is rumored Bowlin is figuring how cheap two can live and proba- bly on leave to consult her dad. Rogers relieving Agent Evans, later Agent Union on short vacation, Bro. Mead being off ten days visiting his folks, looking after business in Missouri and Oklahoma ; also giving his brother a good send-off toward Berlin. Here’s hoping he captures the Kaiser. Rogers, who also relieved C. L. Steed at Merino agency, when he bid in Deer Trail, promises to join shortly and reinforce the 1918 drives. All the operators “Uncle Sam” has ac- cepted from this division hold up-to-date O. R. T. cards. He is noted for his good judgment. Bro. Hix, from “UD” Denver, spent the holidays with his son in Lander, Wyo., re- lieved by A. M. Morgan, a new man. The school ma’am at Watkins must have had something to do with Walker’s anxiety about the outcome of his last bid. Bro. Keck is relieving Bro. Coffin at Evans. Bill says it will be a lot easier to round up the nons on the division in 1918 than the number of engine failures in the past decade. Bro. Bailey, Collyer, was quarantined a short time on account of the smallpox. Bto. Gibbs, Hardin, paid the boys in “UD” Denver a visit enroute to San Antonio to visit his brother, who will soon be on his way “over there’’. When a new man comes into your office to work. If he does not present a card when be introduces himself, ask him about it, if he has none notify the local chairman, as they will try to avoid him ; however if he is a member help him make himself at home; get his division and certificate num- ber and have him transferred to Division No. 6. Bro. Lutz, Atwood, putting the new depot through the Third Degree found everything in good order. Brother Maben, Hugo, has resigned to take up a more lucrative position with the Continental Oil Co., “MA” leaves us with the very best wishes of all who know him and we have no doubt as to his success. Bro. Schroll, after fifteen years as Agent at Deer Trail has resigned to accept the position of auditor for a lumber company in Oregon. We wish him well. The service now seems to be suffering from the loss of old timers who have en- listed and those resigning, and will likely continue to do until telegraph positions are placed on the same renumerative basis as those of other enterprises requiring the same amount of skill. Bro. Whitney, Iliff, spent a sorrowful afternoon with the boys at Sterling, there was no game in session ; Whit still has his “BUCK”. The circular Issued by the general com- mittee referring us to Order No. 1 of Direc- tor General McAdoo is very commendable indeed and should be lived up to in every respect. A good railroader is the equal of a good soldier at the present time In the winning of this war. Bro. McCauley, Hugo, was relieved a few days by Sharon. The general committee .is now in ses- sion with the management revising the schedule. The balance of us are patiently waiting with the exception of Brother Frost who took it upon himself to make an up- to-the-minute schedule during his thirty minutes for lunch. The bunch sure fell for it, too. If You Have Not Paid Your Dues, Hurry. Bro. Nelson of “U” Omaha is now with the S. P. We regret his loss and can say to the boys of the S. P. who meet him they do not make them any. better than “NS”. Bill Wood who has taken his place on the Denver wire is very capable and congenial, but like some of the other non-members, never passes up any of the benefits secured by the committee; offers excuses and allows the members to pay his share of the ex- penses, which is very true of at least one old timer in Denver. We cannot express through these columns our proper opinion of the way they do business. Cert. 569, Div. Cor. Wyoming Division — Fourth Operator Julesburg taken off, Bro. Kaderli going back to third Kimball. Bro. F. C. Donnelly relieving Bro. Pyle at Jules- burg, while in Omaha on schedule negotia- tions. Bro. Greer, in Hot Springs, Ark., for his health, advises that he is improving slowly but surely and expects to be back shortly. Bro. W. E. Berry extra on third district several weeks is now with the I. C. at Lula, Miss. We are sorry to lose him. Several of the brothers have not paid the 63.00 special assessment of July, 1917. Let’s not have any delinquents the next term and pay up this assessment at once. We are glad to welcome Bro. W. E. Van- buskirk recently transferred from (MK&T) Div. 22, also Bro. L. H. Olson first North Platte Yard with us quite awhile transferred from Div. 130 to Div. 6. If any of the brothers know of a new man on the road find out if he is a member, what road he comes from and to what date his dues are paid and notify your local chairman, so he can have him transferred to Div. 6. Digitized by tjooole
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184 The Railroad Telegrapher. Brothers, get after the nons on this Wyoming Division. Let’s make a good show- ing for the year ahead of us. With the co-operation of all the members, I assure you that your local chairman will gladly do his part In rounding them up. Give the non the cold shoulder and he will soon wake up to the fact that he is out of place among us. Remember, “no card , no favors” * Assignments : Second Cheyenne Yard, Ray Duvall froiri Second Kimball. Third Ogallala, P. W. Whitworth extra O gall ala. Agency Granite Canon, J. A. Wilson from First Lodge Pole. Third Walcott, M. E. Spriggs from Hillsdale extra. A. C. Eakln to Granite Canon, relieved as operator at Laramie, by M. H DeBerry extra. Would like very much for the brothers to send In a few notes so we can have a nice write-up each month. Send them to Bro. F. F. Ward, Egbert, Wyo., or to your local* chairman and they will do the rest. Cert. 225. Canadian Pacific Ry.f Div. No. 7. Saskatchewan Division , First District — The Joint meeting of the Regina and Moosejaw Divisions called by Local Chair- men Barry and Cheney, in Moosejaw on Sunday, Dec. 9th, was well attended, con- sidering the severity of the weather, and the inconvenience caused thereby. Up until Saturday the 8th, the weather man favored us, and local officers of the Canadian Pacific Railway made special ar- rangements to permit the brothers to at- tend in large numbers, but a blizzard sprung up on Saturday morning, increasing In violence all day making the outlook gloomy. Arrangements were made for din- ner at Chivers restaurant, with Mitchell’s orchestra in attendance, and as the trains were all late, the hour had to be set back until 14 :30, but it had no bad effect on the brothers’ appetites as some had been unable to get breakfast before entraining. Brother J. M. Mein acted as chairman, and as this was the first meeting* since our late increase, and as many alterations in agreements contained in the schedule had been made, our general chairman explained each In detail, encouraging the brothers to be fair with the company, and In return for the splendid increase (which was agreed to), to give the very best service possible. The feeling of the meeting was of the best, and no doubt the Canadian Pacific Railway Company will suffer no decrease in dividends on account of the increase of wages awarded the Telegraphers. The local chairmen, were grateful for the good attendance and enthusiasm shown at the meeting. Many of the brothers made very great sacrifices in order to at- tend. and it is the desire of the officers of the Order, that they know we feel per- sonally grateful to each brother present. Quite a few changes in stations occur from time to time, as many of the brothers are appearing before exemption tribunals. The extremely severe weather is also responsible for a few changes. Second North Portal, which Bro. G. M. Smith vacated on short notice, is on bul- letin, also Corinne Agency vice Bro. W. A. Stewart to second Estevan, Bro. J. A. Cusack to Holdfast Agency relieved at Horizon by Bro. B. F. Clarke; Bro. A. V. Dawdy resumed as agent Verwood, his relief Bro. T. P. Sadler, now relieving Bro. J. R. Leydon agent Soughton relieving "DISPR” Smart Regina on vacation. E. C. Halsey is again with us, at Pilit Butte, nights we trust he will soon Join the ranks again. Bro. W. S. Kirkpatrick is on vacation re- lieved at Rouleau by Bro. Williams, also Bro. W. A. Fennell agent Pasqua relieved by Bro. Beresford. Best wishes of all the members are ex- tended to Bro. J. E. Beauchamp who was married in Regina recently. We hope that this may be an incentive to a number of bachelors who are members of the Railroad Telegraphers, some of whom are older than this brother, and of whom mention has previ- ously been made through these columns. (Eh. What -x) v Cert. 208. Saskatchewan Dist Saskatoon Division — Through the medium of The Telegrapher, I wish to thank the brethren of this divi- sion for the very generous Christmas gift to which all contributed. This Is the sec- ond tangible proof I have received of the members’ good will and appreciation for my services. The good fellowship and unfail- ing support given by the members here to their local chairman makes his work much more agreeable and are in fact a source of inspiration as it is always incites one to do one's best when there is a cer- tainty that it is being done for friends who wHl understand. Trusting that our relations will be marked by the same hearty friendli- ness in the future. J. T. McOrmond, Local Chairman. Sask. Dist.f Saskatoon Division Notes — Bro. Dewar Markinch recently visited his home on account of his father’s sick- ness. Bro. C. E. Irving of Rochhaven is now with the flying corps in Texas. Lanigan nights closed, Bro. Douglas going to Machlin. Bro. J. D. Henderson, who worked on this district some years ago, is also located there. He has done considerable traveling Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 185 eince leaving here and spent a year with the Canadian army. The meeting held in Saskatoon Dec. 9th proved to be a fizzle as the chief did not allow any one away from one man sta- tions on account of the severe cold weather. Bro. Mein, general chairman, recently spent a day with Bro. McOrmond discussing various matters pertaining to the business of the Order on this division. We hope to have him present at our next meeting. The members of this division suffered a real loss when Bro. A. Fullerton of Cupar passed away Jan. 3rd. He was one of our best members. Every member on this divi- sion will miss the pleasant face of Archie. His body was taken to New Brunswick for interment. Bro. Rudkin of Abernathy ' has trans- ferred to “BC”. W6 trust he will have bet- ter health on the Pacific Coast. A great many of the members have not sent in their first month’s increase. It is absolutely necessary that it be sent to Bro. Wilton at once. There is no reason why this should not be done as the new schedule has placed us in a position with the best roads of the country, and our treasury is in need of this money due to the heavy extwnse of the schedule committee. Re- memljer also if your dues are not paid be- fore Feb. 28th you are delinquent, making it necessary to sign a form in the "MBD” department canceling your policy in case of military service at any future date. Avoid this by getting up to date at once. It is expected that the new seniority list will be out' sometime this month and every member will receive a copy. Any errors should be reported at once to Local Chair- man McOrmond. Supt. Iramehay spent the Christmas holi- days in the States relieved by Trainmaster Wra. Ansley of Regina. The Christmas gift given Local Chairman McOrmond amounted to 1225.00 hi cash. The weather has been very severe, par- ticularly during December, when the ther- mometer hovered around 50 below quite often, but trains continued to make good time over the district. Cert. 1919. CARD OF THANKS. Manitoba Division, Second District — “Sidney, Man., November 17, 1917. “W. G. Fraser, Esq., Local Chairman, “Neepawa, Man. : “Dear Sir and Bro. — We wish to thank you, also the committee and the boys for the many kindnesses received during my serious sickness. The following handsome donations having been received, $100.00, *50.00, $45.00, $60.00, $60.00, $35.00, mak- ing a grand total of $340.00. “It is impossible at the present time for mo to find words suitable to acknowledge the receipt of such generous donations which have been subscribed from time to time, especially at a time when my life lay Id the balance. “We also wish to thank one and all for the many kind enquiries as to my condi- tion when lying at death's door and not forgetting the repeated personal visits of the train dispatchers during the many months 1 was in the hospital and hope, God willing, to renew their acquaintance again at some future date. “Yours fraternally, “Operator S. Walker, “Operator Cert. 1030, and wife.** British Columbia, First District — Bro. Callaghan agent Taft spent several weeks’ vacation at the coast relieved by Bro. G. Cobb. Dlspr. 'and H. L. Ruark after a long spell battling the elements with the “Third Mountain” bid in “Third Shuswap” suc- ceeded by Bro. G. M. Ross, and then went on vacation relieved by Bro. Paul Storey relieving dispatcher succeeded by Bro. S. Stewart at Taft nights vice Percy Hop- son there pending bulletin. Sicamous days abolished, Bro. Barney Kellogg going to Ross Peak nights on bid. Outfit cars, known as a portable station, have been sot out at Clanwilliam and both day and night positions will probably be established there. Bro. J. J. Shaw from North Bend goes to Chase agency vice Relieving Agent Bro. E. F. Little. Bro. Robitaille agent Salmon Arm on holidays was relieved by Bro. A. B. Currie. Bro. W. Morrison nights there is back from vacation at coast, position being closed dur- ing his absence. A. Logan, Cert. 2335. Winchester and Chalk River Subdivisions — Mr. J. L. Abell has been appointed night chief at Smiths Falls. On sick list : Bro. T. P. Eagen, Cobden, relieved by Bro. W. H. Pierce ; Bro. W. F. Ritchie, Renfrew, relieved Bro. T. W. Boyes agent Stittville, relieved by Bro. Lorne Wilson ; Bro. J. T. Farrell “SF’’ a few nights relieved by Bro F. Lalonde. Off a few days recently : Bro. M. Rickerd "MF” Smiths Falls, relieved by Bro. W. T. Lyons, and Bro. L. B. Smith, Carleton Place nights, relieved by Bro. W. H. Pierce. Bro. V. A. St. Denis has enlisted, relieved by Bro. R. J. Gibbons at Renfrew nights, pending bids. Bro. G. Giroux, to Dalhousie Mills nights, and Bro. W. J. Culhane to Monkland nights temporary. Later relieved Bro. D. F. Hagan, Pembroke nights on Digitized by v^opole
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186 The Railroad Telegrapher. holidays. Bro. M. R. Grey a new member, relieved Bro. F. Buder, who relieved Bro. W. T. Collum, Petewawa agency, on holi- days. It is now Bro. Angus McLellan, lineman, Carleton Place. Boys, extend him the glad hand, and give him any help you can. Bro. R. H. Fenton, dispatcher Smiths Falls, has gone to Faraham succeeded by J. W. Grey of Faraham. Hope to say “Bro. Grey*' next write up. We need him in our busi- ness. Give him as a new man the best pos- sible service, by prompt attention to calls. Our General Counsel Bro. D. Campbell’s address is now 709 Electric Chambers, Win- nipeg, Man. The following is the company’s ruling in regard to mfcn in the service who enlist : "Men who do not come within the classifi- cation of the first draft and have volun- teered for overseas service are entitled to the usual six months' pay allowance. And in view of the fact these men are shown on leave of absence, they are in my opinion entitled to hold their seniority rights.’’ (signed) "Supt. J. K. Savage.” Bro. T. G. Stevens is No. 345089 with 74th battery Ottawa, at present, and Bro. V. A. St. Denis to be with flying corps at Toronto. Both are from Renfrew, have en- listed and we wish them a speedy return from a victorious front. I appeal to the assistant agents whose positions were recently incorporated in our new schedule to Join "O. R. T.” While in- crease granted these jobs only amounted to 890.00 for 45 positions on this division, it was a start in the right direction and if the men now join our organisation and at- tend meetings their committeemen will be in a better position to put up a fight for them. Being able to get the increases for these positions this year for the men con- cerned was a big advance in right direc- tion, and to be a part of the Order of Rail- road Telegraphers will mean much more to them in the coming years. Those who re- ceived increases through "O. R. T.” are asked to send their first month’s increase to Bro. R. C. Wilton, Kenera, Ont., making money orders payable to the Royal Bank of Canada, Kerona, Ont. Application papers have been sent all of these assistant agents, but If any who have not received them, nor so far been aproached to join, will drop me a line I will be pleased to send them to him. Just as soon as men join us, a seniority list will be issued and each one will know whether he is getting what he is entitled to, in way of seniority rights, to file into, positions which when vacant must be adver- tised. As it is Impossible for your local chairman to keep track of every vacant position any brother knowing of one not advertised, kind- ly drop me a line. The assistant agents have been trying for years through various organisations* on the Canadian Pacific to get organised, now is their opportunity to. Brothers, let us see that they do it. I cannot with the limited time at my disposal make a per- sonal canvass and I take thia means of reaching them and asking our telegraphers after reading their copy of This Tbijora- pher to forward it to some assistant agent they personally know with a welcome note to come in with us. A very few assistant agents have not as yet remitted their first month's increase ob- tained for them by the "O. R. T." If they expect any further consideration from us they must certainly do the same as our other members have done — pay up their first month’s increase and join us, so that in the near future, we will be able to ob- tain better wages and better working con- ditions for them. Some of you boys' along the line send me a few news Kerns so that we may be able to have a fair write-up each month. Work- ing nights as I do, little if any news comes my way. A great number of the members have 'paid both 1916 and 1917 increases but others have failed to do so; now, brothers, that 1916 assessment was a compulsory one and the men must pay it or stand practically suspended. D. B. Gabton. Quebec District , Famham Division — We had no write-up in the January Telegrapher for the simple reason that not one single note was sent roe. Since busi- ness has picked up I have not as much time as formerly to gather newB. Take this gentle hint, boys, and send along some notes. One brother from the East End too modest to send me his name has started the ball rolling by sending me /the following notes for which I thank him and hope he will keep up the good work. The last of the winter offices, Bulwer days, is now filled by H. Abram who previously relieved Clou- tier "CH” nights, hunting squirrels and rab- bits at LaPatrie woods, who brought back one of the farmer’s daughters as his wife. We hope she will compel him to Join and pro- tect her through the O. R. T. Hebert, Bul- wer nights, will soon be with ua Brother Marsereau (lineman) is kept4>usy on Sundays patrolling the Une looking for dead birds, causing trouble on the wires. Some one near Glen River, line up Dawson nights there ; also Guertin days, and Ducharsne nights, at Johnvllle. Some one wishing to do a kindly act send a lantern and a red globe to match to the Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 187 night man at *‘GN.” He wore out half a dozen red handkerchiefs trying to make an old lantern look red. A kind trainman hav- ing relieved him of the only decent lantern in the station. Bro. Paradis, Racey days, takes an occa- sional trip to Sherbrooke, where he has a season ticket at the skating rink there. We are glad to see Bro. Lapalme at Len- noxville days. Bro. 0. Guertin, 'W nights, now hangs the office keys around his neck so he won’t have to break the door open when failing to keep them in his pocket. We are sorry Bro. Serreault was unable to get away to spend New Year’s with his wife. Bro. Corblere also missed getting away at that time. Bro. Messier is on the sick list. We hope for his prompt recovery. The big rush is now on, boys. Stick close and help the dispatchers all you can. We could not wish for a better bunch and every- one is a brother in good standing. They have all they can attend to dispatch- ing trains these busy days. Keep after the "nons” on this district especially those in the winter offices on the east end. Most of them got enough back pay in our recent schedule to enable them to join the Order, and we should see that they do so. In the meantime “No card, no favors ” applies. I regret to announce the resignation of Bro. J. A. Bertrand as local chairman of Famham Division. Bros. G. A. Coombs, 0. P. Swan and J. E. Levesque have been nominated as candidates for that office. Ballots were sent out to all the members to be voted, returned and counted at the meeting, Saturday night, January 26th, in Famham; followed with supper, speeches, etc., the details of which will appear in next month’s write-up. Cert. 3640. New York Central R. R., Div. No. 8. Hudson Division — We are in receipt of a letter from our Honorable President Bro. Perham in which he says: ,rWe are Just closing the most momentous year that our organization has ever passed. More than double the progress has been attained than in any other like Period,” but he warns us that we are con- fronted with a new condition, the results of which cannot be told at this time, and he urges the officers and members to let the one and paramount issue be the absolute end thorough organization of our craft; so that the closing of the year 1918 may see us enjoying the fruits of one hundred per cent organization. We sincerely hope that the brothers on the Hudson Division will do their part to bring this about. Our sub-committee has oome to the point where the management has agreed to sub- mit our controversy regarding a new wage schedule to Federal mediation, and a tele- gram signed by General Manager and Vice- President Pierson was sent requesting the services of the board of mediation and con- ciliation which was answered by the ap- pearance of Commissioner Chambers in New York, meeting the General Manager and our Vice-President, making arrangements to start the mediation proceedings on February 14th, the first and earliest date Mr. Cham- bers could give us, on account of the great business his department is now confronted with. The membership has been very patient since August 1st when the proposed new schedule was submitted and we hope their patience will be rewarded by receiving back pay from that date. We are very sorry to hear of the death of the mother of Bro. J. J. Mooney, first ”SS” 41. On the sick list: Brother W. F. Lockard, 1st ”SS” 52, a few days, relieved by Bro. Bumpster; Bro. L. L. Williams on leave on account of his health, and Bro. D. J. Burns, ”SS” 59, on a trip to New York to see Dr. Powers, recently. Bro. O. L. Pitts, bid in assistant agent, Castleton, his home town, and Bro. L. Wil- bur has resigned to take a position with a contractor in New York. We wish him suc- cess. This leaves assistant agent Hyde Park and ticket clerk ‘'Pokeepsee” station, respec- tively, up for bids. Congratulations to Bro. Sweeney, agent Stockport, on the arrival of a young daugh- ter. The extra men on this division are now all putting in full time and those that have not an up to date card should get in line at once and do their bit toward helping to get the new schedule. Recently an ex-brother wrote the general chairman that the reason he did not pay his dues for the past term was that the local chairman did not force the superin- tendent five years ago to give him a position that he was not qualified for. Your chair- man has tried for the past five years that he has held that office to see that each mem- ber has received everything he was entitled to by the seniority rule; but he cannot In justice to the Order and the membership insist upon the appointment of a man to a position that he is entirely unfitted to fill. We are sorry to lose the member, and also very sorry to know that after five years he has decided to be classed with the few nons and have no one to look after their interests; or take no part In the great work of bettering the conditions of the craft that he has chosen to associate with t6 make a living. Digitized by v^oooie
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188 The Railroad Telegrapher, One day recently a certain non on this line refused to pass the word along over the local phone to a member on the other side of him for the local chairman. It was purely rs^lroad business pertaining to the bulletlng m a position. Thik same man is every day asking favors of the members on each side of him. A little of the good old O. R. T. prescription of : “No card , no favor a" applied at the proper time, would perhaps do this fellow a world of good. Brothers, send in your dues promptly and see that the fellow next to you does the same. Several of the brothers have made no re- port on the tickets for the Thanksgiving basket. Please attend to this so the chair- man of the committee, Bno. G. H. Myers, can make his report in full. Cbrt. 149. Electric Division — Patience is a virtue. And virtue has its reward, hence our reward ought to be great ! However, there is a question as to the literal meaning of the word virtue in this case; for it is a well known fact that for the past year we have been on the losing side of a reasonable existence. And you cannot. twist this oondltion into any other form than that in this important branch of skilled labor or profession which it takes years to attain a degree of proficiency in, the compensation is not commensurate with the services ren- dered. In this respect the freedom from casualty of that system speaks volumes for our efficiency. The regular day meeting held January 9th was well attended and of unusual interest. A summary of the past year’s work of the benefit association was read. Commencing January 1, 1917, the expenses exceeded the expense of 1916 two hundred and twenty-one dollars, but for the same period the receipts were eighty-six dollars more than that of 1916. We wish to thank every member of the as- sociation for their efforts that have brought about the success that makes it possible to keep this department of our organization in a healthy working condition. It is worthy of mention that Bro. Frank Lester by the sale of tickets contributed to this fund $75.00. Bro. Max. Hirshfield has enlisted in the navy and is located in some Atlantic port in training. Our best wishes are with him and hopes for his safe return. We would be pleased to get notes from brothers on the Harlem side. C. E. H. Cert. 1097. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father has deemed it best to call to her Heavenly Home and reward, the mother of our worthy Bro. J. J. Mooney, and Whereas, We the members of the Order of R. R. Telegraphers bow In humble sub- mission to the w^ll of Him . who doeth all things for the best; be it therefore Resolved, That we extend to Bro. Mooney our sincere, fraternal and heartfelt sympathy in this his very sad bereavement; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Bro. Mooney, a copy spread upon the rr\lnutes of this Order, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. F. P. Fra lkioh, J. T. Bellow, F. Kraft, Committee . Harlem Division — Bro. William H. Gardner, who died re- cently at Purdys, aged 63. had been in poor health for a year, but attended to his sta- tion duties there until two weeks preceding his demise when he suffered a stroke of paralysis, developing into cerebral hemor- rhage which baffled the best of his medical attendants. He entered the service of the New York Central at Bedford Hills when fourteen years old under his father the agent there, re- maining under his brother who succeeded the father in the same capacity. On March 19, 1875, he went to Purdys as assistant agent to his uncle, Capt. G. W. Gardner, whom he succeeded as agent upon the latter's retirement in November, 1883. He was very proud of his insignia of service of “nine stripes on his coat sleeve, and in another year would have completed the half century span entitling him to one more. Bro. Gardner, who carried no insurance in the Order, is survived by his wife, a sister. Sara D. Bailey of Brooklyn; a brother George W. Gardner of Bedford Hills; a son, W. Garfield Gardner of Salem Center and his two sons. Edward F. and W. DeWitt. The Katonah, N. Y., Record devotes a col- umn obituary to Bro. Gardner, in which he is described as one of the best known citi- zens of Northern Westchester, whose cheery word has been an inspiration to the com- muters of the Harlem division for many years and enumerates his many virtues as a good citizen, a devoted husband, father and friend. As a mark of respect to his memory, the flag on the staff on the triangle was placed at half mast on the announcement of his death. The Editor. To the Employes of G. C. Terminal. N. Y.: Please accept my thanks for your generos- ity and sympathy extended to me on the death of my beloved husband, James H. Dooley. Respectfully, Nellie L. Dooley. Digitized by v^.o He
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 189 Harlem Division Notes — It Is now Bro. Sincerbox at Pawling and Bro. O’Neil at Coleman’s. Welcome to our midst, boys ; here’s hoping you like it so well you never get on the outside again. Bro. J. J. Gilchrist, who enlisted in the signal corps, went to Camp Jackson, S. C., and was given rank of Sergeant, has been recommended for officers training camp. Bro. Nymark has accepted a position in the passenger auditor’s office at Grand Central terminal. Bro. Charley Andrews for- merly assistant at Copake is now one of the right hand men in the office of the auditor of revenue there, getting more to start in as a green man than the highest paid telegrapher on the division after count- less years of service. Bro. Edward Loyd for ten years agent at Copake also goes to New Tork in the auditing department at the Grand Central. Croton Falls new station is now open. The old one was moved across the “track for a freight house. Bro. J. Day acted as agent and Mr. Ostrader as assistant at Purdy s on account of the sickness and death of Bro. Gardener. The attendance of the membership was not as large as expected on account of the very severe weather prevailing at that time. Much sympathy is extended to Bro. and Mrs. Michael Whalen of Millerton by the membership and railroad men generally in the loss of their son "Johnnie” who died early in December from spinal meningitis after only a few days illness. Johnnie was a bright, lovable little chap, just ten years oW, idolized by his parents and liked by every one with whom he came in contact. His death seemingly so untimely is an al- most unbearable affliction to his parents who were planning nobly for his future. Bro. James Lally of Goldens Bridge has received word through the agencies of the British and American Red Cross that his brother John who was a member of an American engineering unit which was in the thick of the fighting at Cambrai, France, is a prisoner of war in Germany. He was listed as missing by General Pershing and given up for dead by the family. Bro. Clarence Warfield sends New Year greetings to the boys from the North woods and also the cheerful information that the old bulb has been down to forty-seven be- low where he is staying. Bro. G. H. Wooding in his official capacity as justice for his town has already had two criminal cases to try (colored), Bro. A. H. Melius acting as stenographer. Vice-Pree. Pierson and the company managers met Commissioner Chambers at New York a few days ago and it was agreed to start mediation of our wage controversy February 14th at New York. Including lines both east and west. Some back time from August 1st would be nice if we were not all In debt that much or more, trying to struggle along until we get it. G. H. W. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and goodness has deemed it best to call to the great beyond our beloved Bro. W. H. Gardner; therefore be it Resolved, That the members of the Har- lem Division, Div. No. 8 of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the be- reaved family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this sad hour of affliction, and be It further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this division, a copy be sent to the bereaved family and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for pub- lication. H. H. Spaulding, F. D. Philip, W. H. Groves teen. Committee. “Nickel Plate” R. R., Div. No. 18. Fort Wayne Division — The Saturday Evening Post of January 5th, under the caption "Our Labor Pluto- crats," publishes an article pertaining to the high wages being paid miners, steel and munition plant laborers, which brings to light how small the railroad telegraphers’ pay is as compared to other fields of en- deavor. A heater in a Pittsburg steel mill has averaged $14.00 per day for 8 years; one of his sons, a catcher in this mill, aver- aged $10.00 per day. Rollers are making from $20.00 to $30.00 per day. Some make as high as $800.00 per month. In the mines, a foreigner who couldn’t read nor write, much less speak English language, was drawing $300.00 per month. Cutters and loaders are making $300.00 or better, one cutter recently had in his pay envelope $386.00. The author sums up as follows : "It is a poor man in and around the steel district who is not making $90.00 or $100.00 per month. A job like that is to be had for the asking. The man does not need to be able to read or write — he does not even have to know English. All that is required of him is average muscular ability." Reports com- piled on the situation show that there is a shortage of this class of labor In the Pitts- burg field of 20%. It is not necessary to dwell on the techni- cal training of the telegrapher and station agent, but we will stop to compare our wages. Members of our craft draw from $60.00 to $150.00 per month. Are we not worth as much industrially as these men, many of whom are very illiterate? Grant- Digitized by v^ooole
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190 The Railroad Telegrapher. ing that their pay is above par isn’t ours very much below par? Think it over, broth- ers, then grab an application blank and go get a non. It is no mystery why there is a scarcity of operators, it's more the wonder there isn’t a greater dearth of men. The talcing over of the railroads by the government has transferred us from cor- poration to government employes. How- ever, this does not lessen the power of the order, nor does it mean the letting up in our drive on the nons, or that we should drop our membership. From best authority available we learn that the various rail- road brotherhoods will be on the same status as before, therefore, brothers, let us continue in the good work of lining up the nons, of which we have quite a few now that phones have entered the service. We wish to say to you nons (if this page comes to your attention), that if you are interested in a raise of wages, vaca- tion, etc., lose no time In filling out an application, for remember our committee is working for your Interests as well as ours. Member and non-member share equally in the fruits of our committee’s effort. Right- eously we expect you to do your bit along with us in supporting them. First Vice-President Bro. W. T. Brown and General Chairman Bro F. F. Cowley met President Bernet January 16 and he advised our committee that he was un- able to make any further offer to us with- out authority from the government. It was decided to refer the question to the govern- ment board of mediation and conciliation for handling, which was done. The board has similar requests from the N. Y. C. east and west and Michigan Central. Time is required, especially during the stress of war. but we hope for a speedy settlement in which the Justification of our claims will be recognized. The war has brought about great changes and it is hard to tell just what the future may have in store for us. In order to have our schedule rights protected we must re- double our efforts and make our organiza- tion as near 100% as possible. We must not relinquish our energies to bring in the nons simply because the railroads have passed from private operation. It is now Brother Miller, 2nd, Colby double track also Bro. H. T. Heckman 3d, Mortimer temporarily and Bro. N. C. Ash, 2nd Maple Grove. Assignments : C. H. Barron to third “FO” during war. Miss Nora Schuh and N. S. PItson to Millers City, and N. H. Thompson to Chicago division temporarily. Bro. M. S. Lowe who bid in 2nd “FO” Ft. Wayne, has enlisted in the navy, relieved by Bro. V. R. Bender and he later by Bro. J. E. Carney from Chicago division, return- ing to first “DJ“ Ft Wayne. Bro. M. S. Lowe writes from training camp Great Lakes, 111., sending regards to all the boys. Bro. H. F. Major 2nd Glasgow to 3rd "FO” Ft Wayne. Extra Dispr. Ryan filled in a few nights there. Mrs. N. B. Ferguson, extra copier in dis- patcher’s office, has returned to 2d Oakwood ; ye scribe to 2d Glasgow relieved on 3d by Bro. J. H. Dowell from Cincinnati Northern, who lost no time in taking out a card. This is the kind of men we welcome on the “Nickel Plate”. Two passenger trains, numbers 3 and 4, were taken off when the new time card went into effect January 13, and Town wood and Millers City 2d and 3d Oakwood abolished. All were phoners holding these positions. W. J. Bird has been appointed chief tele- phone Instructor to beginners. F. W. Coatbs, DIv. Cor. Cleveland Division — Bro. Frank Kelly, 1st Conneaut yard, has a new “baby” Vibroplex and certainly does send fine “stuff” with it. This has certainly been a “tuff” winter on the “Nickel Plate”. Lots of snow and below zero weather to contend with, yards congested and everybody made nearly crazy by patrons trying to get a line on their freight in transit, but the officers and men that have not gone to the war have been “sticking to the ship” day in and day out doing their little “bit” to keep the men sup- plied “over across the briny”. Let us hope and pray that there will be a let up on this strenuous stuff and that the German people will soon turn down the Kaiser. Assignments: F. E. Bollinger, phoner, 2d Bro. II. E. Hammond 3rd Ashtabula siding, latter temporarily ; F. B. Upstill, agent Perry, O., Frank Showalter and A. H. Weber relief agents. Mr. Fellows, to Willoughby Siding only trick, but- have not heard from that place for fifteen minutes, you know they come and go there ; Bro. F. II. Balhagan, copier first trick and extra Dispr. Cleveland, second and third trick copiers there up for bid; Bro. F. W. Hege-- ner to second “CD” Superintendent’s office Cleveland. Nightengale has left 3rd Vermillion, suc- ceeded by C. H. Brannan, from the Penna. Hope he will respond when our brothers there try to get him in the order. If he does we will not miss Nightengale. Come to think it over I don't think we’ll miss Nightengale anyhow. Brothers McGuerdy and Osenbaugh have had to double at East Lorain recently on account of the scarcity of telegraphers. This has been neccessary at other points. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 191 Brother Jump, for many years on second Shinrock, has resigned as his boy is doing duty for "Uncle Sam" and no one to work the farm. Good luck, old timer, hope you will come back and help out now and then. No assignment on this Job yet. Chief Train Dispatcher Todd, Cleveland division, was off with grippe about a week recently. This is about a continuous per- formance job, especially this winter, and Mr. Todd and our other officers should re- ceive all the help we can give them. Former extra Dispatcher Crane, is acting as chief clerk to Chief Dispr. Todd during the rush. Carroll Hill, son of Bro. E. A. Hill 2d Bellevue Yard, has joined Uncle Sam’s fight- ing forces In the navy. We hope he comes back O. K. L. J. Bangert, formerly on this division, has joined the wireless squad in the U. S. navy, starting in at the Great Lakes train- ing school. -Last heard fropi was handling hot stuff at Sayville, L. L, New York. He desires to be remembered to all on tn© Nickel Plate. He Is a good-hearted fellow and mado an attempt to join the Order, but “lost out" on account of extra work given out, but will Join if he ever gets back from Prance. T. R. Hansard, passenger conductor be- tween Bellevue and Buffalo, a friend of the telegraphers, on December 1st was retired on a pension after a service of thirty-five years, having reached the Nickel Plate pen- sion age of seventy years. We hope the remainder of his life will be pleasant and that he will be with us for a long time. A. W. Johnston, division engineer, divi- sion superintendent, general superintendent, general manager and assistant to the presi- dent for the post thirty-three years and nine months, has severed active connection with the Nickel Plate, but will continue to give the management the benefit of what he knows about the property from time to time. Mr. Johnston has been in poor health and he and Mrs. Johnston soon leave for Flor- ida to spend the balance of the winter. Mr. Johnston’s friends are legion. He has filled the various positions with a record of the highest order. He is a man that "tempered Justice with mercy" and many of the vet- erans, and those who are not veterans, have him to thank In many ways for their reten- tion and ultimate success on the Nickel Plate and elsewhere. May he be long 'spared to n& Two new offices have been created with headquarters at Bellevue. J. M. (Jack) Crouch, a former freight conductor on this division, has been appointed assistant train- master, Bellevue to Conneaut, and D. R. Crowley, formerly a telegrapher from New York City, appointed assistant trainmaster from Bellevue to Fort Wayne, on account of heavy war business. The committee has been up for a new schedule, but on account of the Government taking over the railroads our management declines to treat with us direct, but agree to settle by mediation which will probably be taken up by Judge Chambers at an early date. "Unity." N. Y. C. R. R. Lines West, Div. No. 19. Alliance Division — Bro. G. W. Allmon, on the sick list, was relieved by Qro. F. V. Allmon, leaving Bro. Hammond at Dillonvale alone. Bro. F. V. Allmon and Bro. Ricketts did not get their vacations, due to Rommes relief agent being at Mechanicstown. Ex-Brother O’Donnell, third, Plney Fork, and Price, third Amsterdam, resigned. Jobs pending bulletin filled by weighmaster and a clerk, respectively. The agents at the small stations are mak- ing overtime now owing to No. 3 and 4 being late every night on account of con- gested conditions. Bro. S. P. Crawford from Watheys ap- pointed agent at Augusta. The schedule negotiations are coming along nicely, the Board’s mediation services has been requested and we hope to reach a speedy agreement. Five nons on this division failed to turn in their strike ballots In support of the committee. You all know who these are. They not only refuse to shoulder their share of the financial burdens of the organisation or even give the committee their moral sup- port, but have done what they could to hamper the schedule work. There is only one answer to this and that is enforce the “No card , no favors” slogan to the limit. We have got to do this to protect our own interests as these men are simply using us to try to put themselves in special favors with the company. They are the very first to grab any benefits derived from our work for better conditions. There are several new men on the divi- sion who would join ♦were some member to talk to them. We need these men, brothers, for both their financial and moral support in the schedule negotiations ; we have got to wake up and bring more inter- est Into the Order work. Your local chair- man has not the time to do all the work, so you have got to get busy yourselves. The very first thing to do is, pay up your dues, then get after the new members. We have a new superintendent, A. E. Lloyd, vice D. J. Evans, transferred to the Frank- lin Division. We wish them both success. Bro. Orwick moved recently. Don’t forget to drop Bros. Ruggles and Gugleman a letter occasionally; they will greatly appreciate how the Alliance Division la coming on. Digitized by v^ooole
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192 The Railroad Telegrapher. • Trains Nos. 2 and 3 have been discon- tinued on this division account of the con- gested conditions on account of cold weather. This makes service very poor on the South end. We are having a genuine old winter. Many thanks for the notes; keep up the good work and we will have a good write-up every month. New assistant trainmaster appointed with office at Minerva. Yardmaster Thompson transferred there. Kelief Agent Thompson relieving yard- master at Alliance. Div. Coe. Western Division — Bro. Edd. Krathwoli is back on Rolling Prairie. Bro. Ray Lansing, third Whiting, has gone with tbe Pennsylvania. Brother Burwell relieved by W. L. Shultz on third L. E. & W. tower Laporte, relieving W. R. Lougee in “J,” who relieved First Trick Dispatcher Robt. Fredricks, commis- sioned as captain in the railroad contingent. Sorry to see Bob go, and all hope for his safe and early return. He was presented with an officer’s trunk and a gold wrist watch by tiie operators. Those on this divi- sion donated generously, only one man re- fusing to contribute. The Masonic members among the operators also gave him a solid gold Masonic emblem ring as a remem- brance of his kindly qualities and the high esteem in which he was held by them. He was an excellent workman and a good scout. Bro. Edgerton from the Indiana Steel Co. at Gary is back at Porter again. Bro. Dibble, with the Union Drown Wire & Steel Co., has gone to the M. C. R. R. Bro. C. Kief, B. & O. tower, Indiana Har- bor, relieved. C. O. Bachman, third P. M. Tower, Laporte, who went to Camp Rock- ford, was promoted to major-sergeant. Rail- road Engineer Corps. The boys on this di- vision have surely made a good showing in the military service, every one having been promoted to officers* Bro. Chas. Ocker, “WG” Elkhart, was re- lieved by Roth during the serious illness of one of his twin sons. Charley has had his share of sickness this year. This division is slowly recovering from the effects of the recent blizzard that wrought such havoc to the roads of the mid- western states. Many of the boys were un- able to reach their offices at all, and a number were compelled to work overtime, one man being on duty 30 hours. Our schedule negotiations are now in the hands of the Mediation Board, and it is our duty to get after the nons we work with, line them up and make our division 100 per cent solid. Remember, we must pay our insurance and dues before February 28, 1918, or sign a war waiver to be reinstated, so mail them immediately. H. E. B., Div. Cor. N. Y. O. & W. Ry., Div. 20. Southern Division — Bro. McCue relieved Bro. Wilbur on third Burnside tower which he was covering, wnile Long was trying out Weehawken again which he had previously given up to bid in Burnside. We are glad to hear Bro. Cudney back on the wire again. Bro. Chas. Clark, ticket agent at C&dosia, on six months’ leave, to work for the gov- ernment, relieved by Miss Furie of Hancock. Bro. Dingee, third Cadosia, on a week’s vacation, relieved by Bro. Sayor. Bro. Leonard Quinn, first Livingston Manor, has joined the rmy, relieved by Bro. Wright, relieved on second there by Bro. Steenrod from the Delaware & Northern. All dues must be paid this month, so do not neglect to send them In as delay in this matter causes a lot of extra work for the local chairman and general secretary. H. J. de Graw, Div. Cor. C. I. & W. Ry., Div. No. 21. Indianapolis Division — Bro. Hassing, third Oxford, was off 15 days recently. Bro. Trent, "CV” second, on 4 months* leave, is spending the winter in California. Bro. Haskett, third Rushville, Is off on account of sickness. He has our best wishes tor a speedy recovery. I have recently been appointed corre- spondent of this division, brothers. Please send me items in future. All of the brothers should work to the best of their ability to get the nons in line as we are working for new schedule. F. F. R., Liberty Ind. Springfield Division — Bro. Blaase bid in agency Keys. The snow has been so deep on this divi- sion that traffic was tied up for several days. Business is good and operators are scarce. Some of the brothers are sick and the agents have to fill their places. The government taking charge of the railroads January 1st will not affect our schedule or working conditions in any way. We will continue to handle our grievances same as heretofore. The four organizations have reached an agreement with the management and ours come next. All other roads have gotten a raise in pay and the 26 working days and overtime for Sundays. This Is principally our demand and every one of us should join hands to get these beneflta Please send Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 193 in your dues promptly. This will enable us to carry on the good work. Our schedule was presented on December 1, 1917, to take effect January 1, 191 8. Brothers, please send me a note of the happenings around your station so we can have a write-up each month as I am unable to bear of all them. Bro. Robinson, third Connersville, has been appointed correspondent and Bro. J. T. Johnston, second State St., acting local chairman for the Indianapolis Division dur- ing the absence of Bro. Trent. “CU.” Cert. 169. Canadian Govt. Rys., Div. No. 11. District No. 1 — All the boys are wearing a smile that won't come off as our committee has signed up with the management for the new schedule. We were awarded nearly every- thing asked for. Our new local chairman, Bro. Arcand, told our committee he under- stood we were a good bunch of men and sure thought we were entitled to more money; so let’s all do our best and show hinl that he has not under- estimated our ability as railroad men. We all thank him and the schedule committee for what we have received, and as this has been a long, hard-fought battle, let’s all send to our local chairman our first month’s increase without delay soon as received. All the members are anxious for the next meeting to hear more in regard to the new schedule. • Boys, there are over six thousand grain cars coming east. Get your train order sig- nals well oiled. We are all pleased to see such new “Big Engs.” as 442 running on passenger trains and a couple more are com- ing for us. We will do some railroading “once in awhile.” We wish all good luck to our new dis- patcher, F. R. Plunkett. Bro. “Patry” is now at “BR” days en- joying himself with that new supplement to time table No. 9. Bro. Pomerleau "GU,’’ has removed his little shack into the cut closer to that “over- head” public bridge where he has a better sight of the girls going over with their sleds. Brother Gignac is talking about getting a flying machine for next summer. Brother Pelletier had “a Happy New Year” with — “you know who.” Bro. Trepanier has bought a dozen hens and Bro. Anger has purchased some Victory bonds, owing to their increase. Bro. Gin gras is making some great im- provements since he married. Bro. J. N. Lahay went home for Christ- mas to see his sister, who was very sick and the .station was closed tor several days. Bro. J. E. Lahay, on sick list, was relieved by Bro. Paquin. Bro. J. A. Marneau, on several weeks’ leave to interview the dentist and Bee “Antoinette.” Positions opened recently and filled as follows : Days — Dorey, Bro. Rauthier ; Fer- guson, Bro. Berube and wife ; Hibbard, Bro. Paquin ; Greening, Roy, and Longlade, Bro. Barnwell. Nights — Doucet, Bro. Riordon ; Nottaway, Bro. Ceuq, Mars ; Notogan, Bro. Chaquette, ana O’Brien, by Bro. Sauschogrin. Spirit Lake — No report. Brothers, have you your new card? Please send me a few notes. It is im- possible for me to get all the happenings on the line. Any brother knowing anything of interest please mention it as we do not want to slight anyone. Remember our motto: “No card , no favors ” U. N., Cert. 39. Delaware & Hudson Ry., Div. No. 12. Saratoga and Champlain Divisions — Now that we are all in the service of Uncle Sam our country expects every telegrapher to do his full duty. Although we are underpaid and the grade of the high- way we all must travel grows increasingly steep and the burden we are compelled to carry grows heavier and heavier, let it not be said that any telegrapher laid down on his job. When the committee appointed by Director McAdoo to adjust the railroad wage dispute meets in session we hope that a representative of the O. R.%T. will be pres- ent to request that our claims to a living wage be given respectful consideration. Writh the Big Four and the switchmen in the limelight we do not expect reserved seats in the orchestra or a box, but will be content with a seat in the back row just so we will be heard. The recent death of a brother telegrapher who allowed his “MB” dues to lapse during his sickness, again brings up the serious- ness of this neglect. Nearly everyone at some period in his life is confronted with the problem, caused by sickness or other- wise, of making one dollar doing the duty of two and it is generally something es- sential to the future welfare of his family that he cuts out every budget first. When a wife, often with a family to support, is suddenly thrown upon her own resources by the death of her husband, it is this insur- ance money, small though the amount may be, that is the vital factor in keeping the wolf from the door until she can take stock and gather her forces for the struggle that is before her. This organization would be sadly lacking in the fraternal spirit for which it stands if it did not provide ways and means of meeting these sudden emergencies and pro- Digitized by tjOOQie
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194 The Railroad Telegrapher. tectlng your Insurance dues, but make your needs known; your cannot anticipate. you must committee th^ irt!“ dl?atchera on a11 divisions of ♦ha ’ & ?* and teleSraPhers in “D” office, the general offices of the company in Albany !n7h.m?m«ber8 °f the °- R T- a newS ' LTUeDC^ 016 °rder on thia «*«*» ^hen th68e men Voluntarily, and almost with one accord, come to the conclusion that without protection they were adrift upon an open sea, the last argument of the conscientious objector," the non, has been answered. Hereafter if nons are treated as "alien enemies” and those who do business with them are subjected to the operation of the "trading with the enemy act, they may see a great light. T-ast month I wrote a little “dope” for these columns wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year or, in other words, asking them to be as merry and as happy as their $70 per would permit. As my chirography is about as easy to read as Sanskrit, I asked Bro. Kokenburg, who is a “bear on a mill,” to typewrite it. This German spy had the discourtesy to let an attack of the grip keep him in bed until after the 20th, using my manuscript which he had taken with himt to record the time when he was due to take another pill. I have recommended that he be court- martialed and shot In my notes in the December Telegrapher I was made to say, “Other industries have increased wages from 2 to 4 per cent” My copy read “Increased wages from 2 to 4 ten per cent amounts consecutively.” Bros. Shields and Dtltz, “SO” dispatcher’s office, have enlisted in the Engineers’ Corps ; Bro. Kellerman, second Sohoes, is in the Signal Corps, and Bro. J. J. Whalen, second Ballston depot, left Jersey City about Jan- uary 2 for France. Bro. F. B. Sullivan formerly third “WY” tower, in the Third Company, First Regiment Marine Corps, sta- tioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, has been promoted to corporal. Yours truly, L. B. Burrett. Susquehanna Division — Assignments: Bro. T. F. Gold to third GE, vice Bro. F. R. Pratt to first tempo- rarily, vice Bro. Lynch on leave of absence; Miss Charlotte Robbins to third Kelleys ; Bro. G. D. Goodrich, second “KF” tower to “WA” days, temporary ; Vene Todd to second "YA,” vice Bro. Parke Lyke to first there; Bro. “Bill” Lyon to first “YO” cabin, vice B. M. Holcomb, elected sheriff, of Broom County. “Bill” says it's just like going home to get back in old Bingo-town. Bro. “Jake” Couse, the old “Southpaw** dispatcher, recently took a trip over the south end examining things in general and calling upon several of his old Binghamton friends and acquaintances. Bro. “Jim” Bradt, third trick dispatcher, also recently made a tour of inspection over the south end. We were glad to see Bro. “Crip” Wright of the dispatcher’s force out on the line. Most of us thought him a moving- picture artist, snapping his camera at the most importaint points. He has a fine col- lection. Bro. France, first trick dispatcher, recent- ly made a tour of inspection over the north ond to Albany and while in the latter city took in the “Empire.” Bro. Guy Barnes, of the dispatcher’s office, recently enjoyed a 10 days’ vacation, but he has very little to say of what transpired during that time. Effective with the new time card I note a few of the boys have their hours of labor shortened. Get busy, boys, with your ax and saw ; see who can capture the prize for conserving the most coal. What Is a pot signal? Ask Bro. Hunger- ford ; he has the original definition. Bro. Wild recently relieved on account of illness by Bro. John Collins, Bro. Claude Ferris by Bro. T. W. Hall of Kelleys ; Bro. Wands, agent Howes Cave, relieved by R. H. English and Bro. R. H. Smith, “DJ” tower, is on leave of absence due to poor health, relieved by H. W. Morah. Don’t forget, boys, February 28 th will soon be here. After that date you are liable to be left out in the cold — those of you who have forgotten your dues. Take notice! It’s bad enough to be left in the cold when the fire goes out Bro. Ford Best, third “EW,” recently fell upon the Ice which incapacitated him for service. Earl Hynds did the trick in Ford’s absence. We recently received a letter from Bro. Abie Burdick, now with the American Ex- peditionary Forces “Somewhere in France” reporting himself as well as the majority of the boys now “over there” in good health and spirits. “Abe” is always glad to re- ceive a few lines from the old reliable **D. & H.” in America. Former Dispatcher “Bill” Knickerbocker is also “Somewhere in France” with the aviation branch of “Uncle Sam’s” fighters, and has reported his safe arrival. Say. brothers, sharpen up your axes and saw's, find a nice wood-lot somewhere and get those’ “kinks” out of your backs and muscles. See how much you can help “Uncle Sam” in conserving fuel. Cert. 845. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 195 Norfolk & Western Ry., Dlv. No. 14. 8cioto Division — Best news first : “KM” office , Portsmouth , solid 0. R. T. for the first time in 12 years.” Looks like Someone around "KM” has been pretty busy. Get your magnifying glass and see If you can find what's left of oui; slacker list now. Our chairman has landed ten slackers this month and says they are fast becoming real soldiers, ready for the front lines! Every- body work hard, especially on the “new slackers” as well as the “old slackers make it 100 per cent and we will be ready to “go over the top!” Simple as “A B C.” Chairman Mcllroy went to Roanoke Jan- uary 20th to join our committee January 21st to take up schedule negotiations. Under- stand they negotiated with the management as usual, the money being furnished by the government. If the committee does not re- ceive some satisfaction soon, it will go to Washington to appear before the Federal Board. Through these columns we extend our thanks to the conductors who helped so ef- fectively in collecting contributions for the Layman Memorial Fund. Any brothers who have not remitted please send their contri- bution at once to Chairman Mcllroy, Ports- mouth, as he wishes to bring the matter to a close. Don't forget that Bro. Layman served us well for 25 years, that he was chairman of the board of directors and the oldest member of Division 14. As it is desired that everyone remain at their positions as much as possible on ac- count of the shortage of labor, etc., the reg- ular Safety First monthly meetings have been discontinued until further notice. Bro. Bias attended the weekly poultry show at Portsmouth and is contemplating conducting a poultry farm at Dunlow, W. Va., where he recently bid in the agency. C. D. seems to have exceptional luck with “chickens.” Bro. Minch, who visited the “KM” opera- tors, says the hardest part of his job is entertaining the ladies. Bro. H. E. Burling, returning from vaca- tion, reports a nice trip and fine weather. He visited at Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West, Fla. The wires have been transferred from “I1V” station. Valley Crossing, to N. & W. tower, and we again cover the position in our agreement. We lost this position sev- eral years ago and welcome its return with a $92.00 salary to our brothers. Bro. Perry secured second and Bro. Smalley secured third, but they were handed a “lemon” on first, as Lemon bid It in according with his seniority rights secured by the O. R. T. The new ones come and go so fast it’s hard to keep up with them. Send me an Item occasionally and I will be able to give you more news. Don't be pessimistic about government control because the railroad situation did not unravel over night. “Uncle Sam” has the worst railroad tangle in history to straighten out and the worst weather conditions for years to do it in. We should each exert ourselves in every way possible to make things move. We ipust use our individual and collective effort to help our country in this crisis, and to prove that the control of public utilities should be in the hands of the public. Let’s be on the square with “Uncle Sam,” thereby meriting a "square deal” for ourselves and be patient. “Rome was not built in a day.” A nest of slackers who command a certain interlocker on the Scioto Valley were given additional work on account of a new rail- way making connection with the N. & W., and using its tracks. They object to work as well as other things and took it upon themselves to negotiate a new wage scale for their particular office, handling the mat- ter the best they knew how; first with they C. D., the C. C., and finally with the Big Boss. Many letters were written and the correspondence grew to a very bulky pack- age. However, matters did not terminate fast enough, and the telephone was used with- out results. Later a letter signed by the three threatened to strike if the company did not “come across with more of the jingle.” We are informed that the correspondence has been pigeon-holed and the slackers still on the Job. We heard one of them remark to our chairman the other day: “What you told me was right.” Our chairman said, “al- ways” and closed the key. Who loves a slacker of any sort? Who will try to get them a nice fat increase wb©n they meet the management? Who cares if they strike? Don’t forget the motto and also add, the way of the slacker Is hard. We know another slacker who can- not collect his overtime. Glory! Moral : “Don't be a slacker.” Cert. 1507. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to the great beyond our esteemed brother, Charles O’Malley, we bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things well; and Whereas, We realize that in the death of Brother O’Malley we have lost a loyal brother ; therefore, in manifestation of our sorrow and fraternal sympathy ; be it Resolved , That we, members of Norfolk & Western Railway System, Division No. 14, Digitized by tjoooie
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196 The Railroad Telegrapher. extend to the sorrowing wife and relatives our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this their hour of bereaverrient, and be it further Resolved,. That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded the bereaved wife, a copy spread upon the minutes of our division, and a copy sent The Telegrapher for publica- tion. T. A. Draper, W. L. Baker, -I. J. Taylor, Committee. Atlantic Coast Line R. R.y Div. No. 15. Waycross District Notes — Bro. Kirkland of Baconton, who recently visited his brother at Camp Wheeler, also visited Camp Gordon. Assignments : Bro. J. E. Stough, cutting agency vice Bro. Williams to extra board, relieving Bro. R. D. Reid, agent, Homerville, off on vacation. Bro. Mansfield recently on vacation took in mostly “New Orleans” and Bro. Christo- pher was relieved at Meigs awhile by Bro. Perry Stewart, of Lake City. Bro. C. R. Robinson, Ruskin, was oft re- cently on account of the death of his brother. Heavy business caused two tricks to be put on at Manor and McAlpln, three at Bos- ton and another man in dispatcher’s office, Waycross. Bro. Grice, Dupont agency, in hospital, Waycross, relieved by Bro. F. D. Powell. Bro. Bramlett, Dupont, off sick few days, was relieved by Bro. Brock, also Bro. Howe, agent, Kinderlow, relieved by Ehttra Lamkin. We are glad to hear Bro. Welch back on Ochlocknee agency again after a spell of sickness, relieved by Bro. Sessions, who also relieved Bro. Hollingsworth “TyTy” agency, attending court at Camilla, and Bro. “Little” Murray, Willacoochee, on his 15 -days’ vaca- tion secured by our last contract. We are glad to have Bro. Sessions with us and con- fident he will like Waycross District A. C. L. as well as the S. W. Div. of C. of Ga. Bro. Stewart while covering the district was relieved by Relief Agent Bro. Mansfield. Bro. House relieved a few days by Bro. Sessions from C. of G. Bro. Warren, first Albany, learned the dis- trict recently and is now doing extra dis- patching at Waycross. We wish him success. Bro. Kirkland, Baconton agency, recently killed eight fine porkers and is now eating spareribs for breakfast, backbone and rice for dinner and hogshead cheese for supper. He states that Is one on the city operators and agents and is worth all the White Ways. I wish some of the extra brothers would send me in some notes as they usually know more of them than the others. Bro. D. B. McQuaig recently bid in second ”FN” Waycross yards, leaving third on bul- letin and Bro. N. C. Douglas fiiled it, left first Thomasville on bulletin; second Way- cross yards is on bulletin again. Bro. C. M. White, now with Company A, 319th M. G. Battalion, Camp Gordon, Ga., was recent visitor to Quitman and Pelham. He will be glad to hear from the brothers. F. A. Crittenden, Cor. Michigan Central R. R., Div. No. 16. The many friends of James C. Culkins, general chairman of Division 16, were shocked to learn of his sudden death, which occurred in the telegraph office the morning of Saturday, January 12th. He had left home as usual that morning in apparently good health, but it is thought that the un- due exertion required to face the raging blizzard was too much for a weakened heart, which collapsed soon after reaching the of- fice, causing immediate death. Brother Culkins had reached the age of 52 years and has been in the continuous employ of the Michigan Central for the past 34 years, and all that time held the position of operator, ticket clerk. Western Union manager and towerman. He was a deep student of the economic problems of labor and capital, and was active in every move to better the condition of the telegraphers. Early in 1902 he gave his active support to a movement for the independent organisa- tion of the telegraphers on the M. C. The father and prime mover of this movement was F. D. Beardsley, an operator located at Owosso, and it was largely through his ef- forts that the road was afterward organized under the banner of the O. R. T. In 1903 the O. R. T. organization was completed, and Bro. Culkins was chosen as general chair- man, continuing in that capacity up to the time of his death. As a monument to his work, the many schedules obtained by him and his committees were considered the best In the country, and in this connection the telegraphers have suffered a real loss from the fact the position will be hard to fill. It can be safely said that no man had ever had any more true friends that “Jimmy” Culkins. His gentle and courteous manner and remarkable patience under the most try- ing situations was commented upon by all that knew him. His firm and sterling quali- ties won him the esteem and confidence of the men he represented, and also compelled the respect of the employers. The funeral was held from the Catholic Church in Albion, January 15th and was largely attended by his friends and repre- sentative citizens of the city. M. F. Ryan, Cert. 3250. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 197 Northern Division — Bros. Robinson and Diffenderfer, Cheboy- gan, worked 12 hours while Bro. Sutherland was on the sick list. Bros. Murray and Hill, North Lansing, also worked 12 hours while Bro. Grover was on the sick list. Bro. R. M. Gordon, agent Bay City, on the sick list, was relieved by Bro. J. L. Kerby. Bra H. Flodel while waiting for call from the government relieved at Wolverine and Gaylord. Bro. Art Bonnett resumed first Wolverine, vice Bro. Harry Crecine back on second hours. Bro. Flodel, Wolverine to Gaylord third, relieving Bro. Jimmie Booth on his honeymoon. Fralick, a new man from Wolverine, to Waters nights. Bro. Lewis, first night hours Mason, visit- ing his mother in the West, relieved by Bro. E. A Bill. Division 16 suffered- a severe loss in the death of our general chairman and esteemed brother, J. C. Culkins, who died suddenly in his office at Albion, Mich., on January 12th. His sudden demise is a great shock to our fraternity at so important an epoch in the history of our organization. We extend our deepest sympathy to his family in their sad bereavement* Closing a most important year through which our organization as a whole has passed and at the beginning of a new year, we are facing new conditions, the results of which cannot be foretold. The one great issue before us at this time is the absolute and thorough organization of our craft which will place us in a position to meet any contingencies that may arise in the present or future state of unsettled afTairs. Bro. C. W. Burwell, first Lalngsburg, bid in Owosso third, vice Bro. Cliff Bowden to Chesaning first. Bro. Guy Van Dusen, first Salzburg, and wife on trip to California and other points in the Southwest, relieved by Bro. Mac Laing with W. J. Billow, a new man, on third. Shortage of men and weather too cold for vacations makes news scarce. Bro. Flood has been the only contributor for several months. Would suggest that some of the boys send in a few items each month. Penna. R. R. Lines East, Div. No. 17. Maryland Division — The year 1917 has proven the most suc- cessful of any since the O. R. T. became active in securing schedules. Just to think : 130 new and revised schedules with money amounting to more than ten million dollars in the pockets of the organized telegraphers, also reduced hours of service, vacations and various other considerations, completes a record to be proud of, and I dare say never equaled by any other labor organization in the country ; yet we are met with the query from some of the poor deluded mortals on this line, “What has the O. R. T. done?” or “If the O. R. T. does something we will join.” There is not a telegrapher anywhere who does not know of the progress made by the O. R. T., yet there are a number who will not loin when they know it is to their own interest to do so, being contented to wait and get the occasional hand-out from the company, which acts same as a soothing syrup to a peevish baby. The journal is becoming a hummer, brim- ful of useful information to the members and fine organizing material for the nons. I would suggest that every member turn his January journal over to some non, as the articles in it show just what has been ac- complished. We are glad to see quite a number of the boys on this division who have been holding out for many long years, at last realizing the necessity of organizing and joined the O. R. T, and we have the promise of more in the near future. There should be no hesi- tancy now', as all fear of discrimination and other methods used by certain officials to prevent organizing has been removed since “Uncle Sam" has assumed control of the railroads and our government will not countenance such methods. We congratulate Bro. H. J. Yeagy on his venture on the seas of matrimony and wish him and bride all kinds of good luck and prosperity. The entertainment held by the Monument- al O. R. T. Club on January 18th was a grand success. There was a large attend- ance, the program furnished by the commit- tee was great, and it Is certainly to be con- gratulated on its efforts. We are anxiously waiting for the next one. “Novice.” Baltimore Division — We hail the new order of things with de- light. When the railroads passed over to government operation and the Hon. W. G. McAdoo was appointed director general by the President of the United States, the telegraphers on the Pennsylvania lines passed from bondage to freemen. The past ten years on this system under the private operation of the company our members have been intimidated, discriminated, coerced and bulldozed for no other purpose than to keep them from taking membership In the Order, but they can now join the organization with- out fear of having such injustices imposed upon them. We are pleased to note in the press that President Perham, on February 10th, held a conference with the Hon. W. G. McAdoo, and made formal application for increases for telegraphers and station agents. It goes to show that the telegraphers if organized will always have their interests looked after Digitized by tjooole
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198 The Railroad Telegrapher. no matter what the change of things may bring forth. Our membership is urged to give their very best service to the government and help in every way possible to move the traf- fic over the line, because no better argu- ment can be used for better conditions and wages than that our men gave good service. Any member who is discriminated against by an official or those who are reproached any way for holding membership in the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, should at once take the matter up with our president. We have a chance to stop this practice if anyone should attempt such work, and It is now clearly up to the membership to do so. We have a good active membership on this division and a good local chairman who, if given the proper support by the member- ship, is sure to get results. The first order of business should be to get each telegrapher and station agent into the organisation and each member should apply himself in this direction. The Monumental Club of Baltimore, Md., held a fine entertainment for the members and their families at Huntingdon Hall, Fri- day, January 18th, attended by a large num- ber of the members and their wives. It was, indeed, a great evening ; all went home feel- ing that It paid in many ways to be a mem- ber of the O. PL T. Bro. Dr. J. B. Sebastian was chairman of the meeting. Bro. J. F. Miller, general chairman, ad- vises us that they are making great progress on the lines east and that 1918 will see the P. R. R. boys take their places -along with other scheduled roads. We can help him by organizing and I urge you to do your best. Since the Baltimore & Ohio telegraphers have secured an increase of 10 per cent and extra pay for Sunday work, the P. R. R. men are saying that they ought to have the same consideration and our reply to them is : Get up an organization like the B. & O. and it will be little trouble to get it. As the grand secretary and treasurer has offered a prize of $160.00 to the division that gets the most new members during 1918, I suggest to the entire membership on the P. R. R. that we make an effort to win the prize. The members’ attention is called to the fact that unless their dues and assessments are paid on or before February 28th, they are not In good standing and not entitled to benefits ; so we urge all to remit at once. Boys, it’s up to us ; let us do our best,. “Jimmy.” Allegheny Division — Some of the men on this division received a so-called adjustment recently. They rich- ly deserved it and more. We who failed to reap any benefits therefrom congratulate them, although in some instances the com- parative duties of the offices raised and those not are ridiculous, yet it merely proves that a committee of your own fellow-workers are far more competent to adjuBt salaries from a “lump sum appropriation.” I understand our membership on this divi- sion is growing, but not as it should. There are a few nons here who spring the time- worn chestnut, “Well, where is the organ- izer?” A three-cent stamp is recommended. Some are more up-to-date, “Under govern- ment ownership or direction we need no or- ganization.” It is presumed the latter class will personally take their own case to Wash- ington and will find it easier than the C. A A. committee who are credited with the set- tlement of the first wage dispute under the director general. We also have with us the class of non who imagines he will confer a favor on the craft in general by digging up the few dollars’ dues required. He loses sight of his protective labor insurance of more than a million dollars and a member- ship behind him of fifty thousand. Ask the new members how they feel with a card. It breeds confidence. Try it. Brothers, don’t you think we run this secrecy business “in the ground?” Why, you would think we were members of a band of Nihilists. Let’s cut out some of this “play- ing tag” and know “who is who.” I venture to say our officials know the membership better than we do who are most concerned. For my part I am sick of it. I know the teachings of our organization breathe loyalty to an employer, faithfulness to duty rather than sedition in the ranks, and discipline in our ranks. A general chairman on a western road once told me that the first thing he assured a managing official in the committee room was renewed pledges of loyalty and devotion to duty. Then that official was made to see that a raise and recognition of the organiza- tion was rather a part of his duty than a detriment to the owners. The service ren- dered by the organized body being far above that rendered by the unorganized. When the Pennsylvania case Is brought up by the O. R. T., are we going to be able to stand with the other railroads and show a strong membership in this organization, or are we going to let the opposition prove that the O. R. T. does not represent a majority on this line of railroad? There is food for thought, you few nons better take warning; it Is your interest at stake. The organiza- tion is going to secure results. Are you go- ing to prevent yourself from securing the benefits? Cbrt. 3136. Pittsburgh Division — We have entered on a new year. The old one is gone with its sorrows and joys, but Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 199 it was eventful, nevertheless, the O. R. T. getting & minimum of $100.00 on most every road, and we are getting near that mark, as the management wants to keep pace with the other great trunk lines of the country. Con- sequently we got another “hand-out” and 8 hours in th6 superintendent’s office, so we are getting nearer to a living wage and fair condition than ever before. When we think of making over $100, as we are doing in some instances, the operator can see that be is & real factor in Industrial and com- mercial enterprises and avail himself of the O. R. T.*s activities and get into the only organization in the country that can do anything worth while for the railroad telegrapher. Don't think because the gov- ernment has taken the railroads over that it is going to hand out increases without being asked for them; and then they will only be received by the men who have the influence of an international organization like the O. It T. to demand justice for its mem- bers. Consider the O. R. T. as good an in- vestment as the “Liberty bonds” at 100 per cent, with millions back of it. When the company officials see that you mean business they will meet you with open arms. Now la the time to join and through the organiza- tion voice your demands, while operators are scarce. The operators today are the most important factor in keeping the trains mov- ing. We were worked almost to exhaustion dur- ing the Xmas rush on account of the ter- rible cold woather and congested terminals. Now, boys, make a New Year’s resolution that you will join the O. R. T. and help the movement for* better conditions similar to the one the B. & O., Rock Island and South- ern Pacific boys are enjoying. Remember, this is the one great oppor- tunity for us; let’s accept it; thank our good general chairman, Bro. Miller, for his earnest work and pray that he may live to see the P. R. R. among the scheduled roads of America. Do not forget to remit your dues to Bro. Wm. Skinner, 115 South .Potomac Avenue, Baltimore, Md. Wishing you a happy New Year and pros- perity, Cbrt. 1526. 8chuylkUl Division — Now that the United States Government has taken control of the railroads it is a matter of grave importance to the railroad telegraphers, especially on the Pensylvania System, because there Is absolutely nothing now in our way to prevent us from com- pelling the Pennsylvania Railroad Company to do business with us through the O. R. T. Honorable W. G. McAdoo, director general of the railroads, has assured President Per- bam that we will be acoorded the same “just and fair” treatment as other organizations, and that the discrimination and coercion practiced against those who belong to or are In favor of the Order of Railroad Telegra- phers will not be permitted. You are re- quested to send in a detailed report to Presi- dent Perham, naming the official who con- tinues this practice and the matter will be taken up with the director general imme- diately and the official treated accordingly. Every telegrapher on the Schuylkill and every other division must now “do his bit” towards thoroughly organizing the Pennsyl- vania system in order that our grievances can be taken before the proper officials. The O. R. T. cannot represent the telegraphers on this or any other system if they are not organized. We should now show our gratitude to the O. R. T. for what it has already* done for us by joining at once, as we all know had it not been for this organization, conditions on the Pennsylvania system would have been infinitely worse than they are. You will see the Schuylkill division repre- sented in this column every month. “Jepf." Philadelphia Terminal Division — Our boys are still going to the front, John Boyer having left us shortly after Christmas for Camp Meade, making about sixteen who have left this division, nearly all being in the Signal Corps and already in France. We will need now, under government con- trol, an, organization strong and solid to se- cure recognition for our craft, on the P. R. R. in dealing with wages, schedules and grievances before the Government Wage Board, as all wage agreements will probably be handled through the national head of the representative organization concerned. It is urged that all operators and tower- men join the O. R. T. at once. As govern- ment employes indirectly, they are free agents to join without any fear of intimida- tion. These former methods cannot be prac- ticed any longer and we should take ad- vantage of this now and line up solid. The unsettled condition of labor is creating, daily, vast changes and unless we are prepared as a body to protect ourselves by organization, we will have to accept without any power to prevent it, whatever the result may be. Boys, pay your dues promptly, and get your neighbor non to join, so we can become strong enough to re-establish the good old O. R. T. again on the P. R. R. We can then elect our own representatives, bring about con- genial fellowship among all our craft and remedy any unfavorable conditions which may from time to time arise, and make your motto : “Every member get a member,” and continue until we have our old organization back with us again as strong as ever. Digitized by tjooole
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200 The Railroad Telegrapher. Increases were granted PK, CW, D6, D8, G D, FJ, HG. A, B, S, and JR. JR got $3.20, which was ah adjustment to bring it up with other division superintendent of- fices; the other offices received $3.20 and $6.40 per month, but no official announce- ment has been made yet as to just how much each office is to receive. The chief train dispatchers got $20.00 per month and the train dispatchers and directors $6.40. “JR" and “PD" get a straight eight-hour day, which was badly needed. The credit for these concessions is claimed as usual by a certain would-be organization, but wink your other eye; it is the same old story, you all know it. Just keep on getting mem- bers into the O. R. T. The year is just begun, let’s all get busy and push. We should all give the government the best service possible to help out during the present blockade. We were all sorry to hear of the sudden death of our old comrade, Howard Jackson. There is so much changing of jobs that we can’t keep track of them. Div. Cor. Trenton Division — G. A. Cross, division operator, the chief cause of the difficulty the telegraphers had when asking for an increase in salary and to their communications, failing to get def- inite answers, has been demoted to an agency at (Arch Street) Palmyra, N. J., succeeded by Geo. W. Shoester and his bulldozing tac- tics has helped wonderfully to bring the men to their senses and feel the necessity of organization and made many friends for the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, much to the chagrin of the officials on this divi- sion. It will only be a short time when this division will be back in the O. R. T. The places of many of the old men have been given to young women. One of them recently u bulled V a meet order on single track, and another failed to deliver one, but they are both still working. New men are being placed in bettei' posi- tions than the older ones. The telephone is being installed for mes- sage work and girls will probably handle them. The new roster the company has been promising ever since the boys went back has not made its appearance yet, but this thing will right itself shortly as the gov- ernment needs the services of the men right where they are now and we want them there also. The O. R. T. has shown the men the way to get the protection it affords, and make life worth while as it is doing on other roads today, having benefited the telegra- phers who are organized to the extent of about ten millions last year. I appeal to you who were and are my friends, who were fortunate and unfortunate, to yome into the O. R. T. for the common good ot all, as it protects your home and family. Cert. 3078. West Jersey and, Seashore Division — Everybody, pay up your dues and get in all the nons possible now that we are under government control so that our organixation may bring our wants before the govern- ment tribunal which has charge of 'wage matters. Be sure to pay before February 28th, thus remaining beneficial, and avoid signing the war waiver which you will be obliged to do if you become delinquent, especially if of draft age. If any of you are approached in regard to membership in the O. R, T. by the of- ficials, report it immediately to our general secretary and treasurer so It can be taken up with the proper authority. You have a constitutional right to join and belong to whatever organization you wish and no rail- road official has any right to question this, to coerce, or bulldoze you, or discriminate against you for taking advantage of that right, so now is your chance. Every man should take out a card and place our organization in a position to take our fight before the government of- ficials and get a schedule and representa- tion. It will not require very many more members to do this, but the more we have the better our case. Brothers, see that the nons attend to this at once ; every day’s de- lay may mean a lost opportunity. Strike while the iron is red. The government has alrdhdy appointed a commission to hear the case of the other four brotherhoods because they are thor- oughly organized. Ask Bro. Miller for application blanks ; everybody become an organizer and save the expense of national organizers. Get after every non you know of, secure his applica- tion and send it with the money to Bro. W. M. Skinner, 115 South Potomac Street, Baltimore, Md. Those who have been mem- bers before will know what to do and can assist the new men in signing up. All the small raises we got are due to the activity of the O. R. T. getting revised schedules all around us. The B. & O. boys just recently got a raise of about $20.00 per man extra for Sunday work and 15 days’ vacation. Quite a few passenger trains have been discontinued, but there will be plenty of freights to keep us busy, and it is the duty of every telegra- pher on this system to give his very best service during the government operating period and show the officials that we are competent and worthy of our rights as men, and entitled to the same treatment as the other telegraphers In our territory. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 201 See that our journal reaches the non- members and explain the necessity of Join- ing now to everyone you meet and try and land him. Assignments : N. Liebes to “K” tempo- rarily, relieved by C. R. Strieker on “HN,” Camden third ; W. F. Thompson to second “HN** on bith leaving “UR” second on bid ; Roy Van Meter to second “SA“ vice Frank C. Ackroyd, resigned ; Dave Praster to sec- ond x'leasantville, N. J.. right at home. He should now make good his promise; Peter Chalk, a new man, to second Winslow Junc- tion, vice Stewart to relief job on this divi- sion ; J. H. Hurley to second “AD” Camden. D. R. Lee, Berlin, spent a few weeks South recently and brought back his wife who had been down there for several months. The raising of tracks at Westville power- house is nearing completion. Div. Cor. C., M. & St. P. Ry.f Div. No. 23. Kansas City Division — Bro. F. A. McCarthy, of Coburg, was quarantine^ out of his house while his brother “Jim” had the smallpox. Bro. A J. Jones and wife, of Ottumwa, were recent over-Sunday visitors in Kansas City. Bro. F. A. McDonald, of East Bottoms took a trip to Iowa in January. Bro. C. N. Smith, of Washington second, spent the holidays with the homefolks in Missouri, relieved by Mr. Frogge. Bro. Allen's wife was quite sick for sev- eral days at Gladwin. Cone and Liberty are now on an eight- hour basis. Owing to the heavy telegraphing at Am- ina, Bro. Fromm has purchased a new bug. Robbers who attempted to rob the Q. O. & K. C. depot at Gault, beating up Agent J. A. Browning, the father of Bro. D. A. Browning of third Washington, were fright- ened way, later captured, identified by Mr. Browning, and are being held for trial. Bro. Jno. McEwan, agent Farson, la., while pulling a load of express unloaded from No. 3, slipped and fell, breaking his ankle, and will be off for a time. This division received its full share of the delays occasioned by the unusual cold weather and reepnt heavy snows. No Chi- cago train arrived in Kansas City for about three days on any railroad. Bro. Wilson, of Ottumwa is in the dis- patcher's office as a car distributor, tempo- rarily. One worthy brother volunteered some news items this month, but everyone else was bashfully silent. Another trick has been put on at Polo, relieving Agent Bro. Maytum of all tele- graph duties'. Bro. A. C. English at Ludlow has been in a Kansas City hospital for some time on account of an operation. Otto Schendel, an agent on this division for several years, the father of Oscar Schendel, recently operator at Newton, died at Columbus, Wis., January 20th. Bro. W. T. Schoonover was called to Wis- consin recently on account of the death of his father. Bro. Herbert G. Barnard, sergeant 13th engineers, U. S. Army, sends us a postal from Paris written Christmas day. He had a furlough to stay several days in the French city. Assignments : Second trick Bid well to W. C. Brown ; Ottumwa to Bro.* W. I. Wendell ; third Ottumwa Junction to J. L. Pogue ; Williamsburg to S. E. Moore; Liberty to Bro. I. K. Carey ; fourth Ottumwa Junction to Bro. J. V. Tuomey. New time card changes eliminated the “due” run between Ottumwa and Laredo as a war economy. J. V. Tuomey, Div. Cor. Dubuque Division — FLOWER FUND. Receipts Expenses January, 1916 $ 4.60 $ 5.32 April, 1916 6.25 5.33 October, 1916 5.20 6.25 May, 1917 4.90 5.30 August, 1917 4.20 5.33 Deficit 1.38 $26.53 $26.63 Dubuque Division — Bro. C. W. Betters, Guttenburg, taken quite sick early in January was removed to Rochester, Minn., hospital, relieved by Bro. Dwark, and he on second by Bro. Sturm, leaving Turkey River a one-man station un- til Bro. Fetters resumes work. Bros. Harry Phipps and W. F. Rowan, Harpers Ferry, resigned ; Bro. McGrath, re- turning to third from leave of absence; Mc- Fadden, i. & D. division, to second tempo- rarily. Lansing, Harpers Ferry and Clayton third taken off temporarily owing to coal shortage, making business slack. Bro. Hurley, agent at LaCrescent, went to Caledonia January 14th to appear against a boy 19 years old, who robbed the station there of about $9.00 the previous Saturday, and was arrested by the LaCrosse police de- partment. Brothers, the few nons on the main line between Specht’s Ferry and Smiths received back time checks, and the benefit of our new Digitized by c.ocK?Le
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202 The Railroad Telegrapher. wage scale and rules, are now drawing from $20.00 to $86.00 per month extra and It is the duty of every member to line these men up or put “No card , no favors” in effect to the limit Bro. Hutchinson, one of our new members, is relieving the agent at Volga City on vaca- tion. Bro. Harrington has resumed on third Gor- don's Ferry after four months' leave work- ing on a government boat The Cascade branch was tied up during the heavy snow in January. Cert. 999. Members Trans-Missouri Division : We recently received a very substantial in- crease in wages and a 26-day month which we have fought for years to obtain. The cash increase amounts to $10.00 a month for each position. The distribution was made in a spirit of fairness to all, but as we are “merely hu- man," mistakes may have been made and any member who thinks that his or her po- sition was not allowed enough will be do- ing me a personal favor, as well as them- selves, by informing me just what the con- ditions are so that the same error may not occur again. We must now show the company that we appreciate and deserve the consideration ac- corded us by giving the best service we are capable of. A complaint was made to me recently that It was necessary to have the dispatchers ring the operators at a number of stations and tell them to answer the wire. While we are all more or less busy all the time, nevertheless, this condition should not exist, and we should all make it our special busi- ness to answer our calls promptly. Remember that we are working for the government now and should do all in our power to promote the efficiency of the serv- ice. Anyone wishing to leave the service should give due and ample notice so that the position may be filled before being vacated. Our recent schedule negotiations were lengthy and expensive and you have all been asked to contribute one-half of your first month’s cash increase to replenish our treasury. As you received back time and a substantial increase, there should be no hesi- tation on the part 'of anyone to do this. At various times there have been viola- tions of our schedule which have not been brought to the attention of the local chair- man nor the officials and therefore have not been corrected. This has caused un- necessary discord. If any of you know or hear of any violation of our schedule, please call my attention to it, so that I may see that It is properly adjusted. Read your schedule carefully and see that you receive what you are entitled to under the new rule and scale. If in doubt on any point write either Bro. Soyster or myself and we will be pleased to advise you. There are still a few nons among us and new men are coming qptd going all the time. Find out if the man working with you or next has an “up-to-date.” If not, try to line him up or advise me and let me have a fling at him. I can do my best, but co-operation is essential to our success and everyone of us should take a vital interest In our welfare. Remember our motto, “No card, no fa- vors” live up to It, co-operate, and we will have the Trans-Missouri Division 100 t>er cent in a short time. Fraternally, G. E. Leiqhtt, Local Chairman. Trans-Missouri Division Notes — Bro. G. E. Leighty, local chairman, tem- porarily relieved on third Bowman by Joe Paul from New England. On vacation: Bro. R. B. Houck, relieved by Wilfong on first McIntosh. We are all glad to see M. R. Bennett on second at McIntosh after an absence of three years. We hope soon to be able to call him brother Sister Florence Holmes, third McIntosh, on an extended leave, relieved by Bro. Jordan. F. E. Frankenburger bid in McLaughlin agency vice Bro. R. A. Chase, resigned, also on leave and retaining seniority rights. Bro. J. H. Fletcher, third McLaughlin, has returned from a trip to Chicago and the Twin Cities, relieved by Mrs. E. M. Schaef- fer, sister of Bro. E. C. Weatherly, of Walker, now visiting at her home in Bill- ings, Mont Bro. Carney is on first Mc- Laughlin pending bulletin, vice Bro. E. Q. Howard to side table Mobridge, dispatcher's office. J. P. Pullen on second McLaughlin, relieving Bro. Carney. When Bro. L. C. Somers can carry an up-to-date O. R. T. card, although in the train servisce, the nons on this division should be ashamed to take the increases and benefits secured by the Order and do noth- ing to help ge$ them. Mrs. H. J. Kail, wife of Bro. Kail, Moreau Junction, is in the hospital in Rochester, Minn. Bro. A. S. Kirby, after a year In the tele- graph service on the C. P. R., has returned and has taken a position as locomotive fire- man on this division and still carries a card. I hope no one will fall to send in the half of their first month's Increase as re- quested by Bro. Soyster. Cut. fST« Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 203 Columbia and Idaho Divisions — Bro. Beeman Is back at Kittitas after a lengthy visit East. Corfu, the center of electrification energies at present, is a pretty busy place, and two tricks have been established there so Bra Stahl won’t have his rest disturbed nights hereafter. Two new tricks have been added at War- den so Bro. Vickers won’t have to sleep with his boots on now. Bro. Olmstead, agent Boylston, Is on vaca- tion, relieved by an extra man. The work there should ease up a bit, now that Rye h a continuous office. Bro. P. j. Washburn, wire chief, Malden*, raumed work after a health-seeking trip to Chicago, gaining considerable in weight Bro. Chambers, extra at “M” several months, has returned to Detroit We would Wke to have had him stick, but he said “the monotony got on his noives.” Dis- patcher It c. Peterson has been promoted to chief dispatcher, vice W. J. Jordan, as- “^ad other duties. R. E. Kenyon, extra dispatcher from the East, has gone back to Minneapolis after a month’s work at Mal- den. Extra Wire Chief A. E. Latto is sec- ond trick dispatcher there now. Bro- R Taylor at Rosalia ever since the hig wind, has bid in Beverly agency and in- 1611(18 taking his depot with him. We won- der what Bro. Hayes will do for a depot now. Bro. Fred Beal, on Spokane side table for a number of years, has been promoted to jrain dispatcher there. Everyone is glad to J^r of Fred’s promotion. He has been a h4rd worker and deserves it, C. H. Coplen Bu«*eds him. k^teta nights opened by Miss L. H. Tll- pending bids. Other assignments : C* J. Loomis, Meta- Pails; E. B. Beeman, third Kittitas. Vacancies : Second Kittitas and Rosalia; third Tekoa; agency Plummer; first, second third Rye ; second and third Corfu, and warden and Lavlsta nights. Now members : D. T. Myler, Spokane side Jable; Wm. Snure, Metaline Falls; Howard p* Lambert, lone ; Chas. A. Martin and John ^Jaynes, Newport, with the rest of the -pyB on the L & W. N. promising to line up. Our locaj chairman has a big territory in the two divisions, with the new positions j*®Wed, and without the support of the mem- will have a hard time keeping a line ont averything. Everybody get busy and clean up all the nons and delinquents *>7 July first. Cert. 614. XuseUhell Division— New members: W. C. Liner, first Elso ; J R Irvine, agent Plevna; George W. Nackett, third Calabar; Frank L, Corcoran, first Forsyth ; Mrs. H. Piggott, second La- vina; C. J. Piggott, third Waldheim; J. R. Wallace, third Miles City yard ; A. Owens, acting agent Carterville; Harold Jones, sec- ond Carterville ; Extra T. J. Kelly, second Dodge. With the schedule recently effected there is no excuse for any man not joining the Order now. Letter after letter has been written to non-members who have been here some time enjoying the benefits we have se- cured for them, always ready to step up and ask for “back pay,” but never do a thing towards securing it Every man on the line will now be given a fair chance, and may then expect the worse. Bro. H. E. Keltner, Division 126, third Musselshell, and Bro. S. K. Candor, Division 119 third Sumatra, have been transferred to this division and we welcome them among us. Bro. C. A. Spurling, who bid in late night chief at Roundup, is taking care of the west sub. now. Local Chairman Sasser has moved from Mildred to third Forsyth. Bro. J. F. Hayes relieved at Sumatra by C. D. Pickard, second Ingomar, relieved. Bro. Harvey D. Carpenter, agent at Baker (for a long time), resigned on account of failing health. We are sorry to lose Bro. “Carp.” and hope that the change will do him good. “MC” relay office is now open. Bro. Doh- erty, chief, Bro. Maile, first assistant chief and Bro. “Tug” Wilson, operator. Bro. H. E. Keas, extra, has resigned and gone to Dubuque, Iowa. Bro. Blazek, is back on third Baker after a month’s illness, relieved by Marmon, a new man, to Melstone. Assignments not heretofore noted : A. E. Washburn to Geneva, vice Bro. C. L. Burke to Shaemut ; S. K. Candor, to third Sumatra. Second tricks — A. Frelick to Ismay, J. H. Sasser to Carterville, C. J. Jones to Ingomar, C. T. Plumb to Sumatra, R. A. Clevenger to Roundup, and W. A. Johnson to Lavina. Cbrt. 2716. Western Suv-Division , Musselshell Division — “Like getting money from home” was that back pay and the raise just a few days before Christmas ; it amounted to around $50.00 per capita. Thanks, Bro. Sasser, the general committee, the Milwaukee Railway, General Superintendent Foster and all con- cerned. It was a nice “hit,” timely and op- portunely placed. Bro. Keltner, third Musselshell, is one of the first on the division to get up-to-date to 1919. Local Chairman Sasser aided the general committee, the other local chairmen and the general superintendent distribute the raise Digitized by v^ooole
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204 The Railroad Telegrapher. to the various positions on the division at Seattle recently. Remember, boys, the “OS” jobs and the towers virtually belong to the new men and the “boomers.” If, for per- sonal reasons, such as a claim, etc., you pre- fer to hold an “OS” place, then you may not get what you consider the full average raise, as it is the Job and not the man hold- ing it that has to be considered when the award is made. Assignments : Bro. Plggett to third Elso, Ray Clevenger, second Sangus to third Roundup. Sister Piggott has been relieving at Elso, Lavina second and Gage first, and Andy Anderson, back from sick leave, to Carterville agency. Bro. Sasser, having his troubles with the “Mosquito Fleet, “ has bid out of Forsyth third. Now that the nons were handed a Christ- mas present by the good old O. R. T., con- sisting ot extra for Sunday, the eight-hour day, overtime, etc., without contributing any- thing thereto, we should give them no rest until they get an up-to-date. Cert. 2715. Coast Division — Bro. Kelso, first Cedar Falls, and wife have returned from a pleasant trip to West Virginia, but returned sooner than they ex- pected owing to the terrible weather condi- tions. Bro. Chadderdon, agent Elbe, on the T. & E., is in the automobile business with his brother in Cambridge, Neb. We hate to see a good brother like “Chad.“ leave us, but it is a pleasure to know that the boys can make good at something else. He was suc- ceeded temporarily by Mr. Kellogg. Bro. Erland, second Hyak, visited his home in Steilacoom, Wash., a few days recently. I wish some brother on the T. & E. would mail a few notes each month to Box 267, Auburn, Wash. Received a nice bunch from Bro. Bingham, of Everett freight. Many thanks. Cert. 1330. Coast Division , Everett Branch — On account high water and washouts, the Everett line was out of service December 19th to January 20th with fills washed away and bridges rendered unfit for traffic. Bro. C. E. Hartwell, of Division 53, who went to second Everett, put on owing to change in passenger trains, was later re- lieved by H. A. Chambers until all train service was suspended, when that trick was taken off, also both operators at Monroe, leaving G. F. Herly alone. Later when work trains were put on, C. F. Huches, extra, went to first and H. A. Chambers to second. H. T. Price, agent Snohomish, went to Miles City as wire chief, relieved by O. L. Wheeler until Bro. A. G. Melin from agency Ranier was checked in. Our new schedule received, and from the Increase in wages and other concessions, it would almost seem that some of the nons would “take a hunch" and “do their bit," as they accepted everything in sight Just as quickly as the contributors. Cert. 1063. Mobile & Ohio R. R., Div. No. 24. St. Louis District — Following letters are self-explanatory : Bro. Murdaugh is highly pleased with his desk and we are all glad. A small balance left after the desk was purchased was handed to him to do with as he “saw fit,*’ and no doubt during these times he can “see fit” The desk was given the brother as a Christinas present and the amount raised by popular subscription on the St. Louis divi- sion. “Jackson, Tenn, December 24, 1917. “Dear Brother Murdaugh — We, the oper- ators and agent-operators of the St. Louis Division, wish to present this desk to you to show you our appreciation of your faithful, untiring and very efficient work as local chairman of the Order of Railroad Telegra- phers. “Please accept it with our best wishes for a happy Christmas and prosperous New Year. “Yours fraternally, “H. L. Bradley, J. U. Overall, Jr.. J. E. Luton, A. Dowling and G. T. Teague, “Committee” “Jackson, Tenn., December 28, 1917. “Messrs. H. L. Bradley, J. U. Overall, Jr., J. E. Luton, A. Dowling and G. T. Teague, Committee. “Dear Sirs and Brothers : “I desire through The Telegrapher to ex- press my great appreciation and sincere thanks to you ajid the brothers of the St. Louis Division for the beautiful and valuable desk which was received on Christmas room- ing. “Kindly send a copy of this letter to The Telegrapher to appear in the next number. "With best wishes, I am, “Yours fraternally, “L. T. Murdaugh, “General Chairman.’* Business was very dull during December and January on account of weather condi- tions. There are several grievances being handled w'hich we hope will be settled to the satisfaction of and with justice to all concerned. Div. Cor. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 205 "Cotton Belt” Ry., Div. No. 27. Brothers, if you haven’t your card for the current term, get it at once, for your gen- eral committee will soon go before the man- agement for a schedule revision and we all know by being up-to-date we can expect more money and better conditions. We are looking forward to a good increase this time and ice surely need it. If the brother working with you is not in possession of his new card, ask him to remit the necessary amount at once to the under- signed, as the 60 days’ limit expires Feb- ruary 28th. Other organizations have recently gotten an increase because the members keep their dues up to date and give their committee a 100 per cent backing. If we all do our • duty and stand for a 30 or 40 ppr cent increase and take nothing less, we can get it The company’s voluntary increase Jan- uary l, 1918, has nothing to do with our asking for what we ought to have, so let's all get busy and do our best to line up every non on the system. The other brother- hoods get what they ask for because their members don’t drop out when things don’t 80 to suit them and the men in their line of work never have to be begged to join the Order like most of our craft. As soon as they become eligible they Join. Let’s pat- tern after them and work together like an army of trained men and results will come quickly, it is now Bros. T. F. Garrard, Greenway, Ark. i F. 8. Foster, Purdon, and H. P. Pittman, Hamilton, Texas. Several more have promised to line up soon. It is encouraging to see the applications coming in — let ’em come, brothers, I will manage to take care of them properly. I have appointed Bro. H. E. Chism, of Fornfelt, Mo., correspondent for district, Jonesboro to lllmo, in connection with his duties as assistant local chairman and here- after you will please send him any items- you wish to see appear in Thb Telegrapher. You will favor me by giving him all the help you possibly can, so we may have an interesting write-up each month. I would also be glad to see the other districts rep- resented In every issue as it does most of us lots of good to read what the brothers are doing away from home. Bro. Bennett, of St. Francis third, was off few nights recently sick, causing Agent Morgan and the writer to work 12 hours nnoh. Bro. Wilkinson, Jonesboro third, sick several days, was relieved by a south end maJL Bro. A. L. Webb is on second Fora- felt pending bulletin, Bro. Fisk having bid Fargo agency. Bro. Washington is at Greenway agency pending bids. Brothers, when you bid on vacancies, mall a copy of your bids to your local chairman so he may check them and see that the right man Is assigned. Don’t for- get to assist Bro. Chism with a good write- up each month. C. B. Welch, G. S. & T., Cert. 2. Waco Division — — We now have a system division which we ail have been wanting so long and should quit dreaming and wishing for things and do something. First, we i should all agree to pay $1.00 pel* month to support a traveling general grievance and organizer, to devote his entire time to the interest of the mem- bers of Division No. 27 and build it up to what It should be. Looking after the va- rious grievances of the members would take quite a burden from our local chairman’s shoulders and I am going to nominate Bro. C. B. Welch, our general secretary and treasurer, for the job. His headquarters should be at Texarkana, on half-way ground, where he would be In a better posi- tion to serve the entire system. Let every man at once send Bro. Welch 50 cents each to buy a roll top desk and typewriter for this work, to remain as the property of Division No. 27, as it will always be needed by that officer, whoever he may be. I have not received any suggestions of any kind from Bro. Welch about the travel- ing position or the desk and typewriter. We should get ready now to ask for a revision of our schedules. The $5.00 a month increase given part of . the teleg- raphers the first of the year should have been $25.00. The section foremen received a $10.00 increase, which places them above the average operator in pay. I regret that I cannot give any changes as I have not received a bulletin for over a month, except three from Mr. Richard’s division. We should have about ten good, live cor- respondents appointed on the Cotton Belt System, men who will not fall to send in the news each month. P. D. N., Cert. 41. Seaboard Air Line Ry., Div. No. 28. Georgia Division — Everything is moving on very nicely here and the men are well pleased with the new contract effective December 1st last. Bro. and Mrs. J. A. Guthrie celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary at Cross Hill, S. C., on Thursday evening, December 27th, from 8 to 11 o’clock. The entire house was beautifully decorated in holly, mistletoe, ferns and cut flowers. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Simmons met the guests at the door and introduced them to the receiving line, at the head of which stood the bride and groom of twenty-five years, Mrs. Guthrie gowned in silver grey, carry- ing white carnations and ferns. Digitized by v^oooie
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206 The Railroad Telegrapher. Others in line were: Mr. James Guthrie, Mrs. J. M. Pough, of Greensboro, N. C. ; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Nance, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Brown. At the Rift room Mrs. Earnest Milling and Miss Agnes Seaman received and the guests were served salad by Misses Helen Griffin and Nellie Hilt, after which the ice course was served in the dining-room by Misses Zell Goodman and Clara Weekes. The daftity table had as central decoration a lovely wedding cake with bride's roses, and the room was a profusion of Ivy, candles and roses. Coffee and bonbons were served in the front parlor by Miss Eloise Guthrie, of Raleigh, N. C., who wore a dress of silver cloth and black tulle; her flowers were pink roses. Miss Connie Turner presided at the piano and Miss Floride Rudd sweetly sang “I Have You'* and ^Memories." As the guests departed Miss Vivian Vance presented the favors, tiny silver bells and mistletoe. The gifts of silver were handsome and many. Assignments : First Chester to Bro. Orr, succeeded at Ft. Lawn agency by Bro. Holder; Bro. Brewer from the shops to a trick in the superintendent’s office. Bro. H. L. Farmer, agent Jacksonville, Ala., died re- cently and that agency is now on bid. Bro. Davis, agent Waxhaw, is still in Chester hospital ; relieved by Sister Mrs. Hardage. We hope for his speedy recovery. A large number of night men have been put in all over the line in order to take care of the unusually heavy traffic. Boys, watch the wires closely ; we are handling a large number of troop trains and govern- ment business and the dispatchers need us to get them over the road. Recently an operator was discharged for falling to answer promptly, causing delay to a troop train, but the local chairman handled the matter with the chief dispatcher and suc- ceeded in getting him reinstated. In view of the fact that we now have one of the best wage scales in the South and all of us received nice increases effective December 1st, It is hoped that one and all will do his "bit” and show the company and our division officers that we appreciate everything granted us. We are now on the 8-hour day and 15 days’ vacation during the year and if we don't get off we get pay for the time and overtime calls for 75 cents with an increase of approximately 26 per cent, which Is cer- tainly fine. Here's “hats off'’ to the general committee for the part it played so persist- ently. Boys, I know you are busy, but let us have a write-up every month and let the other boys know we are on the map. Crrt. 520. Alabama Division — Bro. R. J. Cannon is back on second Col- lins, having been honorably discharged from the army. Bro. R. L. Wood, first Vidalia, has accepted position as car clerk in chief dispatcher’s office, vice Bro. L. S. Kennebrew, going- to Jacksonville on trick dispatcher's job. We regret losing Bro. Kennebrew, but glad to hear of his promotion. Ellabelle agency closed a few days while Bra Williams went to Americus to second there, and first Vidalia on bulletin. Mr. Yawn, a new man on the former, requested an application blank at once. Regret to hear of the illness of Bro. Gore, agent Collins, and Chief Dispatcher Schum- pert. We wish both a speedy recovery. Bros. Guest and Wilson, second and third dispatchers, doubled while Bro. Sutton, first dispatcher acted as chief, and Bro. R. F. Featherstone, from “SA,” was dispatching a few days. Changes have been made at Sasser, Omaha and Hanncn, but have not learned the de- tails. I would be glad if each member would look out for such news items and advise me, so we could improve In our write-up. Now that we have received our back pay for October and November, I trust no one has neglected to send Bra Cummings one- fourth of the first month’s increase to defray the expenses of our committee, and put our division back on a strong financial basis. I hope each one has paid his insurance pre- mium and Order dues, so we will have no delinquent members on this division. Keep up with the new men as they come, and get them lined up. Drop Bro. Tidwell, or myself a line, and will see that they are furnished blanks at once. Bro. E. E. Wood, from the Postal, a brother of R L Wood, Vidalia, is on third Richland. Brq. Bowen, agent Abbeville, is the proud father of a fine boy, whom we hope will grow up to be as fine a man as his father. H. L. Carter, Cert 1423. North Carolina Division — The boys are all well pleased with the work of the committee, and the back time, coming as it did the day before Christmas, was very much appreciated. We have the $75.00 minimum at last but with the pres- ent cost of living we haven’t much yet. Let's show our appreciation of what we did get by our services to the company, and our loyalty to the grand old Order. The agent who was so patriotic that he was going to remain at work in case of a strike, should donate his Increase to the Red Cross. Dishonor has its own reward. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 207 Of the two train dispatchers on the branch line, who accepted the company’s offer of $160.00, while their brother dispatchers were only making $145.00, one has been made chief, and the other given first trick. “The wicked flourish like a green bay tree,” etc. In the end they have no protection, and the company has more respect for a loyal Order man. Nobody loves a slacker. We were all deeply grieved at the death of Bro. Gib- son, of Rockingham. Bro. Mitchell, first trick Monroe, on leave of absence, is working a trick as dispatcher with the F. E. C., at New Smyrna, Fla. May success attend you “Joe.” We regret losing our genial chief, Mr. C. L. Sanes, but rejoice in his promotion to trainmaster. Mr. T. P. Wells is out* chief now, and a better man never trod shoe leather. Our dispatchers are ; Bros. Currie, Ebey and Olive, working “R” and “A,” and Bros. Robinson, Windham and Shoemaker, working “C” and “K”. Bro. Clark, night chief dispatcher. Assignments : First tricks — Bro. Brigman to Wadeeboro, exchanging with Bro. Causey, who relieved him on second Wingate; Bro. Gunter to McBee, relieved on agency there by E. Hears; Rockingham to Bro. G. W. Fisher; Columbia to Bro. Lowman, third Camden. Second tricks — Bostic yard to Bro. G. B. Harrell ; Navassa to Waddell ; Aber- deen to Bro. Free; Bean a new man to Keyser. Third tricks — Marshville to Church, later to Keyser ; Wadesboro to Bro. Carroll ; Southern Pines to Bro. J. D. Jones ; Marston to Bro. E. H. Mossly; Hilton Bro. E W. Kennedy; Cheraw to Bro. R. L. Farris, from first Monroe ; Navassa to Waddell ; Monroe to Bro. Allen, from first there. Agencies — Clarkton to Bro. Farris, from second Llles- ville; car clerk, chief dispatchers’ office, Bro. Breeze ; vice T. D. Simmons, to assistant yardmaster at Cayce; Bro. Edwards to re- port clerk. On sick list — Bro. Hildreth, second McBee, Bros. Gunter and Pennington doubling ; Bro. Ross, agent Blaney, Frink relieving; Brp. Maynard second Lemon Springs, case of mumps; Bro. Gunter, second Apex, Bros. Wren and Holliman doubling ; Bro. Allen second Pee Dee, Waddell reliev- ing; Bro. Fletcher, third Cayce, Bros. Merrl- ken and Rhyne doubling; Bro. Gaston, third Wadesboro, office closed, also Marshville sev- eral nights, owing to the scarcity of oper- ators; Bro. Royal, agent Lilesville, Bro. Far- ris relieving; Bro. Rivers, Columbia, with measles, Bros. Butler and Bradt doubling; Bro. Rhyne, first Cayce, Bros. Merriken and Fulcher doubling, also Bro. Olive, third Cam- eron and Bro. Gunter, second Apex, several days, Bro. Tom Wombie worked second to help out: Bro. Cowan, first Hamlet yard, off both on account of illness and a wedding; Bro. Allen. Marshville, who relieved Bro. Limerick, third Monroe, owing to illness In his family later called home on account of sickness, was relieved by Bro. Harrall, from Bostice yard, relieved at Yass by Byrd, a new man. Bros. Allen and Harrel doubled while Bro. Jenks, second Monroe, was filling out his questionnaire. Bro. Holmes, agent Councils, was a recent visitor at Hamlet. With the number of jobs on bulletin there is no trouble getting a regular job on this division now. Bro. Weather, Hamlet, and Bro. Hughes, first Peachland, spent Christmas at home, former relieved by our old time friend, “Spooney” Wallace. Brothers, keep after the man next to you, the non. “No card , no favors” Let’s have a big meeting at Hamlet, and a banquet, and have a good man appointed for this job. There is no reason why we should not have a good write-up every month. Cert. 1678. Missouri Pacific R. R. Div. No. 31. Joplin Division — Assignments: F. M. Evans to Joplin first; Arnold to Butler third, vice Greenlee to Rich Hill third. Second tricks — B. Gay to Pittsburg, C. M. Harris to Horton, vice S. T. Downs, from the S. P. & S. on the Coast; Harris later to Mound City agency; C. R. Smith to Sheldon, Bro. M. E. Smith to Harrisonville, Bro. H. J. Hougland from Lamar to Horton agency. I have appointed him my assistant on the L. & S. side. If any brother will put him next to the nons, he will do the necessary. Mound City and Richards agencies, Joplin second and third, Butler and Rich Hill third, Cornell first and Athol nights are up for bids. This division recently lost two good men — Bro. R. L. Rader, Mound City, who went into a bank, and Bro. C. D. Springer, of Richards, who went into the mercantile bueiness, both in their home towns. We wish them success and hope they will re- tain their memberships in the Order. Bro. Evans Is at “X” Nevada, relieved on Joplin first by Nunn from Cornell; Bro. Bone relieving Bro. Wood, “X” Nevada, re- lieving Jury on car desk, trying out a dis- patcher’s trick on the T. & P. in Texas; Bro. S. E. Heney Is on second Joplin pend- ing bulletin; F. J. Cassidy, third Joplin, has gone to “the Frisco,’’ relieved by Church from Webb City. Bro. T. M. Wolfe was relieved by Bro. Plain on second Butler a few days on ac- count of sickness. Bros. Hawkins and Hauver, now in army cantonments, write to the home boys that they are enjoying army life to the full and Digitized by v^ooole
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208 The Railroad Telegrapher, expect to have a change in their address most any time now. We hope for their speedy and safe return. Brothers, don’t drop your membership because the United States government has taken over the railroads. This will be all the better for us, as “Uncle Sam” recognizes union organizations all over his domain. The Shipbuilders’ Union, one of the strongest in this country, also the machinists and electricians and many others, get the best of wages and are not discriminated against In every case where negotiations have gone to mediation or arbitration. The govern- ment representatives have always given labor a square deal and I urge every mem- ber to keep up to date and show Mr. McAdoo that we are behind him to a man. I acknowledge the assistance of Bros. Smith and Duncan in this write-up. C. V. Rows, Local Chairman. Central Kansas Division — Assignments: Bro. St. Bonnett, to Gen- eseo third (new); Bro. Duff, to Gypsum City third; Bro. Kelly, to Wilsey agency, vice Bro. A. E. Hughes, to Rantoul agency, vice Bro. McClellan, who turned it down. This leaves Bushong second and third and Wag- staff third up for bids. Bro. Mills, Wagstaff third, resigned. F. J. Ricci to Geneseo, pending bulletin, was taken sick and relieved by Layton. We are glad to see Bro. McClellan back on third Herington after three months’ ab- sence on account of sickness. Bro. H. J. Mohler has been elected chair- man of the Joint committee to handle the express proposition and we can look for re- sults soon. There are only a few nons left on this division now; keep after them and make it solid. Local Chairman Thigpen has the promise of three or four new jnembers the first of the month. If you have a non work- ing with you, don’t let up till you have him landed with an up-to-date card. “Remem- ber. no card . no favors ” Bro. Neale writes that he expects to be back at work by February 15th. Bro. Hanson Relieved by Layton on ac- count of sickness. Bro. Thornton, relieving Agent Williams at Lomax on vacation, relieved on second there by McClure, who promises to get up to date soon. Bro. Day relieved a few days by Glasner, new man. Cert. 749. Eastern Division — Assignments: Agencies — Hughesville, to Bro. F. Kendall from Russel ville, Mo., vice Chas. Force, of Boonville. there pending bulletin; Bro. H. W. Begeman from Chemois, Mo., to Malta Bend, vice Bro. H. M. Eng- land to New Haven, vice Bro. L. G. Cash, to Grays Summit; R. E. Baumgardner to East Ya^d second, vice Bro. Fariss to Tip- ton, vice H. Sharpe to third there, vice Extra McKee, to Cole Junction third, vice J. W. Connell to second there, vice J. W. Young to Lees Summit third, vice J. W. Reneger to Sedalia yard office, vice Bro. A. S. Bryan to third “DA” Sedalia; Bro. F. A. Wilson to second “DA” Sedalia; Bro. G. G. Frillman to second Washington. Third tricks — Bro. R. H. Beverburg, Otterville. Mo., to Lamonte: Bro. T. H. Begeman, Isbell, Mo., to Eureka; Napoleon agency and California first on bulletin. Bro. Kemp. Dresden days, relieved by Ex- tra Day, from “DA” Sedalia, while attending a funeral, and Eberhardt, California nights, by Farris on account of injuring his side handling express and baggage. Brothers, I am unable to get notes from the River district and east of Jefferson City, so I ask you to send me what news you can before the 20th of each month so that I can get them to St. Louis by the 23rd. Don’t forget to talk to that non and try and win one of the prizes this year; also keep your card “up to date 99 artd help on the new agreement by “doing your bU” A. S. Bryan, Div. Cor. Illinois Division — Brothers, don’t overlook dues for this period. Stamps come high and time ie worth money. Remember, you will be delinquent after February 28th. Assignments: Bro. Cauble to second Val- meyer; Bro. Wright. Valmeyer third to relief agent, vice Gwinup, now auditor out of McGehee; C. Roberson, son of Bro. Roberson, to Halsey tower first; tower burned down recently. It Is now Sister Duncan, Bros. McDaniel and Forshee. Several nons have promised. Boys, keep after them. Cbrt. 399. Missouri Division — On sick list: Bro. Chase, Arcadia, a few days; Bro. Montivan’s child at Bismarck: Bros. Hltzman and Kistner doubled several days. Bro. Shaul “NY” St. Louis second, relieved by Bro. Austin, Hogan. Bro. Eakins, Delta, sick, but glad to hear that he is better; relieved by a new man. Bro. T. T. Seitz, Hematite, unable to get relief, had to close the office four days. Our friend. Dispatcher Tyler, has accepted a position with the M. & St. L. at Oskaloosa, la. We all liked him and hated to lose him. Owing to the shortage of operators, Bros. Bill Bryant and Kness Hogan, were com- pelled to double for three days. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 209 Assignments: Bro. Snyder from "GM” to "BU," vice Bro. Frank McDonald, enlisted with “Uncle Sam" and stationed at Phila- delphia; Desarc agency bid to Bro. Way- land; Hendrickson agency to Coyne; Dexter days to Bro. Ross; third Willlamsville (new), to Tyler. Harriell depot was completely destroyed by Are last month, the discovery being made by Bro. Carter, after the fire was so far under headway that it could not be put out. Bro. Jackson's typewriter was destroyed. Bro. Max Jones, turned down account his weight four or five times trying to get in the navy and army, has been accepted as a telegrapher. Bro. C. A. Johnston, Vineland, had both his ears frozen and Bro. Murty, Riverside, his Angers frozen during one of our real cold spells while grabbing seals. There have been a great many changes during the last few months, but none re- ported; have never received an item of news from any brother, and it's impossible for me to get them all. Bro. Nickles has been kept busy check- ing men in and out at Middlebrook the last three months, there having been five agents there since October. The salary of $42.00 per don't seem to appeal to them. On account of heavy business an extra set of dispatchers has been put back on the south end, working between Poplar Bluff and*Hoxie the same as heretofore. Our friend Clarence Dicus, car distributor at Poplar Bluff, was married on January 5th to Miss Lena Pearl Hardey of that city. We extend congratulations to the happy couple. Cert. 1129. Memphis Division — No write-up from this division the past two months, and no items received. Bro. Moore, “MR" third, has gone to the hospital Bro. Flanagan relieving, and Mr. Blakey to Watson, days. Bro. Blackburn, who, while out gunning, shot himself in the hip, is recovering rapidly. Sister Mills, Dexa third, and Engineer Car- son, stole a march on their friends a few days ago and were married. Congratula- tions! Bro. Richardson, New Augusta, has had the misfortune to lose both of his children the past thirty days. He has the sympathy of all. Only a few nons left on the division ; any- one who does not know who they are, drop me a line. Our committee will be up in a few days. The best way we can assist it is by paying our current dues at once. H. Briggs, L. C. White River Division — On bulletin, Branson, Buffa o, Sulphur Rock and Bergman, agencies ; Bro. O. H. Collins, we have a sneaking idea, is going to punching cattle for his brother “Some- where in Colorado." Bro. H. H. Green, from Buffalo, has bid in Gulon agency. Bro. E. R. Allen, from Sulphur Rock, goes to Bergman agency ; vice Bro. F. E. For- rester, back to Ruddels, where he can catclv the shining bass from the beautiful, spark- ling White River, incidentally handling many cars of lime for the thriving little lime kiln located there. Train Dispatcher Moss went to Springfield recently, te look at a dispatching job with the Frisco, but was too late, the place hav- ing been filled. Bro. Laizure relieved him ; relieved at “CO” by Potter, from Crane. Everybody get after that next door neigh- bor non, and give him no rest until he lines up. T. S. Potter, F. L. Nelson, First and Second Trick Operators, Crane, Mo. Providence Div. No. 35, O. R. T. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to call to His reward the beloved father of our esteemed Local Chairman, Bro. George E. Joslln, and Whereas, We bow our heads in humble submission to Him who doeth all things well ; be it Resolved , That the members of Provi- dence Division No. 35, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, tender our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved brother and his family in this hour of grief ; and be It further Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to the beloved brother, a copy spread on the minutes of this division, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. P. I. Farley, O. T. Toadvine, M. C. Sipple, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to call from our midst the beloved father of our genial Secretary and Treasurer, Bro. David M. Callis, and Whereas, In silent obedience we know the Master will not fail to reward his many noble deeds; be it Resolved , That the members of Provi- dence Division No. 35, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved brother; and be It further Resolved , That a copy of these resolu- Digitized by Google
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210 The Railroad Telegrapher. tions be forwarded to our beloved brother, a copy spread on the minutes of this divi- sion, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. P. L Farlet, O. T. Toad vine, M C. Sipple, Committee. IN MEMORIAM Whereas, Almighty God In His infinite wisdom has seen fit to call to her reward the beloved wife of Bro. G. T. McCormack, secretary and treasurer of Division No. 29, New Haven, Conn., and Whereas, In silent submission to Him who doeth all things well, who will not fail to reward the many kind and noble deeds of this good wife; be it Reeolved , That the members of Provi- dence Division No. 25, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved brother; and be it further Reeolved , That a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, and a copy spread on the minutes of Divi- sion No. 35. P. I. Farlet, O. T. Toadvine, M C. Sipple, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Almighty God in His Infinite wisdom has seen fit to call to her last rest- ing place, the beloved wife of Bro. J. H. Mc- Dermott, secretary and treasurer of Division No. 89, Boston, Mass., and Whereas, In silent submission to Him who doeth all things well, who will not fail to reward the many kind and noble deeds of this good wife; be it Reeolved , That the members of Provi- dence Division No. 35, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend their heartfelt sympa- thy to the bereaved brother; and be it fur- ther Reeolved , That a copy of these resolu- tions be sent to the bereaved brother, and a copy spread on the minutes of Division No. 35. P. I. Farlet, O. T. Toadvine, M. C. Sipple, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father, and All-Wise Ruler of the Universe, to take unto Himself our beloved Bro. H. V. Truitt, in manifestation of our grief and fra- ternal sympathy, be it Reeolved , That the members of New York Division No. 44, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing wife and members of the afflicted family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sad bereavement; and be it further Reeolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to the bereaved wife, a copy spread upon the minutes of the division, and a copy be forwarded to The Teleg- rapher for publication. E. Frank Webb, Thos. Bennett, J. L. Martin, Committee . Baltimore & Ohio R. R., Div. No. 33. Indiana Divieion — The foremost question in the minds of many is the effect upon labor of govern- ment railway control. Although the profits of labor still termi- nate in the hands of the private corpora- tions, and the action of the government is apparently limited to management of general traffic, the former officials of the private systems are still retained, and I fail to see any change in the status of things, in so far as labor 4s concerned. While the family name of a man may represent generations of great ancestors, the character of the individual depends entirely upon himself. Consequently, any point at difference with an official does not nec- essarily indicate disrespect for the govern- ment While on the other hand, the there placing of the government's name above that of a private corporation cannot be con- strued to perfect the faults of such a cor- poration in their treatment of labor, although better results on the basis of Justice might be expected in the termination of a settle- ment The base labor rate of an industrial estab- lishment doubled in the course of ten years. However, the cost of living more than doubled in a period of only three years. Mr. Albert W. Atwood, in an article on taxation in the Saturday Evening Poet, says : "However unreliable the figures may be, that purport to show that two per cent of the population own sixty-five per cent of the wealth, the fact is conceded by all that there is at least a tremendous congestion of wealth at the top, so to speak." That these people have amassed their fortunes through toll and fair returns from savings invested is considered by many to be a Joke. However, the result of such a congestion of wealth in the hands of a few serves to literally deprive many of necessi- ties required for existence. In correcting this evil the foremost ajgencies in the field today are the labor unions. The lives they save, and the vast number yet to be saved, can be seen in the census report on fatalities among the chil- dren of low rated wage earners, as oom- Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 211 pared with the fatalities among those able to afford the very best. The possession of a union card is a noble thing in the life of a human. The man who carries it does more than fight his own battles. He prepares the field for genera- iton after generation to come, and lays the foundation for a better nation. The principles of the men on the Indiana Division are to be held in esteem by men the world over. That in their midst should be a man like Henry Massman, at Bedford, is to be regretted. Still indifferent and un- able to comprehend the good to be done and advantages gained with a union card. Yet his business associates are men held high in the respect of their fellow-men. Bro. Strang, agent Osgood, is seriously ill with blood poisoning and pneumonia. All over the division anxiety is felt over his con- dition, and the men all wish for his hasty return. Bro. Dallas Carter. Milan third, is in the west with his wife on account of her fail- ing health. The boys certainly miss Dallas, and wish for his wife’s speedy recovery. Joe, at North Vernon, working first a few days, was badly missed on third, for the entertainment he furnishes. The meeting at the Grand Hotel, Cincin- nati, on January 22nd. rounded up all the old acquaintances of the wire, and tales of life in the loneliness filled the air. Div. Cor., Cert. 1386. Members Cleveland Division : N. R. Reese has left the rubber industries, and is with us again ; F. 8. Jackson has also come back, and still we can use four or five good men, as several more offices are to be opened up. Our new schedule Is a good one; the Sun- day pay is a move in the right direction as we have been working Sunday all these years for nothing. Our committee won a hard fight, and de- serves lots of credit. It has done its part and we must do ours. Remit your dues promptly, so when I get my list from Bro. Shaffer there will not be a delinquent on it; if there is, WOE unto him. There will not be a special assessment, as our finances are in good shape; you can assist greatly by remitting promptly, saving lots of work and postage. So please remit today if not already done. The minimum on this division was raised from $60 to $70, with Sunday pay for small stations, and the eight-hour operator posi- tions pay $77 to $85, with Sunday pay. I have written each one of you the details of your position. Youl*s fraternally, W/ A. McCabe. Members New Castle Division: Thanks to the ’’stick-to-it-iveness” of our general committee main line tower jobs on this division now run from $92.00 to $101.00 per month, for a thirty-one-day, four-Sun* day month. The new schedule shows a very large Increase in salaries at Youngstown, Monroe Falls, Niles and Warren, explained by the fact that the company had raised the salaries at these points before our money was distributed. The committee and local chairman are up against things which can easily be explained if you come to us direct. I hope each member will prove loyal enough to the committee to help line up the nons working regularly on schedule positions. Back pay dates from September 1st, so have blanks on hand ready for them to fill out as soon as they receive it* It has cost us a neat sum to secure this new schedule, so show your appreciation by getting applica- tions from those east of Akron, whom I can- not reach. Trusting we can make 1918 a banner year for new members, I am Fraternally yours, G. A. McBride, L. C. New Castle Division Notes — Thanks to Bros. McLaughlin and Bane for their notes, it sure helps out. Bro. Russell, third ”TF” tower, resigned to accept the position of yardmaster for the Erie at Kent Bros. Gliddon and Carpenter doubling. We are glad to welcome Bro. Carpenter, second "TF,” Into the O. R. T. ranks. R. D. Sharite, third Nova, tied things up in general, and left for parts unknown. Bro. McLaughlin was called home Decem- ber 18th, owing to his mother’s illness, was also sick several days, Dieter and Ault doubling. Bro. Otto Arts, formerly at “FS” tower, now mall carrier at Cuya Falls, may return to the B. & O. If "Uncle Sam” does not In- crease postal employees salaries. Bro. Hunter, who resigned at "UN” tower because he was unable to get relief, is back again with his seniority restored, as the division operator granted leave to other men at the same time when men were not avail- able for relief. Bro. Rupert is back in ”SU,” after three months at "OA” tower, two of which he worked twelve hours. Wallace secured first there. We need his papers. Dispatching force reduced for the winter season, puts Bro. Garner back in "SU.” Extra Dispatcher Phelps going to third "OA.” Bro. McBride Sterling was off nine days, Bros. Adams and Gilletly doubling three days. Bra Forney Lodi, and Bro. Gorham, from Nova, also doubling three days each, that being the limit on the west end. Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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212 The Railroad Telegrapher. Brothers, keep the local chairman posted on members of other divisions working here, giving him division number and expiration date of card, so he can have them trans- ferred to old 33. Contributions toward a fund to get the new seniority lists printed received from A. L. Baker, J. P. Hennessy, J. H. Hossler, W. O. Adams, C. H. Fitch, and R. H. Childs. If you want to help, send your bit to the local chairman. The accident to Bro. O’Connor's pet leaves "XN” without a mascot. Anyone knowing of a homeless animal not larger than a cow, please write Jack about it. Give the nons no rest ; with the nice in- crease the committee secured there is no longer any excuse. Keep after them. Bros. McCannon, Dunnivant and Mr. Stein- metz at “GI,” are resuming their regular tricks, after being moved around for several months. There are often violations of the schedule, which the local chairman has no way of finding out unless you tell him. Keep him posted. Help your country, the company and the Order by giving your best possible service. Show them that the union man is the best. Cert. 410. Pittsburg Division — Bro. Laughlin went to first Callery during Bro. Myers’ absence, owing to the death of his wife. Bro. Schmidt worked twelve hours in “B,” on account of Bro. Fleisher filling in at Callery and various offices, owing to the shortage o* men. Bro. McCoy, second Eidenau, has been off for a month on account of the death of his wife ; Bros. Long and Lanning doubling three days out of each week during his ab- sence. Bro. Long, who has been sick for a week, we are glad to hear is Improving. Sister Sheehan has resumed on third Ren- frew, after several week’s illness. Bro. Hostetler went to Bakerstown second, for three days, as Bro. Harper and Non Ziegler were making too much money doubling, and Bros. Williams and Johnson worked twelve hours at Downieville during his absence. We are all very well pleased with our new increase in pay and pay for Sunday work, which our general committee secured for us after a very hard battle. Taking in consid- eration the present conditions of the country, and the many difficulties it had to contend with, shows that the committee worked faith- fully for our interests, and we appreciate the results. There are quite a number of extra men on this division, and the brothers who work with any of them should find out if they have a card. If not notify your local chair- man, who will see that they are furnished with the necessary blanks to become mem- bers. I would like to see a 100 per cent membership on this division. Brothers, don’t allow yourselves to become delinquent. Remit at once, and not only protect yourself, but also your loved ones. If it was not for our organization today we would be working for $50.00 a month, no vacations or any of the good things we today enjoy. Motto: uDon*t be a SLACKER , get a card.” Cert. 501. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to the great beyond the beloved wife of our Bro. S. C. McCoy, therefore be it Resolved , That the members of Division No. 33, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, ex- tend to the bereaved family their sincere and heartfelt ^sympathy in this sad hour of affliction; and be It further Resolved That a copy of these resolu- tions be spread upon the minutes of this division, a copy sent to the bereaved family, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. J. Yeager, F. W. Johnson, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas. Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and love, has deemed it best to call from our midst to His eternal home, the beloved wife of Bro. O. F. Myers, there- fore be it Resolved , That the members of Division No. 33, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, ex- tend to the bereaved family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this sad hour of af- fliction ; and be It further Resolved , That a copy of these resolu- tions be spread upon the minutes of this division, a copy sent to the bereaved family, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. J. Yeager, F. W. Johnson, Committee. Cumberland Division , East End — Now that we have secured a revised sched- ule with a nice increase in pay. extra pay for Sunday work, and other valuable con- cessions, we should show our appreciation by giving the best possible service to the company, and not neglect our duty to our organization. The management agreed to them with that expectation. There is little doubt on the part of the management now that the object of the Order is to help the company as well as ourselves, and there should be nothing left undone to convince the officials that they cannot afford to trust Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 213 anyone except a good, organised man to handle the business. The O. R. T. Insists on their men Improving themselves morally. Intellectually and otherwise, which means better qualifications and better service to our employers for their money. It is our duty to render a full day's honorable work. Every agent and telegrapher should be a general manager in and about his own station and office. If we do these things it will con- tribute towards still better conditions, and a probable saving to the company. Our committee worked very hard to bet- ter our conditions, and the best way to show our appreciation is to pay our dues promptly, and not become delinquent, and see that the few nons coifie into the fold. There are some good men among them we would be mighty glad to welcome, and there is no ex- cuse for anyone on this division not carry- ing an up-to-date card. The increase in most instances is sufficient in one month to pay for a card a whole year. Give them to understand that the * substantial increase they received was not a gift from the gods, or a bonus from our employers, but the re- sults of co-operation and unionism combined. Let us also look after the careless member, and see that he pays up promptly. When you receive your copy of the new agreement, study it carefully, and if in doubt as to the application of any rule, refer to the local chairman, who will gladly help you. Bra H. E. Breneisen has returned to first West Cumbo, after several days’ illness. We are glad to hear Bra McCullough is back at Green Spring, after several months’ sickness. Bra Wldmyer and family, Orleans Road, spent the holidays visiting friends and rela- tives at Berkeley Springs. The brothers at Okonoko are now com- fortably located in their new tower. Bro. Arnold, second Great Cacapon, was relieved a few days, by Bro. Snyder, and Local Chairman Bechtol, while on committee work In Baltimore, by Bro. Elliott. Bro. Vermllyea has been checked In as agent at Green Spring. Glad to see the brother advanced to a position of higher re- sponsibility, also to hear Bra McCullough is back there after several months’ sickness. Have you paid your dues for the current term? If not, get busy. Div. Cor. Wheeling Division — Our new agreement has been signed up, giving us ten per cent increase In wages; salary based on working days in a month, and extra pay Sunday. Several Jobs that "couldn’t possibly be closed on 8unday*’ heretofore, are being closed now; and some of the "One Hoes*’ agents are now enjoying Sunday at home. Tours truly, was promptly relieved from Sunday work in "FT," for which we are much obliged. Makes us feel like a real man to be able to act like other people on Sun- day. Bro. M. F. Burton, agent at Littleton, W. Va., appointed member of the local board of Wheeling Division, approved by General Chairman Teager, will represent the agents of this division, and all matters concerning them, including grievances, will be turned over to him. Bro. R. G. Everetts, Foster tower, has been called to the colors, and Bro. Harold Sigler, "N" Benwood, has enlisted, their turns being temporarily advertised pending their return. We wish the boys a safe and speedy return. Bro. C. W. Linn, “FT’’ Wheeling, is in the hospital, where he was compelled to undergo an operation for an affection of the ear. He is very low, but is expected to recover. He has the sympathy of all the boys who know him. Jobs seem to be going begging on this divi- sion. First Denver, on bulletin this month, didn’t get a bid. Our organization on this division Is in ex- cellent shape, and growing. The agents coming almost to a man. We must see to it that tho nons on the division, who will draw a nice lot of back money, due to the efforts of our committee, get a card or be shown what "no card, no favors” mean. It Is with sadness that we chronicle the death of Bra G. W. Poindexter, third Moundsville. He passed away on January 5th, and his remains were taken to his home in the southern part of this state for Inter- ment. We will all miss "Poin" on the wire, and we all extend our sympathy to his wife and family. I wish someone would volunteer to handle the write-up for the journal each month. I want the division represented and help In this direction would be greatly appreciated; or if you will send me notes it will help out. J. B. Springer, L. C. CARD OF THANKS. D. J. McGrath, Baltimore, Md. My Dear Mr. McGrath : Kindly extend to the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Division No. 83, our sincere thanks and appreciation for the beautiful flowers sent us in our re- cent bereavement, the death of our husband and father. Mrs. C. A. Kim mel and Family. C. & E. I. R. R.f Div. No. 34. Chicago Division — On sick list : Bro. C. F. Benge, third “GO” a few days, relieved by Bro. T. G. Green. Bro. J. K. Baker, first yard Center, relieved by J. Culp, leverman '*YC" tower, who promises to line up. It will also soon be Bro. F. G. Marsh, yard Center third. Digitized by v^ooole
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214 The Railroad Telegrapher. A. B. Thompson, second “HJ” tower, a fre- quent Goodwin© caller, also promisee to line up shortly. Bro. Allen, second “GO,” says no more worry about sixty cent eggs, and numerous other Items, once his farm is In operation. Bro. Andy O’Grady, at Haney, is highly elated over his new telegraphic equipment, recently installed there. Bro. R. D. Kepley^ first Hoopeston tower, is now with the I. We all wish him suc- cess. Bro. W. R. Johnson, “FO” Chicago, who visited home folks at Doniphan, Mo., during the holidays, and spent a day in Little Rock, Ark., made some of the swamp rabbits bite the snow. Anyone having an oil stove need- ing repairs, send it to “Bill” at Twelfth street. Bros. Earl Morris, Wm. and Geo. DeWitt, of Goodwine, and Bro. J. P. Fogarty, of Ire- land, have enlisted in the army. The best wishes of the remaining brothers follow them. W. H. Keeler, third Ellis, who recently enlisted in the navy, hopes to qualify as a musician in the Marine band. On vacations: Bro. E. J. Keener first “MS” tower, two weeks with folks at Fair- mount, 111., relieved by C. H. York, of Hills- dale; Bro. W. B. Bryan, visiting home folks in Tennessee; Bro. W. H. Hendricks, yard- master Gerald, taking in the sights at the Rantoul Aviation School ; and Bro. J. F. Miller and children, spent the holidays with home folks at Penfield. Bro. J. F. Miller went to Grant Park the night of January 8rd, on account of the freight wreck at Sollitt, Bros. Keener and Bryan doubling at “MS.” Assignments: Bro. F. & Allen, second “GO,” to Pettwood agency; “HJ” tower sec- ond, J. H. Tood ; Goodland second, tem- porary W. J. Carter; Atherton third, Lb O. Wilhite; “XN” Danville, Bro. F. G. Holmes. Hustle second, not yet assigned. Bro. C. A. Payne, first Watseka, recently attended the school of instruction of the A. F. & A. M.. at Danville. The increase was highly acceptable to all, as was the twenty-six-day month, for which all praise is due our committee. It shows the material it is composed of. It is now up to the membership to get our necessary 100 per cent efficiency and solidness to re- tain what the committee has won for us. The nons have no valid excuse now to offer for not joining, and we must not give them any rest until we land them. P. E. Hampton, Div. Cor. To Members Illinois Division: On account of the very little interest being taken in the floral fund on this division Bro. H. C. Humphrey has resigned as secretary and treasurer of this fund and turned over the cash to Bro. O. A. Hixon, general secre- tary and treasurer. I regret that this worthy cause did not receive the support that it de- serves; no brother should hesitate to con- tribute the small fee to this fund, and those that have failed to contribute should do so with their remittance to Bro. Hixon for the new card. Notify me promptly of any deaths in our membership or their immediate fam- ily, and I will arrange for a suitable floral offering. Harrt Sturman, L. C. Illinois Division Notes — To the operators of the Illinois Division : I wish to extend to you through Tri Telbo- rajphxr my appreciation for the “nice emblem rinff” presented to me by Bro. Montgomery, who informs me that this is in appreciation of my feeble efforts in your behalf. I can assure each of you who contributed that your appreciation will never be forgotten and you fnay rest assured that I will always be found doing what I can to better your condition as well os my own. Not knowing who the contributors are I cannot write each of you a letter of thanks, but I sincerely hope and trust that our relations toward each will be as pleasant in the future as they have been in the past, and as we all know that it is the push in the right direc- tion that will keep us moving forward. Dur- ing these stringent times your committee needs your assistance more than ever, and I urge you all to pay your dues promptly, and let us have no delinquents. Keep alter the nons and advise me promptly of any arrivals, so we may get in touch with them. Bros. Sklles and Sturman made a trip over a portion of this division recently in Bro. Sk lies' Ford, and secured thirteen new applications, collected dues and created a new spirit among our members. We will try to cover the remainder of the division Bhortly. Harry Sturman. No one sent in any news this time, and I am unable to hear what the boys are doing. All are well pleased with the fine work our committee has done. February 1st the boys asked for their checks with a big “SJf/LE,” as they can buy their lard and meat for two weeks with the difference between the pre- vious check and the present one. This shows that our loyal committee was on the job while in Chicago. Let's all pay our dues promptly and keep after the NONS until they get an up-to-date. C^rt. 336. Evansville Division — Bro. H. H. Eldridge, 2nd “SU”, has ac- cepted cashier's position, relieved by Bro. G. N. Sheets, pending bulletin. Digitized by Tooele
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 215 Bro. C. H. Meinhold is back after an ex- tended trip through the South. Bro. J. R. Currey was off a few days re- cently. We are glad to welcome back Bro. Cun- ningham after 90 days' leave. We certainly owe General Chairman Skiles a vote of thanks for his splendid work in securing our new schedule. Let's all give our best services to the company, as this will make it easier for the general committee in further negotiations. This division has not been represented in Th* Telegrapher for some time, because the boys have not contributed any items. Please send in articles of interest before the fif- teenth of each month, so we may get it in the following issue. "Mack." C. & E. I. R. R. System, Div. No. 34. Evansville Division — IN MEMORIAM. WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to His heavenly home the beloved wife of our esteemed Bro. Charles Whitehead, of Terre Haute Ind., in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved , That the members of System Division No. 34, Order of Railroad Telegra- phers, extend to the sorrowing brother and the members of the afflicted family their sin- cere and heartfelt sympathy in this sad be- reavement, and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publica- tion. C. H. Gborqbt, Carl McCleary, H. H. Skiles, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. I desire to express my great appreciation and sincere thanks to the brothers of Divi- sion No. 34. C. & E. I. and other employes for their many kind words and the most beautiful floral offering presented by them in token of their deep sympathy for the great loss of my beloved wife. Chas. Whitehead, Cert. 448, Terre Haute, Ind. Penna. R. R. Lines West, Div. No. 36. Chicago Terminal Division — "Now Is the time that our division needs the loyal support of all the brothers," to back up our committee. A very interesting, well attended meeting was held on January 5th by our first vice president, W. T. Brown. Every brother who was absent was noti- fied by some good brother of what took place. Certain brothers have been busy helping General Chairman Gilcrist to cover the divi- sion as it is Impossible for him to get relief, owing to the shortage of operators. Our schedule was one of the best sent to the general manager January 20th, noon, and ohr committee will soon meet him, and every loyal brother must get busy on the new none and line them up so we can back the com- mittee to the limit. Brothers, remit your dues and insurance now for the first half of 1918 to our grand secretary and treasurer and get your up-to- date cards. Brother Moore, "KS" 59th street yard, has moved Into his new steam- heated office. Bro. Jones, "GB" Union Passenger Station, is on the sick list. Bro. Caponigri, at "CJ," will take another chance at uThe Black Cat.” J. B.L. Pere Marquette R. R., Div. No. 39. Canadian Division — For some months we have not had a write- up from this division, but we are one of the • strongest divisions on any railroad, being 100 per cent, and not a working member de- linquent at end of 1917 with the exception* of a relief man and he has not had experi- ence enough to be admitted. You must give our chairman the fullest measure of credit for this division. He has been able to get the co-operation of every brother. Christmas morning, by good-will of all, he was presented with a fine heavy signet ring, inscribed with his initials and inside : "Can. Div. 39-1917," and also a dandy "Swan” fountain pen. "Jim" was more than surprised and says it got under his "paccydermus" so far as to allow the moisture to ooze from his optical centers. In plain English, he was "tickled to death.” He deserves It, too ; he is square to the brothers and held in respect by the officials. May he live long and be happy, and prosper- ous. Recently every man contributed 25c to buy tobacco for Bro. Joe Berry, now in a hospital in France with trench fever. Joe was taken out of the privates, passed an examination as a first-class signaler and is now attached to the 19th. His address is : Joe Berry, No. 214335, Sig. Sec., 19th Bat- talion, B. E. F., Canadian Contingent France. When you fellows get time, write him one letter a month and don’t expect an answer to every letter, as he has other busi- ness to attend to. Eleven dollars and twenty- five cents collected, for which I bought 200 cigarettes, a box of Bachelor cigars, a pound of Rex, a pound of Senator, a pound of Old Chum, pound of Social Mixture, in Di zed by v^ooole
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216 The Railroad Telegrapher. half-pound tins; 4 boxes chocolates and had a dahdy pipe and 40 packages of cigarette papers, also some gum and pencils packed with current newspapers. This was divided into three separate shipments sent on Oct. 4th and 80th, and Sept. 11th. The last box contained the cigars, a pound of tobacco, gum and pencils and at the same time I made up a separate box No. 4, filled with fruit cake and graham cakes, figuring they would reach him on or about Xmas day. I have received a letter acknowledging receipt of the first two, dated Nov. 23rd, the con- tents of which I herewith give in part : “Sombwhere-in-France, Nov. 23, 1917. “Dear Brothers : “Have Just received parcel No. 2 from you, sent by the agents and operators along the line and also your letter No. 3, mailed C*ct. 5th. Also parcel No. 1 and the other two letters last week, and wish to thank you and all the rest of the boys for the great kind- ness which you may be sure is very much appreciated. I have often wondered how many of the boys that 1 knew were still “at it“ on the division and now I see by $he list (I sent him a complete line-up and list of contributions), you sent that very few but what I know, or know of them. Would just like to write to thank each one of them, but, of course, that would be too big a job, so I'll have to ask you to pass the word along for me. The parcels came in the best of condition, thanks to the good packing and I sure enjoy the contents. You know, out here the main thing is to be able to enjoy a good smoke once in a while and I sure can enjoy a good pipe of dear old Canadian to- bacco as good as anyone. • • • I would like to hear from one and all when you can get a chance to write. “Sincerely, “Joe/* Now, fellows, if that isn’t a quarter's worth of satisfaction let me know and you can have your money back. I am going to ask for it again some day before long and do it ail over again and I feel sure every man will be only too glad to contribute. We trust and pray he may be spared to return and take his position with us again. Most of the boys have received their seven days’ holiday, but on account of the short- age of operators West Lome, Dutton, Leam- ington and some others are getting in many hours’ overtime. The 30 cents sure came in handy. Business is greater than can be handled without blockade and we should all be as prompt on the wire as possible. The boys in “RA” and “Q” are simply loaded to the roof and the best brotherly action is “answer the wire quickly.” I feel sure if you will just think what this means to a man in a rush you will jump to it. Bro. J. B. Decon, agent Eriean, paid Wal- lace burg a visit while on his holidays. “Bert” had a great time; he got two weeks com- mencing about January 6th to cover a week in 1916 and one in 1917. due him because* there was no one available to relieve him. No relief agent being tied up at Walkerville, Merlin and Chatham on clerical work. Bro. Prowse and Bro. Vrooman experi- enced a faint heart after the many promises. Like the little fellow going swimming, “Cold on the bank until you get ducked.” We have arranged to have a good write-up of this division every month during 1918 and we want every member to send at least one item to the correspondent. Ask the local chairman or the boys in “Q” and they will tell you where to send it Let’s make It worth while. Remember we are 100 per cent now and the last day of February is the last day to renew your card. After that you become a new member, which not only costs you more, but also makes work for everyone concerned. Each brother ask your mate, “Have you paid your dues for 1918?” You will be surprised how many have already done so. There are just about a “baker’s half- dozen” who failed to remit $5.00 to help pay the extra expense of the committee on the last schedule. Isn’t your Increase worth it? Do it now I Bro. 437 in December Telegrapher said be wanted positions bulletined. Rest assured they will be if anyone wants them. If there is one open not bulletined, notify our effi- cient local chairman and he will sure bring the matter up. Boys, let’s have your items every month. Cert. 157. Chesapeake 6, Ohio Ry., Div. No. 40. Big Sandy Division — Bros. H. M. Irwin, third trick dispatcher; D. E. McCallum and H. C. Marrs, enlisted in the Signal Corps, are now stationed at Camp Sherman. Bro. A. K. Robinette is on second ”BG” temporarily and W. P. Run- nells on first. Bro. G. E. Clark is doing all he can as local chairman to handle the grievances which tend to better our working condi tiona. Brothers, let’s assist him to make our divi- sion 100 per cent and have him call some good warm meetings. Bro. E. W. Robinette Is all smiles since the arrival of a new “cook” (Miss Gene- vieve Robinette) and, of course, the cigars were freely passed. Business is good, the extra men are get- ting plenty of work and we should see that they all “line” up. Everyone seems well pleased with our new superintendent and chief dispatcher, j. B. Harris, and I. D. Irwin. Digitized by c.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 217 Let's have a division correspondent ap- pointed and all send him a few notes so we can have a write-up for the Sandy and Lexington divisions every month. Cert. 1648. C. & O. Ry. of Ind., Div. No. 40. We have just passed through a most mo- mentous year, with colors flying, determined to fight on until we have reached our goal; but we are now confronted with new con- ditions. the results of which cannot be fore- told. There is one paramount issue before us which must not be lost sight of and that is absolute and thorough organization. 1 therefore ask your co-operation to make our line 100 per cent and keep it there. In order to do this we must all keep busy on the nons and give them no rest until they are lined up with an up-to-date card. 1 hope you will all enthusiastically and gladly enlist yourselves into this work. President Perham is looking after our in- terests at Washington and we should show our appreciation of his efforts by waging an unrelenting warfare on the “nons*' and “ slackers ” There are only a few left, but that is too many. General Chairman Hicks has asked the management for a conference pertaining to better wages and working conditions, owing to the high cost of living. Bro. Hutchins, at Cincinnati a few dayB, was relieved on Muncie third by Bro. Roy Johnson, of Liosantville, attending school this winter. Bro. E. W. Johnson has returned to Brighton second, after 20 days’ absence, re- lieved by Sister Lillian Johnson, now reliev- ing Sister Murphy, there on vacation. Bro. and Sister Batchelor, Fernald, have purchased a farm, but only holders of up- to-date carets need expect a chicken feed on their place. Assignments; Bro. Napier to Peoria sec- ond, vice Bro. Robinson to Boston first; Bro. Duensing to Boston second, vice Bro. D. E. Long to Miami, vice Bro. House to Beardstown, vice Bro. McVey on one year’s leave of absence. # One of the worst snowstorms in 40 years followed by severe cold weather recently settled down upon us with coalless bins. Wires were all down and drifts unpayable, causing a general tie-up in business for about a week. The writer has no concep- tion of conditions 40 years ago, but our efficient third trick dispatcher, Bro. Swartz, of Peru, vouches for the correctness of this statement. Bro. McKinley, of Hy Tower says the snow was so deep at Hammond that it took him three days to tunnel to his coal bin and it drifted so badly that he consumed another day getting back to the house. Stations along the Indiana line are all observing '‘lightless” nights; Peru, Ind., included. Bro. Llttell, of Okeana, quite a star him- self, will soon trot out his famous basket- ball team. We hope he will continue to help out with the Indiana line news. Let’s g6t that new card early and get after the nons. E. E. Middlekaup, L. C. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to His heavenly home the beloved wife of our esteemed Bro. A. Wilson, of C. A O. System Division No. 40; in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved , That the members of C. & O. System, Division No. 40, extend to the sor- rowing brother and the members of his fam- ily our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this, their sad hour of bereavement; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, a copy placed on the minutes of the Hinton Lodge, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. J. E. Wheatly, A. E. Pierson, N. C. Young, Committee. Hocking Valley Ry.f Div. No. 40. Hocking and River Division and Branch — Brothers, let’s start an old-time revival campaign lining up the “slackers”* Like the old Army Game, a hundred can play It as well as one. There is no reason for them hanging out now, as we can surely show them a real contract secured through the efficiency of the O. R. T. Do not get dis- couraged if they give you their same old fake stories, that “the Order 4s all right ” “ they will line up as soon as they can afford it” and that “they are in sympathy uAth us,” etc. Sympathy won’t do much towards get- ting schedules and settling grievances. If they were to have the old schedule basis of $67.60 a month and get the rest in "sympa- thy” they would understand just how we feel about their sympathetic talk. Go right after them and keep it up until you land them. Bro. McClain cannot do it all. Now, dig in and help out : don’t let us go back Into the same old rut we were In before our com- mittee put us on our feet. Now, let's see who is alive , In January journal, C. A O. of L refers to a Bro. Swartz. We have a Swartz over here and he is promising to line up. Digitized by Google
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218 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Lake, at Enterprise, is working on a new patent (no one knows what). If It proves successful the world will know it, then he will spend the winters in the South. Bro. Worthman first Armitage, was off a few clays on account of having an operation performed on his son. Bro. McGinnis, second Lancaster, .was called .to his home at Ridgeway, Ohio, on account of an injury to his mother by a gas explosion. Bros. Shockey and McClain were compelled to double up at Mound Street while Bro. Murphy, of third, was off on account of the death of his grandmother. Bro. Deishlie, first Logan, Is getting his hotbeds ready for planting; all his plants bear the union label. Brothers, be governed accordingly when wanting any. Bro. O’Neil, Greendale, spent several Sun- days in Columbus recently on account of his wife being in the hospital there. We wish her a speedy recovery. Bro. Kanode, second Oldtown yard, was off a few jiays recently on account of the death of his wife’s mother at Nelsonville. The name of the telegraph office at the squth end of Parsons yard has been changed from Lockbourne to Mosel. Bro. L. E. Miller, of the B. & O. at Wash- ington "CH," spent several days at Logan visiting relatives. Query for the nons : If all railroad men Were just like “ME,” What would the wages Of operators “BE?” Bro. Nihiser, second Logan, spent several days at Columbus when the snow was so deep he could not get home, several miles in the country. Bro. Wright, third Oldtown, has been quite successful trapping muskrats along the river in rear of office. Bro. Dowler, at RadclifT, worked 36 hours recently on account of the wreck there. Local Chairman Bro. McClain spent his vacation at his home in McArthur. Bro. E. R. McClain, Hocking, was there over Sunday. Frospect second and third up for bids. Brothers, refer to our January journal, page 39, “Some Slacker.” Mark it and mail to one of them. It will be a mighty big pill for him to swallow, but he has swallowed everything else. Send us a few' notes about the 18th or 20th every month In order that we may have a good write-up. Help stir up some enthu- siasm among the brothers. Do not wait for the other fellow to start something but start it yourself. “F. G. D. and S. N. at Q.” IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His wisdom and love, has deemed it best to call from her earthly home to His domain, the beloved grandmother (who has been as a mother) of Bro. P. W. Murphy; therefore, in manifestation of our grief and sympathy, be it Resolved, That the members of The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Hocking Valley Railway, C. & O. Division No. 40, extend to the bereaved brother and members of his family our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sad bereavement ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, a copy spread on the minutes of this division and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publica- tion. C. W. McClain, J. F. Shockey, F. F. Terrill, Committee. Boston & Maine R. R., Div. No. 41. Boston Division — Brothers and sisters, have your applica- tion for your annual vacation in the hands of your division superintendent before the first of March. Because of the shortage of operators it may be very difficult to provide the necessary help for this relief, therefore you should name the date you desire to be absent as soon as possible. Portland Division — Bro. Geo. Knapp, relieving in “BM” dis- patcher’s office since early summer, has re- sumed on Salem, Mass., first. Daniel Crow- ley, who relieved him at Salem, has been ap- pointed purchasing agent for that city. The Great A. & P. Tea Company’s big truck loaded with sugar tried to do tricks on the Boston & Maine’s right-of-way at Salem recently and landed in the ditch. The boys there should be plentifully supplied with sugar. Pendings bids — Third towerman, West Lynn; agency Danvers (“W”), Newington and assistant ticket agency Dover, Glouces- ter and Haverhill. Brothers, please let me know who bids* these in. Southern Division — Bro. Jim Carroll, of Franklin “NH,” went to North Somerville and ,Bro. Jack Joyce’s brother, Ed., went to Mystic Junction clerical job for a few days. Leavitt, of the St. J. & L. C., at Flannagans, is a good all-round railroader whom wre are glad to have with us. Digitized by c.oo<?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 219 Gosuch, from Ohio, who was attached to the medical corps on the interned German ships, recently discharged from the navy at Brooklyn, is at Westford nights. G. B. Mar- den is at “BC” Lowell yard. Bro. Tom Bates, who spent Christmas In Rutland with Bro. Smythe, is proud of his two boys in the service of “Uncle Sam.” Bids pending — Woburn, Mass., assistant ticket agency ; ticket agency, Winchester, Mass. ; clerk and operator, Wilmington. Brothers, please let me know who bids these in. Fitchburg Division — Sister Pearl Cozzlns relieved M. E. Hand- lin, enlisted in the Signal Corps ; Sister Jen- nie Sawyer, Little, Mass., pending bids, who bid In Shirley, vice Bro. Cuthbertson, of Pepperell, Mass., who goes to Montague agency ; Bro. E. S. Handlin, second South Ashbumham, is off on account of illness. We hope for his speedy recovery. Vacancies up for bids : LIttfeton, opera- tor ; Millers Falls, second ; Belmont agency, pending return of agent. Brothers, please advise me to whom these are assigned. “VN " “GM.” RELIEF ASSOCIATION. “Boston., Mass., January 15, 1918. “Mbmbkrs System Division No. 41 : 'The Initiation fee in our Telegraphers’ Relief Association is fifty cents and the dues twenty-five cents per month, payable semi- annually in advance. The benefits are five dollars per week for five weeks. “Copies of the by-laws are ready for mem- bers upon receipt of application. “Since this association was formed in January, 1910, it has paid to its members eight hundred and fifty dollars in sick bene- fit claims, and it is the aim and ambition of its promoters and supporters to constant- ly increase the amount of the sick benefit paid without any corresponding increase in dues. “If you desire to become a member of this organization, please communicate with Bro. W. H. Daker, elected secretary-treasurer at the meeting on January 8, 1910, or to any of the below-mentioned officers of the associa- tion, who will treat all communications re- ceived from members of system division No. 41, B. ft M. R. R. courteously and promptly. “Trusting all will become members of this association, we remain, “Fraternally yours, “E. G. Robinson, “Chairman Board of Directors, “Everett, Mass. “W. H. Daker, S. ft T., “49 Bloomingdale St., “Chelsea, Mass. “Approved : “T. J. Fogarty, President, “West Somerville Mass.” C. <£ P. North Division — The regular correspondent, Bro. T. E. Wheeler, having enlisted, I have undertaken to write up this division until a new regular correspondent is appointed. Hope the boys will kindly let me know of any changes. When last heard from Bro. T. E. Wheeler was in training camp in the South, learning the wireless. The new time table, effective January 20th, made a further cut in trains; most of the regular freights are now being run extra. Bro. Carl Suenney who has been working on the Canadian Northwest, St. Louis and New Orleans since he left "JC,“ is now in Washington, D. C.. “SX” office is now solid ; let's make them all that way. Dispatcher Thomas bid in Sherbrooke agency. Have heard “FJ“ In several dif- ferent offices in one day recently. The two new lady operators at “NA” would look fine wearing an O. R. T. button. Brothers, see that they are entitled to do so as soon as possible. On account of the rush of business an extra dispatcher was put on north end, Bonner taking north of “NA,” day trick ; Fisher, south ; Johnson, second through, and Robinson, third. There is some talk of the C. P. R. giving up its lease of the old Southeastern Railway, Newport to Rlchford, and that the B. ft M. will take it and add it to this division. F. L. Belanger, “SX.” C. rf P. South Division— Midwinter and everybody rushed to death. Work everywhere getting behind all on ac- count of the war, extreme cold and constant procession of snowstorms, the worst your correspondent has ever experienced and even the old veterans can hardly recall a worse one. Girl students from Mrs. Quilty’s school in Boston are being sent out over the system and some are already on this division. While the placing of girls in operators’ places is claimed to be only an emergency war meas- ure, boys, some of them will undoubtedly be with us for years ; therefore, we should treat them courteously and show them that we would be glad to call them all sisters. Miss Loftus from the Boston Telegraph School, is working at South Deerfield. Boys, try and help your correspondent with some items. It is not necessary that there should be a murder, burglary or fire before you send them in ; any ordinary, every-day happenings are interesting and very acceptable. Bro. J. C. H. Richards, agent, Brightwood, Mass., has been elected our local chairman by ballot. Digitized by Tooele
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220 The Railroad Telegrapher. Send in the request for your annual weekly vacation before the first of April, also mail your local chairman a copy, or you may find yourselves unable to get any and will not get paid for this period, in case you work the balance of year without relief. Bro. D. R. Crowley, Putney, Vt, was home recently from the Newport Training: Station, where he is learning wireless, looking "some natty” in his new uniform. Bro. Beauregard has enlisted In the Radio service and relieved at East Putney by his wife. Two men of the station employes' organi- zation at one station received their back pay January 18th and their settlement was not made until about a month after ours. I pre- sume a number of others over the system have also received theirs. Remember the cost of living is still going up and don’t let Mr. McAdoo forget that he promised us all something. Also remember that by getting In the nons and making the division solid will help us when we remind the officials that we need more money. Cert. 94. Erie R. R., Div. No. 42. Susquehanna Division Notes — Brothers : In starting in the new year, It is customary for many of us to make differ- ent kinds of resolutions, some of which we keep, but a great many of them are forgot- ten before 30 days of the new year has rolled by. I want to especially request that each member of Division 42 make certain resolu- tions for the year 1918 and make special effort to live up to them. These resolutions will be greatly to your Interest to keep. Make the year 1918 the banner year of Division 42. Let It be said at the close of 1918 that nons are so scarce that one could not be found by raking this old pike over with a fine tooth comb. Let us build our organization to a standard, such as is maintained on roads which are enjoying much better working conditions than we are, secured through the work of their members generally, each individual doing his "bit.” On such roads, the rank and file do not sit back and wait for "George” to do it; they all buckle in and get results. A non has absolutely no reasonable ex- cuse for staying out; 100 per cent of them say; "Organization is a good thing, It has greatly improved our condition, it’s alright, my heart is with you. I was going to Join this pay day but I am going to quit the serv- ice next month anyway.” You will find that same "guy" working on the road 20 years from now unless he gets so thoroughly good- for-nothing that the company puts the boot to him. When you ask him to join, you are not asking him to do you a favor ; you are asking him to protect his family and him- self. Invariably you will find he has not one cent of insurance, leaving his family to take their chances if he should be called. When a new man comes to your office, find out whether or not he carries a card, notify your chairman right away, giving name and address of the newcomer. This is necessary and it is your duty. Even if he is a member, it is necessary, as we want him transferred to our division. Now, Brothers, let's get busy, let’s co- operate ; surely we can do as well as the men on other roads; they got where they are through individual work; let’s show at the end of the year that there is no such thing on this road as a non, but all union men. At the same time, make your best efforts to co-operate with the company. Co-operation between the employer and employees Is the life of any business ; it has been proven so ; let’s make it so here; we can easily do It. I believe our officials will agree with us in this ; let’s show them what it means. Banish the thought of any antagonistic feeling on either side, if any exists. In handling the company’s business, look upon it Just the same as if it was your own; give your very best service; look after its interests Just the same as If the employees owned every share of stock In this company; make every effort to give every train the very best possible movement in this congested condition; this is very important ; answer your calls prompt- ly ; report trains promptly ; look after your interlocking plant and see that it does not freeze up or is put out of commission by snow ; in freezing weather throw your switches and signals at short intervals to keep them limbered up. There are numerous things we can do to bring about peal co- operation. Let’s do our part toward bringing it about. It is no new idea. It has been tried out in many cases and proved a great success. Whenever you are taking a trip on some other road, observe conditions generally and often you will notice the different ways of handling the work ; out of them all you can, in most cases, note improvements over our method, and in such cases you should ad- vise your officials of what you noted. In this way we can often offer good suggestions which will benefit all concerned. Brother Habe, agent at Seely Creek, has been called to the military service. We shall all miss Paul. Division 42 Joins in wishing him all kinds of success during his absence as one of the brave defenders of our good old U. S. A. Our superintendent, Mr. H. R. Cole, has notified your chairman that the positions of drafted and enlisted men, agents and opera- tors, will be held open for them during their war service period. We appreciate Mr. Cole's kindness in this matter. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 221 Bra. S. D. Jacobs, chairman Rochester Di- vision, who, as before stated, was drafted in the military service, is now located at Camp Hancock. His address is : Private S. D. Jacobs, Motor Mechanics, Regiment No. 1, Signal Corps, Company “Q”, Camp Hancock, Augusta, Oa. He would be glad to hear from the boys; write him. We regret very much the death of Bro. Lawrence O'Donnell’s father, who was em- ployed at Liberty street, Binghampton, so many years. Bro. O’Donnell has the sym- pathy of the entire membership. Also, we regret to announce the death of Bro. Lisenby’s mother, of Nichols; the boys all join me in extending our most sincere sympathy to Bra Lisenby. E. J. Hessbr, Gen’l Chairman. Delaware Division — Bra P. H. Flaherty, sick a few days, was relieved by Bra F. J. Murphy, from "NS”, relieved by Bro. Hagadom, and he by Bro. E. O. Murphy at “SR”. Bra J. D. Tobin relieved Bro. Hempstead and Bro. G. F. Tuthill, Parkers Glen, and Bro. Rixton relieved Bro. C. D. Mallory and Bra L. EL Bock while they enjoyed their seven days’ vacation secured in our new schedule. Some agents and clerks enjoying these vacations have done nothing to help secure them. We hope they will soon wake up to the fact that they should be carrying a card and not put the burden on a few to get better working conditions and they re- ceive the reward. Remember, your dues must be paid on or before February 28th to be in good standing. By sending them in promptly it will save Brothers Bridge and Galloway a lot of extra work. Bro. Gallagher has resigned as local chair- man and Bro. F. A. Galloway was appointed to fill out the unexplred term. Bro. Gallo- way is a live wire; but, boys, do not leave everything to Sim Fish, do a little boosting yourself; be more than a card carrier; be a real worker, and see that the man next to you has one, too. Remember the slogan : No card — no favors. It will be only a short time before we will be 100 per cent, as there are not very many nons left. Bra Galloway expects to hold regular meetings as soon as the train service gets back to normal again, at a point on the Divi- sion where it will be convenient for most all of you to attend. Bra Fortner was relieved a few days by Bro. Shiner, who lately relieved Bro. Han- rahan, on sick list several days. Bra F. J. Murphy enjoyed a trip to New York City and Washington recently, and Bra E. O. Murphy and wife took in the sights at New York and Philadelphia last month. Bro. Jochem worked third "OZ”, while Bro. Holbert was absent. Bro. Tyler enjoys his spare minutes hunt- ing, but we never see any game. Bro. Galloway has been called again be- fore the exemption board for examination. I have been appointed your correspondent and I will do my best to serve; with your assistance will endeavor to have a write-up each month; please give me all the news you can from the East End as it is hard to get anything from this point. E. Cp. Cert. 1756. Northern Division — Bro. S. Loew, second Sparkbill, has en- listed, relieved by Witzenbocker ; Mr. Ful- ton also enlisted, relieved by Bro. Hill. Bro. Germain, Nyack, had to cover first and agency also, when Hedricks went to Jersey City dispatcher's office as copier; no extra man available. Bro. C. Hill has moved his family to Pler- mont. Perkins, who resigned Englewood agency and went to 28th street. New York, is now on second Englewood. Bro. F. Shields bid in Demarest agency, relieved by Bra Stickels. Bro. Hering, third Granton Junction, lost his wife recently. He has the heartfelt sym- pathy of all in his bereavement. Bro. Dorbin, at Creskill, is a very busy man on account of Camp Merritt being lo- cated there with 26,000 troops. Bro. Boggia, Leonia, is waiting patiently to move into the fine new station Just com- pleted. He is a good man for the plaec. Cert 508. ♦ New York Division — There have been several changes along the line but your scribe hasn’t been posted on them. We all welcome Eddie Walters back on the line again and hope he will soon get a card; he is on second "JR” tower. Bro. Hill is on first "GR’V tower vice Tunis Fulton, now in the service of "Uncle Sam.” Bro. Sol Loew has enlisted in the Signal Corps; a good, red hot O. R. T. man whom we all are sorry to lose, and hope for his speedy return. Boys, it is important that we pay our dues at once. Our contract runs out October 1st this year. It won’t take long for these few months to roll around. All the roads have secured good vacation clauses in the last few months, overtime for all Sunday work, and various other good things that we haven’t got yet. If each man will pay up his dues and see that every non gets lined up properly, we will also be able to get these good things when we go up in October. Digitized by Google
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222 The Railroad Telegrapher. Cut out the grumbling and knocking and start “boosting” If there I9 anything with which you are not suited in the division or in the organization as a whole the only way to overcome it- is through a strong division, and that was never accomplished by knock- ing and grumbling. I used to throw up my hands and say: “There is nothing in it,” but time and experience have taught me the proper way to right the wrongs. I hope everyone will give these words considera- tion, and I am satisfied each man will see it as I do now. A prize contest has been opened by the Orand Division for the year 1918. I hope each man on this division will start right in the race and work for one of the prizes. They are well worth trying for. Bros. Herlng and Horton have the sin- cere sympathy of all the boys in the loss of their beloved wives. Cert 1517. Canadian Northern Ry.f Div. No. 43. Pacific Division — This note, I believe, inaugurates the Pacific Division of the Canadian Northern Railway System in The Telegrapher, so. here goes it : With our best wishes, that it may foreshadow the best of times, along with the best of good will, and that through the medium of our journal we may improve that close fraternal touch which is the ideal of our organization in its endeavor to foster unity amongst us. We are all very grateful to our local chairman, Bro. Hughes, for the earnest and able way he acquitted himself in the nego- tiations at Winnipeg. This last increase yanks us with the best remunerated teleg- raphers on the continent, and we will take occasion right here to thank him in par- ticular and our committee in general for their good work. Our Division is rated as the best physical piece of mountain railroading through the Rockies, and, no doubt, it will be made a hummer. It is up to us to see that every individual do$s his best. We are naturally hampered at present by the newness of the road, which is barely out of the hands of the construction people, and it is all the more our duty to bridge over the little dif- ficulties we run across, and keep a stiff upper lip. This much for your lesson in catechism — it is a load off my mind — I felt like old Mentor himself since starting this. No notes on hand. Of course, I can’t blame anyone, as I am none too sure of my own appointment as correspondent. We have had several meetings ; one of them at Kamloops, at which the writer was present, was certainly lively judging by the way things cropped up; we’ll need many more like it to straighten things out. Burdett. at Port Mann, seems to enjoy things around there ; last seen he was wear- ing a pair of blue overalls, and with both hands stuck in the bib, was showing a smile like Old Sol himself. No more S. A. stuff, eh. “RJ.“? Willis at Chilliwack is sure doing great business these days; it’s a hundred to one that he is not running that new McLaughlin around very much, though. Hacking and Carter of Spences Bridge and Lytton respectively, lead the simple life — they like overtime, and get it, too. Fallow at Ashcroft. Strictly business there. Thanks to Mr. Crane, our chief dispatch- er, for the arrangements he made on Christ- mas day ; these came in very nicely. Dispatcher W. J. R. took unto himself a ■wife. Congratulations, “Bill” ; we are glad for you ; some of the girls will miss you though, or we miss our guess. WE “13” Day, of Avola, is still wonder- ing how under the sun he is expected to keep awake there. That Lucerne's a protty hot place, all right. Squibb, of Birch Island, took a hurried trip to town recently, some tonsorial artist down there doing away with his a la “Laurier” pompadour; we were surprised not to hear of a murder case down there just at the time, but somehow think the election returns may have had something to do with it. Boston Bar is blooming in all its enthral- ling wilderness, etc., etc. — one brother Just recently located at that point having a line of “underwear, Mexican athletes and other things” — pretty hard for a man with aver- age intellect to make anything out of. X. Cert 811, Boston Bar, B. C. 2nd and 3rd Districts , Central Division — After a session of about six weeks our general committee secured a new schedule now printed and in hands of all up-to-date members. The principal features are mini- mum of $89 for operators, $94 for agents, time and a half for all overtime. Division rights # for telegraphers instead of superin- tendent district rights, including nearly all clerks, cashiers and assistant agents in the schedule. Several positions formerly con- trolled by the company were also added to the schedule, also a minimum of 60 cents per call. Much credit must be given our commit- tee for securing the best schedule in North America. Bro. Phillips, our local chairman, was the recipient of a gift of appreciation from the boys of his district in the shape of a club bag and kit and a check for balance of Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 223 money contributed. Only three turned the proposition down ; one because ‘ charity be- gins at home.” He has none. One because he could not afford it, but he would like to. Just hard up and broke. His money is in the shape of a bank account; possibly he invested heavily in the Victory Loan. The third— he couldn't see other people hungry to buy such a present. He weighs nearly two hundred. Most of the boys felt this was only in a very small part paying to- wards our indebtedness to Bro. Phillips, who has without charge so faithfully looked after our Interests and our desire- is that he may long be with us. The committee, Bros. W. S. Ingraham, O. R. Phelps and F. J. McLennan, who pur- chased the present, received the following communication from Bro. Phillips : “I have Just received the magnificent club bag and kit from the brothers of the Second and Third districts. This is a great surprise to me and I assure you it is fully appre- ciated, especially, coming as it does at this particular time. While I cannot find suit- able words to express my gratitude, I want you, one and all, to know that I thank you heartily. "It has always been a pleasure as well as an honor to represent the members of these districts and with their continued sup- port, it is my earnest wish that my services will warrant the confidence shown. “Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year, I remain, "Yours fraternally, "W. H. Phillips., Local Chairman, "2nd and 3rd Central Div. of Division 48.” By the way, Bro. Batty is asking when the next meeting is going to be held. Bro. T. A. Helgason, assigned to Green- way agency, and Bro. Barney Roland, from Cardinal to Stornoway. Cardinal, Deloraine and Shell mouth agen- cies on bid also. Cashier’s job at Neepawa. |70 per. Bro. Henry Shellmoutb resigned and un- derstand his son, Bro. Guy Henry, of Eden, will succeed him. Bro. McQuinn relieving these pending bids and Bro. Hunter at Stornoway till regular men arrive. Bro. Guctel, Makinak, on sick list for two weeks, relieved by Bro. Phelps. Congratulations to Bro. Geo. Mann and bride of Lundar. . Bro. S. M. Rutherford and Bro. Peters have been drafted, but are on leave of ab- sence till March 1st, and permission for further extension. By the amount of liquid refreshments coming in there is anticipation of having a good supply on hand by April 1st. Bro. Hays, of Amaranth, and Bro. Fitz- simmons. of Langruth, sole proprietors of Oakland sub. both on holidays. Fltz may be if you speak a little louder he will hear you and then Hay will take the notion. Pinnell, Makinak, nights, on two weeks' holidays recently, office closed nights tem- porarily. Water train resumed on account of short- age of water at McCreary. Bro. Connelly, of St. Agathe office, as usual, spent New Year’s at home among the French lassies. Understand C. T. is quite accomplished on New Year’s day. **Bro. Robertson, Oakburn, on leave, ow- ing to the illness of his father, relieved by Bro. Phelps. Cert 277. Brandon and Regina Line — The mail order 'system is working fine, and all the boys are finding it a great help, especially at this time when we cannot hold meetings, account of weather conditions. The work in connection with getting the copies out is rather a strenuous one at times, but it is well worth it, and we feel through notes received, that the apprecia- tion shown is sufficient compensation. Local Chairman Morgan is giving us all the help required. The notes received this month by the scribe were conspicuous by their absence, but we take it for granted that the brothers were all quite busy shoveling lignite and therefore had very little time to send them in. Try and fill that blazer full enough some time next month, so as to be able to jot down a few lines of cheerfulness for us. How is the ‘‘tin lizzie” running these days, Bro. Luke? And Bro. Martin at "NS”, how are chances for a few dozen good ones for setting? Think Brother Gibbons would swap a few double-yolked ones that would increase the chicken supply very rapidly. Bro. Carey will not trade, so that settles it. His flock should be quite a size by this time. Bro. Fair and family have left for a trip to the old home in the East. Hope they have a real jolly time. Bro. Chinn, recently appointed relieving agent, is relieving Bro. Fair. Bro. H. J. Benson secured Brandon yard days, and Bro. C. H. Halbertson, Chandler, on bid. Bro. Ohem to Ettington, temporary agency. Bros. J. E. McDonald and Leslie have been appointed to serve on the board of ad- justment, and we hope they will be on the job when needed ; at present, there seems to be a clean sheet. I hope there are others as well as myself who would like to be able to attend a meeting soon, and feel sure we will not be disappointed whenever the weather permits the local chairman to call one, there should be a record turnout ; do not fail if you have the chance. Cert 399. Digitized by tjOOQle
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224 The Railroad Telegrapher. Toronto District — Meeting held In Toronto Temple Building, January 6th, was a good success. Brothers present : McLane in chair, and Pat, his right hand bower ; A. Bill, M. McKeown, Ben Tansley, Geo. Sprentall, Slavery, Flynn, Parsons, Garven, Winters, Finnigan, Bell, McLaren, Potter, Bunn, Eby, Gummer, Freeman, Wilson, Allan, George. Absent from meeting were : One man from "WA”, one "DR”, two from “CB”, one “OA*\ Bro. Crank and Sorel on spare. Very sorry to see some of the brothers look at it this way. Addresses were given from Supt C. L. Harris and Chief Dispatcher P. H. Fox, which were very much appreciated by the boys. There should be more co-operating In ' all departments, also give and take on all sides. Deseronto days again bulletined. Thanks for the notes for this large (?) writeup; starting the new year in the same old rut. Cert 981. Quebec and Lake 8t. John District — This district has not been represented in the Journal for a long time, not for lack of news, but writers. Everyone concerned would enjoy seeing a good writeup each month. Why not some- one volunteer for that service? Assignments : Agencies — Bro. E. Simard to Lake St. Joseph ; Bro. L. Bilodeau, Val- cartier; Bro. A. Benlanger, St. Feliciers ; Bro. P. Jalbert, St. Prime; Bro. C. A. Le- vesque, Roberval ; Bro. J. A. Dusseault, Lake Bouchette; Bro. J. O. Lernelin, Rlva Pierre Junction ; Day Operators — Bro. M. Marchetene to Hebertville; Bro. J. N. Bar- beau, Jenquiere ; Bro. F. Keronac, Cham- bard Junction ; Night Operator — Bro. J. A. Lacasse to St. Raymond ; night Job, Jon- quiere, salary $76.00 per month. We are all very sorry to hear of Bro. P. Jalbert’s illness at “SP”, and hope for his speedy recovery. Bro. J. W. Ray, relieving agent, is relieving him. A. Doyer is at **RA”, nights, pending its assignment. Glad to know that at the last meeting of our district held at Chicoirtimi, December 16, 1917, it was decided to have regular meetings every two months. Our congratulations to Bro. J. E. Hamel, chief dispatcher ; married December 20, 1917. Brothers, keep after the nons with so many new operators coming in this dis- trict we must all work hard to get them lined up. Help our local chairman by get- ting their applications and remittances and we will soon be “solid/* No card, no protection or favors, and very few friends, “KC” Cert 679. Halifax and 8o. Western By., Div. No. 43 — Business Is good, and things are moving more smoothly, after being disorganized, owing to the awful explosion at Halifax, which caused some delay to traffic, etc. Luckily our road did not suffer much dam- age to rolling stock, although several hun- dred cars were demolished, some beyond re- pair, as the explosion took place just oppo- site the Richmond yards. A young man, after reading “Nick Car- ter/* “Diamond Dick/* and “Buffalo Bill,** and bent on carrying out his new idea dur- ing “Xmas** holidays, roamed to that lonely spot, Maitland Siding, where he set the switches, so that one side of the train would take the siding, while the other side would still run on the main track, which resulted in derailing the entire extra train out early, before the section men had gone over the line. Luckily no one was hurt. After a few day 8 the road’s detective rounded up the fugitive, for whom he had to travel 20 miles to a lumber camp to arrest. At the examination he admitted he Just wanted to “ have some fun with the section foreman /* and it being “Xmas” he thought it a good time. We suggest he reads “Kant’s Kritique of Pure Reason/’ and understand It Cert 457. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, in His Infinite wisdom, has chosen to call to her reward the beloved wife of Brother Croak 111 ; and Whereas, We bow our heads in humble submission to Him who does all things well ; be it Resolved, That the members of Halifax & South Western Division 43, O. R. T., ten- der their heartfelt sympathy to the be- reaved Brother in this, his hour of grief ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be spread upon the minutes of this di- vision, a copy forwarded to the beloved Brother, and a copy sent to The Teleg- rapher for publication. H. M. Smith, H. T. Copp, W. O. Lovelace, Committee. Central of Georgia Ry., Div. No. 46. Southwestern Division — All have gotten the back pay due by new schedule, effective October 10, 1917, and we must now show “Uncle Sam*’ our loyalty. Since the new agreement all working nine hours are entitled to one hour’s overtime each day, provided the ticket is sent in the usual way. But If ticket is not sent In each day you need not expect it. All agent-oper- Rtorp and operators are working under ah Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 225 eight-hour agreement, and when kept on duty longer should send In overtime tickets. Also, you are entitled to one full hour at noon at one-man stations, and you should not ac- cept anything less than one hour. If you cannot get the full hour send in the ticket for one hour. Do without your dinner and aid Mr. Hoover. It Is now Bro. Heath at Bancroft and the Sister at Chancelor now seeks light; her application is forthcoming. Also un- derstand, Mr. Cobb at Leary is making ap- plication. This division is almost solid. Bro. Carter, first Ft. Vally, on leave is be- ing relieved by Bro. Alford of the Southern Ry., who also relieved Sister Mathis at Paschal a few days recently. Bro. R. D. Parker, agent. Bell wood, was married recently; success to both. There are several changes. I am not lined up, not being able to get the details. Those who are drafted will, before leav- ing the service of the company, notify the company to that effect, sending a copy to the local and general chairman. C*RT 702. Detroit, TVA I. Ry., Dlv. No. 48. Bros. Matthews, Greenfield and F. D. Chism have gone with the W. U. at Jack- son. Bro. J. S. Kneisley, agent, Jeffersonville, has resigned ; going into bank business. With these boys leaving and about five joining the “colors,'* leaves a lot of new men on the system. Chief Dispatcher Graham is on sick leave, relieved by J. H. Jones, and he on first trick South end by John Meckllnberg, re- lieved on second trick by Dispatcher Smith from the "Big Four”, Springfield. Clyde Blose on third. Dispatcher Dibert is on first North end. F. S. Lewis on second; Bro. F. J. Lee, to be married shortly, on third, and Boggs is night chief dispatcher. Bro. Jim Slack, “GO", Springfield, South end, resigned and gone back to the Big Four, Is In “GC" passenger depot at Cin- cinnati ; relieved by Fitssimmons, “GO", nights. Dispatcher Smith cleans up the South end, and saves the expense of a night operator. General Superintendent Thompson is now assistant to the president, vice South End Trainmaster Jones, former- . ly assistant to President Kurn, of the D. T. I., and is now our new general superinten- dent, vice Thompson. F. S. Lewis, who tried out the B. ft O. at Cleveland a few days the first of the year, as dispatcher, has returned to the D. T. L, because the B. ft O. could not offer him a regular salaried position. Our committee is trying to secure a date fjrjth geperal Superintendent Jones. •fL" Cert 31, Denver ft Rio Grande R. R.» Div. No. 49. First Division — This division, the largest ‘part of the en- tire system, has been badly neglected for some time. Let's do better hereafter. Bro. Reynolds has appointed me correspondent for the First Division, and I would like to see similar action taken on the other divi- sions, for the first thing we look for upon opening our Tblegraphxr is to see “what’s doing on Division 49". Our general committee is now in Denver in conference with the management; what the results will be under government con- trol we cannot say at this time, only hope for the best. Bro. Frank Vinson, from the Mo. Pac., is relieving Local Chairman Reynolds at “SB", Pueblo. H. M. Hale, from the Mo. Pac., at Portland, extra, has promised to line up. Bro. Purcell, from the C. ft S., has opened Carlisle, nights, after it being closed for a month. Bro. Kilgore, clerk at Fort Logan, is back from a thirty day enjoyable trip through the Southeast, taking in the sights at Chicago, Washington, Jacksonville, Key West and New Orleans. W. E. Miller, our superintendent for some years past, has gone with Colorado Mid- land as vice-president. He was especially noted for his fairness and he has the best wishes of all of us for his success. He was succeeded by Superintendent McGraw, who comes to us from the fourth division with a good recommendation from the boys over there. We have not yet had the pleasure of a visit from him. Assignments : Bro. R. C. Moore to third Colorado Springs, vice Bro. C. H. Morris to Barnes agency; Bro. S. M. Karas to second Castle Rock; myself to Augusta, relieving Bro. J. T. Simmons, of the H. ft T. C., who, after a trip into the Wyoming oil fields has resumed at Midlothian, Texas, agency; Bro. A. E. Roberts, our former general sec- retary and treasurer, and regular at Au- gusta, is now with the Union Paclflo at Salt Lake, Utah. Brothers, let me have any notes of inter- est that you can in order to Insure a reg- ular monthly write-up from the first divi- sion of old 49. Tours fraternally, F. B. Rosa, Cert. 910, Augusta, Cola Relay Division — Salt Lake City, “UN.” We are glad to announce that we maintain a solid office with the exception of Mr. O'Connor, who has been enjoying the benefits of our vari- ous raises since 1910, but who has not yet seen fit to help bear the burden along with the other loyal boys. Digitized by v^oooLe
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226 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Robertson has been appointed as- sistant chief dispatcher, and while we miss him, we feel glad that we have a brother with ability enough to fill the position, and wish him success. Bro. Eiser was commissioned a first lieutenant in the Signal Corps, and left some time ago for American Lake, Wash. Bro. and Mgr. Mann may secure a com- mission in the Signal Corps. Bro. Anderson, extra In “UN," was re- lieved by Mrs. Reinhart, from the Union Pacific, a few days, on account of sickness. She promises to get an up-to-date, very soon, as well as her husband, relieving Bro. Robertson in the same office. Helper, Utah, "RA.” We will soon be solid. Expect to verify this in next issue. Mr. Glasser and Mr. Harper are only wait- ing for pay-day, and Mr. Collins has al- ready filled out and mailed his blanks. Bros. Clark and Brown deserve great credit for keeping the boys lined up in their office. Grand Junction, Colo., "JN.” For the first time in several months we are pleased to state that we stand 100 per cent This was made possible by Bro. Maid, from Ridg- way, relieving Mr. Hitt, who went to the Burlington. Salaida, Colo., "8.” As heretofore, we are solid and waiting to see what our little old assessment will do in the way of bring- ing down the high cost of living. Bro. Smith is promoting a big oil game in the Big Muddy, and accepting all appli- cations for carbon oIL '‘Smithy” says they are going to have oil in six months. Al- though we know his Judgment is good, we hope they don’t strike any water holes. Pueblo, Colo., "SB.” Bro. Reynolds left the early part of the month with Bro. Ful- ton, to line up the Rio Grande Southern, and have made it solid with the exception of one office, which they expect to get in the near future. Bro. Moore has put Bro. Penny on the late trick now, but he don’t care as long as the new raise comes along soon. Mr. Reynolds, from the Santa Fe, man- aged to hold on here about five months, a little longer than usual, but when he went to "DC" his days were numbered, as he only lasted a few days. Denver, Colo., "DC.” This office boasts of being "solid,” something it has not been able to do for some time past. The boys seem to be full of enthusiasm and hopeful for our new schedule. Bro. Carlisle says the four days Christmas vacation was just a starter, but working the time back was worse yet, and he is waiting for the twenty- six-day month. Bro. Compton is back at the key for the first time in several years, but feels well satisfied, working amongst a solid force. Bro. Fullmer working the show-up trick, says a twenty-six-day month will have a thirty-day month beat all to pieces, presum- ing he will sleep the other four. Bros. Luts and Gordon sure keep the squads cleaned up, and make a pretty good old team. Bros. Day and Hawkins leave together at 4 p. m.. to go home and play with the* baby, but Bro. Day says it is more fun to send fifty-one reports to Bro. Mogle, at Salt Lake. As the general committee has gone to Denver to meet the management for a new schedule, we shoul^ all try and keep Divi- sion No. 49 up to a high standard. We are strong at this writing, but as there are a few nons we should all keep after until they fill out their blanks. Their excuses are threadbare, and it should be explained to them that their only way of getting an increase is through the Order. Let us all co-operate and work hard for a solid front. The increase we are sure is coming, will more than repay us for any and all efforts put forth. Cbrt. 665. Southern Pacific Ry., Div. No. 53. Loa Angelea Division — Our meeting, Saturday night, December 29th, was well attended and thoroughly enjoyed by all, between fifty and sixty being present, including several ladies. Meeting called to order by Bro. Dickin- son at 7 :55 p. m. Bro. Chaffee elected sec- retary. Local Chairman Geiger read the entire wage scale for the Los Angeles Division, which was interesting to everyone present, as a great many had not yet heard what the salary rating waB to be for their posi- tions. This was followed by a discussion as to the manner in which overtime was to be computed, which is explained in our copies of the new agreement as well as interpretations on the different articles. The twenty-six-day month seems so exhilarating to us all, that as yet we can hardly realize that it’s really true. Bro. Dickinson called upon all the mem- bers who had any exception to the wage dis- tribution to state them, and Bro. Jones, of El Centro, desired an explanation why some of the agents received flve-dollar increases. This Information was given by Bro. Geiger, who also gave us some interesting sidelights on the difficulties they had in arriving at a satisfactory wage adjustment with the offi- cials representing the company. A vote of thinks was passed to Bros. Ham- mond and Geiger for the able manner in which they handled the settlement, and it was the consensus of opinion that the final adjustment of salaries was very fair. Handling of the United States mall was then brought up, and some discussion arose Digitized by Tooele
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 227 as to just what the word “handle” means In the agreement, but the matter was dropped until we could get a definite decision. Overtime for agents now working ten hours where the company had not as yet instructed them to work eight hours was talked over, and the general opinion prevailed that in all such cases the men would each be entitled to two hours over- time daily from time the agreement takes effect. September 1st. Bro. Dort then gave us a little talk about our deceased Bro. Wilson, and a collection was taken up to furnish temporary relief for the widow who is left in destitute cir- cumstances, which netted forty-five dollars, and the local chairman was Instructed to start subscription papers over the division to raise more for this purpose and give those absent an opportunity to contribute. The meeting adjourned about ten-thirty, all present seeming well satisfied that our long anticipated raise was about to “come our way.'* Considering the fact that the meeting was called on short notice, we had an excellent turnout. We regretted very much that we were not honored by the presence of Bros. Manion, Cull and Hammond, but business prevented their attendance. Miss Lyons, daughter of Bro. Lyons, of “HU” office, favored us with several selec- tions on the piano at the close of the busi- ness, which were enjoyed by all, and we hope she will be kind enough to give us some more music at our next meeting. We are grieved to chronicle the death of Bro. Wilson, which occurred on his sixty- eighth birthday. December 19 th. He had but recently applied for a pension, as he was un- able to longer continue in his position of second trick operator at Burbank, where he has been working for the past seventeen years. He is survived by his mother, over ninety years old, his wife and daughter, a sister and a brother, also an operator, who is still in active service i^ Georgia. Bro. Wilson entered the service of the Southern Pacific in 1876. and with the excep- tion of about one year, has been continuously with this company. He worked at Keene, now called Woodford, when that place was the end of the line, also at Tracy, Lathrop, San Lorenzo, and other places in that vi- cinity. He opened the station at Tustin when that line was built, later working other sta- tions near Los Angeles, then going to the San Joaquin Division. He was one of the pioneer operators in this part of the state, and saw this system grow from a very small one to one of the largest in the country. He was well acquainted with many of the older officials of the Southern Pacific, who helped make its history. Several years ago, while at Burbank, he rendered heroic service by saving the lives of a train crew, when he derailed and ditched a string of runaway cars, thereby saving a bad collision with probably fatal results. We will all miss Bro. Wilson, for we had become accustomed to look upon him as a permanent fixture at Burbank. The biggest thing in our new agreement is the twenty-six-day month. If any one had told me a few years ago, that in 1918 we would be enjoying an agreement calling for overtime for all Sunday work, I would have thought him the victim of a badly diseased imagination, or crazy with the heat, for even dreaming of such a thing as a twenty-six-day month for railroad “brass pounders.” Brothers, we should now show the com- pany that we appreciate our good working conditions, and be sure to always give eight hours work for eight hours pay. Don’t skimp on giving good measure, but if you work overtime, turn it in and get pay for it. We expect the company to live up to its part of the agreement, and of course, we must live up to ours. We were all filled with grief (?) when we discovered that some of the nons received only five dollars increase, while most of the brothers got at least ten dollars. Some of the nons have publicly lamented the fact, that they were so meagrely remembered, having doubtless cherished the hope that the company would make special effort to re- ward them for so persistently refusing to do anything to assist their fellow workers. It is rumored that some of them are beginning to see the light, and going so far as to talk about getting a card. Some of them, of course, consider it a sinful waste of money to join the O. R. T., when they can sit back and reap the benefits for nothing. A “gink” with a brain of that size wouldn’t be much use to the organization if he did succeed in prying himself loose from the price of a card. One individual, who holds one of the best telegraph jobs on the Los Angeles Divi- sion, says he is going to quit the O. R. T. because he only got a five-dollar increase, while the other two jobs at that station were raised ten dollars. As he took out one card just previous to our getting the 1918 sched- ule and got his next and last card when we were starting after the new agreement last spring, the brothers can all see what a dire calamity It will be for Division No. 53 when this faithful member pulls out and leaves us to face the future without hjs valuable assistance. At present he is be- moaning the fact that he paid in the price of two cards in the short time of nearly five years, a scandalous waste of good money. Won’t mention his name in this write-up for some of you might suspect me of practicing undue favoritism in devoting so much space to one individual, and he a “slacker,” but In some of these write-ups am going to men- Digitized by tjooole
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228 The Railroad Telegrapher. tion his name in upper case type so you can all make it out without your specs, un- less he has got In line again. Brothers, we have just got to keep that non list before our eyes, and see to it that all the slackers get no peace of mind until they loosen up and do the right thing. We were fortunate enough to have an opportunity to hand ’em a few bouquets in the wage adjustment, and we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that they are all getting free rides on our backs just as long as they don’t pay their share of the expenses of our organization, which has made it possible for us to make such tremen- dous strides in the betterment of our work- ing conditions in the past few years. We must keep on their trail and make life so exceedingly interesting for them that they will either come in or else seek some se- cluded spot and hate themselves to death. Bro. Allen, relieved on Calexico second by G. H. Kuhry, while on two weeks’ vacation at his home in Visalia. Bro. Schwartz, who bumped Kuhry at San Bernardino a short time later was bumped by Bro. Borer, who had to hit the extra list, when Bro. J. W. Rothenburg returned from a year’s leave. Bra Schwartz relieved Bro. Cully, agent Coachella, on account of sickness. Bro. J. G. Castleberry, agent Palm Springs, relieved by O'Connel, second there, while he spent two weeks with his wife’s folks In Brawley and Los Angeles. Bro. Shorrocks, now third trick dispatcher at Indio, relieved at ‘‘NG’' Los Angeles, by Bro. O’Connor, from “HU” Los Angeles. We are all glad that Bro. Shorrocks had the opportunity to try dispatching and feel sure he will make good. Bro. Frew, now in the Signal Corps at Camp Kearney, spent Christmas with his parents in Newhall, and called at “NG” on his way back to camp. Looking fine, and likes soldiering pretty well. Bro. Tom Brown, after relieving Bro. Jesse I. Brown, third Redlands Jet., for two weeks’ vacation, went to first Iris, now a three-man job. Bro. Frank Geiger, our hard working local chairman, relieved by Bro. C. C. Sheldon, while on general committee work, and at- tending O. R. T. meeting in Los Angeles. Bro. Geiger has received a good many let- ters expressing thanks for the good work done in the wage scale negotiations, and has come to believe that the position of local chairman is not exactly a “thankless job” after alL It is now Bro. J. W. Rothenburg of Somls, and we are all heartily pleased to have him with us again. He accidentally became de- linquent while on a year’s leave, but showed his heart was in the right place by imme- diately rejoining as soon as he was back in the service. That makes the Rothenburg family solid again, ail three of them good brothers, good operators and good employes. Bro. G. M. Russel is back on third Ogilby, bumping Bro. Brown to first Iris, relieving Egan, a new ^ to sixth Indio, who will line up pay day. Bro. McBay returned from his trip Bast, displacing Bro. Sullivan days Santa Ana, to second Shorb. Mr. Gavin, who tried breaking in as dis- patcher in Los Angeles, is back on second Ventura again. Hope he will blow some of his back overtime for a card, and while he is about it, coax the other two nons there into coming in with us also. He was relieved at Ventura by Gage, from the Great North- ern, who promises to do the necessary as soon as he gets the price. Was pleased to receive a telephone call a short time ago from Bro. Badgley, now on the pension list. He was located a number of years at River Station, afterward bidding in Duarte agency. We owe a lot to Bro. Badgley and the other oldtlmers who worked so faithfully to make Division No. 63 what it is today. Hope to see him and his wife at our next meeting. It is now Bro. C. F. Willard of Downey again. Bro. Willard showed his heart was In the right locality by rejoinlhg, and also paying up both the back assessment and the last one of three dollars. That’s the right spirit, always be willing to pay your share, and you will always have the respect of your fellow workers. Bro. Hough, second Ogilby, received the sympathy of all while sick in bed with lum- bago, relieved by Bro. Haworth, who after- ward relieved Bro. Wayman, on second Pomona, laid up with a bad attack of sore throat, and later relieved Bro. Eberhart, agent Montalvo, a few days. Assignments : First tricks — Calexico, Hardesty ; Oxnard, Hickman ; Salton, Schwartz; Iris, Phegley. Third tricks — Iris, Taylor; Calexico, E. S. Allen; Somls, Seib; Shorb, Moore; Burbank, Burroughs; Walnut, Barrett. Third tricks — Niland, Robbins ; Amos, N. D. Pritchett ; Bertram, Wells. Indio, Farwell; Palm Springs, Jones; Chats- worth, Haworth ; River Station, Weight ; "NG,” Los Angeles, Llddy. Fifth tricks — “NG,” Los Angeles, Ellison; Colton, Rowe. Sixth trick — Colton, Culley. Operator— Im- perial, G. A. Parr. Agents — Edom, Noel ; Nordhoff, Hanson; Coachella, Moreland. Bro. Culley, on return from sick leave, relieved Bro. Doty at Colton, a few days, on account of sickness in his family, before taking sixth there. Bro. Ellison and wife, of Owensmouth, re- cently called on Bro. and Mrs. Dickinson, of Los Angeles, and all spent a pleasant evening taking in a picture show. Bro. Dort, of Burbank, has announced his intention of trying for a prize for securing Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegbapheb. 229 new members this year. Any nons who hap- pen to read tills, hustle around and send your applications to him. Bro. J. P. Sullivan, second Shorb, recently experienced some excitement with a hold-up During a lull in business about 8 :4Q p. m., whUe he deeply engrossed figuring out how much back pay he had coming, he was rudely awaked from his dreams of high finance, by the gruff command of, “Hands up,” delivered by a tough looking individual, who emphasized his demand, by pointing ,a wicked looking six-shooter directly at Bro. Sullivan, who, realizing that a person of his build could never hope to escape being hit if any shooting took place in his vicinity, obeyed the command without any undue hesitation, and endeavored to come just as near reaching the fly specks on the ceiling, as possible. The robber then came behind the counter and after getting the combination of the company safe, rifled it and the Wells Fargo box. which he pried open with the stove poker in one hand, while with the other he kept his artillery trained upon our unfortunate brother. After securing thirty dollars, the gunman commanded “Sully” to follow him outside, then faded away in the foggy night. Several days afterward the man was captured at Riverside, after hold- ing up the Santa Fe operator there. The constable, who effected the capture, had a narrow escape, as the robber shot a button off his coat at close quarters. Bro. Sullivan has identified the man, and all our brothers who work night tricks feel a little easier now that he is in custody, as there are sev- eral of them who can t begin to reach as high as “Sully” did, Bro. Steere and family, also Lineman Shepard and family, recently spent the eve- ning with Bro. and Mrs. Dickinson, and a pleasant time was enjoyed by all. In a former write-up I referred to Oper- ator Barrett as a brother, but wish to cor- rect that, as have found he is a non. Hav- ing been acquainted with Mr. Barrett years ago, when he took pride in having an up-to- date all the time, I had no idea that he had allowed, himself to become delinquent, and hope he will soon get lined up again. Mr. Gage relieved Bro. Hanson at El Centro, when the latter went to Nordhoff agency. Our new slniority list contains 235 names, the largest number of operators ever on the list. The new telephone dispatching circuit is now in operation, and the brothers and sis- ters on the district between Colton and Indio are learning to wiggle their toes when working with the dispatcher. Bro. Farwell displaced Bro. Herring, on third Indio, who relieved Bro. Burroughs, on fourth there, when the totter went to second Burbank. Don’t forget to send in the three-dollar assessment. Not a man on the division but gets a whole lot more increase than that each month as a result of the good work our committee has accomplished. C. C. Dickinson, Div. Cor. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, God has called to His eternal rest our esteemed Bro. T. L. Wilson; there- fore be it Resolved, That Division No. 58, of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the bereaved family their most sincere sym- pathy in this time of sorrow ; and be it fur- ther Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family, a copy placed on the division minutes, and a copy mailed The Teleqrapher for publication. E. L. Dort, F. E. Weight, C. C. Dickinson, + Committee. CARD OF THANK& We wish to express our thanks to 'the members of Division No. 53, O. R. T., for the beautiful floral piece and the kindness rendered to us in behalf of our dear hus- band and father. Mrs. T. D. Wilson, Mrs. Lucisl Lxnb. Sacramento Division — We have the best schedule in the world; a big statement, but absolutely true. No doubt many members will say we should do all in our power to show the com- pany our appreciation for the increase in pay and working conditions. When you say that, you are knocking your own Order. We should show our appreciation to the Order. The S. P. Co. has never given us anything voluntarily. This was proven just before the first O. R. T. agreement was signed. A cir- cular was sent to all telegraphers stating that they must go before a notary and swear that they did not belong to the O. R. T. and that they did not want the O. R. T. to legislate for them. Too many men held cards, however, and the circular was re- called. The company again proved that it would not voluntarily give us anything when the bonus was distributed. We will receive ours as back pay, not as charity. Bro. Walter D. Oakes, Cert. 21, agent Ban ■ Lomond, Coast Division, who recently visited relatives and friends on this division, com- menced work in 1879 and went to end of track on construction of the G. H. & S. A., under Superintendent Strobridge, in the spring of 1881. He was the pioneer operator for the S. P. into El Paso, from there to construction on the Mojave desert in 1883. The S. P. built from Mojave to Needles. He Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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230 The Railroad Telegrapher. was train operator between Goffs and Need- les, from there to construction out of Red- ding in 1884. He was telegraph operator for the superintendent of construction of the California & Oregon out of Redding. Dan Williamson was agent at Redding and Geo. Taylor agent at Red Bluff at that time. J. B. Wright was division superintendent at Sacramento and the “old timer,” Robiln, was train dispatcher. It was interesting to hear him tell of parts of the road that were narrow gauge when he started to work. The baggage car doors were so low they did not need a truck; they did not sell tickets off the road and billed freight to terminals for revenue billing. Bro. Taylor, now at 'Ocean View, is the oldest member of the Order on the Coast Division, and Bro. Duffey, agent Dutch jnat on this division, has seniority which dates from August 15, 1875. The old-timers who held up-to-datea when, if known it meant discharge, are the ones who deserve credit. There are several on this division. They not only held cards at that time, but still hold them and have never been delinquent. Also, some of them have never bothered the local chairman with & grievance. Our local chairman does not re- ceive a salary. All he gets is pay for time lost and expenses, postage and his union dues. We' should not ride a good horse to death. He is continually bothered with grievances which should be handled by the parties direct. The young members deserve credit so long as they held cards and helped pay for the committee, but the ones who did not do this deserve anything but credit. It is my understanding that the govern- ment has assumed all of the contracts. We know that our Order has contracts in Can- ada and Mexico and that we can find broth- ers on any road in North America. Most of the roads in Canada are government roads and they have good schedules, 26 -day month and good pay. Upon our local chairman’s return from San Francisco, he relieved Fingland, third Roseville, so that he could take his assign- ment in Sacramento; and, as Bro. McNeil had overlooked an order on the Stockton division and was taken back to work with the understanding that he could not handle train orders, he took the local chairman’s job, there being no orders to handle on it. Bro. McNeil’s case has been taken up by the local chairman and we expect to see his seniority restored, also the right to handle orders. In dividing the money, our local chairman did his best, considered no one personally, being guided by the information blanks and from what he personally knew of the posi- tions; as it was the position the salary was made for, not the man occupying it. If you don't like the Job. bid In another. All of the members did not respond to the assessment levied in January, 1917. Now we have another assessment of $3.00. Those who do not pay are liable to suspension. The money you Spend on an extra cigar every day would more than pay your dues and cost of $300 insurance, 4 cents per day. The back pay alone, averaging about $70, will pay O. R. T. dues and insurance for more than four years. It was possible for us to get even more than we did if we had been lined up better. The non not only hurts us, but hurts himself. It costs money to maintain a committee for months. Ask any of the train or engine- men how much they paid for the "Big 4” committee, and you will see why they get returns. Future committees on this road will be the “Big 5.” After you receive a copy of the new agree- ment, figure your time since September 1st according to it, and the difference In that amount and the amount you have already received, will be the amount of the back pay. If you are an extra man and deadhead from one station to the next, make out a slip for it. As soon as you receive the new schedule, study it and ask the local chair- man concerning anything not fully under- stood. Hang to the orders and overtime sIIims. The local chairman will get them allowed if they are returned. We did not get all we were after. There is no danger of us get- ting too much. No report on the N. & D. fund this month. The balance is the same as last month, $7.00. The Oakland Polytechnic is teaching telegraphy ; the Miller School in San Fran- cisco is also turning out “hams,” and I understand a former agent at Red Bluff is the teacher. The meetings, held at the Travelers Hotel on December 23 at 3:00 and 8:00 p. m.,. Sac- ramento, were only fairly attended. Bro. Watson, from San Francisco, secretary of the reduced general committee, explained all the new things which we gained. Those present at the afternoon meeting were: Jim O’Connor, B. D. Mullins, A. Bundy, H. M. Baxter, Sid Barner, J. M. Cleary, our local chairman, and Bro. Watson. Those present at the evening meeting were: R. V. Moore. W. B. Fynn, R. E. Fry, E. G. Byers, J. M. Cleary, J. S. Quire, H. W. McBell, Jim GCohnor and H. M. Baxter. The new schedule was discussed and explained so that everyone could understand what was coming to them. Recent initiations: C. G. Thompson, Sac- ramento; Miss May H. Southern, Auburn; G. B. Hobbs, Rocklin; G. C. Cryder, Rose- ville. Bro. York, from some division Bast, Is at New Castle, and Bro. McNett, from the O. W. R. & N., is at Summit. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 231 t IA. C. P. R. brother is on third at Chico. Bro. Fox. who could not handle the tele- graphing there, went on extra list. Bro. H. S. Doyle, Cert. 802, of Myndus, n. M., a one-man job and a good one, wishes to trade with someone on this division. Par- ticulars by U. S. mail. Bro. Schneegas is at Los Banos on the Stockton Division. Bro. Perciful is attending the 'dynamite trial in Sacramento, relieved by Bro. Ammos, of the W. P., a former S. P. telegrapher. Mr. Sumpter, staff operator from Fulda, is now among the telegraphers working third Smart. Mr. Sackett is on third Emigrant Gap and Mrs. Aske on second. Sister Wells, of Spruce, had the kids up for the holidays. Fuld will soon be as solid a e Soda Springs. Bro. Garoutte is now chief caller at Blue Canon. Bro. Rector, first Andover, spent the holi- days with his parents at Lodi, relieved by Bro. McNett, who later relieved Bro. Purci- ful a few days. Bro. Kuhn reports his wife steadily recov- ering and that she will soon be back at Gold Run. Bro. Dusher, second Blue Canon, wishes they would move the staff crane. He claims championehip as a marathon runner. Yours truly got chills and fever and had to take to the hills for a rest, relieved by Agent Brewer and Coyle, a new man, who later opened Arbuckle (new) nights. Our local chairman has been called to active service in the navy, having signed up for that branch shortly after the trouble started. My name appeared in the Sacramento Bee recently in the draft list. Read section 73. page 77, of the constitu- tion and mall your news to me at New Castle, my new Job. Our local chairman and Bro. Dusher are the only ones who donate news. I'll promise another write-up next issue, even though I have to mail it to St. Louis from France. ”MN." Western Division — Bro. C. S. Wood, Hayward, recently re- ceived a check for $96.30 back time in full for his grievance covered by Article 6. Bro. Turner, third Oakland pier, called East suddenly, Yinger relieving. Bro. Nel- son relieved by Helgren on third Pittsburg, went to first Dixon; Bro. A. J. Trudell, from the C. P. R.. relieved Bro. Fallys at Pitts- burg while he was away adjusting wage schedule; Bro. Wilson, on leave several months, was relieved by Bro. McTeam, now on third Martinez, a new position: Wood, from the S. P. & S., to second Bay Point and A. H. Mastin, from the Santa Fe, to Russell days, pending bulletin. Other assignments : L. Dyer, Bd. San Franciso. Tel — Russell, J. P. Fernandez. Agencies — Suisun, E. D. Rockwell ; Martinez, L. W. Brison, vice Bro. H. H. Tice, to travel- ing auditor, Portland Division ; Dixon, E. L.. Bryan ; Bay Point, M. Purcell ; Davis, F. L. Montague. Tel-clk — Napa, L. V. Cox. Sec- ond tel — Newark. J. L. Farria ; Bernicia, M. J. Kochman ; Dixon, G. S. Bass. Third tel — Pittsburg, F. J. Vargas. Tel. Remount and third Altamont, no bids. The new rules are now in effect. Too much care cannot be taken figuring out the back pay, as there are several ways of comput- ing it. Wm. M. Falls, Local Chairman. Portland Division — In my write-up for November I had Bro. Sprinkle. He has made applications for blanks, and we hope it will be “Bro.” Bro. E. A. Miller, first Junction City, is on 30 days’ leave, relieved by Bro. Law- rence. Bro. Applegate, second Oregon City, has joined the army, and is stationed at Van- couver, Wash. Bro. Fromm, second Albany, and Bro. Ghormley, second Eugene, have joined the “Radio" service, and are sta- tioned at Mare Island. We wish them all a safe and speedy return. Three tricks at Halsey, Bro. Dannon, extra agent. Geo. L. McRay, from “GN," on third and Bro. Curts, on second, Bro. Clay Moody, extra there, transferred to Timber pending bulletin. Bro. Dannon at Halsey, is doing his little bit lining up the nons. Bro. Tyson and wife are now settled down at Wood burn. Bro. Tyson on second, hav- ing been at Bar View for the past four years, Bar View recently abolished. Bro. Darling, first Salem, on a ten days' leave, relieved by Bro. Darland, from “KC" Portland. Bro. Boyd, our popular chairman, has Just been over the line after receiving the new schedule, and reports everything lined up in fine condition. We will soon be 100 per cent on this division. Bro. Summers, first Grants Pass to Leb- * anon agency. Bro. Cady, extra agent there at Lebanon for some time, assigned to Drain second. Bro. Miller, Banks, Ore., bid in second Canby. Bro. D. R. LIvengood, from McMinnville, was a recent Lebanon visitor. Bro. Wilson, agent Halsey, assigned “KC" Portland. Bro. Geo. M. Leslie promoted to traveling inspector, with headquarters at Portland, in charge of the territory of the Portland Divi- sion. Brothers on this division are sure pleased to see George get the position, as he is always “up-to-date.” We all wish him success. Digitized by tjOOQle
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232 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Eva, from dispatcher’s office at Port- land, working the main line for the last two months, is sure a fine brother to work with. Bro. Myers to second Brooklyn ; Mr. Sprinkle to “KC” extra ; Bro. Wilkinson, extra at "DW" general office ; Bro. Lembcke, formerly agent at Harrisburg, is now in the United States army, stationed at Vancouver. Bro. Preston Is in "VC” Union Depot, Portland. Bro. E. I. Wheeler, with the “SP” for over a year, has gone with the O. W. R. & N., at Hoquiam Wash. We wish him success. Bro. Miller, at Banks, was relieved by Bro. F. L. Kirby, extra from Summitt Bro. Moody went to the new position, sec- ond Corvallis, for a week. P. G. Vickers, Cert. 1201, DIv. Cor. South End Notes — Four operators at Glendale now. H. V. Butler to first, pending bulletin; C. R. Likens, from ' the “OSL” to second ; Bro. Shaw, of the “OSL," to second Creswell, pend- ing bulletin; J. M. McNamara, second Gold Hill, with Lacey, of Reedsport, on third. New depot (box car) placed in service at West Fork. The gentlemen there certainly have something to feel proud of. Comfort- able, commodious ( ?) and a good mile from town. Dry. Cor. Stockton Division — The new schedule has been completed and signed up. The new rates of pay started with January 1st, and back pay September 1st to December 31st should be received within bIx weeks. Bro. Manion returned from Portland, and settled the question of concurrence stations. Atwater, being added on Stockton Division, copies of the schedule should be distributed shortly. We have one of the best working schedules in the United States, and the brothers should give their very best service to keep up the reputation of the Southern Pacific. Bro. Harry Bates Is dispatching on second trick. East Side, and we are all glad to know that he is making good. Bro. SurryMne, third Madera, was sent to Tucson Division temporarily. Bro. Chase, on fifteen days’ leave, had a splendid trip north through Oregon. So many enlisted from Portland Division that they are short of operators and agents. Bro. Harry Lower, on thirty-day leave, is probably slaughtering ducks by the whole- sale over around Los Banos. Bro. Kahuda Is back at Madera agency, having recovered from the appendicitis. We are glad to hear of his return. Bro. Chase relieved Bro. Rleff several days, while he was seeing the sights In San Francisco, New Year's. Dispatcher Delmore is now working a trick at Oakland Pier, succeeded by Dis- patcher Kay, as night chief, Stockton. We are glad to hear Bro. Hess Is back on second Madera, after considerable sickness. Bro. Trent, formerly local chairman C. L & W. Ry., Connersville, Ind., is operator at Chowchilla. Bro. Jinks, of Chicago, is on fourth **BR” Stockton, pending bulletin. Bro. Foulks, formerly on Modesto Becond, visited the brothers and old-time friends there recently. Assignments : Agents — Athlone, B. A. Flautt ; Elk Grove, R. S. Cadjew ; Fire- baugh, D. T. Foulks ; Waterform, A. D. Cowden. Relief agent — L. J. Chase. Oper- ators, second tricks — Kerman, J. C. Oakes; Los Banos, D. M. R. Stauffer; "KN” Stock- ton, E. L. Rleff, Tracy, G. E. Darrow ; Tur- lock, G. E. Surryhine. Third tricks — Lodi, A. H. Price ; Merced, F. L. Schwing ; Oak- land, L. O. Wyatt. Fourth tricks — “BR” Stockton, P. F. Werner. E. L. Rieft, Dlv Cor. Cert. 760. San Joaquin Division — Bro. Freeman Is back from vacation, re- lieved by Bro. Wood, relieved by Bro. Ennis, later sent to Delano third, a new created job. Bro. Towles’ job pulled off at Clovis, relieved Beville, on Delano second, later re- lieving Bro. Davis, who relieved Bro. Clark, third Goshen, resigned ; later relieved by Bro. Kirkpatrick, Fowler second, relieved Bro. Ed Fry, agent Goshen- Later Bro. Kirkpatrick, relieved by Bro. Harry Galyan, from Rosamond. Mrs. Bamgrove, relieved on second Goshen by Bro. Schneesgas, from Lancaster, who also relieved Bro. Waggoner at Ravenna, a few days. We regret to learn of the illness of Bro. Winter’s wife at Bena, and hope for her speedy recovery. Assignments : Bro. Ludolph, of Lancas- ter, to third Woodruff; Bro. Braswell, from New Mexico, to second Lancaster; Bro. Starky, to third Bealville extra, vice Bro. O'Lovesky, to third Lang; Bro. Vandyne, to first Tehachapi extra, vice Bro. Manning to second trick Annex, dispatcher's office. Bro. O. D. Day, our local secretary, relieved by Bro. F. V. Collins, is working trick third on the Hill. Boys, help these brothers all you can to make a showing. Answer promptly with all the Information you Bro. Corzine and wife, of Rowen, were en- tertained at dinner Sunday evening, January 13th, by Bro. and Mrs. Ludolph, of Wood- ford. Bro. Haynes passed through Mojave re- cently. Bro. J. H. Wollen recently resigned, is pow working in Dallas W* Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 233 Bro. Weatherholt and wife of Tehachapi, spent Sunday, December 23rd, visiting Mo- jave Bro. and Mrs. Gibson. Sister Watts, from Sanger to Mojave sec- ond, relieving Bro. H. A. Stanford, who en- listed with “Uncle Sam.“ We wish him a safe and speedy return. Bro. Davis, of Lang, was relieved a few days by Mr. Mason. Bro. Martin, dispatcher, spent a few days in Los Angeles recently. Bro. Black passed through Mojave Jan- uary 13th, en route to Brown, to relieve Bro. Doyle a few days. We certainly were pleased to meet him. Bro. Castle, of Vincent, secured two new members since the first of the year. Bro. McCandless now seems well pleased, as is Sister Watts. When men leave Mojave they always have an O. R. T. card, owing to the winning smile of Manager Bro. Liston. Bro. Gibson, my assistant and myself, will be pleased to have all the notes we can get from the boys along the line, it only takes a minute. In the new schedule we obtained the fol- lowing positions on the Sunset : Agent Taft, $175.00; operator-clerk Taft, $115.00; agent Maricopa, $133.00; operator-clerk Maricopa, $115.00; agent Fellows, $145.00. On -this division we were given Lone Pine agency, $95.00. The amount awarded this division ex- clusive of the Sunset was $20,208.00 per year. The amount for the Sunset was $876.00. Amount given us in adjustments was $372.00. Special assessments levied in February, 1917, have all been paid up except Bro. J. A and Sister N. S. Cooper ; Bro. A. B. Loomis ; Bro. “Judge” O’Neill, and Bro. C. B. Tyler. We hope to receive their remittances soon. The following brothers have enlisted, and on the division service flag stars will be shown for them : E. W. Collins, J. P. Cor- coran, L. Curry. H. L. Haage, R. A. Hill, E. R. L. Jones, T. H. Krim, W. J. Lewis, J. B. Putnam, C. H. Reeves, H. A. Stanford. The service flag will be made as soon as the local chairman gets the materials, and will be displayed at all our division meet- ings. The following are new brothers since the first of the year: W. E. Scott, C. M. Love, O. A. Amesi E. Trumbo (transfer), A. N. Peters, R. A. Griffin. The meeting at Bakersfield, December 30th, was not very well attended. Our local chairman worked hard to get the meeting in shape so we could be enlightened on mat- ters pertaining the new schedule and in- creases secured. Those at the day meeting were : Bros. True “KM Nejedly, of Warren ; Wilson, of Waits ; Jarboe, of Fresno ; Dona- l^ie, of Armona, and Qalllon, of McFarland ; at the night meeting Bros. Day and Collins, of “K.” Shay of Edison ; Hood, ' of Fresno, and Liston and Huckeby, of Mojave. Of course, our Local Chairman, Bro. Cartt, at- tended both sessions. All enjoyed a nice time at Bro. Day’s expense. We were all loaded for questions, but only about four- teen showed up. Want all who can pos- sibly get away to come to our meetings, as it is the best way to keep up interest in our organization. There was also a meet- ing at Mojave the last Sunday in January. Bro. Martin, fourth “K,” while dispatch- ing, was relieved by Corwin. A lot of the boys are getting more than dispatchers, so there is not as much desire now as In the past to get into this line of work. Some of the nons now working almost a mint, but won’t cut loose of enough to be up-to-date. We must keep after them. Agent Lary, of Acton, has been off five months working for a gravel company at Monrovia, but have been unable to get Ac- ton on the bulletin. If we don’t get it on February bulletin, will turn it over to Bro. Cull. Urie, who bid In Springvllle, writes that he is $500.00 in debt, and can't see his way clear to Join. Parker promised our local chairman over a year ago, while at Pixley brushing up on Morse, after working wireless for Uncle Sam, that he would “come in pay-day." Keep after him. Bro. Starkey Is on third Bealvllle; Bro. Peters at Clovis ; Bro. Ennis at Delano ; Bros. Griffin and Underhill, on second and first Marcel, and Bro. Douglas Is agent at Famoso, pending bulletin, relieved on third Goshen by Bro. Harry Galyan. Bro. Shay is at Edison agency, pending change. Bro. Cooper, working 4 p. m. to 12 night (third trick), before taking the agency. Sister Cooper on 12 night to 8 a. m. (second trick). We are trying to get these numbers adjusted to conform with all other positions. The bulletins are always con- fusing when tricks are numbered backwards, and for this reason It is desired that num- bers be reversed, Sister Coopers’ trick being called third, and the one vacated by Bro. Cooper called second. Bro. Jepsen is now agent at Fellows, vice Famham, who enlisted. Bro. Mainland is agent at Lone Pine, vice Porter, who took Bro. Mainland’s Job at Burrell. With the exception of Uzzell and Wright, of Maricopa and Taft, the Sunset is solid. Bro. C. F. Baughman is second wire chief at Bakersfield, and Quinlisk second wire chief at Fresno, pending bulletin. Bro. H. A. Stanford, of Mojave, is now with “Uncle Sam.’’ Let’s hear frorp yop. Digitized by Google
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234 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. L. S. Jarboe, fourth Fresno, hours 6 a. m. to 3 p. m.t hour off for meal, with seniority dating from October 6, 1916, wishes to trade places with some brother on the Salt Lake Division; take it up with him, care Telegraph Office, Fresno, Cal., S. P. Co. Bro. Haines, called home to Fresno, owing to his mother’s serious illness, is back at Pixley. He was relieved by Bro. Haines, re- lieved by Bro. Stice, relieved by Bro. Hutche- son. Bro. Joyce, who tried three times to en- list for "Uncle Sam," and recently resigned for the seventh time, has gone to the West- ern Union, at Reno. We hated to see him leave. We wish him success, and hope to hear from him occasionally. Bro. Griffin, who wept to Marcel second, was relieved at Friant by Burfln. Agent Lary, Visalia ; Scrivener, Linsay ; Martin, Porterville, and Bro. Wasgatt, of Reedley, are now to work tricks. Remem- ber our motto boys, "no card, no favors” Our committee worked hard and benefited all of us, and agents having returned to the key after our pleading in vain for months, should make the old saying more homelike than ever. Bro. J. B. Putnam, writing from Amer- ican Lake, Camp Lewis, sends "73" to all the boys and asks that they drop him a line. He is a back door neighbor to Bro. Collins from Larose. H. W. Irwin, working "K" fourth, has the papers to fill out. Understand the “CO" is going to install telephones in the Valley. Boys, you may avoid this grief by answering up promptly, showing that the expense isn’t necessary. Assistant Local Chairman Mallachowitz, of Callente, was a recent Bakersfield visitor. Bro. Hood is anxious to get back to Mojave, after being at Fresno several months extra. Bro. Trumbo was made happy Christmas morning, by his wife arriving at Exeter from "Kaintuck." Bro. Lemka, relieved at Fram by Bro. Tyler, who has been East for several months, relieved Bro. Frank Nejedly, at Warren, a few days. Huckeby and Gibson, Correspondents. Shasta Division — We can look back with pride on the prog- ress we made the past year and realize what good an up-to-date card has brought us. We are now a body, 60,000 strong ; a branch of 500.000 union men ; and a part of over 2,000.000 railway employees. Our organiza- tion has made leaps and bounds of 1,155 members a month. A doctor learns his pro- fession, gets a diploma showing he has taken a four or five-year course at medicine. He administers to try to save life. A teleg- rapher spends as much or more time in thoroughly learning his profession too. He must perform accurately his duties. He does not try to save lives. He dare not make a mistake, his responsibility is not one life, but hundreds who depend upon him for ac- curate work. Suppose we should charge from $25.00 to $100.00 for taking a train order. You smile. Suppose like a doctor he forgot to deliver that order and suppose it were a positive meet, what would be’ the result? The world is getting more intelli- gent each day. We hope to see the humble operator tote his sheepskin showing his pro- fession. Christmas did not pass anyone up this year worthy of the raise and back pay our committee secured for us; to each member of which we extend our thanks. We have a schedule at present surpassed by no road in the United States. We will keep this place and go higher. Understand since Govt, took over the roads we will get even better than our agreement calls for. The man that hangs out and does not support the Order ought to be ashamed to ask for the back pay the committee secured for him. The attendance at the meeting Sunday, December 23rd, owing to holiday trains be- ing late, was not as expected. Local Chair- man Walters, a member of the reduced com- mittee, went over the agreement just fin- ished. Those present were Bros. Bailey, Foster, Thomas, Vail, Nichols, Hendricksen, Harris and Joyce, all South End men. Bro. Nichols arranged for the use of the meeting room, which we all appreciated and thank him. After dinner we had a group picture taken. We then marched back to the meet- ing room and listened to the translation of the rest of the new schedule. The boys are generally well satisfied with its provisions, although we wanted a straight $90.00 minimum. The working conditions are bet- ter than the salaries. Another meeting was called at Duns- muir, but No. 22 was late and had to post- pone it. A runaway box car from Dunsmuir re- cently made twenty-four miles an hour until it hit the derailer at Sim’s, jumping twenty feet from the track Into the clear. A couple of light engines on the pass track and a doubleheader on the main line got out of the way Just in time. It is now Bro. T. J. Thomas, second Weed, who has only been here two months. We extend him a hearty welcome, and hope he will be one of our strongest members. This makes Weed solid. It Is also Bro. G. N. Kramer, agent, and Bro. H. E. Kerr, oper- ator, making that place solid for the first time in a long while. When Davis left Ger- ber it placed them also on the solid list. It’s Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 235 small pickings now to find a non. Kennet, for the first time in years, was made solid by I. D. Meller joining. Agent Picksthorn, at Dunsmuir, and Reisinger, at Steinman, are the only nons now besides a few new men, who usually join soon after going to work. Bro. Mitchell joined last month, making Cottonwood solid. Brothers recently transferred from other divisions are: O. S. Aldrich, Howell, J. B. Young, R. O. Williams, H. Ormiston, Arm- strong, Johrholm, and Bagby. Bros. Long- mire, L. C. Oslander and B. A. Cober have not transferred yet, Bro. Joyce resigned. Bro. O. S. Aldrich relieved Bro. Howell, at Gerber, a few days, owing to the illness of his wife, at Portland. Bro. J. B. Young, Division No. 126, re- lieved Davis, who went to Tuscan Division, on account of his wife’s health. Lon gm ire goes to Cottonwood agency, vice Douglas, to Anderson. Bro. Mitchel relieved Bro. Thomas, on second Foster, a few days, then went to second Red Bluff. Bro. Beveridge has his family with him at Smithson, relieving Miss Stella Girard, who went to Edgewood third. No news from the North End. Bro. J. Hannan, to third “DR,” relieved at “BO,” by Bro. H. N. Sommers. Bro. A. L. Johnson, in the hospital three weeks with pneumonia, is back with us again. Bray, agent Bro. H. Anniston, from C. B. & Q., Gillette, Wyo., relieved Bro. Davis, later bid in by Bro. Longmeyer, succeeded at “CD” by Bro. D. N. Corbey, from Mt. Hebron. Bro. C. P. Cusick bid in Edgewood agency. Bro. A. L. Foster, on second. Bro. L. C. Oslander. “OWR,” bid in third Dunsmuir. Bro. Tuttle bid in Gazelle, another dis- patcher back to the fold. On account of the brothers not sending in their assessment of 66.00, we are again assessed $3.00. Do you brothers who have not paid up think it is right for those who did pay up, to stand all this expense? Pay your way, you are being reimbursed this amount each month twofold. What's worth doing at all is worth doing well. R. H. H., Asst. Chairman, Cbrt. 1771. Tucson Division — Enthusiasm was stirred up here when our genial and forceful local chairman, Bro. Bechtel, paid us a visit, and incidentally called the boys together for a chat and a discussion and explanation oP the rules in the newly amended schedule. On account of the short notice we were unable to get any of the outside boys in, for which we were very sorry, but “UN*' was fully represented by all except the three men on duty at the time. In addition we had Bro. “Colonel” Smith with us. The meeting was called to order promptly at 7 .30 p. m., by Bro. Bechtel, Bro. Robe- son acting as secretary, the others present being Bros. Duell, Meadows, Stanley, Kislig, Meacham, Kitchen, Gray and Smith. Bro. Bechtel gave us a nice talk on the proceedings at S. F., the new schedule, and other things of general interest. The following resolutions were adopted : Moved by Bro. Robeson, seconded by Bro. Duell, “That the members present, desire to express their appreciation for the efficient and satisfactory manner in which the sched- ule negotiations were brought to a conclu- sion by the reduced general committee with the valuable assistance of Vice-President Bro. Manion.” Moved by Bro. Meadows, seconded by Bro. Stanley, “That the members present desire to express their appreciation to the man- agement of the local Y. M. C. A, for their donation of the use of their assembly room for holding of the meeting, free of charge, and other kindnesses shown us at various times.” “Colonel” Smith gave us a few interest- ing reminiscences of the old days in “UN,” when the boys worked twelve hours a day for a maximum salary of $96.00 per month. At 9 p. m., the meeting was adjourned, and all left with renewed spirit o*f loyalty to the Order and to our employers. We feel that we have been treated well by the com- pany, inasmuch as they have granted us the improved working conditions, and will do our best to pay them a good interest, in increased effort in our work. J. F. Bechtel, Local Chairman. C. L. Robeson, Acting Secy. Tucson Relay Notes — Bro. B. M. Stanley, manager “UN,” has been confined at St. Mary’s Hospital with a severe cold, relieved by G. E. Garner, and he by Bro. C. L. Robeson, relieved on sev- enth trick by Miss Bluntach. We hope for Bro. Stanley’s speedy recovery. Bro. Spaulding, relieved on third “WC,” by Bro. Kitchens pending bulletin. Two new tricks opened on account of increased business, were filled by Bro. Gray, from Oklahoma, and Bro. McCormick, from Cali- fornia, other tricks being filled by Bro. Meacham and Duell, Bros. Meadows and Kis- lig bidding in eighth and ninth. Miss Gladdys Bluntach, from the “WU,” helped out a few hours daily until Bro. Stanley’s return. Bro. Mooney, from vacation, bid in fourth trick. Digitized by tjOOQie
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236 The Railroad Telegrapher. Tucson Division Notes — We are now working under another sched- ule, that has been somewhat delayed. Our committee worked hard, and the Tucson Division membership express its unbounded appreciation for such a successful conclu- sion. Bro. Manion and Bro. Cull deserve great credit for the manner m which they engineered the proceedings. Let us all show our appreciation to them and others of the committee, by lining up all the worthy nons. Bro. Bechtel, P. O. Box 195, Lordsburg, N. M., or myself, will furnish application blanks on short notice. I sent a letter to each office asking for notes, but only half replied. This is dis- couraging and quite expensive when forty- two letters are mailed at three cents each. I hope you will not wait for further requests if you wish to see a write-up in future from this division; my address is P. O. Box 152, Benson, Arizona, and I expect a few notes from each office in future to be mailed so as to reach me by 12 th of each month ; kindly sacrifice a few minutes each month in order to do this. When a non arrives at your station, see if he is supplied with ap- plication blanks, if. not call on me or Bro. Bechtel; it is to your interest to do so, and I trust each member will do the right thing in this matter. New members, January : Edward E. Shook, Separ; P. G. Phillips and Mrs. Emma Price. Moscal. We welcome them to our organization. Bro. Bechtel met Bro. F. S. Whitson in Frisco arrayed in a uniform, having joined the Signal Corps. Bro. Frank Moorman, formerly of this division, has joined the navy; the Tucson Division is well represented in all depart- ments of “Uncle Sam’s’* great machine. Bro. J. F. Boulter, from the “CP,** and Bro. Guy Duel, from Division No. 126, have been transferred to Division No. 53. Bro. Bechtel enjoyed Christmas dinner with Bro. and Mrs. J. K. Guidry, of Steins, N. M. He wishes to thank Bros. Stanley and Meadows for the keen interest taken in making the Tucson meeting a success. We regret to announce that Bro. J. J. Hicks, of Jaynes, was called to Denver, on account of the death of his father Christ- mas eve. The entire membership extends its heartfelt sympathy to Bro. Hicks and family. Bro. Marks, of Moscal, is booming them up again around Dragoon in the mining line, Bros. Black and Gilbert also implicated ; talk of foreign Sedans, private cars, aeroplanes, diamonds and big figures in the money line would make any multimillionaire blush with shame. Here*s luck. Just the same, brothers. E. D. Davenport (delinquent), assigned to Strauss third, relieved on Gage third, by Bro. H. J. Olmstead, later resigned, relieved by Bro. P. Phillips, from P. R. R., later re- lieved by E. J. Baugh, from the Arizona Sou., later R. H. Lewis, from the Sou. Ry. assigned promises to join February 15th. Helper engine and two crews put on at Cambray to help over Aden hill on account of heavy business. Bro. J. T. Riley, of Red Rock, to Benson, to visit his brother. Bro. J. A. Riley, who bid In second Ben- son, relieved at Raso by Bro. J. C. Johnson. Bro. L. L. Maull Benson to Lordsburg. relieved by Mr. Klein, who promises to join soon. Bro. M. C. Fulks, to third San Simon, relieved by H. O. Clapp, from the N. P. Bro. Ivan F. O’Malley, of Sentinel, en- listed in Quartermaster department, and has been assigned a desk in the Transportation department. Bro. Thomas, second Sentinel, has kept up his card although Just re- entered railroad service after a two-year lay off. Benson fifth, put on owing to heavy traf- fic, assigned Bro. Weathersby, from the I. C. Brothers, it may be necessary to place a small assessment to repay the Grand Divi- sion for money borrowed. If all the men who have been working on the Pacific Sys- tem had been members and paid up promptly, we would have a neat sum left over, instead of being in debt. Assignments not previously noted : Agencies — Gila, T. N. McCandless; Estrella, J. E. Redd ; Fontana, J. W. King ; Plchacho, Z. V. Wilson ; Separ, H. F. Mingledorff. Telegraphers — Sibyl, J. C. Johnston ; Enid, G. B. Fedricks. First tricks— Bowie, O. W. Craigh ; Willcox, H. A. Pritchett ; Piedra. First and second — J. W. Hulett and H. S. Oliphant. Second tricks — Maricopa, H. B. Custet; Esmond, Amanda Morrison; Ben- son, J. A. Riley; Willcox, L. B. Green; Aden, A. H. Ash ; Strauss, I. Ford. Third tricks — Mohawk, R. L. Berger; Gila, L. W. Pease; Bosque, A. L. Basye; Estrella, F. M. Tay- lor; Red Rock, L. R. Vermillion; Mescal, W. J. Marks; Bowie, T. H. Morrison; San Simon, M. C. Fulks ; Lordsburg, L. L. Maull ; Demlng, J. W. Maus ; Aden, W. C. Wilson. Fourth tricks — Yuma, G. H. Sturges ; Tuc- son, E. L. Mooney ; Lordsburg, J. A. Skipper. L. H. W., Div. Cor. Northern Pacific R. R.f Div. No. 54* Dakota Division — Greetings, Soldiers; Salute your Captain. Government control thus far seems “as usual.'* “Speed up" is the need of the hour, and we can all con- sider ourselves acting as non-coms for Uncle Sam and give the best we have towards re- leasing cars and otherwise “hitting the ball.’* And thus it follows, the same ap- plies to making this an O. R. T. year on the Northern Pacific, Our hustling General Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 237 Secretary and Treasurer “Busy Energetic” Nason passes out the good word that Sys- tem Division “Fighting 64” can win the grand prize offered for the best division in the U. S. A., if we start now to make It so. The Dakota has received an Influx of new material that should Immediately join our “Army” as sisters and brothers. Have mailed nearly every one of them a set of blanks, and a sufficient number of reasons why they should make haste to join imme- diately. Fee for February is $16 :50 and March $15.50. With one of the best sched- ules in the Northwest, which Includes a minimum of $80.00, a twenty-six-day month, eight-hour day, overtime for all Sunday work, increased overtime rates, and calls with other betterments any one of which is an argument within itself, no one should remain out. Tou members are lacking in appreciation for what the committee has done for you in the last three months, if you fail to “do your bit” for the Order, help line up the nons and work that much harder for the N. P. Ry. Chief Dispatcher H. W. Gillette writes me that it is very probable that the N. P. can in the next ninety days take care of at least thirty good Morse telegraphers, and local chairman should advise all members on their divisions if they have any friends now em- ployed elsewhere, or in other lines of busi- ness, who desire to locate on a good road, to communicate with Mr. Oakley D. Johnson, superintendent of employment bureau, at St. Paul, Minn. .We welcome one of the oldtimers of the Dakota, Bro. John Ireton, agent Goodrich, back to the flock. John said these Increases were coming too fast for him longer to ignore his duty to the O. R. T. We likewise extend the glad hand to Bros. Jacob Scharosch, E. L. Smith, Geo. Olson, and A. V. Flowers. ' Come on boys and girls, “fall in” for roll call. We are in receipt of cards from Bros. R. L. Wilson and Chas. E. Kitner, now at Sig- nal Corps training school Fort Leavenworth, sending “73” to the boys. Also Bro. D. Chas. Poindexter, in the same service at Camp Custer, Thirty-first Co., Eighth Bn., One Hundred and sixtieth Depot Brigade, Battle Creek, Mich. Carry on, brothers, we are with you in spirit. Bro. J. A. Berdahl, agent Stanton, called East by death, was relieved by Sister Bessie Dalller for a week. Bro. Harry Flowers returned from Glen- dive Hospital to Killdeer, but soon leaves for third Bismarck. Bro. Harry Raeshke gets second there. Both Harrys are ardent O. R. T. boosters, and will do the Dakota much good in the future as in the past. Bro. H. L. Matson, agent Dodge, got all worked up when he opened a car of com- pany lignite and found the body of a mur- dered man lying in front of the door. Bro. W. H. Millard and wife, of Hazen, attended Masonic doings at Killdeer over night recently. While Bro. L. G. Brewster, agent Cannon Ball, was on the sick list with la grippe, his daughter. Miss Maude, ran the station for him. Fred Thimmesch, who returned from the West, and relieved on second Bismarck; Harry Rannestad, on second Windsor, and N. O. Parr, recently returned from hos- pital, all promise to send their blanks in at once. I would especially call your attention again to Bro. Sam Johnson’s article or pre- amble in the December Telegrapher and ask a second reading. Let it soak in, then let all of us try to practice that efficiency, cour- tesy and betterment of the service so ear- nest! y suggested by the man who has to stand or fall On that platform when nego- tiating for further improvements in our schedule. In the past past five years I have always Injected some bit of like suggestions in my write-ups, hoping to eventually put the Dakota in a class by Itself with cour- teous, gentlemanly and proficient, par ex- cellence agents and telegraphers. That we have succeeded to a large extent has been very gratifying. That there remains room for improvement is inevitable. I have been furnished a good supply of late seniority lists of January 1st, which I am mailing out Should I miss anyone, write me. Note all nons are (•yd. Will advise monthly when the prefixes are to be taken away. Let us hope they disappear rapidly. Have appointed Bro. A. L. Warren, agent McKenzie, and Bro. G. L. Berquist, "J” of- fice, as assistants, who will co-operate with me in “making history” on the Dakota in the next three months. Bro. H. S. Schmoldt, relieved as agent Montpelier, pending return of Bro. F. A. Ward, when he went to Denfoff to re- lieve Bro. E. H. Wagner. Bro. B. E. Con- ley is still agent at Ft. Rice, but soon ex- pects to hit the main line. C. R. Jolley, second “JY“ office, promised to line up by the first. Bro. Ross ought to bring both Jolley and Mark Sexton in, since recent big Increases. They should make their prom- ises good. Bro. J. W. King, relieved at Regan by A. M. Thune, who later relieved Bro. Evans, at Hesper, ten days. Bro. N. H. Collins is now agent at Wing, Bro. Lem- burg to Pettibone, vice Bro. Lee transferred to Montana Division, and Bro. A. E. Soder- holn to agent Melville. Mrs. C.* N. (Una. Vera) Hendrix, is now agent at Arena, and hope soon to be calling her sister. If all come in that have faithfully promised we will have some list for next Telegrapher. Miss Iona Bolton is relieving on third Windsor. Miss Irma Ingalls, who relieved Digitized by Google
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238 The Railroad Telegrapher. N. O. Parr there, while in Brainerd Hospital, later relieved Bro. H. F. Crandell, Medina, and thence to Dawson. Miss Mercedes Loomis and Miss Frances Cadieux are on second and third Sterling, and Miss Irene Nelson, on second Steele. All these young ladies will be sisters in the near future. It is now Bro. T. W. Scanlan, agent Midland Continental Ry., at Jamestown, who said he wanted to belong to a real division. You showed good taste in Bro. Scanlan. Until the new Sunday overtime rules have a chance to work themselves out, please be patient, and we will do our best to co-operate with both telegraphers and officials towards amicable settlements. Do not be hasty in submitting grievances until the officials have had a fair chance to settle. Extend the glad hand to Sister Bess Dal- lier the first of the new recruits to show her appreciation of the benefits the O. R. T. has made possible by getting an up-to-date and show the way for the other girls. Received a letter from Bro. M. O. Olson, formerly of the “Dakota,'' now agent on the G. N., at Arthur, N. D., sending greetings to the boys and advising of the arrival of an eight-pound boy. Bro. Pliny Moen, agent Barlow, is still "fiddling" and getting in a boost for the O. R. T. now and then. Former Trainmaster Don. S. Colby, now First Lieutenant Engi- neer Corps, Russian Service, writes us from Nagasaki, Japan, that Ydstie, Grant and him- self are all well and having some trip. Sends “73” to all. A number of the boys are being called in for re-examination by the chief, ourself among them, to see if we are still physically fit to hold our own with the N. P. In closing I want to add that the non member who further withholds his or her ap- plication from the O. R. T. are not “toting fair" with the other fellow who is “paying, the freight," and every member is urged to bring this fact home to them every opportu- nity. Now all together for the best railroad and best system division on the continent. “Highball, I’ll get the ‘gate’ ". Faithfully yours, H. H. Ellsworth. L. C. Montana Division — Livingston, Mont. — Since my write-up in the December Journal, we have secured an- other revision of our schedule on the North- ern Pacific Ry., which makes three revisions in the past sixteen months, something never known before. We can all say truthfully now, that we have one of the best schedules in the U. S. or Canada, and the general com- mittee on this line hope to have the beet be- fore long. That is our aim, and with the unanimous support of the rank and file this can be accomplished. We expect all the members on the North- ern Pacific Ry. from now on to not only carry a card themselves, but to personally see to it that no one sticks around on our line any longer without an “up-to-date" in the future, as there is no valid excuse for this condition here after a man has received a couple months' pay. I trust that all you brothers and sisters on the Montana Division will see “Who is who" in your respective offices, and ask to see each other's cards in order that you may know who is up-to-date and who is not, then get busy with any “nons" you find working among you. By proper persuasion you should land them; if you cannot do so, ad- vise me or one of the assistant local chair- man that we may also work on them. We cannot know where all these nons are, as the force is changing a good deal since war conditions came upon us, many of the old members now being in the government serv- ice. Let us ALL see if we cannot make 1918 the best ever for membership on the N. P. system. We can. If we will, put forth our in- dividual effort. You must realize that your general com- mittee has done its best to improve working conditions and increase your salaries consider- ably in the past sixteen months. We have been very successful and expect greater ef- forts on the part of the rank and file than ever before. Do not forget this, brothers and sisters, because “in union there Is strength," and it is our duty to support the hand that feeds us. We have no other way to better our condi- tions or increase our wages than through our organization. Let us never forget this ; work for the common good of us all and be loyal to the officers of your organization at all times. So far this year I have received a goodly number of applications and from those who have only been with us the past few months. This looks fine for the Montana Division for 1918, if the good work keeps up, which I trust it will. I want to thank the members for taking such an active interest in the work the past eight or ten weeks, which is bringing the desired effects. Good team work will do the business. I have appointed four assistant local chair- men well proportioned over the division to start the new year. They are; Bros. Otto Lemm, at Butte, Bert C. Hazlett, at Billings, Wm Nixon, at Roberts, and D. C. Little, at Bozeman. Do not forget that Bro. Harry B. Arnold is our genial secretary on first trick at Rapids, Mont., and he will appreciate notes from the members on the Butte line and main line west of Livingston. I cannot look after this part of the work, having so much territory and the second largest division on the North- Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 239 era Pacific Ry. ; the grievances, and hustling new members takes a great deal of my time when off duty. There will be a report of the flower fund in this issue of the Journal. If you see any mistakes, kindly write me, so that I may have them corrected. We wish all the brothers and sisters to support this fund ; it is only ten cents a month. If anyone knows of a member who is sick at any time, kindly get word to me please that I may order flowers for them and let them know they are remembered. That is what this fund is for, most particularly, and we do not want to overlook anyone entitled to its bene- fits. I have had no report of a member being sick for sometime past ; I trust no one haa been overlooked. Fraternally yours, L. C. Carleton, L. C.. O. R. T.. Mont. Div. Montana Division Notes — Is the Sunday overtime worthy of men- tion? Be your own judge, and spend part of the first month's benefits therefrom for a card. Bro. Tietz went East for a few days, re- lieved by Miss Henrietta Troup, who later relieved Bro. McDonalds, at Big Timber. Bro. Crane has a new buzz cart, with no speed limit thereon. Bro. Atwell opened up the new agency at Louisville recently, and is now settled down for business. Mrs. Carll, on two weeks* vacation, re- lieved by Miss Craig, later by Miss Hazel Troup, she later to third “CJ,” relieving Sis- ter Schroeder, who spent the holidays with her folks in Billings. Bro. Godfrey and Miss Larson, extra at Lombard, the latter being relieved by Bro. Swarts on his return from a visit with his folks in Washington. Miss Sutherland returned January 7th, from a visit with folks in Hamilton, reliev- ing Miss Dillon, who, with Miss Brecken- ridge and others, whose names we did not learn., went to the Pasco Division, Bro. Sieflfert, on vacation back East, re- lieved by Lewis, from the Postal ; Mr. Mc- Carthy a new man, relieving on first “S,” later returned to the Butte mines. “KD** Laurel jrard, now* solid O. R. T. for the first time in a long while. Let’s try and keep it that way and have more of them in that class. *Bro. and Mrs. Hoover, relieved by Bros. Haley and Godfrey several weeks, on account of the sickness of their two months’ old baby. Sister Huelhan is relieving at “AU” and “CO,** while living quarters are being ar- ranged at “GN.M Bro. Orman, relieved thirty days by Sister Marie Ehlers. “ME” and "RD” second, closed January 7th, Bro. Turvey bumping in at ”CJ,” and myself bidding in first “RD.” Sister Turvey will resign soon to join her husband at “CJ.” Bro. Carleton reports seven applications sent in January 16th, not including the fol- lowing, who have since sent in their papers, Messrs. Corbin, Atkins, and Lewis, and the Misses Sutherland, Glasgow, Henrietta Troup, Mrs. Dillavou, and perhaps others I haven’t gotten a line on. Instead of the ladies weak- ening our union, as many of the boys feared, they are going to make us stronger, the way they are lining up, as they not only realize but appreciate the benefits thereof. F. A. Farnsworth and W. C. Bremigan and Bro. J. F. Jones one set, cut off in the dis- patcher’s office, January 16th, victims of fofce reduction, understand they all went to the S. P. Two tricks also out off in "VS,” and two in “KD.” Note the appointment by Bro. Carleton of four assistant local chairmen, not only they, but each of us fellow-workers can be of great help to our worthy local chairman. Few of us who realize the amount of work he has to do in common with his own, and not many of us would dig in as he does, without salary for so doing. The least we can do to show our appreciation thereof is to do our bit to help him. Bro. A. C. Lyssow, now at Camp Lewis, sends regards to his friends on the division. Mr. Hanifen has enlisted in the wireless, and left February 1st for final examination at Frisco. He will be with Bro. Unger and others from this division at Mare Island, Cal., if he passes. Bros. Frank Gabriel and Roger Barr seem to like Laurel exceedingly well, spending most of their Sundays there. “There’s a rea- son,” and it isn’t “Postum” either. Bros. Gabriel and Hynes when they invite a friend to dinner take him to the best “Grill” in town, but how did they know I didn't have the “px”? Sister Morrison, visiting relatives at Co- lumbus two weeks, relieved by Sister Gene- vieve Glasgow. Bro. and Sister Lofgren were recent visi- tors with Bro. and Sister Turvey. The two brothers caught some large fish, but lost the largest. Bro. Ranger, extra “CO," later went to third “CH” extra. “Shorty.” Yellowstone Division — With the adoption of our schedule effec- tive January 1st, we claim to have the best and highest paying one in the United States, and should have the best and big- gest roll of O. R. T. operators. The nons are henceforth going to get more attention than previously, and we must see that nothing is left undone to bring them in. It is more than ever the duty of each member to find out who the nons are, Digitized by tjoooie
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240 The Railroad Telegrapher. and then keep after them (especially those working at your station.) The local chair- man will gladly furnish you with the names of those to go after. We are in receipt of a letter from our local chairman advising us that our divi- sion will require about thirty competent telegraphers within the next ninety days. Any brother or sister telegraphers who are looking for one of the best paying jobs in the -country are requested to make applica- tion to Mr. O. D. Johnson, N. P. Ry. Em- ployment Bureau, St. Paul, Minn. All te- legraphers are paid overtime for Sunday work, and but two offices on this division are closed on Sunday; these two jobs pay a minimum of $87.60, including free rent and fuel. All other jobs pay from $101 to $1'10 per month, many of them Including living accommodations and fuel. All main line subdivisions are represented in this write-up, for the first time in a long while. This is due to the fact that a few of the brothers sent in some notes. The roll of honor contributors for this month are: Bros. Tronstad, Swain, Desforges, and Gru- man. Thanks, brothers! and come again. Bro. Fisher, who has been in the Signal Corps for the past three months, was dis- charged on account of some slight defect in hearing which escaped attention at his previous examinations. He is back on first Richardton. He regrets being unable to con- tinue in the military service, and says he met several “NP" men while there, among them Geo. Dye, our former lineman, who is now captain of the linemen there. He speaks very highly of the life there, and says all the boys seemed well contented with their new life. Bro. Fisher’s return to Richardton put Mr. Pierce on second, vice Mrs. Pierce to third, vice Mrs. Stockman on leave absence. Bro. “Squint" Robertson, Glenullen third, has gone to St. Paul to enlist in the Signal Corps, if successful in passing examinations. Judson office was open two nights on ac- count of the recent derailing at Sedalia. C. V. Claflin on second, and Miss Balltrushut on third. Bro. Rhyner. of Hebron third, visited friends at Curlew recently. Bros. Pombert, Nelson and Swain were busy filling out their questionnaires recent- ly. Bro. Nelson and Miss Smudlach, second and third Hodges, were relieved by Misses Woods and Foreberg a few days during the holidays. Bro. Cooper, first Beach, took a trip to Miles City recently to have his eyes treated. E. R. Buntin out of service. Second Beach on bulletin. Bro. E. H. Gilbert, first Sentinel Butte, relieved a few days by Miss Miller. Bro. P. J. Gallagher appointed agent Medora; no bids and position three times up. Bro. Julian, second Fryburg, says since the Sunday overtime, “This is the best country in the world” (outside of the Ozark Moun- tains). Bro. Desforges, agent South Heart, thinks we have the best schedule of any road in the United States, and we can put in with him on that. Word has been received that Bro. W. E. Shoquist, now with the U. S. Signal Corps, arrived in England December 2nd, 1917. Bro. Shoquist writes that he likes military life very much, and has had many experi- ences which he is not allowed to write about. He says he feels full of fight, and is itching to get to the front. You, brothers and sisters on the second sub, mail in some notes, either to Bro. T. id. Swain, at Yates, Mont., Bro. H. A. Des- lorges, at South Heart, N. D., or to Bro. E. H. Murray, at Hebron, N. D. We are going to make a greater effort to give you a good write-up each month, and need the help of every one. Let's get after, and keep after the nons until they all take out cards. Our President is depending upon organized labor to play a big part in winning this war, and the operators who Join the good old O. R. T. and pull together with one accord will be doing a patriotic duty. Conlin and Hoyt, third subdivision closed, and Marsh opened by Katheryn M. Doherty, Ethel M. Tribble, and Anna B. Eichorn pend- ing bulletin. Bro. Metzger, from first Hoyt, bumped into first Allard, Bro. Pombert bumped Bro. Pars low, from second there, who bumped Bro. Hitchcock on first Tusler. Mrs. E. M. Vetter bumped Miss Margaret JJrown out of second Colgate. Glendive “Gi" will soon be solid. ' It is now Sister Miss Elsie P&hl, making Sanders of- fice solid. The lining up of new members on the road is progressing splendidly, and with the assistance of the entire member- ship we should soon be 100 per cent solid. Dispatcher Perry, seriously ill at N. P. B. A. Hospital, relieved by F. G. Little, on third sub. We hope for his speedy, recovery. Bro. L. C. Pope and M. A. Smoot are breaking in as extra dispatchers on third and fourth subs. C. E. Nelson, agent Forsyth, quarantined with smallpox, relieved by A. Hoffman, cashier from freight depot, and he by Mrs. J. Larson. Mrs. Mason, "PI" third, relieved during holidays by Miss Pettit, who later relieved Miss Irene Connelly, second Big Horn, off to school at Glendive a few days. Miss Susan Olson, Big Horn third, on a short visit east, was relieved by Miss Schultz. Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 241 Miss Tribble visited with friends in For- syth, relieved at Marsh by Miss Shay. Bro. Flanagan, of Worden, owes a letter to Bro. E. H. Murray at Hebron. Assignments: Medora, Agent- Opera tor P. J. Gallagher; Telegraphers, third tricks — Beach, E. E. Cavanaugh; Zero, Harley Stevens; second tricks — Colgate, Margaret Brown; Terry, W. R. McChestney; Beach, E. B. Fish back; Medora, E. T. McCormick. Up for bids. Marsh Agent- Operator and Marsh second and third. Drv. Cor., Cert. 391. Seattle Division — The meeting held at New Richmond Hotel, Seattle, Sunday, December 17th, was called to order by Local Chairman Bergum at 1:00 p. m. Those present being: Sister Deeper, Bros. Stoneburner, Eko, Carr, Kruger, Her- berg, Swanson, Campion, Ackley, Bell and Kallander. It’s a long way from Auburn to Seattle for some brothers, but the distance from Ellensburg and Cle Elum not too far for members of the Ackley and Leeper stand- ard. Several letters were read by Bro. Bergum, one in particular, which had the approval of members present, regarding the dispatchers calling on the signal maintainer and his wife at Covington for information pertaining to the movement of trains by telephone, and they are still performing this service. The seniority list matter was taken up, and after arguments pro and con, a motion was made by Bro. Eko and seconded by Swanson, that the lists be printed in book form, the same as last year, with the cert, number opposite each member, and the mo- tion carried; also that seniority lists be sent to members only, who had contributed to the local fund. Brothers and sisters pay up your local fund dues and get an up-to-date revised sen- iority list Remember, printing comes high these war times; it takes money to make the flivver go (not the mare). Motion made by Bro. Campion, and sec- onded by Carr, that Bro. Bell write a letter of thanks to Mr. McCormick, proprietor New Richmond Hotel, thanking him in be- half of the Order for the use of the room (which was given free). Motion carried. Brothers should remember Mr. McCormick when in Seattle, and looking for a good room from a good fellow. There is some talk of having regular monthly meetings at different points along the line. This is a good idea, as it keeps up interest among the members. If this is done, all members who can possibly attend should do so, and not oblige a few brothers and sisters to keep life in the good old Or- der on this division. Let’s all pull together and make Seattle Division 100 per cent strong. All the new “Op’s” coming on this division seem to be willing to join, and they should be asked, and furnished blanks, which will be furnished us by our local chairman, G. S. & T. Bro. Mason, or if in a hurry, write to St. Louis direct for them. Every station should have at least two sets of blanks. We can’t do business without them. Bro. J. W. Parks, an old timer on the Seattle Division, has gone into the radio service. We all wish him a safe return to his old stamping ground. We will miss that old familiar sign “OK, R.” Bro. Cosgrove, from second East Auburn to days, Sumner. There being no bids on the former on first bulletin, on the follow- ing bulletin Bro. Cosgrove, bid back to his old love, relieving Sister Morgan, from . Black River second, who went there pending bulletin, and later went to the S. P. St S. temporarily, on account of our trains running via that line and Vancouver, Wash., owing to the numerous washouts between Seattle, Tacoma and Ellensburg. The line is OK between Seattle and Tacoma now, but the Ellensburg line is still out of commission between there and Thorp. We were with- out any train service for several days, tele- graph and telephones all being done for three or four days, after the severe storm of Decemberst 21st. The north end was washed out between Maltby and Snohomish, and the round house at Everett by the Sno- qualmie River. January 6th the Bellingham Branch was reported impassable until fur- ther notice. Gayer left the service without securing a card, as he promised, got his stake and beat it; think he meant all right, but was ordered to Martin, and rather than go, he quit. If this meets Bro. Davis’ eye, he will wonder why, as he spent about five years there before joining the colors, and you could not drag him away from the snow- capped Cascades. Moffltt to second Black River, succeeded on third Martin by Griffin from the Big ”G” (GN). He has promised to take out a card pay day. Our new and revised schedule, effective January 1st, 1918, just received and she is a dandy. Twenty-six working days, with pro rata time for Sundays, with a minimum of $82.60 for twenty-six days. Bro. Sam Johnson is some live wire, and don’t forget he saw far enough ahead to get there before Government control, which would have caused some delay. The nons now have no excuse for not joining, and we should see that they line up. I have Just finished reading Bro. John- son’s writeup in December’s Telegrapher, regarding operators interfering with lady operators, or foners, and I think I can truth- fully say for Seattle Division "NOT GUILTY.” As Bro. Johnson says, they should be given a helping hand, “boosted,” not knocked. Supt. McCullough, Puget Sound Division, Digitized by L.ooole
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242 The Railroad Telegrapher. has been appointed Supt. Terminals of Seattle, for the four roads, under Govern- ment control, O. & W., Milw., G. N., and N. P. All will use King St. Station. On January 10th we ran our first train through to Ellensburg via our own line; had been using the Milw. from Easton for three or four days. This news may look useless, but it will not be for the brothers who have joined the colors. Bro. Swanson, third Auburn yard, gave us a Christmas eve surprise by wedding Miss Norlne Fern Rainey, of Auburn, at the home of the bride’s mother, at 7 p. m. Mr. Ken- neith Hodge being best man. Both bride and groom are among the best known of Auburn younger set, Mrs. Swanson being bookkeeper in the Citizens’ State Bank. We wish them all the happiness possible. Jack Bassett, dispatcher at Seattle for years, has resigned to enter other business. We are all sorry to have him leave, but wish him success. Second Black River closed temporarily owing to the shortage of operators, Mr. Mof- fltt going to second East Auburn, on ac- count of the resumption of passenger traffic that had been tied up for twenty days. Third Ravensdale also closed, Gress to Palmer Jet., days, temporarily, Mr. Quinn being loaned to S. P. & S., to keep Sister Morgan company. It is impossible to get a day off on account of the scarcity of men. There Is plenty of work for good O. R. T. members on this di- vision. Zider, first Spokane Ave., has resigned, causing no regret from any of the employees of this pike. Bro. Hansen, first Martin to Sumner days, W. M. Hope to second Hartford. Someone see that he is up to date, If not put him that way. First Martin and Spokane Ave., and Ros- lyn days on bulletin. Remember the slogan: SIXTY THOU- SAND MEMBERS IN NINETEEN HUN- DRED EIGHTEEN. It can be done. EVERETT TRUE. Seattle Division Local Fund — Statement as of January 1st, 1918: RECEIPTS. Cash on hand last report $ 89.48 Balance Bro. Webber’s note 2.80 Local dues to date 13.50 Notes on hand 41.50 Total $ 97.28 DISBURSEMENTS. Stamps and cash book $ 1.25 November expenses , . 4.60 Notes on hand 41.50 Cash on hand January 1st 49.93 Total $ 97.28 Fraternally yours, C. H. BELL. L. S. & T. Tacoma Division — The meeting at Centralia, on January 12th, was well attended by Bros. Carr, Brodie, L. C. and E. T. Wyse, Runyan, Cole, Patterson, Robey, Weyand, Long, Henderson, F. T. Wright, and Parkinson. Just thirteen. The two faithful Sisters, Carr and Cole, attending the ladies’ auxiliary side of it, had a very enjoyable program during the evening. They were entertained by a male quartet, also some piano solos by Sister Cole. I wish to especially urge the sisters to attend the meet- ings called by the president, and each one come prepared to do your bit of service as well as entertainment. There are great pos- sibilities in these meetings, and a little enter- tainment will stimulate the interest. Broth- ers, put the bonnets on your auxiliary mem- bers and bring them along; you will all be glad you came, and make me sorry that I have to stay at home. Bro. Parkinson was unanimously elected local secretary and treasurer. His address is Napavine, Wash., and he will be anxious to make out a lot of receipt cards for your social fund dues, send them in for the fol- lowing six months, or year. The purpose of our social fund, the dues of which are ten cents a month, payable semi-annually or an- nually (donations always welcome), is for purchasing flowers for members or their im- mediate relatives while sick, or for funerals ; and for members in financial distress who wish to borrow money to pay their initiation fees or dues to the O. R. T. Our treasury is in excellent condition, but it could be twice as strong if all members would remit their dues as conscientiously as they remit rent to the landlord. While you think of it — make up your remittance right now and send it in, then you won’t feel like a “slacker” when you see a pretty bunch of posies delivered tb some dear friend of yours. Bro. Nason has named 1918 “O. R. T. Year,” let us catch his enthusiastic spirit and help him accomplish his aim. Do a little personal organization work and send some particular non a weekly letter, until you land him. There are not many left, and in an- other year you won’t have a chance to write to a non because there won't be any. The past year alone has given us enough am- munition to batter down the biggest fortress of excuses. Let’s show Bro. Nason that this division CAN become solid O. R. T. during this year. Get busy. Congratulations to Bro. Gaudette, second Rochester. The happy bride was Miss Vine Harrison, of Gate. This explains Bro. Gau- dette’s inability to remain away from that part of the country. The Tacoma Division wishes the happy couple a long and happy life. Bro. Stanley relieved Bro. Sherwood, agent Sixth Ave., while he and Sister Sherwood spent a pleasant vacation visiting relatives and friends in Wisconsin. Bro. and Sister Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 243 Tompkins are touring the East. Sister Tomp- kins relieved on second Sixth Ave. by Miss Slnsobaugh, relieved on third by Miss Olsen. Our sympathy goes out to Bro. Weyand, third Central la, who recently suffered the loss of his mother. Bro. Graybeal, agent St. Clair, was re- lieved a few days by F. E. Smith, during the Anal illness and- death of his wife. Sister Graybeal. The entire division keenly felt the loss of this beloved sister, and extends its heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved brother. Third Montesano closed temporarily during the washouts on the main line and Sister Rubish going to Kelso, where slie and Bro. Dickinson worked twelve-hour shifts during the congested period. Miss Stringer, who went to second there, found the Morse too much of a bugaboo, so she was sent to sec- ond Bucoda, and left the occupants of Kelso to double again. During negotiations last fall the officials made the boast that they could make oper- ators in thirty days, but they have discovered that it is impossible to make even the “OP” of an operator in thirty or even in ninety days. It takes time to make a good oper- ator as well as good wine. The company's estimation of good telegraphers ought to be “ace high” by this time. Vancouver Junction closed, Bro. Shinn to Woodland, temporarily. The requirements of Centralia office were so numerous that it was necessary to put on two extra operators there. Bro. F. T. Wright taking first, and Sister Mielke second, Bro. Carr working a twejve-hour shift at Olympia. Bro. Adams to third Gate, vice Sister Vose from third, relieving him on second, vice Masecer, a new man, who later relieved Bro. Smith, on second Aberdeen Jet., thence to South Tacoma. I would like to know if the pronunciation of “camouflage” is camouflaged, or if it is pronounced as it looks? Bro. Robey on the sick list a few days, was relieved by Slpprell, who promises to get a card soon. Bro. Leahy, on second Bucoda temporarily, relieved on third Tenino by Mrs. Leahy, who will be with us shortly. Bro. Illick, second Tenino, relieved by Bro. Leahy. Bro. Snead, West Tenino, bid In second “WR” office. I am greatly Indebted to Bro. Hartl for notes this month. E. A. Mielke, Dlv. Cor. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, The Father in His great wis- dom has decided to call unto Himself the wife of our beloved Bro. Graybeal ; and Where a 8, We, the members of the North- ern Pacific Railway, Division No. 54, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, bow in humble sub- mission to the will of Him who doeth all things for the best ; be it therefore Resolved, That we extend to Bro. Gray- beal our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in his very sad bereavement; and be It further Resolved, * That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Bro. Graybeal, a copy spread upon the minutes of this division, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. E. A. Mielke, J. C. Snead, T. H. Ritchie, Committee. Pasco Division — Several students along the line breaking In Miss Mae .Dellon and Miss V. Craig, at Paha, will both Join shortly. Mrs. Levesy, wife of Bro. Levesy, at Lind, is breaking in there. Providence is solid except a student breaking in there. Sister Dawley, first. Sis- ter Rueff, second, and Sister Sal Smart, third,* that office looks good to anyone. Sister Lydia Waybill, second Cunningham, relieving Sister Pierci, is engaged to wed sometime in June. We wish her much happi- ness. Bro. and Sister Duggan, first and third Cunningham, who bid in second and third Gibbon, grave it up on account of school. Two tricks at Hatton ; Bro. E. R. Pierci agent, and Sister A. C. Pierci are working the other shift from 6 p. m. to 3 a. m. Trains have been tied quite awhile on account of the washouts. The N. P. and other western rail- roads have had “some time of it” this winter, but it’s looking good again. Bro. Donohoue is on first Connell ; Bro. Madden, second there, bid in Pomona third. Bro. L. E. Tipton, third Connell, is plan- ning on getting a Ford. Miss L. Hughes, at Vale, has promised to Join shortly. I haven’t heard the name of her student yet. Miss Hughes is relieving Sister L. Young for sixty days, taking In the sights \ at Seat- tle and Sound points. Bro. D. Bdhttle, agent Mesa, is busy these days on account of the pit having been opened. Bro. Crow is agent at Ettopia. Sister Ella Collins and Bro. Sigmon, dis- patcher Pasco office, were recently married. Congratulations from the Pasco Division. Sister Griffith, extra, relieved Sister Collins on first Glade, with Miss Florence Touey on second, and Bro. J. Korb on third. Several of the brothers were called to the S. P. & S. to help out during the washouts, including Bro. J. Korb, Bro. Geo. Schrader, and our Local Chairman, La Marche. We are glad to welcome them back again, but the war will probably capture a good many of them. Bro. M. J. Garwood is on first Pasco yard, and Bro. Scanell on third. Bro. Geo. Schrader and Bro. Howbrook are on second and third Badger, Sister Chad- wick, of Parker, went on the day shift, while Digitized by Google
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244 The Railroad Telegrapher, Bro. Chadwick and Bro. La Marche were over on the S. P. ft S. during the washouts. She is getting to be some operator. Sister V. Marshall Is on the "Owl” shift at Alfalfa. Cert. 768. Telegrapher a, Idaho Division — In previous issues of The Telegrapher, especially those of the last half of 1917, I attempted to awaken an interest in all teleg- raphers, members and non members, In the work required to make this “a solid division.” In each of these appeals, I asked for your untiring support; that you lay down your personal doings, put one hand to organizing and tlie other to bring in the " delinquents ” In brief, I solicited your assistance to wipe out "delinquency” and procure the applica- tion of EVERY NON to start out 1918 with a clean slate, with no delinquents and no material to work on whatever. Many of the brothers and sisters responded with their utmost effort to accomplish this feature, to whom I am grateful for the interest shown. There are some who seem willing to, alet the other fellow do it” and I ask that you, who are qnable to overcome this idea, to read what "Mack” has to say relative to or- ganization in’ the December Telegrapher, page 1783, where you will note some very interesting facts concerning the life of "Or- ganization,” how it started and smoldered along until the brisk winds fanned it into a blaze and brought it out to its present stand- ing in this world of strife for our very exist- ence. Our committee with the backing up of all EXCEPT the none, has secured Sunday over- time for all telegraphers under the schedule ; an Increased overtime rate to forty-five cents; an increased rate of calls to sixty-five cents ; took care of the six-day positions, which would not benefit by the Sunday over- time, and secured for them a flat increase of five dollars, and likewise brought conces- sions to the relay department, which the nons gather into their pockets and say : aI am just that much better off” They may be so financially, but their friends look upon them doubting their manhood. Brothers, we must see that they show some consideration for these benefits BY JOINING THE OR- DER AND PUTTING THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND THE CAUSE THAT IS PUTTING THE VERY BREAD INTO THEIR HOMES. They are eating the fruits of the tree planted, nurtured and cultivated for years by you who have waited and watched for it to bear the ripened fruit. Other branches forming on this tree and its development will be has- tened by their support. Are you going to continue in the same old rut? Let us prune and care for it until it blossoms and blooms out into the world. The delinquents are causing us time, trouble and money to obtain their payment of past dues, hindering the progress of the good work that has been accomplished in spite of this weak point. Our past two revisions have brought them an increase of twenty dollars a month, sufficient to pay their dues of twelve dollars a year, ON THE DATE THEY BE- COME DUE. Their weak method of taking care of that which brought them this In- crease, is an obstacle that is bound to retard our progress. They are among the first to look into the revised schedule, to see how much of an increase they received. Com- pare present working conditions with those of a few years back when O. R. T. was not so prominent on the N. P. system. Our fu- ture activities will spell the answer, and the same applies to all. The Idaho Division has had the honor of carrying the largest per cent of membership. Let it be the first to have a solid division , and lead all the other divisions of the entire Northern Pacific System, and enable Division hj o. 54 to lead all other divisions. Tour unanimous support will accomplish this, and I request you, brother and sister members, to do your whole duty, and see that the nons and delinquents on Division No. 54 do theirs. Bar these names from the records of this division. Put it down in history, then tear out the page. Yours most hopefully, R. B. Irwin, L. C. Idaho Division Notes — Bro. W. E. Floyd, Paradise first, was off a few days to register under the new Cana- dian conscription laws. Mitchell transferred to Childs, relieved by P. F. Ebert, and Bro. Geo. Muldoon to third Yardley, relieved by Thompson, another newcomer. Sister Olson to third Placus, vice Miss Murphy, resigned. Sister Jenson relieved Mrs. Stevens, third Eddy, Mont., a few days, on account of sick- ness. Bro. Fauss, third Trout Creek, threw it up for extra work, relieved by Bro. S. J. Henry, later transferred to Otis agency temporarily, relieved by Sister Margaret Kay. Sister Katheleen Kirk on short vacation to the East, relieved by Bro. M. E. Anderson, third Cabinet Bro. A. Younker relieved Mike Schroder, third Hope, on trip to Spokane. Second and third Athol closed temporarily, while Bros. Anderson and Younker went to the S. P. ft S., a few days; later opened with Bro. S. J. Henry on second and C. W. Harrison an oldtimer on the N. P., on third, who will line up shortly. Otis agency closed, Bro. Henry to third Yardley, relieving Thayer, a new man, re- signed and returned to Denver. Later Bro. Henry relieved Bro. Johnnie Schroeder, who answered the call of the colors. Trains were detoured thirty days owing to the washout of the Beaver Creek bridge. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railrjad Tei^egrapher. 245 Assingments : Agent — Operator Johnston ; Bro. W. G. Mays. Telegraphers — Wilbur to Bro. G. L. Gray. First trick — Marshall, Bro. F. O. Hansel. Second tricks — Pullman, R. B. Beseke; Plains, Bro. A. Sater; Athol, Bro. L. A. Griffith. Third tricks — Plains, Mike Schroeder; Athol, Bro. C. V. Fauss; Coco- lalla, Sister E. C. Olson ; Trout Creek, Sister Tessie Jenseq; second and third Paradise un- filled. I am indebted to Bros. Williams and Tay- lor for Items this month. Nothing from the West End. Brothers on the East End are setting the pace for those on the West End. Let's hope the latter will follow in close. Div. Cor. Idaho Division Local Fund — Bocal fund to December 31. 1917, inclusive as follows : Received from all sources, to December 31, 1917, inclu- sive $121.10 Disbursements previously re- ported $ 47.55 Seniority lists and postage for 1917 4.95 Flowers for sick member. . . 2.00 Due on loans t& membership 5.25 Cash on hand in treasury-. 61.35 $121.10 $121.10 E. S. Smith., Local S. & T. Fargo Division — The following is a statement of the flower fund for year ending December 31, 1917 : RECEIPTS. •Balance from Dec. 31st, 1917 $ 31.02' Assessments received 1917 38.00 Interest on time deposit for $50.00, May to October, 1917, at 6 per cent interest 1-50 Total receipts for year 1917 $ 70.52 •This total brought from February, 1917, Secretary Meldahl’s report. EXPENDITURES. Check No. 5. flowers, Feb. 19. 1917 $ 5.30 Check No. 6, flowers, March 12. 1917 1.26 Disbursed $ 6.55 Certified deposit No. 2674, date Oct. 19. 1917, to May 19. 1918, on 6 per cent in- terest, amount of certificate 60.00 Cash In checking fund 3.97 Total disbursements, cash and time deposit 63.97 Total $ 70.52 M. L. Hbtzler, L. C. Treasurer. H. C. Dauphihais, Secretary. The 1918 assessment is due, and wish you would kindly remit to the local chairman at Deisem. One more assessment is all that is expected to be made, and It is then pos- sible that the interest will carry all ex- penditures. Local Chairman Hetzler has the new Jan- uary, 1918, seniority lists, and same can be had by mailing him 10c at Deisem. The ten cents is merely sufficient to cover the cost of the list, but the amount will be placed in the flower fund for all lists sold, HELP OUT THE CAUSE. The quicker the fund is sufficient to maintain itself, the sooner the assessments will cease. It is al- most positive that hut one more assessment will be made, and that for 1919, when the fund in all probability will care for itself. The new Sunday overtime is a departure from all our former rules, and is rather com- plicated, so in order to avoid any disputes it is advisable to correspond with your chair- man when in doubt as to the application. Bro. Frey, at Sheldon, has gone into busi- ness for himself; relieved by Brother Farn- ham, of Casselton. Bro. Barnes, at Cooperstown (relieved by Opsahl), is another one of our brothers who has forsaken the key for other pursuits of life. Bro. Jones relieved at Nome by non Her- zog; went to Sheldon, thence to Casselton, third regular. No word has been heard from the Coopers- town branch for some time, but presume the brothers are all alive. Bro. Schmidt, at Kathryn, reports that there are still some “NONS” on the Cassel- ton branch. W« thought the H. C. L. would drive them out of existence, but not so. Bro. Pat Nahan is telegraphing at Towers City. It will soon be Brother R. B. Lewis at Lamoure. Bro. Taylor, at Alta, recently gave us a new applicant to our ranks, and we wish to welcome Sister F. D. Taylor. Not saying anything detrimental about our worthy brothers, but from experience I am begin- ning to And that our lady telegraphers make every bit as steady members as the men. Time a few more were waking up with the splendid -work that has been done for them the past year. I have found, from personal experience, that the man who does not care for his own interest is one of the poorest men for the company's Interest. “Hit the ball," or you will be finding that the company will be putting another man in your place that will do so, as we have a schedule that will aid them in securing A- No. 1 men, and the general committee de- mands that you "make yourself efficient in order to back up their demands. Cert. 590. Digitized by c.ooole
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246 The Railroad Telegrapher. Lake Superior Division — Bro. R. Bt Maupin, who bid in second McGregor, was relieved at Cromwell by Bro. P. J. Crawford, from Willow River. On account of being unable to secure living quarters, Bro. Crawford was obliged to give up Cromwell, and it was bid in by W. E. Johnson, a new man. Bro. W. E. Firth, extra “DU,*' relieved Oslie, third Deerwood, on sick leave. Bro. Darby Gray is relieving at Pillager during the absence of agent, Bro. Tram- mer. Bro. Thomas, of Rush City, and Bros. C. L. Wallace and A. F. Garner, of Hinckley, are newly Initiated members of 1918. There are several more good prospects in sight. Most of the boys spent New Year’s figuring out what the Sunday overtime rule would mean to them, which proved an interesting puzzle at first, and a very agreeable sur- prise. Santa Claus visited the home of Bro. and Mrs. W. J. Hoffman and left them a nice little girl on Christmas day. H. A. Knedel, Div. Cor. Southern Ry.y Div. No. 59. Mobile Division — You cannot expect your local chairman, with his other duties, to do it alL A few things have happened recently that has called my attention to the very great importance of “Flower Fund,” which I wrote about some months ago. Take the Funder- burk case; here was a brother unfortunately thrown on us without money or friends, ex- cept his card. We had no funds, and only for the prompt action of a few brothers who happened to be on the ground, no doubt that this brother would have suffered for the want of attention, and no doubt from humiliation. These kind hearted brothers cannot be on hand to help every unfortunate, neither can they be expected to pay these bills while a collection is being taken up, which takes the valuable time of the brothers soliciting. While the brothers respond to an appeal of this kind promptly, almost unanimously and most liberally, it would be much better if we had a fund on hand avail- able at all times. This fund could be kept up by a small contribution of fifty cents a month, payable in January and each suc- ceeding three months. Fifty cents a month will not break you and would add much to the dignity of the Order. Twice this month it has fallen to our sad lot to send flowers to the graves of parents of two of our good brothers. Fortunately there was enough money on hand left over from the Funderburk fund to pay for these flowers, but it necessitated a call on the brothers for money to replace this fund so as to be in a position to administer to the next worthy call without some brother hav- ing to advance the money, and then wait for another solicitation; each of which has to be handled by some big hearted local conductor, or worse, burden the wires. Think the matter over, brothers, and if this plan meets with your approval, which I am sure it does, but has not been given the proper consideration, make your, remittance to Brother R. G. Bulloch, 12 Union Street, Selma, Ala., who has kindly consented to act as treasurer, and who is in a more cen- tral location to make disbursements than your local chairman. Brother Bulloch will keep a strict account of all moneys received and paid out, making a report to me and the assistant local chairman quarterly. Brother Traylor, who joined the Naval Re- serves (radio), several months ago, now stationed at Point Isabel, Texas, we are sorry to learn is in the base hospital at Brownsville, Texas, undergoing an operation for tonsolitis. We hope for his speedy re- covery, and that he will be greatly bene- fited by the operation. Brother E. M. Young, extra in the dis- patcher’s office, is back at Wilsonville; re- lieved by Brother Hicks while in Selma. Brother Burke, Mayline, we are sorry to note, is on the sick list, caused by a “tussle” with a section foreman. Sister S. Y. Hicks bid in Randolph agency, but owing to the shortage of men has been unable to take charge, as there is no one to relieve her at Spring Garden. We are glad to have Brother Funderburk back with us, after being off some three months, caused by a fall. He bid in second North Selma. Very much afraid we will lose several of our young men on the next draft, as most of them are being put in the first class, with nothing to help them out but industrial exemption. We are sorry to know that one of our young extra men refused to go to a place and work in case of death and then had the bad judgment to get insubordinate to the dis- patcher about it, for which he was promptly dismissed from the service. Boys, don't get it in your head that a dispatcher cannot fire you when you are in the wrong or get too gay with him; that’s a part of his business. Remember that he has the same authority as the superintendent during his hours, and his position demands the same respect. If you cannot give him the proper respect and obedi- ence that his position demands, it is better to resign and leave In good standing, as in- subordination is a much worse recommenda- tion than Rule G. No company will employ a man that has been discharged for either. 1 have been working with this dispatcher for the past ten or fifteen years as operator and dispatcher and find him very easy to get along with just as long as you do your work, and when you don’t you can expect nothing Digitized by v.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 247 elm but a call-down. He is held personally responsible for the entire division and when you fail to your duty it is a reflection on him, which any man will resent. Do your duty and help to hold up the dispatcher’s end. He has more trouble in one minute than you have in a week. If he gets cross because he has to call you unusually long, blame your- self; his time is very valuable and too much limited to have to spend it calling you, while you are out talking to your girl. A great deal has been said as to what will happen since the railroads went under gov- ernment management. It is too soon yet to say what will be done and how. Should the change affect us at all, it will be to materi- ally better our conditions. Our president is on tho job and has the confidence of the or- ganization and all whom he deals with, and we can rest assured that our interests are being looked after. We are as patriotic as any set of men on earth, but patriotism sinks deeper into a full stomach than an empty one. It will not be- come chilled if we are comfortably housed and clothed. Now is the time for us to keep our or- ganization up, as we are going through the supreme test, and will come out on top. Let’s give the government the best in us ; our reward will sure come if we do this. Fraternally, J. R. Young, Li. C. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our heavenly Father and all-wise Ruler of the Universe to call to His home the beloved father of Bros. Geo. A. and Sam A. Hale. In mani- festation of our grief and fraternal sym- pathy be it Resolved, That the members of Division No. 59, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, ex- tend to the bereaved brothers and their fami- lies our heartfelt sympathy in their sad be- reavement ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brothers and a copy to The Telegrapher for publication. J. R. Young, J. H. Avbryt, V. L. Hubbard, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Wherjea8, It has pleased our heavenly Father to call to her reward the beloved mother of Bro. J. W. F. Garner, and grand- mother of Bro. W. I. Garner. In manifesta- tion of our grief and fraternal sympathy be it Resolved, That the members of Division No. 59, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, ex- tend to the bereaved brothers and their fami- lies our heartfelt sympathy In their sad be- reavement ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brothers -and a copy to The Telegrapher for publication. J. R. Young, T. W. Cox, C. A. Bradley, Committee. Mobile Division — CARD OF THANKS. Please express to the membership of the Mobile Division, Southern Railway, my most sincere appreciation for their many kind words of sympathy and the beautiful floral offerings during the recent Illness and death of my dear mother. Fraternally, J. W. F. Garner, Montevallo, Ala. Deaths: Mother of J. W. F. Garner, Di- vision No. 59; Brother of J. W. F. Garner, Division No. 59. Memphis Division — Very sorry to report Bro. Hooker, first YD, still on sick-list ; relieved by Bro. Thompson. Assignments : Bro. J. S. Hunt, agent Glens, to Tuscurabia passenger station, nights; Bro. Roberts, second YD, vice Bro. Boyett, resigned; Bro. Bowen, Grand Junc- tion second ; Bro. Austell to Iuka third, re- lieved at AH by Crawford from the L. & N. Bro. McCullar, second Middleton, re- lieved by Bro. Atchley. Bro. Hodges, agent Larkinsville, on vaca- tion, relieved by Bro. Wright of Division No. 46. Bro. Wyatt is back on third UN. Hope he stays with us this time. Our worthy Bro. Grant, in the telegraph department of the Signal Corps, called on the local chairman recently. Bro. House has resigned and gone West. Hope he finds better times out there. Correction — Our last write-up shows Bro. Sanderson of “RN” as “Mr.” Sanderson. “Bro” Sanderson is a new member but a very staunch supporter of our worthy cause. Boys, don't fail to remit promptly for your division cards for the present period. It would be much better to remit for a yearly card and not be bothered with making an- other remittance July 1st. Local chairman Uptain.had splendid suc- cess organizing the division recently, and there is a smaller number of NON8 on the division now than ever before. We hope this will soon be diminished to “NONE.” Let us all join him in an effort to bring them all into the fold; even if we don’t di- rectly secure an application, we can at least show that we are heart and soul behind the good old O. R. T. There Is a certain NON on the East end who pleads financial embarrassment when called upon to join. However, he was able Digitized by v^ooole
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248 The Railroad Telegrapher. to purchase a big player piano recently. There is one “good man” at that station ; maybe he will succeed in landing him. Div. Cor., Cert. 654. All Concerned, Knoxville Division — It has been arranged that where our men leave the service to become soldiers or sail- ors, they will be given the privilege of taking their former positions or going on the extra board, as they see best; provided, of course, they are in condition to re-enter the service. W. H. Cord, L. C. Members, Knoxville Division — It seems impossible to have regular monthly meetings now on account of the cut- ting off of passenger trains and the way other schedules are running. However, we will arrange to have a meeting now and then at some convenient point. If you have any suggestions I would like to hear from you. We are glad to note the splendid conces- sions recently granted our brothers on the C. R. I. & P.. C. M. St. P., C. B. & Q. and I. C., and we hope we will be next. Our revision a year ago overcame the em- barrassed conditions partly existing at that time, but we now And ourselves in very straitened circumstances. Prices for every- thing have jumped skyward, while salaries have not done much to even things up, and the average wage-earner must go without the necessaries because the salary will not pur- chase them. The patriotic solicitors make no secret that railroad people meet their solicitations readily. We have met the call of the Red Cross, Liberty Bonds, Thrift and War Savings Stamps, the Y. M. C. A. and the “Home Guard,” and every month we realize more and more that our money is being taken from us by the realistic high cost of living and have reached a point where we cannot respond to further patriotic solicitations, no matter how much inclined we may be. In every distribution of wages in the past it his been the spirit of those assigned this work to do it as nearly with Justice as pos- sible. There are, of course, quite a great deal more telegraphers than agents, oper- ators and agents, and while we naturally want to see all get justice, I personally want to see the agent-operator come up consid- erably higher than the majority of operators, if that be possible, and this I have had in mind for years. I hope the next increase will be sufficient to make the adjustment satisfactory to all. There is no question but what our class should come in for a very substantial in- crease. Aside from the responsibility con- nected with the work, if you will refer to the “Death List" each month in The Tele- grapher and note the causes of the majority of deaths among the telegraphers, you will find that they are stomach troubles, tubercu- losis and nervous diseases, which medical authorities claim are brought about and very greatly aggravated by indoor and re- sponsible vocation. Let us do all we can in every way, both for the government and the railroads, in this crisis and look forward with the hope that 1918 will bring us good returns, at least sufficient to maintain the family and pur- chase the necessities. Fraternally, W. H. Cord, Local Chairman. Knoxville Division Notes — In looking through the journals recently it is noticeable that more telegraphers are leav- ing the service than ever before. There are various reasons, but I presume the most im- portant is that starvation wages paid will not keep them, and the profession is the most nerve-racking that a man can choose. The men of our profession are among the most intelligent, well-read, clean-cut men of the world, and the poorest paid of all occupa- tions, including section men and common labor, and there are probably two teleg- raphers in other occupations for every man working at the profession today. When the world considers the handling of lives as precious as the delivery of letters, and the compensation for telegraphing is equivalent to that paid a common delivery- man, the return of the men to the profes- sion will equal any demand placed upon it. We have chosen this profession and should all get busy and bring about improved con- ditions. Get in the none. Make the divi- sion 100 per cent solid and keep it that way. Attend the meetings and co-operate with your division officers. THINK THIS OVER . ICs up to you and me. Cert. 29. Knoxville Division t Between Morristown and Asheville — River Line rollings : Bro. J. P. Morgan rolled Bro. D. O. Purkey, third Rollins, who rolled Bro. Rich, third Volga. Bro. J. A. Swalm, displaced by the abolishment of a Jonesboro job, rolled Sister Spratt, second Wolf Creek ; Price, west end, rolled Bro. Long, third . Hot Springs, who rolled Bro. McDaniels, off second there. Sister Plem- mons has been on second and third tricks at Hot Springs for some time. Bro. B. A. Hawkins, third trick at Alexander, bid in first there. Bro. G. A. Robinette, first Rollins, relieved a few days by Bro. J. M. Line, and Bro. Gardner, first Paint Rock, by Bro. J. A. Mc- Campbell, who later relieved Bro. B. D. Par- rott, first Nocona. Bro. E. T. Mefford, second Volga, relieved several days by Bro. C. S. Chandler ; Stuart, third Crabby, by Bro. G. R. Netherton; and Bro. McDevitte, first Sandy Bottom, by Sister Plemmons. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 249 Several Jobs on bulletin this month are vacancies caused by the boys being: drafted. Brothers, if you want a write-up each month, send me the notes. I can’t get all the news on the line. J. J. Bailey. Columbus Division — On vacations: Bro. Taylor, during Christ- mas, relieved by Bro. Melton, visiting points in Alabama; Bro. Kent, during holidays, re- lieved by Bro. Epps; “DC” has an assistant now ; see marriage list ; Bro. Roberts a few days visiting his parents at Woolsey. It's now Bro. W. P. Bolton, agent Colum- bus, Ga. We are in “Uncle Sam’s” hands now. Let’s all do our “bit.” We have just two more to come in to make this division 100 per cent. • As soon as possible remit for your dues and avoid having to sign the military and naval release. Cert. 435. Weed Line — Your correspondent, rusticating in the “Valley of Virginia” the latter week of Janu- ary, takes this occasion to send in a few notes. Bro. Hyde, one of the “old landmarks,” who entered the service in the days of Father Washington, Is a recent, addition to our brotherhood. Assignments : George R. Comer, yard clerk Harrisonburg, to New Market agency ; Bro. Whitesell to Front Royal agency, succeeded as agent Tye River by Bro. Strother, re- lieved at Marshall agency by Mr. Watts, an old-timer, pending Bro. Roberson’s relief at Elma agency ; Bro. J. B. Norvell to Coves- ville agency, vice Bro. Roy Whitesell, pro- moted to a position with the passenger de- partment at Washington; Bro. Crump to ex- tra message trick, Culpeper, vice Bro. Page, who bid It in but never filled it, later going to “H” Washington with the Washington Terminal Co. ; later Bro. Faulconer went to “CD” extra message trick ; Bros. Wright and Herrell to the two new twelve hour message jobs at Monroe, later made eight-hour day and night tricks, with a margin of four hours after each one, giving the chief the right to hold them on overtime when the business de- mands it. On the sick-list: Bro. Lewis, Harrison- burg, relieved a few days by Bro. Sharp ; one of Bro. Kites’ children, several days, the brother being relieved also by Bro. Sharp ; agent Mundy at Shipman relieved by Bro. Fields ; Bro. Brown, third Coveswille, re- lieved by Bro. Dudley from New Glasgow ; Sister Robertson, agent Gilbert, relieved by her husband, Bro. Robertson; relieved on second Weybum by Bro. Weatherell ; Bro. McDonnell, first Claverton, relieved by Bro. Barksdale. We are glad to learn that Sister Robertson and Brother McDonnell had about recovered when this was written; dispatcher Cowhig was relieved during his illness by Bro. Saffell, second “CD.” The Weed line has been having some fear- ful weather lately, requiring two engines to move a four and five car passenger train, and then occasionally getting stuck in the snowdrifts. On the main line Alexandria to Monroe, the company has had to frequently fall back on freight power to move passen- ger traffic, passenger engines in many in- stances being unavailable or frozen up. At such times the passenger power has had to cover two round trips over thq division in 24 hours on account of the heavy movement of troops, but not a single mishap has oc- curred on the entire division during the past year, that could be charged to the negli- gence or inefficiency of the men. Through freights which ran daily last fall, now only run on Saturdays to handle stock move- ments ; Nos. 14 and 21 now run daily except Sunday, giving the agents more of the Sab- bath to themselves, as trains 49 and 28 run at a time of the day when they find it easier to meet them. Bros. Gar bee and Witt, the bandmasters at Shipman, keep their brothers entertained on the ’phone during lulls in business. Bro. Hudson, second Manassas, extra, is also doing special police duty “taming coons.” The third trick man at Cameron Run is perfecting a lever-pulling, labor-saving de- vice, which he will loan to the first trick man Sundays as soon as completed. The new round-house and coal-chute at Alexandria, Va.. of brick and concrete, strictly fire-proof, has been put in service and is much more accessible owing to the high made ground with its numerous track leads and sidings, than the old one; and makes a fine appearance, as seen from the east side of the main line when approaching Alexandria Union Station. On vacations: Bro. Harrall, relieved by Bro. Sharp, who previously relieved Bro. Hixon, third Manassas ; and Bro. Rogers, second Orange, relieved by Bro. Weatherell. General Secretary and Treasurer Burgess, Charlottesville, Va., was relieved ten days by Bro* Lee Fields, while attending to order business, and Bro. Jonas, third Calverton, was off several days recently attending to social affairs. We hope by another month the weather will have broken enough for another big meeting, when we ■Will be able to review the events of the past few months. Don’t forget your dues, brothers ; remem- ber, February 28 th is the limit. I have not been favored with notes from any of the brothers recently, but hope I may be before next write-up. “SA”. Cert. 1431. Digitized by Google
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250 The Railroad Telegrapher. Queen A Crescent Route < North) , Div. No. 62. Second and Third District s — Bro. Marshall Dung&n, second McKinney, at Science Hill agency while agent Baston is on his honeymoon, bid in third Somerset, and Bro. W. T. Sumner third “FR"’ tower. Miss Edna Mosler is on third "HP’ tower. During Miss Singleton's Illness the other operators at Somerset doubled third a few days. Now that the government has control of the railroad systems, we stand a better show organized than disorganized. The govern- ment gave us the right to organize; so let’s pay our dues promptly. Just the same as we always have done. Let's be cheerful and work for the wel- fare of our families and ourselves. Success comes from effort. Our own merits are what will carry us through ; not the other fellow's demerits. J. G. VanHook, Cert. 693. “CX” Chattanooga — Bro. Whittle relieved several days on ac- count of sickness by Bro. Boyd, who also re- lieved Bro. Allen a few days on account of the death of his baby. Our manager, Bro. Hanson, visited home folks one day recently. Bro. Boyd did in eleventh trick "G” Cln-., cinnatl. H. B. Griffith. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Almighty God, In His infinite wisdom and mercy, has deemed it best to re- move from this earth, to his home in heaven, Elmer T., infant son of Bro. and Mrs. E. P. Allen; and Whereas, We feel that as dark as the shadows are on an occasion like this, every cloud has its silver lining, and death Is but the door of a greater life, where we all will meet again to part no more; be it therefore Resolved , That we, as members of South- ern Railway System Relay Telegraph Office, Chattanooga, Tenn., and members of Division No. 62 of the Order of Railroad Telegraph- ers, extend to this bereaved family our heart- felt sympathy in their darkest hour; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to Bro. Allen and family, and a copy to The Railroad Telegrapher for publica- tion. W. Hanson, C. P. McCluen, H. B. Griffin, Committee. Great Northern Ry., Div. No. 70. Brothers, I wish I could announce that our committee had Just returned from St. Paul with the signatures of the officials attached to the best schedule in the Northwest. Wouldn’t that be grand? Such a thing can happen and real soon, too, if Just a few more of the boys send in their applications to C. B. Rawlins, G. 8. A T., Star Building, St. Louis. The success of the N. P. brothers is what scared the man- agement into giving us that flve-dollar in- crease. Wouldn't it have been nice to have gotten a flfteen-dollar increase and extra pay for Sunday— a twenty-six-day month? Look at the N. P., not a Job that pays less than $101 a month and with the Milwaukee right behind it with practically the same pay and working conditions. The management didn’t give it to them because they wanted to; it was because 99 per cent of the boys carried up-to-date cards and with a card a man’s word usually carries some weight. The officials know that there are sixty thou- sand other men behind him to help him if necessary. Did you ever hear of the O. R. T. losing anything It went after? No, and you never will. Every road in the country needs teleg- raphers; the G. N. has some of the best in the business and they are crazy to get them as you, no doubt, know by the circulars you got from the N. P. brothers. Let's get busy; good men are hard to get now and the company is not going to let any of us go merely because we are asking for a decent living wage and better working conditions. Get a card and keep it up-to-date; we are 60 per cent solid now; 20 per cent more and we, too, will have a schedule Just like the N. P and Milw. Our officials are Just as human as any of them. How do they know what we want? We have never told them. Speak up, don't be afraid, they wont eat you. Remember boys, the best part of this write-up is that it tells the world that the G. N. boys are coming into their own be- cause we are 60 per cent and better right now. Brothers, on some of the organized roads; Won’t you please help buy us out of this by mailing your old copy of this number to one of the boys over here? Please. I will appre- ciate your help. All the boys need here is a little good reading matter and what Is better than the good old Telegrapher? Next month we will have a few division notes and I am sure that will bring out the other 20 per cent of the boys— then watch our smoke. Cert. 162. Minn. A St Louis R. R.f Div. No. 71. Vendome Hotel, Minneapolis, Minn.. Dec. 29, 1917. Members M. & St. L. System, Division 71, Greeting: Following are the changes in our schedule rules and wage scale secured by your com- mittee. the increase to date back to Decem- ber 1, 1917, rules effective January 1, 1918; This Is the second revision secured during the present year and carries with it a cash increase of $36,347 per year or 15.8 per cent Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 251 and the increase secured April 1st, this year, amounted to $17,760 or 8V4 per cent, making a total increase for the year of $54,107 or 24.$ per cent; the rules will amount in the aggregate to about 10 per cent, making a total increase of 34.3 per cent for the year. Art 3. Amend to read 40 cents per hour instead of 35 cents. Art. 4. Amend to read 75 cents for a call instead of 60 cents and where living in sta- tion, SO cents Instead of 35 cents. Art. 5. Amend to read $2.50 for 8 hours or less and actual expenses while away from home. Art. 6. Change overtime to read 40 cents instead of 35 cents an hour. Art. 7. Amounts increased for meeting one regular train from $7 to $8.50 and from $10 to $12 per month. Art. 0. Added $7.50 for electric pumps. Art. 10. Amended to include all compen- sation less irregular overtime. Art. 18. Amended to read, Telegrapher “ effected by reduction may take the place of the youngest assigned telegrapher per Art. 11. Art. 22. Amend first paragraph to read, Rate of pay to be based on position left, and in second paragraph when assisting in the work they will receive pay for time con- sumed in transferring accbunts. Traveling Auditor to approve time. Art. 23. Amend to read. Salary of regu- lar relief agents will not be less than $100 per month and when relieving at stations where the regular rate is higher, the higher rate will be paid. Art. 25. Amend to read. Telegraphers re- quired to perform any service on Sunday will be paid pro rata for such service as per Art. 2 with a minimum of one hour for each time required to report. Sunday service will be assigned and will be within the spread of the week-day hours. Art. 26 added. Also any commissions allowed by Commercial Telegraph Company for serving as manager for such company. Art 29. Amended to read: (a) At offices where but one telegrapher is employed ten consecutive hours, com- mencing between 6:30 and 8:30 a. m. or p. m., including meal hour, will constitute a day’s work. (b) At offices where two telegraphers are employed covering a period of not exceeding thirteen hours, ten consecutive hours, com- mencing between 6 :30 and 8 :30 a. m. or p. m. and Including a meal hour, will constitute a day’s work. (c) At offices where two telegraphers are employed, working a portion of the day and a portion of the night, a total of more than thirteen hours, nine consecutive hours will constitute a day's work. (d> At offices where three or more teleg- raphers are employed, eight consecutive hours will constitute a day’s work, first trick to commence at or between 7 and 8 a.m. (ej Agent -operators not required to re- ceive or transmit train orders or block trains will not be counted under Sections B, C and D, but will come within the provisions of Section A (f) Kxcept as hereinbefore provided, a regular working day shall consist of eleven consecutive hours, including a meal hour, generally from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m., or from i p. in. to 6 a. m. Art. 30. Time of service reduced to eight years and will now include telegraphers working nine hours or more. Art. 33. New article. There will be no change in these rules and no reduction in rates of pay except upon thirty days’ notice in writing by either party to this agreement, it has been the custom in the past to ask a donation of tire first month’s increase for the division to assist in defraying expenses Out it will not be necessary this time, in lieu thereof, we are going to request all who appreciate what the committee has done for mem to kindly pay their dues and assess- ments promptly, and as many as possibly can to take out a yearly card, in advance. Tins will save the bother of remitting for tlie two periods and our secretary’s oilice the t-xtra accounting. This can be accomplished by simply sending your general secretary and treasurer a money order for $10. Re- member that each of you are to receive your back pay covering your raise for the month of December and tills will make it -easy to take out a yearly card. Any who are not members are urgently requested to take membership in our division. The January rate of $0.50 covers the initiation fee and O. K. T. dues up to July 1, 1018, and if you wish the necessary blanks our local chair- man or the general secretary and treasurer will gladly furnish same upon request. The distribution of the cash increase, which spread was made by the superintendents and the committee and was based upon actual conditions and equality as compared with other positions of the same importance and we hope that justice in this spreading will be seen as it wras impossible to obtain a Hat increase at this time. The general manager has conferred addi- tional courtesy to all telegraphers who are now entitled to an annual pass for them- selves and wives under the ten-year period to add thereto the dependent members of their families providing they return their passes to his office giving the full names and ages of their dependants. Your committee is very grateful for the treatment it received from the officials of the company during the period while we W'ere engaged in the negotiations and re- quest that our constituents appreciate this Digitized by Google
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252 The Railroad Telegrapher. and in return endeavor to give the company their most efficient service at all times. Wishing you one and all a happy and pros- perous New Year, we remain, Yours fraternally, A. L. Gardner, Qen’l Chairman , J. C. Sandmier, Oen*l Secy, and Treat., J. J. Madden, W. C. McLin, J. J. Zieolbr, Committee. Eastern Division — Bros. Kightlinger and Deitzler, Marshall- town “YD" office, have gone to the army and Bro. Rothe has been drafted, leaving third Monmouth “YA" on temporary bulle- tin. Bro. T. Land fear is on first trick at “YD," W. J. Fordham on second and Bro. H. O. Covey on third. “Bill" says he is going to line up. Watch him, brothers! C. E. Robinson bid in fourth trick put on at Oskaloosa since the new schedule took effect and Brother Callhan, of Elrick Junction, bid in second “SK" east end extra to comply with the new schedule. Bro. C. O. 'Griffith, who relieved General Chairman Gardner at Steamboat Rock while on schedule proceedings, was relieved on second Ackley by Holmes from Eldora. Bro. Ed. Packard has resigned the Lis- comb agency to engage in other business, relieved by agent Spangler from Alexander who has promised to line up and he by Guy Withers, of New Sharon. We wish Bro. Packard every success in his new undertak- ing but are sorry to see him leave the sta- tion which he has held so many years with credit to himself and satisfaction to the com- pany. Bro. White relieved agent Kyle at Brigh- ton when called to Peoria owing to his mother's illness. It is now Bro. R. C. Bartlett second Brighton again. Brothers, keep your dues paid in advance as we have started the new year with a new schedule and save the committee lots of work trying to keep you in line, so we can use all our spare time on the nons. Don't forget to get after the nons as soon as they light on the division. If you are unable to land him, give his name to your local chairman and we will appreciate it. With the assistance of the brothers and our efficient G. C.. Bro. Gardner, I hope to make the "Old Iowa Central" solid by July 1st. We can do It If we will all get on the Job and stay till it is finished. While our new schedule is a little low in rates of pay compared with some of the trunk lines, you will find better rules and working conditions than they have. We also have on the M. & St. L. the BEST class of officials to work for that can be had, and the committee appreciates very much the treatment received from them. It is & pleas- ure to work on a committee and have the oppdrtunity to do business with such MEN, and we hope each member of Division 71 will show their appreciation of our officials by giving the most efficient service in all lines of our work. Now that we got a shorter day, let’s be on the Job our nine hours and give real service, showing them that the shorter day was what we needed. The Sun- days off for the one-man Jobs are great — one day’s rest from the grind each week is sure a great help to a man. Brothers, send your items for the write-up to your L. C. or G. C. and we will see they get into The Telegrapher. We hope to have Bro. Chrisman back as our scribe in the near future. W. C. McLin, L. C. Eastern Division — IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom, has deemed it best to call from this world of sorrow to her reward in heaven the beloved wife of Bro. Floyd A. Walls ; in manifestation of our sympathy in this hour of grief, be it Resolved, That the members of Division No. 71, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, ex- tend to the sorrowing brother and family our heartfelt sympathy in their great bereave- ment ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, and a copy to The Telegrapher for publication. A. Jm Gardner, • J. C. Sandmier, W. C. McLin, Committee. Central and Western Division — New member* : Carl Knutsen. agent Greenville, Iowa; A. A. Kayeska, operator Chaska, Minn. ; Mrs. Nellie L. Myer, agent Manchester, Minn. ; G. C. Scobee, agent Em- mons, la. ; Mrs. Mary W. Rutsen, agent Boyd, Minn. ; Olaf Weiberg, agent Crocker, S. D. ; B. W. Hollish, operator Waseca, Minn. ; C. A Spitler, operator Perry. Ia. This makes the lady agents solid on the C. & W. Div. (3) Bro. Losen is back at Gowrle from visiting his folks at Decorah, la. Vice Shoemaker on second, relieving Harvel, visiting relatives in Indiana. Bro. J. M. Christianson, agent Badger, toad his car freeze up Sunday recently, returning from Berkley. He left it with a farmer and walked to Paton, where, he took the train to be on deck for Monday morning. He is still in the jewelry business, fixing and cleaning watches. Any work given him by the brothers will be greatly appreciated. O. N. Johnson, helper Luveme, is now agent at Berkley, vice Sister Barnard, to sec- ond Forest City, vice E. E. Percivie, to Gil- more as operator. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 258 Bro. Johnson, Dana, was a recent Cal- lender visitor. Bro. Hanson, Grand Junction, declined Aberdeen agency owing to his son being in Des Moines hospital. Bro. Beard, agent Dallas Center a number of years, bid in second at Chaska, relieved by Swan from Minneapolis pending bulle- tin. Bro. Sandmier has resumed at Waukee after being with the committee at Minneapo- lis and taking a few days’ rest recovering from a cold. Mr. Munsell, who relieved, was called to Gaylord, Minn, (county seat), to be examined for the first draft. The Ink being frozen at the stations on the north end, the boys were unable to send me any news this time. Hope it will warm up soon, so we may have a few items from them. There are only four Nons keeping the Des Afotnes division from being solid. Unless they come in soon the brothers should not show them any favors. Brothers, disregard the last paragraph from this division in January Telegrapher to send in their first month's increase. We’re up for our schedule. The committee is not asking them this time, but instead it asks them to show their appreciation by paying up their dues promptly and when possible to take out a yearly card. The few remain- ing nons can show their gratitude by sending in their applications for membership, as their back pay will more than cover the initiation fees. The brothers were grieved to learn of the death of our dear Bro. E. J. Collins, formerly agent at Odgen, who resigned and went to Granite, Colo., for his health, but finding the climate was not helping him any, returned to his home at Emmetsburg, Iowa., where he passed away. Bro. Sandmier, when noti- fied, sent an O. R. T. wreath for our late brother’s funeral. The brothers and lions should re- member that the extra ten dollars re- ceived when they signed the January pay- roll was the back pay for December which the committee got for you, or we would be just ten minus in our jeans now. Some of the boys have already sent it to Bro. Sand- mier for a yearly card. We hope more of them will do likewise. We all thank the committee for its good work. Let's all show our appreciation by taking but a yearly card and keeping our dues paid up and use our spare moments in lining up the remaining nons so we can be 100 per cent solid in the future. As soon as you have a new member in sight, ask for ap- plication blanks. Brothers, after reading this issue of The Telegrapher, favor the com- mittee by marking and sending it to some non. Let them know our feeling towards them. Remember our slogan : “No Card, No Favors Div. Cor., Cert. 451. Central and Westeim Division — IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our heavenly Father and all-wise Ruler of the Universe to call from his earthly home to the great beyond our esteemed and worthy brother, Edward J. Collins; and Whereas, We feel deeply grieved at the loss of our dear friend and brother; we must needs bow in humble submission to the will of Him who knoweth and doeth all things well, though we, being mortals, are unable at all times to comprehend His divine pur- pose, but know that He will comfort and sustain us at all times ; therefore be it Resolved, That the Minneapolis & St. Louis System, Division No. 71, Order of Rail- road Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing family and relatives our deepest love and fraternal sympathy; and be it further Resolved , That, in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, a copy of these resolutions be mailed the bereaved fam- ily and a copy sent The Telegrapher for publication. A. L. Gardner, J. C. Sandmier, J. J. Madden, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to extend to the division our sin- cere thanks for the beautiful flowers sent in remembrance of our husband and father. Mrs. E. J. Collins and daughter Rosebud. Chicago & Northwestern Ry., Div. No. 76. Sioux City Division — New Year’s Greetings : The year just ended should long be re- membered by the men on the C. & N. W. It surely seems fitting that the closing days of 1917 should witness the addition of another chapter to the long list of achievements of the only organization which has ever bene- fited the telegrapher and station man — the O. R. T. Division No. 76 can feel proud of its able general chairman and efficient sub-committee, who have brought about such marvelous results in such a short space of time. It really seems like a dream to look back to the apparent hopeless and helpless condi- tion of the telegraphers of the C. & N. W. just a few years ago and now to suddenly awake to the realization that they are work- ing under one of the best (if not the best) schedules in the U. S. A. — Other committees have labored for months, backed up by overwhelming strike votes, without reaping the rewards in comparison, while on the C. k N. W. the men have never had to assert themselves in that manner, the committee assuming the entire responsibility for the results. The only weak spot will be that the rewards have come too easily for the rank and file to appreciate them. Digitized by v^ooole
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254 The Railroad Telegrapher. Perhaps 76 per cent of the battle was fought and won in the general committee room at Chicago in March, 1916, when a bitter struggle terminated in the division offices being moved to Chicago and up-to- date methods and conveniences being added. The modern quarters, well located, enabled the O. R. T. officials to keep in touch with each other and with the general railroad officials, and the results of these business- like methods speak for themselves. Bros. Thomas and Boyington’s platform at the time of their election consisted of a de- sire to make good, and they surely have nailed the last plank down solid. Although I am out of the service, Bro. Thomas has kindly supplied me with in- formation from month to month, showing the standing of the system as a whole as regards to membership, and in return I have given such help as my own business duties would permit. The Sioux City division can undoubtedly look back and recall the fight put up by indi- viduals, and by the local in particular, against the uniform clothing graft which existed as late as 1916, and can honestly claim credit for the eradication of this evil. Without seeking personal glory, I believe the division can also honestly claim credit for much of the good which has come to the C. & N. W. telegraphers during the past two years. With the excellent help of Bros. Hay- mond, Noe, Sheldon, Baker and others, I was able to show an increase of 41 per cent In membership in little over a year. This show- ing created an intense rivalry among the other local chairmen, with the result that many local divisions reached and passed the 100 per cent mark, a figure heretofore deemed Impossible on the C. * N. W. A 100 per cent membership meant a 100 per cent treas- ury, and the 100 per cent treasury in turn meant a 100 per cent schedule, such as you have in the one recently secured. I spent days and nights of my time and many dollars of my own money to bring the SC division to a 104 per cent member- ship, and am naturally greatly interested In Its welfare, although out of the service. I must confess that an 83 per cent show- ing at the present time, or a drop of 21 per cent, looks anything but encouraging. It scarcely seems possible that men should be- come forgetful and Inactive at a time when it means the most to them and their brothers of the craft. We are now entering a new year, with its many possibilities, and let us hope for a prompt return of the old-time "pep” in O. R. T. matters which characterized the SC divi- sion for so many years. These are war times and “slackers” are regarded In a bad way, so let us hope that during the year of 1918 we may see the elimi- pgtlOfl q t th© species. l(9% stage a “corns back” that will be an example for all to fol- low. Let us have a motto for 1918, '*Boost the O. R. T.“ With best wishes, I am Fraternally yours, H. P. Fagan, Past Local Chairman, Cert. 672. East Iowa Division — On sick-list: Bro. C. A. Owen, BS yard, relieved by Bro. Morcellls, and Bro. O. D. White, third EC and Bro. Morford, first FO, relieved by Leverman ; Bro. Waychoff, re- lieved by Bro. O’Daniel. Bro. Doc Vernon returned to FD Des Moines; Bro. O’Daniel returning to Mt Ver- non. Bro. Conower, agent Lowmear, relieved by Bro. Joe Horn; Bro. Radcllffe relieving Bro. Breedlove, who is waiting to be called for military duty. Local Chairman Schertz was relieved at Stanwood agency while on committee work in Chicago by Bro. Creeley, relieved on third by Bro. Caldwell. Bro. Joe Horn, second HD Tama yard, op- ened up on new schedule pending bulletin. Bro. Con Beck, chief clerk FB, bid back McVille agency, relieving Bro. Letho, who returned to Luzerne agency, vice Baker. Assignments: Second BN yard to Bro. Tummell, vice Bro. Green to first there; agency McVille to Bro. Con Beck ; third tricks FO to Ferguerson, vice Bro. Anderson to BN yard ; CF to Bro. Lynch, vice Bro. Watson to France; fourth BE, Bro. Breed- love, vice Bro. Radcllffe to France. On bulletin: Agency Comanche and Lis- bon ; second VN, FO, Tama yard and oper- ator BN Bplaine. Bros. Radcllffe and Watson left January 22nd for France to show them how they railroad in U. S. A. Bro. Breedlove relieved at "BA” by Bro. Haworth, relieved on second NW by Bro. Creeley, relieved on third NW by Bro. Cald- well, relieved on third VN by Beet Bro. West of Bplaine didn't loosen up on any notes this month. Somebody over there ought to get interested. Cert. 2888, “CF.” Minnesota Division— Assignments : Telegraphers — First tricks Lewiston, Q. F. Buchholtz; Watertown, A. Bartzon; second — Eyota, J. F. Herrick; vice Bro. E. C. Knoof to fourth Winona dis- patcher’s office, relieved pending bids by Bro. A. F. Staley; Canby, W. R. Taylor; St Charles, R. Wurch ; Lamberton, A. W. Swan- beck ; Marshall, A. F. Staley; third— Mar- shall, A. J. Hammell; Janesville, G. A. Mal- linger ; Springfield, G. E. Burgess ; pending assignment : First telegrapher MinneotA, aec- ond telegrapher Lewiston and Walnut Grove, third telegrapher Lewiston, Eyota, RochfftGr, PodCe Center, Bur&W W* Cwby, Di ized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 255 blapatcher Bill Cutler of Winona relieved two weeks by extra dispatcher Bra O. E. Highlen, relieved on third east end by Bro. E. EL Johnson. Bro. C. R. Hicks, agent Minneota, relieved two weeks by telegrapher Brey, formerly cashier M. & St. L. at New Ulm. Bro. B. W. Holllsh, formerly with the M. & St L., relieved Bra Mahoney a few days on Waseca first on account of sickness in family. Bro. A. Bartxen is back on Watertown first after a few months’ absence, relieving Bra Hummel, assigned Marshall third. Bro. Murphy, in Chicago assisting with the adjustment of the wage scale for this divi- sion, relieved on Mankato first by C. H. Ep- person, formerly at Tracey, recently returned to the service. Several of the boys on the division have been busy of late filling out their military questionnaires. Those who have items each month, kindly do the necessary. Bro. Johnson, at Winona, Is still the old reliable, and we thank him very much for his help. Our new schedule is the best we ever had and will compare with any other line in our territory. We are making good progress to- ward our ultimate goal. Let everyone show their appreciation of what our committee has done by completing a solid organization. Eliminate the non and make the slackers’ list a blank and our craft will soon be on an equal basis with other skilled labor. D. J. M. Wisconsin Division — We have secured, through our general com- mittee, the best schedule this road ever had, and hope that each member will have re- mitted his dues by the last of this month, showing that we appreciate what has been done for us. Anything not understood regard- ing the new schedule I will be glad to ex- plain If you will write me about it. Try and keep me advised of the changes at your sta- tions. Let me know who are off and who relieved them. There is no scarcity of telegraphers, as the railroad officials would like to make the pub- lic believe. First-class operators are leaving the profession simply because they cannot make decent living wages, and taking more desirable jobs. These will nearly all return to the key as soon as the railways pay wages and establish working rules that will be an Inducement. Some anxiety Is being expressed in regard to the employment of women. Let them come; they have always made good mem- bers, and we should see that they join as soon as they come to work. Operators on this division and elsewhere- who have started schools are to blame them- selves for present conditions. Every student turned out lessens our chances just that much. I hope the men who come our way will stay and conform to the standards set for better railroading and be in possession of an up-to-date card, as I’m making every effort to keep this division solid. The boy who puts in twelve months learning telegraphy knows more about railroads when he started to work than twelve boys who learn railroading in two or three weeks with a catechism only ; as they know what to do, not simply what makes a safe man. I can remember when it was hard to get a job on this road on account of so many learn- ing, and some had to wait after they learned to get one. As long as every station has a student or two learning we cannot expect to better our conditions. It’s scarcity of any article that gives it value. A man working at this business, getting small pay and long hours, teaching others his business so there will be an over-supply, is hurting his own future as well as his brother telegrapher, and has something radically wrong with him. Boy 8, cut it out and get after anyone you know that is doing this and let them know your mind about the matter. I would be glad to see the tried and true “Katy” men coming to work on this division, as we- are very short of good men and have several good positions to offer them. Today housekeeping has gone beyond the buying of food and clothing, and seeing that the house is kept clean. This is an era of housekeepers who use their brains as well as their hands; whose main duty is the eco- nomic direction of the household. Conse- quently there is every reason why a sane, practical method of spending the family in- come should contribute to the happiness of the home as well as to its well-being and prosperity. We should begin this new year right by starting bookkeeping accounts of where our money goes from our income. Telegrapher's rating should be a minimum of $1,800 per year. To figure where this sal- ary goes is thus: Rent (16 2-3 per cent), $26.00; food (26 per cent), $37.50 ; operating expense (16 per cent). $22.60; clothing (16 per cent), $22.50 ; Insurance and savings (10 per cent), $15.00; amusements and miscel- laneous (18 1-3 per cent), $27.50; total, $160.00 per month. Either we must lower our standard or have our wages increased. The capitalists would have us do the former, claiming the war makes it necessary. We “will” claim very soon that inasmuch as the working class furnishes the means of war, we must resist with all our combined strength any lowering of our living standards, with consequent lowering of nation's efficiency. Let us show that we appreciate any spirit of fairness that is shown us. If you are a freight agent either at a local or competitive point, make an effort to secure a fair share of the business. If a ticket agent, be courteous to the traveling public ; if a telegrapher, give prompt and efficient Digitized by tjooole
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256 The Railroad Telegrapher. service; and If a towerman, make safety the first consideration and keep delays to trains reduced to a minimum. By so doing this will show you are an asset to the company you work for. I would like to have some good brothers volunteer to act as local or assistant local chairmen to take care of future business for us; the division Is large and the territory should be divided thus: One man to cover Janesville .line ; one to cover Milwaukee 40th street new line, and one to cover Milwaukee old line, including Milwaukee terminal dis- trict. No member shall be placed in nomina- tion for either of these offices without his or her consent and with a petition signed by three or more members of the division. Ad- dress your petition to Bro. E. J. Thomas, Gen’l Chairman, Room 511, Webster Bldg., 327 South LaSalle St.. Chicago, 111., to be passed or voted on at the next regular bi- ennial election of officers next February. Let’s see who will be the first to act. Remember, the company is paying us to keep traffic moving smoothly. By so doing we will not only be helping our country in time of need, but will be presenting a strong argument in favor of organized labor. Rail- road officials will respect us all the more for standing up for our principles, for they know if a fellow don’t take any interest in his own welfare he isn’t liable to take much in the company’s. Employes and officers of the C. & N. W. Ry. are co-operating in increasing transportation efficiency in every way possi- ble, and Hon. W. G. McAdoo may depend upon our intelligent and unremitting efforts to be constantly directed along the lines in- dicated In his telegram to Pres. R. H. Aish- ton, dated Dec. 28th, 1917. We are con- tending for liberty and democracy and ask for only a fair wage to live the part and be better able to sustain it, and those dependent upon us. So let each O. R. T. member do his best and show our officials they have not un- derestimated our ability as railroad men. By paying attention to this we will not only help our country and ourselves, but the O. R. T. generally. Each one of us should consider our payments in the order our first obligation when the time arrives for making them. Nons are enjoying the same concessions that the rest of us are paying for, and they should help, too, by making application to me for membership In the order. We must not contend with slackers on this system ; each member should be everlastingly at them, doing his best to help organize the sys- tem thoroughly. Rate to join Wisconsin di- vision, including local dues to end of semi- annual period in which application is secured, also the $1.00 initiation fee in the Mutual Benefit Department, are as follows : Febru- ary, $11.00; March. $10.00; April, $9.00; May, $8.00, and June, $7.00, in addition to the above local dues, mutual benefit fee no- tices will be mailed from the office of our grand secretary and treasurer, St. Louis, Mo. On December 29th I was confined to my bed owing to a wrench in my back, received from tugging on an Armstrong lever, being relieved by Joe Bacon from Waukegan. Bro. H. Creet, formerly on the Chicago Terminal District, was at South Upton a few days recently. Bro. G. W. Dowd was recently called from our midst by the grim reaper while working at Upton tower. He entered the service on September 1st, 1915, and was a staunch sup- porter of the order. Hope we will be able to start a flower fund this year and every member support it. Seems as though only a few have supported it in the past; therefore it has not proved a success. I will publish contributors’ names each month and amounts contributed ; also, with the assistance of our new local chair- man, will appoint a custodian. Herman A. Decker, a new man on this di- vision, in the service here about fifteen years ago, went to second Valley tower pending bids, vice Bro. R. J. Wallace, to second Upton. Other assignments : First tricks — L. J. Price, towerman and leverman, Tower “GA.” E. D. Hyde, Crystal Lake; Bro. A. S. Moor-, house, Valley tower. Agencies — G. T. Mullen to Wilmette ; Bro. H. S. BIxby, Palatine ; C. P. Bautz, Rogers Park; R. A. Shumway, Woodworth ; W. J. Pendergast, Rockford ; second tricks — Bro. J. Pollard, Waukegan ; E. Toops, Lake Forest ; H. Lush, leverman South Upton; third tricks — Bro. M. J. Soule, Waukegan ; Geo. Avery, operator and lever- man, Wes con a. I have no special way of getting these items, only as each of you send them In, and all I get for this work is the pleasure of finding this division represented in This Telegrapher. A. S. Moorhousb, Div. Cor., Glencoe, 111. Galena Division — In the last two issues of The Tele- grapher the Galena division has been con- spicuous by its silence, mainly because the committee was busy and we desired to wait until we might have a chance to make a big noise. Now read your copy of the new schedule very carefully and many times if necessary, to thoroughly understand it. The operators, agents and levermen sure needed the raise secured and will feel much more cheerful while doing our bit for Uncle Sam in giving what financial aid we can, knowing that we are being better paid for our services. That Sunday overtime will come In mighty nice, although some of us may not get a great deal of it. but if we do not we will not have to work, so we are ahead either way it goes. Digitized by Vjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 257 Some of us enjoyed several days’ vacation with pay during the recent snowstorm, even though we were on duty. There were no trains running and very little wire work ; but when the road did open up we earned our money, including the increase and then some, and have continued to do so since. Some of the boys saw the Rotary for the first time, and it’s certainly “some plow.” It was no uncommon thing during the snow blockade to have a crew use two days to make a trip that ordinarily is made in ten hours or less. We hope when the warm weather comes and breaks the chains of winter, that it will also break the chains of war and the sun will shine once more upon a world of peace. Bro. Webster was relieved by Bro. Em- mert a few days on account of illness. Bro. H. E. Echerbert is on second “U” pending return of Bro. Mulbroya, now on second dispatcher’s trick Spring Valley wire, with Dispatcher Haslett on first and our good fridnd. Dispatcher Gambell, assistant chief. This Is bad weather for derailments, etc., so we should use extra caution in order to avoid accidents. Give the company the best you have and then you will have nothing to be ashamed of. With nature and the elements working against free railroading, we Imagine Friend McAdoo has his work cut out for him. Watch for notioe^of meeting as soon as the weather gets so we can figure on It. Cert. 805. Freeport and Fox River Lines — Bro. H. W. Jackson relieved Bro. Hoeft, operator Carpentersville, who joined Captain Lucey's railroad engineers and left January 8th for “somewhere in IT. S.” for training. He has promised us a wisp of the Kaiser’s mustache for a duster. We are inclined to bestow a “medal of honor’’ on him for his remarks to a non on No. 1 wire a few days ago. This non probably won’t claim to be a brother again until he has the goods. All three men at Feris placed on eight-hour basis January 1st. The big snow of January 6th caused No. 777 to lay over in Elgin all night. They, with No. 778 and extra 375 snow plow, all stalled some time between Feris and Algon- quin, and 1152 resembled a snow bank more than a locomotive. These lines were tied up 66 hours by the big blizzard on January ,12 th. Our venerable Bro. I. W. Rigby, in the service 42 years, was pensioned recently. Sorry to lose “R.,’’ as he was a good man to work with. Bro. E. J. Zadnichek bid in his job at Dundee. Drv. Cor. Chicago Terminal Division — Bro. George Cone, accused of booze while working third at Wood Street on Christmas, reported to Supervisor of Signals and col- lected 50 cents for call. The wife of Bro. Lawson, third Lake Street, who went to the hospital for a seri- ous operation, is doing nicely. Bro. Murphy, agent Hunting Avenue, is in the hospital with a fractured leg. Bro. Dixon, assigned to third Noble Street, relieved Bros. Ingolsby and Harold, first and second Wells Street, three days each re- cently. Bro. C. M. Scanlin, first Lake Street, is doing his own cooking while his wife is visiting relatives in Texas. He has one of those “hurry-back-wifey*’ looks. The little yellow card now contains but two names, the same being Hugh Conway, first Noble Street, and George Helbling, third “HM“ Tower, and they have Just accepted $240 increase in salary secured through the efforts of our organization, besides better working rules and still refuse to pay In $12 to join. Comment is superfluous. You all know what to do. A .very interesting letter was read from Bro. V. L. Hawkins, serving in France. Bro. Hawkins says he has seen some cities in his travels. “London is good, but O you Paris.’’ He would like to hear from all “the boys.’’ Address Co. E. 13th Engs. Ry. American Expeditionary Force, France, via New York. Div. Cor. Colorado Midland Ry., Div. No. 81. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father in His in- finite wisdom and goodness has deemed it best to call to the great beyond our beloved Bro. R. Downing. Therefore, be it Resolved, That the members of Colorado Midland Railroad Division No. 81 of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers extend to the bereaved wife, children and relatives their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this their sad hour of affliction; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family, a copy spread on the minutes of our meeting and a copy forwarded to The Telegrapher for publica- tion. C. E. Crispell, W. M. Fipps., J. F. Jones, Committee. Western Maryland Ry., Div. No. 82. Eastern Division — Bro. M. R. Huntzberry, relieving Bro. G. H. Ogle on first Union Bridge, has Just recov- ered from a slight attack of typhoid fever. Bros. G. N. Holtz and R. G. Morrison are steadily improving from a hard attack of the same disease. Bro. D. L. Bell, “JS” office Hillen, con- tinues to handle a lot of wire work pertain- ing to embargoes, tracing of cars, etc. Digitized by v^ooole
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258 The Railroad Telegrapher. Christmas business good including travel, mail and express. Majority of Baltimore freight at present moving over first district into Baltimore instead of over third district. A number of offices closed on sixth district on account of freight for Harrisburg mov- ing over C. V. out of Hagerstown instead over Cut-off— empties returned over Cut-off into Hagerstown. We look for some of these offices to re-open again, as it has proven heretofore that it is a hard matter to move trains without operators. Interlocking plant at Kirk has been re- moved and switch stands installed sinoe completion of tunnels. Lawndale on first district has recently been made a three -trick office. Bro. J. E. Coover with 414th Telegraph Battalion, stationed at 69th Regiment Armory, New York City, sends his best re- gards to the boys along the line. We all wish him success. Assignments: Bro. F. H. Rockwell, second, and Bro. C. L. Kesecker, third Kirk; Bro. S. A. Bosley, third Lehigh; Bro. E. R. Cul- lough, second, and Mr. W. C. Fleigh, third Hancock. No real excuse for not being a member of the organization. Work is plentiful. Now is the time to unite for better pay and bet- ter working conditions. We are to be blamed for not reaching the mark where we should have been some years ago. Let’s all have a master hand in this principal per- formance and soon we will not a marked im- provement along the lines of strength where we can stand and be fully recognized in all of our proceedings. Work, strength and bene- fits travel together. We can’t expect real benefits before we work and get the strength. Div. Con., Cert. 94. Texas & Pacific Ry., Div. No. 88. Louisiana Division — I am very sorry the notes for last month reached me too late to have published in the January Telegrapher. I as well as all other railroad agents had such a busy month. We didn’t have time to keep up with what was going on along the line. The busy season being over, and most of us having about caught up with our “back” work our division will not be overlooked In future. If we ever expect to receive a schedule like that of some of our neighboring roads, now is the time to go after it. Although we have a schedule of which we all should feel proud, and we are greatly indebted to our committee for having secured it for us, nevertheless there is a lot of room for im- provement yet. And we are the ones to say whether we want better conditions or not. I think Mr. McAdoo will give our de- mands his most careful consideration and this Is the time to make the O. R. T. one hundred per cent strong on the Texas A Pacific Railway and get in a position to handle our affairs better than ever before. The stronger we are the more consideration we will be given. When we ask for a re- vised schedule we are all being protected by our great organization and we should get our 1918 cards immediately. Remember our motto : “No cards, no favors” to those who refuse to Join. Cashiership vacated at DonaldsonviUe by Clerk Hemley was in on bid. Some good man should land it. Look at Article 16 Para- graph B in our present contract. Extra men are scarce. Mr. Cham bl ess / third DonaldsonviUe, who was relieved by C. A. Byrne for "WN" New Orleans, is contemplating matrimony. George Aucaire from West is at Platten- ville relieving Bro. P. A. Firming, who en- listed in the Signal Corps. The cane season wound up in this end February 1st and **MB” at Edgar ds now has time to eat a square meal. Bro. Bush at McCall was recently married. Bro. Books, manager Addis, is experi- encing great difficulty in keeping a full set of operators due to “none to be had.” Bro. Willis, extra dispatcher, owing to the closing of several offices and decrease in handling trains, owing to closing of cane season, relieved by night chief on second trick, returned to second Gouldsboro. We - hate to lose Bro. Willis as dispatcher, al- though he is a beginner. He is hard to beat and never gets worried. L. Chambless, extra at Plaquemine, re- lieved Bob Bruphaser at Waagaman. Bro. Byrne, third DonaldsonviUe, dined in New Orleans Xmas with his lady friend and broke the wishbone of a fine turkey. Bro. G. B. Walthers, second Donalson- ville, visited his brother Xmas, an ex-oper- ator from the M. L. & T., now stationed at Camp Beauregard, but home on furlough. Bro. G. C. Mattingly, formerly on Donald- sonville second, now one of Uncle Sam’s boys located at Fort Leavensworth, Kansas, spent the holidays at DonaldsonviUe with his parents. We regret not being able to see ”D. C.” Send all your notes to Bro. Marsalis at Killong, who will gladly send them to the magazine for you. Let’s all get busy and show our end of the line off with a good write-up each month. There are other divi- sions that do this and we should do like- wise. Our traveling accountant, S. A. White, has been transferred to Terrell, Texas. We re- gret this very much, as our relations with Mr. White personally and officially were very pleasant. We hope his successor will be of the same type. Digitized by tjOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 259 Blupbacher, Waggaman second, Is reliev- ing at Gouldsboro. C. A. Byrne to Goulds- boro third relieved, on Donaldsonville third by C. Scatty from the S. P. O. B. Walthers, second Donaldsonville, re- lieved Books two days at Addis on account of illness. There are two ladies at Addis and quite a few west of there. Which one of us to going to do the organizing? Ex- General Chairman Gremilliou, Donaldsonville first, has been mentioned, but as yet has not moved. “Get busy. Bill Secure some new dues and get one of the prizes offered by our grand secretary and treasurer. Dardenue Playuennie, third, ill with mea- sles. We hope he has a speedy recovery. W. H. Riely is relieving trainmaster Payne on account of sickness. Waggaman, third, was closed 15th, owing to the scarcity of operators. When the next draft comes we will have to import some more girls. Truxello, agent Glynn, is on vacation visit- ing his parents on La Fourche Branch, re- lieved by Ticac, a new man. Holmes, at Addis, has a stiff neck. An up-to-date operator card is recommended for minor ailments. Maringalm, second, is open for bids, also Pardoche, third. We hope our general chairman will call the superintendent’s attention to the viola- tion of block rules by some of the trainmen before some operator is hurt handing up an order, as they don’t slow up. Div. Cor., Cert. 471. Illinois Central R. R., Div. No. 93. Louisiana Division — Have you paid your dues? There is no excuse, you are getting more than enough to get a yearly, and then have enough left to pay some other bill. We all received first class increases, and it is our duty to show our appreciation by paying our dues promptly. "Hit the ball,” and give the very best service possible. We have proven to the nons what the O. R. T. can do. It has practically doubled their salaries as well as ours in the last six years without costing them a cent, and we should give them no rest until they Join and help pay the expense we incur to secure these benefits. “No card , no favors ” prop- erly applied will soon show results. We should have a write-up every month. Each one should send me as many news items as possible. I am in a position where it takes all of my time to attend to my other duties. I have not received a word from anyone helping me out with this write- up. New men are coming and going and there is other news, but I cannot keep up with them. Send me the items and I will fielp gad do the res^. There were quite a number of changes made recently, positions abolished and new ones created, but so far I have not been able to ascertain who was assigned to them. Quite a number of our boys have enlisted in various branches of the government serv- ice. Bro. Ward and Bro. Seale are both in the. navy, the latter now a full fledged "radio man,” is riding the deep blue sea chasing "German subs.” All members of this division extend to our brothers in serv- ice our most sincere wishes for their safe return and to enjoy the nice increases the O. R. T. has got for us while they were absent. Bro. "Charlie Chapman Holmes” and Bro. Sam Paglare now. nicely domiciled In their new quarters at Elton. "Charlie” says liv- ing in Jackson zero weather and lots of ice was too much for his "viskers” to stand. The travelers have been inconvenienced quite a bit account "Hotel DePoley” at Nogan closing recently. Persons arriving that point at 3 a. m. report they had to con- tinue their Journey to Jackson. Bro. Rhodes, formerly of the Mississippi Division, is a new arrival. We welcome him, also Bro. Barton of the Tennessee Division. Sister Furlow enjoyed the holidays at home, relieved by Bro. Rhodes. Bro. Spraggins has returned after spend- ing several weeks out in the Golden West. He is now relieving Bro. "Red” Cooper, who is evidently taking on a little "John Barley- corn.” Bro. Hayes, agent Madison, can now be heard OS’ing train, his station being made a train order office. Bro. Hays says the overtime comes in mighty handy. Bro. McGowen, our efficient first trick operator Asylum Tower, is taking a much needed rest, relieved by Bro. Bullock. Bro. McGowen’ s hair is not growing so much, but the "corns” in his hands are rapidly disappearing. Bro. Holliday, fourth McComb, was on the sick list several days, relieved by Extra Dispatcher Cole. Cert. 1239. Kentucky Division — On vacations: Bro. John Woolridge, sec- ond Cecelia, relieved by Bro. H. O. Craw- ford, just returned from a three months’ rest in Wyoming; Bro. N. B. Sargent, agent Horse Branch, relieved by Bro. Tom. Rog- ers, with, two new men on second and third ; Bro. R. O. Neel, Fordsville, relieved by Bro. Layman, who also relieved Bro. W. G. Crawford, when appointed traveling auditor of this division. Bro. J. R. Langley, agent Cecelia, is the proud father of twins, a boy and a girl, both doing nicely. Bro. C. H. Albro, agent Caneyville, has been allowed a clerk, which will be a great help at that heavy train order offlof. Digitized by v^ooole
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260 The Railroad Telegrapher. We are glad to see Bro. Jack Lansdale back with us again, now relieving Bro. Lash- brook, second at Kentucky street, on sick list. Telegraphers are so scarce that a conduc- tor had to be used recently at Kentucky street . for three nights, and the M., K. & T. is advertising in the Louisville newspapers for all kinds of operators — “scabs’* even be- ing hard to find these days, as they are fast dying out. When the “Katy” management is ready to treat its operators fair and recognize the O. R. T., as it formerly did, it may be able to get some good operators. We had some awfully cold weather in old Kentucky in January, the thermometer reg- istering 16 below zero for several nights in 9 succession, making some of the trains late; but business is still good and we are run- ning from 40 to 50 trains a day. “CS,” Cert. 158. Paducah Division — Bro. Hudgens was called to Sparta, Tenn., recently owing to the illness of his little daughter. We hope for her speedy recovery in order that Bro. Hudgens may soon return to us again. We were all glad to learn that Bro. Nich- ols was recently elected mayor of Dawson Springs. He took charge of that office the first of the year, and his ability has been further demonstrated as a business man by having also been appointed assistant cashier of the Commercial Bank of that place. He was relieved on Dawson Springs, third, by Bro. Fralich, who previously relieved Bro. Parish, agent Eddyville, a few days and Bro. Brandon, seoond Southern Junction. Bro. J. F. Campbell, second “AY” Pa-‘ ducah, was relieved for a few days’ hunt by Bro. Hall, who also relieved Bro. Nichols, second Southern Junction, 15 days and Bro. Sutton, third Gravel Switch, ten days. Bro. Wallace and Agent Calvert were re- lieved several days on account of sickness by Bro. Robertson, who came to Graham on third. Bro. Vaughan, second Southern Yard Princeton, relieved by Bro. Underwood, while in Memphis a few days recently, later relieved Dispatcher Gaddy on vacation. Assignments : Bro. Tichenor of McHenry to Grand Rivers agency on bid, vice Shanks resigned; Bro. C. L. Robertson doing extra agents’ work for some time to Graham sec- ond on bid, vice N. D. Story, extra re- signed; G. K. Underwood to extra clerical work in dispatcher’s office, relieved on third Graham by extra Gitzgibbons. We understand Bro. Brent had a very pleasant evening recently teaching Miss Maxwell, one of the telephone message girls, how to copy orders and operate the sema- phore. The boys at Gravel Switch and at the other out-of-town offices had rather a hard time of it during the recent deep snow. Brothers, keep right after the few nons and give them no rest until they join. Re- member “No card , no favors” Cert. 3586. Tennessee Division — The boys are all well pleased with the new schedule, especially the rates of pay. We must do our individual duty by keeping up-to- date ourselves and help to keep our neigh- bor likewise. Remitting dues promptly and having an up-to-date card shows a good example. Let everyone help to eliminate the nons and make our membership 60,000 be- fore the close of the year. A 100 per cent membership means 100 per cent schedule. We must organize thoroughly. Bro. Robbins writes that he appreciates what the Order has done for the boys who have joined the colors. His address for four weeks from the date of his letter (January 16, 1918, is: “Jack M. Robbins, U. S. N.. Radio School, Cambridge, Mass., Cragie Hall, Co. No. 1, when he will go to sea and parts unknown, as a wireless operator, but he will try and keep us posted as to his where- abouts. Bro. B. M. Elam, Co. E., 402nd Tel. BN, Camp Jackson, Columbia, S. C., wrrites that his address can always be gotten from the agent at Bradford from his home over the phone. He hopes to visit his home during February. Now that wfe are employed by the govern- ment w’e should show our patriotism by using every possible means to get trains over the road and assist all we possibly can the move- ment of business generally. Millions of tons of government supplies are now being transported without a hitch or interfering to any extent with the regular commercial traffic of the country which has shown an unprecedented increase. To derive the best interests of the country in its great- est crisis has been the aim of the Railroads’ War Board. During the pending of the war the unin- terrupted maintenance of railway transpor- tation is of vital importance to this nation and its allies. Co-operation between the employer and employee is also of vital Im- portance at this time, and with the loyal and energetic service of the employees the railroads will be able to accomplish the stu- pendous task which they have set before them. The railway employees can help to win this war by diligent and persistent effort, and the government of this country is look- ing to us for it. Cert. 332. Vicksburg Division, Y. d M. V. R. R. — In reading the journal it seems as if all divisions are represented but ours. I sup- pose all are too busy shipping cotton and Digitized by tjOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 261 handling labor to attend to this, but will try each month hereafter to send in a few lines. Sister McRea, Bro. Huges, and Bro. Mas- sey, who dropped out last year are now up to date. Bro. Walt from Cleveland, bid in Boyle, and Bro. Clark from Katzemeyer, bid in Cleveland. Glad to have Bro. Clark back. Bro. H. C. Gilliland, agent Augulla, Is on thirty days' vacation visiting the old folks at home, and laying in a supply of vension. Bro. Boone, second Leland, is in the navy ; Bro. Rutlidge from Shaw, and Bro. Butler, former agent Louise, are in the Signal Corps. We wish them all a safe and speedy return. Freight checkers out of Chicago office started to check stations, but the weather man stopped them. Thanks to our committee and Bro. Elliott for our nice increase and rules ; now brothers, let us show our officials we are doing our best and hope no one is found wanting when the checkers are thawed out. Cert. 3141. To The Boys in Khaki — * Health possess you. Fortune bless you All along the unseen ways. Forward faring. Gladly sharing In the nation’s testing days ; Courage fill you. Service thrill you, Victory crown each brave advance, Comrades cheer you, . God be near you, Soldier Boy, "Somewhere in France !" — Ex. Indiana Division — Assignments: Agencies — Bro. B. B. Knight to Latham, 111.; Bro. E. H, Werth to Vic- toria, Ind.; Bro. O. A. Knight to second *4Q"; Bro. C. R. Chrisman to third Pales- tine, leaving second Bloomfield open for bids. Bro. H. L. Young, agent Griffin, Ind., was off few days recently on account of sick- ness. Bro. W. O. Heuring Is at Browns nights, day trick being pulled off there. Bros. W. A. Miller, Latham, and J. H. Scott, agent Victoria, have both resigned. We are very sorry to lose two such up-to- date men. Open temporarily, third Mattoon and Bradybury, West Salem and Poseyvllle nights. Bro. R. B. Smith, who has been down in Kentucky seeing the sights, is at West Sa- lem and Thomas. Haynes and Trainor, all new men, are at the other three places. We hope to have them with us soon. Bro. R. E. Bayless, agent Newton, who has been off for some time, is back in town. Morgantown nights closed, Bro. Sailor to Bloomfield temporarily. Bro. Wentz, Morgantown, reports his wife on the sick list. We all hope for her speedy recovery. Boys, do your very best to line up all nons. When we realize what the O. R. T. has done for us in securing higher wages and better working conditions, we can’t af- ford to slacken in our efforts to make the division solid. Remember the slogan: ,(No card , no favors” Scotty, Cert. 3640. Chicago Great Western Ry., Div. No. 96. Northern Division — The stork takes no heed of the high cost of living, Bro. P. J. Wefcber thinks. But Joe is happy because of the arrival of a new baby boy. Bro. A. M. Temanson was transferred from Mclntire second to Faribault. Agent Voss, Faribault, has been doing the tele- graphing at that point since Bro. Smith joined the army. Bro. Geo. Latimer and wife are enjoying themselves in sunny California for about three months. Bro. H. F. Wood, first Sum- ner relieving, relieved by Bro. D. E. Latimer. Mr. Arnold, agent at Coates since 1910, assigned Mantorville agency; went there to look the station over and arranged for a residence. Not feeling well when he arrived he called a doctor. He was returning to Coates on No. 9, and when the train was nearing there, the conductor discovered that the old man was dead. He leaves a wife and three sons. L. N. Bailey, formerly on the C. G. W., now a farmer at Rich Valley, worked as relief agent at Coates for several weeks until relieved by Mr. Harmon, from Roches- ter first. Mr. Bailey was always up-to-date when in the railroad business. L. Sanders, formerly third New Hampton and later agent there, has been assigned Mantorville agency. Mr. Johnson, agent there for sev- eral months, went to first Rochester, vice Mr. Harmon to Coates agency. D. C. Trunnell transferred from New Hampton to Sumner third. Another brother defies the high cost of living. Bro. E. C. Jarstead, agent Hamp- ton, was recently married to Miss Kather- ine Corrigan of Skyburg. The division ex- tends congratulations to the happy couple. It is now "Brother” H. J. Johnson at Eden and D. E. Latimer and E. A. Bonov- sky, first and second Sumner. We hope Mr. Trunnell of third is not one of those who say to themselves, “/'II get mine , any- way.” Bro. J. A. Lilllgraven, third Hayfield, a recent caller on ue, also called on old friends at Inver Grove. It’s also "Brother” Erickson at Madison I^ike, relieving Bro. C. H. Evans on an ex- Digitized by Google
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262 The Railroad Telegrapher. tended leave. G. L Mauck, a new man at Mankato, from the Western Union, will soon be with us. Bro. Thompson, agent Dodge Center, has been relieved of the wire work. We hope Mr. Hildebrand, the new man put on third, will soon be in the Order. Bro. H. J. Tolstead, third Randolph, while nursing a broken arm, was relieved by Bro. J. I. Elwood, now on third New Hampton. Brothers, hurry up your dues. The price don’t do the division any good when it is tucked away in your pocket. We all know it takes mbney to maintain this organiza- tion of ours and get results which are of interest to us. Never figure “The other fel- low has paid; it does not need mine yet.” C. E. Norris. Southern Division — Severe storms, cold weather and a con- tinuous shortage of coal, with a shortage of competent men is beginning to be keenly felt in every department. Our general committee is at Chicago try- ing to arrange for a schedule to fit the times, and we earnestly hope it will meet with success. The man who steadfastly refuses to be- come a member Is almost invariably the hardest man to raise and the . least re- sponsive to the exigency of the moment; and not quite so congenial to work with when finally he answers up. The consciousness that the man with whom we are working is a member of our Order is an incentive to better feeling and better service. Let’s all get busy and push for a solid O. R. T. organization on the C. G. W. We are surprised to learn that Mrs. Younkers has not redeemed her promise to line up. but we are not going to give up trying to get her application. Mr. Lewis has made application for membership and we shall be very glad to welcome him to our ranks. Bro. Ed. Lusk, agent Rea. Is at home with a severe attack of grip, relieved by Bro. Morris of second there. Bro. Smith visited the boys at “VI” a few days ago and sold Bro. Morris a Vlbroplex. so If you hear a noise like hail on the roof don’t worry; it’s only “J” exercising the bug. “MC” at South Des Moines, has been offered a position with his old line In Texas with a large increase of salary. He has our best wishes for success if he accepts. Relief Agent Collins is etlll on third Con- ception, with no immediate prospect of be- ing relieved. Judging by the amount of tracers we are handling, it would seem that the M., K. & T. is having “hard sledding” handling busi- ness, Jt'» only 4 question of time un^l the officials of that road will see that it is necessary to have reliable O. R. T. men lo properly handle their traffic. Sorry to say, it’s not Bro. "KG” at shops yet, but he’s coming in soon. It’s now Bro. Ritchie, agent Dearborn. Let’s all try and pay up for the first half 1918 promptly. It helps. Our general chairman has been meeting with the general manager, endeavoring to get some relief, regardless of our mediation agreement, and so far we are glad to hear everything looks favorable. It is now up to everyone to pay their dues promptly and eliminate the nons so as to get the 26-day month with overtime for Sunday work. Bro. Trunnell, of Bondurand, made trips to Afton Junction to meet Bro. Coleman, so as to have a visit back as far as Des Molnee and talk over olden times. Bro. Hunter and Hughes met them at Des Moines with a brass band. Cert. 48. San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Ry., Dlv. No. 111. Whereas, Bro. Peter Schmidt, a charter member of this division, beloved by all who knew him inside the Order and out, has passed to his reward ; therefore be It Resolved That the members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Division No. 111. extend to the bereaved relatives our earnest sympathy; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolu- tions be sent to the relatives of Bro. Schmidt, and a copy to The Railroad Telegrapher for publication. (Signed) C. E. Market, P. M. Finkbinb, W. D. McGee, Committee. Duluth S. S. & A. Ry., Dlv. No. 116. Bro. R. G. Bastian, Nestorla, has resigned and gone to Watersmeet with the C. & N. W. Bro. James Peter Deasy, after being at Camp Custer, was given an honorable dis- charge and has returned and is now second Nestorla. Jim has a "bum” lamp. E. E. Showers, an old-timer, is back again and will soon be lined up. Assignments; Agents — Bro. P. C. Petersen to Negaunee: Bro. W. L. Bedford to Ishpme- ing, and Bro. C. M. Garmon to Marquette, vice Bro. Peck, resigned to enter other service. These are all well merited promo- tions for all concerned. While we are sorry to lose Bro. Peck, we are also pleased that he is bettering himeelf and we wish him success. Bro. A. W. Anderson relieved Bro. Petersen at Thomaston. Our committee settled schedule negotia- tions January 14th, receiving a better cash settlement than ever before and a very good set of rule?; Including Sunday overtime, qj, Digitized by tjoooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 263 as better known, the 26-day month, 15 days’ vacation with pay, 10- hour day at one-man stations calls for 69 cents, overtime pro rata with minimum of 36 cents. If the vacation is not taken or you cannot be re- lieved 15 days’ salary additional will be paid. $10.00 per man flat cash raise and back pay at that rate, dating from August 10th, 1917, or all concessions and cash raise figured, it amounts to 40.39 per cent increase. Some schedule, for which our general offi- cers (who were nearly entirely instrumental in securing same) should be thanked from the bottom of our hearts. We have been asked to contribute $5.00 or one-half of our first month’s increase to the treasury. I sincerely hope you will all do this. We were asked to contribute our first month’s increase last year after our new schedule was received, and only a lit- tle better than 40 per cent responded, about 60 per cent of the membership still owing this to the treasury. Inasmuch as you will all receive a nice check for back pay, I would ask that you who have not paid the assessment of last year do so at once. It is your duty. We will have quite a few new members shortly as some of the nons are getting wise. Last month we had no write-up because no items were furnished me. I received none this month, but grabbed off a few during spare moments. Please let me know what is going on so we can have a nice big write-up each month, and prove beyond a doubt that while our division is small it is the real live wire division of all. “Web." “Soo Line” Ry., Div. No. 119. Chicago Division, Northern District — There were quite a number at our Min- neapolis meeting in December and a very enjoyable time was had by all. Among those from our district were: J. Mais, G. V. Anderson, C. H. Anderson, S. F. Disher, Ben Dagneau, H. F. Crosby and my- self. We talked over the schedule which had just been settled the day before we met and everyone was more than satisfied. One of the good things was a talk by the street car representatives of the Twin Cities who were out of work. All were thoroughly in sympathy with the men and a purse was made up to help the men win. General Chairman Lewis gave us a review of the proceeding of the committee in get- ting us the settlement. Remember, boys, “No card, no favors ” to the nons who have received substantial increases and yet can find some reason for not having a card. Bro. Monroe, out for some years, came in right away. We have three sisters in tlie Order— Sister Olson at Auburndale, Wis. ; Sister Lamberty on second and Sister John- son on third. Bro. Anderson has full crew at Chelsea. Bro. Grew relieved Mr. Schmidt on Mellen third, who Joined the navy. Bro. Hafferman drew first Mellen, vice a new man from Gil- man to agency Marengo, vice Bro. Hibbard to first at Abbotsford. Bro. Fiet from first to third “BF" and Bro. Clark to third; Bro. Platneau from third “BF” to second Park Falls. Bro. Cummings, agent at Bessemer, Mich., suddenly disappeared, Bro. Mills from Iron- wood going there until other arrangements can be made. Agent Madison is holding down first trick and agency there until Bro. Mills gets back. The boys at Ogema, Stet- sonville and Westboro have gotten off on Sunday. It is a very great relief to leave on Saturday night and not have to come back until Monday morning. I have worked seven years and never knew what it was to have a Sunday off and I certainly appre- ciate it now that I can at least go to church which I couldn’t do before. We are amply paid for our Sunday work, but it is not the pay that we want but the day off. Several others will perhaps enjoy the same privilege before very long. A new station has been opened at Morse by Shookman, a new man. Eau Claire. Lumbli, Gilman and Vesper agencies on bulletin. Plenty of openings for agencies, but very few operators. The boys prefer telegraph positions to the responsi- bility of an agent. There are very few nons; a supreme effort should be made to land every non we know of and any that will not come in should be labeled and no favors shown until they take out a card. Our committee is now taking the matter up with the express company re- garding the new system of way-billing with the view of remedying it and securing more money in that line if possible. “Buck/' Cert. 550. Chicago Division — All are pleased with the new schedule ef- fective January 1st. with an increase of ten dollars or more a month for all except three positions, overtime pro rata for all Sunday work based on twenty-six working days a month, an eight-hour day for all except the one-man positions which are nine hours. The increase in pay amounts to about seventeen per cent, and the Sunday overtime about fifteen per cent, a very good consideration for one revision. Most of the one-man positions are closed all day Sunday, while at most of the three- men stations the boys report at the beginning of their trick for one hour’s work, and are kept on until the dispatcher can let them go. Those who have to work on Sundays are pleased to get the extra money, while Digitized by tjOOQle
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264 The Railroad Telegrapher. those who do not have to work are delighted to get away for the day, like other work- ing men with their families and enjoy life. We cannot yet afford to rest on our oars, but must stand together and keep them lined up. New problems will constantly arise as time goes on, but there should now be no indifference as to the work we are required to perform. Answer the dispatchers promptly, they are a good bunch, and under the pres- ent conditions they are required to figure more closely and make better meets than ever. Help to make it easier for them, keep the equipment moving, as that car that is be- ing delayed may be the very car that is wanted to load food and supplies for our boys and for the allies so badly needed in Europe. On account of the decrease In business, Colgate and Fremont, both night tricks, Allenton, Van Dyne and Silver Lake nights, were closed. It is now Bro. T. K. Hove, third at Hil- bert Jet., who held "JTJ” about six years ago and went into business for himself, but is now back at the old stand nights, and gets the rabbits in the daytime. Bro. A. M. DeLap, agent Potter, was a re- cent Hilbert Jet. visitor. Bro. L. W. Desens is back on third Gray’s Lake, from Desplalns agency, after filling in as agent vice J. F. Brennan, enlisted. Bro. C. A. Johnston bid it in, and Bro. E. F. Provitz bid in third Waukesha, vice J. J. McDonald, gone to a commercial job at Quincy, 111. Mr. G. J. Martin, relief agent, bid back second Waukesha, which he gave up some time ago, relieving Singer at Hancock sev- eral months. Bro. W. J. Murphy resigned Forest Park agency, succeeded by D. W. Wright. Bro. E. Wills, relieved on second Shops Yard by Miss Belthazor, relieved Bro. A. N. Theisen while “SN” was dispatching. Bro. R. D. Meacham, second Lake Villa, relieved by Phoner Sherwood several days on account of having the measles. Bro. C. E. Larson, agent Fremont, sick several days, relieved by Carey, from Am- herst. Bro. F. W. Riggs, from second Van Dyne, closed to second Stockton, pending bulletin. Sister V. Elmore, relieving on second and third Waukesha for several months, has re- signed, and is now at home with her father, Bro. W. M. Elmore, at Lake Beulah. Bro. E. M. Wright, Division No. 23, on second Forest Park, pending bulletin, was agent there several years ago. Bros. W. Neinhaus and C. Utpadel, first and third at Burlington, doubled one night while Bro. F. Olsen was’ called away sud- denly on court matters, later relieved by Mc- Cullum on second. Among the new members are Misses M. and H. Gudenschwager, second Wheeling, and agent Hamilton. Former Bro. H. S. Day, now with the government, stopped off at Chicago on his way to Houston, Texas., a few days ago. Ex-Bro. H. Muskgrave, "JD" Chicago Freight House nights, is now with the U. S. Government War Department. All will be pleased to hear that Bro. O. Loek is improving. We hope he will soon be back on Kolze second again. Bro. R. Tucker, on the "Soo” until a few years ago, now with the Rock Island in Iowa, stopped off to visit the boys in Chicago re- cently, while making a trip Blast. Since we secured the new schedule several old timers have gone back to telegraphing. Bro. L. D. Seibert, who is with the U. S. forces in France, writes that he is in good health and has gained twenty pounds since joining the army. I wish to thank Bros. Lund, Steiner, Ford, and Ludlam for items this month. Come again, and some of you other fellows do like- wise. A. T. Meyer, Cert. 486. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania Division — The raise was sure a fine thing coming this time of year when fuel is so scarce and high. It’s the best raise we have ever re- ceived. The Sunday overtime clause has worked wonders towards excusing men where they never could get any time off, Sunday or any other day, and the guy that can’t get excused has the satisfaction of knowing that he isn’t donating the time as we have done in the past. Beginning the first of the year there was a censor put on in the general office tele- graph department, for the purpose of cutting down all messages that could be handled as well by mail, and four men were taken off ; Bros. H. Hoole and L. W. Kircher going to Shorehan second and third, relieving Bros. Good and Broenel, who have joined the army and been called. Of the other two, Teich went with the "NP" at Livingston, and Bro. Ringstrom with the "MOP” near St. Louis. On account of business, Ladysmith and East, extra operators, have been put on at Glen Flora and Engadine. There is a "large amount of grain, and flour is coming via Ladysmith, going to the Soo, Mich., as the "CP” is unable to handle it all. Bro. Harry Anderson arrived safely in France the first of the year, also Brakeman F. J. Kelly, Dan Carr and Walt Weare. Bro. Edwards, agent Deronda, has resumed after a three weeks’ visit to his old home in the Hoosier State, relieved by Swan, from the "GT.” Bro. Wagner and his lady friend were New Year callers at Deronda Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 265 Bro. L. A. Menard and family spent New Year's at Amery with Mrs, Menard’s folks. Don’t risk the lives of your friends nor the loss of their goods by routing them over "The Katy.” In rear-end collision at Gran- ger, Tex. recently, two sections of its crack train, “The Katy Flyer,” three persons were killed and eleven injured, an illustration of the service of a road run by scabs. Bro. A. G. Warner is now agent at Rud- yard. Ex-Bro. A. B. Deuel, second Lucky, en- listed and is now at the Great Lakes Naval Station, Great Lakes, 111. It is now Bro. J. S. Hall, third Lucky; his wife on second, promises to Join soon. Ex-Bro. J. E. Trombley, formerly on sec- ond Osceola, now in the Signal Corps at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., obtained five days of fur- lough during Christmas holidays, and was married to Mrs. Jessie Rice, of Osceola. Bros. Good and Broenel, second and third Shoreham, enlisted and have been called to the colors. Bro. Joe Cronick drew second Cardigan JcL, but gave it up and took third at Dresser Jet., vice Bro. F. C. Poechl, to second Cardi- gan. It is now Bros. G. B. Coryell, agent, and G. E. Vanderlinfien, third at Osceola, mak- ing that station solid for the first time. Bros. Glendennlng and Vanderlinden doubled three days recently, while Bro. Mad- sen was laid up with la grippe. Bro. L. O. Tracy, former agent at Enga- dine, is in the Signal Corps at Fort Leaven- worth. Bros. Devine and Madsen helped out good on the items this month. Some brother on the East End please send me a few notes. Don’t wait any longer to get your new card ; remember it costs something to get delinquent now, and February 28th is the limit. "WHB,” Cert. 492. Minnesota Division — Bro. F. L. Newburgh to Hamell, Minn., agency, pending bulletin. Miss Wilkinson, first Paynesville, resigned ; first Elbow Lake closed temporarily, Sister Gladys A. Wood, to Mantador, N. D., agency, pending bulletin,, relieving Bro. C. A. Haus- kin ; Bro. F. V. Munt, agent Kensal, on vaca- tion, visiting Pacific Coast points, relieved by M. O. Kuntson. Bro. A. M. Carlson Kenmare relieved by Bro. H. W. Williams, has joined the Signal Corps at Camp Taylor, Louisville, Ky. All wish him a safe return. Sister Leona B. Jones is at Logan, N. D., agency, pending bulletin. Assignments : Bro. A. M. Larson, to agent Sedan ; Bro. G. S. Sonenstahl, to agent Rock- ford ; Bro. P. Blanco, to third Loretto ; Bro. J. Rindt, to first Brooten; Bro. I. C. Nelson,' to third Brooten; Bro. J. Krekelberger, to second, and Bro. H. T. Seaburg, to third Elbow Lake; Bro. W. S. Sorenson, to third Kensal ; Bros. H. Rohweder to second Flax- ton, and Bro. A. W. Vogel, to third Portal. First and second Fessenden closed. Bro. A. A. Rio, to second Paynesville, vice Bro. C. S. Epperson, to the C. & N. W. Ken- mare, N. D., is now solid with Bro. A. F. Volkman, agent ; Bro. C. M. Evjen, first ; Bro. H. W. Williams, second, and Bro. V. F. Dejorla, third. Bro. J. H. Seeger assigned Velva, N. D., agency, assisted by Miss I. E. Lee, on sec- ond and S. Edwall, third. Bro. F. G. Spielberger, to Martin, N. D., agency. Bro. R. P. Creelman, to Fairmount, N. D., second, and Mr.^ Williams, on first there, and Bro. Pribbernow from the C. P. Ry. to Han- kinson, N. D., third, pending bulletin. Cert. 124. Duluth- Superior Division — Bro. W. W. Erickson, agent Automba, has been appointed correspondent for this divi- sion in my place. In the past year I have only received items for publication from four brothers: McKnite, ”BG”; Lucius, “CB”; Schulz, “BA”, and Erickson, ”AO”. A good writeup is the life of any division and when the work and postage is furnished gratis by some one member it is YOUR duty to help all you can with the NEWS. SEND IN EVERY SCRAP YOU GET and if it needs trimming the correspondent can do that much easier than he can hunt up the news. Let us all firmly resolve to HELP ALL WE CAN and send every bit of news we can get to Bro. Erickson at Automba. In leaving the position as correspondent I want to extend my personal thanks to the four brothers who did help and thank in advance all who will help. J. B. Sprague, Gully, Cert. 795. Duluth-Superior Notes — Having been appointed your correspond- ent, I will do the best I can, and hope with the help of the other brothers to have a writeup each month. Any notes you may have, please send them in by the 15th. It is now Brothers W. R. Bovee and A. Niska. The latter has been relieving Bro. Curel at Lawler on a leave of absence, is now relieving Bro. Burgan at Kettle River, who is spending the winter in a warmer climate than Kansas. Bro. Kestel, from ”Q”, was relieved by a new man during Christmas holidays. Bro. F. M. Stelmach went to second Fed- eral Dam during the detouring of C. P. business over our lines. The closing of second Onamia was a very hard blow to Stelmach. He recently returned there to fill out his “questionnaire.” The closing of second and third Onamia, Blackhoof and Federal Dam has left us with a full supply of operators. The first time Digitized by v^oooie
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266 The Railroad Telegrapher. we have been full handed for over a year. But at the opening of navigation next spring the shortage will be fully felt again. Bro. Jack McKnight, the mayor of Boyis- ton Junction, seems to find some great at- traction at Superior lately. It must be very lonesome for Bro. A. H. Nelson now at Blackhoof. No wonder he misses “Mary” ; we do also. Bro. Duffy, Moose Lake second, has re- turned from an extended and enjoyable va- cation. We are all surely glad to hear his Morse on the wire again. We all feel very much pleased with our new schedule, particularly the Sunday over- time. It is the first time in our history that we operators have been able to feel like real human beings, instead of machines of per- petual motion. The boys on this line should all try to give good wir9 service. Sometimes serious de- lays are caused by being slow in answering calls. Our committee intends to call upon the general superintendent of the Western Ex- press Company, relative to the present non waybill system which none of us approve of. In order to keep our treasury in good shape we have been requested to contribute $5 toward defraying expenses. This I hope all of you have done. Now that the government has control of the railroads, we hope they will be more lenient and give the boys on the “Katy” line what their heretofore employers would not. W. W. E.. Cert. 1377. Missouri River Division — Several agents desire a vacation, but are unable to get it owing to the scarcity of mgn. Bro. Rovhan, Madetse, has resigned to go into a store there, relieved by Bro. Simshaw, operator Max. Bro. Massingie, cashier Oakes, relieved Bro. Collings, at Kulm, on sick list. Our committee went shopping after con- cluding the new schedule and secured fifty- four new members. We have a fine schedule now and must be on the job and show our efficiency both to our railroad officials and Director General McAdoo. Do not under any circumstances become delinquent, and if any new men that come to this line immediately find out whether they have a card or not; if not, notify your local chairman or myself and we will camp on their trials until they come in with us. “GF*\ FLOWER FUND. Owing to the fact that it would take up a good deal of space, I will not show names and amounts of donators. The papers are on file with me and at any time anyone who wishes to go over them, he or they may do so. Total amount received and deposited with the Capital Security Bank, Bis- marck, N. D., to the credit of the O. R. T. by me and subject to check. $52.60 Flowers and cash account death Mrs. C. H. Boyle 23.00 Balance on hand $20.00 This is a fund worthy of having, and I will appreciate anyone advising me of any of our members or families who are sick, so that flowers can be sent them for good cheer. W. B. Richardson, Cert. 918. 422 Eleventh St., Bismarck, N. D. CARD OF THANKS. "Mr. W. B. Richardson, operator, “Building. "Dear Friend Rich: "I take this means of thanking you and the other members of the O. R. T. of Mis- souri River Division for the beautiful floral offering and the ftfteen-dollar donation which you boys turned over to me and for the sympathy tendered me during the sick- ness and death of my beloved wife. “I wish you would kindly have this ex- tended to all members through the O. R. T. magazine. “Your friend, “C. H. Boyle, Dispatcher. "Bismarck, N. D.” Lehigh Valley R R., Div. No. 124w Sorry to hear of Bro. Knittels* recent ill- ness, but glad he is able to be about again. Bro. Hindmarsch slipped recently, barking the calf of his leg considerably while ascending the stairway at “AV’\ Bro. Snyder, who has been kept pretty busy at “PK'\ is being relieved by Bro. Hindmarsch while Bro. Knlttel went to "AV” third. Bro. Ten Eyck relieved Dispatcher Mc- Nally one day recently, while Bro. Pfenning covered third in New Jersey for a few days, relieved by Bro. Fritch and he by Bro. Henry. Bro. Frankenfleld, second **XG”, has ac- cepted a far better position with a neighbor- ing road. Sorry to lose him, but our loss Is his gain. A number of the boys have been obliged to work 12 hours recently, owing to ex- treme shortage of men. Bro. Druckenmiller is on first and Bro. Mathias on second “CF'\ Sorry to learn of Bro. McAndrews at "BM" being ill, and sincerely hope nothing serious develops. Digitized by L.oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 267 Sincerely hope Bro. Kinney enjoys his trip to Palm Beach, as would many of us. Bro. Everdell Is back on second “SF\ after being off several days with a severe cold. Brothers, do all you possibly 'Can to bring others into the fold. It is as much to your interest as others, especially at this time. Good things come slow, and they are coming our way with your help. The wheels of Justice and right run slow but sure, and victory will surely be ours if you’ll but put your shoulder to them to assist In keeping them going. It's not what we did in 1893 that counts, it's what we’re going to do In 1918. Don’t be one of the “has beens” — don’t be a “slacker”. Back in the sixteenth century, when ignorance was bliss, and ’twas folly to be wise, browbeating and Intimidation were vigorously adhered to. But those im- plements are a thing of the past. “Yellow streaks” were common those days — and we regret to say there are some in our midst who have not discarded them, which at this time are very conspicuous. Remember, brothers, “no cards no favors” Keep in the front line trenches, get into the fray, do your bit, don’t do as the slacker does — stand back and watch the battle from afar — and when the time comes to reap the harvest, comes forth and accept his portion without a thought as to HOW it was gained, oftlmes complaining. The Order of Railroad Telegraphers has no use for a “slacker”, nor has any employer if the truth was really known. Do your bit, boys. Keep the home fires burning. Keep the O. R, T. flame gleaming, and victory will surely be ours, and now as the “dog catcher” says, I’ll say: “This way out” Cert. 248. Lehigh Valley Ry., Dlv., No. 124. " BM” Bethlehem , Pa ., General Office — Bro. R. C. Leh is back after a month’s vacation spent at Southern points. Bro. Paul Wenrick was a welcome visitor this week. Out of the three nons left in “BM” the prospects are good for two of them Joining us in the near future. Cert. 220. C., R. I. & P. Ry., Div. No. 126. General Offices — Goodland — Bro. G. W. Manion Is dispatch- ing on third trick during the absence of Chief Dispatcher Sheehan, called away on account of death in his family. Bro. Cornell, Div. No. g, hired at Omaha, is filling In jrhlle Man|on is in the other room. Cumrolm || pHU without » c*V(j, Bro. Monohan, from Stratton, is filling in vice Bro. Snyder, who resigned on account of ill health. Mgr. Manion has to work about twelve hours a day now to keep even with the heavy business. Need another man, but they are scarce 'these days. Trenton — Brother Davenport visited & few days at Wellington, Kan., recently. Papa Siler doesn’t seem to be losing much sleep. District car distributor located at Des Moines January 15th, increases our business with that office considerably. Bro. Christensen bid on the third Herlng- ton and examined recently, made a good average. He spent a few days in Emporia recently, where his family has been visiting. The wife and children returned to Trenton with him. Bro. Schreiber is “breaking in” in dis- patcher’s office. » Brother Stovall is on the 4 a. m. show-up, says he is losing lots of good sleep. Only one delinquent here besides the man- ager; former will pay up shortly. Fairbury — Bro. Carver off recuperating, Jawn Beam, of Lincoln, relieving. Bro. Corp, our amiable manager, has had his hands full past week or two account of storms, wire trouble and a gang of lineman who are stringing new wires from Phillips- burg to Courtland. Corp say somestimes he think they are tearing down wires rather than building them. Bro. Halpin, on third, says can’t make an average at night, with forty-five minutes on a long pink and only one number for it. John is an old bonus man, and can’t forget the numbers. Rumor of a new time card soon, taking off several passenger trains. If they do, they will have to double-deck those they leave on, as all trains appear to be full to the roof. Des Moines — Brother Overturf acting as night chief dispatcher past two weeks. No job for a ladies’ man; it did not give him time to make his rounds. However, we are all glad to have him back with us again. He told us he went rabbit hunting recently, hut no one saw any rabbits and he looked guilty. Bro. T. J. Baxter, working all the overtime in sight and getting fat, recently relieved Wire Chief Bro. Overturf, while off sick, and reports everything O. K., even the 5 set. Bro. Bert Bongers, still on “Owl” Job handling 280, 730 and 35, reports saying any- thing of the bunch of Western Union mes- sages that passes through his hands, “Go ahead, $1.20,” Bro. Elder J. Bylander, relieved by Bro. Charlie Hatwick ten days on account of the death of his mother, has our deepest syrn« Pathy In W« «a<J Digitized by Google
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268 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Jawn Wadsworth Davis recently re- turned from an enjoyable visit at Baxter, la. His doctor has advised him to cut out those long reconnoitering trips and we might add, incidentally, the fried chicken. Bro. Neal Hogenwoning has had several phone calls recently, but no one seems to know what they are about. However, he is strictly all right and does not even use store tobacker any more. We are all glad to have Bro. Ralph Stokes from Cedar Rapids with us acting wire chief almost every Sunday, in fact, "MS" office is full of wire chiefs. Bro. Young (right, only 18). a new arrival, works Chicago continually. He likes Omaha, but don't like the call "MU." He is "some kid" and right there when it comes to “pounding brass.” Brother Kay lecently paid us a short visit. We were all glad to see Bill, even if he did not have the typewriters with him. Mr. Hood and Mr. Ray also paid us a visit re- cently, installing phones, etc. Chicago — Pat O’Con N or Bill Ly O ns P. R. C ollins H. Kna A pp Claud C R alg E D ward Oehmke Bill S upple Harry Ha N sen Joe P O wers Joe F lannlgan Elmer P A acatte J. W. Ree V es Frank Kos O ski C. Stansbe R ry Geo. S immonds r H. A. Ford Roy LEe Har R y McCann Wilbur Caz E l Bro. Knapp started to grow one, too, but when someone intimated it had been planted in the wind, he "ripped" it out. But Bro. Phelps won’t listen to reason a- tall. Bro. Tim Collins writes from London, stating that the big indoor sport going over was draw and they left him one little Amer- ican cent. (Some of that bunch at “RI" must have been aboard.) A note from Bros. Carroll and Oehmke at the Naval Training Stations says : “All's well." Lots of new men here recently, but didn’t stay long enough to get any of their names. Out of five there is still one with us. Bro. Mangan once remarked that he wanted to get "far from the maddening throng’s Ignoble strife,” and sit with the snails along the roadside and watch the turtles whiz by, and we want to say that at location work J. L. is great. He selected the "DMV”. Here’s luck, Jule. Bro. Stansberry tried to exchange his skates for a sled, someone remarked. Also understand some of the boys have nice steam radiators they would like to exchange for a good old-fashioned cook stove and heater. Herrington — Our old friend, C. Newton, has gone to his Just reward. He is now working for the Santa Fe. Omit flowers. Bro. Hogew’oning, senior telegrapher in "RI”, bid in first Herington yard. Hate to see "Dutch” leave, as we will have to walk a couple of blocks now when we want to start an argument. Had a long letter from Bill Hamilton the other day, headed, "Somewhere in Canada.’* Doing fine, but we look for him back about the time the robins nest again. The first to pay his dues this time in the relay division was Bro. Ford, who has been in France for some time. A mighty good example for the rest of us to emulate. Received a Christmas card from Bro. Deuell, formerly of Chicago, postmarked down in Arizona. Michigan must have been too cold for Guy. A large number of the smaller stations are closed all day since our new schedule which provides for Sunday overtime. Pre- vious to that date it was considered neces- sary the agents in those stations work the full time on Sunday. Looks like "left- handed" co-operation, doesn't it? Letters and cards from Brothers Rollins, Harper and Campbell say they are still in quarantine at Great Lakes, but should be released in few days. Last report showed Rollins and Campbell in the kitchen, while Harper was trying to make an average on the common side of a broom. The relay division of the Rock Island cannot be listed among the slacker element. Ford, Davis, Collins, Carroll. Oehmke, Peck, Keeton, Snodgrass, Walden, McKnight. Shortridge, Ingram, Rollins, Campbell, Har- per, Freeman, Reeves, Powers all belong in this division's roll of honor, and there may be others whose name I do not now recall. A few more tried to break in, but were turned back on account of some physical defect. And everyone of them good O. R. T. boys. Some of the brothers have neglected to send in the contribution requested by our general officers. It takes money to get money and all should be willing to donate this small amount, without having to be asked for it more than once. Brother Short, of the Nebraska division, is at Herington extra. Also Operators Laf- fertv and Matheny and Marshall as third trick wire chief temporarily. They will all be up-to-date in a short time. Digitized by c.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 269 You only have until February 28 to pay your dues, brothers. Those yearly cards are "classy.” Try one and be "in the clear” for a whole yean Bro. Dunnam, our efficient G. S. & T., passed through recently on his way to Fort Worth, having been called home on account of his, father meeting with a serious acci- dent. R. D. Stover, Local Chairman. CARD OF THANKS. Chicago, 111., Feb. 9, 1918. I desire to sincerely thank the brothers for their assistance, and for their kind, sym- pathetic and encouraging words. Also, for the beautiful floral tribute given in my late bereavement — the loss of a father. With best wishes, I am * Yours fraternally, W. H. Dunnam, Gen. Secy, and Treas. Rock Island Div. Lines. Chicago Terminal and Illinois Divisions — > The Chicago Terminal is now solid with the exception of one man and he has promised. This is a pretty good standing, taking into consideration the fact that the towerraen have been in our schedule only a little over one year. I am proud of this and want to thank those who have assisted me in lining them up. We certainly have some "scrappers” among the towermen and believe they could give the operators on the Illinois division some pointers. I hope the boys on the Illinois division will become so jealous of them that they will go out and make a cleaning. While covering the division in December, I had very poor success in lining the none up, all of them being broke and would have no money until \hey received their back pay. when every one of them promised to give us their applications. December 31st they received it, but most of them evidently forgot their promises as they failed to remit. If you do not know who they are I will furnish you a list for the asking. Every man on the division should start out organ- izing and keep right after them until every non on the division has joined. There Is absolutely no excuse for anyone not doing their part now and the members must see that they do it and quit sponging off of the rest, who have ambition enough to keep up their cards and keep the good work going on. Until every member realizes this and goes right after them we will still have them with us. E. Sperlin, Local Chairman. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas. Almighty God, with tender and infinite mercy, has called from this world to her reward, the beloved mother of our Brother S. Kofer; in manifestation of our sincere grief and fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved , That the members of the Chi- cago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Divi- sion 126, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to this sorrowing brother and fam- ily our sincere sympathy in his sad be- reavement, and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be sent to the afflicted brother and family, a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication, and a copy be spread over the minutes of this division. F. E. HU8BR, W. A. Burkhardt, B. J. Hamill, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. The undersigned, children of Mrs. Anna Kofer, who died December 31, 1917, wish to thank the telegraphers of Division 126 for the tokens of sympathy and acts of kindness shown them during the recent ill- ness and death of their beloved mother. Katherine, Charles and Simon Kofer. Rock Island, 111. St. Louis Division — The St. Louis division feels a heavy loss with the death of our dear Bro. Coleman, CaiTie avenue. Bro. Hugg, St. Louis Com. office, bid in the vacancy. Our new schedule is great. Wonder what the non can eay now? Pleasant Hill office and tower boasts six up-to-date men. We sympathize with any- one who has to work with a scab. Bro. Ford, South Lee, has transferred from Division 31 to f26. Welcome. Several new men have come to our divi- sion lately. See that they are up-to-date; if not, get busy and stay with them till you land them. Operators are too distant. Let's get acquainted; we might like each other. Miss Hatty Brewer, Carroll first, our first lady on the St. Louis Division, is all O K; don’t be ashamed to brake her, boys, when she gets too fast for you. Wasn’t it easy to pay your dues? Stay paid up; see that the other man pays up; it will always be easy. The M. & P. boys are up now. I hope they get a good raise. A. V. at “SA.” Missouri Division — IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father has deemed it best to call to his Heavenly Home our Brother A. K. Windsor, and Whereas, We, the members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers of the Missouri Division of Division 126, C. R. I. & P. Ry.. bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things for the best, be it therefore Digitized by v^ooole
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270 The Railroad Telegrapher. IZesolvtd, That in the death of Brother Windsor, this division has lost a good, true, worthy brother, and that we extend to the bereaved family our sincere and fraternal sympathy in this their sad hour of bereave- ment, and be it further Resolved That a copy of these resolu- tions be sent to the bereaved family, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publi- cation. R. A. Dean., F. S. Strong, J. T. Hanley, Committee. Kansas Division — IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom and love, has deemed it best to call from our midst to His eternal home the beloved mother of our esteemed Bro. H. W. Avery; therefore be it Resolved , That the members of Rock 1b- land Division No. 126 extend to the bereaved brother our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in his sad bereavement, and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to Bro. H. W. Avery, a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication and a copy spread upon the minutes of this division. M. W. Shaw, F. H. Munzer, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, God in His wisdom, has seen fit to call home our Brother J. D. Wills, we bow in humble submission to Hie will; Resolved , That the members of the C. R. I. & P. Ry. Co. System, Division 126, ex- tend their heartfelt sympathy to his rela- tives; Resolved , That a copy of thes resolutions be forwarded to his relaives, If they can be found, a copy placed on our division records and a copy mailed The Telegrapher for publication. G. D. Edgar, J. V. Young, S. E. Mattics, Committee. Arkansas Division — Bros. Moore and Armstrong, Booneville, we are sorry to state, are down with pneu- monia, relieved by Bro. Stuart, Oklahoma division, and Bro. Perry, third Havana, re- lieved by Davis, a new man. Bro. Stuart also relieved Local Chairman Cook, Okla- homa, while he was out lining up the nons and delinquents. Everybody was glad to see him. Bro. Grady, Carlisle, transferred to Ama- rillo Division on account of poor health, re- lieved by Mr. Parham, who promises to come in first pay day. Bros. Brewer, Devalls Bluff, and Clark, Lonoke, resigned to enter other service. Bro. Tisdale spent 15 days visiting in Hot Springs, relieved by Mr. Chew. - Bro. Welch, second Ola, putting in spare time learning radio work, expects to enlist soon. The membership on this division is now in a very encouraging condition. We have been having an old-fashioned revival, secur- ing eight members in the last two weeks. Let’s keep it that way. If a new man is em- ployed, be sure he has a card; U not, get right after him, also notify the local chairman. When you bid on. a position send a copy to Local Chairman C. J. Cook, Ola, Ark., so he can see that everybody gets a square deal. Do it every time. Cert. 2417. Amarillo Division — Assignments: Bro. J. J. McLean to ‘‘YD’* nights, displacing Bro. W. H. Pieper, re- turning to his home at Amarillo. Adrain agent and operator bulletined. Bro. Engle- king is not going to return. We regret very much to learn of his prolonged ill health, and hope for an early recovery. We are very proud to have an up-to-date working along the line that has the proper stuff in heart and head to detain trains. With a little experience he will do as well as the “older heade." J. J. M., we glory in your spunk. Bro. Baucum wanted 90 days off to visit his wife’s people, but our superintendent says 15 days is as long £^s he can spare him. Presume he has a son-in-law and is in sympathy with G. R.’s wife’s father. Bro. A. D. M. at “RI” is reaping a nice reward now, being unable to get an operator- cashier. Mrs. Morgan goes round and round with him and pulls down the 80 per. Fine business. Brothers, get after the few nons left and do your duty by helping to rid the line of them. “No card , no favors ” will help wonderfully. Try it. Our meeting at Amarillo on January 6th was a /allure, not for want of attendance, but on account of badly delayed trains which did not get to Amarillo until almost time to return home. We are not disheart- ened and will have another soon. Get your work lined up, boys, so you can attend the meetings; you will enjoy them wonderfully. This is a poor write-up, but haven’t had a word from any of you and we can’t expect good write-ups without news from the boys along the line. Let’s start the New Year better than we closed the old one. Cert. 2485. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 271 Cedar Rapids Division — Bro. M. F. Bulls, in training at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., 19 now a corporal in the Signal Corps, and would appreciate a line or two from the boys. Address: Corporal M. F. Bullis, Co. A. Fifth Field Battalion. Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. Bro. Orln Jenkins Is there also, but In Company A of the Sixth Battalion. Ely second closed a few days while Bro. E. R. Graham was off sick. Bro. G. D. Ellis spends his Saturday night at Medlapolis. Details not yet obtainable. The nons on this division now have an opportunity to line up and be men. Ask the man on the line you work to tell you who they are. If they will not help us to fight their own battles, we cannot be ex- pected to treat them as real men. “No card , no favors/9 I have asked several times for a few notes each month that I might have a little write-up, but they are awful slow at com- ing. I wish some enterprising member would do this. I will be glad to pass them up to Bro. Rawlins for the next issue. We have closed one of the best years the Cedar Rapids Division has had for some time and from present indications this will be a still better one. Let us all work to give eatlsfaction to the general officers of our organization as well as to our employers. A little help from each of you will work wonders. Why not try it? Local Chairman. Nebraska Division — Sister Walker, Richfield third, off on ac- count sickness, visited homefolks down in Dixie before returning to work. It Is now Bros. Davis, South Bend; Har- den, Scandia; Driscoll, Otego; Helmburger. Lincoln, and Seibert at Hallam. This prac- tically cleans up the long outstanding nons of the “ male ” variety, but we still have two of the other sex. Bro. Beam, extra in “F,” relieved by Hen- richs, who promises to soon be with us. Bro. Robinson, of the Cotton Belt, is on Mahaska third extra on account of Bro. Ed- win Blakeley accidentally getting shot In the hand while out hunting recently. Glad to report he is getting along nicely. Bros. Foreman, Vlneing and Jennings from Camp Funston, recently paid a short visit with homefolks on the division. Bro. Keltner, now with the Milwaukee at Messelshell, Mont., writes that he likes the country fine. Bro. Braun, Alvo third, relieved a few days recently by Olsen, who later relieved Mason at Thompson. Gretna third closed while Sister Seymour was on the sick list. All of the towermen with the exception of Richardson at Thompson have appreciated their increase enough to take out cards. Sunday overtime and pay for the lights brings their salary up to a reasonable sum. Bro. Woolen has resumed at Meadow after a few days off on account of sickness. Bro. Gowdy, Dewitt; Bro. Baltzell, Martell, and Bro. Ewing of Hallam, visited Lincoln between trains lately. Seems impossible to keep these boys away from the^lty. Since No. 13 tried to go through the house track at Havelock recently, Bro. Koontz thinks the depots should be moved a little farther from the tracks. Our new schedule is adjusting Itself very nicely and everybody is quite elated with the Sunday rule. With a solid line-up there is no reason why our working conditions should not still be improved. Let us at least give it a trial. Cert. 761. Burlington Route, Div. No. 130. Relay Division — Since closing up our last schedule we have taken in a large number of new members and expect to have the relay division solid within a short time. The 2 6- workday month has made quite a hit and everyone Is well satisfied with the outcome of our negotia- tions. Some of our members who have con- tended that we were “dead ones” compared with the trainmen, might ask themselves what other organizations ever pulled down the increase in money and conditions that we secured in this settlement? We practi- cally got everything we asked for, except vacations, and we even secured a concession on that. The membership is to be congratulated on the manner In which it supported the com- mittee. It was Its undivided support that enabled the committee to make the stand it did. We must not lay down and think that our work is completed because we made a good settlement; we must keep organized to in- sure what we have and go after more when it is needed. J. J. Bosk. Notes — Chicago — Mike Vaughan, for a number of years manager of “GO”, died recently after a long illness. He was well liked and is mourned by the boys in “GO”. Charlie Martin, former general wire chief, is now first lieutenant in the signal corp, located in the armory on West Madison street. He looks right nifty in his uniform. Miss Margaret Erickson, Morkrum oper- ator, Omaha, visited with friends In Chi- cago on January 20th. On account of the reduction in force, Able Coats was ”bumped off his 6 a. m. trick by Bro. Haines. Bro. C. B. McKeever, formerly at St. Joe, now with the Standard Oil Co., writes that Digitized by v^ooole
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272 The Railroad Telegrapher. his heart is still with us and wishes to be remembered to the boys. His address Is care Standard Oil Co., 62d and Brookside, Kansas City, Mo. A. N. Butler, first trick "WC’\ Ottumwa, who drew about $100 back pay and $11 a month increase, still can’t see why he should spend any of it to buy a card and help to pay for what the O. R. T. members secured for him. Another Mr. Butler, in the same office but no relation to the former, has been promis- ing: for over two years to join, but is still “going: to.” There is something in a name after all. Burlington — Bro. D. D. Blake, relieving in the dispatcher’s office, Burlington, is back on “BN” first trick train wire. Bro. B. C. Samuelson is the proud father of a baby girl. If the “smokes” are any indication, she sure is a dandy. Bro. H. J. Barber is back on “GO” wire. He seems to delight in working hard. Bro. W. A. Wilke, a new man, lined up on his first day, setting an example that could well be imitated. Mr. Chase and Mr. Hodge have promised to line up soon and this will make “BN” solid once more. War was de- clared on the nons as soon as the new schedule appeared. Beardstown — Bro. Botkin, acting second wire chief in the dispatcher’s office ,for three or four weeks relieving Dispatcher Renfro, who had smallpox, was relieved by Bro. Ehrmans and he by Mr. Holden from Ottumwa. Sorry we can’t call him brother, but his financial condition seems to be under a severe strain at present. “B“ office is solid now outside of phoner Connell, who promises to join pay day. Business is good and everybody working overtime on account of being short owing to sickness and death. Bro. Korte was off ten days on account of the death of his baby daughter, 24 months old. No man to relieve him making it neces- ary for the rest of the boys to cover his hours. Bro. Atkins was called to Petersburg on account of the death of his brother-in-law; Bros. Reiley and Ehrman covering his trick. Cert. No. 9. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father and All-Wise Ruler of the Universe to take unto Himself the beloved baby daugh- ter of our dear Bro. Harry H. Korte, in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sym- pathy ; be it Resolved, That the members of Division No. 130, C. B. & Q. System, Order of Rail- road Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing brother and members of the afflicted family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sad bereavemeht ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, a copy spread upon the minutes of the division, and a copy forwarded to The Telegrapher for publication. W. K. Mosier, . E. F. Com erford, M. C. Ehrman, Committee. Beardstown Division — Something to brag of, a town down on the Beardstown Division on the Jack line named Ayers, 111. The population is only seven peo- ple, and all operators ; four are brothers, four are extra operators. Can anyone beat this? Bro. Jack Whorton has accepted the cash- ier's position at Christopher, 111. Bro. Wm. Beekman is the big agent and operator at Pisgah, 111. Bro. Chipman get- ting first trick at Virden. Bros. Featherstone, of Franklin, got thirty- eight hours overtime and nine calls, and Mann, of Walshville, 111., got forty-one hours overtime and one call for December. Brothers, we can’t kick on the new sched- ule we received last time; it is one of the best ever. Three new jobs at Cambon, 111., and two at West Frankfort, 111. “West Frankfort” Jet. closed, now called Wye Jet. Bro. Cooley will see that these new peo- ple carry an up-to-date card. Several ladies on his side can be called “Sister” as well as brothers. I am glad to say, that on both ways from “WS,” they are solid O. R. T., four at Sor- ento, and three at Litchfield. Jack line coal trains are not so busy the last few days. There is only one operator and three agents between Concord and Central ia, who do not belong to the O. R. T. ; two are cashiers, and they must be “some hard nuts to crack,” when they received a $10.00 a month raise and then cannot carry an up-to-date card. Best way to serve them is to remember our motto : “No card , no favors ” and make it good and strong. Cashier J. M. Yowell, of Litchfield, has taken an agency on the Ft. S. & W. R. R. Brothers, those who have not paid their dues should do so at once, and everyone pull for the good of the Order. I did not receive any notes from anyone this time. Brothers, drop me a few lines, someone on the North End of Beardstown, and down the St. Louis line, and let’s have a good write-up each month and everyone keep after the nons on each side of him. J. H. Mann, Asst. L. C. Digitized by c.ooQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 273 CARD OF THANKS. To Beardstown Division of C. B. & Q. Divi- sion No. 130 : We take this method of attempting to ex- press our heartfelt gratitude to you for the kind sympathy extended to us in our sor- row at the death of our darling baby, Mary. The beautiful floral offering was deeply ap- preciated and when sorrow comes to you may you have the comfort of friends as we have had. Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Korte., Beardstown. 111. Aurora Division — Bro. R. D. Hade, who for several years on second Wataga tower, has been assigned to third Princeton. Bro. Jacob Spanier, second TC” tower, ofT with a badly sprained arm, relieved by Bro. Salander, of second "MS” tower. Bro. Vaage, on second trick tower for the past five months, has returned to day oper- ators’ Job at the depot. Ex-Bro. Cope, of the Farmers’ Elevator Co., helped out several nights on second Earlville tower. Bro. Radcliffe, second Mendota, who bid in second Princeton, is on the sick list, relieved by Bro. Kibler, of "MS” tower. Bro. Mclnturf, agent Zearing, has accepted the managership of the Grain Elevator Co., at Malden. 111. Bro. Lehrke, first Camp Grant, recently had several days’ vacation. Bro. Ackerson from Polo, is now on sec- ond Flag Center. Bro. Stlmpson, third Shabbona, recently in Chicago attending the "Oh Boy” show at the LaSalle. Bro. Dowding, agent Chana, has several new members in sight on the C. & I. Bro. Scherick, first Oregon, spent a very interesting night in Aurora just before Christmas. Bro. Tom Vemor, second Bristol tower, was marooned at Sandwich during the snow- storm, but after losing one day's work got over on the snow plow. We want to congratulate Bro. Bodine, Ohio, 111., and Bro. Thomas, Sugar Grove, 111., on the step both have taken, but I am looking for that guy who told you that two could live as cheap as "ONE.” If either of you find him before I do, kindly save me his address, if there is anything left of him. Bro. Crawford, second Galva tower, taken seriously ill January 3rd, went to Chicago hospital for an operation. Mr. Lord and Bro. Linbloom had to double several days, until Bro. Nordeen was released from Ke- wanee cabin. Bro. Wicks, relieved January 14th by Bro. Don Sandell, who expects to sign up Lincoln, extra Phoner, second Kewanee cabin, pay day. Assignments : A. R. Slingman, third "NYC” Jet. ; Bro. Eckerson, second Kewanee cabin; Bro. Will Smith, of Sterling, to sec- ond Eola tower ; Bro. G. H. Graves, first Mendota, • to first Downers Grove towei^. Bro. Bert Graves, from the C. & N. W., and C. M. & St. P.. is now acting agent at Leonore, 111., and Bro. Baker, formerly from the I. C.-Burlington, is at Rockford. It is now Bro. Miller, making Buda solid again, thanks to the other brothers for doing their bit. Cert. 5. Galesburg Division Notes — Assignments: Agents, Castleton, F. M. Haist; Denrock, O. D. Eakman; Joy, Bro. D. S. McKown; third Abingdon, Bros. G. E. Moore. New members: Bros. McCoy, Abingdon: Baily, Camp Point Pierce, Rock Island ; Johnson, Farmington; Dolan, Clinton; Hig- gins, St. David; Huston, Keithsburg; John- son, Opheim; McVay, Clinton Myer, Lewis- town; More and Sheridan, Fulton; S. E. Sweet, Garden Plain, and S. B. Sweet, Clin- ton; Hoskins, Canton; Woolery, Abingdon; Swigart, Farmington; Love, Knoxville; Mc- Cleery, Yates City, and mdre to follow. * Agent Haist of Norris relieved a few days by Bro. Higgins of second Lewistown and he by Bro. Swigart of third Farmington closing latter position. Later he was re- lieved several days by Gookins, who also relieved Moore, second Elmwood, a few days and was later called to report to exemption board, bu\ excused to be called again. Bro. McCleery, third Yates City, visited in Peoria January 17th. John Tobin put on new trick at Knoxville until bulletined on account of serious acci- dent resulting in death of Fireman Webber and Brakeman Olson. Bro. Fahnestock of Rushville called to Woodhull to attend funeral of relative. Re- lieved by Bro. McVay. Bro. Higgins put on at St. David pending bulletin to assist Bro. Mullen. Quincy Switch third opened by Bro. Duger, a new man. Bro. Ball from C., M. & St. P. on second Paloma temporarily. Additional trick put on at Orion, Briar Bluff, Erie and Barstow. Bro. C. A. Lindell of Camp Dodge, la., visited friends and relatives at Alpha and Woodhull recently. Everyone is well pleased with the new schedule and working all the time. Wish that everyone who possibly can would pay dues for entire year and get an annual card. This not only saves you the trouble of remitting twice but your general secretary considerable work. Remember, February 28th is the limit. Galesburg Divi- sion closed the year 1917 with 131 members, losing only one by delinquency, but several by leaving the service or answering the call Digitized by v^ooole
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274 The Railroad Telegrapher. to the colors. Already have enlisted eight new members since the first of January. Let us all get busy and make the "GT” the highest percentage on Division 130. No rea- son why we cannot. Thanks to Bros. Jones and Waddlll for notes. L. C. Hannibal Division Items — Bro. Allen, third Machens, has been batch- ing while his family were visiting his wife’s parents in LaGrange. Bro. G. B. Beck and wife of Machens spent Sunday in St. Louis recently. Bro. G. L. Hubbard has been taking a fall out of some of the Red Cross "knockers.” Bro. H. M. Anderson, agent West Alton, is contemplating moving to his new resi- dence. Bro. C. Smart, agent Peruque, relieved a few days* by Bro. G. A. Gamer of second, and Bro. Joe Hayes, third West Alton, by extra Foner Brower, who also relieved Bro. W. G. Frank, "Graveyard” Firma, several days. Bro. Jack McCue relieved by Gus Hub- bard, Jr., at Foley two weeks on account sickness. Bro. C. R. Chlpman spent the holidays with his mother at Ewing, Mo. Five applications sent in since the first of year and have the promise of five more this pay day. This cuts the nons down to a very small per cent on this division. Quite a number of annual passes distrib- uted January first to our boys. Glad to see so many enjoying them. Three new day positions opened up on South end recently: Seeburger, McIntosh and Reading, making it better for some of the old heads that have been working nights for a number of years. Collie Mays, L. C. Burlington Division Notes — Bro. F. E. Warner, operator Washington, to same position, Oskaloosa, vice Bro. Ed Stout to West Burlington agent. Bro. L. T. Stewart from operator Knox- ville, la., to agent’s position, Bro. Johnson to agency Ottumwa. Bro. J. V. Datin, back on the Burlington Division again, is at agency Lovilia. Bro. J. F. Frain to agency Fremont, la., vice Bro. J. Vannoy on road for grain com- mission house in St. Louis. Boys, put in a plug for J. V., he has an up-to-date. Bro. N. H. Plumb, operator Washington, and H. B. Oldt at Wyman pending bulletin. Boys, let all get in the game and make this division 100 per cent. It can be done. We have 06 per cent right now. Only three or four desirables left. Put it up to them, and show them we want them apd they need us. Let us set a pattern for the rest of the divisions, by making the Burlington Division solid. New members: E. E. Vannoy, S. M. Wil- son, M. J. Marlett, I. P. Bowlin, R. J. Davis, E. J. Frey and C. R. Stout. Keep the good work up. J. F. Frain. Crest on Division — J. A. Phelan, agent Bolckow, relieved by R. T. Humberd, while filing questionnaire at Savannah. Bro. R. M. Walkley, second Malvern, on two weeks' vacation to New Jersey, relieved by Bro. Earl Pace from Villisca. Bro. R. F. Bickett, operator Greenfield. Ia., and wife recently visited home folks at Maryville. While Bros. L. L. Turnbull, agent Bal- four, la., was away on honeymoon, Bro. T. L. Dlnsmore, from second, relieved him, re- lieved by Bro. J. E. Collier. Bro. Dinsroore took two weeks’ vacation on Bro. Turnbull’s return. Bro. and Mrs. Turnbull have the congratulations of us all. May their married life be happy, prosperous and long. L. L. Lauber now with the Casper Division in Wyoming. Don Hainey, agent Arkoe, was a Maryville visitor recently doing his Xmas shopping and filing questionnaire. Assignments: Nodaway agency, Bro. H. H. Hefting; second tricks — Stanton, Bro. M. J. Hull; Malvern, Bros. W. F. Dyke; Nodaway, Bro. J. E. Shelby; third — McPherson, H. S. Shehan; first — Glenwood, Bro. D. O. Gwinn. New members: Joe Stranad, I. J. Cas- tillo, Corning; D. B. Olvey, Hopkins; H. H. Stokesbury, Red Oak; R. B. Yarbough, Em- erson; J. K. Shelby and E. A Thompson, Nodaway; F. F. Kobbert, Folsom, and Miss Elva Milligan, Balfour. Brothers, let’s get after the few nons left and try and make the Creston Division 100 per cent strong by June 30th. They have no excuse now for staying out, as each one of them got back pay enough to get a card and have a nice balance left. Then one month’s increase will pay up dues for the year with a nice balance left on hand, not saying a thing of the Sunday overtime and better working conditions we were able to secure and something we all know would never have been handed to us but for the untiring work of our committee. Let each of us make a special effort to land at least one non, and if we can do this it will sure be worth many times the trouble to us all. Thanks to Bro. Hale for items this month. Brothers, if you want a write-up each month, some of you should at least help out with a few items, any change, etc., you should happen to hear of. Drop me a line any time and I will see it Is in the following write-up. It Is impossible for one or two to Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 275 keep track of all the changes and if each of you will watch this we will have, a good write-up each month. O. C. Wallace, Asst. L. C. Creaton Division Notea — Doc Thompson, third Villisca, has gone South for his health, relieved by Bro. J. E. Pace, relieved by Caywood. Bro. Pace also relieved Bro. Walkley. second Malvern, while back home on a visit East. Bro. J. E. Pace went to third Villisca, relieved by Bro. Stokesbury on third at Malvern. Bro. L*. P. Strohl, formerly on third Coun- cil Bluffs, now with Uncle Sam in France, writes that he is dispatching trains over there. Says the Germans had the nerve to cut up the front and back yard of his office with bullets, but he is etill on the job having a good time. It is now Sister MiHigan, she being the only woman on the division. Brothers, help her out if she asks you to, she is a very promising young lady. Send in some notes. Help make this the banner division and remember our motto: ‘No card, no favors ” and "no notes, no write-up.” Cert. 1603. Ottumwa Division Notes — Assignments: Bro. A. L. Thompson. Biggs- ville third; Bro. A. Z. Crabill, Murray third; Bro. W. C. Dowry, Fairfield second. Intro- ducing you to Bros. W. E. Snider, Lock- ridge; R. E. West and J. Cats, Osceola; O. B. Felger and C. W. Pinkerton, Afton; B. A. Kelly, Thayer; F. L. Stover, Wood- bum; S. A. Gilland, Frederic; R. W. Blake, Jamison; T. F. Watters, Mt. Pleasant (“WU"), and Sisters B. B. Stroup, West Burlington, and Ethel E. Sloan, Glendale. Bro. West, second Osceola, on a few days’ trip recently to Quincy, relieved by Bro. P. E. Haist, who later worked third Murray a few- nights, then to Fairfield second. "Bro. Kelly, third Thayer, relieved by Mrs. Burkheimer from Russell several nights, ow- ing to the sudden illness of his wife. Bro. Tribler to first Biggsville a few days, releasing Bio. Thompson for third regular, later to Gladstone first and Bro. Houston to Biggsville regular. Account wife of Bro. Saling, second "BY,” taking suddenly sick at 8:00 p. m., Bros. Stroupe and Collins played the double over stunt. Bro. Stroupe, third "BY," off two nights recently account sickness, relieved by Bro. Ross from Dudley third; he by Exa Elat on from Ruesell, who later relieved Bro. Ross a few days. Everybody seems more than pleased with the settlement made by our committee, the change of hours making it just a trifle un- handy at some stations, but taking it as a whole, the eight-hour day is a great point won. This division now ranks second on the system as to solid membership and the pros- pects are very good for a 100 per cent, as there are only a very few hard ones left, who, with a little coaxing, in time will line up. They can’t stay out after grabbing all that back pay which was fought out for their benefit as well as the brothers. Every- one get after them and let’s make it solid. P. B. H. Omaha Division — The past year has been an exceedingly successful one in new members and we closed without a single delinquent. We now have 82 positions on this division with 72 members and the promise of six nons that will line up as soon as they receive the back pay. The delay in getting this has been in the auditor's office in Chi- cago, due to some of the divisions not get- ting in their back pay rolls in time. This division, however, was not one of them, as our rolls were sent in among the first. Chief Dispatcher Welch advises that over- time pay each month will all be included in the pay day of the last half of the month, in which it is earned, which we re- ceive about the 12th of the month follow- ing. Several of the brothers have dropped out of the service the past year, but their places have been filled by new members, some of whom came to us from other lines carrying a card and some lining up after getting in service. Let’s see if we can’t line up all the nons on the division. They certainly should be in a position to join on receipt of the back pay secured for them by the efforts of our general committee. Those who have not remitted for dues of the current term should do so before be- coming delinquent and keep up the per- centage. Brothers, wish more of you would make an effort to send me some notes during the month as it’s pretty hard for me to get all of the changes, etc., and we all look to the write-ups to see what is going on — assignments, etc. Just a single item any time during the month when something of interest shows up will be appreciated. Bro. Yocum, of Yutan, with homefolks in Missouri, relieved a week by Helper Honey from Uehling. The ice harvest is going good at Lake- ton with Bro. Gleason doing the operator stunt. Assignments: Agencies — Chaleo, Bro. Ward; Gretna, Bro. McDonald, from Chaleo; third Oakland, Bro. C. F. Squires; second Ashland, Bro. Parmer, from Dakota City; second Greenwood, Bro. Hawkins; third Plattsmouth, Bro. Mayfield. Digitized by G.OOQle
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276 The Rail, road Telegrapher. Hope to hear from more of the brothers next month. Bro. West was the only one helping out this month. H. L. Gilbert, Wann, Neb. Lincoln Division — On account heavy business and the birth ojr our boy on December 21st, 1917, I was unable to get any notes lined up for this di- vision in the January Telegrapher. I was sure some “25.” Assignments: Agencies — M. D. Glenn to Cushing; P. M. Ebert to Germantown; Bro. J. Cogel to Palmer ; R. A. Bixby to Lushton. Second tricks — Bro. R. R. Hargitt to Aurora; Bro. R. A. Fulmer, Pal- mer agency, to Kenesaw; D. V. Johnson to Fairmont; C. Deeder to Cobb; F. W. Hous- ton to third Utica, and Bro. ”RN” Burk- halter, "NT,” to third “KY” Lincoln, leav- ing operator’s position Dorchester and agency at Bradshaw pending assignment. On account Lincoln Division men being so slow in putting in time for their four months’ back pay, it was not received in January. Boys, get busy now on your neighbor none as they shared in everything granted in the last wage scale equally with us and with four months’ back pay coming to them as a "gift” they should be able to get an annual and have a nice balance ’eft. They should appreciate our eflorts °noush to give us their applications without wa’t:ng to be asked for them. The following brothers paid for an annual card before December 17, 1917: E. L. El«- house, Kenesaw; R. V. Starks, Fairmont; A. R. Plith, Malcolm; E. H. Yerkes, Phillips; E. C. Trapp, Utica: G. H. Vant, Welbach; W. F. Fitzpatrick, Ulysses; S. Plith, Sarant- ville. That’s going some! Following brothers remitted for an annual card before January 1, 1918: Bros. F. J. Lyons, Comstock: R. B. Silvers, Sutton; W. G. Weaver, Exeter; M. Patterson, Clay Cen- ter, and B. W. Lannom, Dale. Following brothers are the prompt ones for a card to June 30th: L. H. Kilgore. Ravenna; W. R. Kerr, Central City; J. L. Kamerer, Archer; A. H. Teale, Friend; M. J. Doll. Hampton: W. J. Neville, Keene; G. E. Plotts, Hampton; L. V. Wilcox, Exeter; O. D. Kratzer. Garrison; R. F. Blacker, Crete; E. P. Flickinger, W. S. Harris. Den- ton; H. C. Todt. Harvard; J. H. Cogil, Pal- mer; W. R. Ball, McCool Junction, and C. G. Irwin, Kearney. All brothers mentioned belong to the honor roll and it sure proves that the Lin- coln Division is still among the first-class ones. Hope that every member will remit for his new' card soon as he receives his back pay and as many as possible get the^ annual card, as you know Division 130 funds ran low during last wage scale. Bro. W. R. Ball, agency Roseland to agency McCool Junction, relieved by Mr. Ham, relieved by Bro. C. L. Evans from second Fairmont, extra Bruner on second there. Bro. D. V. Johnson, on extra second Aurora until Bro. Hargitt relieved him. Bros. Burkhalter, third "KY” Lincoln; Fisk, Pauline; Vant Wolbach and Lannom, P. Dale, have asked for blanks to use on their non neighbors. Bro. P. H. Miller, on wage scale one day, was relieved by new man, Sllger. Bro. C. E. Rogers, third- "GS” Hastings; H. L. Coggins, third Aurora, and W. S. Harris, first Cobb, were late Lincoln callers. Bro. C. H. Wing, agent Harvard, off sev- eral days account death of mother, relieved by Bro. R. B. Silver from first Sutton, leav- ing Bro. Bourne at Sutton to double as agent and operator both. Bro. J. M. Combs, agent Trumbull, was off several days on account of the death of his father. Bro. W. J. Neville, second Kenesaw to agency Keene, relieved by Mr. Patton, a live wire, who If he sticks with us will be O. R. T. ; has been out of railway service for years. Extra Man Patton gone to Seward to call on his sick wife. Hope he sticks with Lin- coln Division. I am very glad to hear that all the broth- ers are well pleased with their new work- ing conditions; when 135 men out of a pos- sible 137 are satisfied you have accomplished great things. Remember, boys, it was through the un- tiring efforts of your committee and your standing behind it almost to man that gave you this reward. I trust every member will resolve to land a non before April 1st. If not yet remitted for a new card, do so at once and a yearly one if at all possible. Remember February 28th is the limit. P. H. Miller., L. C. Sterling Division — It is now Bro. B. O. Baldwin assigned at Stoneham, Colo., agency. With this broth- er’s assistance we will have several more on the Cheyenne branch shortly. Several others have promised to line up with us as soon as they get their back pay. Several boys on the division have already received theirs. C. D. Crum is the new agent at Raymer. Brothers, we now have 62 scheduled posi- tions on this division. Let us keep after the nons until everyone is filled by an O. R. T. member and we make it 100 per cent. Digitized by L.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 277 The donation we sent to Bros. Denton and Rogers, while they appreciated it very much, they could not see their way clear to accept the money and returned it to me. I have started a circular letter addressed to each donater, asking to be advised what to do with it. As soon as I hear from them I will act accordingly. I did not receive a single news item from anyone this month, consequently this write- up will be very brief. I hope you will all try and send me a few notes next month, so we can have a better write-up. I expect to report several new members by that time. We only had 23 members on this division a year ago and have about doubled that number since then. Let’s continue organ- izing until there is not a non left. Every member use his back pay to remit for an annual card. It not only saves you the trouble of remitting dues again in six months, but eliminates a lot of book work. Please bear this in mind and ask your neighbor to do likewise. F. A. Ssnsk, L. C. Wymore Division — New members : J. W. Ockerman, Hildreth ; P. H. Cobb, Verdon ; R. C. Reid, Auburn ; A. L Singleton, Cuba; D. B. Kinniburgh and A. M. Christie, Washington; A. Butler, Hollis; J. A. Redline, Kesterson, and G. A. Workman, Tobias. Assignments : A. L. Klima, Salem ; M. W. Hamilton, operator Syracuse ; Bro. C. C. Sheeley, Salem, nights, and Bro. J. J. Black- good, Ong. No bids received on Bennett and Sparks. C. C. Woodbury and H. A. Travis assigned those two points respectively. Stoddard and Burress Stations being both closed. Bro. Carl Glenn, Wymore, took Xmas din- ner with his parents at Table Rock and while there went hunting and cleaned up about all the rabbits in that vicinity. E. Mike, our popular car distributor, ate his Xmas turkey at Tecumseh. Bro. A. J. Veverka off on account of the death of his sister, Fortescue closed one night and R. A. Brinson then took charge. Bro. A. M. Russell of Salem is now on the Sterling Division. Bro. Parker, after trying out relay work at Casper a few days, returned to Beatrice. I will gladly furnish any brother on re- quest, the amount of express commission at &ny station on the division. I have the monthly average for all stations for the past sixteen months. L. N. Bowen, one of the most popular con- ductors on the division, passed away at his home in Wymore, January 19th. He had been sick about three months with cancer of the stomach. To know Luther was to like him and his untimely death caused sorrow among all who knew him. His be- reaved family have the sympathy of all the brothers. Services were held at Table Rock, the Masons having charge. Trainmaster J. A. Spere transferred to Lincoln, C. E. Kolf coming to this division. Not one of us should lose our interest for a minute in rounding up the *'NONS”. *Our labors are bearing fruit, but If we are to make this division 100 per cent strong, we must keep continually plugging away at them and never miss a chance to show them the error of their ways. I would like to see this the banner divi- sion of the system and believe we can make it so if we continue to show the interest in the future that we have in the past. -‘No card , no favors” is our motto. Let us live up to it to the letter. If you have not yet paid your dues for the current term, lose no time in doing so. You cannot afford to let your insurance lapse, and if you become delinquent your insurance is absolutely worthless. Remember Febru- ary 28th Is the limit. Ckrt. 36. McCook Division — Assignments : Agency Yuma, Bro. J. G. Chambers, second tricks — Holdrege, Bro. J. H. Roberts ; Roggen. Bro. C. W. Walser ; Arapahoe, Mr. L. J. Meredith ; third — Arapa- hoe, Bro. L. A. Morris. Bro. Taylor, Bro. Weyl and Perkins de- serve special mention, as they secured one or more new members the past month. Let’s all try this and see how soon there will be no NONS left. There was not a single member dropped last term still in the service, and for 1917 we have a net gain of nine. Let’s double this number this year. We can do It If all will try* The Sunday overtime helps a great deal on main line and there are a great many more getting off now than ever before; even though there are through trains running, the dispatcher finds he can do without all offices open. Just as easy in the daytime as at night and the boys are having as near one day’s rest in seven as it is possible to have. If the brothers will drop Bro. Weyl a card on the East end or call him and me likewise on East end when a change is made, we can then get some news in the journal for you. Do this, please, and see how much more Interesting the items will be, for there are a great many in the government service that like to see what is going on at home, as well as the ones that have left for other roads and other positions out of the railroad service ; so let us have the news, please. I thank the brothers who have assisted so ably this month. C. R. Hunt, L. C. Casper Division — Boys, pay your dues promptly. Remem- ber February 28th is the limit. Don't allow yourselves to become delinquent and have to Digitized by v^ooole
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278 The Railroad Telegrapher. sign a war waiver. Let us get busy and make our division come up at least with the Ottumwa 91 per cent. I have the promise of several new members as soon as they get their back pay, which I understand will be next pay day. J. F. Johnson relieved on account sickness by W. J. Wilson from the Canadian Pacific, who promises to be with us soon as he has a pay day. Bro. J. L. Mills from Giendo was assigned to Manderson Agency. Glad to see Bro. Mills coming up. Bro. Ed. Brown, agent Lysite, reports his wife home on visit. Suppose Ed likes to batch, Just like I do. I understand that all the brothers and Sister Elders at Frannie are getting along fine and are having several good dances in the waiting room. One of our offices on this division is start- ing out pretty strong with the old “Ham” stuff and has several students about ready to go out on line. Better think twice, brother, and see what this means to you — violating your obligation and teaching others that will take your place or that of some other brother, perhaps, later on. Bonneville will be solid as soon as the boys get their back pay. We now have Special Agent Mr. Gorman, who makes his headquarters at Wendover, making it handy when the hoboes and drunks show up. Boys, I have not received much news this month, but I am going to keep after you until you get this to me. A. G. S. Maine Central R. R., Div. No. 140. Eastern Division — A rather interesting and instructive meet- ing was held in Calais the evening of De- cember 21st, and despite the fact that train No. 429 was something over an hour late, we turned out our usual number, with a very few exceptions and some additions. The members who attended the Portland meeting on the 9th were in attendance, and gave the less fortunate ones a pretty good account of the doings in Portland, which seemed, with a few exceptions, to be met with approval. The meeting was opened at 10 :30 p. m., and carried along until 2 a. m., and even then it was noticed that a large number present were loath to retire, which establishes the fact that we can get along and still live, even though we do lose a night's sleep in the interests of getting to- gether for our mutual welfare. A meeting was also held in Vanceboro the evening of the 29th, to be followed by an- other in Bangor some time during the first weeks of the new year. These meetings should be well attended, as matters of inter- est to all are discussed always, and gives the membership a good means of keeping posted the doings, renew acquaintances and get acquainted with the new members, of which there is a large number coming in at the present time. Understand there are fifteen operators re- quired on the joint track east of Mattawam- keag to fill new positions opening up, on ac- count of the large increase of business both M. C. and C. P. It is hard to imagine where this number of operators can be picked up off-hand just about this time. If any nons creep in, use them nice, but impress on their minds the importance of carrying an up-to- date and refer them to the local chairman for papers, or better still, call for them your- self and give them no peace until they join. This is the way to keep our membership up ; and encourage our committee to new efforts at the proper time. We still have a few nons in our midst, and I suppose always will have. Always ready to profit from our revised schedules and not willing to help bear the necessary expense. Let us keep after them, boys, and make them still scarcer than they are. And at the same time let us not forget our own dues and as- sessments. We still have a number who have evidently overlooked this most important part of their duties. Please don’t make it neces- sary for the local chairman to call on you for them, as it means expense unnecessarily and increases his burden with nothing added to his ‘‘gratis” salary. Bro. McAllian bid in Danforth agency, re- lieving Bro. Trafton, whose health did not allow him to continue on such a very exact- ing Job, now that the C. P. business has far outstripped all previous records. Bro. Sullivan is filling in at Princeton until bid off. Bros. Sylvester, Woodland ; Desmond, Calais ; Ross, Gt. Works, and Brennan, Web- ster, attended the Portland meeting and re- port it a very interesting and profitable ex- penditure of time. Just as soon as you get your notice of meetings being called, lay plans for being present without fail. Cert. 124. San Antonio & Aransas Pass R. R., Div. No. 141. Bro. Simmons, operator-clerk, Floresville, resigned, to go with the Asherton and Gulf, relieved by Bro. Mitchell, from Normanna, and he by Bro. Reaves, from Sweet Home, who shortly after being checked in got down with measles, Bro. I. B. Cherry coming in from his ranch to take care of the job. Sweet Home was assigned to H. G. Timm. Bro. Anderson bid in Portland, succeeded at Sheridan by Altalr, going on bulletin. Extra men are so scarce that both Bro. Anderson and myself are holding our old jobs until they can be secured for our relief. Bro. Derr, who shot himself accidently during the holidays, is in Cuero hospital, doing nicely. We will all be glad to hear Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 279 “DR*' at work again. Former Bro. Wallace, who relieved him at Cuero, was relieved at Corpus Christ! by a man from the "WU" there. West Point is a three-trick job now. W. R. Jolly, agent first; J. O. Combs, second, and Bro. R. A. Lambkin, third. Roberts, a new man is at Kenedy, Rob- erts on first there, Bro. States relieved by Kingsley, who also relieved Bro. Heppler at Shiner, a few days. Bergs, a new station at Aviation Field South of San Antonio, opened at salary of $100 per month, by Bro. H. F. Otto, being held temporarily. Bros. Minshew traded both to Bro. H. C. Holchak for Camp Stanley. It s Bro. J. C. Tharp at Calaveras now. We have been hoping that the committee would get a hearing, having asked for it last September, but so far, all we get is a promise that the meeting will be arranged as soon as it is possible to get men to re- lieve the committee. The war has made the shortage of agents and operators more acute, but the real cause of this shortage is long hours, hard work, and no rest, even on Sunday. This keeps young men from going int9 station work and telegraphing and drives every man out who possibly could get into anything else. Un- less something is done to better such work- ing conditions, there will always be a short- age of this kind of labor. If the wages of agents and operators were placed on a par with other classes of skilled labor, and at least a little time allowed for rest, there would be no shortage of competent men now, in spite of war. Men who have left the service would come back, and young men would be willing to enter it. Cert. 107. Trinity & Brazos Valley R. R.f Div. No. 144. Our Secretary, Bro. Smith, has repeatedly requested me to contribute something for The Telegrapher, therefore I make this at- tempt. Since I was first initiated into the Order of Railroad Telegraphers in June, 1887, to the present day it has been my pleasure to note the great progress made by our beloved Or- der ; through the efforts of some of our brothers (many of whom have gone to their reward), for better wages and working con- ditions, for. the craft. It is impossible for me to comprehend why some, who are today following the telegraph business for their only support, will stay out and refuse to give the brotherhood their assistance towards se- curing what they are justly entitled to. I well remember the time in the long ago when I carried my card In the inside vest P^ket, for fear that some official of the road on which I was employed would find out I va* * member of the O. R. T., which at that time meant dismissal from the service, but thanks to the great Jehovah, He installed enough manhood into the hearts of a few to stand for their rights, regardless of conse- quences. I entered the services of the Katy March 20th, 1882, as operator, and quit the railroad business after working for various systems of roads June 26th, 1915, after thirty-three years’ service, and I believe I know whereof I speak, when I say that thorough organ- ization is the only hope for the telegrapher and station agent. It is with much pleasure that I read of the new schedules being secured all over the country eliminating Sunday work and grant- ing a twenty-six-day work month. You cer- tainly are entitled to it. God never in- tended that corporations or private indi- viduals should work you seven days a week. The slave owners of the South, before the war between the states, allowed their negro slaves Sunday, as a day oX rest. Well do I remember on a certain occasion when nego- tiating for a revision of schedule the rail- road officials claimed that to grant a twenty- six-day month was an impossibility on the part of the roads, and some of the brothers conceded it. Keep the good work going. I expect yet to live to see the day that the railroad teleg- raphers will all have a twenty-six-day work month. “No cards, no favors T” Boys, do you mean it? If so, then live up to it. Show the nons “no favors whatever” and let them know why. Personally, I have about as much respect for a scab as I have for a non, because the scab comes out in the open and faces the sneers of others, while the non slips in and gets his out of the back door. When I left the railroad telegraph service* June 15th, 1915, I took employment with an oil company, and (to use a slang), the oil company has the railroad skinned a city block. Better pay, all eight-hour Jobs, two weeks’ vacation each year with full pay and no red tape; two and a half years in their service and not a word of reprimand to date. The future is before you, and it behooves us all to be watchful lest we are called for the last time to make our final report, and may that final report be as near a copy as was set by him who spoke to the troubled waters of Galilee, and may that report show a clean balance is the wish of an oldtimer. Cert. 109. Trinity and Brazos Valley Railroad Notes — The Weather Bureau and the daily papers keep the people throughout the United States informed of the condition of the weather, and the temperature at different places, so that the person who desires to know what the weather conditions in any part of the country are may inform himself. Digitized by Google
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280 The Railroad Teleorapher. Compared with previous winters, Texas is enjoying ( ?) the most severe winter weather since 1895. Two snows have visited us al- ready this month (January). Ice has formed on the lakes and ponds of sufficient tiiickness to support the weight of a man, but skating on ice is not indulged in, in this state, because this so seldom happens that ice skates are very scarce. This writer hap- pens to have a pair that he brought with him from Massachusetts in 1894, but this is only the third time that the ice has been strong enough to use them. Roller skates are the kind that are used in this state, where they have rinks and paved streets and sidewalks suitable. A great deal of speculation is now going on as to the effect the government operation of the railroads will have on the O. R. T. We have not been able to answer the ques- tion satisfactorily. We are expecting the subject to be discussed in the January Telegrapher by the editor, or some of the grand officers. We believS we have a good set of grand officers in St. Louis, who will look after our interests and inform the rank and file as to the status quo as it relates to our Order. Considerable unrest among our little ( ?) bunch on the T. & B. V., showed up since our last notes in the Journal, and three resignations have been reported : Bro. G. F. Barnhill, agent at Dobbin, relieved by a new man ; Bro. D. W. Ramsay, agent Bardwell, relieved by B. L. Harris, and Bro. R. Q. Farquhar, agent Streetman, relieved by Bro. E. E. Hardie, agent Kirven, relieved by Bro. W. A. Deen. cashier from Hubbard. All these places were bulletined and assigned ; Bro. R. E. Evans, agent, to Bardwell, suc- ceeded at Newby, by Bro. G. W. Thorpe, succeeded as agent at Cooledge, by Bro. J. C. Yancey, and he as agent at Normangee, by Bro. W. Cole, agent Covington. Bro. V. E. Seward reports Brown Station of the Magnolia Petroleum Co., solid O. R. T. The force consists of Bros. V. E. Seward, B. C. Webb, and R. B. Prather, who has been off a few days on account of sickness. Bro. J. M. Willard, formerly with the “MPCO,” at Brown Spur, sent in his dues from Bryan, Texas, and lined up with this division. We are glad to hear from these brothers. Bro. Adams, at .Leonard, reports 100 per cent, without any comment. Cert. 86. Rutland R. R., Div. No. 157. Bro. E. J. LaPointe, having enlisted, leaves this division in a rather confused state as he had been acting as general secretary and treasurer as well as general chairman. Bro. Ormsby, one of our committeemen, has also enlisted and until an election of officers can be held, Bro. C. B. Rawlins has authorized me to act as general secretary and treasurer for this division. The boys will therefore, for the present, forward all matters per- taining to the Order, dues, etc., to me at Chatham, N. Y. Bro. LaPointe writes that he spent a Christmas which he will never forget on kitchen duty at Fort Slocum, where he is now located. We have not had a write-up in The Telegrapher for some time and 1 would be glad to hear from the boys on the north end each month, so that we can have enough news items to be worth forwarding to the magazine for publication. Bro. Bootman, of Old Chatham, bid In ticket agent and operator, Bennington; Bro. Quinn, operator “Q” Rutland and Bro. W. E. Crannelly, third Vergennes. Let’s start the new year right by paying dues promptly and having an up-to-date card, and if there is a non working with or near you, keep after him until he joins us. Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year. E. V. Page, Cert. 164. O., W. R. A N. Ry.t Div. No. 161. Members 161 : Recently there have been one or two cases where the successful bidders to vacancies have withdrawn their bids after the as- signments had been made. This is strictly a violation of our contract. A violation on our part only courts violations from the management. The schedule says that no one may bid back to their former position until it has been once filled and again made vacant. Now, then, suppose A bids in the vacancy at “X” and B wants the position held by A prior to his bidding in “X.” After A has been assigned, B would have a perfect right to insist that the posi- tion held by A was vacant and demand it be bulletined. I write this notice to you so that there may be no excuse for a circum- stance as outlined above arising In the future. If you don’t want the position that is on bulletin, don’t bid. Perhaps we will have reached a settle- ment ere you read this, at least I hope so. If we get the eight-hour day and Sunday overtime rule the Importance of living up to the contract will be greater, because there will be a stronger incentive to violate. I hope that everyone will work and turn in your time strictly in accordance with the contract. Some agents may have a hard time doing their work in eight hours; make an absolutely honest effort to do so and if you can’t finish the day’s work in your eight hours, turn in overtime. J. V. Mitchell. Bro. Shull on two weeks’ vacation investi- gating radio work, with a view of taking up the wireless. Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 281 Bro. Davis, our secretary and treasurer, bid In first Rieth. Bro. Thomas, on second "FD” pending bulletin. Bro. White, on Wal- lowa agency several years, is now on third. Bro. Waddell bid in Wallowa agency, Bro. Cassell succeeding him on Imbler agency. Bro. "Shorty” Schwichtenberg has gone to Portland. Bro. Mudge has joined the colors. We wish him a safe and speedy return. Assignments — Bro. Evans, third "MH” to third Kamela; 1. M. Dolan, extra LaGrande to first LaGrande, vice .Tas. McLaughlin to the army ; Bro. Thomas, extra ”FD” to third “UN,” vice Mudge to army ; Mrs. Myrtle Woods, extra to third "MH,” vice Bro. Evans to third Kamela; Sister Marlon J. Hill to second “WK”; Miss Elvira Ar- n old us to third ”DY,” vice Miss Bue to sec- ond "DY.” New members — Leon L. Graul, Spokane, Wash. ; Nola Taylor, Starbuck, Wash. ; A. S. Cooper, Salt Lake City, Utah ; Geo. A. Den- nis. Astoria, Ore. ; H. L. Hawkins, Page, Wash. ; Elmer Hutts, Bridal Veil, Ore. ; Geo. B. Gillette, Hermiston, Ore. ; O. M. Todd, Messner, Ore. ; P. N. Cassell, Meacham, Ore. ; J. C. Morse, Portland, Ore. Transferred to other divisions — F. A. Nel- son, Division 63, San Francisco, Cal. ; G. R. Palmer, to Division 64, Wallace, Idaho. Cert. 48. Just as soon as the management can be made to see the light, it will not take long to sign up our new schedule. We must have patience; it will come out all right in the end. In order to make the year 1918 as good or even better than 1917 from an Order stand- point, we must keep up our past reputation for good service work for the company's in- terest. Pay our dues and M. B. A. assess- ments promptly and get in the nons ; keep your insurance in force at all times. The notice of dues for the first semi-annual term of 1918 have been mailed to all members in good standing. There is only one hard shell on this divi- sion that has refused so far to see the light. Some people think It shrewdness to let your neighbor do the paying while they reap the benefits, but you cannot fool your "con- science.” There is no middle ground In this matter; if you are in sympathy with what is being done for you, then you should join the Order; if you do not do so it is self- evident that you are opposed to the work and are placing your influence where it Is most detrimental to it Reminds me of the fellow that bought a cow on shares with his neighbor and then claimed the last half in order to get all the milk, while his neighbor contented himself with buying the hay, and then sued his neighbor because the cow hooked him. Bro. Redmond, third Ayer Junction, while visiting parents at Manistiquc, Mich., for fif- teen days, was relieved by Bro. Hawkins from "NP,” who has been transferred to 161. Looks good to see men coming from fight- ing 64 to the "OW.” Bro. Adams, Page, has resigned to go In the signal corps. Bro. Bane, Kennewick, has also answered the call to the colors. Bro. Flessler, on sick leave, is back at Page pending bid. Bro. Darbee, formerly third division, now at Arlington on "NP.” Mr. Coburne, assist- ant superintendent - on this division for three years, on indefinite leave, has joined the engineers and expects to leave soon for "somewhere” in France. W. S. Davison has been appointed train- master to fill the vacancy. We were kept busy recently detouring N. P. & Milwaukee trains to Portland and Seat- tle on account of the washouts which af- fected all the roads entering Seattle. The O. W. R. ft N. was the only line that was kept open ; however, they are all normal again. W. T. Mantbll, L. C. Wabash R. R., Div. No. 170. Springfield Division — One of the worst blizzards struck the Springfield Division January 11th ever ex- perienced. The mercury dropped to 21 be- low and all trains were annulled for 48 hours. The brothers east of "JN” have been cut short of the work of Nos. 62 and 63, which are considered annulled on the new time table. Trains 12 and 18 from St. Louis to Chicago are considered on the list for De- catur Division. This change is being made by the government’s direction. Mt. Sterling has been made an exclusive agency. The day telegraph trick there will be a dandy position for some up-to-date. The prominent "cabinet maker,” Bro. E. E. Edwards, agent Denver, who recently constructed a chair of seven different ani- mal horns, for which he has been offered a handsome price, doesn’t wish to part with the beautiful furniture, but will be glad to assist anyone wishing to construct a similar one. "Have You Paid Up Yet?” Do so before you forget. Ask the other fellow and re- mind him before it’s too late. Those annual cards look mighty fine. The only real way to complete the 100 per cent membership is to go after your neigh- bor non and give him no rest until he joins. Bro. H. P. Flint has been nursing a severe cold but owing to the scarcity of operators, was obliged to "stick to the job.” A. E. Zolq Digitized by tjoooie
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282 The Railroad Telegrapher, Peru Division — Bro. Sanders, agent Roanoke, bid in third there, relieved by Agent Beedle, recently employed who worked for Wabash several years ago. We welcome him back to the Banner Route. Bro. Spencer was off few days account of sickness. Men being short compelled the other boys at “Z“ to double. Assignments: Bro. Rusk to third West Point; Bro. Collins,. New Haven, to third Attica, relieved by Bro. Engler. Bro. Huff- man to third Peru Junction, vice Bro. Evans to second “Z” ; relieved by Bresaugh, a new man. Bro. Hanson, third Williamsport, to second there. Bro. Rizor, second West Peru, on sick list several days, was relieved by Bro. Keiff. Bro. C. S. Smith, third Logansport, has ventured on the sea of matrimony regardless of the high cost of living. Our best wishes go with him and his. A non recently recopied an order without repeating it, getting the wrong train down, which might have resulted In a serious acci- dent. He is not with us now. Brother, help me keep Peru Division in the Journal. If I ask you anything, don’t be backward with the news. “Lid.” Moberly Division — Assignments : Bro. Koch, second St. Charles, relieved on second Ferguson by Bro. Hines; Bro. Starrett, second Moulton; Hughes, third LaPlata. Bro. Powell, second Centralia, relieved a few days by extra Blanton. Bro. Maddux, first Mexico, spent Xmas day with home folks at Orrick, and Bro. Angle, third Truesdale, spent Xmas week visiting home folks at Sturgeon, relieved by extra Hancock. Bro. Gwinn, third Macon, spent Xmas week with home folks at Benton City, relieved by Bro. Scott, now on Jackson- ville agency pending bulletin. Bro. Williams, second Wellsville, has re- sumed work, relieved at Jacksonville by Bro. Scott. Bro. Marion has resumed on second Fer- guson, relieved at Columbia by extra Lln- denmier. Bro. Seymore, first Montgomery, off owing to sickness, relieved by Bro. Coon of second there and ho by extra Blanton, Bro. Krome, agent High Hill, off few days, relieved by Sister “V” Sadler of second and she by Sister “JS“ Sadler of third there. Bro. Oney, second Mexico, was in St. Louis one day recently. Bro. Maddox, first Mexico, was in Orrick recently visiting home folks. Bro. E. P. Shay, formerly at Salisbury, Mo., is now with the East St. Louis street car company. B. J. Onit. Members Western Division — I am quoting a letter I received from our good friend, Mr. Fred Meyers, former train- master on this division. When Mr. Meyer* left here to accept the position on the De- catur Division as trainmaster, J. W. Patter- son was selected as a committee of one by the O. R. C., J. J. Connelly for the B. of L E., J. C. Griffin of the B. R. T.. and myself of the O. R. T., to raise a contribution to buy him a present. Being about $190 raised, there was a watch and chain purchased and Mr. Meyers’ monogram engraved thereon and presented to him about Christmas. I had a copy of the letter published in the journal for the benefit of the O. R. T. boys who contributed on this division. C. J. Bittker, Local Chairman. “Forrest, 111., Jan. 5, 1918. “My Dear Friends: “You just about took all the talk out of me. It was such a grand surprise. No one not in my situation can appreciate the emo- tions of a fellow’s heart when he is taken so completely off his feet by such generous and exquisite remembrance, symbolizing the esteem and affections of a host of loyal and devoted friends. “I wish I could find words to appropriately express my heartfelt gratitude and appreci- ation. “I appreciate the watch for its accuracy and beauty, but the esteem, respect and good will MORE. I shall always carry it with a feeling of genuine pride and as a constant reminder of the ’Boys that went over the top.* “You already know my feelings are for you and how hard it was for me to leave the most pleasant associations of a lifetime of labor and you also know that I am living in hopes that some day we may all again be reunited. “Let me wish for you and yours, all hap- piness and prosperity and through you and your brotherhoods extend my slncerest grat- itude and appreciation. “Cordially and gratefully your friend, “Fred Meters. “To Messrs. J. W. Patterson, J. C. Griffin, F. J. Connelly, C. J. Bittker. Seventeenth District , Western Division-r- Bro. Ferrill, second DeWitt, relieved by Bro. Squires, owing to the illness of his baby. Bro. J. D. Carter, Huntsville, while off owing to the death of his father on Dec. 30th, was relieved by doubling and by Bro. Swearingin of extra list. C. E. Lynch assigned to third Wakenda. Bro. Goodman is in the hospital on account of rheumatism. Digitized by ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 283 Bro. C. E. Lynch relieved C. E. Asbury, second Moberly yard, several days. L. K. Wells has returned to the Wabash. Bro. Swearingin on third Wakenda while on bulletin. Cert. 667. Western Division . 18tA and 19tA Districts — Assignments: Bro. E. R. Williams, third Pattonsburg; J. E. Robison, first Gallatin; Bro. F. W. Hageman, agency Mineola; Bro. J. W. Truitt, agency Darlington. Bro. Shonessy, agent Elmo, has resumed after 30 days’ illness, relieved by J. E. Robison. O. C. Bullock, commissioner Iowa office, on two weeks’ vacation, relieved by relief agent Foster. Bro. R. E. Williams, second Gallatin, was recently married. Boys, if you don’t send me a few notes I cannot get a writeup every time, as I cannot get it all. Some brother sent me a few items, but did not sign his name, but many thanks Just the same. Come again. Cert. 366. Central Vermont Ry.f Dlv. No. 171. The company has put out our new sched- ule which took effect October 1, 1918. This means lots of back pay. The boys are all satisfied with it when we consider the time we have been organized. The Sunday overtime is the best part of it, especially for the telegrapher. A few agents are not getting what they should, but they are improving all the time, and if they only keep in good standing with the organization they will soon be getting standard wages. Now, brothers, if any of you boys have a complaint, make it to your local chairman, who will be pleased to straighten it out. I am glad to report the admission of over fifteen new members since the new schedule was put out and more are coming in next month. I have received a good many letters thanking the committee for the good work it has done in securing our new schedule which will better our working conditions very much. District No. 3 — In the last issue there was an error in putting the comma (,) at the wrong place, showing Bro. Demer at Stonbridge, Blast, as a non. Bro. Demer from S. B. has been a good member for two years and we wish to ask him to not feel sorry over this print- ing error. I am glad to report that this district is now solid in membership. The boys on this district as well as the others appreciate the good work of the organization. Cert. No 2. The notices of dues were sent to every member. I wish you would all pay up promptly and not wait until second notice is sent you. It costs more postage every time I have to duplicate or triplicate a notice of dues, making unnecessary expense. L. J. Mannib, General Secretary- Treasurer. Brothers, please see that your overtime slips are all' numbered consecutively, com- moncing with No. 1, every period. Unless you do so you will not receive pay for them. I have received only a few complaints in regard to our schedule and will inquire about them; others are all satisfied. The boys seem to appreciate what the committee has done for them. Now, brothers, in order to reach 100 per cent in membership you must do your share. Talk to the non next to you and try to get him to join, and help your committee to better your working conditions. General Secretary and Treasurer Mannie made a very successful trip over his district recently. The boys were all pleased to see him and talked over the new schedule. Cert. 2. Please advise me of any changes In your address, thus saving lots of writing and postage which represents quite an amount every year. Send me your notes for the write-up in time so I can get them to St. Louis before the 25th. L. J. M. Southern Division — Bro. Edward LeRoy Abel died recently from heart failure at the home of Joseph Henderson, Norwich, where he had made his home for a number of years. He had been in his usual health up to within a few minutes before his death. Bro. Abel was 59 years of age and entered the service of the Central Vermont when a young man and with the exception of a few years as agent at Bristol, Conn., for the N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R., had always been in the employ of the company. He was cashier at Norwich in 1905 under Agent E. P. McDonnell, and succeeded him when he resigned in April, 1906, and con- tinued as agent up to the time of his death. Bro. Abel was of a kindly disposition and took a deep interest in the welfare of the young men that he employed, many of whom are holding splendid positions through the experience they received under him. He possessed a strong mind and it was a hard matter to change his views if he thought he was in the right. He was ever ready to lend a helping hand to his fellow-workers and will be greatly missed by all the employes on the Southern Division. Bro. Abel was a staunch member of the O. R. T. and by his death we lose a loyal member. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson and fam Digitized by Vjoooie
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284 The Railroad Telegrapher. ily have our deepest sympathy. The fol- lowing employes contributed towards the pillow of flowers for his funeral : C. E. Fish, J. R. Parkhurst, A. J. Lee, Geo. Slater, C. A. Powell, B. E. Medberry, Gus L’Homi- deau, J. I sham, J. Kennedy, G. P. Bugbee, H. J. Gibbs. C. Hope. C. V. Driscoll. F. M. Webber, F. R. Wilson, J. Crimmins, J. C. Crimmins, W. H. Yeomans. John Boyle, R. Gilmore, C. A. Heath, Harry Allen. The following members represented the O. R. T. at the funeral: C. Hope, G. P. Bugbee, J. R. Parkhurst and H. J. Gibbs, the company being represented by Superin- tendent E. J. Guthrie. A get-together meeting was held at the Burns Hotel, Palmer, Mass., on the night of January 7th, under the auspices of the O. R. T. and after which the members held a meeting. Those who could not attend missed a treat as it was one of the most interesting meetings that we have had an opportunity to attend. Owing to the weather conditions and the train service it was im- possible for many of the employes to attend. The meeting was called to order at 8:16 p. m. by General Chairman Gibbs, who, after a few brief remarks, introduced Super- intendent E. J. Guthrie, the speaker of the evening, who gave us a splendid address and we regret that there were not more of the employes there to profit from it. Mr. Guthrie spoke of the effect of the war on our company and how we could do our bit at home by giving faithful service to the company and in many other ways. He explained the importance of keeping posted on the embargoes and of the great necessity of the prompt handling of all cars, and gave us a history of how they rail- roaded when he started as compared with present-day methods, which was very in- teresting. Mr. Guthrie said that he believed in such meetings as it gave all a chance to ex- change views and also to co-operate for the betterment of the service. Bro. Heath followed with a few brief re- marks and brought a roar of laughter when he related some of his railroad experiences. Bro. Parkhurst gave a very Interesting talk and spoke at length on the plan of co-operation with officials and employes. His remarks were warmly received. Bro. Bugbee spoke on the necessity of each one of the employes doing their bit at home and that our work put us where we were in a position to do much to help our government as well as our country. Bro. Bugbee stated that this was brought home to him perhaps more than to any of those present for the reason he had a son over there and for that reason he felt more keenly than ever before the great task that is before our nation and its people. F. H. Merrill, trainmaster, the next speaker, being a noted story-teller, brought spells of laughter by telling a few of his fine stories. He also spoke about the train service and how the boys in that department should work with the employes in our branch of the service and how the only way to obtain efficient service was through co-operation one with the other. Mr. Mer- rill showed all through his remarks that there was not much in the train service but what he knew about, having been in the railroad game all his life, working up to his present position from a brakeman on a passenger train. Mr. Merrill's address was extremely interesting. Bro. Carpenter followed with a few brief remarks, stating that he was no speaker: however, some of the boys did not agree with him as they stated he was the fastest talker we had on the telephone when it came to repeating a 19 or 31. Bro. Webber was then called upon and related many of his experiences and stated that the Montville force, including himself, stood ready at all times to promote the in* terests of the company and by so doing do their bit for our country. After a general discussion the meeting was brought to a close, all feeling the good of having attended. It is planned to have another meeting in Brattleboro early in the spring and an effort will be made to get the heads of the different departments on the Southern Division to attend and give ad- dresses. It is hoped when the date is an- nounced that every employe in our branch of the service will make a special effort to attend, as this will be the last meeting of this kind we will have this season. Bro. Geo. Conney has returned to New London, dispatcher’s office, after a severe illness with quinsy sore throat. Chief Dispatcher Pattee was laid up a few days with a severe cold. Ralph R. Wil- son is acting agent at Norwich while the position is being assigned, relieved by Mr. Mitchell, Willimantlc agency. Bro. Adams is on three months' leave, re- lieved by Mr. Roberts, as agent temporarily at Monsen, Mass. Miss Utley is on first Palmer, while Mr. Roberts is at Monsen, Mass. Bro. F. M. Webber spent a few days with relatives at Stafford, Conn., during the holi- days. We all were delighted to learn of the safe arrival of a young son at the home of our General Secretary and Treasurer Man- nie. Congratulations, Bro. Mannie. The following corrections should be made to the wage scale: Stafford, Conn, ticket clerk and operator, W. U., $30.00, instead of $25.00; Essex Junction, Vt.. agent, $95.00, instead of $85.00. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 285 It is now Bros. J. R. Ah earn, agent Bel- ch ert own, Mass., and T. W. Duffy, agent New London, Conn. We have very few nons left on the Southern Division; keep after them, brothers, until we have it solid. Wish to thank the brothers who furnished me with news items and hope you will all remember to send any items of interest you can so that we can have a good write-up in every issue of our journal. Cm, IS. Oregon Short Line Ry., Div. No. 172. Idaho Division — The strength — and consequently the suc- cess— of any organization can almost invari- ably be measured by the interest and enthu- siasm manifested in it by its members. At this particular time, or since the government took over the railroads of the United States, there has been much said and written re- garding the merits of employes still main- taining their labor organizations, some en- tertaining the idea that we can "leave it to Uncle Sam" to look after the wage question, grievances, etc., ' and, with a yawn, have folded their arms, and trusted to luck. This is the wrong version, pure folly. A glance at Bro. Perham’a editorial In the January issue of Thi Tblkoraphsr should con- vince the most skeptical of the necessity of not only maintaining our Order, but build- ing it up to a maximum membership. No excuse remains for the hard boiled NON to remain out of the fold, nor for the brothers in not renewing their cards. Let us "go over the top" this year and secure that 60.000 membership advocated by Bro. Raw- lins. Don’t let yourself drift into the NON and SLACKER class. - Get that office of yours SOLID. Several vacant positions have failed to make their appearance on the bulletins the last couple months with no explanations noted. This matter has been taken up with Bro. L. B. Frye, our newly appointed local chairman, at Fruitland, Idaho, who took it up with Mr. Stevenson, and no doubt Will be accounted for on the coming list of vacant positions February 1st. Bro. Frye Invites members to promptly write him of any irregularities and grievances and he will dispose of them to the best of his ability. We all regret the loss of Bro. Scarborough, of Notus, our former correspondent, but will try and continue to utilize our space pro- vided us, if all the brothers will send in a few notes of any changes that occur along the line. A good many new heads of the “home tal- ent" variety are now holding the chairs va- cated by telegraphers, owing to the scarcity of men. Show them that the road to success is VIA an up-to-date card, ONLY. A little of the old slogan, “No card , no favors” ap- plied, should stimulate their desire to help pay for what we have already gotten for them. Sister Sleater, wife of Bro. Sleater, agent Heyburn, handled third Owinza several weeks last month on emergency work. Ill health caused her to return to her home. Probably Bro. Sleater’s health, also, was beginning to decline from the effects of too many postponed meals in her absence. Bro. A. R. Mickels, second Glenns Ferry, has resigned and is working as bookkeeper in the general office of the copper company at Butte. We wish him success. Side wire trick at Glenns Ferry, held by Bro. Blair, recently abolished, transferring him to second Minidoka on account of the shortage of two men there. Bro. J. D. Goddard, agent Minidoka, has been appointed traveling car service agent with headquarters at Salt Lake City. A good job and a good man to fill it. Bro. A. M. Dawley, recently from the Q. has been appointed sectloneer on the Short Line with offices at Owinza, Ida. Cxrt. 258. M. & N. A. R. R., Div. No. 182. Now that copies of the new schedule have been distributed, you can familiarize your- self with important changes in effect, as they are for your benefit and should be en- forced. Don’t forget to send overtime slip to superintendent within 48 hours as per contract. One brother had an hour’s over- time cut off on this account. Not much money, but worth sending in slip for. Your committee did not secure Sunday overtime, as original demands could not be changed after they were presented on October 12th, the Rock Island arbitration case granting a 26- day month not being decided until Octo- ber 31st, just 19 days later. Since then the 26-day month having been granted on the I. C.. C.. B. & Q., C., M. & St. P., S. P. and other lines now negotiating for It, the precedent has been so firmly established, that "overtime pro rata" should be paid for Sunday work, that we should have no diffi- culty Including this in our next schedule Revised seniority list of January 1, 1918, containing many changes now overdue, as it was the understanding that this list would be published on January 1st and July 1st, as superintendent so advised your chairman during some correspondence exchanged with him. The management advises him it will be sent out in a few days. Cause of delay given as shortage of office force and increase of work. The year 1917 just closed was the most momentous in the history of the O. R. T. More than double the progress of any other year was attained, but we are confronted with new conditions and what the results Digitized by Google
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286 The Railroad Telegrapher. will be cannot be foreseen by anyone. So, boys, get in touch with the nons and new arrivals on the line so the close of 1918 will find us with a 100 per cent organization! The new seniority list has been mailed out. There are several errors. If any mem- ber is not correctly shown thereon, please advise Mr. S. E. Brasfleld, Searcy, who will do the necessary. Some are car- ried from the time they were station helpers, which should be corrected to the time they entered the telegraph service. Due to extreme cold weather and the heavy snow the past two months, the M. & N. A. has had plenty of trouble, causing trains to be late and operators and agents getting overtime daily. Only two years ago we were forced to meet these trains when late without any overtime. There is one non on the line that has made enough over- time in the last month to pay dues for six months, still he is not able to join at present. Eli Kern has returned to Urban ette after ninety days on the farm, relieved by J. S. Dalton, who went to Fargo as agent for the Cotton Belt and M. & N. A. Joint, but later resigned, as there was no place to live there. Bro. W. D. Kendall worked “GM,” Harri- son, while Bro. R. L. Clay spent Saturday and Sunday with home folks at Edgemont. Bro. McGaughey has returned to Olvey as agent. It is claimed that his relief while agent took some of the company’s funds and some Wells Fargo blank money orders. Bro. H. W. Shillings made trip to Marshall in connection with his draft papers. R. D. Pierce, operator-clerk, Leslie, bid in St. Joe agency. Bro. G. R. Russell, Heber Springs, bid in Miller agency, relieved by J. P. Cantrell, relieved at Elba by helper from Arlberg. Cantrell promises to come in now that he has a scheduled position. Bro. H. B. Sanders has returned to Aubrey agency after three months* vacation, Bro. W. T. Cantrell returning to his home at Bellefonte for few days’ visit. Bro. W. L. Clay spent a few days in Har- rison visiting his brother. Remit your dues to Bro. Brasfleld at Searcy for the six months, January to June, 1918. Remember February 28th Is the limit. This should not be overlooked. In the re- cent raise some of us were boosted from $120 to $210 per year, which is a very good investment for $12 per year dues. Nothing else will pay such dividends. Put this up to the nons and they will see the light. We must have a 26-day month and Sunday overtime, which will be taken up as soon as advisable. For one I would rather not work at all on Sunday. We are a new divi- sion and everyone must do everything pos- sible to build it up. Please help your corre- spondent each month with a little news. Cbrt. 5. Chicago O. R. T.f Div. No. 91y and C. O. R. T. Club. The meeting held jointly by Division No. 91, and the C. O. R. T. Club, Saturday night, February 2nd. 1918, as usual had a very fine turnout considering the bad weather, etc. Both Division No. 91 and the C. O. R. T. Club held their election of officers for the ensuing year. Those elected were : For Divi- sion No. 91 — G. Dal Jones, chief telegrapher; B. F. Roberts, first vice chief telegrapher; W. H. Delong, second vice chief telegrapher ; W. E. Carter, secretary-treasurer. All officers succeeded themselves but B. F. Roberts, who takes the place held for sev- eral years by Bro. E. M. (Pony) Moore, who has gone from our midst to become a switch- man. Bro. Moore is a live wire, and what we lose will be gained by the Switchmen's Union. For the C. O. R. T. Club— Wm. Noble, president, (C. M. & St. P. Ry.) ; Chas. Her- man, first vice-president, (C. M. & St. P. Ry.) ; A. B. Coats, second vice-president, (C. B. & Q. Ry.) ; W. B. Spencer, third vice- president, (C. A N. W. Ry.) ; B. F. Roberts, fourth vice-president, (E. J. & E. Ry.) ; C. L. Craig, secretary-treasurer, (C. R. I. & P. Ry.). A fine lot of boys, all workers, and the club is insured of rousing meetings the com- ing year. We had fine talks from Bro. G. E. Soyster, member of the board, and general chairman on Division No. 23. George read us a sched- ule he was successful in securing on the Davenport, Rock Island and Northwestern, and while there are but seventeen men in- volved, the schedule Is up-to-date, and shows what can be done if earnest effort is made. General Chairman E. J. Thomas, of Divi- sion No. 76, made a fine talk, and, as usual, had some very interesting things to say and suggestions to make, which, if carried into effect, will redound to the credit of all in our grand organization. If you want a new' C. & N. W. schedule, ask “Ed” how they are to be secured ; “wise old owl” that boy. Local Chairman J. J. Rose, of the C. B. & Q., made a nice talk and told us of the men on the Burlington being pleased with their back pay checks, and that it was not necessary now to solicit members, as each mail brought in applications from the non- members until now they have the relay divi- sion almost solid. More power to you and the rest of the live wires on the Burlington committee. Vice-President W. T. Brown made a very fine talk, giving his opinion of the changes in method of doing business now that we find the railroads in the hands of the gov- ernment. Made mention of the fact that President Perham and his committee repre- senting the O. R. T.. was the first to get be- fore the Wage Board in Washington, D. C., thus insuring the O. R. T. members that their interests were being handled to the Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 287 minute. Told of the many good things se- cured in late settlements. Urged the mem- bers to not get negligent and feel that the government would look after their affairs, but to be even more watchful than ever and see that their fellow members were; pay your dues promptly and be prepared to meet any emergency that may present itself. Bro. Brown is an able talker, and those who miss these meetings are making a mistake. Bro. Dal Jones read a letter from Lieu- tenant D. C. Smart, U. S. Army. “Dave” was president of the C. O. R. T. Club, and is highly respected and loved by aH for his many qualities, genial spirit and untiring ef- fort for the O. R. T. He carries into the U. S. Army not only the qualifications of a splendid officer, but the good wishes of every one of us. He is with the Russian Railway Service Corps. Intended to go to Vladivo- stock, Russia, but has been ordered to disembark and remain in hotels at Naga- aski, Japan. He will be pleased to hear from any of the O. R. T. brothers, and remember, boys, that Japan is a long ways from home. Then again he writes on wooden paper, and the first page carries a very nice picture of three Japanese maidens. Write Dave, and get these for a souvenir. Address, Lieut. D. C. Smart, Russian Railway Service Corps, care American Consul, Nagasaki, Japan. Dal read a letter from the irrepressible “Doc” Manion, fifth vice-president. Doc is in Portland, Ore., and wrote that it was so warm he had his coat and vest off, and was writing by an open window, etc. We took a look out the window at the banks of snow, and remembered the fourteen below of the morning, and voted unanimously that we hoped someone would steal his coat and vest. At that, “Doc,” here’s to you, come home soon. Bro. S. S. Ulerich, of Division No. 91, who is secretary of Chicago District of the C. T. U. A., then told us of the effort being made by the C. T. U. A. to re-organize the W. U„ and the Postal Telegraph Co.’s employes ; that meetings were being held each Sunday, 2 :30 p. m.. room 209 Masonic Temple Build- ing, urged all of us to speak to any commer- cial telegraphers we met and solicit their membership, and invited us to the meetings. Bro. J. P. Downie made a few appropriate remarks and gave Bro. Ulerich some good pointers. Meeting adjourned 11 :00 p. m. Remember, these meetings first Saturday night each month at 8 o'clock. You cannot afford to miss them. Fraternally, G. Dal Jones. The following was read as a part of the records of the C. O. R. T. Club : “Chicago 111., February 3, 1918. "Mr. W. H. Dunnam, General Secretary- Treasurer, “C. R. I. & P. Ry., Division No. 126, Chi- cago, 111. — “Dear Sir and Bro: “The C. O. R. T. Club extends to you their most sincere sympathy in the loss of your beloved father in the following IN MEMORIAM: “Whereas, Again we bow in humble sub- mission to the divine will of our heavenly Father, who knoweth and doeth all things well, and has seen fit to call from his earthly home to a better world the beloved father of Bro. W. H. Dunnam, general sec- retary-treasurer of C. R. I. & P-. Division No. 126, we should ever remember that their loss is his eternal gain. ‘Dust thou art and unto dust thou shall return*; therefore be it “ Resolved , That we, the members of the C. O. R. T. Club, in regular assembly, ex- tend to the bereaved brother our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in his great loss; may the Lord bless our brother and fill up the vacancy with the presence of the Holy Spirit; and be it further “Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be sent the bereaved brother, a copy placed on the minutes of the club, and a copy sent The Telegrapher for publication. “With best wishes, I am, “Yours fraternally, “C. L. Craig, Secretary-Treasurer.” Digitized by v^oooLe
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288 The Railroad Telegrapher. Index to Division Directory Name of Diviaim. No, Addison, N. Y. 108 Annapolis Royal, N. S 114 Ann Arbor Ry 164 Atchison, Topeka ft Santa Pe Ry 128 Atlanta, Birmingham ft Atlantic Ry 148 Atlantic Coast Line R. R. 16 Baltimore ft Ohio Ry 82 Baltimore ft Ohio-— Chicago Terminal ... 33 Bangor ft Aroostook Ry 83 Bessemer ft Lake Brie Ry 61 Boston ft Maine R. R. 41 Boston, Mass 89 Boston, Mass 166 Buffalo, Rochester ft Pittsburg Ry 92 Canadian Government Rys 11 Canadian Northern Ry 43 Canadian Pacific Ry 7 Carolina, Clinchfleld ft Ohio Ry 176 Central of Georgia Ry 46 Central Vermont Ry 171 Chesapeake ft Ohio Ry 40 Chicago ft Alton Ry 168 Chicago ft Eastern Illinois Ry 84 Chicago ft Northwestern Ry 76 Chicago, Burlington ft Quincy Ry 130 Chicago Great Western Ry 96 Chicago, 111 91 Chicago, Indianapolis ft Louisville Ry 9 Chicago, Milwaukee ft St. Paul Ry 23 Chicago, Rock Island A Pacific Ry 126 Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul ft Omaha Ry 4 Chicago, Terre Haute ft Southern Ry. . . . 180 Cincinnati, Indianapolis ft Western Ry. 21 Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago ft St. Louis Ry 3 Cobalt, Ont 99 Colorado Midland Ry 81 Danville ft Western Ry 69 Delaware A Hudson Ry 12 Denver ft Rio Grande Ry 49 Denver, Colo 77 Detroit, Toledo ft Ironton Ry 48 Duluth, South Shore ft Atlantic Ry 116 El Paso ft Southwestern Ry 137 Erie Ry 42 Florida East Coast Ry 160 Fort Worth ft Denver City Ry 146 Georgia Ry 60 Georgia ft Florida Ry 167 Georgia Southern ft Florida Ry 66 Glace Bay, N. S 133 Grand Rapids ft Indiana Ry 36 Grand Trunk Ry 1 Grand Trunk Pacific Ry 1 Great Northern Ry 70 Green Bay ft Western Ry 142 Gulf Coast Lines 166 Gulf, Mobile ft Northern Ry 80 Hamilton, Ont 165 Hocking Valley Ry 40 Illinois Central Ry 93 International ft Great Northern Ry. ... 25 Kanawha ft Michigan Ry 118 Kansas City Southern Ry 6 Kansas City, Mexico ft Orient Ry 163 Kentucky ft Indiana Terminal R. R. ... 181 lAke Erie ft Western Ry 120 I.ehlgh Valley Ry 124 Maine Central Ry 140 Michigan Central Ry 16 Name of Division. No. Minneapolis ft St Louis Ry 71 Minneapolis, St Paul ft Sault Ste. Marie Ry 119 Missouri ft North Arkansas R. R. 182 Missouri, Kansas ft Texas Ry 22 Missouri, Oklahoma ft Gulf Ry 174 Missouri Pacific Ry 81 Mobile ft Ohio Ry 24 New Haven, Conn 29 New Orleans Great Northern R. R. .... 179 New Rochelle, N. Y 87 New York Central Ry 8 New York Central Ry. West 19 New York, Chicago ft St Louis Ry 18 New York, N. Y 44 New York, Ontario ft Western Ry. .... 20 Norfolk Southern Ry 147 Norfolk & Western Ry 14 Northern Alabama Ry 69 Northern Pacific Ry 64 Northwestern Pacific Ry 166 Oregon Short Line 172 Oregon- Washington Ry. ft Navigation Co 161 Panama Ry 168 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines east of Pitts- burg and Erie) 17 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines west of Pitts- burg) 86 Pere Marquette Ry 89 Philadelphia ft Reading Ry 10 Pittsburg, Pa 62 Providence, R. 1 86 Quebec, Que 116 Queen & Crescent Route (North) 62 Queen ft Crescent Route (South) 69 Richmond. Fredericksburg ft Potomac Ry 126 Rutland Ry 167 St. Louis, Iron Mountain ft Southern Ry. 31 St. Louis, Mo 2 St Louis-San Francisco Ry 82 St. Louis, San Francisco ft Texas Ry. . . 177 San Antonio ft Aransas Pass Ry 141 San Pedro, Los Angeles ft Salt Lake Ry Ill Seaboard Air Line Ry 28 Southern Ry 69 Southern Ry. in Mississippi 24 Southern Pacific Ry 63 Springfield, Mass 38 Temiskaming ft Northern Ontario Ry. . . 99 Tennessee Central Railroad 178 Texas ft Pacific Ry 88 Toledo ft Ohio Central Ry 173 Tring Junction, Que 131 Trinity ft Brazos Valley Ry 144 Ulster ft Delaware Ry 113 Union Pacific Ry 6 Virginia, Minn 127 Virginian Ry 13 Wabash Ry 170 Wabash, Pittsburg Terminal Ry 36 Washington, D. C 60 Western Maryland Ry 82 Western Pacific Ry 163 West Side Belt Ry 66 Wheeling ft Lake Erie Ry 65 Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Ry 93 Zanesville & Western Ry 173 Digitized by u.oo<?ie
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CRAND DIVISION Mutual Benefit Department Assessment No. 141 is due January 1, 1918 Time for payment expires February 28, 1918 AMOUNT OP ASSESSMENTS. On | 300.00 (Series A) $2.40 per year On 500.00 (Series B) 3.60 per year On 1,000.00 (Series C) 7.20 yer year BENEFITS PAID DURING JANUARY, 1918. Claim Causs. Czrt. No. Nami. Div. No. Sbriks. Amt. 2232. .J. W. LaShelle Carcinoma of stomach 76. .23876. .B. .8 600.00 2233. .J. E. Robertson Operation 40. .16933. .A. . 300.00 2234. . J. M. Beckett Killed in battle in France 43. .32758. .C. . 1,000.00 2235. .C. I. Paradis Ulcer of stomach 43. .31692. .A. . 300.00 2236. .Francis A. Phillips Killed in battle in France 1. .43332. . A. . 300.00 2237. .David E. DeWitt Multiple neuritis 7. .39206. .C. . 1,000.00 2238.. H. R. Ford Chronic nephritis i 53.. 7712..B.. 500.00 2239. .James Williams Cerebral apoplexy 7.. 419.. A.. 300.00 2240.. Willard H. Quivey Chronic nephritis 53.. 6792.. C.. 1,000.00 Total 65,200.00 FINANCIAL STATEMENT-MORTUARY FUND. Receipts. Received on Assessments to December 31, 1917 82,006,498.47 Received on Assessments January, 1918 28,149.50 Disbursements. Death Claims paid to December 31, 1917 Death Claims paid January, 1918 Assessments refunded account rejected applications . . Assessments transferred to dues Cash on hand credit Mortuary Fund, January 31, 1918 82,034,647.97 81,378.277.47 5,200.00 2,269.22 315.03 648,586.25 Total $2,034,647.97 C. B. RAWLINS, Grand Secretary and Treasurer. Digitized by v^oooLe
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290 The Railroad Telegrapher. Official Directory General Offices, St. Louis, Mo. GRAND OFFICERS. H. B. PERHAM President St. Louis, Mo. W. T. BROWN First Vice-President 6039 Rhodes ave., Chicago, 111. G. D. ROBERTSON. ..Third Vice-President R. R. 3, Welland, Ont., Can. C. B. RAWLINS Grand Secretary and Treasurer St. Louis, Mo. T. M. PIERSON Second Vice-President Central Square, N. Y. J. J. DERMODY Fourth Vice-President 970 Kirbert Ave., Price Hill, Cincinnati, O. E. J. MANION Fifth Vice-President Room 814, Star Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. J. F. Miller, Chairman, 2916 Huntingdon ave., Baltimore, Md. B. E. Nason, Secretary, North Branch, Minn. Geo. O. Forbes, Sydney, N. S. G. E. Soyster, Room 309, Drexel Bank Bldg., 763 Oakwood blvdT, Chicago, 111. H. G. Alexander, 122 Tate st., Greensboro, N. C. ADVERTISING. All correspondence pertaining to advertising should be addressed to The W. N. Gates Co- Managers Advertising, Garfield Building, Cleveland, Ohio. Division Directory GRAND DIVISION — Attached membership • not confined to any particular railroad or territory. H. B. Perham, President, St. Louis, Mo.; C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secre- tary and Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo. No. l — Division covers the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Rys. Meets sub- ject to call of Chairman. L. M. Eddy, Gen'l Chairman Grand Trunk Ry., Marcel - lus, Mich.; M. R. Brewer, Gen’l Chairman Grand Trunk Pacific Ry., Atwater, Sask.; D. L. Shaw, Gen’l S. & T.. 867 Waterloo st., London, Ont. No. 2, ST. LOUIS, MO. — Meets 3d Monday of each month at 8 p. m.. Small hall south side, third floor. Masonic Temple (Odeon bldg.), Grand and Finney aves., St. Louis, Mo. ; L W. Quick, Chief Telegrapher, 8th floor Star Bldg., St. Louis, Mo.; R. J. McElhinney, S. & T., 4110a Arsenal st., St. Louis, Mo. No. 3 — Division covers C., C., C. ft St Louis Railway System. I. E. Schlosser, Gen’l Chairman, 1019 South Third st., Pekin 111. ; Geo. Lavengood, Gen’l S. ft T., 404 Monroe st., Alexandria, Ind. System meeting held at Spencer Hotel, Indianap- olis, Ind., subject to call of the Gen’l Chairman. No. 4 — Division covers the C., St. P., M. ft O. Ry. W. J. Liddane, Gen’l Chairman, 1687 Berkley ave., St Paul, Minn.; D. O. Tenney, Gen’l S. ft T. 328 Fulton st, Mankato, Minn. No. 6 — Division covers the Kansas City Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. C. Ocheltree, Gen’l Chairman, Siloam Springs, Ark. ; J. D. Townsend, Sr., Gen’l S. ft T., Heave- ner, Okla. No. 6 — Division covers the Union Pacific Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. E. L. Stump, Gen’l Chairman, 433 Keeline bldg., Omaha, Neb. ; John H. Hughey, Jr., Gen’l S. ft T., Box 294 Junc- tion City, Kan. No. 7 — Division covers the Canadian Paci- fic Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. M. Mein, Gen'l Chairman, 41 Noble ave., Elmwood, Winnipeg, Man. ; A. E. Chapman, Chairman Eastern Lines, 265 Piccadilly st, London, Ont ; R. C. Wilton, Gen’l S. & T., Kenora, Ont. No. 8 — Division covers the New York Cen- tral Ry. H. B. Dorey, Gen’l Chairman, 904 Jefferson ave., Utica, N. Y. ; A E. Blim, Gen’l S. ft T., Chili Station, N. Y. No. 9 — Division covers the C. I. ft L. Ry. J. E. Hollon, Gen’l Chairman, 2815 Cor- nell ave., Indianapolis, Ind. ; M. T. Parks, Gen’l S. & T., Box 2, Bainbridge, Ind. No. 10 — Division covers the Philadelphia ft Reading Ry. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T.. St. Louis. Mo. Digitized by taOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 291 No. li — Division covers the Canadian Gov- ernment Rys. J. J. Trainor, Gen’l Chair- man. care of P. E. I. Ry., Charlottetown, P. E. I. ; Wm. Parsons, Gen’l S. A T., Drawer 201, Drummond ville, Quebec. No. 12 — Division covers the Delaware A Hudson Ry. System, Quebec, Montreal & Southern and Napierville Junction Rys. Meetings subject to call of Chairman. G. A. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Room 21, Stanwix Hall, Albany, N. Y. ; Jos. Per- rault. Chairman Canadian Lines, Iber- ville Jet., Que. ; O. C. Benjamin, Gen’l S. & T., Dresden Station, N. Y. No. 13 — Division covers Virginia Ry. H. W. Hix, Gen’l Chairman, Box 18, Salem, Va. ; J. E. Goodwin, Gen’l S. & T., Box 24, Eggleston, Va. No. 14 — Division covers the Norfolk & West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. B. Lane, Gen’l Chairman, Crewe, Va. ; J. L. George, Gen'l S. & T., Box 402, Roanoke, Va, No. 16 — Division covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. B. F. Wheeler, Gen’l Chair- man, Oviedo, Fla. ; J. H. Williams, Gen’l S. A T., Wilson. N. C. No. 16 — Division covers the Michigan Cen- tral Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. D. N. Smith, Gen’l Chair- man, 606 E. Ann st.. Ann Arbor, Mich. ; J. H. Staley, Gen’l S. & T., Box 1314, Welland, Ont. No. 17 — Division covers Pennsylvania Rail- road Lines east of Pittsburg and Erie. J. F. Miller, Gen’l Chairman, 2916 Hunting- don ave., Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Skinner, Gen’l S. & T.. 115 S. Potomac st. Balti- more. Md. No. 18 — Division covers the New York, Chi- cago A St. Louis Railroad System. F. F. Cowley, Gen’l Chairman, 519 W. Lincoln st., Findlay, Ohio; C. O. Crisenberry, Gen’l S. & T.. Knox. Ind. No. 19 — Division covers New York Central Railroad West. G. E. Kipp, Gen’l Chair- man, Blasdell, N. Y. ; G. R. Smith, As- sistant Gen’l Chairman, Rockwood, Mich. ; E. D. Graham, Gen’l S. A T., Misha- waka, Ind. No. 20 — Division covers the New York, On- tario A Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. R. Conner, Gren'l Chairman, Cottekill, N. Y. ; H. D. Pfoor, Gen’l S. A T.. P. O. Box 28. Jer- myn. Pa. No. 21 — Division covers the Cincinnati, In- dianapolis A Western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. H. Carter, Gen’l Chairman, Marshall, Ind. ; J. V. Cummins, Gen’l S. A T., 1147 North Mount st., In- dianapolis, Ind. No. 22 — Division covers Missouri, Kansas A Texas Railway System. G. H. Beck, Gen’l Chairman, 522 Jefferson st., St. Charles, Mo. ; R. C. Jackson, Gen’l S. & T.. 818 East Ave. B Temple, Tex. No. 23 — Division covers the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railway, Bellingham & Northern Railway, Big Blackfoot Rail- way, Gallatin Valley Railway, Puget Sound & Willapa Harbor Railway, Seattle, Port Angeles & Western Railway and Ta- coma-Eastern Railroad. G. E. Soyster, Gen’l Chairman, Room 309, Drexel Bank bldg., 765 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. ; Ed. R. Derrickson, Gen’l S. A T., Room 309, Drexel Bank bldg., 765 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. No. 24 — Division covers the M. A O. and Southern Ry. in Mississippi. L. T. Mur- daugh, Gen’l Chairman, 513 N. Royal st., Jackson, Tenn. ; C. E. Hendley. Gen’l S. A T., Artesia, Miss. No. 25 — Division covers the International & Great Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. C. Berry, Gen’l Chairman, 610 East Guenther st., San Antonio, Tex. ; D. D. Hungate, Gen’l S. & T., Jewett, Tex. No. 27 — Division covers St. Louis South- western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. C. Frizielle, Gen’l Chair- man, Bearden, Ark. ; O. B. Welch, Gen’l S. & T.. St. Francis, Ark. No. 28 — Division covers the Seaboard Air Line Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. May, Gen’l Chair- man, Carlton, Ga. ; F. O. Cumming, Gen’l S. A T., 15 Dinwiddle st., Portsmouth, Va. No. 29, NEW HAVEN, CONN.— Meets 1st Friday of each month at 8 p. m., and 3d Tuesday of each month at 10 a. m., in Red Men’s Hall, 48 Church st., cor. Crown, New Haven, Conn. O. S. Culver, Chief Tel., 170 Grafton st., New Haven, Conn. ; G. F. McCormack, S. A T., 96 Main st., West Haven, Conn. No. 31 — Division covers the Missouri Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Mohler, Gen’l Chairman, Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo.; N. S. Morgan, Gen’l S. & T., Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 32 — Division covers the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. G. Kelso, Gen’l Chairman, 619 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo.; M. T. Fullington, Gen’l S. A T., 519 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. No. 33 — Division covers the Baltimore A Ohio Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. Yeager, Gen’l Chairman, 2227 West Liberty ave., Pitts- burg, Pa. ; B. C. Lewis, Ass’t Gen’l Chair- man, Williamstown, W. Va. ; E. A. Shaf- fer, Gen’l S. A T., Oakland, Md. No. 34 — Division covers the Chicago A East- ern Illinois Railway System. Meets sub- Digitized by c.ooQLe
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292 The Railroad Telegrapher. ject to the call of Chairman. H. H. Skiles, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. No. 6, Evansville, Ind.; O. A. Hixon, Gen'l S. & T., 606 Jewel st.. Danville, 111. No. 35, PROVIDENCE. R. I.— Meets 3d Sat- urday of each month in Swarts Dodge, Odd Fellows’ Hall, 96 Westminster st.. Providence, R. I. A. H. Haddock, Chief Tel., Ill Narragansett st., Edgewood, Cranston, R. I. ; D. M. Callis, S. A T., Touisset, Mass. No. 36 — Division covers the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pittsburg. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. ‘ C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 37. NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y.— Meets 2d Friday of each month, 7:30 p. m., in Metropolitan Hall on North ave., near Hugenut st.. New Rochelle, N. Y. Geo. E. Woods, Chief Tel., 265 Greenwich ave., Stamford, Conn.; B. E. Seaman, S. & T., 1143 Longfellow ave., New York, N. Y. No. 38, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.— Meets 3d Saturday each month 7 p. m., in Harmony Hall, Myrick bldg., Worthington st., Springfield, Mass. Frank P. Sargent, Chief Tel., 36 Colton ave.. Merrick, Mass.; M. J. Walsh, S. & T., 15 Moseley ave., Mer- rick, Mass. No. 39 — Division covers the Pere Marquette Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. M. Burr, Gen’l Chair- man, Central Lake, Mich.; C. P. Neff, Gen’l S. & T., Lock Box 334, Lowell, Mich- No. 40 — Division covers the Chesapeake & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio of Indiana and the Hocking Valley Rys. L. E. Hicks. Gen’l Chairman, Craigsville, Va. ; J. W. Kiser, Gen’l S. & T., Box 792, Hunting- ton, W. Va. No. 41 — Division covers Boston & Maine R. R. Meetings subject to call of Gen’l Chair- man or Local Chairman. J. B. Bode, Gen’l Chairman, 60 Tudor st., Chelsea, Mass.; L. P. Clifton. Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, 41 Morton st., Waltham, Mass.; H. L. Jones, Gen’l S. & T., R. F. D. No. 37. Fremont, N. H. No. 42 — Division covers the Erie Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. E. J. Hesser, Gen’l Chairman, 364 Wallace place, Elmira, N. Y. ; C. L. Bridge, Gen’l S. & T., 21 Allen st.. Deposit, N. Y. No. 43 — Division covers Canadian Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Louis F. Muncey, Gen’l Chair- man, 761 Broadway, Winnipeg, Man.; A. Chard, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Fort Sas- katchewan, Alta.; G. H. Palmer, Gen’l S. & T., Dauphin, Man. No. 44, NEW YORK.— Meets 2d Saturday each month at 8 p. m., in Fraternity Hall 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. ; C. B. Van Nostrand, Chief Tel., Hempstead, N. Y.; L. Meringer, S. & T., 1244 Chestnut st., Richmond Hill. N. Y. No. 46 — Division covers the Central and Georgia Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Livsey, Gen’l Chairman, East Point, Ga.; O. S. Travis, Gen’l S. & T., 49 Lee st.. Route 127, At- lanta, Ga. No. 48 — Division covers the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. L. Palmer, Gen’l Chair- man, 95 W. Main st., Jackson, Ohio; I>. R. Murray, Oen’l S. & T.. Good Hope, Ohio. No. 49 — Division covers the Denver & Rio Grande Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Fulton, Gen’l Chairman, 112 E. 11th st., Leadville. Colo.; J. C. Brannan, Gen’l S. & T., 1014 S. Union ave., Pueblo, Colo. No. 50— Division covers the Georgia Ry. R. B. Morgan, Gen’l Chairman, Dearing, Ga.; J. P. Luckey, Gen’l S. & T., Dearing. Ga. No. 51— Division covers Bessemer & Lake Erie Railway System. Meets the 4th Thursday of each month in Eagle’s Hall, Greenville, Pa. C. M. Miller, Gen’l Chair- man, 11 First ave., Greenville, Pa.; E. E. Keane, Gen’l S. & T., Box 103, Green- ville, Pa. No. 52, PITTSBURG, PA.— Meets Saturday, July 1, 1916, and each alternating Satur- day thereafter at 7:46 p. m., 231-233 Fifth ave., 3d floor, Roberts bldg. Pittsburg, Pa. H. H. Kreiser, Chief Tel., Allquippa, Pa.; R. W. Bees. S. & T., Box 314, Beaver, Pa. No. 63 — Division covers Southern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. T. Cull, Gen’l Chairman. 303-305 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal.; A. E. Laisure, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, 622 Euclid ave., Houston, Tex.; A. M. Ham- mond, Gen’l S. & T., 303-306 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal. No. 54— Division covers the Northern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Sam Johnson, Gen’l Chair- man, North Branch, Minn.; B. E. Nason. Gen’l S. & T., North Branch, Minn. No. 55— Division covers the Wheeling & Lake Erie and Wabash Pittsburg Termi- nal and West Side Belt Rys. Meets 8d Saturday evening of each month at Har- mon, Ohio. J. O. Peoples, Gen’l Chair- man, Bolivar, Ohio; C. E. Baltzer, Gen’l S. & T., Box 246, Navarre, Ohio. No. 56 — Division covers Georgia Southern & Florida Railway System. G. L. Siebert, Gen’l Chairman, Valdosta, Ga.; F. H. Cason, Gen’l S. & T., Lake City, Fla. Digitized by tjOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 293 No. 59 — Division covers the Southern, North- ern Alabama and Danville & Western Railroads. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. H. O. Alexander, Qen’l Chairman, 192 Tate st., Greensboro, N. C. ; J. W. Bur- gess, Gen’l S. & T., 223 Ninth st.. S. W., Charlottesville, Va. No. 60, WASHINGTON, D. C.— Meets 2d Wednesday of each month at 8 p. m., at 811 E st.. N. W., Washington, D. C. J. * e. Blades, Chief Tel., 1529 East Capitol st., Washington, D. C. ; J. Webb Richman, a & T.. 1424 W st., N. W., Washington, D. C. No. 62 — Division covers the Queen & Crescent Route (North). J. W. Ander- son, Gen’l Chairman, Oakdale, Tenn. ; L. C. Higdon, Gen’l S. & T., Battelle, Ala. No. 69 — Division covers the Queen A Cres- <*mt Route (South). Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. O. Peavey, Gen’l Chairman, Meehan Jet., Miss.; E. G. Matthews, Gen’l S. ft T.. 125 Minerva st., Jackson, Miss. No. 70 — Division covers Great Northern Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T.. St. Louis. Mo. No. 71 — Division covers the Minneapolis A St. Louis Ry. A. L. Gardner, Gen’l Chair- man, Steamboat Rock, Iowa; J. C. Sand- mier. Gen’l S. A T., Waukee. Iowa. No. 76 — Division covers the Chicago A North Western Railroad System. Meets subject to call of General or Local Chairman. E. J Thomas, Gen’l Chairman, Room 611, Webster bldg.. 327 & LaSalle st., Chicago. III. ; R. B. Boyington, Gen’l S. A T., Room 511, Webster bldg., 327 S. LaSalle st., Chi- cago, 111. No. 77, DENVER, COLO.— Meets 1st Mon- day evening in each month at Markham Hotel, Denver, Colo. C. S. Guernsey, Chief Tel., Apt. 16. 2018 Calif, st.. Den- ver, Colo. ; F. Eppelsheimer, S. A T.. 2341 King st., Denver, Colo. No. 80 — Division covers the Gulf, Mobile A Northern Ry. T. R. Craig, Gen’l Chair- man, Falkner, Miss.; H. C. Hughes. Gen’l S. ft T.. New Augusta, Miss. No. 81 — Division covers Colorado Midland Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. E. Crispell, Gen’l Chair- man, Arkansas Jet., Colo.; J. F. Jones, Gen’l S. ft T.. Carbondale, Colo. No. 82 Division covers Western Maryland Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. K. H. Stover, Gen’l Chairman, Beryl, W. Va. ; E. C. Kohlbaugh, Gen’l a ft T., 8 Third st., Hanover, Pa. No. 83 — Division covers the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. A. M. McNair, Gen'l Chairman, East Dover, Me. ; J. L. Robbins, Gen’l S. ft T., Grindstone, Me. No. 88 Diylsion covers the Texas ft Pacific RaPway System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. P. Abney, Gen’l Chair- man, Longview, Tex. ; R. E. Cecil, Gen’l S. ft T., Opelousas, La. No. 89. BOSTON, MASS.— Meets 1st Satur- day each month at 8 p. m., in Pilgrim Hall, also 3d Saturday each month at 10 a. m. (daylight meeting), in Pilgrim Hall, 694 Washington st., Boston, Mass. W. L. Enos, Chief Tel., Box 382, Cohasset, Muss,; J. H. McDermott, S. ft T., 46 Crocker st., Mansfield, Mass. No. 91, CHICAGO, ILL. — Meets 1st Satur- day of each month at 8 :15 p. m., in Hall 912, Masonic Temple, cor. Randolph and State sts., Chicago, 111. Gardner Dal Jones, Chief Tel., Apartment 1, 4838 Vin- cennes ave., Chicago, 111. ; W. E. Carter, S. ft T., 6532 Broadway, Chicago, I1L No. 92 — Division covers the Buffalo, Roches- ter ft Pittsburg Railway System. Meets subject to the call of Chairman. M. P. Burke, Gen’l Chairman, Falls Creek, Pa. ; G. H. Miller, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., 1000 East Mahoning st., Punxsutawney, Pa. No. 93 — Division covers the Illinois Central Railroad and the Yazoo ft Mississippi Val- ley Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. A. Mulhall, Gen’l Chair- man, Clarkson, Ky. ; L. M. Elliott, Gen 1 Chairman, Y. ft M. V. Lines, Rolling Forks, Miss.; G. E. Chance, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mounds, 111. ; R. L. Shannon, Gen’l S. ft T.. Anna, III. No. 96 — Division covers Chicago Great West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. L. Coleman, Gen’l Chair- man, 1941 Thompson ave., Kansas City, Kan.; C. E. Norris, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 320, South St. Paul. Minn. No. 99, COBALT, ONT. — Covers Temiskam- ing & No them Ontario Ry. Meets on call of Gen’l Chairman. R. Richardson, Chief Tel., Latchford, Ont. ; R. Workman, Gen’l Chairman, North Bay, Ont. ; T. J. Baker, S. ft T., Redwater, Ont. No. 108, ADDISON, N. Y.— Meets subject to call of Chief Telegrapher. L. L. Lerch, Chief Tel., Knoxville, Pa.; C. E. Belcher, S. ft T.. Osceola, Pa. No. Ill — Division covers San Pedro, Los Angeles ft Salt Lake Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. D. McGee, Gen’l S. ft T., 324 Concord st., Los Angeles, Cal. No. 113 — Division covers the Ulster & Dela- ware System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. M. L. Klein, Gen’l Chairman, 74 Abeel st., Kingston, N. Y. ; G. C. Hed- ges, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mt. Pleasant, N. Y.; L. P. Riley, Gen’l S. ft T.. Phoe- nicia. N. Y. No. 114— ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, N. S.— H. A. Jacques, Chief Tel., Middletown, N. S. ; Stanley Tavener, S. ft T., Tupperville, Anna Co., N. S. Digitized by tjooole
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294 The Railroad Telegrapher. No. 115 — Division covers Quebec Ry. Light & Power Co.’s Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. E. Richard, Chairman, 199a Crown st., Quebec, Que. ; J. E. Pot- vln, S. & T., Gifford,' Quebec, Que., Can. No. 116 — Division covers the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway System. Meets 2d Sunday of February, April, June, Au- gust, October and December, in place designated by Gen’l Chairman. P. M. Stillman, Gen’l Chairman, Seney, Mich. ; C. W. Danielson, Gen’l S. & T.. Chassell, Mich. No. 118 — Division covers Kanawha & Michi- gan Railway System. A. P. Hines, Gen’l Chairman. R. F. D. 4, Glouster, Ohio; R. M. Henderson, Gen’l S. & T., 829 South st., Toledo, Ohio. No. 119 — Division covers the Minneapolis, St. Paul ft Sault Ste. Marie Railway System. G. W. Lewis, Gen’l Chairman, 2921 Chi- cago ave., Minneapolis, Minn. ; F. C. Paine, Gen’l S. & T., Erskine, Minn. No. 120 — Division covers Lake Erie & West- ern Railway System. C. J. Turner, Gen’l Chairman, Ambla, Ind. ; M. A. Steckel, Gen’l S. ft T., Atlanta. Ind'. No. 124 — Division covers Lehigh Valley Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T.. 711 Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 125 — Division covers Richmond, Freder- icksburg ft Potomac Railway System. Meets at 8 p. m., the id Friday of each month, at Fredericksburg. Z. Talbot, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Alexandria, Va. ; J. C. Farmer, Gen’i S. ft T., 712 Main st., Fredericksburg, Va. No. 126 — Division covers Chicago, Rock Is- land & Pacific Railway System. W. F. Kay, Gen’l Chairman, Room 1, 304 W. 63d st., Chicago, 111.; S. P. Ayers, Vice-Chair- man, Windsor, Mo. ; W. H. Dunnam, Gen’l S. & T.. Room 1, 304 W. 63d st.. Chi- cago, 111. No. 127, VIRGINIA. MINN.— W. W. Wood- ward, Chief Tel.. Hibbing, Minn.; C. J. Keenan, S. ft T.. Calumet, Minn. No. 128— Division covers the Atchison, To- peka & Santa Fe Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. A. Tan- quary, Gen’l Chairman, Board of Trade bldg., Pueblo, Colo.; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T.. St. Louis. Mo. No. 130 — Division covers Chicago, Burling- ton ft Quincy Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. F. Den- ton, Gen’l Chairman, Sterling, Neb. ; E. F. Todd, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Sandwich, 111. ; J. H. Rogers, Jr., Gen’l S. & T., 1505 Market st.. La Crosse, Wia. No. 131, TRING JUNCTION. QUE.— J. E. Marcoux, Chief Tel., Leeds Station, Que. ; E. Lafontaine, S. & T., Tring Junction, Que. No. 133, GLACE BAY, N. S.— L. L. Mc- Namara, Chief Tel., Glace Bay, N. S. ; C. H. Dow, S. ft T.. P. O. Box 4. Bridge- port, N. S. No. 137 — Division covers El Paso ft South- western Railway System. E. P. Waples, Acting Gen’l S. & T., 4459 Clarence ave., St. Louis. Mo. No. 140 — Division covers Maine Central Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. E. J. Hayes, Gen’l Chair- man, Leeds Junction, Me. ; H. N. Bates, Gen’l S. ft T.. Gardiner, Me. No. 141 — Division covers San Antonio ft Aransas Pass Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. H. Bar- nett, Gen’l Chairman, Gregory, Tex. ; R. O. Little, Gen’l S. ft T., Sheridan, Tex. No. 142 — Division covers the Green Bay ft Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. Benrud, Gen’l Chairman, Blair. Wis. ; L. P. Curran, Gen’l S. ft T., Winona, Minn. No. 144 — Division covers the Trinity ft Brazos Valley Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Crockett, Gen’l Chairman, North Zulch, Tex. ; N. W. Smith. Gen’l S. ft T., Box 493, Teague. Tex. No. 145 — Division covers the Ft. W. ft D. C. Ry. System. R. G. Wales, Gen’l Chair- man and Acting Gen’l S. ft T., Box 976, Wichita Falls. Tex. No. 146 — Division covers the Atlanta, Bir- mingham ft Atlantic Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Owen D. Gorman, Gen’l Chairman, Mauk, Ga. ; C. A. Pye, Gen’l S. ft T. Ideal. Ga. No. 147 — Division covers the Norfolk South- ern Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Miss S. D. Taylor, Gen’l S. ft T., care J. H. Williams, Wilson, N. C. No. 153 — Division covers the Western Paci- fic Ry. V. W. Breeding, Gen’l Chairman, 770 Eleventh st., Oakland, Cal. ; H. B. Marshall, Gen’l S. & T., Pleasant Grove, Cal. No. 165, HAMILTON, ONT.— Covers To- . ronto, Hamilton ft Buffalo Ry. Meets 2d Sunday of each month at 3 :30 p. m., in I. O. O. F. Hall, Temple bldg.. Gore st., Hamilton, Ont. J. J. O'Connor, Chief Tel., 45 Magill st., Hamilton, Ont.; E. D. Armstrong, S. & T., Box 98, Smithville, Ont. No. 156, BOSTON, MASS.— Meets in Rath- bone Hall, 694 Washington st.. Boston, Mass., 3d Thursday each month, day and night alternately commencing with the day meeting in July. Daylight meetings 11 a. m. night meetings 7 p. m. Robert H. Buxton, Chief Tel., 8 Dresden st., Ja- maica Plain, Boston, Mass. ; F. J. Dan- sereau, S. ft T., 65 Boylston st., Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass. No. 157 — Division covers the Rutland Ry. Edmund V. Page, Acting Gen’l Chairman and Acting Gen’l S. ft T., Chatham, N. Y. Digitized by u.ooole
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The Rau.ro ad Telegrapher. 295 No. 158 — Division covers the Panama Ry. A, V. Losea, Gen’l Chairman, Box 17 Pedro Miguel, Canal Zone ; P. A. Freehan, Gen’l S. & T., Box 6. Corozal, Canal Zone. No. 160 — Division covers the Florida Bast Coast Ry. A. F. Bauer, Gen’l Chairman, Jupiter, Fla.; C. Ross Gowdy, Gen’l S. & T.t Es panda, Fla. i6i — Division covers the O. W. Ry. and N. Co. J. V. Mitchell. Gen’l Chairman, Multromah Hotel, Portland Ore. ; Wm. H. L. Davis. Gen’l S. ft T., Pendelton, Ore. No. 163 — Division covers the K. C. M. & O. Ry. L. R. Cotney, Gen’l Chairman, Ft. Stockton, Tex. ; D. O. Kennedy, Gen’l S. ft T., Clinton, Okla. No. i64 — Division covers the Ann Arbor R. R. H. J. Werkman, Gen’l Chairman, Box 59, Frankfort, Mich.; E. C. West, Gen’l S. ft T.. 2238 Erie st. Toledo, Ohio. No. 165 — Division covers the Northwestern Pacific Ry. L. E. Green, Gen’l S. ft T., San Anselmo, Calif. No. 166 — Division covers the Gulf Coast Lines. D. E. Young, Gen’l Chairman, Eunice, La. ; C. L. Jackson, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman and Gen’l S. ft T., Bloomington, Tex. No. 167 — Division covers the Georgia ft Florida Ry. R. M. Cason, Gen’l Chair- man, Uvalda, Ga. ; D. F. Rush, Gen’l S. & T., Hazelhurst, Ga. No. 168— Division covers the C. ft A. Ry. E. E. Gentz, Gen’l Chairman, Braidwood, III.; Thos. Riley, Gen’l S. ft T., Atlanta, 111. No. 170 — Division covers the Wabash Ry. O. C. Nash, Gen’l Chairman, Carpenter, 111. ; M. E. Fohey, Gen’l S. ft T.. 450 Crane ave., Detroit, Mich. No. 171 — Division covers Central Vermont Ry. H. J. Gibbs, Gen’l Chairman, Yan- tic. Conn. ; L. J. Mannie, Gen’l S. ft T., St. Alexandria, Sta., Quebec. No. 172 — Division jcovers the Oregon Short Line Ry. R. H. Wagner, Gen’l Chairman, Pocatello, Idaho; S. B. Summers, Gen’l S. ft T.. Roy, Utah. No. 173 — Division Covers the T. ft O. C. and Z. ft W. Rys. F. H. Simon, Gen’l Chair- man, 302 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio; W. T. Cox, Gen'l S. ft T., 1061 Palm wood ave., Toledo, Ohio. No. 174 — Division covers the Missouri, Okla- homa ft Gulf Ry. Ira S. Bond, Gen’l Chairman, Clarita, Okla. ; W. H. Ryan, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., Allen, Okla. No. 175 — Division covers the Carolina, Clinch field ft Ohio Ry. S. A. Dorsett, Gen’l Chairman, Spartanburg, S. C. ; C. G. Taylor, Gen’l S. ft T., Dante, Va. No. 177 — Division covers the St. Louis, San Francisco ft Texas Ry. J. S. McMillan, Gen’l Chairman and Acting G. S. ft T., Box 43, Prosper, Tex. ; DeWitt Hall, Gen’l R ft T.. Bluffdale, Tex. No. 178 — Division covers Tennessee Central Railroad. Chas. C. Wimsett, Gen’l Chair- man, Rock wood, Tenn. ; W. C. Loden, Gen’l S. ft T., Emory Gap, Tenn. No. 179 — Division covers New Orleans Great Northern R. R, W. H. Carr, Gen’l Chair- man, Abita Springs, La. ; F. P. Barron, Gen’l S. ft T., Angie, La. No. 180 — Division covers Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern. R. H. Owen, Gen’l Chairman, 1307 West 10th st., Bedford, Ind. ; W. D. Hysop, Gen’l S. ft T., 1312 K st., Bedford, Ind. No. 181 — Division covers Kentucky ft Indi- ana Terminal R. R. H. A. Boston, Gen- eral Chairman, 432 N. 20th st, Louisville, Ky. ; C. C. Fears, Gen’l S. ft T., 2656 Bank st., Louisville, Ky. No. 182 — Division covers Missouri ft North Arkansas R. R. James Roy, Jr., Acting Gen'l Chairman, Cotton Plant Ark. ; S. E. Brasfleld, Gen’l S. ft T., Searcy, Ark. TWIN CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Regular meeting 2d Wednesday night of each month, Columbia Hall, Prior and University aves. G. W. Lewis, Pres., 2921 Chicago ave., Minneapolis, Minn. ; S. H. Lester, S. ft T., Flat 7, 912 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. CREAM CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets the 2d Tuesday of each month in • Film Operators’ Hall, 226 Third st, Mil- waukee, Wis. W. T. Houlehen, Pres., 363 Madison st., Milwaukee, Wis. ; B. A. Go- thompson, S. ft T., 738 Fortieth st., Mil- waukee, Wis. PRETZEL CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF FREEPORT, ILL.— Meets 3d Wed- nesday of each month at Ladies and Knights of Security Hall, 107 Stephenson st., Freeport 111. P. H. Murphy, Pres., 145 Delaware st., Freeport, 111. ; H. B. Kiester, S. ft T., 60 Second st, Freeport, III. CORT CLUB (Chicago O. R. T. Club)— Meets 1st Saturday of each month in Room 912, Masonic Temple. D. C. Smart, Pres., 2258 Lincoln ave., Chicago, 111. ; C. L. Craig, S. ft T., 817 W. 64th st, Chi- cago, 111. DES MOINES O. R. T. CLUB— Meets in Assembly Room, Kirkwood Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa, subject to call of President. M. R. Davis, Pres., care C. R. I. ft P. Ry., Des Moines, Iowa; S. S. Price, S. ft T., Grimes, Iowa. CEDAR RAPIDS O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 8 p. m., the 3d Friday of each month at Hotel Montrose, corner Third ave. and Third st.. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. F. E. Conover, Pres., Low Moor, Iowa ; J. L. Halpin, S. ft T., 512 South Fourteenth st., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. LITTLE ROCK O. R. T. CLUB — Meets sub- ject to call of S. ft T. C. C. Jacklin, Pres., Room 224, Union Station, Little Rock, Ark. ; H. W. Gibbs, S. ft T., 516 E. Eighth st.. Little Rock, Ark. Digitized by tjOOQle
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296 The Railroad Telegrapher. THE TOPEKA O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 8 p. m.. 2d Sunday of each month at Throop Hotel, Fourth and Kansas ave., Topeka, Kan. R. D. Stover, Pres., 305 Western ave., Topeka, Kan.; A. S. Carver, S. A T., 329 Lake st., Topeka, Kan. THE PANHOMA TELEGRAPHERS' CLUB — Meets Saturday evening following the 21st of each month in Assembly Room, 2d floor. City Hall, El Reno, Okla. G. A. Barnard, Pres., El Reno, Okla. ; F. G. Sinclair, Sec'y, Okeene, Okla. ; P. L. Peacher, Treas., El Reno, Okla. EVANSVILLE O. R T. CLUB— Meets 3d Sunday each month. L. E. Crandall, Pres., Chrlsney, Ind. ; C. McCleary, S. A T., 712 Mulberry st.. Evansville, Ind. THE HOOSIER O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month at 8 p. m., Room 109, Oneida Hotel, Indianapolis, Ind. J. W. White, Pres., 2166 Avondale place, In- dianapolis, Ind.; W. G. Brenneman, S. A T., 2327 Prospect st., Indianapolis, Ind. THE KANSAS CITY RAILROAD TELE- GRAPHERS' CLUB— Meets subject to call of President M. Williams, Pres., 2115 Walnut st, Kansas City, Kan. THE FORT PITT TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF PITTSBURG — Meets subject to call of Secretary. H. K. Klingensmith, Pres., 124 Suburban ave., Beechvlew, Pittsburg, Pa. THE HOUSTON O. R T. CLUB— Meets 2d Thursday night of each month. Hotel Cotton, cor. Fannin st and Capitol ave., Houston, Tex. Chas. C. Webner, 425 Ma- son bldg., Houston, Tex. ; E. B. Hill, Sec'y, 1027 Yale st, Houston, Tex. THE DU-O R T. CLUB OF DURAND, MICH. — Meets 1st Thursday each month in I. O. O. F. Hall. Durand, Mich. A. E. McNamara, Pres., Drayton Plain, Mich. ; H. F. Link, S. A T., Lansing, Mich. THE C. O. O. R T. CLUB (Co-Operative O. R T. Club) — Meets 8 p. m., 1st Friday of each month in Red Men’s Hall, South Bend, Ind. O. O. Replogle, Pres., 631 East Bronson st, South Bend, Ind. ; D. A. Crum, S. A T., 817 Lindsey st. South Bend, Ind. THE CHICAGO HEIGHTS TELEGRA- PHERS’ CLUB — Meets 9 :30 a. m., 2d Sunday of each month at Chicago Heights, I1L, in Trades and Labor Council Hall. J. Welles Begbie, Pres., St. Anne, I1L ; J. C. Marceau, S. A T., St Anne, III. THE SPRINGFIELD O. R T. CLUB— Meets 2d Saturday night of each month at St. Nicholas Hotel, Springfield, 111. W. Stone, Pres., Marine, 111. ; W. R Endi- cott S. A T., 113 E. Jefferson st.. Spring- field, 111. THE GOLDEN RULE TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets 7 p. m*» 3d Tuesday of each month at Crowe Hall, comer Broadway and Seger ave., Toledo, Ohio. F. H. Simon, Pres., 802 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio; Geo. D. Walker. S. A T., Flickenger Flat No. 2, Toledo, Ohio. THE MONUMENTAL O. R T. CLUB— Meets monthly in Baltimore, Md., subject to call of President W. R Johnson, Pres., 3743 Morley st, Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Shawen, Sec’y, 3637 Roland ave., Balti- more, Md. THE STATEN ISLAND O. R T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month, 8 p. m.. at the Cherokee Club, No. 12 Cross st, Stapleton, S. I. D. B. McMullen, Pres., 8 Woodlawn ave., Cranford, N. J. ; J. P. Tully, 8. A T., 276 Delaware ave., Don- gan Hills, N. Y. General Committee Division on Railroads Covered by Local Divisions Boston A Albany Railway — M. J. Walsh, Gen'l Chairman, 15 Moseley ave., Merrick, Mass. ; Geo. P. Alrutz, Secretary General Committee, 16 Oakdale ave., Westfield, Mass. Boston Terminal Co. — S. E. Haseltine, Gen’l Chairman, 21 French ave.. South Brain- tree, Mass.; H. J. Llonett, Secretary Gen- eral Committee, Dorchester, Mass. Buffalo A Susquehanna R R — E. E. Has- kins, General Chairman, SInnemahoning, Pa. Chicago, Peoria A St. Louis Ry.-^-R E. Johnson, Gen'l Chairman, Jerseyville, 111. ; H. C. LeMasters, Secretary General Com- mittee, 426 S. Orange st., Havana, 111. Intercolonial Ry. — C. C. Charters, Gen’l Chairman, Point du Chene, N. B. ; R A. McMillan, Secretary General Committee, Charlo Station, N. B. Long Island Railroad — C. M. Scully, Gen’l Chairman, College Point, N. Y. ; E. Frank Webb, Secretary General Committee, 23 Amherst ave., Jamaica, N. Y. New York, New Haven A Hartford Railroad — Leonard J. Ross, Gen’l Chairman, 467 Wellington ave.. Auburn, R I. ; M. W. Handy, Secretary General Committee, Box 885, New Haven, Conn. St. Louis Southwestern Ry. — H. C. Frislelle, Gen’l Chairman, Bearden, Ark. ; E. E. Net- tles, Secretary General Committee, Ker- ens, Tex. Toledo, St. Louis & Western Ry. — H. S. Wal- ters, Gen’l Chairman, Gas City, Ind. ; H. B. Livesey, Secretary General Committee, Sorento, 111. Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 297 Ladies Auxiliary Directory OFFICERS. MRS. KATE E. CARR— Grand President, 529 Swan st., Olympia, Wash. MRS. FLORENCE P. PIERCE— Grand Sec- retary-Treasurer, Box 33, Halethorpe, Baltimore Co., Md. MISS CLARA J. BRADY— First Grand Vice-President, 91 Wood st.. Provi- dence, R. I. BOARD OF Mrs. John W. Banker, Chairman, Schaghti- coke, N. Y. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Secretary, Smlth- ville, Ga. Mrs. E. McDonough, All correspondence for The Telegrapher si St. Louis, Mo., so that it will reach hin MRS. D. H. PARKER— Second Grand Vice- President, Speed, N. C. MRS. GEORGE GILBERT— Third Grand Vice-President, Kenora, Ont., Can. MRS. J. E. COWGILL-^Fourth Grand Vice- President, San Carlos, Cal. DIRECTORS. Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3854 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Iris U. Henderson, Midland, Tex. Clintonville, Wis. Lould be addressed to C. B. Rawlins, Editor, i not later than the 6th of the month. Grand Division — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or ter- ritory. Mrs. Kate E. Carr, Grand Presi- dent, 629 Swan st., Olympia, Wash. ; Mrs. Florence P. Pierce, Grand S. & T. Box 38, Halethrope, Md. Division 2 — Meetings subject to call of Act- ing President, Mrs. Evva L. Quick 3854 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo. ; Mrs. Evva L. Quick, S. ft T., 3854 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo. Division 3 — Covers the C., C., C. ft St L. Ry. System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. S. D. Solomon, Presi- dent, 1912 Locust st., Anderson, Ind. ; Mrs. Hazel Elliott, Gen’l 6. ft T., Ashley, Ohio. Division 7 — Covers the Canadian Pacific Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan Pres- ident Chapleau, Ont., Can. ; Mrs. S. S. Campbell, Gen’l S. ft T., Verona, Ont. Division 8 — Covers the New York Central Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. M. B. Lynch, Pres- ident, 963 State st., Schenectady, N. Y. ; M. J. Wood, Gen’l S. ft T., South Schenec- tady, N. Y. Division 15 — Covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Meets subject to call of the Presi- dent Mrs. B. F. Wheeler, President, Oviedo, Fla. ; Mrs. J. H. Williams, Gen’l S. ft T., Wilson, N. C. Division 23 — Covers the Chicago, Milwaukee ft St. Paul and the Puget Sound Railway Systems. Meetings subject to call. Mrs. S. Olive Lester, Gen'l S. ft T., Flat 7, 812 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Division 31 — Covers the Missouri Pacific System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Chas. M. Bodle, Presi- dent, Benton, Kan. ; Mrs. H. C. Harkins, Gen’l S. ft T., Lupus, Mo. Division 33 — Covers the Baltimore ft Ohio Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President. Mrs. Mary A Bell, Presi- dent, New Concord, Ohio; Mrs. Anna S. Gillum, Gen’l S. ft T.. Shinnston, W. Va. Division 35 — Meeets 3d Thursday of each month at 2 :30 p. m., in Manheim Hall, 433 Westminster st., Providence, R. I. ; Mrs. Bertha Haddock, President, 111 Narra- gansett st., Edgewood, Providence, R. I. ; Miss Clara J. Brady, Gen’l S. ft T., 91 Wood st.. Providence, R. I. Division 44 — Meets 2d Saturday of each month at 8 p. m.. in Hall No. 2, Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. Mrs. A Filby, President, Vandeveer Park Station, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Mrs. J. E. Shields, Gen’l S. ft T., 1034 Bergen st., Brooklyn, N. Y. Division 46 — Covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Gen’l S. ft T„ Smithville, Ga. Division 53 — Covers the Southern Pacific System, G. H. ft S. A. Ry. Meetings sub- ject to call of the President. Mrs. J. E. Cowgill, President, San Carlos, Cal. ; Mrs. F. E. Waters, Gen’l S. & T., Ashland, Ore. Division 59 — Covers the Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of the President. Mrs. C. L. Watson, President, Veechdale, Ky. ; Mrs. Logan Watson, Gen’l S. ft T.. 534 First st.. Shelbyville, Ky. Digitized by Google
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298 The Railroad Telegrapher, Division 76 — Covers the Chicago & North Western Railway System. Meets upon call of the President. Miss Ema L. Schneider, President, Dousman, Wis. ; Miss Irene O'Connell, Gen’l S. & T., 207 W. Sixth st., Marshfield, Wis. Division 81 — Covers the Colorado Midland Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Mae L. Potts, President, Ivanhoe, Colo, ; Mrs. Ida Down- ing, Qen’l S. & T.. Cascade, Colo. Division 93 — Covers the Illinois Central Railway System. Meets subject to call. Mrs. E. L. Mathis, Acting President and Gen’l S. & T., 1172 Mississippi blvd., Mem- phis, Tenn. Division 113 — Covers the Ulster & Delaware System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Harry Halstead, Presi- dent, R. F. D. No. 3, Oneonta, N. Y. ; Mrs. Sinclair Snyder, Gen’l S. & T., South Kort- right N. Y. Division 140 — Covers the Maine Central Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Acting President Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Acting President, 470 Main st., Bangor, Me. ; Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Gen’l S. & T., 470 Main st., Bangor, Me. Division 146 — Covers the Atlanta, Birming- ham & Atlantic Railway System. Meets upon call of the President Miss Dita May West, President, 819 East Georgia ave., Atlanta, Ga. ; Miss Pearl Goiman, Gen’l S. & T.. Mauk. Ga. (Prber of ftailroati EelegrapfjetjS PETITION FOR MEMBERSHIP Officers and Members, Division No - ... ... The Subscriber - . by occupation a .. of - years experience, born in .. .. voluntarily offers himself as a candidate for initiation into THE ORDER OP RAILROAD TELEGRAPHERS, and agrees, if admitted, that he will cheerfully conform to all the laws, rules, mandates and edicts of the Order. I have not been rejected for membership in the Order within the past year. Fee enclosed, $ Signature of Petitioner Dated at- this day of 19 •My Post office address is. „ - „ : „ Employed by - Railroad This is to Certify : That we, the subscribers, are personally acquainted with Mr and, from a confidence in his integrity and the uprightness of his intention, do cheerfully recommend and propose him as a proper candidate for member- ship in this Order. •Be careful and fill in your postoffice address. recommenders Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention Thi Railroad Telegrapher. 67 TRADE. Button » There is only One Genuine Signal Shirt And It Bears this Trade Mark ^HE Signal Trade Mark on a shirt signi- fies perfect shirt service. It means you are getting the best value for your money. Signal Shirt has stood the test for years and is recognized by railroad men as the best shirt for railroad wear. The big features as noted by arrows in the illustration are not to be found in any other shirt. Signal Shirts Made of T^XfiroT Fabrics The Famous TUiuEs&T Fabric is wear- proof, wash-proof. Every Shirt is made true to size. Two Collar* [Strong Stitching Order From Your Dealer ! Most dealers sell Signal TsSlsaT Shirts — if yours does not, do not take any substitute, but send us your size, name and address and we will send you one on approval. Hilker-Wiechers Manufacturing Co. Box D1246 Mound Avenue Racine, Wisconsin Makers of the Famous Overalls Strong Button hole tinch Overlap Digitized by kjooole
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THE RAILROAD TELEGRAPHER Published Monthly by the Obdeb of ^ Railroad TelegbaphebS ^ C. B. Rawlins - Editor and Manages. Subscription Price Entered as Second-Class Matter December 20, 1912, at the Post Office at St. Louis. Mo.. Under the Act of August 24, 1912. $1.00 Per Year. Vol. XXXV MARCH, 1918 No. 3 The Emancipation. FOR the information of those who have not received a copy of General Order No. 8, issued by the Director General, we are herein repro- ducing it : Washington. February 21, 1918. ORDER No. 8. To correct wrong impressions that may exist regarding the employment and con- ditions of labor in railway service, it is, until further order directed that: 1. All acts of Congress to promote the safety of emplo/es and travelers upon the railroads, including acts requiring investigation of accidents on railroads, and orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission made in accordance there- with, must be fully complied with. These acts and orders refer to hours of service, safety appliances and inspection. Now that the railroads are in the pos- session and control of the government, it would be futile to impose fines for vio- lation of said laws and orders upon the government; therefore, it will become the duty of the director general in the en- forcement of said laws and orders to impose punishment for willful and inex- cusable violations thereof upon the per- son or persons responsible therefor, such punishment to be determined by the facts in each case. 2. When the exigencies of the service require it, or when a sufficient number of employes in any department are not available to render the public prompt transportation service, employes will be required to work a reasonable amount of Digitized by v^oooLe
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300 The Railroad Telegrapher. overtime. So far as efficient and eco- nomic operation will permit, excessive hours of employment will not be required of employes. 3. The broad question of wages and hours will be passed upon and reported to the director general as promptly as possible by the present Railroad Wage Commission. Pending a disposition of these matters by the director general, all requests of employes involving revisions of schedules or general changes in con- ditions affecting wages and hours, will be held in abeyance by both the man- agers and employes. Wages, when deter- mined upon, will be made retroactive to January 1, 1918, and adjusted accordingly. Matters of controversy arising under in- terpretations of existing wage agreements and other matters not relating to wages and hours will take their usual course, and in the event of inability to reach a settlement will be referred to the di- rector general. 4. In Order No. 1, issued December 29, 1917, the following appeared: “All officers, agents and employes of such transportation systems may continue in the performance of their present regular duties, reporting to the same officers as heretofore on the same terms of employment.” The Impression seems to exist on some railroads that the said order was intended to prevent any change in the terms of employment during government opera- tion. The purpose of the order was to confirm all terms of employment existing upon that date, but subject to subsequent modifications deemed advisable for the requirements of the service. Any con- trary Impression or construction is erro- neous. Officers and employes will be gov- erned by the construction here given. 5. No discrimination will be made in the employment, retention or conditions of employment of employes because of membership or non-membership in labor organizations. The government now being in control of the railroads, the officers and em- ployes of the various companies no longer serve a private interest. All now serve the government and the public in- terest only. I want the officers and em- ployes to get the spirit of this new era. Supreme devotion to country, an invinci- ble determination to perform the impera- tive duties of the hour while the life of the nation is imperiled by war, must obliterate old enmities and make friends and comrades of us all. There must be co-operation, not antagonism; confidence, not suspicion; mutual helpfulness, not gruding performance; just consideration, not arbitrary disregard of each other’s rights and feelings. A fine discipline based on mutual respect and sympathy, and an earnest desire to serve the great public faithfully and efficiently. This is the new spirit and purpose that must pervade every part and branch of the national railroad service. America's safety, America’s Ideals, America’s rights are at stake. Democ- racy and liberty throughout the world depend upon America’s valor, America’s strength, America’s fighting power. We can win and save the world from despot- ism and bondage only if we pull to- gether. We can not pull apart without ditching the train. Let us go forward with unshakable purpose to do our part superlatively. Then we shall save Amer- ica, restore peace to a distracted world and gain for ourselves the coveted dis- tinction and Just reward of patriotic serv- ice nobly done. W. G. McADOO, Director General of Railroads. “No discrimination will be made fn the employment , retention or conditions of employes because of membership or non- membership in labor organizations .” The above paragraph incorporated In the order issued by the director general was in the nature of an emancipation proclamation to many thousands of rail- road employes who are working on some of the largo railroad systems of the United States, due to the fact that not only thousands of employes who desired to become affiliated with our organiza- tion, but employes in every department of railroad work, were denied this right, as American citizens, tp become affiliated with the labor organization representing their class. The right and privilege of the wage earner to organize for uplift and Belf- advancement has been recognized by some of the largest corporations and em- ployers and by the government, and we are gratified that the Director General of Railroads has taken the position that Digitized by ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 301 it is an inalienable right of an individual to affiliate with a labor organization and the railroad employes will always re- member Mr. McAdoo for this ruling. The Order of Railroad Telegraphers is the only organization recognized by that great body of union workers, the Ameri- can Federation of Labor, as having the jurisdictional right to represent railroad telegraphers, train dispatchers, station ^gents, line repairers, levermen or in- terlockers, tower or train directors, tele- phone operators, block operators and staff- men, and we are putting forth our ef- forts to immediately organize the few unorganized railroads in the United States. Fear of dismissal or discrimina- tion while the Federal Government is in possession and control of all railroads, is a thing of the past and we are of the opinion obliterates these tactics forever. The opportunity to extend the operation of our organization to cover all railroads is excellent and we hope each and every individual member will take advantage of this splendid occasion to spread the doctrine of unionism. In a previous number of our publica- tion we stated that labor had become king. The war for democracy will not only be won on the battlefields of Europe, but by the workers of all nations and is assisting our boys on the battlefront to fight against autocracy. Railroad Wage Commission Hearings. THE February Telegrapher related how President Perham was the first to appear before the newly-created Railroad Commission on January 28th and petitioned that body to grant all employes eligible to member- ship in the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, forty per cent increase in wages, and in order to acquaint our readers with the procedure in this matter, we are printing the hearings in serial form in this issue of the journal. • (Continued from February issue) The Chairman: Do you know of any record of the Interstate Commerce Com- mission, or of a Departmental agency, where we can get an exact statement as to the number of telegraphers there are, and how much they get upon different roads, or in different sections of the country? Mr. Perham: * The Interstate Com- merce Commission has all of those fig- ures. The Chairman: As to block signal men also? Mr. Perham: I am in doubt about di- viding that class of men. While I was treating the three classes as one, it is mutually agreeable to the employes, the railroad companies and the Interstate Commerce Commission that that group goes, and it is set forth, because of a likeness in the employment and the duties. Mr. Willcox: But they do get differ- ent wages, do they not? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; that is true, on every railroad, and with all classes, in- cluding the station agents. Station agents are paid from $40 a month to $176, according to what they do, and what their responsibilities are, and it is the same way with signal men, the same way with telegraph operators. It all va- ries. I would like to say, right here, that the Interstate Commerce Commission held hearings with regard to this classi- fication some years ago, and all of the employes' representatives were there and this clarification or division of employes was mutually agreed upon and worked out, and it has proven very satisfactory to us, so far. Commissioner McChord: Is there any difference, geographically, in groups, say W’estern Classification, Official and Southern? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; for the same reason that the Interstate Commerce Commission divided the United States Digitized by v^oooLe
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302 The Railroad Telegrapher. into ten different districts. It could also be divided into wage districts in the same way. For instance, the conditions that surround the men in San Francisco and that vicinity in the West, are differ- ent to the conditions that surround the same class of employes in Savannah, in the State of Georgia and contiguous ter- ritory through there. This is a vast country, and a stand- ard scale for the whole of the country is hardly feasible. These divisions that the Interstate Commerce Commission found so useful in its work also would be useful ip settling a general wage question. The Chairman: Now, in your own profession, do you have a standard wage for telegraphers in one section of the country, that differs from the standard wage in another section of the country? Mr. Perham: No. The Chairman : You do not? Mr. Perham: We have contented our- selves with whatever wages we could get from the company up to this time, know- ing full well that we were not getting half paid for what we were doing. That is not only my sentiment, but the senti- ment of every man I represent. The Chairman: There is no uniform rate of pay, then, upon the Pacific Coast, we will say, for telegraphers doing the same kind of work? Mr. Perham: No; as a matter of fact, those who do the same kind of work get different wages. I might state that there are telegraphers in what is called a tense condition of employment; that as soon as he sits down to his instrument it is necessary for him to listen to every sound that comes from the instrument, and he may be there for seven hours re- ceiving, and he won’t miss one of those little clicks. It is a tense condition of employment, and he generally is an ex- pert telegrapher, and seven hours is a long day’s work for him, on account of his receiving so many messages and transmitting so many, at such a high rate of speed. So that in the vicinity of San Francisco, we will say, as an illustration, there are men in the Western Union Telegraph Company employ doing Just that work, under tense conditions of em- ployment There are men in the South- ern Pacific Railroad officers — general offi- ces on Market street — doing that work — under tense conditions. They pay the highest rate in that Southern Pacific Office and that gives them the pick of the men in all of the commercial offices in that vicinity, but they are all getting different rates, on account of our never having been standardized, or never hay- ing reached a figure where we would agree to standardize. We would prefer to go ahead, struggling as best we may for the rest of our natural lives, rather than have the standard set at the rate we are now enjoying. I will resume these figures Just where I left off. Telegraphers, telephones and operat- ing interlockers. There are 7,723 em- ployed. Their average hourly compensa- tion is 30.02 cents. Levermen, non-telegraphers. There are 3,387. Their average is 22 cents per hour. There are telegrapher clerks, number- ing 10,620. The average hourly rate is 25.04 cents. Agent telegraphers, 19,359. The aver- age hourly compensation is 22.03. I think it would be as well to close up this end of the investigation, to show some of the schedules that have been re- cently put into feffect — that is, as we agreed to it with the railroad companies. We might file them as exhibits, showing what is now the rate being paid, which would, I think make a pretty fair period to that part of the investigation, where we say that we are inadequately com- pensated, and just how we had arrived at the present compensation. I might say here that in these figures contained in the report of the Eight-Hour Commis- sion, I notice a slight discrepancy in the number of men employed, between that and the figures given by the Interstate Commerce Commission, and I then note that the employes on the various ter- minal companies throughout the United States, are not included in the report of the Eight-Hour Commission, while they Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 303 are included in the report of the Inter- state Commerce Commission, and that accounts for a discrepancy that you might discover afterwards in the num- ber of employes; but we agree, with both of them. With that explanation, we agree with this report and also with the figures furnished by the Interstate Com- merce Commission. There is no differ- ence of opinion amongst ourselves, as to numbers. Mr. Willcox: Mr. Perham, as to the re- lation of one service to another, one man gets 23 cents an hour and another 40 cents an hour. Is that relation cor- rect? Do you care to speak about that? You ask for a level increase of 40 per cent I am wondering whether justice would be done, supposing that were done. Mr. Perham: If we had our own way about it we would like to get the increase amounting to 40 per cent and adjust it as the circumstances seemed to call for it; that where one man is notably under- paid, we would like to give him quite a big percentage of the increase, and then take that off others who are nearer fa- vorably marked. It is quite usual with us, in adjusting wage scale matters, to get a lump sum in the way of an appropriation, and thereafter <ftvide that lump sum, accord- ing to the divisions of the road, and again divide those portions for the individuals, as the occasion seems to demand. In such a complicated business as that, when we go to the distributing of the money, as we call it, we always get the local chairman in because he tinderstands the situation. These matters have been adjusted along scientific lines. At least, we flatter ourselves that that is the case. We take nothing for granted, and when we want to find out the exact conditions at local stations, we send for that local chairman and ask him, “How about that man; is he more responsible; has he more responsibility than he did have; should the wage be increased? how much do you think Then we may go on to another place. “Is it true that there has been a new gate crossing put up there, and do the automobiles go by there very thick, and does that agent now have to look after that gate crossing? How much extra pay do you think he should get for that?" and so on, all along the line. There are reasons why the wages should be readjusted every little while. We think we have them adjusted nicely, and they run that way for a year, and the next time we come back, we find that they are not. It needed some tinkering to get it straight, but taking it all in all, we have been successful in taking the amount of money we were able to ob- tain and bettering the conditions and ameliorating things and allow people to go along. I might say we have been do- ing this without publication all the time; and we are doing it in many places to- day. I do not know how many negotia- tions we have running today, but we had about twenty-three the last of the year. The Chairman: Would you mind, by the way, letting us have copies of those twenty-three requests that you made on the railroads? Mr. Perham: Copies? The Chairman: Yes. Mr. Perham: Yes. The Chairman: Just file those with us, as an exhibit. Judge Covington: They probably set out a good deal of detailed Information of the operation and the number of em- ployes, that you represent. Mr. Perham: Oh, yes; I will make a note of that. The Chairman: We want your peti- tions with regard to them also, you know. Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. It is Just re- visions of existing scales now. We have these scales right here, and of course this will come very near illustrating what we want. Now, these are all at random, and I assume that it would be a good plan to take some from the Far West, from down South — or a sufficient number to show the east and the west, and the south and the north. I do not seem to have a very comprehensive set of schedules here, but I believe it would be as well to file these, as exhibits. The Chairman: Very well. Digitized by v^oooLe
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304 The Railroad Telegrapher. (The schedules were received and marked Telegraphers’ Exhibit No. 1.) Mr. Perham: Now, I would like to quote from the Rock Island schedule. The Chairman: Your schedules a te made up with the roads, by agreement with the individual roads, not any par- ticular district or territory? . Mr. Perham: That is true, and the or- ganization is along the same way. Mr. Willcox: A railroad is a railroad, not a district. Mr. Perham: Not a district. ‘ We are doing business along the old fashioned line, not putting it in groups or in dis- tricts, like others have done. I quote from the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Company schedule, which was made effective on August 1st, 1917, and was the subject of arbitration, where six members sat on the board and arranged all of these amendments to this schedule, which particularly affected the 26-day month. We had, up until a few years ago, been working all day Sunday, with- out any pay therefor. It came up from the old days, when there wasn’t much to do on Sunday and the station agent would go down to the station and take the mail, see about delivering express and one or two things, and then go home and spend the rest of the day with his children, but as the business of the coun- try and the railroads increased, it was necessary for him to stay on duty all day, and at last he was ordered to stay on duty, and what was an accommoda- tion on his part in the first place, was soon made a duty by the employer, and he failed to give him pay for it, and that is one of the questions that has been very much agitated by the men of late. About 20 railroads in the United States have given the men pay for Sunday work. The others have it under contemplation, but that is one of the things that is abso- lutely needed. The Chairman: Do these men work seven days in the week ordinarily, a telegrapher or train dispatcher? Mr. Perham : Except on the roads which I mentioned — twenty of them, where they get paid for it. A good many of them there will be let off on Sunday when they otherwise would get paid for it, and that is the object of putting the pay proposition in there, so as to allow many of them to go home on Sunday. Men are frequently kept in the office all day Sunday when they are really not wanted, but it does not cost the com- pany anything for them to sit around there and be on hand in case they are wanted and where you put the wages there for them sitting around doing nothing, the company can save the wage by sending them home on Sunday.- Of course, a certain amount of Sunday work is absolutely necessary in a telegraph office on a railroad. We do not want trains, to stop to accommodate our men, but those who are bound to work should be paid for it. The Chairman: Are they paid the same rate for Sunday work as they are for the other days? Mr. Perham: Like everything else, it is different, according to the agreement that has been made. The lowest rate is a pro rata rate. The next better rate is an overtime rate — overtime pay is gen- erally in excess of any of the pro rata rates, so as to discourage employers from working men overtime, so that when Sun- day time pay is obtained at an overtime rate it exceeds the normal rate. We haye also time and a half and here and there double time, according to where the agreement would be reached. The Chairman. Is there any uniform hours of work during the day, eight hours or seven hours? Mr. Perham : Whatever hours are worked on Sunday, must be within the usual daily spread of hours. The Chairman. What is that daily spread? Mr. Perham: Say from 8 a. m. to 4 p. m.; 4 p. m. to midnight; midnight to 8 a. m. That would be the dally spread. The Chairman: You have three shifts. Mr. Perham: Three shifts at contin- uously operated offices. Now, I think I had better * quote some of these wages here, so as to make it a matter of record as to what wages we were paid in 1917. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 305 The Chairman: What are you reading from? Mr. Perham: I read from the Chicago, Rock Island ft Pacific Railway Company's schedule which was made effective on Au- gust 1, 1917: On the Illinois Division, first, second and third trick of telegraphic levermen: At "M. C.” Tower, Joliet, $80, all three alike. “U. D.” tower, Joliet, $90. Rockvale, $87.50. At Morris, station agent, $115; first trick levermen, $95; second trick lever- man, $87.50; third trick leverman, $85. At Stockdale, agent and telegrapher, $77.50. At Seneca, agent, $100; first trick lever- man, $80. At Marseilles, agent, $110; first trick leverman, $87.50. Ottawa tower, first trick leverman, $72.50, and the other two at the same rate. At Utica, station agent, $100 and teleg- rapher, $85. At LaSalle, station agent, $120; teleg- rapher, $95 ; second trick leverman, $87.50; third trick leverman, $85. That is sufficient to illustrate the wage now running on that railroad. I will file schedule* of the Chicago, Rock Island ft Pacific, effective August 1, 1917; schedule of the New York, New Haven ft Hartford Railroad, effective January 2, 1917 ; schedule of the Mobile ft Ohio Rail- road and the Southern Railway Company in Mississippi, effective December 1, 1917 ; the Southern Railway System's schedule, effective August 1, 1917, the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad schedule, effective October 16, 1917; Chicago, Milwaukee ft St. Paul Railroad schedule, effective September 1, 1917; Chicago, Burlington ft Quincy Rail- road schedule, effective August 1, 1917; Denver ft Rio Grande, effective February 1, 1917; Erie Railroad Company, effec- tive October 1, 1917 ; the Central Vermont, in effect October 1, 1917. The Chairman: Mr. Perham, could you file with us as an exhibit, all of the sched- ules that you have got? Mr. Perham: We would not be able to do that at the present moment, for this reason, that we have but one schedule filed at headquarters, and we have it now in printed shape, making up a volume, and it is with the printer right now. The Chairman: At some time within the next two or three weeks, could it be done? Mr. Perham: I think so. We will do our best to get a volume to you — a copy. The Chairman: We could take* it sim- ply from the proof sheets, if you wanted to, you know. Mr. Perham: Yes; the fact is I have not been able to stay at St. Louis long enough to get it completed. I want to complete the entire year of 1917 and it is a big job, but business has beenc top heavy on the road and that is what Is delaying me at the present time. Shall I leave these schedules? The Chairman: If you are going to complete and give us a full set of all Of the schedules, then I think you had better not. Mr. Perham: In case I should not get that job done, I think these schedules might be helpful. The Chairman: All right. Mr. Perham: With your permission, I will leave them with you. They need not be as exhibits; it does not matter what hapens to them. Mr. Ryan: Terhaps you had better give them to me and not encumber the record with them. , Mr. Perham. Yes; 1 ought to mentiont perhaps , that we assume to represent all men in our class , organized or otherwise , and we are interested in the unorganized roads , and the lowest rate of wages is of course on the unorganized roads. We have hundreds of men working at this time at $38 per month , as their total in- come, and they in many instances support a wife and family on that income in some way . The Santa Fe, or speaking more tech- nically, the Atchison, Topeka ft Santa Fe Railroad is a good illustration for that point, where hundreds of men are work- ing for $38 a month. The Chairman: What are they doing? Digitized by v^oooLe
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306 The Railroad Telegrapher. Mr. Perham: They are telegraph op- erators and station agents, men of that kind. The Chairman: All of their total com- pensation is $38 a month? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. " The Chairman: Are they given quar- ters? Mr. Perham: Well, the agent might and the operator not. There is only quar- ters for one of these — sometimes the quar- ters are a box car that was discarded thirty years ago and put on the desert, as a place for the operator to live, where he has his office in one end and his bed- room in the other. The Chairman : Is there any way of es- timating how many such cases there are? Mr. Perham: On the Santa Fe Rail- road? The Chairman: On all the railroads of the country? Mr. Perham: You will find some re- markable conditions on some of the rail- roads, such as the Pennsylvania Railroad right close here — agents working for $45 a month, and some men in this .vicinity working for even less wages than that. Judge Covington: Are the station agents on the Pennsylvania unorganized, or are the most of them organized? Mr. Perham: They are partially unor- ganized. There are two or three of these little what you will call rival — dual bodies, most of them organized by the company. Judge Covington: I am speaking about membership in your organization. Mr. Perham: We have a pretty fair organization, enough to make the Penn- sylvania Railroad Company raise the wages, so as to keep away from us. They raise the wages of the men so as to keep free from the operations of the union. Judge Covington: Are you sufficiently organized on the Pennsylvania Lines to have the Pennsylvania Railroad treat with you? Mr. Perham: No, sir: nor is any other class on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Pennsylvania Railroad has too much money and too much power for labor or- ganizations to deal with them. Mr. Willcox: You spoke of one class of telegraphers or station agents getting $38. What would be the highest price that you can refer to, that is paid to similar labor on other roads, where they are bet- ter organized? How high would it run? Mr. Perham: Eighty-five dollars. Mr. Willcox: Similarly located, cost of living and all? Mr. Perham: Yes; do’ the same kind of service and assume the same kind of risk— $85. Mr. Willcox: Would you advocate forty per cent increase for each of those? Mr. Perham: I would give those fel- lows two hundred per cent , if it was left to me to do that. I would give them two hundred per cent and make somebody else go shy. Judge Covington: This case on the Santa Fe that you were speaking of, where they are, I presume, on the desert sections of the line, where there is *no Immediate habitation around, where the agent can live, is there anything else but the quarters provided? How about the food? Mr. Perham: Allow me to state the men could not live on the desert at $38 a month. They must live in a productive country where people bring them some- thing to eat. Judge Covington: Does that not apply to the cases of the desert agents then? Mr. Perham: No, sir; you will find on the desert that their wages run from $60 to $85 per month, and that every ounce of food they eat, they buy at far distant points and have transported to them. Even the water they drink is transported to them there, and they must pay those men money or close that office. The Chairman: We want to get at the facts now regarding these men who are paid the lowest wages. Is the most easy and practicable way to get at those facts, to ask each railroad in the country to let us have a list of all the telegraphers that they employ and the wages that are paid to the men at the different stations? Is there any other way by whjch that matter can be gained? Mr. Perham : I am thinking of the pay- roll proposition. The payroll shows ao- Digitized by LaOOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 307 curately how much the employes receive. But suppose they were to send the pay- rolls here for December, 1917, there would be two carloads of payrolls at least. The Chairman: Well, can you suggest some way by which we can discover how many cases there are on all of the rail- roads in the United States where tele- graph operators get less than fifty dollars a month. Mr. Perham: I think we can furnish you that information. The Chairman: You think you can? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. Mr. Willcox: Could you tabulate it right up through, between $50 and $60, $60 and $70, and $70 and $80? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; there are so few of them, however, that I hardly believe that would be worth your while to look into it — so few of them. It only applies to a few unorganised roads that we can count on our fingers. We can tell you about those low paid positions. Judge Covington: You mean the roads themselves can tell us? Mr. Perham: We can tell you now. The Chairman: Now, I will ask you on behalf of the Commission to please file with us at your earliest convenience, a list of those places, classified as far as that is possible, according to the monthly salary, a list of those classes of employes of railroads which you represent, and those that you do not represent, so far as you have knowledge, showing the amount of salary paid to each class, the number of those in each class, and their salaries in periods of ten days a month. Mr. Perham: Now, let me state fur- ther. If I should happen to have the Santa Fe schedule — the Santa Fe wage scale with me — that was not furnished me by the company. It was handed to me by an employe who wanted me to fix it, but I have the scale. Now, I have a Penn- sylvania Railway wage scale, handed to me under the same conditions, but we have no means of finding out on unorgan- ized railroads what wages are paid, un- less it were for those accidental proposi- tions I had in mind, when I said I would furnish you. The Chairman: I understand that. Mr. Perham: We could go to the Penn- 9 sylvania Railroad and say “what wages are you getting along the line here?*' There are 5,000 men eligible to our organ- ization, employed on the Pennsylvania Railroad east or Pittsburgh and Erie — a vast number of men to interview, to find out what wages they get. I have found on the Pennsylvania main line, the main line men who draw the highest pay, don't know what the branch line men get. They don't know about one another. You have to interview the man himself to find out what wages he gets. That is the way on an unorganized road. Each man is look- ing after his own affairs, but on an or- ganized road, it is different. The organ- ization man knows what the men are get- ting and all about it; so I am afraid I could not give you that for the unorgan- ized roads. The Chairman: No; but you probably know where you have those schedules. Mr. Perham: I will send those sched- ules to you. The Chairman: Cannot you gather the data from the payroll and give it to us? Mr. Perham: We cannot even get the pay roll of unorganized roads. The Chairman: On some of the roads, .you have that. Mr. Perham: The unorganized road is absolutely unfriendly to us. The Chairman: But you happen to have it, do you not? Mr. Perham: In two instances, yes, sir. Judge Covington: Aside from the in- formation that you get from the roads themselves, you are familiar, of course with the reports that are filed by the roads with the Interstate Commerce Com- mission. As a matter of fact, do those re- ports show the number of instances in which the compensation is as the Chair- man has asked you, below fifty dollars a month? Mr. Perham: I have never seen a re- port from a railroad to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Interstate Commerce Commission keeps its business very much under cover, although they do furnish that report, and I have seen the blank forms. I have never seen a report Digitized by v^oooLe
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308 The Railroad Telegrapher. filled out by a railroad. However, your Question suggests to me an easier way of getting this figure than having me do it. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Rail- road is required to furnish that report to the Interstate Commerce Commission, and there is the case. There are the fig- ures that you want, at hand here within the next block, when you come to figure on it Of course this is a new proposition you put to me, and I am not prepared to answer your question right off until I think of it. Judge Covington: Then the Interstate Commerce Commission does have those figures available? Mr. Perham: The Interstate Commerce Commission can do it more efficiently than I could, from their report. The rail- roads are required to file a report, and they do file it with the Commission. Now, I might give as reason number two for this request from the employes, that the increased cost of living makes it necessary, although this subject of the increased cost of living has been talked of and written about so much, it may be useful to put on record definitely, when this information can be found. So with your permission, I will quote from “Prices and the Cost of Living.” This is from the Monthly Review for November,- 1917, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor. I read from page No. 2: In the year from September 15, 1916, to September 15, 1917, price of food as a whole advanced 29 per cent No article declined in price. Cornmeal advanced 141 per cent; beans 55 per cent and flour 51 per cent. Onions showed no change in price. A comparison of prices as between September, 1914, and September, 1917, showed that the increase for all articles combined was 43 per cent. During this period cornmeal advanced 148 per cent; flour 98 per cent; potatoes 63 per cent, and bread 65 per cent. A table showing the average and rela- tive retail prices in September of each year, from 1913 to 1917, follows: Average money retail prices and rela- tive retail prices of food on September 16, each year, 1913 to 1917, inclusive. The relative price shows the per cent what the average price at the fifteenth of each month was and the average price for the year 1916. This is a complicated scale to read. The Chairman: Yes; you can put the whole pamphlet in, Mr. Perham, as an ex- hibit. Mr. Perham: I will be glad to do that. Now, in the same publication, for Decem- ber, 1917, I will read a few brief excerpts from it, to indicate its general tenor. The price of food as a whole for Octo- ber, 1917, showed an increase of three per cent over the price for September, 1917. Of the twenty-seven articles — The Chairman: That is three per cent in one month? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. Of the twenty- seven articles for whicji prices are given, seventeen increased in price, five de- creased, and five articles remained the same. Lard shows the greatest increase with 25 per cent. Bacon is 9 per cent higher. Milk increased 8 per cent and eggs showed an Increase of 5 per cent. Cornmeal showed a decline of 15 per cent; flour 4 per cent and sugar 2 per cent Commissioner McChord: Where did you get that? Mr. Perham: This is from the Monthly Review, December, 1917, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor. The comparison between October, 1916, and October, 1917, shows that food as a whole increased 30 per cent. No article shows a decline. Cornmeal shows the greatest increase, being twice as high in 1917 as it was in 1916. Taking October, 1917, as compared with October, 1913, food as a whole advanced 52 per cent. Lard shows the greatest in- crease, 133 per cent Cornmeal with an increase of 124 per cent and flour with an increase of 115 per cent are next in order. With your permission, I will file that as an exhibit. (The pamphlet was received and marked Telegraphers* Exhibit No. 2.) Mr. Perham: Now, the same publica- tion for January, 1918. The retail price of food, as a whole, shows a decrease of one per cent in November, 1917, as com- Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 309 pared with the month previous. Of the twenty-seven articles for which prices are reported to the Bureau of Labor Statis- tics, twelve decreased in price, four re- mained the same, and eleven articles show an increase, as compared with Octo- ber. Pork chops decreased eleven per cent. Sirloin and round steak, four per cent each; flour three per cent, and sugar two per cent. Onions increased in price 18 per cent; lard and butter 4 per cent; eggs 5 per cent; potatoes 3 per cent; rice 2 per cent, and meal 1 per cent. Beans, bread, ham and bacon, remained the same price as in October. In the year from November 15, 1916, to November 15, 1917, price of food as a whole advanced 23 per cent. Potatoes is the only article that showed a decline in price. Cornmeal advanced 87 per cent; bacon 62 per cent; pork chops 48 per cent; beans 39 per cent; salmon 38 per cent; milk 33 per cent; lard 27 per cent. Food as a whole was 48 per cent higher on November 15, 1917, than on November 15, 1913, and 46 per cent higher than on November 15, 1914. During this four year period, cornmeal advanced 127 per cent; flour 109 per cent; lard 104 per cent; bacon 77 per cent; sugar 75 per cent and potatoes 72 per cent. No article declined in price. Taking November in each of the four years, November, 1915, shows a decline in price of food as a whole, compared with the same month in a preceding year. For November, 1915, the price of food as a whole was the same as November, 1913, and was one per cent lower than in No- vember, 1914. I will file that as an exhibit. (The pamphlet was received and marked Telegraphers’ Exhibit No. 3.) Mr. Perham: I am afraid that these kind of statistics are rather dry reading; still at the same time they are of great interest to the people who have to pay the price. I have here retail prices 1907 to Decem- ber, 1916, published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, whole number 228. On page 7, occurs table one, yearly relative retail price of food, 1907 to 1916. Average price for 1916, 100. This tabulation shows the relative prices from the year 1907 to 1916 on 22 food commodities. Rather than read the twenty-two food commodities, I selected a few of those things that all have to buy, and I will quote: Sirloin steak, 1907, 66; that was the relative price to 100 in 1916. That is, taking 100 as an index. The Chairman: The price in 1907 was two-thirds of the price now. Mr. Perham: And so in 1908, it was 68; 1909, 71; 1910, 75; 1911, 75; 1912, 85; 1913, 93; 1914, 95; 1915] 94; 1916, 100. I believe that that table shows clearly the gradual increase in pricesv The Chairman: You do not need to prove that to us. Mr. Perham: That is the reason that I selected those articles that these men have to buy. Bacon, 1907, 70; 1908, 72; 1909, 78; 1910, 89; 1911, 86; 1912, 85; 1913, 94; 1914, 96; 1915, 94; 1916, 100. The Chairman: Mr. Perham, what is the object of your putting that in? We are going to have a very full investiga- tion made as to the cost of living in the different sections of the country. We as- sume to begin with, and from our own ex- perience, that the cost of living has gone up. We are going to find out to what extent that is so, in the various sections of the country. If you want to bring par- ticular figures to our attention, for the purpose of making an argument upon them, that is very well, but otherwise, if you will just give us reference to the page, so that our statisticians may have the value of your research of that mat- ter, I think that will be sufficient. Mr. Perham: I would be very well sat- isfied with that. I just wanted to call your attention to the fact that all of that labor had been done as to the relative prices, and which I took to be the clear- est exemplifications of the rapid increase in prices that ever had been made, and of course it means much labor was done to accomplish that result contained in this report. I take please in filing that. (The pamphlet was received and marked Telegraphers’ Exhibit No. 4.) Digitized by v^oooLe
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310 The Railroad Telegrapher. Mr. Perham : I have another item here, which relates to wholesale prices. We don't usually have anything to do with wholesale prices in our work, but this -shows such a remarkable state of affairs that I went to the Bureau of Labor to get it, and they gave it to me for this pur- pose. It is "Index numbers of wholesale prices, 1913, 100.” That is for the index year. The top line reads: "Year and Month.” The next line is "Farm Prod- ucts, Food, etc., cloth and clothing, fuel and lighting, metals and metal products, lumber and building materials, drugs and chemicals, house furnishing goods, miscel- laneous, all commodities.” For the year 1917, farm products show the relative of 188, 88 per cent of increase; food 177; cloth and clothing, 181; fuel and lighting, 159; metals and metal products, 208; lumber and building material, 124; drugs and chemicals, 185; house furnish- ing goods, 155; miscellaneous, 153; all commodities, 155. The Chairman: That contrast is be- tween what years? Mr. Perham: 1913 — the years, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916 and 1917, and the in- creases are shown for the variation in each month, each year. Commissioner McChord: That is whole- sale. Mr. Perham: Wholesale. I thought that was a remarkable illustration of the fact, and it struck me as being so valuable that I thought I had better bring that here. The Chairman: Where did you get this? Mr. Perham: From the Department of Labor. The Chairman: Have they got it in printed form? Mr. Perham: Not yet. Mr. Ryan: Mr. Chairman, I have had phbtostat copies made. Commissioner McChord: Is there any- thing to show the price paid by the whole- salers for these articles? Mr. Perham: Not in this form. This is inde? number and a relative price, but they have those figures there; they have them directly from the wholesaler. The study of wholesale figures leads to some extraordinary situations. We find there are places where the wholesale fig- ures are lower than the retail price, or higher than the retail price, as the case may be. It seems to vary for various conditions. There may be several car- loads of stuff sent to Chicago, for instance, when the market is clogged; then the wholesale price goes down less than the retail — the retail price is less than the wholesale under such conditions, so that we have actually discarded any considera- tion of wholesale prices in the matter of the wage scales and talking of this con- dition, because of the discrepancies we have found, but in this work done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, why, the in- dex number shows it so clearly about the steady, rapid and enormous increase in the cost of clothing and all kinds of things that people buy — The Chairman: Now, the great rise has been in the last year, has it not? Ac- cording to these figures the great rise has been in the last year. I will read you this list of all commodities. Taking 100, that would be 1913 ; 1914, 99 ; one per cent un- der; 1915, 100; 1916, 123, and then in 1917, 175; so that the jump has been entirely within the last two years, and chiefly in the last one year. Commodities were less in 1914 than they were in 1913. That is very interesting. Will you put that in? Mr. Perham: I will file that as an ex- hibit. (The table was received and marked Telegraphers' Exhibit No. 5.) Mr. Perham: With that exhibit, we will end with the question of wages in the matter of cash. There are many other things co-related to the matter of wages. The hours of serv- ice, for instance, and 1 assume that it would be proper to bring before this body the questions that have been agitating the minds of telegraphers and are still agitat- ing their minds. They are insistent upon an eight-hour day. We have a federal en- actment, known as the hours of service law, which provides that at continuously operated offices, nine hours shall consti- tute a day's work. At the offices only op&n during the day where usually one Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 311 man is employed, thirteen hours consti- tutes a day’s work. Then there are other minor provisions that do not affect the issues materially. The law is being enforced by the Inter- state Commerce Commission, and a great many violations are taking place — that is in regard to working the nine-hour man much in excess of that period. I do not know whether or not the suits are going to continue, since the United States has taken possession and assumed con- trol of the railroads. Commissioner McChord: Yes; they will continue. Mr. Perham: The idea is that the hours of service have been changed by contract and mutual agreement, since the federal enactment of 1907, and we have the eight- hour day in thousands of places now, where we never had it before. I assume that we have more men working eight hours than any other class on the rail- road, but the men at the thirteen hour stations, being the most numerous in the Middle West, are the men that are most vociferous about the conditions in regard to the hours of service. We would like to see an eight-hour day established for ev- ery man on the job, station agents, tele- graph operators, telephone operators, and all of the dispatchers and everyone else connected with the movement of trains. I think that eight hours is long enough a day for any man, and that ought to be put Into effect. Mr. Willcox; Would you limit him to eight hours’ work, or that his pay should be based on eight hours* work? Mr. Perham; We are peculiar in the matter, that we don’t want any extra pay, as low as the rate may be. We don’t want the overtime rate, we don't want overtime work. That is where we differ from others who might want their pay based upon an eight-hour day. We think eight hour* is all we want. Commissioner McChord; You think longer than that would be unsafe? Mr. Perham; It has proven so in the past. That is, that the hours of service law was a conserver of high degree. At one time, the reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission used to show that telegraphers, signal men and others con- nected with the moveinent of trains, 55 per cent of class A accidents were attrib- uted to the telegraphers. After the hours of service law had been in operation for four years, less than 5 per cent of class A accidents were attributed to that class, which is a very clear illustration of what was the matter in the olden days, when they worked the men all sorts of hours on certain roads in the Middle West. The majority of the men were at one-man sta- tions. Page 12 of the report of the eight- hour commissidn shows why we did not come under the Adamson Act. It reads; “The railroads have taken the view that the act does not apply to employes other than those who are represented by the Brotherhoods in the negotiations which led to the passage of the law, and in fact only the latter class are recognized by the roads, as entitled to its benefits. In ex- plaining the unwillingness of the rail- roads to compile statistics for telegraph- ers in the skme manner as for other em- ployments, as this Commission had re- quested, Mr. Elisha Lee, chairman of the National Conference Committee of the Railways said in a letter dated April 12, 1917, that in their view the law that was passed was Intended to break the dead- lock which had followed the refusal of the demands of the Brotherhoods, and that there was not in the minds of Con- gress In that act, including other classes of employes with whom there were ex- isting arrangements as to pay and hours of service, and who are nor parties to the controversy.” That would Indicate why we were not included in the provisions of the Adamson Act. Mr. Willcox; Did the Adamson Act limit the work to eight hours a day? Mr. Perham; It did not limit. Mr. Willcox; But you would like to have it limited to eight hours? Mr. Perham; As far as my class is con- cerned—I don’t speak for the trainmen or enginemen. They are engaged in a differ- ent line of business from mine, and for the office men we ask that a prohibitive eight-hour day be enacted. The only rea- son why we would ask for punitive pay Digitized by v^oooLe
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312 The Railroad Telegrapher. for overtime, would be to prevent over- time being worked, and that is our posi- tion. Commissioner McChord: You are speaking now of the telegraphers. Mr. Perham: Telegraphers only. I might further state that observing that this was the attitude of the railroads in regard to the telegraphers, and the Adam- son Act, I filed information with the De- partment of Justice in relation to viola- tions of the Adamson Act, as concerned the telegraphers. The Department ar- rived at the conclusion that the Adamson law was not sufficiently explicit to permit the telegraphers to come under its terms, and for that reason, suits were not insti- tuted, but I assume that as long as we live, we will be contending for an eight- hour day, fpr all classes, and that is our present position. Another subject is that of discrimina- tion. Although we have established con- tractual relations with most of the rail- roads in the United States, there are still some railroads that object to our organ- ization, and it may be of interest to you to specify in regard to the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas Railway, for instance. I wrote a circular on April 14, 1917, to the men on the line, and it is self-explanatory. (The circular was received and marked Telegraphers* Exhibit No. 6 and is as fol- lows : ) “Dear Sirs and Brothers: “As you are already aware your com- mittee endeavors to revise your schedules and wage scales during the fall of 1916. While the company officials were in con- ference with your committee and before the negotiations were completed, the offi- cials secretly prepared a revised set of schedules and wage scales and sent them out to the employes and thereafter de- clined to do any further business with your committee. “The negotiations were thereupon turned over to the organization in the manner provided for in our laws and Vice-President Dermody was assigned to the case. He did everything possible to improve the situation, and after receiving assurances from Mr. W. A. Webb, Chief Operating Officer at Dallas, Texas, it waa concluded by your representatives that it would be wise to accept the situation and the incident closed on October 9, 1916. “Without any cause that is known to us the officials changed their mind, as the fol- lowing circular sent out by them indi- cates." MISSOURI, KANSAS AND TEXAS RAILWAY, C. E. Schaff, Receiver. Parsons, Kansas, March 6, 1917. To All Employes in Station and Telegraph Service: The following verbatim copy of corre- spondence is sent to you for your informa- tion: “Waldorf Hotel, Dallas, Texas, March 6, 1917. Mr. W. A. Webb, Chief Operating Officer, City. Dear Sir: Several members of the General Com- mittee for Telegraphers on the M. K. & T. in the city and if agreeable and con- sistent would like very much to see you for a few moments today your most con- venient time and talk over some matters of interest, we all interested and con- cerned. Hoping you can spare us a few of your minutes of time, I am, Yours very truly, (Sgd.) M. M. MOSELEY, General Chairman, For Telegraphers/* “Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, THE MISSOURI, KANSAS & TEXAS RAILWAY OF TEXAS. Dallas, Texas, March 6, 1917. Mr. M. M. Moseley, Care Waldorf Hotel, Dallas, Texas. My Dear Sir: Replying to your letter of March Sth: As I have repeatedly advised you, I shall be glad to see you at any time, on any matter of personal interest which you may desire to discuss, but on account of your activity in the Order of Railway Telegraphers, contrary to your under- standing with me, you are not acceptable Digitized by v^.oo<ue
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 313 to us as a representative of the men in our station service, and we will not dis- cuss with you, nor with any other em- ploye, member of the Order of Railway Telegraphers, any matter concerning any employe, or body of employes in our serv- ice. If employes in the station and telegraph service have any matters they wish to discuss personally with the officers of these railroads, they will be given imme- diate audience, or if they desire to send representatives, they will be received, provided they are not members of the Order of Railway Telegraphers. Yours truly, (Signed) W. A. WEBB, Chief Operating Officers. H. F. HENDERSON, General Manager. Very soon thereafter a large number of men were discharged on account of their membership in the Order of Railroad Telegraphers and there was no attempt to conceal the reason for their dismissal. The men as a matter of course appealed to their organization for protection against such an unprovoked assault upon their rights as citizens. Because of the war situation and the unpopularity of railroad strikes on ac- count of it, and also the legislation pend- ing in Washington inimical to all rail- road employes, it was thought best to ap- peal to the United State Board of Media- tion and Conciliation, with the object of bringing about an amicable settlement, if possible, or at least showing the public that the employes did their very best to avoid anything that might be detrimen- tal to the public interests. Mr. Commissioner Hanger of the United States Board of Mediation and Concilia- tion appeared in St. Louis on Wednesday, April 11th, and after ascertaining the facts from your President, immediately placed himself in communication with the Receiver, Mr. Schaff. It is exceedingly difficult to foretell what may be the outcome of these con- ferences. If no arrangement can be made for the officials to discontinue their un- just and discriminatory tactics against the members of our organization, it will be the wish of a great many men that the Order of Railroad Telegraphers re- taliate. This is made evident by the telegrams and letters we are now receiv- ing. That the officials discriminated against employes because they were members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers is amply proven by the documentary evi- dence now in our possession. That the officials have used the men unjustly is evident from a perusal of the pamphlet setting forth the Working Rules and Rates of Pay which was is- sued by them under date of October 1st, 1916, and by them sent to the employes. Article 2, Clause E, reads: "In the event of reduction in force, the last em- ploye to enter the service will be first to be laid off." This' agreement was violated. Article 2, Clause F, reads: “When a regular position is abolished, employe will have the right to the position oc- cupied by the youngest regular assigned man, or can go on the extra list, and will retain his seniority rights." This agreement was ignored. Article 4 provides that employes will not be discharged without just cause. This was violated. . Over one hundred men have been dis- charged within the last twenty days with- out just cause. This was done without any regard to their age in the service. Some had been in the employ for many years, while others only a few months. Wherever a man admitted that he was a member of our organization he was promptly discharged. In many instances new employes were put in their places. With this brief and incomplete state- ment of facts before you, it is now up to the employes to decide what they wish to have done. The men who have been discharged, the men who have been laid off, and tbe old employes now at work will make the decision. If the United States Board of Mediae tion and Conciliation can straighten out the matter to our satisfaction, the inci- dent will be closed. If not, and a ma- Digitized by v^oooLe
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314 The Railroad Telegrapher. Jorlty of the membership vote for It, a strike will be authorized. You are requested to cast your ballot on the questions submitted below and mail it immediately to H. B. Per ham, 813 Star Building, St. Louis, Mo. Yours fraternally, H. B. PERHAM • President.” So it goes on, throughout these circu- lars, but the result is this: that in April, 1917, 243 were discharged by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway in the month of April, and they were given letters, say- ing that they were discharged because they were members of an organization that was inimical to the interests of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and the Government afterwards tried to straighten out the matter and bring about a settlement, and they were unable to do so, and to protect all men, we called them out on strike on April 19, 1917, and since that time we have sent these men to other roads and got them positions every- where, and the road is at the present time practically paralyzed for want of men. There is no settlement in sight that we know of and we have no committee there. We have no quarrel with the com- panies. There was absolutely nothing to create dissension between the organiza- iton and that railroad company, and like a flash out of the sky, they commenced discharging our men when there was nothing doing; so the company brought on their trouble. The people throughout the various States have been complaining and send- ing me copies of their complaints to the various railroad commissions, as to the railroad service — the poor service and the matter of delivery of freight, trains late and all of that sort of thing, and it is a most extraordinary situation, and the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad seems to be doing their freight business on the north and the St. Louis & Browns- ville Railroad doing their business on the south, and the people along the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Line, taking what they can get out of the kind of service they can render, with little boys and girls run- ning their telegraph oflices. However, they might have a reason. I have heard various stories about why that trouble came on, but I don’t wish to repeat them here because they are of the switch shanty kind, as we call it “piffle stuff,” and there might be nothing in it; but however the trouble arose, the idea of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas hav- ing its responsible telegraph offices manned by children, ten or twelve years of age, is a very ridiculous thing — a very ridiculous thing that the people could be in such straits along the line; that they may file their complaints with the Railroad Commissions and the Govern- ors of the States, and that there is no way in which they can be helped. . It all depends on the whim of the receiver for the road, apparently, as far as we know, as to whether that road shall be prop- erly run or not, but the condition is now here, and that railroad 1st not oper- ating as it should be, and we thought it as well to bring your attention to it and explain to you, in the first place, what brought it about, and with your permis- sion I will file those as exhibits in the case. (The circulars were received and marked Telegraphers’ Exhibits Nos. 7 and 8.) Mr. Perham: The situation on the Pennsylvania Railroad, once before men- tioned, is not a good one. Recognition is denied to the organization there and strikes are quite frequent on that rail- road. I think the telegraphers had three strikes in the last year, and they were very disastrous in their effect upon the railroad — that is, in blocking their traf- fic and all that sort of thing. If the Pennsylvania Railroad recognized this organization, nothing of that kind would occur. That is, they get tied up from one end to the other and stop work, or else they would not have had any strike at all like they had on the Trenton Divi- sion last August, or the Allegheny Divi- sion in September. It is on account of unorganized men and wretched condi- tions that have brought it about The story of the Pennsylvania Railroad id Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 315 told in the report of the Commission on Industrial Relation^. I had the temerity to bring nine charges against that com- pany for unlawful acts, before that Com- mission, and the matters are very thor- oughly gone into. Judge Covington: That is what is com- monly denominated “the Walsh Commis- sion?” Mr. Perham: Yes, it is in volume No. 11, the final report and testimony sub- mitted to Congress by the Commission on Industrial Relations, created by the Act of August 23rd, 1912. In that is the story of that company’s opposition to labor organizations — that is regular labor organizations. They are in the labor or- ganization business themselves, because they form labor organizations every lit- tle while, some times as many as once a month. Of course, they are not the regular kind and they do not flourish. There is something the matter with them. I have been told today they have started another organization in opposition to the one I represent. They really have a rival organization there which of course Is only in name. It has a high sounding title. The company does business with it, but it has no members; but of course it is ft subterfuge about doing business with their own little organizations and leaving the big one out of it, and treating it in a contemptuous manner, which of course in the end will lead to a trial of strength on the Pennsylvania Railroad, I don't know when, but that is the inevitable re- sult. It couldn't be different. They could not drive the employes who are members of the organization I represent out of the organization, and if they were to dis- charge them they would tie up the road. They cannot make an organization that is more attractive than the one I repre- sent; consequently, there is nothing but trouble ahead for the Pennsylvania Rail- rbad while they continue that policy. Now, I assume that this publication can be obtained here in Washington. If not Judge Covington: It is available. No trouble about the Commission being able to get that Mr. Perham: Now, there are bad con- ditions on the Louisville & Nashville Rail- road, as- everyone knows. The non-union conditions prevail there and I might as well be frank about it and say why. In 1894, the employes signed a schedule with the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, with its present president, Mr. Smith, but a few weeks afterwards the American Rail- way Union strike came on, and our men went out in sympathy with the rest of them, and from that date to this they have never been able to do business with Mr. Smith. He claims that the men vio- * lated the contract, and I do not think they, deny it. It was simply one of those lit- tle errors that was made, years ago, that proved so disastrous to us, but at the same time if it was a disaster locally, it was a great thing in a general way. We learned our business by it and such things led us to carry out the contracts that, were made, even if the skin did come off in the process. NOw, those matters of discrimination, I really do not know whether it is the thing for this Commission to act upon but I wanted to bring it before you, so that if you desire to look over the whole situation, so as to bring about more har- monious relations between the railroads and the employes, why, we will tell you the facts and be very glad to have the Commission act upon it, if it is proper for the Commission to do so. The Chairman: That is to a question of organization. Mr. Perham: No; the question of straightening out these troubles between the railroads and their men. The Chairman: We are not taking up any individual questions nor group of dif- ferences. We are limiting ourselves en- tirely to general schedules of wages. Mr. Perham: If I were to show you that business has arrived at a deadlock now that this Commission is sitting, do you think that would be proper for me to produce it to you? The Chairman: Owing to the fact that the Commission is sitting? Mr. Perham: Yes; that the Commis- sion is created and is about to do busi- ness, has had the effect of stopping the work of my organization in various places. (Continued in April issue.) Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 316 BALTIMORE AND OHIO ARBITRA- TION CASE. (Continued from February Issue.) Rule 1 provides: “Rates of pay. The railroad company grants an amount equal to Ten dollars ($10.00) per man per month, to be ap- plied as an increase of the present pay of employes covered by the schedule. This sum to be distributed by the joint action of the representatives of the rail- road company and the committee repre- senting its telegraphers. This amount , shall be so distributed as to make a fair and equitable adjustment of salaries. In the event of a disagreement between the parties in the wage distribution, the mediator in this case shall be called upon to act as umpire in the matter.'* Mr. Perham: We offer the original mediation agreement and five copies thereof, for inspection and use of the Board. Have you a copy of the Michigan Cen- tral schedule, effective August 1st, 1916? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 13, Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6. Mr. Yaeger: Article 13 of the Mich- igan Central agreement. Section 3: “Day telegraphers who perform tele- graph or telephone service are expected to report at an appointed hour on Sun- day, but if held by train dispatcher for work, they will be allowed overtime. Day telegraphers who perform telegraph or telephone service are expected, however, to know that their relief reports for duty on Sunday night. “Section 4. When day telegraphers who perform telegraph or telephone serv- ice are required to work on Sundays over- time as per Section 1 of this article will be allowed if called more than twice they will receive one day’s pay as per Sec. 1. “Section 5. Night telegraphers who perform telegraph or telephone service will be paid one day extra at the sched- uled daily rate for each Sunday they are required to work. “Section 6. At three trick telegraph offices the second and third trick men will be considered as night telegraphers." Mr. Perham: We offer a copy of the schedule on the Michigan Central Rail- road, and six copies of Article 13, Sec- tions 3, 4, 5 and 6, for the use of the Board. Have you a copy of the Pere* Marquette schedule, effective May 1st, 1916? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read the second paragraph of Article 10. Mr. Yaeger: The second paragraph of article 10 reads: * “In computing overtime, less than thirty minutes will not be counted, 30 minutes and less than sixty minutes will be counted as one hour. All telegra- phers, when required, will report for duty on Sundays at a stated time and if held for service will be paid at the regular overtime rate with a minimum of one hour." Mr. Perham: We offer a copy of the Pere Marquette schedule and six copies of Article 10 for the use of the Board. Have you a copy of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul schedule, effective September 1st, 1917, and November f 1st, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: Yes, sir. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 8. Mr. Yaeger: Article 8, Section 1: “Employes as per Article 1, will be ex- cused from work as far- as possible, on Sunday, New Year's, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. “Section 2. Employes as per Article 1, required to perform any service on Sun- day, will be allowed extra pay pro rata, with a minimum of one hour for each time they report, for all Sunday work within the assigned Sunday hours; as- signed Sunday hours to be within the spread of the week day assignment. For all service on Sunday outside of the as- signed Sunday hours they will be allowed overtime as per overtime rules." Mr. Perham: Is that all of Article* 8 which you have read? Mr. Yaeger: That is all of Article 8: - Mr. Perham: Do you know what* in- crease in wages was granted the employes, at the same time that that Sunday rule was conceded? Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 317 Mr. Yaeger: I understand $10.04 per capita. Mr. Perham: That is per man per month? Mr. Yaeger: Per man per month. Mr. Perham: Were these advances se- cured by mediation or arbitration? Mr. Yaeger: They were secured by negotiation, as between the committee and the company’s representatives. * Mr. Perham: That is in conference be- tween a committee representing the em- ployes and the officers representing the company? Mr. Yaeger: That is correct Mr. Perham: Have you a copy of the Grand Trunk Railway schedule, effective April 1st, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Before we get to that have you copies of that schedule on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St Paul? Mr. Yaeger: Copies of the rule that I read? Mr. Perham: Yes. Mr. Yaeger: I have given them to the Board. Mr. Perham: Now, for the Grand Trunk schedule, please read Article 17. Mr. Yaeger: Of the Grand Trunk schedule, dated April 1st, 1917, Article 17, reads: “Telegraphers required to work on Sun- day will be paid extra pro rata on sched- uled salary for such service based on twenty-six days per month with a mini- mum compensation of thirty-five cents for each call which shall cover the first hour's service. “If kept on duty more than one hour they shall thereafter be paid pro rata on scheduled salary. All fractions of an hour to be computed as per clause (b) of Article 16. “Telegraphers required for Sunday duty other than attendance on passenger trains will, if possible, be so advised on the previous day." Mr. Perham: We offer a copy of the schedule and six copies of Article 17, for the use of the Board. Have you a copy of Grand Trunk Pa- cific schedule, effective January 1st, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 15. Mr. Yaeger: Article 15 of the Grand Trunk Pacific reads: “Telegraphers, except -dispatchers, re- quired to work on Sunday, will be paid extra pro rates on schedule salary for such service, based on twenty-six days per month (less than thirty minutes not to count; thirty minutes or over to count one hour) with a minimum compensa- tion of 30 cents for each call, for each one hour's service shall, if required, be rendered. “Telegraphers shall be required to handle commercial messages on Sunday only during hours required for railway service, except on agreement. “Telegraphers required for Sunday duty, other than attendance on regular passenger trains will be notified the previous day, when possible, and will be allowed fifty cents a call on Sunday when required to meet a regular passenger train due within their assigned hours for week- day service. “Regular trick dispatchers will be al- lowed two days off duty each month (pref- erable Sundays) or will receive in lieu thereof extra compensation pro rata based on 28 days per month." Mr. Perham: We offer a copy of the Grand Trunk Pacific and six copies of article 15 for the use of the Board. Have you a copy of the Canadian Pa- cific Railway schedule, effective August 1st, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 15. Mr. Yaeger (Reading) : “Section a. Telegraphers (except train dispatchers) required to work on Sunday or outside of regular assigned hours on week days will be paid overtime for such service at time and one-half based on schedule rate twenty-six days per month, any portion of an hour less than thirty minutes not to count, any portion of an hour thirty minutes or over to count as one hour. “Section b. If a telegrapher is called before or after office hours, which call Digitized by v^oooLe
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318 The Railroad Telegrapher. shall cover the first hour’s service, he will be paid one hour’p overtime at the rate provided in Clause “A” hereof, with a minimum compensation of sixty cents. If kept on duty more than one hour he will thereafter he paid overtime as per Clause “A.” Telegraphers required to re- main on duty after regular hours, if de- tained fifteen minutes, will be allowed one hour’s overtime for the first hour or any portion thereof. “c. If a train dispatcher Is required to work outside of his regular assigned hours or more than six days in a week, he will be paid overtime rate as per Clause “A.” “d. Telegraphers will be required to handle commercial messages on Sunday only during hours required for railway service, except on agreement. Teleg- raphers required by the Company for Sunday duty other than attendance on regular passenger trains will be so ad- vised on the preceding day. “e. Overtime will not be allowed un- less overtime tickets are mailed to the proper official within forty-eight hours from the time the service is performed. If overtime as claimed is not allowed telegraphers will be notified in writing within ten days from the time such serv- ice is performed, setting forth the reasons for disallowance. Telegraphers will num- ber overtime tickets consecutively for each month. “f. In circumstances where teleg- raphers are obliged to remain close at hand all day Sunday on account of calls being spread over the whole day, they will be paid for the whole day, and where, under the same circumstances, they are obliged to remain close at hand for a half day on Sunday they will be paid for a half day. That is to say, if a teleg- rapher is required to come on duty two or three times in the forenoon and is free in the afternoon, he is to be paid one-half day; while if he is required three or more times during the entire day he will be paid one day.” Mr. Perham: We offer a copy of the Canadian Pacific Railway schedule and six copies of Article 15, for inspection and use of the Board. Have you a copy of the Canadian* Northern schedule? Mr. Yaeger: Yes, sir. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 15. • Mr. Yaeger (Reading): “Article 15. Telegraphers (except train despatchers) required to work on Sunday will be paid extra pro rata on schedule salaries for such service based on twenty-six days per month (any portion of an hour less than thirty minutes not to count; any portion of an hour thirty minutes or over to count as one hour), with a minimum compensation of thirty cents for each call which shall cover the first hour’s service. If kept on duty more than one hour, they will thereafter be paid pro rata on sched- ule salaries. “If called three times on any Sunday they will be paid a half day’s pay; if called more than three times, they will be paid a full day’s pay. “Dispatchers required to work more than six days in each week will be paid overtime pro rata for same based on twenty-six days a month. “Telegraphers will be required to han- dle commercial messages on Sunday only during hours required for railway serv- ice, except on agreement “Telegraphers required for Sunday duty other than the attendance on regular pas- senger trains, will be so advised on the previous day.” Mr. Perham: We offer copy of the schedule and six copies of Article' 15, for inspectiop and use. (To be continued.) THE PRIZE CONTEST. In an endeavor to reach our sixty thou- sand goal, and in order that the efforts of members in securing new applications may be rewarded, a prize contest has been inaugurated which will be in pro- gress from January 1 to December 31, 1918, and members participating therein will be required to adhere to the following rules and regulations; otherwise credit will not be granted: Digitized by LaOOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 319 It will be necessary for each member claiming to have secured the petition personally, and not through anyone else. The purpose of the prize contest is to in- spire individual effort; therefore, trans- fer of credit for securing new members from one contestant to another will not be permitted. To the member securing five or more new members during the year 1918, and who fails to secure any of the other prizes offered herein, will be given one of the official emblem rings. To the member securing ten or more new members during the period named herein will be given free dues in the Or- der for one year, their dues being paid by the Grand Division. To tie member securing fifteen or more new members during the year will be given a specially made emblem watch charm or $15.00 in cash. To the member securing twenty or more new members during the period named will be given a fine solid gold watch chain, or $20.00 in cash. To the member securing twenty-five or more new members during the period named will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $50.00, or $50.00 in cash. ^ — To the member securing forty or more new members during the year 1918 will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $75.00, or $75.00 in cash. To the member securing fifty or more new members during the period named will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $100.00, or $100.00 in cash. The individual member securing the greatest number of new members during the year 1918 will be given $150.00 in cash. The division reporting the greatest number of new members during the year 1918 will be awarded $150.00 in cash. In the foregoing contest, secretaries and officers of divisions, and all other members receiving salaries or expenses, or both, for their services, are barred from participation. In securing new members, it will be necessary to immediately forward the Grand Secretary and Treasurer a notice to the effect that a new application has been secured, and unless that is done, credit will not be allowed; neither will credit be granted where a member per- mits his list of new applications to ac- cumulate and does not notify this office until some months afterward or until the close of the contest. This office must be notified at the time the new member is secured, and the form of notification should read something like the following: 1918. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo.: I have today secured the petition for membership of and collected $ and have forwarded the petition and money to Bro Secretary and Treasurer Div. No. ....... Please credit me with this petition on prize contest. (Signature) Cert. No Div. No Digitized by v^oooLe
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Remember our 1918 slogan: “Sixty thousand members, an eight-hour day, overtime for all work performed on Sun- days and holidays.” Have you paid your current term dues and assessments? If not, do so at once. Do not procrastinate. The union label facilitates organization by increasing the demands for the pro- ducts of organized workers. You can materially assist the govern- ment and yourself by using the hoe and spade for garden crops — it's fine exer- cise. The “drive” to enlist all train dispatch- ers in the organization and include them in our wage schedule is meeting with tremendous success. Keep after them. Do not overlook the Pension Fund of the organization. Every member is urged to familiarize himself with this subject. The O. R. T. crusade drive is in full swing. During the month of February one thousand four hundred new members were initiated into the Order. The engineers* trade union of London rejected the government's “man power” proposal. The vote was 121,017 to 27,- 270. Among our talented members might be mentioned Bro. J. Hartman Oswald, who has recently composed a song, “The Girl of My Heart/* which is gaining popularity from coast to coast. ermen, levermen, linemen and other em- ployes eligible to membership in this organization. The union label is an appeal to prin- ciple— principle that is above price; the principle that a dollar expended in the maintenance of fair labor is worth more in the end than a dollar saved at the bar- gain counter. The union label is the “In Hoc Signo Vinces” of the crusade to rescue the child from the workshop, factory and mill; the woman from the sweatshop and tenement house, and the millions of labor from the clutches of greed, degradation, and poverty. Premier Lloyd George recently pro- posed that exemption from military service, which had been granted certain trades, be raised to increase the man power of the army, and asked the unions to agree to this. Several thousand of our members of the United States and Canada are with the fighting forces scattered over the en- tire world. Letters from our heroes are being received from all parts of the globe, namely, the Philippines, Alaska, Japan, Palestine, Russia and the western front. Regardless of more members having been initiated during the month of Feb- ruary than ever before in a similar pe- riod, the Grand Secretary and Treasurer is not quite satisfied until we reach 1800 initiations for one month. If all our crusaders come to the front trench, we can do this for the month of March. We hope to have an early decision from the Railroad Wage Commission on our request for forty per cent increase in wages for all train dispatchers, teleg- raphers, telephoners, station agents, tow- Tax collections under the war revenue bill are mounting rapidly, according to figures secured from the Bureau of In- ternal Revenue. During December, cor- poration income taxes paid amounted to Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 321 $6,632,371, while collections of individual income taxes were $1,302,459. Excess profits taxes, for the month totaled $5,- 303,102. A man with a cork leg has been passed and placed In Class A by the exemption board of Elmhurst, a Long Island suburb of the metropolis. He is a chauffeur by calling and a Pole by descent. That he has no dependents was partly responsible for his classification, also that his health was capital. He is likely to be entered for- non-combatant work. In case he sees naval service and is torpedoed he could prove his own life preserver. A decision handed down by United States District Judge Chatfield in Brook lyn, declared that the drafting of citi- zens of foreign countries who have taken out first papers, excepting those of enemy nations, is not a violation of international law. The decision was rendered in the case of Abraham Pfefer, on whose behalf counsel had sued out writ of habeas cor- pus seeking his release from the national camp. Pfefer is stationed at Camp Up- ton. Judge Chatfield dismissed the writ. Signing of the anpy draft treaty be- tween Great Britain and the United States was announced a few days ago. Under the treaty the United States may draft into the military service Bri- tish subjects in this country, between the ages of 20 and 45, while Great Britain may draft American citizens living with- in its jurisdiction between the ages of 21 and 31. A separate convention with Canada along the same line also was signed. Since the beginning of the year, the following new and revised schedules have been secured: Chicago and Alton. Davenport, Rock Island and North- western. Sydney and Louisburg. Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha. Kentucky and Indiana Terminal. Grand Trunk Pacific. St. Louis and San Francisco. The Post Office Department has called for bids for the construction of five air- planes for the delivery of first-class mall between Washington, Philadelphia and New York. The planes must carry 300 pounds of mail a distance of not less than 200 miles without stop. The In- tention is, as soon as the authority of Congress is received, to establish a through aero route to Philadelphia and New York, carrying 200 pounds of first- class mail. A special postage rate not exceeding 25 cents per ounce will be charged. Mutual Benefit Department member % who are contemplating enlisting for mil- itary or naval service , are urged to ar- range for the payment of dues and as- sessments within two calendar months from January 1st and July 1st of each year . Should a member who has enlisted forfeit his membership in the Mutual Benefit Department , he will be unable to reinstate in this department while en- gaged in such service , therefore it is hoped that our boys will realize the neces- sity and importance of keeping in good standing by remitting both dues and as- sessments prior to February 28th and Au- gust 81st of each semi-annual period . Attorneys and claim agents who seek out dependents of soldiers or sailors killed in service, offering to collect gov- ernment insurance or compensation on a commission basis, were denounced by Secretary McAdoo with the explanation that it is unnecessary to hire an agent to make these collections. Blanks on which to file a claim may be obtained by writing to the Bureau of War Risk Insurance. “The greed and avarice of those who would prey on the misfortunes of the survivors of an American soldier or sailor who has died for his country,” said McAdoo, “can not be condemned or reprehended too severely.” Digitized by Google
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322 The Railroad Telegrapher. A bill introduced by Assemblyman Ro- senberg, New York, would amend the penal law in relation to advertisements and solicitations for employes during strikes, lockouts and industrial disputes. It adds a new section, which pi^vides that If an employer, during the contin- uance of a strike, lockout or industrial dispute among his employes publicly ad- vertises in a newspaper, newspapers, Jour- nal, magazine or other publication, or by posters, signs or handbills, for employes, he shall plainly and explicitly state In such advertisement or advertisements or in such posters, signs or hand bills, that a strike, lockout or industrial dispute, whichever of these may exist in his par- ticular case, exists. Violation is made a misdemeanor pun- ishable by fines of $100 to $1,000. Uncle Sam refuses to be “old sober sides," even in these days of grim war. This is shown by the following state- ment by the soldiers and sailors’ cam- paign council in the interest of war in- surance for men in the service: “The bus drivers of New York City — often known as the ’traffic terrorists of the metropolis’ — know the hazards of war. They also know how to meet them. A squadron of these drivers enlisted in the army and went to Camp Dix, N. J., to drive army trucks for Uncle Sam. The reports Just received from Camp Dix show that every one of these men has applied for the full amount of govern- ment insurance. This hint from actual experience may be of value to others.’* The third Liberty Loan will open April 6, the first anniversary of the United States entry into war. The campaign is likely to be rather short, probably ending about May 1. After announcing the date Secretary McAdoo said the amount of the loan, the interest rate and other features, such as convertibility of bonds of previous issues, maturity and terms of payment, are yet to be determined, and that new legisla- tion will be necessary before all arrange- ments can be completed. The fact that the amount of the loan is dependent on further legislation indi- cates that it will be for more than $3,- 600,000,000, the remainder of authorized but unissued bonds, and the fact that certificates of indebtedness now being sold in anticipation of the loan bear 4% per cent affords some Indication of the interest rate. Nation-wide rent fixing with reasonable increase over pre-war figures was strongly urged by Frank Morrison, secre- tary of the American Federation of La- bor before the House Public Buildings and Grounds Committee. Rent profiteering in congested centres “prevails to an almost unbelievable ex- tent,’* Morrison said, “and is responsible for much of the unrest among American workers.’’ “England soon after the war started,** the Labor Secretary said, “adopted a law preventing any raise In rents above the pre-war basis and in that way did much to keep the stability of the laboring man's dollar.’’ “The worker will demand, when the war is over, that the government give him financial aid and low interest rates in building his home on the same basis that loans are now extended to farmers,” said Morrison. “Is Charley Schwab kidding the pub- lic?” asks Editor Brown of the Labor Herald, of Allentown, Penna: The editor presents this question be- cause of Schwab’s “explanation” in New York regarding a former statement that the workers would rule the world. Now Mr. Schwab hastens to assure his alarmed associates that “what I said and what I mean when I stated that workmen will control government was that the men who will direct the destiny of the world will spring from the humbler walks of life.” And then Schwab assumes the role of a Joker. “The Bethlehem plant has never had a strike owing to a co-operative plan by Which the workers share In the profits,” he says. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 323 Editor Brown calls attention to the Bethlehem strike of 1900, when 10,000 men suspended work for four months to abolish Sunday work. State cossacks mur- dered innocent people and the strike was one of the hardest fought in the history of the State. The A. F. of L. is aiding the National Federation of Federal Employes in its fight against Congressman Borland's al- leged "eight-hour” day. Government em- ployes now work a minimum of seven and one-half hours, with half an hour lunch time Included. This irritates Con- gressman Borland, whose home is in Kan- sas City, Mo. The lawmaker can see nothing more important in these war times than to increase hours. He talks of "union hours,” but his amendment to the agricultural appropriation bill makes no reference to overtime or extra pay, which are features of union conditions. He talks of government employes being in a "favored class,” because they have a 30-days* leave every year, but he fails to state that this leave is optional with de- partment officials. The objectional amendment was put in the house agricultural appropriation bill when few members were in* attendance and the bill is now in the hands of the Senate Agricultural Committee. This fight is most important, for if a precedent can be created it will be applied to all other departments. Trade unionists are urged to write their senators to vote against the Borland "eight-hour” amendment. Do not fail to keep in good standing at all times. For the information of cer- tificate holders in the Mutual Benefit De- partment, the signing of the so-called “ ap- plication for reinstatement” or “ war waiver ” is required of members who have allowed their membership to become de- linquent, by failing to pay their dues and assessments within two calendar months from the beginning of a semi-annual dues period, in accordance with Article XV of the Mutual Benefit Department laws. In order to avoid signing this “application for reinstatement ,” members are urged to keep their membership continuous by for- warding remittances in payment of both dues and assessments prior to February 28th and August 81st of each semi-annual period, the beginning of which periods are January 1st and July 1st of each year. The signing of “supplement to ap- plication” is required of all new mem- bers. ANNOUNCEMENT. As the closing mark of an important epoch in the history of our or- ganization, we are compiling a book containing the telegraphers’ schedules in effect on all railroads in the United States and Canada on December 31, 1917. The government having taken possession and assumed control of the railroads in the United States has opened a new era for our organization. All members in good standing on April 15th next will be furnished a copy of this schedule book. Digitized by v^oooLe
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PERSONAL MENTION The following births have been re- ported since the last issue of The Teleg- rapher: To Bro. and Mrs. J. B. Gardner, of Rices, N. Y., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. W. J. McAlister, of London, Ont., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. H. L. Feske, of Bald- win, La., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. B. M. Doty, of Colton, Calif., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. Fred W. Adams, of Lucin, Utah, a girl. ^ To Bro. and Mrs. Ray Padgett, of Marys- ville, Ind., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. J. C. Stickley, of El Reno, Okla., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. J. M. Blow, of Miami, Fla., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. S. S. Hawkins, of Union, S. C., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. D. R. Warren, of Ma- con, Ga., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. B. C. Samuelson, of Burlington, la., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. P. H. Miller, of Hast- ings, Neb., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. B. O. Creacroft, of Towlerton, Ind., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. W. F. Gardner, of Bluffton, Ind., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. H. Connally, of Lela, Ga., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. R. A. Flowers, of Bristol, R. I., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. R. R. Henderson, of Larson, Ont, a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. W. Masters, of Rocanville, Sask., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. A. L. Rowan, of Van- couver, B. C., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. R. Pope, of Jack- sonville, Fla., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. V. R. Bender, of Fort Wayne, Ind., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. B. Hopper, of Sloan, la., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. W. B. Richardson, of Bismarck, N. D.f a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. G. N. Holtz, of Sabll- lasville, Md., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. A. N. McPherson, of Auburndale, Wis., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. Joe DeSantos, of Buckwood, Mass., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. B. L. Lepinski, of Stockton, Wis., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. O. S. Butterfield, of Baraboo, Wis., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. D. D. Shafer, of Fos- toria, Ohio, a girl. The following marriages have been re- ported since the last issue the The Teleg- rapher: At Walnut, 111., Bro. C. B. Bodine, of Div. 130, to Miss Margaret B.. Durham. At Sugar Grove, 111., Bro. J. B. Thomas, of Div. 130, to Miss Irene Knudson. At Monroe, Mich., Bro. J. W. Gilson, of Div. 173, to Miss Mary Place. Brother G. B. Shockley, of Div. 31, to Miss Ruth Rasmussen. At Bowie, La., Bro. W. A. Walther, of Div. 53, to Miss Bthel Seeman. g Bro. Wm. Trapp, of Div. 33, to Miss Mariet Bussey. Bro. V. P. Devine, of Div. 81, to Miss Nelle Griffin, of Colorado City, Colo. Bro. F. N. Sigmond to Sister B. L. Collins, of Div. 54. Sister H. Gudenschwager, of Div. 119, to Mr. R. Struck. The Telegrapher extends congratula- tions to the happy couples. The following deaths have been report- ed since the last Issue of The Telegraph- er: Bro. A. K. Windsor, of Div. 126. Bro. J. D. Wills, of Div. 126. Bro. W. J. Renner, of Div. 40. At Cupar, Sask., Bro. A. Fullerton, of Div. 7. Bro. T. H. Gardner, of Div. 8. Bro. Wm. B. Anderson, of Div. 64. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 325 Bro. A. H. Joy, of Dlv. 89. Bro. John McConnon, of Dlv. 89. At Stony Ridge, O., Bro. H. E. Krouse, of Div. 173. Mother of Bro. A. P. Murphy, of Div. 54. Father of Bro. P. M. Geer, of Div. 33. Father of Bro. W. E. Beck, of Div. 23. Father of Bro. J. H. Dubean, of Div. 12. At Denver, Colo., the father of Bro. J. M. Hicks, of Div. 53. Mother of Bro. Ralph J. Studley, of Div. 38. Mother of Bro. A. A. Mixon, of Div. 15. Father of Bro. 0. G. Fournier, of Dir. 7. * A Father of Bro. A. R. Savarla, of Div. 7. Mother of Bro. J. E. Levesque, of Div. 7. Daughter of Bro. C. F. Harback, of Div. 4. Father of Bro. L. E. Hicks, of Div. 40. Mother of Bro. G. W. McGinnis, of Div. 40. At Gunnison, Colo., the mother of Bro. W. C. Cuthbert, of Div. 49. Sister of Bro. A. J. Veverka. of Div. 130. Mother of Bro. H. W. Avery, of Div. 126. Mother of Bro. E. J. Bylander, of Div. 126. Father of Sister Frances Warthen, of Div. 32. Father of Bro. G. D. Cochran, of Div. 31. Father of Bro. R. H. Jones, of Div. 31. Mother of Bro. C. H. Wing, of Div. 130. Brother-in-law of Bro. A. J. Atkins, of Div. 130. Daughter of Bro. H. E. Korte, of Div. 130. Mother of Bro. W. W. Burdick, of Div. 89. Father of Bro. W. H. Dunnam, of Div. 126. Father of Sister Della W. Lofgren, of Div. 54. Wife of Bro. W. J. Dalton, of Div. 54. Son of Bro. A. O. Mechler, of Div. 76. Wife of Bro. C. W. Murray, of Div. 93. Bro. Lawrence C. Fisher, of Div. 119. The bereaved relatives have the sym- pathy of alL WANTED. To get in Communication with A. E. Fuller, whose home town is Marietta, Ohio. “If you see this, communicate with your friends at Ravia, Okla/* Would like to hear from the brothers who, at various times in the “Journal/* have signed themselves, “Erie Op,“ C. D. Roberts, “Justice/* “Union Pac. Op/* “Soo Line Op/* “N. P. Op** and “Pere Marquette Op.** “Brothers drop me a line/* | H. E. Keab, 490 Seminary St., Dubuque, Iowa. Whereabouts of John L. Rhodes, R. R. telegraph operator, last heard of work- ing as agent at Deerfield, Fla., for the Florida, East Coast Ry. Kindly com- municate with his sister. •Mbs. May E. Story, 1415 East 16th Ave., Denver, Colo. Present address of R. B. Snyder, last heard of on the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. Chas. H. Shaw, 411 U. P. Bldg., Omaha, Neb. Address of Zeb Bagwell, worked for the C. & E. I. R. R., at Chicago Heights, in 1912. Last heard from In North Carolina. Address of Charlie Kennady, worked for the Big Four, at Sandford, in 1912. Went west in 1913. “Charlie, if you see this, write.*' L. G. Roland, 2611 Cannon St., Danville, 111. Present address of John J. McHugh, former address was 414 South Wabash Ave. and 219 West Van Buren, Chicago, 111. Any one knowing his whereabouts will confer a favor by writing M. E. Lein hart, 3166 Lake Park Ave., Chioago, 111. Digitized by Google
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WHAT THE WAR HAS TAUGHT US. By Kate E. Cabs, President. War is wretched. But in the processes of destiny, out of distress good often develops. As the lily bulb in its strange alembic transforms the dung of the gar- den into white and fragrant flowers, so may the present chaos of mankind finally evolve into a state of world harmony — the ultimate brotherhood of man. At a great mass meeting held in New York City, Samuel Gompers declared: 1 “This was a war; now it is a crusade for freedom/’ The war today is not the war of three 'years ago, or even a year ago. All has changed. No phase con- cerning the purposes of the struggle is as it was in the beginning. When Germany threw her armies across the borders into Belgium and France, when the guns of those nations barked back in self-defense, it may have been true that there were questions of territory in the minds of leaders of both sides. It may be that material gain played its role back of both firing lines. But whatever were the issues that the leaders of those days thought were to be decided by the war, they are not the issues of today. Truly it was a war, now it is a crusade. Today eighteen nations are fighting for world freedom. No question of sordid spoils confronts the enemies of Germany. All are for one result — the liberation of mankind from autocracy. What the final outcome of the war will be; into what the ultimate issues for mankind to be determined at the cul- mination of this terrible conflict may de- velop, or the changes toward which we will each and all contribute in ascertain- ing its various results, is still mere fancy. However, if we may judge the final out- come by the by-products which the war has already accrued for us, the horoscope for the future is indeed bright. Under the vast campaign conducted by Mr. Hoover, the American housewife is being developed into a thoughtful, care- ful, intelligent food expert, the benefits of which will be of inestimable value long after the war is over. Every man, woman and child is being made to feel that there is something bigger and more important in life than one’s self. The spirit of individualism is slowly, but surely, leaving us. Danger has forced us into a unity whereby we are learning the benefits to be derived through team work and general co-operation. With the impetus of this prevailing spirit organized labor is gaining strength by leaps and bounds. Every craft is not only developing its individual strength by multiplying its membership, but through its affiliation with the A. F. of L. is being drawn into a splendid co- operative spirit with its brother crafts. Conditions were never better for organ- ization work. Let our Auxiliary members Join the or- ganization campaign. Let each of us adopt a resolution of “One new member each month.’’ The war is teaching us the great strength to be attained through uni- ty of purpose. Let our purpose be the doubling of our membership during the remainder of the year. We will then be in a position to carry out the object of our organization arid do some effective work for our parent body, the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 327 NOTES FROM THE GRAND SECRE- TARY AND TREASURER. I wish It were possible to place in the hands of every O. R. T. Brother and members of his family the monthly bulle- tin issued by the Women’s Trade Union League, which explains how women work- ers have supplanted men who have en- listed for war. The league is now making a national campaign for the following conditions: (1) The highest rate of pay in the Industry affected. (2) Equal pay for equal work. (3) Trades without wage standards to be handled by an adjust- ment committee. (4) Adjustment com- mittee to handle all wage questions, and keep all wages in proportion to increases in cost of living. The eight-hour day, one day rest in seven, prohibition of night work for women, standards of sanitation and fire protection, guarding against overfatigue and industrial diseases, and prohibition of tenement house labor are som^ of the questions the National Women’s Trade Union League are confronted with, and which questions it is planning to legis- late for. One of these bulletins will be mailed free upon receipt of a postal re- quest, froip wnich you can ascertain when and where the meeting of this league will be held in your immediate district, and do not fall to attend. Let each and everyone of us join in assisting this movement. The headquarters of this league is 139 North Clark street, Chi- cago, 111. We note with ’touch pleasure that the women of Canada have been granted full suffrage, and we wish to take this means of congratulating our members upon be- ing recpgnized as citizens of the Domin- ion of Canada. In spite of the severe winter, less ill- ness has been reported, and from informa- tion received each is doing her “bit” Make a request for blanks by return mall and Join the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Now that spring is here, the many promises of assistance from our members and friends should be fulfilled. Florence P. Pierce, Halethorpe, Baltimore Co., Md. ^ Providence, R. I., Local No. 35. Singing of The Star Spangled Banner preceded the opening of our February meeting. Although President Haddock signified her desire to retire from office, the unanimous wish of the members tor her re-election prevailed, and she was in- duced to continue as president and was so elected. Other officers elected for the ensuing year were: Secretary and treasurer, Sis- ter Clara Brady; first vice-president, Sis- ter Callls; second vice-president. Sister Springer; chaperone, Sister Smith; guard, Sister Goggln. A fine lunch was served by Sisters Ross, Springer and Smith. Sister Weeks came all the way from New London to be pres- ent and was warmly greeted. Wish she were able to be with us oftener. We regret to hear of the sickness of Miss Madeline, the daughter of Sister Payne. May her health be soon restored. Congratulations are extended to Bro. and Sister Flowers on the birth of a son. Ca. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father In His infinite wisdom, to call to his eternal home the father of our Bro- ther and Sister, David Callfc; therefore, be it, Resolved , That the members of Auxil- iary to Local No. 35, O. R. T., extend to the sorrowing brother and sister their heartfelt sympathy In this their sad hour of bereavement; and be it further. Resolved , That a copy of these reso- lutions be sent to the bereaved brother and sister, a copy spread upon the min- utes of the Auxiliary Local No. 35, and a copy sent The Telegrapher for pub- lication. Clara A. Wood. Addie C. Conant. Emma C. Welsh. Committee . Digitized by LaOOQLe
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328 The Railroad Telegrapher. New York, Local No. 44. We haven't had a write-up for some time. Our meeting last month was well at- tended and election of officers took place with the result that all the old officers were re-elected with few exceptions. Sister Van Nostrand has been ill for the past two or three months. We all hope to see her around soon as we miss her presence at our meetings. On January 31 Sister Gafney enter- tained members of Local No*. 44 and their husbands at her new home at Patchogue. The purpose of the gathering was to de- cide on the disposal of the "comfort kits" which Local No. 44 is making for mem- bers of Div. 44 who are in training in oamp here and "over there." Local No. 44 will hold a euchre on April 13 at the meeting rooms, Fraternity Hall, Jamaica. We hope to make this a grand success and to replenish our treas- ury with the proceeds. We are looking forward to our annual theatre party, which will be held in the near future. Bro. and Sister Hilley and son, George, visited Bro. and Sister Gafney at Pat- chogue on Washington's Birthday. Sister Woods has been on the sick list for some time. We are glad to see her around again. Were delighted to see Sister Shields at our last meeting. We thought you had deserted us. Sister Shields. We regret to learn that Sister C. Gaf- ney is not in the best of health. Hope to see her with us in the immediate future. After our last meeting Brothers Pier- son and Shields visited us. Bro. Pier- son gave a short address, which was en- joyed by all. On Lincoln’s Birthday members of Div. 44 and Local 44 tendered Bro. and Sis- ter Gray a surprise party. All had a very enjoyable time dancing, talking and eating. We certainly do enjoy the eats. Div. Cob., Cert 9. Colorado Midland, Local No. 81. Whereas, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom has chosen to call from our midst the beloved husband of our genial secre- tary and treasurer, Mrs. R. Downing, and, Whereas, In silent obedience we know the Master will not fail to reward his many noble deeds; be it. Resolved, That the members of the La- dies' Auxiliary to Railroad Telegraphers, Colorado Midland Ry., Local No. 81, ex- tend their heartfelt sympathy to our be- reaved sister; and, be it further. Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to our beloved sis- ter, a copy spread on minutes of this di- vision, and a copy sent to The Telegra- pher for publication. Mbs. B. F. Sipes. Mrs. Elvira Celsox. Mrs. Bertha Daley. Committee . Tacoma Local No. 54w Tacoma Local Ladies' Auxiliary held their first meeting and installed officers as follows: Sister Daisy Sherwood, presi- dent; Sister Bessie Grover, secretary and treasurer, and Sister Martha Emerick, correspondent The meeting was held at the residence of our Grand President Sister Kate E. Carr. Everyone reports an enjoyable time, and we expect to make these meet- ings worth attending. Lunch was served and it was decided that basket lunch should be served at each meeting and members attending are requested to bring a basket. Next meeting will be held at Sister Bessie Grover's, Nisqually, Wash., on March 27th. The following members were present at the meeting: Sisters Carr, Sherwood, Emerick, Grover and Long. Any sister writing notes for the La- dies' Auxiliary columns, please forward them to Sister Martha Emerick, Nis- qually, Wash., Post Office Box 21. Local Correspondent Digitized by v^oooLe
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TRAPPED BY TELEGRAPH. IN 19 — , when but a girl of 18, I went to a small town in Wyoming to fill the lonesome position of night oper- ator at a station on the Pacific Railway. It was^ a dreary, desolate spot, in the midst of a desert. The day operator and an agent — a mere youth — slept at the sec- tion house, about 200 yards distant, so that during the long, dreary night, I was alone in the depot No. 4 express train, bound east, was due at 2:16 in the morning, but it never stopped unless signaled; and, as this was the only train during the latter portion of the night, you can imagine my lonesome situation. The superintendent of the division — a buoyant, light-spirited young man — came over the road at frequent intervals, and cheered me up by promises of a better position when a vacancy should occur. He often found me on the very brink of de- spair— almost on the point of resigning my position and returning to my mother, who depended on my salary for the neces- saries of life. But his promises, his genial conversation and words of encour- agement drove away the gloom, and I came to look for his visits with a sense of the keenest pleasure. I began to re- gard him with a sisterly affection, he was so kind and tender and so solicitous for my comfort and welfare. One night, shortly after midnight, as I sat at my table reading a late novel, I thought I heard a shuffling footstep upon the depot platfrom; but, as it was not repeated, I concluded that it was but a coyote, more daring than his cow- ardly fellows, and I resumed my book. A few moments later I heard a low knock at the door, which I always kept locked, and a strange feeling crept over me. During my stay at the station I never had a visitor, and the sudden knock caused my form to tremble and my cheeks to blanch. While I sat there in affright, the knock was repeated louder than before; and mustering all my courage, I approached the door and asked who was there. A gruff voice replied that it was “a traveler who desires to take the eastbound train.'* It was my plain and unmistakable duty to admit him, and with trembling fingers I drew the bolt. Instantly the door was pushed open, and I sprang back to the table in terror when one of several men, all wearing masks and armed, entered the office and, walking up to me, said: “Gal, we don't want to hurt? you; but if you make a suspicious move, or scream, or give any alarm so that the men in the section house kin hear you, I'll spile the looks o' that pretty face with a bullet Be quiet and sensible, and you shan't be hurt. Whar's yer red signal lamp?" “What would you do?" I gasped. “None of your business. We don't want to hear any unnecessary back talk, nor no impertinent questions. Whar’s the red lamp?' A chill of horror swept over me when the truth burst upon me that I was in the hands of a desperate band of train robbers whose evident intention was to signal the train and rob the express car at my station. I knew they could find the lamp by searching for it, and in trem- bling voice I told him it was hanging Just inside the door of the freight room. One of the men got it, and, after examin- ing it to see that it was in order, the rough band took seats to await the com- ing of the train. Digitized by v^oooLe
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330 The Railroad Telegrapher. The leader lit his pipe, and, looking at me steadily for a few moments, said: “Young gal, when that ar train toots her whistle we’ve got some work for you to do. An official duty, as you might call it. You must signal that train to stop. If you don’t swing that lamp just right, we’ll ventilate that graceful body with bullets — do you understand?” A desperate resolve had been taking shape in my bewildered brain. I replied that I fully understood him; and with a piteous cry, “Oh, you will make a mur- derer of me,” I threw my arms and head down upon the table, and began to cry and sob as if my heart were breaking. Had he seen my face, he might have no- ticed a total absence of tears. I was crying for a purpose. When my arms dropped upon the table I allowed my left hand to fall upon the armature of the telegraph instrument, so that I could prevent it from ticking, while my right hand rested on the key. Sobbing; so that any slight tick the key might make would not reacti the robbers, I opened it and slowly made the tele- graph characters : : H # E L P These I repeated several times, hoping they might reach the ear of some oper- ator on the line. I then slowly and dis- tinctly wrote these words, still sobbing violently: “Who — hears — this — for — heaven’s — sake — report — to — train — dispatcher — at — Laramie — quick — that — I — am — in — the — hands — of — robbers — who — will — compel — me — to — flag — No. — 4 — Send — help — quick.” Then I signed my name and office call. I released the armature, and the instru- ment clicked out: “Brace — up — little — girl — I — hear — you — H.” “H” was the train dispatcher’s call. With a fierce shout, the leader sprang for- ward and rudely snatched me away from the table and asked: : “Gal, what’s that ?” “Only a distant officer asking for a freight train,” I responded. “None o' yer lyin’, you little imp,” he roared. Yer up to some trick.” “No,” I replied, “I am not. If I were doing that, my fingers would be* on the instrument. Don’t you see I am not touching it, and yet it works. It is only an order to a freight train away down at Medicine Bow.” “JCeep away from that table,” he said, savagely. “An’ if I catch you at any tricks. I’ll choke the life out of you.” How eagerly my ears drank in every word the instrument clicked out I heard a telegram to the sheriff of Green River, twenty miles west, asking him to arm a posse of men at once and get on board a special train which would be ready for him. Then another to the young super- intendent, who was at Green River, tell- ing how my slowly written words had been heard by the dispatcher, and asking him to supervise the preparation to fly to my relief. Then a third dispatch to the master mechanic, instructing him to fire up his fastest passenger engine and couple on to a car and await the super- intendent’s orders. My heart beat so vio- lently that It almost took my breath away. It seemed an age ere I heard the Green River operator call the dispatcher and say: “The superintendent with sheriff and twenty armed men are aboard, and train ready for orders.” The order came flying. It told the en- gineer he had a clear track, and to run at his very highest speed to within half a mile of my station, and with his party to alight. Then came the welcome report from the Green River officer: “Special east departed 1:15.” Oh, how my poor heart beat, how my every nerve tingled with excitement. 1:15 — I mentally figured that the train on such a desperate errand should make nearly a mile a minute, and reach the stopping point at 1:36. The chief gave his men their instruc- tions. I was to be sent alone to signal the train, and when it halted the band would make a rush and board the train. “Bill, you jump on the engine as soon as she stops, and hold the engineer and fireman under gun. Jack, you pile Into Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 331 the ipail car and make the clerk give up his registered letters, an* Yank and Aleck’ll work the express car, while Tom an* Shorty hold the conductor and brake- man back. Do your work quick an’ bold, an’ don't be afeared to burn powder if necessary. Thar’s a big haul on that train, an’ we’ve got to have it." How eagerly I watched the clock; how very, very slowly the hands seemed to move. 1:21, 1:25, and 1:30 were ticked . off — 1:35; would they never come? The men sat on the bench along the west side of the room facing along the two windows on the west. I tried to fig- ure how long it would require for the men to walk to the depot from the stop- ping place. Perhaps even then they were surrounding the station, and I might hear a knock at the door any instant. Would there be a fight? Oh, horrible thought! In a few moments I might see men shot down before my face, and I might myself be killed. I almost fainted with fright. The blood seemed to freeze in my veins, and I grasped the chair or I would have fallen to the floor. 1:40. There came a fearful crash of glass, and the black muz- zles of a perfect cloud of rifles were thrust through the windows and pointed directly at the robbers. A voice cried out: "Men, throw up your hands! I am the sheriff, and in the name of the law de- mand you to surrender. Make a move, and I’ll order my men to fire." "Yer little cat!’’ hissed the leader, glar- ing at me savagely, as the band suddenly held aloft their hands. Then the sheriff and the three men entered and disarmed and handcuffed the robbers, and I saw the superintendent looking at me and heard him say: "What a debt I owe you, my brave girl;" then I fell fainting into his arms. When I regained consciousness I was lying in my room at Green River, with several women around me, and I was told that seven days had elapsed since the capture of the robbers. I was suffering from brain fever, brought on by the ter- rible strain I had passed through, and had been unconscious for that long period. For many days thereafter I hovered on the border between life and death, and the superintendent was at my bedside several times every day, cheering me up with words of encouragement and doing all in his power to alleviate my sufferings. I finally recovered, and was called into court to testify against the desperate gang. I shall never forget that fierce glance towards me as I told how I en- trapped them, or how, in spite of the efforts of the judge and court officials to suppress it, the crowd cheered me as I left the stand. The men were sent for long terms to prison. "And did the company reward you for saving the train?" I can hear the reader ask. Well, only slightly. Corporations have no souls, you know. But I revenged my- self on the superintendent, In a manner. "In what way?" I again hear you ask. I married him. — By Martha M. Jenkins in Express-Gazette . THE WHITE FLYER. I HARDLY know whether to begin this story with the great robbery in Bronco City or with the advent of the White Flyer in Leadtown. Each of these events was of major importance in its respective metropolis. On second thought, remembering the deadly rivalry between the two settle- ments, I deem it wiser to seek a middle course, and begin with the arrival of Simmons, of Bronco City, in the chief hotel of Leadtown on the day of the double excitement. Simmons was wearing a broad-brimmed hat, and had two pistols in his belt, so he supplied just the local color to attract the eye of young Vanderwent on his first Western trip. It was not long before the two were exchanging friendly remarks. Simmons was a cautious man by nature, but he was a good judge of human character withal. His caution had led him to conceal from the denizens of Leadtown the nature of his errand to that place; but his knowl- edge of human nature showed him that here was just the ally he needed — a man conventional and law-abiding, who would throw his weight on the side of law and order; and at the same time fearless to Digitized by v^oooLe
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/ The Railroad Telegrapher. 332 undertake a hazardous adventure in the cause of right. So Simmons waited for a chance to propose his plan, and meantime listened to young Vanderwent’s confidences, occa- sionally putting in a word to draw out the young fellow. He learned that Vanderwent was the son of a railroad president, viewing the West from his father’s private car, the White Flyer; that he had been educated abroad and had never before been West of Buffalo; that he was delighted with the West, and especially with the mining towns, and that Leadtown had struck him as so unique that he had switched the White Flyer here, so that he might have a day or two to look about him. "It is a pretty fine place for the West,” assented Simmons. “I'm an Eastern man myself; hut I tell you it teaches you to respect Western enterprise when you see the rapid growing of these little towns. Still,” he added, with pardonable pride, “Leadtown can’t hold a candle to Bronco City.” “Bronco City?” returned Vanderwent “That's the rival town I’ve heard so much about.” “Guess you have,” said Simmons, smil- ing. Then he added with sudden serious- ness, “I'll bet there’s one thing you haven’t heard about it.” “What’s that?” said Vanderwent. Simmons looked cautiously around. There was no one in sight He lowered his voice, and said: “There was a big robbery in Bronco City last night. A fellow from 'Frisco killed one of our most respected citizens and robbed him of $8,000 cash!” “Did they catch him?” “Pretty near,” said Simmons, impres- sively, “hut he shot Potts, the sheriff, through the leg, and made his escape.” “And they lost him?” asked Vander- went “They did not lose him,” Simmons re- turned. “The sheriff appointed me his deputy, and I got on his train and tracked him” — his voice was low and eloquent — “right here to Leadtown.” “Have you placed him under arrest?” asked Vanderwent all interest “No,” said Simmons. “I dassent He’s wanted right here in Leadtown, wanted for horse stealing, and wanted badly. Now if I was to arrest him, I’d have to hold him in custody for two hours or more, till the express for Spokane is due. “Do you suppose Leadtown would see that man in the charge of only one officer for two hours and respect the laws of their country? No, sir! they’d lynch him — that’s what they’d do; and neither you nor me could stop them. I reckon Sheriff Potts knew his man when he appointed a fellow who was raised in the East for deputy.” “What’s your plan?” asked Vander- went. He was interested in spite of himself in the Westerner’s mastery of circum- stances. “My plan is this,” said Simmons. “I know where my man is. I have him where I want him. I’ll wait to make that arrest till nearly train time. Then I’ll get my man. When I once got him cov- ered, he’ll surrender all right. He knows better than to resist and advertise his presence in Leadtown. He’s too well known. “I’ll take him by train to Spokane, and I’ll bet he’ll be as anxious to get out of Leadtown quietly as you and me to have him. I’ll hold him at Spokane till I can send for a posse from Bronco City; and we’ll have him back there on the next train.” “Clear as mud,” said Vanderwent. . He puffed meditatively at his cigar. “I can see only one drawback. Sup- pose the arrest should take longer than you think? Suppose your man isn’t easily brought to surrender? Or suppose it takes longer than you expect to put the situa- tion to him, and the Spokane express comes and goes in the meantime? What then?” Simmons’ face fell. “That’s my risk,” he said. “As you say, that’s the one drawback.” He looked thoughtful. “By Jinks,” he said, “if we should miss that train, nothing could save the prisoner!” Vanderwent knocked the ashes off his cigar. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 333 "What do you say to this? You secure your prisoner. You bring him down to the switch just south of the station. I’ll take you both on the White Flyer to Spo- kane, and get back before the Spokane express is due, or before the good people of Leadtown know that we’re even gone." "By gum/’ cried Simmons in delight, bringing his hand down on his knee. "That’s the ticket! Western hustle is all right, but give me Eastern brains.’’ He reached out his rough paw and shook Yanderwent's hand enthusiastically. The details were soon arranged. The White Flyer was side-tracked beyond the town, an eighth of a mile from the sta- tion. Vanderwent was to see the station agent, make sure of a clear track — with- out, of course, taking the agent into his confidence — and then give orders to fire up at once, and hold the special train in readiness to move at immediate notice. Simmons, meantime, was to arrest his man, march him to the station under pen- alty of a lynching ff he resisted — and the plan would be successfully accomplished. It was with some misgivings that Van- derwent awaited the arrival of the dep- uty sheriff and his prisoner. To cope single-handed with a ruffian of such desperate reputation was a big undertaking. Vanderwent wished that he bad insisted on gfving his orders and then accompanying Simmons to the lair of the prisoner. It was fully an hour before Vanderwent’s eager eyes saw Simmons approaching, his prisoner ahead of him. The man was not handcuffed for fear of attracting attention in case of a chance meeting; but Vanderwent saw that Sim- mons held a revolver in either hand. The prisoner was aN desperate looking character. He had lowering brows, and his face was disfigured by a broad white scar across the cheek. He was a sullen, piratical looking fig- ure, a complete contrast to his frank and manly captor. Simmons guarded him closely until he had reached the train. Indeed, the pris- oner showed no desire to escape. He had a hunted air, and his one aim seemed to be to hide from the wrath of Leadtown. The deputy sheriff snapped a pair of handcuffs on the prisoner’s wrists, then sat down opposite him. He never relin- quished his watchfulness on the whole trip to Spokane. Vanderwent would have been glad to talk to Simmons and learn details of the capture; but the deputy sheriff seemed to have an exalted idea of the sacredness of his office and gave his full attention to the captive. At Spokane the car waited while Van- derwent went out to hunt up a convey- ance. The best <he could find was a broken-down ’bus; but Simmons expressed himself as fully satisfied. He unshackled his prisoner, marched him ahead to the ’bus, and waved a triumphant and almost gleeful farewell to Vanderwent. The Easterner saluted in return, half regret- ful that his strange adventure had ended so successfully and tamely. Half an hour later the White Flyer glided past the station at Leadtown, made her switch, and halted on the side track. Vanderwent swung himself off the car and made his way to the station. The regular train to Spokane was just puffing to a stop as he reached the plat- form. He speculated on the scene of blood which might have been enacted if Simmons had been dependent on this train to convey his prisoner. As he stood idly watching the engine, a fierce looking man, with bushy whis- kers, dropped off the front platform and hailed the station agent. "Any news of ’em?” he shouted. "Nope," said the station agent "I got your wire. What they done?" "Murder and robbery," answered the whiskered man, shortly. Vanderwent drew near. The station agent went through the form of an introduction. “Mr. Vanderwent, of the White Flyer,” he said, "Potts, the*sheriff over at Bronco City." "Mr. Potts,” exclaimed Vanderwent rm excitement, "how’s your leg?" "How's my leg," retorted Mr. Potts. "My leg’s all right — how’s yours?” "Your man’s safe, I’m happy to tell you," continued Vanderwent in the same breath. Digitized by Google
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334 The Railroad Telegrapher. “Where?” asked the man of few words. “In Spokane/' said Vanderwent, “a dark, villainous looking fellow, isn't hev with a white scar on his cheek?” “That's him/' returned Potts, “that's one of 'em/' “Well, he's all right/’ said Vanderwent. “Your deputy arrested him, and I took them down to Spokane in my private car.” “Deputy?” said Potts. “I ain't got no deputy.” “A tall man,” urged Vanderwent, “big- shouldered, frank, cheery smile, and blue eyes, wears a broad-brimmed hat, and has two pistols in his belt — isn't that your deputy sheriff, name of Simmons?” “Simmons?” exploded the sheriff — and then the words which careful economy had accumulated through his past life burst forth in prodigality of Invective. “That,” cried the sheriff, amid a brilliant setting of expletives, “that’s his pal, the man who did the murder.” — By E. M. Rhodes in Dallas News. MAKING MISTAKES. There is nothing much more distressing than the person who has made a failure of life. Such failures, as a rule, are not the result of many mistakes, but follow generally the commission of the same mistake over and over again. Good ofttimes comes from the making of a mistake, but evil only can follow its repetition. The good consists of the knowledge which comes with the realiza- tion of the mistake and the determination to avoid making It again. Experience embraces the making of mistakes as well as the performance of one's purpose, and as experience is man’s most valuable teacher — although at times a costly one — mistakes are necessary to all adventurous persons. Only those who venture ever gain, and only those who persevere in spite of mis- takes ever achieve real and lasting suc- cess. The pioneers in all walks of life are the ones who must be the most ad- venturous, as only by following a course already marked out can one travel it with any degree of assurance. Great successes, however, are seldom gained by those who plod along in the wake of others, but they well-nigh invari- ably fall to the lot of the adventurous spirits who do not hesitate to hazard the chance of achieving a success through the fear of making a mistake. Failure must surely be the lot of those who persist in making the same mistake over and over again, while success as surely crowns the efforts of those who, having made a mistake, profit by it and refuse to make It again. — By Edwin Gor- don Lawrence. PRIDE. There is a sort of pride that lifts a man to his true level and gives him a power and prestige. It is pride with respect back of it, pride with enthusiasm as a part, and pride flanked with a worthy record and large plans. Unless you take pride in your work, unless you glory in doing things that count, unless there grows within you a confident feeling that there is an accumu- lated reserve force and strength of char- acter through the working out of the day’s plans, there is lost to you the thrill that puts you into the game a continually happy man or woman. Honest pride Is a vital asset. You will never allow yourself to do in- ferior work if your pride remains con- stantly sensitive. Be too proud to be dishonest. Be too proud to do less than your best. Be too proud to place yourself on the level with those whose life plans are base or un- worthy. Be too proud to let a day pass without something new learned or some- thing helpful accomplished. But banish false pride — the sort that eats away your personal independence and freedom, cramps you and leaves you small and narrow in mind. Be what yoh are, openly and frankly. Then you can match eyes steadily with the strongest. — By Geo. M. Adams in Pittsburgh Gazette . Digitized by v^oooLe
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"You Are Old, Kaiser William.” (With appropriate apologies to the late Lewie Carroll.) '•You are old, Kaiser William,” the Crown Prince said, "And for years have done nothing but fight. Yet now you incessantly prate about peace — Will the world understand the thing right r "When I started this war,” he replied to his son, "I thought we were certain to win. But the terrible bloomer you made at Verdun Has encouraged the Allies like sin." "You are old,” said the youth, “and you speak about God, And you treat Him almost as a friend. Don*t you think He should heed your imperial nod And bring this affair to an end?” "I*ve answered your questions; be off on your way,” Said his father, restraining a sob; "You’ve only lost fourteen divisions today; They’ll think that you’re quitting the Job.” — Porter Emerson Browne , of the Vigilantes. "What Hath God Wrought.” (With apologies to E. A. P.) Ah ! distinctly came the rapping ; **What hath Qod wrought,” 'twas tapping ; And each separate dying cavil took its way throughout the door. Eagerly your bright eye glistened. While the patient Morse but listened. To the "dots” and "dashes” clicking, ticking out to Baltimore; To the dots and dashes tapping, that would tap for evermore. What I Live For. I live for those that do like me, Whose hearts are kind and true. For the heaven that smiles above me, And .awaits my spirit, too. For the human ties that bind me. For the task by God assigned me, For the bright hopes left behind me, Not for the friends that proved untrue. But for the ( good I may yet do. I — Selected. High Cost of Living. „ The cost of everything is high. Of all we eat and wear; The grocer’s bill extracts a sigh And fills me with despair. By midnight glim I fret and stew, While prices higher soar, And figure means whereby to shoo The coyote from my door. The farmer sells a load of hay Or wheat or oats or rye. The money will his mortgage pay And autos he can buy! And when he hitches up his span And brings to town some swine The price he gets Is far more than The salary that is mine. The check to cancel last month’s rent I sign with much regret And shudder at the mammoth dent My bank account will get. The co^l to run the furnace fires I purchase by the hod And know the bill for meat requires , The balance of my wad. When I am broke I fain would try That ancient credit trick — I have them book the beans I buy And get my spuds on tick. I often hear my friends exclaim That I should save some dough; I am a tightwad they proclaim. Where do my jitneys go? But when each moon I draw my pay And would salt down a buck To tide me o’er a rainy day I’m sadly out of luck. Relief will some day earthward slide For which the poor dub pines But it will he when I reside Beneath the dandelions. — F. A. Cantwell, Cert. 286, Div. 6. Digitized by v^oooie
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Convincing. Pompous Doctor (after examination) : "What makes you think you have rheu- matism?" Distressed Patient: "I feel it in my bones." Literally. "Well, my lad," said the facetious man to the elevator boy, "I see in your posi- tion you have a chance to rise/' "Oh, yes," growled the boy, "but I get called down every time I do it." — Boston Transcript. Almost the Same. "You say your friend’s business is light reading. Does he read novels fbr a pub- lishing house?" "No; he reads meters for the gas com- pany." On the Lookout. Lawson : "How well you’re looking this morning, Binks!" Binks: "Yes; I never looked better in my life. I’m looking for a man who owes me $50:" Glddap! "Well," said Clancy, when he came home to supper, "I got fired today." "I thought you told me that you were working on a fire-proof building,” ex- claimed Mrs. Clancy. Taking Interest. She — Remember when he was a green country boy and you showed him the sights? What a crude interest he took. He — He’s the same now, except that he’d like to take the interest before it’s accrued. The Unsafe 8afe. Willie (ready for school) — Mamma, they are hoisting up a safe down the street. Mother — Well, be careful not to walk on the safe side. An Obvious Clue. Elderly Boarder (who does himself well) — Dear me! I’ve lost two buttons off my waistcoat Landlady — I expect you'll find them in the dining room. — Passing Show (Lon- don). One on Billy. Billy Sunday stopped a newsboy in Philadelphia the other day and inquired the way to the postoffice. "Up one block and turn to the right,” said the boy. "You seem a bright little fellow," said Sunday. ‘Do you know who I am?" "Nope!" "I’m Billy Sunday, and if you come to my meeting tonight 'I’ll show you the way to heaven." "Aw, go on!" answered the youngster; "you didn’t even know the way to the postofflce." Lost His Job. A well-to-do Scotch lady one day said to her gardener: "Man Tammas, I wonder you don’t get married. You’ve a nice house, and all you want to complete it is a wife. You know the first gardener that ever lived had a wife.” "Quite right, missus, quite right," said Tammas, "but he didn’t keep his job long after he got the wife." Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 837 The Bonds of Matrimony. •‘See. There's the great catch of the season." •‘Indeed. And how many coupons do you get with him?" A Puzzler. “What can I do for you?" asked the general delivery clerk in the Philadel- phia Postoffice of a young man who had been walking up and down the corridor with a letter in his hand for a quarter of an hour. “Do you want to mail that let- ter?" “Well, sor," paid the young man, “I want to sind this letther to a friend o’ mine in Norristown. One o’ thim boxes beyant is marked ‘Foreign/ tho other wan eez ‘Domestic/ Now Katie's a foreigner, an’ she’s also a domestic, so would ye plase be afther tellin’ me where will I put th’ letther?" A Strenuous Hint. He had been a regular Sunday caller for six months, when one evening he dropped in arrayed in a new suit of clothes. “That is a lovely wedding suit you have on," remarked the dear girl. “W-why," gasped the astonished young man, “t-this is a b-business suit!" “Well,” rejoined the d. g. calmly, “I mean business; don’t you?” And the next day he put up $9.98 of his hard-earned wealth for a solitaire. He Was Helpless. An Irishman in a town in the South was careless enough to let his priest catch him emerging from a saloon with a demijohn under his arm. The priest waited for him and said: “Mike, what is it you have in that demijohh?” “Whisky, sir.” “To whom does it belong?" “To me and me brother, Pat, sir." “Well, Mike, pour yours out, and be a good man." “I can’t, father," said Mike, “mine’s on the bottoin." — Chicago Nowb. Not Steady Enough. A man struck a farmer for a steady job. The farmer said Very well, he’d sure give him one, all right. They worked all day, and then all night. They worked all the next day, and kept at it, until 12 o’clock, the next night. Then the farm- er said he guessed they’d knock off, and go to bed. At 2 o’clock he called his hand, and told him to get up, and they’d go back to work. The hand came down- stairs, carrying his grip. The farmer saw it, and said, Wh&t’s the matter? Ain't going to leave, are you? Yep, said the hand. I’m gonna quit. You promised you’d give me a steady job, and here you’ve let me lose two hours. A Hustling Town. Lord Northcliffe, at a farewell dinner, expressed his admiration for American hustle. “On a train the other day," he said, “I heard a dialogue that brought out your bustling qualities beautifully. “T’m from Ashton/ said a man. ‘Fin- est little town in the Middle West.' “ 'Ashton/ sneered another man, *1 don’t think much of Ashton.’ “ ‘You don’t? When were you there last?’ said the first man. “ ‘Two weeks ago.’ “ ‘Oh, well/ said the Ashtonian, ‘you ought to see her now!’’’ — Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph. Pat’s Conversation. Pat was called into court to testify to a talk that he had with the defendant in a civil suit, and everything went along as swimmingly as a flock of bullfrogs until the lawyer attempted to bring out the important points of the conversation. “Now, then, Pat,” said he encouraging- ly, “please tell the court what you and the defendant talked about” “Yis, sor," answered Pat willingly. “We talked about fifteen minutes." “No, ’no, no!" interposed the lawyer. “I mean, what did you and the defendant talk over?” “Yis, sor," was the calm rejoinder of Pat. “We talked over the tilephone, sor." — Philadelphia Telegraph. Digitized by v^oooLe
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PICKETING. THE choice of the word "picket” is an unfortunate one, in that the con- struction of the word itself suggests the nomenclature of warfare, and is strongly suggestive of a hostile attitude toward the individual or corporation against which the labor union has a griev- ance. Picketing is one of the fundamental questions involved in a strike and con- cerns the right of the strikers to persuade other workmen not to accept employment with the employer involved. This is usu- ally accomplished by pickets or patrols who are stationed about the works of the employer in order to intercept strike- breakers and persuade them not to take the places vacated by the strikers. The law upon picketing can be stated in a very few words. The theoretical right of strikers to peacably persuade competing workmen not to take their places has been fully established. How- ever, we find some courts holding that all picketing is unlawful and will be enjoined. Illinois and California seem to lead the procession in this respect. It seems generally admitted, however, that strikers have such a supreme inter- est in preventing the filling of their places that they are justified in peaceably persuading others not to take their places, even though such persuasion con- tains a very plain element of boycott. On the other hand this persuasion must not contain the slightest element of intim- idation or interference because the mo- ment it does so it becomes an action forcibly to prevent a workman Trom get- ting or keeping a job. Now it happens that the strikebreaker is seldom willing to discuss the proprieties of his action with the strikers or entertain towards them any other feeling than those of the liveliest fear and apprehension. Indeed a great many of them do not want to get close enough to a striker to reveal their countenance, for fear of being recog- nized by someone. To persuade him you must detain him against his will, and to detain him by force constitutes coer- cion or intimidation. So the business of picketing should be handled in a very delicate manner and the method of the diplomat, rather than that of force, should be used. Whether the picketing is law- ful or unlawful (as held by the weight of authority), depends entirely upon the circumstances of each case. Briefly, if the picketing is to interfere with those passing into or out of the works by other THAN PERSUASIVE MEANS, it is un- lawful. If the design of the picketing is to see who can be the subject of per- suasion and peaceful inducements, it is legal. It might be well to mention in 4his connection ordinances passed by city councils at the instance and behest of the interests, which are presumably designed to prevent mob violence, and which are usually worked to allay the fears of labor, which forbid the congre- gating of three or more persons from standing together or near each other on a street or sidewalk in the city. They are,' in our opinion, a direct slap at picketing and free speech, if you please. It would hardly be possible for working- men to carry through a strike without picketing. The assumption that picketing carries with it a threat of bodily harm is unwar- ranted. It cannot be said that two men walking together up and down a sidewalk and speaking to those who enter a certain shop do necessarily and always thereby convey a threat of force. The intelligent workmen of today know that they cannot Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 339 usurp the State's prerogative of force any more than can their opponents. However, the slightest evidence of threats, violence, or intimidation of any character usually convinces the court and an injunction is granted. The lawfulness of the picket seems established, yet one cannot read the opinions without feeling that many judges admit the legality with reluctance. The whole proposition seems to hinge on the word “intimidation," and some very fine spun theories of the defini- tion of this word have been advanced. There is no distinct dividing line between persuasion and intimidation. The strik- ers usually present testimony that the picketing has been conducted in an order- ly manner and that there have been no threats or acts of violence. On the other hand, on behalf of the employers, there is always a fine chance to get strike- breakers who will testify that force* threats, and violence have been resorted to. Of* course, the strikebreaker would not hesitate to say or do anything. How- ever, the evidence usually leaves doubt as to the responsibility of the union for the acts of violence if any are committed. The courts, having no standards to deter- mine .whether picketing has in fact been peaceful or intimidating, the decisions are often biased and it frequently goes against organized labor. Heal collective bargaining implies equal strength upon both sides. It results only when each side is aware of the strength, ability and willingness of the other. Then a joint conference is held and a compro- mise is effected. Neither will violate the agreement while the other party main- tains its strength. Thus we hold that restrictions upon the weapons which labor may employ in trade disputes are in fact limitations of its right to bargain collectively. Jos. A. Poirier. “RADIO” OR "WIRELESS.” Comparatively few of our readers real- ize that there is a most interesting branch of telegraphy that is seldom, if ever, re- ferred to in tl$e columns of The Teleg- rapher— I. e., radio telegraphy, or “wire- less," as it is commonly called. Probably most telegraphers have only a vague idea of what this really is, and associate it in their minds with the higher branches of electrical science, as some- thing exceedingly complex and .difficult to understand or attain proficiency in. This is not the case, however, for anyone who has a fundamental under- standing of the principles of electricity and will apply himself to a little study of the text-books on this subject, can acquire a knowledge of it. To give you a practical illustration: I knew absolutely nothing about the sub- ject, had never heard a wireless signal prior to October, 1916, when I put a 72- foot mast at my house and began exper- imenting with a set, consisting of a re- ceiving transformer (loose coupler), one large and one small condenser, and a galena detector. I was a Morse telegrapher for over twenty years, but quit it about sixteen years ago; had never had any experience with Continental, but it did not take me long to catch on; and, in short, by the 6th of April, when war was declared and all amateurs had to dismantle, I had be- come proficient enough to get the con- densed Associated Press broadcasted every night from the naval station “N A R" at Key West, also the time signals and weather reports sent out from Arlington, Va. ("N A A"). Of course, I could get many other stations — Tucker- ton, N. J.; Bolinas, Cal.; San Diego, for instance — and many boats on the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Coast. There must be a number of O. R. T. men in the radio service, especially now that there is such a demand for radio men; but we never see any contributions from them in the Fraternal Department of our magazine. Why not extend them an invitation to contribute such items as the censor will permit? Even items as to their daily work, though they might seem trivial, would, I am sure, be of interest to the craft. A skilled radio man might ask how I succeeded in bringing in such stations as Tuckerton and Bolinas on an ordinary Digitized by CjOCK
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340 The Railroad Telegrapher. loose coupler and galena. Ordinary “spark’* stations can be brought in on the simple receiving apparatus, but tor bringing in the powerful “undamped waveM stations/ such as Tuckerton, Darien, Guantanamo, etc., a long wave receiving transformer and an audion bulb detector is necessary, all of which were adopted as I learned more of the business. It is extremely fascinating work for a dabbler in electrical experiments. The romantic side of telegraphy appeals to so many of us. Just think of a person sit- ting in his room at home in west Texas, about half way between the two oceans, and listening to ships on either ocean talking to eadh other. All this could be done before the war. So far as I know, all the amateur radio magazines which were published before the war have been discontinued, except the “Wireless Age/* and I am certain a radio man's contribution would be very acceptable to the columns of this depart- ment. Of course, this branch of teleg- raphy can hardly be taken up in as prac- tical a manner at the present time as pre- vious to the declaration of war, but war certainly will not always last, and at its termination the government ban on ama- teur plants will be removed. In the mean- time, those who are interested could be reading up on the subject and get an Idea of how simple it really is. Geo. C. Hazeltine. EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY. The church has a great social mission. If I felt that it was not interested in the everyday affairs of men — in the abo- lition of the sweatshop and of child la- bor; in the securing of better sanitary conditions for working people— I would cut out the church and line up with the trade union even more strongly than I do. It is because I believe that the church is concerned about these things that I shall continue to work through the church for the securing of better things for workingmen and their families. It is an institution which not only pre- pares men for death, but, more important still, it teaches them how to live. Unfor- tunately, some workingmen have thought of it as something which has to do only with sickness, death and cemeteries, and that the preacher was a handy man to have around in case of a funeral. It is interesting to note, by the way, that the average preacher usually responds to such a call. Christianity believes in brighter homes, better schools, more beautiful cities and cleaner governments. If Christian men were in the majority in our great cities, most of the evils found* in them would be wiped out. They are not in the ma- jority, however, and never have been. This is sometimes forgotten when the church is sneered at by its enemies, who ask why it is that after so long a trial it has not succeeded in Christianizing the cities. While much has been done through its influence, Christianity has really never been tried. The churches have become centers for the social and intellectual life of the peo- ple as well as for the development of their spiritual life. Open every night and nearly all day, as many of them are, for concert courses and lecture series, free dispensary and savings bank, sewing school and cooking class, boys’ clubs and reading rooms, men's clubs and library, music and women's clubs, and everything else that is helpful and Inspiring— so far as their means will permit and the com- munity demand — these all Indicate that the church has a vital Interest in the “here and now" as well as in the “here- after.” Sometimes workingmen have said that the church is not doing enough for the needs of a certain community. They for- get that as a rule the particular church which they are criticising is composed of their neighbors, who are no better off than themselves, but who are striving to supply church privileges for the peo- ple living in the district. If the average workingman believes in this work of the church, he can render his fellowmen a great service by helping it through his personal efforts. For the question of helping the people 1m the neighborhood Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 341 Ib not so much a question of money a e it is a problem of flesh and blood — viz., the willingness of men to give themselves to the work of helping others. The high- thinking workingman best understands the needs of those with whom he asso- ciates, and he can suggest many things to the minister, who, with his co-opera- tion, can carry out his practical plans for the betterment of the whole commu- nity. Almost any minister will gladly talk over with a workingman any plan that he may have for helping his fellow- men. Anyway, try it and see how he will respond. Rev. Charles Stelzle. ' CONTINENTAL ALPHABET. As so many of our members who are contemplating entering military or naval service are making requests for the Con- tinental Telegraph Code, we are printing the entire alphabet for those who are in- terested : A B C .... D ... E . F .... G ... H .... I .. J K ... L .... M . . N .. O P Q R ... 8 ... T . U ... V .... W ... X Y Z A WORD FROM NAGA8AKI. Thinking perhaps the boys at home may be interested, am giving a brief account of our movements since we or- ganized in St. Paul. The contingent of 215 railway opera^ tive men left St. Paul November 11th, and a contingent of 75 Baldwin locomo- tive experts left Philadelphia November 9th, and we joined forces at San Fran- cisco on arrival November 14th. The entire contingent left San Francisco No- vember 19th for Vladivostok, Russia, via Honolulu and the Sanger Straits of Japan. We arrived at Vladivostok December 14th, and as conditions in Russia were unsettled, we left there December 17th for Nagasaki, Japan, where we are quar- tered in hotels awaiting developments in Russia. # We have had a very pleasant trip, hav- ing had no work to perform, with the ex- ception of some study of standard rail- way rules and the Russian language. We spent four days in Honolulu amusing our- selves by sight-seeing over this wonder- ful little island and bathing at the fa- mous Waikiki beach. Our ocean voyage was void of any incidents worth mention- ing. At Vladivostok we were on land for one afternoon, visiting as many places of interest as our limited time would al- low, and here we encountered snow and ice In abundance, quite a contrast to sunny Hawaii. . We have now been here a month, and have been improving our time with a study of these little people and their country, and they seem to be busy trying to make things pleasant for us, and have succeeded nobly. All that the Imperial Railway can offer is ours, gratis; and when we are not taking advantage of them we are imposing on the good will of other residents here, who seem very anxious that we be royally entertained. Our .disappointment is the lack of news from home. We have practically not re- ceived a line since we departed, and are entirely in the dark as to what our families and the good old railroads, etc., are doing. Our next move has not been Digitized by v^oooLe
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342 The Railroad Telegrapher. announced, though we hope it's on to Russia. Best wishes to the Order, and regards to all the boys. P. S. — Following is the roster of the Southern Pacific contingent: Major F. B. Parker, superintendent. Captain W. O. Williams, master me- chanic. Lieutenant F. C. Smith, trainmaster. Lieutenant V. E. Young trainmaster. Lieutenant H. C. Waddell, traveling en- gineer. Lieutenant A. A. Cirby, traveling engi- neer. j Lieutenant F. M. Clark, chief dis- patcher. Lieutenant C. R. Ric6, dispatcher. Lieutenant O. T. Alexander, dispatcher. Lieutenant W. A. Kelley ^ dispatcher. Lieutenant W. C. Livesay, dispatcher. 'Lieutenant J. H. Whitehead, dis- patcher. Lieutenant P. E. Turner, dispatcher. Lieutenant G. M. Haynes, lineman. Lieutenant A. E. Jones, roundhouse foreman. Lieutenant W. H. Fowler, erecting fore- man. Lieutenant John J. Brown, erecting foreman. Lieutenant F. S. Patton, erecting fore- man. Lieutenant C. L. Terry, machine fore- man. Lieutenant J. C. Tracy, machine fore- man: Lieutenant C. H. Sorensen, machine foreman. Lieutenant C. C. Lee, foundry foreman. Lieutenant W. O. Strack, foundry fore- man. P. E. Turner, Cert 769, Div. 63. Digitized by v^oooLe
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NOTICE. All matter for this department must be in the hands of the Grand Secretary and Treasurer on or before the 25th day of the month in order to insure itS'Use in the following issue. New Haven, Conn., Div. No. 29. New Haven Div., N. Y. N. H. and H. R. R.— At the election of officers on February 1st, there being no opposition, the following were elected unanimously : Chief Telegrapher Bro. Culver; First Vice, Bro. Johnson, Second Vice, Bro. Mills; Secretary and Treasurer, Bro. McCormack. All re-elected except First Vice Chief Bro. Johnson, who succeeds Bro. Dunbar, now residing in Danbury. He found It impossible to attend meetings regularly, owing to no relief and lack of train service, and will be greatly missed. When his pres- ence has been positively necessary, he has returned home by local freight barely in time to cover his trick the following day. As heretofore he will be found doing more than his bit outside of the division room in his various duties as a local chairman. Bro. Johnson, the new incumbent, needs no introduction. Respected for conscientious work in many years’ service of the railroad, with consistency he has always devoted an equal amount of energy in upholding the causer of unionism. Able, progressive, and reliable, he will reflect * credit upon the of- fice. For the brothers who have been re-elected, no word of ours can increase the apprecia- tion in which they are held. Their work speaks for itself. Ofttimes with much inconvenience to him- self, our chief has been present at every night and daylight meeting. Extra efforts have been made by him to make the meet- ings interesting, special attractions having been provided from time to time with more to follow. We believe little more can be done to Im- prove the attendance. The general chairman being present at every meeting to give a survey of the work past, present and future, except on rare occasions when he is called away on special and more important busi- ness, should be sufficient to fill the lodge room. However, with a division of around 500 members, the average attendance is not satisfactory. Those who do not attend, but pay their dues, and assessments promptly, and vote right when it is necessary to up- hold the general chairman, no doubt trust the officers to take care of their interests. Granted that the attendance is unsatis- factory the question arises has the local division outlived its usefulness, would it not be more consistent to give over all the busi- ness to the general committee, protected as now by constitutional limitation of powers, referendum vote, and selection by popular vote of those in whom we would rest our Interests. It was agreed upon, by the committee re- porting on a system division after careful study, that the local division is slow, un- wieldy, and lacking in co-ordination — team work. The four divisions working as a unit. In the end expresses the will of only a small number, the greater number being absent from meetings who sometimes never hear of the action taken. Does the expense of running four divisions, hall rent, secretaries’ salaries, the voting of much money at times on the Impulse of the moment for more or less worthy purposes, etc., bring commensurate results? Might not the establishment of a system division divert the same expense to better results? A salaried general secretary and treasurer on the Job eight hours a day, compiling in- formation, data, records, etc.; in constant touch with the pulse of the organization could use his spare time in trips along the line organizing, and have a home office ac- cessible to members looking for information and advice. It is a need of the hour and befits the standing of our organization. The great number of large divisions that have adopted the system division without excep- tion are enthusiastic over its results. In history, any movement or order that has worked for the good of men never recedes. Sometime it must come to us. Think it over now. An interesting and instructive part of the last meeting was the general chairman’s re* port of the schedule negotiations which Gov- ernment supervision has complicated. Bro. Ross deserves congratulations in addition to confidence. After a protracted siege of illness, Bro. C. J. Dunn, first at Fair St., New Haven, later on the levers at Mill River Jet., passed away on Thursday, February 7th, being laid *9 Digitized by v^oooLe
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344 The Railroad Telegrapher. to rest in St. Bernard's Cemetery, New Haven, on February 9th. He leaves two sisters and one brother, Brother J. J. Dunn, Mill River Jet., to mourn his loss. Included in the pallbearers were Bros. T. Carey, Otto Seemuller and F. A. Davis. A vast number of wreaths and bouquets of cut dowers con- veyed the loving respect in which he was held by a large circle of relatives and friends, a standing wreath of tulips, narcis- sus, and carnations being sent by Div. 29. Bro. Dunn was one of the oldest telegra- phers on the New Haven road, being in its employ almost 30 years. He was always to be depended upon when the organization needed defenders of the sterner sort; regu- larly attending the meetings until prevented by illness. Loyal to his friends, with always a generous contribution in the cause of suf- fering or need, loving memories will long prevail. Cherished in the home, the brother and sisters who are left to mourn have the heartfelt sympathy of many friends who themselves keenly feel his loss. The new tower in Cedar Hill classifica- tion yard was opened on January 31 with Bros. Hurton on first, Nlel on second, and Rida on third pending bids. Bro. Brennan, third trick dispatcher in Hartford, and wife spent two weeks recently In Washington, D. C., Jacksonville, Fla., and points enroute. Bro. Bernard relieved Bro. Brown, first “BS,” relieving Bro. Driscoll on the Shore Line sheet, who is working as assistant chief. Bro. Clapp of Branford, has the sincere sympathy of all in the loss of his son Howard, accidentally killed by stepping in front of a freight there recently. Bro. Gene Sullivan, “NH," made a trip to New York recently. We welcome Bro. Stevens back to East Lyme after a long illness. • Also Bro. Mc- Donald at Rye Town, and Bro. Gordon at Waterbury, after several days on sick list. Bro. Colwell, who recently underwent an op- eration in New Haven hospital, called on the boys in “NH” a few days ago. To Bro. Callis of Providence Division in the loss of his father, and Bro. Clapp in the loss of his son, a rising vote of condolence was extended at the last meeting and the secre- tary instructed to communicate the same to the brothers. In the absence of “Old Stub," who was unable to obtain relief, Bro. Johnson offici- ated at an interesting session at the last daylight meeting. Bro. Ross, as usual, gave out information up-to-date and we feel satisfied that he will be able to bring our negotiations to a suc- cessful conclusion. W. B. Shalkop, Div. Cor. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, who, through our Saviour, hath said: Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me; for of such is the Kingdom of heaven, has called unto Him, at a tender age, the daughter of our worthy Bro. Edward L Phil- lips, therefore be it Resolved, That the members of New Haven Division No. 29, Order of Railroad Teleg- rathers, extend to the sorrowing brother and his family, their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sad hour of bereavement, and be it further Resolved , That these resolutions be con- veyed to the bereaved family, appear in the columns of Thi Railroad Telegrapher, and written on the records of this division. F. A Brown, W. B. Shalkop, J. E. Case, Committee. Providence, R. I., Div. No. 35. At our February meeting Bro. A. H. Had- dock was re-elected Chief Telegrapher, and Bro. Gaffney and Bro. Naughton were also unanimously elected first and second vice- chiefs, succeeding Bro. Gainor as first, who, retired at his own request, also Bro. Webster as second, who was recently elected Secre- tary-treasurer of our B. A., In order to de- vote his whole time and energies to that office to which many members have been added since our December meeting. Bro. D. M. Callis was re-elected division secre- tary-treasurer, Bro. J. D. Vanderbeek. divi- sion correspondent, and Bro. G. W. Burtt was elected trustee. The report of the au- diting committee was highly complimentary to Secretary-Treasurer Callis, and was well deserved. General Chairman Ross, who conducted the elections also addressed us on matters now occupying the attention of the general committee. At our January meeting the question of merging our local divisions into a system division was voted down as it was in divi- sions 37 and 89. It is evident that a large majority of our membership will not sanc- tion any change until fully satisfied that present methods are not adequate and new ones superior. Bro. Vanderbeek gave his first illustrated lecture on his western trip before a men's club on February 1st in Providence. Sister Springer was an honored guest and enjoyed the review. Many choice views were shown. Bro. Joe Buck, third towerman at Brad- ford, has moved to that place. I am truly thankful of the solicitations of my many friends whose cheering words and loving contributions of aid, aside from the efforts of my physician contributed so Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 345 much to my comfort and made a speedy recovery possible from a recent two weeks* attack of larnygitis. J. D. Vandkrbeek, Div. Cor. New Rochelle, N. Y., Div. No. 37. Our regular meeting Friday evening, Feb- ruary Sth, was conducted by Bro. Tiffany, In the absence of Chief Telegrapher Wood’s, who was on the sick list. We took in quite a number of new mem- bers. Vice-President Pierson favored us with a long and very interesting talk, which was greeted by long and hearty applause; we regret that he cannot be with us more often. He had a picture of T. M. P. Jr., with him, and he looks like a chip off the old block. General Chairman Ross also favored us with an interesting talk pertaining to sched- ule matters, and Local Chairman Tiger and Bros. Shields and Clay talked on organiza- tion, and the work to be done. Officers elected for the ensuing year were: Bros. Geo. A. Woods, chief telegrapher; L. R. Tiffany, first, and John Simmons, second vice chief, and J. A. Hannon, trustee. Bro. Wooley, who relieved Bro. French, third ”SS 28,” three nights, also relieved Bro. Wood on second “SS 28,” Greenwich, and Bro. Taylor, leverman “SS 4,” a few days, and Local Chairman Tiger several nights. Bro. Durkin worked twelve hours for several days at ”SS 4,” Oak Point, while Bro. Taylor was sick. Bro. Brophy on third “PF” several nights, later 'relieved Bro. McDonald, on third ”8S 26,” Rye, a few nights, who relieved Doxey, third Cabin A. on sick list, later re- lieving Seeley, ”SS 8,” Bungay street, sev- eral nights and Bro. Maize, leverman ”SS 22.” two days. Bro. Kelley, who relieved on second Cabin A, a few days, relieved one night by Bro. Haniquet, who also relieved Bro. Corrigan, second ”SS 26,” a few days, on sick list, and Bro. Dooley, leverman “SS 27,” Port Chester, a few days. The Hell-Gate bridge was formally opened for freight service January 18th via Bungay Street Tower No. 8 to Bay Ridge. Traffic formerly floated from Greenville, N. J., through New York harbor to Oak Point yard is now floated from Greenville, N. J., to Bay Ridge, L. I., and made up in trains to be taken to West-Ch ester yard or direct to Midway for classification. **Hy” is now solid, Bro. Waupflug working from 2 p. m. to 10 p. m. Bro. Manley worked several nights on the sheet, ”Hy” Branch and Connecting R. R., and Bro. McGinnis worked Bro. Redding’s trick while he was acting assistant chief dis- patcher for several days. Bro. Nugent from “Pc” is now in the superintendent’s office at Harlem River, and Bro. J. F. Quinn, third ”Hy” office, is assist- ing Examiner O’Brien there. Ex-Bro. Cartwright, pass clerk in Super- intendent Matsett’s office, enlisted in the Ordnance Department and has been as- signed to the Custom House at New York City. Bro. J. C. Donovan relieved on the delay job by Bro. Shields at Harlem River, who en- listed at the declaration of the war in the W. M. Department at Fort Slocum, has been acting corporal, taking detachments south. Bro. H. F. Bauer, third “Hy,” who enlisted in the Signal Reserves and has been in train- ing at City College, has been assigned as instructor there to recruits in the Signal Corps. There are only a lew “nons” in sight. We all know who they are, so treat them accordingly until they get in line. “N. C.” Springfield, Mass., Div. No. 38. Boston and Albany R. R.— The regular monthly meeting was at- tended by about thirty-five members, and considering the way trains have been run- ning for the past two months, it was a good showing. There is room for improvement, however, and we hope with improved weather conditions and trains running nearer on schedule time, that more may be depended upon to get to the meetings and back, and the attendance increase percep- tibly. Remember boys there is nothing like at- tending the meetings regularly. Come and get acquainted and get your information from the right source. Do not wait to be told. Among those present known to the writer were Bros. Sanford, Sheridan, Rad- nor, Alrutz, Donavan, Na^le, DeVllleray. Keefe, Patterson, Hyde, Wilson, Bates, etc. The following officers were elected: Chief Telegrapher, Bro. Sargent; secretary and treasurer, Bro. Walsh; first vice, Bro. Rad- nor; second vice, Bro. Meade. A vote of sympathy having been extended to Bro. Cardinal upon the death of his wife last week in Springfield, also to Bro. F. Barry upon the death of his father recently in Montreal, Can., the secretary was in- structed to send the same to both these members in their bereavement. A nice service flag was placed on the wall of the meeting room with eight stars, one for each brother member who has gone into the service of Uncle Sam. A pretty good showing. A communication was received from Grand Secretary and Treasurer Rawlins to the effect that no provision had been made by the Grand Division to pay the M. B. D. dues of enlisted members and a motion was Digitized by tjooole
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346 The Railroad Telegrapher. carried unanimously which will . certainly meet the approval of all, providing* for the payment of such dues from the division treasury. It is our duty to see that these brave boys, who are giving their all for their country, for humanity and for us In- dividually, shall not be deprived of their benefits. It did good to all of us who attended, for most everyone seemed to have his own idea as to how to interpret the new vacation clause of the schedule, on account of the list having failed to come out, but doubts soon disappeared, for "Marty” was right there with the information. The list will come out in the next few days and no doubt, each one will avail himself of the "blessings” or get the extra money. The committee is out for another sub- stantial increase; we want to all stick to- gether and we shall come out all right. The prospects are fine. Now get busy after the few ''nons.” There is no reason whatever why they should not join. Until the "come across,” remember, "no card, no favors ” Now, boys, let’s have your news. We must have a good write-up every month. Remember, every little bit helps. Next month we want to have news from all of you. Remember the M. K. T. Cbrt. 507. Boston and Albany Railway Notes — Bro. H. D. Barnes after giving the East End a whirl for several months has settled down on first Paynes. Bro. E. C. Pierce is back on second Chat- ham after a week’s illness, relieved by Bro. H. B. Best. Bro. F. H. Bristol, third tower, 65 Chat- ham, N. Y., recently operated on at Hillcrest Hospital, Pittsfield, for hernia and appendi- citis, is progressing finely. Bro. G. J. Traver, -who relieved him, is being relieved by Bro. H. D. Whitney, and he on second tower, 72 Rensselaer, by Bro. E. Keefe, re- lieved on first Niverville by Bro. W. H. Sweet, and he on third Niverville by Bro. H. B. Best, relieved on second there by Ed Haight. Bro. Wm. Cunningham, first tower 66 Chatham, on sick list a week was relieved by Bro. D. Thompson, third and C. Dough- erty second, doubling three days when S. Whalen, brakeman and extra towerman came to their relief. Bro. Geo. Van Valkenburgh, first Paynes, is now assistant agent East Chatham, and Geo. W. Gage station agent at Pulvers. The members of Division 38 extend their sympathy to Bro. Ralph Studley, Claverack, who lost his mother recently. Several of the brothers of Division 38 have enlisted or have been drafted and are in different branches of the service. Bro. Peter Sheridan is on first, Tower 65, "NA” Jet., and Bro. W. Hover on third. Bro. Packy McCabe, third West Spring- field yard, is now operator at Springfield Armory. Bro. Thomas Donovan is now chief signal- man, East End, succeeded by Bro. W. Brewer ns extra dispatcher. Chief Dis- patcher Powers promoted to assist train- master, succeeded by Chas. A. O'Connor. First trick dispatcher Varney, West End, on sick list several weeks relieved by Bro. W. Brewer. New York, N. Y.f Dlv. No. 44. The regular February meeting was called to order by Worthy E. B. Van Nostrand with about forty-seven members present. It was a rather spicy meeting; everybody was on the alert and ready to offer some sug- gestion or proposition to help the good cause along. The election of officers resulted as fol- lows: Bro. J. S. Thuma, chief telegrapher; Bro. L. Meringer, secretary and treasurer; Bro. O. A. Hudson, first vice, and Bro. G. D. Carnes, second vice chief; Bro. Carnes was also elected local chairman for the agents to fill the vacancy caused by the death of our late Bro. Truitt. Bro. Pierson gave us a very satisfactory review of our schedule negotiations and pleaded with the membership to have pa- tience and work hard to build up our organ- ization, so we will have the powef* and strength of any organization in the world as the time is coming when every labor or- ganization will have to bq 100 per cent strong or as near so as possible. Some of our brothers are doing splendid work; four- teen new members being admitted at our last meeting. Let us get in the few left and have the honor of sending four dele- gates to the next convention. We were all deeply grieved to hear of the sudden death of our esteemed brother. Lo- cal Chairman Ht V. Truitt, agent at St. James, L. I. Our order and division have suffered an ir- reparable loss. He will be missed in more ways than one. His fellow members on the General Committee greatly deplore his sud- den demise; always alert to the welfare and concern of the men whom he represented, leaving nothing undone to better their con- dition, ready and willing, working conscien- tiously and earnestly for the upbuilding of our organization and Division. He died as he desired. In harness. He fought his fight and did his duty as he saw . it. Peace to him. We can best express our feelings as to the high esteem he was held by all that knew him in these lines: Green be the turf above thee, Friends of thy better days None knew thee but to love thee None named thee but to praise. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 847 Bro. D. G. Hawkins, agent, Elmhurst, has resigned and accepted a position with the Elmhurst Coal Co. We all wish Dan success and hope to see him at our meetings. We were all glad to hear that Bro. J. D. Howell was back on Second HX, having re- ceived his honorable discharge from the Fed- eral service on account of dependency. It is now Bro. Powell, agent at Hollis, which makes Hollis solid once more. Bro. H. E. Peace has been on the sick list for two weeks. We all hope to see him back soon; Bro. Carlough relieved him on first FK; Bro. M. J. Pape going on third. E. Van Nostrand, Div. Cor. Cert. 332. Pittsburgh, Pa., Div. No. 52. P. A L. E. R. R. Division — At the regular meeting held Saturday night, Feb. 7th, it was decided to change the time of commencing our meetings, due to poor train service, to meet at 6:30 p. m. instead of 7:45 p. m., to allow brothers on the west end to make train No. 37 out of Pittsburgh. Please be governed accordingly and be on hand at 6:30 p. m. Election of officers resulted as follows: Ward Oneil, chief telegrapher; S. C. Phil- lips, first vice-chief; L. G. Daugherty, sec- ond vice-chief; R. W. Bees, secretary and treasurer; J. D. O’Connor, trustee. Bro. J. S. Comelison, who has been in the Columbia Hospital, Wilkensburg, for sev- eral months, is still in a very serious cond- tion. Any brother able to help him financi- ally may send his donation to Bto. R. W. Bees, secretary and treasurer. There are a lot of new men on the road. If they are already members of some .other division we should see that they are trans- ferred to this division. In accordance with section 29, page 52 of our statutes, as noted in the constitution and by-laws and If not up-to-date secure their applications at once. Bro. H. H. Kreiser, first “DX” Tower, Pittsburgh, has been reinstated with full honors. Bro. Lunn going back to second “DX” Tower, Pittsburgh. Bro. Rothrock, third “D3{” Tower, is learning the road and will soon be dispatch- ing trains. Bro. C. A. Boyer, who bid in second “BX” Tower, has moved to Waumpux. Other re- cent changes are already well known mak- ing it unnecessary to take up time and space to note them herein. Bro. D. W. Smith, second, and Bro. R. V. Dufford, third “J,” New Castle Jet., have transferred from Division 33 to this division. We welcome them to our midst. Bro. Salter, our famous biscuit shooter, la back in “DE” Pittsburgh. No news from Gough or Mon Divisions. We will have to appoint some brother to send in the notes from the east end. Csbt. 742. Washington, D. C., Div. No. 60. Our last meeting * was attended by all not working second tricks, and quite a volume of business was put through. We had the pleasure of having with us Presi- dent Perham and General Chairman Yeager, of the B. & O. The talks they gave us were of great interest and were greatly enjoyed. One point in part of Bro. Perham’s talk of the power of organization, unionism has never been known to weaken. The O. R. T. is made up of a body of men who simply want what is coming to them. Stick to- gether and we will get our rights, better ourselves, practically increase our own sal- aries, and better our own working condi- tions. I cannot impress upon you too strongly to hold your membership in the Order now that the Government has control of the roads. IF YOU HAVEN’T YOUR CARD, AND ARE NOT IN GOOD STAND- ING IN THE O. R. T., where are you going to head in? I’ve worked pretty, hard on this division to help put it in the position it is today, and we are now nearly 100 per cent strong. As President Wilson says, these are no times for strikes. When we get out of the starvation wage schedule things will run along smoothly enough. H office is now sporting a Morkrum print- er operated, by three girls. I don’t Imagine the boys will stand for this very long, unless their pay check reads the same as ours. Bro. Morton has been elected to keep “the Jigger” in operation. A new position has been opened known as “SU” office; more of a clerk job than an operator. Chiefly tracing down delays of various trains leaving the terminal and re- porting them in detail to the people higher up. The brothers should take this a little more seriously and give us a lift as far as possible, as in some cases it puts Bro. Price and myelf in an embarrassing position to explain a delay satisfactory enough to get by on. It was by our request that we were placed In this position. We were notified to report on the job and work it. Some of the brothers don’t fully understand the po- sition. I’ve overheard remarks that don’t exactly sound right, and I’m using this means of explaining the situation. Bro. Dent on sick list a few days, re- lieved by Bro. LeHew. Bro. Nelson, promoted from “DC” to “H,” relieved by Marquette, who will soon be with us, which will put “DC” office back on its old standard SOLID. Bro. Loats, Old *GM“ Southern Railway man, is posting on third. Glad to have him with us. Bro. E. L. Price visited home folks a few days in Maryland. Bro. H. A. Rourke spent a few days in Baltimore. Digitized by tjoooie
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348 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Brlnckman is now chief of “PO” wire on second, as the printer displaces the wire on , first. Bro. Masen is hitting: them up to 70 per with his new bug1. This explains the can of 3-in-l oil always near him. Thanks for the notes from the various brothers. Come agrain. Don’t forget the regular meeting nights. Stick to it, and live up to the slogan, “no card , no favors.” W. L. Bruchey, Cert. 30. Boston, Mass., Div. No. 89. N. TtJ N. H. d H. R. R. — Our December night meeting, the final one for the year 1917, was a red-letter one for this division, as there were nearly forty new applicants admitted to membership, chief among them being the train dispatchers of the entire system, who, of their own volition, petitioned the various divisions covering their respective localities tor membership into our Order. The boys all feel proud, not only for the increase in membership, but also of' the efforts of our general chairman, who Is right on the Job all the time in perfecting a work- ing agreement between the clerks and sig- nalmen’s organizations on the entire system. Bro. George Clark, member of the General Committee/ delegated to represent the gen- eral chairman, who, on account of urgent busi- ness, was unable to be present/outlined the progress made in our present schedule nego- tiations. Past Chief Telegrapher Kerns gave us a forty-minute talk on the duties of the mem- bers in general, and the inactive member in particular, and there Is not likely to be any more of that ilk in old 89 In the future. It required an assistant to help out Gen- eral Secretary McDermott, owing to the many petitions and other business requiring atten- tion at this meeting. The Beneficial Association is in a healthy condition financially, each member receiving an $8 refund, despite the fact that the last term's dues were reduced from 26c a week to $1 per month. The sympathy of the membership of the entire division is extended to Bro. Dave Mc- Grath over the loss of his sbn, killed in bat- tle in France: also to Bro. Chas. Board man in the recent death of his son. At the January night meeting, the sincere and heartfelt sympathy of the membership was extended to our secretary-treasurer, Bro. J. H. McDermott, in the death of his beloved wife at Christmastlde, making the loss dou- bly hard to bear. Mrs. McDermott, the em- bodiment of all that is good in womanhood, a dutiful wife and motner, always mindful of the welfare of others, a good Christian and a devout church member, is mourned by a wide circle of friends and relatives and will be missed most by those who knew her best. The proposition fostered by Division No. 29 to change from the local to the system division on the New Haven railroad, was dis- cussed and decided in the negative. Bro. Geo. Clark of the General Committee, spokesman for General Chairman Ross, ad- vised that the delay in schedule negotiations was due to the railroads having been placed under Government control. Bro. Clark was re-elected president and Bro. C. E. Watkins, Box 216, Southboro, Mass., secretary and treasurer of the Beneficial Association. Bro. Clark is now in charge of the statistical de- partment in the superintendent's office at Taunton. Past Chief Kerns delivered an interesting address on present conditions from a labor- ing man’s point of view, showing that we must adopt radical measures, owing' to the high cost of living or starve and freeze. \ In the death of Bro. John McConnon, Di- vision No. $9 loses on? of its most faithful members, always willing to lend a helping hand. He had been leverman at South Bos- ton Tower No. 237 ever since it was put in operation. Formerly a member of the B. of R. T.. he w&s at one time master of Bos- ton Lodge No. 297. Bros. C. F. Riley and D. Buckley acted as pallbearers. The many floral tributes attested to the high esteem in which he was held by relatives, friends and fellow-workmen. Chief Telegrapher Enos, in declining the nomination for re-election, said : “After serv- ing you for the past four years, I feel that owing to my many duties as local chairman, I should *not accept the office again. ’ I want to thank the officers and members of Division No. 89 for their co-operation and support in the past, and ask that you co-operate with my successor and help him make this division solid O. R. T. To accomplish this, our slogan must continue to be “No card, no favors” Your attention is called to pages 106-107- 108 of our constitution regarding the pen- sion fund. Bro. W. H. Henderson has donned the uniform of “Uncle Sam.'* We hope for his safe return. Bro. Bill O’Brien of Weymouth looks natty in bis uniform of the Harvard Radio School. Bro. Silva of Mlddleboro and Bro. Murchle are entitled to even honors in landing these “old-timers” down on the Cape. Bro. Geo. Barnes, agent Scituate, returned from his vacation, spefit in New York. Bro. Freeman, agent Egypt, has returned after a month’s duck hunting. Old Colony Division — Bro. George Bartlett, Chickering Tower, relieved by Bro. Tom McCaffery. on account of sickness. Bro. J. B. McEvoy of Walpole Heights, recently closed a successful real estate deal. Bro. I. K. Spellman, second Mansfield, is touring the west and visiting his father in Missouri. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 349 Midland Division — Bro. Bresnahan, agent Farm Street Sta- tion, was relieved on 10 days’ vacation by Crossing Inspector Bartlett. Bro. Glazier, third Readville Transford Tower, spent a brief vacation recently with his folks at Hampton, Conn. Men wanted, is the cry on all divisions. H. J. Bardbl, Dit. Cor., Chrt. 92. The February meeting, being election night, brought out a large gathering. The regular order of business was hustled through and the following officers were elected for the present term, by acclamation, there being no opposition: Chief telegrapher, H. J. Bardol; first vice, J. H. Robicheau ; second vice, D. A. McGrath; secretary and treasurer. J. H. McDermott. General Chairman Ross, whose absence at our two previous meetings was keenly felt, was present and explained how pending negotiations for schedule revision had been retarded by the entrance of the Federal Government Into railroad affairs. He had several conferences with the Wage Board, the Interstate Commerce Commission, and President Perham in Washington, and the report he rendered was synonymous of his progressive spirit. Such news coming from Washington at this time when the eyes of the world are focused on that point was sur- rounded by an atmosphere of importance and the ring of diplomacy, showing that our gen- eral chairman, as usual, was right on the Job. The report was keenly appreciated by all present. Bro. A. H. Joy passed suddenly away while in the performance of his duties at South Braintree. He was a loyal good fellow, a staunch O. R. T. man, and well liked by a wide circle of friends. No. 89 sincerely mourns the loss of so worthy a brother. Bro. J. R. Bartlett, assistant chief train dispatcher in the Boston office, has resigned to engage in other business. “Rudy,” as he was familiarly known, was always well liked by the boys, and while we all regret to see him go, yet we are pleased to know he is going to better himself. The absence of divisional news items the past month or two, is not entirely the fault of your correspondent. We must have some- thing to write about, so if you will help to furnish that something I will do my part. Have you read Bro. Roblcheau's article on page 1782. December Telegrapher, entitled “Publicity?” Now is your time to Join the Benefit Asso- ciation: it is in a flourishing condition and you can't help but appreciate the benefits derived, even If you are not sick. The many wage increases coming to us In the dally papers, sure look fine on paper. Bardol, Div. Cor. CARD OF SYMPATHY. The officers and members of Division 89 extend to Bro. W. W. Burdick their heartfelt sympathy in the great loss of his mother. W. Im Enos. Grand Trunk Ry., Div. No. 1. Somewhere on the Fourth District — It’s a pleasure to know that mostly all our agents and operators are carrying up-to-date O. R. T. cards. We hope that Mr. McMullen of Bombay, and his son, Percy, also Operator Doucet of Southwark and Gogette, old-tfcner at Brosseau Junction, will soon be with us. Brother Bouchard of Huntingdon, on a week’s vacation home, was relieved by “Half Brother” McMullen. Brother Vincellette, first, Fort Covington, is soon to be married. We wish him all kinds of happiness and a delightful honeymoon trip. Third trick operator at Fort Covington Just starting in his operating career will soon be one of our brothers. Hearty felicitations. Brother Potoln of Howick Junction has Just bought an upright “Bug”. Hope he wakes the fellows up on wire No. 28. Brothers, our first month’s increase has been due for a long time. I hope that our leaders, Messrs. Bourassa of St. Johns, and Marchland pf St. Constant, get after the de- linquents and see that they remit at once to our G. S. and T. Everyone is working steady except Mc- Mullen on the relieving list. Our boys do not seem to care very much about letting him have a few days. He certainly knows what “no card , no favors” means, and should get an up-to-date at oncer; making one “non” less on this pike. Boys, do your best and show that the Fourth District is not dead; altogether, let us get after those "nons” who seem to be deaf. By Cert. 2781. Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Districts and C. 8. & M.— Notes are not coming in very good. You must do better if you want a good write-up each month. Milwaukee Junction closed, new office opened at Gillen Yard, Bros. Nelles, Waugh and McVean transferred to the latter pend- ing bids. Yardmaster at Milwaukee Junc- tion is now clearing twenty-seventh district passenger trains. This should be taken up at our next meeting. We are glad to have Bro. Fisher back at Pontiac after a trial of life at Camp Custer. Bro. Howie, third Pontiac, has enlisted in the navy as radio operator. Bro. Mike Burke, off on account of sick- ness. Bros. Crow and Gant doubling until Mr. Allen came to the rescue. Digitized by tjOOQie
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350 The Railroad- Telegrapher. Grubbs, at Swartz Creek, after two years’ absence, will line up soon. Bro. Quinn, first Elsdon, was off a few days, recently. Lansing ticket office sold about 130 round trips to Florida and 40 to California during the cold weather. You fhay write your own heading to this item. Bro. Link, Lansing, off a few days, brought in a nice string of fish, but didn’t say how much he paid for them. There should be another shake-up on the line to wake up the “nons” who promised to come in first of the year and failed to keep their promises. "No card — no favors. w is the only thing that will get them. v “Hib.” Cert. 2509. “Big Four” Ry., Div. No. 3. Indianapolis Division — The Government mediator met with the “Big Four” officials and our committee on February 21st. Bro. Amspaugh is on sick leave on ac- count of losing his speech. Bro. Warren, at Harrisville, and Sister Blue are also off on account of sickness, and Bro. Harry Better has been off two weeks on account of the illness of his wife, recently operated on for gall stones, and now doing nicely. Bro. Martz is back at South Anderson after switching awhile in yards. Bro. W. H. Hatcher and wife have re- turned from a two weeks’ visit to- her brother in Mississippi. On bulletin: Second at Harrisville, and David and third Post. Cert. 2144. Card of Thanks. We desire to express our appreciation to the brothers of the Indianapolis Division No. 3 for contributions given us for . sickness of Mrs. H. A» Ritter. Bro. and Mrs. H. A. Ritter. Cleveland Division — Bro. Dutton, third Rush, was relieved several days by Extra Rollins, who later re- lieved Bro. Newkirk, third Marsh ; Bro. Stump, first Hayes, was off a few days re- cently, also Bro. Clutter, third St. James, and Bro. Rose, first Shiloh, both relieved by Extra Newkirk. Bro. Conklin was sick a few days, and Bro. Shoppner was off on account of the serious illness of his father, both relieved by Hart. Bro. Triplett visited friends in Michigan recently. Bro. Bishop, third Vernon, was relieved several days by Bro. Irey, who also relieved our Local Chair- man one day, on investigation at Crestline Joint, Pennsylvania. Settled O. K. Up for bids: Ashley first, Bro. Bill Elliott going with the Swift Packing Co. Also third at Leonardsburg, Longville, Berea and Nelson. Bro. Quay to Linndale, second, pending bids. The brothers at Edison have a new gas stove. It’s all some of us can do to get coal. Remember our motto : “No card , no favors Cert. 1499. C., St. P.f M. & O. Ry., Div. No. 4. Western Division — The Western Division on February 10th held a meeting at Mankato with the largest attendance in years. Some of the boys walked six miles, others pumped hand cars for miles to the main line to catch a train, while others hired rigs and drove ten or a dozen miles in order to attend. There was by actual count thirty members present. Such spirit as this is what has built the organization up to its present percentage basis and made the better things that we are now enjoying possible. It also creates a show of appreciation which is communi- cated to the local officers of the organiza- tion, which naturally has a tendency for them to put forth extra exertions in your behalf. If possible, and the inconvenience that you were possibly put to in order to be present is time, effort and money well spent, which is bound to be returned to you two fold. We feel sure a great many more would have been present, but the heavy business made it impossible to get away. • Local Chairman Tenney presided at the meeting and after the new schedule had been read he called upon General Chairman Bro. IJddane, whom we were pleased to have present, and he took each article and rule and explained it thoroughly so all could explain it fully to those with whom they might come in contact. After the schedule had been explained the following as called on responded in pleasing talks: Bros. Swiningson, Endors, Levering, O. S. Mann. J. E. Smith, Line- han, Kelly, Simek, Glick, Richmond, Frost. Jansen, Sisterman, Local Chairman Bro. Murphy of C. & N. W. Division No. 76 of Mankato, Robt. Beyer and others, including Bro. Gray from Brewster, who gave us a splendid talk, and Mr. F. E. Lehman of Heron Lake who, in his talk, promised to Join shortly. We were then obliged to ad- journ to enable the boys to catch their trains returning home. Bro. R. J. Stelter of Mendota and C. E. Anderson of Mer- riam were in Mankota 'that day, but having to return to resume their duties were unable to remain for the meeting. The meeting went on record with a vote of thanks to Division Superintendent Welch for his kindness in allowing so many to get away from their duties to attend and stop- ping night trains at many of the small sta- tions to allow the attending members to get off. A rising vote of thanks w'as tendered the Omaha general committee for the new re- Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 351 vision, likewise to the management of our road, for which a united effort will be made by all to show our appreciation. We are in receipt of a postal card from Bro. Claude Brooks, formerly of Butterfield, who has worked at many stations on this division, dated “In France, January 20th,” In which he says: “Been in Sunny France now a month; everything lovely. Having our Xmas dinner today and a big time to- night. Send a letter if you have time. Let- ters over here ‘are seldom/ ‘73’ to the boys on the line. C. Brooks, Bank, Cor- poral, Co. 107 Aero Squadron, Regt. A. E. F.“ Owing to sickness in his family, Bro. F. D. Everett was unable to attend the meet- ing, having to be relieved on that account by Bro. A. Q. Sherva, who later relieved Bro. R. J. Stelter at Mendota. We are indeed pleased to know that Bro. E. E. Douglass, after several months’ ill- ness, has so far recovered as to be able to resume his duties as agent at Madelia, re- lieving Bro. Jansen, who resumed on 1st there. Bro. G. W. Martin, on St. James side wire, has moved his family there from Brewster. Bro. Tenney was hurried back from com- mittee work to enable Bro. Alvord of St. James to visit his brother-in-law, who was about to leave for the training camps. This released Bro. Glick at Mankato who re- lieved Bro. Alvord at St. James. Bro. Glick attended the O. R. T. meeting at* St. Paul February 13th and received a new commission. " The Eastern and Northern Divisions held a Joint meeting February 17th at Eau Claire, and on February 24th a meeting was held at Emerson, Nebraska. Bro. W. L. Cochrane of Madelia is re- ported “under the weather.’’ Bra C. J. Rathman, traveling agent of the Omaha road, has been putting in sev- eral weeks on the Northern and Nebraska divisions. We wish the membership might be in the same position as your general secretary and treasurer is right now to watch the en- thusiasm, and to note the spirit that pre- vails, which is daily being brought to light by the individual efforts on the part of the members in encouraging non-members to Join. We are, it is true, working overtime to keep on top of this movement of new members, but we assure you that even that is a hardship that becomes a pleasure as we earnestly watch our membership swell. In order to effectively bring your argument to bear it might not be amiss to hold up before the prospective members that he, or she, can Join cheaper now than if they wait until after July 1st. At that time, as you have been advised, the initia- tion rate Increases. The general committee is somewhat dis- appointed to note that with the exception of Bro. Francis at Kanpp, who Joined right away, the men at the other agencies in- cluded ih our new schedule have not yet sent in their applications. We had hoped ere this to have heard from our friends at Blue Earth, Elmore and Laverne, where increases were granted and who have several months’ back pay coming their way, but they have not vouchsafed even any kind of an appreciative remark. The last we heard of Bro. Gray he was still figuring what all of his increase would amount to. Some day I will tell you Just how many lady members we have in Division No. 4. Our allotted space is .about taken up and will close by asking you each to remember the second notice of dues we have sent out. It will save us time and you money if you respond to the call now, provided you have not already done so. Chrt. No. 2. Eastern Division — The meeting at Eau Claire on Sunday, Feburary 17th, was one of the best ever held on this division. It was largely attended; the hall being practically full, although a larger hall was ready for us, where we could have handled twice as many. It was a de- lightful surprise to find Bro. W. T. Brown, our first vice president, among those present, and a great pleasure to meet him and to hear his eloquent talk. He spoke for over an hour, and everyone regretted that he could not speak longer, as all were very much inspired by his remarks. We sincerely trust that we will soon have the pleasure of hearing him again. The schedule was gone over thoroughly by General Chairman Liddane, and every rule analyzed and explained, so that each man knew Just what it meant in his own particular position. We found that«the cir- cular sent out by the General Committee did not tell half of the concessions secured and as the entire schedule was unfolded to us and explained, word for word, every man present agreed that the increase in salary represented a minor part of the benefits in the schedule and that we have today an agreement on this railway that six months ago looked like a dream. Not only the monetary benefits but the better conditions surrounding our work were shown to be of the very best, and a vote of gratitude was given the general chairman and the entire committee for their efforts in our behalf. It developed at the meeting that the new schedule means an increase of $40.00 a month for our notorious “non”, Strasburg. at Wilson, and he still refuses to do his share. While the turnout was good it is regretta- ble that so many of the members on the Digitized by v^oooie
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352 The Railroad Telegrapher. Eastern Division, who couid have done so, failed to attend. There is no question but that every third trick man on the division could have been there as- well as all the ex- clusive agents and agent telegraphers and telegraphers from places like Roberts, Wood- ville, Neillsville, Black River Falls and the branches, who are not required to work on Sunday. Those who were absent will not be in a position to apply the rules as intel- ligently as those who heard them explained and it may the means of depriving them of overtime and perquisites to which they are entitled, in the future. Bros. Johnson from Tunnel, and Donahue from Valley Junction, were among those who attended. Bro. Haberman, who relieved Bro. Don- ahue a few days at Valley Junction, also re- lieved Bro. Kvool, short time at Humbird, while they were on vacation. Bros. Roy and Ray Bigger, Merrillan, were relieved a few days by Bro. Mills and an extra, while attending grandmother’s funeral, and Bro. Harpold, B. R. Falls, was relieved by Bro. Maddocks, agent, several days while attending brother’s funeral. We secured more money and better work- ing conditions in our new schedule than any other road in the Northwest. We have had two raises within a year, one for about $7.50 and the other for $10, with a 26 working day, which gives us Sunday off, or overtime for what work we do. The Eastern Division is practically solid now and we want to keep it so. If any new men oome on the road send their names to the local or assistant local chairmen, who will furnish them with a set of blanks. Then keep after them until they sign up and get a card. Cert. 6. Northern Division — The committee is being congratulated on the result of the revision of the schedule completed January 27th, the wage scale go- ing into effect December 15th and the work- ing rules February 1st, giving “The Omaha" one of the best schedules in the Northwest, putting us right up with the rest of the roads, and giving us an inducement to in- vite first-class men to its service, as the low wage scale and unsatisfactory working con- ditions in the past have kept good men away from the road. With the present schedule in effect there will no trouble in securing good men, who will stick ; something that has never prevailed in the past. There are plenty of men in the country, who gave up their chosen vocation due to poor pay and working conditions, who are coming back to the key after years of absence, because wages and working conditions have been made more attractive. We trust the brothers will thoroughly ana- lyse the different new rules In the schedule in reference to overtime, etc., and not beat themselves out of anything that's coming to them due to ignorance of the meaning of the different rules. See that every detail in the schedule is lived up to. Anything you do not understand take up with your repre- sentative immediately and he will put you right Due to so many new rules in the new schedule the committee called a meeting of the Western Division at Mankato, Febru- ary 10th, and Eastern and Northern Divi- sions at EauClaire, February 17th. These meetings were very instructive and there was a good turnout Our general chairman recently covered the different divisions, meeting the officers and going over the details of the schedule with them. This not only made it more pleasant for the men, but it will lessen the burdens of the superintendents and chief train dis- patchers also. Your local chairman was greatly disap- pointed that he could not attend the Eau- Claire meeting, being taken down with the mumps the day before. There are so many of the boys on his division he has not had the opportunity to meet personally that he had looked forward to this meeting as a great deal ot pleasure. The hospitality shown me on my recent trip over the Eastern Division was very gen- erous. I never met a finer bunch anywhere and the kind treatment tendered me every- where was surely appreciated, especially by the officers in the despatcher’s office at Eau- Claire, who showed me every courtesy; the chief despatcher inviting me to his home for dinner. You boys down there have a fine fellow to work for and he deserves every- thing you can give him. We wish him and his able assistants everything that is good. We have the finest chief train despatcher on any division of any road in the country, es- pecially in his feeling toward the men. Bines I have been serving you I have had numer- ous occasions to interview him on matters pertaining to the schedule, the men, etc., and have always been treated courteously and made to feel that I am welcome to in- terview him at any time, and that he will do everything in his power for the good of the men. I trust that every one of you will keep his good will. It reflects well upon the men I am trying to serve. It is gratifying, indeed, the way the fair ladies are getting on the right side. We have five on the Northern Division. All ex- cept one now carries a card, and the other one will shortly. They appreciate what solid organization means, and we are truly glad to welcome them into our ranks. V. L. Winslow, Sarona, has returned from extended leave to help reap the fruits of our new schedule and help to pay for these bene- fits. Let’s get this man into the fold. Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 353 Bro. 22. Swanson, Deer Park, on several months' leave, visiting points in California, relieved by Bro. D. EL Knapp. It's now Bro. C. F. Strausberg at Rock- xnont; also Bro. Sinclair at Spooner. Trego is solid again after being a "nan's" nest for years. We are glad to have Bro. O. P. Ruld, our former local chairman, back with us again. We are also glad to welcome “M. EL F." at Wascott to our ranks. Bra Li. J. Perry, second Trego, has taken Minong agency. Bro. McKulla from Division No. 64, recently transferred to Division 4, is on first Clear Lake, pending bulletin. Bro. C. F. Harback was relieved by Miss Zur- brlck several days on account of the death of his little girL Resolutions of sympathy follow. Bro. Sober was relieved by Sister Kr ingle a few days while visiting his parents in the southern part of the state. A non whose salary we raised over $20.00 a month In the last schedule writes your1 local chairman that he will never support the organization because he did not get as much of a raise as the other two men in the office where he works. We will give him a chance to think it over before naming him. We still have a few nons on this division who refuse to sign up. A list of their names will be furnished any of the members, who do not know where they are located. These men have had every opportunity to join us and help carry the burden, but still feel content in letting the rest of us brothers do it for them. Remember the slogan, “No card t no favors /* and apply it until they do their duty. Csbt. 880.' IN MEMORIAM. Whshxas, Our heavenly Father, the giver of all that is good, has deemed it wise to take into his heavenly home the little daugh- ter of our Bro. C. F. Harback, therefore be it Resolved, That the members of Northern Division, Omaha Division No. 4, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sor- rowing brother and members of his afflicted family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this hour of sorrow and pain; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the bereaved brother, a copy spread upon the minutes of the division, and a copy forwarded to Thi Tslbgrafhkr for publication. V. B. MrrcHBLL, J. C. Apfblquist, L. L. Williams, Committee. Nebraska Division — There are still a few telegraphers on this division who feel that they are only under obligation to join the O. R. T. during nego- tiations for a new schedule, and that, of course, after that they can allow their mem- bership to lapse. This is not only unreason- able and illogical but extremely selfish. This being a small division, we must do every- thing possible, in order to keep our treasury in a healthy condition, and it is absolutely 'necessary for us to be up-to-date at all times. From July 1st the dues will be raised from $6.00 to $7.60 semi-annually. Everything has gone up, and this applies to the adminis- tration of the affairs of Division No. 4. You cannot keep a general committee on schedule negotiations on twice what it cost hereto- fore. Printing, stationery, postage, expenses of an organizer, etc., all have advanced. These Increased dues will keep our treasury where it should be, and enable us to put a lot of resistance in the way of encroachment upon the rights of the telegraphers. We have a good schedule now and must hold on to it, and see that every section is lived up to. It takes money to run anything, for that reason stay in the Order and see that every other telegrapher gets and stays in, in order that we may all get what is coming to us. Bro. W. D. Whitaker, to Blovmfield agency, relieved on first trick by Bro. E. Wood, with Bro. P. M. Shearer on second, and Ferguson, a new man, on third there, pending bulletin. Bro. F. R. Hallisey, Ferry, relieved on ac- count of sickness by Bro. Steinbaugh, from the "Q." Bro. Knudson on third, and Wood on third, who will soon be lined up. Bro. A. E. Morrell to Wynot agency, re- lieved by Bro. J. Paulson, relieved at Nacora by V. Nelson, a new brother just lined up. Bro. H. Kenny Emerson, second, on a trip to Omaha, relieved several days by Bro. Ormes from the Rock Island. Bro. It. H. Bailey of Pender and ye scribe have been on the sick-list a few days. We are waiting on Bro. Bill Craig to give us the name of the lady telegrapher at Ban- croft Young, at Lyons, and Plumleigh, at Wake- field, have promised to be with us shortly, which will put us in pretty good shape, with only a few more to get into the fold. If you don't know where they are located, ask me and get busy on them. With an increase of $23.50 at Coburn and $19.00 on Hubbard 2nd, there can be no plea of inability to carry a card, and the same is true at other points where there are nons; and remember, “No card , no favors ” C. J. Wbtgandt, Loc. Chairman. Union Pacific R. R., Div. No. 6. Colorado Division Notes — Bro. Emmons, who went to 2nd Pullman, was relieved on Srd Sterling by I. A. Sharon, a new man from the C. A S. at Trinidad. Bro. O. R. Martin, 1st Ft. Morgan, re- signed, relieved by Bro. Venneri. Digitized by v^oooLe
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354 The Railroad Telegrapher. Miss Maud Llttl6, formerly assistant at Zurich, who passed examinations, relieved Bro. Phillips at McAllaster a few days. Bro. Anderson, 2nd Hugo, relieved Bro. Folks, 2nd Sterling, while having his tonsils removed. Bro. Bilbo, LaSalle, has gone with the S. P. ; relieved at LaSalle by Bro. Thayer from the O. S. L. Bro. Sale, to Erie agency, relieved at Da- cona agency by Bro. Weiss from River Bend. Ex-Bro. Roy Collins, farming for the last four years, now on 1st Deer Trail, will soon be with us again. It is now Bro. Sheriff, St. Vrains, nights. Remember, boys, “No card , no favors” Bro. Touhy, agent St. Vrains, was off a few days, sick. Bro. Thompson, Frederick, is visiting in Texas, relieved by Bro. Holland. Bro. Folks, Sterling, planning a trip to the "folks” in Mississippi, anticipates a call from Uncle Sam soon. . Bro. Matthews, 1st Greeley, was relieved by Bro. Martin from Merino a few days on account of the death of his little boy. We all extend our sincere and heartfelt sym- pathy to Bro. Matthews and wife. Bro. Emmonj, 2nd Pullman, now has had an opportunity to stretch his feet under the table with the home folks. We hope he will always have that pleasure. Tour correspondent enjoyed a two-weeks’ visit with home folks in Missouri. Had a pleasant trip with the exception of a few miles where it was absolutely necessary to ride the “Katy.” Felt all the time that it was a case of not using any judgment as te “safety first.” We regret very much indeed to announce that Bros. Athey and Pexton have resigned. We wish them well and feel they will make good in their new undertakings. We understand Mrs. Parker of Ft. Col- lins, wife of Bro. W. E. Parker, who has been in a hospital on account of an operation for appendicitis, is getting along very nicely. We hope for her speedy recovery. Cbrt. 569. CARD OF THANKS. I wish to thank all members of Division No. 6, through Thb Railroad Telegrapher, for the beautiful flowers sent to my room at the University Hospital during my illness, from which I have fully recovered. Fraternally, Bro. B. C. Sander, Cert. 660, Holton, Kans. Canadian Pacific Ry.f Div. No. 7. Famham Division — Saturday night, January 26th, at Farnham Que., Martin's Hotel, Farnham Division had one of the best and largest attended meetings ever held on this division, called to order by Assistant General Chairman J. N. Potvin at 8 :30 p. m. Several matters of interest were brought up and discussed. The mem- bers on Farnham Division were honored by having General Chairman Mein and Bro. Chapman, Chairman Eastern Lines, present. After the meeting was over we all passed into the dining room, where a banquet wan * served in honor of Bro. J. A. Bertrand, at the occasion of his retirement from the local chairmanship after serving as such for the past five years, which had been arranged by the following committee: Bros. J. E. Le- vesque, J. A. Brilhart, G. A. Smith and F. A. Pouliot. The following was the menu : Oyster stew, oyster crackers; entree— roast turkey with cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese; rel- ishes— Spanish olives, celery, tomato catsup; salads — beet, potato ; roasts — beef, pork ; boiled — cold ham. mashed potatoes; pickles — sliced beets, sweet pickles ; dessert — straw- berry and lemon Jelly, with whipped cream; vanilla ice cream, assorted cakfes, Canadian cheese ; fruits — apples, grapes, oranges, bananas; beverages — green tea, black coffee; cigars — union made (of course). The banquet lasted until about 1 :00 a. m., when several of the boys either had to get to work or return home on freights, since the passenger train service has been cur- tailed. Our guest, Bro. Bertrand, and Bros. Mein and Chapman delivered interesting ad- dresses ; and the membership on Farnham Division is very grateful to the latter gen- tlemen for making it a point to visit us. At 1 a. m. all dispersed after having a very enjoyable time and wishing that we have another next year. Those present were : Bros. J. M. Mein, general chairman; A. E. Chapman, chairman Eastern Lines; J. N. Potvin, assistant gen- eral chairman ; J. A. Bertrand, agent, Farn- ham; J. E. Levesque, R. H. Fenton, G. A. Smith and H. A. Gosselin, trick dispatchers Farnham ; A. Charbonneau, lineman ; Agents T. J. Longchamp, Eastray; S. W. Poitras, Iberville; P. D. Lessard, Foster; G. H. Rochon, Abbotsford ; day operators — J. E. Brouillette, Co wans v llle; L. L. Mercure Farnham yard ; J. A. Courville, Delalre ; and J. J. B. Janelle, Fulford ; L. W. Dalpe, days, and F. A. Pouliot, night, Farnham station, and O. Guertin, night operator West Shef- ford. J. E. Levesque, Local Chairman, pro tern. At the special meeting held at Farnham, Saturday, January 26, 1918, it was moved and unanimously carried that : IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom, has deemed it best to call from this world of sorrow to their reward In heaven the beloved father of Bro. A. R. Savaria, agent Bury, and of Bro. J. B. E. Digitized by c.ooQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 355 Pare, agent Stanbridge ; In manifestation of our sympathy in this hour of grief, be it Resolved, That the members of Famham Division No. 7, Order of Railroad Telegraph- ers, extend to the sorrowing sons and rela- tives our heartfelt sympathy In their great bereavement ; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the bereaved brothers, and a copy forwarded to Thi Telegrapher for publication. J. E. Levesque, Local Chairman, pro tem. Quebec Diet, Famham Div. — Bros. Reynolds and Michaud were relieved at Megantlc a few days recently by extra Nolin. Bro. Poltras, Gould days, is relieving the agent at St. Guillaume. Bro. R. I. Wilson, ex Halbrlte, Alberta, is now at Sherbrooke yard days, transferred to this division on account of his health. Bro. Henderson, on three-months’ leave, is with the Star Publishing Co., Montreal. Bro. W. J. Berger, Farnham yard night on holidays, relieved by Bro. O. Guertin. Bro. #J. E. Levesque, local chairman pro tem., recently had the misfortune of losing his beloved mother. Bros. Savarla, agent Bury; Pare, relg. agent Scotstown, and O. G. Fournier, Cookshlre days, had the misfor- tune to lose their fathers. The brothers have the sympathy of all in their great loss. Bro. Lapalme bid in Lennoxville days, and Bro. Payer, Delson nights. Note : In previous writeup, saying Bro. Belisle bid in Delson permanent, was In error. Bro. J. A. Bertrand, having resigned as L. C., is succeeded by Bro. J. E. Levesque, and he as secretary by Bro. F. A. Pouliot, await- ing the result of nominations sent to Kenora. Brothers, we of the East were especially favored in the new schedule effective August 1st, and those who have not already done so should show their appreciation by sending in their first month’s increase at once. It is now Bro. Mitchell, 1st North Troy ; Bro. Manny, agent Milan ; Bro. Bourdon, agent Glenton, and Bro. Labonte, Gould days. We are now rapidly approaching the 100 per cent mark. Cert. 8640. Winchester and Chalk River Subdivisions — We are all pleased to see. Bro. W. F. Ritchie back at Renfrew agency after a long spell of sickness. Bro. J. P. Culhane relieved Bro. D. F. Hagan at Pembroke while reporting to the U. 8. army authorities. He was exempted. Bro. D. D. Irvine, Inkerman on holidays, relieved by Bro. J. C. Staveneau. Bro. John Bolton relieved Dispatcher Grey several days while he went over the dis- trict Snedden was opened temporarily by Bro. M. R. Grey on account of a rush of busi- ness. Bro. Geo. Giroux to Dahousie Mills, and Bro. W. H. Pierce to Monklands nights. Some little misunderstanding that arobe In regard to paying the first half of the month’s wages in January was due to men expecting they were to get half month’s pay, including Sunday time, but such is not the way It is figured out. You are to get In the first half of the month’s pay only for the number of working days in the month, not including any Sunday or overtime, which will be paid in last half of month; or in other words, 13 days’ pay pro rata on a 80- day month, which means 13-27. If your cheques do not amount to what they should, send your local chairman a copy of your roll, as in several instances men have been short on account of missing tickets, which can be traced by missing numbers. This should be done Just before end of month, as the amount theh can be put on the roll for that month and is not as liable to be overlooked as if handled in the early part of the month. Understand there was considerable dis- satisfaction on part of our brothers on Van- couver section on account of their section being the heaviest sufferers in the recent revision In the elimination of the differential in rates between the East and West. One of the strongest arguments put up by the men in the East as against the B. C. Divi- sion was the severe winter conditions down here. It was shown that furnaces had to be kept going from the middle of October to almost the middle of April, while in B. C. no such expense was incurred. At present we are being charged in Smiths Falls $14.00 a ton for coke, and are often unable to get it at that. Green stove wood 12 inches long costs $4.00 a load. Think it over, boys, and you will come to the same conclusion that your members of general committee did. They did the square thing by all concerned, and personally, even yet, consider the Eastern men entitled to further consideration in the elimination of difference in rates. This will be dealt with at the proper time. We still have two nons on this section who are daily enjoying what they are not paying for at a cost to other men, and they have the nerve to send their overtime to “O. R. T.” despatchers to countersign their tickets. If we dealt with them as they de- serve, wre should drop all such tickets into the waste paper basket. If you don’t know where they are located, ask and remember : “No card, no favors ” is a good remedy. Take a little interest in writeups and drop me some news items before the 20th of month. Let us make our part of The Telegrapher Digitized by v^ooole
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356 The Railroad Telegrapher. more interesting tor all concerned. Try it for a month and let me know what you think about it. J. B. Garton, L. C. Louis Division , District 7 — The coal situation in western Canada threatened to be serious, but with the good service of the employes and co-operation with the company we have managed to KEEP THE FIRES BURNING and stave off any necessity of closing up our homes. This district is represented at the front by thirteen brothers in active service. Although this is considered an unlucky num- ber, there have been no casualties, but Bro. W. M. McLeod missed the Quebec disaster by only a few hours. Those serving over- seas are: Bros. W. M. McLeod, A. D. An- derson, E. J. Bernuy, C. S. Hewitt, A. Tay- lor, W. E. Amey, J. Walsh, H. Lacey, V. J. M. Province, R. T. Herriott. R. Scurfleld, H. V. Smiley, and G. E. Bernuy. Every one of these brothers would be more than pleased to hear from any brother on this district, and we should write as often as possible to cheer up the boys at the front and keep them posted as to what is go- ing on. Bro. A. D. Anderson, our past local chair- man, now a captain, is running a railroad in France, making good and getting the tonnage over the road. Apparently he was the first to introduce the tonnage system in that country. Bro. R. Scurfleld, now a ser- geant, is working with Bro. Anderson. Bro. W. M. McLeod landed in England December 14th and expects to go over to France at any time. Bro. H. V. Smiley and the rest of the brothers mentioned have been in France, some of them over two years, and no doubt are giving a good account of themselves. The addresses of these brothers may be obtained from our G. S. & T., R. C. Wil- ton, Kenora, Ont. Secure them and write the boys in the trenchea Bro. J. Casey relieved Bro. Trenouth, Areola, nights, on two weeks* holiday. Extra Dispatcher Reece bumped Bro. Al- len at Maryfleld nights. The dispatcher’s job at Souris is being closed on Sundays. Bro. S. L. Davidson, Deloraine, has gone on three weeks' leave, taking in Winnipeg Bonspiel and undergoing a slight operation to his big toe. He is being relieved by Bro. H. H. Allen. Bro. Bush, agent at Bolssevain, has em- ployed a lady clerk. His only daughter mar- ried recently and left him with insufficient help in the kitchen. There are others who need more help in the kitchen, and it might be a good plan to follow Bro. Bush's plan. The back pay recently received was like a present from home. We appreciate the time and a half for overtime and increase from 50 cents to 60 cents minimum for a call. The brothers on the Areola and Esteran branches never let us know what is going on up there, so they are not represented in the write-up. If two or three brothers on each branch would send In a few items each month we could have a better write-up of this district in the journal. Bro. Riddell, agent at Deloraine, is skip- ping a ladies' ring at the local curling rink and reports good success with his colts. He hasn't decided whether he will take in the Winnipeg Bonspiel or not, but local fans say he would have a good chanoe to lift the Dingwall silver. Bro. C. Redpath, our local chairman, at Souris, reports that some of the brothers have not yet paid their increase and dues. This Is a very important factor and should be kept up-to-date, as our present salary was received by the Order. Each brother should pay his dues promptly and keep in good standing, and remit the first month's increase promptly to defray the expense caused by the hard work of our committee. Now that the T. Eaton catalogues are about due for distribution each agent will make enough commission out of this ship- ment to get his 1918 card. Cert. 32. Saskatoon Div.t Saskatchewan Dist. — There were present at the meeting held In Labor Temple, Saskatoon, January 27th: Bros. Campbell, Binnle, Frances Stewart, Quinn, Dickson. Dyer. Hughes, Hall, Kau- meyer, McDonald, Latour, Hutchinson, Col- lins, Parsons and Bro. G. M. Oordingly who alone represented the Saskatoon dis- patcher’s office. There was a fairly good attendance; how- ever, signs of indiffefence as to the advance- ment of the Order were evident from & good many. A man indifferent to. his own Interests is usually indifferent to those of his employer or any one else; in fact, he is in a rut, and this is just about the way your local offi- cials look at it, too. Wake . up, brothers, before you have disgraced your organiza- tion, your brother-workers and your em- ployer, also. When Bro. McOrmond calls the roll again, let's all be there, as there is always a lot of business transacted at every meeting that concerns us all. Don't sit down and wait for a few brothers on the district to fight your battles, but wake up and help those who are now fighting them for you. All who have not sent in their first month's increase should do so at once. Bros. McOrmond and Hughes met Supt. McKay recently on a number of grievances, a few of which were settled satisfactorily to both parties. Bro. McOrmond is in receipt of a new se- niority list from the Manitoba Division, the Digitized by v^,oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 857 four districts being shown separately in one book. The list for Saskatchewan Division, soon to be mailed to each member, will be printed along the same lines. Bros. A. Finney and W. E. S. West en- listed with Jack Canuk some time ago. Good luck, boys. Bro. Boruff on holidays Is taking in the sights in the “balmy southland.** Bro. Scott Govan and Bro. Cameron Bal- c&rres attended the Saskatchewan Bonspell. We understand Bro. Scott helped to ^carry home the bacon, but Bro. Cameron was not quite so fortunate as to get in the Jewelry class. A fund amounting to $113.00 was raised by the third district for immediate relief of the wife of our late Bro. A. Fullerton, who passed away at Cupar January 3rd. The sympathy of all the brothers goes out to her in her sad bereavement. Bro. H. A. Tiers of Moose .Taw Division has been appointed swing dispatcher at Saskatoon. Bro. M. H. McGeough, one of the oldest trick dispatchers on Saskatchewan Division, bid in Cupar agency. This is the second trick dispatcher from the Saskatch- ewan offlee to retire to the agent's list. Seems when a trick dispatcher’s position only pays $180 00 a month and agencies pay around $200 00 with free fuel and house, there Is not as much attraction for the train sheets as in days of yore. There are several agencies on this district that would average $176 00 with overtime and commis- sions. If train dispatchers* positions do not pay more In the near future they will prob- ably go begging. Uooal Chairman "Billy*' Barry of Regina District recently visited Saskatoon and Sutherland. Any member having items of interest please forward to ye scribe, who will en- deavor to do Justice to our district In fu- ture. Cert. *2929. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased God In His In- finite wisdom to remove from our midst our beloved Brother A. Fullerton, highly esteemed and loved by all members of Division No. 7. therefore, be it Resolved, That the members of Candlan Pacific System. Division No. 7, O. R. T., ex tend to the bereaved wife our heartfelt sympathy In this sad hour of her bereave- ment: and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be sent the bereaved wife, a copy to The Telegrapher, and a copy spread upon the minutes of this divisJon. J. T. McOrmond, J. C. Davison, J. W. Hall, Committee, Saak. Die., Diet. No. J— We regret to learn that Saskatoon Divi- sion has lost a pioneer member in the death of Bro. A. Fullerton, agent Cupar. Bro. H. H. McGeough succeeds him. On vacations: Bro. J. H. Wasson, Im- perial; relieved by Bro. A. E. Berresford, who also relieved Bro. A. W. Fennell, agent, Pasqua, six weeks. Bro. Benoit, Qu Ap- pelle; relieved by J. Fitzgerald (soon to be brother). Bro. W. J. Noonan, 3rd trick dis- patcher, Moose Jaw, spent his vacation with brothers in Regina (mostly at Bro. C. Zin- *ger’s). Perhaps Bro. Angus McMurphy can tell us why he spent most of his time at one brother’s home. Miss Gertrude Mc- Grath, with her parents. Bro. and Mrs. J. J. McGrath. Bro. W. S. Kirkpatrick, agent. Rouleau: relieved by Bro. C. Williams. Bro. G. Terrett, Axford; relieved by F. F. Mont- gomery; relieved at Tregarva by Bro. F. J. Clarke. Bro. J. R. Leyden, dispatcher, Regina, three weeks; relieved by Bro. T. P. Sadler. Bro. A. E. Franklin, on his honeymoon; relieved by Bro. T. H. Sadler (Congratulations). Bro. F. W. Klnne. 2nd North Portal; relieved by Bro. Goddard, a new man. Local Chairman Barry expresses his grati- fication to the members of the division for the prompt response to the call for the first month's increase and advises that Re- gina Division headed the list for the Sys- tem. Grievances on the division are now down to the minimum, which shows that good feeling exists between the telegraphers and the officials on Regina Division. This Is the way to have It, as better all round work can be accomplished when things are running smoothly. Bro. George Smith, Summerherry, spent Sunday with Bro. McMurphy recently. Another old pioneer. Conductor John Waddell, passed away at his home in Bran- don. Man., after a short illness with pneu- monia. Mr. Waddell was one of the oldest In years of service west of Winnipeg. He was a friend of all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. We extend our sym- pathy to his bereaved family and to the Brotherhood of Railroad Conductors In their loss. Cert. 208. New York Central R. R., Div. No. 8. Mohawk Division — CARD OF THANKS. We wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the O. R. T. brothers of Division No. 8 and very especially to the brothers at and near Spuyten Duyvil for the beautiful floral tribute and kindness shown on account of the death of our be- loved father. H. G. and C* F. Lorino and Family. Digitized by v^oooLe
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358 The Railroad Telegrapher. Delaware and Hudson Ry.( Dlv. No. 12. Members, Division No. It — Several confirmed non-members are tell- ing now that the government has taken control of the railroads It is useless to either join or maintain membership in the railroad organization. This is about the poorest ex- cuse I've heard during the past 18 years why men should not belong to the O. R. T. There is absolutely no reason now for any man working on a railroad not belonging to his organization, except a desire on the | part of the non -member to get something for nothing, as he knows he will be taken care of by the organization, supported by your money, and is simply too cheap, and too small, to be willing to pay his part. We must all do our utmost to stamp out this talk and I would be glad to, have any member make known to me the name of anyone spreading this "stuff." We, of course, have no control other than, perhaps, moral, over the non-member but we should see that none of our members circulate it. Never In the history of railroad organiza- tion has there been a time when * a com- plete and thorough organization of all men engaged in this class of service was as necessary as now. For the period of the war and for some time after It is imperative that these organizations have every ounce of strength it is possible to secure. Unorganized men will undoubtedly profit through the present situation — as, also, will the few non-members in organized trades like railroading, and it is much to the credit of the officials of the trade union movement in this country that they de- clared unreservedly at the Washington con- ferences that unorganized classes, and non- members. should receive fair. Just and full consideration the same as organized men. To the labor organizations belong all the credit for any betterment of conditions and rates of pay that labor in general secures. If any man or body of men are not organ- ized they are Rimply not doing their part In the great work of organized labor. O. A. Johnson, General Chairman. Susquehanna Division — Bro. Benedict recently recovered from an attack of "German” measles. Bro. Dykeman, Sidney, has been granted leave of absence to engage in a new field of labor. We regret to have "Dyke" leave, but all wish him success We are all pleased to hear Bro. Walt Carr's family are "WC" again after a se- rious illness with pneumonia. Bro. "Wat" Davis, 3rd, dispatcher's office, recently suffered an attack of the "grip." Bro. Gorman, Bro. Dickinson and Bro. Fred Lyke are absent on sick leave. Brothers and fellow telegraphers, keep your eyes open for dragging brake beams, hot boxes, flat wheels, etc., when the "Junk- ers" pass. The discovery of any of these defects may avert a serious accident, and cause your names to appear on the "honor roll." Keep the dispatcher advised as to what is transpiring out on the line. He will appreciate your co-operation in help- ing him to keep the trains moving. Bro. Yager, Telegraphers English and Jackson have been accepted and departed for a western camp to prepare for their "going over" to help Uncle Sam lick "Kaiser Bill." Cert. 845. • Quebec , Montreal & Southern and NapiervUle Junction Ry. Division — Sorry to announce the death of the father of Bro. J. H. Dubeau, formerly assistant agent at Sorel. St. Francois Du Lac and ClarenceviUe up for bids. Bro. R. Chabot relieved by Bro. Lafond. Bro. Blanchette is now in the dispatcher's office regular relief. Bro. Nolseaux was glad to hear of his ex- emption from military service after being drafted for the second time in two months. The big steel has been laid all the way between Iberville Jet. and St. Hyacinthe and a wye also built at St. Hyacinthe to turn big engines there. Passenger trains are now usingv D 3-B engines between St. Hyacinthe and Rouse's Point. N. Y. Cert. 752. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our heavenly Father and All-Wise Ruler of the Universe to take unto himself the beloved father of Bro. J. H. Dubeau, formerly assistant agent at Sorel, Que., in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved , That the members of the Quebec, Montreal and Southern Ry. Co., of Division No. 12, D. & H. Co., of the Older of Rail- road Telegraphers, extend to the bereaved brothers and other members of the afflicted family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sad bereavement; and be It fur- ther Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brothers, a copy spread over the minutes of the divi- sion, and a copy forwarded to The Tele- grapher for publication. J. Perrault, J. A. Breux, C. E. Dauphin, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. 363 Dorchester, East. Montreal, Que., Jan. 21, 1918. To Officers and Members of Div. No. 12, The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Quebec and Southern Ry. Co. Dear Brothers: The resolution, giving expression to the Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 359 sympathy of Division No. 12 of The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, has been the means of tempering the grief of my family and myself upon the death of my beloved father, and believe me, words fail to ex- press our mutual thanks to the officers and members of Division No. 12 for the kind- ness of heart which prompted your action, and we trust that a like sorrow to ours will be kept from each and every one of you, under God, for many pears. Tours in S. O. and D., J. H. D. Dubeau. Norfolk and Western Ry.f Div. No. 14. Scioto Division — Our committee, failing to get any satis- faction from the officials at Roanoke, took the matter up direct with the government officials at Washington, were granted an In- terview with Mr. Price (assistant to Director General McAdoo), and assured that our case would be taken up and settled at the first possible moment, with the promise that the new conditions agreed upon are to be ef- fective January 1, 1918. * After a visit to the office of the Labor Commission, where they found President Perham taking care of O. R. T. matters, the members of the committee disbanded and re- turned to their work, but are momentarily expecting to be called back to begin negoti- ations. If you feel impatient over the delay of & settlement. Just remember that we are now actually working under the new schedule, although we don’t know what increases it gives us, and the longer the delay the bigger the back pay. Also, that the government has a big job on its hands, settling all the griev- ances that were formerly divided up among the many different railroad managements, and cannot be expected to settle all of them at once. There is a lot of good Information in the February issue of The Telegrapher con- cerning labor conditions in the United States. Don’t fail to read it Boys, keep your dues paid up so we can maintain an organization whose demands must be respected. It seems that we are developing a few delinquents on the Cinti District. No contributions for this column this month. “No cards , no favors and “No items, no writeups.” Bro. Staley and wife visited home folks during his 16-day vacation. Relieved by Bro. Blach from 2nd White Oak. Bro. Martin recently relieved Bros. Godfrey and Edwards each a few days. Only two nons in Portsmouth now. Dis- patchers Eckfeld and Kyle preferring to be the “exceptions, which prove the rule.” Chairman Mcllroy reports having landed fifteen new members this month. The split tricks have been cut out In K. M.,“ abolishing the meal hour, which has been an eyesore for so long, and giving the men straight eight-hour tricks. Cert. 1607. Radford Division — An overflow meeting of Division No. 14 was held in Roanoke Saturday night, Febru- ary 16th. All who failed to attend missed a treat. The Radford S. V. and Norfolk divisions being well represented by local ^ chairmen and dispatchers. Before the meeting opened Bro. M. W. Atkins, S. V. chairman of Ridgeway, enter- tained the brothers * with such a vivid por- trayal of the whiskey situation in the moon- shining districts of Franklin and .Henry Counties that the very air seemed permeated with the smell of “Old Corn.” and from the way the brothers flocked into the meeting It was freely surmised they were attracted by the scent. Bro. Atkins did not talk about quarts but of barrels of it. Bro. Lane, general chairman, opened the meeting with a description of the recent trip to Washington. He was followed by Bro. Atkins, and anyone who heard them could not doubt the benefits and satisfaction derived from their trip. Notwithstanding a certain local editor had sought to belittle the object of the visit artd the benefits derived from it, it was shown that Division No; 14 was always on the Job and was complimented as such by President Perham, who was there and is always found where he can do anything for the O. R. T. Our committee was promised a hearing Just as soon as the case could be reached, and that all increases would date from January 1, 1918. The old, threadbare U. S. mail question came up and it was shown that the U. S. Government is to blame for conditions ex- isting and not the railroads; that they would gladly get out of delivering the mail from the station to the post office if they could. The relief agent question was championed by Relief Agent Bro. T. J. Heslep, and from his experience it was shown not to be a very desirable position, either from a salary standpoint or the work to be performed, but that existing conditions can be corrected, both to the company's and the relief agent's advantage. Several positions have been reopened on the division, giving all the old men regular places and making extra men very scarce. Brothers, come to the meetings. It does your local chairmen good. It encourages your general chairmen. How Bro. Lane's Digitized by v^oooie
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360 The Railroad Telegrapher. kind and benevolent face shown and his eyes sparkled at the splendid turnout ! Tou get acquainted with the brothers. Did you know there are men working right here in Roanoke with each other on the wire, who know each other by their Morse and know their voices on the phone, and yet do not know each other by sight when they meet on the street? There are a “thousand and one questions** to be discussed If we have good meetings. Don’t stay at home and nurse your griev- ances and tell “your Dick and Harry*' how the order ought to run, but come to the meet- ings and give the order men the benefit of your Ideas and state your grievances. Get acquainted with your brother operators. See what is being done for you and how ear- nestly the officers are Interested in you. Keeping one’s dues paid up and not coming to the meetings only helps financially. No one gets any benefit from your ideas. We heard one brother say, “This is the first time I had seen Bro. Lane." Now, boys, you ought to all know him. If you meet him once you will want to see him again. Next meeting in Roanoke will be the third Saturday night in June. Don’t forget the date. Old Timer, Cert. 145. Atlantic Coast Line R. R., Div. No. 15. Columbia District — Our absence from The Telegrapher the past two issues is on account of the fact that I was working in Florence and living in jHartsvllle, going back and forth every day, and did not have time hardly for sleeps 1 am now located in Florence and hope to send in a writeup regularly. Over-time tickets are checked against the train sheet in the superintendent's office and the train sheets are filed away each dayl When your tickets come in late the sheets must be dug up and your tickets checked and O. K.’d or rejected, and often a ticket is rejected when it should be allowed because there is no notation on the train sheet and the train dispatcher has forgotten about it Send these tickets in within forty-eight hours. It is a direct violation of the agree- ment on your part not to do so. Bro. Perham is in Washington, looking out for the interest of the O. R. T., and Bro. Rawlins is on the Job in St. Louis. We have better team work now in the Order than we have had in fifteen years. Let us all do our work better, answer calls promptly, and keep up our reputation as good Order men. I want each man on the district to notify me at Florence of any new men working at his station; his full name and address, and whether or not he has a card. If he has, give me his certificate and division number, and help me get our district in good shape again. C. Bolick, L. C. Columbia District Notes — We were sorry to see Bro. Wsrriner of Wadesboro Jet. leave us and enlist In the navy. We wish him success and hope for his safe return. Wadesboro Jet. on bulle- tin. Bro. Thompson, bill clerk-operator Wades- boro, has enlisted in the army; relieved by Bro. Rivenbark. Bro. Joudon, 2nd Columbia, relieved by a new man some time, account sickness. Temporary 3rd Columbia opened by Harris, who promises to join shortly. Temporary 2nd open at Eastover by a new man, and temporary message position opened at Flor- ence “FN*’ by Bro. Bolick. Bro. Hyatt, Lynchburg agency, ^relieved by Bro. Hall on account of sickness, who bid in Congaree agency, leaving the relief agency on bulletin. Bro. Hallex, resigned Lucknow agency, relieved by Bro. King. Bro. Davis, off a few days account sick- ness, and Reminl closed meanwhile, no men for relief. Barnwell 2nd closed while Bro. Dowling relieved. Bro. Rents, Robbins 2nd, relieving Bro. Davis, the agent there, on account of sick- ness. Later Bro. Rents was off a few days with chi 11a “C. B.“ Waycross District Notes — Bro. Dixon, ‘F,” Waycross, was off few days recently, learning the road, having passed a successful examination as train dispatcher. We are glad to have another brother in the dispatcher’s office. This makes three or four of our “brothers" re- cently promoted to dispatchers. Bro. J. C. Adams Is kept on the move. The last fifteen days he has worked at Thomasville, DuPont, “FN" Waycross, Tifton and various other places. Sorry to learn that Bro. Grice, DuPont Agency, is in bed sick again and hope for him a speedy recovery. Our genial Local Chairman took his va- cation recently in Florida. As usual he brings back a big fish yarn, but we under- stand, from a confidential source, that he actually got lost and was two days finding out where he was. Relieved by Bro. Perry and relieved by Bro. J. C. Adams. Bro. Phillips, third Tifton, was acting “LC** during Bro. Stewart’s absence. Bro. Nunn, of McAlpln Agency, and Bro. Jeflfcoat, of Acree Agency, exchanged po- sitions. Bro. Nunn was oldest bidder on Sylvester first, but preferred Acree Agency. Bro. Beard and family, of Naylor, have the sympathy of the entire district In the death of his 7-year-old son, Russell, who was only sick a few days. While Bro. Beard was away he visited at Arlington, Ga. On bulletin: Second Albany. Thanks to Bro. Phillips, at Tifton, for Digitized by CaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 361 hi® notes. I wish each brother would send in what he knows. It is impossible for two or three men to get all the news not later than the 20th; we could have a good write up each month. F. A. Crittrndbn, Dist Cor. Norfolk District — On vacations: Bro. Harrell, relieved by Bro. Hopkins. Just returned after befog in the mercantile business. We are glad to welcome him back. Bro. Grimes, relieved by Hicks, from the W. & V.; and Bro. Harper a few days. A new agency will soon be establishd on the Pig Point Branch, near where the gov- ernment is doing that great work. Perhaps some of you brothers may be able to get it by putting in your application with Mr. White. I don’t think he will bulletin it, as it won’t be worked entirely by this com- pany. So far I haven’t heard of any one being called to the draft, and I hope we will all be fortunate enough not to be called. I am afraid, on account of the shortage of men, some of us will not be able to get our vacations this year. I am going to take mine the first chance I can get, and would love to swap with some one that has an earlier date than I, as I want to know how it feels to rest and get paid for it. Bro. Shumaker will take his as soon as Mr. Doughtie can relieve him. We were all very sorry to hear of the re- cent wreck at Tarboro, in which Engineer Campbell was killed and a few others slightly Injured. His family have our sin- cere sympathy in their bereavement. Local Chairman Parker will cover the “Pike” soon, taking up the extra assess- ments. Be ready to meet him. Cbrt. 1140. 8econd Division , Montgomery District — Some have not yet remitted the five dol- lar assesment from their first month’s in- crease. Brothers, this is not right. We can’t expect to do business with an empty treasury; you have had three pay days to do this in and have not the slightest excuse for not having done so. During the last sixty days several nons have come on this district. We must assist Bro. Stokes to line them up. Three have done so and it is now Bros. Roberts, Ben- nette and Bramlett. We welcome them into our ranks. Several brothers have assisted boys in learning telegraphy and when ready for work let theni go without seeing that they got a card after they were working. Bet- ter first find out if they will give us their support and see that they live up to it, or let them go their way. In these rushing, hurly-burly times, we are seeing railroading that the old heads claim to have seen nothing like before, and it is more than ever important that we op- erators give first class service in every re- spect, so that our department will not be found wanting. Be prompt in answering your wire and giving any information that will avoid delaying trains. There have been so many changes dur- • ing the last thirty days that I have been unable to keep up with them. Brothers drop me a line when you are moving, or taking your vacations, or when anything happens. It will greatly help me out in having a good line up from this district each month. Bro. Horace to second Ozark. Bro. Hardy to third Ozark. Bro. Laney to third Troy. Bro. Roberts to third Donaldsonville. Bro. Brown to third Cairo. Bro. Strain to Sprague. Bro. Garlington taking his vaca- tion, Bro. J. O. Adams relieving. Crrt. 120. Michigan Central R. R., Div. No. 16. Northern Division — Bro. G. A. Van Dusen and wife have re- turned to Salzburg from their California trip. Bro. John Yahr, agent Grayling, has re- signed. to go on his farm near Gladwin, and Bro. R. C. Jennings has gone with the Saginaw Shipbuilding Co., relieved by Bro. J. A. Green on 2nd Zilwaukee. Bro. H. D. Gian ton, Frederic, goes to Laingsburg agency. Local Chairman Flood, while in Detroit three weeks on committee work, was re- lieved by Bro. O. E. Gilbert at Bay City relay. Bro. John' Winters is relieving on 3rd Bay City W. S. and Bro. George Need- ham is relieving the dispatchers at Detroit. Bro: Woodruff is off on account of eye trouble. Bro. McCalpin relieved Bro. June at Bath a few days. Bro. L. H. Johnson relieved Night Chief McCullough while Day Chief Caldwell was on the sick list, and Bro. Louie Uberhorst relieved in dispatcher’s office while regular men took their days off. Bro. R. M. Gordon has resumed at Bay City agency after a severe Illness; relieved by Bro. J. L. Kerby. Bro. F. E. Schram was off sick a week; was relieved by Bro. Thomas of 2nd there. There has been some trouble on the Saginaw Division on account of high water, but the snow is about gone and the worst seems to be over. No news from the Mackinaw Division this month. Will some of the boys up there take enough interest to send notes in each month. Bro. Flood will be glad to furnish postage. Digitized by tjooole
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362 The Railroad Telegrapher. ' The few who have not paid their dues for the term ending June 30th will be classed as “Mr.” If they don’t remit at once. Cbrt. 63. Penna. R. R. Lines East, Div. No. 17. Schuylkill Division— We held two successful meetings last month; one in Reading, Pa., and one In Norristown, Pa. At both these places the men responded as never before. We are indeed grateful to General Chair- man Miller for giving us an organizer for so long a period as we have had Bro. Rex. Bro. Miller addressed two meetings at Reading on February 13th. Both were a grand success, fifteen applications being re- ceived. We shall continue these meetings until we have established a local Schuylkill Di- vision. The Order of Railroad Telegraphers is an honorable organization and pll the Pennsylvania Railroad telegraphers with* high ideals and lofty conceptions should Join it now. The United States Government has taken control of the railroads, and Di- rector General McAdoo has ruled that there shall be no discrimination against union men. President Perham has been in con- ference with the director general, who has positively assured him that the former prac- tice of coercion and discrimination will not be tolerated by U. S. Government officials. Brothers, keep after the nons and give them no rest until they join. Invite them to come out to our meetings and help to and let every member get a member this build up the organization on this division, month. “Jeff.,” Cert. 3086. Alley heny Division — » The employes of our department are, gen- erally speaking, %nen who can be promoted to more responsible positions. Our officials, aware of this, play upon our ambition by holding out semi-official positions with an increase in salary, as a means of combating our organization. Rewarding an operator with a dispatcher’s job, who is far less com- petent than a brother, is done to antagonize you, but Instead of giving up your card, it would be far better to play the part of a man, stick to your organization, and secure your schedule. On roads working under an agreement we still have some of this prejudice shown, but not to the marked de- gree displayed here. If we were solidly or- ganised, then promotions to these positions would come on merits alone. Our former division operator would not promote a card man. It would be hard to find another man so unpopular. Whatever was his undoing, no doubt this trait of his played a large part. Mr. Bright, our new division operator, is handicapped at present because the men had become suspicious of every act of his pred- ecessor. However, fair treatment of the men will insure co-operation, resulting in efficient service. We wish him success. If the younger telegraphers could peruse the columns of the journal of the days gone by, they- would realize the struggle the Order had made to attain its present magnificent place in the labor world. The men in those days were clamoring for a ten-hour day, a $60 minimum, a curtailment of an enormous amount of clerical work and sundry duties. The difference is everywhere manifest, and we have only begun. No railroad telegrapher should fail to support this organization, for without its influence our salaries would be just as low as the railroad officials could make them and keep traffic moving. Every schedule our better organized brothers se- cure benefits us. There is no neutral ground for the nons to stand on. If they carry a card they are with us, otherwise they are against us. A non is simply “rocking the boat” Swat him. A non-active member is almost as bad. He pays his dues, waits and criticizes. Let’s all try a different course. Send your journal to some non you know and follow it up with a letter explaining why you sent it. Call up that man you work with and tell him why you carry a card ; your reason is good enough for him. If you secure a member you are helping more than you think. Brother, the organization is no stronger than you make it. You are the Order, your own degree of loyalty is reflected in the work of your division officials. A slack, non-active membership Is not very encour- aging to a general chairman. We are human, you know, and so is he. Show a little ap- preciation for his efforts In your behalf by trying to increase the membership in your immediate vicinity by personal efforts. You have been taught an awful lesson on independent moves. A member approached now on the subject of Joining this or that social club will do well to Investigate its motives. It cannot possibly do you any good. Don’t waste your time with the malcon- tents who will not join on account of this or that being done, or because this or that man is a member. Let him get on the in- side and air his views. He is only injuring himself and the organization by doing this. He is a good man to be careful of. If he Is our enemy, then he must be on very friendly terms with others. Cert. 3136. West Jersey and Beashore Division — The opportunity we have waited for so long has come and the men should all line up now so the committee can represent them when the wages are distributed. There can be no further doubt as to where the men belong and what the O. R. T. has done for them on these lines. It has made the road clear for all to join without any fur- ther discrimination. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 368 On February 14th we held two meetings at Camden, the best we have had for many years. The way the men signed up showed that they had awakened to their interests and will be well rewarded for it before many years. The crowd was far beyond what we have had at any previous meetings, and to those who have kept up the organization right along and suffered abuse and intimi- dations, it brought new hope. Every member on this division should try to line up the men with and near him, so we may have the proper representation in the wage adjustment when it comes. The Trenton Division boys are showing us the way, which we should not be slow to follow, and get an organiza- tion here that will protect us from further intimidation. There is no use for an or- ganizer. We can save the division that money and get the same results, if we will see that every non gets an application blank, fills it out and sends it in. Every member should send his February Journal to some non, so he could read for himself what President Perham did for him at Washington, D. C., before the wage com- mission on January 29th, and then, if he don't feel that he should take out a card, he should see a doctor at once, as there must be something wrong with him. No non should expect to get an increase if he is not willing to get a card in an organization that has as its president such a man, and every man on the division should write and thank him personally for what he has done in their behalf in Washington, and show him that they appreciate it We have reason to be proud of being members when men will come from other roads, come to our meetings as they did at our last one — and tell us when they heard Bro. Perham present our case and the great plea he made, they felt ashanfted that they did not hold a card In the organization that had a president like ours. These men will all hold cards shortly and make good their advice to our men here. We need every man, the agents especi- ally, so get busy on them at once. The roster indignities on the Trenton Divi- sion will no doubt soon be righted, as no such injustice will be tolerated by the Gov- ernment. The « men should become more sociable with each other and treat each other as brothers. Every man in our department should give the very best service he can to the Govern- ment, as we are now working for it. Let us take new life and show the Government offi- cials that we are worthy of better treat- ment than we have been accorded by our former masters. Let us try to get the Camden Terminal Division men interested in organization matters and see that they attend the meet- ings and help us make this part of the sys- tem solid. Boys, be prompt on relieving each other. Don't stick a man just because he does not kick. It is against the rules. Tou all know your hours, and it is your duty to be on time if possible. You should do nothing that will bring censure on any of the men in our department. We want to present a clean slate and show those who are over us that we deserve more justice and more money. Drv. Cor. “Nickel Plate” R. R., Div. No. 18. Fort Wayne Division — Dispatcher Carraecher, recently discharged from the U. S. army on account of depend- ents, is now on second trick, Chicago di- vision. We are glad to have "Jerry" with us again. Bro. Dowell went to third West Ft. Wayne five days while McLain was sick. Relieved by Bro. Heckman on third Glasgow. Bro. Major has returned to second there; Bro. Coates back on third. Later Bro. Heckman relieved Bro. L. D. Clinger on the sick list. Bro. Erickson, first Lelpsic Jet., assumed the duties of Mayor there January 1st. Bro. F. F. Cowley, on committee work, Is being relieved at Mortimer by Bro. Denny Wolfe of third there. Our committee is now in New York City meeting with Board of Mediation and Conciliation. Brothers, don’t fail to pay the special as- sessment promptly as funds are needed to carry on this work. See that the non-mem- bers also pay theirs as they are being bene- fited by our schedules and should not ex- pect some one else to pay for it. We profit alike and should share the expenses alike. Bro. W. L. O’Kuly, relieved at Miller’s City by Relief Agent Doster, on account death of his father, wishes to thank the fel- low employes who so kindly sent flowers for the funeral. It is now Bro. W"m. Greenleaf, Wickliffe. Bro. F. W. Johnson, sixth "FO," was off a few days recently. F. W. Coates, Div. Cor., Cert. 186. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom has seen fit to call from this life to his heavenly home the father of our esteemed Brother O’Kuly; and Whereas, We humbly submit to His di- vine will, knowing that He does all things for the best; be it Resolved, That the members of N. Y. C. & St. L. System, Division No. 18, Order Rail- road Telegraphers, tender their sincere and heartfelt sympathy to our sorrowing brother and the members of his family in this their hour of grief; and be it further Digitized by v^ooole
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364 The Railroad Telegrapher. "Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Division, a copy forwarded to the bereaved brother, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. C. J. Ericson, E. E. Mi k els,. A. A. Johnson, F. F. Cowley, Committee. N. Y. C. R. R. Lines West, Div. No. 19. Brie Division — Bro. Corpe, Ft. Elkhart, relieved Bro. Chll- cote at ,B" Tower on account of sickness in his family. The little son of Bro. Chas. Ocker, “WG,W Elkhart, is convalescing from a serious at- tack of pneumonia. Bro. Rogers Otes relieved by Blanchard, a new man from South Bend. Bro. Geo. Norton resumed duty February 20th, relieving Bro. Highwood at Durham. Bro. Earl Stickler has gone with some western road in Montana; relieved by Bro. Roth on second Pine tower. C. O. Bachman, formerly third ‘'PM” Tow- er, La Porte, is homo on furlough from hia company. His captain, former first trick dispatcher, Fredericks, has promoted him to warrant officer as Regimental Sergeant Ma- jor, Electrician 1st Class. The Federal Mediator postponed mediation proceedings from February 14th until Feb- ruary 25th, on account of other Important business. If patience were a virtue we should all be wearing crowns. Since the first day of August, 1917, this matter has been pending. Our committee has done all It could to hurry things, but it has been one delay after another. The committee deserves our gratitude for its untiring efforts and we await results, confident that it will do all we ask it to do for us as our representa- tives. The sudden death, from heart failure, of Bro. W. E. Wakeley, one of our oldest and most loyal members on Friday morning, Feb- ruary 22nd, was a shock to the members and community, as he was on duty Thursday, ap- parently in good health. Bro. Wakeley en- tered the service of the L. S. 6 M. S. August 25, 1873. He was one of the best and most re- liable agents and operators on the road, lo- cated at Athol Springs a number of years. He leaves to mourn his loss a wife, one brother and two sisters, who have the heart- felt sympathy of the members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. Bro. Hanselman from Lake View goes to Athol Springs Agency. For the last two or three months the Erie Division has been neglected in the write ups. Bro. Albert Nesbit has now been appointed correspondent and will do his part if the brothers will send him what news they may have to Erie Depot. Bro. Jack Frawley goes to first, Erie Depot; relieved by Hr®. Geo. Kipp on first. North East. Chief Dispatcher McGuire made a trip to New York recently on account of death in his family. A. E. Lloyd, appointed Superintendent Al- liance Division recently, was succeeded by J. R. Todd as Asistant Superintendent. Bro. Campbell, knocked out on Penna by scags, Is now on second, Willoughby, Ohio. Cert. 1887. N. Y., O. & W. Ry., Dlv. No. 20. Southern Division — Brother Leonard Quinn has Joined the Na- tional Army, relieved by Bro. R. E. Wright on 1st Livingston Manor, and he on second there by Bro. Steenrod, later relieved by Bro. Masten, 1st Walton. Bro. S. S. Fish of Wheeler Tower, at Delhi, on court business, February 11th and 12th, was relieved by Bro. Bennett. Bro. A. Guinbeck, 1st Codosia. was In New York to consult a specialist, February 6th to 8th. Bro. Sayer is in dispatcher's office at Middletown. No one sent in any items this month, and I have not been able to get over the road recently, hence the scarcity of news. Div. Cor. C.f M. & St. P. Ry.f Dlv. No. 23. To the Officers and Members of Div. tS — The short time that I have ‘served as local chairman of the Musselshell Division has been very pleasant. I have met with the hearty co-operation of the members in my work which has been an inspiration for me to use my best efforts In the interest of the Order. In my labors with and for the boys I have found them always willing to help and encourage me and there has not been the least feeling of discord among them. There has not been a personal sacri- fice on my part that I have not been doubly repaid for, in real, genuine pleasure. The highest honor that has ever been be- stowed upon me thus far was when the boys on the Musselshell Division of the C., M. & St. P. Ry. unanimously elected me their local chairman, and the confidence and esteem they expressed by 'their votes in electing me and the hearty co-operation they have shown since my election makes it very hard for me to have to return to them the office they have given me. But a greater duty calls me to other fields, the duty to fight for my country. I have finally passed the physical examina- tion and have been placed in Class One for service in the army and am awaiting the call. In view of tjiis, I am forced to ten- Digitized by tjooole
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365 The Railroad Telegrapher. der my resignation and as a parting word let me say that I hope there is not a man or woman who has cause to be sorry that I ever served as local chairman, or who by any official act of my own, entertains the least ill feeling toward me. I have made mistakes, but I never said a word or done an act with any intention of making anything but friends. The members of Musselshell Division of Division 23 will alwdys have a warm spot in my heart, as well as Bros. Soyster, Der- rickson and Kearby, with whom I labored, and my last wish is that “my division” will always do its share to further the in- terests of the Order. Cordially and fraternally, J. H. Sasser, Local Chairman, Ingomar, Mont. Musselshell Division Notes — Have you met Sasser T There has not been enough nons to go around on the Western subdivision and from Melstone to Harlowtown we are solid to a man, probably for the first time. The east end is solid with the exception of one NON. Our local chairman promises to bring him in, and he generally accom- plishes what he sets out to do, so we can also look for a solid east end in the next few days. Bro. Davies, agent Waldheim, and Bro. Liner take the confectionery so far as heard from, both contributing (NOT HALF — but) — ALL — of their first month’s increase. Bro. and Sister Piggott, Elso, and Bro. Kelt- ner, Musselshell, are among those con- tributing all that was asked of them, viz., one-half of their first month’s increase. We are especially gratified to see such good steady standbys as Bro. King, agent LavinR, Bro. Schwindt, agent Ismay, and Bro. Johns, Miles City Yard, come into the fold. Bro. Keltner, 3rd Musselshell, is a fre- quent visitor to Roundup. There must be some attractions besides the dentist? Bro. Washburn, agent Geneva, stopped a few days in Roundup while waiting for the auditors to check him In. Beatrice Flynn can do her bit when it comes to war work. While acting as agent at Geneva, she went back and forth to Mel- stone daily on freights and the way she can swing onto the rear end of a caboose would put many an experienced brakie to shame. Boys, just because war makes men a trifle scarce do not take advantage of it. Be on your good behavior all the time. “Hit the ball hard.” You owe it to your COMPANY, your COUNTRY and YOURSELF. Bro. Sasser has sure been rounding ’em up lately. Understand he just tells a funny one or two and when they come to, he has their app*. Bro. Berger, Melstone 3rd, one of the faithful and loyal “members,” always willing to do his part, was in Miles City recently — “Just looking around.” Bro. T. J. Kelly has returned from a trip “back East” to 2nd Melstone. Quite a number of the boys have been examined for the army, among whom were: Brothers Bill Corcoran, agent Forsyth; M. J. Robertson, 2nd “FS”; I. J. Blazek, 3rd Baker and our correspondent, J. H. Sasser, Local Chairman, who has no assigned po- sition now. Bro. Andy Anderson, also in Miles about that time, said he had been examined but would not tarry, as he had to meet a friend at “The Milwaukee.” E. J. Clifford, 3rd “FS”, was also examined. We did a great deal for “Cliff” and would like to have him come over with us. On account of the death of Dispatcher Kearney’s father-in-law, Bro. J. W. Wal- lace was called upon to work 3rd in his place, relieved on third “NY” by his wife. Note Bro. Sasser’s letter saying he is forced to resign on account of the draft. We sincerely regret to have him leave us, after all the good work he has done for the Musselshell. Our best wishes and kind- est regards will go with him and hopes for his early and safe return. Cert. 1349. Coast Division, Ecerett Branch — Bro. Percy relieved Chambers at Monroe, who went back on second, Everett, as soon as the line opened after numerous washouts. W. L. Lyon to Ranier “WN” Agency, vice Bro. Melin, who went to Snohomich Agency, vice Wheeler; relieving Bro. McAllister, agent, Bismarck, Wash., while at *TC” Ta- coma. L. Cipro went to third, Salsich Jet. Bro. C. R. Gordon, Cedar Falls, Wash., Agency, to Monroe, Wash., Agency, vice Hurly resigned. Bro. A. H. Howard to Cle Elum, Wash., second. Cert. 1067. Columbia and Idaho Divisions — There Is yet quite a lot of wheat on the Columbia Division to be shipped. Probably all of last year’s crop will not be moved before the middle of March, owing to the scarcity of cars. Most of the Ice stored by the company Is usually taken from northern Idaho lakes, but this winter it has been necessary to get It in Montana, owing to the extremely mild winter. We have one of the best schedules in the land taking the rules and wage scale all the way through. The 26-day month is worth in itself the time and expense required in getting the revision. It will take Just as much energy to retain the good things we have as it did to get them, so get after the few nons and give them no rest until they line up. Remember, “No oard, no favors,” Digitized by Gooc e
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366 The Railroad Telegrapher. B to. Hearn EUensburg is off again on account of sickness. Mrs. Henry Smith is on first and Bohn and Widdowson on sec- ond and third Rye. Bro. P. Taylor, Beverly Agent, has moved to that place. The Columbia is to be renamed the Idaho Division. Brother Rolin Tapley is back from Bev- erly Agency to second wire chief Malden. Bro. R. R. Woods was drawn for Jury duty. Bro. Rozell, Agent Hanford, will spend his vacation on his farm in Oregon. Bro. Harry Keller, Agent Othello, for five years, has gone to the Coast. Second and third Warden have been pulled off again, leaving Bro. Vickers, the agent there alone. The new coal chutes at Marengo are in operation and the engines on the middle division are about all coal burners. It looks rather primitive to see the fire boys spading coal again. Dispatcher Kilbourne is on vacation East, relieved by Extra Dispatcher Downs. Bro. C. H. Coplen has gone to “SN” Spo- kane, succeeded by Bro. Murnam at Plum- mer Agency. Cert. 614. Trans. Mo. Division— Bro. E. C. Weatherly, Walker, was off several days owing to the serious illness of his wife, In Mobridge hospital. Bro. Weath- erly has our sympathy, and we all hope for Mrs. Weatherly’s early recovery. Bro. A. S. Kirby relieved Hackney, on sick list. Bro. I. E. Allgarla, second Rhame, called home on account of sickness, relieved by Bro. Jordan. Bro. B. E. Campbell, Agent Buffalo Springs, relieved several days by H. J. Gor- man, an old timer, farming near there. Bro. S. W. Childers, dispatcher’s clerk, is now dispatching on branch lines. Bro. R. W. Cornell has returned from a trip to Chicago. Bro. R. B. Houck is back on third Mc- Intosh, after several weeks’ vacation. Bro. T. A. Childers, third Marmarth, re- lieved on vacation by J. C. Childers, from the Childers* ranch. If you have not yet secured your 1918 card you shopld do so at once. Promptness in sending in our dues means the elimina- tion of much work in our general secretary's office. Help to line up the few nons left: Local Chairman Leighty will gladly furnish you a list, upon application, and all the blanks you need. Thanks to *iro. Leighty for items. Any one knowing of changes, or other news, please send them to Bro. Leighty, at Bow- man, In order that we may be represented in the Journal every month. Very few dis- play any interest in this matter, but all find fault when there Is no “write up.” Cert. 827. 8. C. 4 D. Division— Bro. W. E. Beck, agent Geddes, was re- lieved three days by Bro. F. A. Schneider, second Elk Point, while attending the tuneral of his father at Sioux Falls, S. D. The mem- bership of the entire division extend their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved family. Bro. T. M. Paulson is in training now. Here’s “Bon Voyage.” Bro. Nlmens has also gone to war, leaving agent-operator Fairview vacant. Agent-operator Lesterville; second Parkston and third Souix City yards, also vacant. Bro. L. C. Knutson, third Elk Point, has gone to “The Omaha” at Sioux City, re- lieved by Bro. J. A. Murta from the LAD. Division. Bro. C. R. Fletcher, agent Delmont, found an O. R. T. watch cbarm in an empty box car billed to him from Sioux City, and asks that it be advertised through this medium. C. B. Diehl., Div. Cor. Superior Division — Bro. Gray, agent Ontonogon, is now trav- eling auditor, and Bro. Luth, agent Sagola, who has taken the civil service examination, will soon be in the Government service. We all wish the brothers good success in their new work. It takes united effort to get the results ; so everyone keep after the nons and in a short time we can be solid. There is no excuse now for them not having a card, and no favors should be shown anyone without an up-to-date. It is a case where friendship ceases, as no one can be a true friend who does not care to see your welfare bettered as well as his own. I would appreciate it if some of the boys on the east end would help me to have a newsy write-up by sending me items now and then. A. F. Johnson, Cert. 2121. I. & G. N. Ry., Div. No. 25. Forth Worth Division — With the first signs of spring we armed ourselves with the rusted-bladed hoe, the spade and rake and laid the foundation of future gold mines — “spuds and onions.*1 We are now eagerly listening for coo of the dove. The coal shortage added materially to the suffering due to an unusually cold and se- vere winter; yet how much more fortunate are we than our European brothers, France in particular. People in Paris, it is said, bought wood by the pound from the dealers, and were restricted to small purchases at that. We have learned our first real lesson in economy from the present war. For the Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 367 first time In American history economy and thrift are being exalted into national vir- tues, even duties. Hitherto, in this rich country of ours, farmers have been about our only people, ex- cept the very poor (telegraphers), who have practiced economy. It has been too much assumed that thrift was an evidence of stinginess, and the stingy man has been an object of unusual contempt. We have gone to the extreme in the matter and all felt obliged to be prodigal, to avoid the charge of being stingy. So life became for many a continuous camouflage to keep up appearances. In this way it has, for most of us, taken all of our life to live, and now the very poor ones (referred to above) must practice thrift to such extremes because of ever soaring prices that we must be expert business managers and accountants to make ends meet. All the members have received a copy of the circular letter recently issued by our committee. Each one of us is expected to respond liberally to the cause outlined therein, and it is believed most of us will do so eagerly. Do your part and then make it a point to ask the other fellow if he has done his. When we have done this, we have only done our duty and can relax into a night of sweet repose with a clear conscience to- ward our brother members, who are bearing their proportion of the duties. Recent new members are : Bros. Webb, Cawthon, and Durr, Marlin. Four others promised to line up soon. Very sorry to ^report Sister McQueen, Mar- lin, on sick list, Hope she will shortly be able to resume her duties. Account no avail- able relief. Marlin closed from 4 p. m. to mid- night during illness. Bro. Durr goes to Mar- lin second. Wright, Mertens, is also on sick list, re- lieved by “Pat” Elliott from the Santa Fe. Ex-Bro. Boren, a new man, has had his resignation in three weeks, and no relief in sight yet. Bro* Reulet has “the smile that won’t come off." He was placed in Class 2 in the se- lective draft. “G. S..” Div. Cor., Ckrt, 352. Seaboard Air Line Ry., Div. No. 28. N. C. Division — Bro. Shoemaker, third trick dispatcher Hamlet and Monroe DIst. operator, off two nights sick. Bros. Windham anu Robinson dotting. Bro. Councils, agent Rutherfordton, also off sick, and Bro. Weathers, messenger operator “H” Hamlet, was off seven days on account of illness of his father, relieved by Bro. Cowan from “HY”, relieved by Bros. Mc- Gowan and Edwards from the chief's office. Bro. Merriken, second Coyce, also off few days sick, Bros. Rhyne and Fulcher doubling. Bro. Ebey, second trick dispatcher Raleigh District, off few days sick, Bros. Currie and Cline doubling. Bro. Carroll, third Wades- boro, off a few nights sick, Bros. Brigman and Rowell doubling. Bro. Jenks, second Monroe, off few days account sickness, re- lieved by Bro. Harrell from Bostic Yard. Bro. Mitchell is back on first Monroe. Bro. Allen going to first Rockingham. Bro. Smith from A. C. L. to second Hamlet yard. Bro. Fitzpatrick to third “HY.” Bro. Duke, mgr. *'H” office, on a few days' hunting trip, relieved by Bro. Paysur, a new man. Bro. Pennington, second McBee, off for serv- ice with Uncle Sam, relieved by Bro. Far- ris, third Cheraw, relieved by Sellars, a new man. Bro. Cullen, second Camden, off on account sickness, Bros. Fisher and Lowman dou- bling. Bro. Olive, third Cameron, also off on account sickness, relieved by Phillips. Congratulations to Papa Cullen. Bro. Cofleld, agent Ellenboro, was re- lieved by Bro. Cain a few days. Bro. Tally, first Cameron, off a few days on a trip to Florida. Bro. Drisklll, third Hamlet, and 87 clerks gone to E. C. Division, Charleston, as ex- tra dispatcher and report clerk, relieved by Bro. Cowan, from “HY." Bro. Lowman, third Camden, off account sickness, Bros. Fisher and Cullen doubling; three days later relieved by Bro. Farris from third ‘McBee. Bros. Gunter and Hil- dreth doubling at McBee. Bro. Lamb, ageist Wingate, off sick, relieved by Bro. W. C. Causey. Bro. Parker, second Cameron, off account illness of his father. Bro. Parker, second trick dispatcher, Ral- eigh District, to Washington three days in be- half of train dispatchers, the other brothers in the dispatcher’s office doubling during his absence. Bro. Waddell, third Pee Dee, off sick, Bros. Trodgen and Applewhite doubling. Bros. Ed and Joe Cooper called home on account of illness of their father. Bro. Farris to Cassatt, relieved at Camden by Alden. Bro. Ross, agent Blaney. relieved while at court by Bro. Cullen from Camden. Ckrt. 1678. Alabama Division — Bro. Gore has returned to Collins Agency after being off sick. Bro. Benton, Agent Pitts, who was hurt last fall, worked second Vidalia a few days, but had to go to the hospital for operation. Glad to know he is getting along nicely now. It was necessary for myself and Bro. Ham- ilton, third Vidalia, to double three days until Martin arrived; relieved at on second Collins by Bro. Cannon, agent clerk there. We are sorry to hear that Bro. J. L. Jones is in hospital and wish him a speedy recov- ery. Digitized by tjOOQie
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368 The Railroad Telegrapher. It is now Bro. Yawn, second Shops. B. D. Bedgood, from Georgia & Florida, is on second Richland. Bro. Wood, car clerk to the chief dis- patcher, called on us a few days ago. Bro. McTear, Agent Groveland, was in Vi- dalia visiting relatives recently. Bro. Williams, Agent Ellabell, is in Plains hospital for an operation for appendicitis. We hope for his speedy recovery. He worked a few days at the shops, leaving his wife to look after his agency. Bro. H. L. Carter bid in Vidalia ticket agency. Keep after the few nons until they line up. We are almost solid now. We are glad to see that all the “SAL1’ clerks have been given a 20% raise and shorter hours. I wish every member on this division would give me Just a few notes for our write- up each mbnth. It would only take a few minutes of your time to help me out. Csrt. 1423. Bennett sville Line — Bro. Hall has returned from a trip to Charleston. Bro. Slattery; agent Georgetown, has been promoted to third trick dispatcher at Charleston. We all wish him success. • Our superintendent spent a night In Mc- Call recently enroute to Darlington over the A. C. L. One of the New York-Florida flyers on the So. Cor. Division recently ran Into & freight train at Riceboro, killing Engineer J. B. Rogers, the switch being left open when the engine went out to take water. Business Is good over hero. Lots of extras. All the boys should try and help line up the few remaining nons. Remember the old motto, “ No card , no favors.” Cert. 1713. Missouri Pacific Ry., Dlv. No. 31. Colorado Division — Reduction of force at McCracken caused Bro. Odell to be cut off. Bro. Zirkle, the agent there, has enough to do without the wire work. On account of trains 13 and 14 being cut off, a number of night clerks were also taken off, making it necessary for the agents to meet the local freights when they are running late. Don't forget that over- time slip, boys. We paid our hard-earned dollars for this schedule and you are entitled to every cent of overtime. I was elected a committee of one to see that you get it, and all I ask is a chance to try. Bro. Dunlap goes to Scott City third ; Thos. L. Glaub, a new man, to Olmitz third, and Bro. Odell to Utica third. During the severe snowstorm, while Dis- patcher Siddorn, who was out over the line dispatching wherever he could get a wire, he came to Eads and we filled him up on corn bread and presented him with & new cane. Bro. Gabe is taking a rest, visiting rela- tives and friends. Bro. Joe Dannelly, who on February 8th slipped on the platform and fell, and bruised his head, decided to lay off, but before the auditor arrived to make the transfer the depot burned about .half down on Sunday, the 10th, and the boys are now doing “bi*” in a bunk car. Bro. Dannelly will visit the army camps in Texas, Arkansas and Louisi- ana while on his vacation. Bro. Jones was called to his home In South- ern Kansas the middle of January by the serious illness of his father, who died Feb- ruary 6th. He has the heartfelt sympathy of the membership of the entire division In his bereavement. He was relieved by T. M. Bickers, who failed to pass the physical tests in the signal branch of the army. He later relieved Bro. Shockley on Ordway third, on his honeymoon. W. Z. L., Local Chairman. IN MEMORLAM. Whereas, The Supreme Being, in His in- finite wisdom, has seen fit to take from our midst the beloved father of our esteemed brother, R. H. Jones; and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to Him that doeth all things best; and Whereas, We realize that our sympathy can best be expressed in words of condol- ence ; now, therefore, be it Resolved , That the officers and members of Colorado Division No. 31, Order of Rail- road Telegraphers, extend to the bereaved brother their heartfelt sympathy in this their sad bereavement; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be handed the brother, a copy mailed Ths Telegrapher for publication, and a copy entered on the minutes of this division. W. Z. Law rense, A. Barnett, F. A. Thompson, Committee. Eastern Division — Bro. L. O. Kennedy has resumed on second “CD” Kansas City, relieving J. E. Baum- gardner, who enlisted in the army. Bro. W. Bryant of Warrensburg and Bro. T. M. Farris of Lamonte have gone with the Bell Telephone Company at Kansas City. Former succeeded by Bro. J. Connell. Bro. J. H. Pryor, “SX“ Kansas City, on sick-list, also Bro. E. L. Hirst, Greenwood ; latter relieved by R. J. Lombard, now on third Lee's Summit. O. E. Coyne, trainmaster St. Louis dis- trict, has been appointed a major in the army ; relieved by R. C. Williams of the River Route, and be by B. H. Knapp from Digitized by LaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 369 Sedalia ; El El Carter, third trick dispatcher, appointed chief at Sedalia, relieved by Shep- ard, vice Shryer, extra dispatcher from Jeff. City. Otterville has been opened as block sta- tion 6 p. m. until S a. m. ; salary $46.00 per month, with Mr. Siegle as block operator. Brothers, remit your dues promptly, while we are getting our new schedule. Keep your card up-to-date. Bro. Johnson, for the good work he has been doing, deserves credit. Lighten his task by writing and giving him all the information you can whenever any case comes up where attention is needed, as well as anything for the Journal. Cert. S81. Joplin Division — The Inter-State locals running through to Madison during cold weather being late, made a little overtime for the brothers on that end. This Madison branch has been adding six or eight cars of coal daily to the world’s supply. Bro. Tommy Muir, agent Grid ley, has had quite a time lately scraping up enough box cars to keep the citizens off of him. Bro. M. L. Brown, at Madison, says his batteries have been frozen up solid all win- ter. Bro. C. M. Harris relieved temporarily at Mound City agency, pending Bro. H. J. Hough land 's arrival there. Bro. Harris went to third Rich Hill, vice Bro. Hohnsbeen to the Midland Valley at Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bro. ,J. W. Whittaker goes to Richard* Mo., agency. The boys on the Madison will miss him, as first Butler is practically the dispatcher for the Madison branch. Bro. J. R. Tolliver, at Pleasanton, had one of. the stars washed off of his helmet when the revised seniority came. He has been at the top of the list for several years, but it was finally figured out that Bro. Muir, at Gridley, had him "skinned" by a few weeks. Bro. F. M. Evans is back on Joplin 1st after several weeks’ visit with the home folks at Springfield. Nunn, who relieved him, is now with the Frisco at Carthage. Bro. Blechterstaugh, who later resigned Nevada Relay, relieved by C. F. McCall trom Hoisington. Bro. S. El Honey, after a month on second, is back on third Joplin; relieved by Glaze. J. W. Arnold, an old "Katy" striker, goes to Butler third. Bro. Duncan has resigned Ore nights and gone with "Uncle Sam’’ in his Signal Corps. Luck be with him. The assistance of Bros. Wolfe and Duncan is gratefully acknowledged. Tours fraternally, C. V. Rows, L. a 8t L., I. M. & 8. Ry., Dtv. No. 81. White River Rotes — This division is now handling heavier busi- ness than ever before on account of the em- bargoes of other lines, making it necessary to add a night yard clerk at Crane; open night offices at Myrtle and Boswell, and third tricks at Crane and Batesvllle. Bro. S. C. Smith went to Boswell. Pyatt, Ark., opened as day telegraph office. Bro. O. H. Collins, Branson, transferred to the Colorado Division account his wife’s health. Telegraphers are scarce and it is hard to get relief. Bro. W. A. Odell is now working on a bridge gang at Crickett. Bro. J. R. Hess, formerly at Springfield is now with the Southern Pacific in Cali- fornia. Bro. B. O. Wilson, agent Bergman in the general offices of the M. ft N. A. at Harrison, and J. E. Laizure, Cotter, with the "Katy" at Denison, Tex. Bro. J. F. Toung, now in the signal serv- ice of the U. S. army, was a recent visitor at Crane and Tellvllle. Supt Russ has gone into business at Shreveport, La. We were sorry to lose him, and wish him success. Cbrt. 8 IS. Missouri Division — Bro. C. A. Nlckles, relief agent, is at his home with the smallpox. Bro. Gilliland has returned to Dexter after ninety days’ leave. Bro. Geo. Phillips disappeared on February 18th and no trace of him so far. His health has been falling him for some time. Bro. G. D. Cochran was called home re- cently on account of the death of his father. A good many of the boys wanting off, ow- ing to the shortage of operators, are unable to get away. Night Chief McDonald has gone to Jeff. City to work a trick, Mr. Carnahan reliev- ing; Dispatcher Freeze returning from Den- ver to second. Bro. McCutchen, a new man, relieved Lo- cal Chairman O’Shea at Hoxle yard, while on committee work. Bro. Hocking, Delta, is picking chickens on the side, at the big poultry house. Bro. J. J. Slttner, formerly at Leeper, is now at Union Station, Cape Girardeau, for the Frisco. No curdj no favors . No items, no write- up. Cochran. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, God, who knoweth and doeth all things well, has seen fit to call from his earthly home, to a better world, the beloved father of our esteemed sister. Miss /France Worth en ; therefore be it Resolved, That we, the members of the St. L. ft 8. F. Ry., Division No. 82, of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the be- reaved sister our sincere and heartfelt sym* Digitized by v^ooole
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370 The Railroad Telegrapher, pa thy In this her great loss, and pray that the richest blessings of God may ever be with her in this hour of sadness, and lift the burden of sorrow, lead and guide her in the future, until that eventful day when they shall meet again; and be It further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved sister and a copy furnished Thi Telegrapher for publica- tion. H. B. Stone, Giles EL Beaty, Gertrude Hodnbtt, J. H. Hodnett, Committee. Baltimore & Ohio R. R., Dlv. No. 33. The monthly rates of pay in the wage scale are now based on a 26-day month. For example, take a 30-day month at $90.00 per month. If you work the 26 days and all four Sundays, your total pay for the 30 days would be $102.00. On account the rule providing for Sunday pay based on the calen- dar month, Sunday pay is based on 30 days for both regular and extra men. Our understanding of Article No. 11 is : that if it is desired to have an employe re- port for duty on Sunday he should have his hours arranged on Saturday previously, oth- erwise pay for the entire day should be col- lected. Any work outside of that should be paid for at “Cair and overtime rates. In determining what constitutes a “split” we must consider the provisions of hours of service— Rule 16 as well as Rule 11. The words, “ The hours of work required on Sun- dap shall be within regular daily established hours of the employe affected ” means that should you be required to perform any Sun- day work outside of the hours that you work on weeks days, you should be paid for it at “CaM”. and “overtime?* rates. Note the sentence reading: “If any employes1 trick is split more than twice on 8unday , em- ployes shall receive pay for the entire day.** The word “trick” in this case is the period of time any employe works during week days; therefore when working on Sundays it must be within your week day trick. For example. If your week day trick is from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m., and on Saturday you are told you are to work on Sunday and the ser- vice required of you is from 9 a. m. to 11 a. m. and from 2 p. m. until 4 p. m., then your trick has been split three times and you should be paid for the entire day, the first split occurring between 7 a. m. and 9 a. m. ; the second from 11 a. m. to 2 p. m., and the third from 4 p. m. to 5 p. m. It is the time off, and not the time worked which constitutes a split, and claims should be made accordingly. On some divisions employes are notified by blanket circular that their services are not needed at all on Sundays. Although this Is not strictly In accordance with the noti- fication clause, there Is no serious objection to it. When summoned in this manner for Sunday service, you Bhould claim pay in ac- cordance with Article 10 for ** Call ” and “overtime** rates. Having the ts-day month , we should claim seven or fifteen " week f days when Article 9 is being applied In each instance. Agents should read Rules 1006 and 1017 in the new book, referring to train crews plac- ing U C. L. freight where agents may di- rect, which the company officials promise to have carried out. The following letter was addressed to General Managers Begien and Galloway by Mr. J. M. Davis under date of December IS, 1917: “When the handling of United States mail becomes so heavy that it interferes with other duties, they, (the agents) should be given some relief and will be glad to have you so arrange.** In regard to the participation of teleg- raphers, telephoners, agents and levermen in the expected wage Increase as a result of the hearings recently held by the Railroad Wage Commission in Washington, you will note, page lit of the February Teijeorapher, that President Perham was the first to ap- pear before that commission and asked for an increase of forty per cent. Any increased wages decided on by this commission will be retroactive to January 1, 1918. I had the pleasure of being in Washington about nine days in February, while President Perham was there. We are very fortunate in having such a man at the head' of the O. R. T., and as individuals should do our utmost to assist him in perfecting the organisation, by get- ting in the none and making our divisions solid. Revisions of existing agreements will be made from time to time. We must see that agents, train dispatchers and others who should belong to our order are lined up at once. The Interstate Commerce Commission document entitled “Rules governing the clas- sification of steam railway employees and their compensation ,** dated July 1, 1915, clas- sifies train dispatchers as employees and not as division officials. As the Senate has passed the bill provid- ing for government control tor a period of 18 months after peace has been declared, we should see that all the employees properly belonging in our order Join now and be pre- pared for that day, if it ever comes. Every member should keep his dues paid up and help to get in the nons on the divi- sion where he is employed ; organize cam- paign and membership clubs to bring this condition about, and ask the dispatchers and exclusive agents on your division to get an O. R. T. card. Tours for a thorough membership, and better pay and working conditions. J. Y eager. General Chairman. Digitized by v^ooole
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371 The Railroad Indiana Division — The employment of prison labor by private corporations has caused much concern throughout this country for many years. The following case occurred in Cincinnati, which many years ago centered attraction as the headquarters of “The Underground Railroad" and the home of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” That city was the last in the state of Ohio to break contractural relations with a private corporation for the sale of convipt labor when it recently refused to renew a contract with a certain brush and wire goods concern which called for the employ- ment. of convict labor at the City Work House. Compensation was to be arranged for at the same scaler paid elsewhere for the same kind of work. The decision was claimed to have been based on a state law prohibiting the use of convict labor except- ing for public institutions. The forced confinement of persons, where their labor has been sold to a private indi- vidual or corporation, and the administra- tion of additional punishment in the event such persons refuse to perform, such work, mti be construed as nothing more nor less than slavery. The action taken by the City Council in this case is commendable. When the manufactured article produced by convict labor is placed on the open mar- ket in competition with goods made under ideal conditions by men working to support families, the tendency is toward decreasing the demand for honest labor. The effects of such a system may be far-reaching. When the editorial department of the Cin- cinnati Post was asked for a verification of the case, the following reply was received : “Mr. William Thorndyke, attorney, repre- sented the Central Labor Council, and was instrumental in having the contract defeated. Central Labor Council is composed of repre- sentatives from various unions throughout the city.” Illustrating one of the many angles in which your union card reaches. The finger print of slavery cannot be found upon a loyal union man. The high water In the Ohio Valley recently washed out the Baltimore & Ohio bridge over the Big Miami River Just east of Law- renceburg. Trains are being operated over the Big Four between Griffiths and Dearborn towers. Two tricks at North Bend were abolished. Bro. Ray Trapp opened up third Delhi. Bro. W. G. Patmor, relieving the chief at Cincinnati Junction, was relieved by Bro. Paul Truitt on C. B. Cabin third. Bro. Strang, agent Osgood, is back after a serious illness; also Bro. J. V. Huffihgton, agent Holton, after nine-weeks* sickness, re- lieved by Bro. Moore while sick with the grippe. Bro. H. Tobias, Blocher second, was relieved by Bro. Ray Trapp, who also re- Telegraph&r. lieved Bro. Met*, Watson second, while at- tending the funeral of a relative. The many friends of Bro. Ed. Carrico will be sorry to learn that it became neces- sary to amputate one of his feet. He is do- ing as well as could be expected. Bro. O. O. Shortridge, Medora, is again In the race for treasurer of Jackson County, Indiana. Don’t let the old mule kick you, “kid." Bro. Dobbins. North Vernon first, was sick a few days ; relieved by Bro. Joe from third ; relieved by Bro. Scoopmyer. Bro. Johnson, Milan first, formerly assist- ant chairman of this division, is now at St. Louis in the Grand Division headquarters. Very sorry to lose a good friend. The Gr^nd Division’s gain is our loss. Bro. C. E. Holland, days, and former Bro. McKay, nights, take the newly created posi- tions of assistant chief train dispatchers at Seymour. It is understood promotions to train dispatcher will be made from assistant chief positions. Three assistant road foremen of engines and one assistant train master were added to the official family ot our division in the promotion of C. Ormsby, C. B. Lewis, O. D. Seellnger and E. Myers. Bro. Wm. Trapp of Marysville recently slipped off to Indianapolis for the Big Knot We all wish him success. Charlestown has been placed on an eight- hour basis, and Lovett, Paris, Deputy, Lex- ington and Otisco are on a ten-hour basis, inclusive of meal hour. Cert. 1687 has been appointed assistant division correspondent, to assist In reporting the events on the Louisville branch. Show your appreciation by keeping him well in-1- formed on the social occurrences. In making this lengthy write-up, I am par- ticularly thankful to Bro. Joe, the division fisherman, and Bro. Hartwell of Commiskey. While the local chairman keeps me posted on the happenings on the West End, we can- not always look for his honorable mention. Others down that way might better assist in keeping things moving. Don’t forget that the M.. K. & T. is unfair to its telegraphers. Diy. Cor. Illinois Division — Our schedule committee is to be thanked, as we now have one of the best schedules in the East. Let’s keep after the few nons and make our division solid. They can have no reason now for not coming in. Also watch the new men and line them up. Due to the shortage of operators, we should not move so much. Get a Job that suits you and stay with it. The men at the shops had to double a few days on account of Bro. Weshinskey be- ing sick, also on account of Becker being called for the army. Digitized by tjOOQie
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372 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bra Hoop, &t "Washington, is being ex- amined for the army. Bro. Pritchett, Pritchton, is at Hot Springs, Ark., on account of rheumatism, and Bro. Crogan, shops, Is at St. Louis, having his eyes treated. Live up to the contract, and remember, “No card, no favors” Cxrt. 8860. Chicago Division — All the boys are greatly pleased with what the O. R. T. has done and is doing for them, and gratified to note that our wide-awake president, Bro. Perham, was the first man to introduce himself to the Wage Commission In the interest of our organization. Bro. Perham is a great man and has accomplished wonders for us all. Mrs. Ethel A. Geer, wife of Bro. P. M. Geer, Rx. Willard. Ohio (Chicago Jet, Ohio), who worked last August at Owinze, Idaho, and again in December and January at Ki- roama, Idaho, for the Oregon Short Line, has returned to the Idaho Division and can soon be called usister” Cert. 888. Members Cleveland Division — Another month has rolled around and not one of you have contributed even one item for the write-up. When a new man comes in your midst make him welcome, ascertain if he holds a card and send me his Cert, and division number and the date he is paid up to, and I will see that he is transferred to Divi- sion No. 83. We had a nice meeting at Cleveland Janu- ary 26th and at Lincoln Inn, Massillon, Feb- ruary 26th. These meetings are a benefit to all, concerned, as many things are dis- cussed and it gives us a chance to get ac- quainted. There is no excuse for any one not being up-to-date, as you are drawing from $19.00 to $22.00 a month more than under the old schedule. We welcome Bros. J. H. Miller and C. F. Huffman as new members, and we will soon be back as second division on the system and we can be first if you would all help out. Dispatcher Weeks was off, sick, several weeks. Bro. Shelton was relieved several days by Bro. Davis. Bro. Billings, our real estate man, reliev- ing at R. D. to let the boys off occasionally, is setting the right example, being out of the service over a year and has an up-to-date all the time. Bro. Clark, who is in camp, Is looking fine and feeling good. His furlough was too short to get around to see all he wished to. Bro. Hoag expects to go to camp soon.' Our old friends Baul, Calhamer and Vickers, are all at Fort Leavenworth, Kans., Co. C, 6th F. B. Signal Corps. Boys, send us some notes. We would like to have them interesting, as we have friends who read them all over the U. 8. The Local Board of Adjustment for the coming year is Bros. Landis, Rogers, Sum- mers and Kilbow. I received a nice letter recently from Bra Miller of East Sparta, way up in years, tell- ing me that my letter, stating wage in- crease and working conditions of the new agreement, gave him more pleasure than anything he had received for many a year, and thanked the organization and myself for what we had been able to do for him. Aim for 100 per cent and help me to get there. W. A. McCabe. Toledo Division — As soon as I am assigned to New Rivet Junct., I will get out a seniority list and have it mailed to every office. After each man’s name will be a mark denoting his standing. If every member at each station will see that the new men are taken care of as soon as they arrfve, we will soon have a larger percentage. Penna Junct., and Bates tower, have been Increased to $95.00, and "KM” now pays $86.00 straight, eight hours, six days a week, no Sunday work. Bro. Winn, second Deshler, Is working both sides there, the Chicago Division not being able to furnish a man, while Bro. Scott is with his mother, who is very ill. He has our sympathy and hopes for her speedy re- covery. Up for bids : K. M., Toledo ; Cridersvflle second, Z Cabin nights, and the three tickets at Viaduct Lima. Bro. N. G. Coale secured the application of Mr. Kareth, Roachton nights. Division Operator Clayton visited most of the stations on the north end recently. He was formerly one of the boys over here. Any assistance we render him will be ap- preciated. On a recent trip from Bates to Deshler, I found all the brothers very well pleased with our new schedule. Bros. Burgoon, agent Tontogamy; Young, Sr., agent Perrysburg; Young, Jr., Haskins; "Rube” Starling, Wes- ton; "Ernie” Hill, Custar ; and Wilson, at Deshler, were all wearing their buttons on their coats. Remember, boys, that "The Katy" is still on the "Unfair List,” and any business for the West should be routed by some other line that is "Fair” to its telegraphers and other employes. District Passenger and Freight Agent Emerson of the Salt Lake Line, from Salt Lake City to the Pacific, with headquar- ters in Cincinnati, will appreciate your busi- ness and take good care of it for you. S. P. Guthrie, Cert. 1888, Acting Correspondent, Belmore, Ohio. Digitized by v^ock e
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The Bailboad Telegrapher. 373 New Castle Division- Are you doing your bit toward the elimina- tion of the non and reaching our goal for 1918? If not, why not? Bro. Rupert is on the sick list. Bro. Wagner, clerk at Rittman, who went home South on a holiday vacation, decided to stay away from zero weather and is now working on the Southern. The following additional names have been added to the list of contributors to the seni- ority list fund : Bros. Shannon, Forney, Mc- Conney, Brown, Barnes, Dove, Reese, Van Vranken, Delong, Lane, Brillhart, Archer, Saltsman, Gleason, Collins, McCannon, Dun- nivant. Chapel, and Sister Hawkins, Miss Kraatz and Mr. Steinmetz. If you have sub- scribed and not paid, or those of you who have not subscribed and are willing to help out on this fund, send your bit along. The list Is now In the hands of the printer and will soon be ready for distribution. No notes means no news. If you will help out by sending me any items of interest, I will see that they get to the Journal. Bros. Coan, transferring from the Clover Leaf, and Tryon, by initiation, are recent newcomers to the New Castle Division. There are still several holding some of the best paying regular positions who are not members. If we all try a little we can make every office solid. Won’t you show your ap- preciation of the new schedule by getting the non you are working with to line up? It Is a good time to remember, “No card, no favors ” G. A. M. C. * E. t. R. R., Div. No. 34. Chicago Division — Bro. R. Parrett, relief agent from New- port, reported sick. Bro. Arnold, second Atherton, relieved a few days by L. M. Cohen, a new man. Bros. F. O. Berry and W. B. Bryan were recent Chicago visitors, and Bro. Berry’s wife visited him in Momence recently. V. White, M. S. tower, visited home folks February 3rd, at Clinton, Ind., and took the army medical examination the following day. Bro. J. F. Miller, second “MS,” spent Sunday at Swannington, Ind., and Miss Geneva and Leslie Miller spent a few days with their father, Bro. J. F. Miller, at Momence, re- cently. Bro. E. J. Keener, on vacation, relieved on first “MS” by C. H. York, who later went to Momence depot as night clerk. L. D. Cable, son of Bro. A. Cable, agent Broadland, bid in the relief agency. O. R. Gray, agent Momence, recently spent Sunday afternoon with Bros. P. E. Hampton and Geo. Reed at Watseka. Bro. P. E. Hampton and family were called to Coatesville, Ind., recently owing to the serious illness of his uncle. Bro. C. D. Smith of Gerald, en route to Danville, dropped off at Watseka for a chat with Bro. Hampton. Bros. C. A. Payne and C. F. Prow doubled a few days at W. A. tower owing to the serious illness of Bro. C. R. Montgomery's wife. The latter, however, is much improved at this writing. Brothers, let us get after the nons and make our division solid, for “in union there is strength ” Special thanks are given to Bros. Miller and Bryan of M. J. and M. S. for notes. Send in your items, boys, and have Division No. 34 well represented in Thb Teleorapher ; also place a stamp on your Telegrapher and pass it on to the mail man for the benefit of a brother in the army. Cert. 820. Pennsylvania Lines, West, Div. No. 36. Chicago Terminal , Div. 36 — Bro. Mesapohle, to Hammond, succeeded at Wolf Lake by Bro. Cristy of third. Bro. Leslie relieved Bro. Moore, “KS” first, who relieved Bro. Wordell on first “OD,” who went to "XN” relay. General Chairman Gilchrist has appointed me division correspondent and I will see that we are represented in The Telegrapher each month. J. B. Leslie. St. Louis Division — When the old Vandalia Railroad became a part of the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pitts- burgh, we were automatically changed from System Division No. 27 to Penna Lines West No. 36, and we hope and expect that each brother will work for a schedule on these lines, so we may have a chance for repre- sentation with our company the same as our brothers on neighboring roads, each side, and all around us. The average telegrapher should have In- telligence enough to see the benefits derived from belonging to the O. R. T. to get into the order and stay, and furthermore see that a few cannot do these things alone, and allow themselves to be browbeaten, intimidated and coerced by those not in sympathy with us. The time has passed for all this, as we are now under government supervision, and such matters, if taken up with the proper authorities, should they be started again, will receive immediate attention. Brothers, read The Telegrapher and you will see that the men on other roads are get- ting new and revised schedules, the 26-day month, overtime and many other good things which we are not enjoying. Compare your salaries of eighty per to one hundred and over paid by our competitive lines, be- cause they are scheduled roads. You inactive brothers must get busy and see that the “nons” join the O. R. T. at once. Read Presi- dent ^erham’s appeal to Mr. McAdoo’s wage commission. Cast your optics over Division Digitized by Loooie
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374 The Railroad Telegrapher. No. 17 — Penna. Lines east of Pittsburgh ; see what the boys there are doing, and then hand your Telegrapher to the non on the Job with you or mark the articles and send it to the one at the next tower. Get posted. The officials keep posted, that is the very reason we are the under dog. According to newspaper dispatches, either the Pennsy, the B. & O. or the N. T. C. will get the passenger business between New York and St. Louis, the freight going via the two routes not selected for passenger business. Our government sees fit to make these changes now, and it is up to us as loyal American citizens to give them the best we have in ils and do our bit to help get the Kaiser. Cert. 21. Pere Marquette R. R., Div. No. 39. Canadian Div . Notes — Bro. J. B. Decou, Erieau, was given two weeks’ holidays January 6th to 19th, to cover one week he did not get in 1916 and one he did not get in 1917. He spent them seeing the old* P. M. Ry., visiting as far north as Sarina and through to Detroit, some of the boys he has not seen for nine years. Let us try to get started on the holiday business earlier than September and not have to take them in the dead of winter and no advance notice given. Some have not taken their 1917 holidays yet and have not put in the time on their rolls, thus breaking the schedule. If you do not get your holidays in the year they are due you, place them on your pay roll the last half of December and you will get them, and we will all get them earlier. Bro. Julien Sombra had a boil on his lip, got blood poison and Bro. A. R. Hall relieved him a few days. This knocked Bro. Brad Sheddon out ot his 1917 holidays, which he was told to take in January. Don’t forget to send Bro. Neff the $6.00 to help pay for our last schedule of 1917. It takes cash to get a schedule and we must not let the treasury get down, as we will soon need another one to keep anywhere near the increased cost of living. The almighty dollar has now shrunk to about 48 cents in purchas- ing value and we have received only 16 per cent increase. Come across, fellows, with the $6.00 right now and help us get a new schedule again. The O. R. T. has been in existence for so many years that on every road in Canada and the United States all telegraphers have the same minimum salary, overtime, vaca- tion clause, and the same hours to work each day. When we want an increase every teleg- rapher on all the railroads should demand it at the same time. That is the only way we will ever get it The trainmen in Canada now have the eight-hour law, and it is up to us to get it also. Don’t sit around and tell the natives how hard up you are; that won't get you anything. Write to Bro. Neff and Bro. Burr. They are working for our interest and the only way to start the ball rolling is to tell them your troubles. Meantime see that the man in the office with you or next to you has an up-to-date. If not get his applica- tion with the cash and forward it to Bro. Neff; and remember, “No card , no favors .” Div. Cor. Chesapeake A Ohio Ry.f Div. No. 40. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our most gracious Heavenly Father, to whose omnipotent will we reverently submit, to remove to his home above our beloved brother, W. J. Renner ; therefore be it Resolved, That .the members of Division No. 40, Chesapeaxe & Ohio Railway, Order of Railway Telegraphers, extend to the be- reaved wife and daughters of the deceased their sincerest sympathy, trusting that He, who doeth all things well, will give them strength to bear this burden of sorrow; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent the family, a copy spread on the division records, and a copy sent The Teleg- rapher for publication. A. C. Hill, C. K. Livssay, C. C. Wars, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father has seen fit to remove from earth to his eternal re- ward, the beloved father of esteemed Gen- eral Chairman Bro. L. E. Hicks; therefore be it Resolved, That the members of Division No. 40, Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, Order of Railway Telegraphers, extend to the be- reaved brother iheir deepest syiqpathy in this hour of sorrow, trusting that the Lord, in His omnipotence, will comfort him; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent Bro. Hicks, a copy spread, on the divi- sion records, and a copy sent The Teleg- rapher for publication. A. C. Hill, C. K. Livesay, C. C. Ware, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Almighty God has seen lit to move from this world of trouble, to that beautiful city not made with hands, the beloved father of our esteemed, genial and worthy general chairman, Bro. L. E. Hicks, and W hbrbas. We humbly bow in silent obe- dience to the will of Him who has gone to Digitized by LaOOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 375 prepare a place for us ; we cannot but deeply feel for our brother in these his dark hours, and we join him in mourning his great loss, and Whereas, Shrouded in his last worldly garments and clutched in the never loosen- ing jaws of Qrim Death his father has been laid away to sleep the sleep that knoweth no awakening, be it Resolved, That we the members of C. & O. Ry. Division No. 40, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to this sorrowing brother our heartfelt sympathy in his sad bereavement, and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to Bro. Hicks, a copy spread upon the minutes of our division, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. W. S. Goode, Committee. Neva River Division — IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, On the 14th day of February, the Decree of our Heavenly Father went out and summoned to his eternal reward, after a life of activity and service, the aged and beloved father of Bro. L. E. Hicks, our general chairman, be it therefore Resolved, That Hinton Lodge, of Divi- sion No. 40, extend to our good brother and the other members of the bereaved fam- ily, the most sincere condolences and the heartfelt sympathy of our members in this hour of their loss and sorrow, be It further Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to our bereaved brother, a copy sent The Telegrapher for publica- tion therein, and a copy placed in the records of our lodge. W. L. Miller, N. C. Young, J. E. Wheatley, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to my many friends for the words of sympa- thy and kindness shown me during my be- reavement, in the death of my father. I desire to thank Division No. 40 especially, for the beautiful floral offering. L. E. Hicks, Craigs ville, Va. C. A O. of tnd. Ry , Dlv. No. 40. K. H. Knox promoted to issistant train- master with headquarters i tost on second, was succeeded as chief dispatcher by Bro. W. A. Swartz, and he as third trick dis- patcher at Peru second, by Bro. W. R. Wheeler, succeeded as extra dispatcher by Bro. H. H. Reynolds. This leaves Bro. Wood, of Muncie, in line for the next dis- patching vacancy. We congratulate these gentlemen on their promotions and pledge them our support Bro. "Bill” Hutchins goes to Muncie first New members : C. Knipp, LaCrosse ; Gaar Scott, Losantvllle ; J. H. Mullowney, Chi- cago ; L. C. Napier, Peoria; J. Bilbo, Beat- rice. We have several extra men on the line. We need thorough and solid organization. Let's all get busy. Bro. John Baur, of Peru, has been ap- pointed game warden for Miami County. Bro. O. E. Miller, Peru yard second, has been listed in Class One. We feel very much obliged to Bro. C. E. Dake, second trick dispatcher Boston, for the services of his fine new car, between the station and Arlington Hotel, Richmond, last meeting. We all want to see a good write-up monthly in The Telegrapher. It’s rather difficult for me to get all the news, and I would appreciate very much an item from each one of you. We must stand by our organizations dur- ing these trying times of changed conditions, and give our officials our earnest co-opera- tion. E. E. Middlekauf, L. C. Hocking Valley Ry., Dlv. No. 40. Hocking River Division and Branch — Brothers, in the January and February Journal we had the best write-up for years, but none of you contributed any items, all the news was gotten from train men. You surely can send in a note or two in regard to the changes, etc., going on around you. There will be no more write-up if you brothers cannot give us a few items. During the recent high water Bro. Kan- ode, second Old Town yard, was afraid the office would be knocked into the river by floating ice so he worked outside through the window, giving him a better chance to “high-ball” if anything happened. He was on the sick list several days later. Bro. Wright, third there, was off a few nights recently, on account of sickness. Bro. Smith, first Old Town, contemplates going into the Jewelry business. The brothers will remember him when needing anything in his line. Bro. Cochran, from Armltage, Is on third East Clayton. We were all sorry to hear of the death of Bro. McGinnis’ mother, second Lancaster, due to a gas explosion, and regret that we did not hear of it in time to send a suitable floral design for the funeral. We were also very sorry to hear of the death of General Chairman Hicks' father, and extend him our heartfelt sympathy in his bereavement. Brothers, wake up, and take part in the campaign of lining up the none which is now in full blast. Digitized by tjoooie
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376 The Railroad Telegrapher. B. of R. T. Bro. Lineman C. L. Abell, busy several days looping the loop around the branch after wire trouble, will probably soon take out an O. R. T. card. Bro. O’Neil, of Oreendale, spent Sunday at Logan recently, installing another relay sounder of a much better design and with a deafer sound than the former ones. Local Chairman McClain, enroute to Co- lumbus from his vacation, missed his train at Logan while going after refreshments. He gathered a basket of thermometers after several hours search In Columbus for Bro. Delshlie at Logan to use In his hot-beds. Bro. Evans, of Carbon Hill, was in Logan recently for examination to Join the colors. Brothers, familiarize yourselves with the switchboard so you can patch at a minute’s notice. That’s Just as much a part of our trade as sending and receiving. Let us O. R. T. members keep up our high class of efficiency in all branches of our depart- ment. P. G. D. and S. N. at Q. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas., Our Heavenly Father, in His Infinite wisdom and love, has seen fit to call to her eternal home, where parting and sorrow are unknown, the beloved mother of our esteemed Bro. G. W. McGinnis, and Whereas, We bow In humble submission to His will, knowing that He does all things for the best; therefore be it Resolved , That the members of the Hock- ing Valley C. & O.. Division No. 40. Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sor- rowing brother their sincere sympathy in this sad hour of his bereavement, and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolu- tions be sent to the bereaved brother, a copy filed with the division records, and a copy forwarded to The Telegrapher for publica- tion. F. G. Deishlib, B. B. Wilson, C. W. McClain, S. Nihiser, Committee. Toledo Division Notes — Brothers, if there are any changes in or around your office, drop me a line and tell me about it. Bros. Delshlie a.nd Nihiser have been sending in some very good write- ups, and we can have one every month if some of you brothers will send me your items. Wake up, boys, to the fact that it takes more than Just paying our dues to be good brothers. Let’s stir up some enthusiasm and make this a banner year. We ought to have some good old meetings like we used to have; it would help out a whole lot. Let’s hear from you on this. Bro. Reed had to work sixteen hours re- cently, on account of Hayes’ illness. Bro. Webb was off a few days to welcome the arrival of a baby girl. Congratulations. It Is now Bro. Gerthoffer, and he has several more of the boys lined up. Don’t forget, brothers, to send me a few items so I can get them to St. Louis before the twenty-fifth of the month. Div. Cor. Cert. 1167. Boston A Maine R. R., Div. No. 41. Boston Division — General Chairman Bode Is back on the Job again with his usual vim and energy. He is In constant touch with affairs, per- taining to our interests in Washington, D. C., and at St. Louis, the national headquarters. President Perham has been in Washington for some time representing our interests, and has filed an application for an Increase of 40 per cent for all members of our craft. He Is also looking after the mail problem, trying to have that work delegated to the proper employees of the Postofflce Depart- ment Chairman Bode, however, is not waiting on the government for increases and bet- ter conditions but has convened the gen- eral committee to consider an application to the management for more pay, a shorter day and better conditions. He has been on the road about a month, visiting mem- bers in trouble at distant points, and work- ing among the tew scattering non-members, when the handling of grievances and corre- spondence would permit. All that is needed is to arouse the nons as to their moral duty toward the organization that has given them the Increases and the better conditions they now enjoy. Bro. Bode was somewhat sur- prised and disappointed to find that there were some members working in the same office with nons, who had made no effort to get their membership, although when he called he found them quite ready to Join. He asks that all the members get together for a long pull for 100 per cent on the Bos- ton & Maine System, by December, 1918. Fitchburg Division Notes — I am grieved to announce the death of Bro. E. S. Handlin, of Fitchburg, Mass., on January 19th, at 9 :15 a, m. He had been in bad health for several months, but worked at Fitchburg several weeks before relieving Bro. D. D. Berry a few days. He leaves a wife and four children, all girls, the oldest five years, and youngest seven weeks. Bro. Handlin entered the service of the Boston A Maine in 1909, as a freight brakeman after receiving his honorable dis- charge from the United States Navy, and traveling the world over. Later he entered the telegraph ranks. His brother, Bro. BC. EL Handlin, who answered the call to the Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 377 Colors December 15th, as a radio operator, was home for the funeral. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire membership. Bros. Rice, Hayner and Hunt, operators at "N” Greenfield, have been advanced to the position of dispatchers in the Greenfield dispatchers’ office. The Berkshire Division has established a new office In Greenfield to handle the much increased business on that division at that point. Three of Mrs. Quilty’s students hav- ing been placed on the Job. If we are to have the fair sex amongst us, talk O. R. T. to them, they make good members. Portland Division Notes — Bro. George Knapp is back again in the Portland Division dispatchers' office "BM." We are glad to have "Geo.” with us again. 8outhem Division Notes — Bro. Cal I than, Winchester, goes to Mystic Junction yard, relieved by Bro. Pollard, from Lexington. Div. Cor. C. d P. South. B. d M. R. R. — Local Chairman Richards has appointed Bro. Dan Mack assistant local chairman. He will be pleased to help anyone at any time. Complaints have been made that positions have not been granted to successful bidders, but the local chairman > has not received copies of bids from anyone in compliance with the schedule, therefore he has not been able to keep track of the bidders and see that those entitled to the positions were properly assigned. You should not expect the company to line up to the schedule if you persist in breaking it All have received their back time, and there is no complaint on that score. I received a letter from Bro. Hoxle, from "Somewhere in France” recently, he wishes to be remembered to the O. R. T. boys in general. He sent me a very nice souvenir, which was greatly appreciated. An office at “DA” No. Walpole, and Fitch- burg yard. Bellows Falls, has been opened temporarily on account of rush work. Until the weather is more fit and train service better, it will be impossible to hold a meeting of any advantage to the boys. Everyone should file their applications for vacation within the prescribed time ; none have been received yet. Bro. F. J. Morse, at Claremont Junction for the last five years, is now agent at Westminster Station, and will move his fam- ily there. He succeeds Agent L. M. Still, who has taken a position as riveter on the new ships being built for the Government at Quincy, Mass. Among the recent new members are: F. A. Adams, agent, and J. W. Udell third East Northfleld ; C. B. Patch, agent at Win- chester, and B. R. Price ; also Sisters Beauregard and Miss M. O'Connor. There are only a few more nons left on this division, and most of them have prom- ised to fill out the application given them at an early date. We must keep right after them so they will not forget it, and make the C. & P. solid. We can do it with a little more effort on the part of each one of us. Bro. R. E. Franklin has been finally placed at Silver Street Switch, which he bid off last summer. Bro. J. W. Marten is transferred from Division No. 8, is at Bemardston. He served for years on the N. Y. C. general committee, and is a valuable addition to our division. Local Chairman Richards went over the division recently, and called on some of the nons. Dole Junction is to be made a three-trick office, and offices have been opened at Green- field and No. Walpole yard, with lady oper- ators from Mrs. Quilty’s school at Boston. Many of them are joining the Order. We have five of them now on this division. Northboro has been opened as a night and day office, and Ely closed as the oper- ators cannot get board at the latter place. Bro. Ted Wheeler, third Lyndonville, is now a member of the 177th Aero Squadron, "Somewhere in France.” Bro. Demlck has gone to Orleans freight house. Former cashier Orcutt, at Newport, is now traveling auditor. Triple leaders are the rule rather than the exceptions now over the hill. Keep after the new arrivals, brothers, the "old-timers" are coming in fine at present. Bro. Crowley, second trick dispatcher, is at his home in Putney, sick. We all hope it is nothing serious, and that he will soon be back again. During the past two months we have had some of the heaviest snow-falls and coldest weather in years. This, with the vast amount of business, has caused a large con- gestion of freight on this division, which makes business rushing, especially in the telegraph department. We should all give the best possible service we can during this time, and show the management it can al- ways depend on us to do "our bit,” and that we are worthy of any benefit we re- ceive through our committee. W. F., Diy. Cor. Erie R. R., Div. No. 42. New York Division — Conditions on this division, the largest on tue system, have gotten to a point where 1 must have the co-operation of every mem- Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, £78 ber to line up the none successfully. There Is over 225 miles of track on the main line and branches. No man can work a twelve- hour Job every day and keep in touch with all the men without the assistance of the members. It is harder now than ever for me to keep in touch with the men, as many are leav- ing all the time to join the colors, and new men are taking their places. If you know of a man who has left the service, drop me a line. If you know of a new man coming on the road near you, get his name and ad- dress and forward it to me ; also try and get his application. Don’t get discouraged by men telling you they haven't the money, etc., but keep right after them every pay-day until you land them. The best time to get a man to join is the minute he comes on the road. If you let him rest for several weeks or months he comes in contact with some professional non, and he contracts the same disease. Members work in the same towers and stations with nons and never ask them to Join. No wonder our conditions are as they are with Buch slackness. We have all got to realize that paying our dues isn’t our only obligation, but that each member must do his bit to build up the division. Some seem to think, now that the Government has control of the roads, that it is unnecessary to belong to the organization. This idea is entirely wrong. The cause of labor has been advanced in Great Britain more since the war began than in fifty years before the war, brought about by the men seeing an opportunity be- fore them and grabbing it, and they are today backing their government with all their power and will stand by it to the end of the war. This is the time also for American labor to bring its power to the highest key, so as to meet whatever may be in store for us at the end of the war. President Wilson has taken Into his confi- dence Samuel Gompers and the other labor leaders, and saw that the men got a square deal in every case, and I hope the working- men, the biggest factor in the country today, will show their appreciation for what he has done, by backing him up to the very limit in the present conflict. Now, boys, let’s start doing our bit, and put the New York Division to the 100 per cent membership mark. T. S. Kelly, L. C. Mahoning Division — The snow and Ice is nearly gone, most of the freight embargoes are lifted, signs of ap- proaching spring are in evidence, and all concerned are feeling more cheerful. The winter of 1917-18 was a corker and will long be remembered by railroad men espe- cially. Ow'ing to the draft and conditions brought on by it, men are scarce, and many va- cancies are being filled by women; hardly a week passes but that some position is ad- vertised. On account of the severe winter weather, late passenger trains, etc., during the past two months, I have not called a meeting, but will call one at Youngstown soon; the last one held there by Assistant General Chairman Williams and myself was not very well attended. Boys, you cannot expect to keep posted if you do not attend the meetings. Come oui . speak your piece and register your kick ; we are good listeners. Before finding too much fault with your position, wages, etc., read the article, “Some Slackers,” by Bro. C. M. Miller, of Greenville, Pa., page thirty- nine, of the January Telegrapher, and when you have read It, think it over, I be- lieve it will broaden your views, and, per- haps remind you of the fact that you are only just “drifting” instead of helping to better your condition, and the condition of others in your class. I frequently meet operators who tell me they have never been asked to Join the Or- der. These men cannot all be classed as nons. We have him in two classes, first the ex-member, who got sore and quit, second the man who persistently refuses to come in. Remember, I always have application blanks, a postal card will bring you one first mail, and don't forget to apk the ladies to take out a card ; they are to be numbered among our best members. J. C. O’Neill, L. C. Delaware Division — If we will enforce the slogan, “No card, no favors ” we will soon have none of those undesirables on the division. Every mem- ber must keep after the man next to him, and give him no rest until he can show an up-to-date card. Bro. N. J. Hagadorn has been working ”GH” for Jeff. Dispatcher Bro. P. H. Flaherty, assigned to duties in the train- master’s office. Bro. L. L. Rlxton is reliev- ing Mr. Shannon, relieving Bro. F. J. Mur- phy, relieving Jeff. Dispatcher Ambrose. Bros. J. A. McGuire and E. M. Washington doubled several days at “SR,” also Bro. F. R. Hoyt and Rawlins at ”SQ,” on account of shortage of operators. Bro. L. J. Kenney is now with “Uncle Sam.” We all regret his going, but are glad to see him better himself and wish him success. Bro. F. A. Galloway is back again wait- ing for “Uncle Sam” to call him to the colors. He was accepted and put in Class 1-A. Bra M. J. Gallagher and Bro. F. J. Mc- Guire recently relieved by Bra J. D. Tobin. Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Tblegrapfeb. 379 We are glad to see Bro. L. Holbert back again. Bro. D. R. Jochem relieved Bro. J. P. Coughlin a few days. It is now Bro. F. Reum, agent Long Eddy. Bro. W. E. Edwards and Bro. E. J. Kane were relieved a short time by Shultz, from the New York Division. Bro. N. J. Hagadorn spent a few days in New York recently seeing the sights. He got quite a shaking up on the way down, being in 48’s wreck at Westcolang. “E.” Cbrt. 1756, Div. Cob. Canadian Northern Ry., Div. No. 43. Quebeo & Lake Bt. John Division — Sunday, February 17th, our regular meet- ing was held at Chicontimi, at 1 :00 p. m., in the Chicontimi Hotel. Bro. Blondian, local chairman in the chair, and Bro. J. L. Cote elected secretary pro tem . The fol- lowing brothers were present : Third trick dispatcher, J. J. Powers; agents, J. El De- lisle; C. A. Levesque; J. E. Anne, and J. A Godin ; operators, J. W. Belanger ; N. Morin ; Geo. Blais ; J. A. Lacasse, and J. N. Barbeau, also Bro. Norbert Cote, freight clerk at Jonquiere, a member of the Cana- dian brotherhood of railroad employees now organizing on this district. The present high cost of living is entirely out of all proportion with ohr salaries while the road is doing the biggest business it has ever done, so it was decided by a majority of members present that our local chairman should communicate with deneral Chairman Muncey that our salaries should be made to equal the C. P. R. Brothers, get after the few nons and give them no rest until they join. Our division is now 97 per cent strong, and we hope to have it 100 per cent next month. K. C.. Cbrt. 679. Edmonton, D. A B. C. Ry., Div. No. 43. Bro. Bolander left for Calgary, January 23rd, to Join his regiment. We all wish him a safe return. He was relieved by Bro. Thewlis at Bon Accord. Bro. Young is being transferred to ‘'MO” first trip of traveling auditor in first district "D” and “NY” offices will be solid O. R. T. this month, first time since we organized. Bro. Tupper, “NY,” left for New Bruns- wick on thirty days’ leave. Hope “C” will return soon, as he will be missed by all. Don’t ask our local chairman how he likes batching, as it peeves him. His wife has been in Chicago since December 1st. Our chief, Bro. Lee, is back on duty again after his illness. Things always seem to brighten up when he is on the Job. Bra Bert Carttck will leave for Toronto on ninety days’ vacation as soon as relief can bo procured. We hope he will have a pleasant trip. That fifty-five below stuff obliged Bro. Ben at “RA” to let his hair grow again. In view of the fact we are soon to have a new schedule, which we are assured will be up to the standard, don’t keep the local chairman chasing you to square up. Don't get in arrears. The latest news from Bro. Sheppard, in the Isolation Hospital in Edmonton, gives no hope of his recovery. Our committee was refused permission to see him. There are three or four new men on the system whom I have written asking for their credentials, but no replies. We all know who they are. Keep after them, and remember, “No card, no favors G. B. French, L. C., Cbrt. 1091. CARD OF THANKS. I desire to sincerely thank the brothers of Division No. 43 for the beautiful floral tribute given in my late bereavement, also wish to convey to Local Chairman W. H. Phillips and wife, sincerest appreciations for kindness and courtesies shown myself and wife during our stay at Gladstone. G. A. Cairns, Cert 561. Glenella, Man. Central of Georgia Ry., Div. No. 46. 8avannah Division — There are still several nons on the line accepting the advantages we secured. Each one promised to do the square thing, yet even after getting the back pay they haven’t even grunted their thanks so far, one in particular, who has been on a scheduled Job over twelve months. Don’t forget that “No card, no favors ” will work wonders on these fellows. Get busy on the non working with y u and give him no rest until he joins. The local chairman has enough work to do get- ting the indifferent members to pay up, so help him out by your personal work. Cert. 1. Quite a number of new offices are being opened up on this division, several of which have not yet been filled permanently. Boys, if the men assigned to these places are not up-to-date, get after them immediately. Bro. Mills, second Smithville, is on the sick list, relieved by Bro. Rowls. Bro. Chambless, agent Walker, is back after be- ing on the sick list several weeks. Bro. Fuller, agent Smithville, on thirty days’ vacation in Florida, relieved by Bro. Mathis, of Fitzpatrick. Bro. Anderson, second Albany, has re- turned after a visit with his people in South Carolina. Cert. 703. Digitized by LaOOQLe
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380 The Railroad Telegrapher. CARD OP THANKa To the Railway Telegraphers of the Co- lumbus Division : We wish to express our slncerest appre- ciation for the lovely floral tribute offered in our recent sorrow. Most of all, we wish to thank each one of you for the spirit that prompted the send- ing of the flowers. We do not question God’s judgment in taking Irvin from us, still it is hard to give him up, and your loving sympathy falls upon our crushed hearts like dew upon the flowers. C. C. Winfreb'and Family, Hamilton, Ga. Denver A Rio Grande R. R., Div. No. 49. First Division — Local Chairman Reynolds has returned to “SB" Pueblo, after serving on general com- mittee, which met the management at Den- ver the early part of February. Being un- able to reach an agreement, our case has been placed in hands of Federal mediators at Washington. General Chairman Fulton is still at Denver. We hope negotiations will be reopened in the near future, and satisfactory results obtained. Bro. Cuthbert, agent Littleton, was sud- denly called to Gunnison on account of the death of his mother. He has the sympathy of every member of the division. Bro. Def- fenbaugh relieved him. Bro. Vinson is re- lieving Bro. Hoffman at Littleton. Mrs. F. I. Gordon, wife of Bro. Gordon, of Somerset, on third division, recently spent several days with home folks at Augusta. We have but two nons on this division. We shall not disclose their names at pres- ent, as they may possibly join, as the result of our advertising campaign, before this item is published. Our new motto: “A write-up each month ” has been added to “No card , no favors. ” Your help will be appreciated with a note to Augusta. F. B. Rose, Div. Cor. Utah Lines — Bro. Philhower, second Salt Lake, on main line is back at Welby dispatching. Bro. Stuart, Gilluly, has resigned and will return South. Bro. Phillips, second Sol Summit, is now in the rabbit business. Bro. Sandmier, first there, off with rheumatism, was relieved by Mrs. Gotthelf. Bro. Reed is back on third Provo, vice Bro. Jackson to the Utah Ry. Bro. Gross, drafted while agent at Cas- tle Gate, has a furlough on account of throat trouble, may be with us for some time and go to work again. Bro. Booth relieved Bro. Shepherd at Span- ish Fork, who accepted a traveling position under Assistant General Freight Agent Ken- worthy. O’Connor is laying off to work his famous mine. Hope he can buy a card when he re- turns. The general committee is still working on the new schedule, waiting for the me- diator. Cbrt. 69. Bessemer A Lake Erie Ry., Div. No. 61. Some are offering as an excuse for being non-members, that the O. R. T. is not a factor in determining wages on “The Bes- semer,” because our recent increases were voluntary and applied to other employes*, such as clerks, laborers, foremen, etc. This is certainly a narrow and short- sighted view to take. We don’t deny that our last Increases were voluntary, and that they were made by this road as a branch of the big corporation. But no one knows Just what conditions will confront labor in the future, or what the relative value of money will be. A strong organization cer- tainly will not prevent any management (whether capital or government) from deal- ing Justly with employes. On certain trunk lines the O. R. T. has been an important factor in determining wages, and a weak organization would have been a detriment to the men involved. A weak organization can’t help having a bad moral effect on our craft in general. We members must see that the nons and ex- members understand this. Cbrt. 92. Southern Pacific Ry., Div. No. 53. San Joaquin District — The meeting held at Mojave on Sunday, February 3rd, was called to order at 4 :30 p. m., by Local Secretary Huckeby. There were present : Station Supervisor, W. B. Morgan, of Bakersfield ; Mr. J. J. Plank, and Mesdames L. S. Jarboe, E. P. Gibson and Mrs. May B. and H. A. Huckeby, Mojave. The members present in addition to the chairman were General Chairman Cull ; C. D. Liston, manager ; B. C. Valer, agent, and L. S. Jarboe and E. P. Gibson, Mojave ; V. L. Underwood, agent Selma ; W. S. Smith, Tehachapi ; O. W. Starkey, Bealville; E. E. Hood, Fresno; J. W. Curry, Caliente ; O. E. Frank, Larose ; F. A. Nejedly, Warren ; W. L. Anderson, Proc- tor ; M. H. Gage, Cameron ; and R. A. Deane, whose membership dates back to 1895. Bro. Cull Interpreted the rules in the new schedule, showing how they applied to this division. A general discussion of the two- hour release was participated in, the un- derstanding arrived at being that an eight- Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 381 hour man working within a two-hour spread must have a two-hour relief between the fourth and seventh hour ; and if he works these two hours he must have a thirty-minute relief by the eighth hour, which makes three hours* overtime, and ends the overtime for that trick. On straight eight-hour tricks, if required to work the ninth hour, that hour pays double, making two hours overtime. Operators not allowed to leave the vicinity of the office without the dispatchers' permission also applies to the two meal hours. Taking of meal hour at non-tel agencies, assigned nine hours with meal hour, left to the option of the man concerned. So many members leave the service after a special assessment has been called that It has been necessary to call a second one of $3.00. To obviate this in future this meet- ing went on record as favoring raising the dues $3.00 or $4.00, as also the Northern and Los Angeles districts have done, and this will probably be put up to the whole membership of the division in the near fu- ture. In this manner every member when paying his dues helps pay the amount re- quired to work out new schedules. Bro. Cull called attention to the fact that forty- three members had been added to Division No. 53 from December 12 to December 31, 1917, and the necessity of the brothers se- curing the application of every new man as soon as he came on their respective divi- sions. Mr. Morgan addressing the meeting upon invitation of the chairman, suggested that the local chairman issue a circular to all agents requesting them, when they receive the checks for back pay, if the men to whom they belong are not working at their sta- tions. to ascertain where they were located, before returning the checks to the assistant treasurer ; thus saving delay and unneces- sary correspondence before the men receive their money. It was noted that all eleven-hour men from September 1st to January 1st are al- lowed two hours on week days and five hours overtime on Sundays, when meal hours are curtailed at the company's in- stance and are entitled to 20 cents for each hour so curtailed and two hours overtime. All the other articles of the new schedule were thoroughly discussed and explained by General Chairman Cull at this meeting, Just as he has done at all the other meetings he attended since it went into operation, and the members of the different divisions are now fairly familiar with them. If any of them are not now fully understood we should write our local chairman, or the su- perintendent's office direct. The meeting went on record favoring or- ganising a ladies' auxiliary, securing as many members as possible. In order to carry on our social affairs in a creditable manner. Having over 100 members in the service of “Uncle Sam" and the likelihood of hav- ing that many more. It was not thought we were able financially to carry them free of dues for the period of the war, and it was recommended that any brother now in the service, or who later enters it, if unable to keep up his card and Insurance will have them paid as a loan, provided he takes the matter up with General Chairman Cull. It was suggested that the local chairman get the names and addresses of all the boys now in the service, and Issue a circular, to the members with this information, in order that they may be sent the home papers, and written to as frequently as possible, also seeing that they get their copies of The Telegrapher promptly; In addition to the bulletins and copies of the new schedule Mr. Morgan is sending them, for which we heartily thank him. The addresses of the boys already known are : E. W. Collins, Co. C. 316 Field Signal Battalion, California, Lewis Branch, Tacoma, Wash., and Bert Putnam, Co. B 316 Field 81gnal Battalion. Camp Lewis. Bro. Gage addressed the meeting in a reminiscent manner going back to the early days before the benefits of organization had come to be realized, comparing those times with the present, in a manner that was very Instructive and . entertaining. Mr. Plank when called upon to address us, expressed his delight for the honor accorded him. to speak to the members of an order like the O. R. T., men holding such respon- sible positions that the lives alike of the richest and poorest were entrusted to their keeping each hour of the day and night. The company, he thought, should be proud to honor such men. It had given him the greatest of pleasure to be among and min- gle with us. He closed by saying that he would alw’ays have a warm spot in his heart for the O. R. T. and Its members, and w»e extended him a rising vote of thanks for his address, also to the S. P. Co. for stopping No. 49 so the boys on the hill could return in time for wo~k. A lot of technical and other important questions wrere discussed to the satisfaction of all concerned, and the meeting will long be remembered. The O. R. T. committee was pleased re- cently to get a letter from Bro. E. D. Myers, of Henryetta, also from Bro. J. H. Wollen, "WU," Dallas, Texas. , Bros. Black and W. S. Smith passed through Mojave recently, the former enroute to Selma the latter to relieve Bro. Hendry at Tehachapi, who goes to McFarland ; Bro. Stice also gave us a call as he passed through enroute to Searles to relieve Bro. Hogan, and Bro. Spracker, of Sanger, had Digitized by v^ooole
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382 The Railroad Telegrapher. to drop in to tell us of the $200.00 back pay the Order secured for him. Bro. Mal- lachowitz also called for the same reason, and Bro. Vandyne, who has been relieving Bro. Manning at Tehachapi, called enroute to Lancaster. Bro. Northerner, enroute to Lancaster. Bro. Northamer, en route to Stockton, also dropped in to tell us that the company recently presented Bro. Bob Denehy a check for $560.00 in settlement of an old grievance, which our committee had handled successfully. Dispatcher Watts is now on military duty in Kansas and Bro. Gibson expects a call shortly. Bro. Griffin, of Marcel, is now in "K" Bakersfield; and Bro. Dan Towles in Fresno, vice Bro. Quinnlisk, who, with Bro. Hood, was a recent Bakersfield visitor. Bro. Peters also visited Bakersfield, Visalia and Hanford Sunday recently. Bro. Quinnlisk relieved Bro. Jarboe at Fresno, when he re- turned to Mojave third, vice Bro. Curry, who went to Caliente, Sister Watts taking second Mojave. It’s now Bros. R. A. Fuller at Kings- burg ; W. R. Duncan of Pixley ; Arthur .Peters, agent Clovis, and Sister Barngrover at Goshen. Bro. Johnston, Division No. 31, who re- lieved Bro. Towles at Delano; Bro. McCuis- ton. Division No. 32, and Bro. C. O. Demp- sey, have been transferred to Division No. 63. The latter, who has dispatched trains and sold tickets all over the world, is now ticket agent at Fresno, and has carried a card since 1891. Like Tardmaster Gamble and Postmaster Hasse, Mojave, he keeps on carrying an up-to-date card, although none of them have touched a key for years. General Chairman Cull was a recent Fresno visitor. H. A. Huckeby. Los Angeles Division — Our meeting, February 9th, at Labor Tem- ple, Los Angeles, was a success. Between forty and fifty were in attendance. All those who were not present missed a mighty good time. Meeting was called to order by Bro. Lyons at 8 :16 p. m., Bro. Dickinson acting as secretary. Bro. Lyons first called for three cheers for our general committee, who had framed and brought to a successful con- clusion our new agreement with the com- pany. The cheers were given with a will and gave evidence of our appreciation of the good work accomplished by our esteemed committee. Bro. Lyons spoke briefly of his experiences in the beginning of the C. T. U. A. strike in 1907, and ended by compliment- ing the committee on their good work. Bro. Cull spoke of the number of new members secured since January 1st, 128 applications having been received in that time, most of them being from the Pacific system. He read the preamble of our constitution, which gave us all some food for thought, and made us realize more than ever before what a great organization the Order of Railroad Telegraphers really is. Bro. Cull then ex- plained about the back time proposition, the way it was figured, etc. He reported that the assessments are coming in nicely ; gave a report on grievances settled recently ; spoke of the seniority of men holding non- te'egraph stations, and ended by saying that the company has given us the best it can, and it’s up to us to give the best service of which we are capable. We always enjoy having Bro. Cull with us, and he certainly is doing good work. Local Chairman Geiger gave us a little talk, reporting that we could expect our back time the last of February or the middle of March ; also spoke of the method of computing overtime, and told about the settlement of the Moranda, White and Lacey cases. Bro. Lyons then told us about the "HU” boys havihg received the back time pay. Bro. Cull explained the method of computing Sunday overtime. Bro. Dickinson spoke of the back time com- ing to us, also urged all members to keep after the nons, and asked those present to send him Items for the writeup. Bro. Cull also spoke of the necessity of keeping our non list down to the minimum ; also told us what President Perham is doing for us at Washington. Bro. Geiger then spoke of rate of overtime ruling on the Los Angeles division. Bro. Lyons next called on Bros. Mulvihill, Scott, Willard, Steere, Smith and also on Mrs. Dickinson for short speeches. Bro. Cambridge spoke of the matter of pre- paring now for a future revision of* our contract, urging that we should not again wait four years before going up for an- other meeting with the officials. Bro. Cull mentioned the loss of $1,600 on assessments, caused either by members leaving the service or dropping their membership, and discussed the necessity for a raise in dues. Bro. Geiger asked some questions as to the necessity for this, and Bro. Cull explained the matter further. Motion to adjourn was made by Bro. Steere and seconded by sev- eral. Motion carried. Miss Lyons furnished some fine music for our dancing, and we all had a fine time dancing and talking shop till 11 :15 p. m. Next meeting April 13 th. Bro. G. T. Hartsfield, second Montague, Cal., seniority August 19th, 1913, wishes to trade with someone on the “LA” division, with two years seniority or over. Any brother wishing to get a good Job paying $111.00 per month on the new agreement in a country where there is good hunting and fishing, get in touch with him. This was received too late to put in last month's writeup. Owing to the serious condition of Mrs. Clements' health, Bro. G. J. Cle- ments, first Niland, with about five years' whiskers, would like to trade with some Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 383 brother with like seniority located at Oak- land or near there, on Western division pre- ferred. Any brother wishing to talk trade, address him at Niland, Box 64. Mrs. Fuller, wife of Bro. Fuller, agent Niland, is now assistant postmistress there, an old-time occupation of hers which she likes very much. Bro. Wells, third Niland, while out hunting coyotes, discovered a woman in a starving condition two miles out in the desert. He and his companion returned to Niland for a stretcher and brought her in. She had nothing to eat for fifteen days and only rain- water to drink, her weight having dropped from 125 to 45. She was discovered just in time to save her life, taken to El Centro Hospital, where the # officials report she will re- cover. T. L. Foster Is back as chief at Indio, J. A. Walker returning to Los Angeles second west end. Mr. Eld red, dispatching at Indio, Is now night chief at Stockton. The wires are being put back into all the offices from which they were removed last spring, and our brothers on those jobs are trying to get their wings limbered up again. They have without a single excep- tion proved that they can come back. Bro. Chaffee, Los Angeles, joy-riding in his new Ford, ran into the gutter recently and came near exterminating the whole Chaffee tribe. Fortunately the machine didn’t turn over. Aside from the loss of nearly 99 per cent of his religion, and the twenty bucks it cost for repairs, every- thing is now O. K. He is worrying now, fearing it will cost so much for gasoline that he will have to hock it to keep his dues paid up. Bro. Picard, Salt Lake division to third Glamis, vice Bro. Robbins, who relieved Bro. Wells, third Niland, who went to third Ber- tram. Denechaud, “GS” Los Angeles, later relieved Bro. Picard, who went to Anaheim, vice Evans, to “NG” Los Angeles, relieving Bro. Sharrocks working as assistant night chief. Bro. Butler of Anaheim, sick a few days, relieved by Evans from the Pennsy. Bro. McCord, second Glamis, off a few days recently. Bro. Hough, second Ogilby, on six-months’ leave to his ranch in Wash- ington. Bro. Thomas of Amos was in Los Angeles several weeks owing to the serious illness of Mrs. Thomas, who, we are glad to say, has completely recovered. Bro. Moore, who went to second Shorb, was relieved at Ogilby by Bro. Hadduck relieved at Calexico by Bro. Hardesty, now laid up with the smallpox, but reported doing well. Bro. Lester M. Hallock, third Golconda, Nevada, wishes to trade with someone on the Los Angeles division, as he is com- pelled by reason of poor health to seek a lower altitude. His position is good now for one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty dollars a month. Write to him direct. Sorry to lose Bro. Burroughs, who bid in second Burbank, relieved at Indio by Bro. Herring. We are glad he has found a place to suit him, where living conditions are more pleasant. A school (not the ham-factory variety) has been started in one of the operators’ cars at Glamis, and already has eight under- graduates. •Bro. Zetsche is dispatching on the Inter- Cal at Mexicali, having been borrowed from the S. P. to help out on account of detouring several* trains daily over that line to clear up the congestion. Bro. Farwell from Indio, also dispatching at Mexicali a few days, is now on third Colton. Former General Chairman Meador of Divi- sion 126 has transferred to Division 68. We all welcome him to the banner division. He recently received a promotion in the traffic department. Bro. Joyce from the U. P., now a member of Division 53, relieved Bro. Geiger a few days while the latter was attending the meeting at Los Angeles. Bros. S. F. Willard and C. G. White re- cently visited Beaumont to get a line on the duties of that agency should they decide • to bid on it. Bro. Patnoe died at San Luis Obispo January 30th and his body was brought to Los Angeles for burial. A suitable floral piece was ordered by Bro. Dickinson, but owing to the funeral being held at 3 :30 in the afternoon it was impossible for Any of the brothers to attend. Mrs. Lyons, wife of Bro. Lyons, with their daughter attended the beautiful service, conducted jointly by the Elks and Masons. Bra Adams relieved Bro. Moranda, agent at Van Nuys, who went to Oxnard agency, which he bid on three or four years ago, and had to make a grievance of to win out on. We congratulate him on winning his case. Bro. Weight, Santa Barbara, went to third River Stn., relieved by Bro. O’Connor. Bro. Mulvihlll, San Pedro, was off a few days, and Bro. Tuttle, Wister, took several weeks’ vacation recently. Bro. Hampton went to Iris, relieved at Carpinteria by Bro. Phegley. It is now Bro. Tom Gray at “HU” office. We are all pleased to have him. Am indebted to Bro. A. W. Sullivan, Bro. Geiger and Bro. Clements for some of the notes in this writeup, and would greatly ap- preciate it if some of the other brothers would send In a few. All the help your correspondent can get comes in mighty handy. Digitized by v^ooole
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384 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. A. W. Sullivan has suggested the advisability of having a list in Mr. Whalen's office, showing what accommodations are available at all the desert jobs, for extra men, or for men bidding in such positions. Believe this would be a good plan and no dqubt save considerable trouble, as fre- quently men have been sent to some place where they are unable to secure any kind of accommodations. C. C. Dickinson, Div. Cor. Portland Division — A meeting was held at Multnomah Hotel, Portland, Ore., Sunday afternoon, January 27, 1918, with Local Chairman Boyd in the chair. General Chairman Cull spoke upon various grievances closed out and others pending, and increase of dues in order to avoid special assessments. Fifth Vice-President Manlon called atten- tion to the need of thorough organisation in order to hold what we had already secured and for future benefits and the progress of the O. W. R. A N. negotiations. General Chairman Mitchell of the O. W. R. A N. division spoke along the same lines and called attention to the betterment of so- cial conditions, etc. The outburst of ap- plause showed that these talks were thor- oughly appreciated. Local Chairman Boyd was authorised by a unanimous vote to write a letter to all non-members on the division, asking them to join and signing names of all present at the meeting. A general visit was then enjoyed by all present. Sisters Rice and Pearson, we are sorry to say, arrived too late for the speeches, but we hope to hold a meeting in the evening at a later date so all the members working first tricks can be present. There were 26 S. P. and 16 O. W. R. & N. members present, which shows that we could soon organize an O. R. T. club here and have a place where we could hold meetings at least once a month or oftener, so that the members farther out on the line could get a chance once in a while to come in and enjoy them. What’s the matter having a meeting at Albany or Roseburg occasionally? Bro. Darling, agent Salem, was relieved 10 days by Bro. Darland, who has been ap- pointed general agent and added a first trick operator there, relieving Bro. Darling from the wire work to enable him to give his attention to other outside duties. Bro. L. L. Dunabaugh relieved Bro. Darland at Sa- lem, who went to "KC” Portland. Bro. Wilkinson was on the sick-list there several days. Bro. Glehn, extra dispatcher Portland jitneys, goes to Roseburg. Bro. R. H. Tyson, second Woodburn, vis- ited friends in Portland recently and took in the O. R. T. meeting there. Bro. Earl Simpson, with us for the last 12 years, has resigned. We all miss this loyal, up-to-date brother and wish him the best success in his new duties. Bro. Walker, a new man, is on Oregon City first pending bulletin. Local Chairman Boyd was relieved at Oakland a few days by Bro. Benner of sec- ond. Bro. C. R. Likens relieved Bro. Kimes at Harrisburg, .who went to Albany. Nelson went to second Springfield and Summers, first Grant’s Pass, to Lebanon. Love, who went East in June, is back at Hugo nights, relieving McLaughljn, on vaca- tion. Simmons relieved Phillips, extra agent Glendale, who goes to Becond, and Mrs. Simmons relieved Duncanson on third. Aids- poker Divide nights to first, a new job Just- put on, vic4 Butler from the East on first, pending bulletin, relieved "KN,” resigned. Stavely to third West Fork, vice Johnson to second, vice Simpson resigned. Sister Bert Simmons from the O. W. R. A N. on second Glendale, pending its assign- ment. Bro. S. Taylor, called to Roseburg recently on account of the death of his father, was relieved a few days at Reedsport by Bro. Phillips. Bro. R. A. Jones, agent Gold Hill, is in San Francisco Hospital. We hope for his speedy recovery. Bro. Sartwell, second Cottage Grove, Is reported sick. Hope Bro. Duncanson, now on third Bea- verton, can keep us posted on the red car Job news, and that “Fat” will be able to get some news from the West Side. Thanks to Bro. Russell for his splendid assistance from Medford. If each brother will send in only a line it will be a great help. Thanks to Bro. E. F. Thompson, “KC.” also for his help in making a good writeup. P. G. Vickers, Cert. 1201, Woodburn, Ore. Coast Division — Bro. Stevens who worked on this division in 1911, and Bro. KenacSy, agent Oceano, vis- ited Bro. Cowgill at San Carlos recently. Bro. Oakes, agent Ben Lomond, the oldest member of the order on this division, who wrote me an interesting letter from Willows, where he is spending part of his vacation, also visited Bro. Cowgill and myself before returning to work. Bro. Dains relieved me a few days at West San Jose before going to Sunnyvale agency. He has been off some time on account of trouble with his eyes, but am pleased to say they are responding to treatment. Digitized by LaOOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 885 Ex-Local Chairman Ward waa relieved by Bro. Siler several days on account of sickness from eating a whale steak in San Francisco that was not quite fresh. Bro. Hook, agent and mayor at Del Monte Jet. for the past 20 years, has gone to Los Gatos ; relieved by Bro. Miles, vice Bro. Mabie, now cashier in the bank there. Bro. L>oig went to Santa Cruz and Bro. Simpson from Menlo Park to Salinas agency. Bro. Evans, second San Luis Obispo, re- lieved 80 days by Bro. Sanford. Bra Jones, agent Santa Clara relieved by Bro. Walling, is now manager of a large commission firm at Lompoc. Bro. Hansen went to Lompoc, relieving Bro. Sherman, who went to Watsonville Jet. ; Bro. Carl to Santa Cruz, and Bro. Gross; to Bradley, vice Bro. Locey, back to Chualar agency. Bro. Hathaway, agent Casmalia, recently lined up his second and third trick men. Bro. Feldt is relieving Bro. DeVerka, agent Gon- zales, for two months. Bro. Hoon, agent San Lucas and cattle king of the Salinas Valley, reports this is the driest year since 1876. Bro. Sisson, agent Aromas, was recently married. Congratulations ! Bro. Rosette, Division 49, went to Coyote, vice Curtis, dispatching at Stockton. I am indebted to Bro. West, agent Coyote, for most of these notes. With the excep- tion of Bro. Sherman, he was the only one I received any from. Many thanks, broth- ers. D. Topham, Cert. 261. Secretary and Correspondent. Sacramento Division — New members: V. C. Noddin, E. C. More- back. A. J. Plank. C. N. Cutler, Mrs. E. H. Aske, Mrs. M. L. Adams and L. L. Brewer. In a recent issue I showed Bro. Fox as a new member. This was a mistake, as he has held a card for more than a year and paid the special assessments. "To err is human, to forgive divine." I will try not to let it happen again. There are still a few of our 146 telegraphers and 40 staff operators to be brought into the fold. It is not right to spend money to legislate for those who re- main outside our order; therefore we should make a special effort to get these nons lined up, especially the staff operators, as they need our assistance in order to get them a good increase. We have not done our full duty by simply keeping up to date. We must keep after the nons and give them no peace until they get a card. Bro. Clayton of Yuba Pass Is trying for a prize. If you are not going to try for a prize yourself, turn your prospective mem- bers over to him. Bro. Dexter of Willows la also a hard worker. Bros. Rodrian and Allen of Troy were re- lieved respectively, by Sumpler and Fisher, ' and Sister Allen of Tamarack was relieved by Mrs. Douglass while they enjoyed a few days in the city. Bro. Reltenour of Spruce was relieved by Mrs. Sackett, who also relieved Mrs. Clay- ton, Lakeview second, and Miss Ester Hood relieved Mrs. Stone, third Lakeview. Bro. Adams of Fulda was relieved by Mrs. Lutzenberger ; Bro. Bick of Blue Canon by Bro. Wilson, and Bro. Harmon returned to Towle, relieved by Parkinson. Lakeview office was closed recently on account of the carnival in Truckee. After we have worked under a schedule for a while, we seem to forget the advan- tages over the previous one and who is re- . sponsible for them. As there are usually only three or four members in a town, we can’t meet together like a bunch can in a lodge room, neither can we always get away to attend a meeting at a division point; consequently we lose interest ; so the only * way we have of discussing matters is through this space in The Telegrapher — letters from our officers and a talk about them by a few at a time. Therefore let us have more discussion in these columns in re- gard to matters that benefit us as a whole. Everyone send me some news. "MN." Stockton Division — Bro. Harry Lower has returned from a pleasant visit with his brother, who Is a sergeant in the Signal Corps of the U. S. Army, stationed at Houston, Texas. General Chairman Cull, who made a trip to Elk Grove recently, stopping in Stockton on his way back to San Francisco, promises to make a longer stay next time. Bros. Surryhine and Watt have returned from Tucson division, the former going to Turlock and Watt to Elk Grove second. Bro. Surryhine was later elieved by Mrs. Cowell a few days on account of sickness. Bro. Northhamer, first Fresno, visited with the brothers in Stockton recently ; also Bro. Hunter, agent Salida, and Bro. Williamson, after taking in the show. We are always glad to see the brothers. The new rates of pay started with the last half of January and we all were very glad to ' receive it. We are expecting our back pay shortly. When sending in your bids of bulletin positions please send Local Chairman Bro. Hanlon at Stockton a copy, as that is the only way he can check up the assignments. He has been very busy lately lining up the nons. He will get out a list of them shortly and each one of us must do our part in mak- ing the Stockton division 100 per cent strong. Brothers, send me a few items. It is pretty difficult to get all the news alone. E. L. Reiff, Cert. 760. Digitized by tjooole
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386 The Railroad Telegrapher. Shasta Division — Miller's Agency and Telegraphy School, supported by the Southern Pacific at San Francisco, pays students $1.00 a day to have them learn. This was the amount that was paid students heretofore after they had learned and passed a thorough examination. Smithson closed, Bro. Beveridge going to Delta second, and C. E. Hart, a new man, to Bray. Sims also closed, yours truly going to “GO.” vice Non Wells; G. W. Smith and A. J. Craig, new men, went to Sisson third and Hombeck second, respectively ; Bro. B. A. Cober to "BG”; Marie Coakley from Mil- lers’ School, to Delta; Bro. Otto Beck from K. Falls to Mt. Hebron agency, and Bro. Hanna, second Dunsmuir to manager and wire chief there. Don't forget to mall the local chairman copies of your bids. It Is now Bro. W. T. Mayberry on Cotton- wood third. I have been relieved as correspondent by Bro. Armstrong, Gross Lake, who will do much better than I have done. Send your notes to him by U. S. mail, addressed to Weed. I hope you will keep him well sup- plied with news. R. H. H., Cert. 1771, Assistant Local Chairman. Tucson Division — We were all very much pleased to receive a pay check on basis of the new schedule. One of the none benefited about $100 back time, an increase of $10 a month salary, and Sunday overtime, making about $28 a month increase. It is about time we lined up these none and put “No card , no favors” into effect to the limit. There are many new men coming and going. See that they are given all the information possible as to what is expected of them. See that they un- derstand the board at your office. Help the dispatcher by being on the alert and Inform him of anything of benefit to him. Local Chairman Bechtel writes me : "Thanks to the efficient co-operation of yourself and Bros. C. L. Robinson, Badger and Leroy Palmer, we were able to collect a nice sum in delinquent special assessment and dues of 1917, and I wish to thank you all for your assistance." I wish to thank Bros. Palmer, Hamilton, Meadows and B. D. Mahoney for notes. I hope other members will see that I am fur- nished all notes, so as to have an interest- ing writeup each month. Mr. Nichols, the train rules examiner, is making us dig out our Rule Book again. T. W. Healy is the new assistant chief dispatcher at Yuma. This makes six dis- patching districts Instead of three a few years ago. Bro. Clavie, suffering with an attack of grippe, caused the men to double at Yuma. Bro. W. O. Warren from the O. S. L. is a recent arrival there. Bro. A. L. Basye, fourth Gila resigned, re- lieved by Bro. J. W. Hulett, and he by Bro. Loomis returning, who later resigned, relieved by Bro. (Shorty) Strout from Will- cox. Bro. L. E. Pease relieved on third by Hawkins, a new man. Lawson relieved on sixth by Tourigney, who relieved Rogers, a new man, and later opened Colfred, a new office. Bro. W. F. Tomas, a new man, on third Sentinel ; Bro. Brace, temporary agent, pending bulletin; P. P. Rogers, Sentinel, to Gila. Bro. McNeil, bumped in "HU” by regular man, is now second trick wire chief in "UN” relay, vice Garner, who went to the "Frisco” after collecting about $160.00 back time on account of the new schedule. Bro. E. D. Spence, at Camp Kearney, Cal., has been given a squad for instruc- tion in "buzzer work.” Bro. L F. O'Malley has been made second lieutenant at Fort Bliss, and Bro. D. V. Cronin has been placed in charge of a squad at Camp Cody, Dom- ing, New Mexico. Bro. O. L. Spaulding has been down with measles. You, Jx>ys, who know Bro. Joyce and other members of our order in the military service, please send me their last addresses and let's keep posted Just where a card or & package will reach them. We must look after and see that they have plenty of cigarettes and tobacco. Bro. B. T. Gilbert of Dragoon, passed A-l and intends to enlist shortly. Bro. Hicks, second Jaynes, called to Den- ver on account of the sudden death of his father, relieved by Blalock, unable to hold out, and Bro. Mahoney and Garcia had to double. We extend Bro. Hicks our sincere sympathy. Bro. Barnes, on third, granted sick leave, late- sent to Separ. Bro. Kelly, third Rillite, on vacation to coast. H. B. Custer, second Maricopa, who lost his wife since his arrival, has requested ap- plication blanks. Bros. H. O. George and L. L. Maull noti- fied to appear for physical examination for draft. Bro. J. A. Williams, transferred from O. S. L., relieved Klein Benson, third, 111 with pneumonia at Tucson. Bro. Ochs from Dragoon on fourth Benson; Bro. Riley sec- ond. Other transfers ; K. P. Powell and C. E. Corbitt, Maricopa. New members : J. C. Johnston, Sibyl ; W. F. Hamilton, Maricopa; E. E. Shook, Separ; H. O. George, Lordsburg; M. B. Morgan, Picacho; L. G. Kirk, Piedra. We welcome these new brothers and trust they will use all help to line up the few remaining nons. When in need of application blanks ad- dress L. H. Williams, P. O. Box 162, Ben- son, Arlz., or J. F. Bechtel, P. O. Box 196, Lordsburg, New Mexico. Kindly remember also to send your notes to reach me by the 10th of each month, 12th at the latest. L. H. W. Digitized by LaOOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 387 8alt Lake Division— The vote on allowing Bro. Banish his former seniority was not large enough to be satisfactory, and as he has in the mean- time been assigned to a trick at Winne- mucca, where he was formerly located, the matter is filed. Bro. L. 8. Jarboe, Mojave, seniority Oct. 6, 1916, wishes to trade to our division. Has third there regular, paying f 128. Write him if interested. If you did not receive a copy of the new seniority list, ask Bro. Watson at Fernley for one. Those who have not paid the special as- sessment of January 16th should remit the G. S. & T., 303-305 Pacific Bldg., San Fran- cisco, at once. Your correspondent is on vacation, re- lieved on third Lucin by Bro. Bildo from the Panama R. R. Div. Coil, Cert. 803. Louisiana Lines — Our new division officers are: N. C. Frier, 1028 Bouvelard St, Lake Charles, local ^chairman ; A. J. Mclntire, assistant local chairman, Midland, La. ; and H. L. Feske, local secretary, Baldwin, La. Any of them will be pleased to hear from anyone who has something to offer for our betterment, and all matters will have prompt and per- sonal attention. It will be a very great pleasure to the officers to see everyone put forth every effort to make this the banner division of the whole 8. P. system, and if all will come to the front and Bhow their colors, as our soldier boys are doing, we are sure we can make it so. We were sorry to lose D. C. Wells, who resigned as local chairman, but pleased to note that he has not left the division, and we can always rely on him for some very good help. C. Burlot, W. A. Walthers, F. E. Farr and Dispatcher P. M. Waltt have joined the army. We are sorry to announce the deaths of Agents J. E. Rice, Labadieville, La., and H. L Davis, Jennings, La. Don't forget the $6.00 special assessment Remit it immediately if you have not al- ready done so. It is very important that we support our general committee, who are working very hard for us to obtain some of the new things we are anxiously wait- ing for and hope to receive. Your commit- tee will ask for an eight-hour day, time and one-half for Sunday, 76c special calls and overtime 50c per hour, also an increase in pay. The committee expects our support and co-operation and we are going to give it. Dispatchers J. E. Jay and O. B. Brup- bacher have started a school of telegraphy at Lafayette. We have a lot of grievances to be settled, but your local chairman has not yet been able to be relieved on account shortage of operators, but hopes to be off shortly to meet Supt. Bourne in Lafayette. All the material has been received at Bayou Sale for the installation of the switch at the end of double track, so it can be thrown from the office by the strong oper- ators. Get that non next to you. We have plenty application blanks on hand. Call up any one and ask for one. We will be glad for the names of any one desiring to come in with us, and hope we have this division 100 per cent strong in the next month. We are glad to note that there are only two stations on L. W. Ry. that are not solid, and only a very few on the Morgan divi- sion. All notes or items for the writeups must be in hands of the local secretary not later than the 20th of each month to insure their use in Thb Telegrapher for the following month. It only costs a two-cent stamp to drop a few items. You all enjoy reading a good write-up and we can always keep the membership posted through its columns. Let’s all put forth every effort and see that this writeup is kept up; not sent in for one or two months and then dropped. Keep the ball rolling and remember the slogan, “No card , no favors” Cert. 629. Houston District , O. H. St 8. A. R. R. I have been requested by our local chair- man to send in a few notes from this dis- trict Our committee has submitted a proposed revision of schedule to the management in which we are asking for a 26-day month and 25 per cent increase ; also a number of other changes that will be a great help to us at present, as it is badly needed to com- bat the H. C. L. It is now Bros. Via, Als worth and Byrd. Glad to have those boys with us. Dyke, a new man on third Seguin, and Fournet, third Glidden, have promised to line up right away. Everybody is working on the nons full force and we hope there will n6t be a single slacker on the division by the close of the year. We will then have done our part in helping to reach the sixty thousand goal. Recently I had occasion to travel via the “Katy” a short distance. None of the men there seemed inclined to talk about the con- ditions there other than to say that they were mighty bad there. Every time I showed my card they would invariably drop their heads and have business on other side of the office. The road is depending on scabs, wholly incapable of handling any kind of a job, and is losing more money from wrecks, late trains, etc., than it would have cost the management to have paid t Digitized by tjooole
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388 The Railroad Telegrapher. a living: wage to their former men, who were forced out last year when they asked for an increase. Why not arrange to have a meeting or two at different places? It would give every- body a chance to get together, talk matters over, have a good time and feel better. Let's hear from you. Bro. J. D. Walker, chief dispatcher, San Antonio, off about a month, is now out of the hospital, improving rapidly, and will soon be with us again. Bro. C. C. Williams, first trick dispatcher west end, was recently off a few days on account of sickness. I have written several of the brothers asking them to send in a few notes, any- thing of Interest, and help me give a good writeup each month ; but so far only one has come to my aid. Any of you brothers who know anything newsy, please send it to me or call me on the wire and tell me about it. It will be greatly appreciated. H. N.. Cert. 1916. Members tnd Division , H. d T. C. Dist. — General Chairman Lalsure has appointed me local chairman of this division, vice Bro. Holman, resigned. It is indeed a misfortune to lose Bro. Holman, who has filled this Important posi- tion so long to the entire satisfaction of everyone concerned. Our very best wishes for success goes with him in his new field of labor. May he be doubly rewarded for his faithful work while with us. In taking up the work of local chairman where Bro. Holman left off, I hope to ac- complish as much as he has in the past, but to do this I will need the support of every member of this division. Assist me as you have our former chairman, and we will make this one of the very best years for our divi- sion. We are now asking the management for a revision of our contract, and must stand back of our committee solid. Do not over- look the payment of your regular dues, also the special assessment now past due. Remit at once if you have not already. I am sure the year 1918 has great things in store for us if we will stand pat, and I know you will. I appreciate very much the honor of being selected by our general chairman to repre- sent the Second Division as local chair- man, and hope to he able to prove this by my ability to accomplish good results. Yours fraternally, W. F. Brown, Chapel Hill, Tex. H. & T. C. Dist tnd Div.t Notes— Former Local Chairman Holman restgned at Bertram to go into business for himself. We wish him success. Bro. Black from Cald- well relieving. Bro. Cunningham, first Elgin, on sick-list several days. Foster and Avey doubling. No operators available for relief. Later Avey resigned, relieved by Mr. Deen from "The Katy." Bro. Brown was in Elgin recently to have his war papers sworn to by the superin- tendent. Bro. "Jack” Warren, second Giddlng, waa called to San Antonio recently owing to the illness of his mother. We wish for her speedy recovery. Later he resigned, relieved by Tom Row from the S. A. P. We are sorry to lose "Jack." Operator and cashier Caldwell, on bulle- tin, later cancelled. Send notes of any changes to me at Elgin. Texas. W. L. Foster, Loc. Secy. Northern Pacific R. R.f Dlv. No. 64. Seattle Division — A meeting was held at New Richmond Hotel, February 10th, with the following brothers present : Bergun, Stonebumer, Mo- Clintock, Eko, Leeper, Hanson, Gould, Kal- larider, Swanson, Campion, Kruger. Bell and Carr, and a very interesting three hours were well spent. The meeting was called to order by Local Chairman Bergun, at 1 :00 p. m., who ad- vised the brothers that the salary of Gen- eral Chairman Johnson and G. H. T. Nason had been increased $25.00 each to show our appreciation of their good work in securing our last two revisions of schedules. He also read a letter from Bro. Nason, stating that granting this increase was up to the general committee, and a two-thirds vote was re- quired to make it effective. Local Chairman Rowan, of the Rocky Mountain Division, started the good work, which has the ap- proval of the Seattle Division. Bro. Kallander deserves special mention for coming all the way from Stampede to this meeting, and losing a day’s sleep. One of our brothers right here under the wing of Chief Seattle, could not go, as he u could not get up in time to take a bath, and make (at 10:54 a. m.). It’s too bad, that a brother would be so little interested in get- ting to our meetings, that he did not have energy enough to get up at 9 a. m. and take his “morning bath ” If we all were so much more Interested in getting a bath than attending meetings our good old Order would soon go to the wall. Bros. Eko and Kruger about 2 p. m. wig- wagged Bro. Bergun for permission to leave the hall ; last seen of them they were headed for Elliott Bay. Wonder If they came with- out their morning’s bath? Moral: Either get up time enough to take your bath before coming to monthly meetings, or go without until after. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 389 The subject of monthly meetings was taken up, and on motion by Bro. Campion, seconded by Bra Carr, it was voted to hold a meeting In Seattle each month, notices to be sent to each office advising the member- ship of the meeting date. On motion by Bra Campion, seconded by Bro. Hanson, Bra Bell was authorized to write a letter of thanks to the manager of the New Rich- mond Hotel thanking him for the use of the room, which he so generously donated for our meeting, and on behalf of the Seattle Division we also wish to thank him through Tns Telegrapher for his kindness. We all know the number when in town. Miss Fay Breckenridge, and Mrs. A. R. Smith, at Eagle Gorge and Bristol, respec- tively, were borrowed from the Pasco Divi- sion owing to the shortage of operators on “the Seattle.” Some material there brothers, get busy. Bro. H. L. Baker, third Ellensburg, re- cently off sick with the measles, was re- lieved by Bro. Hall, borrowed from Tacoma Division. Bro. Baker wishes to thank the brothers and sisters of this division for the fine bouquet tendered him during his Illness. Bro. Hall later relieved Bro. Cross, third Puyallup. Bro. Jessie Waters, first Ellens- burg, turned his home into a temporary hos- pital, administering to Bro. Baker through his illness and to his own son and daughter who have the mumps. Bro. James Crockett Warren, second Stam- pede, and wife, recently visited Bro. Ackley and family at Ellensburg. Bro. Kallander, third Stampede, has passed the examination for select draft, and is now awaiting the bugle call. Bra Waters recently received a letter from Bro. A. J. Kelly, now with the United States Signal Corps at Juneau, Alaska. He likes the work, and is well pleased with the service. We all wish him success. Tours truly received a letter from Bro. Parks, dated East San Pedro, Cal., on a wireless and Morse combination job, tem- porary. Expects to soon be transferred to a boat. Works eight hours, off duty twenty- four hours ; likes it fine. Los Angeles is handy, and lots of excitement at the beaches. He wished to be remembered to all the boys. Bro. Russell, now in the radio service, has a life partner who answered the S. O. S. he sent out. Regret we did not hear who the lucky young lady is, but nevertheless, we extend congratulations from the members of Seattle Division. Bro. Fred Wallace, second Easton, called to Camp Lewis, was exempted, but not In time to hold his seniority. He now has a wireless job on S. S. Farragut, plying be- tween Seattle and Frisco points. Bro. McGurk, second Easton, we were agreeably surprised to learn, has held an up-to-date fifteen years, without a break, some record. Those are the kind of oper- ators we like to have come to this division, even if it don’t give us much chance to get in on the watch contest. It is now Bro. Plaxton, Sumas days, and Sister Walworth, Palmer Jet., days, reliev- ing Sister Nash, on an extended vacation. Bro. C. H. Hooker, member of Division No. 54, from somewhere in Dakota, or Min- nesota, relieved Bro. Hall, third Puyallup, who returned to Tacoma Division, from where he was borrowed. Zlder has gone to the ship yards; he will last quick there without a union card. Bro. Sillepant relieved him on first Spokane. Bro. Selvidge to second, and Bro. Hanson to third, succeeded at Sumner days, by Abernethey, from third Lowell. “No card , no favors ” make this the slogan for nons who have been here over a year, and refuse to come in. They have taken the $20.00 to $25.00 extra money a month the Order secured for them, and with two revisions of our schedule in the past five months, there Is absolutely no reason whatever that there should be a single non on the Northern Pacific. Bro. Parks, of Seattle relay, succeeded by E. Z. Yount and Brimberry there, appointed extra dispatcher. Bro. E. J. Bassett, acting agent Easton, made a trip to Seattle Sunday, to meet Mrs. Bassett, who is working on north end. We expected them both at our meeting, but probably the sights of a big city was too much for them. If the North End brothers wish a write-up, they will have to send me some notes, to P. O. Box 444, Auburn Wash., otherwise I cannot get them. There are only a few more nons left on this division. Let every brother and sister make a special effort to line up every one of them within the next thirty days. Do it now. If you do not know where, then ask me. “Everett True/' Div. Cor. Members Tacoma Division — * Revise your seniority lists by scratching off names of H. L. Wilson, B. F. Waldo. Erase the star from G. D. Wright and Charles Hall. E. L. Carr , L. C. Tacoma Division Notes — Bro. Illick, second Tenino, on a month’s vacation, took an extended trip to Los An- * geles and San Diego, Mrs. Illick accompanied him. Bro. Illick says the sunshine and roses look good to him after coming through so much snow and rain. He was relieved by Bro. Leahy, relieved on third by Mrs. Leahy. Bro. Smith has resumed on third South Tacoma, third Lakeview dosed and block discontinued between South Tacoma and Nis- qually. Digitized by v^ooole
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390 The Railroad Telegrapher. It is now "Sister” Bryant, Bros. Murphy and Matousek. Sister Vose relieved Sister Dee on second St Clair. Bro. Wheeler relieved Bro. Napper on first Hoquiam, later relieved on second Olympia, and then returned to the "SP.” Bro. Phillips in the hospital a few weeks, is rapidly recovering, and will be back at Fairfax shortly. Bro. Carr visited him sev- eral Sundays and cheered him up. Sister Mullen, second Steilacoom, waiting to be relieved, will spend a month on her ranch. Bro. Peck, agent Chambers Prairie, was off a few days recently. Bro. Ostermeyer, second Aberdeen Jet, goes to second Rochester. Bros. Starns, Wright and Neil to Montesano. "Swat the NON.” Have you ever tried it? Lots more fun than swatting the fly. Every NON on this division can be captured by some member. Will that member please apply themselves? If you don’t believe It — try it If you have a friend who does not carry a card make him or her earn your friendship with the price of a card. Bro. Nason has termed this "O. R. T. year,” let us show him that he had no idea what the term really meant when he applied it. Remember the social fund. Some of the good brothers have made generous donations, which has swelled it a little. Brothers and sisters, drop me a note now and then. Bro. Illick sent me the notes he happened to have. I thoroughly appreciated his thoughtfulness. Thanks, do it again. Send them to Hoquiam hereafter. E. A. Mielke, Dhr. Cor. Pasco Division — ”* Brothers and Sisters: Our chief dispatcher issued the circular covering Sunday overtime at the request of our general committee, Bros. Johnson and Nason, to make the rule clear. Sunday overtime is figured pro-rata. Take Pasco yard, salary $100.00 per month for twenty-six working days, eight hours per day. Sunday overtime figured pro-rata or 48 cents per hour for eight hours’ work worked in the regular assigned Sunday hours, making that operator's salary $116.16 per month for eight hours work per day. Another example, Yakima monthly salary, $96.00 per month for eight hours’ work, twenty-six days per month, Sunday overtime figured pro-rata or 46 cents per hour, etc. This is a very good rule and means a great deal to us. I have been advised by the superintendent that all offices on the main line would be operated on Sundays, same as before the adoption of this new rule. The telegraphers sent to the S. P. A S. during the January washouts on the second district, received Northern Pacific pay, in- cluding Sunday overtime, and an extra dol- lar per day for working a position besides our regular one, figuring approximately $137.00 a month. I would be very glad to have every member send at least 60 cents each to Bro. Stevens to replenish our treas- ury. There is still a cash balance on hand, but several bills paid since January 1st are not shown in his report, for instance, the printing bill for circular issued, etc. Every- one do your duty now ; this is not much, and will help a good deal. We will not expect anything from B**o. Bush, as he sent in $4 voluntarily. Let us show our organization our appre- ciation by keeping up-to-date, helping round up the newcomers, and being loyal to our company by giving good service for conces- sions received. E. E. LaM arch*, L. C. Report of the local secretary and treasurer of Pasco Division for 1817 : DEBITS. Balance from 1916 \ ..$ 6.60 Donation by Bro. Bush 4.00 Donation by Bro. Schuppell 1.00 Donation by Bro. Olson 1.00 Donation by Bro. Whiting 1.00 Donation by Sister Rickard 1.00 Donation by Sister Lane 1.00 Sale Seniority lists 6.80 Received on loans to worthy brothers. 13.80 Over from Hampson fund 76 Collection at Pasco meeting 12.28 Total debits $49.23 CREDITS. Flowers mother of Sister and Bro. Ellsworth $ 6.00 Loan to worthy brothers 7.80 Rent for room Yakima meeting 1.00 Filing cases and outfit for chairman.. 12.66 Balance cash in treasury, December 31, 1917 21.88 Total credits $49.23 E. T. Stevens, L. S. and T. Pasco Division Notes — Mr. and Mrs. Chadwick, of Idaho, spent two weeks visiting their son and daughter- in-law, Bro. and Sister C. S. Chadwick, of Parker. It Is now Bro. O. M. Hardy, on second Prosser. Bro. R. F. Hickey, formerly at Connell, now at Soda Springs, Idaho, with the O. S. L., writes that his little son was buried Sunday, January 13th. Bro. "Bob” has all our sympathy. Bro. Leon LaMarche, at Toklo, has gone into the chicken business, purchasing five roosters and one hen (?). Local Chairman LaMarche has appointed Bro. H. E. Miller, of Granger, the “Division Rough Rider” and “Cowboy.” Bro. Miller has Digitized by v^ooole
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391 The Railroad Telegrapher. had considerable experience, and should make a good man for the position. Sister Collins and Bro. Sigmond have tied the little knot, which makes Sister Collins Mrs. P. N. Sigmond. Congratulations. The following: is from the Pasco Express under date of January 18th : “Mrs. Etta Woods, of Pasco, is attending: the College of Telegraphy at Vale. She expects to get expelled soon." This is not the only one of these offices; although the Morse taught is of a slim na- ture, they teach other railroad, work, with no compensation, paid therefor. Think this over. Cxbt. 1444. To All Agents and Operators Montana Divi- sion— I wish to express my sincere gratitude to you all through the Journal for your fine donation to buy a typewriter for your local chairman in his work in the Order, through request of a circular issued October 23rd last, by a committee of eight brothers of this division. Space will not permit printing the names and amounts; out of 158 brothers and sisters and non-members on the division all but thirty- three responded, giving from 60 cents to $3.00 to a total fund of $79.25, enough to secure a fine Royal typewriter, which was badly needed the past three years that I have been handling the work. I shall turn it over to my successor In office, tak- ing receipt for same whenever I vacate the office of local chairman. In the O. R. T. letter files there is a list of the names and amount given, as a matter of record for in- spection at any time. This was a fine show- ing given in a brotherly and sisterly spirit. We have entered upon another year with a record of having secured three revisions of the schedule in the past year and a half, which shows what can be done only through a strong organization and all pulling to- gether, and we are now going to put N. P. System Division up to the highest mark ever known before when we close the year 1918. I trust all members will not forget this is the earnest desire of every local chairman as well as the most earnest desire of our general chairman and general secre- tary and treasurer, and of every loyal mem- ber on the Northern Pacific Ry. Anyone who will stick around now with- out doing his or her part towards bettering our conditions by not carrying an “up-to- date" card is a “slacker" in the fullest sense of the word, and should be treated as such from now on. Please keep this ever before your mind, and every loyal brother and sister make It a point to know “Who is who" at your respective stations hereafter. Also do not forget the “motto" on Division No. 64, **No card, no favors ” I can’t impress this upon your minds too strongly, because if you treat a “non" with the same kindly courtesy you do a worthy brother or sister they will find it no discomfort whatever to mingle with us, and I want to tell you frankly that we have some “nons" who have not got a spark of “unionism" in their hearts, and if you will just keep your eyes and ears open you will know who they are, same as your local chairman. They never refuse to grab every cent of the increase, and are the first to see that they get every- thing the schedule calls for. Personally, I wish we had the closed shop, and it were possible to order such people out of the service as they do not belong among union men and women. After they have been treated right, and proper persua- sion has been brought to bear on them and they still persist in being a “non," they do not deserve the respect nor the fellowship accorded a loyal member. If each one would live up to this principle we would certainly have less of that class hanging around. I hope you will all act accordingly hereafter. In January we added sixteen new members to this old Montana Division. This shows the good team work ahd Interest manifest on this division the past few months. It has certainly had good effect, and I wish to again thank the brothers and sisters for the hearty co-operation given me In organizing, and ask you to continue the good work dur- ing the rest of this year. We are in the best shape ever now and still there are “nons" whom we want in the fold. I wish to again call your attention to the “flower fund," which is in fair shape, as we have had no calls on it recently. Until this month a few donations have been coming in right along. We built this fund up from nothing on hand when I took this division to over $50.00, and we want to keep on supporting it, as it came In handy many times the past three years In remem- bering those who were on a sick bed, and for flowers for several loved ones taken from our midst. It is only 10 cents a month and we would like you all to remember when you read this article if you are not up-to-date in it, please remit Bro. H. B. Arnold, our sec- retary, or myself, 60 cents for six months. It will be credited to your name on the books, and you will be entitled to all cour- tesies in case of sickness. Please don’t pass this by indifferently, but let us all do our mite and keep the fund in workable condi- tion all the time. I sent flowers to the funeral of Sister Della W. Lotgren’s father, who was buried at Whitehall, Bro. C. M. Lofgren and his wife not only being members of the Order, but both having supported the fund. Also sent flowers to Bro. Frank M. Harlan this month at the Missoula Hospital, where he underwent an operation, and is now on the road to recovery. Another good brother. Digitized by v^ooole
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V 392 The Railroad Telegrapher. Kindly let Bro. H. B. Arnold or myself know when a brother or sister Is sick. It only takes a minute to' send us a message, and we do not want to overlook this matter. I have no way of knowing what is going on over so large a territory personally, and must rely upon each one who has any knowl- edge of one being sick to report to me promptly. Please bear this in mind so that no one will be *able to say they were neg- lected Indifferently. It will also save put- ting your local chairman in an embarrassing position should such a thing happen and might cause hard feelings by the one whom it would appear had been carelessly and in* differently overlooked. Fraternally yours, L. C. Carleton, L. C. Montana Division Notes — - 1 Bro. Arndt was relieved a few days by Miss Larson. Bro. Carleton, recently in St. Paul for ten days on business, also visited Bros. John- son and Nason, our efficient grand officers, at North Branch, Minn. Bro. Turvey visited his wife. Sister Turvey, a few days recently. Bro. Curtis is visiting relatives in Chicago for a month. Bro. Frank Gabriel was off a few days with a sprained arm, the result of a fall in Laurel yards. Sister Taylor was a recent Billings visitor between trains. Bro. McDowell was relieved a week by Haley, who also relieved Bro. Clough, at Norris, resigned. Bro. Hoke recently made a trip to Great Falls. Bro. Hanifen, who failed to pass examina- tion for Signal Corps, relieved Bro. Harlan in Missoula Hospital, for an operation, from which he is recovering rapidly. • Bro. Altice was relieved a few days by Bro. Koppen’s wife, who also relieved Sis- ter Lofgren, while she attended the funeral of her father at Whitehall, and Bro. Lof- gren was relieved by Miss Craig. Resolu- tions of sympathy follow : IN MEMORLAM. Whereas?, It has pleased our Heavenly Father and All-Wise Ruler of the Universe to take unto Himself the beloved father of our dear sister, Mrs. Della W. Lofgren; in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sym- pathy, be it Resolved} That the members of System Division No. 54, of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing sis- ter and members of the afflicted family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sad hour of bereavement ; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved sister, a copy spread upon the minutes of the division, and a copy forwarded to The Telegrapher for publication. Otto F. Lemm, Bert C. Hazlbtt, L. C. Carleton, Committee. Bro. Stanley Seese relieved by Sister Mary Sutherland for ninety days, is looking after his father’s farm in Florida. Bro. Rightmire has resigned and is farm- ing near Spokane. We wish him success. Bro. Orman, returning from vacation, re- lieved Sister Ehlers at Fromberg. Bro. Turvey was off for a week recently. Sister Teeple has resigned and gone east. Bro. Carleton visited his folks recently while recuperating from a severe cold. Sister Hazel Troup, sick a few days, was relieved by Sister Genevieve Glasgow. Mr. Wigton, at Sheridan, has been “com- ing in soon" for the last seven years. Boys, make a note of it. “Shortt." CARD OF THANKS. We wish to thank our many friends for the sympathy and services extended to us during the illness and death of our dear father and for the beautiful floral offering. We also wish to especially thank Bros. Car- leton, Arnold and Hannlfen for the kind interest and help which they gave us at this time of our bereavement Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Loforen. Members Yellowstone Division — Remember, when making bumps, you have but one. When you officially notify the chief dispatcher in writing you decide on a certain position, you must take that place and cannot cancel it or change your bump. You should give -your local chairman a copy of all bump and bid notices to enable him to protect your rights. It, however, after making a decision on a certain place you do not want it, you can go on the extra list and bid on something else on bulletin. Fraternally yours, E. A. Brand, L. C. Yellowstone Division Notes — Agent Nelson, Forsyth, is again confined to his bed as the result of getting up too soon after a case of smallpox. E. E. Cavanaugh, third Beach, has re- signed. It is now Sisters Misses Susan Olson, third Big Horn, W. O. Johnson, New Salem third, and L. E. Pettit. Also Sister Mrs. A. Williamson, on third Howard, making that station solid. Bro. D. H. Gibson, third Glendive, pro- moted to trick dispatcher, a lyell-deserved promotion. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 393 Miss Connelly, second Big Horn, visiting &t Glendive & few days, was relieved by Miss Inez L. Fay, and Miss Richardson, second Terry, relieved. Is visiting her folks at Missoula, relieved by Miss E. BaltruschaL Bro. L. A. Barrow, and Theo. Barrow, relieved on first and second Belfleld, by W. C. Blair, and Miss Foreberg. Later relieved Bro. Flahagan, second Worden, when called to Dubois, Pa., on account of his brother undergoing a serious operation. Gallagher gave Medora agency job up three tiroes. No bids. Sister Williaro8, third South Heart, at- tended the Dickinson Ball, relieved by Mrs. Adams. Bros. Fisher, Gutzeit, Ledger, and E. H. Murray called for draft examination, re- lieved by Mrs. Cunningham, Lawrence, W. Im Besanson, and O’Reilly, respectively. Bro. Brand is corresponding on some new stationery, which shows Bro. Tronstad, of Forsyth, as assistant local chairman. We congratulate our local chairman upon his wise selection. Bros. Tronstad, Swain, and Desforges, steadfast, reliable workers, for whom we can be very thankful, helped out this month. The O. R. T. is working for us ALL the time, so let’s show our appreciation, and ALL be UP-TO-DATE members ALL the time. Cert. 391. Members Idaho Division — The 1918 seniority lists, delayed by the printers, will tell who are members and who are nons, and from time to time, as applica- tions come In, I will advise you through the journal of the new members. In view of our past revisions, we are without any excuse for not having a “SOLID DIVISION,” and these lists show every member who to> work on. Use a little time with the nons each month, until we have them lined up. Give each one a reasonable time to pay the initiation fees, then go after him with a determination to land him. Do not become discouraged with h few promises ; stay with him until you get his application and money. If your bids are lost you cannot claim the position and must accept the conse- quence, therefore, I again urge you to mail me a copy of your bid to protect it. Pat Joy, agent Kooskia, who has served the company for many years, is dead. The relatives have ou«* deepest sympathy. We should call the attention of the nons to this instance, and show them that it is their duty to join the Order and protect their families with the insurance benefit, to take care of the loved ones after they have been called to the Great Beyond. Yours fraternally, R. B. Irwin, L. C. Idaho Division Notes — Bro. Hartlerode succeeds Bro. Hackney at Granite agency, who relieved Bro. Mays, agent Peck, on vacation. Bro. 'Lowry, agent Troy, Ida., on two months' vacation visiting East and South, relieved by Bro. Henry. Sister Margaret Kay relieved Bro. ■ A1 Younker, third Hope, and Bro. S. F. Peter- son relieved M. E. Schroder, third Plains, while heeding the call of “Uncle Sam,” to undergo examination. Sister Kathleen Kirk, third Cabinet, on a visit home, relieved by Bro. M. E. Anderson. Sister Sullivan is also on a visit home. Bro. R. B. Beseke relieved by L A. Krueger, on third Rathdrum, goes to second Pullman. Miss Murphy is now a teacher in Rathdrum. Bro. Gillespie has returned to Rathdrum agency after ninety days’ vaca- tion, Bro. Culler going back on second. Bro. G. L. Cray relieved Bro. McLaughlin, agent Kamiah, suffering from blood poison- ing, and. Bro. Davidson, agent Lenore, was relieved by B. J. Fitzgerald, on account of Illness. Bro. Patterson, second Yardley, and Bro. Phillips, second Noxon, were off a few days recently. . j | Your local chairman reports: It is now Bros. Ebert, second Paradise, and Bro. G. W. Harrison, third Athol. Send at least one item to your division correspondent, on or before the 18th, to enable us to have a good write-up each month. Diy. Cor. Dakota Division — January 28th the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers represented by President H. B. Per- ham and Grand SecretaYy and Treasurer Rawlins, was given the first hearing of any organization before the Federal Wage Com- mission, and presented demands embodying a 40 per cent increase in salaries and time and one-half for all overtime for employes rep- resented by our organization. As Bro. Nason says, “every member who is up-to- date is standing squarely behind this move- ment— every member not up-to-date is ham- pering the work.” Government control is not a reason for laxity in organization — it is an argument in favor of SOLID organiza- tion as only they who are well organized can make progress in negotiating betterments with Government boards. Secretary Nason’s final circular to delin- quents in February “hit the nail” on the head, and should materially cut down our list of “time destroyers” for this term. We must see that those who didn’t heed it delay no longer in the duty they owe to their fel- low workers. See that everyone gets right and stays that way. Digitized by Google
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394 The Railroad Telegrapher. Our worthy assistants have been doing some very good missionary work, especially Bro. Warren at McKenzie. I am relying on them for more of it in the future, Bro. D. C. Poindexter writes from Camp Custer that he is being transferred to the Signal Corps of the Aviation Service, perma- nent address later. Bro. Frank Ward re- turned to Montpelier agency after a good visit In Iowa. Bro. F. H. Carley, home from Camp Dodge a few days, visited in Mont- pelier. Bro. J. H. Hummel, of Westphalis, Ind., writes Bro. Roy Pravitz for our late schedule. We welcome Sisters Irma Ingalls, Medina, Hilda Thorpe, Driscoll, and Iona Bolton, Dawson, to ou~ ranks with a glad hand. The new girls are proving to be the best O. R. T. boosters and nearly all of them have asked for blanks. Bro. C. L. Kibler gave up Hazelton agency, and returned to third Dawson, relieved by Bro. H. S. Schmoldt, after Bro. E. H. Wag- ner returned to Denhoff. Bro. W. H. Millard, agent Hazen, called east to Virginia, on Sickness of his father, relieved by Miss Edna Anderson, wife and helper. Bro. P. S. Outensohn, agent Huff, will transfer to the Idaho Division. The glad hand to our new Bro. H. C. Dahl, back on third Steele, after relieving Bro. A. Lar- sen at Zap and Bro. F. A. Sommars at Mer- cer, while both Bro. Sommars and wife were in the hospital. Second Steele held by Berg on sick leave, and working for another com- pany, is expected to be put on bulletin soon. Bro. C. H. Hooker, agent Tuttle, trans- ferred to another division, relieved by Bro. Christ Bettger, pending bulletin. Miss Viola Crouse, working as helper for Bro. Geil at Woodworth. Bro. H. E. Burkett relieved Bro. Roy Pravitz, agent Wilton, while in Brainerd for an operation. Bro. J. F. Ellis relieved a short period by A. M. Thune. Bro. Pliny Moen, agent Barlow, was re- cently married. Bro. Sam Morse, agent Temvick, has asked for a few sets of blanks to go out after some of the nons. Happy thought, Sammy ; others do likewise. E. CX Kattschade, third Burleigh, and J. T. Smith, have been examined for the next draft. Bro. Geo. Olson is now cashier-operator at Killkeer. Sister Bessie Dallier relieving Bro. C. M. Shaw, agent Burt, temporarily. Mark Sexton has returned from the Pasco Division. Numerous Jobs have been put back on their regular tricks cutting out the extra hour overtime. Bro. Gust Berquist promoted from “J” to branch trick dispatcher. Trainmaster Colby now First Lieutenant Engineering Corps, Russian Service, Naga- saki, Japan, writes that they are held there for orders and himself. Dispatchers Grant and Ydstie are enjoying life in the land of sunshine. If you didn’t receive a late seniority list write for one. Remove the ( • ) from In front of Bro. J. F. Ellis, Bro. H. C. Dahl, Bro. Christ Bettger, and Sisters Ingalls, Dal- lier, Bolton and Thorpe. Othem will be an- nounced next issue. “Speed up” and go after those remaining nons ; March fee $16.50, April $14.50. With a plea for further co-operation all around, I am Fraternally yours, H. H. Ellsworth, L. C. Members Fargo Division — You will recall in the December and Jan- uary number the reference to Third Annual Assessment for the Division Flower Fund, of $1.00 per member. Possibly half of the mmbership have paid this and received their receipts. 1 wish those of you who have not done so would remit to the undersigned at your earliest convenience. This with the 1919 assessment will be the last, as the in- terest on what money we have in the treas- ury in 1919 will keep the fund without fur- ther assessment, so do your share, and we will promise to recall this assessment in 1919. You will have noted in a previous issue that Bros. Perham and Rawlins filed a de- mand for an eight-hour day, Sunday over- time and time and one-half for overtime and 40 per cent increase in salary. . While we have the eight-hour day and Sunday overtime, we must assist in the move to se- cure this for those roads and systems which have not. The time and one-half for over- time and 40 per cent Increase in salary Is what is more interesting to most of you, so see that the man working with you or at the next station has a card, thus backing our president and secretary-treasurer. Tol- erating a non-member working with you or next to you, is against your own Interest ; as it requires time and money to organise and you are leaving this to your local and general chairman and secretary, whose time is more valuable and could t>e exercised to- ward the greater issue mentioned above. M. L. Hktzlkr. I wish to thank Bro. Bruskrud and Bro. Mannes for notes received for this issue. Bro. H. O. Mannes, on two weeks* vaca- tion, was relieved by Bro. L. R. Smeltser. w’ho later relieved Guilford at Alice, gone to his farm in Florida. Bro. Dalton is back at Jessie, Carlson returning to Spirltwood. Bro. Nahan, of Tower City, relieved Ken- yon on second Dil worth. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 395 No main line news received at time this was sent in. Bro. C. H. Oaardsmoe, who is wingring them across for the Government, writes that he likes army life, and keeps busy on the key so as to not get rusty. He sends his regards to all the boys. Cert. 690. IN MEMORIAM. Whiriab, We again bow in humble sub- mission to the Divine Will of our Heavenly Father, who knoweth best, "He giveth the life, the Spirit to Him returneth." Unto him hath returned the spirit of the beloved wife of Bro. W. J. Dalton; "Thou placest the hand of sorrow on the heart, ‘Thy will be done* ", therefore be it Resolved, That we, the members of Fargo Division, Northern Pacific System No. 64, extend to the bereaved husband and chil- dren, our heartfelt sympathy, in this, the sad hour of their sorrow, in their great loss; may the Divine Father heal the wound and fill the vacancy in the heart with the holy spirit ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved husband and chil- dren, a copy placed on the minutes of Divi- sion No. 64, and a copy mailed to The Telegrapher for publication. J. F. McCormick, E. J. Laiplaw, S. B. Tofte, Committee . 8t. Paul Division — Bro. F*rron recently visited his brother in Montana, Bro. Gulliford fiilling In. Bro. Nelson relieved Bro. Bartee while in Bralnard Hospital. Bro. Ware, who relieved Bro. Hermanson while at Braliiard Hospital for examination, later relieved Bro. Murphy, White Bear, on account of the death of his mother. Flensburg agency (new) opened by Chas. Giants, relieved by Frank Stretch, making Glenwood combination telegrapher and agency. East Minneapolis closed ; third Northtown on bulletin owing to the death of Bro. Wm. Anderson. The dispatchers are covering the division. We are glad to learn that the company is* offering better inducements to the teleg- raphers on this division than in previous years by promoting the boys from "MS" to branch dispatchers and then giving them six months in which to try out on the main line. Brothers, get after that non working next to you ; make him get • into the order and help pay for that Sunday overtime which we all so much appreciate. The boys excused from Sunday work are getting the same for six days’ work that they for- merly got for seven. Don't give the nons any peace until they get in. Don't wait for the other fellow ; It's your duty just as much as his. Bro. Jim Johnson, third Gregory, who enlisted In the U. S. Signal Corps, is now at Camp Grant, 111. Dnr. Cob. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father and all-wise Ruler of the Universe, to take unto Himself our beloved brother, Wm. E. Anderson. In manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved, That the members of Northern Pacific Division No. 64, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing wife their sincere and heartfelt ‘sympathy in her sad bereavement ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved wife, a copy spread upon the minutes of the division, and a copy forwarded to Thb Telegrapher for publication. Clyde Bartee, Ralph Skellbnoer, G. M. Fbrron, Committee. ' CARD OF THANKS. To All Concerned, St. Paul Dlv. N. P. Ry. ; We hardly know how to express our thanks and deep gratitude for the substan- tial sura you have so kindly given us and at a time when needed, one check for forty dollars and another thirty-two dollars, and a little more coming. We beg that you accept our deepest thanks, for we most assuredly appreciate the aid you have so generously extended to us. Yours truly, Bro. W. E. Anderson and Wipe, Tucson, Arlz. The following was received after Bro. An- derson’s death ; CARD OF THANKS. I desire to express my great appreciation and sincere thanks to the members of Divi- sion No. 64, N. P. Ry., and other employes for their beautiful floral offering presented by them in token of their deep sympathy for me in the great loss of my beloved hus- band. Mrs. Wm. E. Anderson. Georgia Southern & Florida Ry., Div. No. 56. We are well pleased with our new contract all having received a ten-dollar raise, regard- less of our former salaries. Thanks to our general chairman for the fair division. The few nons along the line, however, had the nerve to take the ten-dollar raise and three months’ back pay, along with all the other good things our commission se- cured for us, and not a single one has made any effort yet to Join and help pay for the expense of getting them. We should now give them no rest until they hand in their application, and if that is not done within Digitized by v^oooLe
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396 The Railroad Telegrapher. a reasonable time, remember our motto, “No card , no favors ,” and use it to the limit. The time for begging these fellows to do their plain duty and show their appreciation for what we have done for them has passed. We had a dandy meeting at Valdasha January 27th when Bro. Seibert went into the details of the necessity of the $20.00 assessment, and everyone went home per- fectly satisfied, and passed the good word along to the boys that coudn’t be with us. Sunday, February 3rd, the .boys were out in big numbers to the meeting called by Gen. Supt. Kaderly for the purpose of getting everyone to put a shoulder to the wheel to help “the boys over there”. His talk was thoroughly appreciated and everyone present was benefited. Boys, let's all help our superintendent “push along this little red wagon” Former Chief Dispatcher Eady has been promoted to superintendent of the H. Sc F. S. We all regret his leaving, but are glad to see him advancing, and all extend the glad hand to his successor, W. C. Barnwell, and assure him of our hearty co- operation. Assignments : Second Unadilla to Bro. Wright, vice Pitts, who relieved Bro. Dozier, second Fargo, a few days; Bro. McCall to third "UD" Cordelle, is relieving Bro. Ware, agent Unadilla, now cashier of the bank there. We all regret his leaving, but wish him success. Unadilla agency up for bids. We hope some good brother lands it, as it’s too good for a non. They have been getting about all the good Jobs going lately. Bro. Evans, first Unadilla, is on ninety days' leave, putting in operation a coal and wood yard and building an ice house, all of which he expects to handle in connection with his dray line. Boys, remember your promise. You know we can’t have much of a writeup unless we get some help. Send in your notes and help to keep Old 56 on the map. Get after that non at your station and make life a burden for him until he Joins. Make him see that he is enjoying the fruits of our labor, to which hp is not entitled without an up-to-date card. J. S. Story, Div. Cor. Southern Ry., Div. No. 59. Knoxville Division — Bro. Jake Vaughan, "KY” Knoxville, has been appointed assistant local chairman. The division 4s too large for any one man, and as Bro. Vaughan Is centrally located he can be of great service. This gives us one assistant located in the middle of the divi- sion and Bro. Bally up the river, but leaves us without an assistant on the Bristol side. Someone volunteer to act as assistant chair- man on that side. I have asked several, but none have accepted. The Morristown operators have been re- lieved of the clerical work and they can now give all their attention to other duties, which will be better for all concerned. In the adjustment two more clerks were put on at that point. We were sorry to hear that Bro. Baker, recently operated on for appendicitis, was very low at this writing, February 11th. We hope for his speedy recovery. Recent transfers : East End — Bro. Ed- wards to McDonald and Bro. Burns to Wa- tauga. We are glad to have Bro. Edwards with us, but sorry to lose Bro. Burns. Bro. Edwards don’t like the phones, while Bro. Burns don’t like the wire any too well. We would like to call a meeting soon and at a point where the most men can at- tend, however. Where do you suggest that it be held? W. H. Cord, L. C. Queen & Crescent Route (North), Div. No. 62. Second and Third Districts — Pay up your dues, boys, even if you are a little late. Don’t take such a narrow view of the organization as to let a personal grievanqe mar its good work. We have only to look at the work the different organizations are doing to see that organ- ized labor stfll is recognized by the higher authority. The ship builder, for example. All we need to do to generate strength is to stay firmly united, and remain solid. J. G. VanHook, Cert. 593. Minn. & St Louis R. R.f Div. No. 71. Eastern Division — A non went to Abbott February 11th; left that night with $7.50; stopped No. 6 with his board, gave it a clearance, went to El- dora and was arrested there, in bed. Bro. McCullough from some other division is on Abbott third now. Bro. O’Neil, second, was relieved on second there by Litchfield. Bro. Larson to Abbott agency, vice Bro. Cahill to Oskaloosa second. Holmes to Dillon nights, vice Bra Ling- ham to yard second, vice Bro. Covey, re- signed. Bro. Rethe to the army, relieved at yard by McCllntock. Bro. Packard having regained ’the use of his arm, bulletin on Liscomb was with- drawn. Ollie has been made a continuous office on account of heavy train movement, with Bro. Leary on first, Logan from Newton on second, and Bro. E. B. O'Neal on third. Brothers, get after the few nons on this division and put up our percentage where it belongs. We have too many "slackers.** If any of you want their names so you can work on them, drop me a line and I will be glad to fix you out. Let’s all get "25** on ’em at once. W. C. M., L. C. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 397 Central and Western Divisions — New members : J. H. Jorgenson, Hazel Run, Minn. ; S. O. Jorgenson, Wood Lake, Minn. ; W. P. Harris, Spencer, Iowa (tower) ; C. E. Gearhart, Lurverne, Iowa ; J. W. Fer- guson, Pioneer, Iowa; W. G. Ess, Morton, Minn., and Boyle, agent, Gowrie. Bro. J. B. Dolan, agent Hopkins, is recov- ering frcm a severe attack of pneumonia. Bro. Vanderhoof, formerly at Humboldt, is now on third Hopkins. Bro. Johnson, agent Dana, was In Cal- lender recently on account of the illness of his grandfather. Thanks to Gibney, first Perry, for his do- nation to the order. By putting a little more with it he could carry an up-to-date card. Bros. Boyle, agent Paton ; Martinson, agent Perry, and Nelson, agent Minburn, ac- companied G. S. & T. Sandmier to Des- Mofnes Sunday, February 17th, and audited the books. We are pleased to announce that we found the finances of Division 71 in far better shape than ever before aad that the membership is rubbing the 97 per cent mark very closely. If the members could realize the work that Bro. Sandmier has keeping the books up-to-date, they would be more prompt in paying their dues, relieving him of having to write delinquents, which takes time and uses up the division’s money on postage. Was glad to find so many of the brothers who showed their appreciation of the good work of the committee by taking out annual cards. Bro. J. M. Thompson of Arlington, Minn., holds the record in Division 71 for being paid up for the longest period — until June 80, 1919. The Western Union has been allowing the offices on the Eastern Division a commis- sion of the cash business done by them since last September. General Chairman Gardner has this matter for the Central and West- ern Divisions up with Mr. Kenly, and he has it up with the W. U. officials, and it probably won't be long before we also get this com- mission. Brothers, remember when routing freight and passengers, the M.. K. A T. is still on the unfair list. That road don’t deserve any business until its officials are ready to recognise union conditions. Bro. Nelson, agent Minburn, claims the record for grain shipments, having billed out forty-two cars of grain during the first two weeks in February. Bro. Boyle, agent Paton, was ordered to lay off his helper February 1st on account of a decrease in business, but after the company had looked into the business done there the order was recalled. It will be a great relief, brothers, when the stock car shortage is over. We now ■pend almost half our time explaining to the shippers why we can’t get them. Brothers, there are only a few more none left. Don’t give up until we have them all lined up, and remember our slogan, "No card , no favors ” When that non next to you asks about a train, or wants to borrow a block of expense bills or some other form, refer him to some other non to help him out. Thanks to Bros. Sandmier, Madden and Zeigler for their assistance in getting these items. You other brothers, spend a few cents postage and send in a few notes. You all like to read them, and it takes work to get them. Dry. Con., Cert. 451. Chicago & Northwestern Ry., Div. No. 76. Chicago Terminal — Bro. Brown, second Canal, with his wife, made a trip to Madison, Wis., recently. Bro. Dixon was acting director at Division St. during Mr. Cheeseman’s absence, , and Bro. Slbbens went to first Main St. while Bro. Lieu ranee was ill. The new third at Wells St. is Bro, Ed- wards, which means one more member for the O. R. T. Bro. John Strande from Clin- ton St. "split trick,” gets the new extra lever man position created during the nego- tiations Just closed. Another position which from now on will be bulletined, if vacated, is that held by former Bro. Edward Dele- hanty. As I’ve not been able to get around over the Terminal I’ve had to depend on those who were good enough to send the items in. Madison Division — Bro. Reeves, agent Waunakee, Is being congratulated on having probably the youngest volunteer in "Uncle Sam’s” serv- ice, his son, not quite sixteen, making his way to Iowa when it was 10 below zero, to enlist. Mother Shipman must have been gifted with the faculty of looking into the future when she predicted the following in 1710: "When pictures look alive with movements free. And ships like fishes swim beneath the sea; When men, outstripping birds, shall scour the air. Then half the world deep drenched in blood shall be.” Former Bro. Vera Paine and a number of our other boys were on the Tuscania. We all hope to learn of their rescue. At this writing (Feb. 10th) we have not yet received a list of the survivors. Cbrt. 18. Wisconsin Division — We should make every effort to get in the few nons on this division. Any telegrapher who accepts employment on organised roads should join the O. R. T. Digitized by Goode
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398 .The Railroad Telegrapher. Remember, every union dollar traded for non-union products stimulates and encour- ages the unfair employer to employ non- union labor. See that the goods you pur- chase at the stores carry the union label. We have little chance of victory unless we observe these things. On February 2nd, while crossing the tracks from Deval tower toward tower “NT” near Des Plaines, 111., the 14 -year-old son of Bro. A. C. Mechler, second trick operator at Deval tower, was struck by a train and Instantly killed. His funeral was held at Reedsburg, Wis., on February 5th. Resolu- tions of sympathy follow. Boys, whv not remit to our local chair- man from 10 to 50 cents each month for a flower fund? He could deposit the contri- butions in a bank on time deposit and let it draw interest. Then when an occasion arose where we should need a fund of this kind we would have the money on hand, which would avoid circulating a petition over the line. Let me have some opinions on the suggestion. Bro. J. O. Ricks, second Waukegan, and J. J. Keski, first Lake Forest, have enlisted In the navy. The former is visiting in New Orleans and at other points before reporting at training station. A. T. Strand, first High- land Park, took the examination for enlist- ment in one of the railroad divisions, re- cruiting in Chicago, but changed his plans after reviewing the chances of being killed. Bro. A. J. Copplestone, third Valley tower, has resigned and is awaiting a call as a drafted soldier. Bro. Shore, second Highland Park, was off 30 days recently, visiting relatives and shooting rabbits down in North Carolina. Bro. H. Creet is now motor inspector on the Chicago North Shore Electric Railway at High wood. 111. Bro. R. L. Herrick, first Harvard, Intends starting a feed store there shortly. Send me the names of the new men you hear of and I’ll send them the required blanks to fill out for their membership. My address is still 373 Park Ave., Glencoe, 111. Send me the happenings, vacations, etc., and give me the standing of the party who relieves you. Drv. Cor. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased the All- wise Ruler of the Universe to take awa y the dear son of our brother, A. O. Mechler; therefore in our fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved, That the members of Wisconsin Division No. 76 extend to the sorrowing brother our deepest sympathy in his sad bereavement ; also be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to this brother, a copy to The Telegrapher, and a copy spread on the minutes of this division. A. S. Moorhouse, DIv. Cor., A. J. Copplestone, R. J. Wallace, Committee. Sioux City Division Bro. O. L. Russell, appointed postmaster at Cushing, relieved on the agency there by Bro. Dodds; Bro. B. I. Fenn promoted to traveling agent, with headquarters at Car- roll, Iowa, relieved at Holstein agency by Leslie Speer, cashier Sac City, promoted to baggage agent accountant, Sioux City, by Bro. W. C. Carnes; Bro. A. Boysen, who took a position in the Farmers Savings Bank at Battle Creek, was relieved of the agency there by Bro. C. H. Barrows; Bro. B. W. Frahm, called in the draft February 3rd, re- lieved at Salix Station by Bro. K. W. Smith; Bro. R. E. Nlelan is in the Signal Corps at Battle Creek, Mich., also Ed (“Red”) Goedell, cashier Kinsley, Iowa; Bro. Boysen, agent Lawton, Iowa, was off a few days recently for U. 8. army inspec- tion. L. H. Graves, in the navy, located at New- port News, with his wife visited friends re- cently at Whiting, Iowa. Bro. L B. Haymond, agent Ida Grove, Iowa, relieved a few days recently by ex- Bro. J. P. Olander, an old-timer from this division, on account of sickness. Bro. E. E. Basking, agent Lake View, Iowa, visiting his wife's folks at Onawa, Iowa, stopped over at Ida Grove, where his wife was taken sick and later operated on for appendicitis at the Conn Hospital. Glad to learn that she is out of danger. Bro. J. R. Short, agent Whiting, Iowa, and his family all had measles, and no one to relieve him. His helper also took them about the time Bro. Short was able to get around. Bro. Hopper and wife, Sloan, Iowa, re- ceived a Christmas present — a nice baby girl — at 10 a. m. that day, of which they are naturally very proud. How would it seem to have another meet- ing and go over the new schedule, so we would all know how it should apply? Cert. 128. East Iowa Division — Bro. A. B. Anderson has returned from his vacation in Florida to third MBN” yard, Bro. Ferguerson going to Chicago a few days. We are glad to see Bro. Lee Crelly back again after a week's illness. Bro. Doc Eggleson relieved Bro. Terrell on the car job when the latter went on as first trick dispatcher. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 399 Our chief spent several days recently in Des Moines, owing to the serious illness of his mother. Bro. Dickinson is confined to his bed at Tama. Bro. O’Daniel, Mt. Vernon, is visiting rela- tives at Corydon, Iowa. Received a letter from First Sergeant Bro. N. D. Watson, in Railroad v Signal Corps, now at the Eighth Armory, Chicago, with the finest bunch of telegraphers he ever saw. Expect to start for France any day. Cert. 2883, C. F. Western Maryland Ry.f Div. No. 82. Saw tern Division — Our revised schedule. New rules and rates of pay for telegraphers effective February 1, 1918, are as follows: Article 1— Title. Articles 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 — Same as here- tofore, except paragraph (c), cut out of article 3. Article 9 — The following is added to para- graph (a) : “and in no event to receive leee than the minimum rate of pay” In para- graph (b) the words “or any office '* cut out Article 10 — (a) changed to read: " where two or more tricks instead of three or more tricks” (b) changed to read: “At offices where one trick is worked nine consecutive hours or less , excluding time for meals , will constitute a day's work.” Article 11 — “ Employes performing services in connection with the movement of trains and working more than 8 hours , wiU be re- leased not earlier than 11 :30 a. to. or p. m., or later than 12 :30 p. to. or a. to. One hour for meals ; instead of employes working more than 9 hours and 46 minutes for meals” New article added to Article 12 : “Where employes when not regularly assigned to Sunday duty are required to work on 8un - day, they will be so advised. Employes as- signed or required to report for duty on Sunday shall be paid for such service at the regular pro-rata rate based upon calendar month , such pay to be in addition to their ' regular monthly wages. The hours of work required on Sunday shall be within regular daily established hours of the employe af- fected. If any employe's trick is split more than twice on Sunday employes shall receive pay for the entire day.” Old Article 12 — No change. Article 13 — “Overtime to be 60 cents per hour when required to return to our re- spective duties after the expiration of regu- lar hours; regular overtime rates 40 cents per hour instead of 35 cents. New Article 14 changed to read : (a) “Em- ployes covered by Article No. 2 working nine hours or more who have been in the service of the company 2 years or more , shall have 16 days' annual leave with pay, or in lieu thereof 16 days' pay” “(b) Employes covered by Article No. 2 working less than 9 hours who have been in the service of the company 2 years or more, shall have 10 days' annual leave with pay, or in lieu thereof 10 days' pay” (c) Same. Articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 — No change. Article 19 — Changed to read: "8 hours or less ” instead of "11 hours or less.” Articles 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 — Same, except that in Article 23, “these rules and rates of pay to be delivered the General Chairman ” instead of “the General Secre- tary and Treasurer.” Operators receiving under $75.00 per • month will be benefited with a $10.00 in- crease., and those receiving $76.00 and above with an $8.00 increase ; the minimum $75.00 per month instead of $65.00. We wish to thank the members for their assistance in landing our new schedule, and it is hoped that a much stronger effort will be made by all the members to convert the nons. Bro. H. E. Willard, second Highfield, re- lieved by Bro. G. N. Holtz on account of sickness. Bros. G. N. Holtz and R. G. Morrison laid up with typhoid fever a long While, are back to work. Bros. D. O. Martin, first Walbrook ; P. C# Gardner, agent Owings Mills; and C. R. Arnsparger, third trick dispatcher on B. A H. Hagerstown, were with the boys from the Western Division, securing our revised schedule. Div. Cor.,, Cert. 94. CARD OF THANKS. Myself and family desire to express our gratitude and sincere appreciation of the aid rendered us by operators and others on the Eastern Division, because of my long ill- ness. G. N. Holtz. Texas & Pacific Ry., Div. No. 88. Rio Grande Division — Wish to correct our writeup in January Telegrapher. Should have been Bro. Che- nault and Bro. Jones. Apologies, brothers. Bro. W. H. Coder, formerly with the T. & P., but for the past year with the Santa Fe, is back at home in Sweetwater, in busi- ness with his brother. Bro. Jones is back there on second. Local Chairman Littlefield, at Big Spring, recently visited the Sweetwater boys be- tween trains. Bro. Canafax, L. C. Fort Worth Division, also called on the Sweet- water boys recently. Bro. Adams, third Colorado, relieved a few days by Mrs. Ralph, relieved by Bro. Ellis. Digitized by v^oooLe
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400 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Dewey Harrison, with us a few weeks, relieved Bro. Dashlel several days; later went to SP. Bro. Camp from the S. A. & A. P. re- lieved Surrency, second Clyde, resigned. Wel- come, brother. Let your committee know that you are behind it and it will do the rest. A good way to prove your loyalty Is to line up the none with and near you. The committee Is now waiting for a date with the manage- ment Thanks to Bros. Dashlel, Jones and Che- nault for this writeup. Cbrt. 82. Illinois Central R. R., Div. No. 93. Tennessee Division — Organization work goes on apace on this division, as many young men are becoming active members. We must all watch for and secure as many nons as possible in order to make our slogan : "60,000 members before the end of 1918" a reality. The attitude of mind we hold towards our associates will keep alive the spirit of har- mony and co-operation as the years go by. Let us encourage and foster this beatitude and enter into the work of thorough organi- zation with vigor and courage — vigor be- cause we have the organization to do the work, and courage because there Is no more noble calling than 'the placing of protection over the homes of the members of our order. The world will accept our organization at exactly the estimate its members put upon it. This is one of the rules of business. The order is ready to transact the biggest busi- ness in its history. Let us be ready to do our duty. Cert. 232. Indiana Division — We all extend our deepest sympathy to Bro. C. W. Murray, agent Bargersville, in the recent death of his wife. Broa Werth and Pribble, first and second Bloomfield, have been drafted and will have to report in the nedr future. We hate to lose these two good men, but "Uncle Sam" needs the best, and he is getting them when he takes these two brothers. Remember, boys, to keep after the nons. We have only a few and by a little work can make this division solid. To those who refuse to come in, always, "No card, no favors "Scotty/* Cert 3640. Paducah District — Bro. Sullivan from Marion has gone West for his health. We hope to see him back in a short time, well fellow and hearty. He was relieved by Bro. Rogers from Cecilia. Bro. Cocke, agent St Charles, who went South for his wife’s health, was relieved by Bro. J. P. Nichols from Nortonville, relieved by Bro. Hall. Bro. Meadows, second Dawson Springs, went to Detroit to purchase some new cars, relieved by Bro. Welt on, a new man. Bro. Campbell, second Paducah yard, re- lieved by Bro. Sargent a few days. Bro. Cason, second Black Ford, went to his home in Georgia for a few days on ac- count of the draft, relieved by Paris, a new man. Bro. Love, Henshaw nights, also home for two weeks on account of the draft re- lieved by Story, a new man. We also had a new man at South Jet second for a few days. Brothers, we should see that these new men are lined up, and if not set them into the fold. Bro. Hughes from Unlontown went to Marlon and Bro. Layman to Rockport agency. Hudgens has gone to the M., K. & T. in Texas. We should beA these fellows in mind. Brothers, if you see a non, please send me his name, as I am in the contest and want to line these fellows up. C. B. Hall, Cert 3686. Chicago Great Western Ry., Div. No. 96. Southern Division — When a non is looking for a position he Invariably selects an organized instead of an unorganized road, because the pay is better and the treatment fairer. This is one of the best arguments you can use when so- liciting the non’s membership, because it is a truism that cannot be denied. No body of men ever accomplished any- thing as long as each man worked for his Individual Interests, and wc are only follow- ing the example set by our employers when we organize to protect our collective inter- ests. We have associations of railroad presi- dents, general managers, superintendents, boards of directors, etc., covering every branch of railroad industry, and still we sometimes find men with that mistaken Idea that loyalty to their employer prohibits their Joining our organization. A dog is loyal to Its master regardless of the treatment given it If the dog, how- ever, had the power that we have col- lectively to successfully resent mistreatment, its master would respect it and treat It kindly without any fear of Its “bite.” Moral : Join the order of your craft and make it strong enough and good enough to command respect Bro. Ed Lusk, agent Rea, on sick list sev- eral days, finally resigned. On account of the shortage of men, sev- eral tricks have been dosed. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 401 Bro. Coleman has returned from Chicago, and we are going to get a substantial in- crease of pay and better hours. Cert. 766. Los Angeles & Salt Lake R. R., DIv. No. 111. Salt Lake Division — } Bro. Cook is relieving Extra Dispatcher Campbell in "X” Salt Lake. Bro. Enking went to Los Angeles recently to attend the funeral of his father. He has our sympathy in his bereavement. Bro. Morton relieved on first Lynndyl sev- eral weeks recently. Bro. Rothman, on sec- ond there, is waiting his call in the draft. Bro. McKay, at Milford, has two lady messengers. Professor (7) Trent is run- ning a telegraph school there, advertising to teach the business in three months. We don't want such material on this road. Re- member him, boys, and always keep in mind, ••No card , no favors ,” when dealing with him. Bro. Dutro has joined the Signal Corps. We wish him success and hope for his safe return. Cbrt. 129. Los Angeles Division — Bro. Johnstone, mayor at Carp, visited Las Vegas recently. Bro. Homan, operator- pumper there, puts in thirteen hours a day pumping and telegraphing. When a new man lands find out if he has a card. If not, secure his application. . Cert. 138. Ulster & Delaware R. R., Div. No. 113. Bro. Leming has resigned as division cor- ** respondent on account of the heavy work required of him at Phoenicia. Any brother voluntarily willing to act as official scribe for this division will please communicate with Secretary Riley and receive official cer- tificate covering that position. Bids for that position will close in ten days, so it’s up to -you fellows to get busy if you expect a writeup each month. Bro. Hedges is now in Beauford, N. C., with the Western Union. His health is im- proving and he is expected back with the robins In the spring. Bro. Qale, Tannersville, relieved a few days by Relief Agent Bro. Riley, while at- tending the express company lawsuit in New York City. Bro. Goodsell relieved by Whispell for three months on account of sickness. Brothers, keep after the nons and do your bit by lining them up. Relief Scribe. "Soo Line” Ry., Div. No. 119. Duluth-Superior Division — Bro. J. P. Me Knight of Boylston Jet., who was very ill for two weeks with pleurisy, we are glad to announce, is improving. Bro. J. G. Mersy, Oklee, on the sick-list a few days, is back to work. Chief Dispatcher Mills is still confined to his bed with erysipelas. Bro. Kestel is back after several days' illness. We all missed him. A full lineup of all on the sick-list last month would look like the Mayo Brothers' hospital roster. If space permitted, it might be interesting to the fraternity to know the meaning of the peculiar names of the towns along this division of the Soo Line. For instance, Automba, where the writer is located, is an Indian word meaning “nice little town.” The station agents in most places are good boosters and the man who located here, recognizing our lack of a bank and the im- pression it would have on the transient pub- lic, had "the depot,” an old construction car, rebuilt, and along the top of the side to- ward the street is painted in bright blue letters " Automba State Bank ” each window being appropriately labeled “Cashier” “ Paying Teller ” “ Receiving Teller,” etc. The present agent, however, received quite a set- back recently. An irrational Finish woman came up to the window and, ascertaining that the train was late, addressed her com- panion very vehemently, which a bystander interpreted : “I wish the old agent were here; he always had the trains on time.” Boys, if you want to see a good writeup you must send me the changes, etc., at your stations. We still have a few nons. One is about to join and two of them refuse. Remember, “No card, no favors” W. W. E.. Cert. 1377. Minneapolis Division — Bro. O. C. Hendricks, Wendell, was in Minneapolis a few days recently. Bro. M. F. Kapitan, agent Tenney, was away a few days on account of sickness. Fairmount first and second closed, Bro. R. P. Creelman going to the S. P. ; Bro. I. A. Smith, agent, doing the wire work. Bro. Shanberger, agent Whitetail, Mont., taking examination by army draft board, relieved by Bro. Vogel ; also relieved Bro. Davis at Kermit, on vacation. Bro. Norrell has returned to Logan after two menths’ vacation. Sister Jones was called to Faribault, Minn., on account of her mother’s illness. We hope for her speedy recovery. Dispatcher Voohries of Enderlin installed a full set of his new sounders at Elbow Lake, Sunday, February 17th, equipped with a battery which recharges itself, doing away with local cell batteries. G. S. & T. Paine, on a trip over the divi- sion, called on several of the boys in regard to our new telegraphers’ and express sche- dule. Digitized by v^ooole
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402 The Railroad Telegrapher. Thanks to Bro. F. C. Spielberger for news items. Send your notes to the Local Chair- man in time, so he can get them to St. Louis before the 25th. Cbrt. 124. Missouri River Division — Bro. L. E. Dewey, Douglas agency, on vacation, Joined the Signal Corps. Bro. Lindstrom to Minot for examination, relieved at Van Hook agency by Bro. Engle, later to Benedict agency, Bro. Glanville be- ing called to Fargo on court business. B. M. Larson, cashier Bismarck, to Fargo an same business. Chief Dispatcher Mellen was called home on account of the severe illness of his father, who is now getting along nicely. Bro. Davis, agent Wisnek, spent Sunday recently in Bismarck with his wife, in hospi- tal there for treatment, now at home much improved. The young son of Bro. Baker, Lldgerwood, on the sick-list, is O. K. again. W. B. R., Cert. 918. W. & P. Division — Bro. Kirclier is now dispatching on the east end at Gladstone. Dispatcher Kelly, gone with the C. N. W. in Nebraska, re- lieved by Dispatcher Turner from Enderlin. Bro. Bunn Anderson, agent Bald Eagle, died from pneumonia. Friday, February 1st, after only a few days’ illness of which only a few knew. Bro. Bates represented us at the funeral in Canton, February 5th, and placed a nice floral emblem on the casket, purchased out of our fund raised for such purposes. We extend our sympathy to the bereaved widow. Brothers, there is now only about $7.00 left in our floral fund. If the way we raised it before Is not a good one, kindly suggest how it shall be done. Bro. I. E. Caron, Hermansville, Mich., has enlisted. No one sent me a line for the writeup. W. H. B.. Cert. 492. Chicago Div. — Northern Diet. — Bros. Hibbard, Clark and Fiet of Abbots- ford took the army examination. Bro. Clark passed ; Hibbard and Fiet back to work on first and third, respectively, with a girl on second. Bro. Anderson, at Stetsonville, also took the examination. Bro. Campbell to Bessemer agency, vice Bro. Cummings, resigned. Bro. Frederickson, second Medford, was off a few days recently to take his wffe to Marshfield Hospital for an operation, from which she is recovering nicely. Bros. Fred- erickson and McPherson are the only ones who sent me any items. I wish that some of you boys on the west end would send me the changes, etc. ''Buck/' Cert. 550. First and 8econd Districts — Bro. G. J. Martin, second Waukesha, Is temporarily in the superintendent's office, re- lieved by Sister V. Elmore, and Bro. H. A. Franson is on second Kolze pending the re- covery of Bro. O. Loek. I am pleased to report that Bro. C. L. Lars eon, Fremont, is improving rapidly. Bro. H. Musgrave is back from the War Department at "JD” Chicago freight house, nights. Sister M. Gudensch wager, second Wheel- ing, was off a few days to attend her sister’s wedding at Hamilton. Bro. N. J. Frost is back on first Fond Du Lac after serving on committee, Bro. W. R. Jahns relieving Bro. Peterson several nights. Bro. Joe Chamberlain, third Byron, re- signed. Bro. E. J. Will, second Shops Yard, is on vacation, relieved by Sister I. Balthazor. New members: J. T. Ryan, agent Custer; Isabelle Balthazor, Fond Du Lac; Louis F. Zelzer, Nelsons ; Ralph Silvernail, Plover ; H. A. Franson, second Kolze. Welcome to our fold. Through the efforts of our committee the new Express Company also agreed to pay the premium on bonds in the future. Both of these concessions are much appreciated. I am indebted to Bros. Frost, Ludlam and Ford this month for items. Thanks. Every- body drop me a line on a postal of any news for next month and we will have a good writeup. A. T. Meter, Cert. 488. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father to call to his reward from the battle- fields of France, nobly fighting for his country and humanity, our beloved brother, Lawrence C. Fisher; and Whereas, We can appreciate how feeble are our efforts to console the grief-stricken ; however, be it Resolved , That the members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, Division 119, ex- tend to the family of our late brother our heartfelt sympathy, in this their great be- reavement ; and be it further Resolved, That as we mourn the loss of our beloved brother, we find solace in the knowledge that the will of the Almighty is always being done; and be It further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family, a copy to The Railroad Telegrapher for publication, and a copy be spread upon the minutes of this division. A. T. Meter, P. D. Steevrs. N. J. Frost, Committee. Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railkoad Telegrapher. 403 Lehigh Valley R. R., Div. No. 24. Bethlehem General Office — You boys with the “Uttle hammers” "BM” who delight in "knocking,” if you must knock, practice on the few nons among us. Surely the rest don’t deserve it. We should all fdflow in the footsteps of Bros. "O" and "Z." They are "real live wires" and old Bro. "SF” is still there with the "pep." Brothers, don’t fall to attend the meet- ings, and don’t get "stage fright” over that recent occurrence. “ Faint heart never toon fair lady” Brace up and pay up. We’re soon going “over the top” Cbrt. 220. New Jersey and Lehigh Divisions — A new man named Minchin just landed on second. "AV," And out how he stands and do the necessary. New man Finin on second "PK." Bro. Kennel will get busy. Bro. Snyder is back from the sick-list, covering third at "KD,” Mr. Behan now being on that list. Bro. Ten Eyck relieved Dispatcher McNally one day recently. Bro. Hlndmarch is covering second "SP," vice Konen, resigned. Mr. Oswalt is posting there, and Bro. Dohm will get busy. Bro. Doyle has been having considerable trouble at home with frozen pipes in his heating system. Sorry to learn of Night Chief Bennett los- ing both his parents. "TY” has the sym- pathy of all the boys. Bro. Pfenning, who covered third in New Jersey while Dis- patcher Henry was acting as night chief, is back among the T-3’s and sundry other re- ports. Dispatcher Grooby was off several days recently with a bad cold, Bradford and Pfen- ning doubling. Bro. Fritch, assistant night chief, is back on his regular grind In "Q." Sorry to learn of Engineer John Snyder’s misfortune. Bro. Clingman is on days at "PA" and “Doc" Wolfe is still hammering brass in "Q." Glad to see Bros. Wenrich and Schroder among us recently, and wish them success. Bro. Yenser was off one day recently on account of sickness. The train dispatchers are up against a stiff proposition these days. Report your trains promptly. It’s a great help to them and a benefit to our cause. Boys, patience is a virtue, and virtue has its reward. Our reward is close at hand. Stand back of the one who will represent you. Give him your support and he’ll do his best. With apologies to a brother from Division 40, I quote him as follows : If all railroad men Were Just like "me," What would the wages Of operators "be"? "PL" C., R. I. & P. Ry., Div. No. 126. General Offices — Chicago— Bro. Harry McCann is now with the Postal at Tulsa, OUla. We all wish Mao success. Bros. Paul Odum and Pearson, from C. & E. I. and C., B. & Q., are here extra. It’s sure nice to see the boys coming in all lined up. Bros. Rollins and Harper from "RI," in Radio service located at the Great Lakes, also Bro. Oempke, latter on five days’ fur- lough, visited us recently in "GO." "Aye, tear her tattered ensign down." Bro. Joe Powers took his "Queen Ann" type- writer home. We can almost believe what Joe says about Mark’s speech at Caesar’s burial being prepared on this mill. The apparent ease and confidence with which the boys attacked the new mills is about the same one would expect to see dis- played by an Eskimo trying to charm a flock of Pythians. Sister Essley is now enjoying the climate and scenery In and around Los Angeles. Trenton — Bros. Stoval and Christenson were off several days with the measles. The former is batching while his wife is visiting at Little Rock. Bro. Lowe Is in the rabbit business now. Anyone wanting Flemish Giants can secure young stock from him. Business has been very heavy since the weather opened up, considerable overtime being worked. Every one In this office is figuring on gardening as much as possible this spring. Cedar Rapids — "CR" again reduced one telegrapher, leaving but four of us on the Job. Bros. L. F. Halpin and G. S. Rice are working two hours’ overtime, and a spe- cial call to take care of the "heavy file." Mgr. Gill also worked 13 hours’ overtime week days, but Mr. Hood removed it from the pay roll. Quite an interest is being manifested in the Sunday service by all the managers since we secured the overtime in our last schedule. To take this money and not have a card must certainly require lots of nerva The recent change in distribution of cars from Chicago to Des Moines has reduced our Chicago business. But our Des Moines business has increased considerable. Inspector Saylor was through here making check of business recently. Mills *Agner, an old-timer and former member, now telegrapher at Jefferson Bar- racks, is home on a furlough. Des Moines — Business is awful heavy. We are two men short and everyone is working all the overtime they want. Digitized by tjooole
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404 The Railroad Telegrapher. Brother John Wadsworth Davis recently visited Baxter, la. With the help of the Spearmint grum he is using we look for his speedy recovery. Brother Ralph Stokes, acting Sunday wire chief, has a big boll on the left side of his face. Brother Thomas J. Baxter had the honor of filling that position on a recent Sun- day and has to tell us all about it every day. Brother OverturfT relieved Night Chief Dispatcher Leffler while the latter was in the "pest house” with the smallpox. Brother Toung, off a week with the measles, now has a sore throat and may have smallpox next. We are waiting patiently for the ”Rock Island Special’s” typewriters, as we received Mr. Hood’s circular “How to keep your ma- chine in working condition,” etc., some time ago. El Reno — Bros. Snodgrass, Walden, Keeton and Peck have enlisted and the office is filled with new faces, most of whom, we are glad to say, are up-to-date and prospects good for the remainder to come in within the next thirty days. The enlisted men visited us re- cently, Sergeant Keeton being on furlough, and all looked as if “Uncle Sam” was feed- ing them well. Bro. Peacher is now senior operator, to the satisfaction of all concerned. Bro. Milam, who found it necessary to take his wife to Alabama for her health, has re- turned to his regular trick, 4 a. m. to 12 noon. We understand Mrs. Milam is greatly improved. Business Is good ; most everyone working overtime every day. We have an awful lime keeping Bro. Har- rison, “SA,” formerly of Rock Island, from answering everytime some one calls Little Rock. It’s hard for him to break away from that old familiar call “RK“ which he always answered so promptly. Bro. Kay was a recent visitor, and we were all glad to see “Bill's'* smiling face ; also had a call from Bro. Dunnara a few weeks ago. He look like there was a good fight in him yet Out of eighteen operators in El Reno, it was only represented by two members at meet- ings that others come over a hundred miles to attend. Let every member not actually on duty at the time of the next meeting be present. Bro. Milam Is now a full fledged instructor In driving Fords, and is very particular who he .instructs. Bro. Canfield, third wire chief, trying to find out the difference between a bean and a pea, will, do doubt, find the answer at Grier’s lunch room. J. C. Stickley, our second wire chief, an- nounces the arrival of a daughter, February 14th. Some Valentine! Bro. Barnard nows has a third trick dis- patcher’s Job at Ft. Worth. We miss “Barny." Bro. J. R. Sullivan, on seventeen North and South, is right there when it comes to work. It has been officially announced that Bro. J. L. Vint was married Monday, February 18th, but it has not yet been verified by the distribution of Havanas. Herlngton — Bro. Lytton goes to Goodland. . We all hate to see Ralph leave, as he’s a Jolly good fellow. The new mills arrived and are In active operation. The manager is especially pleased with them, but has not expressed his appre- ciation in the “only way” as yet. Typewrit- ers at the company’s expense is only one of the good things the Order has done for us. Lafferty, Lytton and Marshall are our new brothers here.. We all contributed and purchased a fine silk service flag in honor of the five brothers who have Joined the colors from this office, and have it hanging from the ceiling. It is a fine custom and should be emulated by other relay offices. Had a long letter from Brother Rollln. at Great Lakes training camp. Said the boys were all feeling fine and was especially en- thusiastic over the fine dinner served them by the wife of Brother Lee, while they were in Chicago recently on a short furlough. Every man in this office is paid up to June 30th, with the usual exception, and the ma- jority have remitted the voluntary contribu- tion to our General Secretary and Treasurer. No excuse for any delinquents at this time. A dispatch from Topeka states something like 3,000 Santa Fe employes in that city gave a parade recently and asserted their Intentions of organizing. Presume the teleg- raphers were conspicuous only by their ab- sence. Brother Hogewoning, now at the yard of- fice, has upholstered his chair and is en- joying life to the fullest extent. Have you noticed the Improvement in our official organ the last few months? It Is chuck full of interesting reading these days and should be carefully read by all who have the interest of their organisation at heart. For the information of those who were wondering if the telegraphers were be- ing represented before the Wage Commis- sion in Washington, the last issue shows con- clusively that our worthy president is al- ways on the Job. Pay your dues promptly when due, organize, assert your Independence when called upon and live up to the ethics of organized labor, and you may cease to worry about the future. R. D. Stover, Local Chairman. Digitized by tjoooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 405 Missouri Division — We were all very sorry to hear of the death of Bro. A. K. Windsor, agent Grayson, at his home February 2nd, of pneumonia. He was a fine old gentleman, and always up-to-date. His enthusiasm for the Order, which he loved so well, was an example for all of us younger members to follow. In his death the division has lost one of its strongest supporters, and the brothers a sincere friend. Glad to see Bro. Gregg reinstated to. his old position at Altamont, another agency made exclusive. Bro. Cox, who bid in James- port agency, recently bid back Mercer, suc- ceeded by B. Keeler, Bro. Jones going to first there, and Bro. Fred Morris to second Hickory Creek. Altamont first, Paris second, Spicards sec- ond and third, and Culver third on bid. Brothers, get after the none , and put into practice: “No card, no favors ” It is not right that you should pay for what is bene- fiting them, through the increases they re- ceive. | jj ^ Someone from the East and West end send me some notes so we can have a writeup in the journal each month. Watch the wires. Don’t let "DS” call you. Show that we not only appreciate the increase, but that we are capable of render- ing first-class service. Watch the boys In ”RN” also; they are covered up with work. Let us all help them by being prompt on the wire. It will relieve them of lots of worry. R. A. Dean, L. C. Dos Moines Valley Division — Bro. Meehan is back at Klota. G. O. Evans Is agent at Bentonport vice Miss L. E Storms, deceased. Bro. Taylor is on third Evans while re- covering from an attack of paralysis. Bro. Lewisson, on sick list, relieved by a man from the Iowa Division, and Bro. Cox is relieving Bro. Warren at Klrksville, also on sick list, Bro. Davis, operator Pella, called to his father's bedside in Illinois, was relieved by Agent Dykstra. Bro. Smith, agent Bona- parte, relieved by F. C. Walker. Bro. R. L. Plaisted. agent Oskaloosa, at- tended the Safety First meeting held in the Union Depot at Des Moines. Bro. Forche While on committee work se- cured the following new members: H. H. Fulton, Mt. Zion : W. D. Lacy, Falrmount ; G. O. Davis, Pella ; J. B. Cristy, Melcher; O. W. Sanford. Chariton, and L. M. Hanton and I. J. McNatton, Williamson. If you want a write-up send me some notes. F. E. B., CxRT. 2380. Minnesota Division — Bro. Albright, agent Traer, has resigned, succeeded by Bro. Geyer. Sister McRight, Shipley, on 10 days' vaca- tion. Station closed; no extra men. Bro. Tucker, acting local chairman, went over the division recently lining up the few nons left Get a list of them from him and give them no rest until they come in. It is now Bros. Contell, Ralnvllle and O. F. Young. As soon as a man lights on this division get the number of his card and division, and advise the local chairman of his stand- ing, so he can be transferred to Division 126 at the proper time. If he has no card give him no rest until he gets one; and remem- ber : “No card, no favors Our division seems to be about the only one on (he “RI” not represented in the journal. If you know any news call Bro. Bain at “N,*' and give it to him. Call me at “KN” after 4 p. m., and tell me what you know. Bro. Bain and I will try to have a write-up every month if you will help us. Cert. 2007. Amarillo Division — Bro. Kay attended our meeting at Amaril- lo February 10th. We had a good attend- ance, and the meeting was enjoyed by all of us. Bro. Kay gave us lots of good in- formation and instructions, and fully ex- plained all the articles and paragraphs in new schedule for anyone who did not fully understand and made a very interesting talk. We hope to see “Bill” with us again soon. Bro. McLean relieved Bro. Baucum on vacation. Bro. Davis, agent “YD,” was on the sick list several days, but unable to get anyone to relieve him. Brothers, our division Is in pretty good shape now, and most all the old members are up-to-date again. Ask your local chair- man for a list of the few nons and every member write them. It will only take a very few minutes to do so. Keep it up every month until they Join. It is your duty to be an organizer and to your interest that we make the division 100 per cent strong just as much as the local chairman's. Remember the four words you see written in Italics so much in our magazine, “No cards, no favors ” Just a few days back a “non” was heard on the wire asking for “favors” and several got by. but one good brother could not resist. Live up to the LAW; tie into 4hem. Cm. 2486. Louisiana Division — It was certainly gratifying the way the boys lined up during Bro. Foster's campaign. He was relieved by Bro. Morrison, relieved Digitized by v^oooLe
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• 406 The Railroad Telegrapher. by Sister Morrison at Fenter. Bro. Morrison also relieved Bro. Foster and Bro. Gray at Dubach a few days on the sick list. Keeps after the nons, brothers, for they are keeping after us with all their power, getting everything they can without paying for it. The last increase should be sufficient argument to induce anyone to Join, but there are still a very few who cannot see how they can afford a card, and we should now show them 4hat they need the support of the members by using “No card , no favor a” to the limit. We raised $22.00 to help Bro. Lightfoot, who has been a member for several years. It was his financial condition that caused him to become delinquent. We expect to be old some day, brothers, so let us "Do unto others as we would have them do unto us." This is my first attempt. Let me have your notes and I will try to represent the division again. Div. Cor., Cert. 1506. Nebraska Division — Bro. Beam, doing extra relay work, has returned to Lincoln. Bro. Daniel, third Belleville, was called to Oklahoma on account of the illness of his father. We trust he found him much im- proved. General Chairman Kay in Fairbury re- cently secured the reinstatement of Bro. Lee. Sorry he was unable to spend more time with us. Bro. Showers relieving in dispatcher’s of- fice recently, Bro. Robinson of Mahaska, re- lieving him in Belleville. The members of this division extend their sympathy to Bro. Dunnam, our G. S. and T., in the loss of his father recently. ' Bro. Ewing is back on third Hallam after a few days absence owing to the illness of his wife, who, we are able to report, is much improved. Brothers, show your appreciation of the benefits in the new schedule and the back pay you received by paying your dues and sending In your contribution at once. The division Is in the best shape now that it has been in for a long time, and a little effort on the part of all would soon make it solid. Let’s not leave It to just a few to do all the work of the organization. Cert. 761. C., B. & Q. R. R., Div. No. 130. Relay Division — Chicago, 111. — Bros. Laker and Pierson laid off account of reduction in force. Bro. Smith and Bro. Bill Reynolds, late night trick, were off a few days account of sickness. Bro. Truax is now on the owl trick. Bros. Denton and Rogers spent a -day here re- cently. Bro. M. E. Smith, of Sheridan, visited us while attending a meeting of the Burlington Relief Advisory Board. "GO" is still solid, and all paid up to De- cember 31, 1918. Omaha, Neb. — We have a real, live, O. R. T. office here; have been neglecting sending in notes for The Telegrapher, but are going to do better. It’s now Bros. Wells, Duffy, Hoenshall. and Zabriskie. The former bought an annual. Bro. Lawler also boasts of an annual. Although the printer girls get the least pay of any in the office, they are up-to-date. That ought to be a good object for some of the "conscientious objectors." Fenton is trying to get relief to visit Cheyenne. We might arrange It for him if he would buy a card. We are all well pleased with our beloved committee. "G." Alliance, Neb. — Since the new schedule went into effect, general satisfaction pre- vails. The following are the additions to our ranks of good loyal O. R. T. brothers : L. O. Louden her, from the sunny south; C. W. Veale, from Iowa ; W. H. Turner, who soon will be one of the most progressive citizens of our thriving western city, and A. J. Nelson, to all of whom we extend the right hand of fellowship. Our efforts will be put forth individually and collectively to make each day’s labor as easy as possible, always courteous, ready and willing to do a favor for the man with a card. Toohey, Brice, Tynan, King and myself, the old fighting force, are still in the harness. We have stuck to it through thick and thin. Messrs. Sleeth and Woosley, late arrivals, will soon be with us, if they remain any length of time. Bro. C. W. Veale has left us. We wish him well wherever he may land, and were glad of the little favor we were able to do him before his departure. Kindest greetings to all tho brothers ; keep us posted as to the location of the nons on the outside, so we can assist in bringing them to see the light. Cert. 160. Sterling, Colo. — For once in its history "SG" is "Solid O. R. T." with J. F. Wells, second, and E. G. Diltz, third "WC," F. A. Moeder and O. N. Fulton, operators. An extra man coming whom we will land on soon as he arrives. Now that we are solid we intend to remain that way. Galesburg Division — New members : O. C. Eakman, C. W. Par- nell, C. B. Parson. L. W. Wilkins, J. E. Ran- som, L. E. Smith, B. C. Bealer. Digitized by tjoooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 407 Bro. C. A. Smith was off several days, moving his mother from Charleston, 111., to his home in Peoria. Bro. Picton, second Farmington, off sick few days, relieved by Bro. McVay and Bro. Johnson, first Farming- ton, on account of a serious operation on his sister. Bro. Walker, second ”YD” Galesburg yard dispatching, relieved by Watson, a new man. Bro. G. V. Jones, assistant local chairman Quincy branch, has enlisted and will leave shortly for camp. We all hope for his speedy and safe return. Bro. Dewey Antrim, son of Bro. F. An- trim, Oak Hill, now a Sergeant in the Med- ical Corps of the United States Army at American Lake, Washington. Bro. Cecil Kimler is with the 123rd Heavy Field Ar- tillery at Camp Logan, Texas. Operator Watkins, in the Signal Corps, also located there. Visited home folks recently. No notes received this month, explain? the brevity of the write-up. L. C. Beardstown Division— Bros. Armbrough and Bird resigned at Sesser, 111. ; former gone to farming, latter to Keller Mines. Bro. Cooley will look after the two new men at Sesser. Bro. Chipman was off a few days at Vir- den on account of falling on the ice and injuring his right hand. Later he relieved Bro. A. D. Halste, agent there a few days, on sick list. Several brother agents have students to help them out. Remember, this is a viola- tion of all the rules. Some brother on the north end send in some notes, some one down the St. Louis side also, and let’s have a write-up each month. It’s hard to get the news the way this Beardstown Division is split up; only a small strip to work over. J. H. Mann, Asst. L. C. Beardstown Division, St. Louis Branch — I have been requested by Local Chairman Frazier to act in conjunction with Bro. J. H.‘ Mann, of the Jack Line, as correspondent. Brothers from East Alton to Rio, lend me a hand, and when any changes take place call me or drop me a line. Bro. Turley, third Concord, relieved by JBro. McConnell, from Block 107, on account of sickness. Agent Frederick is using a box car for an office now, on account of the depot burning down some time ago. Cert. 692, Piasa 111. Brookfield Division — t It's now Bros. Filley and Emerson, mak- ing Turney solid, also Bro. M. C. Smith, at Osburn, who with his wife recently spent 8unday at St. Joseph, with home folks. Bro. Withers, of Withers’ Mill, is on the sick list, also Bro. P. B. West, Palmyra June., the latter, relieved by Bro. Daume- wlth. Bro. Sherry, from Hunnewell, is re- covering slowly. Recently a brother bid for a position which was awarded a younger man, because the chief dispatcher had not received the for- mer’s application. When you bid for any vacancy be sure to send your local chair- man a copy of your bid, when you mail it to the chief dispatcher. I desire to thank all who so generously contributed to the ’‘very substantial amount of money,” presented to me through Bro. West, of Palmyra Junction, expressing your appreciation of my services as your local chairman. This position is not the most pleas- ant in the world, and it is hard to please everyone. Usually those you displease are not slow to tell you so, while those who are satisfied remain silent ; so when men show their appreciation as you have done, accom- panied by such a substantial remembrance, it places a local chairman in an “unaccus- tomed” position, and at a loss to know how best to express his appreciation ; so I will just say : I appreciate it probably more than you know, and feel that I am everlastingly indebted to the boys of the Brookfield Divi- sion, and shall make every possible effort to advance your interest as long as I am your chairman. Fraternally, A. F. Ritter, L. C. Hannibal Division — We are now about 96 per cent on this division. Let’s get in the few nons left and make it solid. Bro. G. L. Hubbard, agent at Orchard Farm for past eighteen years, took two weeks’ vacation recently, relieved by Miss Nolle Trihey. Sister D. T. Gray, of Orchard Farm, for a number of years was the only lady oper- ator on this division. Recently Miss Nelle Trihey, of Moscow, and Miss Scherry, of Old Monroe, came with us. Boys, do your duty. Bro. E. D. Laudell, of Reading, recently toek a can of lye from a shelf and turned it over into his eyes. Dispatcher Sargent had No. 12 take him to the doctor at Louisiana. Bro. and Sister Stroupe from “BY” Bur- lington, on vacation, visited’ Bro. Blincoe at Viele, la. Callib Mats, L. C. St. Joseph , Missouri , Division — Brothers, send me some notes before the 20th of the month, so we can be well repre- sented in The Telegrapher. Bro. F. C. Hogue, now agent for the D. & R. G., at Trinidad, Colo., visited home folks at Tarkio recently. We can now call the following brothers, and are glad to have them with us: F. L. Wales, Langdon, Mo. ; E. F. Pettit, Bartlett ; L Digitized by Google
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408 The Railroad Telegrapher. J. G. Cardwell, Murray Tower; E. J. Crowder, Halls; P. A. Watson, Rushville;, Ed Waight, Craig; M. M. Foley, Nodaway; E. M. .Watson, Iatan. Bro. C. E. Smith, Davis City, has resigned, and will go on his farm soon as relieved. We wish him success. Bro. W. E. Hale, formerly agent Phelps, is now with the D. & R. G., at Gunnison, Colo. L. P. Miller, Div. Cor. LaCroaae Division — Every agent on this division, covered by the schedule, now carries a caivi. Thanks to the hearty co-operation of all our members. Now, let us get all the operators lined up and be 100 per cent strong. The following are our new members : Pet- ting, Purdy; Woodington, Cochrane; Rupp, Fra Du Chien; Booth, Glen Havre; Rein- inger, Savanna Station; Slouvenal Savanna tower; Roser, Potosi ; Wilson, South Junc- tion; Spratt and Zuzo. Lytle; A. Wetterlln and Hastings, Victory; Tuttle, Losey; Slot- houer, Hager; Reed, Bay City; McCarty, Oakland ; Willard, Malden Rock ; and Faber, Fountain City. If any new members don’t see their names in this list, don’t get peeved, because this is a big bunch, and we may have overlooked some of you. Let us know if that is the case and we will men- tion you next time. Bro. W. B. Tart, first Pra Du Chien, on an extended leave owing to poor health, relieved by Bro. Rupp, who had been relieving Bro. Ruedy,. third Alma. We all hope for Bro. Tart’s speedy recovery. Bro. Foehringer, second Cassville, was off a few days recently, also Bro. Zepp, third East Winona, visiting in the Twin Cities, and Bro. Spratt, Lytle third, on his honeymoon. Bro. Granke, second Cochrane, made sev- eral trips to LaCrosse lately on account of his brother-in-law’s illness. Thanks to Bro. White for this write-up. Cert. 276. Ottumwa Diviaion — Bro. Roberts, Beckwith, was off nearly two weeks with measles. Bro. A. R. Little- ton, first Maxon, was also off several days on the same account, Bro. Miller working the levers. Bro. Sefrit, third Mt. Pleasant, has been off some time taking special treatment at Kansas City. We hope for his speedy re- covery and return. « Brothers, get after the remaining nons, and let’s get the 100 per cent by April 1st Remember the motto: “No card, no favora.” P. E. Haist, Asst. L. C. Creaton Division — Bro. W. F. Dyke, third Malvern, who re- lieved Milligan and Agent Prescott a few days, later relieved Bro. J. P. Renfrow two weeks, account sickness. Sister Elva Milligan, on week’s vacation, visited at her old home at Salem, 111. Bro. L. L. Turnbull's mother, who under- went an operation at Shenandoah Hospital recently, is doing nicely. We hope for her early recovery. Bro. W. J.. Phelan, agent Lenox, and J.^A. Phelan, agent Bolckow, attended the double wedding of two of their sisters at Conway. Iowa, recently. Bro. R. F. Bickett, operator Greenfield, who relieved Bro. Hopkins, agent a few days, while he was attending court, later relieved Agent Reynolds, Bridgewater, a new man, a few days during the illness and death of his sister. Mr. Reynolds is an old Burlington man, remembered by many of the old-timers on the division who are glad to see him back at the key again after being out of the business for some time. It is going to be hard to get vacations this spring, owing to the scarcity of operators. Thanks to Bros. R. L. Hale and R. F. Bickett for items this month. O. C. Wallace, Asst L. C. Lincoln Diviaion — Bro. G. T. Kirchner, agent Grafton, was relieved a few days by Bro. Silver, from Sut- ton, on account of the death of his wife in Lincoln Hospital. Bro. E. A. Bourne, agent Sutton, performed the operating and agent’s duties, both pending Bro. Silver's return. Bro. F. J. Lyons, agent Comstock, has re- signed, owing to poor health and gone to Omaha. We nope he will soon regain his health by following some other vocation. Brothers, please let me know of any seri- ous illness or death of a brother or some one of his Immediate family, so they cun be re- membered by us. When figuring your Sunday pro rata time cut out the fractions, counting half cent or less nothing, and over half a cent, a cent. Following brothers added to the member- ship roll : J. C. Bruce, Kenesaw, landed by Bro. C. A. Smith, of Juniata ; V. H. Breeden, Ericson, landed by Bro. Vant, at Wolb&ch; John Schmer, Harvard, landed by Bro. Wing; J. E. Gavin, Burwell, landed by "KN” at “NI” office; G. D. Hershner, "KY" Lincoln, landed by Bro. Burkhalter. at "KY" Lincoln ; E. C. Haupt, York, J. C., and House Farwell, and W. C. O’Leary, Tamora, landed by yours truly. That looks good, wish could get some more of the boys interested enough to land a member before April Fool’s Day. A few shortages In the boys’ back pay, caused by overlooking paying some an hour per day, will be straightened out as soon as the payrolls are returned to Mr. Bignells’ of- fice. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 409 Brothers, continue rendering first class service to your employers ; remember the trick dispatchers are the primary cog in the operating department, and give them good service, if there are any non-members near you get them to line up with us. All your grievances must first be taken up with Df. Denton or Mr. Bignell before being turned over to me. If taken up right and given a little time very few will have to be referred to me, as we are all anxious for co- operation and harmony. I triist you will all continue to assist me In the future as in the past in all this compli- cated work. P. H. Miller, L. C. Lincoln Division Notes — During January a flower fund was created on this division with a very liberal response from the membership. Those who have not sent In their contribution can mail them to Local Chairman Miller, and they will be credited to you and turned over to me.. A list of the contributors can be had if de- sired. The amount so far received is 130.05, out of this there was expended for flowers and express on same for Mrs. Kirchner Graf- ton, $10.30; leaving cash on hand in the fund or $19.76. J. E. Elinor, Treas. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, in his In- finite Wisdom and love, has seen fit to call to her eternal home where sorrow and part- ing are unknown, the beloved wife of Bro. G. T. Kirchner, and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to his will, knowing that he doeth all things for the best; therefore be it Resolved , That the members of Lincoln Division No. 130, O. R. T., extend to the sorrowing brother their sincere sympathy in this sad hour of his bereavement; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved brother, a copy filed with the division records, and a copy for- warded to The Telegrapher 'for publication. P. H. Miller, B. W. Lannon, G. H. Vant, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. I desire to thank the brothers of the Lin- coln Division for the beautiful floral offering tendered me, owing to tpe death of my wife and our mother, January 29, 1918. This kindness will never be forgotten. Yours sincerely, G. T. Kirchner and Bots, Stanley and Eugene. Members Omaha Division — On a trip over the "Soo" and “O’Neill" lines, part of the division I have been unable to visit before, I landed four new members and lined another up for this month, which makes that part of the division solid except Brunswick and South Soo City. I was unable to spend as much time on this trip as I would have liked to, but hope to get over It again this summer. Everybody was in good spirits over the new schedule. Dues are coming in promptly, quite a number taking out annual cards. Any who have not already paid up please do so right away, as we don’t want any delinquents on this divi- sion. Let’s keep after the few nons and give them no rest till they line up. They have no excuse to stay out now ; therefore, go after them good and hard. C. W. West, L. C. Omaha Division Notes — New members — H. S. Jackman, Louisville; S. L. Wachal, Greenwood ; Edw. Meyer, Bellevue ; E. W. Stein bock, Page ; G. W. Hays, Waterbury; L. O. Ticnor, Oakland; G. V. Keefauver, Uehling; R. Shaughnessy, Waverly, and M. J. McManus, Gibson. Bro. E. E. Baum, former agent at Prague, is home from the Naval training station on thirty days’ furlough. He reports fine treat- ment and says he is not the only one out there carrying an up-to-date card. Bro. J. G. Marsh has been appointed as- sistant local chairman of the O’Neill line. Any news items on that line mailed him or Bro. Gilbert at Wann, will be taken care of. The depot at Jackson has a new coat of paint inside. Two trains of empty grain cars on the O’Neill line helped some to move some of the soft corn, but there are still about one thou- sand cars yet to go. Let’s try and get in a nice bunch of items next month. H. L. Gilbert, Wann. Neb. Sterling Division — Helpers have been taken off recently at some of the stations and forces been reduced in other ways. Do all you can, boys, in your assigned hours. You are not supposed to come back after supper and on Sundays, and do a lot of work you get no pay for. We had a hard struggle to get the hours we now have. If you are not furnished necessary help, take it up with the proper officials and have the matter remedied. The back pay has arrived and several of the nons have shown their appreciation by sending me their applications. It is now Bro. Moorehead at Padroni, and we will have several more next month. If you do not know where they are located advise me and either Assistant Local Chairman Bro. Wright, Digitized by v^iOOQle
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410 The Railroad Telegrapher. at Mitchell, Neb., or myself will give you their names and addresses. Bro. Baker, our extra agent, sprang a sur- prise on us recently by going on vacation and returning with a better half. Brothers, send me some items and help me out with the write-up. Keep after the nons. Remember our motto: “No card, no favors” and live up to it to the letter . F. A. Sense, L. C. McCook Divieion — Bro. LeBaron is relieving Bro. Beezely at Wilsonville, ori sick list Bro. Landau, agent Derby, is on extended leave, on account of his wife’s health. Individual effort is what counts, as the fol- lowing list of new members show : Jas. O. Knight, C. W. Walser, S. W. Mundy, Rog- gen; M. L. Fentress, Edison; U. D. Koelmel, Bartley, and T. L. Jones, Minden. Keep it right up, boys. C. R. Hunt, L. C. San Antonio &. Aransas Pass. R. R. Div. No. 141. Members Div. Hi: Your committee, composed of Messrs. Hep- pier, Little and myself met the management and agreed upon a wage scale, and agree, effective January 1st 1918, which has been submitted to the Director General, for his approval. Some of us may not have received the increase we expected, but in comparison with our connecting lines, we believe you will find all of our positions in line with any of them. We will submit you a full copy of the wage scale and rules as soon as It has been approved. Seven positions were not increased and one decreased, in the new wage scale, which came about by trying as near as possible to equalize all salaries from the total in- crease granted us. Article 3, the most important change in rules which becomes effective February 15th, without the approval of the Director Gen- eral, as amended, reads fen and nine hours Instead of “eleven and ten,” i. e., ten hours on the line and nine hours in the office. A. H. Barnett, General Chairman, Gregory, Texas. The nine-hour working day noted in Gen- eral Chairman Barnett’s letter preceding this became effective February 15th. The wage scale agreed upon brings all con- tract Jobs nearer even, according to work and responsibility, than any schedule we have ever had on this division, and cost us only about one-fifth as much as the last contract. We have a different bunch of officials to work with now; that explains things well enough. Some of us, as Bro. Barnett explains, will not get the increase we expected. One non is kicking about the new hours. His job was increased five dollars a month, in our 1915 contract and he will come in for that much increase in the new schedule. He has never paid one cent toward getting anything and while running a train in Mexico never joined the O. R. C. The way to handle such fellows is to remember our motto: “No card, no favors” and incidentally stir up a little more enthusiasm among ourselves. Our former Grand Secretary and Treas- urer, Bro. J. C. Cherry, Cert. 8, in this division, now with the U. 8. Radio Service, writes from the Government Radio Station, New Brunswick, N. J., how disappointed he has bee* ;iot to note a single item from our division, and asks why some of you boys at “KY” don’t send in the news. He congratulates the division In having Bro. Little succeed him as secretary-treasurer and hopes you will give him all the assist- ance you possibly can. Without this it will be a hard thing for him to keep track of the new men and you could show your appre- ciation, and he believes you should show your appreciation, to him for working “gratis” for you by dropping him a line occasionally. Referring to the change since the govern- ment has taken over the transportation sys- tems, he says: ”1 know the members on our division can be relied upon to give the best service possible. Your individual effort might seem little, but taken as a whole It Is very essential that everything possible be done to render as much service to “Uncle Sam” as though you were in the trenches. “Since entering the service have met Brumfield, former local chairman Division 53 a Corsicana; Hoefer, from “HQ,” Hous- ton ; Blaydes. from the “T&P” at Dallas, and numerous others. A large percentage of Morse men have entered the radio service, and they make good men; it doesn’t take them long to pick up the continental code. “After enlisting at Houston on June 8th I was sent to Brooklyn Navy Yard where I attended the electrical school until the lat- ter part of July when the school was trans- ferred to Harvard University at Cambridge, Mass., some five hundred of us going there, where there were already about three hun- dred in training. This university turned all Its buildings that were needed over to the Government. The quarters there could not have been better and we were granted the same privileges as the regular Harvard stu- dents. Finished there November 23rd and the school had grown from some two hun- dred to nearly three thousand in less than four month*. Digitized by CaOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 411 "Upon finishing there was assigned to the receiving station at Belmar, N. J., it being one of the transoceanic stations. Remained there until December 13th, then transferred here to this sister station of the one at Belmar, the transmitting station for it. “I cannot go into details regarding the work here and at Belmar. The boys at these stations on this side are "on the job” and were mostly "Morse" men. "Would have preferred going to sea, es- pecially to a transport, but there is no choice in the military service. It is quite a con- trast to civilian life, but I like It fine. While the boys at sea can't have all the comforts of home they are well’ taken care of wherever they are. This was formerly a Marconi station and we have its quar- ters, a nice big hotel and a small cottage. The food is fine Snd is an improvement on lots of the beaneries we telegraphers have been up against. "The winter here is quite different from what I was used to, but I like it much better than those spent in Texas. Have had snow on the ground since the middle of December and the temperature around zero most of the time. "We are just about an hour’s ride from New York and when on "liberty," usually from Saturday noon until Monday morning, can go in to see the sights. Unless you have a “ watch " to stand then you get plenty of time off. Go to work at 8 a. m. and off at 4:30 p. m. with ah hour and half off for lunch. "Trusting that we may have a write-up in the next Journal and that it won’t be long before I am back among you, I am, fra- ternally, " ’Cherrt,’ Cert. 107. Ann Arbor R.' R., Div. No. 164. •Dispatcher "Bill" Kllnk visited us recently. The. dispatchers doubled several days while Bro. McDannell’s wife was sick. Glad to see him back and hear that the Mrs. is better. Boys, keep after the few none left ; give them no rest until they join, and you brothers on the north end drop the secretary a few notes in time each month so he can put them together and get them to St. Louis before the 25th. Send in your dues promptly and keep up-to-date. Cert. 2. Gulf Coast Lloes, Div. No. 166. Port Barre has been made a third trick telegraph office; Brother B. F. Melton ap- pointed joint agent there and furnished with three operators. Hardin, Texas, has been made night office pn account of the rush of troop trains, and operator's hours at Grayburg changed from 9 p. m. to 7 a. m. Bro. V. B. Dorrell is on ninety days’ leave and Reaves, La., agency bulletined pending his return. Our schedule expires on May 1st. The committee working on new one met in Hous- ton, March 1st, to consider the demands that will be made on the company officials. Boys, let’s pay our dues up to date and special assessment so our committeemen will have finances to conclude the negotiations. Cert. 127. Gulf Coast Line Notes — Since Mr. McAdoo has assumed control of the railroads we should see if we cannot get the position of "Rural Mail Carrier" taken off our hands so the station agent won’t have a big bunch of coon skins, vegetables, parcel post and other mail to lug across the muddy street to the country post office, while the dispatcher is calling to send a "9" or the wire chief wants us for a test. The post- master seldom has the empty sacks ready to be taken back and keeps a man another ten minutes waiting for them, while extra troop trains east wait for orders. If we attend to our wire work and miss the mail, then we are out a dollar, and delaying the troop train is still far more serious; so it keeps a fellow debating what to do, especially when all this comes right at the same time. Cert. 92. Chicago & Alton R. R., Div. No. 168. . Western Division — When a new man comes to your station find out if ho is up-to-date, and if not have him get a card as soon as possible. Keysor, at Harmony, a single man,, says he can’t get enough money to get a card. “No card, no favors ” to all of this class. Only a few "nons" left on the division. Keep after them and give them no rest until the C. & A. is solid. Brother McClintock, third Glasgow, await- ing the call to the colors. He always car- ries a card even when out of the busi- ness. Brother V. L. Craig, Camp Gordon, At- lanta, Ga., likes the service and sends his regards to the brothers. Brother Grimsley’s brother at Ft. Riley, Kan., medical corps, expects to be shipped over the seas any time now. Brother Riley has a fine baby girl at his house. Send me a few items. Div. Cor., Cert I. Digitized by v^ooole
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412 ■$— The Railroad Telegrapher. CARD OF THANKS. I desire to express through The Teleg- rapher my appreciation and thanks to the boys of Division 168 for their kind words of sympathy during the illness of my wife and for the beautiful floral olTering. S. S. Taylor. Northern and Southern Division — Bro. C. R. Lewis, Alton freight house days, has enlisted. Bro. Cooper writes from Camp Dodge that he is feeling fine, likes army life and expects to soon “go across.'* Divi- sion 168 is well represented in the service. God be with them till we meet again. Bro. W. L. Baker, Joliet freight house days, on 30 days’ vacation, is visiting friends at Springfield. Bro. Ebbler, levermaa Brighton, Is now with one of the neighboring mines. Bro. Phillips, ticket agent Lincoln, on 90 days’ leave to collect taxes, will visit rela- tives in Missouri for several weeks. Bro. Harry Baker, Lemont days, on one year’s leave, is with the C. P. R. in British Columbia. Brothers, remit your dues promptly to Bro. Riley and M. B. D. assessments to Bro. C. B. Rawlins, saving them the trouble of asking you for them. Give the few remaining nons no rest till they join. We have a larger membership than ever before, but we must not be satis- fied until the division is solid. We are glad that we can call the following brothers and sisters: Brady, Capps, Steeger, Sloan, An- drews, Clark, Phares, all since our new schedule. Bro. Hoge, spending the winter in the South for the benefit of his health, remits from Houston, Texas, says send his card to Minier. Expect him back there soon. We regret to learn of the sudden death of Bro. E. P. Adney, of Auburn, on Feb. 24th. He had been failing the past six months with a nervous breakdown, resulting in heart trouble. His friends were num- bered by his acquaintances, having worked on this road a number of years. He leaves & wife and two small children to mourn his loss. Bro. Adney, an enthusiastic member, al- ways carrying an up-to-date card, was & charter member of this division, his name being on the charter which hangs in Bro. Riley’e office. His certificate No. 29 showed he was one of the first to take out a card. He also carried a policy in the M. B. D. “Fat,” Cert. 291. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father and all wise Ruler of the Universe to call from his earthly home to the great beyond our esteemed and worthy brother, EL P. Adney; and Whereas, We feel deeply grieved at the loss of our dear friend and brother; we must needs bow in humble submission to the will of Him who- knoweth and doeth * all thinks well, though we, being mortals, are unable at all times to comprehend His divine purpose, but know that He will comfort and sustain us at all times: therefore be it Resolved, That the Chicago and Alton Sys- tem, Division No. 168, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing wife, children and relatives our deepest love and fraternal sympathy ; and be it further Resolved , That, in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, a copy of these resolutions be mailed the bereaved family and a copy sent The Teleoiiapher for pub- lication. J. C. Locker, B. E.' Gulshbn, A. D. Brooks, Committee. Wabash R. R., Div. No. 170. Springfield Division — Our general committee is before the man- agement working earnestly to reach an early settlement for a 25 per cent increase. 26-day month, 8-hour day for all, 75 cents for call and 45 cents an hour overtime. Keep the machinery well oiled so our committee will have no complaint. Back It to the fullest extent. Remit for your dues if you haven’t done so yet. Car Distributor Hatfield In Decatur hos- pital two weeks with a bad cold, filled in “JN“ by the scribe “SM” on car desk. Bro. J. J. Hatfield relieved me when called in for physical examination preparing for the army. Bro. P. R. Metz, attending court In the city, Bates closed for the day. Everyone busy, not much chance for leave of absence; operators are a scarce article. We welcome Bro. L. C. Davis Into the fold. A. E. ZOLD. Moberly Division — Bro. Husted to West Grove agency, vice Bro. Southern to Jacksonville agency. Sister “JS“ Sadler, third High Hill, was off owing to sickness several days, also Bro. Seymour, Montgomery first. Bro. Fraser, agent Glenwood, on sick list, was relieved by Bro. Scott Bro. Pitts, third Ferguson, has resumed after four weeks' illness, also Bro. Myers, second Forlstell. Bro. Brossart relieved on committee work by Bro. Orwlg. Bro. Oney, second Mexico, has enlisted in the signal corps and leaves shortly for Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to go into train- ing, later to somewhere in France. • Ben;. Onbt. Digitized by taOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 413 Decatur Division, 9th and 13th Districts — Bro. Bossom worth and Sister O’Neil doubling at Karnes, on account of the short- age of operators. Bro. Hyde, first there, in the draft call. Bro. Merto, second Karnes, relieving Bro. Stallman, agent Staunton, on sick list. Bro. Case and Eldridge doubling at Litch- field a few days, Bro. Humpreys being on sick list. Bro. Fohrell, third Edwardsville, is await- ing the next draft call. Sixth and Seventh Districts Notes — Ashbum, Chicago Ridge, Orland and Wing doubled recently, owing to shortage of op- erators. Bros. Gordon, third Ashbum, and Lam- bert, third Chicago Ridge, on sick list a few days recently. Cert. 740. Peru Division — Bro. Chas. E. Ramsey, third Hugo, is in Peru hospital, having been operated on for an abscess in his right side. Div. Cor. T. A O. C. and Z. A W. Rys., Div. No. 1. ARE YOU REMEMBERING THE KATY? Bro. dox, Toledo, O., again took his wife to the hospital. Glad to learn she is slowly Improving, and sincerely hope for her recovery. Bro. J. D. Henry Is now probably “some- where in France" carrying an up-to-date card with him. A nurse at Camp Sherman writes Bro. Vroman Is pretty sick. He also is up to date. Bro. McDermitt and Bro. Galbraith were on the sick list recently. Mrs. McLean, extra, is supporting a sick husband and two small children. We hope for his speedy recovery with better and brighter days In view. Bro. J. W. Gilson, Dunbridge. recently slipped away to Monroe, Mich., and was married. Congratulations. Moline closed indefinitely, and yours truly and Bro. Sanford doubling; no extra men. Bro. Doherty, after braving the storm of Jan. 12th, came near having pneumonia; relieved by Bro. Gard. New members; Mrs. H. F. Krouse, A. F. Lane, G. E. Davis. S. E. Gard and C. H. Tober. making us almost solid. Bro. H. E. Krouse, 24 years of age, third Stony Ridge, taken , seriously ill Xmas day, passed away on the morning of Feb. 2nd from diabetes. 1 called on him during January and he seemed to be much improved, but suddenly took a turn for the worse. He leaves a wife and daughter besides a host of friends to mourn his loss. Sister Mrs. Krouse, learned under her husband, working there, has ex* pressed her desire to remain there. She has voluntarily offered herself for membership and I hope the brothers will not bid on the vacancy. Our negotiations are being handled by the organization in the best possible way. Don’t allow yourselves to go delinquent. Div. Cor. IN MEMORIAM Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and goodness has deemed it best to take to His heavenly home our es- teemed and worthy brother H. E. Krouse, in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved , The members of the T. & O. C. and Z. & W, Railways System, Division 173, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to their Sister Krouse and relatives our heartfelt sympathy, in their sad bereavement; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved wife and sister, a copy spread on the minutes of the system records, and a copy sent The Telegrapher for publication. W. T. Cox, Paul Galbraith, W. A. Frost. Nashville, Chattanooga A St Louis Ry. It has been now something like six long years since the N. C. & St. L. Ry. has had a write-up In these columns. The leaven, working silently all these years, has come to life, has come like the roar of the lion. It will be of interest to the old timers who have long since left this line to know that we are again 96 per cent strong and hope to soon make it solid. Our committee is at wrork, made up of some of the best men that ever put fingers on the telegraph key, and it behooves every man to stand behind them. Offer in a nice polite way any suggestions that might help them in their work. Write and tell them tlmt you are behind them, and Intend to stick to them. They will appreciate It. I appreciate the good news In the journal. / The rest of you boys get busy and let’s make our write-up worth while. I am will- ing to do all L can later. This is written to get the ball rolling. Every man with a card look around him, and if you see a “non” hand him an appli- cation, and don't let up until you have collected the fee and have the blank signed. Let every man read that article over again in the February issue, which gives President Perham’s testiihony before the Wage Board, and use it for an argument with those fellows who have to be cited. It is conclusive, and can’t be beaten. “Ansy.” Digitized by v^oooLe
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414 The Railroad Telegrapher. Index to Division Directory Name of Division. No. Addison, N. Y 108 Annapolis Royal, N. S 114 Ann Arbor Ry 164 Atchison, Topeka A Santa Fe Ry 128 Atlanta, Birmingham A Atlantic Ry. .. 146 Atlantic Coast Line R. R. 16 Baltimore A Ohio Ry 88 Baltimore & Ohio — Chicago Terminal . . 88 Bangor & Aroostook Ry 88 Bessemer & Lake Erie Ry 61 Boston & Maine R.R. 41 Boston, Mass 89 Boston, Mass 166 Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburg Ry 92 Canadian Government Rys 11 Canadian Northern Ry 48 Canadian Pacific Ry 7 Carolina, Cllnchfleld A Ohio Ry 176 Central of Georgia Ry 46 Central Vermont Ry 171 Chesapeake A Ohio Ry 40 Chicago A Alton Ry 168 Chicago A Eastern Illinois Ry 84 • Chicago A Northwestern Ry 76 Chicago, Burlington A Quincy Ry 130 Chicago Great Western Ry. 96 Chicago, 111 91 Chicago, Indianapolis A Louisville Ry. .. 9 Chicago, Milwaukee A St. Paul Ry 28 Chicago, Rock Island A Pacific Ry 126 Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul A Omaha Ry 4 Chicago, Terre Haute A Southern Ry. . . 180 Cincinnati, Indianapolis A Western Ry. 21 Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago A St. Louis Ry 3 Cobalt, Ont 99 Colorado Midland Ry 81 Danville A Western Ry 69 Delaware A Hudson Ry 12 Denver A Rio Grande Ry 49 Denver, Colo 77 Detroit, Toledo A Iron ton Ry 48 Duluth, South Shore A Atlantic Ry 116 El Paso A Southwestern Ry 137 Erie Ry 42 Florida East Coast Ry 160 Fort Worth A Denver City Ry 146 Georgia Ry 60 Georgia A Florida Ry 167 Georgia Southern A Florida Ry 66 Glace Bay, N. S 183 Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry 86 Grand Trunk Ry 1 Grand Trunk Pacific Ry l’ Great Northern Ry 70 Green Bay A Western Ry 142 Gulf Coast Lines 1*8 Gulf, Mobile A Northern Ry 80 Hamilton, Ont 166 Hocking Valiev Ry 40 Illinois Central Ry 93 International A Great Northern Ry. ... 26 Kanawha A Michigan Ry 118 Kansas City Southern Ry 5 Kansas City, Mexico A Orient Ry 168 Kentucky A Indiana Terminal R. R. ... 181 Lake Erie A Western Ry 120 Lehigh Valley Ry 124 Maine Central Ry 140 Michigan Central Ry 16 Name of Division. No. Minneapolis A St. Louis Ry 71 Minneapolis, St. Paul A Sault Ste Marie Ry 119 Missouri A North Arkansas R. R. 182 Missouri, Kansas A Texas Ry 22 Missouri, Oklahoma A Gulf Ry 174 Missouri Pacific Ry 81 Mobile A Ohio Ry 24 New Haven, Conn 29 New Orleans Great Northern R. R. ... 179 New Rochelle, N. Y 87 New York Central Ry 8 New York Central Ry. West 19 New York, Chicago A St Louis Ry 18 New York, N. Y 44 New York, Ontario A Western Ry 20 Norfolk Southern Ry 147 Norfolk A Western Ry 14 Northern Alabama Ry. .*. 69 Northern Pacific Ry 54 Northwestern Pacific Ry 166 Oregon Short Line 172 Oregon- Washington Ry. A Navigation Co 161 Panama Ry 168 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines east of Pitts- burg and Erie) 17 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines west of Pitts- burg) 86 Pere Marquette Ry 89 Philadelphia A Reading Ry 10 Pittsburg, Pa. 62 Providence, R. L 86 Quebec, Que 115 Queen A Crescent Route (North) 62 Queen A Crescent Route (South) 69 Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Ry 126 Rutland Ry 167 St. Louis, Iron Mountain A Southern Ry. 81 St Louis, Mo 2 St. Louis-San Francisco Ry 82 St. Louis, San Francisco A Texas Ry. . . 177 San Antonio A Aransas Pass Ry. 141 San Pedro, Los Angeles A Salt Lake Ry Ill Seaboard Air Line Ry 28 Southern Ry 69 Southern Ry. in Mississippi 24 Southern Pacific Ry 68 Springfield, Mass 88 Temiskaming A Northern Ontario Ry. . . 99 Tennessee Central Railroad 178 Texas A Pacific Ry 88 Toledo A Ohio Central Ry 178 Tring Junction, Que 181 Trinity A Brazos Valley Ry 144 Ulster & Delaware Ry 118 Union Pacific Ry 6 Virginia, Minn. 127 Virginian Ry IS Wabash Ry Wabash, Pittsburg Terminal Ry. Washington, D. C Western Maryland Ry Western Pacific Ry West Side Belt Ry Wheeling A Lake Erie Ry Yazoo A Mississippi Valley Ry. . Zanesville A Western Ry 170 36 60 82 158 65 65 93 178 Digitized by taooole
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CRAND DIVISION Mutual Benefit Department Assessment No. 141 is due February 1, 1918 Time for payment expires March 31, 1918 AMOUNT OP ASSESSMENTS. On $ 300.00 (Series A) $2.40 per year On 500.00 (Series B) 3.60 per year On 1,000.00 (Series C) 7.20 per year BENEFITS PAID DURING FEBRUARY, 1918. Claim No. Name. 2242.. Daniel E. Murphy, 2243. .Robert D. Bremner 2244. .Merritt M. Smith. , 2245.. Wm. A. Replogle. . Cause. Div. No. Series. Amt. Accident 38. .21695. .B. .$ 500.00 Killed in battle in France 43. .46210. .C. . 1,000.00 Drowning 1.. 30306.. B. 500.00 Acute nephritis Grand. .26040. .C. . 1,000.00 2247. .Cary A. Flaherty Chronic myocarditis 23.. 8130.. A.. 300.00 2248. .James H. Dooley Pneumonia 8.. 7896.. C. . 1,000.00 2249.. Peter Schmidt Paralysis 111.. 9201.. C.. 1.000.00 2250. .Sam J. Colman Valvular disease of heart 126. .40376. .A. . 300.00 2252. .Fenwick D. Ruth Paralysis 31. .15155. .C. ."1,000.00 2254 .. Robert E. Sullivan Tuberculosis 62. .40713. .C. . 1,000.00 2255.. Hiram C. Walters Struck by train 51.. 1968.. A.. 300.00 2256.. Wm. H. Sellers .Acute dilation ot heart 39. .44547. .C. . 1,000.00 2257.. Harry P. Bilson Dremia 33.. 6638.. C.. 1,000.00 2258. .James C. Dill Pneumonia 32. .33986. .C. . 1,000.00 2259. .George H. Niebel Endocarditis *. 7. .14152. . A. . 300.00 2260.. Chas. A. Kimmel Myocarditis 33. .39787. .A. . 300.00 2262. .Joseph K. West Pneumonia 93. .24629. .B. . 500.00 2263. .H. C. Karsten Appendicular abscess 53. .47420. .A. . 300.00 Total $12,300.00 FINANCIAL STATEMENT— MORTUARY FUND. Receipts. Received on Assessments to January 31, 1918 $2,034,647.97 Received on Assessments February, 1918 39,631.54 Total $2,074,279.51 Disbursements. Death Claims paid to January 31, 1918 $1,383,477.47 Death Claims paid February, 1918 12..300.00 Assessments refunded account rejected applications 2,275.22 Assessments transfered to dues 320.03 Cash on hand credit Mortuary Fund, February 28, 1918 675,906.79 Total $2,074,279.51 C. B. RAWLINS, Grand Secretary and Treasurer. Digitized by v^oooLe
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416 The Railroad Telegrapher. Official Directory General Offices, St. Louis, Mo. GRAND OFFICERS. H. B. PERHAM President C. B. RAWLINS St Louis, Mo. W. T. BROWN First Vice-President 6039 Rhodes ave.f Chicago, 111. G. D. ROBERTSON Third Vice-President R. R. 3, Welland, Ont., Can. Grand Secretary and Treasurer St Louis, Mo. T. M. PIERSON ..Second Vice-President Central Square, N. Y. J. J. DERMODY Fourth Vice-President 970 KIrbert Ave., Price Hill. Cincinnati. O. E. J. MANION Fifth Vice-President Room 814, Star Bldg., St Louis, Mo. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. J. F. Miller, Chairman, 2916 Huntingdon ave., Baltimore, Md. B. E. Nason, Secretary, North Branch, Minn. Geo. O. Forbes, Sydney, N. S. G. E. Soyster, Room 309, Drexel Bank Bldg., 763 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, HI. H. G. Alexander, 122 Tate st, Greensboro, N. C. ADVERTISING. All correspondence pertaining to advertising should be addressed to The W. N. Gates Co., Managers Advertising, Garfield Building, Cleveland, Ohio. Division Directory GRAND DIVISION — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or territory. H. B. Perham, President, St Louis, Mo. ; C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secre- tary and Treasurer, St Louis, Mo. No. 1 — Division covers the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Rys. Meets sub- ject to call of Chairman. L. M. Eddy, Gen’l Chairman Grand Trunk Ry., Marcel- lus, Mich. ; M. R. Brewer, Gen’l Chairman Grand Trunk Pacific Ry., Atwater, Sask. ; D. L. Shaw, Gen’l S. A T., 867 Waterloo st., London, Ont No. 2, ST. LOUIS, MO.— Meets 3d Monday of each month at 8 p. m., Small hall south side, third floor. Masonic Temple (Odeon bldg.). Grand and Finney aves, St. Louis, Mo. ; L. W. Quick, Chief Telegrapher, 8th floor Star Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. ; R. J. McElhlnney, S. A T., 4110a Arsenal st, St Louis, Mo. No. 3 — Division covers C., C., C. A St Louis Railway System. I. E. Schlosser, Gen’l Chairman, 1019 South Third st., Pekin, 111. ; Geo. Lavengood, Gen’l S. A T., 404 Monroe st, Alexandria, Ind. System meeting held at Spencer Hotel, Indianap- olis, Ind., subject to call of the Gen'l Chairman. No., 4 — Division covers the C., St P., M. A O. Ry. W. J. Liddane, Gen’l Chairman, 1687 Berkley ave., St. Paul, Minn. ; D. O. Tenney, Gen’l S. A T. 828 Fulton aft., Mankato, Minn. No. 6 — Division covers the Kansas City Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. C. Ocheltree, Gen’l Chairman, Siloam Springs, Ark. ; J. D. Townsend, Sr., Gen’l 8. A T., Iieave- ner, Okla. No. 6 — Division covers the Union Pacific Railroad. Meets subject to call of GenT Chairman. E. L. Stump, Gen’l Chairman, 433 Kellne bldg., Omaha, Neb.; John H. Hughey, Jr., Gen’l S. A T., Box 294 Junc- tion City, Kan. No. 7 — Division covers the Canadian Pacif- ic Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. M. Mein, Gen’l Chairman, 41 Noble ave., Elmwood, Winnipeg, Man. ; A. E. Chapman, Chairman Eastern Lines, 265 Piccadilly st., London, Ont ; R. C. Wilton, Gen’l S. A T., Kenora, dnt No. 8 — Division covers the New York Cen- tral Ry. H. B. Morey, Gen'l Chairman, 904 Jefferson ave., Utica, N. Y. ; A. El Blim, Gen’l S. A T.. Chili Station, N. Y. No. 9 — Division covers the C. L A L. Ry. J. E. Hollon, Gen’l Chairman, 2815 Cor- nell ave., Indianapolis, Ind. ; M. T. Parks, Gen'l S. A T., Box 2, Bain bridge, Ind. No. 10 — Division covers the Philadelphia A Reading Ry. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. A T., St Louis, Mo. Digitized by taOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 417 No. 11 — Division covers the Canadian Gov- ernment Rys. J. J. Trainor, Gen’l Chair- man, care of P. E. I. Ry., Charlottetown, P. E. L ; Wm. Parsons, Gen'l a ft T., Drawer 201, Drummondvllle, Quebec. N<x 12 — Division covers the Delaware A Hudson Ry. System, Quebec, Montreal A Southern and Naplervllle Junction Rys. Meetings subject to call of Chairman. G. A. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Room 21, Stanwix Hall, Albany, N. Y. ; Jos. Per- rault, Chairman Canadian Lines, Iber- ville Jet., Que. ; O. C. Benjamin. Gen’l S. A T., Dresden Station, N. Y. No. 18 — Division covers Virginia Ry. H. W. Hix. Gen’l Chairman, Box 18, Salem, Va. ; J. E. Goodwin, Gen’l S. A T., Box 24, Eggleston, Va. No. 14 — Division covers the Norfolk A West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. B. Lane, Gen'l Chairman, Crewe, Va. ; L. J. George, Gen’l S. A T., Box 402, Roanoke, Va. No. 15 — Division covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. b. P. Wheeler, Gen’l Chair- man, Oviedo, Fla.; J. H. Williams, Gen’l S. A T., Wilson, N. C. No. 16 — Division covers the Michigan Cen- tral Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. D. N. Smith, Gen’l Chair- man, 606 E. Ann st., Ann Arbor, Mich. ; J. H. Staley, .Gen’l S. ft T., Box 1814, Welland, Ont. No. 17 — Division covers Pennsylvania Rail- road Lines east of Pittsburg and Erie. J. F. Miller, Gen’l Chairman, 2916 Hunting- don ave., Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Skinner, Gen’l S. ft T., 116 S. Potomac st., Balti- more, Md. No. 18 — Division covers the New York, Chi- cago ft St. Louis Railroad System. F. F. Cowley, Gen’l Chairman, 619 W. Lincoln st., Findlay, Ohio; C. O. Crisenberry, Gen’l S. ft T.. Knox, Ind. No. 19 — Division covers New York Central Railroad West. G. E. Kipp., Gen’l Chair- man, Blasdell, N. Y. ; G. R. Smith. As- sistant Gen’l Chairman, Rockwood, Mich. ; E. D. Graham, Gen’l S. ft T., Mishawaka, Ind. No. 20 — Division covers the New York, On- tario ft Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. R. Conner, Gen’l Chairman. Cotteklll, N. Y. ; H. D. Pfoor, Gen’l S. ft T., P. O. Box 28. Jer- myn. Pa. No. 21 — Division covers the Cincinnati, In- dianapolis ft Western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. H. Carter, Gen’l Chairman, Marshall. Ind. ; J. V. Cummins, Gen’l S. ft T., 1147 North Mount st, In- dianapolis, Ind. No. 22 — Division covers Missouri, Kansas A Texas Railway System. G. H. Beck, Gen’l Chairman, 522 Jefferson st., 8t. Charles, Mo. ; R. C. Jackson, Gen’l S. ft T., 818 East Ave., B Temple, Tex. No. 23 — Division covers the Chicago, Mil- waukee ft St. Paul Railway, Bellingham ft Northern Railway, Big Blackfoot Rail- way,- Gallatin Valley Railway, Puget Sound ft Willapa Harbor Railway, Seattle, Port Angeles ft Western Railway and Ta- coma-Eastern Railroad. G. E. Soyster, Gen’l Chairman, Room 809, Drexel Bank bldg., 766 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111.; Ed. R. Derrick8on, Gen’l S. ft T., Room 809, Drexel Bank bldg., 765 Oaftwood blvd., Chicago, I1L No. 24 — Division covers the M. ft O. and Southern Ry. in Mississippi. L. T. Mur- daugh, Gen’l Chairman. 613 N. Royal st, Jackson, Tenn. ; C. E. Hendley, Gen’l a ft T., Artesia, Miss. No. 26 — Division covers the International ft Great Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. C. Berry, Gen’l Chairman, 610 East Guenther st, San Antonio, Tex. ; D. D. H ungate, Gen’l S. ft T„ Jewett, Tex. No. 27 — Division covers St Louis South- western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. C. Frizlelle, Gen’l Chair- man. Bearden, Ark.; C. B. Welch, Gen’l S. ft T., St Francis, Ark. No. 28 — Division covers the Seaboard Air Line Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. May, Gen’l Chair- man, Carlton, Ga. ; F. O. Cummlng, Gen’l S. ft T„ 15 Dinwiddle st., Portsmouth, Va. No. 29, NEW HAVEN, CONN.— Meets 1st Friday of each month at 8 p. m., and 3d Tuesday of each month at 10 a. m., in Red Men’s Hall, 48 Church st., cor. Crown, New Haven. Conn. O. S. Culver, Chief Tel., 170 Grafton st. New Haven, Conn.; G. F. McCormack, S. ft T., 95 Main st. West Haven, Conn. No. 81 — Division covers the Missouri Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Mohler, Gen’l Chairman, Room 812, Star bldg., St Louis, Mo.; N. 8. Morgan, Gen’l S. ft T., Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 82 — Division covers the St. Louls-San Francisco Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. G. Kelso, Gen’l Chairman, 519 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. ; M. T. Fulllngton, Gen’l S. ft T., 519 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. No. 83 — Division covers the Baltimore ft Ohio Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. Yeager, Gen’l Chairman, 2227 West Liberty ave., Pitts- burg, Pa. ; B. C. Lewis, Ass't Gen’l Chair- man, Willlamstown, W. Va. ; E. A. Shaf- fer, Gen’l S. ft T., Oakland, Md. No. 34 — Division covers the Chicago ft East* ern Illinois Railway System. Meets sub- Digitized by taOOQle
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418 The Railroad Telegrapher. Ject to the call of Chairman. H. H. Skiles, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. No. 5, Evansville, Ind.; O. A. Hixon, Gen’l S. St T.. 606 Jewel st.. Danville, 111. No. 36. PROVIDENCE, R. I.— Meets 3d Sat- urday of each month in Swarts Lodge, Odd Fellows’ Hall, 96 Westminster st.. Providence, R. I. A. H. Haddock, Chief Tel., Ill Narragansett st., Edgewood, Cranston, R. I. ; D. M. Call is, S. St T., Touisset, Mass. No. 36 — Division covers the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pittsburg. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., Star bldg., St Louis, Mo. No. 37. NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y.— Meets 2d Friday of each month, 7:30 p. m., in Metropolitan Hall on North ave., near Hugenut st.. New Rochelle, N. Y. Geo. E. Woods, Chief Tel., 69 Vernon ave.. Long Island City, N. Y. : B. E. S. Seaman, S. & T., 1143 Longfellow ave., New York, N. Y. No. 38, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.— Meets 3d Saturday each mohth 7 p. m., in Harmony Hall, Myrick bldg., Worthington st., Springfield. Mass. Frank P. Sargent, Chief Tel., 36 Colton ave., Merrick, Maas.; M. J. Walsh, S. St T., 16 Moseley ave., Mer- rick, Mass. No. 39 — Division covers the Pere Marquette Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. M. Burr, Gen’l Chair- man, Central Lake, Mich.; C. P. Neff, Gen’l S. & T., Lock Box 334, Lowell, Mich. No. 40 — Division covers the Chesapeake & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio of Indiana and the Hocking Valley Rys. L. E. Hicks, Gen'l Chairman, Craigsville, Va.; J. W. Kiser, Gen’l S. & T.. Box 792, Hunting- ton, W. Va. No. 41 — Division covers Boston St Maine R. R. Meetings subject to call of Gen'l Chair- man or Local Chairman. J. B. Bode, Gen’l Chairman, 60 Tudor st., Chelsea, Mass.; L. P. Clifton. Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, 41 Morton st., Waltham, Mass.; H. L. Jones, Gen’l S. & T., R. F. D. No. 37, Fremont, N. H. No. 42 — Division covers the Erie Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. E. J. Hesser, Gen’l Chairman, 864 Wallace place, Elmira, N. Y. ; C. L. Bridge, Gen’l S. St T., 21 Allen st.. Deposit, N. Y. No. 43 — Division covers Canadian Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Louis F. Muncey, Gen’l Chair- man, 761 Broadway, Winnipeg. Man.; A. Chard, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Fort Sas- katchewan, Alta.; G. H. Palmer, Gen'l S. Sc T., Dauphin, Man. No. 44. NEW YORK.— Meets 2d Saturday each month at 8 p. m., in Fraternity Hall 22 Harrlman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. ; J. S. Thuiria, Chief Tel., 26 Franklin st., Jamaica, N. Y. ; L. Meringer, S. St T., 1244 Chestnut st,, Richmond Hill, N. Y. No. 46 — Division covers the Central and Georgia Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Livsey, Gen'l Chairman, East Point, Ga.; O. S. Travis, Gen'l S. St T., 490 Lee st.. Route 127, At- lanta, Ga. No. 48 — Division covers the Detroit, Toledo & Iron ton Railway. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. L. Palmer, Gen’l Chair- man, 96 W. Main sL, Jackson, Ohio; D. R. Murray, Gen'l S. St T.. Good Hope, Ohio. No. 49 — Division covers the Denver St Rio Grande Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Fulton, Gen'l Chairman, 112 E. 11th st., Leadville, Colo.; J. C. Brannan, Gen’l S. Sc T., 1014 S. Union ave., Pueblo, Colo. No. 60 — Division covers the Georgia Ry. R. B. Morgan, Gen’l Chairman, Dearing, Ga.; J. P. Luckey, Gen’l S. Sc T., Dearing. Ga. No. 61 — Division covers Bessemer St Lake Erie Railway System. Meets the 4th Thursday of each month in Eagle's Hall, Greenville, Pa. C. M. Miller, Gen’l Chair- man, 11 First ave., Greenville, Pa.; E. It Keane, Gen’l S. & T., Box 103, Green- ville, Pa. No. 62, PITTSBURG, PA.— Meets Saturday, July 1, 1916, and each alternating Satur- day thereafter at 7:46 p. m., 231-233 Fifth ave., 3d floor, Roberts bldg. Pittsburg, Pa. H. H. Kreiser, Chief Tel., Aliquippa^ Pa.; R. W. Bees, S. & T., Box 314, Beaver, Pa. No. 63 — Division covers Southern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. T. Cull, Gen’l Chairman. 303-305 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal.; A. E. Leisure, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, 622 Euclid ave., Houston, Tex.; A. M. Ham- mond, Gen’l S. St T., 303-306 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal. No. 64 — Division covers the Northern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Sam Johnson, Gen’l Chair- man, North Branch, Minn.; B. EL Nason. Gen’l S. St T., North Branch, Minn. No. 66 — Division covers the Wheeling St Lake Erie and Wabash Pittsburg Termi- nal and West Side Belt Rys. Meets Id Saturday evening of each month at Har- mon, Ohio. J. O. Peoples, den’l Chair- man, Bolivar, Ohio; C. E. Baltxer, Gen'l S. St T., Box 246, Navarre, Ohio. No. 66 — Division covers Georgia Southern St Florida Railway System. G. L. Siebert, Gen’l Chairman, Valdosta, Ga.; F. H. Cason, Gen’l 8. St T.. Lake City, Fla. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 419 No. 59 — Division covers the Southern, North- ern Alabama and Danville ft Western Railroads. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. H. Q. Alexander, Gen’l Chairman, 122 Tate st., Greensboro, N. C. ; J. W. Bur- gess, Gen’l S. ft T., 223 Ninth st., S. W., Charlottesville, Va. No. 60, WASHINGTON, D. C.— Meets 2d Wednesday of each month at 8 p. m., at 811 E st, N. W., Washington, D. C. J. E. Blades, Chief Tel., 1529 East Capitol st., Washington, D. C. ; J. Webb Rlchman, a ft T.. 1424 W st., N. W., Washington, D. C. No. 62 — Division covers the Queen ft Crescent Route (North). J. W. Ander- son, Gen’l Chairman, Oakdale, Tenn. ; L. C. Higdon, Gen'l S. ft T., Battelle, Ala. No. 69 — Division covers the Queen ft Cres- cent Route (South). Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. O. Peavey, Gen’l Chairman, Meehan Jet, Miss. ; E. G. Matthews, Gen’l S. ft T., 125 Minerva st, Jackson, Miss. No. 70 — Division covers Great Northern Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen'l a ft T.. St. Louis, Mo. No. 71 — Division covers the Minneapolis ft St Louis Ry. A. L. Gardner, Gen’l Chair- man, Steamboat Rock, Iowa; J. C. Sand- mier. Gen’l S. ft T„ Waukee, Iowa. No. 76 — Division covers the Chicago ft North Western Railroad System. Meets subject to call of General or Local Chairman. E. J. Thomas, Gen’l Chairman, Room 511, Webster bldg., 327 S. LaSalle st., Chicago, 111. ; R. B. Boyington, Gen’l S. ft T., Room 511, Webster bldg., 827 a LaSalle st., Chi- cago, lit No. 77, DENVER, COLO.— Meets 1st Mon- day evening in each month at Markham Hotel, Denver, Colo. C. S. Guernsey, Chief Tet, Apt 16. 2018 Calif, st, Den- ver, Colo.; P. Eppelshelmer, S. ft T., 2341 King st, Denver, Colo. No. 80 — Division covers the Gulf, Mobile ft Northern Ry. T. R. Craig, Gen’l Chair- man, Falkner, Miss. ; H. C. Hughes, Gen’l a ft T., New Augusta, Miss. No. 81 — Division covers Colorado Midland Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. EL Crispell, Gen’l Chair- man, Arkansas Jet., Colo. ; J. F. Jones, Gen’l a ft T., Car bon dale, Colo. No. 82-^-DlvIsion covers Western Maryland Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. K. H. Stover, Gen’l Chairman, Beryl. W. Va. ; D. O. Martin, Gen’l S. ft T., Hampstead, Md. No. 83 — Division covers the Bangor ft Aroostook Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. A. M. McNair, Gen'l Chairman, East Dover, Me. ; J. L. Robbins, Gen’l S. ft T., Grindstone, Me. No. 88 — Division covers the Texas ft Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. P: Abney, Gen’l Chair- man, Longview, Tex.; R. E. Cecil, Gen’l S. ft T., Opelousas, La. No. 89, BOSTON, MASS.— Meets 1st Satur- day each month at 8 p. m., in Pilgrim Hall, also 3d Saturday each month at 10 a. m. (daylight meeting), in Pilgrim Hall, 694 Washington st, Boston, Mass. W. L. Enos, Chief Tel., Box 382, Cohasset, Mass.; J. H. McDermott, S. ft T., 46 Crocker st., Mansfield, Mass. No. 91, CHICAGO, ILL. — Meets 1st Satur- day of each month at 8 :16 p. m., in Hall 912, Masonic Temple, cor. Randolph and State sts., Chicago, 111. Gardner Dhl Jones. Chief Tel., Apartment 1, 4838 Vin- cennes ave., Chicago, 111. ; W. E. Carter, S. ft T., 5682 Broadway, Chicago, I1L No. 92 — Division covers the Buffalo, Roches- ter ft Pittsburg Railway System. Meets subject to thd call of Chairman. M. P. Burke, Gen’l Chairman, Falls Creek. Pa.; G. H. Miller, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., 1000 East Mahoning st., Punxsutawney, Pa. No. 93— Division covers the Illinois Central Railroad and the Yazoo ft Mississippi Val- ley Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. A. Mulhall, Gen’l Chair- man, Clarkson, Ky. ; L. M. Elliott, Gen’l Chairman. Y. ft M. V. Lines, Rolling Forks, Miss. ; G. E. Chance, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mounds, 111. ; R. L. Shannon, Gen’l S. ft T., Anna. 111. No. 96 — Division covers Chicago Great West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. L. Coleman, Gen’l Chair- man, 1941 Thompson ave., Kansas City, Kan. ; C. E. Norris, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 320, South St. Paul. Minn. No. 99, COBALT, ONT. — Covers Temiskam- ing ft No them Ontario Ry. Meets on Call of Gen’l Chairman. R. Richardson, Chief Tel., Latchford, Ont ; R. Workman, Gen’l Chairman, North Bay, Ont.; T. J. Baker, S. ft T., Redwater, Sta., Ont No. 108, ADDISON, N. Y. — Meets subject to call of Chief Telegrapher. L. L. Lerch, Chief Tel., Knoxville, Pa. ; C. E. Belcher, S. ft T„ Osceola, Pa. No. Ill — Division covers San Pedro, Los Angeles ft Salt Lake Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. D. McGee, Gen’l S. ft T., 824 Concord st., Los Angeles, Cal. No. 113 — Division covers the Ulster ft Dela- ware System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. M. L, Klein, Gen’l Chairman, 74 Abeel st., Kingston, N. Y. ; G. C. Hed- ges, Ass’t Gen'l Chairman, Mt. Pleasant N. Y. ; L. P. Riley, Gen’l S. ft T., Phoe- nicia, N. Y. No. 114— ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, N. S.— H. A. Jacques, Chief Tel., Middletown, N. S. ; Stanley Tavener, S. ft T.. Tupperville, Anna Co., N. S. Digitized by taOOQle
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420 The Railroad Telegrapher, No. 115 — Division covers Quebec Ry. Light ft Power Co.’s Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. EL Richard, Chairman, 199a Crown st., Quebec, Que. ; J. E. Pot- vin, S. ft T.. Gifford, Quebec, Que., Can. No. 116 — Division covers the Duluth, South Shore ft Atlantic Railway System. Meets 2d Sunday of February, April, June, Au- gust, October and December, in place designated by Gen’l Chairman. P. M. Stillman, Gen’l Chairman, Seney, Mich.; C. W. Danielson. Gen’l a ft T., Chassell, Mich. No. 118 — Division covers Kanawha ft Michi- gan Railway System. A. P. Hines, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Glouster, Ohio; R. M. Hende son, Gen’l S. ft T., 829 South st, Toledo, Ohio. No. 119 — Division covers the Minneapolis, St. Paul ft Sault Ste. Marie Railway System. G. W. Lewis, Gen’l Chairman, 2921 Chi- cago ave., Minneapolis, * Minn. ; F. C. Paine, Gen'l a ft T., Ersklne, Minn. No. 120 — Division covers Lake Erie ft West- ern Railway System. C. J. Turner, Gen’l Chairman, Arabia, Ind. ; M. A. Steckel, Gen’l a ft T.. Atlanta, Ind. No. 124— Division covers Lehigh Valley Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l a ft T.. 711 Star bldg., St Louis. Mo. No. 125 — Division covers Richmond, Freder- icksburg ft Potomac Railway System. Meets at 8 p. m., the 2d Friday of each month, at Fredericksburg. Z. Talbot, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Alexandria, Va. ; J. C. Farmer. Gen’l S. ft T.. 712 Main st, Fredericksburg, Va. No. 126 — Division covers Chicago, Rock Is- land ft Pacific Railway System. W. F. Kay, Gen’l Chairman, Room 1, 804 W. 68d st., Chicago. 111.; S. P. Ayers, Vice-Chair- man, Windsor, Mo. ; W. H. Dunnam, Gen’l S. ft T.. Room 1, 804 W. 68d st.. Chi- d ago, 111. No. 127, VIRGINIA, MINN.— W. W. Wood- ward, Chief Tel.. Hibbing, Minn.; C. J. Keenan, S. ft T., Calumet, Minn. No. 128 — Division covers the Atchison, To- peka ft Santa Fe Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. A. Tan- quary, Gen’l Chairman, Board of Trade bldg., Pueblo, Colo. ; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T.. St Louis, Mo. No. 180 — Division covers Chicago, Burling- ton ft Quincy Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. F. Den- ton, Gen’l Chairman, Sterling, Neb. ; E. F. Todd, Aas’t Gen’l Chairman, Sandwich, 111. ; J. H. Rogers, Jr., Gen’l S. ft T.. 1606 Market st.. La Crosse, Wis. No. 181. TRING JUNCTION, QUE.— J. EL Marcoux, Chief Tel., Leeds Station, Que. ; EL Lafontalne, S. ft T., Tring Junction, Que. No. 188, GLACE BAY, N. S. — L. L. Mc- „ Namara, Chief Tel., Glace Bay, N. S. ; C. H. Dow, a ft T.. P. O. Box 4. Bridge- port, N. S. No. 187 — Division covers El Paso ft South- western Railway System. EL P. Waples. Acting Gen'l S. ft T., 4469 Clarence ave., St. Louis. Mo. No. 140 — Division covers Maine Central Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. E. J. Hayes, Gen'l Chair- man, Leeds Junction, Me.; H. N. Bates, Gen’l S. ft T.. Gardiner, Me. No. 141 — Division covers San Antonio ft Aransas Pass Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. H. Bar- nett, Gen’l Chairman, Gregory* Tex.; R. O. Little, Gen’l S. ft T., Sheridan, Tex. No. 142 — Division covers the Green Bay ft Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. Benrud, Gen'l Chairman, Blair, Wis. ; L. P. Curran, Gen'l S. ft T., Winona, Minn. No. 144 — Division covers the Trinity ft Brazos Valley Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Crockett, Gen’l Chairman, North Zulch, Tex. ; N. W. Smith, Gen’l a ft T.. Box 498, Teague, Tex. No. 145 — Division covers the Ft. W. ft D. C. Ry. System. R. G. Wales, Gen’l Chair- man and Acting Gen’l a ft T., Box 976, Wichita Falls. Tex. No. 146 — Division covers the Atlanta, Bir- mingham ft Atlantic Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Owen D. Gorman, Gen’l Chairman, Mauk, Ga. ; C. A. Pye, Gen’l a ft T. Ideal, Ga. No. 147 — Division covers the Norfolk South- ern Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Miss S. D. Taylor, Gen'l S. ft T., cai-e J. H. Williams, Wilson, N. C. No. 163 — Division covers the Western Paci- fic Ry. V. W. Breeding, Gen’l Chairman. 770 Eleventh st, Oakland, Cal.; H. B. Marshall, Gen’l a ft T., Pleasant Grove, Cat No. 166, HAMILTON, ONT. — Covers To- ronto, Hamilton ft Buffalo Ry. Meets 2d Sunday of each month at 8 :S0 p. m., in I. O. O. F. Hall, Temple bldg., Gore st, Hamilton, Ont. J. J. O’Connor, Chief Tel., 46 Magill st, Hamilton, Ont; EL D. Armstrong, S. ft T., Box 98, Smithville, Ont. No. 166, BOSTON, MASa— Meets in Rath- bone Hall, 694 Washington st, Boston, Mass., 8d Thursday each month, day and night alternately commencing with the day meeting in July. Daylight meetings 11 a. m. night meetings 7 p. m. Robert H. Buxton, Chief Tel., 8 Dresden st, Ja- maica Plain, Boston, Mass. ; F. J. Dan- sereau, a ft T., 65 Boylston st., Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass. No. 167 — Division covers the Rutland Ry. Edmund V. Page, Acting Gen’l Chairman and Acting Gen'l a ft T.. Chatham. N. Y. Digitized by tjOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 421 • / No. 168 — Division covers the Panama Ky. A. V. Losea, GenH Chairman, Box 17 Pedro Miguel, Canal Zone ; P. A.' Freehan, Gen’l 8. A T.. Box 6. Corozal, Canal Zone. No. 160 — Division covers the Florida East Coast Ry. J. F. Willis. Acting G. C., 139 Home st., So. Jacksonville, Fla.; C. Ross Gowdy, Gen’l S. & T., Espanola, Fla. No. 161 — Division covers the O. W. Ry. and N. Co. J. V. Mitchell, Gen’l Chairman, Multromah Hotel, Portland Ore.; Wm. H. L. Davis, Gen’l S. A T., Pendleton, Ore. No. 163 — Division covers the K. C. M. A O. Ry. L. R. Cotney, Gen'l Chairman, Ft. Stockton. Tex. ; D. O. Kennedy, Gen’l S. A T., Clinton. Okla. j*o. 184 — Division, covers the Ann Arbor R. R. H. J. Workman, Gen’l Chairman, Box 69. Frankfort, Mich.; E. C. West, Gen’l S. St T.. 2238 Erie st. Toledo, Ohio. No. 166 — Division covers the Northwestern Pacific Ry. L. E. Green, Gen’l S. St T.. Ross, Calif. No. 166 — Division covers the Gulf Coast Lines. D. E. Young, Gen’l Chairman, Eunice, La.; C. L. Jackson, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman and Gen’l S. & T., Bloomington, Tex. No. 167 — Division covers the Georgia A Florida Ry. R. M. Cason, Gen’l Chair- man. Uvalda. Ga.; D. F. Rush, Gen’l S. St T.. Hazelhurst, Ga. No. 168 — Division covers the C. A A. Ry. E. E. Gents, Gen’l Chairman, Braid wood, 111.; Thos. Riley, Gen’l S. A T.. Atlanta, 111. No. 170 — Division covers the Wabash Ry. O. C. Nash, Gen'l Chairman, Carpenter, HI. ; M. E. Fohey, Gen’l a A T., 450 Crane ave., Detroit, Mich. No. 171 — Division covers Central Vermont Ry. H. J. Gibbs, Gen’l Chairman, Yan- tic. Conn. ; L. J. Mannie Gen’l a A T., St. Alexandria, Sta.. Quebec, j*©. ixj — Division covers the Oregon Short Line Ry. R. H. Wagner. Gen’l Chairman. Pocatello, Idaho ; a B. Summers, Gen’l a A T., Roy, Utah. No. 178 — Division covers the T. A O. C. and Z. A W. Rys. F. H. Simon, Gen’l Chair- man, 302 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio; W. T. Cox. Gen’l S. A T.. 1061 Palm wood ave., Toledo, Ohio. I*o. 174 — Division covers the Missouri, Okla- homa A Gulf Ry. Ira' 8. Bond, Gen’l Chairman, Clarita, Okla. ; W. H. Ryan, Acting Gen’l a A T., Allen. Okla. No. 176 — Division covers the Carolina, Clinchfleld A Ohio Ry. a A. Dorsett, Gen’l Chairman. Spartanburg, a C. ; C. G. Taylor, Gen’l a A T., Dante, Va. I*o. 177 — Division covers the St. Louis, San Francisco A Texas Ry. J. a McMillan, Gen’l Chairman and Acting G. S. A T„ Box 41, Prosper, Tex.; DeWitt Hall, Gen'l a A T.. Bluff dale, Tex. No. 178— Division covers Tennessee Central Railroad. Chas. C. Wimsett, Gen’l Chair- man, Rockwood, Tenn. ; ’ W. C. Loden, Gen’l S. A T., Emory Gap, Tenn. No. 179 — Division covers New Orleans Great Northern R. R. W. H. Carr, Gen’l Chair- man, Abita Springs, La. ; F. P. Barron, Gen'l S. A T., Angie, La. No. 180 — Division covers Chicago, Terre Haute A Southeastern. R. H. Owen, Gen’l Chairman, 1307 West 10th st., Bedford, * Ind. ; W. D. Hyslop, Gen’l a A T., 1312 K st., Bedford, Ind. No. 181 — Division covers Kentucky A Indi- ana Terminal R. R. H. A. Boston, Gen- eral Chairman, 432 N. 20th st., Louisville, v Ky. ; C. C. Fears, Gen’l S. A T., 2666 Bank st., Louisville, Ky. 'No. 182 — Division covers Missouri A North Arkansas R. R. James Roy, Jr., Acting Gen’l Chairman, Cotton Plant, Ark.; a E. Brasfleld, Gen'l 8. A T., Searcy, Ark. TWIN CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Regular meeting 2d Wednesday night of each month, Columbia Hall, Prior and University aves. G. W. Lewis, Pres., 2921 Chicc^o ave., Minneapolis, Minn.; S. H. Lester, S. A T.. Flat 7, 912 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. CREAM CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets the 2d Tuesday of each month in Film Operators’ Hall, 226 Third st., Mil- waukee, Wis. W. T. Houlehen, Pres., 863 Madison st., Milwaukee, Wis. ; B. A. Go- thompson, S. A T., 738 Fortieth st., Mil- waukee, Wis. PRETZEL CITY TELEGRAPHERS* CLUB OF FREEPORT, ILL.— Meets 8d Wed- nesday of each month at Ladies and Knights of Security Hall, 107 Stephenson st., Freeport 111. P. H. Murphy, Pres., 145 Delaware st., Freeport, 111.; H. B. Kiester, S. A T., 60 ^Second st., Freeport. HI. CORT CLUB (Chicago O. R. T. Club)— Meets 1st Saturday of each month in Room 912, Masonic Temple. D. O. Smart, Pres., 2258 Lincoln ave., Chicago, 111.; C. L. Craig, a A T.. 817 W. 64th st, Chi- cago, 111. . DES MOINES O. R. ' T. CLUB— Meets in Assembly Room, Kirkwood Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa, subject to call of President M. R. Davis, Pres., care C. R. I. A P. Ry., Des Moines, Iowa; S. S. Price, a A T., Grimes, Iowa. CEDAR RAPIDS O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 8 p. m., the 3d Friday of each month at Hotel Montrose, corner Third ave. and Third st.. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. F. EL Conover, Pres., Low Moor, Iowa; J. L. Hal pin. a St T„ 612 South Fourteenth st. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. LITTLE ROCK O. R. T. CLUB— Meets sub- ject to call of a A T. C. C. Jacklin. Pres., Room 224, Union Station, Little Rock, Ark. ; H. W. Gibbs, a A T., 516 B. Eighth st. Little Rock. Ark. Digitized by v^oooie
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422 The Railroad Telegrapher. THE PANHOMA TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meet#* Saturday evening following the 21st of each month in Assembly Room, 2d floor. City Hall, El Reno, Okla. G. A* Barnard, Pres., El Reno, Okla. ; F. G. Sinclair, Sec’y, Okeene. Okla. ; P. L. Peacher, Treas., El Reno, Okla. EVANSVILLE O. R T. CLUB— Meets 3d Sunday each month. L. EL Crandall, Pres., Chrisney, Ind. ; C. McCleary, S. AT., 712 Mulberry st., Evansville, Ind. ' THE HOOSIER O. R T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month at 8 p. m., Room 109, Oneida Hotel, Indianapolis, Ind. J. W. White, Pres., 2166 Avondale place, In- dianapolis, Ind.; W. G. Brenneman, S. & T., 2327 Prospect st., Indianapolis, Ind. THE KANSAS CITY RAILROAD TELE- GRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets subject to call of President M. Williams, Pres., 2116 Walnut st, Kansas City, Kan. THE FORT PITT TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF PITTSBURG — Meets subject to call of Secretary. H. K. Klingensmith, Pees., 124 Suburban ave., Beechview, Pittsburg, Pa. THE HOUSTON O. R T. CLUB— Meets 2d Thursday night of each month, Hotel Cotton, cor. Fannin st and Capitol ave., Houston, Tex. Chas. C. Webner, 426 Ma- son bldg., Houston, Tex. ; EL B. Hill, Sec’y, 1027 Yale st., Houston, Tex. THE DU-O R T. CLUB OF DURAND, MICH. — Meets 1st Thursday each month In I. O. O. F. Hall. Durand, Mich. A. EL McNamara, Pres., Drayton Plain, Mich. ; H. F. Link, a A T., Lansing, Mich. THE C. O. O. R. T. CLUB (Co-Operative O. R T. Club) — Meets 8 p. m., 1st Friday of each month in Red Men’s Hall, South Bend, Ind. O. O. Replogle, Pres., 631 East Bronson st. South Bend, Ind.; D. A. Crum, a A T.. 817 Lindsey at. South Bend, Ind. THE CHICAGO HEIGHTS TELEGRA- PHERS' CLUB— Meets 9:80 a. m.. 2d Sunday of each month at Chicago Heights, 111., in Trades and Labor Council HalL J. Welles Begble, Pres., St Anne, IiL; J. C. Marceau, S. A T., St Anne, 111. THE SPRINGFIELD O." R T. CLUB — Meets 2d Saturday night of each month at St. Nicholas Hotel, Springfield, 111. W. Stone, Pres., Marine, IIL ; W. R Endi- cott, S. A T., 113 EL Jefferson st. Spring- field, 111. THE GOLDEN RULE TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets 7 p. m., 3d Tuesday of each month at Crowe Hall, corner Broadway and Seger ave., Toledo, Ohio. F. H. Simon, Pres., 302 Georgia ave., Toledo. Ohio; Geo. D. Walker, a A T., Flickenger Flat No. 2. Toledo, Ohio. THE MONUMENTAL O. R T. CLUB— Meets monthly in Baltimore, Md.v subject to call of President W. R Johnson, Pres.. 3743 Morley st.. Baltimore, Md.; W. M. Shawen, Sec’y, 3637 Roland ave., Balti- more, Md. THE STATEN ISLAND O. R T. CLUB — Meets 4th Thursday each month, 8 p. m., at the Cherokee Club, No. 12 Cross st., Stapleton, a L D. B. McMullen, Pres., 8 Woodlawn ave., Cranford, N. J. ; J. P. Tully, S. A T„ 276 Delaware ave., Don- gan Hills, N. Y. General Committee Division on Railroads Covered by Local Divisions Boston A Albany Railway — M. J. Walsh, Gen’l Chairman, 16 Moseley ave., Merrick, Mass. ; Geo. P. Alruts, Secretary General Committee, 16 Oakdale ave., Westfield, Mass. Boston Terminal Co. — S. EL Haseltine, Gen’l Chairman, 21 French ave., South Brain- tree, Mass. ; H. J. Llonett, Secretary Gen- eral Committee, Dorchester, Mass. Buffalo A Susquehanna R R — EL EL Has- kins, General Chairman, Sinnemahoning, Pa. Chicago, Peoria A St Louts Ry. — R EL Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Jerseyville, 111. ; H. C. LeMasters, Secretary General Com- mittee, 426 S. Orange st., Havana, IIL Intercolonial Ry. — C. C. Charters, Gen’l Chairman, Point du Chene, N. B. ; R A. McMillan, Secretary General Committee, Charlo Station, N. B. Long Island Railroad — C. M. Scully, Gen'l Chairman, College Point N. Y. ; EL Frank Webb, Secretary General Committee, 28 * Amherst ave., Jamaica, N. Y. New York, New Haven A Hartford Railroad — Leonard J. Ross, Gen’l Chairman, 467 Wellington ave.. Auburn, R L ; M. W. Handy, Secretary General Committee, Box 886, New Haven, Conn. St Louis Southwestern Ry. — H. C. Frisielle, Gen’l Chairman, Bearden, Ark. ; EL EL Net- tles, Secretary General Committee, Ker- ens, Tex. Toledo, St Louis A Western Ry. — H. 8. Wal- ters, Gen’l Chairman, Gas City, Ind. ; EL B. Livesey, Secretary General Committee. Sorento, HL Digitized by taOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 423 Ladies’ Auxiliary Directory OFFICERS. MRS. KATE EL CARR — Grand President, 629 Swan st., Olympia, Wash. MRS. FLORENCE P. PIERCE— Grand Sec- retary-Treasurer, Box SS, Halethorpe, Baltimore Co., Md. MISS CLARA J. BRADY— First Grand Vice-President, 91 Wood st., Provi- dence, R. L BOARD OF Mrs. John W. Banker, Chairman, Schaghtl- coke, N. Y. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Secretary, Smlth- ville, Ga. Mrs. EL McDonough, MRS. D. H. PARKER— Second Grand Vice- President, Speed, N. C. MRS. GEORGE GILBERT— Third Grand Vice-President, Kenora, Ont., Can. MRS. J. E. COWGXLL— Fourth Grand Vice- President, San Carlos, Cal. DIRECTORa Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3864 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Iris U. Henderson, Midland, Tex. Cllntonville, Wls. All correspondence for The Telegrapher should be addressed to C. B. Rawlins, Editor, St. Louis, Mo., so that it will reach him not later than the 6th of the month. Grand Division — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or ter- ritory. Mrs. Kate EL Carr, Grand Presi- dent, 629 Swan st, Olympia, Wash. ; Mrs. Florence P. Pierce, Grand 8. ft T. Box 83, Halethrope, Md. Division 2 — Meetings subject to call of Act- ing President, Mrs. Evva L. Quick 8864 Cleveland ave., St Louis, Mo. * Mrs. Evva L. Quick. S. A T., 8864 Cleveland ave., St Louis, Mo. Division 8 — Covers the C., C.t C. ft St. L. Ry. System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. a D. Solomon, Presi- dent, 1912 Locust st, Anderson, Ifttt. ; Mrs. Hasel Elliott Gen'l S. ft T.t Ashley, Ohio. Division 7 — Covers the Canadian Pacific Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan Pres- ident Chapleau, Ont, Can. ; Mrs. S. a Campbell.' Gen'l a ft T., Verona, Ont Division 8 — Covers the New York Central Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mrs. M. B. Lynch, Pres- ident 963 State st., Schenectady, N. Y. ; M. J. Wood. Gen'l a ft T., South Schenec- tady, N. Y. Division 16 — Covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Meets subject to call of the Presi- dent Mrs. B. F. Wheeler, President, Oviedo, Fla.; Mrs. J. H. Williams, Gen’l a ft T., Wilson, N. C. Division 23 — Covers the Chicago, Milwaukee ft St Paul and the Puget Sound Railway Systems. Meetings subject to call Mrs. a Olive Lester. Gen'l a ft T., Flat 7, 812 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Division 31 — Covers the Missouri Pacific System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Chas. M. Bodle, Presi- dent, Benton, Kan.; Mrs. H. C. Harkins, Gen’l S. ft T., Lupus, Mo. Division 83 — Covers the Baltimore ft Ohio Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President. Mrs. Mary A Bell, Presi- dent, New Concord, Ohio; Mrs. Anna S. Gillum, Gen’l a ft T.. Shinnston, W. Va. Division 36 — Meeets 3d Thursday of each month at 2 :80 p. m., in Manheim Hall, 483 Westminster st, Providence, R. I. ; Mrs. Bertha Haddock, President, 111 Narra- gansett st., Edgewood, Providence, R. I. ; Miss Clara J. Brady, Gen’l S. ft T., 91 Wood st.. Providence, R. I. Division 44 — Meets 2d Saturday of each month at 8 p. m.. in Hall No. 2, Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. Mrs. A Filby, President, Vandeveer Park Station, Brooklyn, N. Y. ; Mrs. J. EL Shields, Gen’l S. ft T., 1034 Bergen st, Brooklyn, N. Y. Division 46 — Covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Gen’l S. ft T.t Smlthville, Ga. Division 53 — Covers the Southern Pacific System, G. H. ft S. A Ry. Meetings sub- ject to call of the President. Mrs. J. E. Cowgill, President, San Carlos, Cal. ; Mrs. F. EL Waters, Gen’l S. ft T., Ashland, Ore. Division 69 — Covers the Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of the President Mrs. C. L. Watson, President, Veechdale, Ky. ; Mrs. Logan Watson, Gen’l a ft T., 634 First st., Shelbyville, Ky. Digitized by taOOQle
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424 The Railroad Telegrapher. Division 76-^-Oovers the Chicago ft North Western Railway System. Meets upon call of the President. Miss Ema L. Schneider, President, Dousman, Wis. ; Miss Irene O’Connell, Gen’l S. ft T., 207 W. Sixth st, Marshfield, Wis. Division 81 — Covers the Colorado Midland • Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mrs. Mae L. Potts, President, Ivanhoe, Colo.; Mrs. Ida Down- ing, Gen’l S. ft T., Cascade, Colo. Division 93 — Covers the* Illinois Central Railway System. Meets subject to call. Mrs. £1 L. Mathis, Acting President and Gen'l R ft T., 1172 Mississippi blvd., Mem- phis, Tenn. Division 113 — Covers the Ulster ft Delaware System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mrs. Harry Halstead, Presi- dent, R. F. D. No. 8, Oneonta, N. Y. ; Mrs. Sinclair Snyder, Gen’l S. ft T., South Kort- right N. Y. Division 140 — Covers the Maine Central Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Acting President Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Acting President 470 Main st, Bangor, Me. ; Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Gen’l a ft T., 470 Main st, Bangor, Me. Division 146 — Covers the Atlanta, Birming- ham ft Atlantic Railway System. Meets upon call of the President Miss Dita May West, President 319 East Georgia ave., Atlanta, Ga. ; Miss Pearl Gorman, Gen’l S. ft T., Maqk, Ga. Local Tacoma — Meets the last Wednesday of each month. Meeting places subject to the discretion of the President Mrs. Daisy Sherwood, Sixth Avenue Station, Tacoma, Wash. ; Mrs. W. S. Grover, Local Secre- tary-Treasurer, Nisqually, Wash. ®fje €>rber of &attroab fEelegrapfjenS PETITION FOR MEMBERSHIP Officers and Members, Division No The Subscriber by occupation a of years experience, bora in voluntarily offers himself as a candidate for initiation into THE ORDER OF RAILROAD TELEGRAPHERS, and agrees, if admitted, that he will cheerfully conform to all the laws, rules, mandates and edicts of the Order. I have not been rejected for membership in the Order within the past year. Fee enclosed, $ Signature of Petitioner Dated at this day of. 19 •My Postoffice address is. Employed by _. Railroad This is to Certify : That we, the subscribers, are personally acquainted with Mr and, from a confidence in his integrity and the uprightness of his intention, do cheerfully recommend and propose him as a proper candidate for member- ship in this Order. •Be careful and fill in your postoffice address. RECOMMENDERS Digitized by v^ooole
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 101 Signal Shirt And It Bears this Trade Mark ''JTHE Signal Trade Mark on a shirt signi- fies perfect shirt service. It means you are getting the best value for your money. Signal Shirt has stood the test for years and is recognized by railroad men as the best shirt for railroad wear. The big features as noted by arrows in the illustration are not to be found in any other shirt. Signal Sharis Made of 1^ Fabrics Two Collar* Strong Sttt« hing The Famous 'fi£ls&T Fabric is wear- proof, wash-proof. Every Shirt is made true to size. E.*tra Dutton ‘'trong Dutton . holt Order From Your Dealer ! (_ Most dealers sell Signal 'R&EssT Shirts — if yours does not, do not take any substitute, but send us your size, name and address and we will send you one on approval. Hilker-Wiechers Manufacturing Co. rrUp Box D1246 Mound Avenue Racine, Wisconsin Makers of the Famous Overalls Digitized by kjooole
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* V' « Digitized by
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Published Monthly by the Obdek op Rail HOAD Telegraphers " * C. B. Rawlins * Editor and Manacsr. Subscription Price Entered as Second-Class Matter December 20, 1912, at the Post Oppice at St. Louis, Mo., Under the Act op August 24, 1912. $1.00 Per Year. Vol. XXXV APRIL, 1918 No. 4 The Pension Fund. After being under consideration for ous membership in the Order, which is some time, the plan for the establish- a very judicious provision and worthy ment of a Pension Fund was adopted at qualification for an applicant to that the St. Louis convention, held in 1915, fund to possess. which provides that this fund shall be One of the stipulations is that the fund created for the purpose of paying a pen- shall be self-sustaining, and shall in no sion to old and faithful members of the way create any financial liability to The Order wbo have reached an advanced Order of Railroad Telegraphers, and also age in life, and also to provide in a like that membership therein shall be lim- manner for members who are totally ited exclusively to members in good stand- disabled through physical or mental in- ing. firmities. All applicants to the Pension Fund We have many oldtime members, whom shall be' required to furnish a satisfac- it was thought would naturally take ad- tory health certificate before being ad- vantage of a feature of this kind in or- mitted. der to guard against any adversity which Members sixty years of age or over might overtake them in their declining are not now eligible to membership in years. this fund. Before one is eligible to membership in Members in the Pension Fund who the Pension Fund, it is necessary to have forfeit membership in The Order of Rail- been a jpember of The Order of Railroad road Telegraphers, shall thereby forfeit Telegraphers for five consecutive years, membership in the Pension Fund and all In other words, the framers of this plan rights to any benefits of any character desired to place a premium on contlnu- therein. Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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426 The Railroad Telegrapher. The Pension Fund shall be under the government and control of the Grand Division of The Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers, and any rule or regulation gov- erning the Pension Fund made by the Grand Division in convention assembled, shall be binding on all members of said fund. All applicants for membership in the Pension Fund shall pay an admission fee of ?5.00, and thereafter shall pay a semi-annual assessment of an amount equal to an equal division of two hun- dred and forty dollars over the period ensuing between the age of the applicant at the time of admission to the Pension Fund and his sixty-fifth birthday, after which his or her assessments shall cease. Under the rules governing this fund, a member must have paid in $240.00 prior to the time of reaching his or her sixty- fifth birthday, which payment of $240.00 must be divided into semi-annual pay- ments, payable April 1st and October 1st of each year. As an illustration, we will suppose a member has attained the fol- lowing age: Forty years. — It will take 25 years for a member 40 years of age to attain his sixty-fifth birthday, therefore, it will re- quire fifty semi-annual payments of $4.80 each, payable April 1st and October 1st, to complete payment of the total sub- scription to this fund. Fifty years. — It will take 15 years for a member 50 years of age to attain his sixty-fifth birthday, therefore, it will re- quire thirty semi-annual payments of $8.00 each, payable April 1st and October 1st, to complete payment of the total subscription to this fund. Fifty-seven years.— It will take eight years for a member 57 years of age to attain his sixty-fifth birthday, therefore, it will require sixteen semi-annual pay- ments of $15.00 each, payable April 1st and October 1st, to complete payment of the total subscription to this fund. Members of the Pension Fund who fail or refuse to pay their semi-annual assess- ments within thirty days from the date on which it becomes due and payable, shall forfeit their membership in the Pension Fund and all rights to any bene- fits therein without notice. When a member of the Pension Fund attains the age of sixty-five years, he shall be placed on the retirement roll and shall be paid a monthly salary from the fund of twenty dollars during the bal- ance of his or her natural life, except when a member of the Pension Fund be- / comes permanently disabled and unable to perform any character of service, where such member has been a continu- ous member of the Pension Fund for eight years or more Immediately preced- ing such term of disability, such member shall be placed on the” retirement roll and shall be paid a month’s salary of twenty dollars during the balance of his or her natural life, unless such member shall recover his or her health sufficiently to permit of accepting remunerative em- ployment, in which case his or her name shall be removed from the retirement roll, and no further payments made to such member, provided: No name shall be placed on the retirement roll or any funds paid out of the Pension Fund to anyone until after the expiration of four years from the date of the institution of the Pension Fund, and no benefits shall ac- crue or be due to any member of the said fund on account of disability or having reached the age limit during the said period of four years from the date of the organization or institution of the said Pension Fund. When the Vame of a member of the Pension Fund is placed on the retirement roll, his or her assessments in such fund shall immediately cease. Our Pension Fund has unfortunately not received the support it merits. The Pension Fund Committee at the Seattle convention urged that all officers co- operate in making this feature of the or- ganization a success. In the August, 1917, Telegrapher, the editor requested that wide publicity of this plan be made among our members by the local officers. We earnestly hope that our members who are eligible to the Pension Fund will give this m&tter careful thought, and am quite certain after doing so, they will appreciate its advantage and impor- tance. Digitized by tjOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 427 Railroad Wage Commission Hearings THE February and March TeiiEgraphers recited how President Perham was the first to appear before the newly created Railroad Wage Com- mission on January 28th and presented an oral and written petition to that Board, for the granting to all employes eligible to membership in The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, namely, telegraphers, train dispatchers, telephones, train directors, station agents, levermen, towermen, staffmen and linemen, of a forty per cent increase in wages, an eight hour day, a 26-day month, and the relieving of station agents and telegraphers from handling U. S. Mail, and in order to acquaint our readers with the procedure in this matter, we are printing the hearings in serial form : (Continued Xrom March Issue) The Chairman: In what respect? In what way has It done it? Just simply because your comport ttees are not able to proceed? Mr. Perham: The Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad has recently denied the telegraphers* committee a conference, for the reason that they expect the Govern- ment to appoint a representative to han- dle such matters. The telegraphers* com- mittee on the New Orleans Great North- ern Railroad Is now trying to get Into conference with the officials for the usual purpose, but It fails to get an audience. The telegraphers* committee on the Den- ver & Rio Grande Railroad is being held off, for some occult reason. I think that was taken up with the Director General of Railroads, and with the result that their conferences were resumed, but then came some other trouble about a new re- ceiver, and the conferences have been put off again. The telegraphers* committee on the De- troit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad is be- ing held up, for the reason that the Gov- ernment is In charge. The telegraphers’ committee on the Florida East Coast Rail- road is having a similar experience. We seem to have struck a troubled streak within the last two weeks. They seem to understand that we will not go out on strike as rapidly this year as last year, and we really don’t want to. We want to go along with this Government idea and we expect to suffer a little. Judge^ Covington: Were these confer- ences which were pending and which have been suspended by reason of the ac- tion of this Commission, conferences that were intended to take up the matter of wages or working conditions? Mr. Perham: Both. They are old or- ganized roads. They have contractual arrangements, and the general move for Increase in Wages is what made these committees go to the front. Now, this Commission has been created and the offi- cials take advantage of it and say, “No; It is not in our hands now.** Judge Covington: You mean there are concrete demands for increased wages presented by these committees to the va- rious railroads which are now failing to continue the relationship between them- selves and the committees? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. Judge Covington: The answer they gave you was Ihis Commission Is In ex- istence, and this Commission is charged with recommending wage readjustments itself? Mr. Perham: Similar to that. They say a man will be put in charge of it from the Government. The Chairman: The one case that you refer to, of which we have knowledge, is the case of the Denver & Rio Grande, which was about to hold its conference, I think, a week ago today in Denver. They telegraphed to us and we considered that matter, and while we regarded that as a matter of policy which the Director General must pass upon, we said to those people in Denver that we saw no rea- son why they should not proceed with their hearing — their conference. Mr. Perham: And they did proceed for a day. Digitized by LaOOQLe
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428 The Railroad Telegrapher. The Chairman: That can be taken as our general attitude. Judge Covington: They could not help the suspension of that conference, be- cause the Denver & Rio Grande in the meantime got into the power of the courts, by the ordinary process, without an appli- cation for an additional receiver made, as I understand it. Mr. Perham: But the question of a receiver or no receiver makes no differ- ence to us, because we go right ahead with our work on all of these receiver- ship roads. We have done business on all of them for many years. There is nobody that really objects to the work that we do, when they look into the de- tail and see what we are after. It is only a case of a misunderstanding, where a fight occurs. If you once understand it, most any ordinary man will say, “Yes; go ahead/' The Chairman: We do not intend to embarrass you in your work at all. Mr. Perham: I feel satisfied of that. The Chairman: You can proceed with any conferences that your men and the railroads desire to have. Mr. Perham: But supposing this other fellow hides out and says, “I won’t see you?’* The Chairman: Do you think we can get out some sort of mandatory writ, com- pelling them to come in? Mr. Perham: That was my idea. Judge Covington: You have a more direct method than that. The Director General of Railroads is in supreme au- thority over the operating agents of car- riers. Mr. Perham: I assume from the record here when we show you this to be the case — when we show you that discrimina- tion is a disturbing feature on the rail- roads, and that there is no real excuse for it; that the man who refuses to do busi- ness with a labor organization does not know right from wrong, and ought not to be there where he can make a nuisance of himself The Chairman: While that may be so, it is not, of course, within our general jurisdiction to determine that that man should be dismissed. That Is a matter for the Director General of Railroads, if the railroad company Itself does not take charge of that Mr. Perham: This, I take it, to be a Wage Commission, and here is the com- mittee going up for an increase in wages, and then on account of the creation of this Commission, several railroads say, “No, we cannot do business in the old way"; and a gentleman passes me a note saying that the Norfolk & Western Rail- way General Committee presented to the management in November, 1917, a nego- tiation, and they have been going on with it from that time, and now that railroad says, “No; we don't want to do any more business.” The Chairman: You mean that the Wage Commission delays those negotia- tions you were carrying on. Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. The Chairman: You think it would be advisable for you to go on with these ne- gotiations with the railroads, 40 you? Mr. Perham: We desire to do that The Chairman: Then is not your pro- cedure to say to the railroad presidents that you desire to do that. If they de- cline to do that then go to the Director General and tell him those facts. Mr. Perham: We will on your sugges- tion go to the Director General now, be- cause we have done everything else, but we want this Commission to understand just what Is going on now with the rail- roads. You will doubtless hear from other organizations, and they will corroborate, probably, what I say in many different ways. I being the first witness here, I am introducing the subject so it won't be lost sight of. We will all be very much distressed If a very large railroad strike was to break out tomorrow morning. We would like to prevent that. Judge Covington: Your normal method is to go to the Director General, because it might very well be that some of these negotiations have been suspended, be- cause of an honest doubt in the minds of these men on the other side of whether they have the final power to bind the Gov- ernment of the United States in the nego- tiations, but I have no doubt that the Director General, as a matter of policy, Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 429 will take up with you just what ought to be done respecting an order to these peo- ple, but it is outside the scope of this Commission’s authority to give direct or- ders to anyone of the officials of the rail- roads themselves. It is not within the scope of the authority conferred upon us to direct them. Mr. Perham: Well, after having given this Commission information, I will take it up In a formal way with the Director General of Railroads, so as to rectify the discrimination. Judge Covington: That is the normal thing, unquestionably, for you to do. Mr. Perham: We now come to this other question of carrying the mall. It is rather a long question. The Chairman: What is that question, generally? Mr. Perham: Over 16,000 men carry the mail from the railroad station to the post office; where the distance is not to ex- ceed 80 rods. The practice was in the old stage coach days. The Chairman: Are those men railroad employees? Mr. Perham: They are railroad sta- tion agents. The Chairman: Do you repredent them? Mr. Perham: I do, directly. The Chairman: They are not all sta- tion agents, are they? Mr. Perham : Very nearly all ; some are telegraph operators; some are telegraph operators and clerks, but 90 per cent or about of them are railroad station agents. Mr. Willcox: It is part of their duty as station agents. Mr. Perham: It is part of their duty as station agents. It always has been, from the beginning and right up to the present date, and the parcels post propo- sition is what has made the work more onerous on account of the increase in the weight and the bulk of the mail to be carried. Now, I have had this up for eight years, this question of compensa- tion or being relieved of this kind of duty. Three times in Congress I have had a bill defeated. I had it up with the Post 'Office Department and with the railroads. The Post Office Department in- formed me that the railroads contracted to carry the mail and perform the side and transfer service, and this particular thing of carrying the mail from the post office to the railroad station is side serv- ice, and the transfer of mail, say from one railroad to another will run in some town, why, we refer to that as side and transfer service. The railroads do contract for carrying the mail, but as far as I can see, there is no appropriation for side and transfer service, so that when the contract is be- ing completed, signed in regard to haul- ing the mail, this side and transfer serv- ice is foisted upon the railroads anyway, as a little additional business for them to carry out, if they are going to haul the mail. The Chairman: I suppose the contract is to, deliver the mail at the postoffictf, is it? Mr. Perham: At the 80-rod stations. Now, where it is 81 rods long, there is another contract; 81 rods, it is different. They have the postmaster come down and get It and all that sort of thing, but where the railroad is within 80 rods of the post- office, why, the railroad has to deliver the mail. It comes from an old stage coach proposition, In the old days, when they let out the contracts to the stage com- panies to carry the mail. A coach wduld turn out from its main traveled road to any postoffice that was within 80 rods of it — naturally enough turn out and deliver the mail, and then turn around and go back again into the main traveled road, and go on its journey, and when the rail- roads took the place of the stage coaches, that little thing came along with it. It really did not amount to much in the early days, about taking a mail pouch up to the postoffice and bring one back, when the station agent was not busy, but things have changed, and we have tried in aAl the ways known to us to get that little griev- ance settled. Things have changed so that some of our men handle five tons per day, carrying it 80 rods distance, and where you see a lot of rural free delivery route wagons around the postoffice waiting for their load and the station agent down there, tarrying to deliver some* package, or he has got into a dispute with some- body because he can’t close that office and Digitized by Google
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430 The Railroad Telegrapher. carry the mail up to the postoffice, of course it would be impossible for the wag- ons to go down to the depot, because their particular contract commences at the post- office and not the railroad station. The Chairman: How does he carry it? Mr. Perham: On his shoulders, or a lit- tle pushcart furnished by the company. We have exhibits to show you where the pushcarts have been furnished him, where the postoffice is 300 feet above the rail- road, and he kicks where he can't get the pushcart up the steps. Mr. Willcox: Is this true of large vil- lages or small towns? 9 Mr. Perham: I have 16,000 instances in all sorts of places. Mr. Willcox: What is the limitation as to the size of the town? What is the dis- tance from the station? Mr. Perham: What is the distance? Mr. Willcox: Do you mean to say a sta- tion agent would have to carry the mail up to a village of 5,000 inhabitants? Mr. Perham: Yes; if it is within 80 rods of the depot. That is part of thq contract assumed by the railroad; so the railroad says it is a matter which concerns the Government, and the Government says it is a matter which concerns the railroad, and we continue to carry the mail, and I might say that at the last convention of our organization, it was ordered that on January 1, 1918, that we decline further to carry that mail, but on account of the war situation, I have urged them not to do that but to continue to go along, sim- ply on account of the conditions that sur- round us all, and they are going along, but now I want to bring that up before this Honorable Commission and have that fixed. Commissioner McChord: Well, is it not true that in a great many instances the station agent furnished his own team, his horses and wagon, and hauls to the post- office, and he hauls the freight for the merchants in town? Mr. Perham: I never knew of an agent who had a team. Commissioner McChord: If you looked into that, at Springfield, Kentucky, you would probably find one — a town of about 2,500 inhabitants. Mr. Perham: It is quite usual for a teamster to make his living hauling freight from the depot to the consignee — the merchant, at so much per package, or barrel, or cask, it is quite usual for that man to take the contract for carrying that mail from the agent, to take the mail along. Commissioner McChord: I am speaking of the Btation agent, who owns his own team, and he carries the mail a couple of squares. Mr. Perham: Did he get somebody to leave him that team in a will? Commisioner McChord: No; he bought it; he paid for it. Mr. Perham : He must be pretty well off. Commissioner McChord: He made pret- ty good money in doing that. The Chairman: Is not that a matter which you ought to take up with the Post- master General, rather than this Com- mission? Mr. Perham: We have done that. The Chairman: We aren’t expecting to deal with the duties that these people shall perform. As I understnad you, the Government through the Postmaster Gen- eral, makes the contract with the railroad company that the railroad company will undertake to deliver this mail within 80 rods of the station. They impose that duty upon the station masters. Mr. Perham: The Government imposes it first. Excuse me, impose it first on the railroads. The Chairman: The Government makes the contract with the railroad. Mr. Perham: Then imposes side and transfer service, when they are making a contract to haul the mail. The Chairman: Precisely; then the rail- road says it shall be the business of the station master to do the side and trans- fer service? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. The Chairman: Now, what you want to get, is to be relieved from that particular duty. Mr. Perham: Or get an appropriation of $8,000,000 for performing the service. The Chairman: Who do you ask to pay them $8,000,000, the Government? Mr. Perham: Yes. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 431 The Chairman: Tou ask that the Gov- ernment, through the Postoffice Depart- ment, pay the station agents $6,000,000? Mr. Perham: Yes; giving him an ap- propriation so he may pay that out to others to have thq work done. The Chairman: Is not that a matter of this contract between the railroad and the Postmaster General, and not a ques- tion of wages that should come up here? Mr. Perham: It is a question of wages and no other question, as far as I am concerned. The Chairman: Is it a question of wages for a railroad employe? Mr. Perham: It is, indeed.' We want $8,000,000 per year for doing that service. Judge Covington: Suppose the railroad company should pay, after agreement with the Postmaster General, that we will ^make a new agreement with you; now, we will give a rebate on our existing com- pensation provided you take over an inde# pendent guaranty, such as exists in many towns at the present time, as I understand it This is not an arbitrary service that is performed by all of the agents who are within 80 rods of the postoffice, is it? Many of the agents do not perform that service, is not that true? Mr. Perham: Where the postoffice is further away? Judge Covington: No; within 80 rods. That is 1,320 feet, practically one-quarter of a mile, is it not? Now, there are many agents within a quarter of a mile of the postoffice in the town, who do not at the present time deliver the mail to the post- office. Mr. Perham: If that is true, I do not know it Judge Covington: Well, I recall the town in which I live, that I am quite con- fident the postoffice is within a quarter of a mile of the railroad Btation, and I know perfectly well that there is an independent carrier there. Mr. Perham: What would be the cause of the Judge Covington: I really do not know. I am only asking you the question to get the inforxhation, whether that was an arbitrary rule in our section of the United States. It certainly seems to me that I recall many localities. Mr. Perham: My information and knowledge of a lifetime is that wherever the postoffice is within 80 rods of the rail- road station, that that railroad station agent carries that mail to and fro. Mr. WiUcox: Is that true of New York? Mr. Perham: In every city. Mr. Willcox: Do you mean to say that the agent at the Pennsylvania Station, lugs the mail into the postoffice, from the railroad station? Mr. Perham: No; he lets the contract. He is charged with it, as to whether they carry the mall from this point to that, or whether they let the contract to an- other man to do it Judge Covington: We have no quarrel with you about this. We are trying to determine whether or not it is the work- ing condition rather than a matter of working. This is a contract between the Postoffice Department and the railroad, is it not? Mr. Perham: It is. Judge Covington: That is a matter of compensation for the carriage of the mails in the trains of the United States. Mr. Perham: If the carriage of mail — we will have to be specific or we will fall into a trap here in talking upon this sub- ject. Side and transfer service is the subject upon which I am talking. Judge Covington: I understand that. Mr. Lehmann: Is the side and transfer service specifically imposed by the con- tract upon the railroad company, or is it a matter of controversy between the rail- road company and the Postoffice Depart- ment as to which is bound to do it under such contract that they have? Mr. Perham: The words “side and trans- fer service” do not occur in any contract or agreement between the Postoffice and the railroad that contracts to haul the mail. Mr. Lehmann: Or is there anything equivalent? I use the term “side and transfer service,” because you have used it to designate that. Is there any equiva- lent of that so it is manifest from the contract that the railroad company must render that service, or has that been a matter of controversy between the rail- road company and the postal department? Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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432 The Railroad Telegrapher, Mr. Perham: It is either a matter of secret agreement between the railroad and the postal department or a matter that is not broached at all because it does not usually occur in the contract, but it is a matter of controversy between the employes of the railroad and the railroad that contracts to haul the mail. Mr. Lehmann: Well, I would agree at once; it would be manifest that if the railroad company expressly agreed by its contract to do that service; then, of course, it was a service to be rendered by the railroad company at the station, and if it imposed that upon the agent, it was as much a part of his duty to con- sider in his compensation as anything else within the line of his duty, and the pay therefor Bhould come from the rail- road’s revenues. If, on the other hand, however, it is a thing that the Govern- ment ought to do, the pay should come from the Government. I simply wanted to bring out clearly as to whether or not it was specifically covered. 4 Mr. Perham: We desire to be relieved of carrying the mail at all. Judge Covington: That is the point I wanted to get, so as to see just what the status of the question is as between your organization and the company. You would have no complaint if, a* a matter of fact, the carriers should provide an independent individual at each one of these railway stations, to take that n^ail from the station up to the post office? That would relieve your employes that you represent from that additional serv- ice? Mr. Perham : Yes. Judge Covington: That is, therefore, a working condition just as if they re- quired your men who are on a monthly rate of pay to perform two hours addi- tional service each day, or to perform this extra Sunday service that you speak about, is it not? It is an additional serv- ice that they are required to perform, you feel unjustly, and it may be unjustly, but nevertheless, It is a service that is Im- posed upon the employes that you rep- resent which the railroad company might have the right to relieve them of under the contract they have with the Post Of- fice Department, is it not? . Mr. Perham: I do not know. I could not elucidate that for my own self, just where the trouble lies. I am not able to do that, simply because I have not been able to find out here in Washington where the trouble is. The Chairman: It seems to me that we can end the consideration of this mat- ter now. We do not wish to go into that question, for this reason: That it leads to a determination of the question by us as to what are the duties of a station master, and that is not a question that we want to take up and consider. We are engaged in the establishment of wage schedules, and I think we will have to refer you to the Postmaster General upon that question, or to Congress. - Mr. Perham: I think I will be able to make myself clear if I quote the statutes on the subject: i This is paragraph 2, section 1119 of the Postal Laws and Regulations, that part reading: “The railroad company must also take the malls from and deliver them into all Intermediate post offices and postal sta- tions located not more than 80 rods from the nearest railroad station at which the company has an agent or other repre- sentative employed.” Although that is not quoted in the con- tracts that I have seen between the post office and the railroads, it is carried out by virtue of the statute, and in that pro- cess the Post Office Department claims that it is part of the price to the railroads for hauling the mail. The railroads claim that they receive no pay for side and transfer service, and there the situation rests. We have been to Congress and failed. We have been to the Post Office Department, and there we have been re- ferred to the railroads. We have been to the railroads, and we have there been referred back to the Post Office Depart- ment, and the conclusion was not to carry the mail after January 1st, 1918, anyway, and let somebody else find out who properly should do that business, but on account of the war situation that action has not been taken, and I am re- sponsible for it not being taken, and so that is the most important question I Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 433 have to present to .the Commission, this one of carrying the mail. The Chairman: Now, we have decided not to give consideration to that question as a matter of defining the duties of a station agent. Mr. Perham: I do not ask you to do that, to define the duties of a station agent. I ask you to fix his wage for car- rying the mail. The Chairman: As a separate propo- sition? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. The Chairman: We will not undertake that. Mr. Perham: I would at least like to explain my case fully and explain to you why I ask it. The employes contend that transporting mails through the streets is not properly a railroad func- tion. In support of that contention they point out that railroads do not carry pas- sengers to their final destination, nor do they deliver freight by hauling it through the streets. Then passengers arrive at the station for which they have bought a ticket, the railroad has in that case completed its contract. In the matter of handling freight at its destination, con- signees are notified, and consignees ar- range and pay for hauling to final des- tination. This argument came up upon the prem- ises that if the employes should be ex- cused from doing this, that they would have to be excused because they had to attend to the signals, the extension of the block signal system throughout the United States would keep the employe at the station to look out for his train and Manipulating his train orders sig- nals, and consequently he would have to be relieved from it, but seeing that was impossible, the next thing his claim is “Give us pay for it. If we have got to assume this duty, give us pay.” What he intends to do with this pay is his busi- ness. What he really intends is to give that pay to somebody else and take good care of that mail. The Chairman: Is your argument as you have igade it there to the effect that this is not railroad duty? Mr. Perham: We are assuming that it is railroad duty, and that we will always have to carry the mail, and that now we want wages for carrying the mail. That is our present position after floundering around with it in many different ways. The Chairman: I thought what you have Just read went to the point that it was not railroad duty — the delivery of the mail to the post office was not rail- road duty. Mr. Perham: I read that to show you that that was the logical attitude in re- gard to the business. We accept the il- logical duty forced upon us by the Post Office Department and say, “All right, we will carry the mail; we ought not to, and we believe that you will discontinue it when you find out how it works now by the wages." The Chairman : Are we going to divide up the wages of the station master and say, “You will have $12 a month as sta- tion master, selling tickets, handling freight, and have $32 a month as a sta- tion master, doing telegraphing, and $3 a month for sweeping the floors, and you shall have $17 for carrying the mail?" Mr. Perham: It results Into something of that kind. The Chairman: We cannot do that. That is not a practical thing. Mr. Perham: We claim that this is not a practical condition under which we are working. Judge Covington: Does not that get you back to the point that it is a matter of service rendered by the station master not related to his compensation? Mr. Perham: We don’t care about any- thing else but the wage proposition. Ar- range the compensation for side and transfer service to go to the man who performs the service. That is our posi- tion. If we take the contract and say we will do it, or if we split it, it is stuff that we stand responsible for, that side and transfer service, but at the present moment, where it is not paid for at all, that is wrong. To arrange for it to be paid for — by some one, that the labor per- formed shall be paid for, that is right. The others are but details as to where It goes. The Chairman: Is not the one ques- tion we have to determine, what is a reasonable wage for the man who does Digitized by v^oooLe
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434 The Railroad Telegrapher, whatever the railroad imposes upon the station master? The station master’s duty, according to his arrangement with the railroad, is that he shall do a certain group of things. Now, then, he has $80 a month for doing those things, and you say he ought to have $90 a month, or $100 a month? Mr. Perham: They send us to the ex- press company and sayj “Make your own terms with the express company;’’ they send us to the Western Union Telegraph Company and say “Make your own terms with the telegraph company.” We do. In this case they send us to the Post Of- fice Department and say, “Make your own terms with the Post Office Department.” We can't. Judge Covington: That gets you pre- cisely into the field that we do not con- sider. This is a controversy between your particular men who are station agents and the Post Office Department, and it is not a controversy between your men and the railroads. • Mr. Perham: We don't accept what this employer said. We have only one employer. We treat the railroad com- pany as the employer. He says, “Go to the Post Office Department.” We say, “We Jiave been there; you fix this; they won’t.” We are back to him now, and he has got to fix it. I would like to have the Commission clearly understand — I may be able to bring forth something in this brief. Ilnight state this, that when the question of railway mail pay was to be presented to the Interstate Commerce Commission for its adjudication, in re- gard to the mail pay, I applied to act as intervener in this particular instance, representing the men who performed the side and transfer service, and that was granted me, and the hearing was to be held in the latter part of 1917. On ac- count of the war and other matters con- nected therewith those hearings have not been held, and the chances are that they will not be held. Consequently, our conven- tion having authorized me to take action on It, on the first day of January, 1918, I preferred not to take the kind of action they wanted, but to present it in the best way I could to this Commission and see what could be done about it, and to show that it is a wage condition, I want to find a certain part of the brief that I pre- pared as intervener before the Interstate Commerce Commission. Judge Covington: If you like, you may file that brief as a part of the record as a whole. Probably you treat your subject in a more orderly fashion, and it would be fairer to you if you put it into the record. Mr. Perham: It is scarcely the kind of a brief I would like to file with this Commission, because this Commission has nothing in front of it except the wage question, and we go into a great many reasons why this work should not be done by our class. Now, there was a conference between myself and Mr. Stewart, an attorney rep- resenting the Post Office Department, in which we discussed the cost of this mat- ter, and there was quite a difference be- tween us in regard to the cost. This brief says: “Out estimate as to the cost of per- forming side and transfer service throughout the United States is about $8,000,000 per annum. That estimate is faulty, for obvious reasons. We have not the means at our disposal to give the data as to the probable cost of such serv- ice. The Department has intimated to us that it would cost about $3,500,000 per annum, and the Department is In better position to make an estimate than we are. The difference in the two estimates is probably to be accounted for, in that we have made provision for increases in cost at other post offices where the statutory distance applies, while the Department has figured that at thousands of places where business Is light, the postmaster, or his assistant, can do the work without additional cost. We have here written statements from more than 10,000 men, who are now employed by railroads and engaged in carrying the mails through the streets, which corroborate the asser- tions herein made, and show accurately and in detail the situation generally and as it is at the present time. We ask per- mission to file these documents in this present case. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 435 The Chairman: You can file those documents as an exhibit. Mr. Perham: We will do so, and I would like to read some of those docu- ments into the record, but I assume that they will be read. They are pretty much alike. Nearly every station in the United States, where the mail has to be carried, is represented in that exhibit, "and the wage part of it, if a substantial appro- priation is made for side and transfer service, and the men who perform the service get it, that means an increase in wages to the class I represent. That is our position in this contention, and the difference between the figures of $8,000,- 000 and $3,500,000 mentioned by the Post Office Department is that one is going to let It under the ordinary way of compe- tition, one man against another, who wants some money, and our way of say- ing that the work is worth so much, be- cause it is worth it. Of course, one is an idealistic fashion of figuring, and the other is exact, a business method of figur- ing. That is the difference between the two. Now, we have understood from you that we shall take up the matter of the dis- crimination with the director general of railroads; also the matter of delaying committees; on account of this Commis- sion's studying the wage question, and we will do that. I want to say, in conclusion, that there is no business that we know of that is comparable with that of the telegrapher, the train dispatcher, train director, sta- tion agent or other class of railroad em- ployes whom we represent. We consider that they are in a class by themselves. They have no competitors, nor is there any noteworthy line of industry with which they can be compared, except a railroad telegrapher in a tense condition of employment may be compared with another such telegrapher in which em- ployment tolls are paid; for Instance, working for the Postal Telegraph or "Western Union Company or the cable companies or news associations or such as the Associated Press. That is the prin- cipal reason why they are grouped by themselves. That accounts for their not being in closer relationship with the shop employes and other wage workers. By sheer force of circumstances they have to fight their battles alone. They do not get the same or as fair wages as others are paid, but they have to pay the same price for groceries, clothing, and so forth, as do more affluent people. Again, they must dress presentably, be- cause, especially in the case of the sta- tion agents, they represent the railroads in the communities where they happen to live, and it is necessary for them to make a good appearance, and, furthermore, they want to bring up £ieir families as others do and raise their children in proper en- vironments. All of those things which may look as a trifling consideration to one outside of the game, are really im- portant to this issue. These station agents desire, and should be allowed, to send their children to school and to the churches, and they feel that they should have their children dressed as well as other people’s children. These station agents want to do that, and if you look at the wage he receives, it proves he is a wonderful financier, because he does won- ders with his money — it is either he or his wife. Probably the good womah does that. Those are important questions to us. The real wage questions have never been mentioned really by these men that I know of. Take it into consideration that a man who works all day, every day, for his bare subsistence, he certainly has not got as good a chance in life as a squirrel or a jackrabbit, but from the very fact that his exigencies cause him to labor all day to pay his living expenses, it is a most remarkable thing that he continues. When we come to talk about the wage question — not about some poverty-stricken proposition like I am presenting to you — he will talk about his proper proportion of his money he earns, so that he can put aside some money to provide for old age like ordinary people. That is the ordinary wage question. This thing I am . talking about is scarcely worthy the name of a wage question. The wages quoted to you in those reports are scarce- ly a decent proposition for the men who work all day long every day in the year, Digitized by v^oooLe
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436 The Railroad Telegrapher. and in the end finds he cannot pay out his expense, notwithstanding all his work. When I ordered a strike on the M., K. & T. Railroad, April 10, 1917, every striker was in debt all the way from forty to four hundred dollars — every man was in debt for groceries and meats. He had not been able to pay out those expenses, notwith- standing he had worked all the time. As to whether he has wasted his money, 1 leave that to you. Why, if he should work all the month, at the end of the month, he would not have enough left to buy a cigar. The waste question is a large one, and it is true we can very seldom speak on it without showing feeling. We do not want to show feeling, but when you know the conditions under which these men work, you cannot help it. The Chairman: To what extent is there any pension system for those men? Mr. Perham: Very little. On a few of the railroads pensions are paid. The Chairman: How many miles of railroad in the United States pay pen- sions? Mr. Perham: I am not able to answer that without looking it up, but I would say not one-fifth of the steam miles in the United Stages do that. The Pennsylvania is the leader, and the B. & O. next, and there is the C. & E. I., and just a few roads here and there* but the pension sys- tem is not admired very much by the men, and is not wanted. What they want is wages. They do not want anybody else to do their investing or speculating for them. If they can get the money they earn, they will be satisfied. They want to do the rest of it themselves. The Chairman: Is that generally true, that the working men would not be satis- fied— these men on the railroads would not be satisfied with the pension systems, but want to Invest their own money? Mr. Perham: That is absolutely true with the working people, who are the ones that read and think. Now I have heard that a certain class of people are in favor of a pension, but it is possible they never gave the subject any study, and they would change their minds if they heard us talk about it. The Chairman: Would they look ad- versely at a Government pension system to which they would contribute? Mr. Perham: No, sir; we were talking about railroad pensions. The Chairman: I am talking now about Government pensions. It does not make any difference whether it is from the railroads or the Government Mr. Perham: We should be proud to take a Government pension. The Chairman: Why?- Mr. Perham: Because it came from the Government. They would not look upon that as a dole or charity. The Chairman: It would be sort of a contract. Mr. Willcox: Part' of the payment of wages. Mr. Perham: If we got a pension from the Government, we would not object. It is unthinkable that the railroads should take a part of what we earn and pay it back in pensions. We assume that is understood, that any pensions paid would be paid out of what is earned by our labor. The Chairman: Not necessarily. As- sume the railroads were in private hands entirely. You could have a Government pension which would be a certain per- centage of the wages, to which the rail- roads would contribute a certain amount and the men Mr. Perham: And the people? The Chairman: Ye$, the Government, the railroads, and the workmen. Mr. Perham: Why should the people con tribute to that? The Chairman: I thought you would regard that as a Government pension. Mr. Perham: No, sir; we do not want the Government worsted by the railroads or by anybody else. I think we are an integral part of the public. The Chairman: That is part of the, system in Germany. Mr. Perham: That is one of the things that have ruined Germany. It is one of the things which they have adopted, which was not well considered. They had several insurance systems that were not ethically or basically well considered. It led to trouble. They were forced by the efforts of the radicals into a position Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 437 that was not well considered, and the Government took on more liabilities than it could meet. The Chairman: That is also the sys- tem that Lloyd George put into effect in England. Mr. Perham : One of them, but not five of them, and the more he would get into them, the .more he would get away from the real basis of a solidarity, and so forth. We, in this country, are scarcely in a position to consider a pension system; that is, there are so many other things that ought to be done first that must be brought into a working entity. It must be, allow me to say, that the employer who gets a profit from the wage earner, must be the man who pays the pension or the wage. He has to pay one or the other. We prefer for him to pay the wage and never mind about the pension. We will look out for that as far as we are concerned. We are just as capable as he is, and have just as much oppor- tunity as he. But where it gees to the Government, it is a different thing. The Chairman: What is that? Mr, Perham: The -pensioning function. The Chairman: That is, if the rail- roads were owned, for instance, by the Government, you would be perfectly will- ing to have the Government pay a pen- sion, but owned by private parties, you are not willing Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; we feel that If the Government owns the railroads, we will meet men who are managing the affairs of the railroads who have no bias one way or the other, and who have no ulterior motive to serve, and who will listen fairly to our arguments, and if we are wrong about them, they will correct us, and if we are right, they will listen to us. If they will do that, they will learn £bout pensions. When they pay pensions to the railroad employes, that pension comes out of the earnings of the railroad employes. A certain number of railroad employes will not object to that, provided they get a fair deal, and as long as everybody understands when they are paying that pension they are paying out wages that have been unpaid, there will be no disturbance. Mr. Willcox: Will you tell us whether they would favor a profit-sharing plan, either in the event of the railroads being run by the Government or by private cor- porations? Mr. Perham : I cannot do that. In this report of the Commission on Industrial Relations, in Volume No. 11, on the stand there, I make the statement that 41,000 men were discharged by the Pennsylvania Railroad last year, and the amount of money kept by the company by their wages from the superannuation fund con- stituted one-third of the surplus on hand. There is one illustration of why we ab- ject to the railroads doing our pension- ing. 41,000 men were discharged, and they were defrauded out of their propor- tion of the superannuation fund, and that constituted one-third of the surplus now on hand in that fund, and is a clear illus- tration of what this leads to, with the railroads financing for us. Of course, we have lots of stories we can tell you that we would not be able to prove. We can tell you about a man working 39 years and 6 months, due for a pension at 40 years, because he broke a dollar lamp, was discharged. If we pro- duce that sort of thing before you, we may have to dig up the circumstances and give his nan*.?, and so forth. Those are interesting things, and it leads to the re- sult that the less we have to do with pen- sion systems, as far as the railroads are concerned, the better we like it. We have resisted the pension proposition on sev- eral railroads and put an end to It. That was the situation on the Southern Pacific in 1906, when the railroad em- ployes met there and resisted the instal- lation of a pension system on the South- ern Pacific Railroad, and Mr. Huntington backed off and it was not put in force as he had aimed to do at that time. So, tho telegraphers need one day off in seven, the Sunday rest, an eight-hour day, and an increase in wages and stop- ping of discrimination and the stopping of delays and devices for delays, as well as for the carrying of mail proposition being straightened out equitably, so they will get paid for the work they do. The Chairman: Can you furnish us with definite figures as to how many men Digitized by v^oooLe
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438 The Railroad Telegrapher. do not get one day off in seven? Mr. Perham: I could very easily figure that out for you and let you know tomor- row morning. The Chairman: And can you give us the number of men who work more than eight hours t Mr. Perham: I think I can by going to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Chairman: If you please. Mr. Perham: With that I will close for the employes on the telegraphic and sta- tion department, and if there are any questions, I shall be glad to answer them. Mr. Lehmann: I took one of your schedules at random, and it proves to be the one with the Central Vermont Rail- way Company and I observe ranges of salaries from thirty dollars to one hun- dred and fifty, and the designation of office is the same; in other words, put down simply as agent. Now, that differ- ence expresses the difference in the amount of work done at the different sta- tions and the responsibilities Incident to the duties? Mr. Perham: Will you allow me to look at the station? It might be a joint station where two railroads pay the sal- ary. Mr. Lehmann: Nothing Is said about that there. Mr. Perham: Nothing is said; that is the only proposition on there. I think that that is a joint station where another railway pays that. Mr. Lehmann: Well, assuming there are no differences as wide as indicated by the difference between thirty and one hundred and fifty still there are a great many differences. Mr. Perham: That is illustrative of the different duties that the men per- form. Mr. Lehmann: And the more serious responsibilities? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. Mr. Lehmann: Now, in making pro- vision for an increase in pay, you would propose that there shall be an equal per- centage applied to all the salaries? Mr. Perham: That would be one way of fixing it. We would prefer, however, that an appropriation may be made for each railroad, and by that railroad an appropriation shall be divided up by di- visions and again divided in the divisions among employes. Mr. Lehmann: How would you carry that into actual effect, and who would have an actual voice in that? Mr. Perham: The same as present; the local committees have jurisdiction in a divison superintendent's territory and they mutually agree as to how their ap- portionment is to be divided. Mr. Lehmann: That would be the rep- resentative of the employes* organization on the one side, and the company's rep- resentative on the other? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. Mr. Lehmann: And under govern- mental control, of course, the representa- tive of the Government. Mr. Perham: That is the machinery we have now ready for action. On unor- ganized roads, such as the Santa Fe, where there is no local committee, we would leave it to the officials to divide it with the men. I am quite certain they would follow our plan in distributing an increase in wages, because we worked that out after many years’ experience, and It is the only way that appealed to us as correct. Mr. Lehmann: I have received a num- ber of communications from train dis- patchers and from the representatives of the train dispatchers, who are not in- cluded, as I understand, within the order represented by Mr. Perham. Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; they are in- cluded. Mr. Lehmann: Well, there are some who are not; at least, they so indicate in their correspondence. Representatives are present, and they would like to be heard if it is convenient for the Commis- sion to hear them at this time. The Chairman: Certainly. Judge Covington: Before you sit down, Mr. Perham, I would like to ask a couple of questions relating to matters you might possibly be able to put into the record. Are you able to show us what proportion of these station agents are actually en- gaged in independent vocations, that do not interfere with their station work? To illustrate, how many of them have Digitized by LaOOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 43$ stations that are appendages to grocery stores that they may have right at the station, and who are engaged in an inde- pendent business or who run farms, who take those stations for the purpose of be- ing there and take them because it may give them an opportunity advantageously to carry on the particular business they are engaged in — have you any figures that will give that information? Mr. Perham: No, sir; for the reason we do not represent them. Where a man is running a hardware store and gets ten dollars for selling tickets, we do not count him as a station agent. Judge Covington: That is a very good answer for that. You say within your organization or within the ranks of the men who are represented by these sched- ules there are no men who have inde- pendent vocations wholly outside of rail- road employment? Mr. Perham: We would not recognize them as station agents. Judge Covington: Are you able to tell us what proportion of these men get an independent compensation from indus- tries that are related to railroads; that is, the express companies and telegraph companies? Mr. Perham: No, but the payrolls of the railroad companies would show that. Judge Covington: The payrolls of the railroads would show that and show the actual rates of compensation also? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; the actual amount paid them. Judge Covington: That is all right. Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; the payrolls would be the best evidence of that. Judge Covington: That payroll will show what he gets from the three sources, as station agent, telegraph operator and express agent? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. The Chairman: You take the $30 man that Mr. Lehmann has just referred to; he gets $30 as station agent. He may also get $20 as Western Union telegraph operator, and he may also get a percent- age of the business done for the express company that amounts to $15 more — is that right? Mr. Perham: That is right, although about the average of the Western Union commissions would be $1.75; that would be the average. It does not amount to anything, in fact. Judge Covington: But these * payrolls on file with the Interstate Commerce Commission would show that, Mr. Per- ham? Mr. Perham: Not with the Interstate Commerce Commission. The payrolls of the companies will show that. Judge Covington: The payrolls jot the companies will show that? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir. Judge Covington: Will the payrolls of the companies show how much an em- ploye gets from the Adams Express Com- pany, for instance? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; in most in- stances. I think in all instances, you will find the express commissions paid there. The Chairman: You will have to go tb the payroll of the companies in order to see what he got from some outside source,, such as telegraph company or an express company? Mr. Perham: You say "outside.” When I speak of outside, it means this, that the man may be in the coal business selling wood and coal — that would be outside business. But the telegraph business and the railroad business are so closely asso- ciated that we do not consider that an outside business. The Chairman: I mean on the inside of the station. Mr. Perham: You can rest assured that the Western Union commission busi- ness is not worth looking into. $1.75 is about the average paid. The Chairman: The express wages or the Western Union commissions?. Mr. Perham: The Western Union com- missions. The Chairman: You mean $1.75 is the average compensation of a station man who is a telegraph operator, in the United States? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir: The Chairman: Per month? Mr. Perham: Yes, sir; it is not worth considering. The express business is a little complicated and is really a difficult situation to handle. For instance, on the Santa Barbara wharf, on the Southern Digitized by v^oooLe
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440 The Railroad Telegrapher. Pacific, the express compensation was |500 per month and the railroad wage was $80. That ran continuously at $500.. At another place, where there comes the seasonal crop, like at Fresno, during the raisin period, or at Bakersfield, during the orange period, that express business has a wonderful run for a month or two, and then all the commissions are earned, and then there is a sparse period all through the year until that season re- turns, so that the earnings in the way of express commissions should not be taken into consideration in a railroad wage. I want to impress this upon you, if I can. Where a man earns an express commission, he earns it by working, whether done on the railroad time or in his own time, after going home, or done by his wife or sister or child; that is not important. The fact is that the work is worth paying for and because a man gets $30 from an express company on com- missions and $70 as a railroad wage, making $100 a month, he ought not to have his railroad wage decreased on ac- count of the express commissions he earns. There is not anybody that I know •of that is making too much money in that line of business; so that I think the mat- ter of express commissions ought not to go into the matter of calculating the rail- road wage. We know what a day’s work is. It might be of interest to you to show to you the station agents' wages. The station agent who has earnings — he calls earnings his ticket sales and freight receipts of, say, $500 a year. There is scarcely anyone who would stay at that station at $500 a year. The man who is there gets $75 a month or $900 a year. It would appear that that station Is be- ing run at a loss, but the fact is they have to have a man there anyway to at- tend to train orders and signals and all other things that a station agent does. They must have a man there, and so that does not have any relation to what that man receives. Take another place, where he sells $100,000 worth of tickets in thirty days in fares ranging from ten cents to forty cents apiece. There are such places. His wage has no connection with the earnings there. His wage has some con- nection with the responsibility in han- dling that vast sum of money and giving the correct change, but as to the earning power of the man or the station, it does not seem to have any connection with his wage. The first consideration is they have to have a man there, and if they have to have a man they will have to give him a wage that will keep him there, and the next question probably will be as to his organization, when he comes after more wage. That has a trimming effect. If his organization is weak, it hurts him, and if it is strong, he will get more. That is stating the truth as it is, gentle- men. We do not talk that way to railroad officials. That is the way it really is. When you talk about taking into con- sideration express earnings in connection with the railroad wage, 1 do not like to go in that direction. Our opinion is that a man should get paid for what he does. That should be considered — what he does. If he is handling train orders and signals and so forth, that is all right. The fact he sells a few tickets, and so forth, has very little to do with it. We put him in his right class in our minds. If he is there handling as high as $7,000 per month, in freight, all in small packages, and billing out from a 600 to a thousand way-bills in a month, at the same time selling $500 worth of tickets and han- dling commercial telegrams, It is a very hard job for one man and it takes a re- markable man to get away with It. If a man is not very active and alert, it takes two men. We know what is a man's day’s work, and even the officials of the rail- roads know that Is correct. We can tell from the station reports what is a proper wage for that man. The Chairman: We are very much obliged to you? Mr. Perham. Mr. Lehmann: It has been suggested to me by the statistician that the outside earnings will not be shown by the rail- road payrolls, and that we will have to go to the other companies in order to get that information. I do not know about that myself. Mr. Perham: I will say that I have seen many company payrolls, and it is there that I got the express commissions — from the railroad payrolls. Digitized by tjOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 441 Mr. Lehmann: I did not know. Of course, the suggestion was made and I just wanted to call attention to it. Mr. Perham: That is where I got the information. GENERAL STATEMENT. From the requests made by the em- ployes as shown in the exhibits in this case it will be noted that many of their requests bear upon the question of wages, although they are hardly apparent gs such when mingled with the other sched- ule rules. For instance, they request overtime pay for Sunday work, pay for carrying the United States mail, vacation periods with full pay, railroads to furnish typewriters, increases in overtime rates, increase In pay for calls after hours, be- sides a general increase in wages. It may be stated that they have always consid- ered such rules to be identical and part of their requests for increased wages. For the purpose of throwing further light on the situation concerning tele- graphers in general, it is stated that there are two classes of telegraphers divided by a distinct line, perhaps only visible to themselves. One class is employed by the railroads, the other is employed by the Commercial Telegraph Companies, such as the Western Union, Stock Exchanges, brokerage Arms, newspapers, news asso- ciations, cable companies, and so forth. For an enlightening report on the erst- while conditions of the last described class of telegraphers the attention of the Commission is directed to a report of the Commissioner of Labor for 1909, entitled ‘Investigation of Western Union and Postal Telegraph-Cable Companies.” This finishes our testimony; the final statement with briefs should follow. RAILROAD WAGE COMMISSION. EARNINGS ON JANUARY 26, 1918. Brief Statistical Memorandum as to Telegraphers, Train Dispatchers and Di- rectors, Station Agents, Line Repairers, Levermen, Interlockers, Towermen, Tele- phones, Block Operators, and Staffmen. Filed by H. B. Perham, President Order of Railroad Telegraphers. Supplementing the oral statement and amplifying and making clear some of the matters therein referred to we submit for the attention of the Commission the fol- lowing brief statements on the question: TELEGRAPHERS WORKING MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS PER DAY. - With respect to the inquiry as to the number of telegraphers who work more than eight hours per day. We find after close research that the exact figures are not at present available from any source. Some men work eight hours, some nine, some ten, all on the same railroad, and it would take a per- sonal canvass to ascertain the exact situ- ation. In lieu thereof and to make reply to said inquiry in an indirect and yet fairly illustrative manner it is averred that a Statistical Analysis of Carriers’ Monthly Hours of Service Reports issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission, November, 1917, indicates that there were 26,127 instances during the year ending June 30, 1917, where telegraphers were on duty more than nine hours in continu- ously operated day and night offices. That during the same period of time there were 3,406 instances where tele- graphers were on duty more than thirteen hours in offices operated only during the daytime. Total of all such instances combined 28,632. We offer as an Exhibit four copies of “A Statistical Analysis of Carriers* Monthly Hours of Service Reports,” for November, 1917, issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission. As a general proposition, it may safely be assumed that the employes classified as Agent-telegraphers in the Interstate Commerce Commission reports are the men who fill the positions at the railroad stations where there is but one man em- ployed and who may be required to work as much as thirteen hours every day. The number of this class of employes is shown to average 18,610. Their actual hours of service range from eight to thirteen hours per day. (Continued in May issue) Digitized by v^ooole
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442 The Railroad Telegrapher. BALTIMORE AND OHIO ARBI- TRATION CA8E. (Continued from March Issue) Have you a copy of the Toronto, Hamil- ton & Buffalo Railway schedule? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 5. Mr. Yaeger (Reading): “Article 5. Overtime will be allowed for service re- quired between 12:01 a. m. and 11:59 p. m. Sunday, provided, however, that day telegraphers are expected to report to the dispatcher at an appointed hour on Sunday without overtime allowance un- less held for work, in which case they will be allowed not less than one hour. Day telepraphers will be expected to as- certain without compensation, that their relief reports for duty Sunday night.” Mr. Perham: Is that all of Article 5, which you read? Mr. Yaeger: That is all of Article 5. Mr. Perham: We offer a copy of the schedule, and six copies of Article 5 for inspection and use. Have you a copy of the Quebec Central schedule, effective August, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 10, Clause a. Mr. tfaeger (Reading) : “Article 10, clause a. Telepraghers required to work on Sundays will be paid pro rata on schedule wages, based on thirty days per month, but in no case at less than thirty cents an hour, with a minimum compen- sation of forty cents foy each call, for which one hour’s service shall if required be rendered.” Mr. Perham: We offer a copy of the schedule and six copies of Article 10, Clause a, for use and inspection. Have you a copy of the Halifax & South Western Railway schedule? Mr. Yaeger: Yes, sir. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 16. Mr. Yaeger (Reading): “Article 16. Telegraphers required to work on Sunday will be paid extra pro rata, based on twenty-six days per month, for such serv- ice (any portion of an hour less than thirty minutes not to count, thirty or over to count as one hour), with a minimum compensation of twenty-five cents for each call, for which one hour’s service shall, if necessary, be performed. Teleg- raphers required for Sunday duty, other than the attendance on regular trains, will be so advised the previous day.” Mr. Perham: We offer a copy of the schedule and six copies of Article 16, for inspection and use. Have you a copy of Maine Central Rail- road schedule, effective August, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 8. Mr. Yaeger (Reading): “Article 8. Remuneration for Sunday work will be allowed pro rata with a minimum of $2.30 per day; one-half day for reporting once; one day for reporting twioe, or for a total of over five hours’ service. Sunday work, however, will be reduced to the lowest possible minimum.” ,Mr. Perham: We. offer a copy of the schedule and six copies of Article 8 for use and inspection. Have you a copy of the Southern Pa- cific schedule, effective • December 12, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: I have. Mr. Perham: Please read Article 6, Sections K, L and M. Mr. Yaeger (Reading): “Section K. At general telegraph offices on Sundays and holidays where six or more telegraphers are employed, telegraphers will not be re- quired to work more than four consecu- tive hours’ overtime, and where less than six telegraphers are employed, teleg- raphers will not be required to work more than six consecutive hours’ overtime ex- cept in emergency. “Section L. At general telegraph offices where telegraphers are required to work overtime on Sundays and holidays they will be assigned hours thirty-six hours in advance, according to the num- ber of the position they hold, first, second and third wire chiefs having preference to telegraphers holding position No. 1. Telegraphers when filling wire chiefs po- sition on Sundays and holidays, will be paid wire chief's pro rata overtime rat- ing. Section M. At general telegraph offices Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 443 overtime for telegraphers shall be pro r; ta based on monthly salary, exclusive of Sundays, but not less than sixty cents per hour.” Mr. Perham: Will you now turn to Article 21 in the same schedule? Please read Sections A, B and C. Mr. Yaeger (Reading): “Article 21. Section A. Telegraphers required to work Sundays and the following holidays, New Year's, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, will receive overtime as per Articles 5 and 6 for all services performed. Sunday and holiday hours will be assigned within the hours of week day service, except as provided for in Article 6. “Telegraphers will receive not less than a special call for Sunday or holiday as- signments. Should holidays named above fall on Sunday, the (Jay following will be considered a holiday. “Section B. Telegraphers will not be required to work on holidays, except as provided for in Section *A’ erf this article, only when absolutely necessary to protect the company’s interest This article will be very liberally interpreted by the com- pany. ' “Section C. Where two or more teleg- raphers are employed and the condition of service will permit, one telegrapher may be used on alternate Sundays, ex- cept as provided for in Article 6." Mr. Perham: Now, it is your under- standing that that agreement was reached on December 12, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: That is correct. Mr. Perham: Scarcely sufficient time has elapsed to get a copy of that schedule from San Francisco to this point. Is not that true? Mr. Yaeger: That is true; only eight hoars. Mr. Perham: Can you tell us for the information of the Board, how you ar« rived at the conclusion that those agree- ments had been made that you have read? Mr. Yaeger: By telegraphing. Tele- graph information was received from the general chairman of the committee and the vice-president of our organization, in charge of the negotiations. Mr. Perham: And those telegrams were sent and answers received, since it was agreed to arbitrate the two questions at issue, were they not? Mr. Yaeger: That is correct. Mr. Perham : With that explanation in regard to this particular case, we offer a copy of the schedule as read by the witness, and six copies of Article 6, Sec- tions K, L and M, and Article 21, Sections A, B and C, for the inspection and use of the Board. Mr. Yaeger, are there other schedules in existence, carrying such rules in re- gard to Sunday wor^and pay? Mr. Yaeger: Yes; there are many others. Mr. Perham: You have seen them? Mr. Yaeger: Yes; I have. Mr. Perham:* But they are not here for our use at this time? Mr. Yaeger We did not compile them. We thought there were a sufficient num- ber of excerpts from various schedules throughout the country to make our point, and for that reason we did not care to go any further into the others. Mr. Perham: Have you a copy of the circular letter sent to the employes, dated December 12, 1917? Mr. Yaeger: Yes, sir; I have. Mr. Perham: Will you please read that circular — that is, including the question at the latter part of it? Mr. Yaeger: The letter was dated as follows: “Headquarters General Committee, Hotel Rennert, Baltimore, Md., December 12, 1917. “To all members: “With reference to our circular letters of September 12fth and November 21st your Committee desires to inform you that all questions at issue between your Committee and the officials of the Com- pany have been satisfactorily adjusted with the exception of the two most im- portant questions, namely: the rule pro- viding for Sunday pay and the increased wage rates. A few questions 'were set- tled by conference between your Commit- Digitized by v^ooole
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444 The Railroad Telegrapher. tee and the officials of the Company and a very large number of questions were settled by Mr. Commissioner Hanger, of the United States Board of Mediation and Conciliation; in fact, all that could be ac- complished by mediation. “On December 11th it was agreed be- tween your Committee and the Officials of the Company, through the good offices of Mr. Hanger, to arbitrate the questions as to pay for Sunday work and increased wage rate. “On account of the unprecedented de* lay incident to these negotiations, it is our desire to hurry along the arbitration proceedings so that an award may be handed down at the earliest possible moment. With this object in view it is desired that the membership furnish in- formation in regard to the facts in rela- tion to the demand fer an increase in wages. To get this information from the best and most available source we have propounded a few questions hereto at- tached and you are urged -to lay every- thing else aside and fill out the answers to the questions and mail the blank to J. Yeager, Box 130, Baltimore, Md. The reason for the request that this matter be attended to immediately is that the hearings are likely to commence within a week. “The questions may appear to be some- what inquisitive and highly personal, but it should be remembered that the answers are for the information of an Arbitration Board and for no other purpose than to help the individual who answers the ques- tions. “The answers should at least have the merit of truth to support them.” That was signed by myself, J. Yeager, B. C. Lewis, E. A. Shaffer, T. J. Eiler, F. F. Sullivan, O. E. Marsh, E. F. Stenger, and approved by the President, H. B. Perham, President. The questions are as follows: “1. What monthly wages do you receive from the Railroad Company? “2. What is your average monthly ex- press commission, if any? “3. What is your average monthly Western Union Commission, if any? “4. What sources of revenue have you other than those above described? •“5. Are you married? “6. How many persons have you de- pending upon you for support? “7. How many persons do you partially support, if any, and at what cost per month? “8. What does it cost you per month for food products? “9. What do you pay per month for board and room? “10. What does it cost you on the aver- age per month for clothing for yourself and family, if any? “11. What does it cost you on the aver- age per month for fuel, light and rent?- “12. What does it cost you per month for insurance, fraternal societies, labor or- ganizations, school, schurch, etc.? “13. What is your average monthly dis- bursements for living expenses? “14. How much on the average per month are you able to save from your income? “15. How many hours are you usually on duty on Sunday? “16. How many hours is it actually necessary for you to be on duty on Sun- day? “17. How long have you been in the service of tl*e Company?” We have a space for remarks, signa- ture, title, at what station employed, divi- sion of railroad, post office address, and the date, with the request again to mail it to myself. Mr. Perham: That letter was sent out the day after your mediation proceedings were stopped, was it not? After you bad reached a mediation agreement, you sent out that circular? Mr. Yaeger: Yes, that is right. To be accurate on it, we had it printed on December 12, and it was mailed from the post office at Baltimore here, Decem- ber 13th. Mr. Perham: You and your commit- tee have been in Baltimore ever since that time, have you not? Mr. Yaeger: We have. Mr. Perham: No influence was used Digitized by L Me
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 445 with the employes to answer any ques- tion in any particular way, was it? Mr. Yaeger: Not other than so stated in the letter. Mr. Perham: We offer six copies for use and inspection. Have you any replies to that letter yet? Mr. Yaeger: We have received, up to the last minute at noon today, 1,037 answers to the questions. Mr. Perham: But it is reasonable to assume that within 24 hours, you will have got from a majority of the men in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road, replies to this letter, is it not? Mr. Yaeger: It is; more than a major- ity at that time. Mr. Perham: These replies were pretty much of the same trend, were they not? , Mr. Yaeger: They run along the same general lines, all of them. Mr. Perham: Do you regard that as a fair illustration of the exact situation ex- isting with employes at this time? Mr. Yaeger: I do exactly. Mr. Perham: You have prepared these answers in some way to acquaint the board with their contents, have you not? Mr. Yaeger: 1 have assembled in divi- sion order — that is each employe on each division, and I have that in a package. Mr. Perham: How many superintend- ents of divisions are there on this road? Mr. Yaeger: I think we have 16. Mr. Perham: Then you have 16 pack- ages? Mr. Yaeger: I have 17 packages, with the what was known as Staten Island lines in New York. I have some received from them, which is operated by the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad Company. Mr. Perham: 1 will ask you to read the questions, answered from each di- vision, and afterwards file the entire number of answers with the Board, for inspection and use. May I explain to the Board that I be- lieve it would be a task to listen to the answers to these various questions that have been put, from 1,037; so my sug- gestion is to take three answers from each superintendent’s division on the road, which will indicate generally the trend of the answers and go to show the general situation all over the railroad system, and then when these question- naires are filed with the Board, if any- one chooses to, they may look through and see that the three on top are fairly indicative of all those below, although here and there there will be found some extraordinary situation, but it was our idea, under the stress of time and our anxiety to get this matter before the Ar- bitration Board, that there could be no better way of getting at the truth than by sending a circular leter to the men themselves, and getting them to send their answers back, without any kind of prompting on our part as to the way of answering the questions that we had al- ready propounded, and I believe it will be fair and it may appeal to you as being correct to read three of them and sub- mit the rest for your inspection. The Chairman: That will be satisfac- tory, I think, to the Board, with perhaps this limitation: That the representa- tives of the railroad company will have the opportunity to examine all of these answers and call to our attention any- thing peculiar about them that they think may be in their favor.' Mr. Perham: I would like to state at this time that anything that wre present in this case, we will be very glad to have the representatives of the railroad give a thorough examination. The Chairman: We are sure of that, but I was just making this assurance to them. (To be continued) Digitized by tjooole
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BRIEFS 1 It is patriotic, and a duty, to buy Lib- erty Bonds. The emancipation of railroad employes became effective February 21, 1918. Two thousand and seventy-one members were initiated into the Order during the month of March. Remember our 1918 slogan: “Sixty thousand members, an eight-hour day, overtime for all work performed on Sun- days and holidays.” The Blue Book , containing all schedules in efTect on the various railroads In the United States and Canada, December 31, 1917, will be received from our publishers in a few days and will be mailed to .each member of the organization in good stand- ing. Brother J. K. Whitfield, Cert 2132, In Div. 93, has placed the matter of im- proving the accounting system of some railroads before C. A. Prouty, Director of Public Service and Accounting. We trust Mr. Prouty will a<]opt a uniform system on each road. Do not overlook the Pension Fund of the organization. Every member js urged to familiarize himself with this subject We have been burdened with the con- scientious objecting NON since the found- ing of the organization. Eliminate him by persistent reasoning. Don't be a slacker to your country, your organization or your fellow- workers. Join the army of union workers and be a benefit to members of your craft. It may be all right to give the Devil his dues, but it is not all right for a union man to give his money to a non- union employer. Buy union-labeled goods and there will be no non-union employers. The “Blue Book” containing schedules of all railroads in effect December 31, 1917, is now being forwarded to all mem- bers in good standing. Delinquents should place themselves in good standing and receive this valuable publication. The Grand Secretary and Treasurer Is feeling ‘‘bully” over the success of the crusade movement which was inaugu- rated a few months ago to eliminate the “non” among train dispatchers, teleg- raphers, telephones, train directors, sta- tion agents, levermen, linemen and staff- men. Our old friend, W. A. Cullop, is a candi- date for nomination for Congress In the Second District of Indiana. During sev- eral sessions of Congress, he introduced bills of a remedial character in our be- half. There is no question about his receiving the support of railroad em- ployes. / Our request in the March issue for a drive to secure 1,800 new members dur- ing that month has been responded to quite liberally and it might be said be- yond our expectations, for our readers will observe we went over that number by more than two hundred. Let's make April a repeater. The union label on an article you pur- chase is the only assurance you can have that It Is produced by union labor. Pro- tect yourself and your union conditions by buying nothing to which it is not at- tached. In order to conserve transportation space shipment of any articles to troop9 in France unless they have been requested by the soldier himself was forbidden today by Major-Gen. March, actiag Chief of Staff. They will be refused by the Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 447 post office and express companies unless than 50 per cent of that amount, distrib- accompanied by an approved request from uted among over 90 per cent of America’s the soldier. soldiers and sailors. Our membership is leaping by bounds to that 60,000 mark called for. The or- ganization has a brilliant future. If each member will consider himself a part of the organization and assist in keeping the delinquent list to the lowest possible minimum, he will have accomplished his “bit" toward the organization. The de- linquent means re-organization. The hope of labor lies in the opportu- nities for freedom; military domination, supervision, checks, bondage, lie in Prus- sian rule. It is not through a German regime but through democracy that labor is to receive adequate recognition and Its realization of its rightful place In the world. Buy Liberty Bonds. v The National Conference of the Women’s Committee of the National Council of Defense has adopted the policy of discouraging the Industrial employ- ment of women until Idle men are set to work. Members of the conference as- sert that there are 60,000 idle unemployed men In New York, and reports show that other cities have comparatively large numbers. The battles of the union label are won without bloodshed. It Is more powerful than strikes and picketings; and is a potent wajming to tyrannical employers. It is as puissant in the hands of woman or child as the menacing declaration of a labor convention. K Is the boycott with- out publication. No injunction can reach it, no militia or Pinkerton dare touch * it, no pen will revile It, no pulpit assail Uncle Sam is the world’s best insurance agent, and he points to his record of $12,000,000,000 of insurance upon the lives of his military forces. A year ago the total amount of life insurance in this country was about $22,000,000,000. In a few months the government has written ten more The proceeds of the Liberty Loan, In- cluding the greater part of that loaned to our Allies, are being spent for .Amer- ican products — the products of our fac- tories, our farms, our mines, and other industries. In lending to the United States the people of the United States are lending to their best and largest customer and obtaining the safest invest- ment in the world. Buy Liberty Bonds. The aspiration of the union label knows na bounds. Its ambition is to redeem a world. Nothing In the whole realm of unionized labor is capable of such effec- tive and continuous utility. Other agen- cies have varying degrees of potentiality, and are intermittent' in effectiveness. Un- happily, they sometimes fail to win pub- lic sympathy, translate indifference into antagonism, Intensify the suspicion of em- ployers, and energize auction pens Into a malevolent assault upon the labor move- ment. From hundreds of thousands of Amer- ican farms, in answer to the call of their country and in obedience . to the law of their country, American boys have gone and today are fighting side by side with hundreds of thousands of American boys from the cities and towns of the coun- try, confronting danger and death. The duty of us who remain at home in safety to afford the means to make these boys powerful and victorious is a most imperative one. Buy Liberty Bonds. The House has approved wage increases of from 10 to 20 per cent to virtually all postal employes. The Senate bill only calls for a flat increase of 15 per cent for the fiscal year, to apply to every employe from assistant postmasters down to jan- itors. As the high cost of living will continue after the present fiscal year, the postal employes know that if the Senate bill is approved they will have to wage Digitized by v^oooLe
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448 The Railroad Telegrapher. another fight. This can be avoided if the House bill, which calls for permanent in- creases over standards of a decade ago, are approved. Mutual Benefit Department members who are contemplating enlisting for mil - itary or naval service , are urged to ar- range for the payment of dues and as- sessments-within two calendar months from January 1st and July 1st of each pear . Should a member who has enlisted forfeit his membership in the Mutual Benefit Department he will be unable to reinstate in this department while en- gaged in such service , therefore it is hoped that our boys will realize the neces- sity and importance of keeping in good standing by remitting both dues and as- sessments prior to February 2 8th and Au- gust 31 st of each semi-annual period. Five hundred thousand business men, comprising the membership of tlie United States Chamber of Commerce, adopted resolutions calling on Congress to make provision for harnessing the millions in water horsepower now running wild. Secretary of Interior Lane appeared be- fore the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce^ urging the prompt passage of the pending water pow- er bill. Predicting the continuance of the war for years, Mr. Lane declared the proposed law would serve to prevent ad- ditional “fuelless days” in future and there would be no hampering of produc- tion next winter, because of lack of coal. The proposed law, he said, would have the effect of keeping mills and factories busy on war work. •The United States did not enter into this war unadvisedly, hastily, under stress of heat or passion. We took the step calmly, soberly, reluctantly, with a full sense of the awful responsibilities in- volved, the sacrifices demanded, the mag- nitude of the task. President Wilson did not advise in his war message, nor did Congress act in de- claring a state of war between the United States and Germany without giving the most solemn consideration to what the action meant. They knew it meant the death of thousands of brave Americans; they knew it meant suffering and wounds and the disabling for life of hundreds of thousands of our young men. They counted to the full the human cost and the material cost. Buy Liberty Bonds . “Unless something is done to check the frightful extravagance of city govern- ment and set at naught the wild schemes of clerical market commissioners and mu- nicipal ownership theorists,” said Robert Dowling, president of the City Investing Co., before members of the Albany, N. Y., Senate, “New York City will lose its great- est asset, the middle class. No city, how- ever rich, can increase Its expenditure 164,000,000 in seven years with no cor- responding increase in the taxable Talue of its assets, without its burdens becom- ing intolerable and past enduring.” He added that by middle class he did not mean merely the real estate owner, but also everybody who had a dollar in the savings bank or who had a with- drawal value in an insurance policy or who was engaged in any retail or whole-, sale business. Do not fail to keep in good standing at all times. For the information of cer- tificate holders in the Mutual Benefit De- partment, the signing of the so-called “ap- plication for reinstatement ” or “war waiver ” is required of members who have allowed their membership to become de- linquent, by failing to pay their dues and assessments within two calendar months from the beginning of a semi-annual dues period , in accordance with Article XV of the Mutual Benefit Department laws. In order to avoid signing this “application for reinstatement members are urged to keep their membership continuous by for- warding remittances in payment of both dues and assessments prior to February 2Sth and August 31 st of each semi-annual period , the beginning of which periods are January 1st and July 1st of each year. The signing of “ supplement to ap- plvnafim'* is required of all new members . Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 449 , An information service, free to em- ployers and wage earners, and open 24 hours a day, will be established by the United States Employment Service. By addressing requests to “Question Depart- ment, United States Employment Service, Department of Labor, Washington, D. C.,” or telephoning “Main 8474, Washington ,” information will be given on the follow- ing and other subjects: How to obtain any class of wrokers, from the unskilled to the ablest engi- neers. How to obtain employment in any city or In the agricultural districts. Up-to-date statistics on the cost of liv- ing. Whom to, see in the event of threat- ened strikes or lockouts. Laws for the protection of men, women and children in industry. Immigration and naturalization data. Queries in French and Italian will read- ily be answered. Secretary of the Interior has issued in- vitations to the governors of the States, to the chairmen of the State Defense Councils, to about 300 presidents *of cor- porations and Chambers of Commerce, and other industrial leaders to meet him on April 3 in Washington to consider the national plan of Americanization project- ed by the Department of the Interior. The object is to reach an agreement as to putting the plan into operation through the State governments and in- dustrial establishments. The plan calls for an appropriation to the United States Bureau of Education for rendering fi- nancial and other assistance to the States joining in a concerted plan to Americanize the millions of people of foreign birth in the country. “English the Language of the United States,” is the slogan. The department’s investigations show that 5,000,000 persons of foreign birth do not speak the English language, while 3,000,000 males of military age — that is, from 18 to 45 years — are unnaturalized. Secretary Edward A. Bates, of the New York State Federation of Labor, issued a report in which he contends that the adoption of health insurance by the, Leg- islature would benefit the employers as well as the workers of this State. The benefits which he believes would accrue to industry from health insuN ance are the securing of maxmum, sus- tained output through the increased effi- ciency of healthy workers; reducing the high cost of labor “turnover” due to sick- ness; enhancing the physical vigor of the labor population by adequate maternity care; bringing about “health first,” as workmen’s compensation resulted in “safety first,” because of the financial in- centive to adopt measures of prevention; insuring sound business-like manage- ment of the sick funds, placing the health insurance work “beyond the reach of politicans as well as beyond the commer- cial manipulations of insurance com- pany agents,” and relieving enlightened, humane employers from heavier burdens than are now assumed by indifferent em- ployers. The world will be a poor place for a lazy man if the war continues. Legis- latures throughout the United States and Canada are busy preparing laws similar to those now in force in Maryland, New Jersey and other States. And, to make matters worse for the parasite, Congress is framing a new section to the selec- tive service act, which will strike at the man who does not work, has no obliga- tions and is engaged in a “harmful” pur- suit. The intention of Congress is to “purify” the second, third and fourth classes of men engaged in non-productive industries. Gamblers, bookmakers, poolroom touts, etc., will be sought out and drafted. To aid the draft boards in this work, the American Defense Society proposes a census of unemployed men in the cities. Such a census, it is said, would provide much needed labor for the farms. In Canada, the rich man will not be free to doze his days away in clubroom or to waste them on the links. No mat- ter how rich a man is, if he is physically fit, he must work, according to a Do- minion order in council. Digitized by LaOOQLe
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PERSONAL MENTION The following births have been reported since the last issue of The Telegrapher: To Bro. and Mrs. A. M. Hammond, of San Francisco, Cal., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. A. Sawyer, of Janes- ville, Minn., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. W. H. Hancock, of Walnut Grove, Cal., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. E. Marshall, of Pot- terville, Mich., a girl. To Bro. arid Mrs. Fred Jones, of Mill- ville, Mass, a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. J. M. Wood, of Milton, Wis., a girl. • To Bro. and Mrs. W. D. Falvey, of Indianapolis, Ind., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. A. Frederickson, of Archer, Wyo„ a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. M. Brown, of Kan- sas City, Mo., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. J. L. Morris, of Pene- lope, Tex., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. D. McDonald, of Redditt, Ont., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. H. W. Brock, of Marion, Ind., a boy. 1 To Bro. and Mrs. W. F. Bryant, of Ho- gatf. Mo., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. G. M. Manaugh, of Camargo, 111., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. F. I. Van Wagnen, of Jackson, Mich., twin boys. The following marriages have been re- ported since the last issue of The Telegrapher: Bro. C. E. Stout, of Div. 130, to Miss Orva Estelle Jackson. At Ghent, N. Y., Bro. A. H. Melins, of Div. 8, to Miss Harriett Vincent. Bro. Frank E. Snow to Sister Estella Hulehan, of Div. 54. At Stamford, Conn., Bro. John French, of Div. 37, to Miss Alice R. Matthews. At Livingston, Mont., Bro. H. C. Tietz, to Sister Ruth McClatchey, of. Div. 54. The Telegrapher extends congratula- tions to the happy couples. The following deaths have been re- ported since the last issue of The Teleg- rapher: Bro. H. E. Krouse, of Div. 173. Bro. E. P. Adney, of Div. 168. Bro. Fred D. Wilcox, of Div. 8. At Port Clinton, Ohio, wife of Bro. G. T. Conley and mother of Bro. C. C. Conley, of Div. 19. At La Grange, Ind., father of Bro. R. E. Turley, of Div. 1. At Perry, Kans., son of Bro. A. B. Campbell, of Div. 6. At Perry, Kans., wife of Bro. C. A. Hoar, of Div. 6. At Hillsdale, N. Y., father of Bro. J. Fred Shutts, of Div. 8. Mother of Bro. T. Collins, of Div. 7. Son of Bro. M. Butcher, of Div. 7. Wife of Bro. W. C. Lloyd, of Div. 15. Father of Bro. O. L. Johnson, Jr., of Div. 15. Father of Bro. T. F. Donnelly, of Div. 8. Son of Bro. W. F. Morey, of Div. 8. Wife of Bro. Patrick Fay, of Div. 8. Wife of Bro. G. T. Klrchner, of Div. 130. Son of Bro. C. F. Gowdy, of Div. 31. Mother of Bro. Charles Sanford, of Div. 8. Daughter of Bro. R. Inglert, of Div. 3. Father of Bro. H. G. Loring, of Div. 8. Wife of Bro. C. E. Hubbard, of Div. 23. Father of Bro. C. F. Ogier, of Div. 33. Wife of Bro. S. C. McCoy, of Div. 33. At Toledo, Ohio, wife of Bro. G. D. Lewis, of Div. 164. At Ellisville, Miss., mother of Bros. Roy and L. C. Moffett, of Div. 62. At Burlington Junction, Mo., father of Bro. Frank P. Hagey, of Div. 6. Digitized by LaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 451 Father of Bro. E. I. Erskine, of Div. 33. Daughter of Bro. F. C. Drake, of Div. 36. The two children of Bro. Geo. E. Woods, of Div. 37. The bereaved relatives have the sym- pathy of alL WANTED. Whereabouts of George Craig, thirty- two years old; weight, 160 pounds; ma- chinist. James Craig, Elizabeth, N. J. 1153 E. Grand St. Kindly keep a look-out for the “Ward and Delbridge Combined Shows,0 and let me know the date they play your town, and, if possible, their future date, so a letter will reach them. H. Y. Ballou, Seattle, Wash. Hotel Rhein. Bro. L. S. Jarboe, assigned third trick Mojave, Cal., with seniority dating from October 6, 1916, wishes to exchange with someone on Salt Lake Division. Anyone desiring information, address him above. The present address of Earl D. Spicer, last heard from was working on Rock Island, at Valley Crossing, or Neola, la. Earl, if you^see this, please write. Present address of V. E. Hutton, last heard of working for Ann Arbor Ry., at Owosso, Mich., in Dispatchers' Office. "VH”, if you see this, please write me, as have very important news for you. F. D. Chism, Jackson, Ohio. Address of Alex Crew, whom I worked with on K. C. M. & O., of Texas, at Chilli- cothe, Tex., 1914. “Am in the oil game, something to your interest if you write me." H. H. Dutton. Glen Rock, Wyo. FOUND. An O. R. T. watch charm in an empty box car, billed to me at Delmont agency, C. M. & St. P. Ry., from Sioux City. C. R. Fletcher, * Delmont, S. Dak. LOST OR STOLEN. Card No. 16404, Cert. 6901, Grand Divi- sion, for term tending June 30, 1918. Card No. 3887, Cert. 6020, Grand Divi- sion, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No.- 3771, Cert. 419, Div. 25, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 866, Cert. 52, Div. 15, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 6463, Cert. 1599, Div. 14, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 372, Cert. 3091, Div. 93, for year ending December 31, 1918. Card No. 23876, Cert. 2142, Div. 1, for term ending June 30, 1918. Annual card No. 2157, Cert. 1553, Div. 130, for year ending December 31, 1918. Card No. 9999, Cert. 320, Div. 37, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 35094, Cert. 179, Div. 18, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 12594, Cert. 3743, Div. 7, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card. No. 5540, Cert. 6705, Grand Divi- sion, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 4110, Cert. 2040, Div. 3, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 14153, Cert. 828, Div. 34, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 25472, Cert. 83, Div. 4, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 5025, Cert. 86, Div. 48, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 12983, Cert. 1197, Div. 54, for term ending June 30, 1918. Annual Card No. 488, Cert. 3457, Div. 93, for the year ending December 31, 1918. Card No. 20546, Cert. 1559, Div. 119, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 1611, Cert. 862, Div. 15, for term ending June 30, 1918.- Digitized by v^oooLe
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“There is a river in France so narrow that you can talk across it. Birds can fly over with one sweep of their wings. Great armies are on either bank, but they are as far apart as the stars in the sky, as far as right and wrong. “There is a great ocean. It is so wide that seagulls cannot fly across it without rest. Upon either shore there are great nations. They are so close that their hearts touch.” — Written by a French girl, 16 years old. THE UNION LABEL. % By Kate E. Carb, President. The union label originated in 1896 with the cigannakers of San Francisco in their conflict with Chinese labor. Since that time its application has spread until all trade unions look to it as one of the most -successful means of waging the struggle with combined capital and that class of workmen which embraces the strike- breaker, the scab, coolie labor, child labor, and employes of the open shop. During its brief "history in national trade unionism, the scope of the label has ex- tended from a single industry to more than fifty crafts in North America, whose products enter into almost every article of household and personal use. Adopted by trade unions as a means for the peaceful solution of the boycott question, the union label has become powerful because it accomplishes by peaceful means with absolute certainty and with little cost that which the strike and boycott seek to accomplish, always at great cost and sacrifice. The silent strength of the label develops with every union-made purchase. It creates a de- mand for the union products. It beckons to the fair employer. It fosters the sani- tary workshop. It shortens the work day. It is a weapon for the obtaining of a more equitable distribution of the products of all union workmen. It promulgates the every demand of unionism. The union label Is an appeal to prin- ciple. Its presence on the household goods and personal apparel of a work- man, assures his fellow workmen of his or her true blue spirit toward the ethics of their common cause. It advocates to the public that its possessor indorses those rules which will make it possible for cleanliness, morality, honesty, and true brotherly love to exist in all indus- trial life. Its presence signifies that the possessor is doing his part to take the children from the sweatshop and give them the opportunity of good citizenship which every child should have. The label on the hundreds of commodities, which you may purchase, is a record of the silent battle being waged to obtain a living wage for women. The workers who strike in protest against their wrongs may be defeated, but the public protest registered in the* de- mand for the label is invincible. The country-wide distribution of union-made goods makes it possible for every union man and woman to contribute in this cam- paign against the atrocities of capitalism and ignorance. Are you lending the pur- chasing power of your dollars In this fight? Take an inventory of the labels on your personal • belongings and decide whether or not you are doing your bit in the struggle for justice in the cause of labor. NOTES FROM THE GRAND SECRE- TARY AND TREASURER. A very interesting article appeared in one of the dailies recently, relative to Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 453 the shortage of school teachers in the elementary schools of the country. It stated that the shortage of teachers, in taking more remunerative positions, was causing the department of education much concern, and that this shortage could not be bvercome, unless better sal- aries were paid for this class of work. At last the teachers' profession recog- nizes the benefits of organization, and if such a stand had been taken long ago, they would have received the salaries they are now asking for. In a letter from our grand president, Sister Kate EJ. Carr, she states that she and Sister Elise A. Mielke, have been elected delegates to attend the annual convention of the Women’s Legislative Council of the State of Washington, held in Tacoma from April 9th to 11th, in- clusive. We feel certain these sisters will rep- resent our organization in such a man- ner that they will do credit to us. Never before has the demand to or- ganize been greater than at present, when our members are called upon to fill of- fices in councils and boards. Send for blanks by return mail, and join so that we can be ready at all times for what- ever we are called upon to do. Mrs. Florence P. Pierce, Halethorpe, Balto. Co., Md. TACOMA LOCAL, No. 54. The usual good time was enjoyed at our meeting, March 27 th, at Sister Grovers, Nisqually, even though it rained from sunup to sundown. The follow- ing cities and towns were represented: Elma, Olympia, Kelso, Adna, Litteli, Cen- tralia, Sixth Ave. and Tacoma, also Nis- qually. I’ll say so, those who didn’t at- tend will never know what they missed. Sister Mielke visited Sister and Bfo. Carr at Olympia, one day last week, for the purpose of discussing ways to organ- ize the five remaining nons on this divi- sion. Let us hope they solved the prob- lem. Sister Long also made several trips to Olympia. Bro. and Sister Long will soon leave us, going to the wilds of Fairfax, which Bro. Long received on bid. Sister Melton was seen on her way to Tacoma. Bro. and Sister Emerick are opening a lunch room at Nisqually. We hope it’s a success. Sister Grover spent the month’s end visiting out-of-town friends. Sister Sherwood, of Tacoma, and Sis- ter Carr, of Olympia, are delegates to the annual convention of the Women’s Legis- lative Council of Washington, to be held in Tacoma, April 9th, 10th and 11th. The council represents the leading fraternal, educational, political, patriotic, indus- trial, welfare and legislative clubs and societies in our state. The council is planning a broad scope of work for the coming year and every- one who can should be on hand at our next meeting to hear the interesting re ports of the delegate sisters.. At the last O. R. T. meeting held in Centralia, the entertainment and “eats” provided by the attending auxiliary sis- ters was so well received by the brothers that we are planning a surprise for their next meeting. Brothers, don’t miss it. Our president suggests that we devote much of our time at our April- meeting in discussing the uses of the flour sub- stitutes. Sisters will therefore come pre- pared to give in detail their experiences, in using these victory flour stuffs, and incidentally might bring samples featur- ing this line. At the next meeting, sisters, we want you all to be there. Come early and stay late, and when each and everyone of you return stop at each sister’s house you pass and tell them what a good time is had at these meetings. The next meeting will be held in Kelso, April 24th, at the home of Sister Ina Dickinson. Div. Cors. Y. W. C. A. FOR EMPLOYED GIRLS. Every Y. W. C. A. throughout the United States has received a card from Digitized by Google
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454 The Railroad Telegrapher. Miss Mary E. McDowell of the University of Chicago Settlement, requesting the fol- lowing information: The number of women, foreign or native, taking men’s places in industries where they have not been before; the kind of work they are doing; the organization that has been made to prepare them for men’s work and facts regarding their wages, regard- ing night and overtime work and any additional facts. This is the beginning of a nation-wide movement to start vigorous industrial work in the association. Summer councils, summer conferences and other efforts will be pushed to turn out a hundred industrial leaders by fall for noon hour work in factories and places of business, recreational work among girl workers and for general in- vestigation of situations throughout the great industrial centers. The aim of all this effort is to keep industrial women, at their best. As it is, they are being pushed into work which they have never done before, and it is important that they understand the Sit- uation themselves, and that they be made aware of the protection which the states offer to them. “In gathering the girls together in clubs, the effort will be to support and steady the highest element among them in their work and play and so to per- meate the whole and to establish a gen- eral morale which shall make for the highest standards of character and in- dustry,” says Miss Florence Simms, Sec- retary of the Industrial Department. KEEP YOUR HEAD. An irresponsible weather vane is no more uncertain guide in these war torn days jthan “Your patriotic duty” is as a slogan. “Do your shopping between 10 a. m. and 4 p. m. and leave the early morning and late afternoon cars for war work- ers.” This sign is posted among the “Safety First” and other bulletins. Why “war workers?” Is all the mass of hurry- ing, struggling, scrambling humanity crowding the cars night and morning; made up of “war workers?” “We have just two minutes to catch the train, son, we, must run.” But the boy like a flash was down the muddy street, stooping to pick up things in his flight. “Itte coal,” he shrieked, and he was back with smudgy mittens and three small black lumps. “Papa said we must save every bit of coal we can." Patriotic “conservation” missed the train. “Hoover has got me queered about white — I'll try rye bread. You can use the white .bread up another way.” The white bread appeared again, but several eggs had been used to make it accept- able to the masculine palate — not the first time that misdirected patriotism has proved a counter-irritant for the kitchen. “No, it’s not for the boys, of course,” said a girl who wras working away on a rose-colored scarf one balmy Sunday on a Florida beach, “but if I finish this today I shall have time to work at the Red Cross tomorrow. I simply must have the scarf to wear with my pink organdie.” Through the Sunday evening sermon in a popular church, a member of the choir worked on a sweater before the great audience in front of the choir stall. “Our pastor encourages it and I am justi- fied because of the terrible need of the boys,” she explained later. Yet the girl had taken time during the week for twro parties and a luncheon where knitting wras out of the question. “I know it seems funny to be sewing on Sunday, but I am working for ’French orphans. With my club and church and social affairs during the week I have got to work Sundays if I do my patriotic part. I don’t let my neighbors see me, of course. I sit back from the windows. The influence might not be good.” Will the knitting needles and work basket return to their over-Sunday places when peace terms are signed? Women’s Works and War, National Women’s Trade UStion League. Digitized by Google
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SECOND SEVENTY-SEVEN. IT is a bad grade yet. But before the new work was done on the ri^er division, Beverly Hill was a terror to trainmen. On rainy Sundays old switchmen in the Zanesville yards still tell in their shanties of the nights the Blackwood bridge went out and Cameron’s stock train got away on the hill, with the Den- ver flyer caught at the foot like a rat in a trap. Ben Buckley was only a big boy then, braking on freights; I was dispatcher under Alex Campbell on the West End. Ben was a tall, loose-jointed fellow, but gentle as a kitten; legs as long as pinch- bars, yet none too long, running for the Beverly switch that night. His great chum in those days was Andy Cameron. Andy was the youngest engineer on the line. The first time I ever saw them to- gether Andy, short and chubby as a duck, was dancing around, half-dressed, on the roof of the bath-house, trying to get away from Ben, who had the fire-hose below, playing on him with a two-inch stream of ice-water. They were up to some sort of prank all the time. June was usually a rush month with us. From the coast We caught the new crop of Japan teas and the fall importa- tions of China silks. California still sent her fruits and Colorado was beginning cattle shipments. From Wyoming came sheep, and from Oregon, steers; and all these not merely in carloads, but in solid trains. At times we were swamped. The overland traffic alone was enough to keep us busy^ on top of it came a great movement of grain from Nebraska that summer, and to crown our troubles a rate war sprang up. Every man, woman, and child east of the Mississippi ap- peared to have but one object in life — that was to get to California, and to go over our road. The passenger traffic burdened our resources to the last degree. 1 was putting on a new man every day then. We start them at braking on freights; usually they work for years at that before they get a train. But when a train-dispatcher is short on crews, he must have them, and can only press the best material within reach. Ben ^uck- ley had not been braking three months when I called him up one day and asked him if he wanted a train. “Yes, sir. I’d like one first rate. But you know I haven’t been braking very long, Mr. Heed," said he, frankly. “How long have you been in the train service?” I spoke brusquely, though I knew, with- out even looking at my service-card, just how long it was. “Three months, Mr. Reed.” It was right to a day. “I’ll probably have to send you out on 77 this afternoon,” I saw him stiffen like a ramrod. “You know we’re pretty short,” I continued. “Yes, sir.” “But do you know enough to keep your head on your shoulders and your train on your orders?” Ben laughed a little. “I think I do. Will there be two sections today?” “They’re loading eighteen cars of stock at Ogalalla; if we get any hogs off the Beaver, there will be two big sections. I shall mark you up for the first one, anyway, and send you out right behind the flyer. Get your badge and your punch from Carpenter — and whatever you do, Buckley, don't get rattled.” Digitized by Google
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456 The Railroad Telegrapher. “No, sir; thank you, Mr. Reed.” But Ms “thank you” was so pleasant I could not altogether ignore it; I com- promised with a cough. Perfect cour- tesy, even in the hands of the awk- wardest boy that ever wore his trousers short, is a surprisingly hancly thing to disarm gruff people with. Ben was unde- niably awkward; Ms legs were too long, and his trousers decidedly out of touch with his feet; but I turned away with the conviction that in spite of his gawki- ness, there was something to the boy. That night proved it. When the flyer pulled in from the West in the afternoon, it carried two extra sleepers. In all, eight Pifllmans, and every one of them loaded to the ventilators. While the train was changing engines and crews, the excursionists swarmed out of the hot cars to walk up and down the platform. They were from New York, and had a hand with them — as jolly a crowd as we ever hauled — and I noticed many boys and girls sprinkled among the grown folks. As* the heavy train pulled slowly out, the band played, the women waved hand- kerchiefs, and the boys shouted them- selves hoarse — it was like a holiday, everybody seemed so happy. All I hoped, as I saw the smoke of the engine turn to dust on the horizon, was that I could get them over my division and their lives safely off my hands. For a week we had had heavy rains, and the bridges and track gave us worry. Half an hour after the flyer left, 77, the fast stock-frteight, wound like a great snake around the bluff, after it. Ben Buckley, tall and straight as a pine, stood on the caboose. It was his first train, and he looked as if he felt it. In the evening I got reports of heavy rains east of us, and after 77 reported “cut” of Turner Junction and pulled over the divide towards Beverly, it was storm- ing hard all along the line. By the time they reached the hill, Ben had his men out setting brakes — tough work on that kind of a night; but when the big en- gine struck the bluff, the heavy train was well in hand, and it rolled down the long grade as gently as a curtain. But Ben wras none too careful, for half-way down the hill they exploded tor- pedoes. Through the driving storm, the tail lights of the flyer were presently seen. As they pulled carefully ahead, Ben made his way through the mud and rain to the head end, and found the passenger train stalled. Just before them was Blackwood Creek, bank full, and the bridge swinging over the swollen stream like a grape-vine. At the foot of Beverly Hill there Is a siding — a long siding, once used as a sort of cut-off to the upper Zanesville yards. This side track parallels the main track for half a mile, and on this sid- ing, Ben, as soon as he saw the situation, drew in with his train so that it lay beside the passenger train and left the main line clear behind. It then became his duty to guard the track to the rear, where the second section of the stock train would soon be due. It was peering rain and as dark as a pocket. He started his hind-end brake- man back on the run with red lights and torpedoes to- warn the second section well up the hill. Then walking across from his caboose, he got under the lee of the hind Pullman sleeper to watch for the expected headlight. The storm increased in violence. It was not the rain driving in torrents, not the lightning blazing, nor the deafening crashes of thunder, that worried him, but the wind — it blew a gale. In the flare of the lightning he could see the oaks which crowned the bluffs whip like wil- lows in a storm. It swept quartering down the Beverly cut as if it would tear the ties from under the steel. Suddenly he saw, far up in the black sky, a blazing star. It was the headlight of the Second Seventy- Seven. A whistle cut the wind; then another. It was the signal for brakes; the second section was coming down the steep grade. He wondered how far back his man had got with the bombs. Even as he won- dered, he saw a yellow flash below the headlight; it was the first torpedo. The Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 457 second section was already well down the top of the hill. Could they hold it to the bottom? Like an answer came shorter and sharper the whistles for brakes. Ben thought he knew who was on that en- gine; thought he knew that whistle — for engineers whistle as differently as they talk. He still hoped and believed — knowing who was on the engine — that the brakes would hold the heavy load; but he feared — A man running up in the rain passed him. Ben shouted and held up his lan* tern; it was his head brakeman. “Who's pulling Second Seventy-Seven?" he cried? “Andy Cameron." “How many air cars has he got?" “Six or eight," shouted Ben. “It's the wind, Daley — the wind. Andy can hold her if anybody can. But the wind; did you ever see such a blow?" Even while he spoke, the cry for brakes came a third time on the storm. A frightened Pullman porter opened the rear door of the sleeper. Five hun- dred people lay In the excursion train, unconscious of this avalanche rolling down upon them. The conductor of the flyer ran up to Ben in a panic. “Buckley, they’ll telescope us." “Can you pull ahead any?" “The bridge is out." “Get out your passengers," said Ben’s brakeman. “There's no time," cried the passenger conductor, wildly, running off. He was panic-stricken. The porter tried to speak. He took hold of the brakeman’s arm, but his voice died in his throat; fear para- lyzed him. Down the wind came Camer- on's whistle clamoring now ih alarm. It meant the worst, and Ben knew it: The stock train was running away. There were plenty of things to do if there was only time; but there was hardly time to think. The passenger crew were running about like men dis- tracted, trying to get the sleeping travel- ers out. Ben knew they oould not pos- sibly reach a tenth of them. In the thought of what it meant, an inspiration came like a flash. He seized his brakeman by the shoul- der. For two weeks the man carried the marks of his hand. “Daley!" he cried, in a voice like a pistol crack, “get those two stockmen out of the caboose. Quick, man! I’m going to throw Cam*eron into the cattle." It was a chance — single, desperate, but yet a chance — the only chance that of- fered to save the helpless passengers in his charge. If he could reach a siding switch ahead of the runaway train, he could throw the deadly catapult on the siding and into his own train, and so save the unconscious travelers. Before the words wrere out of his mouth he started up the track at topmost speed. The angry wind staggered him. It blew out his lantern, but he 'flung it away, for he could throw the switch in the dark. A sharp gust tore half his raincoat from his back; ripping off the rest, he ran on. When the wind took his breath he turned his back and fought for another. In desperate haste he dashed ahead; the headlight loomed before him like a mountain of flame. There was light enough now through the sheets of rain that swept down on him, anjl there ahead, the train hlmost on it, was the switch. Could he make it? A cry from the sleeping children rose in his heart. Another breath, an Instant floundering* a slipping leap, and he had it. He pushed the key into the lock, threw the switch and snapped it, and to make deadly sure, braced himself against the target-rod. Then he looked. No whistling now; it was past that. He knew the fireman would have jumped. Cameron, too? No, not Andy, not if the pit yawned in front of his pilot. He saw streams of fire flying from many wheels — he felt the glare of a daz- zling light — and with a rattling crash the ponies shot into the switch. The bar in his hands rattled as if it would jump from the socket, and, lurching frightfully, Digitized by Google
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458 The Railroad Telegrapher. the monster took the siding. A flare of lightning lit the cab as it shot past, and he saw Cameron leaning from the cab window, with face of stone, his ey^s riveted on the gigantic drivers that threw a sheet of fire from Jhe sanded rails. “Jump!'’ screamed Ben, useless as he knew it was. What voice could live in that hell of noise? What man escape from that cab now? One, two, three, four cars pounded over the split rails in half as many seconds. Ben, running dizzily for life to the right, heard above the roar of the storm and screech of the sliding wheels a rip- ping, tearing crash, the harsh scrape of escaping steam, the hoarse cries of the wounded cattle. And through the dread- ful dark and the fury of the babel the wind howled in a gale and the heavens poured a flood. Trembling from excitement and ex- haustion, Ben staggered down (he main track. A man with a lantern ran against him; it was the brakeman who had been back with the torpedoes; he was crying hysterically. They stumbled over a body. Seizing the lantern, Ben turned the prostrate man over and wiped the mud from his face. Then he held the lantern close, and gave a great cry. It was Andy Cameron— unconscious, true, but soon very much alive, and no worse than badly bruised. How the good God who watches over plucky engineers had thrown him out from the horrible wreckage only He knew. But there Andy lay; and with a lighter heart Ben headed a wrecking crew to begin the task of searching for any who might by fatal chance have been caught in the crash. And while the trainmen of the freights worked at the wreck the passenger train was backed slowly — so slowly and so smoothly — up over the switch and past, over the hill and past, and so to Turner Junction, and around by Oxford to Zanes- ville. * * * When the sun rose the earth glowed in the freshness of its June shower-bath. T1 < flyer, now many miles from Beverly Hill, was speeding in towards Omaha, and mothers waking their little ones In the berths told them how close death had passed while they slept. One little boy went ' with his papa to the depot master at Omaha when the flyer stopped, and gave him his toy watch, and asked him please to give to That Man who had saved his mamma's life by running so far in the rain, and please to tell him how much obliged he was — if he would be so kind. So the little toy watch came to our superintendent, and so to me; and I, sit- ting at Cameron’s bedside, talking the wreck over with Ben, gave it to him; and the big fellow looked * as pleased as if it had been a jeweled chronometer; in- deed, that was the only medal Ben got. The truth is we had no gold medals to distribute out on the West End in those days. We gave Ben the best we had, and that was a passenger run. But he is a great fellow among the railroad men. And on stormy nights switchmen in the Zanesville yards, smoking in their shanties, still tell of that night, that storm, and how Ben Buckley threw Second Seventy-Seven at the foot of Beverly Hill. — By Frank H. Spearman. (From “The Nerve of Foley" and Other Railroad Stories.) THE LOST ENGINE. “▼’I WHEN I was speaking the other l#m / day," said the Jericho station- » w master, “of railroad ghosts — * trains, engines and such — you didn’t seem to believe that there are any such things. Now, to show that I was telling the truth. I’ll tell you about the ghost of an engine that I saw myself, and that lots of other men on this road have seen. Just wait till that train starts and we have this station to ourselves, as usual. “Quite a few years ago we had an en- gine on this road that you would just have admired to see. She was the ‘Fanny Ellsler’ — that was her name, be- ing named after one of the Queens of France, or some other place. Nowadays we don’t think that sixty miles an hour is any very great speed; but in those Digitized by L.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 459 days the Fanny, as we called her for short, was the only engine in this part of the country that could do her mile in sixty seconds. Naturally the road was proud of her, and the men bragged of her, especially when they met any of the men that worked on the Middle Southern road, 'which was considered by some to be a sort of rival of our road, though it was a poor, half-bankrupt concern. “The engineer of the Fanny was an old fellow by the name of Gridley. He was allowed to be the best engineer on thb road at that time. He used to be able to do anything with that engine, and he was the only man who could manage her. There was always some- thing queer about the Fanny. She had a trick of getting tired, or of letting oh that she was tired, and refusing to work. She’d be a-going along at her usual gait, and all of a sudden she would slow down and pretty near quit making steam. No engineer except Gridley could manage her when she got these fits on. “Other men who tried to run her found that the only thing they could do was to wait until she got good and ready to move on. But Gridley, he would just polish up her brasses a bit, whistling some cheerful tune, and now and then saying something pleasant to her, and all of a sudden she would just hump herself and travel along as if there had never been anything the matter. After the superintendent got to know the Fanny pretty well, he would never allow any- body except Gridley to take her out of the yard. He used to run her the length of the road twice a day, except Sun- days, and wrhen he wasn’t taking a holi- day. “One morning Gridley comes to me looking about as scared as ever I saw a man look. “'What’s the matter?’ says I, begin- ning to fear that some accident had happened on the road. “ ‘The Fanny is lost/ says he. MrWhat do you mean?' says I. * ‘I went to the engine-house this morn- ing/ says he, speaking slow and dazed like, ‘and the Fanny wasn’t there. You know she goes into the engine-house ev- ery night at 7:30; and last night I put her in as usual and stopped while the fireman banked the fires. When we left there was nobody in the place, and, as you know, nobody ever goes near it dur- ing the night. This morning at 6:15 I went down to bring her out, and she wasn’t there. The fireman had been about five minutes ahead of me, and he was as much astonished as I was. Well, we easy enough found that she wasn't anywhere in .Spartansville, and then we inquired after her by telegraph. There wasn’t a blessed station on the road that had seen hide or hair of her. The superintendent has started on a special from Athensville, and is going the whole length of the road to see if there are any signs of her having been taken out and ditched, but he’ll never find her/ “ ‘What on earth do .vou cal'late has become of her?’ said I. “ ‘She has been stole/ answered Grid- ley. “ ‘How’s a man going to steal a locomo- tive?’ says I. ‘Do you cal’late that some chicken-stealer got into the engine-house at night and carried the Fanny off under his coat?’ “ ‘No, I don’t/ says Gridley, “but mebbe some of those chaps of the Middle South- ern road has got tired of hearing us brag about the Fanny, and has come up and carried her off.’ “ ‘Carried her off in a bag or a wheel- barrow?’ says I, for I thought he was talking nonsense. “There was no usinp talking with Grid- ley about the thing, and so I let him have his own ideas. As far as I was concerned I didn’t have any ideas what- ever on the subject. I didn’t believe that the engine was a ghost, for I had made too many trips on her not to be sure that she was good honest steel and brass. And I didn't believe that she had been hauled across the country by ox teams, for in that case her tracks would have been left in the road, and there weren’t no tracks visible anywhere. The thing Just seemed to me to be a big mystery. Digitized by v^oooLe
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460 The Railroad Telegrapher, “The superintendent spoke to me about it himself, for I happened to meet him down at Tiberius Centre when he was on the search for the Fanny, and I could see that it was his belief that she had been stolen. I told him fair and square that it was a mystery, and that he would have to wait till he got to a better world before he would find out the truth about it. “Gridley wouldn’t take another engine. He said that unless he found the Fanny he would never touch a lever again. I didn’t see him for pretty nearly two months, and they told me that he was gone on a hunt for the Fanny and prob- ably wouldn't ever Return. But one day who should come to my boarding-house but Gridley, looking thin and ragged and dirty. He was more excited than I had ever known him to be engineers being men who very seldom ever allow any- thing to excite them. “‘I’ve found the Fanny,’ says he in a sort of a whisper. “‘Well, I want to know!’ says I, for I was mightily astonished. “ ‘It was the Middle Southern that stole her,’ said he. ‘She’s down at West Saragossa, not ten miles from here. I saw her there yesterday myself. They've lacquered her brasswork black, and they’ve given her a new smokestack, and they’ve changed her name to the Poca- hontas, and her own builder wouldn't have known her. But I knew her just as soon as I heard her puff. She’s haul- ing the express on the Southern road, and she lays up at West Saragossa at night, and I want you to come down with me tonight and we’ll steal her.' “ ‘Why don't you tell the superintend- ent, and let him put in a claim for her?’ I asked. “ ‘Because he could never prove that she is the Fanny. No, sir! she’s got to be stole, and I know how to get her onto our track.’ “‘How’s that?’ says I. “ ‘Don’t you remember,’ says Gridley, ‘that down the road about seventy miles from here the Southern track runs par- allel to ours for a spell and only about twenty yards away? When the Fanny was stole she was taken to this here place, and the rails were unspiked and led across to the Southern track. It’s easy enough to do, and we’ll do the same. I want you to come along because you know a fireman’s duties middling well, and I won’t trust any of our firemen on a job of this kind.’ “Well, I said I would go, and we took a horse and buggy and drove over to West Saragossa that afternoon good and early, so as to see how the land lay. When night came on we went out of town a bit, and stayed in the woods until about 1 o’clock, and then we crept down to the engine-house and shoved the Fanny out by putting our backs to her; and when we got her on the main track we climbed aboard and let her run down the grade, which is middling steep just out of the village, while I worked at the fires and got them going good and bright. “We had about sixty-five miles to run, and Gridley said that according to the time-table there was no train that would be in our way unless it might be a wildcat. That’s just what I cal’lated there would be, and the idea of running full speed along a strange track in the dead of night didn’t suit me as well as some things might. We got the Fanny up to about forty-five miles an hour, which was pretty good, considering that I wasn’t by any means a first-class fire- man. “Long before we got to a station Gridley would turn on the whistle and keep it screeching loud enough to wake up the dead. I shut my eyes every time we came near a station, for I expected that something would be in the way, or that a switch would be turned wrong, or that something would happen to smash Gridley and me for good and all. But everybody at the stations thought that we were a special, and had everything made clear for us as soon as they heard the whistle. “Now, just before we got to the place where the two roads run parallel there was a siding that had been built to reach Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 461 a' gravel-pit. The siding began at a little station called Pekin, and was, as I should Judge, about two miles long. The South- ern folks had taken the alarm by this time, and a dispatch had gone to every station on the road that a runaway loco- motive was coming, and telling them to stop her the best way they could. The station-master at Pekin got his order just before we hove in sight, and he thought of the old siding. He got to work and he turned the rusty old switch that had been spiked down, and when we came along we shot onto the side-track and away we went for the gravel-pit. “It had been a cloudy night, but as I was praying for all I was worth the moon came out, and I saw that just ahead of us the track came to an end, and there was a deep hollow of some sort. I made up mind that I had had enough of that kind of railroading. Yell- ing to Gridley to jiilnp, I put the brake hard on, and went off into a ditch on the left-hand side of the road. It was mid- dling full of briers, but the bottom was the softest kind of mud, and I didn’t sus- tain no mortal injury worth speaking of. “Before I could pick myself up and get on my legs the engine was gone. I got down to the edge of the gravel-pit as soon as I could, but there wasn’t the least sign either of the Fanny or of Grid- ley. The bottom o-f *the gravel-pit was covered with water, but what was worse, as I afterwards found out, there was a big quicksand there, which had been the reason why the grdvel-pit had been aban- doned. The Fanny Ellsler went down into that quicksand, and, for aught I know, she has kept sinking ever since, with Gridley's standing in the cab with his hand on the lever. “Well, I came home and told the whole story to the superintendent, and he, knowing about the quickstand, knew there was no use in searching for the engine. So he told me to keep quiet about the thing, so as not to give the Middle Southern people any satisfaction, which accordingly I did; but after a while the thing got to be known some- how or other, as things always will, no matter what you may do.’’, “Much obliged to you for the story,” said I, “but you promised me a ghost story, and I don’t exactly see where the ghost comes in.” “I haven’t got to that yet,” replied the station-master. “A year afterward I was down in the neighborhood of Pekin, and as I was driving along in a buggy pretty late at night I saw an engine come flying down the old siding and plump into the gravel-pit. Leastwise I sawr it disappear just as it reached the jumping-off place. If that wasn’t the ghost of the Fanny, I’d like to know what it was. Moreover, the boys along the Southern road told me that time and time again they had seen that same engine come hustling along at sixty miles an hour and disappear into the quicksand. Now if that wasn’t a ghost, what was it?” — By W. L. Alden, in New York Sun. Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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\ April. It Isn’t raining rain to me, It’s raining daffodils; In every dimpled drop I see Wild flowers on the hills. The clouds of gTey engulf the day And overwhelm the town — It isn’t raining rain to me, It’s raining roses down. It isn’t raining rain to me But fields of clover bloom. Where any buccaneering bee May find a bed and room. A health unto the happy, A fig for him who frets — It isn't raining rain to me, .. It’s raining violets. Robert Love man. The Flag Speaks. Oh, you who seem too deaf to hear The muttering around ; And you who lend a listless ear To Wisdom’s warning sqund ; Give heed, before it is too late, To every patriot’s call, And keep the glory of your state Triumphant over all ! Oh, you who seem too dumb to speak. Lest you should give offense ; And you who shrink from those who shriek Of danger’s past pretense; Shout back defiance, while you may — What if your foremen rage? — Anl for Tradition’s yesterday Preserve your heritage! Oh, you who seem too blind to see Your country’s parlous plight ; And you who prate of liberty, When unprepared to fight ; Lift up your eyes — for Honor stand ; Your hope is Freedom’s sod — Nor strike the flag above your land To any prince but — God ! Ralph H. Thomson. Mend Your Scales. O, a trouble’s a ton, or a trouble’s an ounce, Or a trouble is what you make it, And it Isn’t the fact you’re hurt that counts, But only, how did you take it? — Edmund Vance Cooke. Man of the Iron Trail. Roughened and tanned are his hands and face, And agile his brain and brawn. This super-man of a super-race. Evolved from the God-sown spawn. Tireless, fearless, he plays his part In a game where no man may fail. Though his fist be hard, he is kind at heart, This Man of the Iron Trail ; This fighting, laughing, toiling, chaffing, Man of the Iron Trail. Hairy his chest 'neath the coarse blue shirt; He speaks in a language strange. Overalls grimy with ^oot and dirt. He battles o’er mead and grange. Though the fight be hard and the way be long, • He follows the shining rail With a cheerful smile and a blithesome song; This Man of the Iron Trail ; This sweating, working, never shirking Man of the Iron Trail. — Elmer Edmond Johnson. Just This Minute. If we’re thoughtful, just this minute, In whate’er we say and do ; If we put a purpose in it That is honest thro’ and thro’ We shall gladden life and give it Grace to make it all sublime ; For, though life is long, we live It Just a minute at a time. Just this minute we are going Toward right or toward wrong^; Just this minute we are sowing Seeds of sorrow or of song. Just this minute we are thinking On the ways that lead to God, Or in idle dreams are sinking To the level of the clod. Yesterday is gone ; tomorrow Never comes within our grasp; Just this minute’s joy or sorrow, That is all our hands may clasp. J ust this minute ! Let us take it As a pearl of precious price. And with high endeavor make it Fit to shino in paradise. — Pentraco Bulletin. Digitized by Google
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feoon Seen. Fortune Teller— I see a dark prospect before you. Customer— You needn’t worry to dope it out. It* 8 my coal bill. Blasted Hopes. Miss Passe (archly)^-How long do you think a man ought to know a girl- before proposing? Intended Victim— All his life.— Boston Transcript. A Distinction. Miss Outertown — Isn't there a Mrs. Skinner in this village, who keeps board- ers. Hi Hubbel — She takes boarders, ma'am; but she doesn't keep ’em. — Ex- change. Catty and Dogged. “That woman seems to have such a discordant personality." “No wonder. She has a catty disposi- tion with a dogged determination." — Bal- timore American. Right. Mamma — Have you learned at school what “diplomacy" is? Bobbie — Yep. Takin' apples to teacher. Wanted His Money. A man walked into a pawnbroker’s shop one day and demanded, $5.00, be- cause there whs a placard in the window that read: “Look at this watch for $5.00.” v “I looked at it," he said, "and now I want my money." Not Metered. “Maxie," queried the teacher of the juvenile class, “what is the difference between electricity and lightning?" “You don't have to pay nothing for lightning," answered Maxie,— Chicago tfetos. ' His Tribute. “Why do you have an apple as your trade mark?" asked a client of the tailor. “Well, well," replied the man, “if it hadn’t been for an apple where would the clothing business be today?’’— Chicago Ledger. Leaking Badly. This happened down in Maine, whqre prohibition is the law, but not always the practice. The station master sent this freight postal to the magistrate: “Sir — please send without delay for the case of books directed to you, which is lying at this station and is leaking badly." — TJtica Globe., Fatness and Fitness. A 300-pound man stood gazing long- ingly at the enticing display in a haber- dasher's window. A friend stopped to ^ inquire if he was thinking of buying the marked-down lavender silk shirt. “Gosh, no!" replied the fat man wist- fully. "The only thing that fits me ready made Is a handkerchief."— Pittsburgh Chronicle-Telegraph. Two. Down on the lower Bast Side of New York, where sweat-shops abound, a teach- er was talking to her class about the four seasons. At the end of the talk she began asking questions. "Rebecca, how many seasons have we?" “Two," replied Rebecca. “Slack and bus/.’’ — Everybody's. Petit Larceny. “Too bad about Jaggs. Fancy a man, as Shakespeare says, putting an enemy into his mouth to steal away his brains." “Oh, well; it’s only petty larceny in Jaggs* case, anyway" Digitized by v^oooLe
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464 The Railroad TeiiEgrapher. Playing Safe. Pain — Can you fix my tooth without hurting? The Dentist — Yes, I’ll give you gaS and you won’t feel a thing. But you needn’t pay me now, wait until I’m through. Pain — I wasn’t going to pay you. I was counting my money to see how much I had on me. — Orange J^eeL Needless Alarm. A business-like man stepped into a butcher’s shop. “A piece of beef for ~ roasting!” he ordered briskly. The meat, mostly bone, was thrown on the scales. “Look here!” remonstrated the man. “You're giving me a big piece of bone.” “Oh, no, I ain’t!” said the butcher blandly. “You’re paying for it.” — Wash- ington Post . He Meant Business. Mrs. Bennett arrived at the conclusion that the attachment of Teddy Nolan, the policeman, for her cook must be investi- gated, lest it prove disastrous to domes- tic discipline. * One morning she took Annie, the cook, to task regarding the matter. Annie ad- mitted his attentions. “Do you think he means business, Annie?” asked Mrs. Bennett. “Yjs, mum, Oi t’ink so,” replied An- nie. “Annyway, he’s begun to complain about my cookin', mum.” Smoke First, Fire Later. Maud — “Would you object to a husband who smoked in the house?” Marie — “Most decidedly. But I shall keep quiet about it until I get one.” — * Boston Transcript. His Generosity. A “Tommy” lying in a hospital had beside him a watch of curious and foreign design. The attending doctor was in- terested. “Where did your watch come from?” he asked. “A German give it me,” he answered. A little piqued, the doctor inquired how the foe had come to convey this token of esteem and affection. “ *E ’ad to,” was the laconic reply. — Toronto Qlohe* A Peculiar Knack. “In every walk of life a sense of humor is a help and a blessing. At the same time even this may exist in excess. I, for my part, shouldn’t care to have so great a sense of humor as a British soldier I once heard about. This soldier was ordered to be flogged. During the flogging he laughed continually. The lash was laid on all the harder, but the rain of blows only seemed to increase his delight. “ ‘What are you laughing at?’ the ser- geant finally asked. “ ‘Why,’ the soldier chuckled, ‘I’m the wrong man.’ ” A Devotional Turn of Mind. As the new minister of the village was on his way to evening service he met a rising young man of the place whom he was anxious to have become an active member of the church. “Good evening, my young friend,” he said, solemnly, “do you ever attend a place of worship?” “Yes, indeed, sir; regularly, every Sun- day night,” replied the young fellow with a smile. “I’m on my way to see her now.” The Frank Butler. William H. Crocker of San Francisco, who recently rebuilt a war-wrecked French village at his own expense, tells, apropos of the wine shortage, an amus- ing story. “A friend of mine,” so the story runs, “is remarkable for the bad wines he keeps. My friend, entertaining some rather important guests one evening, turned to his new butler and said: “ ‘Higgs, is this the best claret?’ “ ‘No, sir,’ said Higgs solemnly, ‘it ain’t, but it’s the best you’ve got.’ ” — Washing- ton Star. War Yarns. “Have you any war yarns?” asked the lady entering the department store. “Surely, madam,” replied the floor- walker. “In which direction will I find the proper department?” “Do you want them for reading or knitting, madam?”— Yonkers Statemcn. Digitized by Google
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OUR PENSION FUND. Is anything being done to excite in- terest in the Pension Fund? _ After making inquiry of several life in- surance companies for rates on annuities, I was referred to one of the leading com- panies* writing this nature of Insurance, which company made the following prop- osition : The annual premium for a ten-year de- ferred annuity, no return, on a male life, aged 66, of $100 per annum, amounted to $71.20 and the single premium $574.40, payable in semi-annual installments, first payment payable six months after the ex- piration of the deferred ‘period. In other words, • for every dollar of annual premium paid for ten years, I would receive a life annuity of $1.40, be- ginning at the end of the ten-year period. In the Pension Fund of The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, I would pay $24.00 per year for ten years and receive a pen- sion of $240.00 per year for the remain- der of my life; that is, every dollar of annual premium purchases a life annuity of $10.00, or seven times as much as it will purchase in one of our most promi- nent companies handling this line of in- surance. Brothers and sisters, do you know a good thing when you see it? Come on, let’s go into the Pension Fund ten thousand strong. C. L. Abbott, Cert. 175, Div. 76. IMPRESSIONS OF AN ORGANIZER. It is doubtful if the various phases of the peculiarities of human nature are to anyone made so clearly manifest as to a labor organizer. They run the entire gamut; from the individual who has had bis mind firmly made up for years that he would join the organization of his craft at the first opportunity present- ing itself to the individual who can con- ceive no necessity whatever for such an adjunct to a man’s industrial life. The life insurance agent probably ranks next to the organizer in securing an insight in psychological manifesta- tions. While life insurance deals more with the future in its benefits, and more' generally, benefits which others will reap, rather than the individual .paying for them, the advantage derived through membership in a trade organization as- sists not only the relative, but the mem- ber himself, not in the future only, but in his daily present also. Almost everybody carries insurance, which is proper and prudent, and all ac- knowledge the advisability of so doing, but on the other hand, there are those who refuse to be convinced that trade unionism is a bread and butter proposi- tion and as much a necessity as a means of securing a better livelihood as life in- surance is in assuring an annuity for his heirs. An organizer’s duty is the dissemina- tion of knowledge along industrial trade union lines. An educational campaign, in other words. As a matter of course, he will meet often — daily, I might say — men who have had the advantage of a high school, normal or college edu- cation. Men who along certain lines, often entirely foreign to anything where- by their physical or financial conditions could by any remote chance be bettered, are well read and intelligently conver- sant, yet who, when the proposition to join the organization is broached must claim the necessity for time to consider It. Among the telegraphers, the eight- hour man who has been enjoying the Digitized by v^oooLe
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466 The Railroad Telegrapher. benefits of the nine-hour law for the past ten years, and others who, through or- ganized efforts on other roads for years past, have been reaping the benefits of such exertion simply because their em- ployers are of necessity compelled to in- crease wages in order to compete with organized roads in the labor market — a case of supply and demand, nothing more — still spring the “This is so sudden” stuff on the organizer. When a man hands out such an ex- cuse, it invariably brings to mind Robert Burns' amusing reflection, “Oh, wad some power, the giftie gie us, To see oursels as ithers see us.” Then there is the individual who must needs be assured of about 99 44-100 per cent membership before he could ever consider tendering his application. A moment’s reflection would convince him that should everyone think along the same lines, schedules would be impossi- ble and organizations would die at con- ception simply for lack of nourishment. We meet those who lack courage to assert their undeniable prerogative — who imagine that should they join hands with their fellow-worker in an honest and legal endeavor to better conditions, and the knowledge of their membership be- came known to the officials, the entire resources of the road, and all the vindic- tiveness and personal enmity existing throughout the entire world would be marshaled together by, and under the command of, his superior officers and concentrated upon him in order to make his life miserable, or to displace him en- tirely, Director-General McAdoo's Gener- al Order No. 8 to the contrary, notwith- standing. Could courage but be bought over the counter and injected with a hypodermic, what a boon it would be to the organizer. What pleasure one could derive, to step olf the train and give the subject a shot while he was busy unloading the mail. What satisfaction to see him turn and insist on an application blank immedi- ately, who on your previous visit had ventured the opinion that the Superin- tendent might not like it. At times we meet the man who has grave fears that his bunion might de- velop into appendicitis, in which case a trip to the hospital wouid be necessary and every cent he possessed -would be required for his maintenance during such period. To all such we place before them for consideration, as diplomatically as possible, the insurance feature of the or- ganization, mentioning casually that the local lodge also makes provision for a flower fun^. The men in financial straits due to /large families, doctor bills, the high cost of living, etc., and wha will be found more numerous on unorganized roads than elsewhere, which almost prohibits an extra expenditure sufficient to main- tain an up-to-date card, are not without their rights to receive a respectful hear- ing, but at the same time they should not lose sight of the fact that the dues necessary to the securing of membership into the organization of their craft, Is Jheir most pressing debt. For the other obligations, which, of course, should and must be paid, they receive a receipt and the transaction is closed. For the dues to the organization they receive not only a receipt which entitles them to frater- nal courtesies, but through membership an assurance that future debts will not only be more easily paid, but eliminated through the enjoyment of a higher wage scale and better working conditions which invariably follow the securing of a schedule. One could continue almost ad infini- tum to dwell on the subject of various excuses a person will resort to in an effort to shirk a just responsibility, but after all is said and done, the fact still remains that so long as the organization which would represent him Is a recog- nized one, the foundation of which is based on honest endeavors, equal rights and just considerations, whose finances are sound, whose record is bright with progressive achievements, and whose fu- ture holds forth guarantees of a con- tinued advancement toward the goal of a realization of life’s highest ideals, it then becomes all too plainly apparent Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 467 that excuses are but as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals which deceive no one but he who proffers them. Right is Right — you cannot expect to successfully combat it, surmount it, or ignore it. It is an irresistible force. About face and follow. Let the organiz- er take your application. If financially unable to become a member in full stand- ing at the moment, set a definite date cn which you will be able to do so, then — see that the obligation is fulfilled. - Organization means efficiency — success. All corporations practice it, for without it they would cease to exist. The more thoroughly organized they are, the more successful. What is essential to the wel- fare of the employer is also essential to the welfare of the employe. Certain- ly a self-evident fact. Individual bargaining, as opposed to collective bargaining, when corporations are parties thereto, is nothing more than moral, mental and financial stagnation, in comparison. The era of centralization is at hand, and with big business be- coming more highly complex and tech- nical daily, it behooves every wage earn- er to help support an organization whose basis is protection and advancement. As an investment, the dues for mem- bership into a recognized labor organiza- tion Is a business proposition without a parallel. O. H. Smith. LABOR'S VOICE. LABOR has it in its power to so strengthen and vivify its voice, its own press, that this voice may reverberate in thunderous tones of justice country wide; east; west; north; south. Aye! to the very uttermost ends of the earth. Labor can build a press whose scope and power would outshine the entire capitalist press of the world as the sun outshines the moon. It can give its voice such powerful expression that the Associated Press, the United Press, Hearst's News Service, Lord North- • Uffe’s newspapers and the entire com- bined capitalist press would be unable to prevail against it. For one word of truth goes farther than a thousand lies. Labor has this power. It must learn to fully use it. A splendid beginning has been made. Although few in num- ber the union labor papers and maga- zines and those other valiant journals not directly controlled by union labor, but fully in sympathy with labor’s aims, have had an influence for the common good far greater than the comparative ratio would signify. Witness the stir cre- ated the world over in re the Mooney case at San Francisco. The labor press served its purpose faithfully and Well here. It gave this case Its needed public- ity and so brought the dastardly attempt to rape justice and subvert truth to the eyes of all the world. Even had we no other instance to cite, upon this one case, labor’s vital need for full use of the printed word would rest secure. But there are many others; iney are legion, and they extend from the dim past to the very present. Pitts- burgh, Homestead, Buffalo, Latimer, Pana, Coeur d’Alene, Cripple Creek; Telluride, Chicago; these were the strug- gles of a generation ago where labor’s need for a press was pitifully evident. And in our own times; Lawrence and Ludlow, Paterson and Paint Creek, Calu- met and the Mesabe Range, Butte and Bisbee, all bear eloquent evidence as to this sad lack of a powerful press. Ah! Giant among giants! You, as yet, do not know your own power. But, be it ever so slowly and sadly, you, at least, are beginning to learn. You are at the threshold of awakening from an age-long sleep. Slowly, the slumber-webs are be- ing dashed from your eyes. Old tactics are being cast aside for the new. And herein lies your hope. So, arise and listen! LABOR MUST HAVE A POW- ERFUL PRESS. The need has been shown. The desire is here. Next must come the WILL TO DO, then— ACTION! So, let us formulate a plan. Let us get together in council and thresh out this matter so that we may give the labor giant speech well worthy of the name. Let us appoint delegates for the forma- tion of a press committee; one accredited member from each trade or national Digitized by v^oooLe
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468 The Railroad Telegrapher, union in the land; one accredited mem- ber from each labor body or central association of unions, state or municipal, as the case may be. Let all unions and known champions of labor participate, no matter what the affiliation and regard- less of politics. For a matter of such im- portance is the concern of all labor, none may be excluded. Let these delegates meet and lawfully plan for the consummation of this great idea. Let them assess each member of a union or other labor body one dollar a year for as long as necessary for a press fund. For labor must subsidize its own press. And it would be no mean subsidy. Such a plan would give labor over two million dollars per year for publicity purposes. Let labor buy its own centralized publishing plants, its own paper mills, ink plants and type foundries. Let it publish its own national papers reaching to every corner of the nation. Let it have one journal which would stand as a beacon light in the industrial strug- gle; one valiant and powerful sheet which would serve as example to the’ others. Let it spread the truth where only lies have appeared before. And what may stand against truth, powerful- ly expressed? Impractical? Visionary? Ah, Brothers! So were the steam engine, the telephone, the wireless; so was the aeroplane — to these who would not be- lieve. “To him that thinketh, all things are possible.” Brother workers, the need is vital; the desire evident. Never was a> time more propitious for its bringing about. So, forward! LET US MAKE POWERFUL, LABOR’S VOICE! H. E. Keas, Cert. 2882— Div. 23. CORPORATE WELFARE WORK. It is to the Emperor’s advantage that the people have their attention fixed on amusements and the play house, rather than cn politics. (Pylades, the Roman playright and actor to Emperor Augustus.) And it is worth the while of the work- ingmen of the country to recall what the attitude towards organized labor has been of these masters of consolidated industries. They have been the stoutest and most successful opponents of organ- ized labor, and have tried to undermine it in a great many ways. Some of the methods they have adopted have worn the guise of philanthrophy and good wUl. (Woodrow Wilson, in the New Freedom, Chapter 9th — Benevolence or Justice, page 211). From the time of the dim and misty past, when one man conceived the idea of living by clever and cunning manipu- lation of the labor of another less cun- ning, the ways and means of handling what is variously termed The Masses, The Multitude, The Rabble, The Worker, has assumed many forms. To maintain a balance in an unnatural . and unjust organization of Society, has been the work of what is sometimes designated as the “Super-man”. The pages of his- tory of ancient and defunct civilizations and empires are covered with this prob- lem, and show it has changed little fundamentally. The rulers of Rome, Macedonia, and Egypt ruled the great working masses by dedicating certain feast days and granting amusements to the “Workers”, by distributing to them at other times some of the essentials of life, guiding their mental development through educational institutions that re- ceived the approval of their masters, controlling their impulses, and dwarfing their reasoning powers; all to convince the “Worker” that his economic wrongs were his natural rights. Failure to produce contentment by these means brought the infliction of punishment of the state, and dire threats of more drastic punishment in the “Great Future Beyond”. So, the reader of the present, and who is at the same time an observer and investigator of passing conditions, can see little basic change. This brings us to one conspicu- ous feature of present day industrialism that is playing an interesting part in ca- joling the “Workers”, and adopted to offset the rise of “Trades Unionism” — Welfare Work — where large employers assume the role of “Benevolence”, and Digitized by CjjOOQIC
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 469 invest huge sums to turn their establish- ments into playhouses, in order to dis- tract the employes’ thoughts from the industrial problem of employer and em- ploye. This age-old plan, under modern conditions, embraces everything from soap and towels to well furnished rooms where approved literature can be read by employes, prayers offered, and inspiring hymns sung. Baseball, basket ball, bowling alleys, shooting galleries that will create a rivalry are granted in lieu of legitimate economic organizations of "Workers.” Given as a purely busi- ness investment, that is at least, to bring an indirect dividend return. In many instances it has produced all the results desired. The cheering and fanatical body of employes following their favor- ite athletes have lost sight of the "Labor Problem”, and are made more easy marks for futher exploitation. Tom, who has made a home run, received the plaudits of his shop mates and is patted on the back £y a _high official, has nothing but a contemptuous sneer for Labor Organiza- tions. Dick, the champion goal shooter, is inflated with his own importance, and is ever ready to disclose the name of a fellow employe who asserts that, "if Organized Labor did not exist, corpora- tions would never invest in ’athletic as- sociations.’ ” Harry, who holds the high- est score at trap shooting, and has a medal pinned on his coat by the General Manager, i$ inclined* to look on Labor Organizations as criminal, and thus it ex- tends from the individual favorites down through the masses of employes who have little knowledge of the laws of economic cause and effect in which so- called "Welfare Work” fills the part of the effect; the cause is found in the on- ward march of bona fide Trades Unions demanding that the workers by collective action sell their labor by agreement with employers. They fail to grasp that the amusements they enjoy are mere privi- leges that they are only entitled to as long as they remain in employment and observe rules made for them, and not by them. The slightest display of inde- pendence on part of employe and the “Welfare enjoyments” are curtailed, or pass entirely. Occasionally you find members of Labor Organizations caught in the "Welfare Work” web, but the vast majority see through the veneer. They draw a line of cleavage between their corporate duties and individual rights. They desire no industrial father, no mat- ter how benevolent. Their recreation and pleasures are matters of their own choosing. .They furnish a faithful per- formance of labor service in return for a mutual fixed wage; after that is ren- dered, they desire freedom of men, the right to think on every subject from cre- ation to eternity without corporate sug- gestion or dictation, including the selec- tion of recreation. The thinking worker desires to stand up as a man, and not an automaton. He will not accept "Welfare Work” as a substitute for "Trades Unions”, or so-called corporate benevo- lence for industrial justice. Cert. 10, Div. 17. CAN THE CHURCH MAKE GOOD? It really doesn’t matter very much whether a particular denomination shall live or die. That isn’t the point. It must be remembered always that the Church is simply a means to an end, and not an end in itself. Our chief concern should be, not whether the Church makes good, but whether the people make good. We are told to build up the people — that is our business as a church. If the Church can "make good” in this respect, it will justify itself. If it fails here, organization, buildings, equipment, wealth and worship, will be of no avail. If it is successful at this point, all the rest will have been worth while. The Church must, therefore, get into "the labor game.” It has a vital interest here. There are those who are saying that the Church should occupy itself with the hereafter, or with the sweet nothings which appeal only to dreamers and mollycoddles. But the history of the Church has shown that Its best leaders in every generation have been men who have suffered and died for the people. Its finest periods in history have been Digitized by tjOOQLe
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470 . The Railroad Telegrapher. those when in spite of poverty and perse- cution it stood bravely to its task in the fight for democracy. Before the world recognizes the justice of the demands of the workers, many a martyr will give his life, a sacrifice for the common weal. The Church will of- fer its company of volunteers for this great struggle. For the teachings of Jesus are such that unless ipen are ab- solutely false to them, they cannot but hear the cries of little children, of suf- fering women, of grey-blooded men, who are dying because of the greed of the godless, and the recklessness of the powerful. Here’s where the Church can “make good.” And if it does — and I believe it will — its future glory will be far greater than its past. Rev. Chas. H. Stelzlb. C. J. Walker. W. C. Scott. L. A Richards. W. E. Moore. O. R. T. GROUP— ILLINOIS CENTRAIL RAILROAD— NEWTON, ILL. Digitized by Google
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FRATERNAL NOTICE. All matter for this department must be in the hands of the Grand Secretary and Treasurer on or before the 25th day of the month in order to insure its use in the following issue. New Haven, Conn., Div. No. 29. Order No. 8, whi^h the correspondent of Providence, R. I., Division No. 36, refers to as being the text taken by Supt. Poore at fts March meeting for his excellent address at that time, was published in full in the March Telegrapher, beginning on the first editorial page of that issue, under- the caption : " The Emancipation.” The prime reason for the passage of these resolutions was owing to the letters and telegrams that previously passed between General Chairman Ross, and the Director General of RaQroade. The following is the telegram: "New London, Conn., March 15, 1918. “Hon. W. G. McAdoo, "Director General of Railroads, "Washington, D. G "The fifteen hundred employes whom I have the honor of representing Will co- operate and pledge you their unswerving sup- port. It shall be our aim to put the New Haven arm of the National Railroad Service ‘over the top.' "I(eonaro Jackson Robs, “General Chairman, 0. R. T” To which this reply was received : "Washington, D. C., March 16, 1918. "Leonard Jackson Ross, "General Chairman, O. R. T., "Auburn, Rhode Island. "Your telegram of the fifteenth, pledging the co-operation and unswerving support of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers to put the New Have!! arm of the National Rail- road Service ‘over the top,’ Is deeply grati- fying. Such a spirit • of patriotism and of service cannot fail to aid our beloved country immeasurably and enable it to become vic- torious in this great war for America’s vital rights and for the freedom and democratiza- tion of the world. "W. G. McAdoo." General Chairman Ross sent photographic copies of President Pearson’s letter and Di- rector General McAdoo’s reply thereto, to all members of the General Committee, for their information, advising that they were for their information and requesting that they should not be given any undue publicity or press notoriety, but leaving them at liberty to discuss them in their talks to the men. Owing to the illness of Bro. W. B. Shalkop, the talented correspondent of Division No. 29,. General Chairman Ross requested the Editorial Department of The Telegrapher to prepare this writeup from matter mailed us for that purpose. The Editor. Providence, R. I., Div. No. 35. Referring to the last paragraph of the items from this division in the March Telegrapher, while I was confined at home most of February with tdhsllitis and laryn- gitis and also threatened with erysipelas, I desire to acknowledge with the most sincere gratitude the many telephone and personal calls, and contributions of flowers and choice edibles, of which I was the recipient, from the membership of our division. They were far beyond anything I had the right to hope for or expect, and it sljows after all that there is a human as well as a business side to our great and growing brotherhood — a deef> fraternal spirit manifesting itself as we labor together for one common end — the greatest good for all. We are living at a time, the magnitude of which has brought about Incalculable normal conditions to the laboring class, *and the end is not yet. Every trade and profession is af- fected. The taking away of so many from the ranks of labor has produced a condition almost indescribable. All departments must be readjusted to meet the demands, and we telegraphers, agents and towermen are no exception. We must legislate and plan to meet these abnormal requirements. Many positions are being abolished because there are none qualified to fill them, and others are being filled by Incompetents. Schools, commonly known as "ham factories", are dumping into the service those with but a few weeks' training; injurious to the former and most detrimental to our organization. Our motto is : "No card, no favors.” We do not tolerate a non because he Is content to enjoy all the benefits our organization se- cures and Is unwilling to help pay the freight. Digitized by v^ooole
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472 The Railroad Telegrapher. We have worked and sacrificed time, abil- ity and means to secure more wages and better working conditions for our members, and as more of them are called away, more of the inexperienced are being employed In their places. Many positions are now held by these men, formerly filled by competent and ex- perienced members of the O. R. T., who have devoted a lifetime, perhaps, in this specific work, enduring hardships unknown to the younger men in the business today. Prices on many commodities are now so in- flated that if the laborer was even granted anywhere near the wage he asks, he would still be unable to buy what he needs for a proper existence. Merchants are permitted to mark up prices to an almost prohibitive point, while we are working and striving for an Increase in our pay check to enable us to purchase the few things necessary to keep soul and body to- gether, and we either have to pay the price or do without them. It Is therefore manifestly unfair and un- just to charge us with disloyalty because of our demand for better wages, when the responsibility for present conditions is sim- ply the result of “profiteering” and not the scarcity of living commodities. Remove the evil and the curse of it will be removed. Much of the shortage of help is due to the failure of railroad and commercial telegraph companies to make it an object for their employes to remain in the service. Instead of forcing them out by unbearable conditions. The testimony given by General Chairman Yeager in the Baltimore & Ohio arbitration case — continued from the January to the February issue — makes very interesting read- ing, although still incomplete. Over 75 were present at our March meet- ing. This not only showed their great inter- est in local and general O. R. T. matters, but was also a splendid testimonial to the great respect in which is held our superintendent of the Providence division, Mr. G. A. Poore, whom we had the honor to entertain at that time. After the opening exercises, sitting Past Chief Telegrapher Vanderbeek was called to the chair, and selecting past chief teleg- rapher Bro. Frank P. Brady as marshal, in- stalled the officers elect for the ensuing year ; Chief Telegrapher Haddock appointing Bro. IT. H. Mehring Inside sentinel and re-appoint- ing Bro. W. E. Moore marshal, and Bro. H. E. Johnson outside sentinel. General Chairman Ross announced the se- lection of Bro. W. J. Smith as local chair- man of the New London division, and the unanimous vote ratifying this selection showed that no better choice could have been made. Bro. Smith has served Division 35 faultlessly is various capacities and is bound to make good, Bro. Joslin was delegated to escort and introduce Superintendent Poore to our chief, and after some brief complimentary remarks by the former as to the cordial good will and working relations between this ofllcial and himself as local chairman in his official ca- pacity. he gave way to Chief Telegrapher Haddock, who then introduced Mr. Poore. The latter took for his text Order No. 8, is- sued February 21st by Director General of Railroads Hon. W. G. McAdoo, “to correct wrong impression that may exist regarding the employment and conditions of labor in railway service.” He laid special emphasis upon loyalty and efficiency and the impor- tance of every man doing his -part. It was in this connection that the fol- lowing resolution was Introduced and unani- mously adopted as an evidence of these and other features of this order, to which we as an organization wished to subscribe to show just wrhere we stood and what may be ex- pected of us. “Whereas, The Government of the United States having assumed possession and control of the railroads ; and “W here as. Director General McAdoo ha* stated ‘every railroad officer and employe is just as important a factor in winning the war as the men in uniform who are fighting in the trenches,’ and “Whereas, It is essential that all the rail- road transportation facilities of the nation should be brought to the highest state of efficiency In order that troops, supplies, am- munition and war materials may be moved safely and efficiently; therefore, be it “ Resolved , That we, members of Division 35 of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, hereby pledge our whole-hearted and loyal support to Director General McAdoo and the officers of the New York, New Haven & Hart- ford Railroad ; and, be it further “ Resolved , That we will not only do our bit, but our best, in maintaining the highest standard of efficiency on the New Haven arm -of the national railroad service ; and, be it further “ Resolved , That we heartily concur in the slogan, ‘We must work to win. We can, we must, we will put the New Haven over the top.* ”. During thE" course of the meeting a tele- gram was received from Mr. McAdoo i nr reply to one sent the previous day by General Chairman Ross. Mr. McAdoo expressed grat- ification that the railroad telegraphers had pledged co-operation to put the. arm of the New Haven over the top. He said : “Such a spirit of patriotism and of service cannot fall to aid our beloved country immeasurably and enable It to be- come victorious in this great war for Amer- ica's vital rights and for fhe freedom and democratization of the world, “ Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 473 General Chairman Rosa, following Mr. Poore, emphasized the various features of Order No. 8, just referred to, and the im- portance of our doing our best to help work out its provisions as a means to winning the war. On motion of Bro. Vanderbeek, seconded by Bros. Moore and Smith, a unanimous rising vote of thanks was tendered Superin- tendent Poore for accepting the invitation to this meeting and for his able and timely address. Mr. Poore remained some time after the meeting closed enjoying the innovation and courtesy extended to him. He paid a glow- ing tribute to the men on the Providence division, lor their high standing with the management of the road ; and the "chest- swelling" noted all over the room betokened a just pride in having such a high rating. - Div. Cor. New Rochelle, N. Y., Div. No. 37. Our meeting at New Rochelle Friday eve- ning, March 8th, was a record breaker, over fifty members being present, q,nd was called to order by First Vice Chief Tiffany, in .the absence of Chief Telegrapher Woods. Bro. French acted as first vice chief, Bro. Romer as marshal and Bro. Shields as guard. Joseph Gorman and John Valcourt were ihe*two new brothers initiated, whom we are glad to accept as new members. General Chairman Ross Installed our officers for the ensuing term in a very efficient manner, Local Chairman Tiger acting as his marshal. After the regular routine of business was finished Local Chairman Tiger escorted Supt. C. H. Motsett of the New York Division to the rostrum, and Bro. Tiffany, with a few well chosen remarks introduced him to the brothers Who showed how agreeably sur- prised they were at his presence by applaud- ing him for several minutes. Mr. Motsett said he was pleased to have the opportunity to address the members of Division 37, and called to memory many pleasant occurrences of years gone by when he was our division superintendent and as- sured us, as heretofore, that the latchstring on his office was on the outside and no em- ploye who ever called at his office was turned away without“an interview. We were then led through General Order No. 8, issued by the Director General of Railroads Mr. Mc- Adoo, and told just what the order meant- and how it should be lived up to by the employes. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Mot- sett was given a rising vote of thanks and a pledge that the members of Division 37 would do everything in their power the same as heretofore to contribute to his success as an operating official. - General Chairman Ross, who followed, called attention to the fact that Mr. Motsett as division superintendent had always been very courteous and the fairest official that he had ever had to present a grievance to. This was well known to all of us. He has the good will and respect of every member of our division, and we stand as one man for him firs% last, and all the time. Train Dispatcher Bro. Gallagher, at one time our local chairman, whom we are glad to have back with us again as a member of Division 37 ; Past Chief McMahon and BrQS. Langdon and Shields responded to the invi- tation of the chief to say a few words and favored us with appropriate remarks. The meeting then adjourned to give the boys an opportunity to meet Superintendent Motsett personally, Bro. Tiger introducing the few who were not acquainted with him. Our general superintendent had a kindly word and a hearty handshake for everyone and we all departed for home feeling that the evening had been well spent and we were glad to be counted among those present. Bro. Allen, from Bethel Court, was among those present It has been a long time since he was down this way. We were sorry to learn of the ilness of Bro. Gould, Port Chester, and a committee was appointed to look after him, with power to render any assistance deemed advisable. Bro. McDonald’s illness caused Bros. Doo- lin and Corrigan to work twelve hours sev- eral days at S. S. 26 Rye, no extra man available. Bro. Frank Taylor, leverman, S. S. 4, Oak Point, owing to illness, was relieved some time by Bro. Haniquet, who also re- lieved Bro. Slousher, when he relieved Bro. # Chard, agent Stamford, on sick list. Bro. Wooley also worked several days at S. S. 4. Bro. Shields was relieved several nights by Bro. McDonald. Bro. McDonald relieved Bro. Langdon, first S. S. 22, New Rochelle yard, while he at- tended a funeral, also relieved Bro. Kelly, second Colin "A”, several days. He went to the rescue of Bros. Clay and Lobe, who wforked twelve hours several days, owing to Bro. S. Wooley, second S. S. 8, West Farms Junction, resigning. Sorry to see him go and wish him success in his new position. Elter has also resigned. Bro. Maize Is back on S. S. 22. Bro. Brophy, who went to S. S. 2, Mt. Vernon, several night, also worked as lever- man at S. S. 44, South Norwalk. Bro. Moore \vorked twelve hours there several days. Bro. Lynch went to S. S. 8, relieved on first S. S. 2 by Murtaugh, a new man. Bros. Christman and DeWitt had to work twelve hours when Donavan, first S. S. 22, New Rochelle Jet., was off a few days. Bro. Put- nam, first trick S. S. 4, Oak Point, was re- lieved several days by Bro. L. D. Wooley. Bro. Harry Morris was best man to Bro. John French, third S. S. 28, who has returned from his honeymoon spent In Boston, Mass.. Digitized by c.ooole
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474 The Railroad Telegrapher, and other points of Interest. We all extend congratulations to Bro. and Mrs. French, who are now at home to their many friends in Mamoreneck, N. Y. “N. C.” IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased "he All- Wise Ruler of the Universe to take away the two dear children of our Brother, Geo. A. Woods, therefore in our fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved , That the members of New Ro- chelle Div. 37 extend to the sorrowing brother and members of his family our deepest sym- pathy in their sad bereavement; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to this brother, a copy sent to The Telegrapher, and a copy spread on the minutes of the division. D. Kinney, J. Hannon, J. French, Committee. Springfield, Mass., Div. No. 38. Ft. <6 A. Ry. — • Our last meeting was well attended, the Springfield and Boston boys were there strong and the West End boys made a good showing also. We were/ glad to have Bros. Bristol and Barnes with us. Sorry we didn’t hear Bro. Barnes’ speech, as he and other brothers of the West End wished to make train 56. After arriving at the station all out of breath, we' found that 65 was an hour and ten minutes late. Vice-President Pierson wired Secretary Walsh he would be with us, but Saturday Bro. Walsh received a telegram from him saying he could not be there on account of sickness. Secretary Walsh read some interesting let- ters and telegrams from President Perham and Vice-President Pierson in regard to the work being done at Washington in the mat- ter of a wage increase. An interesting letter was also read from the C. T. U. A. officers, which showed what our brothers in 'the commercial telegraph order are doing. A recess was called and coffee, sandwiches, cake, olives and smokes were served. The boys enjoyed the feed and smokes and said it was the best ever. A vote of thanks was given the ladies, who prepared the refresh- ments so tastily. Installation of officers followed, Bro. George Alrutz acting as Past Chief Telegra- pher and Installing Officer, Bro. E. F. Whit- ney as Installing Marshal. Officers installed were Frank T. Sargent, Chief Telegrapher, re-elected ; H. W. Mead, Second Chief ; Frank Radner, Third Chief, and M. J. Walsh, Sec- retary and Treasurer, re-elected. Bro. M. J. Walsh presented Chief Teleg- rapher Sargent with a ten dollar gold piece in behalf of Division 38 as a token of esteem and for the faithfulness he has shown in attending the meetings the last four years. Bro. Sargent responded in his own capable manner and made one of the finest patriotic speeches I ever heard. Bro. Richards, of B. & M., gave us a talk on their dealings with the nons and O. R. S. A. and what progress the O. R. T. was making on the B. & M. Bro. Peter Sheridan, first at Tower 65 ‘‘JU’, has resigned and enlisted in the army. Good luck to you, Pete. Bro. E. C. Pierce, second “CH”. Chatham, off sick several days, job covered by W. U. Mgr. Hoffman and Bro. E. F. Whitney. A list of the names of members who had dropped out or hadn’t paid their dues in a long time was read by the secretary. It’s laughable to see how the nons are already figuring on the expected increase and wondering how much they are to get. Vacations with pay started on B. & A. January 1st. “Doc." New York, N. Y., Div. No. 44. Our regular meeting was called to order with Worthy Chief Van Nostrand in chair, all officers present except inside sentinel, Bro. Cleary, Bro. Wood acting pro tem. Fifty-eight members present, and eleven new members added to our division. This shows what a little individual effort on the part of our members will do. Keep right on, brothers, and let’s “go over the top” for & full 100 per cent membership. Don’t forget our slogan : “Every member get a member, and man to every mile.” After the regular order of business the following officers for the ensuing year were installed by Worthy Past Chief Telegrapher Light : Chief Telegrapher J. S. Thuma, First Vice Chief O. A. Hudson, Second G. D. Carnes, Secretary and Treasurer L. Meringer. Trustee for three years, M. E. Harris ; and the following appointed by the Chief Teleg- rapher: Marshal, E. O. Webb, inside sentinel, E. L. Wood, outside sentinel, Matthew Reiser, division correspondent, Bro. E. E. Von Nos- trand. We were glad to have with us Bro. Kelly, assistant general chairman of the Erie System division lines east, who gave us a short talk, also Bros. Herring and Shields, of the same division. ** Come again, brothers, and bring more of the Erie boys with you. Our latchstring is always out for good O. R. T. brothers. Sister Whilden, of Oakdale, does not find the trip nor the hours too long and we are always pleased to see her attend our meet- tings. Wish more of the sisters would do so. Our second vice-president, Bro. Pierson, being present, gave us an interesting and instructive address and we hope all the mem- bers present will follow this good advice. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 475 Bro. A. R. Linn, a former member of Div. 44, now International President of the Foun- dry Workers and also a member of Missouri Pacific Division No. 31, gave us an outline of the wonderful progress tin that organiza- tion and that we should strive to perfect our organization and build it up to 100 per cent. Bro. Edward Oliver is now in France. We hope that he will return to u& a hero safely. Bro. LaRue, now a corporal at Camp U?- ton, who was at our last meeting, certainly looks fine and claims he has gained twenty- two pounds since his arrival at camp. Bro. C. S. Wingate, relief agent, is also at Camp Upton. Bro. H. A. Wagner, first Locust Ave., expects to be called to Camp Upton any time now. We are sorry to lose this good brother, and hope for his safe return. Do not fail to call upon the brothers who are stationed there when you visit this can- tonment. We are glad to welcome to our membership Bro. Tyler, first Thompson Siding, and hope he will be able to attend our meetings. It is now also Brothers Apgar, Sullivan, Oak- land, Harris and Remmert, at Cabin No. 7, whom we are more than glad to welcome as members and as they are all west end men, we hope to see them out to our meetings. Our thanks are due to Bro. F. Bergman for his untiring efforts in securing these brothers’ membership. We still fall short of being solid, owing to the obstinancy of Messrs. Bauer and Hen- drickson. Remcihber, ‘Wo cards , no favors.” They are oldtimers and should be able to see their error. Bro. W. J. Reiser has returned to work after an attack of - the grippe. Bro. H. E. Place, first Floral Park, is again under the doctor’s care. We wish him a speedy recovery, as we miss his cheery voice on the ’phone. Mr. Hanlon, who is relieving him, promised to join a long time ago and we hope he will soon redeem his promise. Brothers in need of any painting or paperhanging should not forget our new Brother, F. J. Tienkem, who will do a good job at a reasonable price. He carries two cards, so give him your work. We are glad to welcome back into the fold Sister Eleanor Walker, clerk and operator at Queens Station, making this point solid O. R. T. Bro. Van Nostrand, second Hollis tower, attended court on company’s business re- cently, relieved by Bro. C. H. Mann, Jr. Bro. F. G. Powell, agent Hollis, accom- panied by Mrs. Powell, spent the week-end at Watermill visiting his brother-in-law and, incidentally, trying to induce him to join us. Keep right after him, Geo., don’t give up. We hope Bros. Kelly and Carman, at Farmingdale, will be able to Induce Mr. Oliver, on first there, to keep his promise to shortly renew his card. Bros. Benkert and Bartowltch, second and third Central Park, will be welcomed to our meeetings whenever it is possible for them to attend. Brothers and sisters, we must be up and doing. The opportunity to make our division 100 per cent strong has never been better. Our conditions and wages are far from what they should be. A number of men are com- pelled to seek various ways to make more money in order to provide their families with the actual necessities of life. The cost of liv- ing is going higher and higher and the only way to meet these conditions is for the men on this road to wake up and give their best efforts toward making it solid. Our brothers on the lines all around us are getting more money, and have far better working condi- tions than ours. We must get out after every unorganized man and woman on the system and give them no rest until they line up. We must not become discouraged at the first sign of resistance, but keep on trying until we secure their applications. Failure can only come when perseverance and steady ef- fort cease. Resolve to face every obstacle with a firmness which will mean success. Everyone should have faith enough in, him- self to accomplish his purpose. To do this, we must have “scrap heap’’ courage. We must “scrap” or be “scrapped.” Div. Cor., Cert. 332. Pittsburgh, Pa., Div. No. 52. Pittsburgh d Lake Erie R. R.— Our regular meeting held Saturday night, March 9th, was very poorly attended. The brothers should all make an effort to attend meetings and show a little interest in the Order. Bro. J. S. Cornelison is still on the sick list. The brothers should all make a special effort to call on him. Bro. C. A. Boyd, also on sick list, is being relieved by Bro. Young, Beaver days, relieved by a man from the Panhandle. The new interlocking plant at ”FM” tower is completed and the brothers there will soon move into their new home. There are now five or six new men on the line and every brother should make it his business to see that they have cards, and, if not, never let up until they get them. No news from “Yough” or “Mon” divi- sions. None of the brothers from these dis- tricts ever attend the meetings and it is hard to get any lineup on the east end unless someone sends me the happenings. Bro. F. R. Cochran, first "BX” tower, Wampum, is selling more eggs these days than some people ever saw. Bro. T. H. Alexander attended the meeting on March 30th at Toledo, O., of all the gen- eral chairmen of the New York Central Lines. Cert. 742. Digitized by tjooole
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476 The Railroad Telegrapher. l\ & L. E. Notes — While waiting for the ‘ raise from the Government, we should all “stick together”, and as our schedule has nearly expired we should “get” together and try to get better working conditions and not be satisfied to take just what the company sees fit to give us. The B. & O., the N. Y. C., and even the “Pennsylvania” is getting ahead of us. . The section men draw upwards of $100 in cold cash. Steel workers are making from $15 to $25, some as high as $35 and $40 per day. Of course, their work cannot be learned in a day. Ours cannot, either. We shouldn’t draw less than $135 monthly, the way the cost of living is here. $35 to $75 monthly for houses; what can a man do with less than $100 monthly? Let’s have a real schedule, a twenty-six-day month, with overtime for Sundays, a 75-cent call, 75 cents for the first hour and a 20 per cent increase. We can get it if we will all “wake up” and get In the nons. We are 90 to 95 per cent strong, and the Government raise should not prevent us from asking for a better schedule. Cert. 806. Washington, D. C., Div. No. 60. Only one of the five new men who started out posting in “DC" office stuck with us. Relief days are a thing of the past, very few being able to get them in the past six months. Every member has his new card except one, who has had sickness in his home, and he will soon be in good standing. Our last meeting was fairly well attended even though it was pouring down rain dur- ing the earlier hours of the evening. Mat- ters under discussion were carried over until next meeting. Bro. Price, who was with the U. P. road before coming here almost two years ago, recently received a check for one hundred and seventy-four dollars and some odd cents stamped “J» accordance with schedule of the Railroad Telegraphers ” This alone should show the high standard of the O. R. T., and any eligible man that has the nerve to say, “J can't see what good it will do me” belongs in a class by himself, and there let him stay. *‘H” Office , General Relay — The printers are now going full blast, with Misses Ida Mindell and Lilly Botler on first and Mildred Blura on split trick. No one has to say “RUSH" more than once to Miss Alice Higgs, our new floor girl. The young ladies displacing our boys are moving business very well. Three new traffic chief positions recently put on bulletin, salary $110.70 per month, were bid in by Bros. Runkle, first ; Morton, second, and Kincheloe, third. The position of sebond trick assistant manager was abol- ished. “ 8U ” Office— This is now an important part of the Terminal, with a big train sheet to note the arrival and departure at four different points of every train of the seven roads coming in and going out, in addition to keeping other big sheets. The positions of two tricks were also bulletined. Bro. M. E. Price, who gave up second here, was succeeded by Bro. E. L. Price, relieved tenfporarily on second “DC” by Bro. F. A. Coe. With all the work I’m doing on this job, I’ve still had time to look out for new mem- bers, and have secured the following new brothers : A* E. Martin, night chief train clerk ; V. N. Howard, assistant ; J. P. Lynch, assistant ; day force, G. R. Lee, general chief train clerk, and C. T. Umbaugh, assistant. This is the entire office force excepting C. E. Christopher, but I think he will be with us before long, making that office tfsolid”. You other brothers, take that as a hint. I’ve gotten six new members in all, the sixth being Bro. F. M. Marquette, of /‘DC” office, which also makes that office solid again. See if you can’t get one new member. We mean to place Division 60 among the SOLIDS and are fast nearing that point “Go to It,” brothers, see what you can do. Bro. R. H. Mason, suffering from heavy cold, relieved by Bro. Walker several days. Yours truly lost a few days ; caught a heavy cold while in Frederick, Md., visiting relatives, which almost resulted in pneu- monia, but lucky enough to sidetrack it and get back on the job again in a week. Bro. Brinckman, second “PO”, is now on third P. B. & W. local. Bro. Nelson works B. & O. side third and Bro. Kincheloe keeps the dope going to all points. Bro. Walker, B. O. second, has ordered a new L. C. L. “Telegraphers' Special” ; says the Underwood isn’t heavy enough to hold down “BR" in “GO”, Baltimore. Bro. LeHew, Richmond locals, was off a few days, his trick being covered by the boys doubling, no extra men available. Bro. Beckley, the old standby on P. B. & W. second, took a weekend vacation, visiting friends in Virginia. Bro. Pitcher, B. & O. first, offered his fliv- ver to “Uncle Sam,” but on official examina- tion is was exempted from military service ! Bro. W. W. Dent hands out that snappy O K “MS” on the Charlotte wire now. Bro.. A. E. “Speedy” Martin has been elected chairman of the train clerks’ com- mittee. Bro. Lynch was absent several nights to sooth his injured jaw after a dentist had planted a mine under a tooth. Bro. Umbaugh has returned after a week's illness. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 477 Bro. H. A. Rourke, of “DC”, has been assigned shortstop on the ball team. “DC” Office— Bro. H. A. Rourke, assigned shortstop on the ball team, relieved by Bro. Dent of “H” office, relieved Bro. Vandygrift on first a few days while visiting friends in West Virginia. It is now Bros. M. E. Price and C. S. Page, second Penna. and B. & O. sides, and Bros. Loats and Marquette on third. No notes received from the towers. Thanks to the co-operation of the brothers in "A” and “C” towers, I am able to keep the “OS’* sheets right up-to-fate at all times. Remember the slogan, brothers, and live up to it strong. “No card , no favors” W. Li. Bruchet, Div. Cor. Boston, Mass., Div. No. 89. A new era was opened for this division at the March meeting, when for the first time in its history an official of the New Haven properties was invited thereto on a friendly mission, an<l it was quite a surprise when our chief. Brother Enos, announced the presence of Supt. F. M. Clark, of the Old Colony Division, and Vice-President Bro. Tom Pierson, and the distinguished guests were escorted to seats of , honor. Bro. Pierson, the first speaker, said it was always his greatest pleasure to be with the boys of No. 89, as it brought to mind his earlier endeavors here in Boston, when the sailing was not quite so smooth as today and that his efTorts had been crowned with suc- cess was due in a large measure to the grand support of the old guard, many of whom he recognized here tonight. Confining himself to that universal subject, “Mazzuma,” which we are all after, owing to the pinch we are beginning to feel from the high cost of living, he said our grand officers and general committee are working hard to get it for us at the earliest possible moment. The Government assumed a tremendous task in supervising the railroads of the coun- try, to which w.e must give our full measure of support. The Wage Board, appointed by Mr. McAdoo, Is working long and diligently to relieve the situation and while we may not receive the high percentage someone is advertising with a purpose in view, yet it will be the most substantial we have ever received, with back time from January 1st. President Wilson and Director General Mc- Adoo, bQth in commending the railroad em- ployes, spoke most highly of the loyalty of the operators who, under adverse conditions, stuck to their posts of duty. Under “Safety First,” Bro. Pierson said the roads are transporting large quantities of high explosives and advised us to be very cautious when handling freight, because the rough handling of a box or barrel might result disastrously not only to ourselves but also to a whole town. We have, of late, had samples in several communities where the loss of life and property was due to negli- gence. At the close of his remarks, Bro. Pierson was given a rousing ovation. Superintendent Clark was next called upon and said in part : “Fellow Rookies, Taken on short notice I did not have the lime to prepare a speech, but I will do the best I can and with that end in view will call your attention to the ‘Railroad Boat's Bulletin No. 8/ a copy of which has been mailed to every employe on the system. I want to lay particular stress upon the first two sentences of paragraph 4, which reads, *We have been taught to be careful. Let us now be more careful than even the rules require. “I find among the agents, clerks, signal- men. etc., the most painstaking and con- scientious workers, doing their duties well ; however, there is one item that* should be called to your attention, and that is that the blocking rules are not generally followed out to the letter. We can not be too careful in handling trains while our country is at war. Therefore, I hope you will be more careful than even the rules require. “One or two of your local daily papers made unfavorable comments against the offi- cers and employes of the railroads in gen* eral, but this was bitterly criticized by Mr. Anderson of the Interstate Commerce Com- mission, saying that the most loyal workers are found among the railroad men.” Mr. Clark, in speaking of the important task of the railroads during the war, told of the general get-together meeting recently held at New Haven, when all the officers of the property and the representatives of the Brotherhoods were present. The speeches and pledges wrere of such an impressive na- ture that it left no room for doubt as to just where the New Haven stood in the win- ning of the war. He also called attention to the last sen- tence in paragraph 5 of the Director Gen- eral’s circular notice No. 8 : " ‘Let no man carry on his conscience , now or hereafter , the feeling that he failed to do his bit during this time of need, the best he knew how * “Wc have fathers, sons, and brothers over there depending on us over here to keep them supplied. If we fail, then our country fails, but that will never happen because we are going to follow the slogan adopted at the big New Haven meeting: “•We muet, we will and we shall work to win.' “The loyalty of the employes in the tele - graph department can never be questioned. Even in times of peace they have given their full measure of service, though inadequately compensated. I do not say this in a spirit of criticism, because I cannot place the Digitized by Google
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478 The Railroad Telegrapher, blame. Perhaps if you had more men like Tom Pierson and Ross in the field the results might be different ; and finally I want to say that you will find some persons on the rail- roads as well as in other business who have pro-German feelings or tendencies. I would advise you to be on the alert and report to your ranking officers any irregularity coming to your attention. We are all employes of the United States Government. We have pledged ourselves to do our bit ; now let us make that bit our greatest effort, the best _ we know how.” Mr. Clark was given a rising vote of thanks. General Chairman Ross, to whom must be given the credit for providing such able and interesting speakers, spoke next and went into detail relative to his trip to Washington in furtherance of the wage increase. He was optimistic as to the percentage basis and believed the increase we would receive would be satisfactory. He told of the patri- otic meeting held at New Haven impressed with the intent and purpose the slogan : “To Work Hard to Win ”, and his amendment to it that, “We will — We must put the New Haven over the top.” deferring to the previous speaker, he told how Mr. Clark rose from the ranks to the superintendency ; his early Interest in the O. R. T., and his taking out an honorable withdrawal card when his interest with the Order was fulfilled, and noted that mem- bers of the official family, without excep- tion. were at one time or another connected with the O. R. T. and in many instances their hearts beat In unison with their erst- while though less lucky brothers. He urged the boys to be loyal to their duties In furtherance of world democracy ; the interests of the officers and men are Identical under Government supervision of the road. A rising pledge to support the road and its officers was taken here. Bro. Scott Hazeltine, general chairman of the Boston Terminal, then took the floor. He was impressed with the former speakers, whom he claimed covered nearly all of the ground, leaving little to be said except, of course, the recent increase the terminal lads are now enjoying. Bro. Geo. Clark was then called upon and in a ten-minute vitriolic denunciation of the “Hun and Boche,” drove all the pro-German- ism out of the room. It was the best short patriotic speech we have so far heard, and brought Bro. Pierson to his feet again, wrho related an Incident occurring at the last convention which showed up Bro. Clark in a better light. A short recess was then taken to shake hands with our distinguished guests. Division 89 owns a Liberty Bond, all paid. “Addition” back time from January 1, 1918. Division 89 sympathizes with the sorrow- ing friends, relatives and brothers over the following deaths : Bro. T. A. Hickey, a long and respected member of 89 ; father and mother of Train Dispatcher Bro. J. W. Finn ; son of Train Dispatcher Bro. Charlie Board- man ; father and mother of Bro. W. Burdick, agent at Cohassett. The following brothers are now in the serv- ice of Uncle Sam : W. M. O’Brien, El S. Dingley, J. P. Lyons, J. E. McMahon, O. G. Bussierre, W. H. Henderson, G. H. Guimond, H. K. Conwray, J. J. O’Connor, L. E. Camp- bell, N. C. MarlHon, J. J. Allen. Superintendent Clark could not help notic- ing the clean cut and Intelligent looking lot of men, railroad presidents in the making. Bros. Kerns, DeWar, McEvoy went honffe without their little “say so”, but then it was a “big night ” for the “big fellows Send in your news items. We all want to know, what’s doing. Everything newsy and up-to-date. Boston Terminal Notes — Bro. Scott Hazeltine, general chairman, believes in being well guarded, so he had a lion-ette accompany him. Bro. C. V. Sargent, chief of tower No. 1, anticipated a pleasant vacation at balmy Key West, but it was all spent on trains going to and from there. Bro. Hutchins was more fortunate. He stayed at home, going only to the movies and the Dutchman’s. Bro. Thom, after a long fling as yard mas- ter, is back on the old Job. The past winter was a strenuous one for the men in towers 1 and 2 ; they certainly earned the increase in money. The terminal doesn’t sport any conscien- tious objectors to union principles now. Boston Division Notes , New Haven R. R. — There are still a few nons bidding In choice jobs, a privilege and a condition they arc not men enough to uphold, yet reap the benefits. Bro. Wm. Shea, of Tower 237, has secured a long leave of absence to re'gain his health. The brothers should see to It that "Bill” shall not want while away. It is now Gordon Bros. & Co. at Chickering tower. Bro. E. on split and Bro. Sam on second trick levermen, both “huskies.” Won- der if that will scare “Charlie Wing” into getting a new card. Bro. O’Brien has joined the colors, relieved at Weymouth agency by Bro. EMdie Shaine, w’ho will have to be nice now, as there are so many lady operators on the line. Miss Jones, at Provlncetown, will soon Join the ranks. With the opening of the Nantasket Branch for the summer, more lady operators will be required, as men are now hard to get. Digitized by tjOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 479 Local Chairman Enos is right up against it now. with so many lady operators on his division. -"He’s rather bashful, you know.” Bros. Bill Fenwick, Jack Francis, Joe Stef- fy. Scout Bicknell, no doubt, were the old guard Bro. Pierson referred to in his speech. Bro. Tim Delaney was re-elected selectman for tUe town of Walpole, and Bro. J. B. McEvoy to a similar office at Cedar. We hope the special investigators from the Director General of Railroads’ office, to ascer- •tain where to place the highest per cent of wages among railroad men, found some of our low paid men on the New Haven. - Midland Division, New Haven R. R. — Bro. H. W. Sears relieved Chief Dispatcher Dorigan, while off sick recently. Bro. Tom BuCkley, third trick dispatcher, was off two weeks with a slight touch of pneumonia, Bro. Jim McLaughlin doing the honors, while Bro. Harry Curren sat on the crows’ nest. Bro. H. A. Sheehan has qualified on Wal- lum Lake yard as dispatcher. Bro. C. Stevens, third 234 tower, Readville, the first, local chairman of this division, spent a brief period in Boston recently on a very important mission. Bro. Coughlin Franklin, station third, was off several nights account of sickness; Bros. Barber and Rogovin doubling ; no spare man. Bro. P. A. Gilbert, tower 231, Franklin, was called home account of the death of his mother; Bro. Curren relieving. Bro. Phillips, of West Street, off sick ; Bro. Hurley from Neeham relieving. Bro. Roach, agent Farm Street, is the only regular attendant at meetings from that branch. The Malloy brothers, agents at Medway and West Medway, will vie with each other as to which will be the most prominent station when the aviation plant and field is completed at Medway. Bro. Hank Sears, dispatcher first trick, spent a week at Portland, Me., visiting his parents. Bro. Green was called to court duty ac- count of an accident at Norwood Station ; Bros. Butler and Murphey doubling up at Norwood Jet. ; no men. Bro. Tom Buckley, third trick dispatcher, spent a brief vacation at Newport, R. I., with his brother, who Is an instructor at the naval radio station. Bro. E. Harold Emery, wire chief at Willi- mantic, will have his hands full# when the new telephones installed, Willie to Water- bury, are put in use for dispatching trains. Harry says he will understand Bucky Hay- nor better. The electrical disturbahee following the aurora borealis put the wires out of com- mission for a considerable period. Work on strengthening the bridges at Blackstone is progressing fast. An intervalve and pilot engine are used to expedite train movements. When finished It will permit heavier trains to pass, and then the Midland will come into its own. The route from New York to Boston is shortened twenty-two miles, via the Air Line and Midland divisions. Bro. H. Covert at Douglas Jet., regrets the loss of his cabin by fire, for which a pas- senger coach was substituted with less con- venience. We have a signal-lady at "PO" block sta- tion second. Now, you old fogies, don’t bum up the wires trying to accommodate. H. J. Bardol, Div. Cor. Annapolis Royal, N. D., Div. No. 114. Dominion Atlantic Railway — Division 114 is one of the many divisions that the members ha\© or will enjoy substan- tial increases for the present year. On Jan- uary 14, 1918, the general chairman and Bro. C. O. Duncan, Annapolis Royal ; Bro. C. G. C. Coombs, Wolfsville, met the man- agement for discussions of schedule improve- ments. After five days’ discussion succeeded in raising our minimum salary $10.00 a position and giving increases to every posi- tion from $12,50 to $18 per month ; secured ten hour day, two weeks’ vacation with pay ; minimum call of 60 cents per hour, overtime pro rata, based on twenty-six days per month, ten hours per day, minimum 35 cents per hour ; a number of other goods things, including pay for Sunday. In order to give us some cash on hand, Division 114 has passed a resolution the first month’s increase is to be paid into the coffers of the division treasury. We regret the loss of our brother, F. E. Winstead, Yarmouth, N. S., who was called from us on December 6th. We lost in Bro. Winstead a valued member. The division sent a large floral wreath with letters O. R. T. in center. We are now making special efforts for the “nons”, which are but few. Fail to see how there can be any. Only a few here. O. P. Jones, Gen. Chairman. Grand Trunk Ry., Div. No. 1. Seventeenth District — Bro. Hurley has been on the sick list for the past six weeks. We sincerely hope he will soon be back at Dumfries again, where he has done such good and faithful service for the past thirty years. • Bro. R. Newman, days Dundas, was off sick a few days recently. Bro. Hughes is also on the sick list. He was relieved at Princeton by Bro. Swales, from Komoka, when he relieved Bro. J. Gilpin at London East agency, the latter going to *‘W” office. Bro. F. N. Burke, agent Ingersoll, and wife have returned from a trip to the sunny South. Digitized by tjoooie
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480 The Railroad Telegrapher, Bro. Art McArthur, nights Woodstock, spent his vacation in the Windy City. Quite a number of our boys come under the Military Service Act jtnd may have to don the khaki soon, unless their exemptions are extended. News seems to be very scarce on this part of the line, or the boys are so busy they don’t have time to send me the items. Div. Cor. t’th and teth Districts and C., 8. d M. — Bro. R. E. Turley was called to La Grange, Ind., by the sudden death of his father, March 12th. “U's” many friends in "WI" general offices, Battle Creek, tendered a beau- tiful standing floral wreath as an expression of their -heartfelt sympathy in his sad be- reavement. Bro. Haun, in training at Camp Farragut, Great Lakes, 111., after five days' furlough, passed through March 1st. He expects to be transferred to Harvard to take a course in wireless. Had it not been for the timely arrival of a work train with several cars of cinders and five hundred bags of sand, the bridge west of Trowbridge would have been washed out About ten feet of embankment had been washed away before the section foreman could get help. Bro. Link relieved Passenger Agent Potter, of Lansing, on three weeks’ vacation to Day- tona, Fla. Bro. Collins, at Charlotte, has been filling a great many orders for maple syrup for employes along the line. Bro. Payne, at Lansing, was ofT a few days sick recently, Bro. Link and O. D. Campbell doubling. Latter succeeded Bro. W. Ryant on third there, resigned. Bro. R. B. Thornton assigned to day chief. Bro. F. L. Beeman, night chief, and E. R. Barney to first, “WI”, Battle Creek. Bro. C. E. Smith to first Marcellus on account of Bro. IT. R. Davis withdrawing his bid. Not enough news to brag about this month. You are laying (town on me. "Hib”, Cert. 2. “Big Four” Ry., Div. No. 3. Cleveland Division — Business is picking u^ and the road getting badly blocked. Brothers, do all you can to keep the trains moving on schedule time. Bro. John Bazzle, first Shelby, relieved a few days by Bro. Irvy, who also relieved Bro. Newkirk, third Marsh, a few dq^rs. Bro. H. T. Sloan off on committee work. Bro. Deppler, second Crestline, sick a few days ; Bros. Gossler and Marring doubling. Bro. Clutter relieved a few days by Bro. Quay. Bro. Bruce Powers, third Leonardsburg, resigned, relieved by Miss Norman. The brothers at Hiles have a new tower, which was put in service Sunday, March 17th. Bro. Mathews is back from the army on third Grafton. Bro. Orr is going to third Linndale, vice Anderson. I wish some of the brothers from the west end would send me some notes for the# write- ups, as it is hard to get them over there. Let’s keep after the nons until we line them up. Ckbt. 1499. Indianapolis Division- On account of the B. & O. bridge being out over the Miami River, that road used our rails Lawrenceburg Junction to Griffith, the operators at Lawrenceburg Junction, Val- ley Junction and Griffith putting In more than double time, but only getting pay for “Big Four” work. Several of the boys have been doubling recently on account of sickness and no relief operators available. Bro. Murray, at Darling, and Bro. Buch- anan, Manford, were off a few days on ac- count of sickness, and Bro. Evans was also off several days recently. Bro. Percy Reynolds is breaking in as & dispatcher and Bro. Leland is back on car desk. We have “meatless Tuesdays”, “wheatless Wednesdays,” and a lot of other “-less” things, but In the future it will be “non-less divisions.” with evefy man having a good old O. R. T. card in his pocket. Evidence shows that if every brother would do his part every office would be solid like “KI,“ Let’s make it “no card, no friends.” Ckrt. 2292. ■Indianapolis Division Notes — Bro. Kay Murtz, first F, has gone to the "Clover Leaf" as wire chief at Frankfort, Ind. Bro. F. P. Rowe, third Connor, visited relatives at Bellefontaine, and Bro. L. O. Kirk, visited relatives in Muncie a few days recently, and Bro. Jim Hollow-Peter also visited his folks at Houston, O., several days. Bro. S. D. Solomen, first Taft, and Bro. Hess, first Morgan, were off on account of sickness. , Bro. Coffleld, agent Russia, was relieved several days by Miss Moots, who also re- lieved Sister Blue, second Harrisville, while moving. Bro. Fouts, first at David, was off a few days on account of the death of his son ; Bro. Beckley, third Framland, off on account of the death of his nephew at Marlon, O., and Bro. Hausknecht on account of the death of his aunt. The boys at Winchester had to double sev- eral days while Bro. Frank Roberts was nursing a carbuncle on his neck. Digitized by c.ooQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 481 Bro. Smith, second Rastwood, is on vaca- tion. Brothers, don’t forget to keep after the nons in your territory and remember our motto, “No cards, no favors.” Cert. 2144. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Again we bow in humble sub- mission to our Divine Ruler, who knoweth and doeth all things best and has called to Himself the beloved daughter of Bro. R. H. Pieterbaugh. we should remember that his loss is her eternal gain, “Dust thou art and dust thou shall return” ; therefore, be it Resolved, That the members of Division No. 3 extend to the bereaved brother and family their heartfelt sympathy in the sad hour of affliction; and be It further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this division, a copy sent to the bereaved family, and a copy, sent to The Telegrapher for publica- tion. Cert. 214. Ht. Louis Division — CARD OF THANKS. I wish to thank the brothers of the St. Louis Division- for the kindness and sympa- thy shown me and the assistance they have given me account . the recent loss of my daughter. ft. Inglest, Cert. 1145. Terre Haute, Ind. C., St. P„ M. & 0. Ry., Div. No. 4. Eastern Division — Bros. Donahue, agent Valley Junction, and Johnson, Tunnel,, were the only ones from the east end to attend the meeting at Eau Claire. It was a howling success and those that did not or could not attend sure did miss something, as the new schedule and working rules were discussed fully. If more of the boys would get out to these meetings they would learn something to their interest. We sure got a fine schedule and it sure seems fine for those fortunate enough to get their Sundays off. Those who have been working for years know how to appreciate fully this one day a week rest. Bro. Gray had to batch while his wife took a trip to Missouri. Bro. Mills, Neillsville, has enlisted in the signal corps at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., re- lieved pending bulletin by Sister Pearl Lock- wood. Bro. Hugdahl is now installed on second Eau Claire. _ . Bro. -Phillips, agent Northline, while at- tending his father’s funeral, was relieved by Bro. Olson, third Sheppard, and he by Bro. Gerth. Our esteemed General Chairman Liddane, who was operated on at St. Joseph’s Hospital, St Paul, on March 8th, is home again after spending two weeks there. The nurses would not let some of the brothers see him on March 12th, owing to his having had a bad day of it. We sincerely hope he will be able to be around again soon. There was $6 left In the flower fund. Bro. Hurst has charge of it, so he and I took it upon ourselves to get a dozen flne pink roses and sent them up to him with card marked, “From the boys on Eastern and Northern Divisions” as both divisions contributed to the fund. We hope this will meet with all of your approval. The flowers cost $2.50, leaving a balance of $3.50 in the fund. This was the least we could do to show our appre- ciation for what Bro. “Bill” has done for us all. There was a big meeting at St. Paul, Monday, March 11th, by the Great Northern boys. They are beingi organized again. The Twin City Club is also ^ being reorganized. They had some noted speakers, including Bro. Rawlins. Another meeting was called to be held at the same place April 8th. It would be nice if some of the boys along the line would send me some news by the 1 8th of each month. Cert. 6. Nebraska Division — Bro. .Dennis, Tekamah first, was sick sev- eral days ; also Bro. Merriman, of third. Bros. Mathew\s and Wassum had to do double duty during that time, but everybody is on fluty again. Bro. Wassum, who relieved Bro. Owens while at Omaha one day, is now off for six months to go into business and if everything goes as he anticipates he will sever his con- nection with railroads. Brother Vic Nelson, at Nacora pending bulletin, was sick for twro weeks with scarlet fever, but is able to be out and hopes to soon resume work again.' Bro. A. W. Barge, Herman, was off a few days last month. Bro. Marr, an oldtimer with the "w'ooden shoe”, has taken a leave of absence to try another business. We wish him success. Bro. Clarence W. Hutton, first at North Yard, is about the most pleased man on the division since schedule wrent into effect Feb- ruary 1st, having been relieved the three hours of the daily checking the yard. Bro. Korntap, third Oakland, is now at Camp Dodge working for Uncle Sam. There are several lady telegraphers on the division and the boys should see that they are all lined up, as we want to make the division 100 per cent strong and help to boost the membership over the 60,000 mark this year. There has been so many changes recently that it would take up too much space to mention them all. The bulletins each month have shown them all, enabling everybody to keep in touch with them. Digitized by u.oo<?le
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482 The Railroad Telegrapher, Mr. Orm.es, “from the Rock Island," who relieved one night at Tekamah while Bro. Mathews was sick for several days, bid in Wynot. Bro. Schrumpf, at Lyons, is still without an operator. Bro. Vickery, on third "KA", was relieved at "AD" by Miss Davenport. Jot down any news items you hear of and send them to the local chairman so we can have a writeup every month. This will also help the local chairman to keep In touch with things. Let every brother make it a point to get a member. If a new man is working on either side of you, find out how he stands and if up-to-date get him in line. Give the none no rest, as they have no argument to put up that would keep them out. Remem- ber, “No cards, no favors ” * Cert. 401. Kansas City Southern Ry., Div. No. 5. Watts to DeQueen — On account of "ye scribe" being sick all last month we did not have a writeup. Heavy business caused extra dispatchers to be put on pt Heavener, with Bro. Miner on first, Shannessey on second, and Johnston on third from Heavener to DeQueen ; Farrell on first, Olsen on second and Fulkerson third from Heavener to Watts. Bro. Hafvey, Sal- lisa w, relieved Bro. Miner at Heavener Relay nights until the arrival of Bro. Jerome from* Ft. Smith, relieved on first there by "ye scribe” from third. Additional operators have been put on at Pake, Okla., and Rich Mountain, making continuous service at both stations. Bro. Dick Fretwell, who relieved Chief Dispatcher Downs at Heavener several days on account of sickness, was relieved by Bro. Harvey, on the clerk’s desk. Bro. Hardwick, traveling freight agent for F. S. & W., is now agent at Quinton, Okla., for that road. Bro. Langwell, agent Coal Creek, was a recent Ft. Smith caller. Bro. Shirley bid back Westville third. Bro. Noble canceled his bid on Oskaloosa and it is on bulletin again. Our writeup is short this month as I am on first trick and had no way to gather any news, only a few pickups. If some of you brothers would send me a few items we could have a fine writeup each month. It is impossible for one to get all the news with- out help. There are lots of changes that I do not hear about. Send me a note when a change takes place at your station. I will certainly appreciate it. S. D. Collyer, Cert. 495. Union Pacific R. R., Div. No. 6. Kansas Division — Bro. Kassner, one of the Kansas Division men, writes from somewhere in France under d^te of January 25th, thanking me for my letter of December 22nd, the mail that day being the first he had received in three weeks. His ^regiment, the "Fighting 12th". is operating a narrow gauge railroad to the front, averaging some fifty trains a day ; with both steam and gas tractors, the latter for handling material between the second and third line trenches at night, when no lights whatever are used. Some of the sta- tions are ten feet or more underground, near- est the front. The speed limit he says is about four miles an hour, taking about that long to run to the front, so you see he is close enough to get the real thing. " 'Jerry* dropped one about thirty yards from our station recently that dug a hole large enough to put our shanty in and then borne. He has a bad habit of coming over nights in an areoplane, bombing (we call them ‘hayracks*), and when he kicks one off you always think your time has come. All lights are kept covered for our own good. We can always expect him when it is nice and clear with no wind. There is an obser- vation balloon a short distance from our shanty and one day I just stepped outside when I heard the whirr of a plane and the rattle of a machine gun as a 'Jerry* came out of the clouds and two men came jumping out of the balloon basket, in parachutes. vThen 'Jerry* dropped a bomb on the bal- loon, which brought It down in flames. But in a few minutes the boys brought ‘Jerry* himself down on our side of the line. "The country Is a complete wreck, no wom- en or children for miles back. The people at home will never be able to realize what a war this is, regardless of how Tnuch they are doing. France is the only country that really feels it and we must take off our hats to them. "I hope to hear from you again and some of the boys back home. "Fraternally, "Chester A. Kassner. "Care American Expeditionary Force, Com- pany D., 12th Eng’rs Regiment, France." Another of our men who "went across'* is Bro. M. G. Collins. His address is, care Intelligent Dept., Am. Exp. Force, France." A letter to either of them would be appre- ciated. Bro. A. B. Campbell, of Perry, who lost his little son with scarlet fever, desires us to extend for himself and wife their sincere appreciation for the beautiful floral offering from the division, as w'ell as the kindness of individual members inquiring of their troubles. A certain good loyal brother who did his best to enlist some time ago and failed to get by the army surgeons, recently had occa- sion to decline to favor Davis, of Black Wolf, first because it would be unlawful to do so ; secondly, because he refused to sub- Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 483 scribe 25 cents to support the Red Cross, nor anything to the Y. M. C. A, fund ; neither would ho purchase a Liberty Bond, and thirdly, because he refused to support the committee and let the other members pay for him. Davis, replying to the brother’s letter which he designated as a “Swan Song,” among other things says : “I have noticed what you say as to my position on \Red Cross. Well, I am glad you know where I am" ; “I suppose you have many Liberty Bonds, I should imagine a guy of your caliber would have many” ; “You can take a • tip from father that you will never see me num- bered with such boobs as you are.” Davis is right, he will never be numbered among “suchv boobs,” so long as Bro. Hook remains local chairman to keep up the bars against him. He is as effectually barred from mem- bership In the Order as he would be if he was behind the bars of a German internment camp, where if justice were done he would now be located. Let us do all we can to run such men off the railroad and get them out of the country. He has no place what- ever among loyal American citizens, especi- ally during a time when our country is at war to rid the world of “Kaiserites.” We can do -some good work at home. Boys, let’s do it. Kansas Division — Bro. J. T. WMght succeeds H. F. Morrel, Bonner Springs first, who has been a non all his life. Bro. R. L. Cox goes to Idana agency, vice Bro. Condray, resigned to go on the farm, and Bro. C. C. Moore to Milton- vale agency, vice Bro. Firebaugh, resigned and moved to Oklahoma. We take pleasure in reporting the follow- ing new members : N. J. Ackors, Kansas City “GN” ; P. C. Minner, Menoken third ; A. P. Schwab, Camp Funston second ; B. Hildebrand, Ft. Riley second ; F. O. Kelley, Hays second ; H. Lowry, Lincoln Center Urst ; L. I. Horstman, Lucas first ; W. H. Gosnel], extra, and 5. M. Collender, Sylvan Grove first, transferred from C., B. & Q. Bro. Brown, of “GN” office, Kansas City, has just recovered from an attack of measles. Bro. Hockensmith was called .to Rochester, Minn., where^his mother was operated on. Bro. R. W. Johnson is relieving Agent Thomson at Wamego, on account of the very serious illness of his wife. Bro. Tilton, at Bonner, is elated over the recent change in operators there, making it solid for the first time in years. The Federal Wage Board completed its hearings on March 2d and we should soon know the decision. Ft. Riley, Kan., is now an exclusive express office. No W. U. is handled there or at Funston, eliminating the commission. R. L. Davis, former superintendent of this division, is now president of the American State Bank of Kansas. Cert. 103. Colorado Division — It is pleasing to see such oldtimers as Bro. Lummis at Oakley, and Bro. Severance at Hoxie, back with us again. The only three nona now on the K. P. & Colby Branch are Miss Krusen, at Watkins ; Pounds, at Sharon Springs, and Edwards, at Wakeeney. We must give them no rest until they are lined up. * Bro. Athey, at Gilchrist, has resigned, re- lieved by J. T. Orie, pending bulletin, and he on third Platteville by Brigham, a new man. Bro. Albert relieved Bro. I. J. Martin at Cheyenne Wells, when he went to Weskan agency temporarily. Bro. McCartney was relieved at Penokee by Ferrill and Bro. Walker, Watkins second, by Bro. Collins. Miss Maud Little relieved Bro. Pexton, at Zurich, resigned. Bro. G. R. Martin.has also resigned. Bro. Myers relieved at Sterling by Sharon. . Ktt Carson third, just opened by Bro. Blackman, who was relieving Bro. Oglesby at Weskan. Some of these extra men have been work- ing several months and we should get busy now and see that they get up-to-date. Bro. Cordill, Briggsdale, was relieved a few days by Miss Phelps. It’s now Bro. A. G. Seavers at Hoxie, making Colby Branch regulars all solid. It is also Bro. Laurchbaugh at Union. If you have done everything you can to make things run smoothly and they don’t seem to be handled to your liking, express your views to the local or general chairman. They are the “trouble shooters.” Your moral as well as financial support is needed. The best of machinery requires oil to run smooth- ly. Have you paid that' special assessment t If not, read pages 123 to 144 February Telegrapher. You have missed something worth while. Bro. Jay Connett, chief operator over quite a bunch of “Sammies” at the camp in Cali- fornia, has gained about fifteen pounds and likes it fine. If we get the nons while the Sammies are getting the Kaiser, there won’t be any undesirables left. Bro. Folks, second Sterling, anticipating a call from “Uncle Sam,” went to his old stamping grounds in Mississippi to get a little of the old kick before departing for Berlin, relieved by Harvill from Wyoming Division. Bro. Venneri, Ft. Morgan second, and Bro. Wright, Eaton days, have swapped jobs. Bro. Whitney, Iliff, dropped in to see the brothers while at Sterling recently. Wish to thank Bros. Kullman and Suther- land for notes in this writeup. I asked two brothers on the K. P. for notes, but none Digitized by tjooole
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484 The Railroad Telegrapher. have shown up. Since leaving "UD“ and coming to Gilcrest, I will, be unable to cover the K. P. unless some of you boys send me your notes. Will be glad to get them from any or all of you. Cbrt. 569. Wyoming Division — ■ Bro. McKale, “NO” North Platte, spent a pleasant vacation in Seattle with his brother, enjoying the springlike climate of the Pacific coast Bro. F. P. Hagey, Julesburg second, who received word that his father was very low at his home, Burlington Junction, Mo., was relieved by Bro. R. H. FitzlalT from the Milwaukee. Bro. B. O. Byrne, on indefinite leave owing to sickness,* relieved by Bro. Chalker from first, and he by Chas. Gross, a new man. Bro. Homer Morris, former operator at Burns, recently abolished, is relieving at Sunol pending bulletin. New members secured since the first of the year are : Homer Morris, Sunol ; Clar- ence L«. Bowman, Rock River ; Ross Hutson, E. J. Gleason, Margaret J. McDonald, Kath- lyn M. Smythe, all of Laramie ; R. H. Fitz- lalf, Julesburg; Jas. Taylor, Chappell; M. O. Killion, Bosler. We can make the list grow rapidly if every member will realize that jt is for our own benefit that every non on the division gets an up-to-date. Brothers, get after that one working with and on each side of you. Bro. Bill Sutherland, the congenial local chairman of the Colorado Division, dropped In and gave the glad hand to the boys at Julesburg on his return from Omaha. Come again, Bill. Bro. Ward, agent Egbert, is sporting his first annual pass. Not being able to get a layoff to use it, he says it Is like having a saddle and no horse. Bro. J. O. Lauder, recently with an oil company in Wyoming, is on second Sidney pending bulletin. We are glad to welcome him into our midst. Potter nights closed and Agent Biggs is now doing the stunt alone If you have not paid your special assess- ment of January 15, 1918, do so at once; also get after the fellow next to you and find out if he has paid it. This is very im- portant, as the division has paid the dues and M. B. I). assessments of our members now in the serviec of their country, and it has taken quite a sum of money to do this. Everyone is satisfied with the efforts put forth by the committee while in session at Omaha, and everyone will be better satisfied when the committee concludes the negoti- ations, which we feope to be real soon. Make it plain to every non-member with whom you come in contact, that it will be through the efforts of the order that we get what we do. T. D. Pyle, L. C. Western Division — We are pleased to report the following new members : J. W. Mclnturflf, Rawlins ; Claire Du Fresne, Wamsutter; A. H. Swan- son, D. R. Reid, C. H. Moore, H. A. Monroe, Nellie Monroe, R. J. Satterlee and D. B. Avinger, Green River ; L. M. Decker, Alta- mont ; D. Gamble Peterson and K. K. Par- rott, Echo. ^ The hooks in Green River office are not quite full of messages as they were several months ago, but there is still plenty of work, the force having been reduced from fifteen telegraphers to ten ; the efficient manager, Bro. “Bill", who totes an annual ; Bros. Davis, Shaver, Vaughan, Swanson, Reid and Monroe and Sister Monroe, being among those left. Bro. Reid is thinking seriously of going to sunny California. Bro. Moore, cut off in the reduction there, is now in the navy. Bro. Avinger, “The Alabama Kid.“ who went to Rawlins, later returned and was heartily Welcomed by the bunch. The telegraph office at Rock Springs is to be moved to the passenger station. We must see that the three nons there get an up-to-date now, so they can make a respec- table appearance in such a public place. Bro. Vaughan, Green River, still visits Rock Springs occasionally. Boys, be prompt in remitting the $5.00 assessment to Bro. Hughey. We ivould not have this to pay if we had all got busy and rounded up the nons. Get after that one working with you or at the next station, and give them no rest until they hand you their applications with the necessary fee to secure an up-to-date. As long as we permit them to remain non-members, we will have to continue paying their way. Let’s live up to the motto, l‘No card, no favors” Bro. Hudson, manager Rawlins, has re- turned from his vacation East. Bro. Hambley and Mrs. Stokes have to work nine hours each now, one man being cut off at Tipton. Bro. Wheadon, Morgan, suffering from a broken shoulder, will soon be able to resume work. Although he was crippled and not working, he was among the first to remit his dues and the assessment. Sister Gamble, Peterson, who recently un- derwent a serious operation in Ogden, we are glad to learn, has improved sufficiently to resume work. Bro. Porter, from Evanston, filled in at Wahsatch while Mrs. A. E. Davis was also undergoing a serious operation* at Ogden, from which we are glad to learn she has reco\ered. Bro. Pierron, an oldtimer from- the “Pennsy”, also relieved several nights at Wahsatch recently on account of sickness. Bro. Montgomery, Echo first, while on sick list was relieved by Bro. G. A. Davis. Bro. and Sister Wildes, on vacation, may possibly leave us for sunny California. Bro. Cue has only four men at Evanston Digitized by c.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 485 now since the cutoff there. Bros. Porter, Pir- tle and "Happy” and ‘‘Bill”. They once be- longed and are both good scouts. Keep after them, boys, until they get into the ‘‘bread line” with us. Bros. Johnson and Weber, are still at Knight, but understand the latter is seriously contemplating a move t<f the farm. Bro. Foster has left us for his farm in Montana, succeeded by Bro. Longstreth, at agency Spring Valley. We all wish him suc- cess. Mr. Hay Hamilton, trainmaster Eighth District, who died recently in Ogden hospital from injuries sustained in an accident at Bridger, was well liked by everyone, and will be greatly missed. The boys of the Eighth District purchased a beautiful floral piece for his funeral. Bro. Whittaker went to second Carter when Bridger nights closed. We were very sorry to see Chief Dispatcher Wirt leave Evanston. He has been promoted to assistant superintendent Wyoming Divi- sion, with headquarters at Daramie. He was always ready to give the boys a square deal ; we know how to appreciate his kind, are glad of his promotion, and wish him unbounded success. I have Bros. Vaughan, Green River, and Davis, Wahsatch, to thank for notes for this writeup. Won’t some of you other brothers contribute your share? L. C. Canadian Pacific, Div. No. 7. First District, Manitoba Division — Notwithstanding the fact that we had in our former brother scribe one of the best on £he district, it would seem that through lack of support on our part or because we did not take sufficient interest in his efforts to render the assistance necessary, he has evi- dently become discouraged with it all and a result we have not been represented In The Ykltoraphbr for some time. Your hum- ble servant has been requested to send In some "news” occasionally, so I have agreed to take the responsibility and act as division correspondent to the best of my ability. I shall, however, expect a great deal of outside assistance as it is difficult for one to keep In touch with all the happenings worthy of note on the whole district. I therefore request that each member pass me the “makin’s” about the 20th of each month and I will do my part to have a writeup In our journal each issue. It is a shame that this, the best organized road on the continent, should not be mentioned every month in The Telegrapher. Surely you have some words of praise to show your appreciation of the good worfc being done from time to time or some incident pertaining to some brother or sister that would be of interest to the fraternity, at home and abroad, so come along with your notes and do it often. It was my privilege and pleasure to attend the meeting held In Dryden March 1st, and although our number was not as great as might have been, yet we had a very good meeting indeed and those who could have so easily attended and 4did not do so surely missed something. This meeting was rather unique, an establishment of a new element having been attained which we trust will become a precedent on all future occasions. 1 allude to the presence of Sister Rhind at our gathering, the first instance of the kind known to the district. Bro. Gilbert availed himself of the opportunity to extend hearty congratulations and made mention of the honor conferred on ' our gathering by her attendance. Sister Rhind responded in a few well -chosen remarks and expressed pleasure at being able to attend, also her pride at being a member of our noble Order. We have two lady members in this dis- trict at present, who have been with us but a short time, both of whom recognized the wisdom of supporting the organization of our craft soon as they became eligible for membership according to the constitu- tion. Sister Guay, at English River, al- though not working *at present, I under- stand, still retains her membership. The ex- ample set by these two sisters we trust will N be noted and that- all new arrivals without a card will feel It Incumbent upon them- selves to follow their lead and become one of us. We were pleased to see at our Dryden meeting one now candidate for the O. R. T. goat, Bro. Baden R. Smith, assistant agent Dryden, and welcome him to our ranks. We feel .sure he will make a staunch member and know he will never regret the step he has taken. We w’ould be pleased, now that the assistant agents and freight clerks are eligible for membership in this organi- zation, if they would avail themselves of the protection we have to offer them by using every opportunity of bringing in a new member for their department. Our schedule committee, when last in session, secured for their craft more than could reasonably have been expected of them, con- sidering the chance it had and the Informa- tion at its disposal to enable it to plead their various cases properly ; but even though they agree that this has been of great bene- fit to them already, if they band themselves together and render loyal support generally from now until next revision of schedule, I venture to assert that they will have still greater reason to feel proud of the organi- zation that affords them so much assist- ance. A word to the w-ise is sufficient. Now that the thin edge of the w’edge has been inserted, it naturally follows that the future benefits to be derived will depend wholly upon the individual effort put forth by each one of them. Words fail me in which to ex- press our appreciation of the hospitality Digitized by tjOOQie
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486 r The Railroad Telegrapher. extended to us and the entertainment so ably provided by our Bros. Campbell and Davies, and their wives, at the Dryden meeting. Such actions fully exemplify the spirit of true brotherhood. We feel that much praise and thanks are due from those so benefited ; therefore, on behalf of the out- of-town members, I extend our heartiest thanks to these brothers and sisters for their kindness, and trust that the occasion may some time arise whereby we will be enabled to, in a measure at least, return the compliment. f^ro. Gilbert gave us a good talk during the evening, which was thoroughly enjoyed. Among other things mentioned was a state- ment which showed our division in the best of shape, financially that it has ever been since the inception of Division 7. This shows the loyalty of the C. P. B. boys generally. As Bro. Gilbert presented the business of the evening to the meeting I could not help noticing the many duties which fall to the lot of a local chairman in the way of ad- justing grievances, answering correspondence, etc. This was plaintly no small item, as was shown by the bundle of correspondence that had accumulated since our last meeting, and methinks our worthy brother, who so ably fills the office without a murmur of com- plaint, although some of the matters brought up from time to time would justly merit a complete turn-down, it Is not for me to criti- cise, and I do not wish you to take my sug- gestion as such ; but knowing Bro. Gilbert as I do and how patient and impartial he is toward all and how ready to render assist- ance at all times, I cannot help saying, let us think twice before troubling him with matters that are of little consequence after all. Let us make doubly sure we have a case before making a grievance of it. We are all pleased to have Bro. T. H. Cauley back with us again after a few weeks' rest. Bro. J. B. Veitch, called East account of the death of a relative, was relieved by Bro. Shane, a new man. Bro. Simpson, Pine, is spending a holiday at the Pacific Coast, where the family will in future reside ; relieved by Bro. Lawlor, a new man. Alfred Manley, former clerk in Superin- tendent MacArthur’s office, is at Ingolf, and Mr. Smith, a new man, formerly in Mr. Ged- des* office, at Murillo, nights. Bro. W. Mack, in active service with a signal corps in Prance, writes me that he has met several of the brothers since his ar- rival at the front. He mentioned Bros. E. G. Fullerton, with R. N. A. S. Flying Corps ; H. G. Kilpatrick, with Second Division, Sig- nal Corps : L. M. Flett, with the Fifth Divi- sion, Artillery, as operator ; and Geo. Mable- son, also in the Fifth Division. “Bill" says all the boys are looking fine, able to take three squares a day, and incidentally a few French beers at a penny each. Who wouldn't be a Tommie? We regret exceedingly that Bro. G. D. Robertson has considered it necessary to resign as third vice-president of the order and sincerely hope he will soon be in a position to resume the office again. We all feel jealous of ouiv government for taking advantage of his abilities, but only have to refer to the old adage, “You can't keep a good man down,” for an explanation of the whole situation. Bro. J. M. Mein, who has filled the position of general chairman on Western lines with such satisfactory results, and has been appointed third vice-president to fill the vacancy occasioned by. Bro. Robert- son's resignation, will without doubt prove „ himself in his new avocation as he has ever done in the past — the right man in the right place. We are sorry to lose him from our immediate territory, but must not take too selfish a view of so important a matter, knowing as we do that what is our personal loss will be gained by our organization generally. Our general committee is to be congratulated upon its wisdom in selecting such a successor to Bro. Mein. Bro. D. McPherson of Grenewood, B. C., who was elected to succeed Bro. Mein, is a man of wide experience in committee work, being one of the oldest members of our general com- mittee, and therefore will have splendid abil- ity for his new work. Bro. W. 'A. Wadell, agent Beausejour, Man., called East on account of the serious illness of his father, was relieved by Bro. F. W. Gliddon from Molson, Manitoba. Who said there was a government ex- amination in sight for telegraphers? Will it ever come? U. Bett, Cert. 1197. * Manitoba Division Notes — • Bro. J. L. P. Robichau, agent Herbert, has returned from an extended visit to his old home in Nova Scotia. He reports "every- thing lovely” on the Bay of Fundy. He was relieved by Bro. Quesnell, who valso re- lieved Bro. Maynard, agent Morse, on a visit to Frisco, Los Angeles and other California cities. Bro. A. J. Cunningham bid in relief dis- patcher at Moose Jaw, Bro. Joodwin re- lieving him on the car reports, relieved by A. Dumas on third "YD”. Bro. Sammy Rutherford, agent Brownlee, was a recent Moose Jaw visitor, relieved by Mrs. Rutherford. We regret to learn that Bro. Joe Cava- naugh has been obliged to resign Moose Jaw freight agency on account of his health. He went South and East on an extended leave. We hope to soon hear of his com- plete recovery. . Sorry to hear Bro. Goodwin has had a bad attack of grippe and hope for his speedy re- covery. Bro. Brown, who relieved him, was relieved by Dunn at "YD”. Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 487 The mild weather is making the snow fly, March coming in like a lamb. We regret to hear that Bro. Brunsden, Sovereign, has been called East owing to the serious illness *of his wife. We hope to hear soon that she has recovered and have “Art" back with us again. Dunn, who relieved him, was relieved by Higgins at "YD". - W. B. Shaff, Cert. 2860. Souris District — The continuous mild weather has taken all our snow away and the autos are again running and the farmers will soon be on the land, much earlier than previous years, which indicates that spring has come, which we all appreciate. The weather man has broken all previous records in supplying us with a mild winter and little snow. We have only had one snow plow bver the dis- trict this winter, while other winters it was necessary to run them in sections to keepr the line clear.v On holidays : Bro. B. Avery, agent Was- kada, two weeks to North Dakota and Win- nipeg, relieved by Mr. Whitwell ; Bro. Flt- zfmmons, relieved by Bro. Glazer, who went to Norcross on the return of Bro. Fitzimmons to Elva; Bro. Kelly, agent Bender, relieved by Bro. H. Allen. We regret the loss of Bro. Frazer, agent Melita, from our district, who went to Sil- kirk, on the Portage division, and hope he thrives on his favorite diet, fish. Bro. Mann, agent Olrali, went to Melita. Our new schedule, giving the brothers seniority over the general superintendent’s division, gives them a chance to change around and see the country ; also mix up a little more and get acquainted, which was Impossible before. We are glad to see Bro. Corbett, agent Snowflake, back again after three weeks in the hospital, undergoing an operation. There is apparently nothing doing on the Areola branch, as we never hear from the brothers over there. A. W. Riddell, Div. Cor. # Vancouver Division — • At the last local chairmen's convention in Seattle it was decided to allow transfers from any general division to another, on ac- count of sickness, retaining a portion of seniority rights. In the last revision of schedule the rights of seniority were ex- tended over the general division. Taking the two changes into consideration, and the results, it is quite evident that Vancouver Division is going to take the brunt. Ap- parently everyone has arrived at the idea that Vancouver Division is a health resort, and the Prairie provinces have developed a great deal of sickness. The facts are that' this Is far from being a health resort. From Vancouver to Kam- loops, 269 miles, we have the hottest spots in Canada, from 110 to 115 in. the shade, and for days at a time. We do not claim the coldest, only having about 25 below (which is quite cold enough), but about the same as the usual in the prairies. And as for dry and wet, we can beat anything in those lines from one side of Canada to the other. Remember, this is all covered in that 259 miles, and figure the chances of landing a job in the dry belt (If dry is what the doctor ordered), or in the warm belt instead of the cold. One man from the Prairie sent along 4k doctor’s certificate, recommending a change to the coast. This was submitted to three local doctors, one in the "cold”, one in the "dry’’ and one in the "wet", and all three gave their opinion that this man would not reap any benefit from the change, Arising their opinion on the information con- tained in the original certificate. It is folly to send a man here unless he is sure of getting what is necessary for his health. There is another item in connection with transfers to any part of British Columbia which I would like to call to the attention of any member thinking of transferring on account of Illness. There is a medical asso- ciation known as "Canadian Pacific Railway Employes’ Medical Association of British Columbia", whose by-laws provide among other restrictions : "Members rind their dependents hhall not be entitled to the benefits of the association until they have presented themselves for examination and been accepted by an associ- ation surgeon.” This* association is managed by the em- ployes of all branches of the service, and the fact that one of our members trans- fers on account of illness would bar him from these benefits, as being a charge on employes In other branches of the service, and who do not extend their transfer privi- lege to their own members. Now, a tip to members in B. C. who have decided to bid in positions on Vancouver Division. There are not jobs enough for all, and we have some pretty "punk" ones the same as you have, and you will find it is the "punk" jobs that are open. Cert. 512. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our Heavenly Father, who knows and does all things well, has deemed it best to take away Bro. Geo. Hunt, Bro. P. H. Puffer, and the son of our Bro. M. Butcher ; and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to Him who doeth all things for the best ; therefore be it Resolved , That the members of Canadian Pacific Railway System, Division No. 7, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sor- rowing families their sincere sympathy in this sad hour of their bereavement; and be it further Digitized by v^ooole
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488 The Railroad Tei^egrapher. Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved families, a copy spread on the minutes of the division, and a copy forwarded to The Telegrapher for publication. J. J. Shaw4 C. H. Chatfiei.d, S. M. Ward, Committee. Lethbridge District — Everybody is thankful that the loi^: winter is gradually drawing to a close. We have not been as unfortunate as our brothers in the East, but, nevertheless, it has been been quite severe enough, especially on the coal pile, which has had a tendency to melt away like butter on a hot July day. Supt. Cotterell was transferred to Medi- cine Hat, succeeded by Supt. Mackintosh frorn that point. Bro. R. D. Patrick has been appointed night operator at Bow Island. The new schedule lias now been in force several months and the brothers have found that the increase in pay has been a wonder- ful help. We hope all have sent in their first in- crease to Bro. Wilton, and that there are no delinquents in this respect, always in good sending both as to ourselves personally and as to the order, so that our committee’s treasury will always be in good shape for just such emergencies as the getting of our last increase. It is the cold cash that helps to "bring home the bacon.” Once more I ask the boys, those who work nights especially and haven’t much to do, to send me some notes for the writeup. .1 have not been * very prompt myself in this respect, but a little lift from a few of the brothers would help wonderfully. Cert. 2179. Division 2, Sask. Diet. — We have not had a writeup from this divi- sion tor a long time, and as Bro. Shaw, at "YD”, has been good enough to furnish me with some notes, I will try to send some- thing in occasionally. We expect a bumper crop this year. We should all show the company some appre- ciation of our recent substantial increase by doing our part in trying to move it promptly ; and the few who have not paid their first month’s increase to help defray the schedule expenses should show' their appreci- ation to the committee that worked so hard to get us a raise by remitting at once. I am not in a very good position to get in touch with any new men on this division, so l will look to you other members to keep after those who come to W'ork with or near you, or send me their names and addresses. G. J. Chenet, Cert. 2005. Montreal Terminals, Quebec Diet. — I have no knowledge of this district hav- ing ever been represented in our magazine. Our members would no doubt appreciate and enjoy reading of the many events which take place in a month’s time. If you would like to see the news of your locality pub- lished, drop me a note of the things coming to your notice every month in time so I can get the writeup to St. Louis before the 25th. Although seemingly of no consequence to you, they will interest the other members. This district has more members up-to- date now than ever before as the result of a hard chase after the nons all through last year. Fourteen new members were initi- ated in 1917. Since the beginning of 1918, five clerks, one operator and one lineman have joined, and more are expected at an early date. I would strongly urge the agents to ex- plain to their clerks and assistants that our order is a protection to them and they owe it to themselves and their fellow crafts- men w ho have already joined, to line up with us at once. It is the surest way of getting an increase and means a great deal to them for the coming years. We haven’t had a meeting for some time, but everything is going smoothly with the exception of a few seniority cases on file, which I intend readjusting at our first meet- ing. I am also*working on the case of Bro. Maurice, at Ballantyne, which has reference to a grievance matter of some years past, while agent on the Ml. Laurier line. Our train supervisors at ”S” office, Bros. Leclerc, Gardner and Charbonneau, are not any too w'ell pleased at our superintendent for keeping three months of back time for Sunday work from them, but I expect to have this also settled up soon. Bro. Leslie of "MP” tower has returned from two weeks’ leave with a better half. Being unable to keep his feet warm during the bitter cold winter probably was one of the reasons that prompted him to take this step. We wish him and his wife prosperity and happiness. A new time bill is coming into effect, cutting off all Sunday trains either way at Place Viger. This means a few hours over- time less for the twTo men at ”MC”. Some changes have also been made in the trains running out of ”WJ”, but I understand it will not affect the men at that point. General chairman of Eastern lines, Bro. Chapman, recently wrote me that the first month’s increase has not been coming in as fast as he had hoped. The new' schedule gave the men on the Eastern lines the big end of the money, and the West end men, who were not so well remunerated, neverthe- less sent in their first month’s increase promptly. Bro. Chapman terminates his let- ter by urging the local chairmen to line up the assistant agents as promptly as possible. Digitized by c.ooQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 489 Bro. Damour, at Highlands, in order to .increase his business, has opened a branch office at Lacbine to handle freight and ex- press. The company has installed a private phone at his request, so that the long dis- tance is no more necessary to connect with Highlands station. He is keeping things lively around there and deserves credit for his quick initiative spirit in getting his whole staff to Join. It is now Bro. Janelle’s turn to put a hand at the wheel, which has begun to revolve the right way. Some of you boys get after the two old nons at,v“OA". Strong promises shows no appreciation for the' big increase we secured for them. I am pleased to report that our friend, Mr. Osborne of “MC”, has been a full-fledged member for two months. Two of the members who had the biggest increase in the terminals have only remitted about half of their first month’s big in- crease. We should see that they send in the balance. Bro. Landry of “DU” is now working his day off, while Bro. Perreault of St-Luc Jet. is taking a day off to make up a full week for the relieving man working that end of the .swing. I wish you would get after the nons in that vicinity. There are still three there whom I have been unable to stir up so far. Now, boys, don’t forget that if you want to have a good monthly writeup in our jour- nal. you must send some itesns to your L. C. and he will see that they are published. Do not wait for somebody to start something, but start it yourself. J. H. Li., Cert. 1547. N. B^Diet., Brownville Div. — • I will not infringe on the rights of our correspondent. Bro. C. L. Parker, by giving a general lineup of the division, but will in- vite those interested to send him some notes for publication, and confine myself to a few remarks. Bro. Parker has special qualifications in composition and we should make use of them by sending him a few notes each month. Many of our boys are now on the Western lines, and no doubt watch the fraternal columns each month for news from their home division, as we do to hear of them. As it is almost impossible to hold a meet- ing during the rush season, I am taking this means of getting a few facts before the boys. W« have recently had the misfortune to lose one of our tried and true members, Bro. D. E. f>eWitt, in whose death this divi- sion has met with a distinct loss. A hand- some O. R. T. wreath was sent as a slight token of the great esteem in which he was held by all. I also regret to announce the recent illness of Bro. A. E. Rowley, who had the misfor- tune to fail in passing the eye test and has been relieved as agent and operator at West- field Beach. The fact that he has been offered a position in another department after being disqualified in ours emphasizes the exacting nature of our duties, which he has performed so faithfully for the past twenty- four years. He will retain his sen- iority and be eligible to bid on a position where train orders are not handled by the agent. ' Any member of this division who either enlists or is drafted in N. B. or Maine, please advise me and I will arrange for his dues to be paid wrhile engaged In the w^ar. I have been requested to speed up the re- mittance of the first month's increases, and would ask every man who has not already done so, to pay up at once and sustain the good name of the New Brunswicflo district. The new seniority lists have been dis- tributed, and any member not receiving one, please notify me. This list is being issued jointly by Bro. Larlee and myself, and will include both divisions, also the assistant agents. Brother, the Hon. G. IX Robertson, having been appointed a member of the Privy Coun- cil, has asked for leave of absence as third vice-president. As he holds his seniority as a telegrapher on this division. w*e are doubly interested in the honor which has been bestowed upop him, and indirectly on us. He did all in his power for us during our last schedule negotiations. Bro. Main has been asked to act as third vice-president, but before accepting has consulted all the local chairmen ; another proof that with him duty to the order comes before personal considerations. I am sure that all will ap- preciate his action. Some time ago T asked the brothers in Maine who. handled United States Govern- ment mail to give me a statement of the number of bags, weight and distance of carry or transfer, but to date have not received any data, although quite a number are af- fected. Bro. Chapman has had this matter up with Mr. Price, who has promised equi- table compensation, or if convenient, to re- lieve the telegrapher of the duty of carrying mail. So please help yourself by helping us. The nons on this division have simmered down to two, and one of them promises to send the papers in, when we will be able to say Bro. Baillie. Mr. Bogue is still at St. George. Since this time last year I have been across the continent and back on our own line, and to Winnipeg and back on another line, beside several side trips, and can truthfully say that the C. P. R.’s claim to superiority in the matter of service, equip- ment and courtesy is no idle boast, and it is gratifying to note the extent to which the men of our department contribute in making Digitized by Aooole
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490 The Railroad Telegrapher. this claim possible. So when the dispatcher is calling and the lotsal ’phones are Yinging, and your dinner Is getting cold upstairs while you, for the sixth time, explain to the ladles at the window where they are to change cars, etc., do it with a smile, as you did the other five, and they will leave with a good im- pression of the C. P. R. If possible, take the smile upstairs when you go to eat the cold dinner. U. V. Caulfield, Local Chairman. - IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased our heavenly Father to call to her reward the beloved mother of Bro. TGCollins. In manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved, That the members of Division No. 7, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, ex- press to the bereaved brother our heartfelt sympathy* in his sad bereavement ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother and a copy to The Telegrapher for publication. R. T. Winter, M. H. Dickson, A. G. Campbell, Committee. New York Central R. R., Div. No. 8. Hudson Division Notes— The meeting last month was very well at- tended. The chairman 4 reported that the mediation proceedings had been postponed on account of , the mediator being called to Washington, D. C., temporarily, to get some facts from the government. W,e hope the back pay we receive in the final settlement will be large enough to fully compensate us for our patient waiting since August. Bro. A. A. Smith and his mother spent the week-end with his brother recently at Buf- falo. We regret to learn of the death of Bro. Patrick Fay’s wife ; also of the sudden death of Bro. W. F, Morey’s son, Earl, in the high- land Hospital at Beacon. He was highly es- teemed by all the railroad men, with whom he came in contact as clerk for his father at New Hamburg station, where he was in- jured. Upon the return of Bro. Morey from the funeral of his son he reoeived a tele- gram announcing the death of his aged mother in Hoboken, N. J. Resolutions of sympathy follow. Local Chairman Fraleigh made several trips to New York recently and satisfactorily adjusted some grievances. We are pleased to have with us again Bro. Boland, an old-time telegrapher on this divi- sion. He has been out of the service some time, but always carried an up-to-date card, showing his heart was with us. Bros. Toone and Slater are very thankful to Chief Durkin for having first-class train service for S. S. 63. We hope the day is not very far distant when we will have a schedule like the Boston Elevated, wherein only mem-, bers of the O. R. T. are benefited. This will eliminate the nons, who take advantage of all the concessions granted us and never help to get them. We note that on the New Haven R. R. that 76 of the possible 80 train dispatchers on that road have taken out up-to-date cards in the O. R. T., and in Canada all dispatchers are members and a man without a card cannot work. Let us see to it that the N. Y. C. dis- patchers do their duty also. The new staffon at Pokeepsie is a beauty, but it has added to the duties of the S. S. 58L 68 1-2 and 60, which will be taken care of in the next schedule. Understand S. S. 69 will be eliminated. We hope Bro. John will not give that new assistant agent at Hyde Park station any rest until he gets his application. It’s now Bro. Bluto, assistant agent Tivoli station, making that place solid again. ~ Regular meetings are tyeld every third Tuesday evening at 7 :30 in the G. A. R. Hall, 27 Garden' St., Pokeepsie. As the train service is very favorable to the men on both ends of the division, there should be no ex- cuse for the members not attending. Cert. 149. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, the all- wise Ruler of the universe, has deemed it for the best to call to her heavenly home the be- loved wife of our worthy brother, Patrick Fay; and WHEREAS, We the members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things for the best; be it therefore *+ Resolved, That we extend to Bro. Fay and the bereaved family our sincere and fraternal sympathy in this their sad hour of bereave- ment ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwanied to Bro. Fay, a copy placed upon the minutes of this order, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication F. P. Fraleigh, John K. Toone^ A. Hyde, Committee . ' IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father has deemed it best to call to his heavenly home and re- ward. the beloved son of our worthy brother, W. F. Morey ; and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things for the best ; be it therefore Resolved, That we, the members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to Bro. Morey and his family our heartfelt and fraternal sympathy in this their very sad bereavement ; and be it further Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 491 Resolved , fhat a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Bro. Morey, a copy placed upon the minutes of the order, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. F. P. Fra leigh, G. C. Hyatt, A. Hyde, Committee. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved brother, a copy spread upon the minutes of the division, and a copy cent to The Telegrapher for publication. J. C. Grice, J. Da mm, J. T. Farrell, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. „ Whereas, Our heavenly Father has deemed It best to call to his heavenly home and re- ward the father of our worthy brother, T. F. Donnelly; and Whereas, We, the members of the O. R. T., bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things for the best; be it therefore Resolved , That we extend to Bro. Donnelly our fraternal sympathy in his very sad be- reavement ; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to Bro. Donnelly, a copy placed upon the minutes of this order, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. O. W. Clowe, H. Alm STEAD, - F. P. Fralbigh, Committee. Buffalo Division — Bro. Fred Wilcox had his foot crushed and was obliged to have it amputated. Com- plications set in, from which he died on January 22nd. By his death this division loses a good, loyal member. Bro. Sanford’s mother also died recently. Resolutions of sympathy follow. Bro. J. J. Clossey is suffering from an at- tack of rheumatism. We hope for his early recovery. Bro. L. D. White, a familiar figure at tower S. S. 68 for years, goes to S. S. 66, days, and Bro. Shaw to "BD” report Job. The boys have had a hard time getting back and forth to the Tonawandas, so many trains having been taken off the Falls Branch. Returns on the Wilcox are coming in very slowly. Kindly send in your subscription, so the list can be closed up. Cert. 31. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and love, has seen fit to call to her eternal home, where sorrow and part- ing are unknown, the beloved mother of our brother, Charles Sanford ; and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to His will, knowing that He doeth all things for the best; therefore be it Resolved, That the members of New York Central Division No. 8, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrowing brother their sincere sympathy in this sad hour of his bereavement ; and be It further IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His in- finite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to the great beyond our beloved brother, Fred W. Wilcox; and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things well ; therefore be It Resolved, That in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sympathy, the members of New York Central Division No. 8, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the be- reaved family their most sincere and heart- felt sympath ; and be It further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved family, a copy spread upon the minutes of the division, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publi- cation. • Jdfe. Mullen, C. C. Cable, J. T. Farrell, Committee. Mrs. Mary Wilcox acknowledges with grateful appreciation your kind expression of sympathy. • Harlem Division — The shorter work day, the pay for working Sundays, longer vacations, etc., is to be contracted for between the order and the companies. Jhe government officials will grant a gen- eral increase, but to have a better schedule we must go after It, the same as heretofore ; and as it will be a year overdue August 1st, it is time to get busy. The sympathy of the members is extended to Bro. Fred Shutts of Hillsdale in the recent death of his father. Sister *Shutts, Bro. Fred’s wife, relieved him several days owing to the shortage of operators. Bro. C. Reinhardt has taken the manager job in “DO”, Bro. McKieman succeeding him on second Patterson, and Bro. E. F. Stickles goes to Copake as assistant agent. G. Nick- erson has gone to the new nut factory at Fawling, succeeded as supervising agent by former Freight Agent Judd. Bro. A. Keating of “GB”, Bro. L. Smith of Pawling, and Bro. O’Neill of Colemans were on the sick-list recently. A postal from Bro. C. Warfield, at Ray- brook, N. Y., states he is feeling fine again. Thanks to Bro. “Bill” Clum, relief assist- ant, for the notes he sent in this month. * Digitized by Google
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492 The Railroad Telegrapher, On account of so much sickness and short- age of help, the vacation schedule is falling behind badly. Bro. A. R. Mel ins of Ghent has again filled up his yard and grounds with cordwood of his own cutting. “A. R.” is right there with the axe. G. H. W., Cert. 640. Electric Division — The article published in the New York Tribune, February 26th, explains our situa- tion in regard to salaries, etc., in a concise and truthful manner. We have every confidence in our organi- zation officials and have good reason to be proud of the work they have, done under the existing circumstances. We welcome new members L. M. Brooks and Geo. L. Hamberger. It is encouraging to know that our membership is keeping up to the standard during these strenuous times. We are pleased to know that Bro. Geo. Rowell is back again after several weeks' illness ; also Bro. Birchard after a few days’ tussle with la grippe. Bros. Frank Gembee and Charlie Johnson, with their families, have returiffcd from a trip to Niagara afld vicinity. Bro. Johnson, when called in to assist in "G” office, was relieved by Bro. Wm. Kenedy. Bros. C. P. Johnson and J. Bowen have been appointed permanently in the dispatch- er’s office at an increase, and they are worthy of their hire. S. L. Wainscott goes to third "GD”. Cbrt. 1097. # IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased the all-wise Ruler of the Universe to take away the beloved father of our brother, H. G.’ Loring ; there- fore, in our fraternal sympathy, be it Resolved , That the members of the Electric Division, System No. 8, extend to the sor- rowing brother and members of his family our deepest sympathy in their sad bereave- ment ; and be is further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to this brother, a copy sent to The Telegrapher, and a copy spread on the minutes of this division. J. M. Moss, F. M. Williams, R. J. O’Brien, C. E. Hackett, Committee. Motion Route, Div. No. 9. First Division — Bro. Dunlap, third Monon, is now third trick north end dispatcher, vice McConnell to first, Mr. Bennett to night chief. J. J. Schuessler to Westfield agency ; no bids ; bul- letined for several months. Steve Alexander, former agent there, is back from the West. Bro. Ed Schorr, formerly on third Belt Jet., also returned from the West to his home at LaFayette, sick. Bro. Hickey was on the sick-list. Bro. Bob Fogg, one of our Monon soldier boys, spent a twenty-four hours’ leave in Indianapolis recently, visiting the boys at "HD”. Uncle Sam Is making him spread out. Hope he may soon put Kaiser Bill to flight and hurry back. Bro. Keen doubled several nights at De while Bro. Brooks was away. De is solid now. Boys, let us hear you shout all along the line the same good news. Get busy and send me some news for the writeup. I have been appointed correspondent on this end, but I can’t get it all, so let me have a word now and then. No one seems anxious to bid in first Michi- gan City, which is not to be wondered at on account of having to be “rate clerk, bill clerk and operator, too.” The company should authorize a bill and rate clerk there and let the first and second trick operators work as assistants in order to give the wire work more prompt attention. There is certainly enough business at this terminal station to justify it. H. H. Kruger, on first there, was ^ff two days recently, being called to appear before the examining board at Knox, Ind. R. S. R. “NE”, Cert. 26. Second Division — It’s been over a year since there was anything in the Journal from “The Monon”. The boys from this road in other parts of the country must think we are all dead, and I want to have something in each month after this. We are all anxiously awaiting the action of the Wage Commission and hope that mat- ters will soon be settled. Meanwhile we should all do our utmost to line up the few remaining nons, as we need to be just as thoroughly organized under government con- trol as heretofore. If we don’t look after our own interest, no one else is going to do it for us. The Director General has assured us that there would be no discrimination. There- fore we should not only get busy on our im- mediate road but also get after any operators we know on the unorganized roads. A letter to them from our members may do a lot of good to help get the organization started on those lines. Government control may not last always and we must prepare for what may come after. The schedule revision we had up with the company officials was halted on account of the Wage Commission, and we will do the best we can* when we finally meet it to set- tle the wages and hours, and we must have the loyal support of every one. Lay all per- sonal grievances aside and work for better conditions for all concerned. Our schedule compares favorably with other roads, and in fact is better in some respects than some of the larger ones. Digitized by u.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 493 Brothers, get busy on that “ No card , no favors” motto. Let the nons know that it means just what it says. Some of our brothers are expecting to be called in the draft any time now. We have a verbal agreement that operators entering U. S. service shall retain their right on the road. Any who are called or enlist should make application to their chief dis- patcher for such rights, sending tneir loca. chairman a copy thereof. Bob Fogg, “Ad” night, is now in the Signal Corps at Camp Taylor. Green Castle force increased ; Bro. Elleng- ton advanced to first and W. A. Mundy, a new man, took second there. We are glad to welcome Bro. Ely from the C. & N. now on second Bainbridge ; also Bro. Hunt back on second “NS” after three months in pass, office at Chicago. Bro. E. E. Terrell is off with the mumps. We hope to soon see him back. Cert. 25. Second Division Notes — Bro. E. R. McCullough is relieving agent Quincy 90 days on account of failing health. It is now Bro. L. L. Adams on third “SA”, making it solid. Bro. Parks is doubling, Payton having re- signed. Bro. C. L. Ely, third “SP”, transferred from Division 43. G. B. Maralott is now general relief agant. Bro. E. E. Terrell was examined for the draft. The board is undecided about him. You, boys, working with the nons, don’t forget the old motto, "No card, no favors”. Cert. 214. Canadian Government Rys., Div. No. 11. District No. 1— Have you' paid your dues? Have you sent to our local chairman your first month’s in- crease? There is no excuse. You are getting more than enough to get a yearly and then have enough left to pay some other bill. We all received first-class increases, and it is our duty to show our appreciation by paying our dues and first month’s increases promptly. “Hit the ball” and give the very best service possible. I ain sorry the notes for last March reached me too late to have them published in that issue. We should have a writeup every month. Each one should send me as many news items as possible. I have not received a word from anyone for this writeup. New men are coming and going and there is other news, but I cannot keep up with all of it. Send me your items in time so I can get them to St. Louis before the 25th. There were quite a number of changes made recently, positions abolished and new ones created, but so far I have not been able to ascertain who was assigned to them. The busy season is on. Boys, stick to the dispatcher — only one at the time; remember this — and give him all assistance possible. Don't sleep on duty. Bro. Patry’s case should be settled up soon end a ruling made for the future. Bros. Arcond and McKeown are on the sick-list. We wish them a speedy return. - Bro. J. McManus is anxious to have that new “wire” put in. He caught a bad “cold* recently, due to these late walks over the "Terrace.’’ Go out, Joe, but don’t stop. We all welcome Bros. J. G. Kronconer as relieving dispatcher from I. R. C., and our S. A. L. regular dispatcher. We wish him all the success possible, and will be on the “dot” to keep things going. Bro. Conture is now at LaTuque nights, regular. Bro. Lessard has been instructed by "J. P. J. ’ to put a requisition for a bigger “hun- dred pound Dot alarm.” Morency station has been moved to “Lac a Beauce”. A nice lake there, boys. Bro. LaHays should be careful and keep the window closed, as he nearly had his nose broken by a blasted rock. Bro. Zortin visited LaTuque recently. Bro. Sauschagrin is relieving at “BN” days. . * Boys from the West and East, send me some notes for next month’s writeup? If not, will give you demerit marks. That’s the last time. W. N., Cert. 39. Norfolk & Western Ry., Div. No. 14. Shenandoah Division — IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, The Divine Ruler, in His infinite wisdom, has taken from this life our beloved brother, B. N. Rice ; and Whereas, Bro. Rice was long a true and faithful member of this order, a valued co- worker in the railway service, and a useful and honored citizen ; be it Resolved , By Division 14, Order of Rail- road Telegraphers, that in his death we have sustained a distinct loss ; that his life was a noble example and an inspiration to those he leaves behind ; be it further Resolved, That we extend to the bereaved family our most sincere fraternal sympathy in this our common bereavement ; that a copy of these resolutions be communicated to the family, and a copy to The Telegrapher for publication. M. W. Atkins, Hi A. Bickers, W. H. Shultz, Committee. Atlantic Coast Line R. R., Div. No. 15. Jacksonville District — On Thursday evening, February 28th, a meeting was held in the City Hall jat San- ford, with the following brothers present : Digitized by c.ooQle
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494 The Railroad Telegrapher. B. F. Wheeler, general chairman ; D. H. Parker, J. D. Rutledge, H. D. Riddling, R. E. Stokes, R. L». Sheffield, M. E. Friend, W. W. Tedder, D. R. Fisher, E. E. Dowling, C. E. and A. W. Smith, J. A. Frost, W. T. Whitehead, C. H. Piplar, R. C. Fernald, C. J. Woodward, W. T. Mathis, W. C. Lockhart, J. J. Crump, J. L. Hunt and J. D. Miles. The meeting was called to order promptly at 9 :00 p. m., and after the general chair- man and reduced committee had been intro- duced to all brothers, Bro. Whpeler took the floor and advised us as to what was happen- ing and our goal for 1918. The remarks met with approval of all present. Quite a number of questions were discussed and one in particular gone into fully. All present went home much enlightened as to the welfare and standing of our organiza- tion. After the meeting light refreshments of ice cream and cake were served. Let’s have these meetings often. I.cilceland District — On Friday, March 1st, a very interesting and enthusiastic meeting was held in the' City Hall In Lakeland, at which a goodly number of our members were present, in- cluding : W. R. Ly verse, High Springs ; O. R. Hood, Floral City ; D. W. Grider, Bartow ; W. H. Powers, Dover ; A. W. Ferrell and F. S. Pate, Lakeland ; W. Brantley, local chair- man, and Bro. W. W. Tedder, local chairman of the Jacksonville District; Bro. Wheeler general chairman, and Bros. Parker and Stokes, the other members of the general committee. We are sorry a large number could not get out to this the first meeting when we had the pleasure of having the entire general committee with us, but it was the first day of the month, therefore a bad day for agents and clerk-telegraphers ty get away from their stations. Bro. Wheeler discussed some very im- portant matters, and told us quite a few things we did not know. It was the first time some of our members had met our worthy general chairman, and he made a most favorable impression upon them. Thanks 1 6 Bros. Ferrall and Pate are due for the nice and much enjoyed refreshments which were served, and for the arrangements for the meeting in the city hall. ..We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming a larger number at our next meeting, and am sure all who w'ere at this meeting will make an effort to be present at that time and induce others to do likewise. Dist. Cor. Columbia District — Arrangements have been made with the management for those who have been called or have enlisted, by which their seniority may be retained. But in order for this to be done, you must write the local chairman, the G., S. & T., or Bro. Wheeler and state where you are working, whether you were called or enlisted, and whether you desire your seniority to continue on this district. This information must also go to the general management. You must also within three months after your discharge from the Gov- ernment service notify the company, other- wise you forfeit your seniority. Your name, if this is done correctly, will be carried on each division seniority list, just as if you were still on the job, but will bear a notation that you are now in the Army or Navy. Do not forget this. It may mean a great deal to you after it is all over, for with your seniority you sure will be able to go back to work. Some have not yet paid dues for the term ending June 80th, or their five dollars. This Is hardly half the increase any one man received, unless perhaps at some of the very small non-telegraph agencies. It is not right that half pay it and the other half not, and if not paid it will come in the form of an assessment later. So avoid being assessed, and remit to me or Bro. Williams right away. Quite a number received more than this amount in express commission alone. We have too many non-members. Because we have* the largest membership of any dis- trict cn the system, is no reason why we should have the largest non-member list; so let’s try to have the smallest one. Bro. Warriner is now located at Washing- ton, D. C., in the ordnance department, and likes It very much. I would be glad to have the present address of all the members from this district who have enlisted or have been called, in order that I may arrange for the Journal to be mailed you at your post. The address can be changed as you move from place to place, and I know you would appre- ciate it, even though you are temporarily out of the service. Do not accept embargoed freight. Quite a - number have done this already, and this error will cost the company much money. 1 am out for one of the prizes in the con- test this year, and will certainly appreciate assistance from anyone. So if you know of anyone who wants to join the O. R. T., let me know and I will be glad to furnish him with necessary applications, and any other information desired. We have non-members enough to win a pretty good prize, if they can be gotten in between now and December. Fraternally, C. Bolick. Columbia District Notes — Bro. C. S. Smith, Barnwell, visited relatives one day recently. Barnwell is temporarily closed on account of the boys at Robbins getting sick. Bro. Hyatt, agent Lynchburg, relieved by Bro. Carter, relief agent, on account of slck- Digitized by tjooole
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495 The Railroad Telegrapher. ,• ness. We all hope to see him back again before long! Lynchburg second closed several nights. Bro: Sasser was on third Sumter. Bro. Hall, agent Congaree, former relief agent, has resigned. We hated to see Bro. Hall leave us. Mr. Ervin is filling Congaree pending assignment. Bro. Rentz, Robbins second, was off a few days recently on account of sickness. Bro. DaviS, Remini agency, passed a first class examination by the exemption board. Bro. Carter, second Bennettsville, assigned to relief agency. Local Chairman Bolick was off three days recently. Night Chief McNeil relieved second trick Dispatcher McBarbie, M. & A., owing to cut- ting some muscles in his right arm, which laid him up in a Richmond, Va., hospital. We all hope to soon see "Bob” back on the Job. C. B. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas., Our Heavenly Father in his infinite Wisdom an£ Love, has deemed it best to call from this life to his eternal home the beloved father of our esteemed brother, O. L. Johnson, Jr. ; therefore, be it , Resolved, That the members of the Atlantic Coast Line System," Division 15, extend to the bereaved brothel* our sincere and heart- felt sympathy in his sad bereavement ; and be It further Resolved . That a copy of these resolutions be sent to Brother Johnson, a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication and a copy spread upon the minutes of the district. C. Bolick, Florence. S. A. Boon, Sumter. K. L. Rogers, Florence. Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Wheiieas, Almighty God In His infinite Wisdom' and Goodness has deemd it best to call to His Heavenly Home, for her eternal rest and happines, the beloved wife of Bro. W. C. Floyd; be it therefore Resolved , That the members of A. C. L. System, Division 15 (Columbia District), extend to the sorrowing brother in this, his darkest hour, our sincere and heartfelt sym- pathy ; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be mailed to Bro. Floyd, a copy to The Telegrapher for publication, and a copy spread upon the minutes of this district. W. S. Carter, Tiraonsville, C. Bolick, Florence, F. A. Boon, Sumter, Committee. Michigan Central R. R., Div. No. 16. Middle Division dnd Branches — Our schedule is now in the hande of the mediation board, and expect to soon have it signed up. It will take effect August 15, 1917. The Middle Division will keep the dues of all enlisted or drafted men paid up for the duration of the war. We have an honor list of seven brothers : G. Patton, White, A. Maier, Siefried, Moon, Hubbard and J. Ja- cobs. We regret to report the sudden death of our general chairman, Bro. J. C. Culkinsf of Albion, due to overexertion getting to work on Saturday, January 13th, in the greatest storm and blizzard this section has ever' known. Jim, faithful to the last, put his work before his own safety, a rare trait in this age of comfort ; a man of sterling qualities, an earnest worker both for the Brotherhood, which he so ably represented, and the railroad he worked for. A kind ahd, true gentleman and a Christian, who will be greatly missed in his community and at the O. R. T. meetings. Bros. McEldowney and Shea, relieving at Albion pending bids, the former relieved at East Yard by Bro. P. C. Wood, latter relieved by Bro. W. H. Hildebrand from Block A ; , Bro. Wood relieving Bro. Chapin at Dailey, who had the mumps ; relief agent Bro. W. Kamlesky later relieving Bro. Wood at Dai- ley, called by the draft board for examina- tion. Bro. McEldowney, dispatching a few days, relieved Bro. Brown, Haires tower days, while in Detroit on schedule. Bro. G. Lloyd, Pearl St. tower, Jackson, relieved a few days by Bro. W. H. Hilde- brand. closing Block A, account shortage of men. Vanhorn, second night, closed, Bro. Beiler to days there. Bro. Shea fell on an icy walk at Albion and dislocated his shoulder, necessitated call- ing a section man to do the lever throwing, while Bro. Shea worked the telephone and directed trains. Bro. M. C. Salter, Parma, at "SF”, Jack- son, and Kalamazoo, relieved by Atkins, later to Marshall account sickness, Berg later to Concord vice Bro. Hartzell, relieving Bro. Boylan, agent, on sick list. Bro. Chapman, Hill office, Niles, sick, relieved Bro. Plank of Barron Lake ; Bro. Messick also off sick, closing Barron Lake some time. Bro. Mon- ietli, second Hastings, sick, relieved by Biggs, Hastings closed 4 :00 p. m. to 10 :00 p. m. Bro. Healy, Dutton, sick, relieved by Bro. Guffin there, closing second night. The last month has been the worst in years for shortage of men. Bro. Beilter, Eaton Rapids, sent his wife and baby home to her folks ; no fuel, Karl taking his cot over to the depot. Glad to see Bro. Kamiensky appointed agent at Hastings. Bro. B. R. Wineland, "SF” Jackson, who on March 16 th was married at Garrett, Ind„ has enlisted at Chicago. Digitized by v^ooole
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496 The Railroad Telegrapher. Miss Lightford is in “SF”, Bro. Cunning- ham going with the claim department. Bro. R. Schempf and wife have gone to Los Angeles on account of her health. We wish her a quick recovery and return to Jackson. ' Certs. 288 and 747. JN MEMORIAM. Whereas, It has pleased the Supreme Ruler of the Universe to remove from our midst our beloved general chairman, Bro. J. C. Culkins; therefore be it Resolved, That we, the members of Mich- igan Central System, Division No. 16, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the fam- ily of our late brother our heartfelt sympa- thy in their great bereavement, and while we mourn the loss of our brother, we bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things well ; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved wife and relations, a copy to The Telegrapher for publication and a copy spread upon the minutes of this division. L. Miller, D. I. Eagle. A. J. Worth. Committee. CARD OF THANKS. 1 desire to thank M. C. R. R. System, Divi- sion No. 16, for the beautiful floral offering at the time of my husband’s death ; also for the very many kind letters and telegrams of sympathy from members of this and other divisions. Mrs. .Tames C. Citlkins. Bay. City Division — Bro. Oliver, Hill, lost three fingers, frozen during the cold spell. He has the sympathy of all. He expects to go to work this month. Understand the business at Rochester Jet. is to be handled at Rochester. This will necessitate an extra clerk and give the boys there a little more to do. Business is extra good on the Bay City, all crews getting out on their rest. Bro. Miller is again in Detroit breaking in as main line dispatcher. We all wish him success. Mr. Bishop, the postmaster at Mill- ington, relieved him there. Bro. Johnson. Otter Lake, resigned, was relieved by Marshall, a new man. Bro. Nellis, another new man, is on third Metamora pendifig bids. Some of the boys keep finding men for phoners. Where do we come in on the deal? Owing to the washout March 20th just south of Bay City, on Saginaw Branch, all Jackson trains were detoured via Denmark Junction, keeping us all busy and then some. Water Street Junction opened up as a three-triek office during the high water. Two of the boys being taken from Salzsburg to fill in on second and third. In the future we expect to have news from the Toledo Division and main line each month. Thanks to those who helped this month. L. L. Wright, Cert. 1165. Reese, Mich. Detroit Division — Bros. Foster and Wright doubled for three nights at Denmark Junction, owing to the illness of Mr. Findlay. Bro. Pauf Jones has gone with wUtem Union. We all wish him success. Bro. Green, third Utica, has gone to Dear- born days. Bro.' Chas. Miller, Millington, is breaking in for dispatcher, vice “yours truly,” who takes second wire chief position in “F” office, vice Mr. Jackson, promoted to telephone en- gineer; Mr. Gregg going to first wire chief. We wish Charlie success. Bro. Plummer is at Town Line assisting the dispatchers to get the drags in and out of the^yard. We all mourn the death of our good Broth- er Culkins, who served us long and faithfully as general chairman. His good w'ork will not 'be soon forgotten by the members. The boys will all be glad to hear that Bro. D. N. Smith has been elected general chairman to succeed Bro. Culkins. Those who are well acquainted with Bro. Smith do not need to bo told that the right man is in the chair. Get behind him and his com- mittee, boys, and let them know that they have every ounce of your support, and don’t kick if things do not come quite as quick as you think they should. The present condi- tions are somewhat complicated, as Govern- ment control of railroads makes procedure slow. We are patiently awaiting the decision of the wage commission. If the cost of living is given good consideration we. should be awarded a substantial Increase. I am somewhat ashamed of the represen- tation this division has been getting in the journal and apologize for this seeming lack of interest. My work brings me in con- tact with the boys outside of Detroit office but very little, and on that account I have asked Bro. Smith to appoint someone on the road who has more opportunity to see what is going on. He has named Bro. L. L. Wright, of Reese, Mich., second Den- mark Junction, as correspondent. He is a live member and? in naming him as corre- spondent, Bro. Smith ^has taken the right step toward putting the Detroit Division on the map. Cbrt. 526. Penna. R. R. Lines East, Div. No. 17. Baltimore, Md.. March 22, 1918. To Members Pennsylvania Lines East. Brothers and Sisters : I take this oppor- tunity through the columns of The Teleg- rapher to congratulate you upon the splen- Digitized by L.OOQLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 497 did showing: you are making toward building up the membership upon these lines. Under Government operation of the rail- roads we have an opport unity to organize without being interfered with by petty offi- cials, and it is to be hoped that we shall be able to thoroughly organize the system by Juno 30, 1918. Remember, all train dispatchers, train di- rectors, telephoners, telegraphers, station agents, exclusive agents, leverrflbn and line- men are eligible to membership in the organ- ization. I urge each and every member to do their best in helping to line up in the organization without delay each and every eligible non- member on the system. * Following are the rates to Join System Division No. 17: April, $6.75 ; May, $6.00; June, $6.25. Kindly forward petitions with enclosed fee to Bro. W. M. Skinner, general secretary and treasurer. 115 S. Potomac St., Baltimore, Md., or myself. Sincerely, J. F. Miller, General Chairman. Sun bury Division — Our meeting at Sunbury, February 28th, was very wfell attended considering the fact that not many of the boys knew About it. The unmanly tactics of the officials on this division in threatening members of the O. R. T. and intimidating others, however, tended to keep some away. Brothers, this reign of terrorism on the part of these officials is a thing of the past, and you need not heed their threats, at least as long as the railroads remain under the control of the Government. Director General of the Railroads. Hon. McAdoo, told General Chairman Miller, when he was be- fore the railroad commission at Washington, that he wished t<T be promptly advised of any threats, discriminations or intimidations the P. R.' R. Co. officials might prmka in opposition to the organization and that he w’ould give such matter his personal atten- tion. We must not stupidly ignore this splendid opportunity for establishing conditions under which one can at least command respect, but, like men yet possessing a little wisdom, take advantage of it and end the servility of these unscrupulous petty officials. You cannot get Justice or any consideration by your individual effort. This has been repeatedly demonstrated to you. It is only through associated effort that you can com- mand consideration for your grievances and respect for yourself, and it is only through associated effort that you can have any influ- ence or exert any power. The Government does not wish and, in all probability, will not negotiate with you a» an individual ; neither have you the time, means or opportunity of doing so. It expects to treat with you as one of a body of men with common interests and ideals. Neither will it treat with three or four organizations of the same craft. The presentation of a variety of conflicting and contradictory demands from several or- ganizations of the same craft would neces- sarily result in a perplexing confusion which a body of sane men would regard as ludi- crously absurd. It, then, logically follows that the Govern- ment, having national control of the rail- roads, will do business only with that organ- ization which veritably represents the men on a national scale, and the O. R. T. is the only Union which unquestionably possesses the authority to represent the railroad teleg- raphers of this nation . If you are at all informed as to the con- ditions of Government employes who are not organized, you will readily recognize the value and imperative need of an organization to represent your interests before the govern- mental authorities. On the other hand, if the railroads again revert to private control, you will need to be organized more powerfully than ever if you hope to hold the concessions you will have received from the Government . Autocratic management always implies the necessity of organization. As we cannot accurately foretell the vicis- situdes of the future, let us not defer this matter of organization for a day. It is im- perative that we line up at once. A. R. Johnson at the meeting of the P. & B. boys at Sunbury was hissed and hooted down when he expressed the earnest desire of our time-serving officials to defer organ- ization until a time more propitious to the jungle ethics of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Mr. McCracken, of the Allegheny Division repute, added quite materially to his noble ( ?) record by writing a letter to the editor of one of our local papers In which he essayed a refutation of the charges made by REPUTABLE men incriminating the railroad company of attempting to discredit Govern- ment ownership of railroads. There are few men on the division who have not. since the change in control, remarked the flagrant deviations by the company from its previous course. A number of our boys Joined the O. R. T. at our meeting at Sunbury. Others have joined since then and many more are Waiting for the necessary papers. Unless some other brother wisfies to take the job, I shall try to have something of interest for the journal next month. R. Rkb. Pert. 3247. Baltimore Division — We now' declare our Independence on the P. R. R. and call our members “Brothers” Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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498 The Railroad Telegrapher. thrpugh the columns of Thb Telegrapher. It Is very gratifying to note the interest being taken in organizing the men on this division since the Government has taken over and assumed control of the railroads. We had a good attendance at our last regular meeting in Huntingdon Hall, at Bal- timore, Md., it being an open one, and the following can now be called brothers : J. Kibler, agent Glen Hock, Pa. ; J. L. Rohr- baugh, agent Shrewsbury, Pa. ; J. H. Koller, New Freedom, Pa. ; J. R. Lloyd, agent Monk- ton, Md. ; O. F. Wiley, agent Ashland, Md. ; Samuel "Wilhelm, agent Glencoe, Md. ; W. M. Steltz, assistant agent ; Cer- ship of all train dispatchers, agents and telegraphers on this division. General Chair- man Miller predicts 3,000 paid up members on the Pennsylvania Lines East by June 30th, and we will have them if every brother will do his bit. We regret to report the illness of Bro. Miller and hope for his speedy recovery so he can be with us at our next meeting. Bros. N. G. Wilson and J. T. Brenize are working hard to win a prize securing new members this year. We wish them success. Boys, remember that whatever the Wage Board hands out, the credit for securing it belongs to the Order of Railroad Telegra- phers. Some active brother should line up the good men around "K” office. The rate to join Order during April is $6.76 and the money should be remitted with the petition to Bro. W. M. Skinner, 115 South Potomac St., Baltimore, Md. Do your best for the cause. “Jimmy.” Maryland Division — • It makes me feel good to see the number of applications coming in the past few weeks, indicating an awakening of interest by the men on this system as never before, making the prospects very bright for a thorough organization in a short while. The individual members over the entire system are now realizing that they should take a part in this work and not leave it all to the officers to do, and the result is seen in the large In- crease of membership. The bogey of discrimination and intimida- tion having been removed by the issuance of General Order No. 8 from the Director Gen- eral of Railroads, obliterates the last excuse anyone might have for not joining the O. R. T. and those refusing to come in now, show a disposition to refuse to accept their share of the work necessary in organizing, for the purpose of bettering conditions as the occa- sion may arise. It is to be regretted that we still have some of this class. I want to say to the new men coming in, 'make up your mind ip stick. Don’t be an “in and outer,” as haa been the case so often in the past. Remember, the men who have been faithful for a number of years and who have borne the brunt of battle have made the sacrifices that your way might be made easier, and the least you can do is to stand by them and help them in the years to come. Our regular meeting on Friday, March 15th, was j#“hummer," with more than fifty present. The nons who attended and failed to join, nearly all promised to do so later, so the few left in this vicinity will soon feel as lonesome as an ouster I discovered in a stew the other day at a certain point on this division, I will not mention. “Novic*.” West Jersey and Seashore Division — Brothers, everyone pick out a non and stick to him until he gets a card. The in- crease just granted will pay for his applica- tion and some more. Impress it upon the minds of the nons that if it had not been for the labor organizations we would not have had any wage commission, neither would we have had any increase had we not ‘been represented before that commission by President Perham of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. The agents On this division owe this all to him and our organization. The agents In fhe organization represented by their regular couimittees are the most loyal men the company can get and it pays it to have union men in its employ. Every member should give his journal to rome non, so he can see not only what has been done on this division but on all the other divisions of this system since the first of the year. When "PO” and "CF” and all other super- intendents’ offices are getting solid, there is no excuse for any man to not come in. They know now what It means to have remained outside the organization so long. The same applies also to our dispatchers. It is to the credit of all the girls in the telegraph depart- ment that they have been the easiest to get into the organization. We are now working for the Government and all grievances will be adjusted through the proper channels at Washington. If we are in anyway discriminated against, all we have* to do is simply report the matter to the officers of our organization and it will be investigated and righted. # Mr. McAdoo will not tolerate any discrimination towards any member of our organization. Brothers, send your division dues promptly to W. M. Skinner, 115 S. Potomac St., Balti- more, Md., and M. B. D. assessments to C. B. Rawlins, St. Louis, Mo. Get a money order, attach it to the slip you received from him and send it in at once. Those who neglected to remit before February 28th, also Digitized by tjOOQle
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499 The Railroad Telegrapher. attach the war waivers as has been explained in the journal heretofore. Get your non friend to hand £ou his appli- cation. Send it in with the money and try to win some of the prizes being offered by the Grand Secretary and Treasurer of the Order. Get after the agents as well as the operators. N. Llebes goes to “K,” Atlantic City ; Joe Rice to “PO”, Broad St, temporary; R. W. Coppage to "CK”, Camden Terminal second, temporary, relieved on “UR" third by W. Burns ; Roy Van Meter, “SA”, to one of the relief jobs, and W. W. Carr, Jr., to Wood- bury second. J. T. Hurley spent his cutoff days in New York taking in the sights. / R. S. McNeil, of Atco, on sick list, relieved by Miss Starkey, with E. M. Eppelman on first. Thorn C. Hitchner, of Glassboro first, has the sympathy of all the boys on this division in the recent loss of ond of his children. Div. Cor. N. Y. C. & St. L. R. R., Div. No. 18. Fort Wayne Division — Bro. E. E. Ensley, South Whitley, Ind., has been appointed acting secretary and treasurer in place of Bro. C. O. Crisenberry, who is leaving the telegraph service. We certainly regret to lose Bro. Crisenberry, for he sure was a live wire. . We all wish him success in his new line of endeavor. The following new members were recently added to the division rolls: Geo. E. Schim- moeller, Millers City, O. ; Wm. F. Greenleaf, Wickliffe, O. ; C. F. Bollinger, Ashtabula, O. ; Wink Scott, Conneaut, O. ; John J. Hanrahan, East Springfield, Pa. ; Robt. R. Robison, East Springfield, Pa. ; Chas. C. Jenks, Portland, N. Y. ; Mrs. Edna V. Chapman, Moorheads, Pa. ; Malcolm McDougal, Vermillion, O. ; E. H. Thompson, Valparaiso, Ind. ; C. S. Weldy, Stony Island, 111. ; W. B. Mead, Brocton, N. Y. ; W. F. Roach, Brocton, N. Y. ; W. J. Ensworth, Erie, Pa. ; J. P. Hill, Valparaiso, Ind. ; Mrs. M. J. Morgan, Elk Creek, Pa. Most all of those are operators who have been here not to exceed six months. Some of you old time nons please take notice. We hope soon to be able to give you a com- plete list of the nons, so you may know who - are sponging. Brothers, don’t forget to pay the special assessment promptly, and be sure and show it to the non-members at your station. They will benefit equally with you in any increases granted and should help pay the expense. See to It that they do. The time for pay- ment expired April 1st. If you have over- looked sending this in, see to it at once. Don’t make.it necessary to send out someone to make collection, which is an expense to the division. Division 18 now has the largest member- fihip in its history. Let us not be content with this, but strive during 1918 to increase this membership until a non will be a hard thing to locate on this road. The advent of welcome .spring weather has increased business after our recent Alaskan winter and Bro. Gorham, who is some farmer, is preparing to* tend his “farm” again this summer. Bro. Geo. O. Schimmoeller, forrAer agent at Kiefersville, is now' stationed at camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. Bro. J. N. Lynch, another good brother, is now in the U. S. Army, stationed at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., relieved on third Maple Grove by Bro. Heckman pending bulletin, wTho previously relieved Bro. Cllnger, third Leipsiz Junction, on the sick list. Bro. J. H. Brooks, formerly on second West Ft. Wayne, now in France with the 21st Engineers, writes that he has been pro- moted to sergeant. Bro. Lowe, from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, visited in Ft. Wayne sev- eral days enroute to the Naval Radio School, thence into active service. A postal an- , nounccs his safe arrival at Cambridge, Mass., to receive the finishing touches in his train- ing. Letters from Bros. C. W. White and C. R. Misener state that they are making rapid strides in the signal work at Camp Custer. Mich. We wish these brothers a safe return. Relief men who can telegraph are decidedly scarce ; several lady phoners are not working at present. Bro. D. E. Wolfe, who relieved Bro. Cow- ley on first Mortimer, while on committee work, w*as relieved on third th&*e, by Opr. Narber. / Bro. W. O. Silvey, who went to third Payne, was relieved on second McComb by Mrs. Ferguson. Bro. “Jack” Hayzlelt, first West Ft. Wayne, on account of sickness in his family, was relieved a few days by Bro. Bender. Bro. J. F. Carney relieved Barron on third Ft. Wayne, who took second there, and W. J. Bird the sixth. Bro. V. R. Stateler went to third Oak wood, vice Miss Schuler to Kiefersville agency. We are pleased to note that the men on the Pennsylvania Railroad are now In a position to join our order without fear of the intimidation they were formerly subjected to. Haying put in five years on that road, I know whereof I speak. They met at the Centlivre Hotel in Ft. Wayne, the latter part of February, where steps were taken to com- plete their organization and on March 8th, another fruitful meeting was held at Plym- outh, Ind., when Division No. 86 “went over the top.” I attended the Ft. Wayne meeting and found the most enthusiastic bunch of Digitized by tjoooie
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500 The Railroad Telegrapher. men there you ever beheld. We wish them success and hope they will “sit tight.” , Brothers, while organized labor in and out of our own craft is making such rapid Strides, it behooves us to get in every non we come in contact with and keep our division solid. At Hammond, on the Chicago Division, we have a non whose excuse for not joining the O. R. T. is that in case of a strike as a member he would have to go out, and he wants to work the job. Can you beat it? Bro. Cowley and I recently visited various none of this division and we hope to soon announce a number of new members. We intend to allow each non ample time to get his or her card, when uNo card, no favors’* will Ije strictly adhered to. Our negotiations with the company are being held in abeyance pending the result of the Federal Wage Board's hearing, when - our grievances will again be taken up through the Government mediator, and an early settlement thereafter is anticipated. Bro. Clinger is the only one to answer my appeal for a few notes. I wish the brothers would send me some news from the eastern half of the division. Trains will not permit our meeting periodically, as some divisions are so fortunate in doing, therefore w'e can- not thresh out collectively the problems that confront us, and this journal represents our only medium of exchange. So, brothers, let’s get your ideas in print. F. W. Coates. Div. Cor. Chicago Division — Brothers, get after Ransberger, Osborn second, and see that he joins our ranks. Bro. Boyer, Gary days, has married and settled down to business. Bro. Diihmit is now agent at Ober, Bro. Johnson at Wheeler, Bro. Robinson third trick copier at “DI”, and Bro. Whitkamper back at Knox. Miss Burket Is on Dunfee second. Brothers, let us all remember our brothers who have Joined the colors. We are all working for Uncle Sam now*. Let us show him that we can make the telegraph depart- ment shine. Our old faithful Cris has gone to Cleveland with Mr. Pearce. When there is a change in your office, please drop me a line, otherwise I can’t get the items. “R” "SY” Cert. 375, Div. Cor. N. Y., O. & W. Ry., Div. No. 20. Southern Division — Bro. S. S. Fish, first at Wheeler towrer, was relieved by extra Purdy March 14th and 15th, to celebrate his birthday and wedding anniversary. It is now Bro. George Kingfleld, and it will soon be Bro. Purdy'. Bro. Masten, second Livingstone Manor, assigned Delancey agency. The 1918 vacations commenced April 1st Mr. C. H. Hopkins, one of the best loved division superintendents that any road could have, resigned March 12th. For thirty years he held the position of superintendent on the Southern Division of this road, having rounded out a full fifty years of service from telegrapher to station agent and on up to the office of superintendent. It was with sincere regret that the men on .the road, and more particularly on the Southern Division, learned that Mr. Hopkins had asked to be relieved from active service on that date. Scranton Division — Forest City and Preston Park have been made three trick offices on account of the large volume of business passing over this division, and the necessity of blocking trains down the heavy grades at these points. Relief Agent Bro. Case is spending his vacation visiting his son at Youngstown. O. H. J. de Graw, Div. Cor. C., M. & St. P. Ry., Div. No. 23. Columbia and Idaho Divisions — It seems strange to those who pay their dues promptly to see others persistently ig- nore the appeal to give a helping hand. Of course, with some of the delinquents it’s just a case of being a little slow. The time was, when soliciting membership, it was custom- ary to explain the benefits to lie derived in organization, but that time is past. The man whom it is now necessary to enlighten in regard to schedules for better working conditions, etc., w'ould scarcely be eligible to membership. The nons no longer plead ig- norance. It's just a case of unlimited “gall’* and a disposition to sidestep any financial burden. Undoubtedly they would be good subjects for a hypnotist, for they are always in a receptive mood. Some have not yet paid their part of their first month’s Increase. Those who have not already remitted to Bro. Derrickson should do so at once so as to Avoid unnecessary work in his office. This money is needed in our treasury owing to the recent long drawn out schedule negotiations. Work trains between Ellensburg and Thorp are riprapping along the Yakima River where the bridge was washed out this winter. Bro. E. B. Beeman has taken third Kittitas ar.d may do some ranching this summer. Mrs. Regan is on second there. Bro. Coburn is back on first Othello from a visit East. Bro. and Sister Breittingross have gone back East. Bro. C. H. Coplen is on first St. Maries temporarily. It is now Bros. Vassey, Threkeld and Chaltter. Cert. 614. Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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The Raii.ro ad -Telegrapher. 501 Coast Division — Sister Alda L . and Bro. J. E. Stewart, of Sumner, spent several weeks East, visiting their old home. Bro. A. G. Nance, second Cle Elum, has spent two months in and around St. Joe and Kansas City, ..Mo., visiting his many friends and relatives. Bro. C. R. Gordon is now agent at Monroe. Bro. C. M. Owen, agent Auburn, Wash., is the only nominee to succeed Bro. R. C. Nisonger. Bro. J. L. Napier, agent Morton, while on the sick list was being relieved by H. A. Chambers, and Sister Jeanette Terry, third Auburn, was relieved several days by Bro. C. E. Hartwell. J. M. Mahoney and Martin V. Lattin are the only men on extra list not working at present. J. P. Leahy, third Garcia, has no use for the O. R. T. Boys, remember this ; he may some day ask a favor. Cert. 1330. Box 267, Auburn, Wash. Coast Division — Everett Branch — Bro. W. H. Kellogg has taken Elbe agency and Bro. Kelso, Cedar Falls agency, suc- ceeded on first Cedar Falls by Bro. A. H. Howard. C. F. Hughes goes to Everett sec- ond and Bro. W. L. Lyons to Monroe second, succeeded on Ranier agency by W. C. Smith. J. F. Leahy, a new man, goes to Garcia third and Bro. J. F. Percy to Hyak agency, vice Mr. Davidson, now somewhere in France. Bro. W. Walgren went to third and Bro. A. G. Nance second trick at Cle Elum. Bro. Barrett, agent Garcia, off three days and Bro. Lyons, second Monroe, to “TC”, Tacoma, a few days, vice E. J. Larson, were relieved by H. A. Chambers, later to Carna- tion second several days and then to the main line. If Cert. 1330, who suggests appointing someone on the T. E. to send in a few notes, would gather a few on the Tacoma-Seattle line, and someone on “the hump” could also get a few, I will get what I can on the Everett line, and we would be able to have a nice writeup each month. It takes but a few minutes by making a note when you hear of a change, and then by adding other changes as they come up, by the 12th or 15th we can have a nice writeup. Second trick Dispatcher Allen relieved first trick Dispatcher Eldredge, main line, a few days, relieved by Dispatcher Phillips, and he on Harbor second by Grummel from “TC” Tacoma relay. “Bing,” Cert. 1067. Trans i f is sour i Division — Quite a number of our boys left for Seattle March 15 th, to enlist in the , rail way regiment forming there, for overseas duty. Bro. A. S. Kirby and four others were refused a release by the company, so could not enlist as they intended. However, they secured a ten days' leave and went with the boys ag far as Seattle. Bro. Kail was relieved at Morlan Junction by Mis. Kail, who relieved Bro. Sheldon, acting agent Wakpala, when called to Kel- dron by the illness of Mrs. Sheldon, the agent there. No news from the north or south branches. Some one, send a few notes, so you’ll be represented. Glad to see Bro. McGahr, former agent at Haynes, back again and hope he will remain with us. He is relieving Bro. Geo. Raines, first Huttinger, for sixty days. Bro. Wm. Jordan relieved R. A. Sims, sec- ond Reeder, resigned, and Bro. N. K. Mer- rick is relieving Bro. Sims, the agent there, on ninety days’ leave owing to poor health. Bro. J. A. Childers, third Marmarth, sick with measles, was relieved by Collins from Mussellshell Division. On vacations : Bro. W. C. Schuneman, agent Rhame, relieved by Bro. I. E. Algaier, relieved on second there by Mrs. Algaier. Bro. H. J. Mullens, first Marmarth, relieved by Kean from the N. P. Bro. E. J. Howard,- “DS” office nights, relieved several weeks by Sister Florence Holmes. Bro. R. B. Houck by Mrs.. M. R. Bennett, and Bro. F. R Hoesley, agent Timber Lake, two weeks by Bro. N. K. Merrick. We now have very few' nons on the T. M., owing to the unflagging efforts of our local chairman. Everyone should help him line them up and make the division solid. Those who have not sent in their contribu- tion should do so at once. The negotiations were long and expensive and we must keep our finances up to the mark at all times. Out of the generous increase the order se- cured for us, we should not hesitate to give the small amount asked for. Seniority lists have been mailed to all the members. The nons can secure one, along with an up-to-date card, and, incidentally, the respect of their fellow-workers, by send- ing $14 to Bro. K. G. Leighty at Bowman, X. D. Remember, “No card , no favors.” Cert. 827. ■ < . Dcs Moines Division — Bro. Sw'anson relieved Bro. Calhoun, agent Lytton, resigned to help supply the world with food products from his farm near Lake City. Sorry to see Bro. Calhoun leave, but it was a wise move for Mabel. Sergeant J. A. Pope, former operator at Rockwell City, who spent Sunday with the boys at “RS" recently, tells us that he frequently sees former Bro. Stahl at the camD. Bro. Shippey, extra Clive, is expecting to be called to the army shortly. Digitized by c.ooQLe
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502 The Railroad Telegrapher. Brothers, look over the new book of rules and be ready for the examination May 1st. If yon have not received a copy, request one from the chief dispatcher. We are glad to hear that Max Miller has been appointed chief clerk to Chief Dis- patcher Bauder. The concrete work on the new coal dock at Rockwell City is about completed and will probably be ready for use June 1st. It will be a great improvement over the thing they now call a coal dock. It is being constructed where the old tile plant stood, in north yard, placed so engines will coal from the main line track, operated by an electric motor, which elevates the coal into a seventy-five ton pccket. I would kindly ask any who have not con- tributed the half or their first month’s in- crease to remit our General Secretary and Treasurer as soon as possible, as we need the funds. Brothers, liven up, show some spirit, and get in the few nons. Some of them can be iun in if you will only do your bit. Cert. 2002. Prairie du Chien and Mineral Point Diva. — I have divided these two divisions into seven sections, and have asked a brother in each section to mail me at least FIVE items not later than the 14th of each month. Stamped envelopes will be furnished at my expense, and items should be sent from sta- tions in each man’s section only, as follows : Gratiot to Mineral Point, including Platte- v ille line, Bro. Murray ; South Wayne to Hanover inclusive, and the Albany line, Bro. Don Collins; Prairie du Chien to Boscobel inclusive, and the La Farge line, Bro. Cole- man at Wauzeka ; Blue River to Spring Green inclusive, and the Richland Center line, Bro. Reisel ; Arena to Middleton inclu- sive, and the Prairie du Sac line, Bro. Voss ; Madison to Janesville inclusive, Bro. Hennes- sey at Milton Junction. The section, Milton to Waukesha, will be taken care of by the writer. Brothers in each section will be expected to keep their correspondent posted on what is going on at their stations, and assist him in getting as many items as pos- sible. If each man will send the minimum of five, it will mean thirty-five notes each issue. These two divisions have been poorly represented in The Telegrapher. Let’s have a revival. Superintendent McDonald, of the La Crosse Division, is now In charge of the Prairie du Chien and Mineral Points Divisions, vice Mr. Johnston transferred. A new position of trainmaster created with former chief of the C. & M., R. E. Sizer, In charge. He is out on the road daily chasing delayed cars and checking up car reports and records. Punch up your shippers and get cars released at the proper time or you will be called upon to answer WHY. He is now making his headquarters at Madison instead of Mil- waukee. Bro. Collentlne, of Palmyra, spent Sunday. March lOtli, with his relatives at Monroe. Carpenters have repaired Palmyra depot. Coleman, of Boscobel, is on second White- water temporarily. Bro. Carl Dahnke, of Richland Center, was an “east end” caller a few days ago, has re- ported to the medical board at Madison for examination for Government service. Bro. Lawless and wife, of Waukesha, are spending a few weeks in Florida. Third Eagle was taken off several weeks while Nos. 1 and 4 were abandoned, Bro. Tucker working second Whitewater. Bro. O’Neil, agent Eagle, was off several days. Train service Is to be curtailed on this division and radical changes are expected in the passenger service. Bro. C. E. Hubbard had the sad misfor- ' tune of losing his wife, who died at Madison Hospital, March 7th. Bro. H. Johnson, third Lone Rock, Is re- lieving at Milton Junction. R. E. Reisel, son of Agent Reisel, Lone Rock, enlisted in the coast artillery, now at Presidio, California. Gas Martin is back on third Boscobel, and Bro. Ed. Coleman on first trick Wauzeka. Bro. Millard and wife, of Lima Center, took in the sights on St. Patrick’s day at Madison. Lima Center closed Sundays on account of the 40 cents an hour extra, and the section men get $3.00 per month to keep fires Sundays. It is rumored that all P. D. C. officials at Milwaukee will soon move to Madison, giv- ing us three extras. We hope this will hap- pen about vacation time, so some of us can get relieved a few days. A sleet storm March 9th, which put the wires out of service from Milton Jnuction to Madison, leveled several poles, necessitat- ing running a work train* out of Madison, March 10th. This is the first time in its history that the A. T. & T. has had no wire service whatever north of its test station at Milton. Five tons of wire and supplies had to be shipped into Milton Junction by express to make repairs ; making good business for Bro. Hennessey, who was laid up several days recently with the measles. Bro. Walsh, agent at Milton, has applied for his old job, second Whitewater. Local Chairman Dan Mowe, agent Orford- ville, has resigned owing to eye trouble. Bro. Childs, of Hanover, has also resigned. I wish to thank the brothers who answered my first call for news items^ and hope to hear from all of the members in their dis- tricts as I appointed them. I will mail you another call on April 10th, and try to have a better writeup next time. Oscar Millard, Cert. 929, Div. 23. I Digitized by c.o ><?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 503 I. & G. N. Ry., Div. No. 25. San Antonio Division — • Brother E. R. Finck, with the S. P. for several years, is relieving Miller, second Cotulia, sixty days, while shipping out his onion crop. We hope it will be large enough so Mr. Miller will be able to keep his promise to take out a card. Bro. F. Whitehead is new telegrapher- clerk at Pearsall, a new position. Brother H. B. Hackley is telegrapher at Round/ Rock. Bro. Otto Pieper is agent at Manchaca, and Kingsley at Gardendale. Bro. P. W. Landrum relieved Gilmore, sec- ond New Braunfels, several days, and Evans, a new man, is on third there. W. Garland is on third M., K. & T. Junc- tion, having been out of service several years. It will soon be “Bro.” Garland again. Mr. Sanslng, after several months’ absence, has returned and is now on second Buda, vice Bro. C. W. Buell, gone to El Paso. Cert. 13. Ft. Worth Division — x Since our “Uncle Sammie” is considering railroad employes’ compensation through the Federal Wage Commission, we feel that our cause will be given due consideration, and substantial increases granted within the near future, effective as of January 1, 1918. How- ever. every man must stand behind the *1. & G. N. general committee, whose purpose it is to take up the matter of hours, vacations and many other Important rules. "The spe- cial assessment of $1.50 slipply means put- ting by a cash balance to support our com- mittee while up for revision. We all regret to learn that General Chair- man Berry was obliged to be operated on for ulcer of the stomach and Vill be in the hos- pital for about six weeks. We hope for his -speedy recovery. Very sorry to report that Bro/ Reulet has a severe case of rheumatism, and goes to Marlin as soon as able to leave his bed to take a course of baths. Bro. Reulet and Sister McQueen traded positions, latter on Italy second, former on third. Office closed from midnight to 8:00 a. m. since Bro. Reulett's sickness, no available man to re- lieve him. Two operators in addition to the agent are at Lillian now, making that office continuous. Bro. Eskridge on first, Bro. Bilbo, Division 53, on second, and Bro. Barnes, a Division 22 striker, on third. Glad to have such material with us. Bro. Williams, who has been running trains “Somewhere in America,” has come back to the Sunny South to get some warmth in his blood, and is now on Marlin first. The I. A G. N. has assumed control of "Q”, Ft. Worth. Tho writer, off a few days recently, was caught In a “real” sandstorm. Our division is solid now with the excep- tion of excldsive agents, and one lone agent- telegrapher. Either myself or local chair- man will furnish you with the name of the latter upon request. Cert. 352. St. Lou^So. Western Ry., Div. No. 27. Bro. C. B. Welch is assisting Bro. Frizelle in arranging a new schedule and lining up the few none. Let’s all help him in every way posssible to make our division solid. He is giving his entire time to this work and the entire division is-proud of him. , The conductors are giving us their loyal support by not copying orders from blind sidings. A conductor running to a telephone every time his train stops is almost a thing of the past and we ajl appreciate it. Mr. Burton, tbe new third trick dispatcher, is a dandy. Boys, let’s all help him all we can. Bro. Fritts, Dexter Junction, is on vaca- tion, Gordon, a new man, relieving. Bro. Camp, Lilbourn, Mo., relieved by Workman, Marmaduke second. Bro. C. W. Cook went to Greenway agency. It is now Bros. V. M. Lawrence, Bennett, Bowers, Stephens, Bugg, McLerkin, Willis, Cook, Robinson, Morgan, Garrard, Olds and Norman ; a few of the good ones Bro. Welch lined up recently. If he does as well In getting a new schedule, we will all have the income tax collector after us. However, let the good money and better working condi- tions come. We all can take care of the surplus change. If no other way, we can all invest in war saving stamps. As soon as anything can be accomplished in the way of a new schedule, all will be notified. Send me all the new items you can. and get every non you can to take out a card. Cert. 149. Alabama Division — An exclusive ticket agent has been put on at Vidalia, relieving the operators of selling tickets. Bro. J. G. Hamilton working it pending bids, relieved by S. D. Surrency from the G. C. & P. A. M. Jones is on second Vidalia pending bids, and J. W. Martin, third - there, has gone to the G. & F., relieved by C. C. Dinkins from Pitts, Ga. The writer, while on the sick list several weeks, visited relatives at Griffin, Ga-i end Lakeland, Fla. Bro. J. L. Jones, “SA”, is on the sick list. Bro. Morris, first Collins, relieved several days by H. D. Smith, relieved on second there by Bro. Conner, the clerk. Bro. R. L. Wood, dispatcher’s office, visited friends in Vidalia recently. Bro. Williams has returned to Ellabelle after a successful operation. Digitized by L.oo<?le
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504 The Railroad Telegrapher, There are quite a number of new men on the division and I hope the members near them will advise me of their names and standing, and also send me all the news they can so we can have a good writeup. No cne man can keep up with all the changes and new arrivals. H. L. Carter, Cert. 1423. Vidalia, Ga. Missouri Pacific Ry.r Div. No. 31. Eastern Division Bro. J. H. Powell, after a faithful service as station agent at Concordia, Mo., of forty- seven years, has been placed on the pension roll of this company and will receive a monthly allowance during his declining years. The pension board could not have bestowed this reward in a more deserving manner. At the time of his retirement, Bro. Pow- ell was probably the oldest continuously employed man on this road, having entered its service in 1870, at the age of 25, and was at Concordia all but one year of that time. With his three sons, all of whom entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific at 18 years of age or over, E. C., at Holden, Mo., 26 years ; E. L., at Tower Grove Station, St. Louis, Mo., 16 years, and L. E., Concor- dia, Mo., 11 years in service; this family, all of whom followed in their father’s foot- steps as agents and members of the O. R. T., had rounded out at the date of his retire- ment from active duty, just ' one hundred years, a record for efficiency and faithful- ness hard to beat. Bro. Powell, as well as his three sons, thoroughly believe in our slogan : “No Card, No Favors,” and the former, who has been a member of the order for a number of years for the last few has carried an an- nual, which he expects to keep up during his life. He will also continue to use his influence on the nons, by talking to them in a convincing manner without offense, whenever and wherever he has an oppor- tunity to do so. The Editor. Eastern Division , J?irer District — Boonville passenger and freight depots have been given a fresh coat of paint and neatly decorated. Bro. Kendell is on 2nd and G. J. Stateler on 3rd, newly created tricks there. Dover is now a two-man job. Bro. Bob Minnegrode is back on Washing- ton 3d where there are better dancing floors than at Valley and Bob knows. Some kind-hearted brothers are inclined to extend defaulting members fraternal courte- sies because forsooth they were good union men. This should not condone their recre- ancy now, or entitle them to fraternal cour- tesies. lie* who is not with us is against us, and those who are outside the union should be made to appreciate this. They should be ostracized in a systematic, wholesome1' but gentlemanly manner. Some nons when approached on the sub- ject of becoming members will with a shake of the head and looking as wise as an owl say : “I have my reasons for not joining. I admit the union is a good thing and has tlone some good, but and here with an attempt to leave the impression that some never-to-be-forgotten or forgiven in- justice had been inflicted by the order they come to an abrupt stop. Ask them to particularize, to adduce some cogent reason and they cannot do so, corner them and they assume the heroic and de- clare “if reasons were as plentiful as black- berries they would not give" them.” It is a plain case of being too stingy, and a desire to flourish at the expense of someone else. There are some such on this system. They exist In every community. History teems with vitriolic denunciations of such para- sites and tuft hunters, sycophants, false to themselves and to their fellow men, a blot on their generation, unworthy^ the name of men. They forget their wretched condition prior to 1908, the long hours and small pay. the days when they were denied the privi- leges accorded the most degraded class of labor and decline to support the organiza- tion that broke their shackles. S. A. Mulroy, Cert. 1716. St. L., M. A S. Ry., Div. No. 31 White River Division — Bro. McCutchen relieved Bro. C. H. Bai- ley,’on second Corning, who is relieving his father, Bro. D. P. Bailey, at Blodgett three weeks. » Bro. Shell was off a while on sick list ; also Pro. Finley, 1st DeSoto, latter relieve*] by Bro. Taylor. Vineland closed several nights, owing to the illness of Bro. Johnston and no available oprs. Bro. Powers, Ho- gan, was also sick, causing Bros. Kness and Bryant to double. Bro. Geo. Phillips is also on the %sick list. We will all be glad to hear of his recovery. Bro. Gilliland, Dexter, is now with the Reuter Hub and Spoke Co. there. Bro. C. H. Cooper is on leave of absence 90 days. Local Chairman Oshea is In St. Louis on the general committee. Bro. Wayland Desarc is the champion checker player via the Fone route, with Bro. Thompson bringing up the rear. Cochran. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom, has seen fit to call to his reward the beloved son of Bro. C. F. Gowdy form- erly local chairman of Division 31. and Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 505 Whereas, In silent submission to Him who iloeth all things well, who will not fail to reward the many kind and noble deeds of this little child, be it Resolved , That the members of Central Division No. 31, Order of Railroad Telegra- phers extend their heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved brother and family ; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to the bereaved family, and a copy spread on the minutes of Divi- sion No. 31. C. C. Crenshaw, F. C. Hall, D. W. Glover, Committee . Baltimore & Ohio R. R., Div. No. 33. Members Division 33 — Your division dues should be remitted to me, accompanied when possible by the re- mittance card, sent out each term from my office, and not to Grand Secretary Rawlins at St. Louis. By sending them to him, you delay the receipt of your card, as it will not he issued and sent to you until I show on my report that your dues are paid. ‘It also makes considerable extra work for Bro. Rawlins, in bookkeeping, letter writing, and a useless expenditure of postage. So in ^ future kindly send your Division dues to me, and to the (fraud Secretary and Treas- urer your Mutual Benefit Department As- sesments, being careful not to gel your money orders mixed when mailing them. Your division is now In better condition numerically and financially, considering that we have just concluded a five months’ schedule negotiation, than- ever before. Do not forget to look after that non working with you, or next to you. Make him pay-his share of the freight, for bene- fits enjoyed, and when accepting his appli- cation do not collect any M. D. B. assess- ment in advance. He will be notified after his application has been accepted what he owes that department, which will be from that time to the end of the term. I take this opportunity on behalf of the General Committee and myself to thank the many members who accompanied their re- mittances of dues with letters of apprecia- tion to us for the fine settlement made In the recefit schedule. It makes us feel good to know that our work has your approval. I am sure wre will all continue to work in your behalf in the future, with the hope of winning your continued approbation. With best wishes, I am, Yours fraternally, E. A. Shaffer, General Secretary' and Treasurer. Ohio Division -- Around about June 5 we hope to 'have a large get together meeting tn the Grand Hotel at Cincinnati, to which has been in- vited Bros. Perham, Rawlins, Miller and others of the Grand* Division, a number of General Chairmen and General Secretaries, and the entire Baltimore and Ohio General* Committee, with a large attendance from the several railroads entering Cincinnati. No- tices will be mailed out in due time. It has become customary during the last year or so that when a father, mbther, brother, sister, or child of a member dies that a floral tribute be purchased v practi- cally all members contributing 25 cents to this fund. It has been handled without a system, and the result has been that some received flowers, while others did not. It has been decided that Bro. W. L. Allison, 295 S. Hickory Street, Chillicothe, Ohio, handle this fund in its entirety. When there is a death in any member’s family kindly get in communication with Bro. Al- lispn at “CD” so arrangements can be made for a floral tribute. Individual effort on the part of any member should be discouraged. Please help make this a success by working it under a system, and let every member have the same amount of consideration. This applies strictly to members of the Order, who are in good standing. Arrangements have been made in the near future to have a committee negotiate with Wells, Fargo & Co. Exp. for a. schedule on all railroads on which it operates. This is a very large proposition which will take time and patience. Note Bro. Yeager’s explanation, on page ?70, March Telegrafher. of the Sunday rule in effect since Dec. 26, 1917. Your attention is also called to article 9. Those who did not receive their vacations during 1917 should receive pay based on the new rates, effective September 1, 1917, and the vacation on a 30-day month, regardless of what month It is allowed in. We hope to have this matter adjusted with the super- intendent without much trouble. It only means a small amount to the several affected ; in the aggregate it totals a pretty neat sum. Make a careful check ol’ your vacation pay and if not al- lowed as noted refer it to your local chair- man so it can he adjusted properly. The new' rates effective September 1, 1917. have been used since January 1, 1918, so there is four months' back pay coming to you. The increase in overtime and the hours of service were effective Deceihber 11th, so some have an hour overtime daily due them, arid a difference of five cents each hour overtime worked and ten cents each call hour. See that everything figures out cor- rectly, and not wait several months before trying to get it straightened out. When in Digitized by tjOOQle
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506 The Railroad Telegrapher, doubt about any rule I will be glad to ex- plain it to you. Part 3 of Order No. 8, February ‘21, 1918, issued by the Director General of Railroads, states that the broad question of wages and hours is receiving the proper consideration, and that when they are finally decided they •will be retroactive to January 1, 1918. As we now have a good schedule, and expect to make it better as soon the one year expires, every man having a nice bit of back pay coming to him, we hope it will not be necessary to have to spend any of Division 33’s money writing delinquents to pay their dues and help the cause along, and that every one will see that the man work- ing with or next to him does the same* so we will have an effective organization, and when the time limit expires have enough money in the treasury to secure another settlement, even better than the last one. There are several non members on this di- vision. If you want to help, make it abso- lutely solid. Brother Fitch or myself will be glad to give you their names and ad- dresses. Every member working with a non should make every effort possible to have him take out a card. Every non-member is a weight tied to your committee, and helps to keep the dues higher, so it is 1* our personal interest to get every man on the system lined up and doing his part. O. E. MARSH, L. C. CARD OF THANKS. Martinsville, O.,* Maroh 1, 1918. Mr. O. E. Marsh, Chairman O. R. T., Cincinnati, O. I hereby acknowledge receipt for $125, for which I wish to thank you and the mem- bers of the O. R. T. of the Ohio division. It was hightly appreciated by Mr. Webster and myself. Mr. Webster’s health is not any better. Yours respectfully, MRS. M. B. WEBSTER. The three who signed the paper and have not remitted will please do so' immediately, so the file can be closed and the money turned over to Mrs. Webster. O. E. Marsh, Chairman. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, In His infinite love, wisdom and power, our heavenly Father has deemed it best to take from our midst the beloved father of our brother, C. F. Ogier, we humbly submit ourselves to His decree and, therefore, be it Resolved , That the members of B. & O. Division 33, O. R. T., extend to the be- reaved brother and members of the family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their loss and bereavement; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved brother and family and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. ^ W. L. Allison, L. R. Smith, J. M. Iuler, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. WifEREAS, Our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom and love has deemed it best to call from our midst to His eternal home, where love and happiness reign, the beloved father of our esteemed brother, E. I. Ers- kine, therefore, be it Resolved , Thart: the members of Division 33 Baltimore and Ohio Telegraphers, O, R. T., extend to the bereaved brother and members of the family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sorrow and loss and be it further. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family and rela- tives and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. J. M. Iuler, W. L. Allison, L. R. Smith, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. I wish to thank the brothers of Division 33 for the beautiful floral offering sent us at the death of our father*: Your sympathy was greatly appreciated, Cuba, Ohio. E. I. Erskinb. Members O. R. T. We wish to express our thanks to the members of the O. R. T., Ohio Division, for the beautiful floral offering, account of the death of our husband and father December 24. Our sorrow was greatly alleviated by this most kind memory of the O. R. T. Mf.s. E. Malone and family. J. A. Malone. Athens, O. Indiana Division — Order No. 8 issued by Director General McAdoo February 21 makes the following very plain American-like statement, in the fifth paragraph : “No discrimination will be made in the employment, retention, or conditions of em- ployment, of employes because of member- ship or non-membership in labor organiza- tions.” The train dispatchers should now affili- ate with our organization, thereby pooling our united strength in the movement for the betterment of working and living condi- tions, In a large, well-set ready organized Digitized by tjoooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 507 union, if they desire the accomplishment of that end. In the past, it has been the kaiseristic principle of the old system of management, to so inflate a man with his own Godliness, as to overlook his own personal welfare and safety. Yet to a great extent, even in this great republic of ours where such enormous opportunities are to be had for reading, comparing and broadening our intelligence, these diplomatic efforts have had their ef- fect. To those that have perceived these things, it has long been apparent that the only dif- ference between the dispatchers and opera- tors was a slight one in the pay roll. For their standing above the average, they find themselves, even though termed officials (which is a misnomer) to be merely a cog in the great machine, easily replaced, and so thoroughly possible, that none but their closest friends would know they had ever existed. Unionism does not conflict or snuff out a man's individualism if it is not hoggish nor kaiseristic. But if a man believes that money Is supreme to human life, liberty and happiness, then unionism will conflict with his individual views of what is right. The Order of Railroad Telegraphers pro- vides for the uniting of the men of that craft whether they be operators,. train dis*- patchers, agents, line repairers, levermen or interlockers, tower or train directors, tele- phone operators, block operators or staff men employed on railroads. Not all of these po- sitions are as yet scheduled on all the roads, but anyone employed in either of these po- sitions, upon making thevproper request will be admitted into the Order provided his application is accepted. The following matters wene recently ad- justed by the local chairmen : Claim for fifteen days pay in lieu of 1917 vacation, favor of O. O. Shortridge, paid $37.50 ; R. Padgett required to work as temporary agent at North Vernon for thirty- seven days, not paid the dollar a day addi- tional : paid $37 ; Leverman J. A. Gleason, east end of Storrs, not paid for two Sun- days worked first half of January ; paid $4.70 ; I.evermen A. J. Wood and W. E. Man, East Norwood, not paid for two Sun- days worked first half of January ; paid $8.40 ; Agent H. J. Woodmansee, East Nor- wood, hours of service changed to commence at 12 noon and continued until after arrival of train -No. 2 about 9 :30 p. m. ; on appeal to the superintendent, hours were read- justed to former assignment ; appointment of A. E. Huntington to second Milan as at first announced, changed in favor of F. W. Kline, an older applicant for the position ; extra employe working as second trick lever- man Bast Bind of Storrs, and job not ad- vertised upon being included in schedule — bulletined in February. Bro. E. L. Carrico, CeVt. 583, forwards the following letter of thanks for money re- cently forwarded him through papers cir- culated over the division in his behalf. “To the Membership and Whom It May Con- cern : I take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks for the financial assist- ance rendered. The money was received while badly in need, and is earnestly appre- ciated as ^vell as the spirit of brotherhood exhibited." Div. Con. Toledo Division — It is now Bro. William Talmadge and Curt Coffey at Carlisle Tower. We wel- come these boys into the Order and wish them much success under the new schedule. Bro. Krebs is to be given credit for secur- ing these applications. It is also Bro. Clint Jessing and Weigan, levermen at D. T. I. crossing, Leipslc, making our lever posi- tions solid on this division. Bro. Miller, whose home is In Wyoming, is filling second Middletown. Bro. Morton, 3d Deshler, was relieved a few days by Bro. Winn. Bro. Totten has returned from 90 days’ visit In Florida to third Leipslc Junction. Bro. S. P. Guthrie, on a visit to his mother in Louisville, Ky., recently was re- lieved by Bro. Wiley at Stockton a few days, one of the oldest men in the service. Bro. Jacobs at Bates Tower will have to get busy •land line up the two men there be- fore the goblins get him. The articles in the editorial department of the March journal furnish much food for thought, especially the “Railroad Wage Com- mission Hearings," which has reference to the organization of the L. A N. . R. R. I worked several years on that road and my father also put in about 26 years there, too. In 1913 while he was working at Clay City. Ky., and myself at Jackson, he was relieved by some “tramp" and. informed that his services were no longer needed, without any reason assigned. The possession of an O. R. T. card was a dischargeable offense then and while they did not come right out and make such a charge, a man was excused from service with as little formality as possible. At this time I held a card in the Grand Division, but only one man on the line knew of it. After the tactics previously noted I resigned. W. A. McDowell was the general manager of that division and no doubt a great man in the eye of Milton Smith. To the boys of the L. A N. whose eyes catch this article 1 wish to say that now 4s your chance to organize while you are protected by our government. Join yourself and then ask your neighbor to do likewise. The L. A N. cannot discharge you for this, as you have a legal right to do so and with Digitized by baooole
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508 The Railroad Telegrapher. the approval of Mr. W. G. McAdoo. You have the organized support of all the membership. “BU” Cabin has been opened and three men assigned. R. Guthrie went to third New River Junction several nights. His application is assured, I will vouch for that. I paid Bro. Jackson, “CI>” Cincinnati, a short visit recently while waiting for con- nections. Glad to see him. There are four roads unfair to our or- ganization, the L. & N., Pennsylvania. M., K. & T. and A., T. & S. F. Don't be misled by their representatives when they tell you that any business given them is appreciated. There are other lines that grant us proper recognition. Remember them first. If any brother knows any good teleg- rapher looking for a job send him to Day- ton to Division Operator Clayton. Help him out and he will appreciate it. S. P. Guthrie, Cert. 1882, Belmore, O. New Castle Division — This division is now solid as applied to the ladies. Miss Gusta Kraatz, West Farm- ington third, making their showing 100 per cent. We hope that the men will show the same spirit of appreciation of the new schedule by joining at once. Besides Miss Kraatz we recently secured the following new members : Darby and Hoag, levermen "MN” tower, Greenwich ; L. P. Howard, third Ravenna; A. C. Anderson, * Chardon third, and our former local chairman, J. R. Ault. We extend a welcome to these broth- ers and sisters and trust that they will al- low the remaining nons no peace until they hand in their papers. The following additional contributors re- ceived to the seniority list fund : Brothers Robinson, Rupert ; Bane and Wallace, New' Castle. We hope to say Bro. Wallace by next month. The lists are now on hand ; if a copy is w'anted write the local chairman. Those who did not pay this year will get a chance on a list for next year. Bro. McLaughlin is the only one who takes a few minutes of his time to give us a few notes, so if the news is all of the vicinity of Akron yard, “nuff sed.” Bro. Brenneman, “XN” tow'er first, has purchased property in Cuyahoga Falls and will move there from Kent. Bro. Browning, agent Cuyahoga Falls, is back again after trying the banking busi- ness for six months at Strasburg, Va. Bros. Reese and Bedell have been ap- pointed examiners on the new book of rules which soon takes effect. Bro. Gorham, third Nova, received “Uncle Sam’s’* final call — a 24-hour notice — several weeks ago. Bro. Gliddon, “TF" tow'er first, is visiting bis parents near Bridgeport, O. Bro. Charley Marshall, who resigned at Kent some time ago to work for the Mason Rubber Co. there, has disposed of his prop- erty at Kent and will go Into the auto busi- ness at Atlantic City with his brother. We all wish him success. Bro. H. D. Purdy, former local chairman of this division, who has been working at the Kent Normal School about four years, now on the Baltimore division, called on the general committee while in Baltimore recently. Be sure and read the director general’s Order No. 8, published in the March Telegrapher. It is important to all of us. The government has decided that train dis- patchers are not officials as the company has always contended, but are classed as employes and should be represented by the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. Bro. Rawlins want 1,800 new members In one month. This division could help a lot towards that goal if every member would do his bit and run in our remaining bunch of “slackers." Ask them who got that back pay for them that they recently shoved down into their packets. There is a lot of misunderstanding in re- gard to the new schedule and we hope the printed copies will soon be out ; meantime, the local chairman is trying to correct all violations, but w'e will all have to help by keeping him informed. Show your loyalty by keeping up-to-date and rounding up the desirables and helpingr us reach the goal set by our grand secre- tary and treasurer. Cert. 410. » CARD OF THANKS. I desire to express my appreciation and sincere thanks to the brothers of Baltimore & Ohio, Division 33, for the beautiful wreath of flowers presented by them in token of their sympathy for the loss of my beloved w ife. S. C. McCoy, Cert. 909. Cleveland Division — We bid Bros. Ellis and Bertram welcome. We had 60 members up-to-date March 2uth. We received our back pay March 1 8th and feel sure that our few delinquents will soon be up-to-date. The non question with us is a very simple one as we get them coming and going. Bro. Gray bid in “CO” tower third, vice Bro. W. O. Clark, now In military service. Mr. Bennett, a commercial man, is on third Stillwater. We hope he will stay. Our old friend Chaney, out of service several years, bid in and secured Freeport second. We welcome him back. Bro. Huffman secured Freeport third. As soon as we get a couple more operators Lake Junction (the old man’s Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 509 home), a very important point closed four years, will be opened up. It behooves us all to give good service at all times. A man with a good record may have a misstep overlooked, but if we are continuously at fault it always goes harder. We had a very interesting meeting at the American House, Cleveland, March 14th. Several were able to attend, for which we were grateful. Will call another meeting there mext month. 'Watch out for it and all attend who can. I hope to meet you all soon as I am go- ing over the division if I can get relief.^ W. A. McCabe. CARD OF THANKS. Editor Railroad Telegrapher. My Dear Sir — We wish to express, so far as words may express, our warm apprecia- tion of your kindness and that of the men of O. R. T. and our deep gratitude for the helping hand you have extended to us in the hour of’ our very great need. I cannot tell you how timely your favor is. Very sincerely, Mrs. M. B. Webster, Martinsville, Ohio. Chicago Division — Everybody is well pleased with the new schedule and Sunday overtime ; altogether it figures 27 to 28 per cent increase. Several delinquents have lined up and several new members joined recently. Chicago Division i3 now all double track and also has automatic block, South Chi- cago to Milford Junction, from Defiance to Hamler, O., 112 miles. Bro. B. R. Wineland has gone to Michigan Central at Jackson, Mich. East Defiance closed, Bro. Shuman going to first Holgate, Bro. Donahue to first Kel- lars, Bro. Miller to third Defiance. Bremen tower discontinued and placed in depot there, Bro. Sheller as day operator. Bro. Fred Minard goes to Napanee depot, now a one-man day office. Bro. G. A. Elder, Auburn Junction, on 15- day vacation, is visiting his brother in Texas, who is in the service. It is now Bro. Oliaver at "G" and Bro. Kelly, “SC”, Chicago. Bro. F. M. Thornton, has resumed on first “HN” tower after spending 60 days with his family in southern California. Keep after the nons and don’t let them have a minute’s rest until they “line up.” No excuse for. being a non or slacker now’ with 28 per cent raise. Cert. 241. Pennsylvania Lines West Div. No. 36 F'trt Wayne Division — Bro. Rawlins has stated that Division 36 ut present had several thousand dollars in its treasury. This will Indicate to the most skeptical that our general committee, which we hope to have organized in the very near future, will have a nice little nest egg wil^i which to open schedule negotiations. This money has been accumulating quite a while from the loyal members who are working on the Pennsylvania Lines West. .He also stated there were now ten organizers on the lines west of Pittsburgh and Erie and that within the next fifteen days several more would be assigned to Division 36. Many at- tempts have been made in the past to or- ganize the telegraphers, telephoners and levermen on this system, but owing to the lack of interest displayed by the employes and the “Prussian’.’ system practiced by the officers of the railroad, before Director McAdoo’s Order No. 8 was placed in force, it seemed to be Impossible for the Order of Railroad Telegraphers to have sufficient numerical strength within the jurisdiction of Division 36 to present a schedule. However, this is all changed under the new order of things and his declaration that we are now “going over the top” in this crusade move- ment to schedule the Pennsylvania Railroad within the next sixty days brought a cheer from the many who w’ere present at the meetings in Ft. Wayne on March 21st which w'ere attended by a large number of operat- ors, towermen and agents from various points between Chicago and Crestline ; con- vened in extra session at Unity Hall in the afternoon and at the Centlivre Hotel in the evening. The sage has written “Enthusiasm is contagious,” and this was surely exemplified when they were addressed by some of rail- roads’ labor union’s brightest lights, viz. : Grand olTicers, First Vice-President W. T. Browm, Fourth Vice-president J. J. Dermody, Grand Secretary and Treasurer C. B. Raw- lins, of the O. R. T., and Bros. Knoff and Ferguson, of the B. of R. T. Bro. KnofC assured the operators of the hearty co-operation extended by the four great brotherhoods to the men in their suc- cessful effort to join organized labor. Bros. Brown and Dermody in their ad- dresses brought out points pertaining to the working conditions on organized roads as compared to unorganized roads and other points of interest to our craft. Bro. Rawlins said, in part, that in no single instance should the effort of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers be construed to be other than patriotic in its endeavor to bet- ter the working conditions of the operators ; that this organization wanted to go on record as being composed of loyal and patriotic union men. Division No. 36 gives promise of l>eing the banner division of the Order, and well that it should, for the operators of the “Stand- Digitized by tjOOQle
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510 The Railroad Telegrapher, ard Railway of America” deserve the honor that the Railway itself enjoys. First Vice-president Brown stated that Bro. A. J. Floyd, the organizer who worked so diligently to make this success possible* has established a record among all organ- izers by having obtained 67 applications in one week. Division 36 owes him a debt of gratitude and can assure the territory into which he is transferred that he is certainly ”a live wire.” Much credit Is also due Bro. Jana from Ft. Wayne yard office, who „has been ap- pointed local chairman. Monthly meetings will be held in Unity Hall, the date of which will be announced by Bro. Jana. The three grand officers have promised to attend from time to time, so wc can assure you brothers that these get-together meetings will be well worth your while. Come and bring a non with you. Absolutely refuse to accept any ex- cuses. Bear this in mind. Willows tower, East St. Louis, is now solid O. It. T. train directors and operators. Bro. Walter Switzer, second Collinsville yards, was relieved several days by Bro. J. E. Hindmarch, Formosa second. Bro. Ted J. Guenewig while off sick was relieved on third Formosa by Bro. N. I. Gillespie, a new man. Bro. O. A. Gruenenfelder refuses to go to Greenville any more because they will not let him bring the milk condensery home with him. Bro. S. R. Sweeny sent word that it would be impossible to be at the Ft. Wayne gath- ering owing to sickness in hip family. We hope it’s nothing serious and that “Sid” will have Formosa represented at the next meeting. Bro. Vollrath, first Rose Lake yards, is now on first Willows. Cert. 8. St. Louis Division ^ West End — The boys on the* old Vandalia have at last been made aware of the fact that they have spent from 10 to 15 years of their live3 working here to obtain a third trick, or worse than that, of a first-class extra board Job, Just as the company sees fit As the last school of instruction train passed over the road the operators were told that on account of the scarcity of men the first trick men would be asked to step down and make way for some blooming blossom who don't know a “Morse” character from a llmberger cheese, who before they landed here did nothing but talk rabbit and call out numbers in some one-horse exchange. But things have taken a sudden change on this "grand old pike ” and with some more meetings like those held at Greenville Mon- day, March 4th, and St. Louis, Friday, March 8th, we have a good chance to come out of this thing feet foremost Organizers are now going over this road and the showing they are making is some- thing sw'ell to look at. Brothers, If you are working with a man who is not up-to-date, put the question to him in a straightforward manner and ascertain If possible what his reasons are, if any, for not lending all aid possible at this time. Explain to him just what we are doing, and as he already ttnows ihe conditions he is struggling under, he will sign up at once and produce the necessary. Don't let the old "flim flam game" worry you. This old* stuff to the effect that “I and one of the other Brass Collars will take care of you ; if you have any grievance Just bring it to us and it will be adjusted.” You have heard that kind of talk for a number of years and the novelty of it has worn ofl> We krifo w how they adjust these things when the man implicated has absolutely no “come back.” There was a case of this kind just recently where a man was “bumped” oft' a hold-down by a younger employe and because he complained to the would-be com- plaint board he was handed a pretty raw letter in addition to the "bump" When we get a schedule, and we are going to have one, this complaint board idea will be a dead issue. It will die the death it so justly de- serves, as it has long since served all use- fulness and benefits no one, only those it wishes to. Now, everybody altogether; let’s make It 100 per cent before any more of this im- ported stuff is turned loose over the divi- sion with these letters which are capable of carrying an inflation of 200 pounds with old man heat about 90 In the shade. “Boosters Club.” St. Louis Div. West End Notes— Bro. Fletcher relieved Bro. Dial, second Brownstown, now at Camp Taylor. Bro. Raymond Keeler is on second Van- dalia. Bro. Pete Glassener on third Hagers- town and Bro. Dewey Ray on third Effing- ham, pending bulletin. Bro. J. Ray, third Altamont, has given up taking Tanalac so highly recommended by Dispatcher Jule Wisenberg and is tieing Into the 25 armStrongs there feeling fine. Bro. Matthews, second St. Elmo, got to the Greenville meeting about an hour late, but that won’t worry 4,Mat.” There are more to follow and he will be with us next time. Bro. Hearn, first Altamont, and Bro. Jones, first St. Elmo, attended the St. Louis meet- ing Monday, March 8th, although it was quite a distance for these boys to come. Bro. Bob Ryan, second Bluff City, has given up the speeder and Is now riding to and from work on a motorcycle. Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 511 Sorry Bro. Lylra, first Hagerstown, lost out on last meeting account train connec- tions, but others will be arranged shortly so as to give all the boys a chance. Bros. Le n Meyers and Warren Smith, of Greenville, who arranged for the second and third tricks men's meeting at Greenville, didn’t have anything on us if they did try to have all the smokes in town and con- fused some ot the boys. They tried to use them for soda straws (strictly soda.) We are going to try and arrange the next meeting so the second and third trick men have a chance to Join with us. The one held at St. Louis Monday, March 8tht was a “hummer.” We were addressed by Bros. C. B. Rawlins and J. B. McQuade and heard many things to our interest. Bros. Jess Bone, third Smithboro, and Lee Davis, third Mulberry Grove, were the only twp off trick men able to attend, and they had to leave on an early train. Bro. Guy Gillespie, sec- ond Highland, spent one day last week with homefolks at Marshall. Bro. N. E. Browning, first St. Jacob, re- lieved by Bro. Billy Schwehr, an extra man, was called to Indiana recently and Bro. B. P. Munle was called to Greenville for examina- tion in the National Army. Bros. C. M. Kilby, G. T. Schwehr and E. Stroot decided to make Pocahontas solid. That’s all the explanation necessary. Div. Cor. Chicago Terminal Division — Our regular meeting March 21st with 45 brothers present was called to order at 7 :45 p. m. by our local chairman, E. P. Gilchrist. Bro. Trowt opened the meeting with a plancf solo. Bro. Gilchrist gave us a fine talk on what took place during the committee's two con- ferences with the officials. We were all pleased to see Bro. G. Dal Jones, chief telegrapher of Division 91, who took a very interesting part in the meeting, our first vice-president, W. T. Brown, being in attendance at an important meeting with the boys on the Western Division, at Fort Wayne, Ind. Bro. Weilder, of the B. of R. T., also gave us an interesting talk. Brothers, fou. have a committee of good live men who will look after your interest and represent you in the proper manner. All the members should remember that our chairman and committee are doing all this work for us without compensation, and should render them all the assistance pos- sible. Don’t expect your committee to bear all the burden; help when and wherever you can. If there is a non at your station ex- ■ plain to him the benefits of having a card, get his application signed up and don’t leave it all for the organiser. We have a very pleasant, obliging set of boys in “XN” relay. They have helped us out considerably and we should see that every man in that office gets an up-to-date card. Everyone of them has shared the benefits of this organization and should real- ize the benefit of being a member now that the “O. R. T.” has come on the Pennsylvania system. Anyone having the least doubt of this should be induced to come to our next meet- ing and be convinced that this is a fact. The western divisions are doing remark- ably good work between Chicago and Pitts- burgh, the membership standing about 97 per cent with only a few stray nons to round up. All along the line you can see the ban- ners nailed on the towers ih large letters — “SOLID O. R. T.’’ The Richmond, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Michigan divisions are in fine shape: We hope the boys on the Logansport divisions will soon wake up. Brothers, get in touch with everything of interest to the Order and the company, answer your calls promptly and tell the dis- patcher when you wish to step out, so he will not have to keep calling you. Get the figures on the passenger trains and give them to your other fellow brothers and work In harmony ; don’t grouch when a fellow brother calls you for a little informa- tion. Give him all the assistance you can ; that is the kind of men this organization is made up of. Bro. Caponigri has been investing In household furnishings. Bro. Roe, on the sick list, was relieved by Bro. Lewis. Bro. Prudhonme will soon be riding in his new flivver and Bro. Helbing will explore the Rocky Mountains in his new auto for three months. Bro. Klasen is kept busy since “RB" closed. Bro. W. J. Taylor is now in the Arizona mountains for his health. Bro. Fredricks is on first, Bro. Lange- bower on second and Bro. Barbe on third “BV". Bro. Lansing, from the Lake Shore, is on second “JO.” Bro. Long on “GH” sec- ond, Bro. Holclouse on second “OD,” Bro. Epstein on third “GH,” and Bro. Thome is back on third “JO.” It is now Bro. Fischer, “GF” nights, and Bro. Jacobson, third “GB.” Bro. Carroll has gone to join the boys in France and Bro. O’Malley expects soon to bo with the colors. Bro. Gregg visited his daughter In Ohio a few days recently, celebrating the birth of his grandchild. We were all sorry to learn of the sudden death of E. J. Jones on March 9th, 6 :30 a. m., who was liked by all who came in contact with him. Digitized by tjooole
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512 The Railroad Telegrapher. Nearly $20.00 was raised for a beautiful floral offering and taken charge of by Bro. Gregg, who wishes to thank the brothers for the liberal donation. Bro. Jones’ mother accompanied the body to Wolcott, Ind., where it was laid to rest. We regret to learn of the death of the infant daughter of Bro. F. C. Drake. On account of the short notice received we were unable to place the usual floral offering. Resolutions of sympathy follow’ J. B. Leslie^ Div. Cor., Cert. 926. IN MEMORIAM. WherkaS; Our Heavenly Father, who through our Savior hath said : “Suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me ; for of such Is the Kingdom of Heaven/’ has called unto Him, at a tender age, the infant daughter of our wort hy_ brother, F. C. Drake ; therefore be it Resolved, That the members of the ’Chi- cago Terminal, Division No. 36, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the sorrow- ing brother and his family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in their sad hour of be- reavement; and be it further Resolved, That these resolutions be con- veyed to the bereaved family, appear in the columns of The Railroad Telegrapher and written on the records of this division, K. P. Gilchrist, M. A. Klasen, J. B. Lksije, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. I desire to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the O. R. T. brothers and friends for the beautiful floral design given for the funeral of my beloved son. Mrs. J. E. Jones, Wolcott, lnd. Vincennes Division — The credit will have to be given to Bro. B. B. Walters, whom I wish to thank very much for sending me the writeup of the meeting at Indianapolis, as I was unable to get relief so I could attend. It was a very enthusiastic and interesting get-together affair, held at the Hotel Eng- lish, Wednesday, March 27th, at 11 :00 a. m.. called to order by Bro. Huff, our well-known organizer and supporter. All had the pleasure of making the ac- quaintance of the vice-president, Bro. Der- mody, and Grand Secretary and Treasurer Bro. Rawlln. The latter, the first speaker, delivered a brilliant address upon the subject of organization, In which he declared we were “going over the top sixty thousand strong ”, bringing frequent and loud applause. Bro. Dermody also made an excellent talk, in which he pointed out the duty to our government in helping to win the war, de- claring that co-operation through organiza- tion was the only way in which we could do our utmost thoroughly and effectively. The brothers from this division who were able to attend were: J. B. Abrel and S. R. Smith, BN; W. W. Jones, RU; H. E. Dow and H. R. Walters, RA ; and B. B. Wal- ters, RD. A good crowd was also in attendance from the Indianapolis Terminal, St Louis, Louisville and Indianapolis divisions, which helped wonderfully to sw’ell the crowd. Let’s all remember what was said and took place at the meeting, boys, and don’t fail to attend all meetings that are held from time to time in the future, if there is any possible chance. Let’s make our spring drive for our work- ing conditions, wages, etc., all bound up in a nice little book and signed by the man- agement, while we are at the same time helping “the hoys over there ” to make their spring drive. It’s been a long time since anyone saw a wTiteup in The Telegrapher from this divi- sion, and no doubt it will seem strange to some to see one at this time from the old I. & V. ; but, boys, we know strange things will happen sometimes. Since our last writeup there has been a change for the better, which most of us see clearly and are going to take advantage of it. We have got to do it, boys, not because we like it alone but it Js absolutely neoessary and the sooner we do it just that much sooner we will be able to get out of that old “rut” which we have allowed ourselves to get in and stay in for so many years. “We” means all the telegraphers, block oper- ators, levermen, station agents and others that w’e can call “brother” as soon as they show the desire. A few can’t do all of it, and you boys w’ho are sitting b&ek waiting until you see what we are going to do are only delaying the game ; you are waiting on something to turn up that you are cer- tainly going to have to help us turn up if it's ever to be turned up. This is just the reason why wfe are not to be compared with the other roads around us today. We have too many of us, too often al- lowed our superior officers and a few of the others on the other side of the fence to lead us off and awray from the route we knew was best. Right at the time, if we had al- lowed our inward feelings and intentions to guide us, we would have taken the path that is made for us — the path that leads us and ours to better days. These officers and others spoken of had different ways of pulling it over on you, and were lucky enough sev- eral times to be successful, instead of the Order and us. Boys, the “Good Old Order” is still at our service at any and all times when we are ready to assist it ; so do not blame it for Digitized by O.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 513 anything you don’t got this time, as we have known it to happen in the past ; for the Order is with us almost unlimited so long as we can support its moves. * I trust none will fall for the old back-time gag and drop out, as jwe have done hereto- fore, as soon as we get the raise which we are sure to get in the near future, and which we have a right to expect will be a pretty nice one, too. Boys, for your own sakes as well as the balance of us, don’t do it, but instead take the required amount and pay your dues for another semi-annual period, thereby making us that much the stronger, so we can be able to demand recognition, and the balance that goes with a raise always. When the government took charge of the railroads of the country, it certainly re- moved some stumbling blocks from our leadway to the straight and narrow path and made things possible that could have been made possible no other way except one, and that by Congress possibly, for us boys on this line. There is nothing to fear any more ; it’s all to gain and nothing to lose this time ; there will be no one to tell you that you •‘had better not ” or to “stay out of the Order,” artd so on this time. The only thing that can be against us this time that has done its work heretofore, is the raise ques- tion, previously stated, and you are not to fall for that thls^lme, you understand. We certainly can't expect the company to come right out and recognize us with- out asking it to dd so, and asking, with the proper backing to go with it, is all that it takes, boys. “Ask and you shall receive ” is still holding good. , We are now working together, but for the interest of everybody else but ourselves, and forgetting the fact that “charity begins at home ” always. Let’s^work together now for our own interests and welfare also, while we give the company, the government, the public, and others the very best services possible. By doing this we will soon be able to do some business with somebody which will bring" about something for us that we will be proud of for life, as it will make for the betterment of aH concerned. Even the company will sopn learfi that the best men are those who belong to the Order, for it has been proven time and again that if you are not interested enough in your own welfare to hold up for the rights that are due you, that you can easily be led off by those you are interested in. If there is a jnan who would not like to have a contract or a schedule with the company he works for, I feel very, very sorry for him, indeed. We can have one over here if we will all get busy and keep the bunch together. Boys, don’t get a card and then sit down and say “Jet John do it”, but get right in the drive with the balance and don’t be afraid that you will do more than the other fellows are doing. The one that caused you to see the light and got your application is still in the same kind of business, working each day to make the membership larger. Assist him in this undertaking ; it is yours fhe same as his. It’s reasonable to suppose that you can do more towards getting the applica- tion of the fellow working with you every day or that you are personally acquainted with, than a man who never works with him or probably never eveii met him. You would be wonderfully surprised to see what a difference it would make if you would spend only a few minutes on the wire, or otherwise,* each day or so, talking to some- one that would make us a good brother. There are quite a lot of fellows everywhere you go who really want to be with us, but can’t somehow make the start without some’ kind of assistance. Probably you know what kind of assistance is necessary in some of these cases. So you see there is work for all of us. Take the hint, boys ; try it, and see if you don’t get splendid results. Keep those liable to get a little cold warmed up. Let’s become members of the order ; stay this time, and not make it necessary to ever have to become a new member. We are pretty well fixed over here and on all the other divisions, and it will only be a short time until we will be able to have as good a schedule as any road in our terri- tory. The writer gives you one and all his very best wishes for you and yours. Local Chairman, Cert. 32. Hocking Valley Ry. Dlv. No. 40 Hocking River Division and Branch — It is remarkable the way the boys are stepping into line. We have but a very few nons left and it will be only a short time until we have these lined up if the brothers all get busy. Don’t talk our insurance so much to them, but put it up to their man- hood whether or not they want to be slack- ers and receive the benefits you have paid for. If put in this light very few will re- fuse to join. Several have joined recently. Bro. Emmers, second Groveport, has a new car. Bro. Atkinson at Beaumont, who has had liis bees paraffined all winter, has turned them loose for the summer. He is authority on bees for the entire system. Bro. Lake at Enterprise is busy raising turnip plants this fine weather. Bros. Diles and Carpenter have already placed a large order. "Grit makes the man, The want of it, the chump. The men who win / I^ay hold, hang on and hump.” Digitized by v^oooie
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514 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. ‘Kriebel, Cnion Fc®, w&s off several days oft account of the death of his wife's sister. * Local Chairman Bro. McClain is now on Mosel first. It is now ‘Bros. Robertson, first Kanauga; Flack, second Carroll, and Jacobs, second Wellston. We Hope the latter will land ex- Bro. Pete there. Bro. "Powell, third Armit&ge, was relieved several days by Bro. McGanner from Hocking. Bro. McMamee, of Orbiston, was in Logan one day for examination to help "Uncle Sam" get the Kaiser, and Bro. Thompson, second East Clayton, visited his brother and many friends there one day recently. Bro. Nihiser,. second Logan, attended the big do- ings of the Red Men there one day. Bro. Robinson, working second, went to Mound Street pending bids. Telegraph office there has been moved to the new yard office at Parsons Avenue and “CD” abolished. General Chairman Bro. Hicks is at Wash- ington, D. C., looking after our Interests. Our percentage is still increasing. Broth- ers, line up that non working with you or the one you have an opportunity to meet, as we have much work ahead of us and will produce results according to our strength. Thanks to Bros. Worthman and McClain for the few notes furnished this month. If all the members would send us just one item we would have a big write-up. ”FGD & 8N at Q.” Toledo Division — The Western Electric men are busy in- stalling telephone circuits on this division. Only one set of dispatchers are now han- dling this division, making our No. 3 wire a pretty busy circuit. Trainmaster Welsh, of ;this division, has be^n succeeded by G. M. Finney, who form- erly dispatched between Marion and Colum- bus. Bros. Reed and Hayes doubled one day while Bro. Blackman attended the funeral of his grandfather. Although Bro. Bayles says “Hooverising” the past winter has undermined his health, he is still able to dig post holes and start his war garden. Frank Coveney, one of our old brothers, now sergeant in 319th Field Signal Battalion. Company A, telegraphing and lecturing on first aid, has returned to Camp Sherman after a five days’ visit at home before leav- ing for France. Brothers, send me a few items for next issue, so I will get them about the 18th. If each brother would send in one item a month we would have a nice write-up. Div. Cor., Cert. 1167. Indiana Division — January 1, 1918, General Chairman Hicks submitted a request for a re> ision of our present wage scale and working conditions to the general manager at Richmond, Va.. who replied that the government had as- sumed control of the railroads and he was therefore unable as a railroad representa- tive to treat with the committee at that time. The wage commission formed by General Director McAdoo will probably soon reach an agreement. Whatever our increases may be through this commission will be due to the plea made by President Perham, who has been valiantly fighting our battles at Washington. We regret very much to lose Bro. O. E. Miller, who claimed no exemption and has gone to do his bit toward saving his coun- try in the present crisis. We wish him god- speed and a safe return in the near future. He was relieved on second Peru yard by J. F. Knipp. Bro. Creacroft, Fowlerton agency, goes, to Jonesboro agency, A. T. Hartman, a new man, to Boston second; Bro. Happy Ander- son to Muncle third, vice Bro. “Bill’ Hutch- ins to Muncie first, and Bro. H. G. Hedrick to extra dispatcher. We extend our con- gratulations and pledge him our support. He was relieved on Summit first by C. A. Strat- ton. Bro. Hedrick and Bro. Kenney have exchanged tricks until Bro. Kenney's ankle injured at Peoria, mends in such a satis- factory manner as to insure safety on the third. Sister L. B. Johnson, Peoria third, on ac- count of the serious illness of her mother, has gone to Peru, Ind. The members of Indiana Division regretted very much to hear of the death of the father of General Chairman Hicks at Craigs- ville, Va., on February 14th and extend him and the family our heartfelt sympathy. There are quite a number of nons among ' the new employes and still have a few of the old “slackers” with us who are enjoy- ing the efforts of the organization. We had better get busy on them before they get a good start. I appreciate the fact that we are emerging from a very hard winter and that our ex- penses are much more than our income. Yes, I ask each of you to do your best in paying your dues and keep up the standard which the Indiana line maintains. The sil- ver lining will surely shine ere long, and we must keep up-to-date as near as possible. Let's keep the spirit of brotherhood and fraternal standards before us, help the brothers and sisters to be cheerful and, lest we forget, “Remember the Katy” A continued appeal at times becomes a “bore.” but I would like to get some news for this write-up from someone. I am obliged to Bro. Moore, of Boston, for his Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 515 notes this month. Others kindly take a little interest in this and help me out, also give me a report of the nons and new ar- rivals. E. E. Middlbkauf, L. C. Boston Maine R. R. Div. No. 41 If'Atte Mountains Division — We are anticipating holding a meeting in the north country shortly so to give the boys north of Woodsville a chance to attend. The place of meeting will probably be Lit- tleton or Whitefleld and the date and time will be announced later. It has been* a long time since this division has had a write-up. I have appointed many different correspondents, but they all fall by I he wayside, so this month I have decided to send or e in myself. First, I want to rfemind the membership that they should all have their dues paid by this time. The one thing necessary to make us 100 per cent strong is to keep an up-to-date card in our pockets. Bro. M. J. Sheehan, recently resigned from the train dispatcher's office at Woodsville, succeeded by W. J. Yeaton. Bro. Ball is at Woodsville ticket office. The dispatcher's side wire trick is up for bids after consid- erable argument. Bro. Swain, agent Meredith, is enjoying a month's vacation in Florida, relieved by G. H. Hall from the Salt Lake route in California. ' Bro. J. W. 8mith, the ever-smiling agent at Winona, has been elected master of the Masonic lodge at Meredith^ and is anxiously awaiting summer weather to resume climb- ing trees with his Knox-about Ford. Bro^ Blake, ticket agent at Plymouth, re- cently enjoyed a month's vacation and im- proved the time in George Washington style at his home in Warren getting up his winter's supply of fuel, relieved by Spare Agent and Operator Bro. C. A. 'Simpson. If . any brothers know of any of our men on this division who have joined the colors, please advise me at once as it Is very neces- sary I should have this information. It W .now Bro. H. C. Adams at Belmont, N. H., and we are glad once more to wel- come a wanderer from the fold. We trust that Bro. Adams will do his best to in- fluence others who are paying their money into another source and obtaining all their benefits from ours. Bro. R. 8» Weare, of Scott, recently set- tled a claim for overtime after an appeal to the organization. If any of the brothers having trouble In adjusting grievances will take the matter up with the local chair- man it will be adjusted on its merits. The officials of this railroad are fair-minded men and want the schedule lived up to although sometimes local officials seem, to think oiherwiae.« The train dispatchers on this Boston & Maine system of railroad are the deadest bunch ever. While the officials hand them out a little gravy on a side dish in the shape of a small raise every time that the O. R. T. gets one on another system of railroads, they are coming into our organ- ization and we are legislating for them and getting fine schedule conditions and nice in- creases for them. The local dispatchers at Woodsville are -all disposed to do the^ right thing and formerly all of them did belong, but on the other divisions they failed to come in and so the Woodsville ones have gradually dropped out. They should all get wise, join* the Order and reap the benefits of what organization will do for them and not accept the salve of just about half of what they should Wfcve received. Other roads represent them and so should we and we can. It is all up to them. C. A. Burnbll, Local Chairman. Erie R. R. Div. No. 42 Susquehanna Division — Since our schedule went into effect we have adjusted a number of differences very satisfactorily. There are some, of course, which have not been settled as we thought they should be. but In .most cases very fair decisions have been made. We are making special effort to /rattle all just grievances on the division on which they occur and if pos- sible avoid the delay of an appeal. Your general chairman is meeting with different division officials In grievance matters and good results have been secured through this method. . We insist on all just grievances being properly adjusted and are appealing all such to the highest authority When un- able to adjust them with divflBidh^bfllcials. It is our special aim to cfcrry out our part In this agreement and to prove to the company that a contract is beneficial to all concerned. I want to especially request that every member of Division 41 do his whole duty as an employe and a brotherhood man ; give the company his very .best service in every way and further demonstrate the fact that a contract between the company and ourselves is for the best interests of all. The decisions on grievances, taken up with officials, affect the entire system. When agents were given their annual vacations this past term, relief agents were allowed the ^xpress at the office relieved during the seven-day period. I protested against this to Mr. Stone and he has now decided' that the agents relieved will receive the express commission of their offices while on this vacation. Bro. Doekrey. of New York Division, who for a number of years has been barred from working in electric towers, owing to a slight mishap in 1911. Is now reinstated and Digitized by v^oooLe
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516 The Railroad Telegrapher. may bid on any electric tower position he is qualified to hold. He is one of the best qualified men on that division and we are If lad that he is at last restored to his rights in such positions. We have just^Closed the case of Bro. G. W.' Schaffer* who has been suspended since December 20th through a misunderstanding in the auditing department. He was ar- rested and charged with a shortage in ac- counts. Bro. Kelly and myself appeared at the trial at Goshen with counsel to defend Bro. Schaffer, possessing the proof of his innocence and he was acquitted by the court, there being no charge found against him. Later, conferences held with New York Divi- sion officials, Jointly with Bro. Kelly and myself and members of the auditing depart- ment, resulted in Bro. Schaffer being rein- stated to his regular position as clerk- operator at Goshen and he will be paid for all time lost. This was a case of getting the wrong man, the mistake being due to the error of the auditing department and we produced absolute proof of Bro. SchafTer’s entire innocence of the charge. Bro. C. W. Decker relieved Bro. Wezloski, who relieved Bro. Lisenby of "GJ” tower, owing to the death of his mother. The brothers of Division 42 extend to Bro. Lisen- by their most sincere sympathy in his great loss. Ruben Drake and M. J. Hyde, who re- cently passed away, will no doubt be remem- bered by many of the Erie oldtimers. James CoaKiey, for years block bell repairer under the old manual system, also recently passed away. He was well known and held in high esteem by every man on this division. When the automatic block system went into effect he went to Waverly, his old home, as gate tender. We all regret very much to learn of his death. Bro. Tom Creagh went to Hickory Grove agency. We wish him much success. Bro. Lisenby relieved Bro. M. L. O'Neil, »t Smithboro, relieving Bro. Covert on third at Great Bend. It is now Bros. C. W. Decker, of Cameron, and H. J. Smith, of Owego. We are very glad to welcome them into the Order. Let's make it so that a non will be a real curios- ity anywhere on this road, at least. One of the "bonehead” variety recently stated that it was not necessary to join the Order as the Government would protect his rights now. He must be a very patriotic citizen when he is not willing to pay the low mem- bership fees and do his part towards im- proving his own condition, but expects all the taxpayers of the U. S. to pay for his protection. The Government will handle our interests with the railroad officials through our organization, Just as in the past, so our organization is.just as essential to us as it ever was. Bro. Schuler is relieving Bro l\ Shaugh- nessey, third trick Binghamton, owing to serious illness. - We hope for his speedy re- covery and return to duty. Bro. Decker, of Cameron, relieved Bro. Welowski, who relieved Bro. Lisenby, who relieved Bro. Mike O’Neil, relieving Bro. E. Covert at Great Bend, on account of sick- ness in his family. These moves placed Bros. Welowski, Lisenby and O'Neil back In their own home towns for the time, -which was much appreciated, now that train serv- ice is not very good. Old "TJX" tower has been dismantled and order boards will be placed there, operated from "GJ” tower. Bro. Joe Horey, Cameron Mills, relieved second Addison a few days to attend a funeral. Bro. Monahan, of "VO” tower, who recent- ly visited his old home several days, also relieved Bro. E. J. Hesser a few days to handle grievance matters in New York. A number of 10- and 12-hour brothers have wTitten me for information regarding overtime. You are entitled to overtime when you are held on duty over your prescribed hours. Overtime slips should be sent in promptly in all cases ; there will be no dif- ficulty in getting your overtime in any case where it is justly due you. Each member should keep in close touch with the chairman of his division, keep him i >osted on all matters of interest when a new man comes on the job. Notify him imme- diately, giving his name, address and stand- ing. Assist your chairman in every way. He can accomplish a great deal more with your co-operation. It is for your own inter- est that you do this. We are endeavoring to establish the proper relations between em- ployer and employe which should exist and I believe we are succeeding. It is up to all of us to take part in this. Owing to the unusual congestion on the railroads now every man and woman should be on the alert more than ever before to make every effort to keep trains moving. At interlocking points you can accomplish a a great deal by studying every move a little in advance to keep switch engines working and at the same time move your main line trains. A train or switch engine standing still is not only a financial loss, but is adding to the congestion. The boys at the front can accomplish nothing unless we move the food and fighting material to them promptly, l.et it be recorded in history that the operat- ors and agents did their very best towards* moving the necessary supplies to them. E. J. Hesser, General Chairman. Digitized by tjoooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 517 Rochester Division — Having: been occupied with other personal “duties, have been unable to show my appre- ciation and extend to you my thanks for electing me local chairman of this division. I thank you, one and all, for the honor con- ferred upon me and will try at all times to be deserving of the trust you have placed in me. In accepting this position, I ask your co- operation In the work. You can greatly assist me in. lining up the nons. This is your duty as well as mine. By working in co-operation we can make this division solid. If there is a lion anywhere In your locality, show him where he is working against his own interests and yours, too, by staying out. Keep me posted on all the nons, so if you do not succeed in landing them I can also get in touch with them. Some of the nons, as well as some of- the members, are Inclined to think if the of- ficials of the road learn they are members of the Order that they will immediately find some way of . getting rid of them. That is a poor way of looking at it. No officer of the road wants to get rid of a good man. l>o your duty and you will never be bothered by them on account of being an organization man. I wrote Superintendent Cummin in regard to my being elected your local chairman } no official ever approached the subject in a more gentlemanly and fair way than he did when we met in his office. It pleased him that I did not go about my duties as chairman in a secret manner and try to keep my position under cover. We spoke of the efficient serv- ice rendered by many and the efficient serv- ice. that could be rendered when we all took the proper interest in our duties. If the C. R. T. members will show at all times that they are on the job it will s&rve our purpose better than any other method we could employ. He also informed me that if we wanted the company to do the right thing by us we should perform our part of the bargain by putting forth the best in us. I assured hirfr we were doing this and would continue’ to do so. Let us all work together and get in thQ< few nons. They get the bene- fits of all ‘the Order offers, why not be one of them? Bro. Jacobs, for some time stationed at Fort Hancock, Ga., has left, presumably, for France. We all wish him success and an early return to his home. Bro. C. T. Ballard, second Geneseo, has received his papers preparatory to leaving fer camp and expected to entrain March 27th at Geneseo for Camp Dix. We all wish him a safe return. T. S. JjbrriSj Local Chairman. New York Division— Eddie Hall, who has been off the road some time, is now on third "GR” tower, and has already secured a card. We all wel- come him back in the fold. Several others have promised to line up. Boys, now is the time for all to get busy and help the local chairman line up the few nons left. There is no good reason what- ever for a man to* stay out now. We have a good contract and can settle all just grievances. Let’s also get in the dispatch- ers and terminal tower men. They don’t need to be afraid to come in now, as Mr. McAdoo has issued orders to the railroad heads that there will be no discrimination against any man for his connections with a labor organization. The, dispatchers and terminal men on all the roads are coming into our organization all over the country and ours will do likewise when the situation is properly explained to them. Our president went to Washington and put up a gooi argu- ment to the Railroad Wage Commission Board for increases for all of us, the dis- patchers included. If enough of the mem- bers will wake up there will be no trouble, in landing the nons, but -if they don't get busy and do their bit we can’t expect to eliminate the non. The attendance at our meetings isn't what it should be. Myself and several other members from this division dropped into a meeting of Division 44 on March 9 th. Brothers, I wish I could take every member from this division over to one of the meet- ings of that division. It was a nasty, rainy night, but there was 60 members present. Everything is carried on in a businesslike manner over there. The men are proud of their division and have good reason to be. They took in nine new members at that meeting and twelve at the meeting the month before ; that's the way to do business. There is no reason why we can’t hold such meetings. Come, boys, let us get out of this drowsy sleep we seem to be in, put some life in our meetings and see that the men turn out. Any man who. won't turn out once a month in his own interest when -he can, isn’t worth being called a man. Those who have been coming should see that others attend. Boys, this organization business is like the war business — each man has to do his bit. Get out of the idea that the local chairman should do it all. There are over 300 men on this division eligible for membership and about 225 miles to be covered. Your local chairman works 12 hours daily and doesn’t get any salary as local chairman. He is what you mi£ht call “a charitable institu- tion." Let’s all give this institution a help- ing hand and bring our membership up to the 100% mark. Digitized by tjoooie
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518 The Railroad Telegrapher. Agents while on their vacations will not lose their commissions. This has been agreed to by the officials. When jobs are bid in made vacant by men entering the army, it is with the understand- ing that these men will be given their jobs back when they* return. Several of our worthy brothers have answered this call to duty. We are sorry to lose them and hope they will all be back with us again after this terrible war is over. Cert. 1617. Delaware Division—, Bro. Hagadora relieved Bro. Murphy on second, formerly Jeff Division train dis- patcher, now switching in Susqua yard. We regret Frank leaving, but are pleased to know that he intends to hold his member- ship in the O. It T., from which he received / many benefits while “pounding brass.'1 There is no excuse now for any non not to hold an up-to-date and take all the bene- fits and increase in salary we pay for, promising to join that next month which never comes. We should see to it new that these promises are made good, and remem- ber, “No card, no favors ” Bro. J. A. McGuire, called before the local board for examination, was rejected. It is now Bro. Washington, second “SR," and Bro. Campbell, third "SQ." Bros. Galloway and E. O. Murphy doubled one day to relieve Bro. Brush. Bros. Bridge and Fortner have both been on the sick list, latter relieved by Bro. Shiner, also Agent Borland at Haukins re- lieved by Bro. J. D. Tobin. Bro. F. J. McGuire was off one day re- cently. Bro. Jochem relieved Bro. Coughlin sev- eral days. Bro. Edwards recently discovered a broken rail on his way to work. Chrt. 1756. N. Y. 8. d W. Division— Arrangements have been made with Bro. Spencer, of Wortendyke, to look after the correspondence on this end and the brothers should keep him posted so we can have a good article in The Telegrapher monthly. It is very gratifying to note the individual activity being displayed, the results of which are now speaking for themselves. That has ever been the best way. Don’t send word to the other fellow to go and see someone, but go yourself without a minute's delay as this is the opportunity when the golden harvest is in sight. Our services are now in great demand and that of itself is enough to en- courage us to do our utmost to line up every non in sight Because we are working for the Govern- ment does not absolve us from union activ- ity; in fact, it becomes more and more im- perative that we remain solid and a little effort will accomplish that on this division. It was never in better shape than now, not even when the organizers were here, and that is saying a great deal. Our individual ef- forts have accdmplished this and that will produce much better results than to have meetings too frequently. The new schedule has now been in effect about six months and .anyone who does not understand any point in it should refer it to the local chairman. If anyone has failed to get a copy of both the Erie and N. Y S. & W. schedules they will be furnished upon request to the general secretary or local chairman. When any position in which you are inter- ested becomes vacant and is not properly advertised or bulletined, drop your superior a note and see what the trouble is, as it is not intended to make appointments on bid jobs until they have been bulletined and no one in the service wants them. ■ Some of the boys have been doubling of late, due to the scarcity of men and no relief in sight. This is a good way to earn our dues and by all accounts that is the way this extra is being spent The cornerstone has been laid and the foundation built for co-operation, and in the very near, future a co-operative board of ad- justment will be in operation all over the system which will be of great advantage to us all. So keep a stiff upper lip as we are surely on the right road now. Bro. Van Orden, Campgaw agency, has been called away by Uncle Sam'? draft ar- rangement Bro. Stout, Clifton "PA’* agency, has also been called to the colors. We all hope for these brothers safe and speedy return covered with glory. Bro. Frank Mullen, formerly at "JA,” is now on the D. & H. at Wilkes Barre. We all wish him success. We all desire to express our gratitude and appreciation to Bro. Keim for his assistance and the manner in which the schedule ne- gotiations were handled. We hope he will remain as our local representative for a long time. It behooves everyone of us now to assist him to keep up the good work. Remember, “No card, no favors” — it will work wonders coupled in with the other ar- rangement. Give Uncle Sam the best service possible and he will remember everyone of us. Cert. 832. Kent Division — This division made a very good showing for 1917, only one member falling to pay his dues. After taking the matter up with him three or four times, this "slacker" could not see where the O. R. T. had done anything for him, although he received a ten dollar increase and will probably soon be getting the Increase "Uncle Sam” has promised us, which he no doubt will be ready to grab as heretofore. Remember, brothers, “No card. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 519 no favors /* and be on the lookout for this slacker. We are all under obligations to President Perh&m for the way he has been doing his bit towards bettering our general conditions. We want to impress upon all concerned that it W most important to keep an up-to- date card and remember our schedule agree- ment is in effect until October, 1918, at which time the general committee will be on hand with full swing to see that we get vacations and other good rules the same as other lines are getting. We must start right now to enlist all the train dispatchers, teleg- raphers, telephoners, agents, levermen, line- men and 9ther employes eligible to member- ship and when ‘the time is, up the trenches will be all ready for another drive for a first class schedule. Remember, it is impossible to buy a dollar’s worth of goods for 60 cents. It’s up to you. Chief Dispatcher Welch has been ap- pointed trainmaster, succeded by J. R. Ful- sora. El B. Dressier, an old wefcr horse, who has been a train dispatcher for twenty-eight years, has resigned and taken service in the trainmaster’s office. “Ed” will be missed on the Fone by all the boys and we regret to have him l&ve us, but he has served his time in the trenches and is entitled to a rest. J. El Bench, who has held this position, goes back in the telegraph service. % Bro. G. W. Brady has resigned at Sterling, and H. F. Snyder at Silver Creek, to go with the Akron Rubber Works. We are all glad to see Sister Clyde again on duty at MK”, Kent. She always has an up-to-date card. Red Jones, at Lincoln, has gone with the Mansfield Brass Works; Jess Berry, “Q” tower* Marion, has also resigned, and Bro. Kester, also of *’Q”, is in the Gov- ernment service somewhere in France. The Germans will not be able to take his up-to- date card away from him. The fight is on, boys. Get your up-to-date cards and be ready for the drive. Cbrt. 46. Chicago Terminal — Bro. Davis, third "CO”, was off a few days owing to the serious illness of a sister. Bro. Robinson and Opr. Ferugson were obliged to double on account of no extra man. Bro. Overmyer is back on first ”GF” after relieving Sister Flannery on third for several weeks’ vacation; Bro. Cozad on first and Lynch on second. Bro. Overmyer enjoyed the rabbit hunting season. Hunters in that vicinity fear there will be none left for next year. Bro. Smith, first "HY”, was off several days on account of sickness. Bro. Stephenson, now one of the honorable organisers, who has been doing good work on the L. V. in N. Y. State, was called home recently on account of sickness. This division is so short I have to save up the notes for two or three months in order to have a writeup, so don’t expect it every month. "X”. Canadian Northern Ry. Div. No. 43 Superior District — / We are sorry to hear that the wives of Bros. Quinn, Bannister and Foley are in Sudbury hospital and hope for their speedy and complete recovery. Homepayne dispatchers’ office opened Jan- uary 1st with Bro. H. H. Dixon as first and acting chief, Bro. E. G. Mayhue second, Bro. H. M. Ward third and ex-Bro. G. A. Hoog, superintendent; Bro. C. C. Levitt also ap- pointed dispatcher. * Tionaga days opened by M. O. Rumbull. It is now Bros. McNairn, Runkle, Shaver, Brasher and Parent. Only three nons left on this district and hope to soon be 100 per cent Bro. Dixon has returned after spending ten days at home in Pembroke with his family. Bro. F. G. Mayhue went to third, Rosed ale. Work has been handicapped on this district by snow and sleet storms, with a few derail- ments thrown in. Bro. S. A. Fairweather is doing his bit in the gunnery department of the Royal Flying Corps. We are glad to hear he is making good progress and in fine health. Cbrt. 620. Brandon Regina Branch — This is fine weather for chicken yards and “hen fruit” Bro. Gibbons and Bro. Fair are strong competitors and when the potato sea- son comes around we will have to go some to catch up to “Stan.” We expect to see the operators go into the farming industry on a large scale this year, and there is surely no better way to spend our spare time than by raising our own produce, not only benefit- ing ourselves but the nation as a whole. Bro. Chinn has resigned to accept a posi- tion in the States. Sorry to see him go. Paxton, Scarth nights, also resigned. Moe goes there until Bro. Fair returns. Bro. W. I. Miller of the M. P., goes to Gravelbourg days; Bro. McGillivary will see that he transfers to Division 43. Bro. Lutes goes to Brandon Yard days, and Bro. Benson to swing dispatcher; Bro. Ford to Estevan. Sorry to see him go and hope to see him at a meeting once in a while. Bro. Tustin, from Dummer, succeeds him at Terrence. Bro. Oehm, Ettington, to relief agent. There will be three or four relief agents this year, if the men can be obtained. Good men are very scarce, and from present indi- cations very few of the brothers will be able to get off. Messrs. Cunliffe and Crooker are Digitized by tjoooie
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520 The Railroad Telegrapher. doing all they possibly can to get men. It will be hecessary for the brothers to return and not overstay their leave. Dues for the year have been paid promptly by all except a few whom we hope will not put it off and get behind. Don't forget to be a t the next meeting. Cmrt. 399. Brazeau Sub-division — Bro. Willis has resigned Merid agency, having been called home to New Jersey by the death of his mother. Bro. Laing relieved him. Alsask nights, opened a year last Febru- ary, has been closed for the last three weeks owing to the shortage of operators ; also Marengo and Lyalta nights closed for same reason. Bro. Bernett, who has been with the C. P. R. for the last six years, is at the latter point days. i Bro. Pollock, Cinook nights, resigned April 1st, owing to heavy work and no help. Bro. Blair, Cereal nights, also resigned April 1st, having bought a farm. Fairmount nights has been opened and the company will open several more night offices on this sub-division as soon as men can be secured to fill them. Bro. Menzies cancelled his bid on Sylvan Bake and it was assigned to Bro. Crayslez. It was opened by Bro. Gagnon, relief agent, fourth district, who later opened Haynes, where an agency will probably soon be opened, when he will open Leslieville. Red Deer will be opened as an agency as soon as the bridge between that point and Burbank is completed. The C. P. R. already runs into Red Deer. Gibson, from Munson, relieved Bro. Dull- man, who resigned at Warden agency to go on his farm. Some of the operators are doing relief work and not claiming expenses. Such men should be expelled. Cert. 1066. Central of Georgia Ry. Div. No. 46 Southwestern Division — • On sick list : Bro. Lamar, agent Powers- ville, relieved by Bro. Mathis of Fitzpatrick, and Bro. Kimble, second Box Springs, re- lieved by Kitchens. We hope for their speedy recovery. On vacations : Bro. English, first Fort Valley, building a house ; Bro. McCravey, agent LeesbuPk, relieved by Bro. Rowell ; Bro. Sammons, agent Marshall v file, relieved by Bro. Howls, of Columbus Division ; Jones, agent Georgetown, relieved by Miss Mc- Gowen. Sister Jenkins, of Upatoi, has gone to the Macon division. We wish her success but hate to see her go. It is now Bro. Cobb at Leary. Bro. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer, w£s in Atlanta recently. We were glad to see ‘‘Roily,” and hope he will come again. ' Everyone get after that non next to you. We have entirely too many on this division: The new rule book will probably soon be in effect, as most all stood the required examinations. Everyone read Article 1071, new rule book, page 144, and see if we cannot stop much of this public phone business. Let us have this rule lived up to literally. Cert. 702. Detroit, Toledo 6. Ironton Ry. Div. No. 48 We are waiting patiently for the report of the wage commission, trusting it to ac- knowledge our needs. Our committee, Bros. Palmer and Heaton recently met with Super- intendent Jones and all negotiations are held up pending commission’s report. H. J. Engle, ”GN”, Detroit, off sick ; claimed joining C. T. U. A. Mendy take notice. We have been borrowing men from the W. U. to fill in. Old man Murphy, at Ecorse, refuses still to help the cause along. When we get a raise, he backs into the pay car with out- stretched hand. Agent Fournia says that he will get his raise from the Government. It is now Bro. D. F. Desmond, agent Sco- field. F. A. Farnsworth, a new man, is at Adrian. Brothers, don't let these nons rest and remember “No card, no favors” The C. A O. N. is connecting with our line at Greggs, which is to be a Joint office, and expects to give us several hundred loads daily. All were pleased to learn that J. R. Palmer, father of our general chairman, has recov- ered from his severe Illness, after a treat- ment at Mt. Carmel Hospital, Columbus, O. Night Chief Boggs, who has been off sick, is improving. Cert. 21. Denver 6. Rio Grande R. R. Div. No. 49 First Division — Bro. Brennan, “SB”, Pueblo, on short trip to Laramie, Wyo., didn’t even stop at Chey- enne. Of course, that’s what he says. Bro. Moore, our popular wire chief at “SB”, Pueblo, gets along without using pro- fane language, but we sometimes wonder how he does it. ’Tis said he still owes Miss Murphy a box of candy. Why not square up, Frank? Bro. Stroup, third Florence, is in Sal Ida Hospital. We hope for his speedy recovery. It has been necessary to close Florence eight hours account of shortage of operators. Bro. Copley, of Howard, relieved by Bro. Venson on account of sickness, is in the East. We hope to soon hear of his being much im- proved. Bro. Rogers at Eden has been on the sick list, but is getting along O K now. Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 521 Bro.' Breselow, agent Castle Hock, on leave of absence, is being relieved by Bro. Kams, of second there. Bro. Hogue, agent Trinidad, spent the lat- ter part of February with home folks at Tarkio, Mo. Bro. Houdebush, at Rouse Junction, is keeping busy helping unload emigrant cars. House Junction is coming to the front fast, street and aNey committee figuring estimates on paving and street lighting. A mighty good friend of Bro. Persinger of Colorado Springs, has- requested that we record the fact that Percy still uses a bug. Ask Jim Brennan. Last month I withheld the names of two non-members on this division, the only two we had in hopes that this number might be decreased. It is very gratifying to say that we now have only one. He says the O. R. T. is all right, but hasn’t done anything for him and his final decision is to stay out. J. M. Honnold, at Husted, is the man. Kindly bear the name In mind. More of interest in this connection next month. The October special assessment has been paid by all on this division except one mem- ber. Brother, whoever you are, let’s clean it up. Now, brother local chairman, how about a meeting for the first division. Let’s wake up. Get a little more life, get acquainted ; let’s go. "Highball — Til get the gate.” F. B. Robb, Local Cor. Third Division — Correction : In the February issue of The Telegrapher., Relay Division items, page 226, sjjth paragraph, Cert 655 said Grand Junc- tion, Colo., "JN” is 100 per cent for the first time in several months and this was made possible by Bro. Maid from Ridgway reliev- ing "Mr." Hitt, who went to "the Burling- ton.” "Bro." C. J. Hitt, with good cause, objects to being classed with the nons. I had ljim transferred from "the Burlington” to Division 40, and know personally that he had them and still has an up-to-date card. He is a No. 1 operator and a gentleman in every sense of the word, and goes to the front shortly to help fight his country’s bat- tles. Our correspondents should be careful and not make mistakes of this kind. In case of doubt, give the man the benefit of the doubt. J. A. Rat, Local Chairman. Fourth Division — On February 23rd, a meeting of agents and operators of this division was held at the Victoria Hotel, Alamosa, with the following brothers present : Richards, La Veta Pass ; Jarrett and Tucker, Alamosa ; C. L. Tucker, Monte Vista ; Rafter, Del Norte ; Wasson, Creed e ; Graves, Antonite ; Ogle, Taos Junc- tion ; Nichols, Lumberton, and Shiles, Pagosa Springs. Bro. Hatfield, being on the sick list, was unable to attend. The meeting was called to order about 8 :30 p. m. with Bro. Graves as acting chair- man and C. L. Tucker, secretary. Questions were discussed pro and con rela- tive to working conditions at some of the larger stations and of agents having to pay part of their express commissions for station help ; the enforcement of all rules as covered by our last schedule of February 1, 1917. and the Adams Express Co., it being agreed that this company is entirely separate from the railroad ; that we arej acting as its agents and are willing to hahdle the business, but it has “Gotta Kick In,” as we are employed by the Denver & Rio Grande. Bros. Richards and Wasson gave us some very interesting talks and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all. We are due a vote of thanks to Chief Dispatcher Graham, who so kindly consented to our attending this meeting. Boys, we have a good set of officials now and should co-operate With them in every way, especially Mr. Graham in the car situation. We should have a writeup once in a while in The Telegrapher. I know you are all busy* so am I, but it will only take a few minutes to get together a few items and send them in. I have had the matter up With Bro. Wright, our local chairman, to appoint Bro. Graves assistant local chairman of this division, and he advises that he would be glad to appoint him. Bro. Graves is near the seat of our troubles, and in case of any grievances could handle them, I know, to the satisfaction of all concerned. What say you? It was through Bro. Graves that the meeting we had was arranged, and he deserves a vote of thanks also. There has been so many changes since the last writeup we had, that I would not know where to start in at, to relate them all. I wrote every brother on this divisiqn, asking that he send me any notes he might have and I received “nary a squeak.” Now, boys, that we are in the harness again, let’s stay there. Put your shoulder to the wheel alid boost and when you get tired, boost some more. I hope it can be arranged for another meeting in Alamosa at an early date. Cert. 687. Southern Pacific Ry., Div. No. 53. Western Division — The Order of Railroad Telegraphers is an organization created for our mutual protec- tion, of which it is an honor to be a member, as the standard upon which it is formulated is honorable and upright in every detail. It is represented by intelligent and capable gen- tlemen of unquestionable integrity, demon- strated very forcibly to us by the magnificent contract obtained recently through their efforts. Digitized by tjOOQie
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522, The Railroad Telegrapher. Some of our younger brothers, on this division in particular, have taken an unfair advantage, through a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of our agreement with the company, to express their opinions in very forcible terms. It is a wise man that holds his tongue, 'keeps council with himself, sits down and reasons things out, then acts through the proper channels. Bro. J. E. Hanlon, our local grievance officer, is a most efficient gentleman, in the ♦ right place and nothing should ever be re- sorted to by any self-respecting, fair-minded brother to 'place him in an unfair position. Overhearing a conversation between some of my brothers, down in one of the cities on the bay, prompted me to write, this in defense of Bro. Hanlon, who received a com- munication from one of our employers with reference to what I have noted. It is also my desire to reach some of my brothers with whom I may not come in contact until some future time, hoping it will be of some benefit to any who misunderstand, or have not con- sidered just what it means to all of us, when they write undignified or sarcastic letters to the local officials on any division. • Being conservative, using a little diplo- macy, exercising discretion and being mas- terful in what you do, and doing it well, will enable the O. R. T. to stick to us through thick and thin. Antagonism never will get us anywhere, and Sarcasm will start us on the downward road, where Adversity will stare us in the face. When we fail to exer- cise or utilize our better judgment it humil- iates our brothers as well as ourselves. Csrt. 2113. Bro. Manion enlightened those present with considerable information relative to Govern- ment control of the Railroads and the prob- ability of additional compensation for' all railroad employes as a result of the hearings before and the investlgationa being conducted by the Government Wage Commission. The writer regrets that It was not possible for him to be present and, like nearly every other similar meeting, non-members could not be persuaded to attend. I trust when i the next Western meeting Is called, that every effort possible will be made to Induce the non-members, if we have any at that time, to attend as our guests. The Big Five contemplate having a grand ball at the Auditorium, Oakland, Cal., about the latter part of April. Definite Information to be supplied later. Get out your "klaw- hammer” and those patent leather shoes. An article published in the San Francico Bulletin, March 8th, page 4, by Roger W. Babson, is worth reading and keeping in mind. Secure a copy and read it. Learn aH you can about station work and the general duties of an agent. We can’t tell just what changes may occur in the railroad world and the man who can do other things besides telegraph Is better equipped to protect himself than the man who can't. The company has shown its appreciation of our services by agreeing to pay us in sums acceptable to us, and certainly no less can be expected of us than that we shall show our appreciation of the conditions under which we work, by helping to support the source of those conditions. A long time ago — possibly longer than many of those at present employed can look back — The Telegrapher carried much mat- ter concerning the seventy-five-dollar min- imum. For the future, if we must have an ideal, and it is desirable, paste this In your hat: "On and after ninety days from the date of this Agreement, Telegraphers not holding membership in the Order of Railroad Telegraphers will not be al- lowed to exercise their seniority rights in applying with bulletined vacancies or newly created positions, except that this will not apply to newly employed teleg- raphers until they have been in the serv- ice of the company ninety days ; it being understood that this agreement is nego- tiated by the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers and that telegraphers not mem- bers thereof are not entitled to benefit by its provisions." These notes that may not be- of Interest sometimes to those right here on the division are new and interesting in their way, to those who were with us once but are now far from their earlier activities. Bro. Thomas R. O'Grady, formerly on this division, who went to "the Los Angeles" for *N Western District — The meeting held at San Jose, under the joint auspices of the Coast and Western Districts, was a notable success. The writer, who can recall about all of the old timers on the Coast, noted with pleasure a great many of the names that always went with anything that was successful on the Coast, amongst them being Bro, Geo. W. Taylor, the oldest telegrapher in point of seniority on either the Coast or Western lists, but probably one of the youngest in point of enthusiasm. Informal talks were delivered by the vari- ous officers present, including Fifth Vice- President Manion, General Chairman Cull, G. S. and T. Hammond, and Local Chairman Cowgill of the Coast, and Falls of the West- ern. Bro. Cull was ..called upon to explain the manner in Which various features of the new contract should be interpreted, which he did ably. Bro. Hammond responded with statistical data showing our peace and war footing and the good work being done by the various local chairmen with the help of the member- ship. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 523 the benefit of his health, now located at Mecca, writes Local Chairman Palls that he has greatly Improved and would be inter- ested in a trade with someone here. His seniority dates from September 7, 1916, and he holds a*#egular third trick. He wishes to be remembered to those who knew him while here and would be glad to hear from anyone interested in his proposition. Bro. E. P. Holliday, former agent at Ruth- erford, is now at Napa Junction agency. The roads there must be better adapted to that new Studebaker that Bro. Holliday bought with part of his back time. Bro. Searl, agent at that famous health resort and cottage city, Altamont, has dis- posed of his Ford and bought an automobile. Hereafter, we Bhall have additional reason for expecting increased attendance at meet- ings. We trust Bro. Searl and all of his good friends who are wont to let him buy the gas will take notice. Bro. J. Marker, former agent at Walnut Creek,* goes to Dixon agency. The two tele- graph positions created there recently have been closed and Bros. McTear and Bass are again hunting for new worlds to conquer. Bro. J. Jacobson has taken Bethany agen- cy, succeeded at Ouinda agency by Bro. E. R. Adams, his position at Bay Point being abolished. Bro. J. T. Mack, from San Francisco "BD", to Benicia second, vice Bro. Kirgan to third there. Bro. Walter Turner to second Oakland Pier, from third there. Bro. Slater, former relief agent, now has a traffic position with the Standard Oil Co. Bro. Helgren, Richmond, and Bro. Bau- man, Bay Point, were recent Pittsburg vis- itors, the scene of their former labors. F. H. Borland Is on third there, vice F. J. Vargas, who has Joined the Signal Corps. J. R. Caples is on second Port Costa, while Bro. Heany is doing relief agency work. F. S. Sacramento Division — Bro. Wilson, with his organization team, Dusher, Clayton, Sheffield and others, started in recently with the intention of cleaning up the nons, securing the following new mem- bers: W. S. Wells, Tuba City; W. B. Lewis and W. F. Burnett, Folsom; A. Papa, Paler- mo; J. J. Carney, Willows; Mrs. E. L. Har- mon, Midas; W. A. Boise, Honcut; W. P. Roth, Brighton; L. Bliss man, Oroville; C. G. Sebring. Colfax ; A. Griffith, Williams ; W. C. Duden, Latrobe E. T. Nlckell and J. R. Swiney, Orland ; W. H. Hancock, Walnut Grove ; G. F. Aymar, Auburn ; W. L. Fing- land, Sacramento ; G. Wapple, Marysville ; E. C. Morebeck, extra; V. C. Noddin, El Dorado; A. J. Plank, Placerville; E. J. Rees and Mrs. Ora Rees, Crystal Lake; Sam Fol- lett, Ew E. Coppin, E. J. May and H, H. Knott, Blue Canon Junction; J. O. Polman- teer, Mrs. D. Polmanteer and G. A. Munson, Champion. This makes thirty in the last thirty days. On December 31, 1917, Division No. 63 had 1,651 members. Since that time we have taken in 195 new members and some old ones reinstated, making the total membership on March 18, ftl8, 1,846 members in good standing. This number is the Pacific System. Have just returned from a two weeks' vacation. I had a. talk with a number of members between Reno and Los Angeles, also Bro. Cull in San Francisco. Bro. Hammond was attending to business out on the line, so did not get to see him. Intended to talk to him concerning the N. A D. Fund, but a letter from him states that the local chair- man should handle it. Have not asked for a report on the N. A D. Fund, but think it has grown since the last^onq. Am not pre- pared for a detailed writeup this time, but will see Bro. Wilson in a few days and be able to tell you how much we have in the fund, or how we spend it. In the next issue. Bro. H. M. Stomp, who enlisted in the U. S. Radio Service prior to Mr. Scott’s ruling as to rights of those enlisting, was shown as "out of service" by the company. Bro. Wilson succeeded in collecting two days* pay due Bro. Stomp and had his name re- placed on the company’s rolls and shown as "on indefinite leave of absence." Bro. Stomp and Bro. Hoar^ are both at Honolulu, Bro. Gray is at Pearl Harbor, all in naval serv- ice. Bro. Allard Is at Sitka, Alaska, in the Signal Corps working a cable job. The last issue of Thi Tblboraphrr showed our local chairman as being called to active service, but his name had merely been posted that way on the island near San Francisco. He is still with us. I was turned down on the draft on account of having a disability, from D Company, 18th Infantry, but will have everything fixed with Washington so I can go in a short time. Bro. L. A. La Point writes that he is now a banker in Winnemucca, Nev., and still holds an up-to-date, as do several others in the same bank. A letter from a brother on this system states that we were quite right about the Miller school, which was mentioned in the February issue. He was a student of the school. He states that the students are paid thirty dollars a month to learn station ac- counting and telegraphy and it is preferred that they advance enough to go right out into telegraph jobs rather than into clerical jobs and they are urged to stay a longer time on company pay at thirty so as to pre- pare for telegraph jobs direct from school. The school at present has over 75 members, about 18 of whom are boys and the rest girls and women. They do not have to teach them the good of the O. R. T., as they al- Digitized by • oogle
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524 The Railroad Telegrapher. ready know it, and most of them come in when they start to work as this brother did. Bro. W. H. Hancock, agent Walnut Grove, reports a new arrival, a girl. Bro. Ham- mond, G. S. & T., has a new boy, Bro. Dusher is acting agent at Blue Canon. Sister Southern’s mother is very ill at Red- dingi Bro. Schneegas relieved Mr. Simpson, agent Los Molinos, who transferred to the Western Division. Bros. Cull, general chairman ; Wilson, local chairman, and Duncan, from “BD”, were re- cent Sacramento visitors. Bro. McAdow is visiting relatives in Kan- sas City. Bro. Barner, agent Zamora, was off a few days spending seme of his back pay. Bro. Mills, agent Orland, has a new Max- well. Bro. E. L. Sharpe haa put several “jits” in our exchequer. His Cert, number Is 23 and he has been carrying a continuous card longer than any one on this division. He says he has made good interest on his money and has some left. The case of minimum of 60 cents on over- time for Sunday was lost by us, so it will be only pro rata for Sunday work where the full day is not put in, but on week days the 60 cent minimum will apply. Although the class in the office receive a smaller salary than those on the road, they purchased the largest per cent of bonds. “MN.” San Joaquin Division — Since the adoption of our new' schedule, we note with pleasure that a great number of the boys are getting off on Sundays and holidays as specified in agreement Under the old agreement some worked half of every Sunday, and most of us the whole day. With a higher rate of overtime, say double, for any Sunday work, we will have reached our haven as regards Sunday rest, for I feel that the railroad companies will find that they don’t need us at all when they have to pay double time. It’s all a matter of money with them, it seems. For the benefit of the brother who thinks he has been given a raw deal, let me say this : Under article 16-d, 1913 schedule, you are not permitted to exchange positions atv any station. Hence my instructions to you to change back or forfeit your assignments. As to assuming a preferred trick at a station, article 14 covers. You bid a position in before you are entitled to it, and under no circumstances shall you move up to a vacated trick. This latter would be “office seniority” and we do not have this on the Southern Pacific System. We have finally succeeded in getting the numbers straightened out at Edison, which I wished to have done by bulletin, when second trick hours were vacated ; but through an oversight it superintendent’s office, the hours w'ere not specified and it was bulletined as “third trick.” Perhaps others would have bid on it had they known that the hours were really second trick hours. Another tangle I have succeeded in straightening out was the agency at Acton. Ex-brother A. C. Lary left the service in July, 1917, but the job was not placed on bulletin until March, 1918. Mr. Lary has been working for a gravel company in Mon- rovia and the job at Acton has been held open for his return nearly eight months. Under article 13-d we will lose four dis- patchers from our seniority list who were placed there on the adoption of our 1913 schedule. This was due to a* misreading of the article in the 1913 schedule by the com- pany whereby a large number of dispatchers were automatically inducted on our seniority lists. We only desire to retain ' on the. list those dispatchers who actually are entitled to seniority by promotion. Can you Imagine & brakeman being placed on the conductors’ list when he wasn’t a conductor? We are sorry that “BD” bulletins are not being sent to all of the telegraphers. Two recently were missed and as far as I can ascertain were only posted at the terminals. There are a number of capable men on this division who might desire to go to San Fran- cisco, and trust that in the future bulletins will reach all concerned so that no question will arise as to assignments. Notice that the boys are not claiming the ninth hour double rate of overtime under Article 6-h where they have been held on for over eight hours continuously without a meal hour. It is good money and agreed to by the company, so why not accept it? Our division now has a service flag with thirteen stars on it for the thirteen brothers now fighting for Uncle Sam and Freedom. We stay-at-homes who have dependents are going to buy Liberty Bonds, War Savings Stamps, Thrift Stamps, and help the Red Cross, to the limit of our finances. Also we who are too old or decrepit to be accepted for service. I am here to say that the Third Liberty Loan will go like hot cakes. If we don’t buy Liberty Bonds we will pay what we have into the coffers of a German despot. To the limit of our resources, then, let us do our bit. What we contribute is far from what the lad with the gun contributes. His life is at stake. He may be hopelessly muti- lated, blinded, deafened, seared with flame, or gassed. Our funds may be depleted for the time being, but what Is that compared to >the supreme sacrifice? We must also march on that remaining list of nons. They are the “slackers” in our ranks, taking what the rest of us are getting without an effort on their part, and no Digitized by tjoooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 525 expense whatever. Good returns have al- ready been made since the first of the year, and with co-operation on the part of every brother we will soon have them doing their share. Treat them like men. Soipe of them have only to be shown where they are wrong, and they will come through. Others hardened in their ways may not see the light so readily, but ultimately will wake up and see their mistake. Cbrt. 1168. San Joaquin Division Notes — The following new members have been received since securing our new ^hedule : F. M. Wasgatt and D. D. Shepherd, Reed ley ; H. W. Wright and U. Uzzell, Maricopa ; L. G. Bower, Lang ; C. Ratcliff, Selma ; R. A. Root, Delano ; E. S. Hubbard, Vincent ; D. L. Parker, Rosamond ; R. A. Fuller, Kingsburg ; N. J. Etherton, Visalia; L. C. McMillan, Farmersville ; J. L. McReynolds, Buttonwil- low ; J. W. Smith, Lancaster ; H. D. Johnson, Bakersfield ; F. F. Barngrover, Goshen Junc- tion, and J. Q. Miller, Ravenna. This makes our division 95 per cent solid. Credit for securing the new jpembers should, go to Bros. Underwood, agent Selma ; "Mike" Krombeck, and Manager F. L. True, Bakers- field ; O. D. Day, D. T. Towles, Olovesky, and the Mojhave O. R. T. committee. Bros. Beeson and Miller, from Ravenna, and Love, from Vincent, were recent Mojave visitors, entertained by Bros. McCandless and Gibson and Jarboe. Dispatcher Bro. Grubbs, from Bakersfield, going over the road, visited Mojave and dined with Bro. Jarboe. Bro. McCuiston, from Hanford to Mojave sixth, relieved the agent at Famoso a few days, and Manager Bro. Liston, Mojave, was relieved several days by Hogelund, a new man from New Orleans, who later enlisted in the army.' Bro. Uzzell relieved Bro. Anderson at Proctor for a month, while he and his family are visiting at the old home in Wyoming. On his return Bro. Anderson went to Beal- ville first. Bro. Mallachowitz has returned from vaca- tion, relieving Bro. Vandyne, who relieved Bro. Greenwade, who relieved Bro. Curry at Caliente when assigned to Mojave. Bro. Miller, second Ravenna, to “K’\ Ba- kersfield, relieved by Bro. Johnson, from Edison, and Bro. P. W. Ennis, from Goshen Junction to Woodford, vice Bro. Wood to third Edison. Bros. Gibson and Curry, of Mojave, both passed examinations and are expecting to start “over there** shortly via Camp Kearney. Bro. Huckeby, who relieved Bro. Liston on the Hill side at Mojave, wants a regular sine on this job. Hill operators, please note. Bro. McCandless relieved Sister Watts at Mojave, who went to Kansas City to see her hysband, Private Watts, in Signal Corps, who will soon leave for France. She ^relieved Bro. Starkey, second Famoso, on a trip to Los Angeles, before returning to Mojave. We are glad to welcome her back. Mojave ofices now have lockers in which to keep the wild bugs confined. Bro. Griffin relieved Bro. Mike Krombeck, fiftn Bakersfield, who went to “BD”, San Francisco. Bro. R. L. Davis, Goshen Junction third, and wife are back from a vacation in Chi- cago and other points East ; Bro. Cameron is back at Marcel, after his vacation to Jlew Orleans and Mississippi, and Bro. Bright is back on Marcel second from his vacation to Los Angeles, relieved by Bro. Lemka. Bros. Galyan, Tulare ; Davis, Goshen Junc- tion, and Weatherholt, Tehachapi, promise to send in notes every month hereafter, which will help us to represent the Valley. Bro. Jackson and wife spent a few days in Bakersfield recently, and Bro. Jarboe, third , . Mojave, and wife in Los Angeles. Bro. Liston is a regular city visitor, having, a run on No. 108 and 109. Bro. Slim Gamble is organizing the Mojav^ Baseball club for sure 1918 pennant winners, with at least four good O. R. T. men on it Chief Dispatcher Duggan, Night Chief Nichols and Trainmaster McPhee have se- . cured commissions in a railroad regiment and expect to be called any day. Our best* wishes go with them. It will be many days before we* secure another bunch like that to work under. • “Owl** Conductor J. B. Wil- . son has been appointed trainmaster on the Southern District from Bakersfield to Saugus. Bro. True extends his appreciation on the way the boys are now helping him with wire trouble. Keep*it up, boys, it lightens his burden more than you can tell. Bro. Baughman, of Bakersfield, visited Mo- jave recently, also Bro. and Mrs. Weather- holt, latter as guests of Bro. and Mrs. Gib- son. Bro. Johnson will move shortly. Bro. Gamble, “YM”, Mojave, says if any of the brothers wish bills or the like posted, send them up— show bills especially. The following members wish to transfer: , H. H. Bovyer, Portland Division, seniority dating September 8, 1916, to San Joaquin Division, address 1013 Fair Oaks Ave., Ala- meda, Cal. ; D. R. Howell, Gerber, Cal., fourth, seniority dating four and one-half months from February 1, 1918, and Rolo O. Williams, Dunsmuir, Cal., third, about two months dating February 1, 1918 ; Bro. L. 8. Jarboe, third Mojave, Cal., seniority from October 6, 1916, with someone on Salt Lake Division ; also Bro. J. R. McKnight, of Rosa- mond. H. A. Huckeby and E. P. Gibson, Div. Cora. Los Angeles Division — We all want to remember that it was be- cause we were organized and could put the Digitized by Cjooole
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526., The Railroad Telegrapher, whole strength of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers Into the struggle that we se- cured better pay and our splendid working conditions, and it behooves us to not only keep up our .membership to as near 100 per cent as possible, but also to give the very best service possible to the company and in very way to show that the members of the O. R. T. are the best and most reliable employes in our branch of the service, it will not be long then when about all we will need to . secure employment will be an up-to-date card. On this division we are giving constant proof that the O. R. T. men are by far the best and most desirable em- ployes for the company's interest. Keep after the few desirable nons, and don’t let up until they get an up-to-date. I haven’t received many notes for this writeup, but am going to have this division represented in Thjb Tubbaphir as long as it’s up to me to attend to it. Bro. Hardesty is back at Calexico from the hospital after an attack of smallpox. We are all glad to hear of Bro. Harker’s reinstatement. Although out of the service for about four years, he always kept an Up-to-date. He is a good brother and a live member. He relieved Bro. J. P. Sullivan, on second San Fernando, who went to second Edom after paying his income tAx. Some style to “brass pounders,” when a man work- ing extra can accumulate wealth enough to do that. Bro. McReynolds, of "WD”, Los Angeles, sick a few days, was relieved by Bra Jack O’Connor. Bro. McMullen, former division correspond- ent on the San Joaquin Division, who went to the Salt Lake Division* is on this division again and relieved Bro. Matteson, first Indio, while “Mat” took a fall out of the Masonic goat. Ol^d to have Bro. McMullen with us, and if he does as good work for the Order here as he did at Mojave he will be a great addition to our forces. Bro. Thomas,. relieved on Amos first by Bro. C. B. Landau, of the C., B. & Q., went to fourth Indio, via Bro. Herring, who re- lieved Bro. Joe Ward, Beaumont first, who went to the hospital for an operation. Glad to hear he is making good progress toward recovery and will soon be back again. Bra Cagle, relieved on second Amos by Bro. J. W. Wildes, of the U. P., went to sixth Indio. Bro. Sheldon to third Salton, vice H. Odgers. Bra McCord, second Glamis, laid off, re- lieved a week by Bro. R. S. Happy Snyder, who later relieved third Iris, Carver resigned. Bro. Hadduck, extra agent Ogilby, will go to second Salton soon as relieved. Bro. Robbins, relieved on third Niland by Bro. McMullen, took second there. Bro. Jack O’Connor is in “HU”, extra, owing to heavy business. Hope he can line up Cooper and make “HU” solid. Bro. Kemp, agent Redlands Junction, re- lieved by Bro. J. B. Davis from the O. S. L., while he and Mrs. Kemp went to Los Angeles and Riverside a few days. Later Bro. Davis went to second Calexico, vice Bro. Jensen to third Bloomington ; Bro. Allen to El Centro days, vice Bro. Howes to operator Calipatrla, a new position; Bro. Guy Crowley went to' Owensmouth agency, where there are not guite so many train orders as at San Fer- nando. Bro. Hinkle to San Fernando, vice Bro. White to Beaumont agency, vice Bra Thompson to Fillmore. We are all glad to know that he won out in his grievance over that assignment. Bro. Moranda went to Ox- nard agency. Only a few of the big stations are now in the hands ’of the nons. We hope they will all soon be manned by card men. Bro. S. F. Willard, relieved at Fillmore by Bro. Thompson, went to Coachella agency. Bros. Coyle, of Newhall, and Cambridge, of Saugus, with their wives recently spent the day with Bro. and Mrs. Dickinson In Los Angeles, and in the afternoon were joined by our genial trouble shooter, Mc- Grann and his wife. A good time was en- joyed by all, and hope can have another session with the same bunch some other time. Bro. Gel wicks has returned to third “NG”, Los Angeles, from six months’ leave at San Francisco Veterinary College. “Gel” is mak- ing good progress, especially in cat physi- ology. Any of the brothers wishing advice in regard to putting through real estate deals should consult Bro. Keyes — anything from second-hand cobble stones to a million-acre orange ranch. Bro. Youngblood, now at Camp Lewis, writes that he, Bros. Melrose, Skilling and Gentry are all in the same signal corps, 316th Battalion, Company B. We expect great things of them when they get within range of Kaiser Bill. Bro. Frew, with the Radio Division at Camp Kearney, writes he has gained twenty- one pounds since he enlisted, contemplates consulting an anti-fat specialist, fearing he may make too good a target when he gets “over there.” Bro. Jack Beaton writes that he is now at Langley Field, Hampton, Va., in the Sig- nal Service, and hopes very soon to be in France. Bro. Herring, after relieving Bro. Ward at Beaumont a few days, went to Indio sixth, vice Bro. Cagle to third there. Bro. Corson, extra Indio, goes to the Inter-Cal awhile. Bro. Howes, Calipatrla, relieved Agent ' Cone at Freeman on vacation. Bro. Gipple, second Beaumont, while in Los Angeles attending court relieved by Bro. Zetsehe, who later relieved Local Chairman Geiger a few days at Redlands Junction. Bro. H. E. Grimes, second Suisun, Box Digitized by Tooele
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527 ' — The Railroad 392, Sulsun, Cal., desires to trade with some- one on Los Angeles Division. - Our popular general secretary and treas- urer, Bro. Hammond, was In Los Angeles recently, and received a hearty welcome from 'the brothers who were fortunate enough to see him. Am indbted to Bro. Sullivan of Glamis an$ to Bro. Geiger for notes. Sorry more of the brothers don’t help out a little also. C. C. Dickinson, Div. Cor. Stockton Division — Bro. Brown, third Merced, after" visiting his parents in Kansas a short time, intends to Join the colors. We wish him a safe re- turn. Bro. Crowther, second Tracy, was off sev- eral days recuperating. Bro. Denehy, 'Urst VBR”, Stockton, was on the sick list a few days recently. Bro. VTelch, agent Manteca, is back after several weeks* enjoyable xacation, Bto. Wil- liamson relieving. Bro. Hess, third Madera, was called East on account of the serious illness of his mother. We hope tp hear of his return soon and her complete recovery. Bro. Trent, Chowchllla, has resigned and intends returning to his old home and posi- tion In the East. We are certainly sorry to lose him. Following are the figures of the old and new salaries for the Pacific System : $142,381.00 New monthly salaries. 120,817.60 Old monthly salaries. 15,663.50 Increase per month. 186.762.00 Increase per year. Stockton Division : $7,620.00 Old monthly salaries. 8.580.00 New monthly salaries. 940.00 monthly increase. 11,280.00 Yearly increase. 30.00 Inequalities were obtained also on Stockton Division. Bro. H. H. Bouyer, Cert. 1937, Division 53, 1013 Fair Oaks Ave., Alameda, Cal., with seniority rights on Portland Division from September 8. 1916, desires to trade with some one on this division. If interested communi- cate with him. Bra Macquire, Volta agency, is going into business in San Francisco or Oakland. We wish him success. There are a few nons still left on this division, brothers. We must all keep after them until we make the old division solid. There are a few who keep promising to come in each pay day, but as they never appear, no favors should be shown them whatever. Cert. 760. Shasta Division— Every road in the country seems to be short of operators and agents. Telegrapher. President Perham has appeared before the Railroad Wage Commission and fully pre- sented the matter of an increase of wages as noted in the March Tmorapher. We are now awaiting the decision of that body ^ and have been .requested to hold all such matters in abeyance ^ailtU. passed upon and reported to the Director general. The re- visions of schedules or general changes in conditions affecting hours, eta, will also be held in abeyance by both managers and em- ployes. Wages, when determined -upon, will be made retroactive to January ^ ^4918, and adjusted accordingly. We were* mighty for- ty nate in having our general committee con- clude the negotiations for our schedule before the Government took possession of the rail- roads. We owe a lot of appreciation for this to our committee and general chairman. Glad to see our former assistant local chairman and division correspondent, Bro. Hagardine reinstated. His regular position was abolished and instead of having to go, on the extra board he has been allowed the bump to which he was Justly entitled. Bro. O. S. Aldrich has gone to Santa Fe. We were sorry to lose him. Scratch off Nos. 72, 73 and 93 on seniority list. The only notes I received' for this issue N were a few from Gerber. Brothers, you will have to send me the news if you want to know what is happening on the division. Bro. Young, from the Frisco, at Cape Girardeau, on third Gerber, was laid up sev- eral days with measles. No one put him wise that the fair one he called on had them and there was no flag on the gatepost. Bro. Russell,, first Gerver, went to San Francisco Hospital for an operation on his throat. We hope he will not be confined there long. Bro. C. J. Clause, who displaced him as agent at Gerber, Just returned from a New Orleans visit among home folks. Bro. Vaughn is back on fifth Gerber, after temporary yard service. He was relieved on a trip to Dunsmuir recently by Pennington from the “Salt Lake.” Eddie Deuprie, our general storekeeper, is now at San Francisco in the U. Quarter- masters* depot. We were sorry to lose him. Bro. Hewie is again warning “9’s” at Ger- ber. Bro. R. O. Williams relieved Bro. Arm- strong, when he went to Grass Lake. Those who haven’t paid the special assess- ment of $3 should do so at once, as they must be paid within sixty days. Bro. Longmire goes to Bray and Bro. Tucker to Algoma agency. Cert. 1378. ^ Salt Lake Division — Lemay is solid again — Bro. E. N. Gill, agent ; Bro. M. N. Knight, second, and Bro. Leo McNally, third, the latter recently spent thirty days with the home folks in Texas, his wife, Mrs. Ada McNally, relieving him. Digitized by Google
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528 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Morris is out after the nons strong, and he is getting them, too. He always aims to have the blanks on hand. Bro. R. H. Stevens, first trick at Loray, who was struck by freight train at Montello, is out of the hospital and will soon be on duty again. Glad to see him recover from this serious accident so quickly. Bro. T. G. Morris, Lucin second, on a trip to Elko, was relieved by Bro. Tigler, who later went to Wells. The brothers at Promontory Point and West Weber received the inspection medal on Montello District this trip. Bro. Garnett went to Lakeside third, vice Wilkenson. to Promontory Point third, re- lieving Bro. Young. / Thanks to the brother who contributed this month. If a few more would do likewise, the division would be nicely represented. Cert. 803. Houston District — Schulejiberg and Seguin have been made eight hours jobs, and a night office established at Waelder by J. L. Dyke, from the L. A N., who lined up at once. Schulenburg office has been moved four- teen feet further away from the track and a good gravel platform laid in front of the passenger station. Bro. W. F. Griffin is agent there. Bro. Bosl, on first, is elated ., over the addition of a messenger boy to the . force. Del Rio is solid with Bro. M. D. McNutt, Bro. R. L. Butler, quad attendant ; Bros. V L. O’Farrell, first ; T. G. Hines, second, and , T., W. Rabb, third trick. We should all fol- ]lPw-..Vfl? *ood example and get the nons Pass-Del Rio local has been uTou^Sfnfjpued, abolishing Eagle Pass oper- Bro* Sansing going back to the J A- N- nc hvv T- G- Hines, wife of Bro. Hines, Del is ^ust out of the hospital after a very serious operation. We all hope for her vSi ^e£^5fcovery- ,^£ro- White, Luling, attending court . Yaco * relieved by C. W. Buell, a new . tman. I am very thankful to you brothers who sent in a few notes to help out in this writeup and will appreciate it very much if more of you will send me some each month. H. N., Cert. 1916. Louisiana Lines — It was with great pleasure that we greeted Assistant General Chairman Laisure and Local Chairman Frier recently, who went over the entire Louisiana lines and made an excellent showing; receiving a number of applications. There are oniy a few nons left end we must see that they send in their applications right away. The monthly bulletin has the following: “Is your boy wearing the colors? If he Is, it is up to you to do your share in every possible way, and to back him up, so that when he comes back some day, you can look him in the eye and say, 'My son, I was with you every inch of the way.' " Now, let’s do everything posisble to back up our general committee by paying our special assessments promptly. A number of the agencies along the line selling Thrift and War Savings Stamps are making a good showing. Let's keep up the good work and help "Uncle Sam" and the boys ‘‘over there". Let’s all give first class service and show the Government that we are doing our level best to help in this great struggle, while our boys are at the front — we at home must economize and save, and especially see that trains meet with no delay, freight moved properly, etc. Have you bought a Liberty Bond, a Thrift Stamp or a War Savings Stamp? Have you paid your dues and Special assessments, and have you an up-to-date card f All these are essential in our great struggle. It is very discouraging not to receive any notes for the writeup. If you need a stamp to send in your items, just call your secretary on the wire and he will send you everything necessary. Let him have them before the 20th of the month. Even only a line will help some. We are all certainly glad to see Dispatcher O’Leary back with us again after several years’ absence. He is now on second trick on the Morgan. The slogan is .* "No card, no favors." I think another good one also will be: "No items from you , no writeup Next month we are going to haVe a sur- prise for you. When you finish your journal, let that non read it. Probably it will help him to see the right path. Cert. 629. T. rf N. O. and Oalveton Divisions , including Dallas-Sabine District. Have you paid your dues and that special assessment? If not, what right have you to expect to be properly represented by the committee, both at Houston and Washing- ton? Better remit at once. Relative to our proposed change in the contract, Mr. Waid replied to Bro. Leisure's letter of February 19th, to the effect that practically all of the proposed changes in the schedule submitted were calculated to increase earnings, and either directly or inci- dentally related to wage matters, and that he would name a date as soon as other matters in hand were disposed of, to discuss the other few remaining items. Upon re- ceipt .of this communication, Bro. Laisure wired Bro. Perham for . instructions, and re- ceived the following telegraphic reply : Digitized by AaOOQie
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529 The Railroad Telegrapher. "Think it will be as well to hold matters in abeyance until after commission acts, about March fifteenth." Bro. Lai&ure then went to work on the delinquents, chronic nons and cardtess newcomers, so that our line-up will be the more Impressive when It is needed. On March 23rd Bro. Leisure was advised by Bro. Perham our matters had been placed in the hands of Vice-President Brown, who would be at Houston March 26th. Our committee has filed a protest in re- gard to Mr. Johnson h&vlhg been sent from the auditor's office to fill the vacancy at Sour Lake. The committee have filed pro- test and the matter will be handled fur- ther. Bro. Hhnna from the "Cotton Belt" at Tyler, relieved Bro. Modre, "HN” Houston, on sicklist, who is now with his father in the Quartermaster’s Department at Kelly Field. Brd. Sneiger, eleventh "HJ*" Houston, is getting along nicely at Kelly Field, hav- ing everything in the way of privileges, etc., that a man can have and still be a soldier. The approaching draft will probably call more of us away, and those who remain should see that the boys who go are furnished with letters, reading matter and such other little odds and ends that they need. Bro. Floyd, Pacific System, is at Devers agency, pending the arrival of Marr from Crandall. Bro. Jordan, Galveston third, is visiting in Arkansas. It is now Bro. Keller at Harrisburg tower, making it "100 per cent solid." Bro. House relieved Bro. Stakemiller a few days on first Echo. Boys, send me some notes. I can’t work a through wire in this office and get local news items, too. If I don’t get some help on the next writeup, there won’t be one from me after that. Someone else can try his hand at it Send your items to I. M. Rath burn, 609 Mcllhenny ' Ave., Houston, Texas. Get the man next to you. I. M. Rathburn, Div. Cor. Northern Pacific Ry., Div. No. 54. Members, Idaho Division — Our progress for the first three months of the year has been so remarkable that it is with words of praise I refer to them and each of the members of our division. We have claimed new members at the meeting of each "pay-day”, due to the keen interest and enthusiasm that all have contributed, and I thank each one of you for the good you have done for our betterment. How- ever, we must not permit ourselves to slacken, as we ‘still have material to work on and plenty of work for all. A continu- ance of your loyal support will mean a solid Idaho by July first. However, to realize this we must keep an bye single to the work of organizing all the time. Our delinquent list was so small this term that it is hardly worth mentioning. Yet even the name of one member on that list is a detriment to our welfare, and I ask that every member pay his dues upon the day he receives the notice ; at least not let it slip by one pay-day. The time is not far distant when the non will come to us voluntarily pleading to accept his application. Let us all start together this month and bring in the balance. Mr. Clapp has ruled in regard to bulletined positions, that when not transferred within thirty days from date of bulletin, we should* be paid overtime of $1.00 per day for each day kept from such assignment, and no one will, be permitted to waive this claim for a personal benefit. File your overtime slips daily in accordance with the schedule. A relief agent member, while at a certain station, found that one hour overtime should be paid there daily, and this violation of the schedule was remedied at once. The regular agent, a non, has been losing forty-five cents a day — $13.60 a month — by not carrying a card, enough in one month to pay his dues for a whole year. When he returns, unless he files his overtime slips daily, he will con- tinue to cheat himself of this extra compen- sation. It pays to carry a card, and we should see now that he gets one. Similar instances come to our knowledge often, and every ^non upon the division has lost triple what it would cost to carry an up-to-date. In a previous number of the journal we were informed of the death of PaCjoy, agent Kooskia. This report was supposed to have been confirmed with a telegram, but we are glad to announce that Mr. Joy is still enjoy- ing the sunshine in California. Do not overlook sending me a copy of your application to bulletined positions. Your mail may get lost and you will have nothing to back up a claim to the position you are bidding on. Yours fraternally, R. B. Irwin, Local Chairman. Idaho Division Notes — We arc pleased to report the .following new members : Bros. V. R. Mitchell, E. E. Thomson, G. M. Stevens, B. J. Fitzgerald, Frank A. Hartman, and Sister M. L. Stevens. Do not tail to scratch stars preceding these names on your seniority list. Childs closed, Bro. V. R. Mitchell reliev- ing Bro. Frank Hartman, Thompson Falls, while in Spokane. Sister C. W. Percy, third Kildee, while in Spokane, relieved by Mrs. G. C. Williams, wife of Bro. G. C. Wil- liams. Bro. E. E. Thomson relieved Bro. C. V. Fa,uss on third Cocolalla, who went to Coeur D’Alene. On vacations : Bro. A. R. McGann, first Velox, relieved by Bro. Al. Younker; Bro. Digitized by c.ooole
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530 The Railroad Telegraphed R. E. Spurrier, first Kootenai Yard, relieved by Bro. LaMorreau of third there, and he by Bro. S. F. Peterson. Bro. F. EL Owen, agent Heron, transferred to second Cabinet, relieved by E. G. Slsty, who has promised. Brothers, watch -the promise. Bro. Y. R. Mitchell relieved Bro. I*. J. Hartlerode, agent Granite, transferred to third Rathdrum, vice Krueger, returned to the dray business there. Bro. S. J. Henry relieved "Bro. EL EL Thomson, extra third Cocolalla. Bro. Geo. Muldoon, third Yardley, sick sev- eral days, and Athol third closed, while Bro. G. W. Harrison protected his trick. Later Bro. Harrison relieved Bro. J. W. McCusker, Cheney second, on a two-months’ vacation EJast to see his brother off for France. We are very sorry to hear of Bro. Bell’s house being destroyed recently by fire. Un- derstand he saved all of his furniture. Our traveling auditor's wife is seriously ill in Portland Hospital. We all wish her a speedy recovery. Bro. N. P. Matooney is both agent and telegrapher at Hope, pending the recovery of J. H. Shaveleer, who was injured by falling off a pair of trucks. — Div. Cor. Camas Prairie Division — There is only one delinquent on this divi- sion who, we hope, will realise the good service alf the boys have given him and pay up. A good way to keep in good standing is, every Christmas buy your wife a nice present and make her buy you "an annual ." Everything is moving along nicely. We are enjoying the eight-hour day and Sunday overtime. Borne of the brothers are kick- ing now because the£ voted wrong several years ago and caused Idaho to go dry. They say their wives allow them their Sunday overtime to spend, and no place to spend it. Cert. 1094. Seattle Division — Regular monthly meeting, at New Rich- mond Hotel, Seattle, on Sunday, March 10th, called to order by L. C. Bro. Bergum, with the following present : Sisters Sands and Peterson, Bros. McKiddy, Bell, Kruger, Her- berg, Gould„ Kilty, Swanson, Carr, Campion, Stump, and Bro. Pierron from Montana Divi- sion, now located at Camp Lewis, Company C 316. Bro. Pierron wishes visiting brothers and sisters at Camp Lewis to be sure and look him up before you come away. You will sure meet a fine fellow. Bro. Bergum advised us that. April 28, 1918, is to be known as Organization Day, for the purpose of helping to reorganize the C. T. U. A. ( Commercial Telegraphers of America). All who can should get in and help those brothers to get just treatment. They have had a rocky road to travel since 1907. I know whereof I speak, as I was a member of Local No. 1, Chicago, during this strike, which the telegraph companies finally won. But another victory or the same kind would be worse than a defeat. It oost them millions to down the poor downtrodden operators, so let's give them our moral help on April 28th. If you. only get one member it will help. Let each O. R.'T. member try. and get one for the C. T. U. A. Think what that would mean to the boys in the brother organisation. Another very important temporary by-law was inserted into our local fund (by-laws), on motion of Bro. Campion, seconded by Bro. Kruger; that a circular be sent out among the members, as a patriotic move, urging each one to pay their semi-annual dues of 60c into this fund promptly, in order that the dues and insuranoe of brothers who have joined the colors might be paid during the duration of the war. Bro. Carr offered an amendment t6 the motion, that the semi- annual dues to the local fund be raised from 50c to $1.00, for the same period, seconded by Bro. Campion, and the motion as amended carried. • We all thought this would be a good brotherly act, aad hope you will take the same view. Please pay up promptly. Don’t, wait to be asked. It don't amount to much to each member, but it jwill help our soldier brothers, as their pay is small. A private has just $9.80 on pay-day ; first-class private, $12.80; that is after everything has been deducted. Not much,* is it? I wish all brothers and sisters would take a look at our seniority list, pick out the nons, than see that the non working right under their roof gets lined up. I have in mind several cases where a new operator went to work and worked for some time without even being asked if they were up- to-date. I don’t believe this Is because our members have not got the interest of the order at heart, bu^it sure looks mighty bad. Another brother I recently heard of does not take the time to read his Telborapher, or to even open ft up and take a look at It, and it's not because he don't have time, far from that. I hope this meets his eye. Now, brothers and sisters, such a lack of interest is all wrong. I take time (and I have one of the busiest jobs on the division) to read The Telegrapher, and also to write a few notes to ’’fry and keep up with the parade." I not only read N. P . notes , but the notes of other roads, to see what is going on with our membership elsewhere, and I notice on several of them that all the . operators have been assessed one-half of their first first month's increase to help defray the ex- penses of their schedule committees. We do not ask that, but we do ask and insist that all the nons get lined up. There Is absolutely no excuse. Just one month's Sun- day overtime will put them on a par with all the good brothers and sisters who helped get one of the best schedules in the country. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 581 It's not always the fault of the non but the member working with him, or her, as the case may be. Invite them in, be a missionary for once, and see what you can do. / mean you — you brother and sister reading this item. Thorp has been made exclusive agent po- sition, with Bro. Bassett agent, pending bulletin, Bro. Schmlrler having been granted indefinite leave of absence on account of ill- ness. We hope he will soon return fully re- covered. Mrs. Bassett, wife of Bro. Bassett, went on first, vice Quinn. Bra Callander, third Stampede, off six days to take U. S. examination, relieved by Bro. Bayer from third Kennedy. Bro. B. H. McIntyre, third Bristol, on sick leave in Southern California, relieved by Sister Breckenridge, who later relieved Sister Stringer on first, gone to Seattle. Sister Nash, returning to Palmer Jet., days from three-months' vacation, relieved Sister Wal- worth, who then went to third Bristol. Later Sister Stringer relieved Bro. Bayer, Kennedy third, on sick-list, and Sister Bassett on first Thorp, when former went, to Clear Lake. Bro. Rockway, agent Kanaskat, relieved by Bro. Hawkins a few days, and he on second by Bro. Osor from Yellowtsone Division, whose date is December 28, 1917, but does not show on seniority list. Insert him in same , as No. 125, right behind Bro. Rimer. Bro. Williams, first Puyallup relieved on vacation by Bro. Kolly, and he later by Bra Hooker ; Kelly relieving B. Z. Yount on "CF" Seattle ; latter to third Martin ; Bro. Thomas, Division 29,. to third Puyallup, vice Bro. Ross, relieving Bro. Hoffman on second. Bra Briggs moved his chickens to Martin; relieved on first Easton by Bro. Benoit North End Notes— Bro. Hobeny, second Woolley, has been very tvobbly since "676" came through the depot headed for the telegrapher desk. Bro. C. E. Tamm from "ON", on third there, joined as soon as he hit the road where all good order men are welcome. An escaped inmate of the Norlum Asylum called on Bro. Kilhefner, second Wicker- sham^ one night recently, and gave him a pretty bad scare. Sister Jonas, at Delvan logging camp, fell out of a tree recently and sprained her ankle, but she lost no time, even attending the Woolley movies on crutches, where Bro. Caldwell ^as gone into the business as a scenario writer on the side, and has several plays on the market. The next number will be "876." , Bro. H. L. Baker, relieved by Masecar, a new man, on second Ellensburg, went to Seattle and enlisted in the Signal Corps, ex- pecting to be assigned to some point in Alaska. Bro. Q. G. Anderson, now located at Ft Gibbon, Alaska, wishes to go to the front Nothing too exciting for "Shorty." Bro. Bergum has mailed a general circular to all none on the Seattle Division, and I hope they will take it seriously enough to go down in their pockets (as we have been doling for years), line up and help pay the expenses. Bro. Perham has been in Washington, D. C., for the past three months, looking after the telegraphers' interests, and this takes money. They get the same benefit that we do and should show their manhood by gat- ing an up-to-date and help us make the O. R. T. universal (100 per cent) for 1918. "Everett True", Cert. 662. Seattle t Division Local Fund — Receipts : Cash on hand last report $ 49.93 Local dues 19.00 Cash on Rockway note 7.50 Notes on hand 84.00 Total 6110.43 Disbursements : Division expenses, January 6 4.76 Division expenses, February 2.00 Flowers, Bro. Baker 50 Stamps • • • Seniority lists 6.25 Notes on hand 34.00 Cash on hand March 16th 60.93 Total $110.43 Fraternally yours, C. H. Bell, L. S. & T. Members Tacoma Division — It seems some of the brothers do not know who are members and say: "Why, that fel- low claimed he was a member; if I had known he was not, I would have tried to get his application." Correct your seniority list now, which will revise it to March 14th. Other changes will appear in next Telegrapher. Scratch off the following, who have left the service : B. F. Waldo, James Leonard, H. L. Wilson and E. I. Wheeler. Erase star from: W. J. Thompson, H. F. Floyd, S. F. Matousek, E. L. Murphy, I. E. Ray, C.' Bosworth, Mabel Minor, Belle Leahy, C. F. Ziebarth, J. J. Mc- Gillis, Mildred Bryant, Charles Hall. Sister Bosworth and Bro. Hall were mem- bers before they came here, the stars ap- pearing in error. E. L. Carr, Loca^ Chairman. Tacoma Division Notes — It is now Bros. Floyd, G. D. Wright, W. J. Thompson, Ziebarth, McGillis, Ray and Hall, and Sister Minor. Greetings, brothers and sisters, all. We are glad to htfve you with us. Now that you have your cards, promise yourselves solemnly that nothing shall ever Digitized by c.ooQLe
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532 The Railroad TeijsgraPher. cause you to drop them as long as you are working where union conditions pre- vail, which is most everywhere now. Let us bend every effort to show “Uncle Sam” that a card stands for first-class service. March 15th we were about 99 per cent solid. All the brothers and sisters have been doing some fine work during the past month, especially Bro. Floyd and Bro. Hartl, boosting, as usual, wherever it does the most good. Bro. Nason reports twenty-six new mem- bers for the first week in March. Our di- vision received credit for three. Bro. Nason will soon find no material to make any more members. Bro. Hall is relieving on second Olympia, Bro. Phillips, on account of poor health, having gone east of the mountains indefi- nitely. Sister Mullen, second 'Steilacoom, on vaca- tion, relieved by Sister Keyes, and she on third by Sister Vose. Sister Minor relieving on third Sixth Avenue. We are glad to have Bro. Ray with us again on Vader third after a siege with eye trouble. Sister Inman relieves Bro. Gwinn there at 4 :00 o’clock every after- noon. Bros. Carr and Leahy recently went to Tacoma with a chip on their shoulder, re- turning without it and a big smile on their faces. All’s well that ends well. Bro. Brodie, first Fima, will journey east- ward shortly on vacation, calling on Bros. Neason and Johnson to give them our “73." We wish him a safe and pleasant trip. Bro. Cole, agent Little Rock, on vacation, is putting in the crops on his ranch in Montana. We hope he. will have a bumper crop. Bro. F. G. Thompson's small son is seri- ously ill with pneumonia. We hope for a speedy recovery. Brothers and sisters working third tricks, who have access to the simplex phones on the main line, be careful what you say. You never know* who is on the wire and your voice can always be identified. Making un- kind and uncomplimentary- remarks do no good and may do much harm to both your- self and the victim. Under no circumstances mention the names of officials when mak- ing remarks that would not sound good if repeated by them to you if called up on the “official rug’’ to explain. That has happened on other divisions, and no brother or sister among us would want his or her record to read : “Dismissed for gossiping and making untrue charges." Rumors I have heard would warrant such action if taken up by the party accused. We should all regret vefy much to have this happen to any of our number. Danger lurks behind thought- less and unkind remarks. A word to the wise is too much ; don’t be otherwise. The prevailing spirit on this Tacoma Division has always been big and brotherly; let's keep it that way. If you have anything good to say about a brodier or sister, say it ; if anything bad, forget it. If you have any news notes, send them to me ; I’ll take good care of them. One hundred per cent solid — nothing less will satisfy. Keep at it. E. A. Mi elk b, Div. Cor. Rocky Mountain Division — This is the first writeup from this division for several months. A writeup creates an in- terest on the division, and by all means should be continued ; but this depends en- tirely on the assistance given by the broth- ers along the line. I can get a few notes over here, but it ?s almost impossible to get anything from the east end. Inasmuch as Bro. Rowan has asked this small favor, I will endeavor to fill the bill as best I can. Bro. O. ET Corwin, first Silver Bow, is switching in the O. S. L. yard there. We are sorry to lose such a good brother, but wish him success. Bro. G. C. Nutter, our worthy assistant chairman; is visiting with .relatives in Ohio. Bro. W. E. Odell, second Evard, has re- turned from Mississippi after accompanying his wife there for a visit through the win- ter months. » It is now Bro. R. B. Stevens of Garrison, and Bro. Kinsey of Skyline, and Bro. W. H. Blxby of Stevensvllle. An operator has been placed on the log run at Evaro, relieving Conductor Rodd of those duties and opening a desirable job for the summer. Bro.. J. S. Deeper has returned, and we all are glad to see “Jack" back with ~ us. Bro. C. I. Furry -*has been transferred to Dixon agency, vied** Bro. Seifert to Ronan, on the new Flathead line. Poison has also been opened on that line by Bro. Behms. He and Bro. Ronan are two of our oldest agents in point of seniority. Work on the Flathead line has not yet been completed, and it is still in the hands of the contractors, but will be turned over to the Northern Pacific Company in about a mopth. Bro. F. L. King, Desmet second, goes to Stewart agency after nine years of night work. Bro. Malone to Darby agency, and Bro. Robert Gouthro to Lolo, vice Bro. Bull is to Missoula yard. Bro. J. J. Wilson, St. Regis, has accepted the position of division correspondent. We still have a few nons holding regular positions, and we should make an extra effort toward lining them up. Find out from the chairman who they are. Some of the brothers, in working with operators, £ake ft too much for granted that they are up-to- date, and make no effort to ascertain th^r standing. We can’t expect the nons to let us know, but should make it our business to find out for ourselves and explain to them that it is time they quit living on charity. Let’s get these nons into the Order at once. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 533 brothers. They know just as well as we do that the O. R. T. obtained increases in the last few years amounting to considerably more than what the other brotherhoods have secured in the same length of time. . The clerk at St. Regis is quarantined for scarlet fever, and Bro. George Brown is acting as exclusive agent there tem- porarily. An eleven-hour day, no Sunday pay, and lots more work. Ravalli, nights, closed ; Bro. Breed pumping Bro. Balshizer on first, who bumped Bro. Foster, Drummond second. Sister Jones has applied for a leave, but the shortage of good operators has pre- vented her from getting relief. She has had considerable trouble recently trying to keep clear of kodaks. Bros.. Harold and A. C. Wordal have re- - covered from the measles and are back at work again. J. S. Wilson, Div. Cor. Yellowstone Division — Bro. H. T. Gilbert has returned to Sentinel Butte second after several weeks at N. P. B. A. hospital with a ' serious attack of pleurisy ; relieved by Miss Lee ; bumped from third there by Miss Lewis, and she by Sis- ter Brown. Miss Slaughter relieved Thurmond on Beach second when he went to Richardton third. Sister Duff relieved at Mandan by Rake, relieved on second Terry by return of Mrs. J. Christman. Bro. Duff relieved on third Mandan by Cooper from relay division, Bro. and Sister Duff having gone East qwing to the illness of relatives. Bro. Whitledge, second Hathaway, rpjiev^d • by Miss Fay while taking draft exams. . New members : Bro. and Sister Hitchr cock, first and second Tusler ; R. O. Rea, at Hysham ; E. T. McCormick, second Beach ; Miss Peterson, third Fallon ; W. M. Latham, second Fallon ; and Mrs. Lulu Metzger, extra, and It will soon be Bro. and Sister Julian at Fryburg, and Sister Miss Stanley at Glad- stone. Bro. Fishback, second Beach, who recently underwent a serious operation at N. P. B. A. hospital, is doing nicely and will soon be back at work. Miss Gladys Wells, second Wibaux; is in the hospital, relieved by Mrs. EH gas. We are glad to have Dispatcher Perry back again, after his siege of illness. At present he Is acting as assistant chief. Conductor Steve Washington died sud- denly while eating in the lunch room at Dickinson. Sister Graves relieved by Miss Cravath at Demores third, - relieved Bro. Golden, who went to New Salem third, and Sister Golden, Sweet Briar, also went to New Salem, vice Bro. Fredericks to Mandan* vice Bro. Wil- kins to Richardton, vice Blair to extra board. Bro. Fisher is now agent-operator at Me- dora. We wish him success. Sister Williams, third South Heart, while attending the B. R. T. ball at Dickinson, and visiting in Glendive, was relieved by Mrs. Moore. _ The linemen have been coming into the Order in fine shape. With a few exceptions they are in favor of joining, and we are pleased to repo>t that it is now Bro. R. H. Fox, lineman Forsyth. Bro. L. A. Barrow, returning to Belfleld, relieved Miss Forberg, who then went to Col- gate first a few days. Sister Pennington, who has been on the sick list, is, back on Sims third. Bro. Sterland is relieving Theo. Barrow, first Demores, on trip East. Sister Whist- ler, Colgate, was off a few days recently, also Mrs. Vetter, second there, the latter on account of sickness. Mrs. Brammeier, third Rosebud, was relieved a few 'days by Miss Cravath. “ Bro. Pope was a recent Mandan visitor. Important business. Bro. Tronstad and another good soul con- tributed this month. We thank them both, and would be pleased to know the name of the anonymous contributor. However, if it’s a secret, we are just as pleased for the information, and hope for more. We want to have a good write-up, so everyone send us all the news you can. Cert. 391. Montana Division — The report on the flower fund which ap- pears in this issue of the journal is Bro. Arnold’s duplicate, the original, which was sent to Bro. Rawlins, the editor, in Decem- ber for publication, having been lost in the mails. Bro. Arnold has advised me that quite a number have remitted to the fund again this year, blit tlje great majority- have neg- lected to do so, and some have fell behind who have been supporting it. I hope as soon as you see this item, that you will send In your check at once for at least six months’ dues to this worthy fund. It Is only 10c a month, and to make It a real success all should support it. Let everyone now join the club, so that we can show the proper fra- ternal spirit to any one of you or your loved ones in case of sickness or death. »We have had three or four calls so far this year, and those remembered have shown that this re- membrance was thoroughly appreciated. We want to be able to do this for all the mem- bers on our division ; but if you do not sup- port the fund, then we have to pass you by, and that is not a pleasant task for your local chairm&n. I have always urged you all to support this fund. I brought it up .from nothing to about forty dollars since I have served as your local chairman, besides having remembered a number of our mem- bers and their families during the past three years. I am very much interested in Digitized by tjOOQie
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534 The Railroad Telegrapher. this matter, and trust you all will take the same view, which is necessary in order to make it serve the purpose it was intended for, namely, to remember everyone who gets sick, or any of their loved ones. It is my desire, before the close of De- cember, 1918, to see this division as nearly solid as possible, and by the way applications have been coming in the past three months it now looks as if my hopes will be realized, due to the fine team work of a number of the brothers and sisters, who are taking the same interest in this matter as myself. I tru^t this feeling will grow among you all and that you will continue to assist me dur- ing the rest of the year. If you will do this, we can have a solid division, something never known before. We are in fine shape right now, and some of the old-timers who have never carried a card, at least for a number of years past, are now back in the fold, which shows they realize what organization has done for us all. Keep up the good work, brothers and sisters, and don't let any “slackers" stick around your respective of- fices very long without proper persuasion brought to bear upon them. If .you cannot line them up, write me of your efforts and I will be right on the Job. The ladies of this division have been com- ing Into the Order in fine shape as fast as they have secured regular positions, and this fact ought to shame some of the old heads who still stick around without an up-to-date in their pockets. I hope their sense of Jus- tice and desire to be fair to themselves as well as their fellow co-workers, will soon be fully aroused and that they will act and not dream any longer. There is no one on this di- vision here very long who has not been urged to Join, and we intend to be aggressive along this line all this year and see that everyone has the facts put straight to them as to their duty and the. many reasons why they should carry an up-to-date. If they persist in being “slackers" and “parasites" on this division, they will find that they are undesirables in this community, and that our motto, “No cards , no favor a ” on System Division No. 54 is not mere words but a reality. Fraternally yours, L. C. Oarleton, L. C. Mont. Div. Notes — Bro. Lyssow, who has been at Camp Lewis for several months, was recently given an honorable discharge on account of throat trouble, and is again with us at Logan. The recent marriage of Bro. Henry Tietz and Sister Ryth McClatchey in Livingston was a pleasant surprise to their many triends on this division. The entire member- ship extend best wishes for their future. Bro. Frank Snow and Sister Estella Hulehan were also married some time ago, but did not make the fact known until recently. They have our best wishes for a long and happy life. Bro. H. C. Kearby, agent for the Mil- waukee line at Lombard, recently lost bis wife after a very brief illness, two days after being taken to Helena hospital. Interment was made at Bozeman February 27th. She leaves, besides her husband, two small chil- dren. Bro. Kearby has the sympathy of all the members of this division, where he has many friends. Sisters Henrietta ahd Hazel Troup were recent Billings shoppers between trains, while the former was visiting the latter at Colum- bus. Sister Kabrich was also a Billings vis- itor for a few days, while suffering with a severe cold, which caused her to lose several days' work. Sister Ehlers has gone to the “Q." Another trick has been taken off at *‘BGT\ also MVS", Bro. Snow bumping in at "W" ; third taken off at “ME", and third and first taken off at "RD". Bro. Koppen bumped third at “MU" ; Bro. Turvey second at “GC", later third “GC” when “yours truly" bumped him off second ; Bro. Billings bumped third - “MS", Bro. Graham bumping third “WS." Didn't learn where Bro. Smith goes. Bro. Carleton might well be said to have “a dual personality" when It comes to being a “victim of circumstances", since the Jokes are coming with such untimely frequency, but he soon forgets he is peeved. Sister Sutherland was a recent visitor with Bro. Holker and family at Toston. Sister Genevieve Glasgow visited for a week with her sister in Billings. Bros. Barr and Hynes are now at Poca- tello with the O. S. L. We hate to lose the good brothers, but wish them well. Sister Lofgren was relieved a week by Sister Kabrich. Bro. Hanifen did the extra stunt at “RN** and “RC" before going to third “W." Bro. Stanley Seese harvested the “Crocko- dile" crop from his father’s farm and is again on the Job at “TS." Dispatcher Harkins has returned via Frisco and Seattle after two months’ vacation spent mostly in the East. “Shorty", Cert. 818. Dakota Division — When the Federal Wage Commission hands down its decision granting increases effective from January 1st, the telegraphers and agents are assured of being among those re- membered, owing to having been repre- sented before the commission by our presi- dent, H. B. Perham. Regardless of the fact that numerous brothers and sisters have been doing noble missionary work amongst the nons, and re- ceived promises from nearly every one* of them, our showing for March is not what we had hoped for. Bro. M. J. Bums, agent Ypsllanti, is a new recruit. Remove the from In front of his name on your list and then get busy with the rest of the nons In your territory. Most Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 535 of them are in the mood now, and all they need is your persuasion. The April fee is $14.60. Fred Thimmeach, second Windsor; E. O. Kattschade, third Burleigh; and J. T. Smith, third “JY” office, after reaping O. R, T. 'benefits for a year and stalling along on that “next pay-day” stuff, finally show their true colors by replying now to our request to join: “We don't need the O. R. T. how ; we’re in the next draft." That’s gratitude. The delinquent list is larger than we had looked for, although nor as long as some we have had before. We feel disappointed in some who are on it, and not surprised to find others there. We hope they will pay up without further delay and keep paid up here- after. Bro. B. H. O’Hara, who gave up Sterling agency for second there, was succeeded by A. M. Thune, with A. E. McKane oil third. Miss Mercedes Loomis goes to second Daw- >son vice Bro. Klbler to Regan agency tem- porarily, and Bro. H. C. Dahl, second Steele, to Timmer agency temporarily. Bro. E. L. Smith. Chaseley, returning from a visit East, went to Carrington, vice Mc- Cormick to extra list, now relieving at “J”; Bro. Schmoldt to 'Chaseley. Bro._ Donald Donroe, agent Heaton, who went to Fessenden for examination, is await- ing a call “to the colors.” Bro. Harry Burkett is back on first Daw- son after relieving Bro. Roy Pravlts at Wil- ton. Bro. J. W. King goes to Tuttle ; Bro. Q. W. Hunt to Hurdsfleld ; Bro. H. W. Koch to Ft Rice ; Bro. Chris Bettger to Regan ; and H. E. Moyes to Flora. Day and Night Chiefs Gillette and Ander- son and the trick dispatchers were over the division last month. Bro. Chas. Hendrix, Jr., formerly on this division, writes from Dalphen, Canada, with ”78” to the boys. Sister Bessie Dalliejr, later relieved as agent at Glover, relieved as cashier-operator at Killdeer while Bro. Geo. Olson acted as agent, while the writer attended the Military Training Camps Association convention in Chicago. Sister Iona Bolton is relieving Bro. Dahl on third Steele, with Miss Ydstie on second. Miss Edna Anderson went to third Bur- leigh when Kottschade was drafted. Bro. W. H. Millard, Hazen, back from Vir- ginia, recently attended the exemplification of Hazen’s Masonic lodge at Mandan. Bro. D. C. Poindexter, 278rd Aero Squad- ron, Evermen Field, Fort Worth, Texas, writes he is getting a four-months’ course in radio-telegraphbr in four weeks in the ‘speed-up” program to leave for France. Let’s all speed up! Fraternally yours, H. H. Ellsworth, L. C. Local Flower Fund, Mont. Div. — Bal. on hand last report. Mar. 16, '17. .$81.30 Received Since : Name and to When Paid. Thos. Holker, Aug. 31, l»i7 :$1.00 J. O. Murphy, June 30, 1918 1.00 E. H. Snyder, Jan. 1, 1919 3.00 W. A. Tidd, Aug. 15, 1918 1.00 J. T. Altice, Jan. 1, 1918 1.20 G. E. Lamb, June 30, 1918 60 W. S. Morrow, Jan. 1. 1918 60 C. M. Lofgren, Oct. 30, 1918. ..... .60 J. E. Dafoe, June 30, 1917 60 T. W. Johnson, Mar. 31, 1918 1.20 B. G. Pidgeon, June 30, 1918 1.00 H. B. Arnold, Jan. 1, 1918 60 J. R. Heebner, July 31, 1917 1.00 H. F. McDowell, May 1, 1919 3.00 J. E. Orman, May 30, 1917 60 L. C. Carleton, Jan. 1, 1918 60 J. E. Darham, Jan. 1, 1917 60 J. E. Dlllaran, Nov. 30, 1917 60 O. A. profford, Nov. 30, 1917 60 Mrs. L. F. Morrow, Jan. 1, 1917 . . .60 L. E. Hanifen, Sept. 31, 1917 60 R. H. Sims, Oct. 31, 1917 60 A. C. Lyssow, Maiv SI, 1918 1.00 F. Cline, Oct. 31, 1917 .60 W. C. Rhodes, July 1, 1919 2.60 H. C. Riddle, Sept. 30, 1917 50 Total 25.70 Total receipts and balance $57.30 Disbursements Since Last Report : Flowers tor Bro. P, J. Crawford $ 1.00 Flowers for Bro. F. ^T. Carll 1.00 Carbon, ribbon and P. O. box rent, Bro. Carleton 2.76 Total disbursements $ 4.75 On hand Dec. 18, 1917, in Reed Point State Bank (bank statement on file) 54.15 Total $68.90 Receipts as shown above 57.00 Off balance $ 1.90 On hand, unaccounted for, $1.90. If anyone sent money since March 16th, 1917, and don’t find credit given, kindly write us, as I have perhaps lost a slip in moving twice sli\pe last report. H. B. Arnold, Sec’y. L. C. Carleton L. C. Lake Superior Division — Brother Johnson, second Cromwell, traded part of his initial pay check for his card. Would that all new men would do likewise. They are way ahead, financially, at that. Bro. E. F. Lueke to first Duluth, was suc- ceeded on first Central Ave. by Mr. Sweet- nam. We are glad to see such a good job as “Dll" assigned to a good brother, and on the other hand, ”Nons to Nights.” Bro. Firth, extra second “DU”, was off ten days on account of sickness. Bro. Thomas to Neyr Digitized by v^oooie
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536 The Railroad Telegrapher. Duluth, succeeded by Bro. Penrose, second Hugo, on third Rush City. Nickola, New Duluth, to cashier-operator, Ironton. Sister O’Neal is now on third Anton. Bro. Buelow, third Carlton, was relieved recently by a new. man from the East, ®hile taking physical examination for military duty. Bro. Crawford, Cromwell, to extra Willow River. Joint Agent Anderson, Soo Lone, and N. P. at Bald Eagle, died of pneumonia February 1st, after a short illness. Masonic funeral services were held at his residence February 4th, and the body taken to Canton, Wis., for burial. One of the old “Solid O. R. T.’’, he was happy when the new schedule took ef- fect eliminating Sunday work, something he had been looking forward to for the last fifteen years, but only had the opportunity of enjoying this privilege for two Sundays when the grim old reaper knocked at his door. Tlje Northern Pacific showed a substantial increase in earnings in thq. State of Minne- sota during the last year. We hope it will be three times as large next year. The new seniority lists are no\y ready and any “ Brother ” wanting one, can get it by writing our local chairman. Brothers, how about starting a flower fund on this division? A small contribution from every brother would start this very nicely and it wouldn’t cost much to keep it going. Then the money would be ready whenever it was needed, giving better and quicker satisfaction than the old method of sending different lists over the division, or waiting for some one else to start the lists and finally finding out that no flowers or sym- pathy were sent to the relatives. This is about the last remembrance that we can show our deceased brothers and I think It our duty that we send a token of some kind, especially when the cost, per person, is so small. Think it over, brothers, and then write our local chairman Just what you think of it. Brother Nason is right handy at North Branch and would make an ideal man for treasurer and I sug- gest that we ask him to help us, providing we decided to start this flower fund. I am indebted to Bros. Spurrier and Brandt for these notes and would like to hear from some of the other brothers. The more notes you send, the bigger the writeup will be and • remember, brothers, get after that non. it he don’t do the right thing, draw that line and draw it “black” If the nons can’t or won’t help themselves, why should we? Cert. 396 IN MEMORIAM. Whkrras, Our Heavenly Father in His infinite wisdom and goodness has deemed it best to call to the great beyond our beloved brother, E. L. Parker ; therefore, be it Resolved, That the members of the North- ern Pacific No. 54 Telegraphers extend to the bereaved wife and relatives their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this their hour of affliction ; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved family, a copy spread on the minutes of our meeting, and a copy forwarded to the Order of Railroad Telegraphers * Journal for publication. Jos. A. POIRIER, T. L. Sheffer, H. G. Schmidt, J. D. Turner, Committee . Southern R y., Div. No. 59. “GM” General Office , Washington, D. C. — We have not been represented in these columns since the inimitable “J” answered his country’s call and marehed off in the cause of liberty. We are still struggling along, trying to make both ends meet in the face of unchanged salaries, against the ever- increasing high cost of living, but have not lost hope, as we feel that our “Uncle Samuel’’ has better things in store for us. Brothers, we are playing an important part in the World War. Soldier boys are in camp all over our system ; our road forms the main highway to most o/ the important ports south of Washington, and we control the nerves that keep the lines of communi- cation from the boys in the trenches open and intact. Each one of ' us must do his bit well, individually and ^part from what others may do. Let us demonstrate to the world that the telegraphers on Division 59 ate alive to the situation, that our patriotism is second to none, and that in this crisis we are squarely behind our President to a victorious end. Let us be true Americans and preserve the traditions of our fore- fathers , that in the end, when we are weighed in the historical balance, we shall not be found wanting. We have a service flag In our office of ' which we are all justly proud, as It con- tains four stars, representing four of the staunchest, most noblfe and patriotic boys that ever saluted Old Glory. All have of- fered their lives that democracy may not perish from the earth. It is but fitting that we should remember them in all of our activities, and that those of us who must remain behind should give them our most loyal support. Bro. J. N. Fuller (MF), the first to go, en- listed in the Navy as wireless operator and is probably now “over there.” Bro. Lynn J. Irvin, the next to go, enlisted in the Sig- nal Corps, was promptly promoted to ser- geant-major, and is now stationed at Camp Meade, Md. “MF” and “J” are both jovial, lovable and true. Both of them left in- numerable friends behind, especially among the fair sex. Bro. Leo O. Drurawright was third, and enlisted in the Signal Corps also. When last heard from be was in camp at Digitized by vj.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 537 Anniston, Ala. He is a good little fellow, with an abundance of “spunk”, and will carry himself well under the most trying circumstances. Bro. Frank Devers (SI), who recently enlisted in the Navy, is now at Cambridge, mastering the intricacies of wireless. He also left a host of friends behind him who are looking forward to his return after the downfall of autocracy with many laurels. Bro. Balthis, on the “owl” trick, is gain- ing weight. The most pleasant duties Bro. Griffith, our assistant manager, has, is managing our young lady messengers, the Misses Bicker- ton, Watkins and Garrett. On account of the press of work, Manager Smith has relieved bim of the managemenc of the telephone operators. Miss Patterson and Mrs. Byrnes (who, by the way, is a bride). Mrs. Lacy is the night telephone operator. The boys down on the Washington Division have or- ganized a string band for her entertain- ment. The fellows on the second trick here since Miss Anna Collins has been appointed 'rlight messenger, all come to work with clean collars and their hair combed, especi- ally Night Manager Bro. R. S. Veach. The high cost of living does not seem to Jiave caused Bro. Purcell to lose much in weight. Bro. Horace Lowe (Jocko) continues to work extra for the A. P. Bro. Williams is practicing law over in Virginia on the side. We wish him success. Brp. O. E. Koegel is dortig a little extra work for Uncle Sam in his market bureau. Bro. Dick Dulaney works the Irish Quad where they leave the numbers off. Bro. Harry Trotter works them all. Bro. J. Booker Watts recently took a little trip to Cincinnati. Bro. “Doc” Cline is devoting a great deal of time to farming. J. T. Peck is still a “non.” He signs “A.” We recently received a picture of Bro. J. N". Fuller, located “somewhere in the South Seas.” He has a mustache now, and is now wearing the uniform of an officer. Former Bro. J. C. Thompson (HN), is also one of Uncle Sam's blue- jackets now. Bro. L. J. ^ Sergeant Irvin (J), has become & benedict. We wish him great success and much hap- piness. * We were grieved to learn of the death of Lieut. D. K. Summers, formerly of “GM” and “QN.” He was a good fellow, well met. Everybody was his friend. “Doc” made the supreme sacrifice upon the fields of France that democracy might live, where many other members of our profession have of- fered their all in the same noble cause. Director General McAdoo’s Wage Com- mission has not yet made its recommenda- tion with respect to the contemplated in- crease. Cert. 738. Charlotte , N. C., “Ts” Relay — New arrivals : W. A. Guy from Washing- ton, and I. J. Creech from Charlotte Divi- sion, south end, both in Bro. Tuttle’s hands, and we will soon be 100 per cent solid again. * Bro. C. P. McIntyre is now with the W. U. here, and Bro. Geo. L. Nixon with “Uncle Sam’s” forces. We hate to lose George, but he will make* a good “regular.” He has al- ways been an excellent volunteer, especially in the office. Bro. Bob Lockaby writes from Cambridge, Mass., Radio School. Says he likes it fine. Bro. Drumwright, who has been in the Army long enough to be a veteran, wrote us one letter. We hope soon to hear from him again. R. O. Johnson, at Graniteville, S. C., boils over when a card is mentioned. Claims the O. R. T. never did anything for him. He has four students in the office. Handle him accordingly. Later he will get all that’s coming to him. We are all patiently awaiting “Uncle Sam’s” decision on the salary raise. Bro/ ;W. D. Oates, who has been ill so long from spinal meningitis, we are glad to say, is rapidly regaining his health. He has been up to see us several times, but will not be able to work for thirty days or more. Bro. Oates, his family and all of us in “Ts”, want to thank th6 boys and girls all over the South for their generous response to the appeal for aid. There’s no set of people in the world more generous and free- handed than telegraph operators, and there's seldom an appeal that they fail to respond to. The amount subscribed for Bro. Oates since December follows : Previously acknowledged $151.05 Feb. 26, from Winston-Salem 8.00 From High Point 7.60 March 8, from R. W. D., Pelham 10.00 From “Ts” $5.00 Out of above paid J. M. C., eggs 1.75 W. D. Oates, paid cash 3.75 Received by W. O. Oates direct from “H” Washington 16.00 Received by W. D. Oates direct from Asheville 15.60 Received by W. D. Oates direct ffom Monroe, Va 11.00 Total to date $223.25 The above amount includes $6.00 which was taken in and out of the account for O. R. T. dues, making the actual amount received by Bro. Oates $6.00 less than the above. Manager Yates objected to paying $26.00 to have his “flivver” painted, and took the old farm lantern, a bucket of paint and brush and did It at nights at the fol- lowing cost: Cleaning, $1.00 (unnecessary expense) ; paint and brush, $1.60 ; emery Digitized by (joooie
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538 The Railroad Telegrapher, cloth, 20c ; total, $2.80 ; and now It Chines like a “cotton gin smokestack." "Punk.” Washington Division — Bro. T. Javins, first "CD" Alexandria, Va., who had the misfortune to lose his wife recently, has the sincere and heartfelt sym- pathy of the entire division in this his sad bereavement. Bro. Weatherall to second Manasses, vice Bro. Hudson to second on message wire Monroe, and Bro. Herrell to first there. f Bro. Sharp to Warrenton agepcy, and Bro. Faulkner to "CD" Alexandria extra. ’ Bro. Barksdale has joined the Navy, and Bro. Cassell, second Charlottesville, is visit- ing his "soldier boys" at Camp Lee and Camp McClellan, relieved by Bro. Fields. Are you doing your "bit" by investing all your spare change in war saving stamps? If not, why not? Div. Cob. CARD OF THANKS. * Jewish to thank most sincerely those who contributed the beautiful wreath in kind remembrance of my beloved wife. T. Javins. Asheville Div A. d 8. — Bro. Heatherly of Saluda, while on vaca- tion, was looking over the ground at Mel- rose, where he contemplates building a home. Bro. Cowan also on vacation recently. Bro. Littlefield of Melrose is relieving on first Inman; and Bro. Edwards on Melrose first, pending bulletin, vice Bishop, drafted. John Bishop, who has enlisted in the Navy, is awaiting the call from "Uncle Sam." Sister Davis, second Inman, was off. a few days recently; also Bros. Nettles, first Arden, and Rian, first Tryon. Brothers on the East end, please send me some notes at Buena Vista in time each month so I can get them to St. Louis be- fore the 25th, so we can have a regular monthly writeup. Cbrt. 485. Knoxville Div., Between Morristown and Asheville — Bro. D. T. Haynie, Barnard, relieved a few days by Bro. J. A. McCampbell, and Bro. D. O. Purkey, Volga, on a trip to Wash- ington and Baltimore, relieved by Bro. C. S. ^ Chandler, who later relieved Bro. "Red" Plemmons, second Sandy Bottom, several days. Bro. D. H. Gardner, first Paint Rock, relieved several days by Bro. A. M. Wil- liams. Bro. E. T. Mefford. second Volga, relieved by Bro. E. D. Parrott several days, who also relieved Bro. R. S. McDevitte, first Sandy Bottom, on fifteen days' vacation. Bro. Justus, second Yalu, is now on first there; Griffin, third Rankin, to third White Pine ; Bro. W. V. Calfee to third Wolf Creek, relieved on third Nocona by Sharpe. Bro. G. C. Long, second Hot Springs, bid to third there, relieved by Bro. A. B. McDan- iels; Bro. Leonard, third New Line, to sec- ond there; Bro. J. A. Swaim to third Roe Jet., relieved on second Wolf Creek by Sister Spratt. Brothers, don’t get it into your heads that it is not necessary to stay up-to-date because the Government has control of the railroads. If you will read .the article in your January journal, under the head, "The Necessity for Continued Organization", you will see that there is more necessity now for keeping up-to-date than ever before. If you have an employe from your sta- tion * in the service, hang out your service flag. Buy war saving stamps and help do your "bit." . * J. J. Bazuet. Atlanta Division, North End — As I haven't seen a writeup from this divi- sion in some time, I will agree to act as as- sistant correspondent and do the best I can if the brothers will send me the happenings and changes at their station. We and our families, as soon as the journal arrives, turn to Division 59, then to find the North End. If there isn’t any news we are disappointed. Please send me any news you are able to get in time so I can get the writeup to St. Louis before the 25th. Use names of places instead of office calls. I thank "OG" at "A" very much for* the news he sent for this issue. If all the other brothers would do "ditto", we would have a splendid writeup every month. Bro. G. D. Groover is awaiting the call to the colors and will probably enlist as a radio operator. Quite a few of our brothers have been caught in the draft and are now at the various training camps, including Bros. Ralph Durham, O. W. Durham, Chas. Yeager and T. O. Pease. Bro. Pease called up some time ago and said "he was raring to go over there." Bro. D. H. Payne, rejected owing to physical disability, is back at "QN/* Plain ville. Powder Springs and Seney sec- and and third reopened; not yet bulle- tined. '■ Mrs. Weekly is on second "KO", and Hul- sey, a new man, on third. Bro. James Bray, second Aragon, has en- listed in the Navy as radio operator, and left for the training school. We all hated to lose him, but our loss will be "Uncle Sam’s" gain. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Dellinger stood the wire examination recently. The former is on second "B." Bro. Brand is now on first Baxley; Bro. H. B. Dellinger on third "AX", and Bro. Davis on second "VA." • Bro. Foster Thomas, who 'went out West some time ago on account of his health, is with the Southern Pacific in Arizona. Bro. Buckner relieved him. Bro. Cole, who has pellagra. Is not recov- ering as rapidly as hoped for. Bro. J. M. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 539 Cole, his brother, la on second, and Bro. Parker on first “J.” Bro. Gay, who has been on the sick list, is back on job first, and Bro. Lewis on second “W.“ Bro. J. K. Lewis is visiting in Florida. “Rainbs”, Cert 716. Memphis Division — Bro. Atchley went to second and Mr. Bell to third Larkin8ville, new position recently created ; Bro. Carden went to second and Bro. ' Keel to third Gurley ; Ennis to second and Bro. Smith to third Town Creek; Bro. Formby to third and Harris to second Chero- kee ; Bro„ Moore to second and Crawford to third Pocahontas ; Bro. Burton to second and Woodall to third Moscow. A new office with three tricks also opened near Sheffield Jet., for blocking trains on Florence Branch. Quite a number of new men among us now. With the special rate now in effect we should be able to secure their applications if we approach them in the right manner. Let us all try our best to land one or more and advise Bro. Uptaln at “DS’\ who will do the necessary. Now is the time to build up the Order. We can’t tell what may befall us in the future if. we become weak by lack of thor- ough organization; but if we have a good, substantial membership we need not fear that we will not come out “on top.” Let each member do his part towards getting a 100 per cent membership. • Bro. Burton, second Moscow^ is being re- lieved by Sister Morrison, from some line west. Don’t fail to send in your notes for pub- lication to Bro. Morrison at Stevenson. Cbrt. 4632. St, Louis-Louisville Lines — Brothers, pay your dues promptly. Never before in the history of the organization is it so important as it is now for you to keep lined up. Many of the old heads who were here In 1890 to 1898 will remember that salaries today compared with them then are double, and in many instances more than double. It pays to keep up our organi- zation because we have the confidence of our employer and a working agreement which is just as obligatory upon us as it is upon the employer, and we should show our ap- preciation by keeping up-to-date. If the nons won’t come in, then remember our motto, “No card , no favors” The meeting at Huntingburg was a grand success, the following brothers being present : L. E. Bell, J. H. McLln, E. F. Hubbert. M J. Kemp, W. E. Young, H. Merrick, R. A. King, J. A. Whaley, E. T. Oskins, M. L. Marshall, T. H. Pudine, S. Rhodes, J. L. Robinson, W. I. Atkins, J. C. Merideth, W. E. Dale, W. T. Servant, B. Head, J. F. Holstein, G. N. Martin, L. EL Crandall and J. H. •Peters, and Mr. C. U. Bishup. A good time was had, with several good talks, and all left desiring another meeting soon. The following brothers will soon leave for training in the service : W. A. Booth, L. E. Bfell and L. A. Chapman. The new men with us are: O. Lemond and R. C. Kelly, second and third Dix; Herbert wilgus, second Wayne City; and E. R. Bed- well, Hoffman. They will all. soon be lined up. It’s now Bro. G. B. Standring at Albion. Bro. Miller has been promoted to dis- patcher. The solid O. R. T. bunch from C. & E. I. tower, Princeton — Bros. R. R. Godwin, C. E. Godwin and E. M. Godwin — called on their brother, A. G. Godwin, at Boonvllle recently, and Bros. J. W. Klingsmith and E. T. Os- kins were in Evansville recently. Cbrt. 170. Queen and Crescent Route (North), Dlv. No. 62. First District — Bro. C. G. Copher. “G” Cincinnati, has gone with the Postal at Portsmouth, O. Bro. J. N. El lift, third “DI“ Cincinnati, has returned after an extended leave. Bro. Ray Gardner, third Blanchet, is re- lieving Agent N. I. Hoey, Wilmore, for thirty days. Bro. H. O. Crain, first “WS’\ was off a few days recently on account of the death of his brother-in-law In Tennessee. Bro. Zed Henderson, who has been in North Carolina for his health, Is back on second “WS." Sister Myra Kells, third “WS”. is on ninety days’ leave, attending school at Valparaiso, Ind. Bro. J. W. Gardner, Blanchet agency, was relieved by Bro. O. Horn while attending court in Williamstown. Bro. Cash is on second Sadieville during E. B. Fightmaster's sojourn in Florida. Bro. James O’Connor, third Georgetown, was relieved a few days by Bro. E. C. Marshall. Bro. A. H. VanHook, third High Bridge, assigned third Evensville, Tenn. Bro. G. W. Riffe, first Danville yard, is spending the winter in Florida, relieved by Fred Cook. Recent new brothers : R. Gardner, S. E. and E. C. Marshall, G. R. Cole, Caywood Pemberton, Orville Horn and C. B. Harber- son. Make that non live hard. Keep persist- ently after him until he takes up the banner of unionism. Recite to him the manifold benefits secured through schedule negotia- tions by the Order of his craft. Secure the membership of all eliglbles, and help reach the 60,000 by December 31st. Cbrt. 68. Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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540 The Railroad Telegrapher. Great Northern Ry., Div. No. 70. Spokane . Division — Our notes did not reach St. Louis in time for the March issue ; but better late than never. I am very much indebted to the brothers who sent in the items. Sorry to have lost our genial chief, J. B. Smith. “Si’' was a prince and always got the very best service a man could give. He was succeeded by S. H. Brown. Supt. Close also transferred to the Kalispell Division, succeeded by R. E. Landis, was equally as popular with the employes. The new offi- cials seem to be railroad men of the old school ; and A. S. Newell, prompted from conductor to trainmaster, is a good fellow. Let’s all give them the best we can. This division has been badly congested with export freight for the last two months, every siding and spur having its full allot- ment of cars. First District — Agent Brown has been transferred to Okanogan, succeeded at Dean by McDonald. Two men new put on at Cameron, and sec- ond trick operators at Laclede and Priest River. Our old friends at Bonners Ferry are the only ones on the district who imagine the O. R. T. never did them any good. We w&re all pleased with the writeup in the February Telegrapher. Boys, get all the notes together you can and send them to Bro. C. B. Rawlins, Star Bldg., St. Louis, Mo., so we can have an interesting article in each issue of our magazine. Cert. 162. Second District — Phipps, second Harrington, has enlisted and is now at Fort Wright. Mrs. Phipps has a phone Job at the former place ; Miss Pierson is third phoner at Lamona, and the three new tricks at Lyons are now held by ladies. Boys, they all make good members, so don’t overlook any opportunity to secure their applications. Ask for blanks If you have none. Stafford from Spokane City ticket office goes to Krupp agency, and there Is a new man on third Edwall. One of our brothers mailed his February copy of The Telegrapher out on the line bearing the following notation : “To All, Greetings : — Please read the ‘Big G’ writeup on page turned in. Come in, fellows. Let’s go ! Get lined up and see what we can do. A few more memberships and watch our smoke. Look for further good news in following issues of The Telegrapher. Kindly keep this issue circu- lating.’’ Cert. 623. Third District — • Smith from Okanogon to assist agent Krupp. vice Straughn, resigned ; Hood, for- mer agent there, to Wilson Creek third ; Beeger to first, and Nelson, a new man from the East, to second. Former assistant agent at Wilson Creek is now cashier in the bank there. Foner Entenman, at Quincy, relieved by McGee, a new man, has' gone into the auto business at Wilbujy, Wn. Extra Dis- patcher Degrosse, Spokane, recently on third Wenatchee, goes to third Leavenworth. Mus- selraan, first Wenatchee, on vacation, re- lieved by Bryan. Miss Hitchcock has been trying to get off for some time, but good operators are too scarce, so she will have to wait a while longer. Boys, everything on the line has a sched- ule, except a hand-car, but wbo wants to be a hand- car. Get busy on that non next to and near you and give him no rest until he signs up and you get his money for an up-to-date. Then it won’t be long until we will have a schedule also and have some- thing worth while coming to us pay-day. Some mighty good Jobs now being given out as “plums” will then be scheduled and the operators to whom they rightfully belong will get them. Div. Cor. Minn. A St Louis R. R., Div. No. 71. Eastern Division — It is now' Bro. Logan, second Ollie, the kind we like to have around, who takes out his card before paying other bills, as he considers that one of the most important obligations he has. Wish we had more like him. Ollie is now solid, with Bro. ‘Lary on first and Bro. O’Neal on second. This makes a good showing for Bro. Lary, as the operators were both nons When they went there. I wish more of the brothers at the three-men offices would take the same interest in the Order. We should all realize that there is no middle ground ; the nons are always against us, so we must make Order men of all of them as fast as possible. Dispatcher Lindsay, first east end, a few days ago got up out of his chair and walked off the Job. He had hard graft of it during the winter months, and it was getting the best of his nerves, and he made the Job harder for himself by trying to drive the operators with the big whip. The greater part of the telegraphers will do anything in reason for a dispatcher if he goes at them in the right way; but I am glad to say there are not many of them that will stand for the big whip. Lindsay was relieved by our old friend, Ross W. Brown, and the brothers will show' him they appreciate good treatment by giving Kim first-class service.- It is now Bro. Smith at Morning Sun again. We are glad to welcome Charley back again, and hope he will always have an up-to-date. We are also glad to have Bro. Yenny of Hermon back with us. He has taken out an annual. Bro. J. C. S. ap- preciates those yearly cards, as it saves him lots of work. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 541 Bro. Call than has gone back to second Elrick JcU Bro. Cahill going to "SK” side table job. Bro.. A. L. Gardner of Steamboat Rock was relieved a tew days by Bro. Griffeth. Some of the nons who have got the idea that they don’t need the Order while the railroads are under Government control, will And out that they have been misinformed. The need of our Order is Just as great now as it has ever been, and we should boos* It' Just as hard. President Perham is on the job continually at Washington, D. C.t look- ing out for our interests, and we should back him up with solid membership. A good O. R. T. man will be loyal to his country Just as he will be loyal to the railroad company he is working for. Bro. Kime of Fremont spent Sunday re- cently with his folks at Richland. ''Judy” always has an up-to-date in his pocket. He would no more think of going to work with- out his card than he would to go without his keys. He says the Order has done so much for the craft that we should boost it with our* membership at least. Cert. 87. Chicago & N. W. Ry., Div. No. 76. Sioux City Division — Sunday, March 10, 1918, the best meeting was held on this division for some time, about 45 members being present, including General Chairman Thomas, General Secre- tary and Treasurer Boyington, Local Chair- man Baker and Holms, latter of North Iowa Division ; McKinatry, Sargents Bluff ; Ste- vens, Stanhope ; Dick, Early ; VanderVelden, Mapleton ; Noe and Winn, Correctlonville ; Green, Schaller ; Sands, Merrill; Strong, Cas- tana ; Sheldon, Gowrie ; Treloar, Kingsley ; Beck, Odebolt ; Ray, Bronson ; Slerks, Mo- ville; Baskin, Lake View; Short, Whiting; Clifford, Arthur ; Clanahan, Farnhamville ; Kelley, Lake City ; Roach, Ute ; Weir, Bruns- ville ; Marple, Lohrville ; Bothman, Ricketts ; Graham, Danbury; Fagan, Lake View and Williams, extra. The new schedule was gone over thorough- ly by our officers and all points explained to the men where they did not understand them. The meeting voted a very hearty approval of the manner our affairs have been handled under our present officers. Bro. Russell has taken the postoffice at Cushing, succeeded as agent there by Bro. Wheatley, operator Holstein. This leaves Bro. Carnes alone at the latter point and Bro. /Basken at Lake View is also without help owing to the shortage of men. Bro. Barrows, agent Battle Creek, has been allowed an operator, which was very much needed there. Bro. Hammond, being unable to get a house at Wall Lake, wept to Tower "Z”. "Red” Dodds had relieved him at Sacton. The boys on this division have caught a new disease called the stock fever, said to be contagious from being asked so many times a day when the people are going to get the stock cars they ordered sometime ago. Bro. Dick, agent Early Iowa, believes in starting his helpers on the right road. Re- cently Helper Sayers was called to relieve him and he paid for his application and six months’ dues in the O. R. T. as a present when leaving. "Bro. J. P. Hopper, operator Sloan, Iowa, resigned March 1 to work /in a bank there, relieved by Mr. Gleason. Bro. Busch Frahm, operator Tower "Z”. went to Camp Dodge February 26 with the last call of selects from Woodbury county. C. F. Utsman, relieved by Mr. Mason on third Onawa, Iowa, took second there. Bro. W. C. Carnes went to Holstein agency, re- lieved at Schleswig, Iowa, by C. A. Pratt former agent at Moorhead, Iowa, who has been working for the light company there. Later Bro. H. Boysen went to Schleswig, relieved at Lawton agency by Bro. Rundell, helper Lake View, and he later by Bro. Ed. Sundberg, agent Moorhead, Iowa. Bro. Edwards, agent Mondamin, was off sick several days, and Bro. Stadum, agent Stratford, Iowa, a few days owing to the death of his mother, relieved by Bro. Sayers, former helper at Early. We all appreciate the smokes sent us by Bro. Geo. Barfoot, agent Galva, Iowa, to celebrate the arrival of "George Robert" on March 1st. Bro. K. W. Smith, agent Salix, Iowa, and bride have returned from their honeymoon trip to the Windy City. He was relieved by Bro. Swearinger, operator Sargents Bluff, leaving Bro. McKinstry there alone. Cert. 128. Minnesota Division — - The big meeting scheduled for Mankato, March 9th, had to be called off at the last minute owing to the storm that was spending its fury over the entire division on that date. It was a great disappointment to a large number of the boys, as well as to the general chairman and general secretary and treas- urer, who made the trip to Mankato to be on hand in case the storm subsided. It will be held later. Bro. G. E. Enteman, agent Claremont, had the mumps several days, relieved by Bro. Randall, Havana agency closed meanwhile. Conductor C. M. Riegel, one of our old time conductors, during the storm March 9th, suffered a stroke while on his trip on the Vesta line and had another while in a hotel at Sanborn, passing away that afternoon. He had a host of friends among all classes of railroad men, who were shocked to hear of his untimely death. Bro. W. H. Blanchette, with the Signal Digitized by Tooele
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542 The Railroad Telegrapher, Corps at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., telling of his work, writes that he likes the work and sends his “73” to the brothers. Bro. H. L. Crist, now with the “Big Four,” in Ohio, who worked on this division several years, also writes and wishes to be remem- bered to the old-timers. Bro. P. W. Mynard, Eagle Lake, is now on third New Ulm. Bro. Jim Allen relieved dispatcher, Bro. O. E. Higler on the east end last month' on account of sickness. The brothers at Tracy now -have a new office and telegraph table. With the new schedule in working order and the benefits accruing therefrom, we should make the nons on this division a scarce article to find; some who have just come here will, no doubt, do the necessary very soon, but we still have several old hard shells who have been here for years who claim they cannot see where they have been benefited by the O. R. T., and thy should be dealt with as their cases deserve. Engineer Zelter, one of our young engine- men, recently passed away at Tracy after a short sickness with diphtheria. He had a new h<)ine nearly completed and was to be married this spring, having recently returned from military service at Camp Dodge owing to his physical condition. Bro. Lampe “batched” at Tracy for a month while his wife was on a visit. We now have four lady telegraphers at different points on the division. Some of the brothers working with or near them should line them up. Bro. Wold, while on the sick list at Roch- ester recently, was relieved by C. H. Epper- son, who later went to Walnut Qroves. Bro. Buchhcflts, first at Lewiston, was re- lieved a few days by R. C. Vose, a new man off “the Omaha.” Bro. Dick Pfefferlee, now agent at Monroe, on the Dakota Division, sends his ”73” to the boys. Bro. W. E. Skeels, first St. Peter Junction, on account of death of a relative was re- lieved a few days recently by Bro. E. E. Johnson from the dispatcher's office. R. B. Briggs, from the W. U., Chicago, on Janesville third a while, later went to Wino- na side wire several weeks. Bro. G. P. Skeels, agent Gary, while at- tending a funeral a few days was relieved by Bro. E. F. Grundt, and he on Lamberton first by Bro. F. A. Biersdorf. I suggest that we have a service flag at every meeting place of the Order. Several of our boys have gone and more will follow. Think it over, and let's bring It up at the next meeting. We are all anxiously awaiting the result of the hearing before the Wage Adjustment Board at Washington. It must be very grati- fying to the entire membership to note how ably our case was presented by President Perham. Let’s show our appreciation by giving our officers the backing of a solid membership and make the 1918 slogan a reality by December SI, 1918. D. J. M. Wisconsin Division — The rapidly growing habit of conductors and others using the dispatcher’s phone for every little thing should be stopped. Your dispatcher will appreciate it, as he has no time to be bothered in this manner. Make them write a message and you handle it in the regular way. Then there will be a record of it should it be necessary to refer to it again. Don’t have the dispatcher continually ringing someone for you or for figures on trains which you should be able to get for yourself on the wire. Be ready to work with dispatcher when you answer him. The recent raise is the best we have ever received and is appreciated very much at this time when it costs so much to live. Don’t show your schedule copies to a “non.” Let him ask Mr. Thomas for one. Make a special effort to land every new man and keep our division as near solid as possible. If you are not sure you will be able to pay your dues promptly, make ar- rangements beforehand so there will be no failure to pay upon time. Bro. A. J. Copplestone, third Valley tower, resigned, relieved by T. M. Keys, a new man, later by Bro. L. A. Teskey, an old-timer, and he by R. Bennett, from the signal depart- ment, until our chief can place a wire man there. Joe Bacon relieved Bennett several nights there. Hope some of our boys will attend the “Cert.” club meetings the first Saturday of each month at Masonic Temple, Chicago. Thanks to Bros. Shore and Kaplan for news this month. A. S. Moorhouse, Div. Cor. Northern Wisconsin Division — Bro. W. E. Hill, agent Chester, has enlisted for services over in France. Bro. E. C. Zimmermann's wife was a re- cent Burnett caller. Sister Mary O’Connors, agent- Juneau, was off a few days receptly. Bro. Geo. Stewart, second Watertown, has composed a war song. All are pleased with the new schedule monthly rates effective December 1st, rules January 1st, with an increase of $7.50 to $12.50, overtime pro rata for all Sunday work, based on twenty-six working days •& month, an eight-hour working day for all except the one-man positions, which are nine hours. Most of the one-man positions are closed on Sundays. Those who have to work on Sundays are pleased t b get the extra money. The nons on this division had better keep their promises to join as soon as they Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 543 get their Increases, or they will be given yellow “slacker*' cards with the names of all the nons printed on them. Each member on the division will get a supply of themfeo give out, as the old saying, “It pays to adver- tise" is right. A non teaching telegraphy on the south end still refuses to join. Thanks to Bro. R. B. Hill for Items. Please send to me all the notes you can In time so I can get thefh to St. Louis before the 26th and we will have a good write-up every month. H. H. H., Cert 1876. Lake 8hore Division — After the recent severe snowstorms and cold weather had settled, the varnished cars were again gotten back on schedule time, which was greatly appreciated by all. One of the worst blizzards experienced in years struck this division March 9th, practically suspending all traffic until the storm subsided and it was several days before traffic was restored to normal conditions. Local Chairman Tiedka, when called to ^Chicago on committee work, was relieved by Bro. Meyers. Understand Bro. T. H. Welland, Sheboy- gan, Intends to open up Pigeon River. Bro. J.' L Teskey has a new phonograph and can now furnish musical entertainment to all visiting members. Bro. Peterson went to Oconto Falls, vice ‘ Bro. McHree, whom we are sorry to lose and hope he has bettered himself. Bro. Proctor has gone into the dairy busi- ness %%s a side line. The sanitary milk and “O. R. T." butter he furnishes is of the very best quality. Bro. Heatherington was relieved by Bro. Bocx several nights owing to sickness. Brd. Hudon, third Duck Creek, has just got settled in the little cottage on the bank of the river. Some of our members in military service are now in France. We should get their addresses and mail them The Telegrapher, as the news therein will no doubt interest them. D. C., Cert 485. Galena Division — Bro. J. H. Cassara has returned to Whea- ton after spending several weeks in Wyo- ming. The “bear hides** will arrive later. B. O. Burrows, from the Western Union, Chicago main office, filed his application for membership in the O. R. T. the day following his advent as- a telegrapher on this division. We would like to see the few nons here fol- low Bro. Burrows* good example. Bro. Nealon has gone into the pigeon busi- ness. Bro. Jackson, agent Wheaton, has a “nan- ny” gpat for pale, well broke to double and singte harness. “Tin cans" are her special diet. Anyone wanting her, write him. Bro. Levagood seems lonely since he re- turned from his visit in Oklahoma. Someone sent him some prunes. Will give him the rice later. Bro. Ralph is about to publish a book which he wrote some time ago, “From Kan- sas City to Ottumwa in a Special Car, Mil- waukee Ry." Understand it's a “hummer." Remember, “No card, no favors ” Every- one live up* to it0 Recently I had two pas- sengers who wanted to go to Oklahoma City, via Chicago, and the Santa Fe ; but by explaining that the Santa Fe was on “the unfair list” I was able to route them via the Rock Island Lines. I had the pleasure of attending the meet- ing of C. O. R. T. Club in Chicago February 2d. Although there were not very many present, I had a good time and heard some very interesting talks from Bro. Ross, of the C., B. & Q. ; Bro. Soyster, of Division 23 ; Bro. Brown, vice-president of the club; Bro. Jones, Bro. Thomas and others. Brothers, turn out to these meetings. They will do you good. Would like to see this division represented .in Thb Telegrapher every month. Send me some notes in time so I can get them to St. Louis before the 25th. Cert. 8196. Western Maryland Ry., Div. No. 82. Eastern Division — Bro. P. C. Welty, who relieved Bro. P. M. Rohrbaugh, Fairfield agency, one day, later worked third Gettysburg one night. Bro. S. A. Bosley is on second Emory Grove, vice G. H. Durity, resigned. Bro. R. S. Welty is running trains on second Baltimore end ; Bro. R. E. Betts, Jr., is dispatching on Cumberland end, and Bro. C. Ross Arnsparger, Sr., on third B. A H. New members: J. A. Wertz, H. C. Wood, D. Myers, H. E. Willard, A. A. Fisher, Wm. C. Fleigh, J. F. Hershberger, R. J. Doyle and A. A. Bender. Freight on the Baltimore end is heavier than for years, and 700 class engines can no longer move it, but now the 900s have to be pressed into service to clear up. These en- gines handle fourteen hundred tons westward on main line over the Blue Ridge Mountains. There were thirty-five initiated into the Order on Division 82 during 1917. Let’s try to obtain at least sixty new members for 1918, and every member to keep in good standing in the grand organization that pro- tects everyone within its reach. We are proud of the splendid working conditions secured by our committee and of Bro. Perham’s work before the railroad wage commission, for a forty per cent increase, with back pay from January 1st. We should all appreciate what is being done for us by working to get in the few nons left. No one person should receive over ten thousand a year in the State of Maryland. Digitized by tjOOQle
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544 The Railroad Telegrapher, We are all paid too little for the brainy work we have to perform, so work busily on the notorious nons in order that we may be able to command a fair compensation for the high class work we are performing daily. Boys, pay your dues and assessments promptly. It's for a good cause and puts us on the level, therefrom to get fair treat- ment. Div. Cor., Cert. No. 94. Texas & Pacific Ry., Div. No. 88. Rio Grande Division — On sick leave : Bro„ Hadden on account of the illness of his wife ; Bro. Neidermier, second Van Horn, and Bro. Ellis, first Sweet- water, Bro. Jones relieving, relieved on sec- ond by Bro. Chenault, and he by Hardesty on third. W. U. Sweetwater moved into new quar- ters and made a continuous office. W. U. Pecos, refurnished, presents a neat appearance. Bearden, Moore and Harrison are now with the W. U. “S” office, El Paso, and Bros. Frame and Rogers are with the E. P. & S. W. Albert Bearden is with the Arizona Eastern at Morenci. We hope short- ly to have such improved hours, working conditions and pay that none will want to go elsewhere. Bro. Hamilton, first Sweetwater, is “some- where in France” enjoying good health, and Bro. Milligan, third Pecos, is still in training. Both brothers belong to Signal Corps. We wish them success and a safe return. Bro. Sharman, who has been ill since last August, relieved Bro. Dashiell, second Big Spring, few days* leave. Bro. Corcoran, third Monahans, is being relieved by Mrs. Pitzer and Agent Tarrant, Barstow, by Bro. L. W. Pitzer. It is now Bros. Cobb, S. A. and L. W. Pitzer ; Woodard and Hinsman. We welcome you all. Wish to thank Bro. Jones for his notes. Boys, when you have any news, drop your local chairman a line. Let’s have a good write-up each month. Cert. 82. Illinois Central R. R., Div. No. 93. Tennessee Division — It becomes our painful duty to chronicle the decease of one of the oldest and most popular agents on this division, Bro. R. L. Scott, of Wickliffe, Ky., who passed away suddenly at his home March 10th. He had been in the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad since March 20, 1882, and for up- wards of twenty-six years joint agent for the Illinois Central and Mobile & Ohio at Wick- liffe. His genial smile, lovable nature, gener- osity of soul and personal magnetism drew people to him and cheered them on their way. A deep well of tenderness and sympathy ever filled his heart for the troubled and unfor- tunate, and his courtly and dignified manner created ever a congenial bond between him and other men. In his home circle no words can adequately describe his position, for it was unique. With those aching hearts his image will ever be present. So “to live In the hearts we leave is not to die.” E. Cosorov*. Indiana Division — Bro. H. R. Pribble, first Bloomfield, has been called to the colors. We all hope for his safe return. Bro. Gladville, StewartsVille, off few days on account of sickness, Bro. R. B. Smith relieving, who also relieved Bro. Mahan, at Bethany, a few days recently owing' to a death in his family. 'Bro. Turpin was also off several days. Trainor has enlisted In the Signal Corps. Traffic has fceen resumed over the Wabash River bridge. It was out of service about twenty-two days. Bro. O. A. Knight, third “Q”. is relieving Dispatcher Wallace. Business is good and extra men are scarce. Keep after the nons, boys ; we are solid with the exception of a few new men who say they will come in soon. Send me some notes. I can't get very many unless you help out a little from your respective places. “Scotty/’ Cert. 3640. lotoa Division — Our failure to be represented in Th* Telegrapher for several months is due to the heavy increase In business, and every- body being too busy with work to find out what his brothers were doing. Understand the Government has two hun- dred million ^to be distributed among the railroad employes. We will all be glad to get our slice of the melon. Brothers, please bear in mind our motto : “-Vo card , no favors.” Put it Into 'effect on those nons who fail to see the good work the Order is doing for all of us. Bro. E. J. Doll is relieving Bro. W. H. Diesner at Marcus, Iowa, and Bro. G. B. Litchkey, first Rockwell City tower, is being relieved by Harry Johnson, from Manson, Iowa. Bro. C. L. Burgess, third Manson tower, is on the sick list, relieved by Bro. Frank Johnson. Bro. G. F. Dlsce, former agent at Rowena, S. D., is now on second Manson tower. Local Chairman Foster expeots to make a trip over the Cherokee and Sioux Falls dis- tricts in a few days on important business. If any of you know of any news of Inter- est, please hand it to Bro. Foster, and he can give it to me, as we are located close together. Brothers on the Sioux Falls, Cherokee and Onawa districts, please try and keep me Digitized by v. >Qle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 545 posted as to what is going on out that way, * and I will keep up with what is going on down on the Waterloo District. This is not much of a write-up, but I was only appointed correspondent a few days before the news were due in St. Louis for publication. I will try and have more next month. Please do not forget the lining up of the nons. We have got to down “nonlsm” as well as "Kaiserism.” W. P. Wall, Cert. 3349, Div. Cor., Wilke, Iowa. Wisconsin Division — I am unable to get any aid from anyone along the line, so if no mention is made of you, it’s your own fault. New members since January 1st are : J. V. Metzger, East Junction ; E. J. Hinrichs, H. Decker, F. Barclay and F. T. Woods, extra, and W. D. Curtin, of Normal. This leaves but a few scattering nons. The positions of the boys entering the military service were bulletined as six month vacancies. In some cases the six months have passed and they have not as yet been rebulletined. This is now up to the general manager for a decision relative to bulletining all such vacancies as temporary ‘Tor the duration of the war.” All are looking forward to the award of the Wage Commission, as from all reports the largest increases will be given to the lower paid men. Outside of the sectionmen we claim the highest honors in that particu- lar class. Bro. Yoder, of Sciota Mills, who resigned to accept the position as traveling auditor, after several weeks returned and is now working extra. Bro. Haman went to Sciota Mills, succeeded at McConnell by Bro. Martin and he at Kerrick by Bro. Martinez. All should note paragraph 9, Article II, of the present schedule, which provides for a six months' leave with seniority rights un- impaired UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. If you fall heir to a million or are appointed to Mr. McAdoo’s position, take advantage of that article, otherwise you might go broke In six months and then your seniority .would come In handy. Bro. Bechely, third La Salle, has enlisted. Bro. Graham bid in the vacancy, later with- drew and it was awarded to Bro. Moore. Bro. Wheeless is now city passenger agent at Rockford, his position first there awarded Bro. Green, Perryville, who later withdrew and Bro. Schlaf secured it. Bro. Graham was relieved on account of sickness by Bro. Martinez. # Bro. Lacy went to "K” office when Cox enlisted, extra men filling Lacy’s position. Bro. E. Hinrichs is now on third East Junction. Local Chairman Kelly advises that the new seniority lists have been mailed to all. If you failed to get yours, “ride Kelly." Bro. Yoder is relieving Bro. Roberts at Rockford on vacation. Don’t neglect to pay your dues. When the readjusting period comes, a solid organ- ization will be needed. "Wanderlust.” Chicago Great Western Ry., Div. No. 96. Southern Division — Quite a number of new members have joined since January 1st, but there are a number of new men on the lfne whom we should line up. You brothers keep after the nons you are working with and help make the division solid. If you can’t get them, send their names to your chairman, also to other brothers, and get the trainmen after them. Recent new members are: Agents — Wm. Ritchie, Dearborn ; Marie Graff, Benton ; D. W. Camp, Arlspe, la. ; George Dukes, Fair- bank, la. ; third tricks — C. I. Gregory, Fair- bank ; E. R. Stearns, Gladbrook, la. ; sec- ond— O. H. Mertins, Gladbrook, la. ; D. H. Stephens, Peru; nights — W. F. O’Brien, Des Moines, ”SX’’. We are all sorry to see our old and faith- ful friend and brother, B. F. Shumway. leave, but we are glad to know that he bet- tered his conditions. “Shum,” now cashier for the Reinbeck Bank, says as long as he can dig up the price he will continue to carry an up-to-date card and work for the interest of Division 96. Bro. W. D. Watson, agent at Benton several years, later on third Diagonal, has been sick for three months and unable to do any work. Bro. E. G. Agee, now general agent at Rea, Mo., goes after the nons as soon as they light. Bro. H. L. Carter was off a few days recently fixing up his chicken ranch. Bro. Tilp at Peru, and Liggett both have girls just out of Telegraph college on third tricks. They are all smiles now. We would like some items from the Des Moines Division. Our new schedule was held up by the Government, but have the assurance when it goes into effect we will be paid the new scale commencing January 1, 1918. S. E. Raber goes to Reinbeck agency, suc- ceeded by M. T. Falkner, agent Parnell, at Savannah agency. Mrs. Younkers went to Savannah agency, pending Falkner’s arrival. “Send slow” is quite a common request from operators at small stations on this line now, and no doubt many more of our good men will be succeeded by this class of talent before the draft is completed. ”FA” from the general agent’s office, was a recent visitor at Mr. Berry’s office, St. Joe. She promises to come soon again, make the rounds and call on all of us. Digitized by v^oooie
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546 The Railroad Telegrapher. Send all items for the Journal to Bro. S. J. Walker, St Joe freight office, or A. L. Coleman, yard office, Kansas City, Kan. Cert. 43. Los Angeles and Salt Lake R. R., Div. No. 111. Salt Lake Division — Bro. Cook, on second “X”, Salt Lake, and Bro. Jones, on third, breaking in in “DS”. Hulet has returned to first Lynndyl. Cornell, who relieved him, went to Los Angeles. Bro. McKay is manager for the W. U. at Milford. Bro. Snyder, from Lund, is at Salt Lake Hospital in a critical condition. Whyde, from the S. P., is relieving at Modena. Moore, who relieved Mrs. Edwards on sec- ond Crestline, is working longer hours than she did. WHY? Mrs. Edwards relieved Isard at Islen, who went to Washington. The only way to get the concessions we want is by a solid membership. Keep work- ing on the non next to you until you lead him out of the darkness, and we will soon be working a 26-day month. Through the fraternal items of the Journal is the only way we can keep posted on the doings of our division and at the same time let the outside world know we have an up- to-date live membership. Here goes for this time. Cert. 129. Los Angeles Division — Bro. Geo. Ely, “D”, Los Angeles, is now a full-fledged member of the “Jazz” Society. Bro. Kling, "Z”, Los Angeles, is an author- ity on surf fishing. He uses whale for bait. Bro. “Dinty” Moore and Bro. Harvey Howo have traded tricks to enable the latter to work his war garden. Bro. Cheney, at Kelso, was a recent Los Angeles visitor. It’s now Bro. DeWitt at Jean, with Bro. Siebert as agent, making Jean solid. Bro. Henderson, at Arjlen, has been trans- ferred and is now a member of this division. Bro. Ingle, third wire chief, Vegas, re- turned from a trip to Los Angeles with two dozen chickens. Bro. Hunting, second trick chief, inter- ested in the new manganese strike near Vegas, has been negotiating for the purchase of the bank. Bro. Joe Hansen, formerly on split, Las Vegas, is now at Benson, Ariz., on the S. P. Bro. Walter Moore, split trick, wants to buy a marriage certificate on the installment plan. Bro. McElroy has gone to Texas. Bro. Gifford, second Carp, and Roy Pol- lock, trainmaster’s clerk, enlisted In the Signal Corps and left March 2nd for Ft. Leavenworth, Kan. We are sorry to lose them, but all wish them success. Send In your bid for correspondent to Bro. W. D. McGee, 324 Concord St., Los Ang«les, Cal. I have too much to do to attend to it. Cert. 139. Ulster & Delaware, Div. No. 113. Owing to the shortage of railroad em- ployes, this line has filed industrial claims for exemption of agents and telegraphers who may be called in the draft. Bro. E. S. Kibm is back again after six months’ leave, 'Improved in health and ready to tackle anything. The members of this division have sub- scribed for $1,000 First and $3,760 Second Liberty Loan Bonds, a good showing for a small division. “He also serves, who helps a fighter fight”— therefore, buy more Liberty Bonds or War Savings Stamps. We are now In the employ of the Govern- ment and should co-operate by faithful and efficient service to help our country In this hour of trial. Cert. 17. Duluth, S. S. & A. Ry„ Div. No. 116. At the meeting in Negaunee, February 24th, there were twenty-one members pres- ent, all good live wires, making it one of the best held on this division for a long tjme. Bro. Phelps hung the “Indian sign” on yours truly, thereby causing me to slip on the walk in front of the Butler Theatre In Ishpeming. No serious results, but exceed- ingly painful. Bro. Peck was appointed official organizer at the meeting. He will work this in addi- tion to the B. A. R. E., which he represents, both high class organizations. It was also agreed that our division shall pay all local dues and M. B. D. assessments for all members in either naval or military service, during the duration of the war, who were in good standing January 1, 1918. A rising. vote of thanks was tendered Bros. Stillman and Danielson for the way they handled our schedule negotiations and for all they have done for the Order in the past. Bro. Peck, who made the suggestion, in a few well chosen words put the motion to the house and it carried unanimously. Both Bro. Stillman and Bro. Danielson responded, thanking the membership for the trust it put in them and expressed their gratification at being held In such esteem. They are a pair very hard to beat. * May they be with us for years to come. Bro. “Jack” Steele, for years in “G” office, Marquette, passed away there at 3 :00 a. m., December 26th, after an illness of some months. Bro. Steele was a loyal brother and a good citizen, respected by all who knew him. The Masons had charge of the funeral, interment being made at Marquette. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 547 S. G. Guthrie, on flrsf Sidnaw for several years, died at St. Joseph's Hospital, Han- cock, February 16th, interment being made at his old home in Pepin, Wis. The Odd Fellows at Sidnaw held impressive services before ^he remains were taken away. Glen was a delinquent member at the time of his death, but did not carry any insurance. Understand the next meeting will be held at Superior so as to give the boys off the West End a chance. Hope you will all come who can. A great many of the boys are arranging for their vacation, but in order to get one it will be necessary to make the request far enough ahead or some will be disappointed. Bro. E. M. Peck reports Sidnaw and Ken- ton now solid O. K. T. He is some organizer, all right. He also wrote up all the rails in the BARB at Nestoria the day before he did his stunt at Sidnaw and Kenton. It is now Bro. Bradley, agent, and Bro. Hart, second Kenton. Bro. Hart is an old- timer on the road and was a member of this organization for a good many years. Glad to welcome them both back, also Bro. J. A. Juttner, agent Sidnaw; Bro. Beck, first, and Bro. Frederickson, second operator, same place. Since Bro. Peck was up there they have a third man, Operator McCormick, from Iowa, who promises to line up as soon as he gets some money. Bro. Danielson was relieved for a month by Bra J. B. Riordan, and he by Bro. W. L. Lester. Received the same amount of notes this month as usual, I thank all you live wire brothers for the help I have received in the past year. Since Nell Hume quit telegraph- ing, notes have been few and far between. W. E. P. - CARD OF THANKS. To Order Railroad Telegraphers, District 89, Division 116 : I wish to thank the members of the O. R. T. for the flowers, also for kindness shown me in my recent bereavement. Mrs. S. G. Guthrie. “8oo Line” Ry., Div. No. 119. Missouri River Division — Bro. N. D. Simshaw, relieved at Makate by Bro. Engle, from Plaza, called to Washburn and Biscarck for physical examination, and "Nick** and I took in a show there. Bro. G. J. Baker, Lidgerwood, called to Fargo on court matters, relieved by R. F. Donehower, who was Soo agent there in 1910 but has been in the hardware business ever since. Bro. M. E. King, Pollock, on vacation, re- lieved by Bro. H. C. Lindstrom, Dauzlg, and he by helper G. A. Wagstrom, Wishek. Bro. Bailey prefers extra to Kintyre sta- tion, leaving it up for bids. We are solid with the exceptions of one operator. Bro. Paul T. Brasz, former agent Dodger, who went to Camp Dodge last fall, visited his folks at Washburn and called on us at the office. He is looking fine and enjoys the life, having gained 30 .pounds. He is with the 313th Field Signal Bat., U. S. N. A., Co. C, Camp Dodge, la., and is now a cor- poral. Former Agent Brown, Benedict, and Pearson, Moffitt, are in the same battalion. The latter, who has been very sick at the camp, is recovering. We are having regular summer weather, ideal for the organizers on the G. N. System, which is now 90 per cent “O. R. T.” We are glad to hear that the boys there are coming to the front. We shall ourselves keep absolutely solid. Do not let anyone stay out, and line up any new ones coming to this division. We won’t hkve a “stacker” on this division. We are the banner division for good mem- bership. Rich. First and Second Districts — Bro. E. M. Wright, Hazazar Division 23, after being away from railroading several years, is now on second Forest Park. Bro. Wm. Loose, from Hilbert Junction, called on his poultry customers and friends at Potter recently. He keeps all thorough- breds. Bro. A. K. Satterfield, second Grays Lake, has joined the army, relieved by E. M. Winter pending bulletin, and Bro. V. L. Peterson, “FN” nights, has volunteered in the Railroad Division of the U. S. Army, relieved by Bro. E. Wills, pending bulletin. Dispatcher Wm. Christel, visiting relatives, relieved a few days by Bro. A. N. Thelsen, and he on “FN” days by Bro. W. R. Jahns. Sister Mrs. H. Guenschwager Stuck has resigned at Hamilton and moved to Seattle, Wash. Bro. J. McDonald, away several months, is back on third Waukesha pending bulletin. New members : F. E. Coleman, third Kolze, and Wm. Hinds, second Medina Junc- tion. Bro. C. E. Larson, agent Fremont, is back again after several weeks’ severe illness. Bros. /L DeLap, N. J. Frost, and F. B’ord helped out this month. Come again, thanks. A. T. M., Cert. 486. Lehigh Valley R. R., Div. No. 124. The morning and evening meetings at Schrops Hall, Easton, February 28th, were a grand success, both meetings being well attended. Bro. Wenrich read a mighty in- teresting paper on “Organized Labor,” edited by W. J. McAdoo, also went over a set of Digitized by tjOOQie
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648 The Railroad Telegrapher. rules which was very pleasing to hear. Bro. Schroder gave his experiences throughout the country, which showed gratifying prospects. Bro. James gave an Interesting talk on his association with the boys on the M. & H. Those who failed to attend this meeting missed a good one, for we sure went “over the top" with flying colors, Bros. Wolf, Knit- tel, Boyle and Hultsh talking on matters of interest to all. Bro. W. G. Fritch was elected local chair- man for N. Jr & L., and Bro. Hultsh local chairman for the general offices. Bach mem- ber present pledged himself to stand behind our representative, and assist him in every possible way. M. d H. Division — A rousing meeting was held at Hazleton on March 14th. Twenty of the boys came forward and “sined” up. Since then, others have followed. Ye scribe is in receipt of a telegram from Bro. Wenrich, stating that the M. & H. is practically solid. It’s now Bros. Case and Swartz at “S”, Bro. Wolf at “CQ”, Bros. Johnson and Wil- son at “DN”, Bro. Kutz at “Kd.” Glad, in- deed, to have these good men in the Order. There is still work to be done at "KD”, ‘•PIC”, ..Hq» “MW” and ”OJ”. You that are near, get busy, keeping in mind Article 6, of circular No. 8, which reads, "No dis- crimination will be made in the employment, retention or conditions of employes because of membership or non-membership in labor organizations.” Notes — Sorry to learn of Bro. Druckenmiller’s loss of su valuable cow. He was relieved one day by Bro. Snyder. Bro. Farley is back on third, and Bro. Kinney on first “RM” again, the latter after a short honeymoon in Buffalo and vicinity with his bride. Bro. Wolf was off recently attending the funeral of a relative. Bro. Doyle is nursing an abscess on his lip. Sorry to hear of Bro. Hultsh's illness, also that Bro. G. E. Knlttel is laid up with lum- bago. Bro. H. G. Knittel spent a day In New York recently. J. K. Myers, third ”JG’\ has been called to the colors. We’ve seen nothing from the boys on the Wyoming, Rochester and Buffalo divisions yet. Come on, boys, give this column some items each month. Send them to Bro. Raw- lins in St. Louis before the 20th, telling him who they are from, showing your division number, etc. The Director General has assured us that we need not fear discrimination or intimida- tion. Let’s gather in the few non* left and make it solid. If we expect our representa- tive to do his best we must do ours, before his conference with the general manager. I wish to thank ”SN” for the notes sent in. Come again, brothers, and — Now that we're “Over the top,” boys. And victory is at hand, Go out in the highways and byways. And get the “Nons” to join our band. Fear not for the scowling looks, boys. Which I fear is making some wait; But read over Article 6, Mr. McAdoo Wrote in his Order No. Eight. “PI”. N. J. d L. Division— Bro. Mathias has been nursing a misplaced “collar button” several days on the back of his neck. We all extend our sympathy to him, as “them” kind hurt. Some queer “ Why we don’t join” causes are given by some of the nons, but that one handed out by Hofelder and Wlllenbecker win the “prize.” They claim uthey can’t af- ford it.” Will some of the brothers kindly write these fellow-workers how they manage to do it on much smaller salaries and yet carry an up-to-date card? We might then be able to bring them into the fold. Bro. Thomas Donahue, now doing his bit for the U. S. on the Long Island R. R., sends his ,f7 3s” to all his old pals, and would be glad to hear from them. Address 453 West 16 2d st., New York City. Drop him a line to show that we appreciate “a man” who gets an up-to-date regardless of the outcome. Br6. Boyle is in line for a Carnegie medal. About 1 :00 o'clock one morning recently he heard cries for help and found that a signal- man had fallen off the bridge into the river. Our brother soon had him safely in "AV” tower, but nearly frozen from the effects of his icy bath. Bro. Arnold is now “operator” for the W. U. at Camp Crane, Allentown, where nearly 5,000 ambulance men are encamped. Brothers, when paying him a visit, take a tin plate and cup along and sample the “mess” Uncle Sam furnishes the boys In “Ki-Ki.” If that “back pay” rumor holds out, we will all get “tin lizzies” or player pianos. Thus far, our limit has been washing ma- chines and wheelbarrows. “Sherlock Holmes Gooding” is now taking car seal records at one of the big yards. Ah a silent wandered he proved a “flivver.” Seneca Division — It sure seems good to see write-ups in The Telegrapher from this road once more. We should have one from each division every month. Let us all take a personal interest in this matter, see that correspondents are appointed and then everyone send them all Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 549 the news they can before the 26th. This will give us all an idea of what is being done on each division. When you are through with your Tmlxo- raphxRj send it to some non-member. It will give him an idea of what we are doing and possibly be the means of bringing him into the Order. If you will keep it up month after month, after awhile he will be looking for it and when a non gets so interested that he is looking for Thk Tblbgraphkr each month, he is about ready to join. After you have sent him the Journal for a few months, write him, enclosing application blanks, and ask him to fill them out and send them in with the required fees, or, better still, if it is possible to go and talk it over with him. We want every man on the road. One hun- dred per cent should be our slogan, and we should never stop -until we get it. Things are sure to come our way if we do this and stick. Keep everlastingly after them. You have not done your full duty, even if you are a member and pay your dues promptly. You must try to get others to join and make our division solid to a man. Let each one shoulder part of the burden. We will elect our local chairman. Give him all the help you possibly can. We are in good shape on this division, and hope the other divisions are lined up as well as we are. ’ Cbrt. 180. “BM”, General Office — The boys here are Just beginning to appre- ciate what a nice thing it is to belong to the Order. Since our last write-up there has been no more foolish “knocking each other." Bro. Hultsch confined to his home for two weeks with pneumoqla. We are all glad to hear he is recovering rapidly, and will soon be back in “BM". Bro. Kilpatrick was laid up a few days recently. Bro. Hlndmarsh hurt his foot at Penn Haven some time ago and is unable to “send" until it is better. Cbrt. 217. C. R. I. & P. Ry., Div. No. 126. General Offices — Haileyville : Bro. Wyatt, who is figuring on moving to Little Rock, by hard consistent work has just about cleaned the Indian Territory Division. Maxwell, at Coalgate, being the only one out at this time. Manager Whitney stated that he carried an O. R. T. card for a number of years, but the St Louis office has failed to locate such a record, so this statement will have to be classed with the other stuff for which he is famous. Bro. Blevins says he would rather go fish- ing than work overtime on Sundays. Trenton : Bra Christenson, at Goodland ten days as third trick wire chief, was re- lieved by C. T. iJ. Bro. Jacobs, of the A. P. Bro. Lowe and wife visited a few days with his parents at Hamilton, Kan. Bros. Siler and Stovall are having a hard time locating a garden patch. Business is very light, but we can stand it after the workout we have been having. Messrs. Wray and Roblin were callers March 14th. Bro. Stovall’s wife visited in Little Rock recently and Guy didn’t seem to enjoy batch- ing at all. Fairbury : Bro. Hal pin was on the sick list several nights recently. Bro. Carver is back again, feeling better. Bro. Beam, who relieved him, returned to Lincoln, not desiring to. remain in the relay department He says he cannot get accus- tomed to the heavy grind after working at Lincoln so long, but “ED" at “CY" Lincoln says, “She is some girl." This may explain the many trips made to Lincoln while he was in “F" office. Bro. Rippon is working lots of overtime. He is very much wrapped up in the new typewriters and is becoming more proficient with the touch system, from his daily prac- tice out of the books that were furnished with the typewriters. Business is very heavy. It keeps Bro. Corp so busy on the wires that he has to stick around In the evenings to make out his reports. Des Moines : Bro. Overturff, still acting as night chief dispatcher, will probably return to the fold in a few days. He says that kind of a job might suit some people, but he never did believe in working more than eight hours, and then not very hard. We were more than glad to receive the “Rock Island Specials" some time ago and they were right on the job as soon as re- ceived. Bro. Thomas J. Baxter seems to have quite a lot of trouble with his new machine, but we think he will soon learn to use it. Quite a lot of difference between an O. R. T, spe- cial and one of those old double keyboard Premiers. ' Bro. Bylander is now acting second trick wire chief and manages to keep things hum- ming. Bro. Hogewanlng recently bought himself a “Henry” and when weather permits he rides to work, but has to store his machine in the garret to keep someone from steal- ing it. Bro. John Wadsworth Davis has been feel- ing poorly lately, not having fully recovered from that last trip to Baxter, la. We would advise him to stay at home until warm weather. Bro. Charles Hattwick has been acting wire chief lately. Bro. Baxter gave him a Camel cigarette some time ago. He was on the “hummer" for about two weeks, and has now sworn off smoking. Digitized by tjOOQie
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550 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro, Bonders, still on the night owl trick, still loyal to the manager and wire chief. Bro. Young asked for thirty days’ vacation nrionth of June, as he had important business to attend to. We would like to know what it is. Bro. Ralph Stokes still acting as Sunday wire chief, wishes some of those ginks out on the line would quit sending so many consists. C. E. Collings, a former <2., M. ft S. P. man, and an old-timer, quit the Postal here and has been working extra here two weeks as we are short a man. Miss Eva Jewett, our chief messenger girl, is to become the bride of a lieutenant in the near future. Chicago : Business is picking up despite the embargoes that hold back half the traffic. If you get on Kansas City some evening and copy a few 61s you’ll doubt there is anything embargoed out of Kansas City. Bro. Supple passed up El Reno circuit and loafs (40c an hour) around on the west locals. Bro. Knapp left for 15 days at Pittsburgh. You can do an awful lot in Pittsburgh in fifteen days (to your bank roll). Bro. Carroll visited us recently. He makes a fine looking sailor. Understand he will work in one o'f the Great Lake stations. Bro. Oemke says they forgot he*s out there. He went from detention to quarantine and into the pest house. He says much more of this and they'll have to put him in the guard house. Bro. Simonds off sick two nights and Mr. Patterson gathered in eight hours each night, enough to get an O. R. T. card. But then a card Is a detriment to a good man (?). Bro. O’Connor reprimanded for moving rush business marked RUSH from Leahy's office. Bro. Lee reprimanded for insisting Herington take 5 divisions while "Rr* held up some red ball reports. Bro. Flannlgan reprimanded for insisting Tucumcari send his messages like an operator instead of a stu- dent. (This Is the way to make the men have confidence in one! What?) EH Reno : Bro. Barnard has returned to “NO” after two weeks* absence. We are sorry to lose Bro. Watkins, but 'wish him success in his new position. Bro. Swain returned to Little Rock after trying our fine climate for a few days. Bro. Davis was off ten days visiting In Iowa. Business is very good. The entire force is kept busy all the time moving Uncle Sam’s goods. Bros. Kay and Dunnam are expected here for the big meeting Saturday. Herington: Bro. Rollin is abck with us, having been sent home from the Great Lakes to await his call. We are also looking for Bro. Campbell to return most any day. Bro. Harper was sent to Bar Harbor, lie. Bro. Patterson back under the same conditions, and is working his trick at the yard office. Lots of rumors connected with the ex- pected raise in salary from Unde 8am, bat nothing authentic as yet. Bro. Dunnam, our G. S. ft T., passed through recently on his way to New Orleans. “Barney” will be traveling “double” on the return trip and he has our heartiest con- gratulation. Bro. Rogers is on the 6 :00 a. m. show-up now. It’s pretty hard for **Rog** to make It since the clocks were shoved ahead an hour. Bro. Pearsoll visited a few days with his parents in Topeka during March. Plenty of work and still a scarcity Of men in this territory. R. D. Stoves, Local Chairman. Panhandle Division — Bro. Armstrong, agent Canute, must be going Into the ranch biz, as he is buying blooded stock. Local Chairman Wllday, Oklahoma City passenger station, spent several days in Chi- cago recently. Bro. G. E. Stone is now secretary and treasurer of the United States Oil ft Refining Co. We all regret his leaving and wish him success. His address is Suite 502, Oil Ex- change bldg., Oklahoma City, Okla. He was relieved by Mr. Stewart at Oklahoma City passenger slation. Mr. Marsh is on second there pending bulletin. Bro. N. P. Truss goes to McLoud, Bro. W. F. Brown to Choctaw, and Bro. J. 8. Bar- ron to Greenfield agencies, and Bro. C. R. Young to third Yukon. Please send in some news. None received this month from out on line. Unfortunately last month’s notes from Bro. Cruse, at Geary, were lost and we had no write-up from this division. Drop a card to my address with any news you may have. A. L. Martin, Div. Cor. 515 N. Kelly st., Oklahoma City, Okla. El Paso Division — The report of general secretary and treas- urer shows that some of the brothers have as yet failed to pay the voluntary contribu- tion. Let’s get behind this, brothers, and show our committee that we appreciate Its efforts to better our working conditions and salaries. And you brothers working in the same office with nons, get after them. They are getting the benefits and you are paying for it. Don’t be backward. Remind, them of their duty. Ex-Bro. A. E. Wester, at Plains, on this division, has gone to the Katy, which Is still unfair to its agents and operators, and where there is a strike on. Brothers should notify all operators to keep clear of the Katy. Digitized by v^oooLe
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Tue Railroad Telegrapher. 551 Bra F. M. Fling is now on second Pratt, Bro. Farrell on first, and Bra Bonecutter has the agency. Bros. Smith, Townsley and Swan are now •‘doing their bit” for “Unde Sam.*' We now have several ladies on this divi- sion. They make good O. R. T. members. All that is necessary when they land a posi- tion is to hand them the blanks. Don’t overlook this. Bro. Hill is now agent at Romero, Bra O. A. Rusterholts going to Optima. No doubt there ase several news items that I have overlooked. Tou boys will have to help me get them. Bro. Nicholas, Mlneola, wears the smile that won’t come off. It’s a boy. Csbt. 542. C., B. & Q. R. R, Div. No. 130. Relay Division — Bulletin 226, O. C. Redman; 227, C. E. Villars ; 228, C. A. King ; 229, L. O. Louden- ber; 220, J. H. Harvey. It is very gratifying to note that we have only four delinquents for the current term, all of whom have promised to pay up short- ly. This is a good indication that our mem- bership is wide awake. We hope the good work will continue; and that we will have a one hundred per cent membership by the close of the term. Since closing up our last schedule I think we have been too lenient with the nons, with the expectation that after they received their back pay and a substantial Increase; they would have manhood enough to show some appreciation for what the Order had done for them. But we find the same old nons with the same old story, “I am going to join just as soon as I do this or that.” It would be far better tor them if they would come out and tell the truth by saying, ”1 am too cheap. It's easier to steal from those who pay dues and maintain the organ- ization, so I will just keep on robbing some one else and live off of what charity they give.” One thing that we ought to be proud of is that this type of a non is way in the minority. These same nons are the ones mostly interested in what increase will be received through the wage commission at Washington. Bro. Wilkins, LaCrosse, spent a day in Chicago on business during the early part of March. Sister -Mary Davis was off a few days visiting at Houston, Tex. Bros. Denton and Rogers spent a day in Chicago during the first of March, cleaning up grievances. J. J. Ross. Aurora Division— New members; H. H. Engles and J. C. Wilkes. Streator, HL ; J. M. Miller and F. M. Irwin. Earlville ; Sister Miss Gladys G. Bird, Chana, 111. ; Bros. E. F. Nordeen, Neponset, 11L, Q. R. Copeland and J. L. Berry, Shab- bona ; F. E. Smith, New Milford ; R. G. The- lin, Hinsdale; R. G. Thomgren, Haselhurst; L. J. Water and H. V. Shrove, Milledgevllle ; Wm. A. Bird, E. M. Ritenour and Bro. Laughrin, Big Cut; B. H. Kroh, Polo; C. E. White, Serena, 111. ; H. F. Cook, Compton, 111. ; W. T. Shaw, Harmond, HI. ; J. L. Ander- son, Yorkville ; R. H. Hartman, Gregor Grove, and B. K. Paxton, Aurora. To Bro. DuSell of the Relay Office, Bros. Wicks, Salander and Todd due credit should be given for the good work they have done lining up the non-members. The Aurora Division still has some nons especially at the small agencies. Get after them and give them no rest until they line up. If you don't know where they are lo- cated, ask your local chairman for a list of them. Aurora Division Notes— On March 12th the sad news was received of the death of the wife of Bro. J. L. Hemen- way, of Steward, III. Bro. Atherton called on Bro. Todd, March 18th, on his way to Mendota. Bro. Todd went to LaCrosse, March 26th, to help check the books of Bro. Rogers, Jr., G. S. i T. Csbt. 6. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to His heavenly home, beloved wife of our esteemed brother, J. L. Hemenway, in manifestation of our grief and fraternal sym- pathy, be it Resolved , That the members of the Aurora Division of System Division No. 180 extend to the sorrowing brother and the members of the afflicted family their sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this their sad hour of bereavement; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the bereaved brother, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publi- cation. E. F. Todd, T. G. Vernon, Jambs Skslly, Committee . CARD OF THANKS. To the Brothers and Friends of Aurora Divi- sion : We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the brothers and friends who so kindly con- tributed to the beautiful floral offering sent to us in our hour of grief. It certainly makes it much easier to bear these burdens, when we know there are others to mourn and sympathise with us. J. L. Hbmbnwat and Family. Steward, I1L Digitized by v^oooLe
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552 The Railroad Telegrapher. Deardstovcn Division — Bro. Haste has resumed at Virden and Bro. Dogon at Ayers after several days' illness. It is now brothers A. M. J. Todd, Cambon second ; Larson, Christopher second ; Droun, second Sessor; Bates first and Christopher third Jacksonville ; Hunter, second Verdun ; Coker and Fowcett, second Ayres, and Sister Frost, first Herrin Junction. When you hear of a non and can't do anything with him, report the case to Bro. Korte, Beardstown relay, and he will sure land him, if there is any show whatever. Dpn’t forget “No card, no favors especially to the non on Central Yards third. First he tried to make us believe that he had sent his application to Bro. Rawlins at St Louis, then he promised Bra Hunt, when over the line last fall, that if he stayed in the business he would take out a card as soon as we received a raise; but nothing doing, even with ten to fifteen dollars raise and $100.00 back pay. He has been living off the O. R. T. for the last ten or twelve years, and should be treated as an undesirable stranger by everyone. Jacksonville office is now solid with the exception of Cashier Mumbower. J. H. Mann, Asst. Local Chmn. Galesburg Division — Bro. H. M. McVey, who relieved Bro. G. V. Jones, third Golden, a few days when he was called to Liberty, 111., by the local exemption board, * later relieved Bro. Har- rington on second Ewbanks, who went to third Quincy Switch. All three of the boys at Plymouth are with us now ; also F. H. Mullen, Macomb, and S. C. Dennis, Colmar, making those points solid. Give them the glad hand. Bro. Flinn, second Colmar, and Agent Dennis had to double several days when the wreck occurred Just north of Bear Creek bridge. Bro. R. G. Taute, first Knoxville, went to Paloma second a few nights, opened tempo- rarily on account of the increase in business on the Quincy Branch, vice Bro. Taute to Fall Creek, vice Bro. T. P. Ogle to third Quincy Switch. Bro. Armstrong, former local chairman of this division, now with J. E. Bennett Sc Co., grain brokers, Joliet, 111., visited friends and relatives at Macomb, 111., two weeks recently. About a dozen of the boys from Quincy Branch and some of the boys from the Han- nibal Division were in Quincy on March 16th and had an enjoyable time. Bro. Bower, Bradford, visited his wife in Camp Point over Sunday recently. Mrs. Bower underwent a very serious operation a short time ago, but is getting along as well as could be expected. Bro. Root, first Yates City, relieved by Bro. Mills, of Santa Fe tower, four days on account of the death of a relative. Bro. McCleery, third Yates City, visited in Galesburg recently. Bra Hoskins, first Canton, was sick re- cently, relieved by Watt, an old-timer. New members : W. E. Flinn, J. M. Ander- son, F. B. Swisegood, W. A Brown and J. H. Wier. We give them a hearty welcome.' Thanks to Bros. Jones and Waddill for generous assistance with the write-up this month. * Local Chairman. Galesburg Division , North End — Sister Cornwall, agent Briar Bluff, visiting at Houston, Texas, was relieved by Bra Sweatt and he on second by Bro. Ransom. Bro. Cunningham was off a few days re- cently on account of the illness and death of his father. Bro. Shaw is relieving on third Barstow. Brothers on the smaller branch lines and others having easy access to those stations, get after the few nons left and let us put the Galesburg Division back at the head of the list again. Bro. G. E. Moore is now on Abingdon third, and Norcross, of Rock Island ticket office, at Orion agency. Cert. 1851. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, The Master, in His infinite wis- dom has chosen to call from our midst the beloved father of Bro. Cunningham, and Whereas, In silent obedience we know that the Master will not fail to reward the many kind and noble deeds of this good father, be it Resolved , That the members of C., B. Sc Q. Division No. 130, Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers, extend to the bereaved brother their heartfelt sympathy; and be it further Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved brother, and a copy sent to Thi Telegrapher for publication. D. C. Root, * G. V. Jones, L. C. Waddill, Committee. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, The Master, in His infinite wis- dom has chosen to call from our midst the beloved mother of Bro. Richardson, and Whereas, In silent obedience we know that the Master will not fail to reward the many kind and noble deeds of this good mother; be it Resolved , That the members of C., B. St Q. Division No. 180, Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers, extend to the bereaved brother their heartfelt sympathy; and be it further Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 553 Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be sent to the bereaved brother, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publication. D. C. Root, G. V. Jones, L. C. Waddill, Committee. CARD OF THANKS. We desire to thank all the brothers of division 130 for the beautiful floral offering of a large spray of yellow narcissus and also wish to thank the Erie office force for their spray of beautiful carnations given us and our family in our great bereavement, the loss of our mother. Brothers, your kindnesB will never be forgotten. Yours fraternally, V. S. Richardson, F. F. Richardson. La Crosse Division — Bro. M. Strand and W. B. Schrunk have resigned, the former going on his claim near Casper, Wyo. A. H. Dosdal, second Bay City, has gone to his farm near Exland, Wis. The wives of Bros. Dyer, of De Soto, and Fitzsimmons, of Ferryville, confined to La Crosse hospitals, have kept their husbands bury, after hours, visiting them. We all hope for their speedy recovery. S. S. Foster, second Pepin, relieved by Harrison two weeks on account of sickness, who later re- lieved H. N. Higgins, Prairie du Chien, and and Johnson, at Crawford, also on sick list. Bro. Rupp, first Prairie du Chien, on sick list a few days, was relieved by Cullen. Bro. W. B. Tarrt, first Prairie du Chien, off several months on account of poor health. Is reported in a poor condition. We hope for his recovery. Bro. Rogers, Jr., and Bro. C. E. White recently made a trip to Prairie du Chien and secured Higgins* application. Bro. Strand, relieved at North Junction by Bro. Tucheck and he by Bro. Willsey, later Tucheck taking hiB old trick. Stoddard third closed a few nights while Kircher was sick. Bro. Kemp, second Oakland, says things shine around his place (he has installed elec* trie lights). Oakland is solid and intends to stay that way^ There is some talk of the Belt Line coming In by the way of Oakland and down to South St. Paul. Bro. G. E. Leavitt, third Prescott, on sick list, relieved by ex-Bro. Geo. Rommelmyer, pumper there. Bro. Slothouer, third Hager, visited Dia- mond Bluff recently. Bro. J. E. Reed, third Bay City, was re- cently put into Class A in the draft, subject to call at any time. Kronberg relieved him while being examined. The emergency coal hoist at Bay City is now in operation and trains, running short, can coal up there. Bro. Ed. Woods, agent Trevino, lost his mother Sunday, March 10th. This is a hard blow to Bro. Woods and we all extend our heartfelt sympathy. Bro. H. L. Sterling, first Pepin, has his five year old daughter in La Crosse Hos- pital for appendicitis. She took cold after the operation and had an attack of pneu- monia. The company expects to put up three or four hundred cars of Ice there for the ice house at Chicago. Bro. Falkenstein, agent Nelson, has been acting as car inspector, sorting out grain cars from trains set out there. Bro. Smeltzer went to Prescott and Nelson was closed one night owing to the shortage of operators. H. R. Heitmann, second there, will soon be doing his bit following the plow. Thanks to Bros. Smeltzer, Lindner and White for this write-up. Come again. Cert. 227. Hannibal Division — Bro. H. E. Rhodes, Hannibal Yards, was relieved several days on account of sickness. Bro. R. E. Cramer, shopping in St. Louis recently, says it didn’t take very long to get rid of the increase he received in salary recently. Bro. C. C. Tully, of Ashburn, has engaged in general merchandise business at Vandalia. Bro. G. R. Marks, second at Louisiana, for years has gone with the Southern Pacific at Tucson, Ariz., as baggage agent. He will be missed from our ranks as he was a very active worker for the O. R. T. We all wish him success. Bro. McHue, on sick list, is being relieved at Foley night by Miss Scherry, of Old Monroe. Callib Mats, L. C. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, On the fifth day of March the decree of our Heavenly Father went out and summoned to his eternal reward, after a life of activity and service, the beloved wife of Brother G. L. Hubbard ; be it therefore Resolved , That Hannibbal Division No. 130 extend to our good brother and the other members of the bereaved family, the most sincere condolences and the heartfelt sympa- thy of our members In this hour of their loss and sorrow ; be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to our bereaved brother, and a copy sent to The Telegrapher for publica- tion. L. E. Williams, H. L. Fisher, Callie Mats, Committee. Digitized by v^oooLe
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554 The Railroad Telegrapher, CARD OP THANKS. We desire to express our appreciation to the brothers of the Hannibal Division for the beautiful floral design sent to us, a mute token of their sympathy extended to us in the sad hour of bereavement by the death of our wife and mother. Bro. G. L. Hubbard, Cert. 132. Bro. G. G. Hubbard, Cert. 2420. Bro. D. T. Gray, Cert. 996. Sistbr D. T. Gray, Cert. 911. 8t. Joe , Mo., Division — News very scarce again. Wish some of you would loosen up with a few items next month. It is now Bro. E. J. Glaze, Tower 58, and Bro. C. D. Bradley, Beaverly. There are still a few hanging out who can't see where the Order ever benefited anyone. Keep after them. Bro. Ed. Boyd, first Forest City, is sick with measles. Dispatcher Tim Miller off for some time. We understand he is paralyzed on thp left side. We hope for his speedy recovery and return to duty. Bro. R. C. Stewart, agent Clearmont, has resigned and will go on some of the Western divisions of the U. P. We are sorry to lose him. L. J. Miller, Div. Cor. Coin, la. Crc8ton Division — Bro. R. F. Bickett, operator Greenfield, spent Sunday recently at Maryville, visiting home folks. C. G. McAdow of Sacramento, Cal., who formerly worked on this division, called on the boys at Creston ; also stopped off one night with Dan Hainey, Arkoe, and several days at Barnard, visiting with Bro. R. E. Cook. McAdow had just been promoted to yard- master when a Southern Pacific switch en- gine hit him, cutting off one foot, and he is just now out of hospital. Bro. R. R. Moberly of Stanton visited home folks at Barnard recently, and Bro. M. J. Hull, agent Spaulding, spent Sunday with his parents at Pickering. Bro. D. B. Olvey, extra agent Hopkins, on thirty days* vacation, was relieved by yours truly, relieved by W. A. Barkus, a new man at Maryville. Later Bro. Olvey went to the Casper Division as agent at Greybull, Wyo. ; a good man for a good place. #We wish him the best of success. Bro. Geo. Nixson, agent Conway, was in Glenwood recently, relieved by his helper. Bro. W. B. Estes, on vacation, is visiting at Rosendale. Bro. Wm. Fleming, agent Hopkins, who has been on sick list for over two years, is teeling much better and was down to the station a few Sundays ago. We hope he will soon be able to take his old job again. No news this month except from Bro. Cook at Barnard. Brothers, drop me a line when- ever you hear of anything and let's have a good writeup each month. Remember, we still have a few nons. Let's get after them and make this division solid by Jun6 30th. With a little effort on the part of each of us this can be done. O. C. Wallace, Asst. L. C. Ottumwa Division — Bro. W. A. Stroup, "BY” third, and Sister Mrs. W. A., third West Bure, were off sev- - eral days recently, attending the funeral of Bro. Stroup’s brother at Wappello, la. Measles seem to be going the rounds. Bro. W. A. Littleton, Lockrldge, and Bro. Roberts, Beckwith, were relieved ten days by Bro. Brown of Lockridge, relieved by Britain, Danville second, closed mean- while. Bro. BeTiningfleld, Middletown, on a trip to Kentucky, was relieved by Hart, from Danville. Bro. J. J. Orman is relieving Johnson at Chariton, quarantined with smallpox. Glendale agency was closed several days while Sister Sloan was on the sick list. Bro. Harris relieved ye scribe at Fairfield, who goes to Danville first, vice Bro. Lowry, moving to Fairfield. Bro. Balsb&ugh, Biggsville, has gone to the Milwaukee at Miles City, Mont., relieved by a non from the B. A O. Bro. Willmering, third Gladstone, resigned- on short notice, relieved by Carmody, third Beckwith. Bros. Tribler and Babcock doubled two nights until he arrived. Most all the boys have received their back pay in checks mailed from the superin- tendent's office. Automatic signals are now going good, Galesburg to New London. Every brother get after the few "misters" on the division and line them up. The few delinquents all look hopeful. Thanks to Bro. Tribler for notes. Come again, please. P. E. H., A. L. C. Omaha Division — Bro. Miller from Gretna went to Good- win, vice Bro. Willoughby to Dakota City agency, vice Honey, drafted. Bro. Wachel from Goodwin to Gibson; Bro. Jacks to Waterbury ; Bro. Hayes on vacation. It is now Bro. Bouman at Brunswick. We are glad to have him with us again. Other new members : J. T. Kara, Nickerson, and L. B. Rakow, Oakland. This makes Soo Line and Onelll Line solid with the exception of South Soo City. Still three nons on the main line. Let's get them, brothers, and make the Omaha the banner division. C. Digitized by LaOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 555 D. Cameron of Oreapolis has filled out the necessary papers. “DX”, South Omaha, discontinued as a train order office, a clerk being put on in place of operator. Bro. Baum, home on furlough, returned to naval training station. He expects to be sent to Harvard to complete his course. Ashland office has “been rewired and a new set of up-to-date instruments installed. Sister Shaughnessy, on sick list one night, caused Bros. Holecek and Grader to double. Bro. Henesh is now division relief agent, Bro. Gleason going to Walthlll as agent. Bro. H. M. Benn writes from Camp Wads- worth, Spartanburg, 8. C., that he is in good health and learning fast. Bro. Black, relieved a few days by Mr. Graham, who has asked for blanks. Third Oakland closed ; Bro. Rakow to extra list, relieved Bro. Byergo at Royal, who is getting along nicely since he under- went an operation. Bro. West, who went to Lincoln to meet General Chairman Denton, is being relieved by Mr. Graham, as he is under quarantine, his wife having a light touch of scarlet fever, but she is getting along nicely. Bro. Riley of Leshara was olT a few daya attending court. Not many notes contributed this month. Send me any notes that come your way. H. L. Gilbert, Wann, Neb. Lincoln Division—. Bro. W. R. Hufnagle, agent Utica, re- lieved several days by Bro. L. E. Mann, who also relieved Bro. W. G. Weaver, agent Exeter, a few days account sickness of father, and Bro. J. M. Holder, second "HN" Hastings, account illness of mother in Den- ver. Bro. J. C. Bruce, third Kenesaw, visited his folks between trains at Hastings re- cently. Bro. E. A. Bourne, agent Sutton, appointed agent Ravenna, vice Meredith, acting agent at Suttoh, in place of former. Bro. L. E. Mann to third Rev^nna extra ; Erdkamp to cashier there. Bros. “KN” and “MY” at ”NI” and Bro. Burkhalter, third "KY” Lincoln, have helped to increase the membership considerably, making it nice for the L. C. Bro. G. O. Vant, formerly first Ravenna, is located at Camp Dodge, Iowa, with Co. B., S13 F. S. B., and Bro. C. A. Anderson, formerly second Fairmont, with Co. A., 20th Infantry, Fort Douglas, Utah. Send them a card. Our efficient local chairman, Bro. P. H. Miller, on O. R. T. business a few days, was relieved by C. El Rickart, McCook Divi- sion. Div. Cor. Sterling Division — It is now Bros. S. A. Knight and L. T. Townsend at Bridgeport, Neb. We hope, with their assistance, to line up four or five more new members not far from there. We have only a few nons left on this divi- sion now, so let us all do our duty and see that they are all lined up. Bro. Henderson, Mlnatare, Neb., has been appointed agent at Guernsey, Neb. Brothers, these write-ups are getting shorter every month because I am unable to get anyone to send me any items. When- ever you are relieved for a vacation and another man comes to take your place, or whenever you hear of such changes, slip me a note, and anything else of interest that goes to make an interesting writeup. When I have to do it all myself, it is im- possible to get near all of it. Business is good down this way, and since the company has cut off my helper as well as other sta- tions, I do not have much time to gather news items, and yours would be very much appreciated. One of our brothers who gof a $12.00 raise has failed to get an up-to-date card. Sev- eral others have also failed to remit, but hope they will do so yet. Let us keep right after them as well as the nons. If they do not pay up I will give you their names next month, and some of you can probably find out what the trouble is. I hope to be able to report more than two new tnembers in next month’s writeup. F. A. Sense, L. C. McCook Division — It is now Bro. W. R. Jones. We are glad to have him with us. Bro. Mundy, who went to the B. ft R. G., figures on coming back soon. Sorry he left us and five years’ seniority. Boys, you better Investigate other line schedules before you jump out and lose your seniority here. Bro. Hitt, who went to the D. ft R. G. last fall, recently passed through on vacation and ad- vised Bro. Schrack he was going to war soon. We all wish him a safe return to the old U. S. A. Bro. Putz and Bro. Bloom are boosting the Woodstock typewriter, and anyone in need of a mill give the brothers a trial. Bro. Putz, when called to Bedford, la., on account of sickness in his family, was re- lieved by Licht, who later relieved one of the brothers at Red Cloud. Bro. Landau, in California on account of his wife's health, advises she is not improv- ing and will return to Derby shortly. Brothers, it is now time for all of you to hustle the “nons” into line. The Febru- ary issue of the journal gives us a little light on what Bro. Perham is trying to do for us. Give him the same backing you Digitized by tjooole
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556 The Railroad Telegrapher. gave your schedule committee l&Bt fall, and I assure you he will “bring back the bacon” So let’s get the 100 per cent we have been wishing for these many years. There is no reason why anyone should stay out C. R. Hunt, L. C. Caspar Division — J. P. McPerrin of Guernsey goes to second Greybull, where he can look after hfe home- stead near there. We must give the nons no rest on this division until they line up and help us to defray necessary expenses incurred, that they as- well as others may share in the nice Increases we receive. Remember, “No card , no favors” We anticipate the appli- cations of four or five this -pay-day, and think there are others under conviction. We have a full supply of applications on hand. Ask for some and get busy. We would apperciate some items for the writeup. Haven’t had a single note from any of the boys this month, and news items are scarce. A. G. Straley, Cert. 298. San Antonio & Aransas Pass R. R., Div. No. 141. Bro. A. H. Barnett, general chairman, has been assigned Rockdale agency ; Bro. Syl- vester, transferred from Division 63, as- signed Foth agency ; Bro. Link, transferred from Division 26, assigned operator-cashier Flatonla. Bro. Buckles, who traded Muldoon agency to Mr. Hesse for Altair agency, has re- signed. Mr. C. A. Maxwell, division superintendent, has entered Government service. We wish him luck. Bro. J. O. Little, Leon Springs, off sick- relieved by Bro. Trantham. Bro. B. P. Holchak, second Cuero, has been in a hospital a few days this month, relieved by Bro. Sylvester. Bro. Suehs, first Cuero. off sick, relieved by Mr. Colegate, agent Cuero, and a former brother. We all read Bro. Cherry’s letter In the March Telegrapher and enjoyed it. Come again, Bro. Cherry. Give us some more in- teresting information, and when you reach “Somewhere in Prance”, send Bro. Rawlins what news you can. Cert. 107. Trinity & Brazos Valley R. R., Div. No. 144. The stability of our organization and the conditions that cduse men in same and simi- lar kinds of employment to organize for mutual protection does not exist, in the minds of some of the leading members, in the same degree as heretofore. This Is a wrong impression. If the Government con- tinues to operate the railroads after the war the functions of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, aB an organization, will be ab- solutely necessary to take care of our in- terests. The organization which I represent is composed of as loyal a bunch of men as any craft or organization extant. There may be a few •recalcifrants, but they are scarce. As far as our little ( ?) bunch is concerned, they are here, any many of them on the waiting list. Every mother's son of them will respond when the call reaches them. The assignments reported in the February Telegrapher should be corrected as fol- lows ; Bro. 4 W. Cble, agent Covington, as- signed to Bardwell ; Bro. Harris, who went out on strike with the “Katy" boys, to Cov- ington ; Bro. R. E. Evans, agent Newby, to Streetman, Bro. Hardie returning to Kirven; Bro. Garland, from Division 58, goes to Newby agency. We welcome Bro. Garland to our membership; also to service in the T. & B. V. If any of our members at any time need the services of an attorney or any legal advice, Bro. Garland will be found capable of supplying your needs. Wre have two births to report : To Bro. J. C. Yancy and wife, at^Normangee, a fine girl ; to Bro. R. V. Smith and wife, at Waxa- hachie, a fine girl. Bro. George F. Barnhill and wife announce the arrival of their first born on February 24, 1918. We wish to extend congratula- tions. No changes have been reported this month. The reminiscences from the “Old Timer”, Cert. 109, were very much enjoyed and ap- preciated. We wish to thank Bro. Stanton for the very interesting letter which ap- peared in the February Telegrapher. We sincerely hope that others will follow Bro. Stanton’s example. Your correspondent will appreciate all the assistance you are willing to give him. Notes for the March number were received too late. The "Chief Dispatcher of Heaven and Earth” sent a dispatch to Bro. R. Q. Far- quhar^on March 16th, just after he had reached his office. The shock came as a stroke of apoplexy. Up to this time he was well and hearty and had enjoyed the best of health for years. He was moving about his office, with the messenger boy and super- intendent present, when suddenly he fell to the floor unconscious. Roger was a whole- souled, good-hearted fellow. Cert. 86. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, God, who knows and does all things well, has permitted death to take away our beloved brother, Roger Q. Far- quhar, and whether we understand it or Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 557 not, we humbly submit to the providences of God and commend the grief-stricken wife and sorrowing relatives to Him who is willing to heal the broken-hearted ; therefore be it Resolved, That we, the . members of Sys- tem Division No. 144, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, in token of our friendship, fra- ternal sympathy and brotherly lov.e, extend to the bereaved family these words of con- solation and love ; and be it further Resolved, That copies of this memorial be furnished the grief-stricken wife ami The Telegrapher for publication. C. H. Crockett, G. C. J. H. Henderson, L. C. * R. L. Lein weber, L. C. N. W. Smith, G. S. & T. Ft. W. & D. C. Ry., Div. No. 145. Bro. A. C. Atkins, former secretary and treasurer, is now in the Signal Corps. His address is Co. E, 51st Tel., Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. Bro. Jenkins from Dundee assigned third trick Rhome. Bro. Stephenson, relieving cashiers at Tex- line and Childress recently, has returned to third Bowie. Bro. Hodges, cashier Bowie, has given up the bachelor life and married recently. Con- gratulations from alL Vernon now solid, Bro. Thompson on cash- ier's desk a new member. Chlllicothe and Quanah forces still taking the extra money secured and ignoring the advice as to how it was obtained. T. & B. V. engine No. 67, March 22nd, ex- ploded, killing Engineer Clopton, Fireman Matthews and Brakeman Blevins. Engineer Clopton had been In the service for twenty- nine years and was liked by all the boys. Bro. Wales has been placed in Class 1. Bro. Thomason, first Texline, off for ninety days at Marlin Wells for his health, relieved by extra man from C. ft S. Application papers have been furnished Mr. Hooker, third Amarillo, and we expect to be able to report that office solid next issue. Div. Cob. 6th, 6th and 7th Divisions — Bra Casey, agent Munday, off recently, relieved by Mr. Milstead from Goree, he be- ing relieved by Tom Russell. Bro. Jenkins, agent Dundee, was relieved by Mr. Little. Mr. Lyons, on cashier's Job Abilene, has been furnished application papers, and ex- pect to report that office solid in the near future. Bro. Settle, former agent at Swenson, is now working on C. ft S. at Clayton, N. M. The 40 per cent increase in wages asked for would do wonders on this end of the line, as practically all of us are paid from 25 to 50 per cent less than most every other road. Send your notes to Bro. Casey, local chair- man, before the 20th of each mbnth, in order that we will be represented in the journal each issue. Div. Cor. Western Pacific R. R., Div. No. 153. Eastern Division Notes — It is Bro. Wright at Delle second trick.* Welcome to our ranks ! That makes the Delle office solid O. R. T. Go to it, Mac! Mrs. McElroy, who is on the extra board, promises to come in soon. Bro. Swindler from Jungo is back on the 1 extra board again. He was assigned to Knolls, but our chief closed the day trick there, which makes it a one-man job. Business has fallen off on the east end. So far they have not pulled off any of the operators at Delle, but there is an object on the first trick at Wendover that should be ousted. If he asks for a favor, remember the old slogan, “No card, no favors” Here is hoping McAdoo will approve the increases we are after. All it takes is a little O. R. T. “pep.” Still a few nons hanging on with their hands folded and mouth open to gulp the benefit the Order gets for them. Bro. Hill from Division 22 is now a mem- ber of this division. Bro. Cooper assigned agent Wendover, vice Bro. C. Gibson, promoted to . traveling auditor. Sister Daugherty, second Wells, called to New Jersey some time ago account serious illness of her mother. Bro. Daugherty left for New Jersey March 7th upon the receipt of a wire stating his wife was very ill. We all hope to see them return soon. Only two or three “ slackers ” left on East- ern Division. After a rest of three months and no news from any of the boys on the Western Pacific Division, east or west. Bro. C. W. Long to second Oroville yard. W. R. Darrah bid in second Hackstaff. R. H. Moody from car department Sacra- mento, to second “SR.” Bro. N. C. Nelson to third Portola. Bro. C. O. Butts to Kingdon agency. Bro. S. H. Crowe to second trick teleg- rapher at Spring Garden. Bro. L. H Thayer to first at JefTery shops. Bro. D. D. Ingham to agency Reno Jet. Bro. R. E. Wilder to third “SR” Sacra- mento. Bro. S. C. McDavitt to third Stockton yard. Bro. W. E. Rand to second trick Carbona, Cal. Some of these telegraph Jobs are going pretty cheap nowadays, as the “old-timers” Digitized by v^oooLe
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558 The Railroad Telegrapher. are either being drafted or going into the Army or Signal Corps. Bro. E. E. Bell of Oroville yard first, who has been on the sick list for ten days, is back on the job again. Since our last writeup eight new members have joined W. P. Division No. 168, on the Western Division, between Gerlach and San Francisco. The list of none is very small on the west end these days; not over ten now who are not solid O. R. T. Keep up the good work, brothers. If you show the nons the error of their way they generally arrange to come in with us, and then stick with us. Bro. F. E. Wallace, agent at Keddie and chairman of the local division, O. R. T., was relieved by Mr. Ormiston while Bro. Wallace attended a committee meeting at San Fran- cisco with Bro. H. B. Marshall. Secretary of local division, O. R. T., Bro. Marshall, was relieved by Bro. J. C. Rickli. The local committee will have some news for the brothers very soon, we understand. Bro. E. N. Vetter, second at “GO” San Francisco, had a kick coming last writeup, as we or the printers forgot to put “Bro.” to his name, so we are careful to not omit It this time. “Si” is too good and been an “O. R. T.” too many years to let that happen. Brothers, send any notes or changes to Bro. Marshall at Pleasant Grove. Cert. 165. Florida East Coast Ry., Div. No. 160. Now that we are organized thoroughly, with a membership locally equal to any, we should have our regular writeup in Thi Telegrapher. As this will be about the only way for all of us to keep in touch with each other. It is requested that the members send any items or Information to the local chair- man. After many years of inactivity, during which time this division has been held to- gether by a few who deserve great credit, we And ourselves with one of the poorest wage minirfmms and working conditions in the South. Less than five years ago this line was looked upon as one of the best in this respect. It is hoped that the decision of the Wage Adjustment Board will settle the wage problem at least temporarily. But with wages and standard working conditions adjusted, thero will still be local grievances. It is hoped that little friction will be caused by any differences, and It would seem that our employing officials, having unlimited author- ity along certain lines, will not be hampered in any way In dealing with the employes toward fair working conditions. As requested, please send in any news you can and we will try to keep the F. E. C. In The Telegrapher. Cert. 82. O-W. Ry. & N. Co., Div. No. 161. Agency changes : Bro. J. W. Howk to lone ; L. M. Hacket to Biggs, temporarily; Bro. O. O. Merritt, Black River, to Heppner Jet., vice Taylor, relieving Mr. Huddleston at Heppner, on sick list ; Bryant relieving Tier- ney at Condon, on vacation. Bro. E. F. Feld- man to Wasco, vice Bro. Starm, appointed traveling agent First and Second Divisions. Telegraph changes : Bro. H. G. Cooper to third Hood River, relieved on third Arling- ton by a new man ; Cronnoble to second Aberdeen. Cert. 100. K. C., M. & O. Ry., Div. No. 163 With almost every report of dues paid your secretary gets an inquiry from the grand secretary regarding the address of & brother who has moved from the address given on the report. It would save a lot of correspondence and delay to your cards and other mail, including The Telegrapher, if if you would leave a forwarding address with the postmaster when you move. Don't overlook your dues and become de- linquent. A few are still on the unpaid list. Do you know whether the fellow next station to you, or working a trick with you, has an up-to-date card. If not, show him it is up to him to come across right now. On the 18th of this month I was relieved by Mr. Stewart from my duties with the company and assumed the position of man- ager for The Farmers’ Grain and Supply Company at this point. My most regret at leaving the telegraph service of the Orient is the fact that the brothers, of whom I have made acquaintance and personal friends, will gradually drift to the four corners of the earth and our friendship be broken. Personally the membership should take up with the general chairman more things than you do. Write your officers a little letter of any kind. Tell them what you think is wrong, and don’t forget to tell them of your appreciation when they do Anally get It righted. K. C. Parkhurst. Ann Arbor R R., Div. No. 164. First District— Bro. H. P. Ray has gone with the Toledo & Western Electric at Sylvania, Ohio, suc- ceeded by Bro. Strong from Harrietta at Azalia ; and Bro. R. R. Fox, Owosso, is now with the Trussed Steel Concrete Company at Youngston, Ohio. We wish them success. Bro. Lewis, Hallett, was off several days owing to the death of his wife. Cert. 2. Second District — M. E. Hovey from the G. R. ft I. succeeds G. Silver, first Marion. Lena Bootlinger is on second there. Digitized by Vaooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher 559 Bro. A. E. Mickens, Temple, resigned ; sta- tion closed; no man available for vacancy. Bro. Palmer, Farwell, who did not receive his week’s vacation last year, received extra pay* instead. Geo. Bates goes to Mt. Pleasant first, vice R. A. Willis to Whitmore, vice L. A. Keys to 'Ashley agency. Cmt*. S. Third District — Bro. Schriebe has decided to stay at Beu- . lah agency. Bro. Taylor appointed “GYM”, and Bro. Clark working the early morning hour at Selma. The brothers have been relieved of considerable work since a yardmaster and yard clerks have been put on there. Our schedule, which has been in the hands of the management since November 16, 1916, is now in the hands of the Director General of Railroads, under Government control, the company having no authority to adjust wage questions. As you will note in the last journal, we were properly represented before that body by our worthy president, and we will soon know something definite. Cert. 42. IN MEMORIAM. Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in His in- finite wisdom and goodness, has deemed it best to call to the great beyond the beloved wife of our brother, G. D. Lewis; therefore bo it Resolved , That the members of Division 164, Order Railroad Telegraphers, extend to the bereaved family their sincere and heart- felt sympathy in their sad hour of affliction; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this division, a copy sent to the bereaved family, and a copy sent to The Tei.egraph*r for publi- cation. H. J. Werkman, Frank Holms, W. H. Tirrbll, Committee. Gulf Coast Lines R. R., Div. No. 166. Bro. J. W. Jordan, agent Lawtell, is on the sick list. Position bulletined pending his return. Bro. B. F. Melton goes to Reaves. The committee met the general manager in Houston on April 1st and asked for a 26-day month and 8-hour day, and time and a half for Sunday work. Let’s all keep up-to-date, and when a new man comes on the road, if he does not carry a card, keep after him until he gets one. We have our division solid. Let's keep it so. “No card, no favors” Hope Bro. Jordan will recover and soon be able to take his position. Bro. H. Stormer, Jr., succeeds Bro. Scruggs, resigned, on Grayburg second. Csbt. 127. Chicago & Alton R. R., Div. No. 168. Southern and Northern Divisions — Bros. Elwood and Hines, Athol tower, spent their vacations in Colorado and St Louis, respectively. Bro. v Winkler, third “WC” Bloomington, oft ten days with measles. Sister Wilson, second Girard, relieved by Bro. Davis thirty days account sickness and death of her brother. Sister “K”, at Carlinville, is batching again, her husband having gone into the serv- ice of the United States. Bro. F. N. Burkdoll, Carlinville, goes to Williamsville agency. Bro. Whitson, Lawndale, on sick leave, re- lieved by Extra Dispatcher Brunton. Bro. W. A. Baker went to first. King to second, and Fowler to third Sloan, new po- sitions. Div. Cor., Certs. 226-291. Wabash R. R., Div. No. 170. - Springfield Division — The wage committee at Washington has taken up the matter of salary increases of the different crafts. When allowed, the in- creases will be effective from January 1st,' 1918 ; and 26 to 40 per cent is the raise expected. Bros. Ed Fessler and P. R. Met* are on vacations, relieved by new men. Car Distributor Hatfield, on sick list, re- lieved by “SM”, and he by the scribe. Bro. L. C. Davis has resumed at “MS”, and Bro. Horace Arnold third “V.” Bro. T. E. Smith, agent Pittsfield, to Orchard Farm a few days account death of relative, relieved by Hooper, second “AX”, and he by Bro. Savage, New Salem. Bro. A. M. Zimmerman, agent Bowen, re- lieved by Du Sail, a new man, several days, owing to the illness of his father. Bro. J. T. Quigley, third “NY”, off several days owing to the serious illness of his wife. They have our sympathy and hopes for Mrs. Quigley’s speedy recovery. “Z." Peru Division — Bro. Lipsett is now an extra dispatcher. Bro. Sanders gave up third Roanoke, suc- ceeded by Bro. KeifT. Bro. Hanson to Wil- liamsport second ; Smith to second Wauseon. Bro. Bresaugh relieved Bro. Mannen, sec- ond Peru Jet., on a pleasure trip to Cali- fornia. Second Hugo discontinued, a boy about six- teen acting as leverman, owing to shortage of operators. Bro. Bainfleld, third Toledo yard, was off sick two weeks. Digitized by tjOOQle
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560 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Engle relieved Bro. Collins, third At- tica, called to California by the death of his daughter, whose remains he brought back to the old home at Rushville. The sympathy of all is extended to him in his sad bereave- ment. Some good brother on east end. First Dis- trict, drop me a few notes each month. Thanks to Bro. Keiff for notes sent by him. A telegraph school has been started at Danville, with sixty pupils. C. G. Jump, C. & E. I. ticket agent, is one of the ‘'Profs.” Three two-hour lessons are given each week, at a cost to each student of one dollar a month. The C. & E. I. brothers met at the Aetna House, Danville, March 16th, and decided to organize an O. R. T. Club there, the mat- ter to be taken up with the local chairmen of the several different roads entering Dan- ville. The Wabash should be well repre- sented. Any O. R. T. desiring to join can get full information from Local Chairman Williams at “DA”, or Bro. Lidgard at ”Q.” The only requirements are an up-to-date. “Lid”, Cert. 846. Central Vermont R. R., Div. No. 171. Second District — The committee was sorry to receive the resignation of Local Chairman Caughlln ot this district, who went to the New Haven as dispatcher at Springfield, Mass. He has our best wishes for his success. Bro. C. M. Brooks, first White River Jet., has been appointed acting local chairman pending an election. Bro. Desontels, seebnd Essex Jet., off on account of sickness two weeks. I am glad to report that the few who were hanging back on this district have joined, and our membership is now very strong on the whole system. Boys, keep your dues paid up and try to get the non next to you or working with you. Keep the committee posted on every de- tail possible ; also keep your corre- spondent posted with all the information you can, such as sickness, changes, etc., at the different stations. Mrs. Varney of ”RY” relieved a few days by Mrs. Collins. Miss Roberta Boire, relieved by Sister Hod- ley, has returned from a vacation. Bro. McGee from the N. Y. N. H. is now on "BD” third. Bra S. W. Pyer, third "NS”, has enlisted In the Signal Corps, taking a course in wire- less at the University of Vermont, having passed the Government examination. Bro. S. E. Thresher, agent Georgia, has enlisted In the First Vermont Infantry. On account of heavy traffic from the West, Poland put on as extra dispatcher north end. Bro. Brennan, first Italy, to ”SA'\ re- lieved by Bellows. Be sure and keep the secretary informed of any change In your address, so that he can locate you if he needs to write you. We will have a meeting on this district some time this month. Every brother will be notified of date and place. Cert. 2. Third District — Bro. Hanigon, De Rivieres, was off a week owing to sickness. I am very glad to see this district solid. If any new man comes on the road, see that he gets a card as soon as possible. The boys have all received their back pay and feel very good over it. Brothers, send me all the news you can get In order to have a good writeup every month. L. J. M., Cert 2. Southern Division — F. R. Wilson goes to Norwich, Conn., agency, and G. J. Mitchell to Willimantic. Conn., as checker and cashier. Bro. Randall, Mansfield, Conn., has gone with the New Haven at Easton, Mass. Bro. Heath, Lebanon, visited Willimantic on March 4th and Bro. Randall and the Willi- mantic brothers spent d delightful evening together. The affair was arranged by Bro. Heath as a farewell to Bro. Randall. Now that we have received our back pay, we can more fully appreciate just what our committee has done for us, and we should be more eager than ever to stand behind it in any action it may take in the future. We were very fortunate in choosing our present committee. A great deal of credit belongs to Bro. Gibbs and Bro. Mannie, who from the day the O. R. T. was organized on this sys- tem, have done everything possible to bring about success. Let us show our appreciation for what they have done by keeping our dues paid up and continually punching up the “nons” Now is the time to get after them. They have all received the back pay we obtained for them, as high as 38 per cent increase since the organization has been established on this system, and cannot now put up the old gag that (hey cannot afford It, but will join later. Put all grievances in writing, stating the facts exactly as they are. Don't forget my address — UncasviUe, Conn. — and send me any news you can, so we can have a writeup every month. F. M. Webber, Div. Cor. Oregon Short Line Ry., Div. No. 172. Utah Division — Bro. Kelly, at Melrose, has b&en appointed local chairman of the Montana Division, vice Bro. Durham, promoted to train dla- Digitized by Laooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 561 patcher at Pocatello; Bro. Cook of “CA” promoted to a similar position there ; and Bro. L. B. Fryer appointed local chairman, Idaho Division. O. Welch agent Ashton, also in the auditor’s office several years, is now station supervisor. We regret losing one of our best agents on March 12th in Salt Lake Hospital — Bro. Balgeman, Vale, Ore. Bro. Burg has returned to Weston after several months on the coast for his health. Bro. Paul Thomassen, Jr., now with the Southern Pacific, visiting his father at Kays- ville, is endeavoring to get reinstated. Bro. Session, agent Farmington, assisted the auditing committee to check over the ac- counts recently. Bro. L. B. Rosa, third' Downey, has bought a new L. C. Smith and one of Martin's best bugs. Local Chairman Lowry, Downey, Idaho, is now correspondent of this division. Send him all the news you can, in time so he can get the writeup to St. Louis before the 25th. See notice page 343, March Telegrapher. R. P. L., Div. Cor. Cert. 206. “CA” Office — The auditing committee. General Chairman Wagner, Relay Chairman Roach, former General Chairman Mangrum, and General Secretary and Treasurer Summers convened at the latter’s sanctum, in Roy, Utah, March 10th, and found everything in first-class shape. Our indebtedness to the grand divi- sion has now been paid, leaving us with a tidy nest egg. It behooves every member to get busy now on the nons and delinquents and make this line 100 per cent strong. Peterson, Hulihan and A. D. Clark were assigned the three vacancies on March bul- letin. The latter is at home now, recuperat- ing from an operation in St. Anthony’s Hos- pital. Bros. Teich, Hines and Barr, from the N. P. at Livingston, and Martin from “The Milwaukee”, are here extra. There is al- ways a place for an extra man on the force here. Bro. Burnham is visiting in Nebraska, and Bro. Kedney second chief and legal adviser, in Ohio. “SA” Salt Lake Relay — Our force now numbers three chiefs and seven operators, a reduction of four of the latter in the last two months, caused by Portland .and Omaha now working direct Instead of relaying here. Bro. Ramsey, in this office nearly seven years,, has gone with the E. P. & S. W. at El Paso, Texas, as it was necessary to take his son to a lower altitude. Bro. J. E. McCarty is now regular second trick chifef, which he previously took in an emergency. Bro. Groff is getting his “war garden” in shape to break his last season’s good record. Bro. Wentworth is figuring on going to Chicago shortly for a month or more. Bro. Faucher is back again after about two months in the hospital. Br. T. P. McCarty’s wife has been seri- ously ill in the hospital, but is now on the road to recovery. Bro. “SI” Reed, trying to solve the problem of the high cost of living by a trick with no lunch hour in it, has fallen away to 221 pounds. We are up-to-date in “SA” office with one exception, and he has secured blanks, and should be with us in a few days. Cert. 83. Kentucky & Ind. Ter. R. R., Div. No. 181. This being a new division, just organized, and our first writeup, you cannot expect much ; but with the co-operation of our good brothers, we will endeavor to have a write- up now and then. The meeting March 9th was well attended, with the exception of two or three mem- bers. Bro. McDowell was detained on the way, but met Bro. Kllcourse on the way home from the meeting and handed him the necessary which the members are con- tributing to purchase a typewriter for our secretary and treasurer, also the expenses of General Chairman Boston, who represented us at the recent meeting of the general chairman at Atlanta, Ga. Bro. Boston told us of the business of this meeting, also of his trip South, and read several letters pertain- ing to the good of the Order. Bro. W. H. Johnson has been appointed division correspondent. Any news you may furnish him will be gladly appreciated. Bro. W. L. Kllcourse has been elected general secretary and treasurer, vice Bro. C. C. Fears, resigned* account of being second trick dispatcher and unable to attend the meetings. We are sorry to lose him. He fought most of the battles on our committee to secure what we have today. We are now 100 per cent, with the ex- ception of Extra Grassman, who will come in first good pay. Boys, watch them all, and as soon as they land, nail. See that they get the necessary. Our motto is, “No card , no favors.9* Bro. Spencer, while being examined by "Uncle Sam”, was relieved by Extra Grass- man. Bro. Spencer seems to be on the fence. Digitized by tjooole
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562. The Railroad Telegrapher. “Uncle Sam" wants him the K. ft I. needs him, and the police department wants him to run the bier machine that makes the raids on the Sunday violators. But “Uncle Sam’* is liable to beat them all to it. Bro. Blocher is on the grand jury for thirty days, relieved by Bro. Boston, who with Bro. Diehl is doing the double “stunt” now on account of split trick 10 :00 a. m. to 6 :00 p. m. being abolished. Bro. Fears has purchased a seven-room bungalow in the Delaney Addition, Twenty- second and Oak streets. We wish him much success and happiness in his new home. Thanks to Bro. Moran for the way he entertained the boys. We will soon begin getting our fourteen days' vacation. Better get your spring suits ready. Boys, keep me posted as to what is going on at your offices. Possibly some of the boys on other roads who have worked with us will be glad to see us coming out of the rut and see what organization can do for us, even if we are small. Now that we have secured for each man since we started organizing early last fall, from $15.00 to $17.50 per month increase; fourteen days’ vacation with pay after two years in the service; three men on inter- locking machine in dispatcher’s office; eight hours instead of twelve; also the working rules, let’s pull together and secure the twenty-six-day work month ; Sunday and holiday overtime, and help to reach the 60,000 mark during 1918. Cert. 20. Mo. 6 No. Ark. R. R., Div. No. 182. New members : W. F. Robertson, J. S. Cantrice, H. Luter, H. R. Coleman, R. D. Pierce, Eli Kern, Bruce Holloway. Heber Springs solid once more. E. N. Finn, Moro, has transferred from “SSW”, Division 2. Acting General Chairman James Roy, Jr., spent Sunday, February 17th, with G. S. ft T. Brasfield at Searcy, and assisted in getting out our annual business report to the grand division. Bro. Roy has been presented with an emblem ring by Bro. C. B. Rawlins, with compliments of the grand division, for his services. Bro. W. R. Gresham, second trick Searcy, off, before draft board at Heber Springs. Bill will probably show up in France next D. T. Hatcher to Leslie ; says will come in after pay-day. In January issue we mentioned Bro. H. B. Sanders and Bro. W. T. Cantwell. The two above are not members of the Order. Mr. Sanders at present cashier freight office, Harrison. Dispatcher Stotts, sick, relieved by Bro. R. L. Clay. Bro. W. T. Tarkington spent two weeks at Hot Springs. Seniority list January 1st 1918, should show Bro. H. L. Myers, Sept 8, 1918. J. E. Holliday, W. W. Norton, W. E. Hooten, J. S. Dalton, W. T. Cantrell out service this com- pany. E. G. Moore in train service. Cor- rect your list accordingly. The Express Committee, representing thirty lines of railroad handling Wells Fargo Express, including the M. ft N. A-, held its Anal meeting March 7th and a proposed schedule was prepared and a letter addressed to Mr. B. D. Caldwell, president ^Wells- Fargo and Co., requesting a conference with him ; so we can expect some definite action in the near future towards a schedule agree- ment with this company. H. J. Mohler, 812 Star Bldg., St. Louis, of the M. O. P., and G. E. Soyster, Room, 809, Drexel Bank Bldg., Chicago, of the C. M. ft St. P., were elected chairman and secre- tary, respectively, of the Express Com- mittee. A thought tor the 1918 prize contest : Write your secretary and treasurer for the names of the nons on your district and get in the game. Bro. Fred Leach, Grandview, on leave, re- lieved by Mr. Taggart Agent McMasters, Berryville, made a trip to Little Rock with the “Liberty Bond 99 party. Bro. H. Luter, Arlberg, to Aubrey agency, relieved at “RG” by Mr. Tenney. Bro. Holloway, third Heber Springs, off sick, relieved by Extra Glaze from the Mo. Pac. Glaze later relieved Bro. Brasfield while he attended court at Heber Springs. Cert. 5. Cedar Rapids Order Railroad Teleg- raphers’ Club. The regular meeting Friday night, March 15th, was called to order by President Conover, with all officers present. This is the first regular meeting we have held for some time. Numerous complaints in connection with location of our meeting place have been received, and after a brief discussion it was unanimously decided to rent our old hall. Room 12, Dows Building, corner Second Avenue and Second Street; so it certainly will be considered a poor excuse from any- one claiming to be unable to locate the hall. If you have never attended a meeting in this hall, you ought to be ashamed to confess It, if you have any seniority at all. The secretary was instructed to draw up resolutions on the death of Bro. A. W. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 563 Dickinson, to be handled in regular man- ner. Brief talks were given by all present, and a very interesting explanation of the C. A N. W. new schedule by Bro. Boylngton, G. S. A T. A few of us old-timers around, here have come to the conclusion that we have got to hand it to that division for having one of the best organizations in this vicin- ity, with always the largest number at the meetings and always represented by either General Chairman Thomas or G. S. A T. Boylngton, and Local Chairman Schertz. There were twenty-live of them here Friday night; only two Rock Island and three Mil- waukee. Some of you brothers on the two latter roads better "get next to yourselves” and attend some of these meetings. If the super- intendent issued a notice for a meeting of the "Prevent Claims” or "Safety First", you would ride twenty-four hours on a local freight to be present. You better play "safety first” with your organization. You may need some good advice along the lines of what's been done and you won't get it by sticking around at your station. There is no excuse for you not attending. It doesn’t make any difference whether you are east or west of Cedar Rapids, the train service is just as good on the Rock Island and Mil- waukee as it is on the C. A N. W. Our next meeting will be held on April 19th, and we might extend an invitation to all the general officials, besides Division 76, for this meeting. J. L. Halpin, Secretary-Treasurer. Digitized by uooole
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564 The Railroad Telegrapher. Index to Division Directory Name of Division. No. Addison, N. Y 108 Annapolis Royal, N. S 114 Ann Arbor Ry 164 Atchison, Topeka A Santa Fe Ry 128 Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Ry. . . 146 Atlantic Coast Line R. R. * 16 Baltimore & Ohio Ry SS Baltimore & Ohio— Chicago Terminal . . 38 Bangor & Aroostook Ry 88 Bessemer A Lake Erie Ry 51 Boston & Maine R.R. 41 Boston, Mass. 89 Boston, Mass 156 Buffalo, Rochester A Pittsburg Ry 92 Canadian Government Rys. 11 Canadian Northern Ry 43 Canadian Pacific Ry 7 Carolina, Cllnchfleld & Ohio Ry 176 Central of Georgia Ry 46 Central R. R. of New Jersey 46 Central Vermont Ry 171 Chesapeake & Ohio Ry 40 Chicago A Alton Ry. ...: 168 Chicago & Eastern Illinois Ry 84 Chicago' & Northwestern Ry 76 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Ry 130 Chicago Great Western Ry 96 Chicago, 111 91 Chicago, Indianapolis A Louisville Ry. . . 9 Chicago, Milwaukee A St. Paul Ry 28 Chicago, Rock Island A Pacific Ry 126 Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul A Omaha Ry 4 Chicago, Terre Haute A Southern Ry. . . 180 Cincinnati, Indianapolis A Western Ry. 21 Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago A St. Louis Ry 8 Cobalt, Ont 99 Colorado Midland Ry. 81 Danville A Western Ry 59 Delaware A Hudson Ry 12 Denver A Rio Grande Ry 49 Denver, Colo 77 Detroit, Toledo A Iron ton Ry 48 Duluth, South Shore A Atlantic Ry 116 El Paso A Southwestern Ry 137 Erie Ry 42 Florida East Coast Ry 160 Fort Worth & Denver City Ry 145 Georgia Ry 60 Georgia A Florida Ry 167 Georgia Southern A Florida Ry 66 Glace Bay, N. S 138 Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry 36 Grand Trunk Ry 1 Grand Trunk Pacific Ry 1 Great Northern Ry 70 Green Bay A Western Ry 142 Gulf Coast Lines 166 Gulf, Mobile A Northern Ry 80 Hamilton, Ont 156 Hocking Valley Ry 40 Illinois Central Ry 98 International A Great Northern Ry. ... 26 Kanawha A Michigan Ry 118 Kansas City Southern Ry 6 Kansas City, Mexico A Orient Ry 163 „ Kentucky & Indiana Terminal R. R. ... 181 Lake Erie A Western Ry 120 Lehigh Valley Ry 124 Maine Central Ry 140 Michigan Central Ry 16 Name of Division. Ns. Minneapolis A St. Louis Ry 71 Minneapolis, St. Paul A Sault Ste Marie Ry 119 Missouri A North Arkansas R. R. 182 Missouri, Kansas A Texas Ry 22 Missouri, Oklahoma A Gulf Ry 174 Missouri Pacific Ry 81 Mobile A Ohio Ry 24 Nashville, Chattanooga A St. Louis Ry.. IT New Haven, Conn 89 New Orleans Great Northern R. R. ... 179 New Rochelle, N. Y 87 New York Central Ry 8 New York Central Ry. West 19 New York, Chicago A St. Louis Ry 18 New York, N. Y 44 New York, Ontario A Western Ry. .... 20 Norfolk Southern Ry. 147 Norfolk A Western Ry 14 Northern Alabama Ry 69 Northern Pacific Ry 64 Northwestern Pacific Ry 166 Oregon Short Line 172 Oregon- Washington Ry. A Navigation Co 161 Panama Ry 168 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines east of Pitts- burg. and Erie) 17 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines west of Pitts- burg) 36 Pere Marquette Ry 39 Philadelphia A Reading Ry 16 Pittsburg, Pa 62 Providence, R. 1 86 Quebec, Que ,. 116 Queen A Crescent Route (North) 62 Queen A Crescent Route (South) 69 Richmond, Fredericksburg A Potomac Ry 1*6 Rutland Ry 167 St. Louis, Iron Mountain A Southern Ry. 31 St. Louis, Mo 2 St. Loqls-San Francisco Ry 32 St. Louis, San Francisco A Texas Ry. . . 177 St. Louis Southwestern Ry 27 San Antonio A Aransas Pass Ry 141 Los Angeles & Salt Lake R. R. Ill Seaboard Air Line Ry. 28 Southern Ry 69 Southern Ry. in Mississippi 24 Southern Pacific Ry 63 Springfield, Mass. 33 Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Ry. . . 99 Tennessee Central Railroad 178 Texas A Pacific Ry 88 Toledo A Ohio Central Ry 173 Tring Junction, Que 121 Trinity & Brazos Valley Ry 144 Ulster A Delaware Ry 113 Union Pacific Ry 6 Virginia, Minn. 127 Virginian Ry 13 Wabash Ry 26 Wabash, Pittsburg Terminal Ry 26 Washington, D. C <6 Western Maryland Ry 82 Western Pacific Ry 162 West Side Belt Ry 56 Wheeling A Lake Erie Ry 68 Yazoo A Mississippi Valley Ry 93 Zanesville A Western Ry. 178 Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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GRAND DIVISION Mutual Benefit Department Assessment No* 141 is due January 1, 1918 Time for payment expires February 28, 1918 AMOUNT OP ASSESSMENTS. 300.00 (Series A) 12.40 per year 600.00 (Series B) 3.60 per year ,000.00 (Series C)...l 7.20 per year BENEFITS PAID DURING MARCH, 1918. Cbrt . A. Fullerton Appendicitis . John Lindsay Locomotor Ataxia . .James C. Culkins ..Apoplexy ' — On | On On 1 Claim No. Name. Cause. 2246.. Paul C. Wolfe Acute Nephritis 2264 . . Chas. A. Toole Accident. .... 2265.. W. G. Saxton Nephritis 2266.. John A. Steele Acute Dilatation 2267.. Mrs. £1 M. Gray beal. . Heart Disease.. 2268.. J 2269.. J 2270.. J 2271 . . John El Pike Tuberpulosis 2272.. Joel C. Mayo Typhoid Fever 2273. .J. N. Craig Nephritis 2274.. Ed ward J. Collins Pneumonia. ... 2276.. Geo. D. Poindexter .... Carcinoma of Liver 2276.. Ralph I. Winfree Ulcer of Stomach 2277.. Frank M. Stevens Lobar Pneumonia 2278.. Walter L. Grissette ... Pistol Wound 2279. .Archie T. Cheatham. . .Acute Gastritis 2280.. Fred D. Wilcox Crushed Leg, Amputation. 2282. .Vincent J. Coleman. . . Explosion 2283. .E. E. Cummings. ..... Operation 2285.. Clay D. McKee Wood Alcohol Poisoning... 2286.. Andrew J. Long Measles 2287.. John V. Billiu Melancholia. 2288.. George N. Cameron ... Acute Pneumonia 2289.. Wm. E. Anderson Pulmonary Tuberculosis... 2290. .Christopher J. Dunn. . . Pulmonary Tuberculosis. . . 2291 . . W. J. Renner Apoplexy 2292. .Perry Adney General Paralysis of the Ins Div. No. Series. Amt. .. 76.. 32074.. B. .$ 500.00 .. 43.. 25747.. B. . . 500.00 .. 3.. 24348.. A. 300.00 ..116.. 8940.. C. . 1,000.00 .. 64.. 25889.. B. 500.00 .. 7.. 12424.. C. . 1,000.00 .. 32.. 703.. B. 500.00 .. 16.. 27052.. B. 500.00 ,. 7.. 39069.. C. . 1,000.00 .. 31.. 33219.. B. 500.00 ... 32.. 22904.. A. . 300.00 .. 71.. 45214.. C. . 1,000.00 .. S3.. 36360. .C. . 1,000.00 .. 46.. 24151.. B. . 500.00 .. 2.. 7398.. C. . 1,000.00 .. 16.. 19485.. A. . 300.00 ..Gd... 8517.. A. 300.00 .. 8.. 15200.. B. 500.00 ... 11.. 7898.. A. 300.00 .. 19.. 47354.. A. . 300.00 .. 32.. 33375.. B. 600.00 ... 33.. 22734.. C. . 1,000.00 .. 63. .23748. .B. 500.00 ... 33.. 34413.. B. 500.00 .. 54.. 47632.. C. . 1,000.00 .. 29.. 4555.. B. 500.00 .. 40.. 22007. .C. . 1,000.00 nel68. .22682. .C. . 1,000.00 .$17,800.00 FINANCIAL STATEMENT— MORTUARY FUND. Receipts. Received on Assessments to February 28, 1918 $2,074,279.51 Received on Assessments March, 1918 6,170.30 Total .$2,079,449.81 Disbursements. Death Claims paid to February 28, 1918 $1,395,777.47 Death Claims paid March 1918 17,800.00 Assessments refunded account rejected applications 2,328.84 Assessments transferred to dues 330.83 Cash on hand credit Mortuary Fund, March 31, 1918 663,212.67 Total .$2,079,449.81 C. B. RAWLINS, Grand Secretary and Treasurer. Digitized by Google
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566 The Railroad Telegrapher. • Official Directory General Offices* St. Louis* Ao. GRAND OFFICERS. H. B. PERHAM President' St Louis. Mo. W. ,T. BRO^VN First Vice-President 6039 Rhodes ave., Chicago. 11L G. D. ROBERTSON Third Vice-President R R 3. Welland. Ont. Can. C. B. RAWLINS Grand Secretary and Treasurer St Louis. Mo. T. M. PIERSON Second Vice-President Central Square. N. T. , J. J. DERMODT Fourth Vice-President 970 Kirbert Ave., Price Hill. Cincinnati. O. E. J. M ANION Fifth Vice-President Room 814. Star Bldg.. St Louis. Mo. \ BOARD OF DIRECTORS. J. F. Miller, Chairman, 2916 Huntingdon ave., Baltimore, Md. B. E. Nason, Secretary, North Branch, Minn. Geo. O. Forbes, Sydney, N. R G. E. Soyster, Room 809, Drexel Bank Bldg., 763 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, HL H. G. Alexander, 122 Tate, st, Greensboro, N. C. ✓ ADVERTISING. All correspondence pertaining to advertising should be addressed to The W. N. Gates Co.. Managers Advertising. Garfield Building, Cleveland, Ohio, t Division Directory GRAND DIVISION — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or territory. H. B. Perham, President St Louis, Mo. ; C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secre- tary and Treasurer, St Louis, Mo. No. 1 — Division covers the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Rys. Meets sub- ject to call of Chairman. L. M. Eddy, Gen’l Chairman Grand Trunk Ry., Marcel- lus, Mich. ; M. R Brewer, Gen'l Chairman Grand Trunk Pacific Ry., Atwater, Sask. ; D. L. Shaw, Gen’l S. ft T., 867 Waterloo st., London, Ont I No. 2, ST. LOUIS, MO.— Meets 3d Monday of each month at 8 p. m., Small hall south side, third floor, Masonic Temple (Odeon bldg.), Grand and Finney aves, St Louis, Mo. ; L. W. Quick, Chief Telegrapher, 8th floor Star Bldg., St Louis, Mo. ; R J. McElhinney, S. ft T., 4110a Arsenal st, St Louis, Mo. No. 3 — Division covers C., C., C. ft St. Louis Railway System. L E. Schlosser, Gen'l Chairman, 1019 South Third st., Pekin, 111. ; Geo. Lavengood, Gen’l S. ft T., 404 Monroe st, Alexandria, Ind. System meeting held at Spencer Hotel, Indianap- olis, Ind., subject to call of the Gen’l Chairman. No. 4 — Division covers the C., St P., M. ft O. Ry. W. J. Liddane, Gen'l Chairman, 1687 Berkley ave., St. Paul. Minn. ; D. O. Tenney, Gen’l a ft T., 920 Range st, Mankato, I4inn. No. 6 — Division covers the Kansas City 'Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R C. Ocheltree. Gen'l Chairman, Siloam Springs, Ark. ; J. D. Townsend, Sr., Gen’l a ft T.# Heave- ner, Okla. No. 6 — Division covers the Union Pacific Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen'l Chairman. E. L. Stump, Gen’l Chairman. 433 Keeline bldg., Omaha, Neb.; John H. Hughey, Jr., Gen'l a ft T., Box 294 Junc- tion City, Kan. No. 7 — Division covers the Canadian Pacif- ic Railroad. Meets subject to oaU of Chairman. J. M. Mein, Gen’l Chairman, 41 Noble ave., Elmwood, Winnipeg; Man. ; A. E. Chapman, Chairman Eastern Lines, 266 Piccadilly fet., London, Ont ; D. Mc- Pherson, Chairman Western Lines, 104 Devenish apts., Calgary, Alta. ; R C. Wil- ton, Gen’l S. ft T„ Kenora, Ont No. 8 — Division covers the New York Cen- tral Ry. H. B. ^Morey, Gen’l Chairman, 904 Jefferson ave., Utica, N. Y. ; A. R Blim, Gen'l a ft T.. Chili Station, N. Y. No. 9 — Division covers the C. L ft L. Ry. J. E. Hollon, Gen’l Chairman, 2816 Cor- nell ave., Indianapolis, Ind. ;*M. T. Parks, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 2, Bainbridge, Ind. No. 10 — Division covers the Philadelphia ft Reading Ry. C. R Rawlins, Acting Gent a ft T., St Louis, Ms, Digitized by taOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 567 Nq. 11 — Division covers the Canadian Gov- ernment Rys. J. J. Trainor, Gen'I Chair- man, care of P. EL L Ry., Charlottetown, P. E. L ; Wm. Parsons, Gen’l a ft T., Drawer 201, Drummondville, Quebec. No. 12 — Division covers the Delaware ft Hudson Ry. System. Quebec, Montreal ft Southern and Naplerville Junction Rys. Meetings subject to call of Chairman. G. A. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Room 21, Stanwix Hall, Albany, N. Y. ; Jos. Per* rault. Chairman Canadian Lines, Iber- ville Jet., Que.; O. C. Benjamin, Gen’l S. ft T.. Dresden Station, N. Y. No. IS — Division covers Virginia Ry. H. W. Hix. Gen’l Chairman, Box 18, Salem, Va. ; J. E. Goodwin, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 24, Eggleston, Va, Na 14 — Division covers the Norfolk ft West- ' ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. B. Lane, Gen’l Chairman, Crewe, Va. ; J. L. George, Gen’l 8. ft T„ Box 402, Roanoke, Va. No. 15 — Division covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. B. F. Wheeler, Gen’l Chair- man, Oviedo, Fla.; J. H. Williams, Gen’l & ft T.. Wilson, N. C. No. 18 — Division covers the Michigan Cen- tral Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. D. N. Smith, Gen’l Chair- man, 608 B. Ann st., Ann Arbor, Mich.; J. H. Staley, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 1314, Welland, Out. Na 17 — Division covers Pennsylvania Rail- road Lines east of Pittsburg and Brie. J. F. Miller, Genl Chairman, 2916 Hunting- don ave., Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Skinner, Gen’l S. ft T., 115 & Potomac st., Balti- more, Md. No. 18 — Division covers the New York, Chi- cago ft St. Louis Railroad System. F. F. Cowley, Gen’l Chairman, 519 W. Lincoln st., Findlay, Ohio; B. E. Ensley, Acting G. 8. ft T., South Whitley, Ind. No. 19 — Division covers New York Central Railroad West. G. B. Kipp., Gen’l Chair- man, Blasdell, N. Y. ; G. R. Smith. As- sistant Gen’l Chairman, Rockwood, Mich. ; E. D. Graham, Gen’l S. ft T., Mishawaka, Ind. No. 20 — Division covers the New York, On- tario ft Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. R. Conner, Gen’l Chairman. Cottekill, N. Y. ; H. D. Pfoor, Gen’l S. ft T., P. O. Box 28. Jer- myn. Pa, No. 21 — Division covers the Cincinnati, In- dianapolis ft Western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. H. Carter, Gen’l Chairman, Marshall, Ind. ; J. V. Cummins, Gen’l & ft T., 1147 North Mount st, In- dianapolis, Ind. Na 22 — Division covers Missouri, Kansas ft Texas Railway System. G. H. Beck, Gen’l Chairman, 522 Jefferson st. St. Charles. Mo. ; R. C. Jackson, Gen’l 8. ft T., 818 East Ave., B Temple, Tex. No. 28 — Division covers the Chicago, Mil- waukee ft St Paul Railway, Bellingham ft Northern Railway, Big Blackfoot Rail- way, Gallatin Valley Railway, Puget Sound ft Willapa Harbor Railway, Seattle, Port Angeles ft Western, Railway and Ta- coma-Eastern Railroad. G. B. Soyster, Gen’l Chairman, Room 309, Drexel Bank bldg., 766 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. ; Ed. R. Derrlckson, Gen’l S. ft T., Room 309, Drexel Bank bldg., 765 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. No. 24 — Division covers the M. ft O. and Southern Ry. in Mississippi. L. T. Mur- ' daugh, Gen’l Chairman, 613 N. Royal st, Jackson, Tenn. ; C. B. Hendley, Gen’l S. ft T., Artesia, Miss. No. 25 — Division covers the International ft Great Northern Railway System Meets subject to call of Chairman. T C. Berry, Gen’l Chairman, 610 Bast Guenther at, San Antonio, Tex. ; D. D. H ungate, Gen’l S. ft T., Jewett, Tex. No. 26 — Division covers the Wabash Ry. O. C. Nash, Gen’l Chairman, Carpenter, 111. ; M. E. Fohey, Gen'I S. ft T., 460 Crane ave., Detroit, Mich. No. 27 — Division covers St Louis South- western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. C. Frlzielle, Gen’I Chair- man. Bearden, Ark. ; C. B. Welch, Gen’l S. ft T., St Francis, Ark. No. 28 — Division covers the Seaboard Air Line Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. May, Gen'I Chair- man, Carlton, Ga. ; F. O. Cumming, Gen’l S. ft T., 16 Dinwiddle st, Portsmouth, Va. No. 29, NEW HAVEN. CONN.— Meets 1st Friday of each month at 8 p. m., and 3d Tuesday of each month at 10 a. m.. In Red Men’s Hall, 48 Church st., cor. Crown, New Haven, Conn. O. S. Culver, Chief Tel., 170 Grafton st, New Haven, Conn. ; G. F. McCormack, S. ft T., 96 Main st. West Haven, Conn. No. 31 — Division covers the Missouri Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Mohler, Gen’I Chairman, Room 8l2, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. ; N. S. Morgan, Gen’l S. ft T., Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 32 — Division covers the * St Louis-San Francisco Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. G. Kelso, Gen’l Chairman, 519 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. ; M. T. Fulllngton, Gen’l S. ft T., 619 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. No. 83 — Division covers the Baltimore ft Ohio Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. Yeager, Gen’l Chairman, 2227 West Liberty ave., Pitts- burg, Pa. ; B. C. Lewis, Ass’t Gen’l Chair- man, Willlamstown, W. Va. ; E. A. Shaf- fer, Gen’l S. ft T., Oakland, Md. Digitized by v^oooLe
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568 The Railroad Telegrapher. No. 84 — Division covers the Chicago 4k East* era Illinois Hallway System. Meets sub- ject to the call of Chairman. H. H. Skiles, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. No. 6( Evansville, Ind.; O. A. Hlxon, Gen'l S. St T., 6d6 Jewel st., Danville, I1L No. 85, PROVIDENCE, R. I.— Meets Sd Sat- urday of each month in Swarts Lodge, Odd Fellows* Hall, 96 Westminster st.. Providence, R. I. A. H. Haddock, Chief TeL, 111 Narragansett st., Edgewood, Cranston, R. I. ; D. M Cal l is, a St T„ Touisset, Mass. No. 86 — Division covers the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pittsburg. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen*l S. St T., Star bldg., St. LOuis, Mo. No. 87. NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y.— Meets 2d Friday of each month, 7:80 p. m., in Metropolitan Hall on North ave., near Hugenut st.. New Rochelle, N. T. Qeo. E. Woods, Chief Tel., 69 Vernon ave.. Long Island City, N. T. ; B. EL S. Seaman, 8. St T., 1143 Longfellow ave., New York, N. Y. No. 38, SPRINGFIELD. MASS.— Meets 3d Saturday each month 7 p. m., in Harmony Hall, Myrlck bldg., Worthington st., Springfield, Mass. Frank P. Sargent, Chief Tel., 36 Colton ave.. Merrick, Mass.; M. J. Walsh, S. St T., 15 Moseley ave., Mer- rick, Mass. No. 39 — Division covers the Pere Marquette Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. M. Burr, Gen’l Chair- man, Central Lake, Mich.; C. P. Neff, Gen’l S. St T„ Lock Box 384, Lowell, Mich. No. 40 — Division covers the Chesapeake St Ohio, Chesapeake St Ohio of Indiana and the Hocking Valley Rys. L. EL Hicks. Gen’l Chairman, CraigsvlUe, Va. ; J. W. Kiser, Gen’l S. St T.. Box 792, Hunting- ton, W. Va. No. 41 — Division covers Boston St Maine R. R. Meetings subject to call of Gen’l Chair- man or Local Chairman. J. B. Bode, Gen’l Chairman, 50 Tudor st., Chelsea, Mass.; L. P. Clifton, Ass’t Gen'l Chairman, 41 Morton st., Waltham, Mass.; H. L. Jones, Gen'l S. St T., R. F. D. No. 37, Fremont, N. H. No. 42 — Division covers the Erie Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. E. J. Jlesser, Gen’l Chairman, 864 Wallace placq, Elmira, N. Y. ; C. L. Bridge, Gen’l S. St T., 21 Allen st.. Deposit, N. Y. No. 43 — Division covers Canadian Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Louis F. Muncey, Gen'l Chair- man, 761 Broadway, Winnipeg, Man.; A. Chard, Ass’t Gen'l Chairman, Fort Sas- katchewan, Alta.; G. H. Palmer, Gen'l S. St T., Dauphin, Man. No. 44, NEW YORK, N. Y.— Meets 2d Satur- day each month at 8 p. m., in Fraternity Hall, 22 Harrlman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. ; J. S. Thuma, Chief Tel., 26 Franklin st, Jamaica, N. Y. ; L. Meringer, a 4b T., 1244 Chestnut st, Richmond Hill, N. Y. No. 45 — Division covers Central R. R. of New Jersey. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen'l a 4b T., Star bldg., St Louis, Mo. No. 46 — Division covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Livsey, Gen'l Chairman, East Point, Ga.; O. 8. Travis, Gen'l a 4k T., 490 Lee at.. Route 127, At- lanta, Ga. No. 48 — Division covers the Detroit, Toledo 4k Ironton Railway. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. L. Palmer, Gen'l Chair- man, 96 W. Main st, Jackson, Ohio; D. R. 'Murray, Gen’l S. 4k T., Good Hope, Ohio. No. 49— Division covers the Denver 4k Rio Grande Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Fulton, Gen’l Chairman, 112 EL 11th st, LeedvHle, Colo.; J. C. Brannan, Gen'l S. 4k T., 1014 a Union ave., Pueblo, Cola No. 60— Division covers the Georgia Ry. R. B. Morgan, Gen'l Chairman, Dearlng, Ga.; J. P. Luckey, Gen’l 8. 4k JT.* Bearing, Ga. No. 61— Division covers Bessemer 4k Lake Erie Railway System. Meets the 4th Thursday of each month in Eagle's Hall, Greenville, Pa. C. M Miller, Gen'l Chair- man, 11 First ave., Greenville. Pa.; EL E. Keane, Gen’l S. 4k T., Box 108, Green- ville, Pa. No. 62, PITTSBURG, PA.— Meets Saturday, March 23, 1918, and each alternating Sat- urday thereafter at 6:80 p. m., 281-283 Fifth ave., 3d floor, Roberts bldg., Pitts- burg. Pa. Ward O’Neill. Chief Tel., 1908 Fifth ave., Beaver Falls, Pa. ; R. W. Bees, S. 4k T., Box 314, Beaver, Pa. No. 63— Division covers Southern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. T. Cull, Gen'l Chairman, 808-806 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, CaL; A. EL Leisure, Ass't Gen'l Chairman, €22 Ehiclid ave., Houston, Tex.; A. M Ham- mond, Gen'l S. 4k T.. 803-206 Padfle bldg., San Francisco, CaL No. 64 — Division covers the Northern Padfle Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Sam Johnson, Gen'l Chair- man, North Branch, Minn.; B. SI Nason, Gen'l S. 4k T.. North Branch, Minn. No. 56 — Division covers the Wheeling 4k Lake Erie and Wabash Pittsburg Termi- nal and West Side Belt Rya Meets 2d Saturday evening of each month at Har- mon, Ohio. J. O. Peoples, Gen’l Chair- man, Bolivar, Ohio; C. EL Baltser. Gen'l S. 4k T., Box 246, Navarre, Ohio. No. 66— Division covers Georgia Southern 4k Florida Railway System. G. L Slebert, Gen’l Chairman, Valdosta, Ga.; F. H. Cason, Gen'l 8. 4k T., Lake City, Bla. Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 569 No. 67 — Division covers Nashville, Chatta- nooga A St. Louis Ry. J. M. Hamilton, Gen’l Chairman, Kingston Springs, Tenn. ; T. J. Hale, Gen’l S. A T., Christiana, Tenn. No. 69 — Division covers the Southern, North- ern Alabama and Danville A Western Railroads. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. H. G. Alexander, Gen’l Chairman, 121 Tate at, Greensboro, N. C. ; J. W. Bur- gess, Gen’l S. A T.t 228 Ninth st, S. W.t Charlottesville, Va. No. 80, WASHINGTON, D. C.— Meets 2d Wednesday of each month at 8 p. m., at 811 B st., N. W.. Washington, D. C. J. EL Blades, Chief Tel., 1629 Bast Capitol st., Washington, D. C. ; J. Webb Rich man, R A T„ 1424 W st, N. W.. Washington, D. C. No. 82 — Division covers the Queen A Crescent Route (North). J. W. Ander- son, Gen'l Chairman, Oakdale, Tenn.; L. C. Higdon, Gen’l a A T., Battelle, Ala. No. 89 — Division covers the Queen A Cres- cent Route (South). Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. O. Peavey, Gen’l Chairman, Meehan Jet, Miss.; £1 G. Matthews, Gen’l a A T., 125 Minerva st, Jackson, Miss. No. 70 — Division covers Great Northern Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l a A T., St. Louis, Mo. No. 71 — Division covers the Minneapolis A St Louis Ry. A. L. Gardner, Gen’l Chair- man, Steamboat Rock, Iowa; J. C. Sand- mier. Gen’l a A T.* Waukee, Iowa. No. 78 — Division covers the Chicago A North Western Railroad System. Meets subject to call of General or Local Chairman. B. J. Thomas, Gen'l Chairman, Room 611, Webster bldg., 827 a LaSalle st, Chicago, I1L; R. R Boyington, Gen’l a A T.. Room 611, Webster bldg., 827 a LaSalle st, Chi- cagow 111. No. 77, DENVER, COLO.— Meets 1st Mon- day evening in each month at Markham Hotel, Denver, Colo. C. S. Guernsey, Chief Tel., Apt 18, 2018 Calif, st. Den- ver, Colo.; F. Bppelsheimer, a A T., 2841 King st, Denver, Colo. No. 80 — Division covers the Gulf, Mobile A Northern Ry. T. R. Craig, Gen’l Chair- man. Falkner, Miss.; H. C. Hughes, Gen'l RAT* New Augusta, Miss. No. 81 — Division covers Colorado Midland Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. B. Crispell, Gen'l Chair- man, Arkansas Jet, Colo.; J. F. Jones, Gen’l a A T.. Carbondale, Colo. Now 82 — Division covers Western Maryland Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen'l Chairman. K. H. Stover, Gen'l Chairman, Beryl, W. Va. ; D. O. Martin, Gen’l S. A T., Hampstead, Md. No. 88 — Division covers the Bangor A Aroostook Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. A. M. McNair, Gen’l Chairman, East Dover, Me.; J. L. Robbins, Gen’l a A T., Grindstone, Me. No. 88 — Division covers the Texas A Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. P. Abney, Gen’l Chair- man, Longview, Tex. ; R. B. Cecil, Gen’l 8. A T.. Opelousas, La. No. 89, BOSTON, MASS.— Meets 1st Satur- day each month at 8 p. m., in Pilgrim Hall, also 8d Saturday each month at 10 a. m. (daylight meeting), in Pilgrim Hall, 894 Washington st, Boston, Mass. W. L. Enos, Chief Tel., Box 882, Cohasset, Mass. ; J. H. McDermott, a A T., 48 Crocker st., Mansfield, Mass. No. 91, CHICAGO, ILL.— Meets 1st Satur- day of each month at 8 :16 p. m., in Hall 912, Masonic Temple, cor. Randolph and State sts., Chicago, 111. Gardner Dal Jones, Chief Tel., Apartment 1* 4888 Vin- cennes ave., Chicago, 111. ; W. B. Carter, a A T., 5582 Broadway, Chicago, 111. N6. 92 — Division covers the Buffalo, Roches- ter A Pittsburg Railway System. Meets subject to the call of Chairman. M. P. Burke, Gen’l Chairman, Falls Creek, Pa. ; G. H. Miller, Acting Gen’l S. A T., 1000 East Mahoning st., Punxsutawney, Pa. No. 98 — Division covers the Illinois Central Railroad and the Tasoo A Mississippi Val- ley Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. A. Mulhall. Gen’l Chair- man, Clarkson, Ky. ; L. M. Elliott, Gen’l Chairman, T. A M. V. Lines. Rolling Forks, Miss.; G. E. Chance, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mounds, 111. ; R. L. Shannon, Gen'l a A T., Anna. 111. No. 98 — Division covers Chicago Great West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. L. Coleman, Gen’l Chair- man, 1941 Thompson ave., Kansas City, Kan.; C. E. Norris, Gen’l S. A T., Box 820, South St. Paul, Minn. No. 99, COBALT, ONT. — Covers Temlskam- ing & Northern Ontario Ry. Meets on call of Gen’l Chairman. R. Richardson, Chief Tel., Timmins, Ont. ; R. Workman, Gen’l Chairman, North Bay, Ont ; T. J. Baker, S. A T., Redwater, Sta., Ont No. 108, ADDISON, N. Y.— Meets subject to call of Chief Telegrapher. L. L. Lerch, Chief Tel., Knoxville, Pa.; C. EL Belcher, S. A T„ Osceola. Pa. No. Ill — Division covers Los Angeles A Salt Lake R. R. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. D. McGee, Gen’l S. A T., 224 Concord st., Los Angeles, Cal. No. 113 — Division covers the Ulster A Dela- ware System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. M. L. Klein, Gen’l Chairman, 74 Abeel st., Kingston, N. Y. ; G. C. Hed- ges, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mt Pleasant N. Y. ; L. P. Riley, Gen’l a A T., Phoe- nicia. N. Y. No. 114— ANNAPOLIS /ROYAL, N. R — H. A. Jacques, Chief Tel., Middletown, N. R; Stanley Tavener, R A T., Tupperville, Anna Co.. N. R Digitized by taoooie
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570 The Railroad Telegrapher. No. 116 — Division covers Quebec Ry. Light ft Power Go.'s Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. EL Richard, Chairman, 199a Crown st, Quebec, Que. ; J. EL Pot- Tin, S. ft T.. Gifford, Quebec, Que., Can. No. 116 — Division covers the Duluth, South Shore ft Atlantic Railway System. Meets 2d Sunday of February, April, June, Au- gust, October and December, in place designated by Genl Chairman* P. M. Stillman, Gen'l Chairman, Seney, Mich. ; C. W. Danielson, Gen'l S. ft T., Chassell, \ Mich. No. 118 — Division covers Kanawha ft Michi- gan Railway System. A. P. Hines, Gen'l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Glouster, Ohio; R. M. Henderson, Gen’l S. ft T., 889 South st., Toledo, Ohio. No. 119 — Division covers the Minneapolis, St. Paul ft Sault Ste. Marie Railway System. G. W. Lewis, Gen'l Chairman, 2921 Chi- cago ave., Minneapolis, Minn.; F. C. Paine, Gen'l S. ft T., Brsklne, Minn. No. 120 — Division covers Lake Brie ft West- ern Railway System. C. J. Turner, Gen'l Chairman, Ambia, Ind. ; M. A. Steckel, Gen'l & ft T.. Atlanta, Ind. No! 124— Division covers Lehigh Valley Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen'l a ft T„ 711 Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 126 — Division covers Richmond, Freder- icksburg ft Potomac Railway System. Meets at 8 p. m.. the 2d Friday of each month, at Fredericksburg. Z. Talbot, Gen'l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Alexandria, Va. ; J. C. Farmer, Gen'l S. ft T., 712 Main st., Fredericksburg, Va. No. 126 — Division covers Chicago, Rock Is- land ft Pacific Railway System. Y?, F. Kay, Gen'l Chairman, Room 1, 804 W. 68d st., Chicago, 111.; a P. Ayers, Vice-Chair- man, Windsor, Mo.; W. H. Dunnam, Gen'l a ft T.. Room 1. 304 W. 63d st. Chi- cago, ni. No. 127, VIRGINIA, MINN.— W. W. Wood- ward, Chief Tel.. Hlbbing, Minn.; C. J. Keenan. S. ft T., Calumet. Minn. No. 128 — Division covers' the Atchison, To- peka ft Santa Fe Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. A. Tan- quary, Gen'l Chairman. Board of Trade bldg., Pueblo, Colo.; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen'l 8. ft T„ St Louis, Mo. No. 130 — Division covers Chicago, Burling- ton ft Quincy Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. F. Den- ton, Gen'l Chairman, Sterling, Neb. ; EL F. Todd, Ass't Gen’l Chairman. Sandwich, 111.; J. H. Rogers, Jr., Gen'l a ft T., 1606 Market st. La Crosse, Wls. No. 181. TRING JUNCTION. QUEL— J. B. Marcoux. Chief Tel., Leeds Station, Que.; EL Lafontalne, 8. ft T., Tring Junction, Que, No. 188. GLACB BAT, N. a — L. L. Mc- Namara, Chief Tel., Glace Bay, N. a ; C. H. Dow, a ft T.. P. O. Box 4, Bridge- port, N. 8. / No. 187 — Division covers B1 Paso ft South- western Railway System. EL P. Waples, Acting Gen'l a ft T., 4469 Clarence ave., • St Louis. Mo. No. 140 — Division covers Maine Central Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. B. J. Hayes, Gen'l Chair- man, Leeds Junction, Me. ; H. N. Bates, Gen'l S. ft T., Gardiner, Me. No. 141 — Division covers San Antonio ft- Aransas Pass Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. H. Bar- nett, Gen'l Chairman, Gregory, Tex.; R. O. Little, Gen'l a ft T„ Sheridan, Tex. No. 142 — Division covers the Green Bay ft Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. Benrud, Gen'l Chairman, Blair, Wls.; L. P. Curran, Genl S. ft T., Winona, Minn. No. 144 — Division covers the Trinity ft Brazos Valley Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Crockett, Gen'l Chairman, North Zulch, Tex. ; N. W. Smith, Gen'l a ft T.. Box 498, Teague, Tex. J7o. 146 — Division covers the Ft. W. ft D. G. Ry. System. R. G. Wales, Gen'l Chair- man and Acting Gen'l a ft T., Box 976, Wichita Falls. Tex. No. 146 — Division covers the Atlanta, Bir- mingham ft Atlantic Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen'l Chairman. Owen D. Gorman, Gen'l Chairman, Mauk, Ga. ; C. A. Pye, Gen'l 8. ft T. Ideal. Ga. No. 147 — Division covers the Norfolk South- ern Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Miss a D. Taylor, Gen'l 8. ft T.. care J. H. Williams. Wilson, N. C. No. 163 — Division covers the Western Paci- fic Ry. V. W. Breeding, Gen'l Chairman, 770 Eleventh st., Oakland, Cal.; H. B. Marshall, Gen'l S. ft T., Pleasant Grove, Cal. No. 165, HAMILTON, ONT.— Covers To- ronto, Hamilton ft Buffalo Ry. Meets 2d Sunday of each month at 8 :80 p. m., in I. O. O. F. Hall, Temple bldg.. Gore st., Hamilton, Ont. J. J. O'Connor, Chief Tel., 46 Magill st., Hamilton, Ont; EL D. Armstrong, a ft T., Box 98, Smlthville, Ont No. 166, BOSTON, MASS.— Meets in Rath- bone Hall, 694 Washington st, Boston, Mass., 3d Thursday each month, day and night alternately commencing with the day meeting in July. Daylight meetings 11 a. m. night meetings 7 p. m. Robert H. Buxton, Chief Tel., 8 Dresden st, Ja- maica Plain, Boston, Mass. ; F. J. Dan- sereau, a ft T„ 65 Boylston st, Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass. No. 167 — Division covers the Rutland Ry. Edmund V. Page, Acting Gen'l Chairman and Acting Gen’l a ft T.. Chatham, N. T. Digitized by Caooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 571 No. 158 — Division covers the Panama Ry. A. V. Losea, Gen’l Chairman, Box 17 Pedro Miguel, Canal Zone; P. A. Freehan, Gen’l S. & T., Box 6, Corozal, Canal Zone. No. 180 — Division covers the Florida Dost Coast Ry. J. F. Willis, Acting G. C., 139 Home st., 8a Jacksonville, Fla. ; C| Ross Gowdy, Gen’l 8. & T.f Espanola, Fla. No. 181 — Division covers the O. W. Ry. and N. Co. J. V. Mitchell, Gen’l Chairman, Multnomah Hotel, Portland, Ore. ; Wm. H. L Davis, Gen’l S. A T., Pendleton, Ore. No. 163— Division covers the K. C. M. A O. Ry. L R. Cotney, Gen'l Chairman, Ft. Stockton. Tex. ; D. O. Kennedy, Gen’l 8. & T., Clinton, Okla. No. 164 — Division covers the Ann Arbor R. R. H. J. Werkman, Gen’l Chairman Bdx 59, Frankfort, Mich.; E. C. West, Gen'l 8. A T.# 2238 Erie st., Toledo, Ohio. , No. 166 — Division covers the Northwestern Pacific Ry. L. E. Green, Gen’l 8. A T., Ross, Calif. No. 166 — Division covers the Gulf Coast Lines. D. E. Young, Gen’l Chairma'h, Eunice, La. ; C. L. Jackson, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman and Gen’l 8. A T., Bloomington, Tex. t No. 167 — Division covers the Georgia A Florida Ry. R. M. Cason, Gen’l Chairman, Uvalda, Ga. ; D. F. Rush Gen’l 8. A T., Hazel hurst, Ga. No. 168 — Division covers the C. A A. Ry. E. E. Gentz, Gen'l Chairman, Braid wood, III. ; Thos. Riley, Gen’l 8. A T., Atlanta, 111. No„ 171 — Division covers Central Vermont Ry. H. J. Gibbs, Gen’l Chairman, Yantic, Conn. ; L. J. Mannie, Gen’l 8. A T., St Alexander Sta., Que. No. 172 — Division covers the Oregon Short Line Ry. R. H. Wagner, Gen’l Chairman, Pocatello, Idaho; 8. B. Summers, Gen’l S. A T: Roy, Utah. No. 173 — Division covers the T. A O. C. and Z. A W. Rye. F. H. Simon, Gen’l Chair- man, 302 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio ; W. T. Cox, Gen’l 8. A T., 1061 Palmwood ave., Toledo, Ohio. No. 174 — Division covers the Missouri, Okla- homa A Gulf Ry. T. E. Corbell, Acting Gen’l Chairman, Salina, Okla. ; J. F. Rin- gle. Acting Gen’l 8. A T., Strange, Okla. No. 175 — Division covers the Carolina, Clinchfleld A Ohio Ry. ‘ 8. A. Dorsett, Gen’l Chairman, Spartanburg 8. C. ; C. G. Taylor, Gen’l 8. A T., Dante, Va. No. 177 — Division covers the St Louis, San Francisco A Texas Ry. J. a McMillan, Gen’l Chairman and Acting G. a A T., Box 43, Prosper, Tex.; DeWitt Hall, Gen’l a A T., Bluffdale, Tex. No. 178 — Division covers Tennessee Central Railroad. Chas. C. Wimsett, Gen’l Chair- man, Rockwood, Tenn. ; J. P. Dozier, Gen’l a A T., Lebanon, Tenn. No. 179 — Division covers New Orleans Great , Northern R. R. W. H. Carr, Gen’l Chair- man, Abita Springs, La. ; F. P. Barron, Gen’l 8. A T„ Angie, La. No. 180 — Division covers Chicago, Terre Haute A Southeastern. R. H. Owen, Gen’l Chairman, 1307 West 10th st., Bedford, Ind. ; W. D. Hyslop, Gen’l S. A T., 1312 K st., Bedford, Ind. No. 181 — Division covers Kentucky A Indi- ana Terminal R. R. H. A. Boston, Gen’l Chairman, 422 N. 20tli st., Louisville Ky. ; W. L. Kilcourse, Gen’l 8. A T., 1235 South 17th st.. Louisville, Ky. No. 182 — Division covers Missouri A North Arkansas R. R. James Roy, Jr., Acting Gen’l Chairman, Cotton Plant, Ark. ; 8. E. Brasfleld, Gen’l S. A T., Searcy, Ark. TWIN CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Regular meeting 2d Wednesday night of each month, Columbia Hall, Prior and University aves. G. W. Lewis, Pres., 2921 Chicago ave., Minneapolis Minn. ; 8. H. Lester, 8. A T., Flat 7, 912 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. CREAM CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets the 2d Tuesday of each month in Film Operators’ Hall, 226 Third st., Mil- waukee, Wis. W. T. Houlehen, Pres., 368 Madison st., Milwaukee, Wis. ; B. A. Go- thompson, 8. A T., 788 Fortieth st., Mil- waukee, Wis. PRETZEL CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF FREEPORT, ILL— Meets 3d Wednes- day of each month at Ladles and Knights of Security Hall 107 Stephenson st., Free- port, 111. P. H. Murphy, Pres., 146 Dela- ware st.* Freeport, 111. ; H. B. Kiester, 8. A T., 60 Second st., Freeport, 111. CORT CLUB (Chicago O. R. T. Club)— Meets 1st Saturday of each month in Room 912, Masonic Temple. D. C. Smart, Pres., 2258 Lincoln ave., Chicago, 111. ; C. L. Craig, S. A T., 817 W. 64th st Chicago, 111. DES MOINES O. R. T. CLUB— Meets in Assembly Room, Kirkwood Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa, subject to call of President M. R. Davis, Pres., care C. R. L A P. Ry., Des Moines, Iowa ; 8. 8. Price, 8. A T., Grimes, Iowa. CEDAR RAPIDS O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 8 p. m., the 3d Friday of each month at Room 12, 2d floor, Dows bldg.. Cor. 2d ave. and 2d st.. Cedar Rapids Iowa. F. E. Conover, Pres., Low Moor, Iowa ; J. L Ilalpln, S. A T., 512 South Fourteenth st. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. LITTLE ROCK O. R. T. CLUB— Meets sub- ject to call of 8. A T. C. C. Jacklin. Pres., Room 224, Union Station, Little Rock, Ark. ; H. W. Gibbs, 8. A T., 516 E. Eighth St., Little Rock, Ark. Digitized by c.oo<?Le
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572 The Railroad Telegrapher. THE PANHOMA TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets Saturday evening following the 21st of each month in Assembly Room, 2d floor City Hall, El Reno, Okla. G. A. . Barnard, Pres., El Reno, Okla. ; P. G. Sinclair, Sec’y, Okeene, Okla. ; P. L. Peacher, Treas., El Reno, Okla. EVANSVILLE O. R. T. CLUB— Meets Sd Sunday each month. L. E. Crandall, Pres., Chrisney, iVid. ; C. McCleary. S. A T., 712 Mulberry st., Evansville, Ind. THE HOOSIER O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month at 8 p. m., Room 109, Oneida Hotel Indianapolis, Ind. J. W. White, Pres., 2166 Avondale place, In- dianapolis, Ind. ; W. G. Brenneman, S. & T., 2327 Prospect st., Indianapolis, Ind. THE KANSAS CITY RAILROAD TELE- GRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets subject to call of President M. Williams, Pres., 2116 Walnut st., Kansas City, Kan. THE PORT PITT TELEGRAPHERS, CLUB OP PITTSBTTRG — Meets subject to call of Secretary. H. K. Klingensmlth, Pres., 124 Suburban ave., Beechview, Pittsburg Pa. THE HOUSTON O. R. T. CLUB — Meets 2d Thursday night of each month, Hotel Cotton, cor. Pannin st. and Capitol ave., Houston, Tex. Chas. C. Webner, Pres., 425 Mason bldg., Houston, Tex. ; E. B. Hill, Sec’y, 1027 Yale st., Houston, Tex. THE DU-O R. T. CLUB OF DURAND, MICH. — Meets 1st Thursday each month in I. O. O. F. Hall, Durand, Mich. A. E. McNamara. Pres. Drayton Plain, Mich. ; H. F. Link, S. & T., Lansing, Mich. THE C. O. O. R. T. GLUB (Co-Operative O. R. T. Club) — Meets 8 p. m., 1st Friday of each month in Red Men’s Hall, South Bend, Ind. O'. O. Replogle, Pres., 681 East Bronson st.. South Bend, Ind. ; D. A. Crum, S. & T., 817 Lindsey st. South Bend, Ind. THE CHICAGO HEIGHTS TELEGRA- PHERS’ CLUB— Meets 9 :30 a. m.. 2d Sunday of each month at Chicago Heights, 111., in Trades and Labor Council Hall. J. Welles Begbie, Pres., St. Anne, 111.; J. C. Marceau, S. A T., St Anne, 111. THE SPRINGFIELD O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 2d Saturday night of each month at St. Nicholas Hotel. Springfield, 111. W. Stone, Pres., Marine, 111. ; W. R. Endl- cott, S. & T., 113 E. JefTerson st. Spring- field, 111. THE GOLDEN RULE TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets 7 p. m., 3d Tuesday of each month at Crowe Hall, corner Broadway and Seger ave., Toledo, Ohio. F. H. Simon, Pres., 302 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio ; Geo. D. Walker, S. A T., Flickenger Flat No. 2, Toledo, Ohio. THE MONUMENTAL O. R. T. CLUB— Meets monthly In Baltimore, Md., subject to call of President. W. R. Johnson, Pres., 3743 Morley st., Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Shawen, Sec’y, 3637 Roland ave., Balti- more, Md. THE STATEN ISLAND O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month, 8 p. m., at the Cherokee Club, No. 12 Cross st, Stapleon, S. I., N. Y. D. B. McMullen, Pres., 8 Woodland ave., Cranford, J. ; J. P. Tully, S. A T., 276 Delaware ave., Dongan Hills, N. Y. General Committee Directory on Railroads Covered by Local Divisions Boston A Albany Railway — M. J. Walsh, Gen’l Chairman, 16 Moseley ave., Merrick, Mass. ; Geo. P. Alrutz, Secretary General Committee, 16 Oakdale ave., Westfield, Mass. Boston Terminal Co. — S. E. Haseltine, Gen’l Chairman, 21 French ave.j South Brain- tree, Mass. ; H. J. Lionett, Secretary Gen- eral Committee, Dorchester, Mass. Buffalo A Susquehanna R. R. — E. E. Has- kins, General Chairman, Sinnemahoning, Pa. Chicago, Peoria A St Louis Ry. — It E. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Jerseyville, 111. ; H. C. LeMasters, Secretary General Com- mittee, 426 S. Orange st., Havana, 111. Intercolonial Ry.-r=C. C. Charters, Gen’l Chairman, Point du Chene, N. B. ; R. A. McMillan, Secretary General Committee, Charlo Station, N. B. Long Island Railroad — C. M. Scully, Gen’l Chairman, College Point, N. Y. ; E. Frank Webb, Secretary General Committee, 23 Amherst ave., Jamaica, N. Y. New York, New Haven A Hartford RaHroad — Leornard J. Ross, Gen’l Chairman, 457 Wellington ave., Auburn, R. L ; M. W. Handy, Secretary General Committee, Box 885, New Haven, Conn. Toledo, St. Louis A Western Ry. — H. S. Wal- ters, Gen’l Chairman, Gas City, Ind. ; H. B. Livesey, Secretary General Committee, Sorento, 111. Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 573 Ladies’ Auxiliary Directory OFFICERS. MRS. KATE E. CARR— Grand President, 129 Swan st, Olympia, Wash. MRS. FLORENCE P. PIERCE— Grand Sec- retary-Treasurer, Box S3, Halethorpe, Baltimore Co., Md. MISS CLAF^A J. BRADY— First Grand Vice-President, 91 Wood st, Provi- dence, R. L . BOARD OF Mrs. John W. Banker, Chairman, Schaghti- coke, N. Y. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Secretary, Smith- ville, Ga. MRS. D. H. PARKER— Second Grand Vice- President Speed, N. C. MRS. GEORGE GILBERT— Third Grand Vice-President, Kenora, Ont., Can. MRS. J. E. COWGILL— Fourth Grand Vice- President, San Carlos, Cal. DIRECTORS. Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3854 Cleveland ave., St Louis, Mo. Mrs. Iris U. Henderson, Midland, Tex. Mrs. E. McDonough, Clintonville, Wis. All correspondence for The Telegrapher should be addressed to C. B. Rawlins, Editor, St Louis, Mo., so that it will reach him not later than the 5th of the month. Grand Division — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or ter- ritory. Mrs. Kate E. Carr, Grand Presi- dent, 629 Swan st, Olympia, Wash. ; Mrs. Florence P. Pierce, Grand S. ft T. Box 33, Halethrope, Md. Division 2 — Meetings subject to call of Act- ing President Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3854 Cleveland ave., St Louis Mo. ; Mrs. Evva L. Quick, S. ft T., 3854 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo. Division 3 — Covers the C., C., C. ft St L 'Ry. System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. S. D. Solomon, Presi- - dent 1912 Locust st., Anderson, Ind. ; Mrs. Hazel Elliott Gen'l S. ft T., Ashley, Ohio. Division 7 — Covers the Canadian Pacific Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan Pres- ident, Chapleau, Ont., Can. ; Mrs. S. S. Campbell, Gen'l S. ft. T., Verona, Ont. Division 8 — Covers the New York Central Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mrs. M. B. Lynch, Pres- ident 983 State st., Schenectady, N. Y. ; * M. J. Wood, Gen'l S. ft T., South Schenec- tady, N. Y. Division 15 — Covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Meets subject to call of the Presi- dent. Mrs. B. F. Wheeler, President, Oviedo, Fla. ; Mrs. J. H. Williams, Gen'l a ft T., Wilson, N. C. Division 23 — Covers the Chicago, Milwaukee ft St Paul and the Puget Sound Railway Systems. Meetings subject to call. Mrs. a Olive Lester, Gen'l S. ft T., Flat 7, 812 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Division 31 — Covers the Missouri Pacific System. Meeting subject to call of the President Mrs. Chas. M. Bodle, Presi- dent, Benton, Kan. ; Mrs. H. C. Harkins, Gen’l S. ft T., Lupus, Mo. Division 33 — Covers the Baltimore ft Ohio Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President Mrs. Mary A. Bell, Presi- dent, New Concord, Ohio. ; Mrs. Anna a Gillum, Gen’l S. ft T., Shin ns ton, W. Va. Division 35 — Meets 3d Thursday of each month at 2 :30 p. m., in Manheim Hall, 433 Westminster st, Providence, R. I. ; Mrs. Bertha Haddock, President, 111 Narra- gansett st.. Edge wood. Providence, R. I. ; Miss Clara J. Brady, Gen'l S. ft T., 91 Wood st., Providence, R. I. Division 44 — Meets 2d Saturday of each month at 8 p. m., in Hall No. 2, Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. Mrs. A. Filby, President, Vandeveer Park Station, #Broklyn, N. Y. ; Mrs. J. E. Shields, Gen'l S. ft T., 1034 Bergen st, Brooklyn, N. Y. Division 46 — Covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meetings subject tocall of the President Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Gen'l S. ft T., Smithville, Ga. Division 63 — Covers the Southern Pacific System, G. H. ft S. A. Ry. Meetings sub- ject to call of the President Mrs. J. E. Cowgill. President, San Carlos, Cal. ; Mrs. F. E. Waters, Gen‘1 S. & T., Ashland, Ore. Division 59 — Covers the Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of the President. Mrs. C. L. Watson, President, Veechdale, Ky. ; Mrs. Logan Watson, Gen'l S. ft T.. 634 First st., Shelbyville, Ky. Digitized by taOOQie
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574 The Railroad Telegrapher. Division 76 — Covers the Chicago ft North Western Railway System. Meets upon call of the President. Miss. Ema L Schneider, President, Dousman, Wis. ; Miss Irene O’Connell, Gen'l S. ft T., 207 W. Sixth st., Marshfield, Wis. Division 81 — Covers the Colorado Midland Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Mae L. Potts, President, Ivanhoe, Colo. ; Mrs. Ida Down- ing, Gen’l S. ft T., Cascade, Colo. Division 93— TCovers the Illinois Central Railway System. Meets subject to call. Mrs. B. L. Mathis, Acting President and Gen’l S. ft T., 1172 Mississippi blvd., Mem- phis, Tenn. Division 113 — Covers the Ulster ft Delaware t System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Harry Halstead, Presi- dent; R. F. D. No. 3, Oneonta, N. Y. ; Mrs. Sinclair Snyder, Gen’l S. ft T., South Kort- rlght, N. Y. Division 140 — Covfers the Maine Central Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Acting President Mrs. Florence L. Graham. Acting President 470 Main st, Bangor, Me. ; Mrs. Florence L. Graham. Gen’l S. ft T., 470 Main st, Bangor, Me. Local Tacoma — Meets the last Wednesday of each month. Meeting places subject to the discretion of the President, Mrs. Daisy Sherwood, Sixth Avenue Station, Tacoma. Wash. ; Mrs. W. S. Grover, Local Secre- tary-Treasurer, Ni squally, Wash. e (Ptber of Hailroab Qtelegrapiierg PETITION FOR MEMBERSHIP Officers and Members, Division No . ..1. The Subscriber by occupation a. . of ,... years’ experience, born in . . ... - . voluntarily offers himself as a candidate for initiation into THE ORDER OF RAILROAD TELEGRAPHERS, and agrees, if admitted, that he will cheerfully conform to all the laws* rules, mandates and edicts of the Order. I have not been rejected for membership in the Order within the past year. Fee enclosed, $. Signature of Petitioner. „ v Dated at this day of . . •My Postoffice address is Employed by .- ...Railroad This is to Certify : That we, th£ subscribers, are personally acquainted with Mr . and, from a confidence in his integrity and the uprightness of his intention, do cheerfully recommend and propose him as a proper candidate for member- ship in this Order. •Be careful and fill in your postoffice address. recommenders Digitized by v^ooole
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 129 in buying Shir Always look for the Signal Trade Mark — It’s the Made of the Famous TiiHagT Fabric That Is Wear Proof and Wash Proof Signal Shirts Made of Fabrics Has Many Comfort Features Not Found in Other Shirts. Every Shirt Made True to Size The World’s Greatest Railroad Shirt, made with two detachable laundered collars or soft collar attached, come in several smart pat- terns. It is the one best buy for railroad wear. If your dealer cannot supply you, send us your size, name and address and we will send you a shirt on approval. Hilker-Wiechers Mfg. Co. Dept. D1246 Mound Ave. - Racine, Wis. Makers of Famous TubTesT Overalls Digitized by Google
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OKNKRAT i
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THE RAILROAD TELEGRAPHER Published Monthly by the Order or Railroad Telegraphers C. B. Rawlins - ' Editor and Manager. Subscription Price Entered as Second-Class Matter December 20, 1912, at the Post Opeice at St. Lou is. Mo., Under the Act or August 24, 1912. $1.00 Per Year. Vol. XXXV MAY, 1918 No. 5 Railroad Wage Commission’s Recommen- dations and Our Protest. For several weeks nearly two million railroad employes have been anxiously awaiting the recommendation of the Rail- road Wage Commission, consisting or Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the In- terior, Hon. C. C. McChord of the Inter state Commerce Commission, Judge J. Harry Covington and Hon. Wm. R. Wil- cox, who were appointed by Hon. Wm. G. McAdoo to hear and study the petitions of the representatives of the various classes of railroad workers for increased wages and better working conditions. The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, rep- resenting thousands of workers, was rep- resented before the Commission by Presi- dent Perham at the opening session on January 28th. The work of the Commis- sion was completed early in May, and on May 9th, its report to the Director Gen- eral of Railroads was made public. President Perham gave formal notice to the Director General that the Order of Railroad Telegraphers is not satisfied with the recommendations of the Rail- road Wage Commission, as indicated by the following letter: Hotel Bellevue, Washington, D. C. May 10, 1918. Hon. Wm. G. McAdoo, Director General of Railroads, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: Having noted in the Philadelphia Public Ledger of May 9th inst. what purports to be the text of the Railroad Wage Commis- sion to you and the report ending with the printed signatures of Messrs. Franklin K. Lane, C. C. McChord, J. Harry Covington and Wm. R. Wilcox, I feel compelled to take notice of it. Provided that the report in the newspaper mentioned is in fact the text of the report of the Railroad Wage Commission, I desire to advise you that the Order of Railroad Telegraphers through its president will in Digitized by LaOOQle
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578 The Railroad Telegrapher. the course of a few days file a protest against the Decommendations filed therein and set forth our reasons for such protest. We have heard that other employes’ or- ganizations have filed protests of a similar character, or have given notice of their in- tention of doing so, and we believe that all organizations interested may eventually do so, consequently, in behalf of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers, we request that the matter be held in abeyance until we may prepare our reasons for protesting against those recommendations being made effective. Yours very truly, (Signed) H. B. PERHAM, President, Order of Railroad Telegraphers. We believe the wage increase recom- mended by the Commission should be based on the rate of pay which was in effect on January 1, 1918, instead of De- cember 31, 1915, as recommehded by the Board. A partial report of the Com- mission, which should be carefully con- sidered, follows: To the Director General of Railroads: •‘To make an investigation of the wages and hours of the more than 2,000,000 rail- road workers now In the employment of this Government has been h matter of engross- ing interest. To ask of a man ‘What wages should you in justice receive?’ is to ask perhaps the profoundest of all human ques- tions. He is at once compelled to an ap- praisement of his own contribution to the general good. He must look not selfishly on his own material needs, but take a far view of the needs of those dependent upon him. He must go into the whole involved prob- lem of his relationship with his fellows, and answer the question aright; he must in the end come to a judgment which will be noth- ing less than a determination of what policy or plan of wage adjustment will make for the permanent well-being of the State. We have searched for no such ultimate answer, if there can be one. But our own investiga- tion sought to reveal the insistent problems that confronted these workers, and such recommendations as we make are the practical answers to an immediate and di- rect question: What does fair dealing at this time require shall be done for these people, who are rendering an essential serv- ice to the nation in the practical conduct of this industry? “That question, to the mind of the com- mission, is qualified materially by the phrase ‘at this time.’ The existing state of war prohibits anything approximating a deter- mination of ideal conditions. The exceptional call that has been made upon the railroads, and upon virtually all other forms of indus- try in the country, since the United States entered the war over a year ago, has cre- ated an abnormal demand for labor. Wages Have Advanced. “Wages have always responded to a de- gree to the law of supply and demand. As a result of the war, the prices of the neces- sities of life have been mounting to un- tteard of levels. The railroads, with the pressure upon them for greatly increased transportation facilities, have been con- fronted with the problem of asking increased exertion on the part of labor at a time of extreme competitive labor demand, and at a time when the purchasing power of the pay is shockingly small. The commission has consequently considered the railroad wage problem with the Idea that the Gov- ernment must courageously direct its atten- tion toward the maintenance of rates of wages for the railroad employes, which are still adequate for those who, as they patri- otically labor, recognize the war has brought to us all the necessity for sacrifice. “In undertaking its comprehensive labor of determining in a broad spirit what fair deal- ing at this time does require to be done by the Government for the railroad employes, the commission held a large number of pub- lic hearings. It requested to appear before it at those hearings representatives of all classes of employes, organized and unorgan- ized, In the service of the railroads. Those who came to speak for these employes were given a full opportunity to present their views concerning the character and condi- tions of the work performed by those for whom they spoke, and the necessity for an increased compensation to* be paid them. In addition to the statements presented at the hearings on behalf of the employes, hundreds of letters, written statements and petitions which were sent to the commission by Indi- vidual employes and by organizations of em- ployes, were classified, analyzed and consid- ered by the commission in connection with the oral statements. Men in the service of the railroads, who during the period of operation and control by the private own- ers thereof had directly to do with the work performed by the various classes of em- ployes, and with the determination of tho rates of compensation and conditions of em- ployment, were also heard, not in contro- versy with the employes, but to give all the information they could concerning the work of the various classes of employes, the rea- sons for the existing differentials in wages between different classes, the extent to which increases in wages had already been given to meet the present exigency and the extent to which increases ought to be given at the present time. Wage Demands. “The requests which have come to us for wage increases would, if fully granted, in- volve an additional outlay in wages of some- what over $1,000,000,000 a year in excess of the wage fund of last year, which exceeded $2,000,000,000. Some asked for an increase Digitized by u.oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 579 of 100 per cent in their pay, and from this they graduated downward to 10 per cent. None was satisfied with their present wages. “If we assume that this total should be given, the problem would at once arise as to its distribution. Quite evidently the need or the desert of each class of labor is not to be measured by its demands. The bolder should not be given all they ask merely for their boldness, while the more modest are Insufficiently rewarded for the service they render because of their modesty. Some had evidently thought out their claims with par- ticular respect to their power to compel con- cessions, while others based their demands upon the exceptional character of the serv- ices given, the long experience and the train- ing or. character required. Still others found this a proper time to put forward claims which they felt were but a slender part of what justice would award, were the whole scheme of wage-making to be taken up afresh under a -new order of things. Rates Are Now Unequal. “To reclassify the many hundreds of em- ployments in which the 2,000,000 railroad workers engage would be a task calling for more time, skill, insight and knowledge than we possess. At the outset it was seen that there were grave inequalities in the rates of wage3 paid. But who should say what re- lationship each class of employes should bear to the other? Abstractly, why should an engineer receive $170 a month and a tele- graph operator $90 a month? what ratio should the messenger boy’s wage bear to that of a brakeman, or that of a machinist’s helper to a section boss, or that of a billing clerk to a train dispatcher? Or to be still more particular, what should be the propor- tionate wage of trainmen and station men? Should there, in fact. be. or could any scien- tific scheme be devised by which there might be arrived at, some proper and cer- tain method of determining the wage of a carpenter as against that of an electrician? So, if the full amount of the claims were granted, we should still be met with a prob- lem impossible of certain solution— the pro- portionate share out of the total wage fund that should go to any one. “In the world of economics this situation has been met by the simple application of supply and demand, which is in turn now varied, affected and modified by those limi- tations arising out of the artificial, but neces- sary and historic methods of collective bargaining. “These forces have classified employments. In the growth of the railroads there has con- sequently been evolved no other plan for such classification, and no scientific rela- tionship between the wages paid. The pro- posal that a new classification should be at- tempted is one which, to say the least, may not be accepted now. Nevertheless, there stands out one dominating fact, recognized by railroad workers as well as by railroad officials — a conclusion compelled by that large sense of equity which governs where logical processes fail— that the lower grades of railroad employment, those in which the supply of labor has been less restricted, and where organization has been difficult, if not impossible, deserve wage increases out of proportion to the increases for those In su- perior grades. All Crafts Claim Credit. “In treating of different crafts, it is not without interest to recall that each of those workers who appeared made claim, with a quiet manifest and very proper pride, that without this kind of labor the railroads could not be operated. And being essential to the large scheme, each asked that this pivotal nature of his work should be recognized in the wages paid. The train dispatcher spoke with enthusiasm of the large respon- sibilities that he bore, and he was followed by the section man, ready for call at every moment, a minute man without whom train dispatcher and train would alike be useless. So by slow steps as our inquiry proceeded we came to see that the only practicable way of dealing with a problem so indented with detail and so complex was to meet it on a large scale. “Should there be any increase in wages to these men in the railroad service t The rail- roads themselves have for the last two years been answering this question by yielding , some with a wise prevision, and others too slowly for their own good, to the requests of their employes. It took neither tables nor charts nor briefs to make evident that , if the roads were to hold those men they had , concession must be made to the imperious danger of rising prices for the supplies of living. “Futhermore, an unprecedented call had come for men of certain trades in connec- tion with the new industries that had been created by the war in Europe, and this long before our entry into the conflict. Machinists and ironworkers of all kinds found them- selves to be essential to the great munition plants, and day labor of the most unskilled character rose into high demand. To meet this competition the roads had advanced wages by slow steps at first, and later more rapidly. • • • “The Government now enjoys this position of distinction — it is not yielding to threats ; it is not compelled to a course by fear of any unpatriotic outburst ; it is not making concessions to avoid disaster. There has been no hint that such a policy would be pursued by those who have it within their power. The right ‘at this time,’ a measure justice, consideration for the needs of the men, whether organized or unorganized, wheiher replaceable or not replaceable — these are the standards that we have sought to meet. By what amount have the railroad Digitized by v^ooole
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580 The Railroad Telegrapher. workers been disadvantaged by reason of the war and how may that disadvantage be overcome with the largest degree of equity, assuming that, in common with all who do not wish to exploit the opportunities which the war affords, these workers cannot have and will not expect a full meeting of the entire burden? * • • “This study of the cost of living was not made from paper statistics exclusively, by the gathering of prices and comparisons of theoretical budgets. It was in no inconsid- erable part an actual study from life, one of the most interesting and valuable groups of figures having been gathered by the news- papers of the country, by interviews with those of the working class and the inspection of their simple books of accounts. Roughly, it may be said that the man who received $85 a month on January 1, 1916, now needs 40 per cent additional to his wage to give him the same living that he had then. Below that wage a larger percentage must be al- lowed, because the opportunity for substitu- tion and other methods of thrift decline al- most to a vanishing point, while above that wage a growing proportion of the increase will go to those things essential to cultured life, but non-essential to actual living. • # * “There is high authority for saying that 'to him that hath shall be given, but from him that hath not shall be taken away, even that which he hath.' This dictum as to the way of the world we take to have been the recognition of a fact, not the indorsement of an ideal. And the plan we recommend is an expression of the reverse policy. We take from no man that which he hath, in- suring him as much as he has now (for no wages are to be lowered), but we would add materially to the fund of those who have least. And of these there are many. It has been a somewhat popular impression that railroad employes were among the most highly paid workers. But figures gathered from the railroads disposed of this belief. Fifty-one per cent of all employes during De- cember, 1917, received $75 a month or less. And 80 per cent received $160 a month or less. Even among the locomotive engineers, commonly spoken of as highly paid, a pre- ponderating number receive less than $170 a month, and this compensation they have at- tained by the most compact and complete organization, handled with a full appreciation of all strategic values. Between the grades receiving from $150 to $250 a month there is included less than 3 per cent of all the employes, excluding officials, and the aggre- gate fewer than 60,000 men out of a grand total of 2,000,000. Small Pay Predominates. “The greatest number of employes on all the roads fall into the class receiving between $60 and $66 a month — 181,693 — while within the range of the next $10 in monthly salary there is a total of 312,761 persons. In De- cember, 1917, there were 111,477 clerks re- ceiving annual pay of $900 or less. In 1917 the average pay of this class was only $56.77 a month. There were 270,855 section men whose average pay as a class was $50.31 a month ; 121,000 other unskilled laborers whose average pay was $58.25 a month ; 130,075 station service employes whose aver- age pay was $58.57 a month; 575,325 road freight brakemen and flagmen whose average pay was $100.17 a month, and 16,465 road passenger brakemen and flagmen whose av- erage pay was $91.10 a month. “These, it is to be noted, are not pre-war figures ; they represent conditions after a year of war and two years of rising prices. And each dollar now represents in its power to purchase a place in which to live, food to eat and clothing to wear, only seventy- one cents, as against the 100 cents of Jan- uary 1, 1916. That there has been such steadfast loyalty to the railroads and so light a disposition to use the lever of their neces- sity and their opportunity to compel, by ruthless action, an increase of wages, is not without significance and should not be passed without public recognition. “With the various conditions which have been detailed all in mind, the commission has reached the conclusion that the fairest method of dealing with the problem of wage increase is to award increases on the follow- ing scale : “To the monthly rate of pay of men receiv- ing in December, 1915, the amounts named in the first column add the percentage named in the second column, making the new rate per month as shown in the last column. $46 46.01 to 47 43.00 $67.21 47.01 to 48 43.00 68.64 48.01 to 49 43.00 70.07 49.01 to 50 43.00 71.50 60.01 to 51 42.35 72.60 61.01 to 62 41.73 73.70 62.01 to 53 41.00 74.73 53.01 to 64 41.00 76.14 54.01 to 55 41.00 77.55 65.01 to 56 41.00 78.96 56.01 to 57 41.00 80.37 57.01 to 58 41.00 81.78 58.01 to 59 41.00 83.19 59.01 to 60 41.00 84.60 60.01 to 61 41.00 86.01 61.01 to 62 41.00 87.42 62.01 to 63 41.00 88.83 63.01 to 64 41.00 90.24 64.01 to 65 41.00 91.66 65.01 to 66 41.00 93.06 66.01 to 67 41.00 94.47 67.01 to 68 41.00 95.88 68.01 to 69 41.00 97.29 69.01 to 70 41.00 98.70 70.01 to 71 41.00 100.11 71.01 to 72 41.00 101.52 72.01 to 73 41.00 102.93 73.01 to 74 41.00 104.34 74.01 to 75 41.00 105.75 76.01 to 76 41.00 107.16 76.01 to 77 41.00 108.57 77.01 to 78 41.00 109.88 78.01 to 79 41.00 111.39 79.01 to 80 40.87 112.70 80.01 to 81 40.44 113.75 81.01 to 82 40.00 114.80 82.01 to 83 40.00 116.20 Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 581 83.01 to 84 40.00 117.60 84.01 to 85 40.00 119.00 85.01 to 86 39.36 119.85 86.01 to 87 38.74 120.70 87.01 to 88 38.13 121.55 88.01 to 89 37.53 122.40 89.01 to 90 36.95 123.25 90.01 to 91 36.38 124.10 91.01 to 92 35.82 124.95 92.01 to 93 35.27 125.80 93.01 to 94 34.74 126.65 94.01 to 96 34.22 127.60 95.01 to 96 33.70 128.35 96.01 to 97 33.20 129.20 97.01 to 98 32.71 130.05 98.01 to 99 32.23 130.90 99.01 to 100 31.75 131.75 100.01 to 101 31.29 132.60 101.01 to 102 30.84 133.45 102.01 to 103 30.39 134.30 103.01 to 104 29.96 135.15 104.01 to 105 29.53 136.00 105.01 to 106 29.11 136.85 106.01 to 107 28.70 . 137.70 107.01 to 108 28.29 138.65 108.01 to 109 27.89 139.40 109.01 to 110 27.50 140.25 110.01 to 111 27.12 141.10 111.01 to 112 26.74 141.95 112.01 to 113 26.38 142.80 113.01 to 114 26.01 143.65 114.01 to 115 25.66 144.50 116.01 to 116 25.31 145.35 116.01 to 117 24. b6 146.20 117.01 to 118 24.62 147.05 118.01 to 119 24.29 147.90 119.01 to 120 23.96 148.75 120.01 to 121 23.64 149.60 121.01 to 122 23.32 150.45 122.01 to 123 23.01 151.30 123.01 to 124 22.70 162.15 124.01 to 126 22.40 153.00 126.01 to 126 22.11 153.85 126.01 to 127 21.81 154.70 127.01 to 128 21.53 155.55 128.01 to 129 21.24 166.40 129.01 to 130 20. . 6 157.26 130.01 to 131 20.69 158.10 131.01 to 132 20.42 158.95 132.01 to 133 20.15 159.80 133.01 to 134 19.89 160.65 134.01 to 135 19.63 161.60 135.01 to 136 19.38 162.36 136.01 to 137 19.13 163.20 137.01 to 138 18.88 164.05 138.01 to 139 18.64 164. l0 139.01 to 140 18.39 165.75 140.01 to 141 18.16 166.60 141.01 to 142 17.92 167.45 142.01 to 143 17.69 168.30 143.01 to 144 17.47 169.15 144.01 to 146 17.24 170.00 145.01 to 146 17.02 170.85 146.01 to 147 16.80 171.70 147.01 to 148 16.59 172.55 148.01 to 149 16.38 173.40 149.01 to 160 16.17 174.25 150.01 to 151 15.96 175.10 161.01 to 152 15.76 175.95 162.01 to 153 15.56 176.80 153.01 to 154 15.36 177.65 154.01 to 155 15.16 178.50 156.01 to 166 14.97 179.35 156.01 to 157 14.78 180.20 157.01 to 158 14.59 181.05 158.01 to 159 14.40 181.90 159.01 to 160 14.22 182.75 160.01 to 161 14.04 183.60 161.01 to *162 13.86 184.45 162.01 to 163 13.68 185.30 163.01 to 164 13.51 186.15 164.01 to 165 13.33 187.00 165.01 to 166 13.16 187.85 166.01 to 167 13.00 188.70 167.01 to 168 12.83 189.55 168.01 to 169 12.68 190.40 169.01 to 170 12.50 191.25 170.01 to 171 12.34 192.10 171.01 to 172 12.18 192.95 172.01 to 173 12.02 193.80 173.01 to 174 11.87 194.65 174.01 to 175 11.71 196.50 175.01 to 176 11.56 196.35 176.01 to 177 11.41 197.20 177.01 to 178 11.26 198.05 178.01 to 179 11.12 198.90 179.01 to 180 10.97 199.75 180.01 to 181 10.83 200.60 181.01 to 182 10.69 201.45 182.01 to 193 10.55 202.30 183.01 to 184 10.41 203.15 184.01 to 185 10.27 204.00 186.01 to 186 10.14 204.86 186.01 to 187 10.00 205.70 187.01 to 188 9.87 206.55 188.01 to 189 9.74 207.40 189.01 to 190 9.61 208.25 190.01 to 191 9.48 209.10 191.01 to 192 9.35 209.95 192.01 to 193 9.22 210.80 193.01 to 194 9.10 211.65 194.01 to 195 8.97 212.50 195.01 to 196 8.85 213.35 196.01 to 197 8.73 214.20 197.01 to 198 8.61 215.05 198.01 to 199 8.49 215.90 199.01 to 200 8.37 216.75 200.01 to 201 8.26 217.60 201.01 to 202 8.14 218.45 202.01 to 203 8.03 219.30 203.01 to 204 7.92 * 220.16 204.01 to 205 7.80 221.00 205.01 to 206 7.69 221.85 206.01 to 207 7.58 222.70 207.01 to 208 7.48 223.65 208.01 to 209 7.37 224.40 * 209.01 to 210 7.26 225.25 210.01 to 211 7.16 226.10 211.01 to 212 7.05 226.95 212.01 to 213 6.96 227.80 213.01 to 214 6.85 228.66 214.01 to 215 6.74 229.50 215.01 to 216 6.64 230.35 216.01 to 217 6.54 231.20 217.01 to 218 6.445 232.05 218.01 to 219 6.35 232.90 219.01 to 220 6.25 233.76 220.01 to 221 6.16 234.60 221.01 to 222 6.06 235.46 222.01 to 223 6.96 236.30 223.01 to 224 5.87 237.15 224.01 to 225 5.78 238.00 225.01 to 226 6.69 238.85 226.01 to 227 6.595 239.70 227.01 to 228 5.50 240.55 228.01 to 229 5.416 241.40 229.01 to 230 5.33 242.25 230.01 to 231 5.24 243.10 231.01 to 232 6.15 243.96 232.01 to 233 5.065 244.80 233.01 to 234 4.98 246.65 234.01 to 235 4.89 246.50 235.01 to 236 4.81 247.35 236.01 to 237 4.73 248.20 237.01 to 238 4.64 249.05 238.01 to 239 4.56 249.90 239.01 to 240 250.00 240.01 to 241 250.00 241.01 to 242 250.00 242.01 to 243 250.00 243.01 to 244 260.00 244.01 to 245 250.00 245.01 to 246 260.00 246.01 to 247 250.00 247.01 to 248 250.00 248.01 to 249 250.00 249.01 to 250 250.00 •Under. “The roads will substitute for the old rates of December, 1915, scheduled in Column 1 the ‘new rates’ listed in Column 3. increase Is $300,000,000. “Application of these new wages to the present payrolls of the railroads, as nearly as may be, indicates that the net wage in- creases granted will approximate $300,000,000 a year. The magnitude of this amount is Digitized by v^oooie
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582 The Railroad Telegrapher. not staggering when the whole expenditure for wages on the railroads is considered And whatever its effect upon the mind may be we regard such an expenditure as necessary for the immediate allaying of a feeling that cannot be wisely fostered by national inac- «t°n;m „aS n0‘ °"e d°'lar more than Justice at this time requires. It will make hard places smoother for many who are now in sore need It gives no bounty. It is not a meet?' , ** "° m°re than an honorable meeting of an obligation. Application of the Scale “™es,e ,ncTea3es are to be applied to the To,/ °LMMOr in CffeCt °n Member 31, °n0t resent a net increase t tins time. Because our figures as to the ZthT, °’ tV,n° C°3tS haVe been gathered tmth reference to the two-year period, Jan- uary, 1916-Apr«, 1918, the wage increases are reckoned with respect to the same date The telegrapher who holds the same posi- tion today that he did the last day of De- cember, 1915, and who them received $75 a month and has received no increase since, will receive an additional wage of *30 75 ^ month. If. he has received an inlease m these two years of $10 a month the rec- rrk o'r"e o/ his wa°c ,vi“ be cm $20*75 b mu0’ mUCh’ makin° net advance f i5 *** Se,V°n hand Wh0 on December rrrell15, T “ Wa°e 0/ ?50 « month Will receive an increase of $21.60 a month less whatever his monthly wage as section man two^ years. * «• ^ Time Loss No Reduction. In the application of the scale the wave runs with the place. If jn the last two years an employe has been promoted, his new wage is based upon the rate of increase an new pllcl0 the n6W SChedU'e eoverni"e ‘he Reductions in hours are not to be re- garded as increases in pay. This rule is made necessary-first, by its Justice, for it is no? °0 that hours are reduced to decrease earnings; and, second, by the mpracticabllity of applying any other ru^e effect an08!808 the decrease ln daily hours did effect an increase in total wages paid, by reason Of overtime, but in other cases where the railroads adjusted themselves to an eight or a nine hour day, there was no “crease m the monthly compensation. To differ- entiate between these eases would be an in- eiminable task. Moreover, we assume the good faith of all reduction in hours as being what they pretend to be r "Jher* are S°me few cases where the roads by reason of abnormal conditions largely local, and arising out of the extreme competition in certain trades, have granted ^vage increases which will well-nigh cover if not altogether cover, the increases here inerrn AS t0 th°Se Who have received such increases, we advise no other course than of the timp A \ nere* the needs tit zrrlr— w-its: and the?e are lo POn t P|ec*-™rk basis. ;rartyji •zrz, ztss. Piece-work wages ^nd °r aPP>‘cation to overtime. 8 a d wag®s for recognized "Whii* .**and by °ld here^devised6 ls^manlf V, ***** when applied to the ^ "t* °f slmPIlcity hourly, daily or monthly pav IZhuve 'f * °i ZZTTl ^T'"8 'Z «>'a" - ‘"he trainmen, from which tLr!C?edUleS °f th* desire on the part of t ha « apparent,y no or the trainmen to depart ^ ZoZ^ we have succeeded «« Z , , ims’ however, to be applied to th p®rcentage of increase centage of increase which is awarded to Per~ ployes generally whose earmla !l Cm* »o the average earnings of eaTofth*^1 cral classes of trainmen. Thus* |n tte of road passenger engineers thefe Z “e earnings in 1915 were $178 45 tf average ual employe in anv nth G The Individ- mad servfce whose motrtMranCh °f 0,6 ral1' .... and the road Dassenirpr 11% per cent Will receive an incr^se of Uv™ “ * C,aSS their existing mileage “ates Anr^'"' ,n method obtains for each of th d ^ Same t-a.nmen paid on the ZZeZT™ °f Hours of Service. fJt'tZ °ZVLZ\hfeTa* i( *« ^ * ^s m°Z* °fA ZaZdard Digitized by Google
Page 594
The Railroad Telegrapher. 583 day of reasonably limited length is as much a part of the measure of justice with the workingman as is his rate of wages. Slowly and steadily, by force of law some- what, but also by the voluntary act of the employers, a shorter work day is being put into effect. This tendency will continue, and the shorter day will come to be regarded, not as a means of minimizing the returns which the worker gains, but as a conserva- tion of the human material upon which in- dustry rests. This matter of work time must be submitted to the pragmatic test. So- ciety will come to see that there is a maxi- mum which is beyond the plimsoll mark of wisdom, and a minimum that makes society in many ways the sufferer. The line of moderation, the medial line , is one that must be proved by experience. The wise employer will look with sympathetic eye to find it, and the wise employe will attempt in good faith to make it manifest. It would be a splen- did achievement if we could at this time crystallize the experience of the world into a conclusion concerning the length of the work day that would be of universal applica- tion. But this is not possible now, for many reasons, not the least of which is an insuffi- ciency of data touching so many and such diverse employments which call for such dif- ferent strains upon human nerves and muscles. Won’t Change Hours Now. “The railroad employes have asked for the shorter day, saying frankly that they did not wish an increased rate for overtime, save as a means of compelling the observance of shorter hours — a penalizing of the employers for too long a workday. At this time, how- ever, when urgent and serious necessity compels sacrifice from all, to penalize the Government for working its men as long as they have been in the habit of working under their private employers, the railroad companies must not take advantage of the twofold embarrassment of the Government — its need for the work and Its inability to call in outside men. The commission does not believe that the railroad employes really want thus to hamper the transportation fa- cilities of the country in its hour of need. “Manifestly, therefore, at this time, when men must be constantly taken from the railroads, from all other industries, to fill the growing needs of the nation’s army, hours of labor cannot be shortened and thereby a greater number of men be re- quired for railroad work. “The nation cannot in good faith call up- on the farmers and the miners to work as never before and press themselves to un- usual tasks and at the same time so shorten the hours of railroad men as to call from farms and mines additional and unskilled men to run the railroads. While the com- mission is strongly disposed to a standard day. so far as the nature of the service will permit it, its firm judgment consequent- ly is that the existing hours of service in effect on the railroads should be maintained for the period of the war. “But with this we are earnestly urged that a most exhaustive study be made of this matter of hours of service, not with a view to the adoption of some arbitrary and uni- versal policy, which shall have no regard to the kind of work done, or to the effect upon the railroad service, but with these very considerations in mind. And we have gone into this matter far enough to justify to ourcelves the belief that by the steady ap- plication of such sympathetic consideration the railroad service may be improved, and at the same time fuller opportunity be given for lifting a burden that falls disproportion- ately upon some of the less favored of the railroad workers. The foundation for such a study may be found in the charts constitut- ing Appendix VII of this report. Overtime Pay. “Closely allied to the matte t of hours of service is that of extra pay for overtime. In fact, the whole theory of those who speak for labor is that extra pay for overtime is the logical way to force the standard day of reasonable hours with no work thereafter. In that theory there may or may not be force ; but quite apart from such view cer- tain it is that in harmony with the broader idea that fair hours of rest and recreation are the laborer’s right the use of those hours in industry may well be obtained only at a wage much above the normal. With over- time, as with hours of service, however, the commission believes that the existing rules and conditions of payment should not be dis- turbed during the period of the war. “ But at the time when the study of the matter of hours of service is made that study must sympathetically cover also the broad and kindred field of compensation for the overtiuie which is necessary in certain classes of service. Apprentices. “Organized labor realizes that at a time when men are being speeded up in the col- leges by being given special courses in chem- istry and other scientific subjects necessary for war work the rules of inhibition touch- ing the term of apprentices must be liberal- ized so that those who are competent shall the more quickly be enabled to place their full skill at the nation’s service. It is the view of the commission that the full meas- ure of the increases h'erein suggested shall go only to those above twenty-one years of age and that those from eighteen to twenty- one years shall have three-fourths of such increases. This rule, however, might well be modified to this extent, that if apprentices are graduated into the full status of journey- men before they have reached twenty-one years they shall have the full pay of this new status. Digitized by v^ooole
Page 595
584 The Railroad Telegrapher, Floating Equipment Employes. "This award shall be construed to apply to employes of railroads operating ferries, tugboats, lighters, barges and any other floating equipment operated as terminal or transfer facilities, but shall not be construed as applying to railroad employes on or in connection with the operation of cargo and passenger-carrying equipment on lakes, riv- ers or in coastwise or ocean traffic. Wage Adjustments by Other Boards. "The award of the commission shall not be applicable to those employes whose com- pensation is the result of adjustments by or through any agency established for the pur- pose by the Navy Department, the War De- partment, the Department of Commerce, the United States shipping board or any other Government agency created since the entry of the United States into the war. Effective Date of Increases. “The wage increases provided for in the scale shall he effective as of January 1, 1918 and are to be paid to all who were then in the railroad service or who have come into such service since and remained therein , ac- cording to the time served. The proper rat- able amount shall also be paid to those who have been for any reason since January 1, 1918, dismissed from the service , but shall not be paid to those who have left it volun- *ar*ly, because remaining in the service was the consideration of the promise to make the increases effective from the date mentioned. Men who have left the railroads to enter the army or navy shall be entitled to the pro rata Increases accruing on their wages up to the time they left, as they have con- tinued in the service of the nation. The same rule shall apply to those who have passed from one branch of the railroad serv- ice or from one road to another. "The increases as to the employes of any road shall be effective only from the time the railroads were taken over by the Gov- ernment. Employment of Women. "The employment of women is one of the important problems confronting those in charge of the actual operation of the rail- roads. Up to the time of the abnormal de- mand for labor created by the European war women were not extensively employed by the railroads except as stenographers and clerks in the offices and as charwomen, car- washers and cleaners, and other employ- ments of like character. Since the war they have entered the shops, have engaged in handling freight and baggage and have even been employed upon the tracks. Much of this work requires a physical effort beyond the strength of women and some of it is carried on under conditions menacing to health, safety and morals. "The labor in our shops and elsewhere must be diluted as the war takes to Itself an increasing number of men. Women must, to some degree, take these places. They should be cared for. Their burden should not be such as to hazard their health. Their hours should be reasonably short. Their working conditions should be healthful and fitted to their needs. "Their pay, when they do the full work of men, should be the same as that of men. "Nearly all the States have laws which restrict the hours of service of women. The exigency of war work is not so great that the railroads should be permitted to employ women except under the restrictions of those laws and in classes of service comprehended by them unless the restrictions prescribed by the laws are extended to the service and all proper moral and sanitary surroundings are provided. Discrimination Against Employes. "The investigation of the commission dis- closed many inequalities of pay in the same branch of service, not only as between dif- ferent sections of the country, but in the same section. The attention of the rail- road managers should be directed to these inequalities, with a view to removing them whenever the discrimination is not justified by differences in the efficiency of the labor, the cost of living or other conditions legiti- mately affecting the rate of wages. In every case where the same service is rendered there should be the same pay without re- gard to sex or race. “ Members of organizations and non-mem- bers must stand upon the same footing. In some branches of the service, and this is pe- culiarly true of those least paid, there are no organizations or, if any, they are limited in their membership and restricted in their locality. But whether organized or unor- ganized, the purpose must be duly to con- sider every branch of the service and to . aocord fair treatment to all. * * • "The commission recommends that during the period of Government conduct of the railroads, no salaries paid to officials who are not essential to the operation of the roads shall be charged as part of the operat- ing expenses, and that a careful study be made of the proper relation between the salaries of the higher officials and those of subordinates, with a view of readjustments in the service. Permanent Wage Tribunals. “There should be constituted a tribunal or tribunals to continue the study of railroad tabor problems, composed in part, at least, of men experienced in this kind of work, for, as to these problems, there can be no finality. Conditions are ever changing , and now adjustments must from time to time be made, and there should always be an existing tribunal authorized to take present appro- priate action. Many complaints have been made to ue by individuals and groups of men which it was impossible for us to in- vestigate, and which should be investigated Digitized by v^ooole
Page 596
The Railroad Telegrapher. 585 and redress afforded if the complaints are well founded. Among these are differences of pay, where there are no, or only negligible, differences in the services rendered. Condi- tion* of employment are described, which, if the descriptions be true , demand ameliora- tion. A commission of the railroad system would undoubtedly be fully occupied for a long time in dealing with such matters. In the meantime , the managers or other offi- cials operating the several roads could do much to improve the situation by dealing iwth the conditions on their respective roads. "It would be Impossible to magnify the importance of the American system of rail- roads in the conduct of this war. The coun- try is vast, and has been developed upon a plan which makes each section dependent upon all others. In no other one particular are we so truly interdependent as in our industrial life. No one section lives to it- self alone, and none of our great industries draws its materials from the vicinage or finds its markets near at hand. In a word, our Industries are national in an uncom- mon sense. The steel that is fabricated in- to a shell in Pennsylvania comes from Min- nesota and the copper from Montana. The spruce struts that support the wings of our airplanes grow in Oregon, while the cotton which covers the wings comes from the South. Admits Lack of System. "That England should want for bread be- cause American railroad equipment was un- wisely distributed or unnecessarily imme- diate Is a thing not to be explained to the Englishman, who regards our system of rail- roads and our methods of railroading as the model for the world, excelling either public or private systems elsewhere. "For our needs and for our pride this standard of superiority must be maintained and to this end no other one thing will so greatly conduce as wisdom and justness in dealing with the actual workers on the roads. What has been here done is per- haps all that can be done now. The spirit which prompted the commission should not be permitted to languish or to flatten out into expansive inefficiency. The labor prob- lem is never one exclusively of wages or hours. When it does become no more then the human element has gone out of the management, it has become too remote in space or in spirit to make good. The table of wage increases presented In this report, we urge, should be construed In the largest spirit of liberality, so as to draw forth from the men a recognition of that sense of reciprocity which it speaks — good wages for good service. The policy comes from above; its sympathetic application must be left to those below. "We desire in closing this report to ex- press our most sincere appreciation of the services rendered to the commission by Frederick W. Lehmann, as counsel; by Wil- liam A. Ryan, as secretary; by Edward J. Barcalo, Riley L Redpath and Lathrop Brown, as the board of examiners; and by William A. Hathaway, J. C. Bowen, Charles P. Neill, Fred A. Burgess, A. O. Wharton and C. W. Hillman, as special statisticians. "Respectfully submitted, "FRANKLIN K. LANE, "C. C. McCHORD, "J. HARRY COVINGTON, "WM. R. WILLCOX." Commercial Telegraphers. As related in previous issues of The Telegrapher, the C. T. U. A. has been mak- ing rapid strides throughout Canada (where opposition toward telegraphers affiliating with their organization was not so appar- ent) to a high degree of efficiency and re- cently an attempt has been made to over- come the coercion and intimidation practice by officials of the commercial telegraph companies against members of the C. T. U. of A. In the States. The right of employes of these companies to assert their American- ism and allow them to affiliate with a labor organization has been recognized by the Federal Labor Board which was recently created by President Wilson, and The Order of Railroad Telegraphers wishes the Com- mercial Telegraphers’ Union all the success possible in its endeavor in ameliorating the working conditions of its telegraphers. Digitized by Tooele
Page 597
586 The Railroad Telegrapher. Railroad Wage Commission Hearings THE February, March and April TELEGRAPHERS related how President Perham was the first to appear before the newly created Railroad Wage Commission on January 28th and presented an oral and written petition to that Board, for the granting to all employes eligible to membership in The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, namely, telegraphers, train dispatchers, tele- phones, train directors, station agents, levermen, towermen, staffmen and linemen, of a forty per cent increase in wages, an eight-hour day, a 26-day month, and the relieving of station agents and telegraphers from handling U. S. Mail, and in order to acquaint our readers with the procedure in this matter we printed the hearings in serial form, concluding in this number. Following is a rough estimate of the number of employes who work eight-hour tricks and those who work more than eight hours : Eight hours Exceeding Total work. eight hours. combined. Train dispatchers and directors 4707 97 4804 Telegraphers, telephoners and block oper- ators 12460 6231 13691 Telegrapher and telephoner operating in- terlocker 5053 2527 7580 Levermen 2065 1032 3097 Telegrapher-clerks 6070 3034 9104 Agent-telegraphers 930 17680 18610 Station agents 1437 12937 14374 Totals 32722 42538 76260 WHERE WAGES FIFTY DOLLARS PER MONTH AND LESS ARE PAID. • In response to the request that we file with the Commission a list of railroads where the pay for telegraphers is fifty dollars per month or less, we herewith submit schedules and wage scales from the following railroads: Alabama Great Southern, effective March 1. 1913. Alabama and Vicksburg, effective Jan- uary 1, 1913. Buffalo and Susquehanna, effective March 1, 1912. Central Railroad of New Jersey, effect- ive February 1, 1917. Detroit and Mackinac, effective Septem- ber 5, 1916. Georgia and Florida, effective February 1, 1915. Louisville and Nashville, effective Sep- tember 5, 1916. Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Missouri, Kansas and Texas, effective October 1, 1916. Tallulah Falls. Toledo, St. Louis and Western, effective March 1, 1916. Some of these schedules, it will be noted, are old and may be out of date, but they are the only copies available to us at the present time. We have endeavored to get schedules from the Pennsylvania Railroad. Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, Great Northern. As these four railroads are representa- tive trunk lines in t}ie East, West, North and South, and each one of them pay telegraphers and station agents less than fifty dollars per month, it is hereby sug- gested that the railroads are in position to furnish a recent copy of one of their monthly payrolls. We are unable to show how many men receive $30, $35, $40, $45, and $50 per month, as no tabulations of the kind seem Digitized by v^oooLe
Page 598
The Railroad Telegrapher. 587 to be available, and it would take much clerical labor and would consume months to get the data and make the compila- tions. HOW MANY MEN RECEIVE. PAY FOR WORKING ON SUNDAYS. In response to the inquiry respecting the number of men who receive pay for Sunday work we submit the following list of railroads with the approximate number of men where Sunday pay prevails: Number Railroads. of men. Baltimore and Ohio 2282 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific. . 1995 Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul. . 3518 Chicago and Northwestern 2410 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.. 2690 Chicago and Eastern Illinois 516 Central Vermont ‘. . . 187 Grand Trunk (Western Division). 195 Illinois Central 1730 Michigan Central 774 Maine Central 404 Minneapolis and St. Louis 359 Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie 814 New York Central Lines West of Buffalo (estimated) 884 Neyr York, Chicago and St. Louis. . 317 Northern Pacific 1400 Pere Marquette 652 Staten Island Rapid Transit 104 Southern Pacific, Pacific System (estimated) 1421 St. Louis and San Francisco 1000 22867 Total average number of employes . 76260 Approximate number who receive pay for Sunday work 22867 Approximate number who work Sundays without pay 53393 WHERE TELEGRAPHERS’ NEGOTIA- TIONS ARE NOW PENDING. In response to the inquiry as to where negotiations are now pending between telegraphers and their employers and the request for copies of new schedules and wage scales that have been submitted we herewith furnish "such data affecting the following railroads: Ann Arbor. Atlanta Terminal Company. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis. Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis. Chicago, Terre Haute and Southeastern. Chicago, Indianapolis and Western. Chicago Great Western. Delaware, Lackawanna and Western. Denver and Rio Grande. Detroit, Toledo and Ironton. Florida East Coast. Fort Worth and Denver City. Kansas City Southern. Lehigh Valley. Long Island. Macon Terminal. Missouri Pacific. Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf. Michigan Central. New York, New Haven and Hartford. New York Central. New York, Chicago and St. Louis. Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis. Norfolk and Western. Pittsburgh and Lake Erie. San Antonio and Aransas Pass. Southern Pacific (Sunset System). Tallulah Falls. Texas and Pacific. Toledo and Ohio Central. Union Pacific. Wabash. Western Maryland. Wheeling and Lake Erie. General Statement. From the requests made by the em- ployes as shown in the exhibits in this case it will be noted that many of their requests bear upon the question of wages, although they are hardly ap- parent as such when mingled with the other schedule rules. For instance, they request overtime pay for Sunday work, pay for carrying the United States mail, vacation periods with full pay, railroads to furnish typewriters, increases in over- time rates, increase in pay for calls after hours, besides a general increase in wages. It may be stated that they have always considered such rules to be iden- tical and part of their requests for in- creased wages. For the purpose of throwing further Digitized by v^oooLe
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588 The Railroad Telegrapher. light on the situation concerning teleg- raphers in general it is stated that there are two classes of telegraphers divided by a distinct line perhaps only visible to themselves. One class is employed by the railroads, the other is employed by the commercial telegraph companies, such as the Western Union, stock ex- changes, brokerage firms, newspapers, news associations, cable companies and so forth. For an enlightening report on the erstwhile conditions of the last de- scribed class of telegraphers, the atten- tion of the commission is directed to a report of the Commissioner of Labor for 1909, entitled, “Investigation of Western Union and Postal Telegraph-Cable Com- panies.’1 Washington, D. C., Feb. 21, 1918. Mr. H. B. Perham, Bellevue Hotel, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir and Brother: It is more than likely that at the con- clusion of the present wage investiga- tion it may be found necessary to re- vise the methods of securing information relating to the classification of railroad employes. As it has developed that in many branches of the service, existing methods have not generally resulted in giving information that would enable the commission to reach a satisfactory conclusion, relative to proper compensa- tion, based upon the I. C. C. classifica- tion questionnaires; in other words, we find that employes performing the same class of work are not under the same classification on the different railroads, and in many instances this condition ex- ists on the different divisions of the same road. The purpose of this inquiry is to se- cure from you any suggestion you care to make as to the best method of pre- paring a questionnaire that would prop- erly classify the employes you represent and negotiate agreements for, keeping in mind that this questionnaire is to be sent to all railroads and will have for its purpose a proper classification based upon similar service, irrespective of place or department in which employed. A prompt reply will be greatly appre- ciated. Sincerely yours, A. O. WHARTON, Member Board of Statistics, Railroad Wage Commission. Washington, D. C., Feb. 23, 1918. Hotel Bellevue. Mr. A. O. Wharton, Railroad Wage Commission, Board of Statistics, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: In response to your letter of February 21st, I herewith submit a statement which shows in a general way the kind of duties performed by railroad employes who are members of the Order of Rail- road Telegraphers represented by the writer at the recent hearings. I find that it would not be possible for me to classify them in any satisfac- tory way while acknowledging that it might be very useful if it could be done. I submit the analysis to you with the thought that perhaps others might see the subject in a different light. As far as we know there has been no attempt at actual classification for wage purposes in the past and because of that there is no precedent or example to guide us now. For many years past small railroads have been merging together, thus form- ing large railroad systems. These small roads had their own crude methods of classifying their employes, and when they became merged with others, said methods were seldom disturbed. Con- sequently it is to be surmised that my analysis herein set forth will be chal- lenged by a considerable number of offi- cials and employes, but it should be borne in mind that few if any people have had the opportunity to note and observe conditions as has the chief ex- ecutive officer of a labor organisation who has taken a hand in making nearly all the wage scales in the country cov- ering the employes described. It is not asserted that the analysis of Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad' Telegrapher. 589 the duties of the various employes is correct, but merely approximately so. The analysis was not taken from the book of rules usually published by rail- roads, but from memory and personal contact with the various classes of em- ployes and to a considerable extent with the work itself. Telegraphers. Trick Train Dispatchers: Those who by the use of the telegraph or telephone direct the movement of trains. Relay Telegraphers: Those who are telegraphers in a tense condition of employment, receiving and transmitting messages all the time they are on duty. Such as those employed in offices where messages are relayed or repeated, general offices of the railroad, division officers, wire chiefs, traffic chiefs, side-table men, copiers, or at any office where telegraphic work is prao tically continuous. Road Telegraphers: Those who are employed along the line as first, second and third trick men, those who work at offices along the line where one or more telegraphers are simultaneously employed, those who work at offices during the night or the day where only one man is employed. At certain designated places they are re- quired to tend water service pumps, block trains, tend switches and signals, receive, transmit and deliver commer- cial telegrams and do clerical work. Agent Telegraphers: Those station agents who by the use of the telegraph or the telephone are connected with the movement of trains. Employes who receive and deliver freight, sell tickets, check baggage, send and receive commercial telegrams, carry mail and parcel post matter between the rajlroftd station and the post' .office where the distance is eighty rods or less, handle pumps, crossing gates, and do all other things necessary to be done for the railroad where he is employed. Telegrapher Clerks: Those who work at way stations as telegraphers or telephoners handling train orders, manipulating signals con- nected with' train movement, sending and receiving commercial telegrams, and perform clerical work to assist the sta- tion agent. Others are assistants to the yardmasters, trainmasters, ticket agents and some are. employed in the general offices. Levermen Telegraphers: Those who send and receive messages and train orders by the use of the tele- graph or telephone connected with the movement of trains and manipulate switches and signals controlling train movement, tend gate crossings, swing draw bridges and protect the movement, in many places they have charge of cer- tain sections of track and control train movements similar to train dispatchers' work. Depending upon circumstances they are known as towermen, signal- men or levermen. Block Telegraphers: Those who by the use of the telegraph or telephone handle train orders and mes- sages connected with the movement of trains, space and report trains, at many places they have absolute charge of cer- tain sections of track and order and control the train movement. Some sell tickets, check baggage, handle commer- cial telegrams, and do other kinds of clerical work. Station Agents. Agents located at railroad stations as distinguished from city ticket agents, so- liciting agents, and numerous other classes of agents employed by’ railroads. They act as freight agents, ticket agents, baggage agents, express agents, mail carriers, bookkeepers, sign bills of lading, accept service in law suits, and among a multiplicity of other duties make out balance sheets, which fact con- stitutes them as agents of the railroad. There are some men called' • station agents by the railroads but not recog- nized as such by the employes, it is they who perform some of the duties of a station agent, but their principal work is, for instance, managing farms or Digitized by v^oooLe
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590 The Railroad. Telegrapher. ranches, dairies, grain elevators, general stores, and other gainful employments, but they do not make out balance sheets. They are in a different class entirely from the regular station agents and are not usually represented by employes' committees. Such men usually receive from five to thirty dollars per month from the railroad. Line Repairers. Employes who repair and keep in working order telegraph and telephone lines, clean the batteries and motors, look after switchboards and do all things necessary to keep the lines and appara- tus in good working condition. In case of storms, floods, fires and wrecks their services are indispensable, at other times they are constantly en- gaged in repair work. On some railroads they are paid by the railroad, on others they are paid part by the railroad and part by a commer- cial telegraph company such as the Western Union or the Postal Telegraph- Cable Company. Another kind of a line repairer is he who is employed to look after the lines in an interlocking plant. He keeps in repair all sorts of wires, pipe lines, pneumatic piping, and is the general handy man around the plant. Levermen and Interlockers. Employes who handle switches and signals, either from towers or on the ground, not using the telegraph or tele- phone, but doing their work upon notice from directors, telegraphers, telephoners or by bell tap system, track circuit in- dication, or by whistle signals. Train Dispatchers and Directors. Those who are usually termed chief train dispatchers as distinguished from trick train dispatchers, who are herein classified as telegraphers. They are in charge of train dispatchers’ offices, di- rect trick dispatchers in their work, su- pervise car movements, ordering cars set out or picked up along the line as occa- sion may require, order the calling of train and engine crews and are in gen- eral charge of all matters pertaining to train movement in their assigned terri- tory. It is unusual for them to do any telegraphing themselves. They report to the division superintendent. Train or tower directors control and direct the movement of engines, trains, and cars, at places where the traffic is dense and usually have a staff of men to assist in the work such as telegra- phers, telephoners and levermen. Their principal work is to issue ver- bal orders to others employed in the same tower, cabin or office. Telephone Operators. Employes who do the work formerly done by telegraphers. They work in towers where they keep the train direc- tor informed as to incoming and out- going trains, at towers along the line where they work alone, at stations, offices and places where their duties are connected with the movement of trains. They are affected by the operations of the Federal hours of service law the same as telegraphers. They have taken the places of telegraphers, have been converted into telephoners on at least thirty-two railroads in the United States. There are other telephone operators employed by the railroads such as those in charge of switchboards in the gen- eral offices, train and engine caller boards and the like who do not custom- arily come under the classification of railroad telephone operators. Block Operators* Those who under certain conditions are train spacers, that is to say, charged with the duty of keeping trains moving on the same track a safe distance from one another. In many places they have absolute charge of certain sections of the divi- sion moving trains against one another or in opposite directions by understand- ings with other block operators, thus doing the work usually assigned to a train dispatcher, but with less territory to look after. They are telegraphers or Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 591 telephoners as the case may be and sometimes both. They invariably report to the train dispatcher. Staffmen. Employes who in some instances are telegraphers, but in the majority of in- stances are not. Sometimes they use the telephone in connection with their work, but more often they neither use the telegraph, telephone or any other means of communication. They operate an electric-magnetic de- vice wherein, upon the approach of a train they taker a staff out of a magnetic box and hand it to the conductor or the engineer who then has the right to pro- ceed with the train. If the staff on account of the magnetic device cannot be taken out of the box it indicates that the block ahead is occupied and the train must wait until either another train arrives ofT the block or the block is cleared by the train mov- ing off at the other end. I regret that I am unable to formulate a questionnaire that would be at all sat- isfactory to myself, but with the informa- tion contained herein it is thought that perhaps you may be enabled to formulate something that will fit in with the gen- eral plan. If there is any further information re- quired we will be pleased to furnish any- thing we may have upon request. Yours very truly, H. B. PERHAM. President Order of Railroad Telegra- phers. (The End.) WHY AMERICAN LABOR IS BACK OF THE WAR. By George W. Perkins. President of the Cigar Makers' Inter- , national Union. Why is American organized labor so unanimously supporting the Government in its war to a finish against autocracy? If all of you who read this article had been with me In Germany the year before the great war broke out you would have no need to ask. You would have seen, as I saw, autocracy at work, intimidating and coercing labor, spying on it, policing its meetings, suppressing free speech. When all these methods failed, you would have seen as I saw, autocracy trying to corrupt labor, misleading it by insidious propaganda, seeking to raise up false leaders, and using the power of money and influence to debauch those who seek to mitigate the condition of the workers. You would have returned, as I did, thankful to be permitted to live in a land of freedom and democracy, and resolved, as I was, if ever our liberties were menaced by the powers of autoc- racy, to fight to the death; to work to the limit; to make every sacrifice, and to accept no compromise until autocracy, such as is typified by the present German government, is defeated in a finish fight and the militarism which keeps it in power is crushed forever from the face of the earth. I went to Europe in the early fall of 1913 as representative of the American Federation of Labor to the World’s Con- gress— the International Federation of Trade Unions, at Zurich, Switzerland. Like the representatives of the organized labor movements of the other nations, I went as a poor man, resolved to make the trip just as cheaply1 as possible, be- cause labor has no money to spend on the junketings of its representatives. I went there for work, not for pleasure. But Switzerland is on the borders of Germany. Zurich is filled with supposed leaders of the labor movement of Ger- many. They were not delegates, but, somehow, they were there. They were not poor men, if the way they spent money was any indication. They seemed to have unlimited funds. Their mission seemed to be to spend money. We have always supposed that the “Dutch treat” originated in Ger- many, but somehow these men from Ger- many seemed never to have heard of it. Their sole aim, apparently/ was to wine and dine the representatives of other countries. They would invite a man to luncheon or dinner, on the pretext that they wished to consult him on some important matter. He would find, as I Digitized by LaOOQle
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592 The Railroad Telegrapher. found more than once, that the matter would be just about as important as the question of whether adjournment should be tak^n at 12 o’clock or five minutes to 12. In fact it often would be hard to discern any matter at all which would warrant this sudden manifestation of friendship and interest. But the conversation always drifted around to the interests of Germany in the world, its superiority, and the utter futility of anyone standing out against it The aim, apparently, was to make friends for Germany. It took the world war, however, to reveal the full meaning and extent of what these propagandists were driving at. When it came to paying the check, some of these Germans were there with bells on. I don’t know where they got the money. Just go and look in on the headquarters of some of the German unions, or Visit the homes of some of the German workers and see if you think they got the money there. For years before this war broke out the dream of sentimental international- ists of the world had been to prevent international strife by general strikes in case of wars of conquest. At a meeting several years ago of the miners’ repre- sentatives from many lands, an English delegate proposed a resolution providing that in the event o^ a war of aggression the miners of both countries involved should refuse to dig coal. The German delegation said that if such a resolution was even introduced they would have to withdraw, for if they even sat in a meet- ing in which such a resolution was dis- cussed they would be tried and executed for treason. The same thing has happened on other occasions. The German delegations al- ways knew they would have to refuse to have anything to do with any proposal to interfere with their government’s plans for world conquest, or face a firing squad. My personal experience while studying the labor movement in Germany was such as to make me more than ever absolutely and unqualifiedly back of our government in this war. I found abso- lutely no democracy in the German labor movement. No meeting of workingmen could be held in Germany without gov- ernment police supervision. No one could speak in a foreign tongue at any labor meeting, without first submitting his speech to the autocratic government, having it censored, and being given a permit to make the address. I could not speak at a meeting of cigarmakers called for organization pur- poses because I would first have had to submit in writing a copy of my speech. This would have had to be translated into German, blue penciled by some rep- resentative of an autocratic government, and translated back into English for the Kaiser’s minion to tell me what I could say. Before all this red tape could have been gone through with, the day for the meeting would have passed, if I had con- sented to try to go through with it at all. For years, in Germany, formation of labor unions was absolutely prohibited. Workers had to meet secretly, and in imminent peril of arrest When the Ger- man government finally saw the workers could not be intimidated in this way, it grudgingly granted permission to organ- ize, but under so many restrictions that any true expression of labor’s aims and desires was impossible. Our forebears disputed the demands of kings and potentates. Rebelling against religious intolerance and social injustice they started our first great war. It was successful. The second great crisis of our nation brought on the war for the elimination of human slavery. It, too, was success- ful. Now we are at an even greater crisis. We are fighting that democracy, liberty and justice shall not perish from the earth. Again we must and we will be successful. The time for argument is past. The pacifist’s cowardly pleas are dead. You must now either be pro-American or pro- German; pro-democracy or pro-autocracy. There can be no falling back; no waver- ing. All of us must be heart and soul for democracy and victory, or for autoc- racy, militarism and slavish subjection. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 593 THE PRIZE CONTEST. In an endeavor to reach our sixty-thou- sand goal, and in order that the efforts of members in securing new applications may be rewarded, a prize contest has been inaugurated which will be in pro- gress from January 1 to December 31, 1918, and members participating therein will be required to adhere to the follow- ing rules and regulations; otherwise credit will not be granted: It will be necessary for each member claiming to have secured the petition personally, and not through anyone else. The purpose of the prize contest is to in- spire individual effort; therefore, trans- fer of credit for securing new members from one contestant to another will not be permitted. To the member securing five or more new members during the year 1918, and who fails to secure any of the other prizes offered herein, will be given one of the official emblem rings. To the member securing ten or more new members during the period named herein will be given free dues in the Or- der for one year, their dues being paid by the Grand Division. To the member securing fifteen or more new members during the year will be given a specially made emblem watch charm or $15.00 in cash. To the member securing twenty or more new members during the period named will be given a fine solid gold watch chain, or $20.00 in cash. To the member securing twenty-five or more new members during the period named will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $50.00, or $50.00 in cash. To the member securing forty or more new members during the year 1918 will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $75.00, or $75.00 in cash. To the member securing fifty or more new members during the period named will be given a solid gold watch to cost not less than $100.00, or $100.00 in cash. The individual member securing the greatest number of new members during the year 1918 will be given $150.00 in cash. The division reporting the greatest number of new members during the year 1918 will be awarded $150.00 in cash. In the foregoing contest, secretaries and officers of divisions, and all other members receiving salaries or expenses, or both, for their services, are barred from participation. In securing new members, it will be necessary to immediately forward the Grand Secretary and Treasurer a notice to the effect that a new application has been secured, and unless that is done, credit will not be allowed; neither will credit be granted where a member per- mits his list of new applications to ac- cumulate and does not notify this office until some months afterward or until the close of the contest. This office must be notified at the time the new member is secured, and the form of notification should reed something like the following: *.....1918. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo.: I have today secured the petition for membership of and collected $ and have forwarded the petition and money to Bro Secretary and Treasurer Div. No Please credit me with this petition on prize contest. (Signature) Cert. No Div. No Digitized by v^oooLe
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BRIEFS Organize is our Motto. Remember our 1918 slogan: “Sixty thousand members, an eight-hour day, overtime for all work performed on Sun- days and holidays.’* As a matter of record for each division, the Blue Book of Schedules and Wages should be preserved. This can more con- veniently be done by having it cloth or leather bound. See the descriptive ad in this issue of The Telegrapher. Do not lose sight of the fact that since December 31, 1917, revised schedules of rules and wages have been secured on a number of railroads, therefore the re- vised agreements of the following rail- roads do not appear in the Blue Book: Davenport, Rock Island and Pacific. Sydney and Louisburg. Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha. Frisco. Kentucky and Indiana Terminal. Grand Trunk Pacific. Dominion Atlantic. Boston Elevated. Grand Trunk, in Canada. We are aiming to reach the 60,000 mark by December 31st. Help us by en- listing at least one new member. On June 30th, we will be “over the top’’ with several thousand more members in good standing than at any other period in the history of the Order. The Government having requested publishers of periodicals to reduce the size of their publications to a minimum, a large supply of the materials used in the manufacture of paper being necessary for the munitions of war, the Editor earnestly requests all correspondents of the Fraternal Department to curtail their items to an irreducible minimum. Bear in mind that there are about 180 Divi- sions and enough notes are received each month to fill two or three magazines the size of ours. Co-operate with us by being brief. The Grand Division has purchased $175,000.00 Liberty Loan Bonds and $50,000.00 Canadian Victory Bonds. We are informed that not only individual members throughout the United States and Canada have subscribed generously for each issue of these bonds, but our Local and System Divisions have been equally energetic in assisting the two Governments to win the war for de- mocracy. Two thousand two hundred and seven- ty-four new members were initiated into the Order during the month of April — the banner organizing month. After having served its purpose, let the “non” read your Telegrapher. It’s a good organizer. On account of forfeiture of member- ship through non-payment of dues or Mutual Benefit Department assessments, several hundred members are dropped from the rolls of the Organization. En- deavor to have these members reinstate. The drive for new members now being made by officers and employes of the Pennsylvania Lines East, under the ex- cellent leadership of General Chairman J. F. Miller, is bringing the desired re- sults. Every member of System Divi- sion No. 17 should make a tremendous effort to secure at least two new mem- bers during the months of May and June. Through the exercise of such persistency, an up-to-date schedule is assured. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 595 Do not fail to keep in pood standing at all time s. For the information of certifi- cate holders in the Mutual Benefit Depart - mentf the signing of the so-called “ appli- cation for reinstatement” or “ war waiver” is required of members who have allowed their membership to become delinquent , by failing to pay their dues and assess- ments within two calendar months from the beginning of a semi-annual dues period , in accordance with Article XV of the Mutual Benefit Department laws. In order to avoid signing this " application for reinstatement” members are urged to keep their membership continuous by for- warding remittances in payment of both dues and assessments prior to February 28th and August 81st of each semi-annual period , the beginning of which periods are January 1st and July 1st of each year. The signing of “ supplement to applica- tion” is required of all new members. The horrors of war are not confined to the area known as “over there,” as the state department of labor reports that 1,112 workers in the Pennsylvania min- ing industry were killed last year. Fatalities and serious accidents in which compensation agreements have not been filed or where the cases are not com- pensable under the law, are not included in this list. Immigration from Europe fell off 1,000- 000 during the United States’ first year of the war, according to statistics made public by the Bureau of Immigration. The figures show that only 400,000 immi- grants were admitted during the last year, while 1,400,000 came in the pre- vious year. Correspondence of the Associated Press says the scarcity of clothing in Germany is so acute that men and women are being attacked daily by ruffians in the streets of Berlin and stripped of their garments, according to German news- papers received here. It is said that one insurance office alone in Berlin is notified of an average of 300 thefts daily. Thread for mending clothing is said to be vir- tually unobtainable. The Massachusetts House of Represen- tatives have passed a bill authorizing cities and towns to provide the common necessaries of life and shelter during the time of war, public exigency, emer- gency or distress. The United States Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case that involves the constitutionality of the federal child labor law, which denies interstate ship- ment to commodities in whole or in part by children under 14 years of age. The case started in North Carolina, where cotton mill owners are objecting to this restriction. The federal department of justice is defending the law. Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo calls attention to the law covering United States Government insurance, which pro- vides that if soldiers or sailors desire the protection of this insurance they must make application within 120 days after entry into the service. No persons are insured until they have made specific ap- plication. The entire life insurance written in the year 1917 by all the stock and mutual companies and societies in the United States was approximately six billion dollars. The bureau of war risk insur- ance is thus, by several hundred per cent, the largest life insurance concern in the world. At the first climax of the govern- ment insurance campaign, insurance was sold at approximately a two-bill ion-doll ar- a-week pace. On the record day of the bureau, applications for $500,000,000 of Government insurance were received. The United States bureau of labor statistics has completed a study of the cost of living in the New York shipbuild- ing district. A personal visit by agents of the bureau to 608 families shows that 1917 expenditures by these families aver- aged $1,348.64. The necessity for high wage scales to meet present living costs is shown in these increases over the year 1914: In 1915, 1.97 per cent; in 1916, 14.91 per cent; in 1917, 44.68 per cent. Digitized by v^oooLe
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596 The Railroad Telegrapher. The attributes of the union label shine with the cardinal tenets of fair play, shorter hours, and reliable goods. From its inception it became a trade promoter. It gave work to its craftsmen, but its vital principle was education. A national labor administrator to have charge of all labor problems Involved in the production of war supplies will be named soon by President Wilson. Duties now performed by various labor bureaus in the government departments will be taken over and co-ordinated by the new officer. The plan is a part of the general pro- gram for centralizing labor control as contemplated in the reorganization the Department of Labor is now undergoing. The labor administrator will assume some of the tasks now done by the De- partment of Labor and work in co-opera- tion with the Labor Board, headed by ex-President Taft and Frank P. Walsh, named recently to settle labor contro- versies. The union label aspires to educate in unity the masses through the unfalter- ing devotion of its label leagues. It is a power for good to the rising generations, for their interests, their rights, and their liberties go with its tenets. It stands for the well-being and progress of all. It aspires to unity and federation. It gives energy and impetus to work, for it is en- nobling, full of the highest conceptions of duty. The union label is a competent and impartial record of aims and purposes. It is to a large extent a restraint on the trusts, for every purchase which goes with it, every label which bears the sig- nificant words, "eight hours," means em- ployment to more men. It is the very acme of union co-operation. The creation of a huge department to supervise all reconstruction work after the war is being considered by adminis- tration leaders. It is believed the new agency will be made a part of the Council of National Defense. Steps in its for- mation are halted only by the present necessity and concentrating all efforts on mobilizing America’s fighting forces on the fields of France. Advances made in foreign trade during the war must be held, it is urged. Soldiers returning from Europe must have employment, and government funds for aiding industry and for material re- construction in foreign countries must be available. It is admitted that never before was the government more active in gathering information relative to conditions in for- eign countries. A comparative study ot employers’ liability and workmen’s compensation systems, and their relative effect in com- pelling women and children of injured workmen to seek employment, has been published by the United States bureau of labor statistics, in bulletin 217. The report emphasizes the superiority of com- pensation over employers’ liability laws in meeting the economic loss sustained by the family through the death or in- jury of the principal breadwinner. It was found, however, that existing com- pensation laws are far from adequate. The important differences between workmen’s compensation and employers’ liability system may be summed up by saying that in the compensation states the families of victims of industrial fatal- ities knew with reasonable certainty what they might expect, received it with reasonable promptness, and found it, in general, sufficient to keep them from ex- treme hardship. In the liability state of Pennsylvania the families of decedents had no such assurance; in general the payments received were quite inadequate to the needs of the families, and not far from one-fourth of those visited had within less than a year from the fatality been obliged to see charitable aid. Mutual Benefit Department members who are contemplating enlisting for mil - it ary or naval service , are urged to ar- range for the payment of dues and as- sessments within two calendar months Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 597 from, January 1st and July 1st of each year. Should a member who has enlisted forfeit his membership in the Mutual Benefit Department , he will be unable to reinstate in this department while en- gaged in such service, therefore it is hoped that our boys will realize the neces- sity and importance of keeping in good standing by remitting both dues and as- sessments prior to February 28th and Au- gust 81st of each semi-annual period. Navigation over the Great Lakes route will open within the next few days. Ves- sel men predict that more package freight will move between Buffalo and Chicago and way ports this summer than ever before because of the congested condition on the railroads. Ice still re- tards the movement of ships through the Detroit and St. Claire rivers near Detroit, but other channels along the lakes are comparatively free of ice. Another important waterway which will be thrown open for traffic on May 15 is the Erie canal between Buffalo and the Hudson river, near Albany. This enlarged State waterway has a capacity for 10,000,000 tons annually and it will be operated this year by the federal gov- ernment. The treatment of interned Germans in the United States is now being used by German propagandists in an effort to create unrest and dissatisfaction among the American people. Through their in- sidious system of '‘grapevine,, publicity, they are endeavoring to create the im- pression that the interned Germans are being fed on the fat of the land — that while the American people are being asked to save wheat, the German prison- ers are being prodigally fed on bread, pastries and cakes made entirely of wheat Their campaign has been direct- ed largely to the rural districts, and in some sections has aroused more or less dissatisf action. The Food Administration has officially denied the truth of such rumors. The Germans interned in American detention camps are being well fed, but there is absolutely no ground for a rumor that food is being wasted, or that conservation is not being practiced. All civilian Ger- man prisoners are subject to, and are being made to observe, all rules and regulations of the Food Administration. Their per capita consumption of wheat is held to within 1% pounds per week. No commodity is wasted, although con- sumption has not been, and will not be reduced to a point that would threaten the health of the men and women held at the detention camps. The military prisoners — prisoners of war — receive the regular garrison ration of the United States Army. This is ac- cording to the Hague Convention. The same requirement applies to all other nations. American and Allied prisoners in Germany must receive the garrison ration of the German Army. Reparation was awarded by the Inter- state Commerce Commission in the amount of drayage charges incurred be- cause of the inability of the Pennsylvania Railroad, by reason of strikes, to handle produce at Piers 28 and 29, New York City. This decision was handed down upon complaint of the National League of Commission Merchants of the United States. Shipments intended for delivery at the New York piers were drayed from Jersey City at the expense of the con- signees, although the freight charges paid entitled them to delivery at Piers 28 and 29 without additional cost. This was in May, 1916. The President and Grand Secretary and Treasurer takes this means of ac- knowledging hundreds of telegrams and letters, protesting against the date (De- cember, 1915), for railroad wage in creases to become effective, as recom- mended by the Railroad Wage Commis- sion. The attention of members is di- rected to the editorial columns of this Issue. Digitized by v^oooLe
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PERSONAL MENTION The following births have been re- ported since the last issue of The Telegrapher: To Bro. and Mrs. F. N. Burkdoll, of Carlinville, 111., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs A. W. Bissell, of Indian River, Mich., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. E. F. Finnety, of Parker, S. D., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. G. J. Schueler, of Hawthorne, Wis., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. D. E. Gormley, of Superior, Wis., a boy. To. Bro. and Mrs. Wm. McLaughlin, of Dorchester, Mass., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. B. F. Fuller, of Savage, Minn., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. H. A. Horch, of St. Mary 8, Ohio, a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. S. E. Gard, of Amlin, O., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. H. A. Robinson, of Mansfield, Tex., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. R. B. Ellis, of Gar- rett, Pa., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. A. J. Perrault, of Iberville Jet., Que., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. Guy Gillespie, of Highland, 111., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. D. E. Nicholas, of Mineola, Kan., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. C. M. Baker, of Vernon, Ind., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. E. E. Russell, of Medford, Ore., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. C. A. Powell, of Stafford Springs, Conn., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. J. A. Marchaud, of St. Stanislas de Kostka, Que., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. W. C. Dengler, of Stockton, Minn., a boy. To Bro. a;id Mrs. Geo. H. Barfoot, of Galva, Iowa, a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. R. B. Hills, of Water- town, Wis., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. R. V. Starks, of Fairmount, Neb., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. O. T. Arendt, of Foxburg, Pa., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. W. E. Thompson, of Erin, Ala., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. W. Truitt, of Darlington, Mo., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. E. A. Kangas, of Clinton Jet., Wis., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. W. D. Covher, of Neodesha, Kan., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. O. U. Hampton, of Carpenteria, Cal., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. M. J. Derrig, of Addison, N. Y., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. H. D. Manaugh, of Atwood, 111., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. H. R. Metzger, of Spencer, Wis., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. E. A. Sonnenberg, of Spencer, Wis., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. W. K. Gremillion, of Donaldsville, La., a girl. The following marriages have been re- ported since the last issue of The Telegrapher: Sister Jeanette Richardson, of Div. 54, to Mr. Christman. Sister Irene Connelly, of Div. 54, to Mr. Parkhurst. Bro. A. E. Hansen, to Sister Lillian Maus, of Div. 76. Bro. Edward F. Kohlhaas, of Div. 23, to Miss Lillian Langsdorf. At Fort Wayne, Ind., Bro. Chas. Ram- sey, of Div. 26, to Miss Blanche Bebb. At Bloomfield, Ind., Bro. V. S. Sailor, of Div. 93, to Miss Lucille Bielskie. At Sioux City, Iowa, Bro. K. W. Smith, of Div. 76, to Miss Grace Workman. At Clinton Jet., Wis., Bro. Earl Ponton, of Div. 76, to Miss Jennie Schroeder. At Buda, 111., Bro. John W. Kunkle, of Div. 130, to Miss Lottie Philhower. Digitized by LaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 599 At Sumter, S. C., Bro. J. K. Sales, of Div. 126, to Miss Jennye Reames. At Vidalia, Ga.f Bro. R. L. Wood, of Div. 28, to Miss Ruth Foss. At Meridian, Miss., Bro. L. C. McGlohn, of Div. 62, to Miss Lucy I. Joiner. The Telegrapher extends congratula- tions to the happy couples. The following deaths have been re- ported since the last issue of The Telegrapher: At Louisville, Ky., mother of Bro. M. B. Eagan, of Div. 181. Bro. J. H. Allerdice, of Div. 8. Sister of Bro. N. A. Dozois, of Div. 12. At Cadogan, Alta., son of Bro. F. J. Carter, of Div. 7. At Phippen, Sask., mother of Bro. Thos. Collins, of Div. 7. Mother of Bros. J. C. and H. M. Kuhl, of Div. 3. At Vale, Ore., Bro. W. B. Tart, of Div. 130. At Marquette, Mich., Bro. Jack Steele, of Div. 116. Bro. R. L. Scott, of Div. 93. Bro. E. L. Parker, of Div. 54. Bro. Roger O. Farquhar, of Div. 144. Wife of Bro. H. N. Lile, of Div. 126. Bro. P. W. Martin, of Div. 33. At Bergen, N. Y., Bro. J. H. Brown, of Div. 8. Son of Bro. R. S. Fogler, of Div. 36. Son of Bro. F. H. Haper, Jr., of Div. 36. Bro. Harry Turnland, of Div. 119. At Rochester, N. Y., mother of Bro. C. H. Summers, of Div. 8. Wife of Bro. G. L. Hubbard, of Div. 130. At Steward, 111., wife of Bro. J. L. Hemenway, of Div. 130. Father of Bro. 0. J. Cunningham, of Div. 130. Mother of Bro. V. S. Richardson, of Div. 130. Brother of Sister N. Wilson, of Div. 168. Brother of Bro. W. R. Endicott, of Div. 168. At Alton, 111., wife of Bro. L. M. Krepel, of Div. 2. Bro. J. K. Baker, of Div. 34. Mother of Bro. C. A. Austin, of Div. 34. Bro. Clarence E. Duden, of Div. 53. Bro. Harvey L. Willis, brother of Bro. G. F. Willis, of Div. 40. Bro. Andrew J. Boyd, of Div. 40. Bro. G. A. Horn, of Div. 27. Bro. D. A. Chatman, of Div. 24. Mother of Bros. R. H. and W. O. Bruce, of Div. 24. Bro. M. E. Kennedy, of Div. 38. Wife and son of Bro. R. H. Barner, of Div. 24. At Bartlesville, Okla., mother of Bro. C. V. Rowe, of Div. 31. Bro. 0. W. Johnson, of Div. 34. Mother of Bro. L. R. Hudson, of Div. 34. Son of Bro. M. S. Claus, of Div. 39. Bro. I. Utter, of Div. 42. At Cleveland, O., mother of Bro. G. J. Elford, of Div. 33. Wife of Bro. H. C. Kearby, of Div. 23. At Erie, Colo., Bro. L. L. Larson, of Div. 6. At Halifax, N. S., Bro. M. D. Worden, of Div. 7. At West Chicago, 111., brother of Bro. G. W. Dunbar, of Div. 76. At Texarkana, Ark., son of S. L. Smith, of Div. 31, and brother of Bros. W. A. Smith, of Div. 31, and L. F. Smith, of Div. 53. Mother of Bro. Wm. Werner, of Div. 4. Bro. C. M. Woodin, of Div. 3. Daughter of Bro. W. C. Freeland, of Div. 3. Daughter of Bro. S. Carswell, of Div. 20. Father of Bro. B. Laity, of Div. 76. Bro. James S. Cornelison, of Div. 52. At Kankakee, 111., father of Bro. W. J. Pombert, of Div. 54. At Hanklnson, N. D., daughter of Bro. F. G. Pribbernow, of Div. 119. At Nicholson, N. D., daughter of Bro. J. R. and sister of Bro. G. J. Baker, of Div. 119. At El Reno, Okla., Bro. Marion Ray Davis, of Div. 126. The bereaved relatives have the sympa- thy of all. Digitized by tjOOQle
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600 The Railroad Telegrapher. WANTED. “H. K. Williams. Write me at old ad- dress immediately.” W. B. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of S. 0. Demur, who worked with me on L. E. & W. R. R. at Castleton, Ind., in 1910 and 11, will confer a favor by ad- dressing the undersigned. A. S. Dorsey, c-o C. P. R., La Riviere, Man. Present address of C. E. Davis, Chief Dispatcher at Green River on Union Pa- cific in 1905. H. L. Harter, 1917 Washburn Ave., Northside, Cincinnati, Ohio. Whereabouts of Joseph L. and John L. Beck. Sold their ranch near Dilo, Mont, about Jan. 6, 1918, and secured tickets at Sumtra, Mont., for some point in Missouri. Possibly farming in south- east Missouri or somewhere in Arkansas. Any information will be greatly apprecia- ted by an aged mother. G. H. Beck, 522 Jefferson St., St. Charles, Mo. Present address of E. R. Watt, last heard of working at Araba, Ariz., Tuc- son Division of Southern Pac. “Eibert, if you see this write your mother at once as she has been trying to locate you and is worried.” L. E. Mason, Atlanta, 111. Present adress of Gilbert Deer, last worked for Cotton Belt at Cotton Plant, Ark. Present address of Roy A. McCullum, last heard of working for M. & O. on St. Louis Div. “Boys, if you see this, write me. Good news.” H. J. Hall, Monticello, Miss. Whereabouts of F. G. Black, worked at Weatherford, Okla., In 1913. “If you see this drop your old pal a line.” F. G. Dye, Mill Creek, Okla. Present address of J. T. Hughes, former- ly worked on M. P. Ry., Monroe, La., Yard Office. H. A. Huckeby. Mojave, Calif. Whereabouts of Frank Durand, last heard of at Omaha, Neb. H. E. Baldwin, Beckwith, Iowa. Whereabouts of George Wm. Straughn. Telegrapher. Employed at Wilson Creek, Wash., as assistant cashier by G. N. Ry., February this year. Is between 25 and 30 years of age, about six feet tall, slender, brown hair, dark complexioned and very quiet manner. R. F. Paulcs Umatilla, Ore. LOST OR STOLEN. Card No. 22010, Cert. 835, Div. 170 for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 28449, Cert. 513, Div. 88, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 33737, Cert. 1512, Div. 32, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 203Q7, Cert. 3422, Div. 76, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 27177, Cert. 616, Div. 53, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 24556, Cert. 319, Div. 168, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 30263, Cert. 3257, Div. 76, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 10572, Cert. 47, Div. 5, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 30456, Cert. 6170, Grand Divi- sion for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 33697, Cert. 1734, Div. 28, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 12520, Cert. 1976, Div. 7, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 20002, Cert. 157, Div. 27, for term ending June 30, 1918. Digitized by v^oooLe
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AID FOR LABOR’S TRENCHES. By Kate E. Carr, Pres. There is many a man, and woman too, in the trenches beside the soldiers on the battlefront. In the trenches means that you are deadlocked with an enemy that threatens you with ruin; that you are in a desperate trial of strength and force with some power that, unchecked, will rob you and yours of all that life holds dear, perhaps life itself. We are more or less familiar with isolated cases of the trenches from which some business men have fought. We are constantly viewing the struggles of hu- manity with a most common enemy, habit. It may be drugs, sex perversion, alcohol, or one of a thousand things which may menace the well being of the individual, or through him his family. But other than the soldiers at the bat- tle front, the ones with whose welfare we are most concerned are the men and women who are holding the trenches for labor. For centuries labor has been com- bating the forces of special privilege and greed for the few, while in return, they have too often suffered the pangs of poverty, and the atrocities of their em- ployers. These soldiers, the members of organized labor, who fight individually and collectively for freedom and justice for the workers, need reinforcements and encouragement just as vitally as do our men and women in France. In order to give ample aid to our soldiers at the front, we are doing our bit by administering the principles of the Hoover campaign in our households. We are offering our services to the Red Cross. We are buying thrift stamps and liberty bonds. In fact, we are aiding in various ways in this fight for universal democracy. But we who are affiliated with organ- ized labor must not stop here. Ours is a double duty. Before us, all about us, are crying needs for the intelligent ap- plication of aid to the soldiers of labor. Methods for helping these warriors are as numerous as those used in aiding our troops in France. To begin with, be a real unionist. Pay your dues promptly, and make cash donations if possible. At- tend all business and social meetings of your organization, and urge others to do likewise. Buy only union made goods; if your merchant does not handle them, patronize those who do. And lastly, grasp every opportunity to speak a word for the benefits to be derived from, and the necessity for maintaining, effective organization throughout the ranks of the working class. PROVIDENCE R. I., LOCAL NO. 35. At our March meeting a large number of members were present, and it was decided to hold an entertainment in May. The committee appointed to make ar- rangements for this affair is composed of Sisters Vanderbeek, Smith, Moore, Co- nant, and Brady. We hope this will be a success in every way, and that all will respond and work to assist the com- mittee. The officers elected for the ensuing year were installed with due ceremony by Past President Mehring assisted by Sister Vanderbeek as marshal. The members of Auxiliary 35 were in- expressibly saddened by the death on March 25th of Miss Madeline Higgins, eldest daughter of Sister Harvey Payne. Miss Higgins was our youngest charter Digitized by tjooole
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602 The Railroad Telegrapher. member, at the institution of our Local nearly four years ago, and was a lovable girl of great promise. A number of our members attended the funeral and flowers were sent by the Auxiliary. Our deepest sympathy is extended the bereaved family. Monday, April 15, our meeting was held at Manhem hall and we decided to hold the summer meetings from June until October at the homes of the members. Notice of the different meeting places will be issued by the secretary. Ca. TACOMA LOCAL NO. 54. The Ladies1 Auxiliary met at the home of Sister Dickenson, of Kelso, Wash., which resulted in a very pleasant session. Grand President, Kate B. Carr, gave a very interesting lecture relating to the convention held in Tacoma by the Wom- en’s Legislative Council of Washington. Sister Mann of Steilacoom was in attend- ance as a visitor. A letter was received from Sister Long, expressing her regrets for not being able to attend on account of illnesss. At the last meeting held in Centralia many of the brothers were present and lunch was served. Brother and Sister Wyand of this place spent a day at Am- erican Lake recently. The next meeting will be held at the home of Sister Baker, Elma, Wash. Local Cor. Digitized by Google
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THE HOBO. THE Limited was right on time — it always was when Jack Roosa and Dave Peacock had the cab — and she bowled over the long straight stretch of iron road and took the curves into Sammet Valley and made the slight ascent at Charleen’s Hill like a thing possessed. After a manner born of many years’ rehearsal the two men in the cab stood far at its rear, each with a weather-eye out on his side of the right-of-way while he gossiped with his “pal” of the small homely things to which men descend when they have out-talked themselves of weightier subjects. Polar explorers, you know, are wont to remark how soon a ship’s company exhausts itself con- versationally— and the same applies to two men in a cab. “Wife’s been puttin’ up peach pre- serves this week, Dave,” Roosa was tell- ing, “and she says to tell your wife she’s goin’ to send her a jar. She’s got a-hold of some old French recipe — put- tin’ cinnamon-sticks in, I believe, an’ crackin’ the peach stones and choppin’ up the ‘almonds’ inside ’em, to add to the mess. It does give a mighty fine flavor an’ a much different one from any peach preserves we’ve ever had before!” Conversation on a train running sixty- eight miles an hour is apt to start at one place and — though sticking decid- edly to the subject — end at quite anoth- er. The Limited had now come into a dense, next-to-impenetrable pine forest where all traces of that reddening har- vest moon were lost and out of the cab window one saw only Stygian darkness. “Many thanks — Hist! There it went again!” The fireman clutched his superior’s arm as he had a way of doing when sud- denly excited. “Now that’s no glow-worm, and that’s got nothing to do with the reflector.” Long experience at running a train with Dave Peacock “firing” at his side had taught Roosa that his colleague was not to be startled lightly. He craned his neck out of the cab, looked into the night — turned and looked squarely up the right-of-way to where, just in front of the locomotive, there was a short stretch of night off from which ran the belt of light cast by the headlight into dimmest distance. Everything was well —everything clear — the rails lay ex- posed like burnished silver in the dis- tance. “What was it, Dave?” he asked, puz- zled. “I seen it three times now! The first time was just after we left Rushville — it looked to me like a little ray of light coming out from under the boiler some- wheres. I thought maybe the headlight had sprung a leak and some beam man- aged to be shooting down somehow. But in a minute it was gone — an’, of course, if it was light from the lamp it’d kept on going.” “Fire-fly, maybe — though it’s kind of late in the fall for those!” “Not a bit of it.” The other man was too wrought up for any joking or joshing. “Next time I remarked it was when we made Woodward Hill. Stood out clean cut as a pocket flashlight; square from in the front somewhere. Must have been burning a minute — and I was just going to call you, when it was gone! You were busy with that lever yonder, and I let it go. There — quick!” Digitized by Google
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604 The Railroad Telegrapher. The engineer was at the window with a bound, and, sure enough, shooting squarely into the abyss of night that hung around the engine itself, over the few red hot cinders that would fall now and then to the gravel of the track, there lay a yellow beam of light, clean cut, certain. Engineer and fireman turned on each other squarely. “There's no leak anywheres that fire could show through. Fire wouldn't give such a sharp, clear shaft. Someone’s tied a lamp down there of some sort—** “And it goes on and off, does it?" Dave protested. “That’s a strange kind of lamp. And, what’s the joke — or what's the good — I’d like to know?’’ The mysterious beam had now van ished. On, on, on, plunged the train. Be hind them, as it made the curves, the engineer and his pal could see the ex- press car, with Its door thrown opei^ and shedding a blaze of light on the! night. Then came two mail cars, be- ing taken for repairs to the next junc- tion point and carrying some fast mail along with them; then the long line of sleepers, with the dimmed Pintch lamps just showing, like the light of a fiery serpent, through the transoms. Ahead was the path of light on the track, otherwise night alone greeted. Engineer, fireman sat still, watching for a long, long time indeed not an un- usual thing stirred in their vigil. Then, of a sudden, the man on the right gave a hurried: “There she goes!’* summoning the other. The curious little light stood out once more, sharp and clear. “Dave," Roosa said, his voice quiv- ering, “maybe I’ve lost my senses, as one engineer did on this road, but I’ll be hanged if there ain't someone with a lamp somewhere on the locomotive." “You’re dippy, Jack," Dave protested. “How could any living thing stick to an engine that’s tossing you and I around on the curves till it’s all that we can do to hold on, with the whole cab and the rails to catch to, and him not knowing when curves are coming, and so on? What’s more, he’d be apt to be enjoying himself, throwing a flash- light on the frogs and the owls and the crickets out there, wouldn’t he?" The mysterious light was gone. Roosa put his hand to the brake. “What are you going to do, Jack?" the fireman asked, quietly. By the dim light of the lamp in the cab he could see the look on the veteran driver’s face that always meant instant action. The other man’s voice was tense as he answered. It was Jack Roosa speak- ing to Dave, his pal, now, but the engi- neer, the superior of the two, giving or- ders to his fireman. “According to Rule VII.-A,’’ he re- peated slowly, “ ‘engineers shall at times use their utmost discretion to insure life on board train or on track.' " He was quoting the rules as few engi- neers could — he prided himself on this. “ ‘An engineer who is not fully satis- fied, in his own mind, shall stop his train and investigate any cause of men- tal disturbance he may see fit.' " He stopped a moment and played a lever. Instantly the flying Mogul checked its speed. He pulled a bit farther — the speed decreased. He turned to the fire- man and gave a certain nod. The whistle sounded brakes into the chilly night, and half a dozen employ- es of the Western Pacific System were stirred from the nightly poker game in the smoker of the last sleeper to won- der what might be the trouble. “As soon as I stop her, Dave," Jack ordered, “get out in front and see what you can see. Then give a whistle and I’ll start her very, very slow, and In about two minutes I'll stop her again." It wasn’t once in a decade that Roosa stopped the Limited, and the last time he did so — well, he had a watch on him now that was presented to him by the company, along with a handsome check, for saving the life of every man and woman aboard. Once before, in the long ago, but then — Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 605 Peacock knew there was something more serious amiss than he could guess from his own experience. The giant locomotive was groaning now, wheezing, as she traveled ever slower and slower. Not a passenger would be awakened — that whistle may have meant to any sleepless one’s un- trained ears just some other crossing or station. Peacock was out on the engine mean- while and creeping slowly, but directly forward. He had reached the side of the boiler front and was just prepared to make the next step, when a long, thin shaft of light came toward him. Instantly he looked in the direction of the source, and, believe his eyes though he could not, there was a human hand outlined beneath the bars of the great cowcatcher. The hand was writ- ing on a pad; attached to that pad was the little searchlight. Evidently it was arranged that the pressure of the hand, as it wrote, threw on the light. When the writer ceased, the lamp was extin- guished. As fast as he could, the fireman climbed back to the cab and told the story. The train had come to a full stop now, and conductor, brakeman, the chips rattling in their pockets, and two fat drummers, from a drug house in Mooseville, who were "in on the game," were gathering around. Rapidly the fireman repeated to these the story of what he had seen. Then, rapidly the group scurried forward to test the truth of the tale. Swinging the big red lanterns close to the cowcatcher, it was plain to see that there really was a man beneath. He was a young man, twenty-five or so, small of stature, thin. His hair was uncombed and strayed out beneath a heavily padded cap on his head. His chest was enveloped in two or three layers of sweaters, so that any jar- ring or jostling would be softened. He wore a pair of football trousers; his legs were encased in thick Scotch stock- ings, and stout shoes covered his feet. All this the curious position he had taken inside the great pointed track was clearly made evident by the light of the lamps. "Come out of there!" the conductor commanded. "Don’t you know that it’s a penitentiary offense to cause a stop of the Limited. And, what’s more, don’t you know you can go to jail for ten years for stealing a ride on a train?" The man seemed* to cower a moment behind the bars; then, realizing that discretion was the better part of valor, he untied the great ropes with which he had bound himself to certain bars there and clambered forth. The little group gathered nearer. "What’re you trying to do here any- way?" the conductor demanded. "Steal- ing a ride where you thought no one would look for you? Well, I’ve seen hoboes take a lot of risks, but I never seen the likes of that!" "What’d ye flash the lamp for?" the engineer asked, triumphant in having found good cause for stopping the train. Had that man been killed after he knew he was out there, his conscience— but enough of that. "I wanted to see the time and find out how long before we came to Martins- burg. i_i— ” and he faced them all, guiltily, "I wasn’t going any further than that!" Wonderful, the knowledge these ho- boes did have, anyhow! From Rush- ville to Martinsburg there isn’t a cross- ing, a station, a stop — there’s not even a section house near the track; and, since the country is almost wholly for- est, with all game long since hunted out of it, there wasn’t even the chance of hitting a cow or a sheep or a hog on the track. So there was neither chance of detection nor yet chance of injury to a man once safely ensconced inside the great prow. Roosa, mindful of duty always, looked at his watch in the moonlight. "Come, we’re losing time,v he said. "Let’s be off. I’ll put on full speed now till I catch up a bit, so you fellows want to watch your ‘sealegs.’ " He climbed back into the cab, Dave Peacock behind him. Surrounding the hobo, lest he try to escape, the others Digitized by v^oooLe
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606 The Railroad Telegrapher. entered a coach. The whistle sounded, a bell rang, and again the train was off. Back in the car, meanwhile, conduc- tor, flagman, and brakeman questioned the hobo. “All I’ve got to say,” he would answer, over and over, “is that, according to law you’ve got to put me off at the next stop made by the train. If you want to arrest me, you must do it there — turn me over to the authorities!” “Which is what I propose to do,” the conductor answered at last, testily. He hated to lose a minute out of his run, for every minute so lost took time out of his stop at Chandlersburg, where the prettiest little girl on all the Western Pacific awaited his return every trip. “How on earth d'ye get in there?” a flagman asked, curiously. He bore a rather kindlier mien toward the hobo than did the rest. “Snuck in and resolved to take a ride! That’s all,” he replied. The train had been traveling at a mad pace, and Martinsburg, an upland ham- let, was near. “By the way, Mr. Conductor,” the hobo suggested suddenly, “here you want to put me off for no reason at all except that I used a flashlight to write some notes by. You haven’t even come and asked for my ticket, as the regula- tions require you to do.” The conductor wheeled rapidly. “What d’ye mean?” he said. “Oh, I know the rule for guidance of conductors, as well as the law, ’’.the hobo answered, quietly. “If Mohammed won’t come to the mountain, well, then the passenger brings the conductor the ticket.” He handed over a first-class railway ticket, good from Rushville to Martins- burg. “You’ll note this says nothing as to limits where passengers shall not ride. We are free to do as we choose, provid- ing we do not, with intent, interfere with the operation of the train. There in the cowcatcher I surely didn’t inter- fere with it; and that you happened to mistake my light for some source of trouble is no more an ’action’ to harm the train, ’done with intent,’ than should some passenger tumble from his berth and, falling, snap the bell cord, giving it a ring that would stop the train im- mediately, or so soon as the puzzled en- gineer saw that the cord was torn.” The conductor didn’t like the turn things were taking, this the more that, like more conductors of the Western Pa- cific, he was ignorant of all laws save his “rules.” “I’m afraid,” the hobo continued, see- ing himself master of the situation, “that while we stop you’ll have to hunt up the marshal— wake him at this un- godly hour, take him to his office and swear out a warrant. All of which means time and delay to your train. Be- sides, to what charge can you swear? ’Deliberate intent to harm the train?’ None of it! Lighting a pocket electric to jot notes, here and there isn’t such, by a good deal.’ Stealing a ride? You failed to come for my ticket; passen- gers aren’t supposed, by law, to hunt you up! ’Riding where I shouldn’t?’ Your ticket says nothing forbidding me from the engine. I can’t be presumed to know all of your rules.” The train was still stopping, the en- gineer whistling madly for the signal to continue. The conductor saw that the flagman saw that the hobo had the best of him. He was being laughed at, in secret, by his subalterns, and that was bad for all discipline. “You better get off here — we’re los- ing time!” he said, angrily. “You can thank your stars, though, it isn’t day- time and the marshal about. You’d get a neat sentence — I’m blessed if you wouldn’t!” The hobo began laughing merrily. He ducked his hand into his pocket and handed the conductor a card — a pass — “Good on all trains, between all points, on the Western Pacific and allied lines, account Advertising Department,” it read. Then he handed him a paper — a letter from the office of the superintend- ent of motive power, authorizing bearer to “ride wherever he chose, as he chose, at his risk.” Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 607 Again the hand went to the pocket and emerged, now with a brace of fin- est Havanas,' which he passed about among all. “Never mind, my friend/* he ex- plained to the baffled conductor, “it's all right Start your train and I'll tell you all!" Again the Limited swung on into the night, over the bridges, and now through some tunnels. “I'm the new assistant advertising agent of the line, gentlemen. I wanted to get a good story about these big en- gines of ’ ours in the papers and so I hit on this incident, which I know that, properly 'greased,' they will carry. How a supposed hobo crept in under the big cowcatcher, tied himself there, and rode from Rushville to this other place, makes mighty good copy, means using a picture of the locomotive and facts as to its size, and then" he smiled archly — “the touch of humor will come in telling how it all ended when the hobo was found, for there at Martinsburg I'd arranged to be 'found,' of course!*' The splendid aroma of the cigars was bringing even the conductor back to his usual good humor. “Signal for a stop at the next sta- tion/' the hobo commanded, "and I’ll go up and explain to our friends in the cab. Incidentally, you neiedn’t worry as to time lost; we’ll account for all that; nor over connections, for it’s all been arranged, and not a train can move till I send the cipher word to the chief dispatcher back at Rushville.” The conductor held out a big, brawny hand in congratulation now, while the others applauded wildly. “We've had some clever stunts pulled off for this road, sir/’ he said almost proudly, “but I'll be hanged if that ain't the nerviest and the best! And please, sir, don't be too hard on me in the story; I was only acting, as I thought, 'for the good of the road.' " The advertising man winked to the others slyly. “So failing to collect the passengers’ tickets is 'the good of the road/ is it?” he asked, taunting, dryly; and with that he was off the car, the train having stopped now, and bound for the cab to explain to the crew there the identity of their strange guest — the hobo. — Felix J. Koch, in The Railway Conductor. Digitized by v^oooLe
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Call for Mr. Hoover. My Tuesdays are meatless, My Wednesdays are wheatless, I am getting more eatless each day. My home It Is heatless. My bed it is sheetless, They’re all sent to the Y. M. C. A. The barrooms are treatless, My coffee is sweetless, * Each day I get poorer and wiser. My stockings are feetless, My trousers are seatless, Oh, Boy ! How I hate the old Kaiser. Gripping Tragedies. An expressman there was in Kalamazoo A-lookin’ around for something to do; He coughed and he sneezed, he said, “Ker choo,” Then he grabbed his hat and bid adieu To that wonderful town of Kalamazoo. He had the Grippe. An expressman bold in old Oshkosh Said he thought contagion was only “bosh.” He traveled along through snow and slosh, Then he coughed and sneezed, he did, “by gosh,” And he gave up the ghost in old Oshkosh. He had the Grippe. A poor old driver in fair Fond du Lac Collected his junk in an old jute sack. He caught a bad cold while toting his pack ; He coughed and he sneezed, “alas and alack,” Just like the others in fair Fond du Lac. He had the Grippe. A healthy expressman in cold Kokomo Had a sharp pain in his new bungalow ; He coughed and he sneezed, he did, “by Joe,” But he then found out that was no show, And soon became helpless in cold Kokomo. He had the Grippe. — C. E. T. Someone Cares. When you meet some disappointment, an’ yer feelin’ kind o blue ; When yer plans have all got sidetracked or some friend has proved untrue ; When yer toiling, praying, struggling at the bottom of the stairs — It’s like a panacea— jest to know that some- one cares. Someone who can appreciate one's efforts when he tries ; Someone who seems to understand — and so can sympathize ; pomeone who, when he’s far away, still wonders how he fares — Someone w'ho never can forget — someone who really cares. It will send a thrill of rapture through the framework uv the heart ; It will stir the inner bein’ till the teardrops want to start ; For this life is worth the livin’, when some- one yer sorrows shares — JJfe is truly worth the livin’ when you know' that someone cares. !Oh, this W’orld is not all sunshine — many dark clouds disclose ; There’s a cross for ev’ry joy bell, an’ a thorn for ev’ry rose 1 But the cross is not so grievous, nor the thorn the rosebud wears — An’ the clouds have silver linin’s — when someone really* cares. — James E. Hilkey. If Each Only Knew. If I knew you and you knew me, ’Tis seldom we w'ould disagree ; But never having yet clasped hands. Both often fail to understand That each intends to do what’s right. And treat each other “honor-bright." How little to complain there’d be. If I knew you and you knew me. Then let no doubting thoughts abide Of firm good faith on either side; Confidence in each other give, Living ourselves, let others live. But any time you come this way, That you will call, wre hope and pray. Then face to face we each shall see, And I’ll know you and you’ll know me. — From “Pep,” Winona, Minn. Digitized by v^ooole
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Exclusive Accomplishment. "Is there anything you can do better than anyone else?” “Yes,” replied the small boy. “I kin read my own writing.” Evened Up.* Polly: Mrs. Talkalot says she believes only half she hears. Dolly: Yes, but she hears twice as much as anybody else. — Judge. That Two-Cent Stamp. Black: I know a man who has caused more blots to be cast on Gen. Washing- ton than I could possibly say. White: Who is the fellow? Black: He runs the canceling ma- chine in the Post Office. Last Resource. “My dear, the doctor says I’m in need of a little change.” “Then ask him to give it to you. He’s got the last of mine.” — Baltimore Amer- ican. One Phase of Education. “Met your new neighbors, have you? What kind of people are they?” “Newly rich and sporty. They know the parts of an auto better than the parts of speech.” — Motor World. A Bit Clumsy. Edith: How does Fred make love? Marie: Well, I should define it as un- skilled labor.? — Boston Transcript. One-Third Off. “When Miss Willings married old Moneybags, she gave her age as 25. I feel sure she is older than that.” “Oh, I suppose she allowed one-third off for cash!” Still in Servitude. A gentleman traveling through Ala- bama was much interested in Uncle Ned. “So you were once a slave, eh?” said the gentleman. “Yas, sah,” said Uncle Ned. “How thrilling!” said the gentleman. “And after the war you got your free- dom, eh?” “No, sah,” said Ned gloomily. “I didn’t git mah freedom, sah. After de war I done got married.” — Ladies Home Jour- nal. No News. Sub Editor — Our war correspondent has cabled us 10,000 words. Editor — Great! That fellow ought to get more pay. Sub Editor — Yes, that’s what the ca- ble is about. Nothing Personal. Mrs. Owens — “I wonder if the doctor’s wife meant anything personal just now?” Owens — “What did she say?” Mrs. Owens — “She said we might at least pay them a visit.” They Were There. “I’m sure I don’t know why they call this hotel the Palms. Do you? I’ve never seen a phlm anywhere near the place!” “You’ll see them before you go. It’s a pleasant little surprise the waiters . keep for the guests on the last day of their stay.” — London Tit-Bits. For Private Circulation. “May I print a kiss upon your lips?” “Yes, provided you promise not to publish it.” Digitized by LaOOQLe
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610 The Railroad Telegrapher. Like Humans. He had ordered lobster. She felt that she ought to be entertaining, so she re- marked : “Isn't it queer that lobsters are al- ways green until they get into hot water?" “Nothing queer about it," he came back. “If they weren’t green, they wouldn’t get into hot water." A Patient Patient. They tell of a Chicago physician who, opening the door of his consultation room, asked : “Who has been waiting the longest?" A tailor who had called to present his bill rose and said: “I have doctor; I delivered your clothes to you three years ago."— Ex- change. His Superiority. A mission worker tells how shocked she was to encounter this bit of cyni- cism in the slums. The conversation was between two women whose marital life had been particularly felicitous. “Well," said one of them, “of course we has our troubles with all of ’em. But I’ll say this for my second husband — h6’s better than my first. He’s in jail so much that practically all I earn I has for myself." — LippincotVs. Obliging Man. Hurrying to the side of the conductor, a passenger eagerly inquired: “Do you think that I will have time to get a soda before the train starts?" “Oh, yes," answered the conductor. “But suppose," suggested the thirsty passenger, “that the train should go on without me?" “We can easily fix that," promptly re- plied the conductor: “I will go along and have one with you." — Argonaut. Told Easily. A witty political candidate, running in an agricultural district, after mak- ing a speech, announced that he would be glad to answer any questions that might be put to him. A voice came from the audience. “You seem to know a lot, sir, about a farmer’s difficulties. May I ask a question about a momentous one?" “Certainly," replied the candidate, nervously. “How can you tell a bad egg?" went on the merciless voice. The candidate waited until the laugh- ter died away, then he replied: “If I had anything to tell a bad egg, I think I should break it gently." He won the place. — National Monthly. A Critical Pair. “I intended to call Bridget to bring a fresh bucket of water," remarked the professor’s wife. “You doubtless mean a bucket of fresh water," corrected the professor. “I wish you would pay some little atten- tion to your rhetoric; your mistakes are curious." A few moments later the professor said: “My dear, that picture would show to better advantage if you were to hang it over the clock.” “Ah," she replied, quietly, “you doubt- less mean if I were to hang it above the clock. If I were to hang it over the clock we could not tell the time." — Buf- falo News. Candor. Miss Ugly face — I suspect the men who have proposed to me of being after my money, and I would not marry a man who did not love me for myself alone. Miss Curlylocks — But, my dear, the age of miracles is past. Digitized by LaOOQle
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VALUE OF THE PROPOSED PENSION FUND. AFTER carefully going over our plan for an old age pension fund for members in good standing, I have become very much impressed with the idea and hope what I have to say will be the means of all who read The Teleg- rapher to stop and consider the impor- tance of it. I was in the service as agent and opera- tor for fourteen years, resigning in 1902 account of an attack of “Lost Grip” but have stayed with the Order, and am proud of the fact that I am still a mem- ber in good standing and expect to be as long as I live. Any member who is staying out of the pension department for fear he may at some time or other quit the service can rest assured that he can still remain a member by paying his dues, the rate of which is very low. I have been in the insurance business for several years and from the very best authority available find that only two per cent of the persons dying each year, are rich, and that eighty-five per cent who die, do not leave a dollar, and the boys of the O. R. T. are but an average sort. Each of you have two chances to become rich, thirteen chances to become well- to-do and eighty-five chances to die with- out a dollar; these are cold facts and one cannot get around them. I was assistant cashier in a national bank for nearly seven years, , since leaving the railway service, and out of several hundred de- positors we only had one man who did not check against his account and he was a wealthy old bachelor who lived with relatives. The majority of the depositors would make cash deposits with the hope that they could add to it, but the in- evitable check would soon begin to ap- pear and so it is with life; we build up today and it will be torn down tomorrow and a pension of $20.00 per month to look forward to in old age will certainly be worth while and should be considered a good business proposition. I am fifty-two years of age and the American Experience Table of Mortality tells me that I can reasonably expect to live another twenty years and as I will have thirteen years in which to pay my subscription of two hundred forty dollars, I will still have seven years to live and with a pension of $20.00 per month I will during the seven years, draw out $1,680.00, which, with reasonable economy will go a long way toward paying the monthly grocery bill for my good wife and I, and while I am still in hopes that I will become moderately well to do, I think this pension plan is too good to turn down. Should I not live to draw any of the pension, the money I will have paid will revert to a good cause and the chance to benefit through the pension is worth the effort. It is just like buying $240.00 worth of stock In a first class company with an absolute guarantee of a 100 per cent divi- dend on the investment as long as you live after reaching the age of sixty-five, a good investment! But some will say where is this money to be derived from? Get your pencil and tab again and let us suppose one in every six or about ten thousand of the boys decide to get into it, with an entrance fee of $5.00 this will make a nest egg of $50,000 and as the average age of mem- bers is thirty-five their annual payment will be $8.00 each and net $80,000 or a total of $130,000 for the first year, in- vest or loan it on first class security at five per cent. The second year will yield another $80,000 and as no one over sixty years of age can secure membership in Digitized by v^oooLe
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612 The Railroad Telegrapher. the pension department, this will make five years at $80,000 per year or a total of $450,000 including the entrance fees. This sum with the interest will amount to practically $500,000 before any pen- sions become operative. Suppose that one thousand members would at the end of five years enter the pension list; this would require an outlay of $24,000 while the interest on the already accumulated fund of $500,000 at five per cent will mean $25,000, leaving the annual dues un- touched, so from a business standpoint it is a fine thing, and I feel sure that if the boys will stop to consider the matter they will realize its advantages. L. C. Cox, Cert. 46. A SPLENDID PROPOSITION. TJie fact that the Pension Fund is not being taken advantage of faster than it is, indicates that many of our members do not fully appreciate the generous con- ditions it offers. It differs from insurance in that one does not have to die to win, but assures one an income in old age or incapacity, sufficient to keep want from the door as long as life lasts. The full amount of subscription which is $240, is equal to six per cent interest on $4,000. There are probably comparatively few of us who have or even expect to have that much laid by. This amount will be derived in monthly payments and will be issued at a time when most sorely needed; in tfce moment of adversity perhaps, and in old age. At one of our recent semi-annual meetings some sort of protection of the aged and helpless was discussed, and one plan was to provide a home for them. This in- volved so much expense it was evident it would not be practicable and was there- fore abandoned, and later the pension plan was adopted, and its provisions are evidence of the careful consideration given to it by our Brothers in charge of the matter. Our organization especially needs some- thing of this kind owing to the floating character of many of its members, and the fact they are so poorly paid, as to make it highly improbable that they will have anything laid by for the hour of need. One can live wherever he likes and is not confined to a '‘Home” as would be the case if this plan had been adopted. The cost is hardly missed from full wages which one should earn in their best days, and the benefits of an assured income are very much to be desired, and tend to keep one up to date in our Order. In fact once a man has taken stock in this fund, he is thereafter a prompt and sure member in all things pertaining to its welfare. It is to be hoped that at the next convention the Pension Fund will be put on a secure foundation, either by post- poning the benefit payments another four years to give it proper strength, or de- vising some plan whereby its funds will be co-ordinated with the funds we are paying in as dues. This could be done by setting aside say five per cent for this purpose. It is a matter we are all In- terested in, as the fund is a part of our organization and should be fostered as one of its most beneficial activities. Let everyone “Boost” this proposition and come in on it in person, and feel that you are provided for in case of disabling accident and in the inevitable case of old age, which few of us can avoid. Cebt. 248. Div. 126. A BETTER EDUCATION. “Bread and butter education must be replaced by a type which gives vision and insight into the higher planes of life. Our children must be made to realize that spiritual and moral values hold a high place in life, and that earning a livelihood, or ‘getting ahead’ is not the only requisite of life. Germany became the exponent of materialism and selfish- ness, and now finds the whole world ar- rayed against her — a world fortified with .the determination to rid the world of theories which scoff at and ridicule ideal- ism.” “There are some of us who have boast- ed a good deal about the success of our public school system. We have called the public school the melting pot; we have believed that it fused the hetero- geneous mass of alien life poured out upon our shores into one composite, Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 613 patriotic, democratic race; our new Americans. We have believed that the public school solved all the problems oi democracy. Some of us are not so com- placent as we once were. The true teach- er h$s always recognized the fact that education, even in the lowest grades, is a grave and a formidable task. Every conscientious educator has realized that our system has radical, perhaps funda- mental, faults. We do not feel certain that it is unalterably right, even in its basic principles. "In a certain sense it is even now only a makeshift. The problem is so vast and complicated; to train this great mass of human material in such a limited time for such diverse callings and to do it on schedule time and at a minimum of public expense. The task, the pressing daily task, exacting, perplexing, momentous, has fully occupied the minds and the strength of the men ana women engaged in administrating the public school system. The only thing which has saved the situation has not been the system, but the loyalty, the devotion, the intelligence and the character of the group of over- worked and underpaid teachers, to whom too much honor cannot be given by the republic. "A far more serious and daunting prob- lem than we have ever faced before con- fronts us today. We have to ask our- selves whether our present system is equal to the new demands of civilization even if administrated with the utmost skill and devotion by the most competent teachers. We have to ask ourselves whether the bread and butter educational system will ever again be sufficient to satisfy the demands of civilization. Edu- cation in the future must have a vision beyond the fitting of children to earn a precarious living by means of the funda- mentals taught in the lower grades. "Let us take the case of the Belgians. Here was a people very highly trained in the bread and butter idea of education; the whole nation was industrious, weav- ing beautiful fabrics, making all sorts of articles of iron and wood and leather, raising vegetables and flowers for London and Paris and Berlin. One peaceful day in August along came the Germans, an- other highly educated and civilized peo- ple on the technical side, and proceeded to convert Belgium into a hell on earth, grinding whole cities into powder, ut- terly destroying the beautiful accumulated treasures of the ages, wiping out a people beneath a red smear of blood and foul- ness. "Here is a complete breakdown of edu- cation, a collapse of spiritual and mental strength. The most highly trained and skillful Belgian artisan is helpless and hopeless because he cannot exercise his skill; his house is gone, his family is ex- terminated, his workshop is a heap of ruins, his land is an obscure wilderness. Of what good is technical education, how- ever complete, if men use it simply to batter the earth to pieces and destroy life. This is not strength, but foul and diabolical weakness. It makes no dif- ference how educated a man is if at the same time he is a homicidal maniac. The net result is loss and not gain. "Education in itself, no matter how complete on the material and technical sides, is not sufficient to maintain civiliza- tion. Unless it is given a soul, and a redeemed soul, it may actually become an agency which will utterly destroy civil- ization. Our school system is only a palliative, a makeshift, accomplishing re- sults really important, wonderful in many respects, but not conclusive and decisive. "If the task was formidable and daunt- ing before, what shall we think of it now, with a world to rebuild, with a civiliza- tion to recover its equilibrium? Are we going simply to patch things up, to bury the poor dead and ruined things out of sight, to try to forgive Germany her un- speakable crimes, to be gentle and Chris- tian and all that, and then go on just as we went before, with a makeshift civi- lization, an incomplete education, trying desperately to fit men to get a modicum of bread and butter, while we elaborate our technical skill in preparation for an- other catastrophe? We must have a new and broader system of education, which includes the training of the spirit as well as the providing of commodities. "You may call it paternalism, socialism, Digitized by LaOOQle
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614 The Railroad Telegrapher. or what you please, but the time has come, if democracy is to fulfill its glorious des- tiny, when we must go much farther with education. The state must have a new conception of its responsibility to the child. We must look at children not simply as potential bread-winning units, cannon foder, industrial workers; we must look at every child as an immortal spirit with unlimited capacities, and we must not rest nor spare labor or expense until each child has been given an edu- cation sufficient to develop his capacities to the utmost and also to relate him helpfully to all the world. “The future happiness of the world can come only through discipline and training and intelligence. Human nature has not changed and will not change. It is our vision which must broaden; but the vision is useless without the routine to put it into effect. We must begin to think of ourselves as citizens of the world. The teacher of the lowest grades may have the vision and approach her work with a new seriousness, a new sense of its supreme importance. There could be no limit to the possibilities of education in such a world. Let us dream of.it and pray for it and work for it until it shall come/' — By Dr. Newton M. Hall. SIGNALMEN. By the courtesy of the Order of Rail- road Telegraphers I have been granted space in their Official Journal. In some parts of the country the Broth- erhood of Railroad Signalmen of America are practically unknown, while in other parts they are forging ahead at an unusual pace, Why? Because our Government is not denying us the right to organize and we are not being discriminated against as in the past. Heretofore committees representing employes have been removed from the service and others have been locked out because of their determination to sup- port their organization and fellow work- ers. The time of such discrimination has passed and we are allowed to pursue the even tenor of our way unmolested. The privilege allowed us under Federal con- trol has eliminated to a degree the un- pleasant features of the past and infused a feeling of security and stimulus into the membership as well as the unorgan- ized of our craft, who in the past have been intimidated and persecuted because of their membership in the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen of America or be- cause they exhibited a willingness to be- come one of us. Discrimination of such nature will here- after receive prompt attention by the officers of our organization wherever any such disposition is made dominant and an earnest endeavor made to put a stop to same. We maintain that our rights of freedom shall be respected as other bodies of organized labor are. The Brotherhood of Railroad Signal- men of America is an organization found- ed on the principles of brotherly love and protection, it is the only legitimate labor organization for signalmen. It is char- tered under the laws of Pennsylvania and is affiliated with the American Federa- tion of Labor; it is incorporated for the purpose of uniting fraternally men of good moral character and sound bodily health who are actively engaged in the construc- tion or maintenance of mechanical and automatic block signals, locking and in- terlocking plants, mechanical, pneumatic, electric or otherwise, and any type of signals actuated by the movement of trains. By our organization we protect our interests as well as the interests of the unorganized, and are adding to this protection by the increase of member- ship. In the past few months our mem- bership has greatly increased and is in- creasing daily at a most gratifying pace. Through the co-operative assistance of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers we have been successful in establishing no less than 15 new local lodges with char- ter membership ranging from 35 to 135. yet we have scarcely made a start in comparison with the field that remains to be covered and we will not rest until every eligible signalman in the United States and Canada is enrolled under the banner of the Railroad Signalmen of America. Brother Signalmen: do not miss the golden opportunity you now have to be- Digitized by AaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 615 come enrolled with us, and above all I feel assured of the loyalty and support of all signalmen to our government and country in this time of national peril, to the end that we may win the war for liberty and democracy. Listen to the waterwheel through the livelong day, How the clicking of its wheel wears the hours away, Languidly the summer wind stirs the greenwood leaves. From the field the reaper sings bind- ing up the sheaves, There’s a saying haunts my mind white the spell is cast, The mill can never grind with the water that has passed. Fraternally submitted, Thomas A. Austin, Grand Sec’y-Treas. B. R. S. of A. North Kingsville, Ohio. Digitized by Google
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FRATERNAL NOTICE. All matter for this department must be in the hands of the Grand Secretary and Treasurer on or before the 25th day of the month in order to. insure • its use in the following issue. On account of having been requested by the Government to co-operate with it in conserving the paper supply by reducing the size of our publication, the editor is com- pelled to announce that all forms of memorials formerly published in this department will be eliminated until further notice. All death announcements will appear in the “Personal Mention” column. New Haven, Conn., Div. No. 29. Members N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. : Referring to the article regarding “Seni- ority Rights During the War,” which ap- peared In the August issue of The Teleg- rapher under the notes of New Haven Divi- sion No. 29. The rule quoted therein covering the status of employes who return to the service after being mustered out of the service of the Government will also apply to em- ployes joining the Merchant Marine Serv- ice. It should be remembered that the rule does not apply unless the employe makes a written application for leave of absence. A copy of the application must be mailed the local chairman of your division. Employes who have left the service to join the naval or military forces of our Govern- ment and neglected to make a written appli- cation for leave of absence should immedi- ately communicate with the local chair- man of their division. Upon receipt of such letter the local chairman will arrange to protect your rights during your absence. If you have not, or do not, obtain a written leave of absence, it will be absolutely im- possible upon your return to apply the pro- visions of the rule. Leonard Jackson Ross, General Chairman. New Haven Div., N. Y.t N. H. & H. R. R. — In view of the many interesting features of the March meeting, with much regret we had to forego the notes for that month on account of sickness. Installation of officers was due in the regular order of things, but an unannounced visit from Vice-President Pierson and Superintendent Hobbs of the New Haven road came in the nature of a pleasant surprise. Responsible for the birth of Division 29, Vice-President Pierson may be given a large measure of credit for the succeeding years of its growth and present enviable standing in the labor world. Superintendent Hobbs having addressed a previous meeting of Division 29, in which his spirit of fairness brought out a hearty response to co-operate with the then pri- vately controlled road to the end of effici- ency in transportation, was received with additional pleasure on his reappearance. Followed In their remarks by General Chairman Ross, three addresses were given, abstracts from which would prove of interest and value to a great number could we ap- propriate room in The Telegrapher with- out trespassing on that of our brother cor- respondents. A change of superintendents having taken place since March, Mr. Hobbs going to Taun- ton and E. E. Regan being called from New London to New Haven Division, invita- tion was extended to Superintendent Regan to meet with and address our April meet- ing, and duly accepted. Mr. Regan, then trainmaster, left New Haven, in March, 1916, to become superin- tendent of the Midland Division, with head- quarters at Boston. On March 13th a ban- quet was tendered him at the Hotel Garde, with more than 160 employes present, at which time a diamond ring valued at $300 was presented as a token of regard. Although new to the division room. Super- intendent Regan did not therefore appear in the role of a stranger. As members of one of the most distress- ingly low paid class of skilled railway em- ployes, the pinch is felt to the point of dis- comfort in this era of high prices. As members of a labor organization, there is nothing in the present nor immediate future, notwithstanding Government supervision or even ownership, that would justify less In- dividual vigilance in maintaining the bul- warks and ideals of organization. Digitized by L.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 617 With these facts in mind, it is conceiv- able that a program of reasoning before a labor organization to arouse a more thor- ough degree of efficiency would base its appeal to the selfish instincts — first fixing in the xfiind of the hearer the increased pay he is about to. receive, followed by an un- due deference to the instrument of his pro- tection, which is known not to be the par- ticular function of an official to promote. If the New Haven Is to be put "over the top" by the help of organized labor, in the sense of maintaining a maximum of traffic in speed and safety, it must, it can, and will be, through a better motive than that of "dollar patriotism/' The remarks of Superintendent Regan, from which we quote in part, were honest, straightforward and to the point. No more was asked than can be reasonably attained ; no more was promised than what we be- lieve will be faithfully fulfilled. Stating he had enjoyed pleasant relations in employment since leaving New Haven two years ago, he was, of course, glad to get back among life-long friends. However familiar he might be with local conditions, he realized he could not swing the job un- less he had the men with him, success de- pending upon their degree of effort put forth as well as that of his own. As he has seen them, the men have done good work, and in a talk with General Chairman Ross, Is convinced that the telegraphers want to give their best. A condition seldom occurring, yet which contains elements of serious danger, was discussed in such a fair-minded way, in view of recent occurrences, that no further com- plaint should become necessary. This was to the end that friction and inharmonious relations between men working together should be avoided, as it leads up to delay and Interferes with the safe movement of trains. Attention was then called to the liability of accident, which sometimes occurs by the rules not being fully complied with. In view of the many factors involved, he realized he was up against a real man’s game in his present position, and therefore earnestly requested every man to do all in his power to promote satisfactory service. Although a large majority of the men are now no doubt giving the best they can, it was asked that just a little more energy be added in these trying times. Graceful words of appreciation were then extended to the lodge for the courteous invi- tation that led up to his visit, concluding his remarks with the statement that, as superintendent, he is not going to change from what he has heretofore been ; those who come to him will always find him ready to help, never being so busy but what he can see a man for a short time at least. Later in the evening, in individual re- marks under "good of the order," committee- men and others who have directly and in- directly been brought in contact with Mr. Regan for many years, expressed words of appreciation for the fair treatment received through his hands, after which it was the pleasure of all present to make his personal acquaintance. General Chairman Ross, who followed, em* phaslzed the necessity of railroad men work- ing to win the war, or else be content to work under a schedule "made in Germany," a point well made and forcibly driven home. Bro. Ross further testified to the fair treat- ment received in his relations with Mr. Regan as superintendent. Letters were read from Director General of Railroads McAdoo, President Pierson and General Manager Bardo of the New Haven, acknowledging receipt and expressing hearty appreciation of the resolutions adopted by Division 29 and concurred In by 86, 87 and 89, pledging support to the Government and railroad officials, that the New Haven may be put "over the top" in maintaining the highest standard of efficiency. The slogan, "We must work to win ; we can, we must, we will, put the New Haven ‘over the top/ " which was adopted by the New Haven road at a large meeting of offi- cials and invited guests at the R. R. Y. M. C. A. in New Haven on February 1st, was in great part the work of General Chairman Ross himself. Called upon for remarks at the meeting, which he had expected to at- tend only as a spectator, congratulations by wire, letter, and in person, speak loudly in recognition of the able degree in which the telegraphers were represented. This is only in line with the favorable comment that comes from many quarters In regard to the various ways Bro. Ross has grasped the op- portunity to serve the interests of the telegraphers -since the Wage Commission has assumed control of compensation. The report filed by Bro. Terry, trustee of the O’Keefe Hospital Fund, and read at the April meeting, showed a balance of $533.17 on hand on December 31st, 1917. Many have inquired about Bro. Mortality since "BP" office, Bridgeport, was closed late last year. It was learned at the last meet- ing that he had been retired on a pension. It is hoped to obtain further particulars at an early date, as he was one of the land- marks of the organization. Bro. Colwell of "NH" general office, who had recuperated from a serious operation sufficiently to get around in the normal way, has again reverted to the hospital, where two more operations have been performed. He is reported to be again improving in spite of all he has been through. Bro. Skibbe of "KY" New Haven, who has been off sick for several weeks, is again able to get out and enjoy moderate exercise. Digitized by v^ooole
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618 The Railroad Telegrapher. Dispatcher Wheaton of Waterbury was a recent visitor in New Haven, at which time it was our pleasure to learn that he and our Bro. Erne had improved almost to the state of normal health at his home in Canada. One is never too busy to stop and shake hands and converse with brothers like these. Bro. Lancaster was reported on the sick list. Bro. Fitzpatrick, first Meriden freight house, has resumed duty after a few days’ illness. On account of a breakdown in health, Chief Train Dispatcher Dodan has been granted two months’ leave of absence. The best wishes of many friends, and this in- cludes about all the men who come under his charge, are with him for a speedy re- covery. J. P. Trihey, assistant chief from Harlem River, New York, has been appointed acting chief at New Haven during J. J. Dodan’s absence. If there has been an unkind word said against our acting chief, we have never heard it in an acquaintance of twenty years. W. B. Shabnof. Providence, R. I., Dlv. No. 35. Members New London Division : This is to advise you that W. J. Smith, agent at Kingston (post office address West Kingston, R. I.), has been elected local chairman of the New London Division. You will therefore address Local Chairman Smith on all matters pertaining to the work of the organization on the New London Division. Leonard Jackson Ross, General Chairman. Members Division No. 35 : Read carefully the letter from General Chairman Ross, which leads the notes of New Haven, Conn., Division No. 29. The Editor. One cannot read the account in The Telegrapher of President Perham’s appear- ance before the Railroad Wage Commission at its hearings without being inspired, edi- fied and gratified by and with the masterly manner in which he represented the Order of Railroad Telegraphers in a matter so vital and so important. The necessity for, as well as the justice and fairness of the request for a 40 per cent increase in wages, are so clearly set forth and proven that we of the low wage class can see but one result of these deliberations, and that is to grant it. Our need of funds to meet the increased cost of living is very urgent, as far behind many other branches of labor in this respect, so we are anxiously waiting for this promised increase to enable us to buy thrift stamps and Liberty bonds, as there is no better way for many of us to help our Government win this great war, liberate the world from bondage and make liberty, justice and peace secure. Personally I envy those who can step up and plank down their hundreds and thou- sands for bonds, and can imagine the thrill of pride that pervades every such buyer. I can also imagine the pang of regret those feel who are just as eager to buy, yet have nothing to buy with. We labor day by day in and for the same cause and want enough to live on, and a little more, so we, too, can have a share in the joy which every true and loyal citizen feels when he is buying these bonds* , Ours is the greatest country on earth to- day— there Is no better — and if we have our liberty, our freedom and the other comforts which these bring, we shall be found eager to do our part to support and defend them, and cheerfully help our Government to meet its obligations to the best of our ability, both by our labor and our means, as far as we are able to do so. Bro. Joe Buck, Bradford, R. I., is on the sick list. Boys, please send in your notes and help to get a good writeup. Our meeting April 20th was an interesting and busy one. General Chairman Ross and Local Chairman Joslin were present but had no definite news in regard to schedule mat- ters. The ballots for local chairman New Lon- don Division were counted by Bros. Springer, Farrow and Farley, and resulted in the elec- tion of Bro. W. J. Smith of Kingston to that office. A suggestion by Bro. Fowler that we pur- chase a service flag for our division met an immediate and favorable response. We start it with nine stars, and believe every member it represents will give a good account of himself. A number of pleasing comments were made in regard to the writeup in the April Telegrapher, and we can continue to im- prove if you will kindly send me the news Div. Cor. New Rochelle, N. Y., Div. No. 37. Members Div. No. 37 : Read carefully the letter from General Chairman Ross, which leads the notes of New Haven, Conn., Division No. 29. The Editor. Regular meeting held Friday evening, April 12th. Chief Telegrapher Woods in the chair ; Officers Hannon, Kinney and Local Chairman Tiger absent. We were very pleasantly surprised by having Vice-President Pierson and General Chairman Ross with us, both delivering in- teresting and able addresses. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 619 Two new members. Geo. V. Velliers. agent Now is the time, boys, to make the divi- West Chester Ave., and P. H. Curran, agent sion solid. Attend the meeting and know West Farnis, were initiated. We are glad what is going on. "N. C. Cert. 190. to welcome them as brothers in our divi- sion. The chief telegrapher appointed Bra. Slaney as marshal and Bro. Bucklin inside guard, and reappointed Bro. Tiffany divi- sion correspondent. The resolutions published in the March Telegrapher, pledging support to the Gov- ernment and the railroad officials, in effect that the New Haven must be put "over the top” in efficiency, were also passed unani- mously by our division at this meeting. Our secretary was instructed to purchase a $100 Liberty bond for our division. Sev- eral brothers have purchased individual bonds. The secretary was also instructed to purchase a service flag to be displayed in our lodge room, as several brothers from this division are now fighting for our coun- try and they will be pleased to know that they are remembered “back home.” Bro. Gould is back at Port Chester after a sick spell. Bro. H. S. Gilbert, first S. S. 2, was off two days, and boxey and Murtaugh worked twelve hours. Doling and Corrigan also worked twelve hours several days while* Bro. McDonald, third S. S. 26 Rye, was on sick list, and Bro. Whitehead and Bowman worked twelve hours at S. S. 12 a few days while McGuire was ofT. Bro. Tiger and Mey- erhoff worked twelve hours for two days while Bro. Merrifleld was sick, and Bros. Christman and DeWitt at S. S. 22 worked twelve hours while Donovan was off. Bro. McDonald, who later relieved them, also re- lieved Seeley, third S. S. 3. one night, re- lieved by Bro. Brophy on third S. S. 26. Bro. Tiffany, first S. S. 3, relieved one day by Bro. Haniquet, who also relieved Bro. Durkin, second leverman S. S. 4 Oak Point, several days ; went to Stamford second a few days, and then relieved Bro. Kinney, first S. S. 27. Cabin “B” on the New York Connecting Railroad was closed April 8th, Bro. Gilroy going third S. S. 21 ; Bro. Northrup to sec- ond Cabin 2 ; Fox and Murtaugh from Cabin 2 leaving the road. Bro. Wooley relieved McGuire on third S. S. 12 several nights. Bro. Africa, second S. S. 27, was off a few days, hunting skunks. Bro. D. A. McDonald went to second "HY” several days, vice Donelle. Bro. Finelli bumped Bro. Kelly from Cabin “A” days. Office closed there nights, and the boys at S. S. 3 block trains with Fresh Pond nights and Cabin ”A” days. Bro. Seaman is out boosting for Liberty loan. The brothers on this division should notify him when they purchase bonds, so a record can be kept. New York, N. Y., Div. No. 44. Our regular April meeting was called to order about 8 :15 p. m., with Worthy Chief Thuma in the chair and about 36 members present. There should have been a hundred. The mere fact that we carry a card does not constitute a good member. We only meet once every month and should take enough interest in our own welfare to attend and voice our ideas. If we have a grievance, that’s the place to make it known. Vice-President Pierson gave us some very good advice that every member should have heard. He advised that he would phone or wire as soon as he received any news for ua as he was satisfied that everything in regard to the wage question would turn out all right. It was a large proposition which re- quired time to settle. The longer we wait the more back pay we will drpw — retroactive from January 1st. Byron L. Russell, operator Bluepoint, was the only new candidate. We hope to see him at our meetings regularly. We must keep after the few nons still with us until they get a card. ( Several important questions will come up at our next con- vention and we want as many representa- tives there as possible. We are close to the four hundred mark now, and with a little more individual effort we can soon reach the five hundred mark. Let’s all get busy and send five delegates to St. Louis next year. We were glad to have Bro. J. O. C. Hoad- ley from the Jersey Central with us, and hope he will come again and bring some of the new brothers along. Bro. Geo. LaRue has been promoted to sergeant, he and one of his lieutenants being picked from 450 men to do special detail signal work and sent to France ahead of their comrades. This is the second time Bro. LaRue has been serving Uncle Sam, and we all hope for his speedy and safe re- turn. Bro. F. E. Peterson, now at the front in France, has been reported slightly wounded. We all wish that he may soon recover and return to us safe and sound. Bro. C. E. Gray received a postal from Bro. C. Groenw'ald, saying they had a pleasant trip and arrived safely in France. We all hope for a pleasant return trip and safe arrival in America. Bro. W. Gregory, sick several days, was relieved by Bro. E. H. Mann, Jr. Bro. P. J. Cahill is on seven days’ vaca- tion. Several others, unable to get relief, were paid seven days extra. Dispatcher Torrey, second Wading River, is off sick with abscesses of the throat and Digitized by u.ooole
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620 The Railroad Telegrapher. ears. The boys all hope he will soon re- cover and return to us. Our sympathy is extended to W. E. Craft, second trick main line dispatcher, who re- cently lost his mother. Brothers and sisters, it is impossible for any one man to cover this entire system, so I appeal to you to send me all tl^e Items of interest you can, including the news from the different stations and towers, using names instead of office calls. Address E. Van Nostrand, care of L I. R R. Sta., Hollis, L. I. If I receive more notes than I can handle, I can get Bros. Thuma and Col- ligan to help me acknowledge their receipt. Div. Cor., Cert. 332. Pittsburgh, Pa., Div. No. 52. Pittsburgh and Lake Erie R. R . — It is the duty of every division to have a writeup in the Journal every month, to give the boys a lineup on what is going on ; also for brothers who are working on other roads who were at one time employed on this line, who like to get the news and see what is go- ing on in this neck of the woods. If the brothers would all drop me a line on the different changes, we could have a good writeup every month. Motion put through at last regular meet- ing to allow Secretary' Bees to write all brothers of Division 52 for a donation of $1 each, to keep up the dues and insurance of brothers in this division who have en- listed or have been drafted into the military service. As we have five or six brothers in the service, we should see that they are pro- tected, as this is being done by other divi- sions and organizations. So when you get this letter do not file it away until you have sent in one “toad skin.’' None of the brothers from east end was at the last regular meeting. Wake up! Come to the meetings and get wise. Recent changes are : New Castle Jet. first to Bro. R. E. Pettit; “DX” Tower Pittsburgh third to Bro. R. W. Speidel ; Dickerson Run third to Bro. W. E. Smith ; Rankin first to Bro. J. J. Costello ; and Classport days to Bro. W. C. Hoop. Bros. G. W. Schnobel and L. G. Daugherty have exchanged at first and second tricks "GX" Tower Monaca. Bro. R. W. Bees goes to third and Bro. Ward O’Neil to first College. Bro. S. R. Young Is back at 11th St. Beaver Falls, displacing Operator Andrews. Committee appointed by Chief Telegrapher O’Neil to audit the books of Secretary and Treasurer Bees have done so and found everything in first-class shape. Cert. 742. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to the members of Division 52 who so kindly remembered us during our recent bereave- ment. The floral piece sent by the O. R. T. members was beautiful and we appreciated It very much. Mrs. James S. Cornelison. Boston, Mass., Div. No. 89. Members Div. No. 89 : Read carefully the letter from General Chairman Ross, which leads the notes of New Haven, Conn.. Division No. 29. The Editor. At our April meeting the recently elected officers were installed by General Chairman Ross, who is also senior past chief, as fol- lows : H. J. Bardot, chief telegrapher ; J. H. Robitcheau, first vice ; D. A. McGrath, sec- ond vice ; J. H. McDermott, secretary and treasurer ; J. B. McEvoy, trustee ; J. E. Kerns, auditor ; W. F. Cashen, W. H. O’Brien and F. L. Douglas, legislative com- mittee. The installation and much more deferred matters left over from the last meeting re- quired attention, but despite the fact that the big Liberty Loan parade was passing through the streets of Boston, we had a large* attendance. On this memorial date, April 6th, it was voted to purchase another Liberty bond, and our “Mack,” the man with the “mon,” was so Instructed. Superintendent Astley of the Midland Divi- sion was the guest of honor of the evening, specially Invited to address the members. Local Chairman Riley of that division fit- tingly introduced Mr. Astley, who in an impressive manner spoke on the various questions uppermost in the minds of men at the present time, laying particular stress upon the efficiency of the railroads as a war factor. There Is none of less Importance than the other. Each one must see and feel his responsibility to the other and then work together as a unit. The New Haven, he said, was out to do big things to win the war, and every man must not only do his bit, but his best. He urged the men to keep in mind the slogan adopted by the New Haven, to put It over the top, and prophesied success if carried out. He spoke very encouragingly of the men directly under his jurisdiction. He told how the bridges and roadbeds on the Midland were being Improved to han- dle the heavier engines made necessary by the constantly increasing tonnage, and pre- dicted that the New Haven is going to be the best equipped, operated and maintained railroad in the country and in the world. The keenest attention was given during Mr. Astley’s remarks, and when it came time for handshaking it was surprising how many of the boys he knew personally by name from the other divisions. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 621 General Chairman Ross also addressed this meeting, explaining the anticipated in- crease in wages so eagerly sought by every- one, the amount of which had not yet been difinltely stated. He praised the men for their exemplary conduct, assuring us we would be well rewarded for such patriotic fortitude. The longer we wait the more money will be forthcoming in back time. The mill help and munition workers are reaping large incomes from shell making while our boys over there are "putting them over the top" for a dollar a day and board. It is going to be a tremendous Job to proportion out the required allotment of money for each railroad, and then for each railroad to properly distribute it to the various classes of employes. The daylight-saving plan was put into effect on all of the divisions with the as- sistance of forms 19 and 31, train orders. Midland Division Notes — The Increase in freight traffic since the bridges at Blackstone and other points were strengthened to carry the heavier engines has opened up several new blocking jobs, keeping the wires on the hum night and day. South Boston cut is being widened for four tracks. A new freight house and tracks are to be built at Franklin Jet., increasing the work- ing capacity of the tower with additional levers. Bro. Sheehan is back on third in the dis- patcher’s office, Bro. White returning from the West to tower S. S. 181 R, Readville. He was away for his health. Bro. Hank Sears, first trick dispatcher, is now Spencerian system penman, and from now on it will be "Prof." Sears as a mark of respect. With several lady operators on the wire the third trick boys will be found wide- awake from now on. Bro. W. H. Sears relieved Chief Train Dis- patched Dorigan, on sick list, five days, Bro. Jim McLaughlin relieving him on first main line sheet, while Bros. Curren, Clark and Sheehan handled the Woonsocket Branch. Bro. Tom Buckley, third trick dispatcher, called to Hartford on investigation of the recent wreck, was relieved by Bro. H. W. Sheehan, spare dispatcher. Bro. Bicknell registered with the ship- building department under the Government. Local Chairman Riley has been appointed on the Midland Division efficiency board for the ensuing six months. Bro. Atkins relieved Bro. J. F. Mooney, leverman 234 tower Readville, on sick list two weeks. On account of no relief man the boys had to double there while Bro. Glazier was sick. Bro. Frank Butler, called home owing •to his mother’s illness, was relieved by Bro. Curran at Norwood Jet. The boys at So-Bay Jet. claim that it is an ideal Atlantic resort, with continuous performances, scenic railway through tun- nels and over bridges, sea gulls and floating mattresses. Bro. Jim Coughlin and Bro. Gilbert now have bugs which cost seven "bones" apiece. Bro. Chester Cohlic is at Blackstone pend- ing Bro. Lubosky’s arrival. Bro. H. F. Sa- varia is on third, recently opened there. Neto London Division Notes — The generous response for news items from the boys on this line has always been appreciated, but since Bro. Beach has re- signed as local chairman the interest has somewhat waned. Suggest that Bro. Carl White, agent Webster, always a hard worker for the cause, or Bro. Gulnac, an old-time dispatcher, who has contributed to these col- umns heretofore, take up this work. The "Bar Harbor Express" and "The State of Maine" will soon be on the schedule again, opening up more Jobs for the summer. Boston Division Notes — A large number of jobs will be on bid on this division when the beaches open up. Bro. Howard Jones has taken the 8 to 4 position In the Boston dispatcher’s office ; Bro. Mobbs goes to Mattapan as operator; Bro. Monson to third So. Hampton St. tower ; Bro. A. R. Hulbert from Weymouth Heights on the Cape to Fields Corners, and Bro. R. P. Oakman to Marshfield agency. Bro. Jerry Rielley, at the recent meeting, championed the cause of the boys in tower 237 in an able manner. The general chair- man eased his mind and Jerry went away hopeful. With the crippled service on the elevated Bro. LaBerge certainly has a Just grievance on that 4 a. m. Job. Let’s have some news items from your vicinity. H. J. Bardol, Div. Cor. Grand Trunk Ry., Div. No. 1. Ottawa Division — Casselman, Ont., March 28th, 1918. To Ottawa Division Telegraphers. Dear Sirs and Brothers : — It will be no- ticed that in the last issue of The Teleg- rapher the undersigned acknowledged a Xmas gift presented by Ottawa Division telegraphers. A second and not less pleasant surprise is the recent arrival of a beautiful bronze portable electric reading lamp from mem- bers who through absence or otherwise were unable to participate in the original move. The recipient feels somewhat embarrassed to find words that will convey to you his appreciation of the token and the expressions Digitized by tjooole
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622 The Railroad Telegrapher of friendship and good wishes accompanying the same. * Thanking you kindly, and trusting that with your support and this “extra ray of light," your humble servant will be able to assist the membership in further maintain- ing the success attained by the Ottawa Divi- sion telegraphers. Fraternally yours, F. A. Parent, Local Chairman. 8ection l — Meeting was held in our new hall, in White's Block, Point St. Charles, April 15th, with Local Chairman Tardif in the chair; General Chairman Eddy and Local Chair- man Cowan of Sec. 1 as visitors, and 22 members present. Attendance was pretty good, although it could have been better. Let us try and attend the meetings in great numbers. We now have a regular hall and plenty of room for everybody. It costs no more for the whole section being present than for a limited number. General Chair- man Eddy and Local Chairman Cowan ad- dressed the meeting on the recent happen- ings, and both were well received. Local Chairman Tardif announced that he had rented the hall for the third Monday of each month for our meetings the coming season. It Is expected that everybody who can will attend. He also read a letter from Bro. E. H. Fortier of St. Lambert tower, thanking the brothers who had contributed to the subscription to buy him an artificial leg. It was decided to form a Local Fund on this section for the purpose of sending flow- ers at the death of any of our members or their wives ; also to take care of the inci- dental expenses of this section, subject to the approval of the local board of adjust- ment. The local chairman was instructed to assess the members of this section $2.00 to establish this fund, which is expected to meet the expenses the next two years. It is expected that everybody will contribute the amount, as the first month’s increase will not be asked for, the increase taking effect April 1st. A report will be made of this fund in these columns from time to time, showing those contributing and the disbursements. On April 20th the following brothers con- tributed the amount : J. A. Tardif, Ste. Rosalie Jet. ; W. J. Marchand, St. Constant ; H. N. Bourassa, St. Johns ; A. J. Belle-Isle, Ste. Madeleine ; S. Poirier, St. Lambert ; J. E. Marchand, Brosseau Jet. ; J. H. Lusig- nan, Point St. Charles ; J. A. Marchand, "NA” Montreal ; L. R. Remillard, Point St. Charles; J. W\ Atkinson, St. Paul; F. Cote, Laprairie ; P. J. Buswell, St. Laurent ; D. Sauve, Turcot ; T. Hebert, Laprairie ; J. P. Lazure, Laprairie ; J. E. Birtz, Howick ; H. V. Camerlain, St. Hubert; J. S. Chenail, St. Lambert ; J. A. Cheneir, Beloeil ; J. H. Ber- nard, Beloeil ; J. S. Marquis, Danby ; E. Bouchard, Huntingdon, making a total of $44.00. The hall rent of $8.00 for April was paid, leaving a total of $41.00, which will be deposited in a bank. Name will be fur- nished in my next report Somebody get after Goyette of Brosseau, McMullen of Bombay, Rollo of St. Johns, Peterson of St. Hilaire, Stone, Lalonde and Daoust of St. Henri, and have them join us. With the new schedule we have Just secured, it does not seem possible that so many would persist in staying out of the good old O. R. T. "No card, no favors” might work advantageously with those fel- lows. Everybody is urged to give the company the best service possible, as a mark of ap- preciation for our last schedule. We are being treated in the best possible manner by our officers, and we should render serv- ices accordingly. J. A. Tardif, Local Chairman. Fourth District — Bro. Roy, Howick Jet., on tW’O- weeks’ va- cation, was relieved by Bro. Potvin, relieved by half brother McMullen on night trick. First Trick Dispatcher Bro. Brodeur was inquiring the price of eggs around Easter along the line. I hope he got a good omelet on Easter morning. "You can’t beat the Frenchman." Bro. Hebert, relieving agent of the Fourth District, is now helping old "Hutch.” Bro. Landry, Lacolle Jet., had a hot time in St. Johns last week before the judge, when trying to get military exemption ; but he was sent back honorably discharged. Bro. H. F. Bourassa, St. Johns, Is using his Chevrolet car, which saves him two trips a day on No. 75 and No. 70, and he can take his friends for a ride for the same money and have lots more fun. He enjoys it but wants to trade it for a Ford. Bro. Marchand has a motor car. Some- times he goes a little farther than "CN" with it. Hope he does not make another drive over the crossing at "HO" as he did last summer while going to see his sweet- heart But his ribs are all right again, and he’ll break his neck this time for her if it’ll do any good. Some say that due to high cost of living and having a family to support, we should be favored with an increase of not less than 40 per cent. That sounds good; but I do not see why we single men should be left behind. We want a bite off that crust too. Of course, there are a few who are going to "put the yoke around their necks" this month or next, but be patient, boys. There are a few "nons” yet to be fished out of the black river. If you have no fishing rods I will send you one by mail with hooks which you can bait yourselves. Let’s try and catch all of them. "BY," Cert. 2781. Digitized by taOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 623 25 th and 26th Diets, and C. 8. d M. — The Lansing: ticket office has been en- larged, greatly Improving working conditions at that point The switching of time March 31st in the TJ. S. and April 14th in Canada was the cause of some wonderfully quick changes in the time-tables. I would not have be- lieved that the G. T. could do anything so quickly. The auto factories at Flint and Lansing are glad to get stock cars, “gons” or any- thing else that has wheels to move their products. The depot at Granger burned April 12th. Presume Bro. Huffman took advantage of the opportunity offered to lose all old flies, books, and any unnecessary correspondence. Some people have all the luck. I would like each member on this division to send me a postal next month, giving me at least one item, but you are not .limited to one. If it takes a letter, write me one, and if you know of no news at all, say so. A two-cent piece will do it, and if you will all do this, we will have a write-up that will do us proud. Try it once. And bear in mind that no items from you means no writeup in the next Issue, as I shall then take it to mean that the members of this division do not want a writeup each month. S. W. Hibbard, Cert. 2509, Ainsworth, Ind. • “Big Four” Ry., Div. No. 3. NOTICE ! A Joint meeting of all the roads entering Cincinnati will be held at the Grand Hotel. Cincinnati, Wednesday evening, June 5th, 8 :00 o’clock, and all members are cordially invited to attend. At this meeting it is ex- pected Bros. Perham and Rawlins, the gen- eral chairmen of Divisions 17, 40, 33, and a large number of other “notables” will be present. It is a general get-together affair, and we trust everyone that can will attend. O. E. Mabsh, Local Chairman, Div. No. 33. Cleveland Div. — Local Chairman Sloan went over the road recently, getting acquainted with the boys. The following were off recently : Bro. H. W. Clutter, third St. James ; Bro. Dodds, sec- ond Nelson ; Bro. Meeks, third Columbus ; Bro. Conklin, second, and Bro. Shoffner, third Hayes, several days ; Bro. J. F. Mc- Cartney, a week, relieved by Sister Mrs. Norman ; Bro. Reily, first Hiles, a week ; and Bro. Bill Dutton, third Rush, two weeks, relieved by Sister Miss Mable Corwin. Bro. Alexander, third Larue, was on sick list a few days. Bro. Marring went to third Shiloh, re- lieved on third Crestline by Bro. Irey, pend- ing bulletin. Ex-Bro. C. R. Golden died at Camp Sher- man recently, of pneumonia. Cert. 1499. Indianapolis Div. — Boys, be patriotic. Buy a Liberty bond and then help us to make this division “solid.” Bro. Harry Hess, second “F,” goes to third there ; Bro. Barbee to first Morgan ; Bro. Beeson to Sidney agency, and Bro. Jim Mauzzy to second Dolby. “Bill” Mitchell says he does not need to carry a card. Hand him a mirror and tell' him to take a look at himself. So. Anderson brothers worked twelve hours while Bro. Marty’s boy was sick. Bro. Aumpaugh and Rowe Connor did the same "stunt” when Bro. Hatcher was having the measles and la grippe, until relieved by C. H. Williams, who also relieved Bro. Mills, second Vance, several days while he had la grippe, and relieved Local Chairman Jenkins at Vance, on committee work. Bro. Beeson, agent Farmland, 'was off a while with la grippe. Bro. Flynn was relieved at Lamb several days by Huffman. Kenneth Torrence, third David, has been called to colors. He has our best wishes for a safe and speedy return. Bro. Heges, agent Pemberton, went to Morgan while “Bill” Rickey was visiting in Muncie. Bro. Charlie Warren, first Harrisonville, on vacation, was relieved by Sister Mrs. Moots. Bro. McAlhaney, second Anderson, was on sick list a week recently, and Bro. Brown, third Mix, was off awhile with measles. Bro. Deboben, third Morgan, has returned from a fishing trip at the Lewistown reser- voir. Brothers, remember our slogan : “No cards, no favors.” Cert. 2144. Indianapolis Div. Notes — Bro. John D., former agent Wusburg, has enlisted, relieved by Bro. Hemke. Bro. Timmerman goes to second Sedams- ville, and Bro. Evans to Pa. Sister Alice was relieved a few days by Bro. Wolf, whom we welcome back to the Big Four. Second Trick Dispatcher Hoppings, sick for some time, has gone to the Southwest for his health. We all wish him a speedy and complete recovery. Mr. Howell had a very successful trip over the road, taking subscriptions for the Third Liberty Loan bonds. Cert. 2292. CARD OF THANKS. To the Members of C., C., C. & St. L. System Division No. 3 : We hardly know how to express our Digitized by c.ocK?Le
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624 The Railroad Telegrapher. thanks and deep gratitude for the beautiful flowers you so kindly sent us at the time of our mother's death. We beg you to accept our deepest thanks, for we most assuredly appreciated them. J. C. & H. M. Kuhl, And the Family, Windsor, 111. CARD OF THANKS. We desire to express our thanks to the members of Big Four Division No. 3, for the beautiful floral contributions ; also for the words of sympathy during our recent be- reavement, the loss of our baby daughter. R. H. PUTBRBAUQH, And Family, Cert. 2340. C., St. P., M. & O. Ry.f Div. No. 4. Western Division — So many of our boys have responded to the “call” that we find many new faces everywhere we go, the fair sex filling the vacancies very nicely. On Monday, April 15, Road Master Lund- quist and J. P. Rafferty of Lake Crystal, representing the Trackmen, and the writer started on the former’s gas car on the Third Liberty Loan drive over this division, encountering very disagreeable weather, rain and a cold wind striking us for four days. A heavy downpour on Wednesday covering the Elmore line practically put the gas car out of business. When we arrived at Blue Earth, after consuming over an hour between Win- nebago and that point, we were soaked to the skin. However, the drive was a decided success, every one in the station department having bought bonds, totaling $7400. A few of the boys whom we were unable to see, and left blanks for, probably responded upon the visitation of the “flying squadron” that start- ed out later under the instructions of Mr. Welch. Bro. J. P. Sisterman of Belle Plaine covered a portion of the system on a similar drive. There is not a delinquent member now on this division actually in the service. Just a very few of our boys who went to the front neglected to take care of their membership and became delinquent. Brother Ross of Rock Rapids is among those who have taken out annual cards. Brother H. L. Glick is now one of our O. R. T. organizers, working on an unsched- uled road. Brother and Mrs. O. H. Warner have purchased a nice new home at Lake Crystal. The following are our recent new members whom we welcome to our ranks : W. H. Francis, Knapp ; Odin Kragstad, Hudson ; A. F. Burger, Eau Claire ; J. B. McElroy, Augusta ; H. L. Nelson, Fairchild ; C. M. Strieker, Fairchild ; G. W. McKulla, Clear Lake ; H. J. Halverson, Fall Creek ; O. E. Stockman, Trego ; J. H. Mulvaney, Eleva ; J. F. Tracey, Altoona ; C. F. Strasburg. South Range ; J. J. Wynne, Hammond ; C. A. Judd, Stillwater ; G. Merriman, Tekamah ; L. A. Strasburg, Wilson ; J. J. Gaffney, Hersey ; J. A. Young, Lyons ; Victor Nelson, Nacora : J. F. Craft, Fort Calhoun; A P. Wagner, Le Sueur ; H. J. Pope, Knapp ; F. E. Lehman. Heron Lake ; C. L. SI ay ba ugh, Heron Lake ; A. G. Ketteman, Blue Earth ; A. R. Chase, Meno Junction; J. A. Coburn. Omaha; H. E. Philipp, Shakopee ; Grant Morrison, El- more, and Geo. S. Bell, La Verne ; also Sister Mrs. D. A. Prew, Blue Earth, and Sisters Misses Pearl Lockwood, Birch wood ; Alda King, Carroll ; B. M. Amans, Hawthorne ; Mabel Salle, Rice Lake; E. M. Krinkle, Deer Park ; Verna M. Johnson, Mendota, and Johanna Helen Szlachtowski, Minneopa. Find out if your neighbors on the right and left are up to date; if not, give them no rest until they get a card. Western Division — Brothers Zimmerman and Scribner were compelled to double while Brother Tyler of Kasota was taking the government exami- nation. Brother J. G. Kaudy of Sioux Falls left March 29 th for the training camp, and Brothers O. A. Iverson of Wilder, G. H. Schneiderhan of Jordan and G. W. Reid of Western avenue recently left us. The va- cancies caused by our boys going into the service of Uncle Sam are being rapidly filled by lady telegraphers, whom those remain- ing at home are trying to line up as rapidly as possible. I have been asked by Mr. Plunkett, auditor disbursement accounts, St. Paul, to have any who are short in their February pay to write him and he will gladly adjust it. L. D. Marquette, a former member of our general committee, for several years agent for the “Soo” Line at Ladysmith, recently slashed his throat from ear to ear with a razor, but we understand that he will re- cover. Please take notice that since April 1st the address of the general secretary and treas- urer is 920 Range street, Mankato, Minn., instead of 328 Fulton street. During the recent serious illness of Dis- patcher Jamieson at St. James, Brother Stumm attended to his duties, relieved by Brother Alvord, and relieved on the side wire there by E. T. Brady of Blakeley. Brother P. W. Brady is home from Can- ada, visiting at Blakeley. Mrs. D. O. Tenney is enjoying a visit from her mother, Mrs. J. C. Harum of Minne- apolis. Brother and Mrs. Fuller have returned from Wisconsin, with Brother Fuller’s health greatly improved. He is relieving at Cliff. The boys in the St. James office went Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 625 “away over the top” In their subscriptions for the Third Liberty Loan. A. C. Dimock of Eau Claire, who relieved the writer on the Liberty Loan drive, has now taken up another class of work at or near his home. Brother A. M. Johnson was called home to Belle Plaine, owing to the serious illness of his brother. Brothers Liddane and Tenney met Messrs. Pechin and Blundell in the general office April 15 and adjusted several grievances on the Nebraska Division. Brother R. A. Coyle of Wayne, Neb., has been elected local chairman of the Nebraska Division, vice C. J. Weygandt, resigned, and gone West, and I installed the former on April 5, owing to the temporary illness of Qeneral Chairman Liddane, who was in St. Paul Hospital several weeks, but has fully recovered. May 1 the C. & N. W. and “Omaha” con- solidated at Mankato, everything, including the telegraph office, going to the “Omaha.” Also at Fairmont, same date, everything go- ing to the C. & N. W. Mr. Burdick, who has been with the “Omaha” for many years as agent at Minneapolis and Mankato, and for several years at Fairmont, and Brother Sev- erson, the telegrapher there, will no doubt be located elsewhere shortly. We were pained to hear of the death of Brother William Werner's mother on March 29 at Lime Creek. Her remains were taken to Springfield, 111., for burial. Our sympathy is extended to Brother Werner and family. If anybody would like to know how many ties there are between Belle Plaine and Sha- kopee, just call the latter office and ask Warner. He visited a young lady at Belle Plaine several Sundays ago and had to walk back to Shakopee, as there was no train until 7 :30 the next morning and he was on duty at 6 :30. The young lady accompa- nied him a short distance down the track when he left, shortly after midnight, and the tears of sympathy that were shed must be left to the reader’s imagination. Local Chairman Coyle of the Nebraska division reports the addition of three new members, two of them lady applicants. You will soon receive notice of dues for the next semi-annual period. Remember that our dues have been advanced to $7.50 in place of $$ as heretofore, and we should all be willing tfi pay them promptly, in view of the fact that everyone received at least $7.50 per month increase outside of the back pay. Therefore I urge you to remit immediately upon receipt of these notices. D. O. Tbnnkt, Cert. No. 2. 920 Range St., Mankato, Minn. Eastern Division — Third Liberty Loan is all the rage now and practically every man on the Eastern division has taken out a bond, which speaks well for the loyalty of the railroad boys. If we can not carry guns, we can at least furnish the ammunition for the boys who are doing our fighting. The railroad has given us a very easy proposition so that everyone can take out one or more bonds and not feel the strain. Brother Olson, third Sheppard, is now in Fort Dodge, Wash., relieved by Bro. Gerth. .esro. West berg, second Levis, called home on account of sickness of his mother at Bibon, was relieved a few days by Bro. Haberman from Stillwater Junction, who later went to Woodville to relieve Bro. Anderson, who went to Neillsville. Bro. Haberman is called in the next draft and expects to leave soon for camp. This is thinning out our men so rap- idly that it niakes vacations this summer look doubtful. This division is now 100 per cent solid, every scheduled position being filled by a member. This is something to be proud of. This splendid membership is reflected in the working conditions of the men and while we stand shoulder to shoulder these conditions will continue to improve. While we have ac- complished a lot in the past year, there are still several things to be done. We are en- titled to double pay for Sundays, holidays and overtime work, a vacation each year with full pay, and numerous other things which will tend to put the agent and telegrapher on a decent working basis. Our only lady telegrapher on this division, Sister Pe.arl Lockwood, who has been reliev- ing at Neillsville for some time, has been relieved by the regular man. Brother Ander- son, from Woodville, and is on the extra list. Sister Lockwood is a true blue O. R. T. girl. Brother Liddane informs us that the matter of a schedule with the American Express Company has been taken up by the general chairmen ot all the roads In the West over which it operates. A subcommittee of gen- eral chairmen appointed to handle the mat- ter, has already presented a proposition to the company. Ckrt 6. Nebraska Division — Brother Owens, off several days on account of the sudden death of his mother, was re- lieved by Brother Mathews of Tekamah. Later Brother Owens was relieved by Brother Hineline from Oakland while attending the funeral of his wife’s brother. Brother Dennis, first Tekamah, was off a week with an attack of the grip, which caused doubling, as no extra man to re- lieve. Brother Wassam, agent there on tem- porary leave, was relieved by Haines, a new man. Brother C. J. Rathman, traveling agent, checked the latter in and spent sev- * eral weeks at Tekamah filing the old records and checking up the station. Brother Coyle, the new L. C., was over Digitized by v^oooie
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626 The Railroad Telegrapher. the division recently in the interest of the Third Liberty Loan, and also to grab a “non” where he could. Brother “Bill” Barge of Herman took in the sights of Omaha recently, relieved by Brother A. C. Shearer, recently returned to work. , We now' have tw'o sister telegraphers oh this division. Miss Davenport and Miss Mc- Cann. Also several new brothers. Keep up the good work, boys. General Chairman Llddane paid this division a hurried call recently to adjust a grievance on the branch. Brother Kenny was a recent Omaha visitor. Brother Victor Nelson, at Thurston agency pending bulletin, has been off over a month with a siege of scarlet fever. Second operator put on at “BA” and one at “NS,” which shortens up the block con- siderably for the night trains. Miss Davenport is on third and Mr. Roper on second at Oakland. Brother Vicery got second Wayne, his old stamping ground. There have been so many changes lately that it is hard to keep in touch with them all. If any have not been mentioned it wras because I was unable to get them or the names of all the new members. Brother H. C. Peterson was elected mayor at the recent city election in Oakland. “Pete” is quite popular, especially with the ladies, having held a similar office while agent at Bloomfield a few years ago. Cert. 401. Northern Division — Of the seven girls on this division six of them now carry cards. Brother Swanson, agent Deer Park, has returned from an extended leave, visiting California points. Your local chairman, confined to his home at Itasca for several days with the mumps, was relieved by Assistant Agent L. N. Judge, who recently enlisted in the Thirty-sixth En- gineers’ Corps. Brother Wonderwitz, second there, also laid up several days with the mumps, was relieved by Brother McCulla from the N. P., now transferred to division No. 4. I am indebted to Brother Hinnman for notes from the branch, the first we have been able to get from that line. Hope he keeps the good work up. Mary Zubrick, relief operator, has done about everything recently, from agent and operator to handling an interlocking plant. She will soon get in line. We are glad to see Brother Ruid back with us again at Rice Lake. F. D. Sinclair, called to Iowa by the sick- ness and death of his father, is back again on Spooner third. His wife is now in St. Paul Hospital for an operation. He was ac- companied home by his brother “RD,” on our division several years ago, now w'ith the Rock Island in Missouri. E. K. Hughes, relief telegrapher, recently cashier at Itasca, now has an agency on the Nebraska Division. You fellows down there get him in line. Former Chief Dispatcher Elliott called on your local chairman recently. He is working a trick for the Soo Line in Superior. Same old “Jack,” only not quite so portly. F. White, formerly on second Itasca, who enlisted in the Signal Corps last summer, has arrived safely in France. Lewis Tilseth, a new man, is on second Brrchwood. You boys on the branch get him in line. Sister Carlson is now at home in Iron Hub, Minn., threatened with pneumonia. We hope for her speedy recovery. Bros. Sheppard of Raddison and Hinnmann of Birchwood were the only ones to attend the joint meeting at Eau Claire. Those who did not attend missed a good time. Miss Leah Cary, clerk at Birchwood for two years, now” relief agent, will soon be with us. Bro. C. M. Olson, Couderay, has started a general merchandise store there and wfe wish him success. Remember our w-atchword : “No card, no favors” and keep everlastingly at the “nons” until they come into the fold. This means every member. Cert. 330. Kansas City Southern Ry., Div. No. 5. Watts to De Queen — Bro. Latimer, third- Mena, who had a stroke of paralysis recently, was relieved in twenty- four hours by Dr. Cochran and resumed work again. The Wortham & Rice Carnival Company, with its water circus, wrhich showed a wreek in Mena, required a special train of fifty cars to move to its next stand. Miss Fern Wiley of Mena, from the W. U. at Dallas, wrent to Page second. Some brother near there should send her application blanks and make her a “sister.” Brother Phipps, Wichita Valley. Tex., is now at Bunch, and Bro. Newell is on third there. Bro. Latimer, Mena, was relieved on the sick list by Mr. Finch. Bro. Youkey from Kansas City is now W. U. manager at Mena. Bro. Fry from Grannis, a member of the Third Liberty Bond committee, was a recent Mena visitor. Bro. Youkey, also on the com- mittee, has the promise of several also along the line to subscribe. We are all economizing so that we will be able to purchase one. Our new chief dispatcher, W. N. Stevens, made us a very pleasant call recently, going through on the local. Bro. Fretwell is night chief at Mena now. Digitized by tjoooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 627 Bro. Forsyth, turned down In the wireless, has volunteered in the shipbuilders’ depart- ment of the Government. Bro. Simms, second Spiro, off nursing a case of smallpox. The rest of the force there has been vaccinated and all are "nussing” sore arms. Bro. Henry Sallisaw, first Neosho, goes to second, relieved by agent, Marble City. Bro. Logan goes to third North Yards, Pittsburgh. Bro. Ligon, called in first draft, turned down on account of his eyes at Camp Travis, Tex., is relieving ^3ro. Logan on Panama second. Chief Dispatcher Downs has returned to the Cotton Belt> relieved by W. N. Stevens. Bro. Miner, first trick dispatcher Heavener, is back on nights, Bro. Harvey returning to De Queen second. Thanks to Bros. Forsythe and Youkey for their liberal bunch of items. Wish some of you boys would send In a few, especially south of De Queen. The smallest amount will be appreciated. We are sorry to report the death of the father of Bro. McRaven of Fort Smith, who was called to Grannis on April 15. Bro. Jerome and ye scribe doubled one day until Bro. Phipps from the Fort Worth and Denver arrived. S. D. Collyer, Cert. 495. Union Pacific R. R., Div. No. 6. Western Division — We are pleased to welcome the following members : J. R. Metz, Riner ; A. J. McGrath Spring Valley; H. E. and Mrs. K. G. Yar- borough, Hampton ; R. G. Graham, Morgan ; P. C. Stokes, Green River; Mrs. A. E. Davis, and W. E. Pulley, Wahsatch, and L. L. Scil- lian. Carter. Bro. G. W. Jackson, succeeded on second Gateway by Bro. Ashcraft, relieved W. B. Wrightman, second Wamsutter, gone back to the farm. Bro. W. F. Shaver, Green River, was off several days recently to meet his wife and baby at Kansas City, who have been winter- ing in Birmingham. Ala. Bro. W. W. Wood, manager, Green River, was also off a few days recently, Bro. D. B. Avinger from Rawlins relieving. Bro. P. C. Stokes, second Rock Springs, also to Green River. Bro. Vaughan, Green River, sueceeded on the 8 a. m. by Bro. Shaver, spent a few days in Denver, relieved by Bro. Avinger, who also relieved Bro. and Sister Monroe and Bros. Swanson and Stokes one day each on account of sickness. Keep your eyes open for new men and land them as soon as they light. Everybody help. No one is exempt in this war on the "nons,” and don’t forget the few old ones who are still out. Several of the boys who have not yet pajd the special assessment had better hurry it in before they are suspended. No notes from the west end this month. Bro. Vaughan is the only man contributing to this write-up. You all want a write-up; why not give me some notes? L. C. Colorado Division — Bro. Myers, Orchard agency, vice Kelsey, relieving Bro. Kelley, Crook agency, on va- cation. Bro. Folks, Sterling, has returned from a trip through Mississippi and Arkansas. Bro. Raborn, third there, to the S. P. at Ogden, relieved by C. L. Teague from the S. T. J. & G. I. Bro. Larchbaugh, third Union, to Kit Carson, relieved by W. H. Brittain from Day- ton, Ohio. Bro. Shumate, Brighton second, goes to Sterling third. W. E. Merrigwether, a new man, relieved Bfo. Bowlin, third La Salle, who relieved Bro. Hix, first there, who relieved Bro. Ven- neri at Eaton, who joined the navy. We wish him success and a safe return. Bro. Sheriff, St. Vrains, off awhile with la grippe, went to Fort Morgan nights. Bro. P. G. Smith, “UD” Denver, relieved Bro. Athey, Gilcrest agency, who goes to a farm in Colorado. We wish him acres of success. Bro. G. J. McCartney from the KP is vis- iting in Greeley. R. E. Palmer, from F. B. Choate’s office, to Sterling agency. Sit still and watch the curtain for announcements. Bro. L. L. Larson died at Erie, Colo., very suddenly March 26 from septic meningitis, following an operation for removal of his tonsils a few days before. The brothers along the line contributed a fund with which was purchased a beautiful wreath and a spray of roses. The floral offerings were profuse and the funeral at Erie March 31 was attended by a very large number of friends. Bros. F. Venneri and W. C. Sale of Erie were among the pallbearers. Other brothers attending were I. W. Thompson ot Frederick, J. S. Weiss of Daconi and C. R. Hunt of Erie, local chairman, C. B. & Q. Cert. 669. CARD OF THANKS. We earnestly thank the Union - Pacific telegraphers and many friends for their kind- ness, sympathy and floral offerings in the death of Charles Alvin Davis, our son and brother. Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Robert, and Mabel Davis ; Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh, and Frank Rider. CARD OF THANKS. I wish to thank the O. R. T. boys for the beautiful flowers sent me during my recent illness. I assure you they were greatly ap- preciated. Very truly yours, Mrs. W. E. Parker, Ft. Collins, Colo. Digitized by c.ooQle
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628 The Railroad Telegrapher. Nebraska Division , First District — The brothers are all doing: their best on the Third Liberty Loan. Among those who took one at Schuyler was the messenger, get- ting $35 a month. He paid $10 cash on it. Most of the towermen have subscribed, some paying cash, but so far the maintainers have us all beat. A number of them met me at the station with drafts to pay for the bonds they wanted. Some of the brothers also paid cash for theirs. The capable helpers who will be put on as operators shortly will all take out cards. The brothers are not working hard enough on the none. We have too many on this division. The first thing to ask a new man is “Have you got a card?" If he says “No," ask him “Will you get one aft6r you get a pay-day or two?” If not, then remember that " No card, no favors” will work wonders. Agents at one-man stations should quit coming down after supper and working on reports, etc. The fine is $100 to $500 if you are caught in such a violation of the federal hours of service law. The new Grand Island station, badly needed, is going to be a “humdinger.” Bro. Clotfelter is back at Columbus after a vacation, relieving Bro. Faes. who is try- ing to enlist. Bro. Baer is on six weeks’ vacation. Bro. P. V. Hobert, Silver Creek, although on the sick list, is sticking to the job. Bro. Whittaker of Pappillion, who has about 6000 pounds of milk to handle daily, expects a helper shortly. Think I shall be able after this to give you a better write-up, as I shall be acquaint- ed with you and the conditions under which you work. All thinking of enlisting should read Bro. Cerney’s letter. This will give you some idea of what a card means to the boys in the service. We should all work up some enthusiasm and bring in the nons still on this division. One man cannot do this alone. Cert 1292. Nebraska Division, Second District — Bro. Teel, third Kearney, who has been very low with a severe attack of pneumonia, is now on the road to recovery, which we earnestly hope will be speedily completed. Bro. O. F. Koons, second Gothenburg, is ladling out cigars on a new bdy. District extends congratulations. Bro. M. B. Borne, second Lexington, re- ported to a local draft board in “Louisy- Ann” March 29. Presume he has been as- signed to some Southern cantonment. Bro. L. O. Cruson, or third there, is now on second and Bro. Roy Burr on Cozad. Bro. C. E. Smith, first “GD,” is recovering from a mild case of smallpox, Bro. R. R. Root relieving. Wilcoxson goes to second Brady, vice G. \V. Curtis, to third Elm Creek. Bro. Guy H. Smith writes of his safe arrival “somewhere in France,” feeling .very Jit, and said almost the first person he met •was Bro. Gus Lambert from this division. Also met a brother formerly at Beatrice, but missed by several days meeting Bro. J. W. Stepnoskl, who had be&n transferred from that post. “Guy” is a clerk in the command- ing officer’s office. The French type of “mill” with its two-shift keyboard and little different letter arrangement annoyed him, but he resurrected an old American “Underwood” from the storeroom and it was then plain sailing again. Guy says he can’t “break” them yet in “Francaise,” but hopes to soon be able to do so. • Bro. Jerry J. Cerney writes from the elec- trical school at Mare Island that the boys sure appreciate the efforts of General Chair- man Stump in securing transportation home for them last Christmas. Several In this district will likely be called in next draft and we should get them in before they leave. Cert 1292. Canadian Pacific Ry.f Div. No. 7. Edmonton Division — At a meeting held Sunday, April 14. at the Corona Hotel the following brothers were present: Jackson, Flnkle,. Douglas, Fowler, Collis, Knox, Kent, Smith and Getz. Not a very encouraging assemblage for so large a division, but, considering the bad weather and the present poor train service on the branches, it was better than none. Some brothers who reside in the city were particu- larly conspicuous by their absence. General business was discussed, there be- ing no particular personal grievances to deal with worth mentioning here. All the agents have a grievance over the inability to get competent assistants, but most every other business is experiencing the same trouble during these times of stress. One other interesting feature brought out was that this division is solid with the ex- ception of three or four, and they are not considered hopeless nons, either. Let’s make it solid by next month. A meeting held on this division at least once a month should tend to increase the interest in the order. True, the train service is poor, and there are many on the branches who would be unable to attend, but they could write their say and send it in to be read at the meeting. The cost of living is advancing steadily and the brothers across the line are expect- ing a substantial raise since the Government has taken over the roads in the states. We are all beginning to realize that the increase granted us last year is nowhere near ade- quate to offset the increased cost of all ne- cessities, therefore we should begin drafting Digitized by tjoooie
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629 TyE Railroad Telegrapher. a new schedule, so, brothers, attend the meet- ings and make known your wants. Compared with the pay for common labor and many other lines of skilled labor, we are still underpaid. We pride ourselves on be- ing one of the conservative and fair organi- zations, but a little of the “red shirt spirit" might help some. It's certain we will have to go after anything we expect to get. . Bro. Harrison, "MD" Edmonton, is off with an attack of la grippe, and nearly every one in the city is suffering more or less with the same malady. Bro. Beattie, Coronation night, has re- turned to his farm near Irma. Sorry to see him leave this division as he is a "real one." Bro. Oullet, a new man, relieved him. Bro. McCreadie, who passed up Superb agency for the spare board, is relieving Agent Null at Kirriemuir, Mr. Smith going to Superb. Mr. McNabb, formerly agent at Sedgwick, is at Loch earn nights, and Bro. Le Beck, from the E. D. & B. C., at Camrose nights, vice Bro. McNair, to days there, when Bro. Montgomery went to the E. D. & B. C. Bro. Garvin, off six weeks, operated on for appendicitis, will soon be back at Lacombe days. Bro. Horn, Lacombe night, relieving Bro. Garvin, was relieved by Bro. Briggs, assistant Castor. Bro. J. M. McAnalley, third trick dispatch- er, Medicine Hat, is relieving Bro. West at Ponoka, on holiday. Our write-up the past two months was evidently received too late to be printed, but we hope from now on to get a few notes in each month. Any brother with any notes of interest please send them in, as every little helps. Cert 1220. Edmonton Division Notes — Mr. Smith, a new man with us and in the business, recently discharged from the hos- pital after two years with the Canadians in France, relieved Pedlar at Sedgewick ten days, and Bro. Bert Ferguson, Red Deer second, on a trip to the coast. Bro. Frank Fowler was off a week, sick, and Bros. Law and Ferguson doubled ac- count no spare men. Bro. Fox. Blackfalds, off for three weeks on account of sickness, was relieved by Bro. McCre&dy, who later relieved Bro. Laing at Erskine while he attended the Masonic con- vention in Edmonton. Bro. Garvin, Lacombe, off with appendi- citis, is getting along nicely. Bro. Horne is working days, Briggs is assistant and Castor is working nights. McNabb, a new man, went from Loch earn nights to Camrose nights. Bro. Thompson, acting chief, relieving Mr. Collins a week, Bro. Coll is working second and Bro. Harrison Is doubling In "MD." By the present outlook we will be fortunate in getting two weeks off this year. The recent blizzards on the Coronation sub gave the boys over there some overtime, which in our new schedule figures time and a half. We are now the only large body working on the old ten-hour basis, the trainmen re- cently securing an eight-hour day and the enginemen having secured the eight-hour day last year. In the States they have had a nine-hour day for ten years, which in most cases practically amounted to an eight-hour day, and I notice by the notes in our journal where some of the larger roads have granted an eight-hour day. I believe that an eight- hour day is long enough for any man, and this should be accompanied by the $100 min- imum. We should have had this three years ago, as our rates were always too low, and with the present cost of living a man work- ing on the minimum salary would have very small surplus unless he worked more or less overtime. The company, in giving us the eight-hour day, would suffer very little in added expense, as in most offices it would only mean closing two hours earlier, and there are a number of day and night offices where there should be three tricks, even on our present schedule. Would like to see this brought out in our next meeting and see what the other members think of It. Haven't heard when the next meeting is to be, but should have one soon. Saskatchewan Division , District No. One — A joint meeting of telegraphers of Regina and Moose Jaw divisions was held In the Board of Trade Building at Moose Jaw Sun- day, March 24. Despite the fact that train service was limited and several of the brothers had to come on speeders upwards of 100 miles, forty-five telegraphers were present. The weather was favorable and the brethren in the best of humor. The brothers from the Colonsay and Bulyea sub- divisions were unable to attend on account of train service. Local Chairmen Barry of Regina and Cheney of Chaplin explained all the griev- ances on hand. Several good debates on working conditions were vigorously argued, which wdll help to improve the efficiency of our organization, of which mention will be made at some future date. Committees were formed to investigate and bring certain matters before the next meet- ing, when we hope a large number will be present. Eight of the brethren from the Colonsay subdivision and Local Chairman Barry availed themselves of Local Chairman Mc- Ormond’s invitation to the meeting held in the Labor Temple Building, Saskatoon, on March 17, and all w*ere well pleased with the good time they had. Bro. W. Crosby of Wolseley, on sick leave, relieved by Bro. E. F. Berrisford, and Bro. Digitized by v^ooole
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630 The Railroad Telegrapher. J. G. Mason of Indian Head, relieved by Bro. C. F. Williams. Bro. E. P. Benoit resumed at Qu Appelle, after a very pleasant holiday spent in Cali- fornia, relieved by Bro. J. Fitzgerald. Bro. W. S. Kirkpatrick resumed at Rouleau, re- lieved by Bro. C. F. Williams. Bro. F. W. Kinne resumed on second North Portal, after spending his vacation in Min- neapolis, relieved by Bro. L. R. Godard. Bro. J. P. Boudreau, Osage, on vacation, relieved by Bro. J. P. Saddler. Bro. F. F. Montgomery resumed Tregarva, Bro. F. J. Clark relieving at Hitchcock while Bro. P. J. Demers on a holiday trip East. Bro. J. J. McGrath, dispatcher, Regina, on vacation in Ontario, relieved by Bro. W. J, Noonan, whose position has been abolished during slack times. Bros. B. J. and G. M'. Thompson of Pense on vacation South, were relieved by Bro. E. F. Berrisford. We regret Bro. J. F. Whiting, Omega, met with an accident, relieved by Bro. G. P. Saddler. Bro. J. M. Parmltter is now relief dis- patcher at Regina, and Bro. P. J. Demers from Broia (station closed) went to Hitch, cock. Bro. R. G. Garfat, Pangman, on leave of absence, relieved by Bro. G. A. Brown, on account of sickness. Bro. J. C. Booth, Creelman, to Wilkie agency, relieved by Bro. E. F. Berriesford. Bro. A. E. Franklin, Viceroy (on bulletin) to Keeler agency. Bro. G. W. Terrett to Corrine agency. Everyone will be glad to know that Chief Dispatcher H II Her has decided to remain in Regina in preference to taking a similar po- sition at North Bend, B. C. Cert. 208. Saskatchewan , Third District — The Sunday (17th of March) meeting, held in the Labor Temple, Saskatoon, was a splendid success. The boys have turned out in greater numbers, but the enthusiasm dis- played by those present strongly indicates many of the members are sobering up nicely from the intoxicating effect brought about by the new schedule. Yes, that is a hint to some of us. Sorry to "pull a bone” like that, but she would come out. Bro. McOrmond called the meeting to order at the appointed hour, inviting Bro. W. J. Berry. L. C., of Regina, to a right-hand seat on the platform, and created Bro. Bennie official recorder for the session. With that inspiring trio facing the boys, it is no wonder the enthusiasm of the gathering was of a high order. The L. C.’s records were reviewed, outlin- ing the work in hand of recent origin, also that of delayed settlement. It is sure a well- established fact now that our L. C. is a busy man, keeping up with the many things that come up for his consideration and attention. It is very becoming that we appreciate his services as we do. Bro. Berry injected further "pep” into the after part of the meeting on being called upon to say a few words on behalf of the sis- ter district of Regina. His timely words and references to the work brought on an old- time experience meeting, in which nearly every member, especially the South visiting brothers, responded. I am not a Methodist, but it sure looked good to me. In the following roll call you will notice a number of the boys from the Colonsay- Regina subdivision, whom we were delighted to have with us: W. J. Berry, R. J. Green, M. H. Dickson, S. Hutchinson, A. G. Camp- bell, T. P. tycGee, G. M. Cordingly, R. S. Petch, S. J. Dewar, R. S. Winters, J. H. Was- son, J. W. Carr, H. F. Wintemute, S. G. Campbell, J. G. McDonald, A. R. Houston J. S. Davidson, S. H. Bennie, W. T. Francis, J. T. McOrmond. Bro. George Poulin, operator, Sutherland, spent several weeks with his parents in Famham, Quebec, Bro. Hughes relieving. Bro. A. J. Dyer, Bulyea, attended the re- cent Moose Jaw meeting. It is with regret that we announce the death of Mrs. Collins, mother of Bro. Thos. Collins, Phippen ; also the death of the infant son of Bro. F. J. Carter, Cadogan. Sympa- thy is extended to the bereaved brothers and near ones. Our old friend Bro. H. H. Deighan, has returned from a five weeks’ visit to his old home in the Kansas country, viewing once more the familiar scenes of boyhood’s happy days. Bro. W. P. Rudkin, who has been in this district a number of years, has left Aber- nathy, with his family, transferring to the Nelson district, in the mountain region, on account of his health. Our best wishes goes with our old friend, and we earnestly hope that the change will soon restore him to vigorous health again. We are pleased to see back at Wilkie, Bro. H. A. McKen, one of our best "good service’’ artists, after a protracted siege of illness. Bro. J. D. Henderson has w'orked up such muscle and ambition on the baggage, mail and express transfer at Macklin, nights, that he thinks he could harvest about 3000 bushels of "w'ee MacGregors” this fall — potatoes, not population. Bro. George Odden, Amisk, was oiT several weeks, owing to the Illness of Mrs. Odden, who, we are pleased to mention, is much im- proved in health. The week Ending March 23 ushered in spring this year, coming with a slam, much to everybody’s pleasure. “Not the Regular Scribe.” Alberta District , Calgary Division — A long, hard, cold winter has just passed and all are glad to see it over, though our Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 631 troubles are just starting. On the hill the main line was tied up three days recently, while on the Red Deer sub water threatened the right of way. East and south of us water has played havoc and suspended traffic. Bro. R. S. Mellroy, on sick leave, Bro. M. M. Thornton from Alyth relieving. Bro. ••Luke’* has had to swing between "CG" and “KN” to give the other brethren eight hours in the two jobs part of the time. Twelve hours on either job is far too much under present conditions. No men are in sight. Bro. A. D. Ross, O. L. A., had to call in ex-agent Bro. Keene to relieve him owing to the shortage of men. Yesterday fa gone — forget it! Tomorrow ia coming — don't worry! Today ia here — make the moat of it! Between today and the day when negotia- tions are started for our new schedule, we should all get behind and push and “make the moat of each ‘today.’ ” We are not alter overtime ; the days are long enough. Our salaries can be classed among the best, far better than most roads on either side of the line can boast of. The present war can not last forever, and our brothers who have laid down the key to shoulder the Lee-Enfleld will be returning, not to remain idle, but to take up their for- mer occupations, relieving the present short- age of telegraphers. A good many brothers believe the top sal- aries have been reached for the present and we should make every effort to strengthen our working conditions in the meantime. With this end in view, today ia the time to make the most of it. Commercial telegraphers working seven- hour nights, average only thirty-two mes- sages an hour. Two-thirds of the dispatch- ers required to work nights put in every ounce of energy they can and work eight hours. Railroad telegraphers are required to work from eight to ten hours regularly, in many cases twelve hours, without the con- veniences found in commercial offices, and doing work which can not be called pleasant. Each one of us should begin today and make known to our local chairmen before negotia- tions are started for our next schedule what we want — a six-hour day for dispatchers, an eight-hour day for telegraphers, and that we expect them to work to that end, not letting a small Increase in pay, which undoubtedly will be offered by the management, stand in the way of better working conditions. Eight hours in a dispatcher’s chair, hand- ling traffic, attending numerous other duties thrust upon them, and being held responsible by the officials for so many things, amounts to a heavy strain on any man doing this work day after day. In our last meeting a member of the board Stated that he "would not take a dispatch- er’s position for any consideration,’’ or words to that effect. Their salaries are good com- pared with the salary being paid telegraphers, minus commissions and overtime. But when these items are added, the difference dwindles down until it is not so noticeable. A good many agents make more. Some roads across the line even boast that telegraphers are not after dispatchers’ positions, on account of the difference in salaries being so small. In our last two schedules the dispatchers have taken smaller increases and the mem- bership among these brothers has not de- creased, but increased. Let us show our ap- preciation of these worthy brothers (for worthy brothers they are) by placing o six- hour day for dispatchers alongside an eight- hour day for telegraphers, and make a fight for it. Some objections may arise from teleg- raphers now working eight-hour shifts as to how they will be benefited by such a schedule, which brings us back to the probability of a further increase at this time. The small percentage working eight-hour shifts will not gain much over their present condition, unless our committee can get an increase of pay covering such offices that are now on an eight-hour basis. However, they should be satisfied and consider it a victory won if the majority of telegraphers, working longer hours, can better their working con- ditions. Once we get the shorter hours into effect, then go after more money. Today ia here! Make the moat of it! Cert. 1227. Moose Jaw Division — Bro. George McDonald has resigned and returned to his farm near Winnipeg. We are sorry to lose him. Bro. C. W. Foudray succeeds him at Loreburn agency. Bro. F. H. Flett, returning from holidays, relieved Chief Dispatcher Trump at Moose Jaw, relieving Superintendent Halkett, re- lieving General Superintendent Stevens, on a month’s holiday in California. Bro. Cun- ningham is on second main line, relieved by Bro. Goodwin, and Bros. Shaw and Brown are doubling at "YD” on account of the shortage of operators. Dumas, third "YD," relieving Prout, Herbert, nights, on sick leave. We are sorry to lose Bro. Phaneuf, agent Valor, who goes to Saskatoon Division as agent at Revenue. Bro. J. A. Fulmore relieved Bro. Dunn at Keeler, assigned to other duties. On Sunday, March 24, a joint meeting of the Moose Jaw and Regina Divisions was held at Moose Jaw. There was a splendid turn-out, some sixty-odd members being present. Chairman Barry, Regina Division, and Chairman Cheney, Moose Jaw Division, presided. All the members were pleased with the meeting, especially since the new schedule Digitized by Google
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632 The Railroad Telegrapher. came into effect extending the seniority rights over the whole district, as it gives them a chance to keep in touch with the affairs on the other divisions. Bros. Barry and Cheney took up a number of grievances, most of them having been straightened out satisfactorily. A few others are pending settlement. The members having sent in the first month’s increase placed the treasury in a splendid condition. Both chairmen impressed on all of us the importance of carrying out our part of the agreement with the company by courteous treatment of the public, strict attention to business and watching the company’s inter- ests economically and the securing of new business. This will more than offset, in a very short time, the increases we have lately received. Meeting adjourned at 7 :20. Cert. 2049. Manitoba District — I have promised the brothers on this di- vision to prepare a write-up every month from this district, provided they will send me what notes they can gather to Lari Viere Manitoba. There is no reason why we can not be represented in The Telegrapher every month, and I am perfectly willing to do the work if I can get the assistance, but the write-up will be just what the brothers make it. If I can get the items I will condense them, put them in shape and endeavor to have something from this district every month. Bro. J. G. McQueen and wife of MacDonald are spending a month’s vacation at their old home in Ontario, relieved by Bro. Hous- ton. Bro. Walker, Sidney nights, is on the coast, recuperating from his long illness. He had a siege of it, and we all wish him a speedy recovery. Bro. H. B. Brown is re- lieving him. Bro. H. Fraser of Melita, brother of our genial local chairman, has gone to Selkirk. Bro. Cairns, relief agent, is at Carey agency, pending bids, and Bro. H. N. Baker, relief agent, is at Selkirk. Bro. J. C. Herron went to Lyleton agency. Bro. MacQueen has returned to MacDonald after spending a month in Ontario. Bro. Houston, who was relieving him, is now re- lieving at Wellwood. Mr. Curll went to Carroll. Bro. Dorsey, nights La Riviere, went to Winnipeg recently to register. Bro. Corbett, agent Snowflake, relieved by Bro. Casey some time, on account of sickness. Fraternally, A. S. Dorset. Kenora District — With the advent of spring and ideal weather conditions we look forward to our usual clean-up of congested business. The opening of navigation on the great lakes is always a signal for more or less of a spring rush, and the greater majority of our crop of operators to arrive ; but very few new men have arrived thus far, and we are very short of men, owing to many of our best men having left the service. About 20 K on the evening of March 19 fire in the station at English River, Ont., had made such progress that it* was impos- sible, after its discovery, to save either the building or any of the contents. Bro. J. E. and Sister Guay, who occupied the dwelling In connection with the station, lost all their house furnishings, wearing apparel, eta, none of it being insured. The fire was probably caused by a spark from the engine of a passing train or a defective chimney. Sister Guay is relieving Bro. Guay as agent while he relieves Bro. L. A. Lallberti, agent, Raith, Ont. We all trust that a new station and dwelling will soon be erected at English River in order that the former accommoda- tions accorded Bro. and Sister Guay and family may be maintained. Bro: A. Waddell, agent Beausejour, Man., has resumed duty. We regret that his father is not improving as quickly as he had hoped. Bro. F. W. Gllddon has returned to Molson, Man., and Manley is back at Ingolf, Ont. Bro. M. E. McIntosh, second trick dis- patcher, Kenora, Ont, called to Ottawa, Ont. on account of the illness of his mother, re- lieved by Bro. J. Gilchrist, Whitemouth, Man. Bro. W. Glaser, Souris, Man., days, is now on second Norcran Yard. Bro. Veitch has resumed at East Selkirk, Man., agency. Bro. Simpson, at Pine nights for the past six years, who recently spent two weeks on the Pacific Coast, has transferred to British Co- lumbia. We regret to report that Bro. M. D. Wor- den, formerly operator at Finmark, who en- listed for overseas service, was stricken en route with pneumonia and died at Halifax, N. S. Bro. L. Paradis, formerly operator. Port Arthur, Ont, is at Halifax, waiting a transport to go overseas. Bro. G. B. Cameron, former relief agent in this district, who studied for the min- istry, has accepted an offer from a church in Beausejour, Man. Bro. A. Brotherton, agent, Savanne. Ont. for a number of years, has transferred to Alberta, to manage his wheat farm there. Bro. Sawyer, who relieved him, has gone east, relieved by Bro. J. J. Healey, Buda days, relieved by Bro. R. W. Backies, Raith. Ont., nights. Bro. A. P. McFarlane, Buda nights, went to Murillo nights. Bro. Liggett, Rennie nights, has returned o his home near Ashtabula, Ohio, to enlist. Relieved by Bro. J. M. Lawyor. Bro. Leo St. Pierre, Current River, Ont., presumably >n his honeymoon, is being relieved by Gou- nachle, a new man. Sister Rhind, Dryden, Ont., has a new Digitized by Vjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 633 bug, which makes the wires “hum” when she turns it loose. Bro. F. Coach, from Norcran, Yard, on sick leave, writes from Big Moose, N. Y., March 15, that he expects to soon resume duty again. Bro. G. C. Kester, 4,RS" Kenora, and Local Chairman Gilbert were recent Winnipeg vis- itors. Bro. L. A. Laliberti, agent Raith, Ont., has resumed duty after two weeks spent in the West purchasing a large wheat plantation. Bro. L. H. Withrow, agent Wabigoon, Ont., visited his old home in Dryden recently. Bro. Decelles, an old timer, who relieved O’Neill at Tache, Ont., on vacation, later relieved Bro. W. Simpson at Pine, Ont., who has joined his family in B. C. A meeting of a very special nature is to be held in July, at which some interesting busi- ness will be transacted, different from the general routine, and we ask everyone who can possibly do so to be present, the date and place will be made known later. Cert. 1197. Sudbury Division , Algoma District — On Sunday, March 24, one of the most In- structive meetings this division has ever held for almost a century convened in Sudbury, and it is too bad the turnout was not larger. Those who were not in attendance missed more than they can imagine. Bro. A. E. Chapman, chairman eastern lines, gave us Information so valuable that it leaves us in a position to compete with the best of them on any line. Bro. J. F. McDonald, swing dispatcher, is going to “RV,” where he can put in his spare time running his Ford between home and “KO." We hope his successor will continue the same fine treatment “Mac” handed out. Business on the “Soo” branch is almost back to normal, and the few night offices opened during the past winter will soon be a thing of the past. Bro. G. McDougal, from “HI” nights, went to “BF” just opened nights. Be prompt in marking and returning your ballots in the coming election for local chair- man. This is important ; don’t leave this important piece of paper laying around on the window for several weeks before you put down your little X and return to the general secretary treasurer. I was appointed division correspondent at the Sudbury meeting. Send me your notes in time so I can get them to St. Louis before the 25th of the month. C. K. Brown, Cert. 2359. Famham Division — Johnvllle agency, just recently made sched- ule, filled by J. Lemleux, former agent at St. Guillaume. Bros. R. D. Farley and D. A. Morrison are now at the front. Bro. Levesque is now on swing trick in Farnham dispatching office vice Bro. C. L. Pope, also on the firing line. Bro. J. E. E. Auclair, recently relieving Agent LeGallais at Enlaugra, is off sick; Bro. P. Z. Ducharme relieving Bro. J. E. Poulin at St. Johns, Que. ; Bro. Dauphin re- placing Bro. Michaud at Megantic ; Bro. J. A. Perrault replacing Bro. Levesque, agent, Drummondville ; Bro. Yates relieving Bro. Manny, agent Milan, former relieved at Milan nights by Bro. S. A. Bedard, all cases of sickness. We are glad to note that all are back on the job. Bro. R. H. Fenton, first trick dispatcher Farnham, also on Bick leave, relieved by Bro. L. L. Mercure from Farn- ham yard, relieved by Bro. O. Guertin, who relieved Smith at Brookport while off on account of sickness. Bro. J. E. Broulllette, Cowansville days, off sick, relieved by Bro. M. E. Wilcox and he by Bro. J. A. Turcotte. Agent Lemieux, Johnvllle, on two weeks' holiday, relieved by Bro. Ducharme. Bro. Blaine Kerr has returned West. Bro. McCullough, Ross days, visited his better half at Huntington a few days re- cently. There are no accommodations at that box car office for housekeeping. It is now Bros. Chamberlain, agent South Stukely; Smith, agent Brome ; Bedard, nights Glen river ; Abram, nights Gould ; Paradis, nights Long Swamp, and Bro. Gil- lander, nights Cookshire. Congratulations, brothers, we are not very far from the 100 per cent mark on this division and your local officers are sparing no effort to attain this end. They expect your help to line up the few nons still on the division. There are still some brothers who have not yet remitted their first month’s increase. As the finances of an organization are a most essential part, we hope they will attend to this without further delay. “FA,” Cert 3694. Quebec District. Montreal Terminals — It is a satisfaction to know that most all our agents and operators are carrying up-to- date cards as well as a number of assistant agents. I hope that the end of this year will see everyone in this district in good stand- ing. Stick to the motto : “No card , no favors/* and the results aimed at will be •attained. We are now working under one of the best schedules and our increase with the overtime has given us a considerable amount of sur- plus money. Still a small number of telegra- phers in this district are willfully or other- wise neglecting to send in their first month’s increase. This is a thing to be remembered for our next increase. I have tried hard for several months to get the clerks to join. The results thus far attained are good but would be far better if the agents where these clerks are located Digitized by tjooole
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634 The Railroad Telegrapher. would lend their co-operation to the work. No news from Bro. Janelle on the matter. Certainly not encouraging to work under these conditions. However, I have not given up hope to round up all the assistant agents before the year is over. With the departure of non Agent Rainville from Jac-Cartier it is expected that under the supervision of our new agent, Bro. Hancox, the clerks at that point will have a different opinion of our organization. Get busy, boys, we must stand at the top with 100 per cent strong on the Quebec district at the close of this year. “JN” office closed March 1. Bro. Beaumier and Larue working the swing until something better turns up. A number of vacancies which occurred on the Quebec district lately were all filled up by senior men. Bro. Perreault and Renaud respectively from “AJ” and “MD,” are reported seriously ill. We wish these two brothers a speedy recovery and a prompt return to us. Bro. Larue, relieving Bro. Perreault, and Pelo- quin is working Bro. Renaud’s third trick “MD” pending his return. “OA” is slowly but surely falling in line. Congratulations, Bro. Foliquin. Get next to Alex, and give him a dose of that medicine. The nons are getting scarce on this district now. We all felt sorry to hear of Conductor Frank Lamontagne’s sudden death on March 6. Those who were closly acquainted with him know what a fine fellow he was. Our deepest sympathy is extended to his family. On March 31, The Fifth Sunday Meeting Association of Canada held a mass meeting of the railroad men at the Stanley Hall, Montreal. Some of the smartest speakers of the Dominion were heard, including Profes- sor Leacock from the McGill University, who spoke on the economic aspect of the war. Other speeches were also delivered by some of the railroad men on railroad matters. The meeting was largely attended and exceed- ingly interesting from start to finish. Our general chairman and assistant general chairman, A. E. Chapman and J. N. Potvin, were also present. Ask Bro. Leclerc what he thought of this meeting. He was there. Now, boys, each one of you, send in a few notes and I will see that this division is rep- resented every month. J. H. Laporte, L. C. New York Central R. R., Div. No. 8. Hudson Division — The meeting on April 16 was not as well attended as usual. Brothers, don’t lose inter- est because that raise is so long in coming. Come out to the meeting. Talk it over and help the committee. We are very short of operators on this division and a number of men have been obliged to work twelve hours for several days. We are very sorry to report the death of J. H. Allerdice, a good, true and faithful member, who was only sick a few days with pneumonia. Bros. Fraleigh and H. Hallen- beck attended the funeral at Castleton and the order sent a beautiful pillow of flowers. Bro. F. Kraft was off a few days on ac- count of the sickness of his wife and child, both, of whom we are glad to say are now on the road to recovery. Bro. Lockard, first 62, off several days sick, is back to work again. Bro. Clark is reliev- ing Bro. Gannon, first 65 on, sick list. Bro. W. A. Smith went to West 7 2d Street “DO” days, and Bro. W. E. Colwell to 2d S. S. 91. Bro. Sweeney, agent Stockport, to Scliodack agency, vice Bro. F. K. Greene re- signed. Brd. W. J. Bumpster is now in Bridgeport, Conn., in an ammunition plant. Bro. J. T. Bellew was off a few days re- cently on account of the death of his father- in-law. There is no good reason why extra Murray and Moate should not have an up-to-date card. They are putting in full time now. Wine is a mocker. Strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. This is a very old and true saying, still there are a few who do not learn the true meaning of it until too late. Buy a Liberty bond or some W. S. stamps and help our brother soldiers, many of whom arfe carrying up-to-date cards, over there. The M. C. R. R. dispatchers are 100 per cent strong with the O. R. T. cards, and the N. Y., N. H. & H. are about 98 per cent. We hope the N. Y. C. dispatchers will soon see the handwriting on the wall. On vacations : Bro. W. O. Sloane, relieved by Bro. Burger, and Bro. Savage, 2d S. S. 68*4, relieved by Bro. W. A. Smith. Bra L. L. Williams, 3d S. S. 68%, has returned from sixty days’ leave. We hope the few delinquents will soon pay up and keep paid up. The only man dropped the past year was one who made a practice of coming in and dropping out ever since he has been in the service. Bro. S. L. Rugman, 3d S. S. 59, is now night depot master at Poughkeepsie. We congratulate him on his appointment and hope he will keep up-to-date although that position is not represented on our schedule. Bro. A. A. Smith, 1st S. S. 64, Is in the dispatcher’s office extra. We hope the few brothers who have not made returns for the tickets sent them for the Thanksgiving basket, will attend to this at once by returning or remitting for the unsold tickets, so the committee can close this matter up. Cert. 149. Syracuse Division — It is with much grief that we chronicle the death of Bro. J. H. Brown, block station 36 days, on April 12, after a brief illness. He went to bed as well as usual and at 11 :45 Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 635 got up and called for a doctor, passing away shortly afterward. Bro. Brown was born in Bergen on Sep- tember 29, 1858, and entered the service No- vember 26, 1877, at Bergen nights. He was transferred to Forks, where he was agent for twenty-five years, and later to Lancaster, where he served as agent for ten years. In June, 1910, he went to Bet-gen again as day operator. The funeral was held from the Catholic church at Bergen, several of our members attending. There were several floral pieces from different societies, among them a beau- tiful pillow bearing the inscription “O. R. T., Div. No. 8.” He was a member of the C. M. B. A. and K. of C. A wife and seven chil- dren survive him. “Jim,” as he was commonly called, was a genial fellow and a true member of the Order, being one of the pioneers of Division 8. During our trouble in May, 1916, he was one of the first to be locked out for several days. True to his colors he did not forget his obligation. His lesson will be long re- membered by the boys and will leave some- thing for the younger generation to go by. The sympathy of this division’s members is extended to Bro. C. H. Summers of Roches- ter, whose mother passed away Wednesday afternoon, April 10. Bro. T. J. McDonnell, of Signal Station 25-2, who has been on the sick list several weeks, has returned to duty. Bro. W. J. Butler, Batavia nights, has re- turned after ten days’ vacation, relieved by relief agent E. C. Day. We still have a few delinquents whom we hope will soon be up-to-date. We realize that war conditions are pinching hard, but with the expected increase in wages we should be able to meet most of our obliga- tions. Remember that conditions are what we make them and if every one will do their share to get in the nons and bury the hatchet success will be ours. W. P. M. Buffalo Division Notes — We are pleased to see Bro. Sanford back after five weeks’ illness, and hope Bros. Vi- grass and Powers, who are off sick, will soon be able to resume their work. Bro. Moran expects soon to move his fam- ily to Buffalo. Two new jobs created on the Belt line, on account of heavy traffic. Bro. Hammet is now at S. S. 58 days, and Bro. Seihl afternoons. Sister M. J. Breen, ticket agent at Leroy, succeeds Smith, ticket agent at North Tona- wanda, who has gone on a farm. Cert. 31. “ Monon Route f* Division No. 9 — General Chairman Hollen opened negotia- tions in Chicago recently regarding express conditions, and it was decided to handle this matter direct with the express company. We hope m the near future that conditions will be bettered for those handling the express. The men at several offices have had to double recently, owing to the shortage of men. Bro. Terrill, second Crawfordsville, was off ten days recently on account of sickness, re- lieved by Rector, a new man now in the serv- ice of “Uncle Sam.” Bro. Dunkin, third Gos- port, called to the colors, was relieved by Keoman from the “Soo Line,” who has asked for papers. Bro. Hepley, agent Crawfords- ville, succeeded by Bro. Corns, goes to Bloomington agency, vice Smith. Bro. Ely, third Crawfordsville, has gone to the C. T. H. & S. E. Bro. Ellington to third Greencastle, re- lieved on second there temporarily by Bro. Munday, during the heavy rush of business. Bro. Graham from the Canadian Pacific, re- lieved. Schmalz previously on third, who is now working in a coal mine. He may have to get a card there. Bro. Steve Alexander, visiting homefolks at Lafayette, relieved several nights at Rensselear, later returned to the C. M. & St. P. in Montana. Bro. Braxton, second shops, was relieved a week by yours truly, recently returned from the C. M. & St. P., who later relieved thirty days at Patricksburg. Bro. Cotter, agent Patricksburg, on ninety lays’ leave to try out In coal mine, relieved by Bro. J. L. Long. Bro. Sipple, Clay City, Is being relieved by Thorne, who several years ago relieved the boys at Shops and Belt Junction on their vacations. Bro. McCullough is relieving Ben Sipple, agent Quincy. NcLean, agent Battleground, is out of the service. Bro. Johnson to “AD” nights and car dis- tributer, while Frank Busha is out learning the road, preparing for relief dispatcher. Bro. Harry Hunt has resumed on second Orleans, after trying out a position in the city ticket office at Chicago. It Is now Bros. B. Tharpe, second Wallace Junction ; Baker, agent Cloverdale and Johnson, Midland, with several more asking for blanks. Bro. Royster has been appointed corre- spondent for the Northern Division and I will try to represent the Southern if you lads will assist me, which you will no doubt do. If you don’t know my whereabouts don't be afraid to ask. T. E. Shorr, Div. Cor. Northern Division — General Chairman Hollen attended the re- cent meeting of general chairmen at Chicago In regard to handling express in this terri- tory. Bob Fogg is now at the New York radio school. Digitized by LaOOQLe
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636 The Railroad Telegrapher, A. R. Groves, now with the Empire Auto Co., relieved Dooley Sunday recently at Belt Junction. Wren, second Monon, en route to Indian- apolis, called on the boys at Belt Junction. Bro. Boyster, second Sheridan, was off two days recently taking his daughter to a Chicago hospital and Bro. Braxton, second shops, was relieved a few days by Bro. Shore. J. Merchant went to Battleground, and Corns, Michigan Division, to Crawfordsville agency. Chief Biggs was off a few days sick. Boys, send me some items. R. S. R. Canadian Government Rye., Dlv. No. 11. Quebec District No. 1 — Some have not yet remitted assessment from their first month's increase. Brothers, this is not right. We can’t expect to do busi- ness with an empty treasury; you have had three pay days to do this in and have not the slightest excuse for not having done so. Another month has rolled around and only one of you have contributed even one item for the write-up. Next month you will be entitled to three merit marks for a write-up. When a new man comes in your midst make him welcome, ascertain if he holds a card and send me his “Cert” and division number and the date he is paid up, and I will see that he is transferred to Division No. 11. There is no excuse for anyone not being up to date, as you are drawing from $10 to $15 a month more than under the old schedule. Something should be done to stop doubling at “CN," too much “wolfing” lately. We advise helping a “Brother," but no selfishness allowed. There are a few grievances to settle, especially position filled by J. G. Fron- coeur, I. C. R., relieving dispatcher ; after seeking his record we found out this man was holding a card just for protection. He re- fused to settle his first increase towards the funds, and is not entitled to our support. There is no reason to be accepted from this non. His card good until June 30. We strongly protest against his manner to ap- pear on our district, which has been so clear and clean up to the present time. We ex- pect a letter of regret from our fellow ’ Brothers" of the south side, who were so deeply dishonored. Our heartfelt sympathies are extended to Bro. Raymond, agent St. Marc, on his sad loss of his beloved wife. Resolutions will be adopted at next meeting and copy sent to family. Local Chairman Orcond is on sick leave. We all hope to soon hear him on the wire again. Bro. Patry is acting chairman. Bro. Guillemette brought to Quebec to do clerical work. Do not forget that this job was ex- pected to be filled by our brother dispatchers along with their 500 miles dipatching and Quebec terminal. The latter would keep one man busy since Quebec Bridge opened to traffic. Bro. Patry was justified in objecting to this extra work. . Thus practicing “safety first," which Is so much needed today. Bro. “X" in “QC” has to call some offices for half an hour or more. Boys, help him get his wire cleared. Bro. J. H. Bailly, Bridge, married in Janu- ary, is enjoying life in his little bungalow with his lovely little wife. We all wish them good luck in their new life. Bro. Lassord has bought furniture and rented a house, but tells us he has made no decision to change from single blessedness. He must be intending to batch. Well, we will wait and see. Bro. Auger LaGuque went to Quebec for a few days, relieved by Bro. St. Pierre. Bro. Morneau has decided to walk to LaGugue whenever necessary. Seeing other brothers getting married, he has intentions, too, we believe. Bro. Routhier went to Quebec for general inspection recently, relieved by Bro. N. Tro- tier. We have no news from Bro. Berube since he has been appointed at “RO." Bro. N. Trotier is now relieving at “DR.” Live up to the contract and remember: “No card, no favors Cert. 39. Delaware 6. Hudson Ry., Div. No. 12. Q., M. d S. Ry. Div. — Bro. J. Perrault, Iberville Junction, was re-elected local chairman, and Bros. J. G. Malouin, Vercheres, and E. Sylvestre, Henry- viile, were elected as the other two commit- teemen, to represent us at the revision of the future schedule. A circular was sent to all members to this effect. Members wishing to know the number of votes cast for each nom- inee for these positions can secure this infor- mation from the writer. Bro. J. O. Dube, resigned, succeeded at Ste. Angele agency by A. Cote ; and he at St. Louis by J. Gemme, relieved as assistant agent at Henryville by Bibeau. Bro. La- mothe appointed relief agent and operator succeeded at Noyan Junction by Lamoureux. Cert. 752. Delaware d Hudson Ry. Div. — At a special union meeting of the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers, Order of Railway Conductors, Brotherhood of Loco- motive Firemen and Enginemen, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and Order of Railroad Telegraphers, ’ held in Plattsburg, N. Y., March 28, 1918, the following resolution was adopted : Whereas, Our heavenly Father, in his infinite wisdom and love, has called to a better world our beloved Brother Frank C. Place, who was a member of Smith M. Weed Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 637 Lodge No. 540, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, and Whereas, We bow in humble submission to the will of Him who doeth all things for the best, and Whereas, We realize our loss can in no way be compared with the loss to his family but, In expression of our sincere sympathy and grief, be it Resolved , That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the family of our departed Brother , a copy sent to the magazines of the organizations for publication and a copy spread on the minutes of the meeting. John S. Tanney, For the Brotherhood of Locomotive Eng. G. C. Paine, For the Order of Rail- way Conductors. F. L. Hanlon, For the Brotherhood of L. Firemen and Eng. Martin Deqnan, For the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. G. A. Johnson, For the Order of Rail- road Telegraphers. Atlantic Coast Line R. R., Dlv. No. 15. Second Div., Montgomery Dist. — I was on vacation when our notes should have been sent In for April, and we are not represented in that number. I went over the district while off and found everybody more interested in our organiza- tion and as a result we are stronger on this district than ever before. Thanks to the assistance of the members in general, we have the nons reduced to a very low number, and they can be easily recognized. Don't let the opportunity pass to enforce our motto. We have a few members who have not paid their first increase received in December. Brothers, it is just as important that you remit assessments when called on as it is to remit your dues. In order to obtain results we must maintain a full treasury and we again ask those few who have not made this remittance to do so at once. Those who allow their insurance to lapse surely don't give the matter much thought. Our district has not been hit by Uncle Sam yet, but it Is bound to be and those who have allowed their insurance to lapse if called will not have the insurance protection. It is not any cheaper to wait a few months, so pay up in time and save all the trouble. Several of us have taken our vacations and our worthy chief is doing all he can to relieve the rest as far as practical ; he Is relieving the men about when they want to be off. Ex- tra men are scarce and he can’t relieve every- one Just when they want to go. It seems mighty good to have this vacation and our pay going on. The vacation benefits both the men and the company. After fifteen days’ rest we come back in high spirits with a vim that is bound to get results. We have encouraging information regard- ing an increase from the government. It will be the best we have ever had and we will draw back pay from January 1. The labor commission is doing its best. It is a big job and takes time. Read Bro. Perham’s examination by the labor commission printed in* the February and March journals, and you will learn how our president is looking out for us. Relieved on vacation : Bro. Hundley, Dothan; Bro. Munn and Bro. Bush, Ozark, by Bro. Hardy; Bro. Johnson, Newton, by Bro. Lewis. Our worthy chief, off sick, was relieved by Night Chief Jones, and he by Bro. Dean. Bro. Hodges is running trains temporarily, relieved by Bro. Horace, and Bro. Barfield relieving Bro. Dean. Jt is now Bros. Vanleuson, Lewis, Arwood Drake, G. H. Baggett, J. H. Bramlett and J. D. Wood. Cert. 120. Waycross District Notes — Bro. A. L. Hughes of Glenmore, recently taken to the Waycross Hospital, was relieved by Sweat, his brother-in-law. Dispatcher J. Bennett, called back last summer on account of the clerk situation, is now completing his vacation, relieved by Bro. Dixon, recently set up. We are glad to learn of Bro. Dixon’s promotion and hope every man on the B. & W. will help him to make a success as a dispatcher. He was re- lieved in “F” by Bro. Bush. If we had a few more members like Chair- man Stewart and J. P. Phillips we would soon be 100 per cent. Keep after the new men. Bro. Corbett, Camilla, was relieved five days by Bro. Perry Stewart. It is now Bro. Rigedell of “F” and Bro. Robertson of "FN,” Waycross. Glad to have them with us. We hope the W. U. and Postal will allow the C. T. U. A. to organize. They will get our support as far as we can give it. Sister Stoudenmire, on her fifteen days’ vacation, was relieved by Extra Mullins, an old-timer. Bro. Perry Saewart was off a few days re- cently. Brothers, give me all the notes you can not later than the 20th of each month, so I can consolidate them and send them in before the 25th. I am deeply grateful to Bro. Bush of "FN” Waycross, for most of these notes, and wish all the brothers would do likewise, so I could have a writeup each month. F. A. Crittenden, Dist. Cor. Digitized by tjoooie
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638 The Railroad Telegrapher, Michigan Central R. R., Div. No. 16. Northern Division — Bro. Chas. Theil, Freedom, has enlisted, relieved by Extra Bumford, and Bro. H. Flodel, third Wolverine, has gone to the navy, relieved by Bro. Ward Killie. Bro. Jack Beedle, now a corporal at Camp Custer, was in Detroit recently. Bro. Sutherland, second Cheboygan, went to Detroit for treatment, and Bros. Robinson and Diffenderfer worked twelve hours. Chandler closed on account of the shortage of men, Wolf going to Rives Jet. second. Bro. Dennison, Water St., is working twelve hours for the same reason. Bro. Flower, first Alger, visited Bay City recently. Mrs. C. Larocque, wife of the agent at Sterling, who had her jaw fractured when she had a tooth extracted, is in Bay City for treatment. G. A. Hildreth is back in the service on third Court St., Saginaw *, also E. L. Preston, who relieved Bro. Hassling, third St Charles, resigned. Bro. Grover, third No. Lansing, is now at M. A. C., Lansing, as instructor in teleg- raphy. Bro. Nelson, agent Midland, is now with the Dow Chemical Co., relieved by Agent Dymond from Caro. Bro. R. C. Wiltse, agent Eden, has resigned to take charge of his father’s farm. Bro. Hemans, second Rives Jet., also resigned to go farming. Positions not filled at this time. Keep after the new men and the few old nons, who may probably come out of their dream when the increase is shown them. Bro. Flood is back in “DI” Bay City, nights, Bro. Gilbert returning to third Bay City “WS.” When the high water between Lansing and Rives Jet. put our trains out of commission several days, they were all detoured via Bat- tle Creek and Grand Trunk, and later via Charlotte and G. T. Later the track was washed out between Milwaukee and Salz- burg and trains run via Denmark Jet. several days. C. H. Freidenberg, third Roscommon, while hunting with a companion recently, stopped to take a smoke, when one of the guns dropped and discharged the full charge Into Freidenberg’s breast and neck, killing him almost instantly. The body was taken to Flint for burial. The relatives have the sym- pathy of all. Sister Jennie Baxter, second Topinabee, visiting in Detroit, relieved by Bro. John Winter. Bro. Harry Crecine, second Wolverine, was called to Standish by the death of his father. He has our heartfelt sympathy. . Bro. Ward Kille, third Wolverine, passed ' e military examination at Saginaw and expects to be called soon. Also Bro. Booth, third Gaylord. Bro. Milnes from Johannesburg succeeds Bro. Small, Gaylord agency, resigned to go Into other business there. Bro. Ray Stokes, relieved on second We- nona by Bro. Winters, relieved the ticket clerk at Bay City, on sick list. Bro. McQuade, wire chief Bay City, made a trip to Marquette recently. Night Chief McCullough has returned and Bro. Johnson, third dispatcher's office. Is making his way freight trips. During the high water between Bay City and Saginaw, Bros. Mac Laing and Mason were transferred from Salzburg to Water Street Jet. Bro. Geo. Stokes, East Jordan dispatcher’s office, on vacation and moving his family and goods, relieved by Bro. Geo. Needham. Bro. H. H. McCalpin, relieving at West Branch while Bro. LaubeFs wife was ill. later went to Midland. Bro. O. E. Gilbert relieved in “DI” Bay City while Bro. Ueberhorst was in the dis- patcher’s office. Bro. John Winters is relieving Bro. Gilbert, third Bay City “WS.” Bro. D. D. June, agent Bath, sick, relieved by Bro. McCalpin. Operators are getting scarcer all the time and things look rather doubtful for vaca- tions this summer, Bros. Gordon of Bay City, Galbraith of Mackinaw, Jennings of Grayling, and Vande- water of Owosso attended a meeting of agents in Detroit and received instructions on the new form of billing which went into effect May 1st. Bro. Jennings, returning, vis- ited relatives and friends at Zilwaukee and Saginaw. It is now Bros. Brassem and Allen at Court St., Saginaw. We will soon be solid again. Cbrt. 63. Bay City Division — Bros. Hill and Sutphin doubled a few days while Bro. Fitzgerald, first Vassar, was ill. The boys at Rochester worked nine hours each, while Bro. Wilson, third there, relieved Sister Lewis at Utica, whose mother is very sick. Bro. Fangboner, first Rochester, was sick a few days recently ; also Bro. Donnelly, agent Orion, Bro. Haseley doing the tele- graphing and agent’s work. Bro. Armstrong, second Rochester, went to Berlin, Wis., a few days, owing to the Illness of his father. Bro. Foster, first Denmark Jet., was sick a few days, Bro. Wright and Mr. Findlay doubling. The latter being taken sick, was then relieved by Plumlay, third Metamora. and the boys there still had to double. We hope the sick ones will soon be able to re- turn to work, as there are no extra men, making it necessary to close some offices Digitized by c.oo<?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 639 every time someone is off, and traffic being heavy, makes it hard for the dispatchers to get the trains over the road. Bro. Miller is back at Milling after reliev- ing some of the dispatchers. Bro. Hill, second Vassar, was relieved sev- eral days by ex-Bro. Bishop, postmaster Mil- lington. The boys on the main line and Toledo Division do not seem to take any interest in sending in notes. We would like to have a writeup from each division every month, but it is impossible to do so without help. So wake up and take an active part and keep things alive, so we can have an active organization. L. L. Wright, Cert 1165. Middle Division and Branches — Bro. Loveland, days Kalamazoo, driving home from work, was run into by a switch engine, breaking his leg, damaging his ma- chine and killing a switchman riding on front end of engine. Bro. Ketchum, days Botsford, went to Kalamazoo, relieved by Bro. P. C. Wood, later by Mrs. Virgo, wife of Bro. Virgo. Bro. Gramham, agent Parma, sick, relieved by Bro. Seydell, third Parma, and he by Berg, closing third Vanhorn; no extra men. Bro. Spooner, Middleville, relieved by E. M. Schulz a few nights, who later relieved Bro. Guffin, third Dutton. Bro. H. J. Cook, days Grand Rapids, to New Haven, Conn., visiting his son, who ex- pects to embark for France shortly in Radio Corps, relieved by Bro. P. C. Woods, who later relieved Bro. A. Rosenbrook at Onon- daga two weeks, going into the newly or- ganized Farmers’ State Bank as cashier there. Dispatchers at Jackson, taking their road trips, relieved by Bros. McEldowney and Northrup. Bro. Bond to East yard, Bro. Mc- Eldowney to dispatcher's office. Bro. R. Schempf, “SF” Jackson, to Los An- geles, Cal., account of his wife’s health. Hope to see Rovell back again before long and his wife well again. Bro. Ray LaValley, “SF” Jackson, taking in the sights at Detroit, relieved by Bro. Bond from the north end. Cert. 747, 288. Penna. R. R., Lines East, Div. No. 17. Pittsburgh Division — We have had several rousing meetings in Pittsburgh and Altoona recently, and the men are joining in large numbers. While in a measure this success is due to the veterans on the P. R. R., who worked tirelessly to keep alive the interest, we do not wish to detract from the service we owe the new members. We were honored by having Grand Secre- tary and Treasurer Rawlins and Vice-Presi- dent Pierson with us at the Pittsburgh meet- ing, who certainly showed the boys that it was their duty to join now if they wished to see this line organized, as there would be no more discrimination since Director Gen- eral McAdoo’s proclamation that no man should be discharged for Joining the organi- zation of his craft. The time was propitious for the telegraphers of the P. R. R. to join the O. R. T., the only organization that had ever secured any benefits for the railroad operators of North America. There is noth- ing to be gained by sitting still and com- plaining of our condition, when all we have to do is hand in our applications and help to secure the recognition we have been striv- ing for so many years. Not only must we join ourselves but we must see that the men working with us also become members. Every operator should read President Per- ham’s testimony, beginning in the February Telegrapher, in which he petitioned the Labor Commission for a substantial increase for all telegraph employes of the United States. This commission is a national insti- tution to handle all labor questions during the war, so if we get the required percentage we will soon be where the other railroad telegraphers of the United States and Canada are, as we are assured a square deal by the decision of Director General McAdoo. No man should for a moment think of resting until the P. R. R. is organized. This is our chance to secure justice for ourselves and families. Such a chance may never come again in a lifetime. Let everybody now get a member. The local chairman cannot do it all. Everyone must do his part. If you have a prospective member you can’t land, notify the local chairman, who will endeavor to line him up. Remember Director General McAdoo’s plea for unity. Look to the future, work together and subscribe as liberally as you can to the Third Liberty Loan. The O. R. T. has $150,- 000 invested In these Government securities, which clearly shows our patriotism. The dues for May, $6.00, pays to end of June, Initiation fee included. The insurance you take is payable when the M. B. D. Department in St. Louis advises you of your acceptance. Then you have two months from that date to pay the assessment. The division dues are only $4.50 every six months, payable to Wm. Skinner, G. S. & T. 115 South Potomac St., Baltimore. Dispatchers as well as operators should Join, as they are not considered as officials of the company by the Government, simply as employes. There are handsome prizes for getting new members, making it worth your while to work for the cause and yourselves. Digitized by L.ooole
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640 The Railroad Telegrapher. We must “go over the top” this time and stay there. Let everybody buy Liberty bonds and join the O. R. T. Remember, “No card, no favors ” Csrt. 1526. Williamsport Division — On Monday, April 8th, we had two of the most successful meetings at Sunbury, Pa., ever held on this division. The morning ses- sion was called to order at 10:00 o’clock by Chairman Grieb, and continued until late in the afternoon, with 40 men and women present. Addresses were given by Grand Secretary and Treasurer Rawlins, General Secretary and Treasurer Skinner, General Chairman Miller, Organizers Wenrick and Rex and Bro. Cruse of the B. of L. B. The meeting was most inspiring and in- teresting throughout, every person present either being a member or pledged to join in the very near future. In the evening the meeting was to be called to order at 6 :30, but due to the large number of men and women making out their applications for membership, it was impos- sible to convene until after 6 :30 o’clock. Over 65 were present at this session and the seating capacity being taxed to the limit, some were compelled to stand. The addresses were by the same brothers who spoke in the morning, and their talks were most inspiring and uplifting. Everyone was more than pleased to hear for the first time Grand Secretary and Treas- urer Rawlins, who made a most impressive address on the new era which we are coming into at the present time. The wonderful address delivered by Gen- eral Chairman Miller, who has stood the storm for a number of years past, was thor- oughly enjoyed. We all regret that he has failed in health and trust he will rapidly recover and be able physically to guide our rapidly growing membership as he has done through the long conflict in which we have been striving for an existence, to make a liv- ing. May he live to enjoy the pure sunshine of God's love and the good things of this world while striving to do the work he so much loves. We are rapidly going over the top and shall very soon be able to fly the flag of in- dependence over every telegraph tower and station on the system. As Abraham Lin- coln once said, “And having thus chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with manly hearts.” Let this be the motto of every telegrapher, striving onward and upward for the betterment of our fellow man and for the freedom which we so long have cherished. All glory and all honor to those now com- ing back in the fold, but more glory and honor to those who stayed in the fight In the years gone by, when the struggle meant so much. It is a glorious sight to see the faces of the men flash with a new radiance of light as they sense the dawning of a new and a perfect day. Brothers and sisters, keep up the good fight and you shall live to see the day when you will rejoice that you had such a promi- nent part in this great struggle. The girls are coming into the organization as loyally, if not more so, than the men. If there ever was a time when we should awaken to our interests it is now, and no excuse should be taken from any non-member in these enlightened days, when men in all crafts are organizing. Let the following be our guide in this conflict : “Be strong! “We are not here to play, to dream, to drift ; “We have hard work to do, and loads to lift “Shun not the struggle ; face it. ’Tis God’s “gift. “Be strong ! "Say not the days are evil — Who's to blame? "And fold the hands and acquiesce — O “shame ! “Stand up, speak out, and bravely, In God’s “name. “Be strong ! “It matters not how deep intrenched the “wrong ; “How hard the battle goes ; the day, how “long ; “Faint not ; fight on ; tomorrow comes the "song.” Cert. 7. Sunbury Division — It is a biological fact that unless condi- tions are conducive to germination and growth, there will be no life. So it may be analogously said of a labor organization, that its origin and development are dependent entirely on industrial conditions. Industrial tyranny, miserable working conditions, inade- quate wages, unjust treatment, constitute a very fertile soil which, under natural con- ditions, invariably brings forth a labor or- ganization. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company has munificently fertilized its property with a reckless prodigality of essentials for the development of a telegraphers’ organization, but it possessed the power and subtle in- genuity to repress its growth. However, since Honorable McAdoo, with his No. 8. has quashed all repressive measures, the growth of our organization has been in- credible. Thus we have definite and de- cisive proof that conditions here are not exactly ideal. The O. R. T. on the Sunbury Division is no longer the puny, persecuted and pro- scribed innocuous infant of yesterday. When this is inked on our page of Thb Tblbo- Digitized by v^.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 641 rapher we shall be making tremendous strides toward our goal — strong, powerful and puissant. We have a few undesirables, also some that will not join our order for fear of gaining the displeasure of the boss and thus perhaps forfeiting a gift in the form of a sinecure or an unmerited promotion. This is a mean, petty, sordid estimation of one s manliness. The littleness and futility of such action will come to their realization sooner or later. It is degrading and debasing. It will only win for them the shame and re- proach of their fellow workers. A self- respecting man, true to his class and him- self, would rather go down In defeat with his class than advance himself by trampling down his comrades. Our April meeting in Sunbury was well attended. General Chairman Miller deliv- ered an eloquent and animated address. It is regrettable that every operator on the division could not have heard his stirring and inspiring words. Bro. Miller’s earnest ap- peal to working men and women must be trying to the conscience of one who forsakes and betrays the interests of his class to court the favor of the boss. Bro. C. B. Rawlins of St. Louis also gave us an interesting and instructive talk on the importance of organization. He exempli- fied the value of thorough organization by comparing conditions on the B. & O., a thor- oughly organized road, with its 26-day month, with those on the P. R. R. Those who are so apprehensive of the de- teriorating influence the employment of women in the telegraph service will have on our conditions, please note: Sister Gertrude Jones walked five miles through a wilder- ness, after dark, through snow and slush six inches deep, to Join the organization of her class. How many pessimistic “lords” would do this? One dominated by such a militant spirit of right, justice and class interest will never injuriously affect your miserable con- ditions. which were miserable before there was a single woman in the service. It is you who are, and have been, directly re- sponsible for the conditions you are working under. You ask what the girls are going to do. They are actively demonstrating their intentions. Is it your intention to crawl behind their skirts? Sister Lill Jones is on third “KO,” and Sister Gertrude Jones relieving on first “NA.” Bro. Sobey is down with a severe attack of la grippe. We hope to see him out in time to drive a few nons from their trenches. Bro. Kapp will be quite busy this summer butting telegraph poles. Just purchased a new Harley-Davidson motor-bike. Bro. W. C. Blecher recently moved his household goods from Sunbury to Riverside. Bro. Zeigler made another attempt to join the military service, but was again rejected by the doctors. Bro. Vandling recently spent a day in Northumberland. Organize! Cert. 3247. Maryland Division — Since the ban has been lifted by the world- famous “Emancipation Proclamation” of Sec- retary McAdoo, the nons are joining the order fast, but there are still a number who have not yet sent in their applications. We hope they will not permit their fellow work- men to bear the burden alone much longer, but will do their share toward building up the organization on this system by joining the O. R. T., carrying an up-to-date card, and working earnestly in its behalf. Promises and sympathy are of no benefit to us. We need action. And now is the time for it. The door of opportunity was never more widely open than now. The “Famous” schedule, secured after many years of hard labor by our self-ap- pointed champions, has been duly received, but it fails to meet our idea of a schedule. Schedules secured by the O. R. T. always bear the signature of representatives of both the employer and employes. The signatures of the employes’ representatives is plainly noticeable for its omission on this so-called schedule. Boys, there is only one way to get the right kind of a schedule. Organize thor- oughly; place the matter in the hands of a representative committee, and you are as- sured of a schedule the same as has been secured by the O. R. T. on nearly every road in the country. A large and appreciative audience greeted Grand Secretary and Treasurer Rawlins at the open meeting in Baltimore April 6th. His address was very instructive and pleasing, more especially when mention was made of the great progress being made by the order in general and of the few unorganized roads left in the country. His tour of the Penna. System has resulted in a renewed interest for the members, and the results aye seen by the increased number of applications following his trip. “Novice.” Trenton Division — Our last notes arrived too late, therefore we did not have any news of the Trenton Division in the April issue. Try and send the news In regularly before the 20th of each month and relieve me of some of the work, so I can devote more time to other business in your interest. We are putting in new members every week, and wish to thank all the good broth- ers who have lent a hand in securing them. The meeting held in the Goff Building, Camden, N. J., on April 4 th, was attended by about 70 in the morning and about 40 or 50 in the evening from the Trenton and W. J. & S. Divisions. The brothers and others who failed to attend missed a big treat, as Digitized by tjooole
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642 The Railroad Tei<egrapher. General Secretary and Treasurer Rawlins spoke, and his talk was very much appreci- ated, the audience being very much im- pressed with the facts he stated. We also had some of the new sisters attend, who en- joyed the meeting, making new acquaintances among the boys. We are hoping, on divisions where we have not yet been able to place organizers, that the men will get busy the same as they are on other divisions west of Harrisburg and organize themselves until the organiza- tion can get a man to those divisions. You do not have to wait for an organizer to come and pull your door-bell to let you know what's doing. “It’s general news ; every- body's doing it." Get applications, fill them out and send them to the G. S. & T., Wm. M. Skinner, at 115 So. Potomac St., Baltimore, Md., or to John H. Praul, Burlington, N. J., who will send you receipt for any amount you send by next mail, and your application will be taken care of. On March 30th the committee delegated to go to Washington, D. C., from this division, was refused absence when it was known that it was going before the Director Gen- eral with a complaint of unjust treatment and conditions as they exist on this division since last September. Expecting this would be the case, it was arranged beforehand, in the event of the committee not being relieved, a representative would take their case to Washington, which was done, and laid before the Director of Labor. Mr. W. S. Carter, and instructions were issued that a committee be delegated to ask for a con- ference with the officials at Trenton, which was done on April 8th. The divisions should all awake now to the fact that we are under Government control, and not let the Trenton Division do all. the fighting. It is to every employe’s interest to get busy and get this organization’s com- mittee before the officials of the Penna. R. R. Don’t be asleep at the switch ; it’s dangerous ; give us your applications so concrete results can be reached in short order. Look ahead t not backward. Be not skep- tical. Men who see failure before an under- taking never succeed, because they are de- feated before they start. Men who never know defeat are the victors. On Tuesday, April 16th, the superintendent of the Trenton Division met the duly author- ized committee of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers — C. S. Hendricks, Jr., of Lam- bertville, N. J., chairman ; J. A. Villinger of Palmyra, N. J., and Howard »S. Asson of Janesburg, N. J.- -and had a thirty-minute conference with them in regard to the busi- ness methods resorted to by the present division operator, G. W. Shoster, whose sole ambition seems to be to create disturbance and dissatisfaction. One of his assistants is of the same stripe, and did all he could to defeat the operators last fall. He is Ailing the former position of H. A. Wheeler, a good man, who either got tired of being made the goat for the division operator and resigned, or was discharged. However, the conference with the superintendent of the Trenton Division was not satisfactory, and the committee is carrying the case to General Superintendent Krick, New York. The Trenton Division has the goods to get representation and is going after it, and we want every man on the other division lines to do likewise. Wake up and get in where you belong. J. H. Praul. West Jersey and Seashore Division — On April 4th two meetings were held in the Goff Building at Camden, one at 9:00 a. m., the other at 8 :20 p. m. The morning session was very well attended and wTas one of the best meetings w'e have had in this territory for some time. General Secretary and Treasurer Rawlins of St. Louis told the men some straight facts, and he is in a posi- tion to know what is doing on the rest of the system. Those who failed to come and hear him missed a rare treat. Organizer Rex was at his best and de- serves the praise given him for the oratory he displayed at this meeting. Bro. Schorder, having come over from New York, told the men how things were being done in the territory where he was organiz- ing. Wenrich, after traveling all night, came into the hall Just when we had adjourned the meeting, but he took off his coat and handed the nons all that was coming to them. We were glad once more to have the opportunity to shake hands with him. The boys here still have a warm spot in their hearts for him. Bro. Praul from the Trenton Division re- ported good progress. The night meeting was attended by men from Phillipsburg, Lambertville, Trenton, Hamborg, Norristown, Manayunk and many other points as far away as could get here. Many of the boys from the different super- intendents’ offices were out, also the “PO" boys, something quite unusual after all this turmoil ; but right will sooner or later pre- vail. C. Quicksill got No. 3 Schedule, vice J. P. Donovan, to third Woodbury, and Lounsberry to relief schedule. Let us try and get as many offices solid as we can by June 1st. Several are almost solid now. We hope the new members who recently came in with us will now reach out after their, non friends and help us line them up. A. H. Rickards is now copy operator at Oil City. General Chairman Miller held two meet- ings at Sunbury on April 8th, his first effort Digitized by c.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 64:* since his illness. We hope he will take good care of himself. We cannot afford to have such valuable men on the sick list. , We were pleased to see on the list of eli- gibles for *'CF’’ office recently some of the old force who were formerly there. E. W. Mendenhall, South Vineland, went to third “SA” ; Graham Lent of Haddonfleld to third "HN,” vice Libes to “K.“ Agency opened at Elwood and Amatol ; a new three-trick office established near Mag- nolia, north of Elwood, a tower with eight levers; salaries, two tricks $73.75, and one $70.55. The agent at Winslow is on the sick list and Peter Tell and Joe Corslglia are holding it down. George Walker (Chief), formerly lineman on this division, died in March, leaving a wife and two children. Several floral de- signs were sent to his funeral. A collection was taken up and given to the family. * He was well known and will be missed by the boys. Geo. E. Nightingale, Newfleld, is back to work after being on the sick list. Div. Cor. “Nickel Plate" R. R., Div. No. 18. Cleveland Division — Our division is well organized, but there are very few who try to make The Teleg- rapher interesting by sending in news items. The division correspondent or local chairman should be sent anything that is worth men- tioning for the good of our craft. Let us know what kind of men the nons are. If you consider them worthy of membership get thSm into the order, thus helping them, yourself and brother members. Sister Bates has resigned Saybrook agency. On account of the scarcity of operators, due to the war, when a vacancy has oc- curred mostly lady telephoners have been put on the Jobs. After our brother mem- bers bid on the Jobs in some cases they were seen by railroad division officials and with- drew their bids, the company taking the position that it was not wise to have lady phoners at isolated places, and if our broth- ers were given their rights that ladies would not have to work in dangerous places at night. In cases of this kind, where good jobs are up for bid and lady phoners are to be in- volved when the selection is made, brothers contemplating bidding should take it up with our division and general chairman and see what the chances are for them to get the job before they make a formal bid. When a brother withdraws his bid in a few days it is sort of a mockery. If you do bid com- municate with your general chairman before you withdraw it, because he may make arrangements for you to take the job just as soon as a real . operator shows up to take the job you are to vacate. “Unitt.* Cleveland Division — Quite a number of phoners and old-time Morse operators have been taken Into the O. R. T. on all divisions recently, and we work with members nearly all the time at the other end of the line now. Bro. Frank Kelly, first Connea yard, was ofT a few days recently. Bro. H. E. Hammond, third Ashtabula siding, on account of poor health, is recuper- ating around Gadsden, Ala. Ed. Crane, chief dispatcher’s clerk, was off ten days with la grippe. Chief Dispatcher Todd and two or three trick dispatchers also laid up about the same time with this malady. Bro. Kenworthy went to second “CD” Cleveland, to help out Relieved at Woodland by Miss Monroe from the L. N. Bro. C. Walton, Vermillion, visited rela- tives at St. Louis a few days recently. Members not reading the hearings of wage award and other committees published in The Telegrapher, in which President Perham is taking an active part, are missing something of vital importance. A careful perusal of these investigations gives the member a chance to know just how organ- ized labor has to keep alive every minute of thve time in order to make any progress. Read it and know what your officers have to contend with. Bro. Charlie Mayer, former general secre- tary and treasurer this division, first trick operator superintendent's office, Cleveland, who has a boy in the army, was off a few clays recently and went East with him. Bro. J. H. Hannah, second trick phoner, and his wife, first trick Rocky River, have resigned and returned to their old home In Oregon. Unity. N. Y. C. R. R. Lines West, Div. No. 19. Illinois Division — Extra Davis refused to remain on Dunn second owing to the high price of board and room, and trick was closed until Jacobs went there for a few days, relieved at “RO” tower by Roderick, and he by Mrs. I. N. Kidd, on third Conrad. Second Dunn closed again. Jacobs, third “RO” tower, now reported sick. Bro. T. F. Conners, agent dispatching at Gibson, relieved on first Kentland by Bro. White, second Dunn. Mr. Latta, a new man, is agent at Belshaw. Boys, let’s line him up. Bro. Born relieved there several days before resuming at Camp- bell. Local Chairman Shimanek was over the line several days ago. Excuse me if I get some of you brothers classed with the nons, for I haven’t a list of them yet. I wouldn't for anything class a good, loyal member with a non. Remem- ber, “No card, no favors ” First Trick Dispatcher Severs, at Gibson, on sick list several days. Digitized by AaOOQle
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G44 The Railroad Telegrapher. We have to thank Bro. Tommy Gott for the notes from the line. Bro. Thiel, first “SG,” up in Michigan a few days, was relieved by Bro. C. C. Smith from North Liberty, who later relieved Bro. Jim Olivers, third, account sickness: Bro. Hess, at Illinoi, had a hard time to get to dinner when the water was so high there. Sorry to see the farmers lose so much corn on account of the dike breaking just west of Shelby. Richter, agent Schneider, got his new “Lizzy” last year on the strength of the increase, but hasn't got a new card yet. Neither has Harvey Flashing. Cert. 1019. Alliance Division — Bro. Bettis is relieving First Trick Dis- patcher Cowan, on monthly leave. Bro. Orwick was a recent Newton Falls visitor. A number of the brothers were in Alliance Sunday, April 14th, to the Safety Exhibition, a special being run from the South End and motor cars from the North End. We also had a chance to talk over the work of the brotherhood and get up-to-date on what is being done. It is regretted that more of the brothers were not there. Bro. Williams, first Minerva, has joined the army in the present draft. The machinery for the new increase is well under way. When you receive it don't forget that it was due largely to the labors of your representatives in Washington, and that membership in a good labor union is now as essential as ever. The testimony covering our class of service before the Railroad Wage Commission was practically all furnished by President Perham and other union heads. Everybody is subscribing to the Third Liberty Loan on this division. Don’t forget to drop an occasional card to the brothers in the army, who still like to know how things go on the “Old Divi- sion.” No writeup last month, as our items were too late to get in. The dispatcher's office is now in the superintendent’s office, uptown. Bro. Crawford is on first Minerva, vice Bro. Williams. Agent Hooper, Piney Fork, has resigned. L. L. Allen, Div. Cor. N. Y. O. & W. Ry., Div. No. 20. Southern Division — On the night of April 17th, 1918, a “smoker” was held in the assembly room, Masonic Temple, Middletown, N. Y., at which time over 500 officers and employes of the N. Y. O. & W Company assembled to pay their respects to Division Superintendent C. H. Hopkins, who retired from the active du- ties March 1st, after fifty years of service, thirty of which were spent as superintendent. On the platform with Mr. Hopkins were H. J. de Graw, chairman of the meeting ; W. D. McQueen, who succeeds Superin- tendent Hopkins on the Southern Division ; W. C. Hartigan, superintendent Northern Division ; Andrew Riley, general purchasing agent, office New York City ; C. B. McManus, general freight agent, New York ; T. E. Bro- chu, trainmaster ; G. L. Holcomb, dispatcher ; M. J. Edwards, car accountant ; H. K. Walker, car agent; P. H. Minchell, master mechanic ; R. Brock, roadmaster ; I. E. Doren, train service inspector; J. N. Degnan, chief plumber; L. R. Conner, general chairman O. R. T. ; George O. Neal, B. of L. E. ; Ed Henry, Geo. Wortman and Geo. Geer, O. R. C., and W. N. Charles, B. of R. T. The O. & W. Band entertained with music while the “clans” were gathering. After about 500 railroad men had been seated and the speakers of the evening were assembled on the platform, all stood while the 'band played “The Star-Spangled Banner,” after which the chairman introduced Mr. L. R. Conner, general chairman of the O. R. T., who in a few well-chosen words presented to Mr. Hopkins a set of engrossed resolu- tions from the officers and employes of the company, also a purse of six hundred dol- lars in gold. Brother Conner then paid a glowing tribute to “The Grand Old Man” whom “his boys” had assembled to honor. Mr. Hopkins responded to Mr. Conner in a voice choked with emotion, thanking the men for the honor shown him, saying that “he could not understand why we should do so much for him, as he did not think that he deserved it” The chairman then read a letter from President M. J. B. Kerr of New York, and a teelgram from Secretary and Treasurer R. D. Rickard, expressing their regard for Mr. Hopkins and regret at being unable to be present. The next speaker was W. C. Hartigan. superintendent of the Northern Division, a lifelong friend and fellow worker of Super- intendent Hopkins, who gave some of the early history of the road and an account of some of the hardships of Mr. Hopkins and himself in bringing this road, then a single track with one train a day, to its present state of efficiency, which “in its class of service is second to none in the country.” Short addresses were also made by each of those on the platform, but space forbids us to go into detail. However, I wish to quote the speech of John Dudley, the only “gentleman of color” present, who, in closing his remarks, said ; “An’ now I asks dat you all join me in sayin'. Lord bress him,” a sen- timent that touched every heart. After the close of the meeting one and all gathered around Mr. Hopkins to grasp his hand and wish him many days of joy and Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 645 gladness, free from the cares of active service. The committee in charge of the arrange- ments were : E. E. Haines of the B. of R. T. ; J. N. Wilson, B. of R. T. ; J. Dunham, B. of L. E. ; H. F. Smith and H. J. de Graw, of the O. R. T. ; H. Quinn, H. Kuhn, H. Funnell, E. Henry and W. Charles. Special trains were run from Walton and Kingston, to enable all who could be spared from duty to attend, and we wish to extend our thanks for this thoughtful service to J. H. Nuelle, general superintendent. Bro. L. R. Conner, geenral chairman, has been appointed to canvass the agents and operators for the third issue of Liberty Loan Bonds, and will soon start on his rounds. Bro. John Quinn has been promoted to copier in “MD" office, Middletown, succeeded by Bro. W. D. Barnes as ticket agent at Middletown. Bro. Palmer went to Accord, Bro. Onyan having resigned to take a job at higher pay ; and Agent Stratton, Accord, and his adopted son, helper there, have gone to White Plains on the N. Y., C. & H. R. More of our brothers are going into the army from time to time, and men are getting very scarce. Some who have had better offers have remained from patriotic reasons or a sense of loyalty to the company. We hope and believe the management appreciates the sacrifices such men have made. H. J. Dfi Graw, Div. Cor. N. Y.t O. d W. Notes— Bro. Phillips, Campbell Hull, was relieved by Bro. Reisteter a few days recently on account of a slight touch of pneumonia. Bros. Onyan and Klngfield, out Joy-riding with the butcher boy from Burnside, tried to tie up the Erie with a “little old Ford” on a crossing, but the train crew got out of the cab and pushed “Hank" back far enough so they could pass. Bro. Carswell was off two weeks recently on account of the sickness of his little girl, who died later. The bereaved parents have our sympathy. Bro. Masten spent his vacation with his people at Walden and friends. Bro. Milgate, Woodridge, is back from a vacation which turned out to be a honey- moon. Congratulations to the newlyweds. Cert. 319. Cin.f Ind. & Western R. R., Div. No. 21. Springfield Division — Bro. Perkins is on the sick list. I also have been sick and am leaving for San Francisco April 1st. There have been quite a good many brothers off sick recently, but I have been unable to get their names. Bro. Holmes was off a few days, fishing. As soon as the Wage Commission Is through with its investigation and decides on the increase we are to get, we will pro- ceed to make the new schedule. Brothers, watch the new man, and remem- ber, ((No card , no favors “CU,“ Cert 169. Indianapolis Division — Bro. Seng is now in the army. We wish him a safe return. Bro. Brougher succeeds him at Morristown agency. Bro. A nness. Liberty, was off 16 days re- cently. Miss Dickey, off a few days on account of sickness, spent Sunday recently with Bro. and Mrs. F. T. Robinson. Bro. Trent has returned to Connersville from California. Bro. Houck, “DI,“ to car desk a few days, while Shot well was acting as extra dis- patcher. Keep after the nons, boys, until we get them all in line, and please mail me some items; don't want to slight anyone. F. T. Robinson, Cert. 672, Connersville, Ind. — ■ w • I»W. £.v). Corrections — Reference was made In the March Tblbora- pher on the Superior Division to “Bro." Gray of Ontonagon trying out a traveling auditor’s job; on the Colorado and Idaho Divisions, Bro." H. R. Keller, former agent Othello, going to coast, and on the Coast Division about "Bro.” Percy relief at Monroe. All these named parties are non-members In the April issue of Telegrapher refer- ence was made in the Tr. Mo. Division write- ups to "Pro.” Nic Gahr, relief first trick Hettinger and "Bro.” N. K. Merrick, relief agent Reeder ; in the Prairie du Chien Division write-ups reference was made to “Bro." Law- less of Waukesha going south, etc. All the above are non-members, I want the members to know who the non- members are so they will assist In organizing 1 em* Ed. R. Derrick80n, Gen’l Sec. and Treas., Chicago, 111. Rochelle and Southern Division The boys on the R. & S. were asked to mail all notes to Bro. Yaeger, Shannon, m.. and they would be forwarded to St. Louis for publication, but Bro. Yaeger has been in Colorado for three months for his wife’s health, therefore we have not had a write-up for the past three issues. Bro. Wright and family spent Sunday re- cently with Bro. O’Roke and family. The boys are all looking for that big in- TheTo' I, Ijet',8 k6eP the °‘d R * S’ sol‘<3. ‘ V °"e n°n’ ftnd we e*Pect to land him soon. Bros. O’Roke, Cedar Point, and Charne. key. Standard, have received word to put on helpers, thanks to Bro. Soyster. Digitized by v^oooLe
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646 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Wiley relieved Bro. Nielson at Rox- bury a few days on account of sickness. Bro. Vale says business is picking up now that the cement mills are receiving cars. Oglesby is one of the best-paying stations on the system. If you don't believe it, take a run down there and watch the boys hop around. We hope to receive a ten per cent increase in commissions when the express matter reaches a settlement. Standard rules went into effect May 1. Boys, you had all better review up on it. We were sorry to lose Conductor Holbrook, re- cently appointed one of the examiners, but all wish him success. Chrt. 2614. La Crosse Div . and Milwaukee Terminals — Bro. Edward F. Kohlhaas, C. M. & St. P. depot, and bride have returned from their honeymoon trip to Kenosha and Chicago. Bro. W. H. Whitcomb, agent Poynette, is being relieved by J. D. Ferris of Rio. Bro. E. F. Andres is now on second side wide in dispatcher’s office, and Bro. F. H. Klngsland on first Kilboum temporary. Bro. H. Tofson is on a three months’ leave. Bro. S. Jamieson and wife recently visited their son in camp in Texas. Upon their return Bro. Jamieson was taken seriously ill, but we are glad to say is now improving and we hope will soon regain his health. The following are our recent new mem- bers: John H. Cull, Jr., and William H. Alvord, Duplainville ; Guy M. Haner, La Crosse ; Benjamin L. Swang, Pewaukee ; Adolph G. Errickson, Hartland ; Guy L. Bean, Tunnel City; Ralph D. Peck, Rio; Earnest A. Cordes, Sparta; Earl A. Arnold, Brook- field ; Hoadley A. Long, Columbus and Henry J. Thayer, Milwaukee. The few who have not contributed their share of the first raise should do so at once and help to make the La Crosse Division 100 per cent by doing their bit. Local Chairman Hagman and others in their campaign for new members have shown gratifying results in the past few months. Let every member be a living, talking and breathing Order man, and the result will be a solid division. 1 wish to thank those who sent me the news items. Kindly come again. Cert. 65. P. D. C. d M. Division- Part of the roof on the freight house at Madison has been raised one story, and offices for division officials and dispatchers will be completed for occupying on June 1. There will be some changes in the per- sonnel at that time, in the staff, which will be announced later, and will put two or three operators on the extra list temporarily. Bro. G. C. Benedict went to Milton agency, succeeded by Bro. J. P. Gallagher at Middle- ton agency. Bro. H. Johnson, third Lone Rock, reliev- ing on second Monroe; Bro. D. A. Crinklaw, secQnd Wauzeka, going to first Monroe and N. O. Sundbye to third Stoughton. Bro. Carl Dahnke, Richland Center, is now in the Government service at Great Lakes Naval Station. Bro. P. B. Childs, agent Hanover, in serv- ice since 1879, has resigned, succeeded by F. A. Luckfleld. I wish to thank the two brothers who mailed me the items this month. If pos- sible, would like to see you personally and arrange for items every month. Would be pleased to hear from those who have sons in France or in training camps here. Oscai { Millard, Cert. 929. Lima Center, WIs. River, C. B. and Wabasha Divisions — I have been appointed correspondent of the above named divisions. We should have a write-up in The Telegrapher each month and I ask the co-operation of all the members in sending me news of interest to the mem- bership each month for publication. If each of you will do your part we will have some good write-ups from this district and In this way stimulate the interest of the membership in keeping Division No. 22 in the front line as the largest and best represented division In the organization. Items will have to reach me not later than the 20th of each month, to be condensed and reach St. Louis by the 26th. Kindly address them care C. M. & St. P. Ry., Chestnut street, St. Paul, Minn. J. H. Marron. Two very interesting meetings were held at the Trades and Labor Hall, St. Paul, March 11 and April 8, the object of which was the organization of a Telegraphers' Club and listening to reports of the progress Division No. 70 has made since the O. R. T. made it an active organization. The meeting of March 11 was well attended by Milwaukee boys and we had the pleasure of listening to the address of Bro. Rawlin« on the progress of the O. R. T. in the organi- zation of the several roads formerly locked out to us. On April 8 the Twin City Telegraphers’ Club was reorganized, the details of which will be found in the write-up of the club cor- respondent in this issue of The Telegrapher. About twenty-five members joined the club at this meeting. I strongly urge all mem- bers in the terminals and those within a rea- sonable distance of St. Paul to join this club. With nine railways entering St. Paul and Minneapolis, you will be assured of very interesting information covering our craft and its organization and the social end of it Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 647 will, we hope, be pleasant and agreeable to all. Very gratifying reports covering the or- ganization on the Q. N. was reported. Ask your L. C. or myself about the next meeting of the T. C. T. Club. Let us get all the mem- bers we can to join and make this club a success. On sick list recently : Bro. Howard, re- lieved by Bro. Snure ; also Bro. Winters, second “HN." Bro. Gilby, “C” office, relieved by Vetter of the W. U., has gone to the farm for a few months' vacation. v We were all sorry to learn of the death of Bro. Joe Harrison of Bridge Switch, an old- timer on this division. Boys, keep after the none at your station and line them up. With the back time from the new Government increase there is no good reason why they should remain outside the ranks. Those who have not yet remitted the first half-month increase of our new wage scale should do so at once and keep the treasury in good shape for future nego- tiations. New wage schedules can be secured from your L. C. Get one and keep posted on changes in rules and rates of pay. Cert. 2704. 8. C. <£ D. Division — Bro. G. W. Maysonholder, agent Gayville, has taken third Sioux City Card, relieved by Bro. McClenehan, later to dispatcher's clerk, “DS,” Sioux City, relieved by Yeager, a new man. Bro. H. A. Shoemaker, agent Stlckney, on three weeks’ vacation visiting friends and relatives, relieved by Bro. C. R. Fletcher from Delmont, and he by his wife. Bro. F. A. Schneider, second Elk Point, resigned, relieved by M. Christopherson, who has bought a Liberty Bond and .will get a card next. Bro. J. H. Shoemaker relieved E. F. Cre- vier, first "DS," Sioux City, who, with C. W. Hickey, second trick dispatcher, East End, have joined the United States Engineers' Corps and gone to Fort Leavenworth, Kan, and E. O. Eckert, extra conductor and J. T. Aylward, also an extra conductor, who went to St. Louis, Mo., with a regiment of United States engineers, is in Rockford, 111. D. F. & P. A. Curtis Is soliciting subscrip- tions for Liberty Bonds, to be purchased through the company, arranging to take a certain amount out of our check each time until paid for. This way will be easier than to buy through a bank or any other source. Yankton is now solid O. R. T. Bros. Dean. Jordan and Ringquist we all heartily greet as brothers. No news from the East End. I wish to thank Bros. Fletcher and McClenehan for items this month. C. B. Diehl, Div. Cor. Trans-Missouri Division — It is now over two months since we re- ceived our back pay, and I am surprised to learn that some of our members have failed to pay the required half of their first month’s increase. It is hard to understand how any one could be so forgetful of their own Interests as to let such an important matter as keeping up the financial standing of' our division slip their minds. No excuse for such negligence. Local Chairman Lightly has been tireless in his efforts to bring all those not contributing In line, and I hope that those who have not yet paid their share will do so at once. The welfare of our division should be a personal matter with each of us. Bro. W. J. Kelly, third Rhame, has re- signed and gone East, relieved by Bro. Ell- man, relieved on third Scranton by C. Au- mock, a new man. The Scranton depot re- cently caught fire from an extra and burned down, destroying practically everything. Bro. v Cornell lost all his household goods and per- sonal belongings. Bro. T. M. Eide, first Bowman, relieved N. K. Merrick, agent Reeder, called to the colors. Bro. Jordan, second Reeder, was off a few days recently. On vacations : Bro. Hale, agent Morris- town, and Bro. A. Walters, relay operator. Bro. E. J. Howard, dispatcher’s office, has returned from a trip East. Bro. Raymond Paul, relay office, has been reinstated. Bro. Houck, third McIntosh, has resigned to go to farming, relieved by Mrs. Bennett. Sister F. M. Holmes goes to third Bowman. Bro. Byrne, agent there, had to work first several days on account of shortage of op- erators. Bro. H. J. Kail, relieving at Wakpala, re- lieved by Mrs. Kail, Moreau Junction days. Have you made your contribution yett Thanks to Bro. Leigly for notes. Cert. 827. Musselshell Division , West End- On* Hainline, Carterville, recently sold 850 bushels of corn at $5 per bushel for seed. He also has some seed oats he will probably sell at about a dollar an oat. That beats telegraphing. The nobby new bungalow style depot at Carterville is just about completed. About all the damage done by the recent fire in the old Vanada depot was to ball up the wires, account wetting the switchboard. The citizens are much peeved at the fellow who put out the fire, and he has wisely kept his identity hidden. George Trout, first Forsyth, was sick a few days recently. Bro. a aris is on third Miles Yard, while Bro. Wallace is dispatching on East End. Bro. Liner so far heads the list of con- Digitized by v^oooie
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648 The Railroad Telegrapher, tributors, he donating $10. His increase was only $7.60 aside from the Sunday extra. Bro. Ludwick, thir*. Ingomar, Bro Candor, third Sumatra, and Bro. Sasser, local chair- man, left for the army recently. We hate to lose them, and they have our sincere best wishes for a speedy and safe return. Bro. Leo Thiel, former local chairman, went to Roundup second, and Bro. Ray Clev- enger, desiring to be nearer his tractor farm, to second Carterville. Roundup second, Gage days and Carterville agency on recent bul- letin had seven applicants each. We are under obligations to Bro. Clevenger for news items from the middle sub. Cert. 1349. Rocky Mountain Division — I notice In The Telegrapher that Mussel- shell Division is solid. Bro. Grogan, Deer Lodge side table, is trying for a prize. Sister Hayden Joined this way, also Bro. Y. E. Muir, second Lennep. It’s also Bro. Gilliott now and hope Mr. Dat, second Sappington, will soon join. The entire community was shocked to hear of the death of the wife of Local Chairman H. C. Kearby, agent at Lombard. Mr. Kearby only recently returned from Chicago, where for many months he has worked hard for the new wage scale and other benefits we have received. Mrs. Kearby had only been in Helena Hospital a short while, and friends thought her on the road to recovery when they received the sad news of her death on February 24. Funeral services were held at the home in Lombard, and she was buried in Bozeman February 27. J. G. Campbell from the Rocky Mountain Division and many friends from Three Forks, Helena and other places attended the funeral. Many beautiful flowers were sent by both the R. M. and Missoula telegraphers and a lovely wreath by the trainmen. The sympathy of every one goes out to Bro. Kearby and the two small sons who mourn the loss of wife and mother. Bro. Kearby Is back at Lombard agency again relieving Bro. Pitkin. Bro. Edison from Penfield goes to Lennep third. Sister Francis Peacock, now in the Martinsdale bank, was relieved by Mrs. Chambers, now taking a course in a tele- graph school in Butte, relieved by Mr. Muir. Bros. Robinson from Sappington and Sin- clair, relieved by Bros. Gilliott and Alexan- der, are in Missouri, called home by the sud- den illness of their grandmother. Sister Libsheld, in St. James Hospital, Butte, has almost recovered and is home again. Flowers were sent her from time to time and a card of thanks was inclosed with my notes from her to the brothers and sisters who were so thoughtful. It Is apparently a small thing to do, yet means a great deal to those who are ill. I believe it would be much nicer to send a growing plant, as one can watch it bloom and enjoy It longer. We are all glad to see Bro. T. H. Peacock back again as agent at Martinsdale, vice Buntln. My brother, Bro. H. C. Breckenridge, writes from Clancy, Mont., on the G. N. Railway, how they have at last ''seen the light" over there and how good it seems to see then} all lined up. Mr. Walker, formerly at Three Forks here, is also with the G. N. at Glacier Park and offers to be a guide to any one wishing to go through the park. Bro. Campbell, Willow Creek, relieved Bro. Kay at Maudlow recently, owing to the ill- ness of his wife, who, we are glad to learn, is improving and will soon be well again. Miss Ruth Welch, daughter of our first trick dispatcher, who has also been on the sick list, is now doing nicely, and her friends all hope for her speedy recovery. Agent Bothner, also brother and wife, have returned from their trip Blast. Red says he will send me a box of candy on the boy. I wonder. He was relieved while away by Bro. Bizer, now on the Northern Montana division. Bro. H. C. Rector, wife and children, have returned from a trip to California and Ari- zona. Send me some notes if you want a better write-up. Cert. 1985< Columbia and Idaho Divisions — Bro. Carroll is at Beverly agency, pending the arrival of Bro. Tapler, who has been acting as second wire chief at Malden for several weeks. Bro. C. E. Potter, who has been bucking the agency game for several years, will have a vacation now on full pay, as he returns to his old Job, relieving Bro. Tapley as second wire chief at Malden. Bro. Taylor says he has enough of the desert and will stick close to the mountains hereafter. Bro. T. J. Stahl, agent Corfu for about nine years, went to Metaline Falls agency, re- lieved by a new man. Sister McGee, third Lind, on sick leave for three weeks, will soon be back to work. Marengo second closed most of the time for three weeks, owing to the scarcity of op- erators. A Spokane paper states that Dispatcher L. V. Curren, a member of the railroad com- mission sent to Russia last winter, has ar- rived at a Canadian port. Bro. F. L. Hayes, agent Rosalia, has gone back to Kansas City on a six weeks* lay-off in search of health. Kansas City is a wet town, you know'. Bro. Donley relieved him, with Mrs. Hayes on second. Bro. F. M. Sever, second Plummer Junc- tion, goes to first "SN” Spokane, relieved by Bro. P. Taylor, from Beverly. Cert. 614. Digitized by c.ocK?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 649 Mobile & Ohio R. R., Div. No. 24. Bi St. Louis Division — We had no write-up in the April Teleg- rapher simply because we had no news. Those who are expecting a write-up every month should get busy and send the corre- spondent the happenings from their localities. General Chairman Murdaugh advises that the vacation of fifteen days is to be at one time and not by the men laying off a day or two at a time and applying this to the va- cation. Also that the typewriters to be furnished under the terms of the schedule are being delayed on account of not being able to get the machines. Our order was placed by the management some time ago, and they will be furnished as soon as they can be secured. Bro. Clark, agent Oakton, was assigned second Union City on account of error in filing this vacancy on a former bulletin. Bro. Laughlin, who was drafted and has been in a training camp, has been released from the army and returned to McNairy agency, displacing Bro. Young, who returns to the extra list. Bro. W. H. Polsgrove, formerly local chair- man, has been appointed agent at Jackson, Tenn., one of the largest and most Important agencies on the M. & O., and we wish to congratulate “Polly" on this merited promo- tion. Bro. J. E. Luten has been appointed regu- lar and Bro. H. L. Bradley extra dispatcher, both doing their bit as old heads ; congratu- lations. We are appreciating our lunch period and hope none will over-stay their limit and cause it to be revoked. Div. Cor. Int’l & Gt. Northern Ry., Div. No. 25. Fort Worth Division — Have just heard on the A. P. wire that the Federal Wage Commission has com- pleted its recommendations for wage in- creases, and that employes receiving the smallest pay will receive the largest in- creases. Increases will be effective as of January 1, 1918. The Government is giving us this money, and wants to borrow it back and pay us for the use of it. There is no doubt but that concessions granted by the Government are greater than anything we have heretofore dreamed of getting through other channels. Now let’s do our duty, not only to invest the back time, but every cent we can possibly spare in Liberty Bonds and war saving stamps. We should feel proud of the record I. & G. N. employes have made in the purchase of Liberty Bonds. Our solici- tor told me every office is 100 per cent. Shop torces in Mart, regardless of color or nation- ality, have bought bonds. . Eskridge, Lillian, relieved by Mr. El- liott, several days recently, undergoing and recovering from an operation. Bro. Ham, Goodland, succeeds Bro. Webb at Cawthon, who takes Lillian second, vice ex-Bro. Cornick, resigned. Bro. M. N. Bussey, who went with the S. a. & A. P., has a $90 O. S. job there, $12.50 over the I. & G. N. Bro. Reulette is back and says he feels like a “two-year-old." Sergeant Lauderdale passed through Marlin recently en route “somewhere." Glad to see him making good. Bro. G. C. Mitchell is stationed in Camp Merritt, N. J. Suppose Bro. Webner is stationed there also. Teach your wife to telegrraph ; she can handle the key while we handle guns.. Cert. 852. San Antonio Division — New positions — On south end, third Laredo and Cotulla, filled by Extras Garland and Sansing, pending bulletin. At “MS" San An- tonio, fourth telegrapher, by Extra Dispatcher Wright, and second and third opened at Round Rock ; Bro. Carroll will handle first in addition to his numerous other duties as agent. Bro. Landrum goes to third M. K. & T. junction. Bro. Whitehead to Gardendale agency and Bro. Emil Biel to telegrapher- clerk at Pearsall. The Laredo district is having all the onion and cattle shipping it can handle. Applications for leave of absence are be- ing refused on account of the scarcity of extra men. Chief Dispatcher Holzman, on sick list a few days, was relieved by first trick Dis- patcher Harris. Bro. E. R. Coleman has the message trick in “MS" since the increase of force, Bro. jvioore first copy and Bro. Loper third copy trick. Do not overlook the payment of the month- ly assessment for salary of our general chair- man and expenses of general committee. Cert. 13. Gulf Division — Bro. R. D. Barnes is now agent at Oak- wood, Bro. T. E. Phillips relief agent and Bro. James Valentine at Jacksonville, suc- ceeded at Trinity agency by Bro. F. E. Hol- loway, now on sick list. G. F. Lansberry goes to third Trinity. Bro. E. B. Hill from the “SAP" at Houston, to third “GN“ at Houston. G. Yarbrough to third Jacksonville, vice Bro. H. P. Johnson, to New Waverly agency temporarily. Bro. J. B. Allen to third “H" Palestine, vice Bro. Raymond Winn, to chief dispatcher’s clerk. Riverside agency closed ; Wardell, agent, drafted. Digitized by LaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. «50 Bro. Kyle, called to the colors, left Sellers April 13. We hope he and the other brave boys of Division 25 may soon return to their positions, being held open for them. Bro. J. H. White is now with the Missouri Pacific, and Bro. J. T. Robinson second Valley Junction, with the Santa Fe at Milano, his home town. Bros. Stephens and Sedwick, first and sec- ond “H," Palestine, changed positions for a few weeks. Bro. Murchison, Conroe, was on the sick list several days, but was unable to get any one to relieve him and stuck to his post. From present prospects we will all miss our vacations this year, as there seems to be no such thing as an extra man any more ; they are all regular by the time they light here. “Ek." Wabash R. R., Div. No. 26. Western Division — Bro. Jones, on his honeymoon, was re- lieved by Extra Dameron, following in his brother's tracks, who has also married and settled down. Congratulations to all of them. Bro. Woods is in the hospital, relieved by Bro. Ferrell. We all hope for his speedy recovery. Bro. Clark, on an extended trip west for his health, was relieved by Bro. Squires. Bro. McGruder, agent Stanberry, being re- lieved by Bro. Horn, is improving nicely, re- lieved by Bro. Wells, who has come back t& the Wabash to stay. Bro. Wright, agent Whitman, who relieved Bro. Showalter, agent Triplett, several days while attending his sister's funeral in St. A^ouis, has gone west with his wife for her health. We hope for their speedy return and that she will be fully recovered. Bro. Truitt, agent Darlington, was relieved a few days by Extra Kidney. Bro. McGee, relieved several days by David, while taking his wife to the hospital. We hope for her speedy recovery. We are glad to note that Bro. Goodman is out again and' will soon be able to return to work ; relieved by Extra Jenkins. Bro. Williams, who relieved Local Chair- man Bittiker while on committee work at Brunswick, is now relieving Dispatcher Sex- ton on the Hi Line. Bro. Christy and Saunders doubled several days at “NE,” no extra men being available. Brothers, tell the local chairman what you wrould like to see in the schedule, now, while it is in the making, so he can do the best for all concerned. Don’t wait until after it is revised. We should have a 26-working-day month, a few changes in working conditions, annual passes over the division, after three years seniority, and get that paragraph K of rule 15 out of the schedule. Let the agents place the extra men where they suit best. I have been appointed scribe for this di- vision. Remember there is no chain stronger than its weakest link, and there is no leader prosperous without the good will and assist- ance of his followers. Call 44BR” any time alter M. D. until 8 a. m. I will be right here, glad to talk to any of you and take down the news. C. O. Richabdson, Cert 321. Peru Division — Bro. Chas. Ramsey is back on third Hugo aiter undergoing an operation. Bros. S. F. Monroe, first G. S. Tower; M. C. Davis, agent Wauseo, and Brewsbaugh, Peru Junction, have been called to the army. Bro. Cochran, first Wabash, goes to second “Z,” relieved by McCoy from C. & N. W. later relieved by Bro. Collins, third Attica, relieved by Bro. Engle, West Lebanon, with Dove on second there, and Bro. J. K. Lipsett to second Peru Junction, pending bul- letin. Bros. Williams and Devern, Defiance, on vacations, relieved by J. B. Siren. Radditz ("RA"), at *‘G. O.” two years ago, is now clerk at Toledo Yard, getting $15 a month more than he could get as a teleg- rapher. Bro. Wheatley, second Tilton, off sick, re- lieved by Bro. Murray, third West Lebanon, relieved by Sister Smith, third West Point, whose father has been sick. Bros. George Steel and Glenn Able, Hunt- ington, and the two brothers at West Point were compelled to double a few days on ac- count of sickness and a shortage of operators. Keep after the three remaining nons and make this division 100 per cent. Many thanks to Bros. Evans and Keiff for notes. Come again. Any who have items, please send them to B. W. Lidgard, Tilton, before the 21st of each month. If you will all help, we can always be well represented in the journal. “Lid./' Cert. 846. Decatur Div., Ninth and Thirteenth Dist .— Our committee is waiting to hear from Washington what kind of an increase the Government is going to give us before asking the management for better working condi- tions and rules. Bro. Fohrell, third Edwardsville Junction, is in the next draft, relieved by Overhalt. Bro. Mclntire while looking over Hammond agency was relieved a few days by Mrs. Over- halt on Edwardsville first Bro. Metro went to first Karnes Yard, sup- ject to Bro. Hyde's return, and Bro. Bandy to first Stonington. Honeybend agency abol- ished. Poag agency closed, Bro. Lapp laying off ninety days. General Chairman Nash’s daughter is on the sick list. We all wish for her a speedy recovery. Bro. Dunn, Brooklyn second, off a few days. Bro. MerfleJd third there, while having an op- Digitized by taoooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 651 eratlon performed on his nose, relieved by Bro. Bosomworth. No news from the sixth and seventh dis- tricts. Wish the brothers up there when they hear something would make a note of it and send it to me. Cert. 740. Springfield Division — A card was received from Bro. G. K. Tay- lor, stationed on a destroyer on his way to the North Sea. Bro. H. L. Adams, at Camp Taylor for the past seven months, has been transferred to West Point, where the 327tn Battalion men are putting on the finishing touches, as they will soon be leaving for the other side. Bro. W. E. Lee is now with the C. & A. Bro. A. M. Zimmerman goes to New Salem agency. R. L. Godfrey, a new man to third “AX,” vice Mehl, to Bowen agency. “Zold." St. Louis-Southwestern Ry., Div. No. 27. It is with great regret that we report the death of Bro. G. A. Horn. In him we have lost a well-loved brother and a good worker in the order. Bro. Horn entered the service of the St. L. & S. W. as telegraph operator on June 26, 1916, working in this capacity at Malden, Mo., until some time in February of this year, when he answered the call of his country, though only 20 years of age, and went to the front to fight for right and justice, giving his life — all he had to give— for his country. April 7 a cablegram was received by his parents that on April 6 he died from an accident while on duty “over there.” On Sunday, April 14, 1913, a public memo- rial was held in the opera house at Campbell. Mo., in his honor, and, even though Bro. Horn failed for some reason to remit his current term dues in our order and the M. B. D., Bros. M. N. Payne, W. A. Bennett C. A. Daly, B. E. Powers, and Messrs. W. H. Hensley of Rector, A. E. Underhfil of St. Francis, F. B. Freeman of Malden, Mo., and the writer attended the services, thereby making It known that we remember our co- workers, even in death. We trust that our presence consoled the grief-stricken family, to whom we say that again we will be united on the -other side, where there will be no more separation, no more tears, sorrows nor farewells. Bro. Horn made the greatest sac- rifice in the history of the world and we should forever remember that he gave his life that others might live ; he died for you and for me. On Sunday, February 3, I received a letter from him dated Chicago, and he informed me that he would soon sail for France. I answered this letter, and a short time ago I received another from him, from “somewhere in France,” and answered it immediately, but he was called to a better world before my last letter could have reached him. Those who contributed toward the floral offering which was presented to Mr. and Mrs S. M. Horn were : Brothers J. T. Shelton and C. B. Welch, $1 each, and M. N. Payne, C. A. Daly, B. E. Bowers, W. A. Bennett, V. M. Lawrence, H. E. Chism and J. Garnet, and Messrs. F. B. Freeman and W. H. Hensley, 50 cents each. Bro. Welsh is back at St. Francis from a trip over the road lfning up our few nons and assisting in getting out a new schedule. His reports are favorable and as soon as the new schedule can be put through we will all be Notified and a copy of furnished each. Bro. Day, Dexter Junction, was relieved by Bro. Underhill, formerly of St. Francis, and took the clerical job at Dexter. Bro. McChance of Clarendon went to Fomfelt second and Bro. Fisk to Marma- duke second. We have received a new seniority list and any one wanting to know their standing or anything regarding the new list will be fur- nished the information by either Bro. Welsh or Bro. Chism. Nearly all the boys are subscribing for Liberty Bonds. We could not invest our money in a better way. When Mr. McAdoo sees the long list of telegraph operators that have subscribed he may make that increase a little more. Any one who has not invested or who wishes to invest further can do so by applying to Bro. W. S. - Avery, wire chief The company has arranged for you to take them out in monthly payments. Let’s all make it 100 per cent strong on that line. It is now Bro. Middleton and Bro. Hutch- enson at “So.” Keep at that non next to you and line him up. And do not forget the motto, “Aro card , no favors ” H. E. Chism, Cert. 149. CARD OF THANKS. Order of Railroad Telegraphers : Please accept our sincere thanks for your kind remembrances to us in the beautiful floral offering given on the occasion of the public memorial, Sunday, April 14, in honor of our beloved son, George Adolph Horn, who lost his life in line of duty on April 6, some where in France. In the beautiful floral offering you have shown to us that you remember your brothei workers, even in death, and that tends to lessen, if possible, the grief we so deeply feel in the loss of our son. We take consolation in the fact that our son was a member of your faithful Order, and pray God that you may continue to be as faithful always as you have shown us, In this, our deepest grief. Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Horn and Family. Digitized by Google
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652 The Railroad Tei^grapher. Seaboard Air Line Ry., Div. No. 28. South Carolina Division — Local Chairman Vining called a meeting Sunday, March )t4, which was held at the Everett Hotel, Jacksonville, Fla., but there were only a few brothers present. Those who could have come and failed missed a grand treat. Several matters of importance were discussed and the business disposed of in a gratifying manner, one of which was the appointment ot a local board of adjust- ment by Bro. Vining, composed of Bros. T. H. Conway, Sycamore, S. C. ; F. S. Liles, Woodbine, Ga., and J. H. Walker, Jackson- ville, Fla., as assistant local chairmen; Bro. Walker also being appointed correspondent These brothers are expected to liven things up, and with the assistance of the othei brothers who can spare a few moments for such a good cause, we should have things in fine shape on the S. C. Division very shortly. Among those present not already named were: L. F. Branan, E. J. Hinely, W. B. Steele, R. L. Holliday, R. O. Stephens and T. B. Howell. Much enthusiasm was shown. Sorry Bro. W. A. Cole was unable to be present, and hope he can be with us next time.’ Regret to learn of the death of a brother of Bro. R. M. Turner, Aucilla, Fla., and ex- tend to the bereaved brother our heartfelt sympathy. Boys, now that a correspondent has been appointed, let’s all get busy, have a big write-up each month and make a live division of this seemingly dead one. Send me every month all the happenings you hear of in time, so I can get them to St. Louis before the 26th. Ckrt. 1728. North Carolina Division — A very interesting meeting was held at Hamlet on April 13, Local Chairman Moore presiding, with twenty-two present, some of whom are “old-timers” on this division. It was moved and carried that each mem- ber on North Carolina Division be requested to pay $1 by June 30, 1918, for the floral fund, and C. G. Pepper of Hamlet was elected secretary and treasurer of that fund and cor- respondents for this division. It is very im- portant to have such a fund, and by the plan proposed we will always have money on hand for flowers and incidental division expenses. Bro. Moore gave us a statement as to the raise we may expect as the result of the decision by the Government Wage Board. The division is in fair condition, but the importance of individual work at all stations was emphasized, and Marsten, N. C., was complimented as a station where a non can not reside. Mr. Phillips joined at the meeting and Bro. Lassiter, agent at Hamilton, paid up to date. Another meeting was held at Apex, N. C., April 14, the Sunday following the meeting at Hamlet. Dispatcher Bro. Currie made a big speech ; also Bro. Tally, Bro. Booker and a few others. Much good was accomplished. The old-time enthusiasm was aroused and the determination shown that our membership will not down. Bro. Cowan was on hand with his “bull- dog tenacity”; Bro. Rodyns with his wise counsel, and Bro. Statze, agent Son Pirns with his good advice. The young men seemed pleased and voted with vim. Regret I can not give the names of all who w’ere present. We must all help Local Chairman Moore to make this a better division, and lighten Bro. Cummings’ burdens by paying our dues promptly. C. G. Pepper, Div. Cor. Virginia Division^- An enthusiastic meeting, the largest for some time, was held in the Lewis Hotel at Porthwouth Sunday, April 14 with Local Chairman Bro. Penn presiding, and matters of great importance were discussed. It was regretted that on account of No. 12 being late some matters were not reached. Other meetings will be held shortly and we wouiu like to see eevry brother make a special effort to be present and find out what others think about what is going on. Brothers, wake up and secure the applica- tions of the few nons on this division. Right tiie faCe °f the revIsIon they are enjoying the benefits without helping in the work. As soon as a new-comer arrives, if a non, get busy ; if a member of some other division send his card to Bro. Cumming for a trans^ fer, costing only a three-cent stamp and a sheet of paper with the written request Bro. Cummings advise that there are sUll a few who have failed to secure an up-to- date card for this term. There are too many delinquents on this division. See that these brothers pay up. They are enjoying a con- tract to be proud of, taking the increases, overtime, vacations, etc., and should get right at once. Be loyal to your employer, “Uncle Sam,’ doing your bit and also be loyal to your organization. With an eight-hour basis, sixteen hours off of duty, take, your rest and see that you get it, and render good and prompt service to our brother dispatch- a bad and fearful Policy to guess. Be faithful and watchful. Div. Cor. East Carolina Division n ®ro* Ifenson» Hemingway, was a recent Mc- Coll visitor ; also Bro. Beiger from Clio, en route to Hamlet. Bro. Richardson's wife was called to Geor- gia on account of the Illness ot her father Several Russian engines are here, pulling fine tonnage. ' K Bro. Cummings has gone to the farm re- ”!ilol ^ McC°“ agency by Wilson from Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 653 Our T. M. is riding the locals these days ; look out, boys, be on the job. An extra set of dispatchers are on in Charleston now. Boys, send in the news so we can have a good write-up each month, and keep after the nons ; let’s make this division 100 per cent before June. Cert. 1713. Alabama Division -y Bros. Sutton and Guest, first and second trick dispatchers, have exchanged tricks for a while. Bro. A. M. Jones, extra, who went to sec- ond Vidalia, w'as recently .transferred from Div. 15. Bro. E. F. Tatum, agent Cussetta, has joined the army. Bro. C. C. Dinkins, extra, third Vidalia, to Cussetta agency, pending bids; relieved by extra, Smith, second Collins, relieved by ex- tra, Ramsey, third Richland, relieved by ex- tra, Surrency, first Vidalia. Bro. Lawson, formerly with the A. C. Lr. and Western Union, is on third Clisby Park. On account of the unification of agencies at Helena, Ga., Local Chairman Tidwell, agent there, was made joint agent for the Seaboard and Southern, the latter taking over our agency at McRae. Bro. Jones, "SA,” is still on the sick list ; also Bro. Smith, Daisy. Bro. Benton, re- cently discharged from the hospital, is reliev- ing Bro. Smith, and Paceurs, from the N. C. Division, is relieving Bro. Jones. Bro. R. L. Wood, car clerk to the chief dis- patcher, recently married in Vidalia. and went with the Southern Pacific in Nevada. We wish them success. Bro. Fanning, freight agent Vidalia, went to Savannah recently and brought his father home from the hospital, where he had been confined with a broken hip. We are glad to know he is improving. Sister Ramsey, agent Hagan, recently se- cured a carload of machinery for San Fran- cisco by express. Bro. Thomas, Lyons, relieved recently oy Bro. Jones. H. L. Carter, Cert. 1423. Missouri Pacific R. R.f Div. No. 31. Southern Kansas Division — Last month the boys at Neodesha called a meeting and a good bunch turned out. Local Chairman Newcomer was sent to St. Louis, and a meeting was called for the following Sunday to hear his report. This meeting was also well attended and the report well re- ceived. It was then decided to make the meet- ings permanent. Bro. H. C. Newcomer was elected chairman and Bro. Covher secretary. Meetings to be held the second Sunday of each month at different points along the Southern Kansas. Garnett, Kansas, was chosen as the next meeting point, April 14. This meeting was called to order at 7 :30 p. m. with Bro. H. C. Newcomer in chair and Bro. Covher being absent on account of sickness, Bro. S. B. Vinson was appointed secretary of the meeting. The meeting was well attended. Several good points were advanced and much good was done. Le Roy was chosen as the next meeting point, May 12. It was decided to ask the Wichita Division boys to join us and if O. K. to have a joint meeting at Yates Center. Bro. J. G. Fanning has moved to his farm at Turon, Kan. We wish him success. He was relieved by J. C. Russell from the W. U., who later went to Buffalo vice Bro. Callerman on sick list Bro. C. M. Gerth went to Lane second. Bro. Vernon Harper from Alicevllle succeed- ing him on Greeley third. J. E. Vinson, Ver- non nights, took the agency there. It is now Bro. F. M. Baker, third LeRoy ; Bro. W. V. Simpson, Conway Springs, and Bro. Vernon at Harper. The Union Depot at Lane will soon have up-to-date standard Iron semaphore. Don’t forget to send in your notes. Div. Cor. Joplin Division — The "war garden’’ fever has hit the boys on this territory and with the aid of the new daylight saving bill they are making good use of the longer evening hours. We are now anxiously waiting to hear that the eight-hour day, 40 per cent increase, etc., has been granted. Owing to sickness in our family last month we failed to get in any items for the jour- nal, but hope with the aid of the brothers scattered around over the divison to have a write-up each month hereafter. Wish we had a lot more like Bros. Smith, Brown and Wolfe, to whom I am indebted for the majority of these items. Bros. R. S. Dimmitt and R. A. Johnson, formerly on second and third Rich Hill, now with the Empire Pipe Line Company, at El- dorado, Kan., and Wellsville, Mo., respec- t’vely, write glowingly of their work, hours and pay and send their "73” to the boys. About all they have to do is "OS” the oil a few hours daily (except Sunday), draw their 150 per and spend It. Write again, boys, we like to hear from you occasionally. We regret to report that our good brother, Dickerson, is not yet able to report for duty at Liberal. Mr. Holmes, his relief, Is await- ing relief so the draft board can give him the "once over.” We had the pleasure of a short visit from Bro. Honey of third Joplin recently. Former Bro. Wiggins, back on the first Webb City, is now a benedict. We hope his wife will make him line up again. Bro. Fred M. Brown is now on second La- mar ; C. R. Smith on Sheldon second, and Chief Clerk Hedges from Cornell at Arma agency. There were no bidders for the latter on last bulletin. Digitized by Tooele
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654 The Railroad Telegrapher. G. R. Roberts of Sheldon has been ap- pointed relief agent out of Wynne. Bro. Stulz, Archie second, canceled his bid on Butler second and Arnold, third Butler, got it. Bro. Gay, of Pittsburg second, is laid up with smallpox at his old home in North Missouri. We hope for his early recovery and return to duty. Bro. Harris is now on Rich Hill third, re- lieved at Liberal by Holmes. Bro. S. J. Armstrong, now at Athol nights, will keep the division supplied with fish from the old Osage river. We hope he won't for- get our address. R. E. Rupard is now on Adrian second, re- lieved by Bro. Benney from Arlberg, Ark. The Madison branch boys are busy hand- ling government hay, logs, coal, grain, etc. Bro. Brown at Madison is taking care of 100 cells of main line battery, which don’t look right to us, and we are trying to help him out of it. Joplin Division is leading with a 92 per cent subscription to the third Liberty bonds, and our division officers are right proud of us. Our company will make it easy for all of us to do our bit, and we hope it goes to 100 per cent C. V. Rowe, Local Chairman. St. L.t I. Af. rf 8.— Wheeler T. Smith, son of S. L. Smith and brother of Brothers W. A. anu L. P. Smith, died at Texarkana, Ark., on April 15. Baltimore & Ohio R. R., Div. No. 33. NOTICE. A Joint meeting of all roads entering Cin- cinnati will be held at the Grand Hotel, Cin- cinnati, Wednesday evening, June 5, 8 p. m., and all members are cordially invited to at- tend. At this meeting* it is expected that Brothers Perham and Rawlins, the general chairmen of several divisions, and a large number of other “notables” will be present. It is a general get-together affair and wre trust every one that can will attend. O. E. Marsch, Chairman. Indiana Division — As the prices of many articles have already been limited by federal laws, an extension to include other necessities would offset the old method of setting the price by the demand. With a foundation under living conditions which would hold up for the duration of the W'ar, some definite compensation for labor covering the same period could easily oe agreed upon, the outlook would be brighter, and there would be some basis for settling disputes. Dealings with "Uncle Sam” would be more satisfactory than under private ma- nipulation. Bro. L. J. Swengel, third Dillsboro, has en- tered the military service. A rate of $2.75 semi-annual covers membership during such absences, the vacancies being advertised as temporary until the former employee re- turns. The agreement entered Into with the company has not yet been printed, and the division operator has received no instructions but the case has been referred to the general committee for adjustment New members : Rube Boileau, Oakley third ; J. P. Kaiser and J. A. Gleason, first and third levermen East IJnd of Storrs ; S. D. Hutchinson, agent Winton place, and Melvin Gaither, extra. Chief dispatchers, train dis- patchers and the rest of the family are warmly welcomed. Any discrimination against members, of any labor organizations by railroad officials should be reported for correction to the proper officials or to the Director General, if necessary. American- ism means nothing else but Americanism. Bro. Melvin, Gaither, is relieving Bro. Pat- more at C. E. Cabin, relieving the chief at "XY,” who is now a rule engineer on the Rule Examining Board in the management of train operation. It is regretted that we have no more gen- eral news in our division notes. The old- timer at some lonely mountain station likes to pick up a copy of our journal and find w..ai the "old crowd” is doing. Come on, boys, with the happenings around your sta- tions. Div. Cor. Conncllsville Division — On the sick list : Bro. Bruner, third Johns- town ; Bro. B. F. Stone, third Williams; Sis- ter Cummings, third Unionto^vn ; Cypher, sec- ond Jerome Junction, latter relieved by Bro. Be\ ington of Morgantown, and Dispatcher Moore, relieved by Bro. Bowers, extra dis- patcher at Addams. Bro. Lentz, third AddamS, is getting out a patent on a gas mask for his gray mare "Nellie." Some dispute between him and Dis- patcher Addams appears to be holding the business part of the deal up, and “Kirbie” is singing, "The old gray mare ain’t like she used to be." Third, recently added to Hooversville, goes to Mr. Price. Boys, keep after the nons and help to line them up. Local Chairman Bloom went over the S. & C. branch recently and secured several ne*v members. Men are so scarce it is hard for him to get relief to all of them. Let’s help him to bring them in. Fourteen inches of snow fell on that branch on April 12. Bro. Dunbar, third Jerome Junction, visited his mother at Greensburg. Brother Southard, first Jerome Junction, was a recent Pittsburg caller, and Bro. Robertson, second Sloyes- town at Johnstown. Bro. Cockley has resigned as night wire cnief at “D," and is giving his entire time to his paper, "The Meyersdale Commercial.” Boys, give him a subscription and your job work. "Dunnik/’ Cert 2050. Digitized by Google
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The/Railroad Telegrapher. 655 Members N. C. Division, Greetings : Through Bro. P. W. Adams, I am in receipt of a handsome gold watch chain and engraved emblem charm, together with the papers which covered the division, and I find with' one exception every office represented, so I am taking this method of reaching each one of you and expressing my appreciation of your good will as shown by your gift. We are all subject to errors, but it is my aim to give each one of you a square deal, and also to see that our schedule is carried out. I am not in a- position to watch the entire division, but if each one of you will help a little everything will work out smoothly. We went “over the top” in our goal for 1800 new members, the finals were 2071. Let us do even better yet, and eliminate the ‘‘slacker” from this division. In order to niake this a better place to live we must , do two things, help the government by buying bonds, and help ourselves by getting rid of the non. Fraternally yours, G. A. McBride, Local Chairman. New Castle Division Notes — It is now Brothers Wallace at “OA” New Castle, also Bro. Alexander at Cuyahoga Falls ; welcome into the fold, boys, “do your bit” by bringing others in. We need you, and you need us. The following additional contributors to the seniority list fund received : Brothers Brillhart, Bedell, Shriver, Siering, and Stout and Mr. Milburn. A strict account Is being kept and any surplus will apply on the print- ing of a new list next year. We regret to announce the death of Train Dispatcher J. J. Green at his home in New Castle on Friday, April 12. He was of the old P. & W. force and returned to this di- vision about a year ago. George Mace, of Kent, formerly of the sig- nal gang, who was drafted, died at Camp Sherman, and was given military burial at Standing Rock Cemetery, Kent. The family have the sympathy of many of the boys of his acquaintance. Bros. Gorham and J. M. Kelley are now m Camp Sherman. A card from the former, dated April 12, gives his address as 10th Company, 3d Trn. Bn., Sec. M 42, Camp Sherman, Ohio. Bro. Dieter is now on third at his old home town. Nova, relieved at “BD” Tower by Titus, who relieved Bro. McLaughlin on first there while off with an attack of lumbago. Bro. Pennel is back on Ravenna first, after undergoing an operation for fistula. A serious accident happened at Haselton recently, owing to the improper handling of the block. Brothers and sisters, be careful in this and make the proper notations on your block sheets. It is far better to stop a train and be safe than to let it go and be sorry. The operator involved was not a member. Bro. Bane* Is back at “UN” Tower, after spending several days at home, visiting Lis brother, who soon leaves for camp, and Bro. Hunter, “UN” Tower second, was off a few days visiting his boy, who Is about to leave for France. Bro. Stephenson, Easton, off sick, relieved by Bro. Browning. The Liberty Loan Special covered this di- vision Monday the 2 2d, and found no slack- ers among the -members. Thanks to Bro. Mack, “BD,” for notes again. Some one from the Mahoning valley and the “Snake” please send in a few each month, then we can have a real news letter. This division is in pretty good shape, but still room for Improvement. One agent and one clerk “delink,” and two scheduled agen- cies not in line. The rest of the nons are between Ohio Junction and “UN” Tower. Brothers in that territory, make a special effort to run them in. All we need is for every one to push and make this 100 per cent. Cert. 410. Toledo Division — After having been closed for a little over a year, a new cabin, “WF,” has been placed at South Dayton, which will furnish posi- tions for three more operators. Bro. C. W* Denise, second Old River Junc- tion, Is “scooting” about the country in his new Henry. He's some “scooter.” The new cut-off from East Dayton to North Dayton soon to be completed will di- vert considerable traffic through Dayton, re- quiring a few more ops on the Wellston Di- vision, Get your bids in on them, brothers. "KD” Cincinnati recently closed, both oper- ators being transferred to “SG.” Vice Bro. Richard D. Slagle, formerly at Carlisle, “AX” cabin, and elsewhere, would be pleased to hear from all of his old pals of the B. & O. His address is 624th Aero Squadron, Morrison, Va. Bro. Gebhart is still on third Miamisburg. Say, “Hello, Gep," on the ’phone after 11 p. m., and he wdll answer. If you know of some good brother who needs a job, send him to Division Operator, Clayton's office. He is looking for good men. Vacation time Is near. Dig in an<l have a war garden along the right of way. The company urges you to do your bit, and a garden is just the thing. Everybody send in a few items for our write-up and show the rest of them that the Toledo Division is wide awake. Cert. 1809. Toledo Division Notes — Bro. G. A. Rozelle, agent Leipsic Junction, Is one of our recent additions, and we wel- come him into the order. Bro. F. J. Totten, third Leipsic Junction, is spending his vaca- tion at Kenwood, Fla. Examinations on the new book of rules has commenced. Might be well for some of us to Digitized by v^oooLe
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656 The Railroad Telegrapher. post up a little. Block sheets should be kept up complete and all information called for shown thereon, as station inspectors visiting offices found some not in very good shape. Vacations started April 1. Requests should be sent in promptly, so the extra men can be lined up for this work. All the eleven mem- bers at Leipsic on the D. T. & I., N. Y. C. & St. L. and B. & O. are up to date. Why not have a joint meeting there. It is convenient for both B. & O. and N. K. P. boys to reach. Bro. Jacobs, first Bates Tower, was exam- ined for military service at Bowling Green recently. Boys on the south end, please send me a few notes. I am too far up to know what changes are made down there. Box cars are more plentiful now and ship- ments are moving as rapidly as possible. It is a pleasure to note a write-up of the newly organized K. & I. T. R. R., at Louis- ville, Ky. This committee has accomplished much in a short time and has an almost solid membership. S. P. Guthrie, Cert. 1882, Belmore. Ohio. Members of Cleveland Division : We welcome as new brothers, Fred Mc- Cormick, J. W. Bishop, J. B. Drake, assistant agents H. C. Chaney and F. S. Jackson, operators. This makes us seventy-one mem- bers up to June 30 and a few paid to Decem- ber 31. Two delinquents. A few members in other lines still keep up their cards. We have six new men recently hired to write soon, so we are doing our best to help Bro. Rawlins to his quota. Bro. J. W. Fielder has an up-to-date.' All the rest were commercial men who will soon have one. I am well pleased with the situation. As fast ^s men can be secured new offices will be opened up. Lake Junction is now a three- trick office. “CS" will be made a four-trick, Piedmont a three-trick instead of A. O. B., and Benton a three-trick. When any question comes up, remember there are two sides to it. We must not allow anything to creep in that might mar the serenity of our organization. Live up to the agreement and see that the company do like- wise. I wish I could thank some of your for notes. W. A. McCabe. Wheeling Division — CARD OF THANKS. We wish to thank the O. R. T. for their kindness for the past six years in taking care of the dues of P. W. Martin ; also the members of Wheeling Division for their beau- tiful floral offering at his death. Respectfully, MRS. P. W. MARTIN AND SON, Farmington, W. Va. C. & E. I. R. R., Div. No. 34. Chicago Division — The first meeting held on this division since the addition to Schedule No. 7 by in- serting Supplement No. 1, carrying a cash value far exceeding any previous revision of schedule, convened at the Aetna Hotel, Dan- ville, 111., Sunday, March 17th, 1918. Bro. Skiles explained the application of our new Sunday rule, pro rata overtime and Articles 5a and 6b, and it was found that some of the brothers were short-changing themselves account of not understanding the correct ap- plication of these rules. If you are in doubt as to any rule, write your local chairman and get all you are entitled to under our schedule. Bro. Skiles also read the proposed schedule presented to the Wells-Fargo & Co. Express by the committee representing all railroads in the United States handling that company’s business. This committee is com- posed of six general chairmen, of which Bro. Skiles is a member, and convened at Wash- ington, D. C., April 1st. The brothers present at the meeting were : H. W. Lewis, V. C. Railsback, Mike L. Harty, B. S. Stephens, J. W. Childers, J. F. Miller, Jack Culp, J. F. Friend, F. J. Lauer, F. S. Roman, E. O. Cotter, C. C. Hornbuckle, L. E. Sherrill, E. Brown, Wm. Johnson, Robt. Bahls, Chas. Shelby, W. H. Bowers, Walter Hible, O. E. Aikman. R. A. Church, C. J. Shotts, L. E. Angel, C. F. Benge, W. T. Lewis, Paul Odum, C. A. Vail, W. W. Richner, H. Sperlin, Luke J. Gavin, V. L. Burton, J. H. Owen, Bro. Williams of the Wabash Ry., Bro. Wade of the Big Four, O. A. Humbert, J. E. Kennedy, Walter Man- gram, O. A. HIxon and H. H. Skiles. Every- one rightfully considered their time well spent by attending. These division meetings are called for our benefit, and all Interested in improving their conditions should attend. A meeting of all the brothers employed on the roads entering Danville, to form an O* ^ T. Club and hold regular meetings there will be held shortly. Bro. Roy Spurgin, Milford days, spent his 15-days’ vacation with home folks at Wag- goner, 111. It is now Bros. Culp, Haney; J. E. Gor- don, “JO”; Marsh and Lenox, Yard Center; Wilson, Danville yard ; E. A. Terry, Bronson ; O. M. Jolly, A. B. Thompson, Hoopeston ; E. Arnold, Atherton; and E. E. Barnes, Ha- ley tower, Bro. C. J. Fleck, agent Thornton, is now chief clerk to F. H. Rutherford. Bro. Skiles’ home burned to the ground March 12th, destroying almost everything; so if any of the boys have written him and have not received a reply, they will now know that their letters were In the fire. Bro. Joe Lanham Is back as relief agent CoL F. Benge, third "GO,'’ has moved from Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 657 Dolton to the “Holy City.” His catarrhal attack has entirely disappeared. Bro. P. Odum, "X.\” Danville, is now at "GO” Rock Island. Bro. M. G. Tremore, agent Woodland, goes to cashier Clinton, vice Bro. L. D. Hollings- worth, to the army. We apologize to Bro. L. O. Wilhite for having mentioned him recently at “Mr.” Bro. J. K. Baker, first Yard Center, on his way home, was found dead on the train at Femwood. We offer our sincere sympathy to his relatives and friends. Cert. 320. Chicago Division, Sidell Branch — Bro. Terry, second Bronson, 111., is now in the dispatcher’s office at Danville as ab- stracting clerk, relieved by Bro. Church. Bro. Jolley was a Homer, 111., visitor Sun- day recently, taking pictures of the Grow- ing Spring. Bro. L. D. Cable, relief agent, goes to Sidell Jet. Sidell Branch is 100 per cent strong on the Third Liberty Bond drive. Let’s show that we are patriotic by putting all the money we can spare into this great cause. The motto that wins is, “// you can’t go across , come across ” and do your bit. Cert. 991. Illinois Division — Bro. C. A. Austin, first “SX” Tower, off five days owing to the serious illness of his mother at Mason, was relieved by Bro. Mor- ton from Altamont. Bro. Hudson, third there, also off a few days recently on account of the death of his mother. Bro. F. J. Dewey, second Findlay Jet., on a 30-days’ trip to the Pacific Coast, re- lieved by Bro. See of Division 36. Bros. Saterlee and Odum from St. James were St. Elmo callers recently. Bro. Ferguson, second Salem yard, is being relieved by Bro. Kirk. It is now Bro. Kinnison, first Okaw. Get your hoe and spade, put in a large garden, and all buy a Liberty Bond who possibly can, and help in every way possible to assist the boys in France to whip Kaiser Bill. Mr. McAdoo says : There will be no dis- crimination against an employe for becom- ing a member of any labor organization. Keep after the none ; they now have no ex- cuse for not joining. L. E. Reqenold, Div. Cor. Penna. Lines West, Div. No. 36. St. Louis Div., West End — We are going over the T. O. P. We had another rousing meeting at Green- ville March 26th, and another in the , Star Building, St. Louis, April 11th. Bro. J. E. Hindmarch was appointed acting local chair- man of the St. Louis Division. Bro. C. B. Rawlins, our genial and hustling grand secretary and treasurer, proved quite a drawing card at the Greenville meeting, as we had the largest and most enthusiastic gathering we have had to date. He showed us what the organization had accomplished on other roads and injected a lot of “pep” into the boys. Bro. E. E. Deleplain of the Grand Division was also present and gave us an interesting talk. Nons are getting hard to find now on the west end. There is no excuse now for any- one not to have an up-to-date. Any telegra- pher who will sit back and watch his fellow workmen get him an increase in wages and better working conditions, and not contribute in any way, is a “slacker” of the rankest kind. We hope the brothers on the Middle Divi- sion will give the nons no rest over there until they are all lined up and learn to work for their own good. “No card, no favors” should be used to the very letter. We owe this to our families if nothing more. We have a right to a living equal to our brother tradesmen, and no one has a right to deny us this. There is no reason why we should not have a schedule the same as the men on other roads. We are now working for the Government, whose officials recognize our right to organize and bargain collectively through our chosen representatives. Secre- tary of Labor Wilson made public a short time ago, through the press, a program for a national mediation board, composed of six representatives of labor, six representatives of capital, ancK two men representing the public, to be known as the National War Labor Board, to settle all labor disputes. Let us all show the same spirit as the boys who are “ over there” fighting for Democracy, that when they return they may see that we have also won the battle for our rights as American citizens, and be able to enjoy better wages and working conditions also. Another meeting was held at Greenville the latter part of April, largely attended by the boys, who walked six and eight miles, pumped hand-cars and hired rigs, driving ten and twelve miles to get there. Such a spirit will build up our organization, have a tendency to make them put forth extra efforts in our behalf. We want a 26-workday month, with over- time for Sunday and all legal holidays, which the operators on other railroads in the United States are now enjoying. Every man should give his very best service to the Government and show “Uncle Sam” that O. R. T. men are the best and most efficient in the long run and entitled to better treatment than we have been accorded by our former employers. Be care- ful not to do anything that will bring cen- sure on any of our men in this department. Digitized by v^ooole
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C58 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Sweeney, Formosa, while attending a funeral, was relieved by E. I. Bolin. Bro. Guy, Gillespie second, called home owing to a visit of the stork, was relieved by Bro. E. C. Tennyson, relieved on Mulberry Grove by Mrs. L. E. Tennyson. Bro. Tennyson later went to third Hagarstown, relieved at Highland by Bro. N. I. Gillespie, who later relieved the agent at Montrose, on vacation, and Bro. Marti, at Highland. Bro. Pete Glasner was relieved at Hagars- town by E. J. Bolin, who later went to Dexter third pending bids. Bro. Roy Bolin relieved Middleton at Greenville a few days recently, and Bro. R. S. Fagler, at St. Elmo, by Bro. Roy. Later Bro. Bolin went to Ef- fingham hospital, but is reported improving. Bro. Pryor is now* on second Brownstown ; Bro. Tucker on third Effingham ; Bro. J. H. Roy to third Highland ; and Bro. Bob Ryan to third Knightsville. We are sorry to see Bob leave the West End. Bro. Thomas, second Effingham, had to re- sort to the old hay burner lights recently when the electric feed-wire broke. Bro. R. S. Fogler was called to California owing to the death of his infant son. We extend Bro. and Mrs. Fogler our deepest and sincere sympathy. Bro. Roy Keller’s recent motorcycle acci- dent is causing Bros. Darner and Reynolds to double. Bro. Munie was reliieved several days by Bro. Waldrit. BrQ. Pete Glasner relieved Bro. J. E. Hind- march while he attended the meeting at St. Louis. The latter later relieved Bro. W. Surtzer at Collinsville while he attended opening ball game. We are all sorry to hear of the recent death of Bro. Frank Haper’s son, and extend to him and his family our sincere sym- pathy. Bros. Wilson and Luther doubled at Wil- lows during Bro. Haper's absence. Help “Uncle Sam” by buying a bond. Ckrt. 27. St. Louis Div. — West End Notes — The meeting at St. Louis on April 11th was well attended, and we expect a still larger turnout on May 16th of the first and third trick men near the city. Among those present at St. Louis were : Bros. Joe Pierron, Sid Sweeney, Formosa, and Bro. Henry Miller, Collinsville. Bro. D. E. Ray now views the landscape from a Ford runabout. Bro. Theo. Gaston, third Brownstown, is raising strawberries, and Bro. Hearn, first Altamont, has gone into the chicken business extensively. Bro. J. H. Ray’s family there have all recovered from their recent illness. Bro. Raymond Keeler is at Vandalia, and his brother, Heber, on third "GM,” St. Louis. Bro. Dick Fogler has returned to third St. Elmo from a two-weeks’ layoff and trip to Los Angeles, where one of his babies died. The division extends sympathy. Bro. Bill Tucker, Smithboro, goes to third at Effingham, and Bro. Earl Tennyson is on third Hagarstown. Bro. Reynolds, who does the “pigiron stunt” 11 :00 p. m. to 7 :00 a. m. at Vandalia, is the “champeen” fisherman on the Okaw. Bro. Chas. J. Keplar, Dexter, has built a new home, having changed tricks with Bro. Tom Husted so he could work to better ad- vantage on same. Vincennes Division — I am very much pleased with the Interest shown both by brothers and nons, but there is still room for improvement, and each brother must take it on himself to see these nons and have them line up. Make it a point to prove to them that what we want is what they want without a doubt, and that they are delaying our making these wants known to the proper ones. You can about count the nons now on the fingers of one hand, but we must get them all in to have the per- centage we need. We must all get together and discuss O. R. T. matters where and whenever we meet each other, exchange notes and keep posted as to the membership on our respective divi- sions ; also see that the new men who come on our line are up-to-date. If not, get after them and give them no rest until they are carrying a card. We all owe it to the Order to keep up-to-date at all times. Bro. Wm. Chambers, agent Sand bora, is on vacation, angling for bass in sunny Flor- ida, relieved by Bro. Burnam from first, and he by Bro. B. B. Walters, relieved on third by C. B. Grass. Those who attended the O. S. & D. meet- ing at Indianapolis from this end recently were : Bro. Burnam and Agents A. E. Lee, Edwardsport ; A. D. McKee, Bruceville ; J. E. Rampley, Bicknell, and Bro. R. K. Yardley, agent Vincennes. Bro. M. F. Jones succeeds T. A. Jones at Marco agency, who goes to Lyons first, va- cated by Bro. Jones. Boys, keep posted on the changes. After while we will have someone appointed to receive the news. Local Chairman, Cert. 32. Chicago Terminal Division — Our committee negotiating with the gen- eral managers at Pittsburgh were obliged to wait until the Railroad Wage Board de- cided what increase we were to receive. Brothers, remit your dues promptly, also your insurance assessments for the last half of 1918 to the secretary and treasurer. Our regular meeting was postponed on ac- count of the absence of First Vice-President Brown. Digitized by u.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 659 Bro. Malta was relieved a few days by Bro. Pinkerton. Bro. Rapp was on the sick list a few days. It is now Bro. R. C. Trickey at “GF.” Kindly forward your notes to West Madi- son St. via “Pan Handle/’ or no writeup. J. B. L., Div. Cor., Cert 926. Pere Marquette R. R., Div. No. 39. Canadian Division — Bro. Hall, who relieved Bro. Bolton, Ruth- ven, on his week’s vacation, later relieved Bro. Esterbrooke, agent Wallaceburg, for a week's vacation due him from 1917 and for his week in 1918. Brothers, when you want your holidays write the assistant superintendent and keep a record of your application. One brother on this division never received his vacation for 1917 or pay because he neglected to keep a copy of his letter requesting it. We are very sorry to hear of the death of Bro. Claus’ only child. The little fellow was always a general favorite with all who knew him. The family has our sincere sym- pathy In this bereavement. Every man on this division is up-to-date except Vrooman, at Sarnia. Let every brother apply the rule, “No card, no favors” with all force to him. He has promised repeatedly to join, but does not do so. I think a meeting should be arranged for some Sunday at Blenheim. I have great faith in this get-together business. We will need a new schedule soon if we are to keep within hailing distance of the high cost of living, and the sooiier we take the proper steps the sooner we will get our ideas be- fore the management. We should all pay a little more attention to Bro. Newton on No. 43 wire, especially to his "23’’ messages. We must assist one an- other, and the least we can do is answer promptly when we hear him calling. Brothers, if you expect a writeup from this division you will have to send me some news. Div. Cor., Cert. 141. Hocking Valley Ry., Div. No. 40. Toledo Division — General Chairman Hicks has been in Washington, D. C., the greater part of the time since the first of the year, looking after our interests * in the wage question. He is always on the job whenever there is a chance to benefit the members of Divi- sion 40. We have had several additions to our membership recently, but there are still a few nons on the division who should be given no rest until they line up. A dissatisfied howl always comes the louder from a non or delinquent Remember these fellows, and in your dealings with them enforce our motto, “No card, no favors” They are not friendly to us, why should we be friendly to them. It is just as necessary to belong to the organization since the Government has taken control, if not more so ; therefore we must do everything in our power to increase its usefulness. Keep me posted on the changes in oper- ators along the line, so I may keep a correct record of them and where located ; also give me their post office address. This informa- tion will be of great assistance to me in making my report to Bro. Kiser, G. S. & T., and if a non lands on this division I can get after him for his application. When you secure a new member give me his name so I can mark him off the non list. We have had ten new members on this divi- sion since January 1st. We want to make the Toledo Division 100 per cent member- ship and must secure every non on the division. Application blanks can be se- cured by notifying me. W. F. Baylbs, Local Chairman. Toledo Division Notes — Some of the brothers were called for army duty April 26th, but was unable to secure their names. Bros. Wilcox and Ballinger, second and third “MD,” were on the sick list recently. Bro. M. F. Bishop was also on the sick list several days, causing Bros. Cohagan and Beard to double until he returned ; and Bros. Reed and Hayes, second and third “RO,” doubled one day recently owing to the ill- ness of Bro. Blackman’s wife. Bro. G. D. Westover, third “NY,” also off several days on account of sickness, causing Bros. Green and C. E. Westhover to double. Div. Cor., Cert. 1167. Boston A Maine R. R., Div. No. 41. To All Members. Dear Brothers and Sisters : — I am taking this way of getting to you all, knowing how closely you all read The Telegrapher. Our System Division has been in effect now a little over three months. Since then we have taken in eighty new members, lost three members by death, and have twenty in the military service, whose dues and in- surance the organization Is taking care of, and have a paid general chairman on the road who is “Johnny on the spot” and Is looking after the committee and grievance work in the same efficient manner as he has always done, but now giving his entire time to it. We started in on January 1st, 1918, with a surplus of $2,950.00, and the three months ending March 31st, when the books were audited, showed a balance on haqd of $5,243.32, which is some gain when you take into consideration that we have had two sessions of the general committee and one Digitized by tjooole
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660 The Railroad Telegrapher. of the sub-committee, which we have paid out of it, and still have that balance. To members who have not paid their dues for the current term, I earnestly ask you to clean this matter up as soon as pos- sible, as this condition should not exist. Now that the weather has "broken,” we are to have a series of meetings on the system. The first one was held in Plymouth, N. H., April 13th. Watch for the notices. You will get them when held in your terri- tory, and when you do, be sure to attend. Our membership is now over 1,000. Keep them coming, and it will not be long before the 100 per cent mark will be reached. It is with deep regret that we learned of the death of Bro. Graham of Newington, N. H. ; Bro. Hamilton of Fitchburg, Mass., and Bro. Fuller of Dover, N. H. The order has lost three earnest workers, who were ever faithful to the cause, and we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the relatives of these departed brothers. With best wishes, I am, Yours, fraternally, H. L. Jones, Gen. Sec. & Treas., B. & M. System, Div. 1. C. d P. North— Bro. T. E. Wheeler, now with the 177nd Aero Squadron, has arrived safely in France and is in good health. Have not heard from Bro. Banks, Winslow, since he enlisted. Bro. L. M. Hunt is away on account of the sickness and death of his mother. All the brothers extend him their deepest sympa- thy. Chief Dispatcher Ltlley is being relieved by Dispatcher Bonner, and he by Ouimet, re- lieved by Bro. Paige, and he of the station work at “BA" during his absence. Bro. Burt, on sick list, relieved by Bro. Mullavey. Some of the brothers on the south end kindly send me the news. F. Li. Belanger, Cert. 347. Portland Division — In the February Telegrapher I stated that Bro. George Knapp of “SA” Salem, had returned to the Portland Division dis- patcher’s office, but failed to note that he was relieved by Bro. Barton, an up-to-date member of Division 41. I hope the brother will pardon this oversight. Southern Division Notes — A. R. Mason, former assistant agent North Reading, is now agent at Silver Lake, Mass. ; Miss E. Harold is operator-clerk at Lexing- ton, Mass., and Bro. T. OTIare, Billerica Shops, has a simlar position at Enfield, N. H. No bids received on operator-clerk at Wilmington, Mass. Bro. M. H. Cooney goes to Walnut Hill, Mass., agency, and Bro. J. J. Cooney to assistant ticket agency at Woburn, Mass. Bro. J. A. Brown, operator Bedford, is re- lieving Agent Haynes, on the sick list, re- lieved by Eddie Murphy, relieved by Bro. Frank R. Fulton on third Forge Village, Mc- Donald taking second there. S. E. Goodwin. Fitchburg Division — Bro. Landry, Montague agency, goes to first ; Bro. Patnode, second Fitchburg, to second, and Bro. Jones, from the N. H. R. R. to third Greenfield dispatcher's office ; all three tricks posted as temporary positions. Bro. Campbell, second East Fitchburg, goes to second trick Fitchburg. Sister Pearl Cossins, Littleton, is seriously ill at her home in Fitchburg. The boys all extend their sympathy and hope for her early recovery. We are all patiently awaiting the Govern- ment report on increased pay, which will date back to January 1st, 1918. Boys, all you have to do when you want another meeting is to petition your local chairman. Bro. Fogarty has to keep his message business clear besides getting his car report. Help him all you can by having your 77*s ready when he calls. Please keep me posted on positions open for bids. General Telegraph Office — Bro. E. H. Beaudet, “X” from this office, has been commissioned second lieutenant in the Engineers’ Corps of the Transportation Department of the U. S. Army. He received his training at Camp Devens, Mass., later taking charge of the Government telegraph office at regimental headquarters, and we predict as successful a future for him as he has shown In other capacities with the Boston & Maine. Bro. Fred J. MacKenna, formerly of this office, arrived safely over there “Somewhere in France,” and is now wireless electrician, first-class, at some seaport. Thanks to Bro. Provost, North Leominster, for news items. Apparently he is the only one that hears any news. If the other brothers and sisters will send me a few notes each month I can keep this division on the map. S. Goodwin, “VN,” “GM," Cert. 406. Erie R. R., Div. No. 42. Susquehanna Division — I have been appointed by Superintendent Cole a member of the committee to solicit subscriptions for the Third Liberty Bond issue from the agents and operators. Bros. Hadley, Barkalow and Derrig fur- nished the notes for this writeup. I hope every operator and agent will sub- scribe for these Liberty Bonds. Although it is hard to make both ends meet on our present salaries, It is our duty as loyal Digitized by LiOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 661 American citizens to go the limit on this, to help those who have gone "over there" to get the Kaiser, pur lot may be hard, but can't compare with theirs. Therefore, let us deny ourselves to help this great cause. Bro. Wezloski, third trick Canisteo, off on account of sickness, obliged Bros. Hadley and Carpenter to double until a man was secured. Bro. W. F. Kelleher was off sev- eral days with la grippe. Former Bro. J. L. Wilson was taken out of train service on account of the shortage of operators, and is now on third Endicott Bro. L. T. Stuart, second Addison, has en- listed and is now in training. Bro. Fred Schular has been exempted. Bro. Geo. Chichester has moved his family to Corning owing to the curtailed train serv- ice. Our loss is Coming’s gain. We are very glad to note that Bro. Shaughnessey is able to resume work again after an extended spell of sickness. Bro. F. Jackson, second Cameron, was recently married. Congratulations 1 Bro. S. L. Jackson was relieved several days by Dick Verian, who has been re- instated to his old position as dispatcher. We all heartily congratulate him. He is a fine lad and deserves it. Dispatcher Donnel- lan has been promoted to chief dispatcher of the Delaware Division. We are sorry to lose him but heartily congratulate him on his well deserved promotion. E. J. Hesskr, G. C. Delaware Division — Bro. C. D. Shiner relieved Bro. Fortner, who relieved Local Chairman Gallagher on account of sickness. Both he and Bro. J. A. McGuire were off a few days with measles. Bro. Tobin relieved Bro. Bridge while attending a conference at Washington in the interest of the order. Bro. Layton off, taking in the sights. Bro. Hempstead, agent Gulf Summit, passed examination and is now a full-fledged soldier. Alex, is a good shot and should be able to get the Kaiser. Bro. Kane is off on account of sickness. The slogan for Division 42 during this year is for every brother to secure at least one new member as long as there are any nons to get. Let's make it solid. Cert. 1766. Marion Division — Brothers, let us start our campaign now for new recruits, for the 60,000 membership as outlined in the March Telegrapher. If we do our part we also strengthen Division 42. Let each one bring in a new member this year and show that the membership of the Marion Division is alive. I will be pleased to mail blanks to any brother who will use them. All the agents are now entitled to the express commission during their seven-days’ vacation, as their salaries are based on those commissions, and therefore belongs to them during their absence without loss of pay. Don’t forget if you have any grievances, that you have a right to have them adjusted. Send the happenings from your localities to the local chairman on or before the 20th of each month, as they have to be in St. Louis by the 26th to be published in next issue. M. R. Paxton, Local Chairman. Chicago Terminal Division — Bro. Radllyack passed the examination for U. S. service, also Bro. Smith. We hope to get two good brothers in their places. Mr. Abbott, relieving Bro. Radilyack, promises to come in if he lands one of these vacan- cies. An error was made in Issuing our new quarterly passes, only good for one division, Chicago to Griffith. They were returned and corrected to read Chicago to Marion, O. Bro. Cozad, second Griffith, is trying out a new job at Huntington. "X," Cert. 1721. Canadian Northern Ry., Div. No. 43. Western Div., Fourth Dist. — A meeting was held at Kindersley April 7th. Present : Whitlock, local chairman, Chinook ; Waters and Parker, Kindersley ; Pitts, Fairmount ; Gallagher, Pinkham ; Strong, Flaxcombe ; Morrison, Oyen ; Gainer, Excel. ; Stains, Lanflne ; Campain, Craigmyle, and Gerrard, Delia. While the attendance was fair, it was disappointing, in view of the fact that we have not held a meeting for several months owing to heavy traffic and severe weather conditions, making it Impossible for a number of the brothers to get away. However, there was no reason- able excuse for a great many brothers being absent who failed to attend. We have a good local chairman, who has our interest at heart, and spares no effort in furthering the interest of the order. If there is no other way in which we can show our appreciation of his invaluable work, we can at least turn out in force to the meetings. Several matters came up last Sunday important, as a new schedule. Some brothers are in the habit of remaining at home and calling up their neighbor the following day to ask what took place at the meeting. This is a practice which should be discontinued. Grievances are not at a minimum on the division, partly due to the inconsistency on the part of some ot the brothers in bidding on stations. Several cases have come up during the last few months where a brother bid on a station, and having been awarded it and his o\vn station bulletined, he imme- diately cancels his application, deciding to remain at his old position. While this is not such a terrible offense, there are alto- gether too many of these cases, necessitating Digitized by tjOOQie
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662 The Railroad Telegrapher, extra work on the part of the officials. Other cases have arisen where a brother is as- signed a position, and after it is assigned, an older brother claims his application was not considered. It develops bids become lost ; therefore you are instructed to send a copy thereof to your local chairman. With this system in vogue the difficulty .will be overcome. Bro. Pitts was called to Fairmount during meeting, but returned shortly, breaking all of Barney Oldfield’s records with his ’’little old Ford.” Bro. A. D. Morrison proved himself a live wire while at the meeting, but was called to Kindersley hospital for a few hours. For- tunately, his trouble was not serious. Bro. Menzies went to Forestburg, leaving Hanna vacant. As the living rooms there have been converted into officer, it is not so desirable a position as heretofore, only $15.00 a month additional being allowed in salary to offset this. Bro. Frego, Hanna, resigned April 1st, leaving for an eastern province, claiming the dry climate after April 1st would be rather unhealthy. Brothers, this is my first attempt at a writeup. I was appointed correspondent at the April 7th meeting, and if the brothers will be good enough to send me a few notes each month I will endeavor to give the dis- trict a writeup, as heretofore we have been very poorly represented in The Teleg- rapher. Cert. 861, Excel Alta. Brazeau Section — Bro. J. J. Laing goes to Alsask nights, and Bro. D. E. Hurley from Saskatoon Division to Merid agency. Bro. Wright, Big Valley nights, has Joined the U. S. Navy. Cert. 1066. Ontario Diet., Toronto Div. — Brethern were called together, Temple Building, Toronto, Sunday, April 14th. Fol- lowing present : J. R. McLane, in the chair ; Evans, his right-hand bower, owing to the absence of Patrick McKeown on account ill- ness ; Barrons, Yarker ; Freeman, Newburg ; Flynn, Strathcona ; Jack Galbraith, Deser- onto ; Fisk and Garvin, Belleville ; Sprentall, Preston ; Boyce and McDonald, Trenton ; Gummer, Grafton ; Leonard, Cobourg ; Hardy, Port Hope ; George, Osaca Town ; Hall, Starkville ; Robinson, Mount Albert ; Eby, Richmond Hill ; “Daddy” McKeown and the three branches, Mayhew, Dyer and Hea- ley, Rosedale ; Bell, Miller and Richards, Toronto "V” office ; Bell, Marmora ; Finnigan, Frankford ; Gauther, Hillier; Hart, Moscow; Simmons, Bannockburn ; Fishett, Elderado ; and C. H. Reid, main line relief agent. Meeting closed 5 :30 p. m. Business discussed in usual manner, and matters straightened out as far as could be done in absence of our general chairmaji and assistant chairman. We appreciate the kindness of Chief Dis- patched Fox for letting the brothers away. Yarker is a very busy spot, so Bro. Bunn and his night operator could not get off, but Bro. Barrons, the freight checker, was there. Bro. Bell, “V” Toronto, resigned from “ham factory teacher" in one of the Toronto schools when advised he was doing wrong. Bro. Leggitt goes to Brechin agency, vice Bro. Reid, appointed relief agent on main stem. Bro. Badley, Smiths Falls nights, reported for military service April 2nd, relieved by W. J. Miller. We all hope for his safe and speedy return. Bro. Baldwin to Deseronto days, vice Bro. Fairbrain, joining the C. A. F., Toronto ; Bro. R. B. Hynd to Cherry Wood agency, and Bro. C. A. Eby to Richmond Hill agency, relieved at Trenton days by Childs from the C. P. R. until Bro. H. M. Ward de- cides to return or remain at Homepayne. Bro. Cloutier to Todmorden days, relieved at Trenton Yard by Mr. Burch nights, and Bro. McDonald days. Barrow, Todmorden nights, is a brakem&n from the C. G. R„ who lost one of his arms. He is up-to-date in the B. of R. T. He is also fortunate enough to be mar- ried. D. M. Keir to Torrance agency, vice Bro. Skillings to Todmorden days, now in the hospital undergoing an operation. We all wish to see him back with us again shortly. New men are taking the places of our brothers who come under Class 1. There are so many students along the C. N. that when we are not wanted the company can turn them in. Remember, boys, “No card, no favors ” Drop a few notes to my new address, and any news regarding students will re- ceive prompt attention. Div. Cor., Cert. 981. Central of Georgia Ry., Div. No. 46. Columbus Division — Bro. E. H. Ream goes to first Margaret Jet., succeeded on second there by Bro. J. T. Norris, a new man, and Bro. F. W. Taylor, another new man, to third there, recently opened. Bro. Tom Miles, second Sylacauga, takes new position of clerk-operator recently opened there, and Bro. W. W. Williams takes third there on account of the blindness of Bro. C. C. Roberts. We regret that there is no improvement in the latter’s physical con- dition. Bro. G. O. Page takes clerk-operator and S. Lauderdale third at Camp Hill. We are glad to have the three new men with us, as they all have cards. We all must bear in mind, “No cardt no favors” Boys, send me the news and I will see that this division has a writeup irt every issue of The Telegrapher. There are many other Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 663 things worth mentioning that I haven't at hand. ' Each member of the division must furnish me with the local happenings in order to have a decent writeup every month. S. Lauderdale, Cert. 196, Kellyton, Ala. Southwestern Division — As a unit in effort to reduce employment of a non. Let’s get him rifcht Or skid him clear out of sight ; No feasting from our expenditure Will we allow or endure. If a non a card will not procure. Brothers, what are you doing to that non next to you? We are getting a lot of new men and our L. C. cannot get around to see them all, so we must line them up or know the reason why. Bro. J. D. Chambless, agent Walker, has joined the colors and is at Camp Gordon, relieved by Bro. A. F. Johnson ; and Bro. I. F. McGravey reported to “Uncle Sam” April 26th. With men at the front like “N" and "MC" we should soon have the kaiser whipped to a finish. Bro. Geo. Lamar, agent Powersville, is on 90-days’ vacation, relieved by Sister L. Lamar, cashier-operator Arlington, relieved by Bro. Rowes. Bro. Randall, Smithville, on vacation, re- lieved by Bro. Mathis of Fitzpatrick. Bro. Carter, first Ft. Valley, has accepted a position in a bank there. We all wish him success, and he will always carry an up-to- date. Cert. 702. St. Louis Terminal, Div. No. 47. At last the St. Louis Terminal has or- ganized the train dispatchers, train directors, telegraphers, telephoners, levermen and teleautagraphers, numbering 115 employes. Our organization was started April 1st, and within thirty days we have practically completed our organization, establishing a system division embracing all of the above classes employed on the Terminal, and elected a general chairman, a general sec- retary and treasurer and a general com- mittee. Much credit Is due General Organizer W. C. Thompson, Secretary to the President Bro. J. E. McQuade, and Grand Secretary and Treasurer C. B. Rawlins, for their able assistance in making a success of this move. Several morning and night meetings have been held at O. R. T. headquarters, where more than fifty members have been in at- tendance during the past thirty days and much enthusiasm has been aroused. At our last meeting on April 26th, General Chairman Seifert read the proposed agree- ment which had been drafted by the general committee, to be presented to the manage- ment directly after the Railroad Wage Com- sion has rendered its decision. The St. Louis Terminals handle more trains than any other terminals in the United States, and we are deserving of one of the best schedules. However, through our neglect to become organized we find we have been denied vacations similar to sched- uled roads, as well as not receiving extra compensation for Sunday and holiday work. This will all be taken care of in our new schedule, and we trust that each employe on the Terminal will give our general com- mittee their hearty support. “John." Detroit, Toledo & I ronton R. R., Div. No. 48. Bro. McOppin is returning to the N. & W., relieved by Bro. Chism from the W. U. Bro. Cruthers was off several days re- cently. Bro. Hickey, Wyandotte, who was so near death’s door, am happy to relate, is back on the job. Bro. W. E. Jones and the rest at “WY” looked after Bro. Hickey’s wants very nicely during his illness. We are also glad to note that Bro. Knotsman, Maybee, is back on the job. Bro. Bartz, Ottawa, has left for the army. Our new general manager, J. A. Gordan, formerly of the “CGW,” was over the road recently on an inspection trip. Murphy, South Yards first, still refuses to show his patriotism and join those who are spending their hard-earned money so that we may have a representative at Washing- ton, D. C., to watcn our interests. Night operator “GO" and night chief dispatcher “DI" have been taken off. It sure looks like Government control to see the ten U. S. A. engines going by on the line. New gateway at Creggs opened up, con- necting with the C. & O. N. Bro. John Rankin, agent. We expect big deliveries front that line and the N. & W. at Glen Jean to start shortly. Bro. W. E. Fielding has taken Given’s agency. “U. No/* Cert. 21. Denver 6. Rio Grande R. R., Div. No. 49. Second Division — Bro. Allison, Buena Vista, is on third Mintum until a change can be made ; $1.25 extra looks good to him. Bro. Colstadt, “VI" Min turn, has been ap- pointed correspondent by Local Chairman Gulre. Send him your notes in time so he can get them to St Louis before the 25th of each month. Bro. House, third Tenn. Pass, has gone to the farm, and Jones, agent Granite, to parts unknown. Bro. Beverly, second Malta, after he came out of the hospital, took a position in a bank at Leadville. We hated to lose him, but wish him success. Bro. Mabe goes to Deen as soon as he can be relieved at Granite. Digitized by Google
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664 The Railroad Telegrapher, General Chairman Fulton has returned from Denver, where he and the rest of the committee have been working on the new schedule. Bro. Olden, relieved by Bro. Fulton at Leadville, went to third Minturn. Miss Agnes Wheatley, just out of a tele- graph school in Denver, at Wolcott, is “there” when it comes to "OS”-ing and tell- ing “HD” she can't hang the mail. Barham, a new man, is at Shoshone. We must see t,hat_ all the nons on the line keep their promiess to join next pay-day. “VI,” Cert. 921. Utah Lines — It is now Bro. Eccles, first ; Leonard, sec- ond ; Bro. Harper, third, and Bro. McDevitt, extra “RA.” Bro. Bath is on first ; Bro. Eck second extra, and Brown, agent at “CG.“ Opperman is now in the Signal Corps. Bro. Pinnell, off on account of sickness, made it necessary for King and Bro. Rounds to double. Brothers, help to line up the new men on “GR” Division. Bro. V. A. Anderson, now on the show-up trick in “UN," has to get up early mornings now since the clocks were advanced an hour. Gregory, at Mack, has joined the army. McGee and Wesner had to double. Operator at “AF” dismissed recently for leaving the office without permission. Bro. Cross is back from Camp Lewis, re- lieved temporarily on account of sickness, and is now at “FK" agency. Pay up the special assessment, boys, and you w-ill feel better when we get the good news from Washington. Cert. 65. Southern Pacific Ry., Div. No. 53. Western District — When one of you members do something for which you should be “kanned,” I think instead the “higher up” should have you ap- pointed Division Correspondent. It seems to me that sort of punishment should fit most any old crime. But, since this job was wished on me and if crime and criminal are synonymous terms, then I might as well pro- ceed with the “second-story” work. And by the way, this 18 my second story — it would have been the third, except that the first one reached St. Louis too late for the March Telegrapher and was published in the April issue. Our Local Chairman assured me that I would receive loads of notes from the good brothers on the division and in my youthful ignorance I almost believed him. He’s some “torreador,” however. I acknowledge with thanks the receipt of information from Bro. Terwilliger at Altamont and Bro. Turner at Oakland Pier. Bro. Field is the new man on third Altamont. Bro. Searl, the agent there, let his “Lizzie” slip out of his hand while cranking it recently and now rides around in a seven-passenger Overland. Bro. Terwilliger, second Altamont, is now the proprietor of White Fountain Springs, a summer resort at Branscomb in the moun- tains of Mendocino County, California, where the hunting and fishing is the best ever. Bro. Terwilliger is prepared to give his guests the time of their young lives, and we wisn him success. Remember the location when suggesting summer resorts to prospec- tive vacationists. Bro. Crowder, third Oakland Pier, was for some six months previous in training at Camp Kearney. Bro. Purcell, agent Bay Point, is now traffic manager for a shipbuilding concern, relieved by Bro. Kirkan, and he on second Benecla by Bro. Bauman, third Pittsburg. When Bro. Jacobson relieved Bro. Dyer, relief agent at Bethany, the latter relieved Bro. Marker at Walnut Creek, who took Dixon agency. Bro. C. C. Christian, agent Pittsburg, is on six months’ trying out the cashlership of the Contra Costa County Bank there. The company has lost the services of a loyal and faithful employe and his-co- workers a “good scout.” We all wish him success. Bro. J. D. Hoell, formerly at Davis Tower, is now in the Signal Corps at Camp Fremont Your correspondent is in receipt of a letter from Bro. Harry B. Segur, former chairman of the Relay Division and a wire chief in “BD” San Francisco, dated from Camp Dodge, Iowa, March 16th. He is now First Lieutenant, 404th Telegraph Battalion. He says : “Been over here since November 12 and have been nearly frozen to death ever since, but am beginning to thaw out now, as the past week has been very pleasant We have some lovely dust storms every day which compels us to wear goggles and we look like men from Mars. It was down to 35 below here during the winter and quite a bit of snow, which made life exceedingly pleasant for us fellows trying to be sol- diers.” He says he’s going to drop me a line when he gets across to France. Here's hop- ing that he comes back sound and well, cov- ered with medals. Our Local Chairman advises that Center- ville, in accordance with the provisions of the present agreement, is now a scheduled position with a salary rating of $80 and probably more, inasmuch as it is comparable with other positions already in the agree- ment taking a higher rating. Bro. Heaney is being relieved by J. R- Caples, on second Port Costa. J. P. Fernandez, Pittsburg, goes to Re- mount, days. Among the recent additions to our ranks are Bro. Dille, Livermore, and Bro. Chand- ler at Niles. The Local Chairman is now In receipt of a number of rulings handed down by Assist- Digitized by v^.oo<?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 665 ant General Manager and Vice-President McIntyre, on the company’s interpretation of certain disputed points that have arisen un- der the present agreement. While these rul- ings are in no sense final until they have been formally accepted by our organization, the Local Chairman is now in better position to advise you as to the proper action in any doubtful matter. I would call particular attention, now that we have shared in the recent dividend, to “the Pension Fund ” After five years continuous membership, upon the payment of an admission fee of $5 members not over 60 years of age, by paying semi-annual assessments equal to an equal division of $240 over a period ensuing between the age of the applicant at time of admission and his sixty-fifth birthday, can become eligible to a pension in the sum of $20 per month. The entire plan is set forth in detail on page 106 and succeeding pages of the constitution and it would be well worth while giving the matter careful thought and study. The plan thus far is in the experimental stage and the organization looks to the members as Individuals for sug- gestions that will mean for its betterment and for their support of the plan Is to be- come a permanent feature. From an organ- ization standpoint and also because of the good that can be accomplished through such a plan it is to be hoped that it will meet with success. Personally, I should be glad to hear from any one who has any sugges- tions to offer that the necessary amendments may be made at the next session of the Grand Division in convention, if such a course should be desirable. A matter we should not lose sight of is the fact that organizations-— and this organi- zation in particular — have played an all im- portant part in calling the attention of the proper governmental agencies to the advisa- bility— even the necessity — for the increase in pay now* contemplated. Eternal vigilance is the price of victory — also the price of peace — and so is solid organization . While we are making the world safe for democ- racy— let us keep our conditions of service safe for employment for ourselves and for our brothers who return to us after the war is over. In keeping with the patriotic basis upon which our organization Is founded, I wish to add that Division 53 has purchased $1000.00 worth of Third Liberty Loan Bonds. So even though we may not all individually be so sit- uated financially that we can invest, still we may as individuals feel that we are contrib- uting our mite, inasmuch as collectively we are providing the money with which the Di- vision is enabled to make this investment. What may seem “old stuff’’ to you is in- teresting news to the fellow who never heard of it before. The Telegrapher aims to in- terest— not Just one man — but some fifty thousand, so don’t hesitate to send me what is on your mind. This is pour Telegrapher and pour organization — help to make it what you w-ant it to be — I’m merely the “nothing a year’’ man trying to do mp “bit." F. S. Oakland, Oregon, March £o, 1918. Members Portland Division : I have received $92 for relief of Bro. R. A. Jones, which has been forwarded, to him. Bro. Jones reports having received $19.50 direct, making $111.50 received. Bro. Jones is very grateful for the assist- ance given him by the members who have so kindly contributed to his relief. T. M. Boyd, L. C. Portland , Ore., Lines — Bro. Easley, Medford second, relieved by Bro. Rowan, went to Hillsboro. Bro. Rowan, third Medford, relieved by Bro. Russell. Bro. Taylor to Medford, relieved at Marcola agency by Bro. Robinett, second at Beaver- ton. Bro. Bradly from Rockaway goes to Molalla agency. Bro. Brunken to first Grant’s Pass, relieved on second by Bro. L. L. j.unahugh. Bro. Butler, second Glendale, to third Grant’s Pass. Sister Mrs. Simmons to third Glendale. Bro. C. A. Phillips relieved Bro. Bert Simmons at Glendale agency. Bro. Love to Dole pending bulletin. New posi- tion opened at Divide by Russell Pearson. Ex-Bro. Eva, second main line Portland, has gone back to Tucson Division. Bro. Jess Osborn, "Z’’ Roseburg, is back at “D" there. Bro. Sartell at Cottage Grove on sick list is improving. Bro. Connor, third Eugene, to Turner agency, vice Bro. Geo. Miller, to first Salem. Bro. Jones, Willimia, to Independence agency, vice Bro. Brown, Oregon City agency. Bro. H. E., first there, to Hillsboro, succeed- ed by Bro. Willis, a new man, and Bro. Lacey to second there. Bro. Bovyer, to third Albany, vice Bro. Simons, on six months lay-off to the farm. Bro. B. R. Pine, from 1>. & R. G., to third Woodbum, Ore. Bro. Gibbons, third Salem, relieved several nights by Bro. Dunahugh, and Chase at Rockaway while being examined for the army, relieved by Wolfe. Bro. Thompson is back at “KC" Portland, after several weeks in the hospital owing to a minor operation, vice Bro. Casey, sick list.' Bro. McKercher, on six months’ leave, called back to Portland, owing to the short- age ot men. F. A. Farris is at “KC" Port- land extra. Bro. Phillips goes to Canby, and Warrens- ford, out of the service about fifteen years, to second there. Bro. P. N. Nelson has joined the Signal Corps. Bro. A. F. Howard, agent Marion, Ore., who has six years rights, would like to ex- change with someone on the Tucson Divi- sion. Any brother Interested write him. Digitized by c.ocK?le
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666 The Railroad Telegrapher, Bro. F. P. Darland, “KC” Portland, pro- moted to dispatcher branches at “C” Port- land. Bro. Will Satchell, agent Oregon City, spent ten days in Portland before going to Yoncalla agency, vice Bro. J. E. Clark, to Glendale agency. Bros. Fromm and Ghormley, now in the navy, are at school at Mare Island, Cal. Bro. Proudflt, Creswell, goes to Spring- field. Bro. C. A. Larsen, agent Leland, to agent Harrisburg, relieved Bro. Likens. Bro. S. T. Johnson, agent Woodburn, who on March 24', rounded out his forty-fourth year, heads .the list of the Portland Division. Russell Pearson, taken sick at Divide, was sent home to his parents, Brother and Sister Pearson, Portland. Bro. Harry Rice to sec- ond Albany, relieved at Mill City by a new man. from California. Brothers, send me some news especially on the west side where I am not in touch with the wires. I wish to thank Bro. Russell at Medford and Bro. Thompson, “KC Port- land, for their assistance which was sure ap- preciated. P. G. Vickers, Woodburn, Ore. Cert. 1201. Const Division — Bro. Hoon, off eleven days as a witness in a lawsuit, went to L. A. and purchased a new Buick. Bro. Sherman relieved Malcom, sick, went to S. F., thence to Seattle. Bro. Feldt is contemplating the purchase of a ranch near San Lucas. Bro. Holliday has bought a Chevrolet. I recommend that Bro. Cowgill appoint Holli- day correspondent to succeed Bro. Topham. We were exceedingly sorry to lose the latter, wno has joined the Engineers’ Corps at Ft. McDowell. From there he goes east, thence to France. We all love “Top.” He has our very best wishes, and the prayers of all the members on the Coast Division for a safe return. Bro. C. A. Stone has a first-class Under- wood (visible) for sale. The subscriptions to the Local Chairman’s equipment exceeded our highest expectations. Every member on the division, with one ex- ception, subscribed, and a few outside of the ranks. The various machines have have been purchased with the details, etc., will be furnished you by a joint report from Bro. Cowgill and myself. Local Chairman Cowgill has been busy recently explaining the new' contract for the boys. At a meeting in the superintendent’s office April 14, Bro. Cowgill and myself w'ere appointed lieutenants in the third liberty loan drive. Bro. *.iOO"e has gone to “HU” L. A. We regretted to lose Charlie from San Jose, but alw'ays glad to see the boys better their con- ditions. Hope some good brother will volunteer to take the position of correspondent to carry on this work successfully. Every member should send in at least one item every’ month. There are still a few delinquents for cur- rent term dues. How can this be? I have only Bro. Hoon to thank for assist- ance in this wTite-up. Boys, keep after the nons. C. B. Ward. Sacremento Division News — Well, boys, I am in the army now. Most all my w'ork is going to school. If yo* want the particulars, address me 320th Field Sig- nal Bu., Co. B, Camp Fremont, Cal. Opera- tors are needed badly. The operators in my company from the S. P. are : Hoell, Loeser, . Western Division : Small, Shasta Division ; Mason, Sacramento Division ; Pennsylvania lines, Brecker and Fisher ; D. & II. R., Kuzmock. There are only tw'o operators in the company who do not carry a card of some kind. If you do not have a card, you better steer clear of this company. The last figures I have show that there are very few of the 146 telegraphers on the Sacreinento Division who do not hold cards, and quite a number of the staff operators are up to date. We had about $9 in the N. & D. Fund, w'hich was sent to our L. C. by our secretary. Bro. Mills, at the request of a large number of members. A petition was also started to get more money for him to w’hich all of us should donate. Bro. F. J. Dusher, of Blue Canon, should now* fill my place as correspondent. Send your news to him. If he don’t receive more notes than I did, he will have to get the news himself. Don't forget the address. We like to get letters down here. Our superintendent will hold your senior- ity for you, providing you want to wraive your exemption and get your feet wret. J. J. Mason. Los Angeles Division — Our meeting at Los Angeles, Saturday evening, April 13th, was a great success, nearly fifty being present. The attendance would have been much better but wre had one of the w’orst sand storms for many months. This prevented quite a number from coming in their jitneys. The meeting was called to order by Bro. Lyons at 8:40 p. m. After a few remarks about the purposes of our meetings, he in- troduced our fifth vice-president, Manion, who received an enthusiastic reception, and after complimenting our genial chairman on his silvery tongue, explained about his own " part in securing our new schedule, but did not by any means take upon himself the amount of credit he deserves for bringing about the settlement at the time he did. He Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 667 spoke of how lucky we were to secure the settlement before the government took over the railroads, thus bringing all pending sAiedules to a standstill ; giving as an ex- ample the O. W. R. & N., whose negotia- tions arc held up with no definite idea of when they can be resumed, leaving the brothers on that line in bad shape . account not having secured any increase in pay. We are at present enjoying the best pay and worning conditions of any railroad telegra- phers in North America. Bro. Manion gave an interesting talk about the progress made by the O. R. T. in securing better working conditions and pay in the past few years, and described the hard time he en- countered in bringing about a successful settlement on the Burlington, where the average pay for 2,400 operators wras $69.30, some of the men getting as low as forty dollars a month and working all kinds of split tricks, with no extra pay for Sunday also spoke of the attempt to secure a schedule on the Salt Lake road, which is also held up account government action In taking over the railroads. The correct way to interpret different articles in the agree- ment was explained by Bro. Manion, who urged us to be sure and get the right dope on them, giving a broid view to each arti- cle. He also mentioned the few old griev- ances still pending which had been appealed to him, speaking particularly of the differ- ence or opinion regarding the Interpretation on w'hat constituted a half day, on the eleven-hour day called for in our old agree- ment. This case is still unsettled and may be appealed to the government. There are only two cases pending at present. Those who were not present to hear Bro. Manion missed a rare treat. We all enjoyed his talk immensely, and .look forward to having him with us at as many future meetings as he can arrange to attend. We owe a great deal to Bro. Manion, w'ho was so success- ful in bringing about the final settlements or our last two agreements with the com- pany. Bro. Lyons next introduced Mr. Feeder, president of the Los Angeles Labor Temple Association, who gave an interesting talk about the advantages of being solidly or- ganized, mentioning the Typographical Union as ai\ example. Bro. Feeder spoke of the necessity of each laboring man encour- aging all other labor organizations, all working for democracy in labor. Bro. Feeder is an interesting speaker, and we enjoyed his talk, bringing home to us as it did the necessity for us to always be will- ing to assist the labor movement. A paper was later passed around, and a good many of the brothers subscribed for about a day’s pay, each subscriber to receive Labor Tem- ple stock for the amount, at the rate of a dollar and a half per share. General Chairman Cull then spoke about the annual report now in the hands of the printer, and also stated that Division 53 had invested in a one thousand dollar Lib- erty Bond, thereby doing its bit towards chasing the Kaiser back to Berlin. He in- formed us that there are now 215 members on this division, which is doing pretty well, but we are going to do better shortly. He discussed the question of non-telegraph sta- tions in our agreement, speaking particu- larly of Sylmar and West Orange cases. Also impressed upon us the necessity s. of getting the correct ruling and interpretation on the rules. Local Chairman Bro. Geiger next called on, reported the Wilson fund now closed, $148 having been oollected. He argued against the proposed raise in dues, and spoke about the tw'o offices now at Colton ; also explained the Eberhardt case, still unsettled, and also spoke of the necessity for always demanding the union label on all our pur- chases, thereby doing our bit toward helping other branches of organized labor. Bro. Lyons next called on Bro. Dickinson, w'ho was followed by General Chairman McGee, of the Salt Lake. He mentioned Bro. Keyes, of “NG” office, who lost out on the Salt Lake road on account of being too en- thusiastic in trying to organize that line several years ago. Our popular trouble shooter McGrann was then called on and gave us a short flowery speech, follbw’ed by Bro. Steere, who spoke in regard to the printer question at "HU.” Bro. Lyons then called for some expres- sion regarding our assisting the Labor Tem- ple Association, and remarks were made on the subject by Bros. Geiger, Cull and Hayes, the tw’o latter favoring the raising the dues if necessary. A committee consisting of Bros. Lyons, Ellison and Steere was appointed to attend the next meeting of the Labor Temple As- sociation. Bro. Cull then spoke about investing in Liberty Bonds, and Bro. Dickinson about ways and means for lining up the few re- maining nons. After a little more talk on different subjects the meeting adjourned, and dancing was in order till midnight. All present had a good time, which was missed by those w’ho stayed away, including sev- eral of the brothers at "HU,” whose hours would have allowed them to be present when the meeting was held within three blocks of that office. Our next meeting will be on June 8 and we hope for a record breaking attendance. Bro. Manion will be present if he is within reach of us. The brothers within reasonable distance of Los Angeles, and especially those who live in the city, should attend and help to make these meetings a success. Bro. Corson, who relieved Bro. Lynch on second indio a few days, went to Mexicala Digitized by c.ooQLe
Page 679
668 The Railroad Telegrapher, as operator-dispatcher on the Inter-Califor- nia, where he was conductor on a work train when the road was built. Bro. Sheldon, Salton, was called for draft examination, oro. Kays, second Blooming- ton, and Bro. Phegley, first Iris, called in the last draft, are now at Camp Lewis, Washington. Bro. Liddy, while visiting his family at Colton, relieved Bro. Spraggins, and Bro. Farwell there several days. Bro. Butler relieved Bro. Kindig for a few days vacation at Sangus. Miss Volk, the first lady operator hired for several years, is now at Calipatria. Iris third was closed several days while Bro. Snyder was sick. Bertram third closed, Bro. Wells having resigned and gone to Topeka, Kan. Bro. Sheldon, called by the draft, relieved on Amos third by Bro. Wildes. Bro. Hough, second Ogllby, requested six months leave but was advised by superin- tendent's office could have but Ihirty days on account of the scarcity of men. Not very encouraging for those who desire to escape the desert heat this summer. Bro. McCord, second Glamis, has a Cadil- lac six that will overtake coyotes In less than a hundred yards. Local Chairman Geiger was relieved on second Redlands Junction by Bro. Livings- ton from the D. & R. G., while attending to O. R. T. matters and taking In the Los Angeles meeting. Bro. Kemp, agent Red- lands Junction, Is flittering around in a Ford touring car, and Bro. Geiger in a Chevrolet. Aside from buying Liberty Bonds, this seems to be the most satisfactory way of putting the back pay into circulation. Bro. Liddy relieved Bro. Bailiff, agent Whitewater for a few days and Bro. Adams relieved Bro. Fuller, agent Niland, for a week’s vacation. Bros. Roush, of the Great Northern, and Dougan, of the Illinois Central, have trans- ferred to Division 63. * It is now Bro. Bercaw, of Whittier, and Bro. T. A. Murphy, of Santa Ana. Bro. C. H. Mussel man, third Cabazon, is gathering in all the ribbons and cups with some of his fancy thoroughbred Boston bull dogs. Bro. Dickinson and wife recently spent Sunday with Bro. and Mrs. Cambridge at Newhall. Bro. Coyle and his boss were also there and all had a swell time. It is with deep regret that we chronicle the death of Bro. David P. Smythe recently at the home of relatives in Anaheim, after a year's illness. Bro. O'Connor, extra in “HU,'' was on sick leave a few days recently. Am indebted to Bros. A. W. Sullivan, Gei- ger and Ward for contributions of notes this time. Wish more of the brothers would help. C. C. Dickinson, Dlv. Cor. Tucson Division — At the suggestion of Bro. L. H. Williams, Benson, as a recognition of the good work of General Chairman Cull and Secretary’ and treasurer Hammond, in securing our last scnedule, the members of this division raised a fund amounting to $63.10, and I mailed a cneclc to Bro. Cull for $42.07 and to Bro. Hammond for $2^.03, covering the total sub- scription. The following were the brothers who sub- scribed to this fund : L. R. Vermillion, C. C. Boy, K. Davis, J. R Zimmerman, J. P. Bal- binot, L. C. Pixley, Cl T. Cates, T. H., K. B. and A. M. Morrison, H. S. Doyle, J. C. John- son, W. T. Brinley, H. A. Pritchett, L. E. Greer, J. W. Spivey, Judson Moores, O., Z. V. and G. E. Wilson, M. W. Bouck, F. Wood- side, R. L. and E. E. Crowley, H. E. Mingle- dorf, H. C. Barnes, J. L. Turner, T. Ford, L. L. taaull, J. A. Skipper, G. Weatherby, H. O. George, J. F. Bechtel, F. H. Hamilton, C. R. Corbitt, H. L. Dougan. J. F. and Cora Hoover, F. S. Case, B. H. Caldwell, M. C. Fulton, J. E. Reed, C. L. Robeson, Guy Deuel, B. M. Stanley, A. M. Meacham, J. K. McNeil, J. B. Kitchen, H. L. Kislig. un- claimed vV. U. commission "UN,” A. H. Foster, J. W. Maus, O. Barnwell, J. F. Ew- ing, J. C. O’Connor, Paul Fickle, G. P. Hei- gel, C. H. Sturgess, P. C. Clavio, Emma Meyers, J. T. Mahoney, J. A. Riley, G. W. Ochs, J. A. and L. H. Williams, E. W. Sar- gent and S. W. Tucheck. , Bro. G. C. Atkins, with the American Ex- peditionary Forces, now' "Somewhere in France," writes Bro. J. F. Hoover to re- member him to his friends on this division. Bro. L. H. Williams writes that because of family illness and other reasons, he will not be able to continue his duties as corre- spondent. Bro. Williams is one of our livest wires and his being forced to discontinue his extraordinarily fine w'ork as correspondent will be regretted by all of us. I will en- deavor to secure some other member to suc- ceed him. Bro. H. O. George, Lordsburg, is now with the Railroad Engineer Corps. Bro. Warren McDaniel is in the Signal Corps at camp Travis, San Antonio, and Bro. W. R. Hea<f- ington is in the navy at the Electrical School at Mare Island. Brothers F. H. Hamilton, J. H. Strong, Leroy Palmer, B. D. Mahoney, J. C. O'Con- nor and L. H. Williams are all hard at it, as the following list of new' members shows: J. W. Todd, J. M. Brown, Louis O. Kirk, Jose P. Garcia, J. C. LeBlanc and J. R. Fedrick. Transfers: H. C. Parker and W. N. Thomas. Bro. H. S. Doyle and wife are on a pleas- ant thirty days* visit with relatives. John F. Bechtel, L. C. Digitized by c.ooQLe
Page 680
The Railroad Telegrapher. Shasta Division — f A few more drags like the January one of 1055 and the 60,000 mark will be reached and with a tew more drags on the S. P. we will be almost solid. We should keep after / the few nons left and give them no rest un- til they join. After the termination of this war they will certainly wish they had an up-to-date as it Is sure going to be mighty hard on the individual. One of the most scathing rebukes I ever read — one that surely reaches tp the core — is that of Bro. C. J. Weygandts, Local Chairman of the C., St. P. Mo., in the Feb- ruary Journal, page i76, calling attention to a man (?). L. R. Strausberg at Wilson, not content to take all the Order gained for him, slurs and insults us. We all should especially remember him. Bro. W. L. Kussell is in S. P. Hospital for treatment for throat. The doctors have ad- vised him not to work for at least six months to two years. He traded rights with Bro. Alberts at Deming, N. M. Bro. Longmire at Bray is making two to six hours overtime every day. Bro. Henning Dorris, threatened with pneumonia, was off several days. Bro. Vaughn enlisted in the ordnance de- partment and his wife as a first aid nurse. Bro. Armstrong was off four days at Grass Lake to take his wife to San Francisco on account of sickness. Mrs. A. S. Burton, re- lieving Mrs. Milkey, third Edgewood, re- signed. G. S. and T. A. M. Hammond, in his March report, shows we are in fairly good financial shape, but we should keep after the non- members and increase our percentage. During March we gained eighteen new members. April will no doubt show a greater gain. Our division reports show 97 brothers drafted and a number volunteered in the early part of the war. We all hope and pray that they will return to us safe and sound and hope for a speedy termination of this terrible conflict. I wish the boys would send in notes to me without having to be begged for them. Cbrt. 1373. Shasta Division Notes — Mr. McIntyre has ruled as follows : Where operators are assigned hours be- tween 6 and 8 day or night with two hours off between the fourth and seventh hours but owing trains arriving between those hours is not possible to let them off and they are kept on duty constantly for thir- teen hours they will be allowed the follow- ing time : One day and seven hours overtime, eight hours for days assigned, one hour for meals, one hour for rest “2nd hour,” all per art. 5. sec. A ; one hour account not giving CtJ9 thirty minuteB for lunch within one hour after meal hour period, and one hour for ninth hour extra as per art. 5, sec. H ; three hours overtime, 6 p. m. to 9 p. m. per art. 5, sec. 1. It is not intended that telegraphers would be regularly required to perform serv- ices as above outlined and where such a con- dition exists assignments should be rear- ranged. I believe the penalty payment under sec. H, art. 5. could have been avoided in the above case and would suggest that all con- cerned review the rules and regulations of the telegraphers' agreement and be in a posi- tion to grasp readily all of these points and take advantage of the conditions in order that we may not be confronted with penalties of this kind. It seems that the timekeeper had argued that the operator was not allowed the ninth hour in one man stations and also saw fit to cut out the thirty minute clause, think- ing the ninth hour belonged to the third man stations ; so far I have found no in- stance where the third man could be held on for the ninth hour unless it was where he was staying over to finish his work, and in these instances he never hands in any time, but* donates this to the company as good measure. In all cases the ninth hour should be double time, so don't forget it. Those who fall short should make out statement of time short and send it in to the local chairman, who will make a trip to Dunsmuir to have it corrected. Cbrt. 1771. San Joaquin District — The Fresno meeting on March 31 was called to order at 2 :20 p. m. by Local Chair- man Cartt, with Bro. Underwood as secre- tary. Thirty members present. Ladies pres- ent : Mesdames Pickford, Trumbo, Edson and son Walter, and Mrs. E. L. Cartt and son, Robert. General Chairman Cull gave us a talk in regard to the condition of Division 53, which showed a gain of 260 members since De- cember. Treasury shows cash on hand $4,317, in contrast with the condition a year ago when we were working with nothing but the daily receipts. Loan of $1500 to tide us over has been returned to Grand Division and treasury increasing. It was thought that as an act of patriot- ism we should not ask for vacations on ac- count of so many telegraphers leaving for war service and do our bit by staying on the job. It has been agreed that positions taken over in new schedule would entitle the in- cumbents thereof to seniority from date of schedule and they would not be subject to displacement while they remain at their re- spective positions. We have been advised that it was illegal for the company to transport our provisions free of charge as per schedule. After some Digitized by v^ooole
Page 681
670 The Railroad Telegrapher, discussion matter was dropped since ruling is backed by statutes. Curtailment of meal hour discussed as per schedule we must have sixty consecutive minutes or receive an hour’s overtime, also that company would designate hour of rest at stations where there are no wires. Dis- cussion of telegraphers leaving orders and clearances on register for trains due some time after their hours. Consensus of opin- ion that telegraphers should have written instructions from superintendent to do so, or else assume the responsibility. Cited that clearances might be tampered with since reg- isters usually are accessible to anyone who might interfere with operation of trains and cause serious accdents. Motion made by Black, seconded by Trumbo, that superintendents be required to show on pay check, why deductions made, there being so many deductions and no ex- planations. Carried. Bro. Manion, fifth vice president, spoke to us in regard to manner in which grievances are handled by him, explaining that in many cases, some considered grievances * are mat- ters not covered by the schedule. He impressed upon us the' necessity of maintaining our membership up to maxi- mus as we may be confronted with private operation twenty-one months after the close of the war, and will need our membership to hold our schedule in case the Government raises our wages higher than the railroad owners think they should be. He called attention to the O. W. R. R. N., where the telegraphers will lose additional compensation Just about to be allowed by the company in schedule negotiations on ac- count of all wage matters being held up for adjustment by the government wage board that will make all adjustments " in future, and they wouK. date from January 1, 1918. He concluded his speech with matters of general interest, and those who were not present missed a treat. If everybody who can will show up at our next meeting at Exeter in May, perhaps “Doc” can be with us again. Local Chairman Cartt made a few remarks on general lines, and on committee as audi- tor. He found accounts in good shape and our finances as per monthly financial state- ment of Bro. Hammond. Also made mention of the surprise pack- ages the boys handed him, and the good use they were put to. One hundred and sixty- eight dollars in all has been received by him on two occasions, and he expressed his ap- preciation of the financial token of esteem. Invitation had been extended to us to meet at the A. O. V. W. hall at 8 p. m. with the other railroad organizations so the meeting was closed and all adjourned until 7 :30 p. m. and went in a body. "Big Five” joint meeting which as called to order by Bro. Manion with the Local Chairmen of respective organizations pres- ent as follows : O. K. T., Bro. Cartt ; B. R. T.. Bro. Gilson ; B. L. F. & E., Bro. Rowland ; B. L. E., Bro. Smith ; O. R. C., Bro. McDe- vitt. There were about fifty present, and most of the evening was taken up in the discus- sion of the Brown system of discipline, and its merits. Cases cited of finding broken rails, which might cause loss of life and damage to equipment, and man who found same and flagged approaching train and noti- fying track men received only ten merits, while if a man makes error on register, in- volving no hazard whatever he receives sixty demerits. Joint committee, was appointed to investi- gate cases where unmerited discipline was administered, or where such discipline was apparently too severe, and endeavor to take action to have such practices abandoned. Discharge cases cited and justice of dis- missals discussed. Consensus of opinion be- ing that owing to the shortage of men in the railroad service, summary dismissal hampers movement of foodstuffs, munitions and troops, and should only be done when absolutely necessary, and previous record of employe dismissed should be given consid- eration. Speeches were made by Bro. Mallachowitz and other brothers of the Big 5, after which meeting adjourned. This was the first Big 5 meeting, and we do not intend it to be the last. Our inter- ests being mutual we should meet together oftener. Brother Cartt was relieved on second Row'en by Sister Watts while on the audit committee, who, vice Brother Pickford, Jr., later relieved Brother Johnson on first Rowen, who went to Selma. Brother An- derson to first Bealville vice Bro. Stinson to Palmdale. Bro. Ennis to second Woodford, vice Bro. Wood to third Edison. Bro. Lemke to second Marcel vice Bro. Bright on vacation. Bro. Cameron is back on third there. Bro. Griffin to extra list. Bro. Mc- Cuiston to first Famoso pending arrival Bro. Etherton. It is now Bro. Fitzpatrick at Huron and Sister Barngrover. Bro. N. J. Etherton relieved Bro. McCuis- ton at Famoso, who relieved Bro. Nejedly at Warren a few days on a trip to Los Angeles and Fleta large cities with Jeff. Bro. True, our wire chief at Bakersfield, has his hands full with wire trouble. An- swer him as promptly as possible. He will appreciate it. Bro. and Mrs. Corzine, third Rowen, back from three weeks’ vacation East, retieved by Bro. Stanford, went to third Bealville, vice Bro. Orlendorf to “KI” third, vice Bro. Weatherholdt to second “KI,” vice Bro. Jackson to Larose. vice Bro. Franks to Fresno. Digitized by tjooole
Page 682
The Railroad Telegrapher. • 671 Brothers Krim, Whitson and O’Hoolihan and Dispatcher Watts are now in the Signal Corps at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Bro. Stanford, at "GS" Los Angeles some time while trying to enlist in the navy, is back on third Rowen. Bro. K. L. Golyan, third Tulare, recently enlisted. Bro. O. D. Day, third trick wire chief in “K," on a recent visit to the city, was relieved by Bro. Griffin. Bro. McCandless is back on sixth Mojave, after two weeks in San Francisco hospital for an operation. Bro. Haynes, re- lief agent, went to Lone Pine and Brown on the Jawbone three weeks. Bro. B. W. Main- land relieved at Inyokern agency, on vaca- tion, by Bro. Scott from Vincent. Bro. Griffin from Fresno relieved Bro. Jarboe on third Mojave, when he went to Proctor, vice Bro. Uzzell to Selma, vice Bro. Ratcliff to third Vincent, vice Bro. Love to Rosamond, vice Bro. Parker to Gosford agency. Bro. Frank Nedjely, mayor Warren, re- lieved a few days by Bro. McCuiston. Bro. Ennis and wife, second Woodford, lost all their furniture and household goods a few night ago by fire, the entire car going up in flames. The employes at Mojave have purchased a large flag to be placed in front of the depot; also a service flag showing the num- ber of employes joining the service from here. We now have six stars. Bro. True, manager “K," Is in receipt of a very newsy letter from former Dispatcher Kelly now at Nagasaki, Japan, where he and Dispatcher Turner have been for the past seventy days. This railroad contingent is leaving for Harbin in bunches of fifty and sixty and expect to soon be running the Russian roads. Shepherd and Wasgatt at Reedley recently referred to as ‘'brothers," and Mrs. Barn- grover at Goshen Junction as “sister," are still “nons.” A colored trespasser fell under the wheels of No. 26 at Mojave March 30. Body removed to Los Angeles in care of Dr. Warner of Mojave. Houston District — Thanks to Bro. Humphrey, who is always on the job, and came to my rescue this month with items. The worst storm in the history of Luling struck that town April 6, doing great dam- age and practically destroyed its beautiful railroad park. The boys at Luling are feeling good over the installation of electric lights in all the signals at the interlocker. A. V. Killough is back again and is now on second Seguin. General Manager Waid and Superintendent Watkins were over the division April 13 tak- ing subscriptions for the third Liberty Loan and were quite successful. The feeling of democracy so much talked about can no doubt be spread by purchasing bonds and war savings stamps, and the boys will prob- ably buy more of them as soon as the ex- pected raise becomes a reality. Bro. T. W. Rabb, of Del Rio, has enlisted in the Signal Corps. We hope he will come back with the Kaiser’s scalp in his belt. Cert. 1916. Louisiana Lines — J. Whitmeyer, agent Franklin, resigned, relieved by H. L. Feske, and he at Baldwin agency by R. L. Lockhardt from the South- ern. R. M. Feske, agent Garden City, re- signed to join army, relieved by E. P. Kuhl- mah. J. A. Wherland, Lafayette agency, re- signed, relieved by J. W. Harrington, travel- ing freight and passenger agent, Alexandria. J. E. Carter, formerly traveling freight and passenger againt, is now traveling auditor. Louisiana lines up to April 20 had 1,065 subscribers, amounting to $66,150, for the third Liberty Loan, ranking second, with Houston shops first. Boutte Lafayette, second, was on the sick list a few days. We were all sorry to hear of the death of Bro. Mclntire’s father at Gibson a few days ago. We all deeply sympathize with him. Everybody was delighted to visit the Wra Relix Train, 'which passed through this territory a few days ago. “FS." Northern Pacific R. R., Div. No. 54. NOTICE. Members Seattle Division : Having made provision to pay the dues of members from our division who have entered the Government service in the Army or Navy beginning with next term, July 1, it is abso- lutely' necessary that every one pays dues promptly upon receipt of notice, as eleven members have already gone from our divi- sion and if the war lasts another year or more there may be that many more, which may cause our funds to run very low. Only two of these eleven are delinquent for the current term, and I hope they will pay up so they may be included in the above pro- vision. I haven't been able to get the address of these two brothers and hope all now in the service will keep me posted so I will know where to address them at all times. Correct your seniority lists as follows : Cross off Nos. 28, 66, 84, 106, 107 and 126 account left service. Add following new members: No. 50 Cert. 1474, No. Ill Cert. 1378, No. 112 Cert. 1435, No. 119 Cert. 1464, No. 120 Cert. 1403. If any employes are members of other divisions get their certificate numbers and addresses and advise me so we can transfer them. See to it that you do your share to line up any new man you run across and keep me posted as to their whereabouts. Digitized by tjoooie
Page 683
G72 The Railroad Telegrapher, “Boost and we aU boost with you, knock and you knock alone.” Lets go get these slack- ers with the same spirit our brothers "over there” are going for the Huns. R. C. Bergum, L. C. Seattle Division Notes- - Our regular Sunday meeting, April 14, held on the second Sunday of each month, was addressed at 1 p. m., in the New Richmond Hotel at Seattle, by Special Assistant Attor- ney General Clarence Reames, who, among other things said : In the entire history of the United States, while at war, there had never been a single incident of a telegrapher prov- ing disloyal to his trust ; that we were brave and self-sacrificing to a degree that has made hundreds of our craft heroes of spectacular character. He referred to the fact that out of a possible 12d on this division, 10 per cent of our number have gone “over there,” to help handle the transportation problems of France, including a great number of men and immense supplies for the American con- tingent at the front. He dwelt at length upon our patriotism and loyalty to our country and our flag in this great crises and pictured what an awful calamity it w’ould be if any considerable number of the telegraphers of this country should push back from their desks and say we were through, something he was sure would never happen. Rro. Welsh, for several years a prominent attor- ney for several unions in Seattle, who has carried an O. R. T. card since 1892, made a few well chosen remarks thanking Mr. Reames for his presence and for his good and true opinion of the telegraphers in gen- eral. We were sorry that so many, of our members were at worx in the outlying towns and hamlets, all over the Cascades, that they were unable to be present and hear these interesting addresses. Bro. Bergun presided, and among the brothers present were Cha- pen from O. W. ; Nash from Milw ; Waters, McKiddy, Swanson, Bell, Carr, Strunk, Cam- pion and Gould. The circulars are out calling on everyone to remit the assessment of one dollar to pay the dues of the brothers who have gone to the front. We should respond promptly and willingly to this call. It is just and right that we do this. Our next meeting will probably be held in the boilermakers union hall, First and James, Seattle, of which you will be notified by mail. The telegraphers’ club at Seattle should be organized at once. Some one start the ball rolling. We have plenty of material to draw from. Remember the 1918 slogan, “ Sixty Thou- sand Strong ,” and don’t forget the nons. Keep after them good and hard. Every member should get busy on this proposition, and don’t stop until there is not another one left on this division. They have been living off of the fruits of our industry too long already without paying a cent for the con- cessions secured for them by our Order. Bro. Fenner, third Lester, Relieved the agent Bro. Maclnnls there, who has joined the 31st Engineers’ Corps for service in France. Bro. Relyea, from the C. P. R., relieved Bro. Nash on the sick list at Lester second, later relieved by Sister Breckehridge, from Bristol, and went to Black River second. Bro. Swanson has passed the examination for service with “Uncle Sam.” It is now Sisters Breckenridge and Strin- ger, Brothers Tamm and Quinn, Gress, Spen- cer and Yount (E. Z.) third Martin. W. M. Hope has left the service without relief. Sister Walworth, off few days recently with badly lacerated thumb, caused by a piece from the rough edge of train order hoop, pulling through her hand. Bro. McIntyre, third Bristol, is back from California, wdiere he went to take the rheu- matism cure. We hope he will soon be back on his old job. Sister Walworth is relieving him. Bro. Tamm is relieving Moffett on second Black River, who fell through a trestle on his way home to Kent and broke his arm. Second Black River closed temporarily. Bro. Tamm later going to third Puyallup, vice Bro. Thomas, relieving Bro. Ackley on third Ellensburg, now on second there. A number of other offices closed recently owing to the shortage of operators. Bro. H. L. Baker has joined the Signal Corps, and will probably go to some point in Alaska. We all wish h(m a safe return. Bro. bogan, agent Maltby, has resigned and is going to California. Bro. Jones, agent Mc- Murray, could not get relief, and resigned. Bro. Carr, Auburn yard, while off sick, was relieved by Bro. C. D. Ikerd, from Division 16, later relieved by Bro. Rimer, now on third Lowell, relieved by Bro. Fenner from third Eagel Gorge. Everett Truk. Members Tacoma Division : By making the following changes on your list which have occurred since January 1. you will have it up to date : Scratch off en- tirely, B. F. Waldo, J. Leonard, H. L. Wilson, E. I. Wheeler, C. S. Bos worth. Erase the stars from : W. J. Thompson, H. F. Floyd, S. F. Matousek, E. L. Murphy. I. E. Ray, Mabel Minor, Belle Leahy, C. F* Ziebarth, J. J. McGillis, Mildred Bryant and Chas. Hall. The latter was a member when he came to us, the star being placed in error. Add to the list: W. B. Masecar, Ellen Bryan (member) and L. W. Niles. Linemen W. J. Walsh, J. T. Moody and .T. A. Johnson are now members. E. L. Carr, L & Digitized by c,ooole
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The Raii, road Telegrapher. 67.5 Tacoma Division Notes — The meeting: at Centralia on the 16th of- March was one of the largest ever held on this division. Everyone present expressed their appreciation of a good time and prom- ised to attend every meeting. Those present were Brothers Carr, Sherwood, Parkinson, Vose, Dean, Lang, Long (H. A. and H. J.), Graybeal, Peck, Brodie, Baker, Sullivan, Henderson, Wyse, Runyan and Sister Mielke. The sisters attending the Auxiliary meeting were Carr, Grand President ; Sherwood, Lo- cal President ; H. A. and H. J. Long, Wyse, Runyan and Iang. The sisters seemed to have an excellent time ; they attended a movie show, raided a popcorn wagon, and made themselves generally known. After the business session we all enjoyed a pleas- ant surprise in the form of sandwiches, cake and coffee, served by the good sisters. After supper we indulged in roundtable talks and discussed the possibilities for future meet- ings ; decided upon entertainment provided by the sisters of the L. A., ea,ch member present subject to call. Future meetings are to be held at Bro. Weyand’s home, he very gener- ously offering us the accommodation. The Peerless hotel furnished excellent accommo- dations, but the rooms were not large enough to accommodate all the members comfortably. We heartily appreciate the courteous hospi- tality accorded us at the Peerless, and mem- bers should not forget to mention this place, when directing travelers. Centralia Is now solid ; a welcome situa- tion. Hoquiam went solid in March, includ- ing all employes in the stations, the first on this division, I believe. Bro. Graham, third South Tacoma, is in line for a dispatcher’s position. We wish him success. Bro. Emerick, Nisqually second, relieved Bro. Long on first there. We miss the cheery presence of Sister Tompkins, but wish her godspeed in her new environment. Bro. Cole is back at Little Rock, relieving Bro. Smith, who relieved Bro. Curtright at Fairfax on account of sickness. Bra De- Shields on sick list several days,' and Bro. H. A. Long. Fairfax agency, in the hospital, underwent an operation for adenoids. Sister Goist, at South Prairie, is off on a vacation, and Brothers Snead “WR" and “Scott ie” Niel on a trip to Montana, latter relieved* at South Tacoma by Sister Bryan. Bro. Dickinson Kelso, days, is on leave, and Bro. Freeman, Centralia first, was off a few days. Sister Rubish. on sick leave two weeks, was relieved by Sister Wheeler, who later relieved Bro. Wright, third Montesano, several nights, and Bro. Ziebarth later on second, who has gone to Montana. We are sorry to lose such a good brother. Sister Mullen, returning, relieved Sister Keyes, who relieved Sister Vose, who returned to second St. Clair, vice Sister Leahy to Sta- dium. If you want a fifteen day vacation on full pay this summer the same as all other gov- ernment employes are enjoying, tell your General Chairman about it. We “enlisted” twelve members during March. Only a few left now. We should get them this month. Bro. Carpenter writes that he and his fam- ily are enjoying life now' partly in a nice new “Henry.” Bro. Napper, first trick Vancouver Bar- racks, was a recent Hoquiam visitor. The other brothers at the Signal Corps Headquar- ters are Anderson, from Michigan, and R. C. Keyes, from the “Soo Line” dispatcher's of- fice, Stevens Point, Wis. They are attached to squadron 602. Recently their Lieutenant gave a banquet in their honor, and each man was given permission to invite a lady friend. The three operators invited three Western Union lady telegraphers from Portland. After lunch the party was taken out on a sight- seeing trip through the camp. I wish to thank Brothers . Emerick, Illick and Carr for notes, and Bro. Wyse for a good suggestion. E. A. Mielke, Div. Cor. Yellowstone Division — Bro. Barton from the “UP” relieved H. G. Grciser at Forsyth, who went to Mandan third. Sister Christman, second Terry, re- signed. Bro. Harley Stevens, third Terry, re- signed, relieved by Bro. Rake, and he later by Thurmond back from vacation. Mrs. Ste- vens also resigned, relieved at Zero by Mrs. Quire. Sister Connelly, second Big Horn, is now Mrs. Parkhurst. Her husband is a well- knowm rancher there. Bro. Metzger, first Allard, recently re- cleved 100 baby chicks for his chicken farm. Bro. Pombert, second there, called to Kan- kakee, 111., by the sudden death of his father, relieved by Miss Gallster. B. D. McMaster, agent Wibaux, enlisted In 39th Railway Engineers, and has gone to At- lanta, Ga., for short training. We wish him a safe return. Sister Williams, third South Heart, relieved three weeks by Miss Kidd. Bro. Golden, third New Salem, visited friends at Glendive, and a number of other points before leaving for the South. Bro. Buck, now in France, writes Bro. Deaf orges, . agent South Heart, that he re- ceived the six cartons tobacco and 250 books of cigarette papers, raised by subscription on this division for the boys "over there,” They were greatly appreciated, and the boys send their thanks. Bro. McChestney relieved Bro. and Sister Golden at New* Salem, and Sister West, sec- ond there, was also relieved a few days by Miss Lewis. New members : Misses Ella Rorvick, Lydia Schultz, Edna Hoges, Edna Stanley, Ida Har- mon ; Mesdames Ruby Sterland, Irene Fark- Digitized by v^ooole
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674 The Railroad Telegrapher, hurst and Christman, and Messrs. C. H. How- ard, Kearney Berven, C. L. Horton, Ross Green, W. R. McChestney and E. K. Julian. Thanks to Bros. Tronstad, Swain and Des- forges for their notes. This may be my last write-up, as I expect to be drafted, or en- listed before another month. I wish you all success and thank you for your kind support. I hope you will be just as helpful to the next correspondent, and don’t forget, “figure that day lost ” in which you have not put forth some effort to boost the “O. R. T.” E. H. Murray, Cert. 391. Montana Division — Bro. Dillavou, in Glendive Hospital for a month with pneumonia and other very seri- ous complications, is convalescing, but it will be some time before he will be able to work. Sister Dillavou, relieved by Bro. Cheadle, is with her husband at the hospital. Sister Taylor, recently operated on for ap- pendicitis at Missoula Hospital, is doing nicely, relieved by Sister TIetz. Bro. Hanifen, off a few days with a severe attack of la grippe, relieved by Bro. Prior, and he by Sister Mae Dielor. Bro. Crofford called east owing to the death of a relative, relieved by Sister Turvey, and she by Sister G. Glasgow. Bros. Frank Gabriel and B. H. Corbin vis- iting relatives East, joined the railroad regi- ment for France, on their return to St. Paul. Bro. Corbin was drafted. Bro. Swarts, re- cently drafted and is now at Camp Lewis. Bro. Guth, recently drafted, has taken the examination. Results unknown yet. Bro. Lofgren, on vacation, relieved by Bro. See se. Bro. Caldwell, Spire Rock, is on thirty days vacation, visiting relatives in Missouri, Mrs. Johnson relieving. Bro. Lindsay, back from his trip east, is relieving Bro. Brown, who is visiting his fam- ily at their Idaho ranch. Bro. Ben Morrow is in Livingston dis- patcher’s office extra. Dispatcher Mercer, on a trip over the divi- sion, took $70,000 Liberty Bond subscriptions. The total subscribed on this system is about $450,000. Sister Sutherland is back at “BA,” vice Sister Morrison. Sister Rathbun is relieving Miss Mitchell, Chief Dispatcher Weston’s ste- nographer, who is in Missoula Hospital with spinal trouble. Bro. Carleton was a recent Sunday diner at the Koppen and Tapi in homes. Sisters Henrietta and Hezel Troup were re- cent Livingston visitors, and Bros. Harlan and Altice recently visited the writer, and were entertained at billiards and cribbage be- tween trains. "Shorty.” Members Idaho Division : Correct your seniority lists : Schatch Nos. 102, 117 and 120. Add Nos. 121 L. E. Erick- son, 122 H. J. Fenton and 123 Wm. W. Key, 113 E. G. Sisty and 114% L. A. Krueger. Place stars to 121, 122, 113 and 114%. And use your spare moments to line them up. I want each brother and sister to, help me get in the nons this month. Five new names added on this seniority correction and only one a brother from the Milwaukee system with a card. Keep reminding those who have promised of their pledges. Another telegraph school has started on this division, claiming the country needs more telegraphers and that it is a patriotic duty to teach them at $75 each. Nearly half the students enrolled later dropped out. The N. P. telegraphers’ schedule is being used to in- fluence the would-be telegraphers, showing the wire chiefs’ and terminal men’s salaries, which of course looks big to an eighteen-year old country boy who expects to graduate in six months and step into one of these posi- tions. It. B. Irw'in, L. C. Idaho Division Notes — Brother Lowry has resumed at Troy agency after an extended vacation, vice Bro. Brooks to Johnson agency. Bro. A. R. McGann re- sumed first Velox, returning from his vaca- tion spent in Florida, and Bro. R. E. Spurrier resumed first Kootenai Yard, returning from vacation. Bro. Thompson, third Athol, was off several days working on his farm. Bro. E. P. Wilcoxon, agent Almira, is off putting in his crops. Bro. Smith, second Cocolalla, has returned from his vacation spent with folks at home and on the coast, and also called on General Secretary and Treasurer Nason, relieved by Bro. M. E. Anderson, who also relieved Bro. Hartman, third Ramsey several days, and Bro. Potts, Sand Point nights, while he re- lieved Bro. S. F. Peterson on a trip to Seattle. Bro. G. W. Bailey, second Ramsey. Is on vacation, relieved by L. A. Krueger. Boys, remember our motto. Bro. Ebert relieved on vacation by Bro. Thomson. Bro. Johnie Schroder, expecting a call to the colors, relieved by Bro. W. W. Key from the Milw\ Sister Jensen, third Trout Creek, reported sick. Bro. Geo. Beseke closing Eddy a few days to relieve her. Bro. Miller, first Eddy, reported seriously ill in Tacoma Hospital. \*e hope for his speedy recovery. Sister Sulli- van, third Eddy, also sick several days, re- lieved by Sister Stevens. I am indebted to Bros. G. W. Harrison and H. B. Woolman for new's items this month. Many thanks, brothers, for your help. Div. Cob. Dakota Division — Brothers help line up the rest oi the nons- Hurry in their blanks on the May fee of $13.50 or June $12.50, It behooves every one Digitized by c.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 675 of us to work hard and organize this division solid 100 per cent. That Liberty Bond sticker “United We Stand" for Liberty covers union workers very aptly at this time and ’tis worth heeding. • “Mack" Dineen, formerly with the W. U. at Bismarck, sends his “73" to all the boys. He is in the telegraph department of Henry Ford’s plant at $6 for an eight-hour day. Bro. Dahl relieved Bro. Shaw, agent Burt, on a hurry trip to Chipago. Bro. A. V. Flowers, warehouseman Kildeer, visited his brother, Bro. H. D. Flowers, third Bismarck, over Sunday. Bro. Gill, relief agent, has been at Turtle Lake for eight months. Downing still away on sick leave. Bro. Warren, agent McKenzie, went to Ohaseley to get his car, relieved by Bro. Scbmoldt. Bro. C. E. Boy den is now acting manager at “J" with Bro. Matson on third and Bro. Ralph Whitcomb on fourth. Bro. Ross Whitcomb is on first “JY." Bro. Smith, Carrington, relieved by Mark Sexton, who later relieved Bro. F. A. Som- mars, agent Mercer. We welcome Bro. A. M. Thune, agent Sterl- ing, to our midst. Remove the star from his name on your lists. Our percentage membership has been re- duced by so many brothers going “with the colors" and dropping their cards although their names have been retained on the senior- ity list and their dues reduced to $4 per term or 67 cents a month. Four or five of the brothers are keeping paid up and we hope the others will see the Justice of doing like- wise. Over 1,400 paid-up members on the N. P. now, and every division is still going strong. Bro. Gutensohn has decided to remain at Huff agency. Bro. Donley has resigned to go on his farm near Hazelton. The universal waybill which went into effect May 1. per Mr. McAdoo’s general order No. 11, standardizing billing should be an advantage to all the agents. Bro. Millard, agent Hazen, has taken up through the O. R. T. with Director General’s office, the urgent need of adopting the three-copy manibill, waybill and expense bill combined, as used on the Pennsylvania and N. & W. Rys. Bro. H. D. Flowers, third Bismarck, who had an attack of la grippe, is again doing “squads right" with the Capital City Home Guard. Sister Bell Dallier, Glover agency, is the first lady operator to assume an agency in her own right on this division. The N. P. system did its bit in the third Liberty Loan with over two million sub- scribed by its employees, from president to section laborer, and this division did its part nobly. First Lieutenant Don Colby, Engineering Corps, U. S. Army, Russian Service, writes from Nagasaki that Dispatcher Ydstie had left with another unit for Manchuria, but he was still enjoying Japan’s hospitality and looking for letters from the Dakota Division boys. Bro. Dave Poindexter is with the 273d Aero Squadron, Everman Field, Ft. Worth, Texas. Chief Dispatcher Gillette and a number of agents, telegraphers and dispatchers pur- chased an appropriate service flag, four by eight feet, bearing twenty stars for boys in the service, which will hang in the chief dispatcher’s office headquarters building at Jamestown. As other telegraphers leave from this division stars will be added to the flag. Bro. Geo. Olson, Killdeer, with his Big X motorcycle, is throwing dust in the w*ake of all four-wheelers, after hours. Let’s go “over the top" in May and June with the few remaining nons. H. H. ELL8WORTH, L. C. Ga. Sou. & Florida Ry., Div. No. 56. About fifteen of the boys along the line promised to send in some notes each month, and only one has done so. Now he has dropped off. Brothers Burke, Hobbs, Nobles, Thomas, Stokes, Starke, Merritt, Butler, Blackwell and Kilgore, and Sister Burke Wills, all joined since January 1. We are glad to have them with us, and trust that they will influence others along the line to join and help us to get our division up to 100 per cent, as there are still a few nons with us, taking what is not justly theirs. Bro. Grimmett, of Lake City, is making his vacation a “honeymoon trip." Our Local Chairman split the count fifty fifty with his political opponent in the recent election. * One of our most popular young passenger conductors, G. C. Walden, has been pro- moted to train master, and we assure him of our hearty co-operation in every respect. “You can’t keep a good man down." At the Macon meeting, Sunday, March 31, one of the most interesting subjects dis- cussed w'as the possibility of a 40 per cent increase. It can’t get here any too quick, with pork chops 45 cents a pound and “spuds" 90 cents a peck. Boys, if we are too old to go to France, let’s buy a Liberty Bond, a war savings or thrift stamp. Do your bit. ,T. S. S., Cert. 154. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry., Div. No. 57. Atlanta Division — It seems almost like a dream to see the N., C. & St. L. written up in our Journal. However, since our friend “Ansy" has start- Digitized by v^ooole
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676 The Railroad Telegrapher. ed the ball I am in favor of keeping it going. The only excuse we can now offer for not having more members in the organization is because we haven’t any more material to work on and that’s going some. When you ask one of the boys now if he’s got a card, he don’t stick his finger in his mouth like a child and say, “I don’t know.” His answer is, "You're mighty scooting; do you want to see it?” Now, boys, just because we feel bomb proof we want to be careful, the fire might die down and some of us get chilly. Our negotiations are being handled by the organization, and we look for the usual good results, but it behooves every member to keep his dues paid up. If you should be sick for some time, notify your Local Chair- man and he will do the rest. Bro. R. A. Baldwin, Lena Tower, is down with the mumps, Bro. M. C. Pinion relieving. Bro. A. A. Benson has returned to Mari- etta second, after several days with the same trouble. We are glad to see Bro. Brogdon out again after being on the sick list several weeks. Bro. Flynn, Noonday Tower, has been called to the colors. We regret to have him leave and hope for his safe return. Bro. Honea and Bro. Cox, second and third Junta Tower, have swapped for few days. Rosewood and Gilmore (new) have not been opened yet on account of the shortage of men. Bro. Brown, relieved on first Marietta by Bro. Kinney, relieved the agent at Smyrna, who was sick several days, relieving Bro. Brown. Bro. Wilson at Rogers has the mumps, his father relieving him. Boys, it is hard to make a write-up with- out assistance. Drop me the notes In and around your office until we can select our correspondent for the Atlanta Division, and if such a thing as a "non” should drop in on you, hand him an application blank. We do not care to associate with any one who does not hold an up-to-date card. Remember our slogan, “Solid or bust.” L. C. York, Asst. Genl. Chairman. P. & N. Division — Bro. Whitehorn, whose wife was sick sev- eral days, was also on the sick list recently, relieved by extra Freeman, who later re- lieved Bro. Hurst on vacation, but the latter had to return to let Freeman relieve Mr. Smith, owing to the death of his father. Local Chairman Pinkston was off a few days recently attending a meeting. Let’s take all the Liberty Bonds we can, our Government needs the money. "i hope to see a good write-up in the jour- nal hereafter. Let’s all try and send our Local Chairman some notes, especially the brothers on the north end. Let’s all try to get in the few nons left and make our division 100 per cent instead of 96 per cent. Let’s all remember, “No card , no favors ” Cert. 7033, Grand. Louisville and Nashville R. R., Div. No. 58. “The Emancipation” has arrived for Louis - ville and Nashville employes. The largest meeting of train dispatchers, station agents and telegraphers ever held in the Southern States took place in Nashville, Tenn., April 20. More than 150 railroad employes of the above classes from the Louisville and Nashville and N. C. and St. L. Railroad were present. This meeting was called by General Or- ganizer J.' J. Dunn for the purpose of "get- ting acquainted” and the tremendous suc- cess is due to Brothers Dunn and General Chairman J. M. Hamilton of the N. C. and St. L. Railroad. It did one good to notice the deep interest displayed by train dispatchers who had been working tricks for thirty odd years* as well as telegraphers and station agents who have years and years of service to their credit with the Louisville and Nashville and N. C. and St. L. Railroads. While Grand Secretary and Treasurer C. B. Rawlins related the history of the organi- zation and the wonderful achievements that have been accomplished in the way of ameli- orating the working conditions and increas- ing the rates of pay of all classes of em- ployes eligible to membership in the Order, during the past thirty odd years ; he called our attention to ttje fact that the Louisville and Nashville had a very good schedule in 1894, but through lack of interest of the members on this railroad and the mishand- ling of affairs by the then general commit- tee, the schedule was abrogated, and since that time coercion and intimidation had been practiced on the employes to keep them from affiliating with the organization. However, a new era has now arrived. Intimidation and coercion has been elimi- nated, and during the past three weeks more than three hundred members have been ini- tiated into the Order on the Louisville and Nashville ; members coming in just as fast as the organizers could reach them. On some divisions every train dispatcher is now a member of the Order, which indicated that a general committee would draft and present a schedule to the management of this prop- erty within the next thirty or sixty days. Bro. Rawlins also stated that during the year 1917, 130 new and revised schedules were secured by the organization, represent- ing more than ten million dollars, increase in wages and Improved working conditions and with the assistance of such railroads as the Louisville and Nashville, after becoming organized, 1918 would become a duplicator of the previous year. The N. C. and St. L. Digitized by L.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 677 • Railroad at the present time is 96 per cent organized ; the general committee has been recognized and presented a schedule to the management . of that prpoerty. Through the ownership of both properties, the Louisville and Nashville and N. C. and St. L. employes are closely allied, and we should have the same consideration as Bro. Hamilton, General Chairman of the N. C. and St. L. is receiving. A charter has been granted to the Louis- ville and Nashville, and we are now System Division No. 68. Brother Rawlins is acting General Secretary and Treasurer until such time as the Local Chairman of each super- intendent's division is convened for the pur- pose of electing a permanent General Chair- man and permanent General Secretary and Treasurer. Through the active co-operation of each member on System Division No. 58, we can make this the best organized railroad in the United States and in that manner ma- terially lift the load which the organized roads have been carrying for us for many years and thereby show our appreciation of the organization of our craft. Let's go "over the top" by June 15 one hundred per cent strong was the clarion cry made by Brother Rawlins at the close of his splendid address. "Jack." Southern Ry., Div. No. 59. Knoxville Division — Our members should carefully read Presi- dent Perham’s argument before the Wage Commission in behalf of the telegraphers for an increase in wages. We are certainly proud to have such a man at the head of the organization and can feel safe with our af- fairs in his hands. The extra men here are to be commended for paying their dues right along, while some of the regular men will not help to carry the load by paying Just $1 per month — $12 a year. While it is true that the Government has taken over the railroads and we expect a much greater increase in our wages hereto- fore, nevertheless we should keep up to date and see that others do likewise. We should keep up our organization and have the pro- tection it assures us in case the roads revert back to the original owners after the war is over. There are no good reasons for us to drop otherwise our memberships. Read your journal and keep up with the situation. Remember also while paying our own dues promptly we should get after those who have failed to pay up and keep after the nons. Every individual member should become an organizer. The Grand Secretary and Treas- urer and General Chairman have asked us to do this and I urgently request that you "do your bit" in this matter. There will probably be a series of meetings on this division soon at which we hope to have the General Chairman, and possibly some of the Grand Officers, including our new Grand Secretary and Treasurer. When we notice is given let everybody who can possi- bly do so attend. W. H. Cord, L. C. Charleston Division — I have not received a single note of those promised me for this issue. Local Chairman Smith is now operator in the dispatcher's office. All having grievances now will know where to address him. Bro. S. A. Ferguson goes to Sumter agency, relieved by H. O. Smoak, a new man at St, Matthews. Bro. D. M. Coe goes to Bamberg agency, relieved by L. O. Matchell at Denmark agency. Brothers, I would like to know of changes at your offices, and have list of all the opera- tors who have joined the colors from this division. Please let me have this information as soon as possible. Thanks to Bro. W. C. Taylor, Boykins agency, for the notes sent me some time ago, and hope he and others will send me some news for next issue. O. R. DuensiNg, Div. Cor. Memphis Division — The following have been made day and night offices by adding two operators to each station: Larkinsville, Ala., Gurley; Town Creek, Ala., Cherokee, Ala., and Pocahontas, second and third trick, and Moscow, and Collierville, Tenn., third. A new block sta- tion at Sheffield Junction has been opened with three tricks at $90. Other block sta- tions to be opened shortly are : Florence, Nor. Alabama Junction and Tuscumbia new passenger station, three men. Two extra men added to Loyall Yard. We are handling a large amount of supplies for the nitrate plant under construction at Sheffield. Make it our individual business to help the company to make a big success for our company. Several expect to soon be called to the colors. Our superintendent has filed exemp- tion claims for some of them and they have been placed in class 2-F. Boys, let’s work together for the better- ment of the service and our organization do our best to make it 100 per cent strong, and keep it that way. Bro. Hooker, Forrest yard, has gone west for his health. We wish him a speedy re- covery. 'He was relieved by Bro. Boyett. Let’s get busy on the new men and bring them into the fold. Local Chairman Upton has returned to third Decatur after a severe operation in the hospital. Don't forget : “No card , no favors ." Cert. 1318. " GM " General Office , Washington, D. C. — We are still waiting to hear from Mr. Mc- Adoo’s committee on wages, but don’t be dis- couraged, fellows ; it will be good when it Digitized by u.ooole
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078 The Railroad Telegrapher. comes, and will be retroactive to January 1, 1918. The Western Union boys are getting busy, having become tired submitting to unjust dis- crimination. Large corporations which op- pose union labor have no place among the progressive institutions of free America. Mr. McAdoo, realizing this great truth, emanci- pated labor on the railroads soon after he assumed his present honored position, and our Government will eventually emancipate the commercial operators of our country. Bro. Balthis is now in Vice-President Tay- lor’s office as clerk in charge of troop train movements on the third trick, relieved by Bro. Purcell as third W. C. Bro. Watts, the last we heard, was somewhere in Wyoming, still headed west. We all hated to see Booker leave, but none worse than our chief messen- ger, Miss Garrett. Bro. Joe Williams, on second, practices law in the daytime, and is making quite a hit over in Virginia as a barrister. Bro. W. E. Perry has been getting In con- siderable extra work with us. “Pat” is buy- ing a house here and has had another one of our young lawyers, Bro. Veach, straightening out the title for him. Bro. Trotter is on the Irish Quad. It takes Harry and Bro. Ben Patterson to clean them up. Bro. Cline on NB-X wire has planted enough crops down in Virginia to gladden the hearts of the boys "over there.” Mr. Armstrong says he will procure an up- to-date next month. Mr. Peck “A” has not secured one yet. Bro. Koegel, who lost several weeks re- cently on account of eye trouble, is again on the job and as fast as ever. Bro. Lowe, who fell heir to the Fall River Line, says it beats the "pam line.” Bro. Dulaney is doing a great deal of over- time, not that Dick needs the money, but it’s one way of showing his patriotism. Wire Chief Bro. Griffith has a new bunch of messenger girls now to manage. Lucky Grift! Bro. Veach on second can’t even get a male messenger. A part of the Railroad Administration is now occupying a portion of our building, but has not caused much extra telegraph work as yet. We work uirect with the Director General’s main office, "RG” in the Interstate Commerce building, and also with the Re- gional Director’s office, "MK" at Atlanta. Business is pretty heavy here now and steadily increasing. Cert. 738. “Queen & Crescent” (North), Div. No. 62. NOTICE. A joint meeting of all the roads entering Cincinnati will be held at the Grand Hotel, Cincinnati, Wednesday evening, June 5, at 8 p. m., and all members are cordially Invited to attend. At this meeting it is expected Brothers Perham and Rawlins, the general chairmen of several divisions, and a large number of other "notables” will be present. It is a general get-together affair and we trust everyone that can will attend. O. E. Marsh, Chairman. V. O. d N. E. R. Our new proposition, presented the man- agement first of the year, has been delayed awaiting the decision of the wage board, but we hope to have good results when our com- mittee gets a date. To have a good schedule it is necessary for us to support our com- mittee, not only by having an up-to-date but also by assisting in getting the men working with you lined up. On my recent trip over the line, I found members working in same offices with nons and neither one knew If the other was a member or not. This show's an utter disre- gard or lack of interest for your welfare. There is no excuse for having any nons with us when thfere is so much work to be had that we cannot get enough operators to keep all telegraph positions open and it’s out of the question to get relieved for a few days. Our good friend. Dispatcher G. W. May- nard, died at the key on Sunday morning. April 14th w'hile discharging his duties. He had only recently been promoted to dis- patcher, having worked for a long time in the New Orleans dispatcher’s office, for a number of years being a member of Division 149. Bro. E. M. Bilbo was promoted to dis- patcher in March and Bro. J. H. Weems w'as recently appointed first trick dispatcher at Hattiesville. The superintendent has prom- ised to have the dispatchers included in our schedules and see our own men given a chance in the future. The superintendent, trainmaster and chief dispatcher’s offices have all been moved from New Orleans to Hattiesburg, putting them about in the middle of the division. Chief Dispatcher Armistead, who is off on account of failing health, is much improved, Mr. Stephenson filling his place. He has had a schooling with the Santa Fe and has been giving the men days on account of not an- swering calls or meeting watch inspectors, etc. Bro. W. E. Ramsey, of Sandersville, has been given a medal for more than twenty- five years’ continuous service. Bro. J. S. Dyess has resigned I'earl River agency. Bro. L. C. McGlohn, "UD,” and bride are now' at home in New Orleans. The shortage of good operators prevented Bro. McGlohn from getting relieved more than one day. Division 62 extends congratulations for a long, happy and prosperous life. Bro. Wiggins, "JC” shops, was recently transferred to our division. Brothers, note the circular recently sent out by the superintendent to make a report Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 670 each month of number of students at your office and remember the obligation you took when you joined the O. R. T. Your Local Chairman can supply you with all the blanks you can use to secure appli- cations from the nons. If they want their grievances handled or want help when in trouble they should get up to date and stay that way the same as we have to do. If you don’t know where they are located ask the Local Chairman. President Perham has been right on the job in Washington ever since the Wage Board was created and we expect good re- sults from his efforts. We are glad to see Bro. Rawlins sending our journals out on time. Bro. L. C. Rawls goes to Pickayune agency vice Jenkins resigned, and Bro. Will Horne has been appointed relief agent. The clerks on the Southern have a brand new contract now. Bro. P. Ij. Cooper goes to Barnett agency. L. E. Shannon to operator Pachute, and Bro. Kamper to Moselle second. Bro. E. W. Thornton, Moselle, broke his arm while cranking his automobile, his sec- ond accident of this kind. He will be out of commission fbr some time. Remember our slogan : “No card , no favors ** Cert. 905. Great Northern Ry., Div. No. 70. The General Committee of Great Northern System, Division No. 70, consisting of a Local Chairman from each superintendent’s divi- sion, will convene in St. Paul, Monday, May 27, for the purpose of drafting a schedule to be submitted to the management of this prop- erty, and we sincerely trust that every em- ploye in the telegraph service will give the committee loyal support during the schedule negotiations. If an agreement Is not reached with the management of the company, the case will be submitted to the Director Gen- eral of Railroads at Washington, D. C. Every member is earnestly urged to secure the membership of the few remaining non-mem- bers on the Great Northern Railroad. DO YOUR BIT. The work of organizing the Great North- ern Railroad System was started the latter part of February. Grand Secretary and Treasurer Rawlins had circularized this prop- erty twice during the latter part of 1917 and had caused the boys to recognize the impor- tance of having an organization like our sis- ter roads artd when the organizers were placed on the property, the boys were edu- cated to a point that it was not difficult for the organizers to receive their applications. A meeting was held in St. Paul, March 11, where more than one hundred telegraphers from the different railroads entering the twin cities were present, which was addressed by the Grand Secretary and Treasurer and Gen- eral Chairman G. W. Lewis of tbe Omaha, General Chairman Sam Johnson and General Secretary and Treasurer B. E. Nason of the Northern Pacific, Brother J. A. Brandon, the pioneer organizer of the organization and many other officers and members. Brother Rawlins explained that System Division No. 70, covering the Great Northern System would be put “over the top” with a large per- centage of membership within sixty days and that he hoped the Great Northern boys would be in shape to have their committee convened in St. Paul about May 15 or 20 for the pur- pose of electing a General Chairman and a General Secretary and Treasurer. Up to that time, he would act as General Secretary and Treasurer of System Division 70 and take care of the funds and records and hoped to have quite a nice sum of money on hand to turn over to the newly elected General Secre- tary and Treasurer when the committee con- vened for the purpose of drafting and sub- mitting a schedule to the management of the Great Northern. Each and everyone was pleased with the words of cheer made by Bro. Rawlins and other speakers to the Great Northern boys present. Every division of the Great Northern since that time has been thoroughly covered by organizers and local chairmen, and acting local chairmen have been appointed on each superintendent’s di- vision. Sioux City Division — During my spare time I have been doing some missionary work, and it did my heart good to see the way the boys are taking hold. Every non I saw had been solicited by some loyal brother and none refused to get a card. When I started out I thought I could win one of those prizes offered by the Grand Division In about a week, but I see now that I will have to do some real work if I wear one of those emblem rings and get after the few to be converted. After giving them a few invitations, It they still insist on staying out, we will have to try, “No cards, no favors ” The few girls on this division are more loyal than some of the boys and will be 100 per cent O. R. T. in a very short time. Do your best, boys, to line up that non working with you, or next to you, and re- member If they are not with us they are against us. Don’t wait for “George to do it.’’ He is “over there” now, helping to “kill the Hun.” Everybody work their hardest for thirty days and we will be 100 per cent, then keep on working and we will stay that way. Cert. 411. Relay Division — The relay department is now 98 per cent organized among the operators and 90 per cent among the managers and wire chiefs, Digitized by Tooele
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680 The Railroad Telegrapher Each individual should strive to keep It this way and better. A big meeting was held at Minneapolis, Sunday, April 28, to offer our moral support to the Commercial Telegraphers in their fight for the right to organize. Let this sink in. Bro. Lapham visited his new lady friend recently. Bro. Nichols is back again, after doing the planting on his vacant lot. Bro. H. A. Lyons was on the sick list a few days ; also Bro. Jenny. We are sorry to learn that Bro. Haywood, our congenial secretary and treasurer of the Twin City Tel Club, will be obliged to un- dergo an operation for internal troubles. Bro. Ford has the Dakota Division very near the 100 per cent line. Some of you other local men keep pounding hard. There must be no let up. Some of you boys pass the news to the different local chairmen, and they will s6e that the writeup is made. “HN”-"V.” Members Montana Division : I have appointed the following assistant Local Chairmeh : First District — Williston to Wolf Point, Bro. F. W. Mueller, Snowden, Mont.; Second District— Wolf Point to*Bow- doifi, Bro. W. H. Porter, Bowdoin, Mont. ; Third District — Bowdoin to Havre, C. F. Huppe, Lohman, Mont. ; Fourth District — Bainville to Scobey, M. Fox, Flaxville, Mont. ; Fifth and Sixth Districts, handled by Local Chairman from Lambert, Mont. Bro. M. A. McClung, Arnegard, N. D., ap- pointed Division . Correspondent. Send him your news notes not later than the 12th of each month, so he can consolidate and get them to St. Louis before the 25th in time to appear in the current issue of the journal. Our General Committee will soon be called to St. Paul, to start schedule negotiations with the management, and I hope to carry with me the application of every man or woman on this division who have not al- ready sent them in. As I stated in letters sent out with the in- formation blanks, March 18, I must have the assistance o£ everyone on the division to the end that we may present as solid a front as possible. Each one of you go after someone who has not joined, and GET THEM. I wish to call your attention to the prize con- test under the supervision of the Grand Di- vision and would like to see some of you enter it. You can count on me for all the assistance I can possibly give you and If you should be fortunate enough to win one of the better prizes, you will be amply repaid for any efforts on your part. I was one of the winners of a watch in the 1916 contest while located on the N. P., and I assure you it is well worth the labor it caused me to get it. While you are endeavoring to induce some one to give you their application, you may perhaps run across some of the old timers of 1905. What happened then is history, and we intend to forget it, and try to im- prove our present conditions. Right now is the golden time for us to mobilize and in- trench ourselves behind the fort of organised labor , for wherever organized labor has set its foot it has . brought improvements in- numerable, not only in increased wages, which is not by any means, the main argu- ment for organizing, but also in better work- ing conditions for all. We, of the Great Northern, have only to look at the brothers on the Northern Pacific with their straight eight-hour day, Sunday overtime and other things, which we have not, to see the advan- tage of a schedule and to realize that we will never get one until we are organized. I desire to call your attention to the ladies' auxiliary, which your wives and daughters are eligible to join. It is more than a social organization. They have insurance, the rates of which are nominal, and 1 should like to see our wives and sisters take an interest in it. You can get the rates, officers’ names, etc., from your journal. In your conversations with each other and with the non-members be conservative, say- ing nothing which could be construed as a threat, either against the non-members or against the company or its agents. Be courteous in your dealings with the public, prompt In attending to your duties, and try to show our employers that the union em- ploye is the most dependable and trust- worthy. Call on me for any information you may desire, and write me at any time you have a suggestion to offer. It will receive my earnest consideration. Let's give a long pull and a strong pull together that we may attain the desired results. Fraternally yours, H. E. Wilcox, L. C. Lambert, Mont. Third District — The Inception of our organization in this district finds us in good shape and well rep- resented in practically every station. A few who have not already signed up have ex- pressed their readiness and willingness to join in very near future. It is always the start that meets the difficulties ; once we can reach a basis of mutual understanding and look toward the future prospects as a com- mon goal, we can work to better advantage; once we set aside our selfishness and forget personal aims to work for the good of all. Let's get the boys all in line with an up- to-date, and then stay that way. Remem- ber, •* United we stand , divided we fall .” Fraternally, C. F. Huppe, Asst. L. C. Lohman, Mont Digitized by taOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 681 Montana Division Notes — Our slogan for 1918 : Montana Division 100 per cent O. R. T. Local Chairman Wilcox has appointed me division correspondent. The success of hav- ing a good writeup every month depends upon each individual member. Kindly make a note of any change in your district or at your station and forward it to me, and we can have a banner writeup in each journal. It is necessary that I have the co-operation of each one. Let's all get together and put the Montana Division “over the top.” Operator Plank, third Brockton, had his application papers filled out when he re-» ceived notice to report at Plentywood for military duty. He spent a few days at his home in Minot before leaving for the training camp. Bro. Perkins, Bainville, has resigned and with Sister Perkins left for Illinois. Bro. Hyate, first trick dispatcher Wolf Point, is down with the grippe. He has been a member for fifteen years. Let’s see if we cannot get the rest of the dispatchers to join. The superintendent’s office has moved from Havre to Wolf Point into a new two-story building with all modern equipment. Sister Neirkirk, third Trenton, is in Willis- ton Hospital with typhoid fever. We hope for a speedy recovery. Bro. Ivan Taylor, relieving her, was relieved by Miss Dorothy Nemback of Lohman on second Trenton. Bro. Olson Dore took leading part in a home-talent play recently and, of course, made good. President Perham was the first represen- tative of organized labor to appear before the U. S. Wage Commission and any raise we get is due to his untiring efforts in fur- nishing the commission data for its informa- tion. See that the non beside you under- stands that thoroughly. Bro. Meyers transferred from Wagner to Wolf Point Terminal. Bro. Banks from Saco succeeds A. L. Taylor as agent Frazier. Sister Anderson, second Hinsdale, relieved Schanke, who went to Plentywood as cash- ier. Sister Barnard, third Saco, resigned, re- lieved Miss Reid. Agent Evey, Oswego, has blanks, will soon be with us, and Lohman also will soon be solid. Chinook all in but agent Bfusewitz, and Zurich and Harlem will soon be solid. Bro. Howe of Savoy, an old- timer, will soon be up to date again. Sister Gladys Olson, at Dodson, Mr. James, agent there, and all the station force, also. Wagner is solid, with Bros. Dopkins, Meyers and Hollbrook,, and Bro. F. W. Mueller, Snowden, reports only four nons in his dis- trict. Agent Lambert is the one on the sixth district, and ,$rp. Wilcox hopes to soon in- duce h|nv to thq light. Bro. Linblad will soon have Malta solid., Bro. Huppe expects to have his district 90 per cent by the first of the month. Just a few words judiciously “dropped” into the good ear of the non in your office as to the merits of being a member may clear away his prejudices. Try it. Chief Dispatcher Ball, Chairman Third Liberty Loan, reported at 4 p. m., April 15, that the employes of the Montana Division had subscribed for $42,000 of those bonds, and over half yet to be heard from. This division will probably take at least $100*000. Assistant Roadmaster Sullivan was over the line recently securing applications from the section laborers for Third Liberty £«oan bonds. We are trying to do our bit over here while the boys over there are making the supreme fight and sacrifice. Two of the boys at Malta recently joined Uncle Sam’s forces, leaving conditions a little unsettled at that point, and L. G. White en- listed in the Signal Corps, relieved on Nashua second by G. W. Priest. No notes from the Third District this month. We hope Bro. Fox will get the boys over there to send us a few notes. We would like to see every district represented in the Journal each month. If any one died, got married or went to war at your station or on your district, tell us. The news may be of interest to others if not to you. Our Local Chairman is an old-timer in the business, having served as Local Chairman on the P. R. R. Let’s give him all the as- sistance we can. It will help materially if you will be prompt in furnishing him the in- formation he asks. He is congratulating himself on picking an able bunch of assist- ants. We told him he would have to hang a dictionary around his neck and hustle, for we were all comers. Remember the old slogan : “No card , no favors.” “Me,” Div. Cor. Spokane Division , First District — Everything lovely on this district since Bro. Glick made his rounds, and we now present a solid front with the exception of two at Bonners Ferry. Take a little time now, boys, jot down a few notes of interest to show the world at large that the G. N. is not a “dead one” any more. Div. Cor. Second and Third Districts — Mrs. Helen Phipps, phoner at Harrington, was off recently a few days sick. Fred Nolton is now on first. Ft. Wright. Relief Agent Doran relieved Agent Still- well, Odessa, who took his son to Spokane Hospital for an operation. Harrington, relieving at Riverside on the W. O. Line, was relieved at Wenatchee by Prather. It’s remarkable the interest the boys have been taking in their work since pro, Glick visited us, Digitized by v^ooole
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682 The Railroad Telegrapher, Boys, you have not done your whole duty by taking out a card. Just every time you come across a little news, send It In ; any- thing like some of the boys laying off or new men coming on ; keep after the man next to you and make “this Pike” like the N. P. Re- , member our slogan: “No card, no favors ” These two districts are now 93 per cent solid. Let's make it 100 per cent, as our General Committee will soon go to St. Paul after our schedule. Let’s all get busy and be able to say in the years to come : “I helped to organize the Great Northern and make it a road among roads.” The trainmen are not using the phones as much as they did before we started to organ- ize, because the boys take more interest in their work ; have all the information ready, and display a willingness to get information for them. They are giving us our chance now, and wre need their help, so don’t make it necessary for a conductor to come in and call the dispatcher for information, one of the things we are paid, to do. Div. Cor. Marcus Division — The agents and operators on the Great Northern are wide-awake and up and doing and six months hence we will have as solid a front as any presented by the organization on any lines in the United States or Can- ada. We are going to ptoflt by the work done by our brothers on other roads and show our appreciation by getting into the work head and shoulders, and if there can be any additional improvement made then leave it to us to do. Bro. Glick, on a trip over the division re- cently, saw every man who was not sick, absent or whom he was unable to get a chance to talk to. Bro. Brandon was up the line and gave us good news from the other divisions, saying that all we had to do was beat them to the 100 per cent dash. In the following personal items I am going to call every man I mention on the division brother, as he is a brother laborer and all he needs to be a brother helper is to join us, get a card and don the button, that we know he stands back of us to help the cause that puts laboring men in a class of human beings where they belong. Bro. Walton, Deer Park, says’ the oil they furnish for the pump simply won’t fit his car at all. Bro. Melander, Clayton, is in the hospital on account of his Ford turning turtle with him first trip out tne shed. Bro. Bennet, Loon Lake, says the tourist trunks are beginning to arrive already. Bro. Rumsey, relief agent, is relieving Bro. Bert McCanna at Valley, who has gone to look for a female station helper. Bro. O’ Daniels, at Addy, says no time to fish since the stage started from Gifford. Bro. Adams, Spokane Division, to cashier Colville, vice Bro. Hedlund to the agency there, vice Bro. Williams to Northport agency. Bro. Stephensen, Meyers Falls, is afraid the frost has hurt the fruit crop, but there will be plenty of w’ork for him this sum- mer. Bro. Webb and Chief Dispatcher Dunn, found on the Columbia River banks Sunday morning recently, claimed to be fishing, but had no license, and it is commonly believed they were looking for some foreign box cars that got out of Marcus yard without waybills. Bro. Shores, first trick dispatcher, was off a few days with a mashed thumb. He and Bro. Childs were sampling ore out at their mine when Bro. Shores' thumb got too near the breaking hammer. Bro. Baily, at Orient, is so quiet since his marriage, we fear he has become a victim of woman suffrage. Gasoline is so high this year that Bro. Brenizer, at Laurier, is thinking of leaving his Ford in the shed and continuing the poul- try business. Bro. Melin, at Grand Forks, hardly knows what he will do when B. C. goes dry. Go without like we did, brother, when Wash- ington went dry. Bro. Polanski, at Danville, has been given a raise for carrying the mail, and a tin Lizzy to do it with. How did it happen? Bro. Smith, at Curlew, wears a smile a foot long. Spring has come and the big shipments of ice cream to swell his already fat pocketbook. Bro. Bush, at Midway, reports fishing first rate there. Hope he can find time to mail us a few of those delicious trout. Bro. Van Ness, at Myncaster, has started a dry goods and grocery store there, Bro. Mace, Bridesville, has started a flower garden. Better put in a few “spuds.” They will be worth something this fall. Bro. Johnson, Molson, if he gets away this summer, is going to take that car across the Selkirks or know the reason why. Bros. Reed and Emory are keeping things moving at Oroville, but M. L. sometimes gets lonesome for the Attalia sand lizards and Snake River dust. Bro. Votaw, at Chopaka, wants a new list of speeders. The one he has won’t always buck the wind between his place and the Similkameen customs office. Bro. Clifton, at Keremeos, has the potato market and his Western Union business mixed. Better ask for the relief agent to come and help him out. Bro. Pittenger, at Hedley, wants to get back in Washington. It’s too far to town there and too lonesome. Bros. Mickel and Oliver, at Princeton, B. C., are bound to make millions out of their coal mines. Digitized by u.oo<?ie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 683 Bro. Ray Carpenter says It’s no fun to run that station and let the clerk go get mar- ried, and he believes soon as clerk gets back he will go do likewise. Bros. Durkee and Keller, at Chewelah, are making so much money they don’t know what to do with it when the pay wagon drives up. Bros. Williams and Brown, at Northport, are having lots of work since the big smelter resumed. Bro. Ottey has left Northport for the front. We were sorry to lose him, too, for he always carried an up-to-date and had a smile for everyone. Bro. Abbey says he’s just at Phoenix for the war. He better prepare to stay. Bro. Johnson, at Waneta, says Dunn spoils his luck every time he comes up to fish. Bro. Bowers, at Rossland, can sure handle the United Press. Bro. Sooman says Ymir beats Myncaster all to pieces for fishing, hunting and salary. Bro. Boyes, at Nelson, can sure handle that mill. Bro. Swartz, at Paterson, says his office is not large enough and too close to the river. C. P. Spurgeon, Local Chairman. Minn. & St. Louis R. R., Div. No. 71 Eastern Division — Bro. E. P. Paule, agent Gilman, has gone to the army, relieved by Bro. Hassman, re- lieved at Eldpra by Bro. Griffeth from Ack- ley ; Bro. Mahoney, Chapin agent, resigned, goes to D. & R. G., relieved by Bro. Cahill ; and Bro. Morris goes to Alexander agency, relieved by L. Leeper at Van Cleve. It is now Bro. T. H. Guggerty, Bro. H. C. Holms, at Dillon, and S. F. Frost, Hanna City. Bro. Davis of Middle Grove was off several days sick recently. We extend our deepest sympathy to. Bro. C. F. Ream of Eddyville owing to his sad be- reavement In the death of his grandmother. Her Christian life was an inspiration to strive for the better life to all who knew her. Bro. Ream extends his thanks and apperciation to Superintendent Houston and Chief Dispatcher Landfear for relieving him from duty, and to Bro. Sheatsfall at Givin and Mr. Evans for assisting him in his wrork, so he could be with his grandmother when the end came. We appreciate the assistance the brothers out on the line are giving us to line up the delinquents. Let us also keep right after the few nons till they line up. Agent Samuels, about 17 years of age, who had only been at Herman a short time, killed there recently by a train, has two older brothers members of our order, both in the service at the front. Trainmaster Brumel went over the line for the Third Liberty Loan and the boys all responded. We all need more money than we are getting, but all are ready to help the Government in every way possible to win the war. Brothers, get youf news items to me by the 20th of each month. W. C. M., L. C. Central and Western Div. — New members : A. R. Leblue, Stilson, Iowa ; C. L. Shoemaker and E. O. Marvel, Gowrie, Iowa ; O. N. Johnson, Berkley, Iowa ; F. D. Judge, Chaska, Minn. ; Wm. Harris, New Prague, Minn. ; and J. H. Van- derpool, Randolph, S. D. Bro. Roth, Estherville, is on ninety days’ leave, trying out a bank position. Gowrie is now 100 per cent solid. We only have one delinquent on the Western and a very few on the Central Division. An old lady stepped up to the ticket win- dow recently, and upon being informed that her train was an hour late, remarked to her friend : **I wish the old agent was here again ; he always had the trains on time.” Brothers, notice Mr. Ryan's bulletin No. 2618, February 25th, regarding employes en- titled to ten days’ vacation with pay. The committee had this revised in our last schedule, to affect men employed eight years or mere. All w'ho have been, should forward Mr. Ryan’s office at once a letter showing date of entering service as agent or telegra- pher, and the first, second and third choice, in order that it may be known about the periods the agents want relief for the vaca- tion desired. Should there be conflicting re- quests, seniority will govern. Supt. Ryan asked that this letter be sent him by March 8th. If you haven’t sent it in, do so at once. Bro. F. D. Judge is now working on third Chaska. Bro. Perkins, Montgomery, called to Wa- seca on a lawsuit, relieved by Bro. Kubat. Bro. Vanderhoof, third Hopkins, working as relief fifteen days, relieved by Mr. Bishop, a retired teelgrapher residing there. Bro. R. B. Callles was off a few days with measles. Bro. G. P. Madden, accompanied by some of his friends, motored to some of the neigh- boring towns around Waseca recently to meet some of his old pals. The officials seemed to be w'ell pleased with the subscriptions received in the Third Liberty Loan drive over the line. Bro. Factbr, New Prague, was called to Forest City April 1st for examination for the next draft. Bro. Boyle, at Paton, loaded out 75 cars of stock from March 1st to April 14th. Bro. Hanson, Grand Jet., is baching while his wife is visiting her folks. Bro. Thompson, Arlington, on sick list several days, relieved by Bro. A. J. Rich- Digitized by u.oooie
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684 The Railroad Telegrapher. ards, who also relieved Bro. Zeigler a lew days. Keep after the nons on each side of you until you land them. We want to “go pver the top” 100 per cent solid. Thanks to Bros. Sandmier, Zeigler, Mad- den, Brown, Richards, Larson and Fuller for their assistance in this writeup. Keep the good work up. No matter how few items you have, they all help. Mail them to me at Paton, Iowa, on or before the 20th of the month. S. J. Boyle, Div. Cor., Cert. 451. Chicago & N. W. Ry.y Div. No. 76. Lake Shore Division — Subscriptions for service flags in honor of our fellow employes from Lake Shore Divi- sion who have answered the call to fight for democracy and preserve our liberties and freedom, which made our nation the best on earth, resulted in securing a large one con- taining 81 stars; responded to April 1st and dedicated at Green Bay on April 6th, wit- nessed by approximately 500 people, mostly employes of the C. & N. W. R.v. The speakers for the occasion were : Hon. John A. Kittel, a prominent lawyer of Green Bay, and Gilbert E. Hyatt, president Federal Post Office Employes’ Union. Smaller service flags were also dedicated with proper ceremonies at Manitowoc and Sheboygan, showing the number that re- sponded from those cities. Senator Wilcox was one of the speakers at the former place. The dedication at Sheboygan. April 13th, was in charge of Local Agent C. E. Hillyer, C. & N. W., and Messrs. Buchen and E. It. Bowler, prominent men of that city, who delivered the addresses. The flag's represen- tation from our order include Bros. G. A. Patrie, F. A. Markus, R. A. Stoerzer, M. Pilger, G. Arends and A. Engels. On account of the change in standard time some of the brothers were unable to attend the meeting at Green Bay on March 30th. Sickness in the family prevented ye scribe from attending. Some attending member, kindly mail me the news of these meetings when I am unable to attend, as they should appear in The Telegrapher as soon as pos- sible after being held. It is impossible for me to do justice to the position of correspondent without the hearty co-operation of every member, and upon your assistance depends the success of our writeups. All the news must reach me not later than the 20th of each month, as it must be in the hands of the editor on or before the 25th to insure publication in the current issue. Howard A. Sohre. Cert. 435. Gal. Div. — The meeting at West Chicago April 6th was well attended and very bent flcial. Bro. Boyington, with his congenial and good-natured smile, told us several things of much importance. Those present paid their local dues, which made our local treasury look good. We must live strictly up to our schedule, which will make it possible to get a better one next time, possibly with the vacation, Sunday overtime and holiday clause Included for all telegraphers. Bro. J. T. Emmert of Nachusa has re- turned from his honeymoon trip. Bro. H. E. Sherbert, second “U,” will be extra dispatcher during vacations. Bro. J. A. Salentino, on two-weeeks’ visit to relatives in Michigan and his brother at Camp Custer, was relieved at “YD” by Bro. B. O. Burrows, who also relieved Bro. L. S. Mullen there for a week. Bro. J. O. Agnew, agent Elva, made his long deferred trip to Florida last month. He was relieved by Bro. F. N. Bates’ son from Round Grove. Morrison is open owing to the death of Operator Hoagland. Bro. J. B. Henning spent a week in Michi- gan with his parents, relieved by S. D. Cabell. If more of the brothers on this division would work like Bro. Ike Breining of “SY," the nons on this division would soon look like a cipher with the rim rubbed oft. Don’t let any of them slip by you ; line them up to the last one. Watch for notice of the next meeting anil all come who can. The good you will get from them will repay you for any little inconvenience you might experience. Cert. 805. Southern Illinois Div. — We are now' very near 100 per cent solid. Bro. Jas. Maloney, first Benld, w'as off a few days recently on account of death in his family. McCraw, who relieved him, later relieved Bro. H. J. Liversey on third there, who went to first Virden. Bro. J. L. Cole, agent Virden, relieved by Scott, a new' man, went to Speer agency, vice Bro. R. O. Simp- kins to third Buda. Bro. B. F. Spencer was off a few days recently on account of sickness. Local Chairman Cadell, while on commit- tee work, was relieved by Bro. E. H. Lane from Normandy, relieved by Mrs. Lane. Sister H. B. Lane, second Speer, on vaca- tion, relieved by Fite, a new man. Brothers, let’s line up these new men, and don’t forget that “A <o cards, no favors ” will work wonders where gentle persuasion fails. With the recent raise there is no excuse for any of them not to have a card. Broadmoor is now' 100 per cent, with Bros. Clifton, Browne, Preisker and Ballard. When all the offices* show up like that our com- mittee can get first-class results. O. It. C. Bro. Wilcockson is relieving at Buda owing to the shortage of operators. Digitized by c.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 685 It’s now Sister Hoffman, second Van Pet- ten, with good prospects for a 100 per cent office there. With the Government raise in sight some of these Jobs, or most of them, will average over $100 a month. Bro. E. H. Lane, who relieved Bro. Mum- bower, agent Radnor, on a trip to Peoria, later relieved Bro. Weiss at Manlins several days. The recent Liberty Loan drive over the division was responded to liberally? Brothers, let’s have a writeup every month. Send all the news items you can to the division correspondent. Cf., Cert. 3253. Madison Division — A very interesting and instructive meet- ing, with a good attendance, at Madison, March 23rd, where he renewed old acquaint- ance and listened to good talks from General Officers Thomas and Boyington and Local Chairman Schneider. This was the first meeting held for some time owing to the cold weather. Hope to have them more fre- quently in future. Bro. M. H. Henderson, Salem second, was In Chitago a few days recently. Bro. Otto Mewls has returned to So. Bea- ver Dam. Bro. H. E. Gerth has recovered from a serious accident and has resumed work. The washout at Sussex gave some of the boys extra night work. Bro. E. J. Gerth, second Clyman, visited Bro. F. E. Kelly at Asshippun recently, ow- ing to a derailment and a heavy sleet storm putting the phone out of business. Bro. Kelly’s wife handled the key until order was restored. Bro. Liphold has invested in a home at New Butler. Bro. F. M. Richardson of Caledonia is visiting relatives in California. Bro. D. J. Kramer was off several days recently, relieved by Bro. J. J. Schleck, who also relieved B. Frederick at Galena, while undergoing the draft examination. L. D. Brown is back at Benton after a severe illness, Jordan and Schuppener dou- bling until his return. The latter relieved Jordan there when called home on account of his wife's illness, later going to new sec- ond at Roscoe, pending bulletin. Bro. A. L. White, at "B” Baraboo several weeks, has returned to Belton, relieved by Main from Evansville, relieved by Bro. J. J. Schleck, Wollmer, who relieved Bro. White ; also relieved Bro. Wickern at "B” several nights. Bro. F. H. Stephens relieved Bro. W. E. Wells, agent at Ipswich, a few days. Ed Boehm relieved Assistant Chief Hil- liard while at his home in Michigan on ac- count of his mother s illness. Bro. H. A. Ware relieved Mueske on La- crosse second. John Dolan is now night chief at Adams, vice G. A. Cole. I wish* to thank the brothers who sent me the items this month, Cbrt. 18. Wisconsin Div. — Spring is here ; the boys are planting their war gardens and the robing are building their nests on the signal masts near the towers as well as in the old apple tree. If time and one-half for overtime and 40 per cent increase in salary is still interesting to us, we should see that the man working with us or at the next station has a card. Send me the names of those remaining nons at your station. May fee is $8.00 ; June, $7.00. Bro. J. Pollard going to third Valley ’l ower, makes that office solid. J. O. Ricks, being released from the navy for an indefi- nite period and returning to Waukegan sec- ond, displaced Bro. Pollard. It is now Bro. C. F. Barker, third Tower “SO.” This office will soon be solid also. Bro. W. P. Joyce is now on third in dis- patcher’s office. Bro. Earl Pouton, second Clinton Jet., who was recently married, has gone with a Northern road, and Bro. E. A. Kangas, third Clinton Jet., to the Illinois Central near Chi- cago. The recent storm played havoc with tjie wires north of Milwaukee. Eighteen poles were broken down near Tower “SW,” and train orders were received at Fondulac at a hotel, via long-distance telephone. Report trains promptly to the dispatchers. It’s a great help to them and a benefit to our cause. Why should not the company furnish us typewriters? Two brothers have sent me their opinions in regard to the flower fund I wrote about in a previous issue. Bro. C. A. Hartshorn says : “Have our local chairman appoint a trea- surer and all the boys pay in $1.00 every six months, then we will have the money ready when needed and not have to run around begging with a paper.’’ • Bro. R. T. Surface favors my plan of 25 or 50 cents a month from each member, which would keep such a fund in good shape. If you believe in having a flower fund advise me at once, so we can get it started. Telegrapher’s minimum rating should be $1,800 per year or we must lower our standard of living still more. In order to se- cure such a wage we must get in the few nons and make the division solid. Remember that “No card, no favors” when gentle per- suasion fails. Miss Bowen, second Des Plaines, resumed after spending her vacation with friends in the Southern states. Digitized by tjooole
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686 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. H. H. Repke, Winnetka, and his wife visited friends at Valley Tower Sunday re- cently. Bro. Sam Kaplan, agent Niles Center, is a candidate for local chairman. I wish to thank the brothers who fur- nished items this month. Come again. A. S. Moorhouse, Div. Cor. Northern Iowa Div. — At a called meeting at Alton Sunday, April 7th, there were present : Bros. J. E. Agnace, Renwick : J. Egnace, Holm, Rush and Hampton, Alton ; E. Walker, Peterson ; W. J. Clayton, Linn Grove ; P. B. Matson and Creach, Webster City ; J. R. Madison, Bradgate ; R. Watson, Irvington ; Chenault and Kahl, .Jewell ; Clarke, Rolfe ; Woodard, Maurice ; Larson, Woolstock ; Strader, Mara- thon ; Sublett, Luverne ; J. H. Cowan, Weis and Myers, lineman. Eagle Grove ; Brennan, Granville; Ryland, Kamrar ; Bauer, Orange City ; and Stafford, Ireton. The meeting was called to order by divi- sion Chairman Holm. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved, after which General Chairman Thomas ex- pained various parts of the new schedule. A motion was carried that each member going to war pay his own dues. Bro. Randolph, third Webster City, looked after the business there while Bro. Matson and the writer attended the meeting. The few brothers back on the local assess- ment of $1.00 a year who have not paid up should remit at once to Local Treasurer E. H. Clarke, Rolfe, Iowa. Bro. Ard, second Hawarden, has gone to Rochester, Minn., to consult Mayo Brothers. If you brothers want a writeup each month you will have to send me a few items. I don’t have time to get hold of you after I come to work at 3 :30 p. m., and it would only take a few minutes to drop me any news you know of. If there are any nons around you, get after them and line them up. Remember, "No card , no favors ” also “No news , no writeup." Cert. 1876, West Iowa Div. — Mrs. A. W. Lyman is acting ticket clerk at Jefferson. It is now Bro. C. W. Mavis, helper, at Harlan. Don't forget “the man in the service.” He always appreciates a letter from home, and you owe it to him. Bro. Long, agent Manning, displays a one- star service flag for former helper Talbott, who enlisted in the Marines and is now see- ing service in France. Audubon office also displays one for former helper Ulrich, now at Camp Cody, 133rd Infantry. Bro. B. I. Fenn, former agent at Holstein, has been appointed division agent over the West Iowa, Northern Iowa and Sioux City Divisions, with offices at Sioux City. He Is an energetic, dependable man, and he has our best wishes for success. Bro. Fred Morse, first Denison, has taken his wife to Rochester, Minn., to be treated for nervous trouble. Bro. White, on his honeymoon trip to Chi- cago, was relieved by Extra Dispatcher Wier. Bro. Hayward was off for three days re- cently with the measles. Kelsey, Tower *‘Z,” was also off awhile with the same malady ; first there temporarily, Bro. Ed Davis, was off several days moving, and Bro. Connors on account of his mother being sick, relieved by Brakeman Hanter, thanks to the phone. We are glad to learn that the little daugh- ter of Bro. O. R. Motter, agent Jefferson, has recovered from her recent illness. Bro. Lyman has moved near the passenger sta- tion there to give him more time to work his war garden. Miss Anna Housman is now night ticket clerk at Jefferson. Bro. E. J. Buesing visited Carroll recently. Bro. W. P. Welch now sports a new Buick. Bro. Jesse Humiston, agent Audubon, on leave since October, 1916, on account of a severe attack of nephritis, after treatment at different hospitals without much improve- ment, left Audubon for a Chicago sanitarium April 1st. He has our sincere sympathy and all hope for his speedy recovery. Bro. Cutler, Dunlap, has had the express taken away from his office and an uptown office established. Boys, send me some items to Bert. Thanks to the boys who helped this time. Come again. “Bill/' Cert. 3313. Minnesota Div. — Bro. Sawyer, Janesville, relieved several days by Bro. S. Sharpe, and Bro. D. R. Carroll, Winona dispatching force, visited a few days with his brother, T. F. Carroll, former dispatcher at Winona, now with the Signal Corps. Bro. D. J. Mahoney, Waseca, was relieved several days by Bro. Richards owing to the illness of his mother at Minne- apolis. Bro. O. E. Highlen, third trick dis- patcher east end, visiting relatives in In- diana three weeks, relieved by Extra Dis- patcher Bro. J. B. Allen. Bro. Hailing, sec- ond New Ulm, was relieved a few days by an extra. Max Hosfield, formerly an agent on this division, is now traveling freight and pas- senger agent for several lines running out of Spokane, in eastern Washington. It is now Bro. J. R. Doskoskie at Cobden. We welcome him to our ranks. Fourth telegrapher Winona dispatcher’s office discontinued April 1st. J. C. McNally, relieving A. Bartzen at Watertown, re- signed. Bro. J. E. Allen, relieving dis- patchers, is back on first side table; Bro. E. Digitized by u.ooQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 687 K. Johnson back on second, and Bro. E. C. Knoop on third. R. M. Morse, formerly dispatcher at Wi- nona, writes from Harbin, Manchuria, Asia, that the Trans-Siberia Railway there is go- ing to be taken over. All well and enjoying the work and sights. Sergt. T. F. Carroll, also a former Winona dispatcher, writes that he is now instructor in the Signal Corps at Camp Dodge. Getting along fine and likes the work. W. R. Taylor, second Canby (closed tem- porarily), relieved Riever at Byron, gone to the Madison Division. Agent Minneota worked both the agency and first there while Operator Staley went to first Watertown a few days. Bro. S. Sharpe on first Sanborn a few days, re- lieved at Taunton by Keller. Engineer Schooler, one of the old-timers on the division, pulling the Watertown line passenger, w’as found dead in bed at Water- town recently when the caller went to call him to go out on his run. D. J. M. Dakota Division — I have taken it upon myself, after a silence of two years, to do the scribe work again on this division. So, boys, send me a few news items so we can have a good writeup each month. What you send in others will get the benefit of, and you may be benefited by their contributions. It is more than one can do to get happenings of the whole divi- sion. Local Chairman Long has fully recovered from his injury. While laid up he knitted a sweater for the Red Cross, and on his last trip to Chicago took his knitting with him. Bro. J. T. Lane, agent Cavour, was a re- cent Huron visitor. His brother, a former operator on this division, is now somewhere in France. Bro. A. W. Gilbert of Esmond was a recent caller on Bro. E. Roenquist at Verdi, Minn., who later relieved Bro. Postel at Alcester. gone back to the farm. On account of the shortage of men, Mrs. Roenquist re- lieved her husband at Verdi. Bro. B. Laity, Canistota, called to Iowa by the death of his brother, was relieved by Helper Hubbard of Alcester. Bro. Wheeler of Hendricks visited his old home at Canova, S. D., recently. Bro. W. Beyes, second Cavour, after re- lieving at Broadland and at Mirands, re- turned to Unityvllle to enjoy mother's cook- ing again. Bro. W. Boughmer, our traveling agent, was relieved at Salem by Bro. E. Rohiff, who later went to his claim in Wyoming, relieved by Bro. Steinbach ; later to Yank- ton as cashier, relieved by Bro. F. R. Lowe, whose wife, on account of shortage of oper- ators, relieved him at Wolsey. The best wishes of the brothers go with Bro. Rohlfif, who, before going to Wyoming, spent sev- eral days at the home of his father-in-law at Hurley. Bro. Murphy, now on his w'ay to “husk Huns,” relieved Agent Webster at Hurley a few' days on account of sickness. If you have a non working near you, feel him out and drop me a line and I will try to make him hit the saw'dust trail. Have received five applications this month, and more in sight. Don’t forget the 20th, and to send me your news items on or before the 20th. Thanks to Bro. Syler for his assistance this month. R. A. Pfefferle. Black Hills Div. — Bro. D. A. Troxel, Ainsworth, Neb., has returned from an extended vacation through the Southwest, relieved by Bro. Saw'yers, who was recently married. Bro. Ross, agent Powder River, was “baching” while his wife was in the hos- pital. We are glad to learn that she has fully recovered and is back at home again. Bro. Hinz has been called to the colors, and expects to leave for the training camp shortly. Bros. D. B. Darlington and H. J. Rucker, formerly with “The Katy,” have left us. We were sorry to have them go, and wish them success. There's no “slacker” about either of them. Bros. Hill and McDonald were recent Chadron visitors. We are working for the Government now. Let’s all do our bit to help win the vfer. Keep after the few remaining nons ond get them in line. We were all pleased with the new sched- ule, and note President Perham’s activity in trying to get us another raise. R. E. Marrow, Cert. 3386, Moneta, Wyo. Western Maryland Ry.f Div. No. 82. Eastern Div. — Bro. P. W. Reisner is now' on first and Bro. N. E. Munson on second “G” Hagers- town ; Bro. Wm. C. Flelgh is night chief there, vice J. N. McClain, transferred to night chief Cumberland. Bro. P. C. Welty is at Charlton agency, and Bro. L. K. Spielman has gone to the Western Division as train dispatcher. We all wish him success. Bro. G. IT. Ogle, first Union Bridge, re- lieved one week by Bro. S. Rodgers, and Bro. H. E. Danner, second Thurmont, four days by Bro. S. A. Bosley. Bro. P. C. Welty went to Shippensburg several weeks. Bro. G. C. Angell, called by the Freder- ick County exemption board for service as telegrapher, is now at Kelly Field, San An- tonio, Texas. It was a bright, sunny morning in “Old Alabama.” Rastus, the negro boy, driving a team of magnificent bays, was taking his master to the nearby town. As they sped Digitized by c.ooQle
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688 The Railroad Telegrapher. along the old country road, Rastus, singing to himself and in the best of spirits, would playfully flick his whip at the bees that were lazily droning in the roadside thickets. Com- ing to a sharp turn in the road, bordered on one side by a gnarled oak, they noticed a large wasp’s nest hanging from one of the lowermost branches. “Rastus/* said the old gentleman, thinking he would have some fun, “why don’t you try your skill on the wasp's nest ovah yondah?” “Not me. Boss,” said the lad, rolling his eyes, a broad grin spreading ever his shining face ; “no suh ! dem co-operate !” We want more co-operation among all the members In organization work on Division 82. Get in the few nons and make it solid. A man who will not manifest enough interest in his own welfare to join the organization of his craft is not likely to manifest very much interest in the company’s welfare. Our organization teaches and stands for good services, and in return negotiates for a fair compensation for its members, hence all con- cerned are bettered by their affiliation with the O. R. T. Let's continue to work on and gain suffi- cient strength to benefit us all, and don’t forget, “No card, no favors.” Div. Cor., Cert. 94. Texas & (Pacific Ry., Div. No. 88. Eastern Division — * On March 11th, 1918, your general chair- man, with the assistance of First Vice-Presi- dent Brown, convened with the United States Board of Mediation and Conciliation at Dallas, Texas, for the revision of our agreement, which was presented the com- pany on January 23rd, 1918. On March 14th, after the company agreed to include in our agreement “telephone oper- ators who block trains” negotiations were postponed pending a decision from Director General McAdoo on hours and wages. After this decision has been made we are to return to Dallas and complete our negoti- ations on points not covered by that deci- sion, when we hope to present you an agree- ment providing conditions equal to the best in the country. We expect to present to our membership a proposition in the near future which will place our division on an up-to-date working basis, with the confidence that we shall receive the hearty co-operation of the en- tire membership, as all with whom I have had opportunity to converse on the matter are highly in favor of it. We welcome the return to the service of Bro. W. C. Pattison, who has disposed of his business at Jefferson ; also that of Bro. W. M. Harris to assistant wire chief at “AF” Marshall, relieved as extra dispatcher in “FS” Marshall by Bro. J. B. White of Divi- sion 22. We are exceptionally pleased to have with us such men as Bro. White, and trust he will remain. Bro. C. P. Hagewood of Manchester Block was relieved several weeks by Bro. C. F. Curtis, an old-time telegrapher employed on the T. & P. for some time as engineer, who has decided to re-enter the telegraph service. Bro. C. R. Tucker recently returned to third Wills Point from a pleasant three- weeks’ trip to Arkansas points. Bro. J. A. Pittman, who recently relieved Bro. J. P. Abney, second Longview Jet., while on grievance work, later relieved Bro. J. E. Moore, manager Mineola ; also Bro. G. B. Montague, second Wills Point, a few days while attending court. Bro. J. R. Henderson, fifth Longview Jet., pulled off April 1st, relieved Bro. J. H. Ras- berry on third there, who relieved Bro. J. M. Mings on third Big Sandy. Bros. Hen- derson and Rasberry recently Joined the railway contingent at Texarkana, and will leave shortly for training preparatory to entering the railway service in France. Bro. H. F. Parker, now in the military service, was succeeded on second Terrell by Bro. B. W. Wilson. Bro. J. A. Taylor went to Jonesville agency ; Bro. J. S. Ford to Big Sandy ; Bro. C. F. Curtis to Handley, and Bro. E. G. Weston to second Abneys Block. These are some of our new members. Brothers who promised Items for this month have probably been so busy that they have not had time to prepare them. Let’s have everything you know, and enable us to have a complete writeup in the Journal each month. Several have neglected paying current period dues. This neglect is now generally considered a disgrace In the face of the fact that there is so much being done for the protection of our class. Bro. Perham ap- pearing before the Wage Investigating Com- mittee with such a valuable mass of data in an effort to show that we were entitled to consideration, should make any telegrapher who fails to support this great organiza- tion by carrying an up-to-date card therein, ashamed of himself. The few among our membership who figure that because the Government is going to give us something, organization is not essential, are harboring erroneous ideas. The Government will no doubt give us a square deal, but that square deal will al- ways be In proportion to the demand of or- ganized labor, and our demands can only be in accord with our strength. There has never before in the history of organ- ized labor been such a crying demand for thorough organization, watchfulness and vigor on the part of the workers of the entire country. The seriousness of this matter should be thoroughly impressed upon us, as well as Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. t>$D the seriousness of our duty to our country, in putting forth every effort to speed pro- duction and distribution so that the present destructive war may speedily be brought to an honorable and successful close. J. P. Abney, General Chairman. Louisiana Div. — Bro. Marsallis, agent Killona, has given up the position of correspondent of this di- vision owing to the lack of interest on the part of the members in failing to send him any notes. We hope when our G. S. & T., Bro. Cecil, at Opelousas, appoints another, that he will receive sufficient assistance so we will have a writeup in every issue of our magazine. We should have a brother on the main line to look after our interests and report all violations of our contract, either by the employes or the company officials, to our chairman ; and make suggestions for bettering our working conditions. There are several good members on the division, any one of whom would be of gre&t assistance to our chairman, who is on the Opelousas branch. Bro. Clover, third Addis, is now in the dispatcher’s office at Alexandria. He was relieved by Bro. Charlie Byrne, Waggaman second, who later went to ”DS” New Or- leans, vice Weber. We are glad to have Bro. Petty with us at Palmetto. Our recent new members are : H. C. Lan- dry, agent Napoleonville ; A. T. Baudowin, third St. ’James, and Miss A. Controwinski, Meeker days. There may be several others on the west end, but the brothers over there are loth to give us the news from that locality. We still have a few nons and we should keep everlastingly after them until we se- cure their applications. Brothers should see that all overtime slips are sent in promptly in order to make our schedule property effective in that matter and be sure to send the local chairman a copy of all your bids. We are all very much gratified to note President Perham's pleadings before the Government Wage Commission in our behalf, which, we are satisfied, will bring commen- surate results ere long. Our committee, which met in Dallas recently, is awaiting the decision of this department of the director general before proceeding with negotiations to have the block operators included in our revised agreement ; also a twenty-six day month, and other needed concessions. Bro. Bush, agent McCall, should see that the student he recently turned out files his application for membership at once and be more careful hereafter about violating the pledge he took when he joined the order. Owing to the shortage of men a student was recently sent to Maringouin. We should see that these fledglings join at once, and all do our best now to help our government in every way possible to end the war. Bro. Forroux was relieved by Mrs. For- roux on second White Castle, when he re- lieved Sister Controwinski op third there. Bros. Walther, Donaldsville, and Bossier, St. James, are “batching” .while their wives are visiting relatives on the S. P. Bro. Bar- rette, Plaquemine, was a recent New Orleans visitor. Trainmaster Payne, with the sec- tion foreman, is going over the division tak- ing the annual stock inventory. Certs’ 263 and 429, Temp. Cors. Rio Grande Division — Bro. Rowley, agent Pecos, is on ninety days' leave. We are glad to learn that Bro. Neider- mier, second Van Horn, is able to be at work again. Bro. Chenault. third Sweetwater, has gone with the Iron Mountain. We are sorry to lose him. The new freight and telegraph office is completed at Abilene, and the boys very much pleased with their new quarters. Bro. Sharman, ill since last summer, is trying the plains country for his health. Hope the change will result in his speedy recovery. Bro. Allyn, Sr., agent Eskota, on leave, relieved Bro. Allyn, Jr., trying South Texas for his health, we hope with good results, and that he will soon return feeling better. The local chairman desires to thank the brothers for the complimentary letters re- ceived in regard to the circular recently issued. Boys, let's have more items for The Teleg- rapher. Remember that it is read in every R. R. Y. M. C. A. and by the boys in other parts of the country, as well as in France, all of whom will be glad to hear from the home boys through its columns. Every member, please talk to the new men coming here. It’s to his and your interest that he become a member or transfers. Re- member the 1918 motto : “ Sixty thousand members” To achieve this let us make an- other : “One hundred per cent membership on the T. d P” I wish to thank Bro. Jones for items. Four or five items each from several of you would help to make a splendid write-up. Get them to me by 21st of month at lastest, so I can have them in St. Louis before the 25th. Cert. 82. Illinois Central R. R.f Div. No. 93. Members Louisiana Division : Having been appointed local chairman at meeting held at Jackson, Miss., March 17, 19i8, I have accepted, feeling that those present represented the majority of members Digitized by tjooole
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690 The Railroad Telegrapher. of this division. I appreciate the honor and will do the best I can to perform the duties to the best of my ability. Fraternally yours, J. F. Mashbur. Hammond, La. Louisiana Division Notes — We hope that each one has done his bit in buying bonds. Brothers, our percentage is pretty good, but we can soon raise it if we will wake up, get in the nons and see that the few delinquents on the division are put back in proper standing again. We must keep our cause alive, even if our expenses have in- creased considerably recently. You should give some thought to their loved ones and not let their day of grace run out. Death is a sure thing, and no one knows who will be next. An extra thousand will buy the little ones clothes for a good while after we have gone. Our regular monthly meeting was held in McComb. Sunday night, April 21, with a fair- ly good attendance. Important business was transacted, and several applications passed upon. Bro. Mashburn, our new local chairman, elected at. the Jackson meeting on March 17, officiated, leaving nothing undone to indi- cate that he will make us a good man. We should all co-operate with him, and not let him carry the entire load. He is in the same position as the correspondent ; if you don't co-operate, you can’t expect what should be coming to you. General Chairman Mulhall gave us a very interesting talk on negotiations pending with the American Express Company ; ruling on overtime ; annual vacations ; order relative to standard watches not applying to teleg- raphers ; seniority of telegraphers entering the Army and Navy, etc. Former Local Chairman Foard, who has answered the call of his country, was given a vote of thanks for his untiring and intel- ligent service in our behalf. Three more of our good, staunch brothers — Seale, Wils- ford and Ward — also recently answered their country’s call. We wish them all success and a safe return. We learn with regret of Bro. Holt’s illness, and wish for him a speedy recovery. He is one of our very best, and has been at Crystal Springs a number of years. This is the first time he has ever lost a day on account of sickness. Bro. E. Ct Ellerton is also on the sick list. We wish for him a speedy recovery. Bro. Ellerton, Osyka, on vacation, relieved by Bro. Page, relieved at Nogan by Bro. Bardin, later by Bro. Bullock. Sister Miller, "BD” New Orleans, on vacation, relieved by Bro. Rhodes. Bro. Bowden, Pocahontas, is relieving Bro. Akers, Jr., on third Gwin. Bro. White, second Jackson, was a recent Pocahontas Sunday visitor. Bro. Joe Sasser, a former I. C. boy, now with the M. M. & St. P. in Montana, was married while here on a visit. Our best wishes are extended to the happy pair. Bro. Hayes, our congenial agent at Madi- son, recently visited our Capitol, but did not come up. Don’t let it happen again. Bro. Head, chief operator Jackson, is now a "full-fledged” farmer; his recent addition was a horse and wagon. Bro. Jack Mashburn, Hammond, while at- tending the McComb meeting, was relieved by Extra Dispatcher Wall, who later re- lieved Bro. Odom, second Asylum, several days. Bro. McGowan, first Asylum, while on the sick list, w’as relieved by Bro. Carroll, and also relieved Bro. Ellzey, second McComb, a few days. Bro. Mike Carroll, Pocahontas agency, when released as agent at Fernwood, on ac- count of the consolidation of the I. C. and F. '& G. agency, the latter road taking over the I. C. business. It is now Bros. E. L. Brant, K. S. Rheams, Tucker, and W. C. Smith. Tftie latter, for- merly agent at Tickfaw, has been out of the service for several years. Thanks to Bro. Mashburn for notes. Some more of you good brothers wake up and send me some news. Cert. 1239. Jo tea Division — . Bro. G. B. Litchkey goes to Denison, la., as operator, new position, and Bro. G. F. Trible, second Rockwell City, to first there, giving him time afternoons to cultivate a garden. Bro. C. M. Reeves, agent Austinville, was called home recently owing to the serious illness of his brother. Local Chairman Foster was off a week in- vestigating conditions at Marcus, la., re- lieved at Williams by Bro. E. W. Steinbauer of Webster City, now visiting relatives In Minnesota, relieved by Bro. G. B. Litchkey. Bro. W. J. Kearney of Remsen goes to Marcus, la., vice Bro. Diesner, resigned. Sister Mary Gibson, first "A" Fort Dodge, relieved a few days by Bro. Mitchell of second. Mr. East’s freight service men recently made an inspection of all stations, checking up over short and damage reports, and found things in first-class condition, showing that efficient service is being rendered by all em- ployes on this division. The superintendent has issued instructions that he does not intend to relieve any one for vacations on account of war conditions and scarcity of operators. Bro. W. P. Wal visited friends in Iowa Falls Sunday recently between trains. We were all sorry to hear of the sudden Digitized by Laooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 691 death of Conductor Haven Saturday night, April 13, in Waterloo yards. Brothers, please send me the news from your districts so we can have a good write- up every month frofh our division, and live up to the motto : “No card , no favors ” We need to impress upon the few nons the value of carrying an up-to-date card. Cert. 3349. Indiana Division — Bro. Poulton, agent West Liberty, was re- lieved a few days by Bro. R. B. Smith, who later also relieved Bro. Barton, agent Green Valley, account sickness. Bro. C. W. Murray, agent Bargerville, owing to an injury received while lifting some heavy express, was relieved by Mr. Berry, out of the service for three years until recently, but kept up his card until last January, and promises to come in again soon. Bro. C. E. Mehringer, second Wisconsin Street Yard, while handling embargoed loads stored along Indianapolis district, was re- lieved by Burbidge, a new man. Wisconsin Street Yard office has been re- modeled on up-to-date lines, giving the oper- ators a private office and making conditions much better for them, leaving the switchmen and yard clerks to themselves. The writer was relieved on first Newton for a few days by Hillis, who will join shortly. Browns and West Salem nights closed, Bro. Heuring back on former days. The telephones installed on Indianapolis district used to dispatch trains are giving satisfaction. Keep after the nons, boys, and don’t give them any rest until they come in ; then they will w’ork all the harder to get other nons in, and remember “No card , no favors.” Thanks to Bro. Glass for the not€s he gave me. All you boys send in a few and w’e can have a nice write-up each month. Scotty, Cert. 3648. Chicago Great Western Ry., Div. No. 96. Members Eastern Division : Bro. George A. Ott, *’Z” office Chicago, has been appointed local chairman for the Eastern division, post office address, Deer- field, 111., Lake County. A. L. Coleman, General Chairman. Eastern Division Notes — Local Chairman Ott has suggested that I handle the write-up for this division, and I will try to do so, with the aid of the broth- ers, and ask that you help me with all the items you can. It is rather disappointing when looking over The Telegrapher to not find a write-up of our division. This division has been represented by a membership well above the average, but w*e still have a few nons, actuated possibly by their mistaken conception of present condi- tions. It certainly does not follow because the government has taken over control of the railroads that we should therefore drop our membership. It is only necessary to point out that purely government employes, like postal clerks and carriers, have their organ- izations and are benefited thereby. A meeting was held at Elmhurst April 13, attended by about fifteen of the boys, and present conditions in general were much dis- cussed. We should have more ot these meet- ings. Some brother come forward with sug- gestions as to where and when. Bro. Ayers, “GC,” suggests it be held some place where it will be handy to get the eats after 7 p. m. Several positions are on bulletin, a number of the boys having gone to other lines. Bro. Cotton is now at Virgil ; 6ro. F. C. Kitchen at Kent, and Bro. A. L. Carpenter at Esmond agency. Bro. C. C. Wiltsie, Lindenwood, resigned, relieved by Castle from Chicago Transfer. Bro. W. M. Richardson made a trip to the city recently and reports great activities with the local band. “Murf.” Members Western Division : Bro. L. B. Anderson, agent Kirkman, la., has been appointed local chairman for the Western Division, to fill out the unexpired term of Bro. W. H. Tucker, who has left the service. A. L. Coleman, General Chairman. Western Division — - It has been some time since this division has had a write-up in these columns, and matters have been sadly neglected, owing to Bro. W. H. Tucker, former local chairman,' Joining the C. R. I. & P. freight office force at Mason City. As Bro. L. B. Anderson has been appointed to fill out Bro. Tucker’s un- expired term, it is now the duty of each one of us to give him our whole-hearted support in making this division solid. If each brother will consider this a personal appeal for his co-operation, we shall not only help this di- vision, but we shall so increase our collective power for mutual betterment that it will be only a short time until we reap the benefits which are bound to a<?crue from such organ- ization. We still have a few non-members among us and I ask you brothers who are brought into daily contact with them to do all in your powder to induce these fellow-workers to join. Do not antagonize them. A jolt is not conducive of friendship. Use all the friendly tact and argument at your com- mand, and keep everlastingly after them. The continued dropping of water upon its surface wears away the hardest stone. So, all together brothers — “ over the top ” for a solid division. Bro. Morse from Eagle Grove went through Clarion on No. 6 April 14, en route to Chicago to join the Army. We wish him success and hope for his safe return. Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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692 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. T. F. McDonald, formerly at Mason City Tower, C. G. W.-C. N. W. crossing, although out of the service, still keeps within the fold, showing the proper spirit. Bro. L. S. ("Doc") Lieneman, on the "owl” trick at Clear Lake Junction, says he will soon be in Earl Caddock’s class, and the levers will save him the price of a course in physical "culchah.” That office is solid, Bros. Brown and Lynch being the other "strong-arms.” J. A. Flood, third Mason City passenger station, will soon be with us, making that office solid, Bros. Cummings and Keas being on first and second there, respectively. The towers on the Clarion-Hayfleld will soon be lined up, as the boys are favorably disposed to Join. Welcome, fellow- workers — you belong with us. Saw Bro. Tucker, with the Rock Island at Mason City, recently. He says "pep” is the word. Bro. Veale, from the Rock Island in Kan- sas, recently dropped into our Mason City office, en route to Manly. His up-to-date gave him the "open sesame” there. Items for this write-up were scarce. I wish every brother would consider this a personal request and send me a few interesting notes for each month’s journal. Address H. E. Keas, C. G. W. Passenger Station, Mason City, la. "Her.” Somewhere in France, April 10, 1918. Our regiment has been in France since August 18, 1917. Our work here is much the same as it was in the States. We are on a railroad about seventy miles in length. The system of operation is much different than it is there in peace times. Everything is handled on a military basis. We have been on the same road nearly ever since we landed in France. "Safety first” in the States does not compare with the safe, slow methods employed on the military roads in France. We have no telegraph equipment. Every- thing is handled over the telephone, and we block trains from one station to the next ; the stations are just a short distance apart. There is a very small chance of having an accident, the way train movements are handled. Part of the dead time at each sta- tion has been eliminated since we have been successfully operating the road under the French principles. Naturally, at first we had to adhere strict- ly to the French method of operation, but gradually we are drifting toward American methods. We are attached to the French Army that furnishes us with everything ex- cept clothing. We carry troops and supplies to the front, also the food and ammunition for one entire French army. We are located just behind the French lines, where we relieved the Frenchmen who went to another place on the front. Several members of the O. R. T. are work- ing on this line with me. Most of them still paying their dues, although they are deriving no benefits whatever from the Order. But every one of us is with the Order of Rail- road Telegraphers in its every movement and you may be sure that we watch with inter- est everything done in the interest of ' the members at home. We are all looking forward to the time when we can join you again and enjoy the good schedules you have procured while we have been away. We note with pleasure all the Government is doing for the brothers there. I ■ would be glad to hear from any of the members in regard to present condi- tions, and to learn of any late developments in the Order. Wishing you success during our absence, I am. Yours in S. O. and D., T. L. Walsh, Cert. 701, Div. 96. Prt., Co. C., 13th Engrs. (Ry.), U. S. Army, A. E. F., via New York. Northern Division — Again I am pleased to report that every member on the Northern Division and its branches has placed himself in good standing for the current term. It certainly is gratify- ing to me, and must be to you, to know this. There are a few non-members on this di- vision whom we have tried to get in with us ever since they came on the road, but it seems they have no consciences. They let the rest of us work and pay our money for their interests. Some make no reply when asked to join, others say "I can’t afford it.” The rest of us afforded it by skimping and going without a few little things these will not deprive themselves of. Because the United States Government has been good enough to increase the salaries of the rail- road employes, they and a few delinquents seem to think that there is no need of a labor organization. But still we have to deal with railroad officials to better our condi- tions. We must not become lax in our organ- ization work and drift back into the old rut of a few years ago. When the government turns the roads back to private operation, and Mr. McAdoo ceases to investigate our working conditions and act upon the result of that investigation, we will be worse off than ever. When that happens we must be in a position to take the reins again and do our own driving on the road of progress. We are not "slackers” on Uncle Sam, and we must not be to the O. R. T. We alj realize our first duty right now is to help our coun- try win this war by conserving and giving all we can ; but our next duty, by all means, is to organize and retain our membership in the Order that has done so much for us in the past. Bro. H. J. Tol stead goes to Empire agency. Digitized by u,oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 693 relieved on third Randolph by McAllen, a commercial man. Bro. H. F. Wood, Sumner, visiting a few days recently around the twin cities, called on “yours truly” and we enjoyed a long visit. Bro. George Latimer has returned from a three months' trip to California. Bro. Dan Lynch, on third Hayfield several weeks, on account of the shortage of opera- tors, was relieved by Miss Helen Neumann, on Elma second. Bro. A. M. Temanson, Mclntire third, is now on second Hayfield. M. E. Johnson has taken Spring Valley agency, vice F. B. Easton, now there in the bank. It is now Bros. H. Frank, second Red Wing; J. D. Everett, first Hayfield; J. A. Scheumacher, agent Rich Valley, and R. S. Johnson and G. F. Hildebrandt, second and third Dodge Center. Bro. F. N. Johnson, Cannon Falls, re- lieved Johnson on first Rochester, pending its assignment, and Miss Margaret Gleim is at Faribault. C. E. Norris. Southern Division — There are only three delinquents on this division. We must not get the impression that we should not keep up our membership just because the Government Wage Board at Washington Is handling the question of an increase in salaries. It is now more than ever the duty of every man in the service who has not paid his dues to remit at once and also the duty of the members working with nons to see that they get an up-to-date card as soon as possible. Don’t wait for them to ask you what steps are necessary to become a member. It is a deplorable fact that some of our members working with nons have never mentioned the O. R. T. to them. It’s high time to get busy and see that every man around us is lined up. We want to make our division 100 per cent strong, and that is the quickest way to do it. Bro. J. A. Smith is back from Conception at “VN.” Bro. W. O. King, now in the Army, located at Camp Funston, Kan., was a recent visitor at St. Joe. Bro. Jap Trunnell, Bondurant, has two sons in the Navy and Bro. Walker, St. Joe, has a son with the Navy, located on the coast of Ireland. Bro. Campbell is one of the live members who goes after the nons. He has another new member in sight, and just requested three sets of blanks for Afton Junction. On account* of the shortage of men, Bro. Stephens at Martensdale is having a hard time getting to Peru third, his assigned po- sition.. We hope Bro. Agee will be able to land the non at his station this month. No items received this month, which ac- counts for the lack of news. Cert. 43. Ulster & Delaware R. R., Div. No. 113. Bro. Krom is back at Arkville, feeling fine. His relief, Bro. Todd, is off now until the summer season opens. Bro. John D. Lafferty is on the West Shore at Weehawken. Bro. Riley Sanford of Big Indian recently prevented his station from burning by using a fire extinguisher and almost getting scorched. The company should recommend him for a Carnegie hero medal. Bro. Smith, Blast Meredith, will buy a Ford with his back pay from January 1. The trout season opened April 6 and some of the boys celebrated it with catches of suckers that are so plentiful they salt them down. Relief Scribe. Duluth, S. S. & A. Ry., Div. No. 116. Bro. Carlson spent a few days recently in Detroit and at his camp near Nestorla. It’s now Bro. Curtis, agent at Au Train. He is anxious for the ice to go so he can try out his gas launch. Bro. Marsh, agent Wetmore, is busy cam- paigning for township clerk to succeed him- self. We wish him success. Prof. W. J. Nadeau, recently enlisted in the signal Corps, now at Fort Worth, Tex., expects to go across soon. Brothers, wake up the lady operator at ‘’AIT.’’ She has been there long enough to afford an up to date. Being benefited daily by our new schedule, there is no excuse for delay. Bro, J. Riordan, who underwent an oper- ation recently for appendicitis, is back on the job again, and Bro. U. J. Peterson is back at McMillan after a few days work at Keweenaw Bay. Bro. B. L. Schulze, agent McMillan, who passed the examination for the Army at Hurley recently, has joined the “Benedicts.” Congratulations on both events. Bro. C. W. Danielson, off for a month on account of his health, is back again much improved. Relieved by Bro. J. B. Riordan, and he by W. S. Lester, former operator at “DS” Duluth. Bro. Kere, second Nestoria, off about a month on account of sickness, was relieved by Bro. C. A. Leitch from the G. T., who later went to third Sldnaw, relieved by F. L. Ward from “the Omaha.” Three tricks again at Nestoria, third held by Bro. Andrew Jackson (not “Stonew'all" that we know from history). Bro. Deasy, first Nestoria, visited Marquette between trains recently. Bro. Peck, still after the nons, reports Kenton and Sidnaw' solid. Bro. E. N. Olsen, local chairman, went to Camp Custer with the last bunch of men. We lose a good loyal brother and Uncle Sam gains a good soldier. May all our brothers return to us after the w?ar is over and serve this company in their usual efficient manner. We need such men In our midst. Digitized by c.oooLe
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694 The Railroad Telegrapher, Those who have not paid the special as- sessment of $5 should do so at once, so that Bro. Danielson may get that matter off his hands. Bro. A. J. Kreeneke, agent Covington, pur- chased a Ford and drove it home from L’Anse recently. He won’t get to be, any speed bug over the Baraga County roads, so he will be safe enough. Bro. H. C. Wubbena and yours truly spent several hours and a couple of dollars in Michigamme recently. Nestorla is 100 per cent on the Liberty Bond question, every one of my men. having purchased a Liberty Bond. We sold an even thousand dollars worth in one day. While our city is small, our people are not. Thanks to Bros. Senobe and Danielson for notes this month. W. E. P. “Soo Line" Ry., Div. No. 119. Chicago Division , Northern District — Bro. Owen, third Spencer, relieved on sick list a few days by Miss Doughertee. Bro. Hilson, third Colfax, was relieved several days by a new man. Sister Jenkins, Auburndale, who relieved Bro. Trainer on third Marshfield when he went to Tifield agency, was relieved later by rtter. Bro. C. E. Conrad is now at Dakota, N. D., on the G. N. Bro. Smith, second Colfax, relieved Chris- tensen, agent Curtiss, a few days while he took the draft examination. Bro. A. L. Minshall was home on furlough from Camp Greene, Charlotte, N. C., a few days before going across. Eau Claire second and third pulled off and a $60 ticket clerk put on, Bro. Stoflp go- ing into the insurance business and Bro. Larson to third New Richmond pending bul- letin. Bro. Livinsky, agent Junction City, is now postmaster there in addition to his other duties. Bro. Ludowise, enlisted, relieved at Owen by Bro. Phillips. Thanks to Bros. Clark and Fiet for those items. Others please send me some. “Buck.” Minnesota Division— All the brothers are urged to avail them- selves of the privilege of planting a garden on the right of way. Bro. Dols at Elbow Lake is getting one of his famous gardens ready. The depot at Mantador burned recently before Sister Wood came to work. Nothing was saved. We are all very sorry to hear of the death of Bro. Pribbernow’s baby, and extend him our sympathy. Supt. Baxter and Trainmaster Loftus went over the division recently in behalf of the Liberty Loan, and every employe subscribed. Bro. Norrell, agent Logan, who was draft- ed, was again relieved by Sister Jones. Bro. Tomolo, Colgan, has gone to war, relieved by Bro. A. P. Lee. It is now Sister Irene Lee on third Kensal. Miss Severson, from Enderlln, relieved Hallett at Fairmont, on sick leave. Bro. W. C. Hamilton has resigned, relieved at Minot by E. L. Lukes. Bro. Hawes has also resigned at Minot, relieved by Bro. Schlink. Both operator positions at Velva are dis- ' continued. Bro. Seeger, the agent there, has resigned. Bro. Grimney, on his honeymoon, was re- lieved by Bro. Sorenson. Bro. Hoffman, second there, has gone to third Enderlln. I am indebted to Bro. Spielberger at Mar- tin for a great deal of help in this write-up. Come again, “Spiel.” J. A. Dols, Cert. 124. Minnesota Division — Traveling Auditor Kenady took a card 'with “the big family,” so the boys feel right at home when E. H. drops in to check up the place. Bro. Shanberger went to Enderlln during the illness of the agent. If the cost of living keeps ahead of your pay check these months, brothers, don’t try cutting out your “up to date” to get even. It’s false economy, and that doesn’t pay. General Chairman Lewis has the thanks of “us agents" in getting the express com- pany to change the kid system of licking stamps to the uniform express waybill. Cert. 1424. Missouri River Division — Bro. O. C. Engle, Plaza, was called to Stanley March 29 to entrain for Camp Dodge. Bro. E. L. Bailey, who relieved T. W. Gal- lagher, at Dogden, also called to Stanley for physical examination, later relieved J. G. Baker at Lidgerwood, called home on account of the death of his sister. Bro. Bailey also relieved Sister Ayers at Wishek on vacation. Bro. M. E. Kipp, Pollock, N. D., returned from vacation, relieved Bro. H. C. Linstrom on a trip to Minneapolis, and his home, who, on his return, went to Plaza, vice Bro. Engle, called in the draft. Bro. J. M. Dollins is now? traveling agent .or the O. S. & D. department of Pennsylva- nia Railway, Bro. H. C. Lindstrom relieving him at Underwood. It is now Bro. A. J. Wagstronj, agent Dan- zig. All the agents and operators on this di- \ision subscribed to the Third Liberty Loan. Bros. J. R. and G. J. Baker express their appreciation of the floral wreath sent them. The funeral of their daughter and sister was held at Cogsw'ell. Cert. 918. Digitized by u.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. cm Winnipeg Division — The entire Winnipeg division was shocked when they learned of the sudden death of Bro. Harry Turnland, agent Forada, after a short illness, which developed into pneu- monia. Bro. Turnland entered the service on this division in 1905, coming from the Northern Pacific. When the strike was called on this line in 1905 he was true to his obli- gation and willingly sacrificed his position and sought employment elsewhere. In the death of this brother we have lost one of our most faithful members, not only from an organization standpoint, but from every standpoint of true manhood. He leaves to mourn his departure a widow, four children, father and mother, three brothers and three sisters, and other relatives and friends by the score. This devoted and beloved husband and father had taken the precaution to provide for his family, which should be a lesson to us all, having $1000 insurance in the O. R. T. and $2000 in other fraternal societies, all made payable to his wife, which will be of great benefit in helping her to care for her- self and children. The remains were taken to Dow City, la., where services w'ere held in the church at his old home and he w’as laid to rest in the neighborhood where he spent his boyhood days. May his ashes rest in peace. Cert. 94. Card of Thanks. We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to all the brothers who so kindly offered words of encouragement and rendered deeds of kindness in our bereavement caused by the loss of my devoted husband and loving father. We desire to especially tender our thanks to Secretary-Treasurer Bro. Paine, who so kindly provided Howers for the sick room ; also to General Chairman Bro. Lewis, who came to Forada and tendered his services, also arranged for the transportation and met the train bearing the remains in Minne- apolis, and assisted in every manner possible for our comfort, and in the transfer of the remains from one depot and train to the other. We desire to express our appreciation for the beautiful floraf offering contributed by the organization through the efforts of the members of the division where my hus- band was employed. The w’ords of encour- agement and acts of kindness by all the members, we assure them, will never be for- gotten. Mrs. H. Ti-rnland and Family. Lehigh Valley R. R., Div. No. 124. Seneca Division — Until some one has been appointed to send in the write-up each month, I will take it upon myself to do so. I would be glad to have you send me whatever you can. It will be appreciated very much. I have been asked to act as local chairman for this di vision until one is elected. Give me all the support you possibly can. Send me the names and addresses of any nons you know of and I will try and see them. Remember, 100 per cent is what we w'ant and we can make it that if we all do our bit. With the fine start we have there must be no turning back, but stick everlastingly at it until we get there. Send your Journal to some non after you are through with it. "GV” and "GO” Geneva freight offices are now solid. Also Sayre relay office, with the exception of one man, who has promised to come in. Bro. Burgess is on third there. It is now T. Coogan, Reeder nights. If any of you boys want some nice cards with the O. R. T. emblem and your name on them, call on him. A report has been received that Leigh Beardsley, 112th Field Artillery, had been killed in action in France. We sincerely hope this report is not true, as he was well liked by all w'ho knew him. Every member should learn the "wire test” and know how to answer it when chal- lenged. Frank Showerman, first "CH” Manchester Yard office, on ten days' visit to New York, was relieved by Mrs. Buck from the W. U. at Shortsville. I thank the brothers in "SA” for the notes sent in. They are a live bunch. C. E. Webb wras on the sheet on Ithaca branch while the dispatchers were going over the road, also sickness among them. Bros. Smith and Geary, in "SA,” changed tricks Sunday recently so Jim could do some work around the house. With a pair of twdns there he nas to keep busy. Bro. Baker, who went to second Laceyville on account of Bro. Finney going to war, was relieved at Interlaken by Hagadorn. Bro. F. E. Sweeney was first located at Kelly Field, San Antonio, and advanced to sergeant, drilling rookies, his previous ex- perience with the National Guard being in his favor. His next move was to Ellington Field, Houston, Tex., where he entered the radio detachment, and he is now at Austin attending school at Texas University. We hope he will come back to us wrell supplied with laurels. Bro. Hultsch from "BM" spent Sunday re- cently with Bro. "S” and visited the boys in "SA.” "O” is sure a live wire, and that is what we need. Let us all be live w-ires. M. M. Crane^ Cert. 180, Acting L. C. "BM” General Office — All the boys in “BM” have taken out a Third Loan Liberty Bond, which shows that they are up-to-date in every respect. We regret that Bro. Hultsch, who was taken ill when he was doing such splendid work for the cause, is still on the sick list, and we all wish for him a speedy recovery. Digitized by c.ooole
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696 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Leh is covering: his job during: his absence. The Sayre boys say "Ray” must be in the O. R. T., judging from the tone of his bug. Brothers, when gentle persuasion with the nons fails, remember that “No card, no fa- vors’* will work wonders. Cert. 217. New Jersey and Lehigh Division — Bro. Snyder is relieving Bigley, on sick list. Bro. Knittel relieved Fields and Derr a few days each. Bro. Wolfe recently injured his hand slightly in a fall. Bro. Case’s son has been called to the colors. We hope for his safe return. Bros. Knittel and Hind march, on the Lib- erty Bond committee, are doing fine. Bro. Kutz was off several days recently on account illness. "Pi.” C. R. I. & P. Ry., Div. No. 126. General Offices — 7'renton. — S. R. Redding, U. P., relieved Bro. Jones, who went to Little Rock as extra wire chief, in order to be close to his son, who is located at Camp Pike. C. E. Collins, out of the service eight years, also extra here, while Bro. Christensen is working in the dispatcher’s office. Collins promises to line up soon. Bro. Davenport evidently enjoyed himself m Kansas City recently, as another trip is reported for the near future. All the boys have cheered up since the recent rains, the flrst since last fall ; we all have our gardens and prospects are fine. Des Moines. — "MS” office received the Liberty Loan flag — 100 per cent. We hardly feel that we deserve the 100 per cent, though, because we don’t believe the office is 100 per cent patriotic, but we are glad to say that we are 90 per cent strong. It is now Bro. Overturf again. Bro. John L. Davis’ mother, who was very ill, is now on the road to recovery. We were all deeply grieved to learn of . the death of Bro. M. R. Davis at El Reno. Bro. Bylander was the "manager and wire chief” recently w'hlle Manager Hamilton took a trip to Chicago. Bro. Thomas J. Baxter has been investing some of his money in a suit of nobby new clothes. Bro. Charles Hattwick wfas off sick several days recently. Bro. J. Cummins of "GD” paid us several visits lately. Every one in "MS” have already planned how they are going to spend the big in- crease and the four months’ back pay. El Reno , Okla. — Heavy troop movements and the Liberty Loan campaign made lots of "scoop” for the "wolves,” due to the shortage of "ops.” We have the honor of being the first de- partment of the general offices to go 100 per cent for the Third Liberty Loan. We are solid again with the exception of Mr. AdamB, a new man, who has "promised.” BroB. H. T. Snodgrass and "Skinnay” Wal- den from Fort Sill, on a short furlough, both looked like Uncle Sam was using them very well. Sergt. Keaton, stationed at Camp Travis, Tex., who visited us recently, is also looking fine. The ranks of our old guard were broken for the flrst time on April 3, when the Grim Reaper plucked from our midst Bro. Marion R. Davis. "RD” was only sick tor about a week and his death came as a great shock to us all. He was a fine boy and his place will be hard to fill. We extend our deepest sympathy to Mrs. Davis and relatives in their sad hour of bereavement. Herington. — First Vice President Brown passed through recently on his way to Texas. Our old general chairman looked fit as ever and we were glad to see him for a few minutes. Our G. S. and T., Bro. Dunnam, also passed through recently with the new Mrs. Dunnam. We all wish you well, “Bar- ney.” Bro. Kay spent the afternoon with us a few days ago. Come again, "Bill,” when you have more time. Bro. Rollins is quarantined away from home at present on account of the illness of his oldest boy. Bro. Rogers, at Topeka Hospital, is well on the way to recovery. Received a card from Bro. Roy Freeman, "somewhere in France” ; says he is getting along fine. Also had a letter from Bro. Glen Peck, now in an office in Paris under Ad- miral Sims. Bro. Tim Collins is in & similar office at London. Bro. Harper writes from Bar Harbor, Me., where he has a government telegraph job, that all is well and the scenery fine. Bro. Campbell, now at Great Lakes, who visited his family here several days, is a little heavier than when he was working third trick, and looks like a real fighting man in his uniform. Bro. Jack Teeters of Chicago dropped in a few minutes on his way to El Reno and return, where Mrs. Teeters and the daughter will visit awhile with her relatives. This office went 100 per cent on the Third Liberty Loan the flrst day. other depart- ments followed in quick succession, and the Kansas Division now' stands 99.7 per cent loyal. R. D. Stover, Local Chairman. CARD OF THANKS. His wife, relatives and friends desire to take this method and opportunity to express their sincere thanks and appreciation for the assistance rendered and the beautiful floral offerings, coincident with the illness and death of our brother, Marlon Ray Da via. R. D. Stover, L. C. Relay Division. Digitized by u.ocK?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 697 Chicago. — We now work direct with Wash- ington, D. C., Pittsburgh, Baltimore and several other Eastern points. Bro. Hanson informs us the call for Baltimore is “GO.” Bro. McCann is back from the Postal at Tulsa. Bro. Pat O'Connor passed around the cigars to the boys and a nice box of candy to the messenger girls, celebrating the ar- rival of “the boy.” Bro. Knapp, with a big screwdriver, a pair .of pliers, an ink-dropper which he used as a blow-torch, a hammer, and the help of the messenger boy and Bros. Lee and Pa- catte, fitted a small screw in the Mecograph he uses in less than thirty minutes. There’ has been a sort of "far-away” look In Bro. Supple’s eyes of late. About as far as from here to Cedar Rapids. Bro. Cazel on Fairbury-Goodland, and Bro. Hanson on Little Rock -Fort Worth cir- cuit, face an "accuracy first” all day. That sign surely wasn’t meant to apply at these circuits, nor St. Louis, either. Red Ball reports to J. R. Pickering will in the near future be about as numerous as doctor bills to Douglas Fairbanks. L. F. Lee. Pea Moines Valley Division — Bro. Bodart, Chariton, on sick list, was relieved a few days by Bro. Harding, closing third Williamson meanwhile. Bro. Brooks, first Chariton, having an at- tack of smallpox, relieved by Bro. Farley, who was on vacation. Bro. Jamison was an Oskaloosa visitor, and Bro. Life and wife visited at the home of his wife’s parents at Eddyville recently. Bro. Life was a recent Ottumwa visitor. Bro. Forche was in Des Moines lately on committee work, and Bro. Hanton, agent Williamson, was a recent visitor there. Bro. Davis, Pella, was home recently to attend the funeral of his father at Alexis, 111. The residence of Bro. Utley at Keokuk was destroyed by fire in February and Bro. White is now in a side-door Pullman, owing to his depot burning down. Bro. Farley, who was at Hartford as agent, after working relief several months, says the penalty sure makes nice big checks He was later relieved there by Bro. Norris and went to Bonaparte agency. Bro. Patrick, Farmington, has resigned. Bro. Teson, on first in dispatcher’s office, was relieved at Carlisle agency by Bro. Brake, relieved on Oskaloosa second by Sis- ter Funk, just returned from a short vaca- tion. Bro. Warren is back at Kirkville, feeling much better, relieving Bro. Cox, who then relieved Bro. Cable at Rose Hill. Bro. Lash, at Evans, was recently married. Bro. Hall, who relieved Bro. Moore, agent Indianola, while suffering with an attack of quinsy, was also on sick list, later re- lieved by Cook, a new man, who also relieved Bro. Jamieson, on third Evans several days on account of sickness. Later Bro. Taylor went back on first Evans, Bro. Lash going on second until Bro. Jamison was able to work. All the boys on this division have pur- chased a Liberty Bond and are doing what they can to help lick the kaiser. F. E. Brake, Cert. 380. El Paso Division — Bro. Farrell, first Pratts ofT a few days owing to the sickness of his brother, who is in the army, was relieved by Bro. Men- denhall. Bro. C. Johnson, "owl” at Wellsford, goes to third Preston. It is now Sister Wimmer, relief at Dur- ham. They are all lining up. Bro. Guinn has received his back pay for the W. U. Commission at Guymon, which goes to show what the O. R. T. can do. Second trick at Guymon, please take notice. Bro. Wolford, second Medora, is raising Belgian hares. Any wishing to Invest can hand him their order on the wire. Wish some of the boys on west end would slip me a few notes. Can’t reach far enough west to get them. Address them to Box 242, Arlington, Kan., and I will do the rest. Bro. C. W. Walters, from the D. & R. G., is at Plains. Glad to see up-to-date men coming to this division. Cert. 642. Louisiana Division — Your correspondent is on the sick list, working on Colorado Division trying to get -the "carbon out of his cylinders,” relieved by E. C. Sterling from Gulf . Coast lines. Another correspondent will have to be ap- pointed for this division, for the present, as the doctors may overrule my returning until I am cured of the "white plague.” Remember, boys, the Louisiana Division has an exceptionally good set of officers, so let It be said by them that they also have an exceptionally good set of telegraphers. See that a write-up is sent in occasionally, for we who can not be with you like to get the news from our home division. Keep after the nons until you get them all lined up. H. Morrison, Cert. 1506. Amarillo Division — The meeting at Amarillo was well attended and all returned home a little wiser. Those who haven’t attended any of the meetings should do so. Bro. O. R. Denton, San Jon, N. M., was on the sick list a few days, relieved by Bro. F. R. Dalton, who has resumed at Glen Rio after four months’ absence on account of his health. We are all glad to see him back and know he has recovered. Bro. J. S. Moore, from Boonville, on the Arkansas Division, on ninety days' leave, Digitized by u.ooole
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698 The Railroad Telegrapher. owing to bad health, with us at McLean. We are glad to have him, and hope his health • will improve. Bro. Pieper on sick list, was not able to hold McLean nights, and had to go to Ama- rillo, his home. The company allowed Bro. Davis, agent McLean, additional help. This division, although a small one, has as good or better line-up than any other on the Hock Island. All are paid up to June 30 and December 31 except one man at Wil- dorado. Help me to line him up and make it solid. Cert. 2486. Nebraska Division — South Bend third closed a few nights on account of Sister Sawyer having the measles. Bro. Cook has returned to Havelock sec- ond from a visit with homefolks East; trick closed several nights during his absence, his relief, Bro. Olsen, having the smallpox. Bro. Edwin Blakeley’s friends will be glad to learn that he has recovered from his expe- riences as a hunter. He is now on Kansas Division. Bro. Hornbeck recently attending a Ma- sonic meeting in Lincoln, cannot say if these meetings are the cause of various other eve- nings spent there or not. Sister Walker of Mahaska recently spent Sunday in Lincoln visiting with friends. Bro. Showers is back at Belleville, after working as dispatcher at Fairbury some time. His relief, Bro. Johnson, also relieving Bro. Birmingham a few days. Bro. S. D. Blakeley, agent Formosa, was an Omaha visitor recently. A very large per cent of the brothers have subscribed for Lib- erty Bonds. We trust it will be 100 per cent before the drive is over. Several on this division have not sent in their contribution although they gladly ac- cepted their share of the increase and are now wondering and some even complaining because they have not received another. Brothers, the O. R. T. dues is about the only item of expense you have had that has not increased with the war. Show your appre- ciation by doing your share. It takes real money to get results. Get after that non working with you and we can soon have a 100 per cent line-up on this division. Cert. 761. C., B. & Q. R. R., Div. No. 130. Relay Division — Chicago : Bro. Abie Coats made another trip to St. Louis recently and stopped off at the various division points to say “howdy” to the boys. Bro. Villars went to St. Louis recently to locate a place to live in when he moves there. Jack Crandall, our office boss, accidentally took hold of the business end of a soldering iron recently, burning his right hand se- verely, due to the negligence of Jim Castle. Sisters Erickson and Anderson, Morkrum operators, Omaha, spent a day in Chicago recently, visiting Sister Reisa. Miss Naomi Stemm has returned to Green Camp, Ohio, after a visit here with her father, Bro. J. B. Stemm. The boys of “GO” are glad to learn that it is now Bro. J. E. Butler at Ottumwa. There Is one more Butler there we would like to call brother ; he signs “B.” General Offices — Omaha : Bro. Weiss is now on lines east, extra; Bro. Fox on third regular; Bro. R. E. Hoenshall returning from “DS” on second. An unexpected return to “DS,” however, left his trick vacant, and necessitated a few hours’ overtime to the regular hours for some of the boys. Chief Operator Theis is “baching” while Mrs. Theis is visiting in California. Sergeant Weston, from Fort Leavenworth, formerly “MN" in this office, on a short furlough, is visiting friends here, looking better than ever. Received a notice re- cently that Bro. Shepard, formerly “Q” this office, has arrived safely “over there." We wish them both success and a safe return. “G." Casper, Wyo. : It has been some time since any Casper relay items appeared in the journal, so we will try to make them appear more regularly in the future. We have a good live office force, all about right up, and will endeavor to keep them that way. Manager Charnock, who has been at St. Joe as second wire chief since December, is expected back daily. Acting Manager West recently moved into one of the houses built by the company, endeavoring by this means to lower the H. C. L. for the employes in the Oil City. B. J. Busch, one of the newlyweds, and J. H. Harvey, the “K. C.” kid, have the day tricks ; Virgil Smith of Sheridan, re- cently from the O. S. L., handling the train wire. B. J. Wilson, one of the “old-timers," is wire chief from 4 :00 p. m. to midnight. J. W. Williams, extra dispatcher, is on the “graveyard” trick. The force is nearly solid and every man in the office will soon be up-to-date. Would like some live brother to give us a good writeup of Casper Division. Cert. 1577. Galesburg Division — New members : G. G. Platt, Canton, 111. ; Miss Bernice Bennett, Briar Bluff, and Mrs. B. E. Slader, Brick Yard Switch. Bro. Johnson, first Farmington, on sick list, relieved by Bro. Swigart, third there, and he by helper from La Prairie. Bro. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 699 England, agent Lewiston, also off on ac- count of sickness recently. Bro. Jordan, third “YD” Galesburg, off on account of sickness, relieved by Bro. Louis from Portal. Bro. Host, first Graham, off three weeks with pneumonia, relieved by Bro. Mills. Bro. Wright, first Ewbanks, who suffered a stroke of paralysis recently and was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital, Quincy, is improving. He thanks the boys who contributed to the flower fund which furnished him with flow- ers. Bro. Guy Jones, relieved by Bro. Woolery on third Golden, called to colors April 3rd, landed in Fort Crockett, Texas. Bro. Higgins, St. David, called same time ; unable to . learn where he landed. Ex-Bro. Gookins to Camp Dodge. Bro. “JR” Clayton, formerly in Galesburg Relay, now a sergeant in the Signal Corps, U. S. A., visited in Galesburg and Peoria recently. Extra Yates, second Edwards, called home a few days ; office closed. Trainmaster Miller and the roadmasters touring the division in Motor Car 238, solicit- ing applications for the Third Liberty Loan, report station men practically all taking bonds. Bro. Antrim, Oak Hill, was off a few days recently. Bro. Picton, second Farmington, relieved on vacation by Bro. F. C. Rector from Den- rock. Bro. Walker to chief dispatcher’s office, relieved by Watts on Yard second. Bro. E. G. Ball, second Paloma, returned to his home in Minnesota, relieved by Bro. Taute, later to Fall Creek. Bro. Dubree re- lieved on third Graham by Bro. Harris from the Southern. Bro. T. P. Ogle threw up third Quincy Switch on account of too many phones. Bro. Akord, a new man, to second there. Bro. L. C. Waddill, Barstow, 111., treasurer of the Flower Fund for this division, reports the fund getting low. All who wish to con- • tribute, please send him 25 or 50 cents. He will publish a report in The Telegra- pher at an early date. Wish to thank Bros. Kost, Chinn, Ogle and Peluse for assistance with the notes this month. Come again. Buy Liberty Bonds . L. C. Bcardstoum, III., Div. — Bro. Yowell, first Litchfield, was off sick several days recently ; also Bro. Williams, third Litchfield ; latter relieved by Miss Wrilson, and Bro. Jones of Lowder relieved by Bro. Agnew of Waverly. Recent new members : Sister Haphaway of Boulder ; Bro. Sheppard of Waverly ; Bro. Hickman, Vermont, and Bro. W. A. Kell, third Centralia. Now solid. We expect the double track will be com- pleted by July 1st, which will be a great relief for Litchfield and all concerned. J. H. Mann, Asst. L. C. La. X. Div. — We were all grieved to hear of the death of Bro. W. B. Tartt, first Prairie Du Chien, at Vale, Ore., April 12th, where he had been for two months for his health. His re- mains were laid to rest at Pra Du Chien, and a beautiful floral design was purchased by the brothers of this division and sent there for the funeral, April 17th. Bro. Tartt was a pioneer on this division. He was on first Pra Du Chien for several years. Bro. Foehringer, second Cassville, drafted, relieved by Bro. H. O. Covey from the Rock Island ; Kronberg, Nelson second, resigned, relieved by P. A. Paul, a new man, and P. E. Harrison, second Crawford, resigned, re- lieved by W. D. Johnson returning. Bro. E. W. Dyer, relieving in dispatcher’s office at La Crosse while day dispatcher was off a few days on account of the sickness of rela- tives, was relieved at Grand Crossing Yard by Bro. Tucheck ; Bro. C. E. White, agent Grand Crossing, relieved by Bro. E. W. Dyer, and Bro. G. E. Leavitt, third Prescott, several days by Bro. Smeltzer, both on ac- cotint of sickness. Bro. Wittenberger, agent East Dubuque, looked over “JD” third Sunday recently. Bro. Tate, third Crawford, on his way to work on gas car, struck a rock on the track, derailing his car, injuring his back and dam- aging his car ; relieved by Bro. Kircher, third Stoddard, a few days, later relieved by Cullen, Stoddard third closed meantime. Bro. Sid Kimball, second Diamond Bluff, off a few days on account of the death of his father, relieved by Bro. Jay Tuttle, Losay days closed meanwhile on account of the shortage of operators. Chief Dispatcher Porst, down with measles, relieved by R. Paul, and he by Bro. E. W. Dyer, relieved at Grand Crossing third by Bro. Tuchek, and he by Ender at North Jet. Bro. Crawford was obliged to double over to keep the office open while Bro. Scott, nights Dayton Bluff, was on the sick list. W. B. Schrunk has gone into the insur- ance business again ; Farber, Trempealeau, relieving at Maiden Rock second, pending bulletin. Bro. Wilkins, La Crosse Relay, went to Trempealeau recently to pick out a good fishing hole. Thanks to Bros. White and Tuttle for this writeup. Come again. Cert. 276. CARD OF THANKS. To Members La Crosse Division, O. R. T. : I wish to thank you for the beautiful floral offering and expressions of sympathy at the death of my beloved husband. With sincerest gratitude, Mrs. W. B. Tartt. Digitized by v^ooole
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700 The Railroad Telegrapher. Hannibal Division — Bro. Q. L. Hubbard, agent Orchard Farm, on the sick list for some time, is now West, sight-seeing and visiting his son at Dupont, Wash., relieved by Miss Nell Trihey. Bro. Ira, Survant, has resumed at Old Monroe. Bro. H. E. Rhoades is now agent there. Bro. C. A. Heckart, agent Wellsville, Mo., while taking his wife to the hospital at St. Louis for treatment, was relieved by Miss Mabel Trihey, who later relieved Bro. Ogel- vie, agent Kissenger, visiting at his old home in Longview, Texas. Bro. B. Gist, Kissenger, transferred to second Louisiana, Mo. Superintendent Lamb and Chief Dispatcher Lowrie, who passed over this division in the interest of the Third Liberty Loan, reported 98 per cent of the employes having pur- chased bonds. Bros. Poison and Clendennie have been doubling at North St. Louis second for spme time owing to the scarcity of operators. Bros. Joe Hays and Ed Frank, West Al- ton, are on the sick list. This divlsiori now ranks second in mem- bership percentage on System Division 130. This Is not due to my work alone, but to the good support I have received from the brothers who have so willingly assisted me. I certainly appreciate this, and trust you will continue to help me and see that there is no backsliding in the future. Callie Mays, L. C. St. Joe , Mo., Division — Bro. H. Rueff relieved Bro. W. L. Cooksey, agent Francis St., a few days on account of the death of his wife. New automatic signals have been installed between Francis St. and Forbes, closing Nodaw-ay nights and putting Bro. Mike Foley on extra list. Brothers, get after the few nons and de- linquents and see that they pay up. J. R. McKillip took Stock Yards St. Joseph, agency after Director General Mc- Adoo abolished the office of live stock so- licitor. Bros. Geo. Martin, Clare Martin, Leo and Paul Strohl, the latter now a corporal and train dispatcher, who are with Company “D," 12th Regiment Railway Engineers, American Expeditionary Forces, France, would like very much to hear from any of the boys on this division. All are getting along fine. Bro. J. T. Arnold, operator Tarkee, who recently took the medical examination at Albany for the draft, says he is the best man in Gentry County, and it waiting to be called for duty. Bro. E. F. Dunlap, agent Westboro, also caught in the draft, will be called soon. This will make this division very short of men. We are sorry to have these broth- ers leave, but wish them success and a safe return. We know they will make good while serving their country. J. L. Millen, DIv. Cor., Coin, Iowa. CARD OF THANKS. We desire to express our appreciation to the agents and operators of this division lor the sympathy shown us in our recent be- reavement. W. L. Cooksey and Family. Burlington Division — H. B. Graham, in another branch of serv- ice for several years, is now at Crawfords- ville, la., agency. We hope he will soon have his card again. R. J. Patterson, a new man, goes to first Des Moines. Extra men are so scarce that new men with no seniority are getting regu- lar positions. There are only a few men left on this division. If we all get interested we can land the few desirables. Write me for list of them, and delinquents, and see what we can do. The few who seem to think that since the Government has taken over the railroads, they no longer need the protection of our organization, are very much mistaken. We need it now more than ever. If that were possible. When the roads are returned to the former managers we will face new con- ditions, and the only way to meet them will be with a strong organization. So let’s all get in the game and stay in. I be- lieve we can educate the public so we will have its sympathy In our fight for better pay. Most of us are ashamed of the little money we draw' for the work we do, and let the people think we get two or three times more than the amount we actually re- ceive. Each one of us should see that the man working in same office with us, or our neighbor out on the line, has a card, and *keep it up to date. If every member will only help a little it will make things hum. J. F. Frajn, L. C. Piv. Cor. Centerville • Division — New members : C. E. Ledgerw'ood, Gravity ; F. H. Raynor, New Market, and Earl Rowland, Humeston, making the lat- ter solid for the first time. This was ac- complished by a little personal work. If every member will exhibit as much interest in lining up the nons and paying their dues promptly as they do about the way increases in the new schedule were spread around, we would soon have the whole division solid. All the employes on this division have received their back pay, and those who never done a thing towards getting it hold right on to it, just as though they had earned it. Brothers, we can raise our 85 per cent to Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 701 100 per cent on this division by June 30th it every member will get right after these “slackers.” Get after that one working be- side you or at the station next to you. Hand him application blanks and stay right with him until he fills them out and hands you the money. Don’t give him any rest until you land him. Send your news items to the local chair- man or to me in time, so they can be written up and sent to St. Louis before the 5th of each month. C. F. Parish, Div. Cor. Crest on Division — - Four block efflces were kept open all night on April 5th, when several troop trains went over the Amazonia Branch, with Bro. Hick- man at Lennox, Bro. Shelby at Hopkins, Bro. Yarbo at Rosendale, and Agent D. G. Hainey at Arkoe, who was being relieved there on vacation by Bro. A. L. Estes, but called in for that one night. Bro. J. E. Shelby, second Nodaway, visit- ing home folks at Glenwood a few days, was relieved by Bro. Stokesberry, who also relieved Bro. Reed, second Cromwell, sev- eral days. Bro. R. D. Gwinn relieved several days recently by Bro. Yarbo on account of sick- ness, and the W. U. operator at Red Oak was relieved a few days by Bro. Mieretto, second Red Oak tower, for the same rea- son. Bro. E. A. Thompson is now in the barber business at Barnard. We wish him suc- cess. The north and south bay windows in the Maryville passenger depot were broken in recently, but nothing was missed from the office. Thanks to Bro. J. E. Shelby for items this month. O. C. Wallace, Asst. L. C. Ottumwa Division — O. Starbuck died at Osceola Sunday morn- ing, April 14th. Mr. Starbuck was a faithful brother until just recently, when he was promoted to Osceola agency. A beautiful, floral wreath was presented by the men on this division as a token of esteem. The wife and children have our heartfelt sym- pathy in their sad hour of bereavement. Bro. C. A. Saling, relieved by H. Palmer on second “BY,” is now cashier in the bank at Middletown. We regret to lose him, but wish him success. Bro. C. F. Mason has resigned as local chairman. We regret to lose him, as he has always been a faithful worker for our divi- sion, as the records show that during his administration as local chairman the mem- bership grew more rapidly than ever before. I will act in his place until a regular L. C. is elected. Our two new members are : L. R. Ford, Rome, and J. F. Patterson, Danville third. I have appointed Bros. Atz, White, Blake and Powers to go after the nons at St. Charles and Cainsville and make that branch solid. G. E. Eaton, on third Thayer a few nights, went to Prole agency. Bros. Tribler and Babcock are working on Gladstone, and hope Bro. Houston will line up W. B. Hart. We have several prom- ises from him. Will appreciate any news from the brothers, as I cannot hear it all. Bro. Newt. Beatty, Troy second, has been for over a month in Creston hospital, suf- fering with dropsy. He has been a life- long member and has a wife and three small children, with absolutely no funds to sup- port them. I am asking the brothers and friends to contribute something to help Bro. Beatty defray his hospital bill, living ex- penses, eta It is a brotherly act to help such a worthy brother in such a condition. Mail any amount you feel able to give to Bro. D. L. Stover, at Lucas, who will see that it is handled properly. Your help will be greatly appreciated by Bro. Beatty and family. P. E. Haist, Acting L. C. CARD OF THANKS. To the O. R. T. and Employes of the Ot- tumwa Division : We/ wish to extend our thanks and ap- preciation for the kindness shown us during the sickness and death of our husband and father. Also wish to thank you for the beautiful floral offering. , Mrs. O. Starbuck and Children. Omaha Division — Sister Shauhnessy of Waverly, on vaca- tion, relieved by C. V. Buester. Bro. Miller, Laurel, is now on the Wy- more Division. Bro. Cameron, third Oreapolis, has re- turned East, relieved by C. P. Barnes from the Mo. Pac. Bro. Horning, Memphis, is now with an auto company at Lincoln, relieved by Bro. R. G. Costich from the N. Y. C. The practice of having the agent at Schuyler come back to clear No. 64 has been discontinued. Bro. Fender, first Ashland, was off one day, sick, Bros. Parmer and West doubling. Bro. Henesh has been relieving at Mem- phis and La Platte. Bro. West spent a day in Lincoln recently with General Chairman Denton. Mr. Welch advises that copies of bulletins are mailed to all stations. If you do not receive them notify the local chairman. We were all shocked to learn of the death of Bro. Edward Myers of Bellevue, April 5th, and a short time later of the death of the wife of Bro. W. V. White of La Platte. The bereaved ones have the heart- felt sympathy of the entire division in their hour of sorrow. Digitized by Google
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702 The 'Railroad Telegrapher. As we had no flower fund, Bro. White of La Platte took it upon himself to send a pillow of roses, for which we received a nice letter of thanks from Mrs. Meyers and daughter. A wreath of flowers was sent to Bro. White on account of the death of his wife. The brothers responded nobly to the call for funds to reimburse Bro. White, and I wish to thank them for their promptness in remitting. We think it would be a good thing to have a permanent flower fund, so we would have the funds on hand to buy flowers for cases of sickness and death among our members. To do so it will be necessary to assess a small amount to keep money on hand for this purpose. You may remit direct to the writer, who will report the amount received in next month's Teleg- rapher. Bro. B. M. Benn, who worked for some years on this division and enlisted in the Signal Service while at Royal agency in February, writes from Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, South Carolina, wishing the O. R. T. and all its members as much suc- cess In 1918 as in 1917. Bro. Rogers advises that “ the Omaha ” is the banner division, 100 per cent. Now that we are at the top, let’s keep there. Try and send me a few items for next month. Would like to hear from the Schuy- ler Line, too. H. L. Gilbert, Wann, Neb. Lincoln Division — I am sure we all feel better now since we have increased the membership 30 per cent, which makes our percentage very good. Bro. Burkhalter, third “KY,” has accepted the position of correspondent and will help line up the few nons left. Send your items to him at 3118 T St., Lincoln, or tell “KY” about them. I want to thank you all for your splendid assistance, and hope you will continue it ; also that you will assist Bro. Burkhalter. More help is needed at a number of sta- tions. Don’t get discouraged if your work is behind, but keep on giving the best service possible under the circumstances. Help the dispatcher all you can. He also has lots to do. We have the largest membership on this division in its history, and I hope you will all realize that . it's just as important to keep up-to-date now as ever. Treat your dues like your grocery and other necessary bills. The card protection is worth the price and it’s cheaper to keep paid up all the time than to join over again and have to pay $10.00 initiation fee besides the dues. P. H. Miller, Local Chairman. Harvard Tower second closed as a tele- graph office while Bro. Todt was off with measles. It’s now Bros. A. J. Monroe at Sargent, Bruner at Crete, Peer at Holstein, and Weln- gart at Dorchester. Bro. Fishj at Pauline, did some real or- ganizing on the K. C. & O. when our recent drive netted us about 25 new members, Bros. Burkhalter and Clendenin, Lincoln, and Vant, Wolbach and P. H. Miller, Has- tings, doing the real stunt of getting their money. Bro. G. H. Vant lined up Burwell Line solid, except Elyria, lined up by Bro. P. H. Miller. We all welcome these new members and hope they will stick. Bros. L. H. Kilgore, second Ravenna, and C. M. Miller, on sick list several days, re- lieved by Bro. Mann. Bro. Kerr, Central City, visited Ravenna Sunday recently, and Bro. Kirchner, agent Grafton, was a recent Lincoln caller. Bro. Vanhouse, moving from Farwell to Benedict, called on the St. Paul boys with a can of cigars, but failed to land either of them. Bro. P. H. Miller relieved several days by Extra Rickard, McCook Division. Bro. G. O. Vant, agent Bradshaw, visited Bro. G. O. Vant, in U. S. Signal Corps, at Camp Dodge, Iowa, several days. After the war, when the railroads go back to the owners and there are lots of men for the jobs, we will still need our organiza- tion, as well as under the present Govern- ment control. Mr. McAdoo has assured us there will be no discrimination, so let’s go strong after the few nons left and make tt interesting for them. Remember, “No card , no favors If you need any assistance to land them, advise Local Chairman Miller or myself. Received $1.25 more for the flower fund, which was credited to the boys and turned over to Bro. Elinor, who now has $21.00 in the fund. N. H. Burkhalter, Div. Cor. Sterling Division — It is now Bro. William L. Lucas, and Bro. Brothers, a new man, at Bayard, Neb. We must all go after the few nons left good and hard and remember our motto, “No card , no favors ” and all live up to It in every instance. Don’t come back to the office and work two or three hours nearly every night and nearly all morning every Sunday. Be right on time in the morning and give the com- pany a good, honest day’s work, and when your hours are up quit and stay quit until it’s time to come back to work the next day. The train crews tell me of one station in particular where the agent has worked as late as 2 :00 o’clock in the morning, works three or four hours every night, hnd has worked nearly all day every Sunday for a long time. When some of the rest of us get behind with our work and request a little help, the company officials say, why Digitized by c.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 703 so and so is doing more business than you are and is getting along without any help. So you can readily see Just what this work- ing over hours by a few means to the rest when we try to get more help. The sooner we “cut out” this kind of work the sooner we will get the necessary help we should have. If you will not send me any items, then let’s double our efforts from now on and line up the nons. F. A. Sense, Local Chairman. Alliance Division — Bro. J. B. Jolly, in army service at Camp Funston, recently visited in his old haunts around Orellti and Crawford.. Bro. H. E. Hillyer, Hemingford, has been appointed correspondent for the Alliance Division. Kindly send him all the notes you can and let us have a good writeup each month. Your local chairman has his hands full with grievances, but wants you to bring your troubles to him at any time. D. M. Davis, L. C. Alliance Div. Notes — This division over-subscribed all divisions west of Omaha in the Third Liberty Loan drive, subscriptions running around $75,000. All the members did their level best to make this record for the division, and it Js cer- tainly appreciated. A heavy snow on the High Line tied up traffic somewhat about the middle of April. The rotary was moved from Sterling to the Dead wood Line and soon cleared things up. The steam shovel is now on double track work between Crawford and Rutland. Night Chief Eckhard, while visiting rela- tives in the National Army at Camp Funs- ton, was relieved by Third Trick Dispatcher Bronkhurst, west end. Brothers and sisters, let’s get right behind our efficient chairman and make this old division 100 per cent strong. Bro. C. W. Graham and daughter made a short trip to Ravenna and east recently. Bro. Shields was off a few days last month, and Bro. Hitt, who relieved Bro. Beaman at Hort Springs a few days, later went to Edgemont fourth. One of the new books of schedules and wage scales published by the Order is being furnished everyone who is up to date. How about it, boys, are you going to get one? Remember our motto : “No card , no favor 8.” We should all get busy now and round up the few nons. We have several ladies on the division, and it is the duty of the brothers working with or near them to se- cure their applications ; and remember our motto : “No card , no f avers.” Bro. C. W. Osborn has been appointed assistant local chairman for the High Line. Bro. J. T. Cummins, former agent at Cas- par, Wyo., is now agent » at Crawford, and Bro. Shields at Plum. Bro. Hitt, from the D. & R. G., who re- lieved Goodman at Edgemont, on a trip to St. Louis (position now taken olT), also re- lieved Bro. Cochran at Seneca a few days. Bro. Harkleroad relieved Bro. Davis, agent Mystic, while he took his wife to Denver hospital. Bro. Brennan, Provo, was off a \freek ow- ing to the illness of his wife. Bro. Haley and wife, visiting relatives in Rapid City ten days, called on Agent Bro. C. W. Graham and wife at Hemingford before resuming. Provo agency. Bro. Graham, just returned ^from a splen- did trip extending as far as Deming, N. M., is looking about twenty pounds to the good. Bro. C. F. Wahl is back again after a winter in the spud business, relieving Bro. Hawley at Provo ; his wife taking Mrs. Haw- ley’s trick. Remember you have a correspondent on the west end now. I am always on duty and around the office between 3 :00 p. m. and midnight. If you know anything of interest, call me. Somebody volunteer on the east end ; send in Items for the next , Issue to the local chairman. Bro. Thudium, second Marsland, was off a few days with la grippe, and Bro. E. H. Hillyer with measles. H. E. Hillyer, Div. Cor. Wymore Division — Bro. Clark, Thompson, went to St. Joe election day, and everything was closed. All agents and operators. Guide Rock to Wymore, except Bros. Wilson of Superior ; Holtz, Chester, Irwin, Hubbell and Majors of Endicott, attended the Liberty Loan rally at Wymore April 13th. A number of the boys from the Concordia Branch were also present. We were quite proud of our spokes- man, Bro. Borlan, although he was called without previous notice. Bro. J. A. Daily, Table Rock, was called to his old home at Beloit, Kan., owing to the death of his sister-in-law. J. J. Duggan, former operator and dis- patcher on this division, now chief dis- patcher for the S. P. at Bakersfield, Cal., has joined a railroad division and probably will soon be “over there.’’ All who knew him in days gone by hope for his safe return. Bro. C. E. Rose, now in France for “Uncle Sam,” writes that he was recently promoted to dispatcher, and sends his best regards to all the brothers. Bro. Chas. Hohaus, also somewhere in France, sends his “73” to all the brothers. Bro. McKissek, Nebraska City, was off ten days on account of sickness, and Bros. Coffey and Parker had to double owing to the scarcity of operators. Bro. Stienbock, Bennett, has gone to Lin- coln passenger depot as ticket clerk. Digitized by tjOOQie
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704 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. T. A. Jackson, Fiiley, on the sick list a few days, was relieved by Miller, Omaha Division. A great many of the brothers on the branches are in the habit of clearing the wires on Sunday and doing telegraph work. Brothers, we should live up to our contract and not do this, as such practices make it harder for our committee to get better working rules. Brothers, if you have any items, call or write Bro. Haley at “RA,” so he will be able to turn in a good bunch of news each month. Give him what news you can scare up on or before the 17th of each month. He has volunteered to look after the news from that district, and I wish each one of you would give him loyal support. We have the promise, pay-day, of Mr. Hamilton, Bennett, and Mr. Travis, Chen- neys. When we land these two we will be solid on this end of the line, with the ex- ception of the hardshell at Shubert. Ckrt. 36. McCook Division — Bro. Twomey drove across the country to Bartley recently in order that his wife might catch a main line train for Lincoln. Bro. Weyl is always glad to have any of the Branch Line brothers drop in and hand him a few notes for the journal. Bro. Weyl and family visited his mother at Trenton over Sunday recently, Bro. Koelmel’s wife was a Lincoln visitor recently. Brothers, while we are not getting all we should for the work we are doing, yet the schedule secured last fall improved our con- ditions somewhat, and we should all do our bit and buy a Liberty Bond if possible. It's simply a loan to “Uncle Sam," with inter- est. It is as little as we can do for what the boys “over there” are doing and suffer- ing for us. Bro. L. E. Skinner went to Parks, Neb., on account of a helper being put on instead of an operator at LaFayette. We were sorry to hear of the untimely demise of Bro. C. A. Davis, who was burned to death at Deer Trail. He just recently went to the U. P. While starting a Are he used gasoline instead of kerosene and fire from the explosion ignited his clothing. He lived long enough to deliver train orders to 103, on which he was taken to Denver in an effort to save his life, but to no avail. Duty was his last thought. Would be pleased to get a few items each month from you boys along the line, as only Bro. Weyl seems to send any in. C. R. Hunt, L. C. A. B. & Atlantic Ry., Div. No. 146. Birmingham Division — The meeting at Talladega, March 27th, was attended by a good number of broth- ers. Meeting was called to order in Court House at 10 :30 a. m. A list was made of the nons on the division, some of whom have already expressed their desire to join. We should see that they do so and keep after all the rest until they are up to date. After a very interesting talk by General Chairman Gorman, touching on the position of organized labor in general and the O. R. T. in particular, a motion to change the present seniority rule was made and dis- cussed, and it was finally decided to sub- mit the proposition to each man. Ballots will in the near future be mailed on which to vote for or against the question, and be returned to the general chairman. The final result will bb the decision of the majority. After the meeting was adjourned we en- joyed dinner with Bro. Williams, as his guest. Judging by the present high prices and the relative small value of the American dollar, he must have found a gold mine around Pyriton. After dinner Bros. Gorman, Thompson, Cofleld, Harding, Firkins, Lindler, Williams and Morgan went to Camp McClellan via the “flivver route.” The trip was enjoyed, though we did get into the wrong road sometimes and had to have one of “Uncle Sam’s” men to put us right. There will be another meeting “some- where” on the Birmingham Division within the next sixty days. All will be notified when and where in plenty of time, and you should do your utmost to attend. There is nothing like getting to know your fellow worker personally. Then, for the good of our Order over here, we should be more active. We have “got a good thing,” and we should push it. We have one of the best general chairmen in the “biz” today, but we must stand behind him. I have been requested to act as local cor- respondent, and am going to look for each of you to send me some notes before the 21st sure, for I have to get them to the editor before the 25th to have them pub- lished in the succeeding month’s issue. Second tricks have recently been put on at Erin, Arkwright and Wadley; third at LaGrange, and first at Lineville, and all covered by nons. We should see that these men join, and give them no rest until they line up. Bro. Aubrey, second “VN,” went to Crag- ford agency pending bids, vice Bro. Harding to Bui loch ville agency, vice Bro. Luther to Talladega agency. We are glad to see brotherhood men receive such deserved pro- motions, as they are the best men for any job. Bro. Arrington, from G. F. & A., goes to . Lineville agency, and W. G. Shaw, who has filed his application for Manchester. These two jobs did not appear very attractive to our boys, hence new men. “Jo.” Digitized by v^oooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher, i 705 Western Pacific R. R.f Dlv. No. 153. Eastern Division — Brothers east of Elko, please send your notes to Bro. Wright at Delle ; and between Elko and Gerlach to “Jim” Hill at Jungo Town. Bros. Grovogal, second Winnemucca, and Rea, agent Red House, have been mentioned for local chairman. Both good men. Bro. and Sister Dougherty of Wells were called East recently owing to sickness of Sister Dougherty’s mother. We welcome Bro. T wyman, agent Shafter, a new member in our ranks. Bro. Cole, agent Salduro, is boosting Utah by gathering samples of salt and showing It to passengers on the train, reminding them that he is living in a fertile country. Bro. Stovall, Knolls, who works twelve hours now since first there was pulled oft, was off several nights recently. Bro. McElroy, agent Delle, has a new Chevrolet. The first trip, coming from Salt Lake to Delle, he had to walk several miles to get some repairs. Limpke, second Elko, has gone to “UN.” We hope the brothers there win line him up. Bro. Grauvogel, second Winnemucca, was relieved several days by Bro. Watt, who Is now with the S. P. Thanks to Sister King, first Winnemucca, for the items sent me. They were given prompt attention. Come again. “Ko,” Cert. 234. Florida East Coast Ry.f Div. No. 160. Southern Division — Apparently the company officials are get- ting their bearings as to the scope of their authority, which has been under question, as stated last month. One official has cir- cularized his men regarding affiliation and representation on prospective negotiations. This looks better to us. In view of the rul- ing that union affiliation would be recog- nized, it is questionable as to the benefit derived by the company by this Inquiry. The summer schedule is now on, and Long Key, Hobe Sound and Palm Beach have been closed, the telegraphers having replaced others leaving the service. More offices will be closed as soon as the usual spring freight business declines. Men are scarce and many more would leave or take vaca- tions if relief could be arranged. Threats have been made to retain men in the serv- ice, and even the draft has been made of second importance. Bro. L. S. Cody of Bunnell has been elected to represent the north end, vice Gowdy, now with the S. A. L. Bro. A. F. Bauer of Jupiter is general chairman, and Bro. J. H. Benson of Princeton represents the Miami to Key West. Keep in touch with your chairman, and especially with the gen- eral chairman. One or two members re- cently tipped Bro. Bauer to a little move that was neatly headed off. Keep him posted on anything “for the good of the Order.” A bulletin is being considered for general circulation, and if the experiment works we hope to have it repeated. Let us have your notes through the general chairman. Cert. 82. K. C., M. & O. Ry., Div. No. 163. Texas Lines — Bro. P. J. Taylor, formerly cashier at Crowell, assigned Girvin agency, lined up promptly. We are glad to have him with us. Bro. Maddux, from Maryneal, went to Blackwell agency. We are glad to learn that his baby, sick for some time, is much im- proved, and hope for an early recovery. Bro. Jones reports lots of sand storms at Truscott. Bro. Smith, former agent Sagerton, is now with the Denver at Texline. We regret very much to learn of the sud- den death of Bro. A. H. James at Camp Travis. He was sick only a few hours. “Homer” was with the Orient several years, leaving the service a few months ago in an- swer to the call to the colors, and was an instructor in first aid In a hospital corps at the time of his death. He carried an up-to-date practically ever since he has been in the telegraph service, and leaves a father, mother, five sisters, two brothers and many friends on this division to mourn his loss. Vice-President De Bernardl and party were over these lines recently on an in- spection trip. Bro. Martin, at O’Brien, expects to locate permanently in Arkansas as soon as he gathers his cotton crop. Trainmaster Cleary and committee, who went over the line in the interest of the Third Liberty Loan, report “The Orient” employes as 100 per cent solid purchasers. Boys, do your bit ; buy a Liberty Bond when you get your back pay. The cattle from the drouth-stricken terri- tory are being moved rapidly. Former Local Chairman Maxwell is now with the Rock Island at Weatherford, Okla. Miss Jones, daughter of Bro. Jones, at Truscott, is now agent at Foard City, re- cently made a non-telegraph position. Mar- garet and Tennyson, also non-telegraph po- sitions, have lady agents. Chief Dispatcher Mr. Cleary has been pro- moted to trainmaster, succeeded by R. L. Jones as chief dispatcher. Dispatcher Bro. Kent, San Angelo, is back after several weeks’ visit with relatives in Kentucky. No notes from west end this month. Wish some of the brothers out that way would give me a line on the happenings, so we can have a writeup each month. Digitized by v^oooie
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706 The Railroad Telegrapher. Thanks to Bro. "MC," at Crowell, for the notes sent me. Don’t forget our motto, “No card t no favors/’ and when a new man lights don’t let up on him until he has lined up. Div. Cor., Cert. 61. Texas Division Notes — Bro. Hamilton, second Sweetwater, was off several days recently, and Bros. McMurry and Cason, who were recent San Angelo visitors, are now trying to explain about the baby rattles found in their pockets on their return to Sweetwater. Extra Dispatcher Hardeson is on vaca- tion. Bro. Blocker, Chillicothe, was also on vacation several days. Bro. Hall, Ham- lin, on several days’ pleasure trip to San Angelo, niissed his connection on his return trip. The boys all seem to have trouble getting back from that delightful “berg.” About $40,000 Third Liberty Loan bonds were placed with “Orient” boys on the Texas Division. No slackers can camp with us. Cert. 141. Ann Arbor R. R., Div. No. 164. Bro. Miller of Hallett, who passed the medical examination, visited his home in Indiana while waiting to be called for mili- tary service. Bros. Gum and Speigelberg doubled at Hallett a few days. Sherwood, also called for service, relieved at Mesick by Hitchcock, from Owosso. Bro. Lewis is still at Boulevard, as the company has been unable to land a man for this tower. Bros. West and Griffen doubled sixteen days there in March owing to the shortage of men. It’s now Bro. Davis at Owosso, on the message line. We are glad to have him with us. Cert. 2. CARD OF THANKS. Wish to express my sincere appreciation to the members of A. A. Division 164, and the boys at Hallett and Boulevard, for the beautiful floral offerings presented by them at the death of my beloved wife. Gilbert D. Lewis, Cert. 7. Gulf Coast Lines R. R., Div. No. 166. Bro. H. Stermer, off ten days, was relieved by Bro. A. F. Leach. Glad to see Bro. J. W. Jordan back on the line with us again. Brothers, let’s have a writeup of our line every month. Send me the happenings at your offices. All the information I get is what I pick up on the wire at night and from the train crew. It will only take you a minute to give me the news, and all will be glad to know what is doing on the line. New men are coming on the road all the time. When one comes to your station find out if he has a card. If not, don’t let him rest until he gets one. “No card , no favors.” • H. S., Cert. 127. Chicago & Alton R. R.f Div. No. 168. Our regular quarterly meeting was held at the Hills House, Bloomington, Saturday evening, April 6th, with 32 members present. Called to order by General Secretary Riley. General Chairman Gentz gave a lengthy discourse on the proposed schedule presented to the American and National Express Com- panies by the various system divisions handling the business of those companies. A motion was passed requesting each member to contribute. 60 cents every six months, to pay the M. B. D. assessments and grand division’s proportion of our cards, who have entered the military or naval service here, and committees appointed for the various districts to make collections of these donations. Every member is requested to remit as soon as possible, as it behooves us who stay behind to keep the boys who do the fighting protected. Bros. Crowe, Saltzman, Williams, Stein- berger and Smith were present from the Dwight Branch and Bros. Bechdoldt, Neutx- leman, Laken of Berdan and Lakon of Man- chester from the Roodhouse Godfrey line, who all showed plenty of pep. It would be well if some of the north end boys would take note and do likewise, as it is much more convenient for them to reach Bloom- ington than it is for the boys located in the districts named. Northern and Southern Division — Brothers hereafter inducted into the mili- tary or naval service are requested to notify Bro. Riley, giving him the amount of M. B. D. they carry, also their certificate numbers and their dues and assessments will be re- mitted until after the war. An agreement has been made with our management where- by such employes will retain their seniority and resume work on the positions vacated if they report for duty within ninety days after being released from the service. Trans- portation will also be furnished through the regular channels when on furlough. General Chairman Gentz, who has been elected on the committee to present an agreement to the American and National Ex- press Companies was called to Washington, D. C., April 14, to commence negotiations. The vacation periods have started in “B” relay, Bro. Nevin being the first to take two weeks. Bro. Keeran, formerly operator and ticket agent for the Big Four at Blooming- ton, is relief operator. We are glad to wel- come Bro. Keeran back to our fold, as he is a great worker for the O. R. T. and a good, reliable man. We hope he will remain with us. He left the C. & A. five or six years ago on account of the working conditions at that time. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 707 Bro. Moore, Minier tower, relieved Bro. * Mahan, agent Covel, a few days on account of sickness, the boys at “NI” doubling. Bro. Cooper, formerly at Minier, now lo- cated at Camp Dodge, was home recently on ten days' furlough visiting relatives and wishes to be remembered to all his friends. "Non* Connelly, Jacksonville, enjoyed his vacation last month which our committee got for him as per rule 18. We should see that he sends in his application now for an up to date. Bro. Banks and wife have moved their household effects to Atlanta from Blooming- ton so he will have more time to watch his wife work in their large garden. Bro. White, third Springfield, was off sev- eral days recently with the "grippe,” Bros. Gay and Motes doubling. Bro. Burkdoll, agent Carlinville, has been granted a much-needed increase in his force. Fred Curtiss, cashier at Auburn, takes a similar position at Carlinville, and Miss Dixon the clerkship, giving Bro. Burkdoll more time to look after the company’s In- terests at the many different "blind sidings.” He Is now on vacation putting in his spuds and "rocking the baby to sleep.” Sister "K,” first Carlinville, spent her vacation with her husband at Camp Taylor. Bro. Endlcott, first Sherman, was off ten days on account of the death at his mother’s home in Middleton, April 16, of his brother "Vic,” whose health had been failing for the past sixteen months. He worked several years at Athol tower and was well liked. Bro. "RA” has the extended sympathy of the entire division. Bro. Brady has moved his family from Carlinville to Sherman. The tower at "QC” Junction, Carlinville, in service for about twenty-five years, was cut out of service April 1, the company put- ting in more Ys, etc., the trainmen handling their own switch movements. Owing to recent happenings, our attention was called at the quarterly meeting to the very great importance of the "flower fund,” which it was decided at a previous meeting we should establish for the purpose of buy- ing flowers for our sick members and for any member having a bereavement. We were asked to add a small amount to our remittance of dues for this purpose, but very few of us did so. Bro. Riley is carrying a deficit of $4 for flowers he purchased for the purpose heretofore noted. We were re- cently called on to send flowers to represent us at the funeral of the brother of one of our most active members. We had no funds and we had to use the wires to ask for dona- tions, which were promptly sent in and a nice bunch of flowers furnished. While the brothers almost unanimously respond to these appeals promptly and very liberally, it would be much better to have an available fund for this purpose. It would not be hard on any of us to send fifty cents each time we remit our dues, and would add much to the dignity of the occasion. If you have not remitted, do so at once. Our officials were very much pleased at the grand showing our division made toward the “Over the Top” movement in the Third Liberty Loan, practically every member of our division subscribing to make it a success. President Bierd, who is chairman for the western roads, reports that fully 90 per cent of the employes on this system have placed their names on the list for a total of over $500,000. Brothers, if you expect us to have a monthly write-up, please send in your notes before the 20th of each month, as they have to be in St. Louis before the 23d. That will give the writers time to consolidate them. Stone and Mason. T. & O. C. and Z. & W. Rys., Div. No. 173. With the exception of Bro. Strope, who generally sends me a few notes, and for which I thank him, I have received no news, consequently Bro. Elliott is going with the A. C. L. somewhere in Florida. We wish him success. Bro. Klink, Lime City, recently resigned and rehired, also has a brother now with the company, who promises soon. Bro. Tenant resigned to go back to the farm. Bro. Pond has been transferred from di- v vision 40. Bro. Vroman at Camp Sherman, 111 two months with pneumonia, is again up and improving. Bro. Galbraith received his notice for ex- amination the same day he was to appear, necessitating a flying trip to the local board rooms at Tiffin, oAdng to delayed mail. Understand a little girl arrived at the home of Bro. Horsch, St. Marys, recently. Have not heard from the Z. & W. for six months. Some one asked me some time ago if the road had been abandoned. Just learned that the report has been sub- mitted by the Wage Commission. Perhaps the result will soon be known. Bro. Gard, who was off two weeks on ac- count of the serious illness of his mother, relieved Bro. McShane, West Cols, also Bro. Turner, Santa Fe, called home on account of sickness. Bro. Evans, Kile, has asked for induction into the active service of the 319th Field Sig- nal Battalion at Camp Sherman. Bro. Gard has a letter from Major Smith of the same battalion and may also go, as they need operators. Boys, I am on my way to camp, leaving April 26. This will be my last write-up, so au revolr. F. R. Colorove, Cert. 49. Digitized by v^ooole
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708 The Railroad Telegrapher. Ky. & Ind. Terminal R. R., Div. No. 181. General Chairman Boston called the regu- lar meeting to order March 26. Eleven mem- bers were present. Several matters of im- portance were brought up and disposed of. Boys, do not fail to attend these meetings ; there is always something doing. Bro. Spencer has returned from his four- teen days’ vacation, relieved by Extra Grass- man, who later relieved Bro. Scobe while he relieved Bro. Skinner on his fourteen days’ vacation. Bro. M. B. Egan was off several days on account of the death of his mother, relieved by McNeill, who later relieved Bro. Kilcourse several days. We are glad to see Bro. Akers back again after several days’ absence on account of sickness in his family. Bro. McConnell has gone to work for Uncle Sam as carpenter foreman. On account of heavy telegraphing at "YD” the split-trick operator has been put back on. Since we have received our seniority list it looks as though some of the boys must like the K. & I., according to date entered service. No names mentioned. Bro. Cassady, who lives in the sticks, was off three days planting a war garden. Special meeting held April 18 for benefit of the second and third trick men was called to order by Bro. C. C. Lindsey. After the meeting Bro. Mills with his seven-passenger machine brought quite a number of the boys out to "JN." Always glad to have the boys call. All are greatly indebted to Bro. Mills. Cert. 20. IN MEMORIAM. Our Heavenly Father has deemed it best to call to her Heavenly Home and reward, the mother of our worthy brother, M. B. Egan. We extend to Bro. Egan our sincere, fraternal and heartfelt sympathy in this his very sad bereavement. Mo. & No. Ark. R. R., Div. No 182 New members initiated : W. F. Robertson, C. H. Dewey, J. P. Cantrell, J. S. Jameson, W. W. Glaze, J. S. Dalton. The nons must be feeling lonesome now, as there are only four left. The Wells Fargo Express Committee, re- ceiving no reply to their request for a con- ference from President Cladwell of the Wells Fargo Company, proceeded to Washington, D. C., and on April 1 laid the matter before Mr. W. S. Carter, director of Labor Division of the railroad Administration, for the in- formation of Director General W. G. McAdoo, before taking further action. Our position is decidedly strong enough to carry this to a successful conclusion, and all that is neces- sary is for the membership to uphold the action of the committee. Bro. F. U. Lane, agent Alpena, was re- lieved thirty days by Polly, a new man, and Bro. McGauhey was relieved at Olvey by Bro. J. P. Cantrell, relieved at Elba by a new man. Bro. R. S. Swain, agent Everton, wa^ relieved thirty days, on sick list, by Bro. W. D. Kendall from Green Forest. Miss Browning, from the W. U. in Califor- nia, relieved D. T. Hatcher at Leslie when he went to Alberg agency. Bro. V. C. Ray, now with T. ft P. in Texas, visited in Searcy recently. Bro. W. W. Glaze relieved Bro. Finn at Moro, resigned. Bro. H. Leuter, who was passed by local board and* expects to soon be sent to the training camp, was relieved at Aubrey by Bro. J. S. Dalton. Several of our brothers will be drafted in this call, and we who remain at home should do all in our power to protect the interests of those who fight for us. The management is trying to get deferred classification for these brothers, but it is probably now too late, as they have been passed by examining boards. Thanks to Bro. Roy for his help in this write-up. Cert. 5. Twin City Telegraphers' Club A rousing meeting was held in St. Paul at the Labor Temple Monday evening from 7 :S0 p. m. until midnight, and this club re- organized with a large membership, after being dead for several years. St. Paul was selected as the place of meeting on April 22. It was found that it was the logical city in which to hold meetings, instead of at Mid- way, where the old club had held its meet- ings in former years, owing to the fact that a majority of the telegraphers were located in and around St. Paul. Now, boys, that we have this club revived, let us make it a hummer and every one bring in a new member. Bro. George W. Lewis, general chairman of the Soo Line, was elected president with- out a dissenting voice; Bro. T. Clyde Hay- wood, relay operator, Great Northern general offices, St. Paul, secretary and treasurer; Bro. Lester of the Milwaukee relay office, Minneapolis, first vice president, and Bro. Joe Woodley of N. P. relay office, second vice president. Bro. Holmberg of the Omaha Railway was unanimously elected sergeant- at arms and Bro. Swope of G. N. doorkeeper. Grand Secretary and Treasurer Rawlins, who was 6ast looking after business, was unable to be present, which was a great dis- appointment, as we all appreciated his pre- vious visit and the excellent talk he made and would have been very much pleased to have had him with us again. We had with us State Senator Richard Jones of Duluth, an ex -employe of ‘the Great Northern. He made us a grand talk on unionism and the many things taking place for the good of organized labor, and impressed on every one how essential it was for the railway teleg- Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 709 raphers to encourage the commercial teleg- raphers In their present movement toward organizing and hoped that every railroad telegrapher would be present in Minneapolis April 28, known as “Organization Day“ throughout America for the commercial te- legraphers. We were glad to have Bro. Jones with us, and hope he can come to our meet- ings often. Bro. E. B. Nason made some very enthusi- astic remarks, as did many of the other brothers present. Our genial Bro. Joe Poirer, late night chief Northern (Pacific relay office, St. Paul, now a practicing attorney in Minneapolis,* who helped to start the ball rolling on the G. N. system, also made some excellent remarks. Among our other hearty and everlasting stand-bys were Bros. Lapham, Hanscom, Patterson and Haywood, and others too numerous to mention, who have helped to further the interests of the organization on the Great Northern. Bro. J. A. Brandon, the old-time war horse, who had made a three weeks’ tour of the G. N. system, gave us a very inspiring talk and assured us the Great Northern would gave a general committee equal to that of the “Fighting 54.” It was pleasing to note the sentiment in Hon. W. G. McAdoo’s general order No. 8, wherein he said : “I feel that it is most im- portant in this new era of railroading in America that railroad employes shall not live any longer in an atmosphere of sus- picion and distrust. I earnestly desire to see them brought together upon a plane of mutual understanding and helpfulness.” We on the Great Northern should keep after the few nons still left, and give them no rest until they are lined up. “Shrimp,” Cert. 636. Digitized by tjooole
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710 The Railroad Telegrapher. Index to Division Directory Name of Division. Addison, N. Y Annapolis Royal, N. S Ann Arbor Ry Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe Ry Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic lty Atlantic Coast Line R. R Baltimore & Ohio Ry Baltimore & Ohio — Chicago Terminal . . . Bangor & Aroostook Ry Bessemer & Lake Erie Ry Boston & Maine R. R Boston, Mass Boston, Mass Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Ry Canadian Government Rys Canadian Northern Ry Canadian Pacific Ry Carolina, Clinchfleld & Ohio Ry Central of Georgia Ry Central R. R. of New Jersey Central Vermont Ry Chesapeake & Ohio Ry Chicago & Alton Ry Chicago & Eastern Illinois Ry Chicago & Northwestern Ry Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Ry Chicago Great Western Ry Chicago, 111 Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Ry. . . Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rv Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Ry Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha Ry Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern Ry. Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western Ry. Cleveland. Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Ry Cobalt, Ont Colorado Midland Ry Danville & Western Ry Delaware & Hudson Ry Denver & Rio Grande Ry Denver, Colo Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Ry Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Ry El Paso & Southwestern Ry Erie Ry Florida East Coast Ry Fort Worth & Denver City Ry Georgia Ry Georgia & Florida Ry Georgia, Florida & Alabama Ry Georgia Southern & Florida Ry Glace Bay, N. S Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry Grand Trunk Ry Grand Trunk Pacific Ry Great Northern Ry Green Bay & Western Ry Gulf Coast Lines Gulf, Mobile & Northern Ry Hamilton, Ont Hocking Valley Ry Illinois Central Ry International & Great Northern Ry Kanawha & Michigan Ry Kansas City Southern Ry Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Ry Kentucky & Indiana Terminal R. R Lake Erie & Western Ry Lehigh Valley Ry Los Angeles & Salt Lake R. R Louisville & Nashville R. R Maine Central Ry Vo. Name of Division. No. 108 Michigan Central Ry 1« 114 Minneapolis & St. Louis Ry 71 164 Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie 128 Ry 119 146 Missouri & North Arkansas R. R 182 15 Missouri, Kansas & Texas Ry 22 33 Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf Ry. 174 33 Missouri Pacific Ry..* 31 83 Mobile & Ohio Ry 24 51 Nashville, Chattanooga & St Louis Ry. . 57 41 New Haven, Conn 29 89 New Orleans Great Northern R. R 179 156 New Rochelle, N. Y 37 92 New York Central Ry 3 11 New York Central Ry. West 19 43 New York, Chicago & St Louis Ry 18 7 New York, N. Y 44 175 New York, Ontario & Western Ry 20 46 Norfolk Southern Ry 147 45 Norfolk & Western Ry 14 171 Northern Alabama Ry 59 40 Northern Pacific Ry 54 168 Northwestern Pacific Ry 165 34 Oregon Short Line 172 76 Oregon-Washington Ry. & Navigation 130 Co 161 96 Panama Ry 158 91 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines east of Pltts- 9 burg and Erie) 17 23 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines west of Pitts- 126 burg) 36 . Pere Marquette Ry 39 4 Philadelphia & Reading Ry 10 180 Pittsburg, Pa 52 21 Providence, R. 1 35 Quebec, Que 115 3 Queen & Crescent Route (North) 62 99 Queen & Crescent Route (South) 69 81 Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 59 Ry 125 12 Rutland Ry 157 49 St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Ry. 31 77 St. Louis, Mo 2 48 St. Louis-San Francisco Ry 32 116 St. Louis, San Francisco & Texas Ry... 177 137 St. Louis Southwestern Ry 27 42 San Antonio & Aransas Pass Ry 141 160 Seabord Air Line Ry 28 145 Southern Ry 59 50 Southern Ry. in Mississippi 24 167 Southern Pacific Ry 53 185 Springfield, Mass 38 56 Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry 184 133 Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Ry... 99 36 Tennessee Central Railroad 178 1 Terminal R. R. Association of St. Louis. 47 1 Texas & Pacific Ry 88 70 Toledo & Ohio Central Ry 173 142 Tring Junction, Que 131 166 Trinity & Brazos Valley Ry 144 80 Ulster & Delaware Ry 113 155 Union Pacific Ry 6 40 Virginia, Minn 127 93 Virginia Ry 13 25 Wabash Ry 26 118 Wabash, Pittsburgh Terminal Ry 35 ico Washington, D. C 60 Jq? Western Maryland Ry 82 i2oii Western Pacific Ry 153 i24KWest side Be,t Ry 56 1 ii ttfl Wheeling & Lake Erie Ry 55 5£HH fazoo & Mississippi Valley Ry 93 14G^*Zanesville & Western Ry 173 Digitized by c.ocK?le
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CRAND DIVISION Mutual Benefit Department Assessment No. 141 , is due January 1, 1918 Time for payment expires February 28, 1918 AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENTS On $ 300.00 (Series A) On 500.00 (Series B) On 1,000.00 (Series C) BENEFITS PAID DURING APRIL, 1918. Claim No. Name. Cause. Div. Cert. 2135. .Roswell N. Smith Pleurisy 19.. 12328 2210.. J. H. Morin ..Suffocation 11.. 46381 2251.. James L. Sackett. Cerebral embolism Gd... 50986 2253.. C. F. Friar.. Typhoid fever 62.. 43872 2281.. Eugene L. Parker Acute gastritis 54.. 29346 2284.. F. H. *Patnoe Mitral insufficiency 53.. 30554 2293.. John McConnon Chronic nephritis 89.. 32848 2294.. Edward Graham ..Valvular disease heart 41.. 48976 2295.. G. J. Selman Tuberculosis of throat 46.. 40692 2296 . . Frank Delagoa Pneumonia 6 . . 47514 2297.. 5.muel H. Smith Tuberculosis 14.. 15461 $2.40 per year 3.60 per year 7.20 per year 2298 . . Dink Chatman Tuberculosis . 24.. 32566 2299.. O. W. Johnson Tubercular meningitis.. 34.. 29190 2300.. Chas. M. Woodin Lobar pneumonia. 2301.. John B. Selleck Carcinoma. 3.. 29872 7.. 22656 2302.. H. V. Truitt Facial erysipelas 44. .36783 19.. 7594 2303. .Wm. E. Wakeley Chronic intestinal nephritis. . . 2305.. Harvey L. Willis Gunshot wound 40.. 2130 2307.. 1.aac Utter Pneumonia 42.. 9305 2308 . . Lester L. Larson Operation 6 . . 45196 2309.. A. C. Mason Tuberculosis 31.. 39592 2310.. Roger Q. Farquhar Heart failure 144.. 47223 2311.. John H. Allardice Pneumonia.. 8.. 22976 2312.. Joseph E. B'ovard Tuberculosis 17.. 34689 2314 . . Hibbard C. Kendall . . . Chronic intestinal nephritis ... 38 . . 34762 2315. .Michael E. Kennedy .. Lobar pneumonia 38.. 27142 2316.. John R. Reed Mitral lesion of heart 120.. 35442 2317.. John Collie Cerebral hemorrhage 7.. 3842 2318.. Melzar D. Worden Pneumonia 7.. 50637 2321.. Edwin S. Lent Uremia 125.. 7216 2322.. Guy W. Holland Intestinal tuberculosis Gd... 49226 2323.. James S. Cornelison. . Acute nephritis.. 52.. 14575 Series. • . A. .$ ..c.. ..C.. ..C.. ..B.. ..C.. ..A.. A.. ..A.. ..C.. ..C.. ..C.. ..A.. C.. ..C.. ..C.. ..B.. ..B.. ..A.. ..c.. ..C.. ..C.. ..B.. ..C.. ..C.. ..A.. ..C.. ..C.. ..A.. ..B.. ..C.. . .C. . Amt. 300.00 500.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 500.00 1,000.00 300.00 300.00 300.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 300.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 500.00 500.00 300.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 500.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 300.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 300.00 500.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 Total $23,400.00 FINANCIAL STATEMENT— MORTUARY FUND. Receipts. Received on Assessments to March 31, 1918 $2,079,449.81 Received on Assessments, April, 1918 2,946.28 Total $2,082,396.09 Disbursements. Death Claims paid to March 31, 1918 $1,412,777.4/ Death Claims paid, April, 1918 23,400.00 Assessments refunded account rejected applications 2,362.44 Assessments transferred to dues 330.83 Cash on hand credit Mortuary Fund, April 30, 1918 643,525.35 Total $2,082,396.09 C. B. RAWLINS, Secretary and Treasurer, Mutual Benefit Department Digitized by Google
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712 The Railroad Telegrapher, Official Directory General Offices, St. Louis, Mo. GRAND OFFICERS. H. B. PERHAM President St. Louis, Mo. W. T. BROWN First Vice-President 6039 Rhodes ave., Chicago, 111. G. D. ROBERTSON Third Vice-President R. R. 3, Welland, Ont., Can. C. B. RAWLINS Grand Secretary and Treasurer St. Louis, Mo. T. M. PIERSON Second Vice-President Central Square, N. Y. J. J. DERMODY Fourth Vice-President 970 Kirbert ave.. Price Hill, Cincinnati, O. E. J. M ANION Fifth Vice-President Room 814, Star Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. J. F. Miller, Chairman, 2916 Huntingdon ave., Baltimore, Md. B. E. Nason, Secretary, North Branch, Minn. Geo. O. Forbes, Sydney, N. S. G. E. Soyster, Room 309, Drexel Bank Bldg., 763 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. H. G. Alexander, 122 Tate st., Greensboro, N. C. ADVERTISING. All correspondence pertaining to advertising should be addressed to The W. N. Gates Co., Managers Advertising, Garfield Building, Cleveland, Ohio. Division Directory GRAND DIVISION— Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or territory. H. B. Perham, President, St. Louis, Mo. ; C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secre- tary and Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo. No. 1 — Division covers the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Rys. Meets sub- ject to call of Chairman. L. M. Eddy, Gen’l Chairman, Grand Trunk Ry., Marcel- lus, Mich. ; M. R. Brewer, Gen’l Chairman, Grand Trunk Pacific Ry., Atwater, Sask. ; D. L. Shaw, Gen’l S. & T., 867 Waterloo st., London, Ont. No. 2, ST. LOUIS, MO.— Meets 3d Monday ot each month at 8 p. m., Small hall south side, third floor, Masonic Temple (Odeon bldg.). Grand and Finney aves., St. Louis, Mo. ; L. Wr. Quick, Chief Telegrapher, 8th floor Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. ; R. J. McElhlnney, S. & T., 4110a Arsenal st., St. Louis, Mo. No. 3 — Division covers C., C. C. & St. Louis Railway System. I. E. Schlosser, Gen’l Chairman, 1019 South Third st., Pekin, 111. ; Geo. Lavengood, Gen’l S. & T., 404 Monroe st., Alexandria, Ind. System meeting held at Spencer Hotel, Indianap- olis, Ind., subject to call of the Gen’l Chairman. No. 4 — Division covers the C., St. P., M. & O. Ry. W. J. Liddane, Gen’l Chairman, 1687 Berkley ave., St. Paul, Minn. ; D. O. Tenney, Gen'l S. & T., 920 Range st., Mankato, Minn. No. 6 — Division covers the Kansas City Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. C. Ocheltree, Gen’l Chairman, Siloam Springs, Ark. ; J. D. Townsend, Sr., Gen’l S. & T., Heave- ner, Okla. No. 6 — Division covers the Union Pacific Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. E. L. Stump, Gen’l Chairman, 433 Keeline bldg., Omaha, Neb. ; John H. Hughey, Jr., Gen’l S. & T., Box 294, Junc- tion City, Kan. No. 7 — Division covers the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. J. M. Mein, Gen’l Chairman, 41 Noble ave., Elmwood, Winnipeg, Man. ; A. E. Chapman, Chairman Eastern Lines, 266 Piccadilly st., London, Ont. ; D. Mc- Pherson, Chairman Western Lines, 104 Devenish apts., Calgary, Alta. ; R. C. Wil- ton, Gen’l S. & T., Kenora, Ont. No. 8 — Division covers^ the New York Cen- tral Ry. H. B. Morey, Gen’l Chairman, 1630 Neilson st., Utica, N. Y. ; A. E. Blim, Gen'l S. & T., Chili Station, N. Y. No. 9 — Division covers the C. I. & L. Ry. J. E. Hollon, Gen’l Chairman, 2815 Cor- nell ave., Indianapolis, Ind.; M. T. Parks, Gen’l S. & T., Box 2, Bainbridge, Ind. No. 10 — Division covers the Philadelphia A Reading Ry. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., St. Louis, Mo. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 713 No. 11 — Division covers the Canadian Gov- ernment Rys. J. J. Trainor, Gen’l Chair- man, care of P. E. I. Ry., Charlottetown. P. E. I.; Wm. Parsons, Gen’l S. ft T., Drawer 201, Drummondville, Quebec. No. 12 — Division covers the Delaware ft Hudson Ry. System, Quebec, Montreal ft Southern and Napierville Junction Rys. Meetings subject to call of Chairman. G. A. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Room 21, Stanwix Hall, Albany, N. Y. ; Jos. Per- rault. Chairman Canadian Lines, Iber- ville Jet., Que. ; O. C* Benjamin, Gen’l S. ft T., Dresden Station, N. Y. No. 13 — Division covers Virginian Ry. H. W. Hix. Gen'l Chairman, Box 18, Salem, Va. ; J. B. Goodwin, Gen'l S. ft T., Box 24, Eggleston, Va. No. 14 — Division covers the Norfolk ft West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. B. Lane, • Gen'l Chairman, Crewe, Va. ; J. L. George, Gen'l S. ft T., Box 402, Roanoke, Va. No. 15 — Division covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. B. P. Wheeler, Gen’l Chair- man, Oviedo, Fla. ; J. H. Williams, Gen'l S. ft T.. Wilson. N. C. No. 18 — Division covers the Michigan Cen- tral Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen'l Chairman. D. N. Smith, Gen'l Chair- man, 808 E. Ann st, Ann Arbor, Mich. ; J. H. Staley, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 1814, Welland, Ont No. 17 — Division covers Pennsylvania Rail- road Lines east of Pittsburg and Erie. J. F. Miller, Gen’l Chairman, 2918 Hunting- don ave., Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Skinner, Gen’l S. ft T.. 115 S. Potomac st., Balti- more, Md. No. 18 — Division covers the New York, Chi- cago ft St Louis Railroad System. F. F. Cowley, Gen'l Chairman, 519 W. Lincoln st, Findlay, Ohio; E. B. Ensley, Acting G. S. ft T., South Whitley, Ind. No. 19 — Division covers New York Central Railroad West G. E. Kipp., Gen'l Chair- man, Blasdell, N. Y. ; G. R. Smith, As- sistant Gen'l Chairman, Rockwood, Mich. ; B. D. Graham, Gen'l S. ft T., Mishawaka, Ind. No. 20 — Division covers the New York, On- tario ft Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. R. Conner, Gen'l Chairman. Cotteklll, N. Y. ; H. D. Pfoor, Gen'l S. ft T., P. O. Box 28. Jer- myn. Pa. No. 21 — Division covers the Cincinnati, In- dianapolis ft Western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. H. Carter, Gen'l Chairman, Marshall, Ind. ; J. V. Cummins, Gen'l S. ft T., 1149 North Mount st., In- dianapolis, Ind. No. 22— Division covers Missouri, Kansas ft Texas Railway System. G. H. Beck, Gen'l Chairman, 622 Jefferson st. St Charles. Mo. ; R. C. Jackson, Gen’l S. ft T., 818 East Ave., B Temple, Tex. No. 23 — Division covers the Chicago, Mil- waukee ft St Paul Railway, Bellingham ft Northern Railway, Big Blackfoot Rail- way, Gallatin Valley Railway, Puget Sound ft Willapa Harbor Railway, Seattle, Port Angeles ft Western Railway and Ta- coma-Eastern Railroad. G. E. Soyster, Gen’l Chairman, Room 809, Drexel Bank bldg., 785 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, HL ; Ed. R. Derrlckson, Gen'l S. ft T., Room 809, Drexel Bank bldg., 785 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. No. 24 — Division covers the M. ft O. and Southern Ry. in Mississippi. L. T. Mur- daugh, Gen'l Chairman, 518 N. Royal st, Jackson, Tenn. ; C. B. Hendley, Gen'l 8. ft T., Artesia, Miss. No. 25 — Division covers the International ft Great Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. C. Berry, Gen'l Chairman, 2802 South Presa st., San Antonio, Tex. ; D. D. H ungate, Gen'l a ft T., Jewett Tex. No. 28 — Division covers the Wabash Ry. O. C. Nash, Gen’l Chairman, Carpenter, 111. ; M. E. Fohey, Gen’l S. ft T., 450 Crane ave., Detroit Mich. No. 27 — Division covers St Louis South- western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. C. Frlzielle, Gen’l Chair- man. Bearden, Ark. ; C. B. Welch, Gen'l S. ft T., St Francis, Ark. No. 28 — Division covers the Seaboard Air Line Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. May, Gen’l Chair- man, Carlton, Ga. ; F. O. Cumming, Gen'l S. ft T., 16 Dinwiddle st, Portsmouth, Va. No. 29, NEW HAVEN, CONN.— Meets 1st Friday of each month at 8 p. m., and 3d Tuesday of each month at 10 a. m., in Red Men's Hall, 48 Church st., cor. Crown, New Haven, Conn. O. S. Culver, Chief Tel., 170 Grafton st. New Haven, Conn. ; G. F. McCormack, S. ft T., 86 Mala st. West Haven, Conn. No. 31 — Division covers the Missouri Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Mohler, Gen'l Chairman, Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. ; N. 8. Morgan, Gen'l S. ft T., Room 812, Star bldg., St Louis, Mo. No. 32 — Division covers the St Louls-San Francisco Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. G. Kelso, Gen'l Chairman, 519 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. : M. T. Fullington, Gen’l S. ft T., 519 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. No. 33 — Division covers the Baltimore ft Ohio Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. Yeager, Gen'l Chairman, 2227 West Liberty ave., Pitts- burg, Pa. ; B. C. Lewis, As8*t Gen’l Chair- man, Williamstown, W. Va. ; E. A. Shaf- fer. Gen’l S. ft T., Oakland, Md. Digitized by taooole
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714 The Railroad Telegrapher. No. 84 — Division covers the Chicago ft Bast* era Illinois Railway System, lfeets sub- ject to the call of Chairman. H. H. Skiles, Gen'l Chairman, R. F. D. No. 5, Evansville, Ind.; O. A. Hixon, Gen*l S. ft T., 608 Jewel st. Danville, DL No. 86. PROVIDENCE, R. I.— Meets 8d Sat- urday of each month in Swarts Dodge, Odd Fellows' Hall, 96 Westminster st., Providence, R. I. A. H. Haddock. Chief Tel., Ill Narragansett st., Edgewood, Cranston, R. I. ; D. ML Callls, S. ft T., Toulsset, Mass. No. 86— Division covers the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pittsburg. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Oen'l S. ft T., Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 87. NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y.— Meets 2d Friday of each month, 7:80 p. m., in Metropolitan Hall on North ave., near Hugenui st.. New Rochelle, N. Y. Geo. E. Woods, Chief TeL, 69 Vernon ave.. Long Island City, N. Y. ; B. E. S. Seaman, S. ft T., 1143 Longfellow ave.. New York, N. Y. No. 88. SPRINGFIELD, MASS.— Meets 3d Saturday each month 7 p. m., in Harmony Hall, Myrick bldg., Worthington st., Springfield, Mass. Frank P. Sargent, Chief Tel., 36 Colton ave.. Merrick, Mass.; M. J. Walsh, S. ft T., 16 Moseley ave., Mer- rick, Mass. No. 39 — Division covers the Pere Marquette Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. M. Burr, Gen’l Chair- man, Central Lake, Mich.; C. P. Neff, Gen'l S. ft T.r Lock Box 334, Lowell, Mich. No. 40 — Division covers the Chesapeake & Ohio, Chesapeake ft Ohio of Indiana and the Hocking Valley Rys. L. E. Hicks, Gen'l Chairman, CraigsvlUe, Va. ; J. W. Kiser, Gen'l S. ft T.. Box 792, Hunting- ton, W. Va. No. 41— Division covers Boston ft Maine R. R. Meetings subject to call of Gen’l Chair- man or Local Chairman. J. B. Bode, Gen'l Chairman, 60 Tudor st., Chelsea, Mass. ; L. P. Clifton. Ass't Gen'l Chairman, 41 Morton st., Waltham, Mass.; H. L. Jones, Gen'l S. ft T., R. F. D. No. 37, Fremont, N. H. No. 42 — Division covers the Erie Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. E. J. Hesser. Gen'l Chairman, 864 Wallace place, Elmira, N. Y. ; C. L. Bridge, Gen’l S. ft T., 21 Allen st.. Deposit, N. Y. No. 43 — Division covers Canadian Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Louis F. Muncey, Gen’l Chair- man, 781 Broadway, Winnipeg, Man.; A Chard, Ass't Gen'l Chairman, Fort Sas- katchewan, Alta.; G. H. Palmer. Gen'l S. ft T., Dauphin, Man. No. 44, NEW YORK, N. Y.— Meets 2d Satur- day each month at 8 p. m., in Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriraan ave., Jamaica, N. Y. ; J. a Thuma, Chief Tel., 26 Franklin st.. Jamaica, N. Y. ; L. Meringer, a ft T., 1244 Chestnut st., Richmond Hill, N. Y. No. 46 — Division covers Central R. R. of Mew Jersey. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., Star bldg., St Louis, Mo. No. 46 — Division covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Livsey, Gen'l Chairman, East Point, Ga.; O. S. Travis, Gen’l S. ft T.. 490 Lee st.. Route 127. At- lanta, Ga. No. 47 — Division covers Terminal R. R. Assn, of St. Louis. J. F. Seifert, Gen’l Chair- man, 4043 Wyoming st., St. Louis. Mo.: W. B. Richardson, Gen’l S. & T.. 823 North 18th st., St. Louis, Mo. No. 48 — Division covers the Detroit Toledo ft Ironton Railway. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. L. Palmer, Gen'l Chair- man, 96 W. Main st, Jackson. Ohio; D. R. Murray, Gen’l S. ft T., Good Hope, Ohio. No. 49 — Division covers the Denver ft Rio Grande Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Fulton, Gen'l Chairman, 112 E. 11th st., LeadvUle, Colo.; J. C. Br&nnan, Gen'l S. ft T., 1014 S. Union ave., Pueblo, Colo. No. 60 — Division covers the Georgia Ry. R. B. Morgan, Gen'l Chairman, Dearlng, Ga.; J. P. Luckey, Gen'l S. ft T., Dearlng, Ga. No. 61 — Division covers Bessemer ft Lake Erie Railway System. Meets the 4th Thursday of each month In Eagle's Hall, Greenville, Pa. C. M. Miller, Gen'l Chair- man, 11 First ave., Greenville, Pa.; E. EL Keane, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 103, Green- ville. Pa. No. 52. PITTSBURG, PA— Meets Saturday. March 23, 1918, and each alternating Sat- urday thereafter at 6 :30 p. m., 231-233 Fifth ave., 3d floor, Roberts bldg., Pitts- burg, Pa. Ward O’Neill, Chief Tel., 1903 Fifth ave., Beaver Falls, Pa. ; R. W. Bees, S. & T., Box 814, Beaver, Pa. No. 53 — Division covers Southern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. T. Cull, Gen’l Chairman, 303-305 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, CaL; A. E. Laisure, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, 628 Euclid ave., Houston, Tex.; A. M. Ham- mond, Gen’l S. ft T., 303-305 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal. No. 54 — Division covers the Northern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Sam Johnson, Gen'l Chair- man, North Branch, Minn.; B. E. Nason, Gen’l S. ft T., North Branch, Minn. No. 55 — Division covers the Wheeling ft Lake Erie and Wabash Pittsburg Termi- nal and West Side Belt Rys. Meets 3d Saturday evening of each month at Har- mon. Ohio. J. O. Peoples, Gen'l Chair- man, Bolivar, Ohio; C. E. Baltzer, Gen'l S. ft T., Box 246, Navarre, Ohio. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 715 No. 56— Division covers Georgia Southern A Florida Railway System. G. L. Siebert, Gen'l Chairman, Valdosta, Ga.; F. H. Cason, Gen’l S. ft T., Lake City, Fla. No. 67 — Division covers Nashville, Chatta- nooga ft St Louis Ry. J. M. Hamilton, Gen’l Chairman, Kingston Springs, Tenn.; T. J. Hale, Gen’l S. ft T.f Christiana, Tenn. No. 58— Division covers Louisville & Nash- ville R. R. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 19 — Division covers the Southern, North- ern Alabama and Danville ft Western Railroads. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. H. G. Alexander, Gen’l Chairman, 122 Tate st., Greensboro, N. C. : J. W. Bur- gess, Gen'l S. ft T., 222 Ninth st. S. W.. Charlottesville, Va. No. 60. WASHINGTON, D. C.— Meets 2d Wednesday of each month at 2 p. m„ at 811 IQ st, N. W., Washington, D. C. J. EL Blades, Chief Tel., 1629 East Capitol st., Washington, D. C. : J. Webb Richman, a ft T.. 1424 W st., N. W.. Washington, D. C. No. 62 — Division covers the Queen ft Crescent Route (North). J. W. Ander- son, Gen’l Chairman, Oakdale, Tenn.; L. C. Higdon, Gen’l a ft T., Battelle, Ala. No. 69 — Division covers the Queen ft Cres- cent Route (South). Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. O. Peavey. Gen’l Chairman, Meehan Jet., Miss. ; E. G. Matthews, Gen’l a ft T., 126 Minerva st, Jackson, Miss. No. 70 — Division covers Great Northern Railway System. J. E. Wood, Acting Gen’l Chairman, Hillyard, Wash.; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T.. St. Louis, Mo. No. 71 — Division covers the Minneapolis ft St. Louis Ry. A. L. Gardner, Gen’l Chair- man. Steamboat Rock, Iowa; J. C. Sand- mier. Gen’l S. ft T., Waukee, Iowa. No. 76 — Division covers the Chicago ft North Western Railroad System. Meets subject to call of General or Local Chairman. E. J. Thomas, Gen’l Chairman, Room 611, Webster bldg.. 227 S. LaSalle st, Chicago, 111. ; R. B. Boyington, Gen’l a ft T., Room 811, Webster bldg., 227 a LaSalle st, Chi- cago, I1L No. 77, DENVER, COLO.— Meets 1st Mon- day evening in each month at Markham Hotel, Denver, Colo. C. a Guernsey, Chief Tel., Apt 16, 2018 Calif, st, Den- ver, Colo.; F. Eppelsheimer, a ft T., 2341 King st., Denver, Colo. No. 80- — Division covers the Gulf, Mobile ft Northern Ry. T. R. Craig, Gen’l Chair- man. Falkner, Miss.; H. C. Hughes, Gen’l a ft T.. New Augusta, Miss. No. 81 — Division covers Colorado Midland Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. E. Crispel 1, Gen’l Chair- man, Arkansas Jet, Colo.; J. F. Jones, Gen’l a ft T.. Carbondale, Colo. No. 82 — Division covers Western Maryland Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. K. H. Stover, Gen’l Chairman, Beryl, W. Va. ; D. O. Martin. Gen’l S. ft T.. Hampstead, Md. No. 83 — Division covers the Bangor . ft Aroostook Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. A. M. McNair, Gen’l Chairman, East Dover. Me.; J. L. Robbins, Gen’l a ft T., Grindstone, Me. No. 88 — Division covers the Texas ft Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. P. Abney, Gen’l Chair- man, Longview, Tex. ; R. E. Cecil, Gen’l S. ft T., Opelousas, La. No. 89, BOSTON, MASS.— Meets 1st Satur- day each month at 8 p. m., in Pilgrim Hall, also 8d Saturday each month at 10 a. m. (daylight meeting). In Pilgrim Hall, 694 Washington st., Boston, Mass. W. L. Enos, Chief TeL, Box 382, Cohasset, Mass. ; J. H. McDermott, S. ft T., 46 Crocker st., Mansfield, Mass. No. 91, CHICAGO. ILL.— Meets 1st Satur- day of each month at 8 :16 p. m., in Hall 912, Masonic Temple, cor. Randolph and State sts., Chicago, 111. Gardner Dal Jones, Chief Tel., Apartment 1. 4838 Vin- cennes ave., Chicago, 111. ; W. E. Carter, S. ft T.. 6632 Broadway, Chicago, 111. No. 92 — Division covers the Buffalo, Roches- ter ft Pittsburg Railway System. Meets subject to the call of Chairman. M. P. Burke, Gen’l Chairman, Falls Creek, Pa.; G. H Miller, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., 1000 East Mahoning st., Punxsutawney, Pa. No. 93 — Division covers the Illinois Central Railroad and the Yazoo ft Mississippi Val- ley Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. A. Mulhall, Gen’l Chair- man, Clarkson, Ky. ; L. M. Elliott, Gen'l Chairman, Y. ft M. V. Lines, Rolling Forks, Miss.; G. B. Chance, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mounds, 111. ; R. L. Shannon, Gen’l a A T.. Anna. Til No. 96 — Division covers Chicago Great West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. L. Coleman, Gen’l Chair- man, 1941 Thompson ave., Kansas City, Kan.; C. E. Norris, Gen’l S. ft T.. Box 820, South St. Paul, Minn. No. 99. COBALT, ONT. — Covers Temlskam- ing ft Northern Ontario Ry. Meets on call of Gen’l Chairman. R. Richardson, Chief Tel., Timmins, Ont. ; R. Workman, Gen’l Chairman, North Bay, Ont. ; T. J. Baker, S. ft T., Red water, Sta., Ont. No. 108, ADDISON, N. Y. — Meets subject to call of Chief Telegrapher. L. L. Lerch, Chief Tel., Knoxville, Pa. ; C. B. Belcher, S. ft T„ Osceola. Pa. No. Ill — Division covers Los Angeles ft Salt Lake R. R. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. D. McGee, Gen’l S. ft T., 324 Concord st., Los Angeles, Cal. Digitized by v^oooLe
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716 The Railroad Telegrapher, No. 118 — Division covers ths Ulster ft Dela- ware System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. M. L. Klein, Gen’l Chairman, ■ 74 Abeel st., Kingston, N. T. ; O. C. Hed- ges, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mt. Pleasant, N. Y.; L. P. Riley, Gen’l S. ft T.f High- mount, N. Y. No. 11 4 — ANNAPOUS ROYAL, N. ft— H. A Jacques, Chief Tel., Middletown, N. ft ; 4 Stanley Tavener, ft ft T., Tupperville, Anna Co.. N. ft No. Ill — Division covers Quebec Ry. Light ft Power Co.'s Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. E. Richard, Chairman, 199a Crown st, Quebec, Que. ; J. A Pot- vin, S. ft T.. Gifford, Quebec, Que., Can. No. 116 — Division covers the Duluth, South Shore ft Atlantic Railway System. Meets 2d Sunday of February, April, June, Au- gust October and December, in place ; designated by Gen'l Chairman. P. M. Stillman, Gen’l Chairman, Seney, Mich. ; C. W. Danielson, Gen'l S. ft T., Chassell, Mich. No. 118 — Division covers Kanawha ft Michi- gan Railway System. A P. Hines, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Glouster, Ohio; R. M. Henderson, Gen’l S. ft T., 839 South st., Toledo. Ohio. No. 119 — Division covers the Minneapolis, St Paul ft Sault Ste. Marie Railway System. G. W. Lewis, Gen’l Chairman, 2921 Chi- cago ave., Minneapolis, Minn. ; F. C. Paine, Gen’l S. ft T., Brsklne, Minn. No. 120 — Division covers Lake Erie ft West- ern Railway System. C. J. Turner, Gen’l Chairman, Ambia, Ind. ; M A Steckel, Gen’l S. A T.. Atlanta, Ind. No. 124 — Division covers Lehigh Valley Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., 711 Star bldg., St Louis, Mo. No. 126 — Division covers Richmond, Freder- icksburg ft Potomac Railway System. Meets at 8 p. m.. the 2d Friday of each month, at Fredericksburg. Z. Talbot Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Alexandria, Va. ; J. C. Farmer. Gen’l S. ft T.. 712 Main st., Fredericksburg, Va. No. 126 — Division covers Chicago, Rock Is- land ft Pacific Railway System. W. F. Kay, Gen'l Chairman, Room 1, 804 W. 68d st, Chicago, 111.; S. P. Ayers, Vice-Chair- man. Windsor, Mo.; W. H. Dunnam, Gen'l ft ft T.. Room 1. 804 W. 68d st, Chi- cago, 111. No. 127, VIRGINIA MINN.— W. W. Wood- ward, Chief Tel., Hibbing, Minn.; C. J. Keenan, ft ft T., Calumet. Minn. No. 128 — Division covers the Atchison. To- peka ft Santa Fe Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. A Tan- quary, Gen’l Chairman, Board of Trade bldg., Pueblo, Colo.; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T„ St Louis. Mo. No. 180 — Division covers Chicago, Burling- ton ft Quincy Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. F. Den- ton, Gen’l Chairman, Sterling, Neb.; A F. Todd, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman. Sandwich, HI. ; J. H. Rogers, Jr., Gen'l ft ft T„ 1608 Market st.. La Crosse* Wis. No. 181, TRING JUNCTION. QUA— J. A Marcoux. Chief TeL. Leeds Station. Qua. ; A Lafontaine, S. ft T., Tring Junction, Que. No. 188, GLACE BAY. N. ft— L. L. Mc- Namara, Chief Tel., Glace Bay. N. ft; C. H. Dow, ft ft T.. P. O. Box 4. Bridge- port N. S. No. 187 — Division oovers BQ Paso ft South- western Railway System. A P. Waples, Acting Gen’l ft ft T„ 4469 Clarenoe ave., St. Louis. Mo.' No. 140 — Division covers Maine Central Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A J. Hayes, Gen’l Chair- man, Leeds Junction, Me.; H. N. Bates, Gen’l S. ft T., Gardiner, Me. No. 141 — Division covers San Antonio ft Aransas Pass Railroad System. Meets , subject to call of Chairman. A H. Bar- nett, Gen’l Chairman, Rockdale, Tex.; R. O. Little, Gen’l ft ft T.. Sheridan, Tex. No. 142 — Division covers the Green Bay ft Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. Benrud. Gen’l Chairman, Blair, Wis.: L. P. Curran. Gen'l S. ft T., Winona, Minn. No. 144— Division covers the Trinity ft Brazos Valley Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Crockett, Gen’l Chairman. North Zulch, Tex. ; N. W. Smith. Gen’l ft ft T.. Box 498, Teague. Tex. No. 146 — Division covers the Ft. W. ft D. C. Ry. System. R. G. Wales, Gen’l Chair- man and Acting Gen’l ft ft T.. Box 976, Wichita Falls. Tex. No. 146 — Division covers the Atlanta, Bir- mingham ft Atlantic Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Owen D. Gorman, Gen’l Chairman, Mauk, Ga. ; C. A Pye, Gen'l ft ft T. Ideal. Ga. No. 147 — Division covers the Norfolk South- ern Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Miss ft D. Taylor, Gen'l S. ft T.. care J. H. Williams, Wilson, N. C. No. 153 — Division covers the Western Paci- fic Ry. V. W. Breeding, Gen’l Chairman. 770 Eleventh st., Oakland, Cal.; H. B. Marshall, Gen’l S. ft T., Pleasant Grove, CaL No. 155, HAMILTON, ONT.— Covers To- ronto, Hamilton ft Buffalo Ry. Meets 2d Sunday of eaeh month at 8 :S0 p. m., in L O. O. F. Hall, Temple bldg.. Gore st., Hamilton. Ont. J. J. O’Connor, Chief Tel., 46 Magill st., Hamilton, Ont; A D. Armstrong, S. ft T„ Box 98, Smith vllle, Ont. Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 717 No. 158, BOSTON. MASS. — Meets In Rath- bone Hall. .694 Washington at.. Boston, Mass., 3d Thursday each month, day and night alternately commencing with the day meeting in July. Daylight meetings 11 a. m. night meetings 7 p. m. Robert H. Buxton. Chief Tel., 8 Dresden st.. Ja- maica Plain, Boston, Mass.; F. J. Dan- sereau, 8. A T„ 66 Boylston st., Jamaica Plain, Boston. Mass. No. 167 — Division covers the Rutland Ry. H. R. Clarke, Gen'l Chairman, Manches- ter Depot, Vt E. V. Page, Gen’l S. ft T., Chatham, N. T. No. 158— Division covers the Panama Ry. A. V. Losea, Gen'l Chairman, Box 17 Pedro Miguel, Canal Zone; P. A. Freehan, Gen’l S. A T., Box 6, Corozal, Canal Zone. No. 160 — Division covers the Florida East Coast Ry. A. F. Bauer, Gen’l Chairman, Jupiter, Fla.; C. Ross Gowdy, Gen’l S. & T., Tallahassee, Fla. No. 161 — Division covers the O. W. Ry. and N. Co. J. V. Mitchell, Gen’l Chairman, Multnomah Hotel, Portland, Ore. ; Wm. H. L. Davis, Gen’l S. ft T., Pendleton. Ore. No. 163 — Division covers the K. C. M. ft O. Ry. L. R. Cotney, Gen’l Chairman, Ft. Stockton, Tex. ; D. O. Kennedy, Gen’l S. ft T., Clinton, Okla. No. 164 — Division covers the Ann Arbor R. R. H. J. Workman, Gen’l Chairman Box 69, Frankfort, Mich. ; E. C. West, Gen’l S. ft T., 2238 Erie st., Toledo, Ohio. No. 165 — Division covers the Northwestern Pacific Ry. L. E. Green, Gen’l S. ft T., Ross, Calif. No. 166 — Division covers the Gulf Coast Lines. D. E. Young, Gen'l Chairman, Eunice, La. ; C. L. Jackson, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman and Gen’l S. ft T., Bloomington, Tex. No. 167 — Division covers the Georgia ft Florida Ry. R. M. Cason, Gen’l Chairman, Uvalda, Ga. ; D. F. Rush Gen’l S. ft T., Hazelhurst, Ga. No. 168 — Division covers the C. ft A. Ry. E. E. Gentz, Gen’l Chairman, Braidwood, 111. ; Thos. Riley, Gen’l S. ft T., Atlanta, 111. No. 171 — Division covers Central Vermont Ry. H. J. Gibbs. Gen’l Chairman, Yantlc, Conn. ; L. J. Mannie, Gen’l S. ft T., St. Alexander Sta., Que. No. 172 — Division covers the Oregon Short Line Ry. R. H. Wagner, Gen’l Chairman, Pocatello, Idaho ; S. B. Summers, Gen’l S. ft T. Roy, Utah. No. 173 — Division covers the T. ft O. C. and Z. ft W. Rys. F. H. Simon, Gen’l Chair- man, 802 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio ; W. T. Cox, Gen'l S. ft T., 1061 Palmwood ave., Toledo, Ohio. No. 174 — Division covers the Missouri, Okla- homa ft Gulf Ry. T. E. Corbell, Acting Gen’l Chairman, Salina, Okla. ; J. F. Rin- gle, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., Strange, Okla. No. 175 — Division covers the Carolina, Clinchfleld ft Ohio Ry. S. A. Dorsett, Gen’l Chairman, Spartanburg S. C. ; C. G. Taylor, Gen’l S. ft T., Dante, Va. No. 177 — Division covers the St. Louis, San Francisco ft Texas Ry. J. S. McMillan, Gen'l Chairman and Acting G. S. ft T., Box 43, Prosper, Tex. ; DeWitt Hall, Gen’l S. ft T.. Bluffdale, Tex. No. 178 — Division covers Tennessee Central Railroad. Chas. C. Wimsett, Gen’l Chair- man, Rockwood, Tenn. ; J. P. Dozier, Gen'l S. ft T., Lebanon, Tenn. No. 179 — Division covers New Orleans Great Northern R. R. W. H. Carr, Gen'l Chair- man, Abita Springs, La. ; F. P. Barron, Gen’l S. ft T., Angle, La. No. 180 — Division covers Chicago, Terre Haute ft Southeastern Ry. J. R. Powell. Acting Gen’l Chairman, 1506 N. 17th st.. Terre Haute, Ind.; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 181 — Division covers Kentucky ft Indi- ana Terminal R. R. H. A. Boston, Gen’l Chairman, 422 N. 20th st., Louisville Ky. ; W. tu Kilcourse, Gen’l S. ft T., 1236 South 17th st., Louisville, Ky. No. 182 — Division covers Missouri ft North Arkansas R. R. James Roy, Jr., Acting Gen'l Chairman, Cotton Plant, Ark. ; S. E. Brasfleld, Gen’l S. ft T., Searcy, Ark. No. 184 — Division covers Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry. L. H. Freeland, Acting Gen’l Chairman, Washougal, Wash. ; C. B. Raw- lins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 185 — Division covers Georgia, Florida & Alabama Ry. J. W. Keen, Gen’l Chairman, Benevolence, Ga.; J. F. Stephens, Gen’l S. & T., Havana, Fla. TWIN CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Regular meeting 2d Wednesday night of each month, Columbia Hall, Prior and University aves. G. W. Lewis, Pres., 2921 Chicago ave., Minneapolis Minn. ; S. H. Lester, S. ft T.. Flat 7, 912 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. CREAM CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets the 2d Tuesday of each month in Film Operators’ Hall, 226 Third st., Mil- waukee, Wis. W. T. Houlehen, Pres., 363 Madison st, Milwaukee, Wis. ; B. A. Go- thompson, S. ft T., 788 Fortieth st., Mil- waukee, Wis. PRETZEL CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF FREEPORT, ILL.— Meets 3d Wednes- day of each month at Ladies and Knights of Security Hall 107 Stephenson st., Free- port, III. P. H. Murphy, Pres., 145 Dela- ware st., Freeport, 111. ; H. B. Kiester, S. ft T., 60 Second st., Freeport, 111. CORT CLUB (Chicago O. R. T. Club)— Meets 1st Saturday of each month in Room 912, Masonic Temple. D. C. Smart Pres., 2258 Lincoln ave., Chicago, 111. ; C. L. Craig, S. & T., 817 W. 64th st. Chicago, HI. Digitized by taOOQie
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718 The Railroad Telegrapher. DES MOINES O. R. T. CLUB— Meets in Assembly Room, Kirkwood Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa, subject to call of President M. R Davis, Pres., care C. R. I. & P. Ry., Des Moines, Iowa ; S. S. Price, S. & T., Grimes, Iowa. CEDAR RAPIDS O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 8 p. m., the 3d Friday of each month at Room 12, 2d floor, Dows bldg.. Cor. 2d ave. and 2d st., Cedar Rapids Iowa. F. E. Conover, Pres., Low Moor, Iowa ; J. L. Halpin, S. & T., 612 South Fourteenth st., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. LITTLE ROCK O. R. T. CLUB— Meets sub- ject to call of S. & T. C. C. Jacklin, Pres., Room 224, Union Station, Little Rock, Ark. ; H. W. Gibbs, S. & T., 616 E. Eighth St., Little Rock, Ark. THE PANHOMA TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets Saturday evening following the 21st of each month in Assembly Room, 2d floor City Hall. El Reno, Okla. J. E. Spurr, Pres., Rock Island Relay Office, Elreno, Okla.; R. S. Taylor, Vice-Pres., Gracemont, Okla.; W. R. Wilday, S. & T., 414 W. Choctaw st., Oklahoma, Okla. EVANSVILLE O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 3d Sunday each month. L. E. Crandall, Pres., Chrisney, Ind. ; C. McCleary, S. & T.f 712 Mulberry st., Evansville, Ind. THE HOOSIER O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month at 8 p. m., Room 109, Oneida Hotel Indianapolis, Ind. J. W. White, Pres., 2166 Avondale place, In- dianapolis, Ind. ; W. G. Brenneman, S. & T., 2327 Prospect st., Indianapolis, Ind. THE KANSAS CITY RAILROAD TELE- GRAPHERS’ CLUB— Meets subject to call of President. M. Williams, Pres., 2116 Walnut st., Kansas City, Kan. THE FORT PITT TELEGRAPHERS, CLUB OF PITTSBURG — Meets subject to call of Secretary. H. K. Klingensmith, Pres., 124 Suburban ave., Beechview, Pittsburg Pa. THE HOUSTON O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 2d Thursday night of each month, Hotel Cotton, cor. Fannin st. and Capitol ave., Houston, Tex. Chas. C. Webner, Pres., 426 Mason bldg., Houston, Tex. ; E. B. Hill, Sec’y, 1027 Yale st., Houston, Tex. THE DU-O R. T. CLUB OF DURAND, MICH. — Meets 1st Thursday each month in J. O. O. F. Hall, Durand, Mich. A. E. McNamara. Pres.. Drayton Plain, Mich. ; H. F. Link, S. & T.. Lansing, Mich. THE C. O. O. R. T. CLUB (Co-Operative O. R T. Club) — Meets 8 p. m., 1st Friday of each month in Red Men’s Hall, South Bend, Ind. O. O. Replogle, Pres., 631 East Bronson st., South Bend, Ind. ; D. A. Crum, S. & T., 817 Lindsey st.. South Bend, Ind. THE CHICAGO HEIGHTS TELEGRA- PHERS’ CLUB — Meets 9 :30 a. m., 2d Sunday of each month at Chicago Heights, 111., in Trades and Labor Council Hall. J. Welles Begble, Pres., St. Anne, 111.; J. C. Marceau, S. & T., St Anne, 111. THE SPRINGFIELD O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 2d Saturday night of each month at St. Nicholas Hotel, Springfield, 111. W. Stone, Pres., Marine, 111. ; W. R. Endl- cott, S. & T., 113 E. Jefferson st. Spring- field, 111. THE GOLDEN RULE TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets 7 p. m., 3d Tuesday of each month at Crowe Hall, corner Broadway and Seger ave., Toledo, Ohio. F. H. Simon, Pres., 302 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio ; Geo. D. Walker, S. Sc T., Fllckenger Flat No. 2, Toledo, Ohio. THE MONUMENTAL O. R. T. CLUB— Meets monthly in Baltimore, Md.. subject to call of President W. R. Johnson, Pres., 3743 Morley st., Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Shawen, Sec’y, 3637 Roland ave., Balti- more, Md. THE STATEN ISLAND O. R. T. CLUB — Meets 4th Thursday each month, 8 p. m., at the Cherokee Club, No. 12 Cross st, Stapleon, S. I., N. Y. D. B. McMullen, Pres., 8 Woodland ave.. Cranford, N. J. ; J. P. Tully, S. & T., 276 Delaware ave., Dongan Hills, N. Y. General Committee Directory on Railroads Covered by Local Divisions Boston & Albany Railway — M. J. Walsh, Gen’l Chairman, 15 Moseley ave.. Merrick, Mass. ; Geo. P. Alrutz, Secretary General Committee, 16 Oakdale ave., Westfield, Mass. Boston Terminal Co. — S. E. Haseltine, Gen’l Chairman, 21 French ave., South Brain- tree, Mass. ; H. J. Lionett, Secretary Gen- eral Committee, Dorchester, Mass. Buffalo & Susquehanna R. R. — E. E. Has- kins, General Chairman, Sinnemahoning, Pa. Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Ry. — R. E. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Jerseyville, 111. ; H. C. LeMasters, Secretary General Com- mittee, 426 S. Orange st., Havana, 111. Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Ry. — Roy Park, Gen’l Chairman, 411 Whitley ave., Joliet, 111.; W. H. DeLong, Secretary General Committee, 18 Wood st.. West Chicago, 111. Intercolonial Ry. — C. C. Charters, Gen’l Chairman, Point du Chene, N. B. ; R. A. McMillan, Secretary General Committee, Charlo Station, N. B. Long Island Railroad — C. M. Scully, Gen'l Chairman, College Point, N. Y. ; E. Frank Webb, Secretary General Committee, 23 Amherst ave., Jamaica, N. Y. New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad — Leornard J. Ross, Gen’l Chairman, 467 Wellington ave., Auburn, R. I. ; M. W. Handy, Secretary General Committee, Box 886, New Haven, Conn. Toledo, St. Louis & Western Ry. — H. 8. Wal- ters, Gen’l Chairman, Gas City, Ind. ; H. B. Livesey, Secretary General Committee, Sorento, 111. Digitized by c.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 719 Ladies’ Auxiliary Directory OFFICERS. MRS. KATE E. CARR — Grand President, 629 Swan st, Olympia, Wash. MRS. FLORENCE P. PIERCE— Grand Sec- retary-Treasurer, Box 83, Halethorpe, Baltimore Co., Md. MISS CLARA J. BRADY— First Grand Vice-President, 91 Wood st.. Provi- dence, R. I. BOARD OF Mrs. John W. Banker, Chairman, Schaghti- coke, N. Y. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Secretary, Smith- vllle, Ga. MRS. D. H. PARKER— Second Grand Vice- President, Speed, N. C. MRS. GEORGE GILBERT— Third Grand Vice-President, Kenora, Ont., Can. MRS. J. E. COWGILL— Fourth Grand Vice- President, San Carlos, Cal. DIRECTORS. Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3854 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Iris U. Henderson, Midland, Tex. Mrs. E. McDonough, CUntonville, Wis. All correspondence for The Telegrapher should be addressed to C. B. Rawlins, Editor, St. Louis, Mo., so that it will reach him not later than the 6th of the month. Grand Division — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or ter- ritory. Mrs. Kate E. Carr, Grand Presi- dent, 629 Swan st., Olympia, Wash. ; Mrs. Florence P. Pierce, Grand S. & T. Box 33, Halethrope, Md. Division 2 — Meetings subject to call of Act- ing President, Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3854 Cleveland ave., St. Louis Mo. ; Mrs. Evva L. Quick, S. ft T., 3864 Cleveland ave., St. Louis, Mo. Division 3 — Covers the C., C., C. ft St. L. Ry. System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. S. D. Solomon, Presi- dent, 1912 Locust st., Anderson, Ind. ; Mrs. Hazel Elliott, Gen’l S. ft T., Ashley, Ohio. Division 7 — Covers the Canadian Pacific Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President. Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan Pres- ident, Chapleau, Ont., Can. ; Mrs. S. S. Campbell, Gen’l S. ft. T., Verona, Ont. Division 8 — Covers the New York Central Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. M. B. Lynch, Pres- ident, 968 State st., Schenectady, N. Y. ; M. J. Wood, Gen’l S. & T., South Schenec- tady. N. Y. Division 16 — Covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Meets subject to call of the Presi- dent. Mrs. B. F. Wheeler, President, Oviedo, Fla. ; Mrs. J. H. Williams, Gen’l a ft T., Wilson, N. C. Division 28 — Covers the Chicago, Milwaukee ft St. Paul and the Puget Sound Railway Systems. Meetings subject to call. Mrs. a Olive Lester, Gen’l S. ft T., Flat 7, 812 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Division 31 — Covers the Missouri Pacific System. Meeting subject to call of the President. Mrs. Chas. M. Bodle, Presi- dent, Benton, Kan. ; Mrs. H. C. Harkins, Gen’l S. ft T., Lupus, Mo. Division 33 — Covers the Baltimore ft Ohio Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President. Mrs. Mary A. Bell, Presi- dent, New Concord, Ohio. ; Mrs. Anna S. Gillum, Gen’l S. ft T., Shinnston, W. Va. Division 35 — Meets 3d Thursday of each month at 2 :30 p. m., in Manheim Hall, 433 Westminster st.. Providence, R. I. ; Mrs. Bertha Haddock, President, 111 Narra- gansett st.. Edge wood. Providence, R. I. ; Miss Clara J. Brady, Gen’l S. ft T., 91 Wood st. Providence, It I. Division 44 — Meets 2d Saturday of each month at 8 p. m., in Hall No. 2, Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. Mrs. A. Filby, President, Vandeveer Park Station, Broklyn, N. Y. ; Mrs. J. E. Shields, Gen’l S. ft T., 1034 Bergen st., Brooklyn, N. Y. Division 46 — Covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Gen’l S. ft T.. Smithville, Ga. Division 63 — Covers the Southern Pacific System, G. H. & S. A Ry. Meetings sub- ject to call of the President. Mrs. J. E. Cowgill. President, San Carlos, Cal. ; Mrs. F. E. Waters, Geni S. & T., Ashland, Ore. Division 59 — Covers the Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of the President. Mrs. C. L. Watson, President, Veechdale, Ky. ; Mrs. Logan Watson, Gen’l S. ft T., 634 First st., Shelbyville, Ky. Digitized by taOOQle
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720 The Railroad Telegrapher. Division 78 — Covers the Chicago A North Western Railway System. Meets upon call of the President. Miss. Erna L Schneider, President, Dousman, Wls. ; Miss Irene O’Connell, Gen’l S. A T., 207 W. Sixth st., Marshfield, Wis. Division 81 — Covers the Colorado Midland Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mrs. Mae L. Potts, President, Ivanhoe, Colo. ; Mrs. Ida Down- ing, Gen’l S. & T., Cascade, Colo. Division 98 — Covers the Illinois Central Railway System. Meets subject to call. Mrs. E. L. Mathis, Acting President and Gen’l S. A T., 1172 Mississippi blvd., Mem- phis, Tenn. Division 113 — Covers the Ulster A Delaware System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Harry Halstead, Presi- dent, R. F. D. No. 3, Oneonta, N. Y. ; Mrs. Sinclair Snyder, Gen’l S. A T., South Kort- rlght, N. Y. Division 140 — Covers the Maine Central Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Acting President. Mrs. Florence L. Graham. Acting President, 470 Main st., Bangor, Me. ; Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Gen’l S. A T., 470 Main st., Bangor, Me. Local Tacoma — Meets the last Wednesday of each month. Meeting places subject to the discretion of the President, Mrs. Daisy Sherwood, Sixth Avenue Station, Tacoma, Wash. ; Mrs. W. S. Grover, Local Secre- tary-Treasurer, Nisqually, Wash. ®fje ©rber of Hattroab Celegrapfjersi PETITION FOR MEMBERSHIP Officers and Members, Division No The Subscriber by occupation a. - of years’ experience, born in voluntarily offers himself as a candidate for initiation into THE ORDER OF RAILROAD TELEGRAPHERS, and agrees, if admitted, that he will cheerfully conform to all the laws, rules, mandates and edicts of the Order. I have not been rejected for membership in the Order within the past year. Fee enclosed, $ Signature of Petitioner Dated at this™ day of 1. 19 #My Postoffiee address is Employed by — Railroad This is to Certify : That we, the subscribers, are personally acquainted with Mr and, from a confidence in his integrity and the uprightness of his intention, do cheerfully recommend and propose him as a proper candidate for member- ship in this Order. •Be careful and fill in your postoffice address. recommenders Digitized by Gooole
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 159 Stitching Triple I Pocket I Extra Strong It Stands for the Ut- most in Shirt Value The next shirt you buy, be sure it is a Sig- nal Shirt. The shirt that has many com- fort features, that is appreciated by railroad men and is not to be found in other shirts. In the Signal Shirt you get a garment that is not only wear-proof, wash-proof and tear-re- sisting, but a shirt that looks good and can- not be equalled for fit or comfort. Ask your mate what he thinks of UNION MADE Signal Shirts Made of Fabrics The chances are that he is wearing one, as there are thousands of railroad men wearing them today. Every shirt is made true to size. BUY FROM YOUR DEALER If by any chance he does not carry Signal shirts, send us your size, name and address, and we will send you one on approval. Hilker-Wiechers Mfg. Co. Dept. D1246, Mound Ave. Racine, Wis. Makers of the Famous TubTesT Overalls
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H. G. Alexander Geo. E. Soyster J. F. Miller, Chairman B. E. Nason, Secretary Geo. O. Forbes BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Published Monthly by the Order or Railroad Telegraphers * C. B. Rawlins - Editor and Manager. Subscription Price Entered as Second-Class Matter ► December 20, 1912, at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., Under the Act of August 24, 1912. $1.00 Per Year. Vol. XXXV JUNE, 1918 No. 6 Our Birthday ON June 9, 1886, a group of twenty-five telegraphers met in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and founded The Order of Railroad Telegraphers. The Central West has given us many great men with brilliant ideas, but we are of the opinion that the conception originating in the mind of that kind, generous and revered soul, Brother A. D. Thurston, was inspiring and far reaching in effect. The telegraphers as a class were the lowest paid railroad employes and their conditions of employment were far from being ideal. An organiza- tion of this class of workers was necessary in order to ameliorate their condi- tions. The Order has had many ups and downs throughout its history. Its life and the causes it represents naturally brings on many peculiar situations. However, all organizations similar to ours and having the same ideals, that of bettering the living conditions of the working masses, can expect to travel no path of roses. The most enthusiastic member and a’dherent to the principles enunciated by this organization has had sufficient cause to become discouraged in the past with the tremendous odds pitted against him. By persistent endeavors of those who believed in industrial freedom of the workers, The Order of Railroad Telegraphers occupies a very prominent position in the labor world on its 32nd anniversary. We have more than fifty thousand members and nearly one and one-half million of dollars in our treasury. A great work lies ahead of us. May the Order of Railroad Telegraphers always prosper, increasing in strength and wisdom with each succeeding birthday. Digitized by CaOooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 722 Report of the Board of Directors To the Officers and Members of The Order of Railroad Telegraphers: Greeting: Complying with the provisions of tile Constitution, your Board of Directors convened at the headquarters of the organization in the City of St. Louis, Mo., on April 22, 1918, with all members present. With the assistance of Howard A. Tsard, expert accountant, we made a thorough and complete audit of the records and accounts of Brother C. B. Rawlins, grand secretary and treasurer, and found them to be correct, with all moneys and property of the organization in his custody properly accounted for. We found the following amounts to the credit of the various funds of the organization : Mutual Benefit Department $ 856, 098. 59 Protective Fund 437,961.71 General Fund * 89,315.38 Pension Fund 5,331.78 Total $1,388,707.46 We commend the Grand Secretary and Treasurer on the able and efficient man- ner in which he has administered the af- fairs of the office and the excellent prog- ress shown in the many branches of his department. We note with pride and pleasure the splendid accomplishment in the organ- izing field and desire to emphasize the fact that our membership has increased more than 5,000 during the past year and now exceeds 50,000, the greatest number ever encompassed by our organization. We desire to call special attention to the Pension Fund and the many benefits to be derived from membership therein and we recommend that every member give this feature of the Order that hearty support it merits. We have recently entered a new era in the method of handling our affairs, occa- sioned by the Government supervision of all railways in the United States. The new situation has been ably handled by Brother H. B. Perham, president, to the end that our interests as an organization and the interests of our membership as a whole have been intelligently conserved and advanced and the president and his staff of assistants are to be congratulated upon the splendid results attained. At this particular time, when the fate of civilization is trembling in the balance and the representative forces of freedom and liberty are facing the crucial test on the battlefields of the old world, it is but fitting we should remember that the best blood of young manhood of the United States and the Dominion of Canada is mingling in sacrifice with that of our al- lies in the supreme test of peoples and nations. A multitude of our members are in the fray and many others will no doubt be called from time to time. We acknowledge with grateful hearts our ob- ligations to those who are fighting our battles on foreign fields, and as we unite in fervent hope for their victorious, speedy and safe return, we renew our de- termination to leave nothing undone at home that will strengthen the hands of those on the battle line. In this, wre feel that we are but reflecting the sentiment of every member of The Order of Railroad Telegraphers. Fraternally submitted, J. F. Miller, Chairman. B. E. Nason, Secretary. H. G. Alexander. G. E. Soyster. Geo. O. Forres, Board of Directors, The Order of Railroad Telegraphers. St. Louis. Mo., May 25. 1918. Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 723 The following letter ol instructions has been issued by President Perham to all" General Committees,, and knowing that the members in general are very much interested in this matter and in order to save inquiries and work and time for local and general officers, we are repro- ducing it in these columns : The Order of Railroad Telegraphers OFFICE OF PRESIDENT STAR BUILDING St. Louis. Mo., June 1, 1918. TO ALL GENERAL COMMITTEES : The following extracts from General Order No. 27 issued by the Director General of Railroads, dated Washington, D. C., May 25, 1918. are sent to you for your instruction and guidance: PREAMBLE. In promulgating this order I wish to acknowledge the patriotic service So unselfishly rendered by the Railroad Wage Commission, consisting of Messrs. Franklin K. Lane, Charles C. McChord, J. Harry Covington, and William R. Willcox, in connection with the important question of wages and hours of service of railroad employes which I referred to them by my general order No. 5, dated January 18, 1918. This Commission took hold of the task with great energy and devo- tion and has dealt with the entire subject in a thoroughly sympathetic spirit. Manifestly in a matter of such magnitude and complexity it is impossible to find any general basis or formula which would correct every inequality and give satisfaction to every interest involved. But the Commission has made an earnest effort to do justice to all concerned. I have felt obliged, however, to depart from its recom- mendations in some particulars. With respect to hours of service the Commission says : “Manifestly, therefore, at this time, when men must be constantly taken from the railroads, as from all other industries, to fill the growing needs of the Nation ?s Army, hours of labor cannot be shortened and thereby a greater number of men be required for railroad work. The Nation cannot, in good faith, call upon the farmers and the miners to work as never before and press themselves to unusual tasks, and at the same time so shorten the hours of railroad men as to call from farm and mine additional and unskilled men to run the railroads. While the Commission is strongly disposed to a standard day, in so far as the nature of the service will permit it, its firm judgment consequently is that the existing hours of service in effect on the railroads should be maintained for the period of the 'war. \“But with this we earnestly urge that a most exhaustive study be made of this matter of hours of service, not with a view to the adoption of some arbitrary and universal policy which shall have no Digitized by AaOOQle
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724 The Railroad Telegrapher. regard to the kind of work done, or to the effect upon the railroad service, but with these very considerations in mind. And we have gone into this matter far enough to justify to ourselves the belief that by the steady application of such sympathetic consideration, the railroad service may be improved, and at the same time fuller opportunity be given for lifting a burden that falls disproportionately upon some of the less favored of the railroad workers/ 9 The Commission also reached the conclusion that as to overtime “the existing rules and conditions of payment should not be dis- turbed during the period of the war.” The Commission has pointed out that this is not the time for any experiments which might lessen the tons of freight hauled and the number of passengers carried when the urgent and serious necessities of the war compel sacrifices from all, and that the adoption of any plan which would prevent the Government from working its men as long as they have been in the habit of working under private employers would be to take ad- vantage of the grave war necessities of the Government and to em- barrass it in carrying forward essential operations of the war at a time when the need of service was never greater and the ability to call in outside men is seriously impaired. There has never been a time when the public interest demanded more urgently the devotion and unselfish service of all classes of railroad employes. I agree with the Commission that it is not practicable at this time, when the war is calling upon every class of loyal citizens for service and sacrifices, to reduce the actual hours of labor to eight in every line of railroad work. Nevertheless I am convinced that no further inquiry is needed to demonstrate that the principle of the basic eight-hour day is reasonable and just and that all further contentions about it should be set at rest by a recognition of that principle as a part of this decision. Recognition of the principle of the basic eight-hour day in railroad service is, therefore, hereby made. The question arises as to what further steps can and ought justly to be taken to strengthen the application of that principle, and when. This question must be solved in the light of the varied conditions of railroad employment and will have to be studied in detail by the Board of Railroad Wages and Working Conditions herein and hereby created and in the light of what is reasonably practicable under war conditions. No problem so vast and intricate as that of doing practical justice to the 2,000,000 railroad employes of the country can be regarded as completely settled and disposed of by any one decision or order; therefore the Board of Railroad Wages and Working Conditions is hereby established and will take up as presented any phases of the Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 725 general problem relating to any class of employes or any part of a class of employes which may justly call for further consideration. It is my earnest hope that railroad officials and railroad em- ployes will realize that their relations under Federal control are not based upon the old conditions of private management. Dissensions and disappointments should be forgotten and all should now re- member that they are not only serving their country in the opera- tion of the railroads, but that upon the character, quality, and^ loyalty of that service depends in large measure our success in this war. It is an inspiring task — this task of putting upon a more just and equitable basis the wages and working conditions of loyal workers in railroad service — and I confidently expect the patriotic support and assistance of every railrpad official and every railroad employe in performing that task with credit to each other and with honor to their country. ORDER. Respecting the wages, hours and other conditions of employment of the employes of the railroads hereinafter mentioned. It is hereby ordered: ARTICLE I — RAILROADS AFFECTED. This order shall apply to the employes of the following railroads: Alabama ft Vicksburg Ry. Co. Alabama Great Southern R. R. Co. Ann Arbor R. R. Co. Arizona & New Mexico Ry. Co. Arizona Eastern R. R Co. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co. Atlanta ft West Point R. R. Co. Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Ry. Co. Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Co. Atlantic & St Lawrence R. R. Co. Atlantic City R. R.Co. Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co. Bangor & Aroostook R. R. Co. Bessemer ft Lake Erie R. R. Co. Boston ft Maine R. R. Buffalo ft Susquehanna R. R. Corpora- tion. Buffalo, Rochester ft Pittsburgh Ry. Co. Carolina, Clinchfiel^ ft Ohio Ry. Central of Georgia Ry. Co. Central New England Ry. Co. Central R. R. Co. of New Jersey. Central Vermont Ry. Co. Charleston ft Western Carolina Ry. Co. Chesapeake ft Ohio Ry. Co. Chicago ft Alton R. R. Co. Chicago ft Eastern Illinois R. R. Co. Chicago ft Erie R. R. Co. Chicago ft Northwestern Ry. Co. Chicago, Burlington ft Quincy R. R. Co. Chicago Great Western R. R. Co. Chicago, Detroit ft Canada Grand Trunk Junction R. R. Co. Chicago, Indianapolis ft Loui3viilo Ry. Co. Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry Co. Chicago, Peoria ft" St. Louis R. R. Co. Chicago, Rock Isllnd & Gulf Ry. Co. Chicago, Rock Island ft Pacific Ry. Co. Digitized by v^oooLe
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726 The Railroad Telegrapher. Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Oma- ha Ry. Co. Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern Ry. Co. Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western R. R. Co. Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pa ciflc Ry. Co. Cincinnati Northern R. R. Co. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Ry. Co. Coal & Coke Ry. Co. • Colorado & Southern Ry. Co. Cumberland Valley R. R. Co. Delaware & Hudson Co. Delaware, Lackawanna & Western R. R. Co. Denver & Rio Grande R. R. Co. Detroit & Mackinac Ry. Co. Detroit & Toledo Shore Line R. R. Co. Detroit, Grand Haven & Milwaukee Ry. Co. Detroit, Toledo & Ironton R. R. Co. Duluth & Iron Range R. R. Co. Duluth, Missabe & Northern Ry. Co. Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Ry. Co. Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Ry. Co. El Paso & Southwestern Co. Erie R. R. Co Florida East Coast Ry Co. Fort Smith & Western R. R. Co. Fort Worth & Denver City Jty. Co. Fort Worth & Rio Grande Ry. Co. Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Ry. Co. Georgia R. R. Lessee Organization Georgia Southern & Florida Ry. Co. Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry. Co. Grand Trunk Western Ry. Co. Great Northern Ry. Co. Gulf & Ship Island R. R. Co. Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Ry. Cd. Gulf, Mobile & Northern R. R. Hocking Valley Ry. Co. Houston & Texas Central R. R. Co. Houston East & West Texas R. R. Co. Hudson & Manhattan R. R. Illinois Central R. R. Co. International & Great Northern Ry. Co. Kanawha & Michigan Ry. Co. Kansas City Southern Ry. Co. Lake Erie & Western R. R. Co. Lehigh & Hudson River Ry. Co. Lehigh & New England R. R. Cc. Lehigh Valley R. R. Co. Long Island R. R. Co. Los Angeles & Salt Lake R. R. Co Louisiana & Arkansas Ry. Co. Louisiana Ry. & Navigation Co. Louisiana Western R. R. Co. Louisville & Nashville R. R. Co. Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis Ry. Co. Maine Central R. R. Co. Midland Valley R. R. Co. Michigan Central R. R. Co. Minneapolis & St. Louis R. R. Co. Minneapolis, St. Paul & S. Ste. Marie Ry. Co. Missouri, Kansas & Texas Ry. Co. Missouri, Kansas & Texas Ry. Co. of Texas. Missouri Pacific R. R. Co. Mobile & Ohio R. R. Co. Monongahela Ry. Co. Morgan’s, Louisiana & Texas R. R. & S. S. Co. Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Ry. New Orleans & Northeastern R. R. Co. New Orleans, Texas & Mexico R. R. Co. New York Central R. R. Co. New York, Chicago & St. Louis R. R. Co. New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R. Co. New York, Ontario & Western Ry. Co. New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk R. R. Co. New York, Susquehanna & Western R R. Co. Norfolk & Western Ry. Co. Norfolk Southern R. R. Co. Northern Pacific Ry. Co. Northwestern Pacific R. R. Co. Oregon Short Line R. R. Co. Oregon-Washington R. R. & Navigation Co. Panhandle & Santa Fe Ry. Co. Pennsylvania Co. Pennsylvania R. R. Co. Pere Marquette R. R. Co. Philadelphia & Reading Ry. Co. Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington R. R. Co. Pittsburgh & Lake Erie R. R. Co. Pittsburgh & Shawmut R. R. Co. Pittsburgh & West Virginia Ry. Co. Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St Louis R. R. Co. Port Reading R. R. Co. Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac R. R. Co. Rutland R. R. Co. Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co. San Antonio & Aransas Pass Ry. Co. Southern Pacific Co. Southern Ry. Co. Southern Ry. Co in Mississippi. Spokane, International Ry. Co. Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry. Co. Staten Island Rapid Transit Ry. Co. St. Joseph & Grand Island Ry. Co. St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Ry. Co. St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. Co. St. Louis, San Francisco & Texas Ry. Co. St. Louis Southwestern Ry. Co. St. Louis Southwestern Ry. Co. of Texas. Tennessee Central R. R. Co. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 727 Texarkana & Fort Smith Ry. Co. Texas & New Orleans R\ R. Co. Texas & Pacific Ry. Co. Toledo & Ohio Central Ry. Co. Toledo, Peoria & Western Ry. Co. Toledo, St. Louis & Western R. R. Co. Ulster & Delaware R. R. Co. Union Pacific R. R. Co. Utah Ry. Co. Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific Ry. Co. Virginian Ry. Co. Wabash Ry. Co. Washington Southern Ry. Co. West Jersey & Seashore R. R. Co. Western Maryland Ry. Co. Western Pacific R. R. Co. Western Ry. of Alabama. Wheeling & Lake Erie R. R. Co. Wichita Falls & Northwestern Ry. Co. Wichita Valley Ry. Co. Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R. Co, And all terminal, union station, and switching companies, all or a majority of whose stock is owned by railroads named above. Such other railroads as may be retained in Federal control on July 1, 1918, will be added to the foregoing list by order of the Director General. The Pullman Company, whose status is now being considered, will also be added by order to the foregoing list, if decision shall be reached to retain it in Federal control. ARTICLE II.— RATES OF WAGES AND METHODS OF COMPUTATION. Increases in wages, effective as hereinafter provided, January 1, 1918, are hereby established as follows: Section A.— RATES OF WAGES OF RAILROAD EMPLOYES PAID UPON A MONTHLY BASIS. 1 To the monthly rate of pay of men receiving In December, 1915, the amounts named in this column. 2 Add the per cent named in this column. 3 Equivalent to amount named in this column. 4 Making new rate per month as shown in this column. Under $46 (except as provided in par. 13, naee 7341 $20.00 $46.01 to $47 :. 43 20.21 $67.21 $47.01 to $48 43 20.64 68.64 $48.01 to $49 43 21.07 70.07 $49.01 to $50 43 21.50 71.50 $50.01 to $51 42.35 21.60 72.60 $51.01 to $52 41.73 21.70 73.70 $52.01 to $53. . . 41 21.73 74.73 $53.01 to $54 41 22.14 76.14 $54.01 to $55.. 41 22.55 77.55 $55.01 to $56 41 22.96 78.96 $56.01 to $57 41 23.27 80.37 $57.01 to $58 41 23.78 81.78 $58.01 to $59 41 24.19 83.19 $59.01 to $60 41 24.60 84.60 $60.01 to $61.4 41 25.01 86.01 $61.01 to $62 41 25.42 87.42 $62.01 to $63 41 25.83 88.83 $63.01 to $64 41 26.24 90.24 $64.01 to $65 41 26.65 91.65 $65.01 to $66 41 27.06 93.06 Columns 2 and 3 in the above table are explanatory of the method of arriving at the “new rates” included in column 4. The roads will substitute for the “old rates” of December, 1915, scheduled in column 1, the “new rates” listed in column 4. Digitized by AaOOQle
Page 741
728 The Railroad Telegrapher. Section A RATES OF WAGES OF RAILROAD EMPLOYES PAID UPON A MONTHLY BASIS— Continued. 1 To the monthly rate of pay of men receiving in December, 1915, the amounts named in this column. Add the per cent named in this column. 3 Equivalent to amount named In this column. 4 Making new rate per month as shown In this column. $66.01 to $67 41 $ 27.47 $94.47 $67.01 to $68 41 27.88 95.88 $68.01 to $69 41 28.29 97.29 $09.01 to $70 41 28.70 98.70 $70.01 to $71 41 29.11 100.11 $71.01 to $72 41 29.52 101.52 $72.01 to $73 41 29.93 102.93 $73.01 to $74 41 30.34 104.34 $74.01 to $75 41 30.75 105.75 $75.01 to $76 41 31.16 107.16 $76.01 to $77 41 31.57 108.57 $77.01 to $78 41 31.98 109.98 $78.01 to $79 41 32.39 111.39 $79.01 to $80 40.87 32.70 112.70 $80.01 to $81 40.44 32.75 113.75 $81.01 to $82 40 32.80 114.80 $82.01 to $83 40 33.20 116.20 $83.01 to $84 40 33.60 117.60 $84.01 to $85 40 34.00 119.00 $85.01 to $86 39.36 33.85 119.85 $86.01 to $87 38.74 33.70 120.70 $87.01 to $88 38.13 33.55 121.55 $88.01 to $89 37.53 33.40 122.40 $89.01 to $90 36.95 33.25 123.25 $90.01 to $91 36.38 33.10 124.10 $91.01 to $92 35.82 32.95 124.95 $92.01 to $93 35.27 32.80 125.80 $93.01 to $94 34.74 32.65 126.65 $94.01 to $95 34.22 32.50 127.50 $95.01 to $96 33.70 32.35 128.35 $96.01 to $97 33.20 32.20 129.20 $97.01 to $98 32.71 32.05 130.05 $98.01 to $99 32.23 31.90 130.90 $99.01 to $100 31.75 31.75 131.75 $100.01 to $101 31.29 31.60 132.60 $101.01 to $102 30.84 31.45 133.45 $102.01 to $103 30.39 31.30 134.30 $103.01 to $104 29.96 31.15 135.15 $104.01 to $106 29.53 31.00 136.00 $105.01 to $106 29.11 30.85 136.85 $106.01 to $107 28.70 30.70 137.70 $107.01 to $108 28.29 30.55 138.55 $108.01 to $109 27.89 30.40 139.40 $109.01 to $110 27.50 30.25 140.25 $110.01 to $111 27.12 30.10 141.10 $111.01 to $112 26.74 29.95 141.95 $112.01 to $113 26.38 29.80 142.80 $113.01 to $114 26.01 29.65 143.65 $114.01 to $115 25.66 29.50 144.50 $115.01 to $116 25.31 29.35 145.35 $116.01 to $117 24.96 29.20 146.20 $117.01 to $118 24.62 29.05 147.05 $118.01 to $119 24.29 28.90 147.90 $119.01 to $120 23.96 28.75 148.75 Columns 2 and 3 in the above table are explanatory of the method of arriving at the "new rates” included in column 4. The roads will substitute for the "old rates” of December, 1915, scheduled in column 1, the “new rates’* listed in column 4. Digitized by Goc
Page 742
The Railroad Telegrapher. 729 Section A.— -RATES OF WAGES OF RAILROAD EMPLOYES PAID UPON A MONTHLY BASIS— Continued. 1 To the monthly rate of pay of men receiving In December, 1915, the amounts named In this column. 2 Add the per cent named in this column. 3 Equivalent to amount named in this column. 4 Making new rate per month as shown in this column. $120.01 to $121 23.64 $28.60 $149.60 $121.01 to $122 23.32 28.45 150.45 $122.01 to $123 23.01 28.30 151.30 $123.01 to $124 22.70 - 28.15 152.15 $124.01 to $125 22.40 28.00 153.00 $125.01 to $126 22.11 27.85 153.85 $126.01 to $127 21.81 27.70 154.70 $127.01 to $128 21.53 27.55 155.55 $128.01 to $129 21.24 27.40 156.40 $129.01 to $130 20.96 27.25 157.25 $130.01 to $131 20.69 27.10 158.10 $131.01 to $132 20.42 26.95 158.95 $132.01 to $133 20.15 26.80 159.80 $133.01 to $134 19.89 26.65 160.65 $134.01 to $135 19.63 26.50 161.50 $135.01 to $1$6.... 19.38 26.35 162.35 $136.01 to $137 19.13 26.20 163.20 $137.01 to $138 18.88 26.05 164.05 $138.01 to $139 18.64 25.90 164.90 $139.01 to $140 18.39 25.75 165.75 $140.01 to $141 18.16 . 25.60 166.60 $141.01 to $142 17.92 25.45 167.45 $142.01 to $143 17.69 25.30 168.30 $143.01 to $144 17.47 25.15 169.15 $144.01 to $145 17.24 25.00 170.00 $145.01 to $146 17.02 24.85 170.85 $146.01 to $147 16.80 24.70 171.70 $147.01 to $148 16.59 24.55 172.55 $148.01 to $149 16.38 24.40 173.40 $149.01 to $150 16.17 24.25 174.25 $150.01 to $151 15.96 24.10 175.10 $151.01 to $152 15.76 23.95 175.95 $152.01 to $153 15.56 23.80 176.80 $153.01 to $154 15.36 23.65 177.65 $154.01 to $155 15.16 23.50 178.50 $155.01 to $156 : 14.97 23.35 179.35 $156.01 to $157 14.78 23.20 180.20 $157.01 to $158 14.59 23.05 181.05 $158.01 to $159 14.40 22.90 181.90 $159.01 to $160 14.22 22.75 182.75 $160.01 to $161 14.04 22.60 183.60 $161.01 to $162 13.86 22.45 184.45 S162.01 to $163 13.68 22.30 185.30 $163.01 to $164 13.51 22.15 186.15 $164.01 to $165 13.33 22.00 187.00 $165.01 to $166 13.16 21.85 187.85 $166.01 to $167 13.00 21.70 188.70 $167.01 to $168 12.83 21.55 189.55 $168.01 to $169 12.66 21.40 190.40 $169.01 to $170 12.50 21.25 191.25 $170.01 to $171 12.34 21.10 192.10 $171.01 to $172 12.18 20.95 192.95 $172.01 to $173 12.02 20.80 193.80 $173.01 to $174 11.87 20.65 194.65 Columns 2 and 3 in the above table are explanatory of the method of arriving at the “new rates” included in column 4. The roads will substitute for the “old rates” of December, 1915, scheduled in column 1, the “new rates” listed in column 4. Digitized by LaOOQle
Page 743
730 The Railroad Telegrapher, Section A — RATES OF WAGES OF RAILROAD EMPLOYES PAID UPON A MONTHLY BASIS— Continued. 1 To the monthly rate of pay of men receiving in December, 1915, the amounts named In this column. 2 Add the per cent named in this column. 3 Equivalent to amount named in this column. 4 Making new rate per month as shown in this column. $174.01 to $175 11.71 $20.50 $195.50 ?175.01 to $176 11. 5G 20.35 196.35 $176.01 to $177 11.41 20.20 197.20 $177.01 to $178 11.26 20.05 198.05 $178.01 to $179 ' 11.12 19.90 198.90 $179.01 to $180 10.97 19.75 199.75 $180.01 to $181 10.83 19.60 200.60 8181.01 to $182 10.69 19.45 201.45 $182.01 to $183 10.55 19.30 202.30 $183.01 to $184 10.41 19.15 203.15 $184.01 to $185 10.27 19.00 204.00 $185.01 to $186 10.14 18.85 204.85 $186.01 to $187 10.00 18.70 205.70 $187.01 to $188 9.87 18.55 206.55 $388.01 to $189 9.74 18.40 207.40 $189.01 to $190 9.61 18.25 208.25 $190.01 to $191 9.48 18.10 209.10 $191.01 to $192 9.35 17.95 209.95 $192.01 to $193 9.22 17.80 210.80 $193.01 to $194 9.10 17.65 211.65 $194.01 to $195 8.97 17.50 212.50 $195.01 to $196 8.85 17.35 213.35 $196.01 to $197 8.73 17.20 214.20 $197.01 to $198 8.61 17.05 215.05 $198.01 to $199 8.49 16.90 215.90 $199.01 to $200 . 8.375 16.75 216.75 $200.01 to $201 8.26 16.60 217.60 $201.01 to $202 : 8.14 16.45 218.45 $202.01 to $203 8.03 16.30 219.30 $203.01 to $204 7.92 16.15 220.15 $204.01 to $205 7.80 16.00 221.00 $205.01 to $206 7.69 15.85 221.85 $206.01 to $207 7.58 15.70 222.70 $207.01 to $208 7.48 15.55 223.55 $208.01 to $209 7.37 15.40 224.40 $209.01 to $210 7.26 15.25 225.25 $210.01 to $211 7.16 15.10 226.10 $211.01 to $212 7.05 14.95 226.95 $212.01 to $213 6.95 14.80 227.80 $213.01 to $214 6.85 14.65 228.65 $214.01 to $215 6.74 14.50 229.50 $215.01 to $216 6.64 14.35 230.35 $216.01 to $217 6.54 14.20 231.20 $217.01 to $218 6.445 14.05 232.05 $218.01 to $219 6.35 13.90 232.90 $219.01 to $220 6.25 13.75 233.75 $220.01 to $221 6.15 13.60 234.60 $221.01 to $222 6.06 13.45 235.45 $222.01 to $223 5.96 13.30 236.30 S223.01 to $224 5.87 13.15 237.15 $224.01 to $225 5.78 13.00 238.00 $225.01 to $226 5.69 12.85 238.85 $226.01 to $227 ’ 5.595 12.70 239.70 $227.01 to $228 5.50 12.55 240.55 Columns 2 and 3 in the above table are explanatory of the method of arriving at the “new rates” included in column 4. The roads will substitute for the “old rates” of December, 1915, scheduled in column 1, the “new rates’* listed in column 4. Digitized by v^ooole
Page 744
The Railroad Telegrapher. 731 Section A.— RATES OF WAGES OF RAILROAD EMPLOYES PAID UPON A MONTHLY BASIS— Continued. 1 To the monthly rate of pay of men receiving In December, 1915, the amounts named in this column. Add the per cent named in this column. 3 Equivalent to amount named In this column. 4 Making new tate per month as shown in this column. $228.01 to $229 5.415 $12.40 $241.40 $229.01 to $230 5.33 12.25 242.25 $230.01 to $231 5.24 12.10 243.10 $231.01 to $232 5.15 11.95 243.95 $232.01 to $233 5.065 11.80 244.80 $233.01 to $234 4.98 11.65 245.65 $234.01 to $235 4.89 11.50 246.50 $235.01 to $236 4.81 11.35 247.35 $236.01 to $237 4.73 11.20 248.20 $237.01 to $238 4.64 11.05 249.05 $238.01 to $239 4.56 10.90 249.90 $239.01 to $240 10.00 250.00 $240.01 to $241 9.00 250.00 $241.01 to $242 8.00 250.00 $242.01 to $243 7.00 250.00 $243.01 to $244 6.00 250.00 $244.01 to $245 5.00 250.00 $245.01 to $246 : 4.00 250.00 $246.01 to $247 3.00 250; 00 $247.01 to $248 2.00 250.00 $248.01 to $249 1.00 250.00 $249.01 to $250 * .00 250.00 Columns 2 and .3 in the above table are explanatory of the method of arriving at the “new rates” included in column 4. The roads will substitute for the “old rates” of December, 1915, scheduled in column 1, the “new rates” listed in column 4. METHOD OF APPLYING INCREASES TO MONTHLY RATES. (1) The employe who holds the same position today that he did the last day of December, 1915, and who then received $75 a month and has received no increase since, will receive an additional wage of $30.75 per month. If he has received an increase in these two years of $10 per month, the recommended increase of his wage will be cut down by that much, making his net advance $20.75. (2) Employe “A” occupied the same position in 1915 and in 1918: Salary, 1915, $150 per month: 1918, $175 per month. Basis of increase on salaries of $150 per month is 16.17 per cent, or $24.25 a month. New salary, $174.25; present salary, $175. Present salary undisturbed. (3) Employe “B” in 1915 received $100, and on the same desk in 1918 received $112.50 per month. Basis of increase on $100, 31.75 per cent, or $31.75. New salary, $131.75. Present salary, $112.50. Employe “B” is entitled to receive back pay from Janu- ary 1, at the rate of $19.25 (the difference between $131.75 and $112.50), and to receive monthly, hereafter, $131.75 instead of $112.50. Back pay due January 1 to May 31, $96.25. (4) Employe in December, 1915, received $100 per month, en- titles him, with this increase, to $131.75. His salary had been raised for same position on January 1, 1918, to $135. He is not, therefore, entitled to any advance or back pay. Present salary undisturbed. Digitized by L.oo<?Le
Page 745
732 The Railroad Telegrapher. Section B.— RATES OF WAGES OF RAILROAD EMPLOYES PAID UPON DAILY BASIS. Old rate per day. New rate per day. Old rate per day. New rate per day. j Old rate | per day. New rate per day. Old rate per day. New rate per day. $0.75 $1.52 $2.50 , $3.53 $4.25 $5.40 , $5.95 $6.85 .80 | 1.57 2.55 3.60 4.30 5.45 6.00 6.90 .85 1.62 2.60 ! 3.67 4.35 5.49 ; 6.05 6.94 .90, 1.67 2.65 3.74 4.40 5.53 6.10 6.98 .95 1.72 2. .70 3.81 4.45 5.58 6.15 7.02 1.00 1.77 2.75 3.88 4.50 5.62 6.20 7.06 1.05 1.82 2.80 3.95 4.55 5.G6 6.25 7.11 1.10 1.87 2.85 4.02 4.60 5.71 6.30 7.15 1.15 1.92 2.90 4.09 4.65 5.75 6.35 ; 7.19 1.20 1.97 2.95 4. 1C 4.70 5.79 6.40 I 7.23 1.25 2.02 3.00 4.23 4.75 5.83 6.45 7.28 1.30 2.07 3.05 4.30 4.80 5.88 6.50 7.32 1.35 2.12 3.10 4.36 4.85 5.92 6.55 7.36 1.40 2.17 3.15 4.41 4.90 5.96 6.60 7.41 1.45 2.22 3.20 ( 4.48 4.95 6.00 6.65 7.45 1.50 2.27 3.25 ! 4.55 5.00 6.05 6.70 7.49 1.55 2.32 3.30 4.60 5.05 i 6.09 6.75 7.53 1.60 2.37 3.35 4.65 5.10 6.13 6.80 7.58 1.65 2.42 3.40 4.70 5.15 C.17 6.85 7.62 1.70 2.47 3.45 4.72 5.20 6.21 6.90 7.66 1.75 2.52 3.50 4.77 5.25 1 6.26 6.95 ; 7.70 1.80 2.57 3.55 4.81 5.30 6.30 7.00 7.75 1.85 2.65 *3.60 4.85 5.35 C.34 7.05 7.79 1.90 2.72 3.65 4.90 5.40 6.38 7.10 7.83 1.95 2.77 3.70 4.94 5.45 6.43 7.15 7.88 2.00 2.83 3.75 4.98 5.50 6.47 7.20 7.91 2.05 2.89 3.80 5.03 5.55 6.51 7.25 7.96 2.10 2.96 3.85 5.07 5.60 6.55 7.30 8.00 2.15 3.03 3.90 5.11 5.65 6.60 7.35 8.04 2.20 3.10 3.95 5.15 5.70 6.64 7.40 8.08 2.25 3.17 4.00 5.20 5.75 6.68 7.45 8.13 2.30 3.24 4.05 5.24 5.80 6.73 7.60 8.17 2.35 3.31 4.10 5.28 5.85 6.77 7.55 8.21 2.40 2.45 3.38 3.45 4.15 4.20 5.32 1 5.36 5.90 6.81 7.60 8.25 Old rates are those of December, 1915. For common labor paid by the day, the scale of new rates per day shown shall apply, with the provision, however, that as a minimum 20 cents per 8-hour day, 22*4 cents per 9-hour day, 25 cents per 10- hour day, 271/4 cents per 11-hour day, and 30 cents per 12-hour day will be added to the rates paid per day as of December 31, 1917. METHOD OP APPLYING INCREASES TO DAILY RATES. (1) Employe, December, 1915, $3.00: Increased to new rate of $4.23 per day $109.98 Jan. 1, 1918, his pay was raised for same work to $3.50 per day, equal per month to 91.00 Difference in pay: - 1 month 18.98 5 months 94.90 An 8*hour 26*day month both years. Worked G2 hours overtime, at new 1918 rate 52.9c $32.80 Was paid 62 hours overtime at 37.5c 23.25 9.55 Total back pay due Jan. 1 to May 31, 1918 104.45 Digitized by VaOooLe
Page 746
The Railroad Telegrapher. 733 (2) Employe “C” was employed in 1918, but not in 1915. Rate of pay on the district where lie is employed in 1918, in 1915 was $1.10 per day. The 1918 rate of pay is, on the same district, $1.50 per day. The new rate is $1.87 per day. He wifi, therefore, be entitled to re- ceive from January 1, 1918, to May 31, 1918, 37 cents per day addi- tional for each day he worked in that period. Section F.— GENERAL RULES FOR APPLICATION OF WAGE INCREASES. (1) In the application of the scale the wage runs with the place. If in the past two years an employe has been promoted, his new wage is based upon the rate of increase applicable to the new sched- ule governing the position to which he has been promoted. (2) In applying these percentages to the hourly, daily, monthly, or mileage rates for December, 1915, in order* to determine the rates to be applied, beginning January 1, 1918, each decimal fraction over 1 per cent shall be equalized as follows : Less than one-fourth of 1 per cent, as one-fourth of 1 per cent. Over one-fourth of 1 per cent, but less than one-half of 1 per cent, as one-half of 1 per cent. Over one-half of 1 per cent, but less than three-fourths of 1 per cent, as three-fourths of 1 per cent. Over three-fourths of 1 per cent, as 1 per cent. (3) These increases are to be applied to the rates of wages in effect on December 31, 1915. They do not represent a net increase at this time. (4) As to the employe who may have been promoted since Decem- ber 31, 1915, his increase wTill be based upon the rate of his present position as of December 31, 1915. (5) As to the employe who has been reduced in position, his increase will be based upon the rate of his present position as of December 31, 1915. (6) The new rates named herein, where they are higher than the rates in effect on January 1, 1918, will be applied to the occupants of positions that carried the rates in December, 1915. (7) In those cases where increases have been made by the railroads since December 31, 1915, in excess of the amounts herein ordered, present wages shall apply, for in no instance shall the application hereof operate to reduce present rates of pay. (8) Reductions in hours between December 31, 1915, and January 1, 1918, are not to be regarded as increases in pay. (9) The wage increases provided for herein shall be effective as of January 1, 1918, and are to be paid according to the time served to all who were then in the railroad service or who have come into such service since and remained therein. The proper ratable amount shall also be paid to those who have been for any reason since Jan- uary 1, 1918, dismissed from the service, but shall not be paid to those who have left it voluntarily. Men who have left the railroads to enter the Army or Navy shall be entitled to the pro rata increases accruing on their wages up to the time they left, and the same rule shall apply to those who have passed from one branch of the rail- road service or from one road to another. (10) This order applies to foremen, chief clerks, and others em- ployed in a supervisory capacity, as well as to their subordinates. Digitized by CaOooLe
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734 The Railroad Telegrapher. (11) This order shall be construed to apply to employes of rail- roads operating ferries, tugboats, lighters, barges, and any other float- ing equipment operated as terminal or transfer facilities, but shall not be construed as applying to railroad employes on cargo and passen ger carrying equipment on lakes, rivers, or in coastwise or ocean traffic. (12) The provisions of this order will not apply in cases where amounts less than $30 per month are paid to individuals for spe- cial service which takes only a portion of their time from outside employment or business. (13) Office boys, messengers, chore boys, and similar positions filled by employes who are under 18 years of age will receive the following increase per month: $20 increase per month where December, 1915, rate was from $30 to $45 per month. $15 increase per month where December, 1915, rate was from $20 to $30 per month. $10 increase per month where December, 1915, rate was less than $20 per month. ARTICLE in.— RULES GOVERNING CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. Section (a).— THE BASIC EIGHT-HOUR DAY. The principle of the basic eight-hour day is hereby recognized. Where employes are paid upon a daily or monthly basis, the new compensation herein established will apply to the number of hours which have heretofore constituted the actual day’s work. For ex- ample, where an actual day’s work has been 10 hours, the new com- pensation will cover the 8 basic hours and 2 hours overtime. Addi- tional overtime will be paid pro rata. METHOD OF APPLYING BASIC EIGHT-HOUR DAY RULES. (1) Position which in December, 1915, paid $2 per 9-hour day: Old rate, $2 per day. New rate, $2.51 for 8-hour basic day. Overtime, 31.4 cents per hour. New rate, $2.83 for 9-hour service; 83 cents increase. (2) Position which in December, 1915, paid $2.40 per 10-hour day: Old rate, $2.40 per day. New rate, $2.70 for 8-hour basic day. Overtime, $0.68 — 2 hours, at 34 cents per hour. New rate, $3.38 for 10-hour service; 98 cents increase. (3) Position which in December, 1915, paid $75 per month, working 10 hours per day for 26 working days: Old rate, $75 per month. New rate, $84.60 per month basic 8-hour day. Overtime, $21.15 — 52 hours, at 40.67 cents per hour. New rate, $105.75 for same service; increase, $30.75. (4) Position which in December, 1915, paid $100 per month, working 11 hours per day for 31 working days: Old rate, $100 per month. New rate, $95.82 per month basic 8-hour day. Overtime, $35.93 — 93 hours, at 38.64 cents per hour. New rate, $131.75 for same service; increase, $31.75. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 735 Section (b).— RATES OF PAY FOR OVERTIME. This order shall not affect any existing agreements or practices for the payment of higher rates of pay for time worked in excess of any standard day. Time worked in excess of the basic eight-hour day hereby established will, when there is no existing agreement or prac- tice more favorable to the employe, be paid on a pro rata basis, as indicated in section (a) of this article. Section (c).-NO REDUCTION IN TOTAL INCREASE. Pending consideration by the Board of Railroad Wages and Work- ing Conditions hereinafter provided for, no reduction in the actual hours constituting a day's work shall operate to deprive any employe, paid by the day or month, of the total increase in pay granted him by this order. ARTICLE IV.— PAYMENTS FOR BACK TIME. Each railroad will, in payments made to employes on and after June 1, 1918, include these increases therein. As promptly as possible, the amount due in back pay from Jan- uary 1, 1918, in accordance with the provision of this order, will be computed and payment made to employes separately from the regular monthly payments, so that employes will know the exact amount of these back payments. Recognizing the clerical work necessary to make these computa- tions for back pay and the probable delay before the entire period can be covered, each month, beginning with January, shall be com- puted as soon as practicable and, as soon as completed, payment shall be made. ARTICLE V.— EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN. When women are employed,, their working conditions must be healthful and fitted to their needs. The laws enacted for the govern- ment of their employment must be observed and their pay, when they do the same class of work as men, shall be the same as that of men. ARTICLE VH — BOARD OF RAILROAD WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS. There is hereby created a Board of Railroad Wages and Working Conditions which shall consist of the following members: J. J. Dermody, F. F. Gaines, C. E. Lindsey, W. E. Morse, G. H. Sines, A. 0. Wharton. This Board shall at once establish an office at Washington, D. C., and meet for organization and elect a Chairman and Vice Chairman, one of whom shall preside at meetings of the Board. It shall be the duty of the Board to hear and investigate matters presented by railroad employes or their representatives affecting, (1) Inequalities as to wages and working conditions whether as to individual employes or classes of employes. (2) Conditions arising from competition with employes in other industries. (3) Rules and working conditions for the several classes of employes, either for the country as a whole or for different parts of the country. Digitized by v^oocLe
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736 The Railroad Telegrapher. The Board shall also hear and investigate other matters affecting wages and conditions of employment referred to it by the Director General. This Board shall be solely an advisory body and shall submit its recommendations to the Director General for his determination. ARTICLE Vm.— INTERPRETATIONS OP THIS ORDER. •Railway Board of Adjustment No. 1 is authorized by Article 9 of General Order No. 13 to perform the following duty: Wages and hours, when fixed by the Director General, shall be incorporated into existing agreements on the several railroads, and should differences arise between the management and the employes of any of the railroads as to such incorporation, such questions of difference shall be decided by the Railway Board of Adjustment No. 1, when properly presented, subject always to review by the Director General. In addition to the foregoing, other questions arising as to the intent or application of this order in respect to the classes of employes within the scope of Railway Board of Adjustment No. 1 shall be submitted to such Board, which Board shall investigate and report its recommendations to the Director General. Similar authority may be conferred on any additional Railway Board of Adjustment hereafter created. Decisions shall not be rendered by such Boards until after approval by the Director General. Prior to the creation of additional Railway Boards of Adjustment to deal with questions as to the intent or application of this order as it affects any other class of employes, such questions, with respect to such employes, shall be presented to the Director of the Division of Labor, United States Railroad Administration, Washington, D. C. W. G. McADOO, Director General of Railroads. Other parts of General Order No. 27 refer to the payment of wages upon the hourly basis, mileage basis, and piece work rates which are eliminated to save possible confusion. We believe that the instructions contained in the General Order are sufficiently explicit for general understanding and that commit- tees will be able to apply the percentage increases properly. It will be noted that in addition to applying the increases to the monthly or daily rates that the overtime earned since January 1, 1918, is to be computed and added to the back time from January 1, 1918, to May 31, 1918. There are difficulties in these calculations and the method of applying basic eight-hour day rules as set forth in Article III should be closely studied and each case should be settled in accordance with the method illustrated in the examples. Should any of these matters not he clear to General Chairmen, they are in- vited to correspond with the undersigned for an explanation. It might be as well for committees to give the operating officials time to make these computations before going into conference, other- wise committees may experience expensive and annoying delays while waiting for this work to be done, but General Chairmen should as soon as possible get into communication with them for the purpose Digitized by Google
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The RaiijROad Telegrapher. 737 of arranging conferences for the purpose of amending the hours of service agreements in accordance with the General Order, com- puting the amount of back pay due each employe on account of the wage increase granted, the amount of overtime due each employe, and making the necessary amendments to the wage scale. The matter of forwarding the proposed amended schedule and wage scale to the President for his approval in accordance with our past practice is hereby waived — this for the purpose of accomplish- ing the work in hand at the earliest possible moment. Those General Committees about to negotiate for schedules and wage scales where none have hitherto existed may proceed with their negotiations after adjusting their proposals in accordance with the terms contained in General Order No. 27. As to the numerous negotiations which were submitted for media- tion and postponed on account of the new methods of doing business, it is not known at the present time just how these cases are to be handled. It is suggested that such committees proceed with their negotiations and endeayor to bring about a settlement by direct negotiations; failing in this they should communicate with the Presi- dent upon the subject who may by that time be informed as to the correct method of procedure. It is hoped that each and every General Committee will fall in line with the new order of things and endeavor to co-operate with the Government in bringing about a satisfactory settlement along the lines of least resistance, and we believe that committees will find this easier to do in the future than they have in the past. With best wishes, I am Yours fraternally, IT. B. PERU AM, President. road Trainmen were not affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, and, therefore, we should not be.” On May 15th last, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers voted unanimous- ly, favoring affiliation with the American Federation of Labor. We are pleased to learn of the Engineers taking this step. Our organization has been affiliated with that great labor movement for many years, and we feel that it is a question of only a short time when all the train service brotherhoods will have taken the same course. AN URGENT APPEAL. J. W. Ezell, a member of Illinois Cen- tral Railroad System, Division No. 93, who has been incarcerated for the mur- der of Wm. G. Porter, a yardmaster, at Newell, Pa., since 1904, while still in his teens, is seeking a pardon. He was con- victed of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Brother Ezell’s claim was self-defense. The attorneys were delib* B. L. of E. Affiliating With the A. F. of L. In the July, 1917, Tklkgraphkr. ap- peared an editorial reading in part as fol- lows : . “OPINIONS OF THE CHIEFS OF THE BROTHERHOODS." “Much has been said during the past several years regarding our affiliation with the American Federation of Labor — that great body of workers of the North American Continent. During our conven- tions heated controversies have taken place on the floor, when it had been pro- posed that The Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers withdraw from the federation. However, a resolution of this nature has always been summarily rejected, and we are still part of the American Federation of Labor. Those opposing our affiliation in the federation have always advanced as a reason why we should sever our con- nections with that body of organized workers the important fact, to them, that the four train service organizations, namely, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Order of Rail- way Conductors and Brotherhood of Rail- Digitized by L.ooole
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7:58 The Railroad Telegrapher. erately expressive in their opinion that the verdict was not a fair one, and we regret that space in the columns of The Telegrapher at this time is too limited for reprinting the plea of Col. Hal. S. Corbett, of Kentucky, in his defense. Brother Ezell’s defense was self- defense. In his testimony he stated he was attacked by the yardmaster, and in attempting to defend himself and break a choking hold which the 'deceased had around his neck, he sthick at the fingers of his assailant with a razor to force him to release his hold, but missed the objective point and wounded him, which resulted in death. Financial assistance to the extent of several hundred dollars is required to prepare his case and properly present it to the Board of Pardons to secure jus- tice and freedom for this unfortunate young man. The following letter was recently re- ceived by his attorney: “Pittsburgh, North Side, Pa., April 12, 1918. Dear Mr. Corbett: I enclose herewith a newspaper clip- ping which shows that the Government is short of telegraphers. As you know, I am an expert telegrapher, and if we succeed in our present efforts to get a pardon, J should immediately tender my services to the Government as a teleg- rapher. If, for any reason my country should not desire these services, then I could at least take the place of some other man whose services would be ac- ceptable. Now, Mr. Corbett, you have defended me, know better than any living man that I am innocent of the charge of murder for which I was convicted at Tniontown in this State some twelve years ago. You know I would not un- dertake to deceive my attorney, and as I told you when we went to the trial, I believe at the time if I had not done what I did, my own life would have forfeited at the hands of the man whom it was my great misfortune to have to slay. My brothers of The Order of Rail- road Telegraphers, as you know, have done much to assist me, but I want you to have a copy made of the speech which was published in the Uniontown and Con- nellsville paper, which you made in my defense, and send a copy of this letter and that speech to the members of The Order of Railroad Telegraphers with a request that they sign a petition which you will prepare, asking for my release and also that they contribute some small sum to do the things that are necessary to properly present my case to the Board of Pardons. Twelve years is a long time to be in a penal institution, as you know my parents are growing old, my mother is in feeble health and I should like to see her once more before she passes out in the w’orld beyond. My record in this institution is without a flaw; the chap- lain and every officer with whom 1 have come in contact during these long weary years will testify as to my ex- emplary conduct as a prisoner. If you will go at this matter in dead, hard earnest, I am sure I will be restored to my liberty and have many years of use- fulness to spend out in the world with my fellowmen. Respectfully, James W. Ezell.” The members of Division No. 93 have responded generously in aiding this brother, and as it is necessary to raise several hundred dollars to prepare this appeal for pardon, outside help is re- quested, and a contribution from as many members of the Order who feel so dis- posed, and certainly each can contribute something, will not only be greatly ap- preciated by Brother Ezell, who is penni- less, but by the members of Division No. 93. No cause was ever more worthy. Kindly forward all contributions to Brother R. L. Shannon, General Secretary and Treasurer, Anna, 111., who will ac- knowledge receipt. BALTIMORE AND OHIO ARBITRATION CASE. (Continued from April Issue.) Mr. Perham: Mr. Yaeger, will you pro- ceed to read? Mr. Yaeger: In answer 1, this gen- tleman says $70 a month received from Digitized by c.ooQLe
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The Rah. road Telegrapher. 739 the railroad. He has no express com- mission, no Western Union commission, no other source of revenue. He is mar- ried. He has one to support other than his wife and himself; partially supports none. Food products per month, $30. On an average per month for clothing for the three, $5. Fuel, $10. Light, $1.25. Rent, $18. Insurance, fraternal societies, etc., $6 a month. “On an average what do you save?” He says nothing. Works eight hours on Sunday, eight hours dur- ing the week. The remarks are as fol- lows: “Twenty-four years in the service and have my two children earning their own board. I could not keep out of debt.” The next one received from the rail- road company $65 a month; express com- missions averaged $8 now; previous years $5. Western Union commission 20 cents a month. Other sources, some by auto, very little. I don’t know what he means by that. He is married. He has a wife and child, three, at about $30 per month. $60 for food products. “What do you pay for board and room?” We rent, etc. “What does it cost you on the average per month for clothing for your- self and family, if any?” $18. Fuel, $5. Light, $2. Rent, $10, which is a poor place. Good place would cost $20 more. “What is your average monthly disbursements for jiving expenses?” He does not fill that in. “How much on the average per month are you able to save from your income?” None. “How many hours are you on duty Sunday?” Nine. “How many hours is it actually necessary for you to be on duty Sunday?” Eight. “How long have you been in the service?” Ten years. “The above figures are cor- rect as near as I can figure them.” Mr. Perham: It makes it a little tedi- ous reading all of those questions, and as each member of the Board has a copy of the letter, it is scarcely necessary. I would suggest you run over briefly the salient points of each answer. That is to say, the amount of wage paid, the amount spent in the home of the employe and the fraternal dues, etc.; doctor bills, if any; and give the name of the employe and the address. That would be suffic- ient, without reading all the other ques- tions. Mr. Yaeger: All right. I will follow that line. One more from the Staten Island. Received $65; has three to sup- port; $40 per month for board; $15 for clothing. His insurance, fraternal socie- ties, etc., total $9.40 a month. Works eight hours on Sunday, eight hours dur- ing the week days. Been in the service five years. His remarks are: “I think that the Staten Island lines are under- paid by a large margin.” Mr. Perham: The Staten Island part of the line is not a party to this arbi- tration proceeding, is it? Mr. Yaeger: That has been settled by mediation. Mr. Davis: It is not a part of the ar- bitration. That has been settled on the side. It is a power railroad over here. It is not part of this arbitration here at all, and I would suggest that you with- draw that. Mr. Perham: I suggest you withdraw that from the record. I think the Staten Island question should not come into this negotiation. Mr. Davis: That was settled on the side. Mr. Perham: That is, if you will just take those out — Mr. Yaeger: We will start at the Philadelphia Division. That is the most easterly division of the system. This is signed by . Receives $62 salary. No commission or revenue from any other source. Married. No one to sup- port other than himself. Food products per month, $32. For clothing for him- self and family, $4. Fuel, $4.50. Light, $3.50. Rent, $14. Insurance, fraternal societies, etc., $5. Average disburse- ments, $63. He saves nothing. Usually on duty Sunday; eight hours week days, if necessary, eight on Sunday; 27 years in the service. His remarks are: “I had $180 saved two years ago, ^nd have used $50 of it for living expenses since, although I have cut that down until I am barely existing.” The next one is operator and leverman, located at . He receives $91 from Digitized by CaOOQLe
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740 The Railroad Telegrapher. the company; no commissions or revenue from other sources. Three persons de- pending upon him for support. Food prod- ucts per month, $40. Clothing, etc., $18. Fuel, $5. That includes coal and gas. Light, $1.50. Rent, $23, includes $3.00 carfare. Insurance, fraternal societies, etc., $5. His disbursements for living ex- penses, $91, and increasing every day, and no pleasure for self or family. Usu- ally on duty Sunday, eight hours, and actually required to work eight hours on Sunday. Also been in the service about 12 years. He has got a note: “This is just actual living. There is nothing left for any saving, just plain living, and I cannot begin to do this from now on on this salary, and in addition for Christmas we had to use some money I had saved several years ago. Nothing less than 20 per cent Increase in the twenty-six day month.” That is his expression. Do you want three from each division, Mr. President? Mr. Perham: I believe that two would be sufficient. Mr. Yaeger: I think so. Mr. Perham: To indicate the charac- ter of the answers. Mr. Yaeger: This is the Baltimore Division. The first one is signed by . He receives $70 from the com- pany; no commission or revenue from other sources. Married; three to sup- port. Food products, etc., $40, and not much at that. Clothing on an average $5 per month. Fuel, $5; $2 for lamps. Rent, $20. For insurance, etc., $9.10 per month. His average monthly disburse- ments for living expenses $75 to $80. “How much are you able to save from your income?” None. “Have been going in debt for the last three years.” “How many hours is it actually necessary to be on duty Sundays?” Eight. And he works eight on Sunday. Been in the service 28 years. “I had to take my boy, 16 years old, out of high school and put him to work this year; not able to sup- port him. My wife is almost an invalid and the above docs not take in medicine or doctor bills. I have to walk three miles to work; on trains.” The next one is signed , operator and switchman. He receives $89 from the company. No commissions or reve- nue from other sources. Married, three dependent for support. Partial support he has two. Average cost per month $2: for food products, $50. Clothing for self and family, $6. Fuel, $6. Light, $2. Rent, $28. Average monthly disburse- ments for living expenses, all and more needed. Savings, none. Over 31 con- tinuous service. No provision on this statement for sickness. Besides the eight hours actually worked daily, one hour added, consumed coming and going home, and 10 cents for carfare daily. Also no meal time. Another one signed by , agent and operator. He receives from the rail- road company $61. His average monthly express commission is $15.50. Western Union commission average $1.30. Reve- nue other sources, he says, have few’ shares bank stock been paying 8 per cent. He is married, four to support, par- tially three, at an average of $7 per month. It costs him $30 for food prod- ucts. Average cost for clothing, $10. For fuel, $5. Insurance, fraternal societies, etc., $10.96. “How much do you save?” “Have not been saving anything.” Usu- ally on duty on Sunday four hours; act- ually necessary, believe two hours is all necessary to protect the Western Union Telegraph Company business. Been in the service 29 years next month. “I have endeavored to give about as near cor- rect as possible. If a man has much sickness he is up against it at present high prices.” The next division is Cumberland Di- vision. The first one is signed , operator. He receives $72 from the com- pany. No express commissions, and Western Union commissions during the months of June, July and August about $1.50. The reason for that, I believe, is on account it is a summer office and no- body up there in the winter time. He has no other sources. He is a widower. He supports three; none partially. Food products, $50. Fuel, $5. Lights, $1. Rent. $10. Insurance, fraternhl societies, etc, Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 741 $4. “What do you save?’* Nothing. Been in the service 30 years. Remarks: “If sickness or death visits us, we are un- able to meet expenses and we are hav- ing our share of wheatless and more than our share of meatless days.” The next one is signed , tele- graph employe. He receives from the railroad company $75. No other sourse of revenue. Married; two to support, none partial. Food products, $25 to $30 per month. For clothing, etc., he answers that only have about $5 left. Fuel, $5. Light, $3. Rent, $16. Fraternal socie- ties, etc., $11.40 a month. Living ex- penses total $68 to $70. “What do you save?” None at all. Been in the serv- ice 21 years. “The above is a correct and true statement of what it costs us to live. What has a person left to dress on and for any amusements?” The next one is signed by , op- erator. He receives from the company $77. No express commission. Western Union commission 75 cents. No other source of revenue. He is married; has seven to support, none partial. Food prod- ucts $20 on the average. He says board and room, $15. Clothing for himself and family, average $10. Fuel, $6. Light, $1. Rent, $15. Insurance, $7.25. Monthly dis- bursements, $77. Saves nothing. Usually on duty Sunday eight hours; necessary eight; 17 years in the service June next. Remarks: “My doctor bill for operations and services rendered my family this year run a little ovet $500. I am in debt for this and some other living expenses.” The next one is a Connellsville Di- vision employe, signed . He re- ceives from the railroad $85. No other source of revenue. Married; seven to support; none partially. Food products per month, $50. Clothing, etc., $15. Fuel, $6. Light, $1.50. Rent, $11.50. Frater- nal societies, etc., $10. Disbursements for living expenses $95 to $100. Saving none. On duty Sundays eight hours; nec- essary eight hours. Been in the service 15 years. Remarks: “My present *salary is not near sufficient to permit me to pro- vide for my family. I am using my sav- ings; large credit bills.” The next one is signed by , tele- graph operator. He receives $87. No other source of revenue. He is married; four to support; none partially. Food products, $45 to $50 per month at the least. For clothing for himself he says he has nothing left. Fuel about 30 to 35 cents. Rent, $25. For school, church, labor organizations, etc., $5. Average monthly disbursements all of $87. Noth- ing left. Been in the service 12 years. Remarks: “This is as near . as I can figure it out. My salary is hardly suf- ficient to keep myself and wife and three children in any decent manner.” Pittsburgh Division, signed by , telegrapher. Eighty-seven dollars from the railroad company. No other source of revenue. He is married. Food prod- ucts, $60. For clothing, etc., $25. Fuel, $5. Rent, $12. Fraternal societies, etc., $5. His savings — he has got a notation that he is in debt. On duty Sundays eight hours; necessary eight. Been in the service of the company 17 years. Re- marks: “Have to give up position with the railroad to go laboring to make ex- penses.” The next one is signed by , op- erator. He receives from the railroad company $76. He has no other source of revenue. He is married; wife to support; ncne partially. Food products cost $36 a conth on an average. Clothing, on an. average, $15. Fuel, $3. Light, $3. Rent, $10. Labor organizations, $1.60. Month- ly disbursements, $40. Able to save noth- ing. Been in the service nine years. He only eats two meals per day. Boys 17 and 20 years old make five dollars per day around the mines. Eight hours a day and no Sunday work. “I am unable to compete with the high priced labor in the grocery market.” :> < out ) Digitized by CaOOQLe
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BRIEFS Organize is our motto. You may convert one wavering non- inember by sending him The Tklkokaphek after reading it. The race between the contestants of the 1918 prize contest is as thrilling as a famous Kentucky Derby. Now for sixty thousand members, over- time for all Sunday work and holidays. Place into effect our slogan. One thousand nine hundred and twenty- three new members were initiated into the Order during the month of May. The eight hour day has arrived for all classes of railroad employes, which com- pletes one rung of our 1918 slogan. You will not have done your duty to- ward the organization unless you secured one new member during- the present year. Do not forget, we are requested by the Government to conserve paper. Corre- spondents of our Fraternal columns are requested to be brief. able on July 1st. Do not procrastinate, there is no time like the present. Between 1,700 and 2,000 registered men of Omaha, Neb., will be affected by the new service ruling which provides that every man of draft age do necessary work or fight. By unanimous vote of their convention on May 15th, the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers favored affiliation with that distinguished body of American workers, the American Federation of La- bor. Numerous letters have been received from our members, stating the “Blue Book” of Schedules and Wages in effect December 31, 1917, has filled a long felt want. Preserve it by having it rebound in a cloth cover. The Secretary of War has appointed John R. Alpine, vice president of the American Federation of Labor, as special advisor to Stanley King, assistant to the Secretary of War, who represents the War Department on the Labor Policies Board. Prospects for the coming harvest in France are better than at any time in 20 years, according to a statement made by Victor Bonet, the food* minister. Pennsylvania’s chief of mines has noti- fied the State’s mine inspectors that em- ployment of women and girls about mines in the anthracite region must be stopped. Remember our 1918 slogan: “Sixty thousand members, an eight-hour day, overtime for all work performed on Sun- days and holidays.” Dues in the Order and Mutual Benefit Department assessments are due and pay- We have passed the fifty thousand mark. Now let each member pay his dues and Mutual Benefit Department assess- ments promptly, thereby placing him or her in good standing to December 31st next and we are assured of 60,000 by De- cember 31, 1918. So heavy has the demand been for mes- senger boys by stores and other business concerns to deliver their orders that it has become necessary for the telegraph companies in Philadelphia to call a halt and to accommodate only their regular customers. The Great Northern General Commit- Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 743 tee convened in St. Paul on May 27th, and organized by electing * Brother O. P. Johnson, of the Cascade Division, General Chairman, and Brother A. O. Olsen, of the Breckenridge Division, General Sec- retary and Treasurer. We hope that Di- vision No. 70 will become one of the ban- ner divisions of the organization. The union label is the acme of good will and confidence, and its influence is unlimited. It is bound up with consistent, persistent, and agressive movements, yet its mission is a federation of humanity. It has yet to be recognized at its true worth, for it is destined to occupy one of the proudest places in the labor temple of the future. In protesting against low wages for women at the Government’s bureau of en- graving and printing. Miss Jeanette Ran- kin, Montana’s congresswoman, expressed the wish “that the people who fix wages could be compelled to live upon the wages they fix.” The speaker said that wages could be raised if the girls would organize. Brother J. J. Dermody finds it impossi- ble to acknowledge, individually, the num- erous messages of felicitation from mem- bers and friends on his acceptance of the appointment as a member of the Board of Railroad Wages and Working Conditions, and takes this means of thanking one and all for the kind and encouraging expres- sions extended and assures us it will be bis one purpose to strive for the advance- ment of our cause. The National Association of Purchasing Agents, representing 1,200 large indus- trial concerns, has gone on record in favor of a Federal law to abolish com- mercial bribe-giving and bribe-taking. The Federal Trade Commission is trying to have legislation of such a character passed, and the purchasing agents have not only indorsed the commission’s at- titude but has sent a communication to both houses of Congress. Brother J. J. Dermody, for many years our Fourth Vice-President, has been ap- pointed member of the Board of Railroad Wages and Working Conditions, recently created by General Order No. 27. The Government could not have chosen a more qualified man for this important po- sition, and while we are sorry to lose genial “Jack” from our midst, we are cer- tain the Board and the employes will profit by this selection and the organiza- tion wishes him unbounded success. The formation of a permanent organi- zation to take up the work of teaching Americans of foreign countries and for- eign countries of America, was decided upon at a conference. According to the plans formulated, the new body is to be made up of former Presidents of the Unit- ed States and former ambassadors who have represented this country abroad. Prominent Americans who are interested in international affairs will also be in- cluded in the membership. The Federal Department of Labor re- ports that for the week ending May 13 three strikes and ten controversies were adjusted and that labor conditions are steadily improving. “Conciliators for the department every- where report,” it is stated, “that men are anxious to use the machinery of the de- partment so as to avoid stoppage of work and the sentiment is strong for the ad- justment of disputes by arbitration with- out the stoppage of work.” That wages in New York City have not kept up with the rapidly increasing cost of living is the finding in the report of the Home Economics Committee, of the Charity Organization Society, which states that of the 574 individual workers questioned, only 31 per cent had received any increase in salary and that even these increases could not be compared with the additional cost of living. Twelve per cent were earning even less than last year. This must be used to meet an in- crease of 26 per cent in the average house- hold commodity. Digitized by LaOOQle
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744 The Railroad Telegrapher. Post-war problems with which Canada is likely to deal are now being considered by the Canadian Industrial RecDnstruc- tion Association, which has been estab- lished recently in Toronto, under the leadership of Sir John Willison. The ob- jects of the association are to maintain in- dustrial stability and to secure wise treatment of problems of reconstruction. Support of technical and general edu- cation, better relations between capital and labor and social welfare work will be encouraged. The association, accord- ing to Sir Roger, is opposed to free trade. The union label is the symbol of human justice and human freedom, replete with honorable traditions, beautified by self- sacrifice, and brightened by intelligence and heroism. It is full of ideas, as well as information, for those who oppose criminal trusts that stand in the way of the inalienable rights of the union work- men to the pursuit of happiness and prog- ress. The economic and social impor- tance of the eight-hour movement is em- phasized by the union label. It is a live factor in the industrial development of the United States. The label affords an opportunity for an education that will in time become world-wide. The Department of Labor has asked Director General of Railroads McAdoo to grant half fares to agricultural workers % recruited for distribution by the United States employment service. Only through cheaper distribution, La- bor Department officials say, can the farms of the country be supplied with the maximum labor available for crop production. Admitting the railroads might lose $1,- 600,000 by the proposed rate reduction, the Labor Department estimates they would gain ten times that sum in freight rates on the additional crops produced by these extra workers. Mutual Benefit Department members who are contemplating enlisting for mil- itary or naval service , arc urged to ar- range for the payment of dues and as- sessments within two calendar months from January 1st and July 1st of each year. Should a member who has enlisted forfeit his membership in the Mutual Benefit Department , he will be unable to reinstate in this department while en- gaged in such service , therefore it is hoped that our boys will realize the neces- sity and importance of keeping in good standing by remitting both dues and as- sessments prior to February 28th and .Iti- gust 31st of each semi-annual period. Referring to the inability of the textile industry to supply the demand of Govern- ment and civilian trade, the New York Evening Mail , speaking editorially, says, “If American manufacturers stop ‘scamp- ing’ labor, they can increase production.” This is in line with the criticism heaped on manufacturers recently for “stealing” labor from other industries engaged in war work. Frequently a factory will pay the expenses of moving a worker’s family from another town in order to secure his services as an operative. Perhaps, the next week the same trick will be turned on them. Consequently production is un- necessarily curtailed, since the United States Employment Bureau maintains the central control over the labor mart. The Federal Trade Commission has ruled that manufacturers cannot refuse to sell their products to retailers where the latter refuses to accept a resale price set by the manufacturer. The commission gives notice that in the future action will be taken against these manufacturers., “When once an article has passed from the maker to the purchaser,’’ It is stated, “he owns it, and the owner of such article may sell it at any price that he chooses provided he does not himself sell it at such price as to be below cost, and thus thereby enter into unfair competition with other retailers selling the same ar- ticle.” The decision will undoubtedly develop a wide controversy because it involves so many economic questions. Do not fail to keep in good standing at all times. For the information of certifl- Digitized by LaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 745 cate holders in the Mutual Benefit Depart- ment, the signing of the so-called “ appli- cation for reinstatement” or “war waiver ” is required of members who have allowed their membership to become delinquent , by failing to pay their dues and assess- ments within two calendar months from the beginning of a semi-annual dues period , in accordance with Article XV of the Mutual Benefit Department laws. In order to avoid signing this “application for reinstatement” members are urged to keep their membership continuous by for- warding remittances in payment of both dues and assessments prior to February 28th and August Slst of each semi-annual period , the beginning of which periods are January 1st and July 1st of each year. The signing of “ supplement to applica- tion” is required of all new members. A writer in the New York World quotes Frank P. Walsh, of the national war labor board, as follows: “Because labor demands a sufficient income to keep itself in good working condition we often hear it criticised for lack of patriotism. It would be the stu- pidest sort of patriotism that would de- mand anything less. Dead workers are of no use to the nation now. Live ones are. And the more alive they are the more use they are to Uncle Sam. The highest efficiency can come only from de- cent living conditions for themselves and families and a living wage which will in- sure them a subsistence in reasonable health and comfort. - “That is why the national war labor board has discarded the old formulas of arbitration, which consisted mainly of splitting the difference between the low- est terms each side to the controversy would accept. We are approaching the question from an altogether different an- gle. “We are looking at labor not as a com- modity, but as the flesh and blood of America.” Attorney General Gregory says that the new espionage act shall not apply to “honest, legitimate criticism of the ad- ministration or discussion of Government policies.” “Protection of loyal persons from un- just suspicion and prosecution is quite as important as the suppression of actual disloyalty,” the attorney general holds. In\a letter to United States district at- torneys giving instructions under which the new law is to be enforced, the attor- ney general says: “The prompt and aggressive enforce- ment of this act is of the highest impor- tance in suppressing disloyal utterances and preventing breaches ©f peace. It is also of great importance that this statute be administered with discretion. It should not be permitted to become the medium whereby efforts are made to suppress honest, legitimate criticism of the admin- istration or discussion of Government policies; nor should it be permitted to be- come a medium for personal feuds or per- secution. The wide scope of the act and powers conferred increases t1#) impor- tance of discretion in administering It.” Prediction was made at the convention of the national association of manufactur- ers that the Government’s war control over commerce and industry would be re- tained in large measure after peace Is de- clared. This possibility does not seem to alarm these business men, who listened to the following report by a committee as- signed to deal with this subject: “In the opinion of your committee one of the results of the federalization of our resources will be the permanent enlarge- ment of national control of our industrial and commercial life. For we are now at last acting as a nation through unified action. We do not believe that th^re will be a return of pre-war conditions, for we hold the efficiency of a larger degree of national administration will justify it- self in post bellum conditions.” The committee said it did not mean to imply the slightest change in the struc- ture of our government nor that the in- herent powers of the various states would be diminished. Federal control of railroads was fa- vored to offset “the effect of 48 different state laws governing the operation of in- terstate commerce, with their conflicting and restricting regulations.” Digitized by Google
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PERSONAL MENTION The following births have been reported since the last issue of The Telegrapher: To Bro. and Mrs. P. H. Scheffler, of St. Louis, Mo., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. D. F. Drummond, of Dorchester, Mass., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. G. Roulet, of Opelousas, La., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. O. W. Houg, of Su- perior, Wis., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. J. A. Bertrand, of Quebec, Que., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. C. H. Wagner, of Jenks, Okla., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. S. J. Boyle, of Paton, Iowa, a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. R. F. Gr6ves, of Ash- land, N. D., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. H. L. Beale, of Hat- chie, Tenn., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. Harry Lower, of Stockton, Cal., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. R. W. Rogers, of South Whitley, Ind., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. C. C. Stitt, of Martin, Tenn., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. B. H. Hall, of Den- ver, Tenn., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. Carl Drowty, of Crocker, Ind., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. C. H. Bonneau, of Norwich, N. Y., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. Wm. Johns, of Lim- erick, N. Y., a girl. To Bro. and Mrs. H. E. Call, of Birm- ingham, Ala., a boy. To Bro. and Mrs. D. C. Root, of Yates City, 111., a girl. The following marriages have been re- ported since the last issue of The Teleg- rapher: Bro. W. L. Martin, of Div. 5, to Miss Carrie Leach. Bro. R. G. Manny, of Div. 7, to Miss Antoinette Audette. At Little Falls, Minn., Bro. L. Wipper, of Div. 54, to Miss Agnes Gounland. At Keokuk, Iowa, Bro. C. E. Stout, of Div. 130, to Miss Jackson. At Brunswick, N. J., Bro. Harry F. Farren, of Div. 8, to Miss Katherine Clarkson. Bro. W. I. Leidal, of Div. 70, to Miss Wick. Bro. F. E. Parrish, of Div. 36, to Miss Ada Nugen. Bro. E. L. Huebner, of Div. 36. to Miss Anna Paige. The Telegrapher extends congratula- tions to the happy couples. The following deaths have been re- ported since the last issue of The Teleg- rapher: Bro. Edward J. Powers, of Div. 8. Son of Bro. Fred J. Carter, of Div. 7. At Langtry, Tex., daughter of Bro. T. W. Brown, of Div. 53. Mother of Bro. F. J. Ryan, of Div. 4. Brother of Bro. William Edwards, of Div. 43. Bro. J. Atkinson, of Div. 7. At Bath, Mich., wife of Bro. L. V. D. Roebuck, of Div. 19. Bro. Herman G. Covnick, of Div. 23. Bro. Melvin T. Johnson, of Div. 23. Mother of Bro. A. S. Peck, of Div. 20. At Toledo, Ohio, the wife of Bro. Arthur D. Rebuck, of Div. 19. Mother of Bro. John Wroblewski. of Div. 76. Brother of Sister Lillian L. R. Camp- bell, of Div. 44. At South Bend, Ind., wife and daughter of Bro. Bert Granger, of Div. 1. Wife of Bro. Frank Foster, of Div. 16 Father of Bro. R. M. Pash, of Div. 36. Wife of Bro. John B. Coyne, of Div. 33. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 747 Bro. H. U. Younkie, of Div. 1. Wife of Bro. A. W. Wolfe, of Div, 36.- Son of Bro. S. L. Smith, of Div. 31. Bro. Edwin B. Anderson, of Div. 119. Bro. J. E. McHugh, of Div. 130. Wife of Bro. F. L. Gibson, of Div. 43. At Ipswich, Wis., only child of Bro. W. E. Wells, of Div. 76. Bro. E. A. Fuller, df Div. 41. Bro. M. E. Kennedy, of Div. 38. Bro. Bert Swendsen, of Div. 172. Wife of Bro. Wm. Hickey, of Div. 33. Bro. R. B. Maupin, of Div. 54. Mother of Bro, A. C. Clouds, of Div. 3. Father of Bro. Joseph Triteline, of Div. 34. Bro. Robert Parrett, of Div. 34. Bro. C. B. Ryder, of Div. 44. Bro. Lester M. Saucier, of Div. 88. At Bellevue, Neb., Bro. Edward Meyers, of Div. 130. At LaPlatte, Neb., wife of Bro. W. V. White, of Div. 130. At Alamogorda, N. Mex., Bro. A. B. Williams, of Div. 5. Wife of Bro. W. L. Cooksey, of Div 130. At Deer Trail, Wyo., Bro. Chas A. Davis of Div. 130. At Camp Travis, Tex., A. H. James, of Div. 163. Bro. J. E. Gordon, of Div. 7. At Scotts Bluffs, Neb., mother of Bro. Robt. McKinnon, of Div. 23. Father of Bro. C. C. Kiley, of Div. 130. At Minneapolis, Minn., mother of Bro. D. J. Mahoney, of Div. 76. Father of Bro. H. W. Hatfield, of Han- over, Kan. Son of Bro. J. D. Wheeler, of Div. 33. At Tweed, Ont., Bro. John E. Gordon, of Div. 7. Son of Bro. C. W. McCavit, of Div. 33. The bereaved relatives have the sym pathy of all. WANTED. “H. K. Williams. Write me at old ad- dress immediately.” W. B. Present address of J. T. Hughes, last heard of leaving Louisiana for home in Pana, 111. Worked with him in Monroe Yard ”MD” for Mo. Pac. (Louisiana) , S. H. Johnson, Ravenna, Cal., Post Office Acton, Cal. Whereabouts of John D. Woodson, age 33, height 5 ft. 10 in. Large brown eyes, ruddy complexion, black hair, slightly gray at temples. Left arm lame at elbow. Probably working as laborer. Any knowledge of him will be appreci- ated. O. T. Shadoan, Tateville, Ky. Present address of Wm. H. Roper, agent or operator. Height 5 ft. 4 in., weight about 165 lbs., dark auburn hair. His wife is seriously ill. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Mbs. G. L. Rohec, Box 245, Green Forest, Ark. Whereabouts of M. E. Wimmer, an old- time telegrapher. Last heard of in Min- neapolis about a year ago. Mike, if you see this, write me or home at once. A. W. Cook, Park Falls, Wis. LOST OR STOLEN. Card No. 36014, Cert. 1035, Div. 40, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 41629, Cert. 277, Div. 141, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 44747, Cert. 367, Div. 53, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 41419, Cert. 2987, Div. 1, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 42856, Cert. 3867, Div. 93, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 43043, Cert. 531, Div. 88, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 21303, Cert. 348, Div. 15, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 31767, Cert. 93, Div. 41, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 34034, Cert. 250. Div. 69, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 22221. Cert. 381, Div. 4, for term ending June 30, 1918. Card No. 3264, Cert. 2334, Div. 126, for year ending Dec. 31, 1918. Card No. 38388, Cert. 6510. Grand Div., for term ending Dec. 31, 1918. Card No. 3065, Cert. 6510, Grand Div., for term ending June 30, 1918. Digitized by v^oooLe
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OUR RESPONSIBILITY. By Kate E. Carr, President. A trait of human impulse is to do things .when others are doing the same thing and, vice versa, to hesitate to do ourselves what others are failing to do. For instance, one quite often hears: “Why should I go on saving food when so-and-so does not? Why save my bread crusts when some restaurants are wasting on every hand?” Certainly it is dis- couraging for one to do her part, while others fail in even trying to do their duty’ In the campaign against food waste. And yet if one refuses to save because some others fail, where would such logic lead? Some people are not convinced as easily as others and therefore do not see the necessity for action as readily as we do; some remain rebellious longer; others are simply thoughtless, but must we for that reascrti refuse to exercise our intelligence and remain rebellious and thoughtless? When we recognize the mistakes some of our neighbors are mak- ing, shall we allow our efforts to go dor- mant, thus adding greater injustice to the condition which exists and perhaps changing a small error to a future ca- tastrophe? The same opinion prevails in our trade union movement. Some of our good brothers and sisters do not see the need of paying their dues promptly; others do not recognize the necessity of attend- ing our union meetings; some fail to take an active interest when they do at- tend; and a most common and therefore quite prevalent mistake is the one in not fostering a fraternal and brotherly feel- ing by contributing to the welfare of all trade union constituents. Some of us fail to buy union made goods, or even to advertise their usage notwithstanding the fact that therein perhaps rests our great- est power for obtaining the demands of unionism at the present time. But can these mistaken Ideas and conditions ex- cuse you and I of our duties in the trade union movement? No concerted action is ever bprn over night; it is always the result of one ex- ample added to another. Because a neighbor Is wasteful, or a brother union- ist fails to pay his dues is discouraging, it is no reason why we should not con- serve food, or neglect our duties as a unionist. On the contrary, it signifies a good reason why we who recognize the mistake should double our efforts in or- der to fulfill our personal obligation. Our responsibility is ours and we cannot shirk It by pointing to our neighbor, our fellow unionist, or some one else. TACOMA LOCAL No. 54. The Ladies’ Auxiliary met at the home of Sister Baker, of Elma, Wash., on May 29 th. who was assisted by Sisters Bro- die and Watkins. The Auxiliary decided ways and means to entertain the O. R. T. with lunch and round table talks at its next meeting in Centralia. We are glad to report that two new members were initiated into our Local. Our next meeting will be held at the heme of Grand President Kate E. Carr, of Olympia, Wash., on June 26th, at which gathering the subject of ”U. S. Govern- ment in Relation to the Woman Citizen and Her Duties,” will be debated. Cebt. 24. Digitized by v. ooole
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THE DENVER SPECIAL'S DOOM. IT WAS an unusually cold, dark night in late December, and the wind was howling and shrieking in a way that would send the little cold, creepy shiv- ers running up and down one’s spine in spite of all the heating appliances in the universe. The light, flaky snow which had been sifting steadily downward for the past three or four hours was drifting aim- lessly about in countless whirling eddies, piling up in little swirling drifts, and then scurrying out across the plain again before a driving gale, and the telegraph wires were humming and groaning in a weird and monotonous way under the heavy stress of wind and cold. Far out upon the prairie, a little blotch of yellow light glowed faintly through the surrounding darkness and blinding snow, and thirty feet above it, and seem- ingly suspended in space, two bright disks of shining red glared grimly and steadily into the night. These marked the window and signal lights of a little telegraph and block station on one of our cross-continental railroads. Inside, Jack Robins sat at his table listening to th*e drowsy clicking of his instruments. Jack was the night opera- tor here, working third, the “graveyard trick," and his was probably the loneliest office on the entire division, being situ- ated some three hundred miles from the nearest human habitation. The business of the road had for some time been on the decline, the passenger traffic being exceedingly light, and to- night the company was running a spe- cial excursion train to Denver in order to liven business up a bit and keep things moving. It had also been ru- mored, among the employes in general, and among the operators along the line in particular, that a large sum of money in gold and silver bars was also to be transported to Denver on the Special, and that this was the real object of running the train. Jack was waiting for the Special and watching its movements by the wire. He had been in the habit of lying down for a little nap at about 3:30 every morn- ing, as all the trains due on his trick were usually by at that time. The Spe- cial was due at 4:10, and, as it was hardly 3:30 yet, he still had something over half an hour to wait, and as he had had but little rest the day before, Jack was beginning to become desperately sleepy. • ' He got up and emptied the contents of a coal bucket into the little dinky office stove behind him, shivered at the thought of going out into the storm for more coal, decided to put the matter off until absolute necessity demanded it, and then resumed his seat at the table. He heard the Special OS’d by VR tower twenty-three miles south of him at 3:35, and knew that if nothing de- layed the train, it would reach Holders, his office, on time. Becoming tired of sitting upright and listening to the wires, he lay down across the table, his head resting on his arms. He had been in this position for some little time, it seemed, when “DR,” “DR,” “DS” sounded very faintly cn the dis- patcher’s train wire. It was Jack’s call, and the dispatcher was calling. He did not answer at once, as he had expected nothing of this sort. There must be some mistake, he told himself, for what could the dispatcher want with him at Digitized by tjooole
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750 The RaiijROad Telegrapher. this hour of the night? He did not move, but lay quite still listening for a repetition of the call. In an instant it came again, this time loud and clear, and in sharp, quick accents, as if the dis- patcher was in a great hurry to get his party. There was no mistaking it now — “DR” was certainly the party in ques- tion. Hastily grasping and opening his key, Jack answered the call. “Is Special by?” came over the wire in a hurried hand. “No,” Jack answered. “Hold 'em there; be sure; don’t let ’em by, man walking north reports from Valera that several large rocks are on track in pass north of you; take this message: “Fm Ds 22nd to Condr. 2nd No. 6 (Spl.) — Stay at Holders until further or- ders. Send flagman forward to Pine Tree Pass and have him return and re- port nature of obstruction on track at once. Signed W. D. C.” Jack OK’d the message with a nervous hand. He was all alertness and excite- ment now. He read It over, re-read it, and then began to think the matter over. He could not understand how the rocks could have gotten down upon the track unless placed there by human hands, for the sides of the hills which formed the pass were not nearly steep enough to allow them to roll down of their own accord. It seemed very queer indeed. While he was still engaged in trying to puzzle the reason for this strange sit- uation, he was startled by hearing a soft rap on t.he door. Now, visitors were not at all frequent at Holders tower, so Jack, instead of bidding the person to enter, proceeded to level a large Colt’s revolver at the door and then called out, “Who’s there?” Receiving no reply, he called again, “Who’s there,” Still no reply. “Now, listen here,” said Jack; “whoever you are, you had better in- troduce yourself mighty quickly ov else clear out, for if you don’t 1 am going to turn loose on that door.” Another knock on the door was the only response. This to Jack was becom- ing very interesting, not to say exciting. A moment later the door was cautiously opened a little, much to the astonish- ment of Jack, who was sure that he had securely locked and bolted it. Then two hands were thrust forward into the room, empty and open, as if to show that the owner had no desire to molest any- one. Jack took this for granted and waited envelopments. An old man entered the office. He was gray and stoop-shouldered and looked to be all of sixty years old. He had on thin, ragged clothes, and seemed almost frozen to death by the cold and storm which was still raging with unabated fury. Jack tried to talk to him, but could get nothing out of him except some unintelligible signs and gesticula- tions. By means of sign language, he finally induced Jack to understand that he was deaf and dumb. This explained his strange conduct, so Jack gave him the extra chair he had in the office and motioned him to sit down beside the fire, which he seemed glad enough to do. Jack sat and watched the old fel- low for a while and then turned back to his table. He glanced at his clock. The special was due in fifteen minutes. He was sitting listening to an order the dispatcher was putting out, when a slight peculiar movement behind him attracted his attention. He turned his head, and was almost paralyzed to find himself staring into the muzzle of a gleaming revolver. A wonderful change had taken place. The old man was no longer old. Neither was he deaf and dumb. Looking at Jack with an evil leer, he said: “Now, John- nie, I guess I’ve got the drop on you, so I guess you’d better put up your hands.” Up went Jack’s hands. There was no alternative. Then, backing to the door, the man gave a shrill whistle. Two other villainous lookiug fellows an- swered the signal. They entered the office sullenly and approached Jack, tne first man keeping his gun leveled in the meantime. One of the men car- Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 751 ried a coil of rope in his hand, which he began to unwind as he came in. When Jack partially recovered from l)is surprise and saw their purpose he made a vain attempt at resistance, but he was soon overpowered and bound hand and foot and placed on the floor. One man was then told to gua^d him and to operate the signal levers when the Special arrived and let it by. The other two took their departure. It was all very plain to Jack now. These men had placed the rocks upon the track. They knew of th^e Special's coming and of the gold and silver it would carry. If the rocks were not discov- ered, the Special would be wrecked, and in the confusion they could easily make away with as much of the treasure as they could carry. But, to make sure of wrecking the train, it was necessary to khow that when the train called for signals at Holders a safety signal would be shown so that it could proceed to the obstruction; that’s why Jack was made a prisoner and a man left behind to operate the signal levers. Jack swore and tugged at the ropes that bound him, but all to no avail. Escape was im- possible. He was helpless. The block telephone rang. The man on guard answered it, and after a moment of listening said, “All right,” and Jack knew the Special had been blocked and given a clear board from Ulda, four miles south, and that in five short minutes, if nothing happened to stop the train or warn the engineer of the danger ahead, it would be by Holders and beyond all chance of being saved. The man walked over to the table which Jack had copied a few minutes before. He read it over, chuckling to himself; then, smiling maliciously at Jack said: “Well, Sonny, I guess we won't stop her just in order to deliver this little note, will we? You know these trains always hate to be stopped at these little jerkwaters late at night any- way. especially a night like this is, 'cause it takes a lot of sand to get start- ed again, to say nothing of the way the fire boy has to heave coal for the next five minutes; so, just to keep on the good side of the train crew, we’ll give 'er a clear board and let *er roll, eh?” He laughed as if he thought the joke immense, and then throwing the mes- sage into the fire, he sat down on a chair with his* gun in one hand and other hand resting carelessly on the fatal lev- ers that were so soon to be the means of bringing so many lives to a terrible end. Three minutes passed and nothing oc- curred to inspire Jack with any hope. He shuddered to think how void of conscience these men must be to em- ploy such desperate means to attain their ends. Another minute dragged slowly by, and then, sounding faintly above the noise of the raging storm and the clicking of the instruments, Jack and the ruffian on guard heard a long drawn-out musical sound, as the sound of the Special's whistle was waft- ed to them on the wind. It cut into Jack's heart like a sharp knife blade, but he only bit his lip and held his peace. A moment later four distinct blasts of the whistle were heard as the engineer called for signals at Holders. Jack’s heart beat a tattoo against the walls of his chest and then seemed to choke him as he saw the man rise slowly from his seat, saw him grasp the Iron lever and pull it to a safety position, and heard the two sharp, clear sounds of the engine’s whistle in answer to the signal shown; then came a deafening roar, a trembling and quiv- ering of the little office, a long streak of white light from the coach windows followed by three red, twinkling tail- lights on the rear, and the fast Denver train with its human freight was by the office and speeding toward destruction. Jack felt in his heart that there was no hope left. He felt a sick, dizzy sen- sation and a cold perspiration breaking out all over his body; he wanted to cry out, but his tongue seemed paralyzed and he could only groan. The man bent down and laughed a cold, menacing, Digitized by Google
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752 The Raiijioad Telegrapher. exultant laugh in his tape and then turned to go. Jack felt himself sinking down into a dark, bottomless, suffocating place, he knew not where. He had a dull, throbbing pain in his head, and his mind was all confused. He listened with tense nerves and strained ears for the deafening crash which he knew must come when the train would strike the rocks and be dashed to atoms, and in the midst of it all he could see, ever and anon, three silent hurrying figures, moving hither and thither, as the three men deftly went about the work of re- moving what they could of the treasure and robbing the helpless passengers here and there. He even fancied in a vague, uncertain way that he could hear the shrieks and groans of the injured, seme of whom were pinned fast to the ground by heavy timbers, some with broken and mangled limbs, and others being slowly con- sumed by the flames resulting after the wreck. His attention was particularly attract- ed by a young and handsome woman who was making a vain attempt to ex- tricate herself from a heap of burning debris, and whose pitiful pleadings for help pained Jack so that he pulled and tugged at his thongs until it seemed that every vein in his body must burst under the terrible strain. He saw one of the men walk toward her with that same evil leer he had seen before, saw her raise her hands to him pleadingly, saw him grasp the slim white arm rough- ly and wrest a jeweled bracelet from it; and then Jack’s thoughts were abruptly brought to an end by a clear, silvery ringing sensation in his ear. At the same time the entire vision before him faded away into a smoky gloom. He awoke with a start and rubbed his eyes. The light of the office lamp hurt his eyes and his limbs felt stiff and numb from sitting in a cramped posi- tion. Outside the storm still raged in un- abated fury; the snow still sifted stead- ily downward and drifted back and forth across the plain as before, and the telegraph wires were still humming sand groaning in the same weird and monot- onous way. At first Jack could not get his thoughts collected, then a faint smile overspread his features. The telephone bell was ringing furi- ously, and when he answered it the op- erator'' at Ulda blocked the Special to him and asked: “What’s the matter. Jack; been in the hay? Had to ring you three times.” “Yes, a little bit,” he ‘admitted. “And mightly glad I was, too,” he admitted to himself. He glanced at his clock. It was just five minutes after four. He had slept thirty minutes. On his block sheet he recorded the time, and then, while awaiting the ar- rival of the train, he reviewed the events of his peculiar, unpleasant dream once more. He could hardly think of it even now without a shudder, and it was with some difficulty that he finally convinced himself that the whole thing had really been only a dream and that everything was still all right. i “Well,” he told himself, as he reluc- tantly got up and started out into the storm after the much-needed bucket of coal, “that’s what comes of disregarding the rules, and from now on I know of one operator at least who will do his sleeping before he comes to the office.” By Wm. K. — ( Illinois Central Maga- zine.) BIRTHDAY OF THE TELEGRAPH. JANUARY 6th was the birthday of one of the greatest and most use- ful inventions of all times — the telegraph. It was on January 6, 183S, that the first telegraph apparatus was completed. Samuel F. B. Morse pos- sessed the master mind which conceived this wonderful instrument, but he lacked the money to carry out his project. He gave private demonstrations of what he had accomplished; but through the finan- cial assistance of Alfred Vail, also an electrician and inventor, Morse’s ideas were put into workable shape. Alfred Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 753 Vail, following Morse’s plans, constructed the instrument, which was made at the Speedwell Iron Works, near Morristown, I>. J. The work was conducted with great se- crecy. YvJliam Baxter, who was an em ploye at the works, rendered valuable assistance. Morse had devised a series of ten numbered leaden types, which were to be operated in giving the sig- nals, but which necessitated the use ot a dictionary by which the numbers could be translated into words. This was not satisfactory to Vail, and he constructed an entirely new instrument involving a lever or “point” on a radically different principle, which, when tested, produced dots and dashes. Vail found that the letter “e” was the most frequently used, and he accordingly assigned it the shorter symbol, a single dot. He visited a printing office, and from the problem, as worked out in the compositor’s case, devised the famous dot-and-dash alphabet, misnamed the “Morse.” At last the machine was in working order, and Baxter, on the 6th of January, hatless and coatless, an- nounced the good news that the machine was completed. An experiment was made with a coil of wire three miles long. Vail was at one end of the wire and Morse was at the other. Vail’s father, who was skeptical as to the pos- sibility of such an instrument, wrote on a piece of paper, “A patient waiter is no loser,” and said, “If you can send this, and Mr. Morse can read it at the other end, I shall b2 convinced.” It was ac- complished, and the father’s delight knew no bounds. The machine was taken to Washington, and caused not only wonder, but excitement. The first telegraph line was con- structed between Washington and Bal- timore, and the first instrument used is now in the custody of the National Mu- seum at Washington. May 24, 1844, the official test was made. In charge of the Baltimore end of the wire was Alfred Vail, Morse’s partner, while at the other instrument, in the chamber af the United States Supreme Court at Washington, sat the inventor himself. Written in the Morse alphabet, the four words, “What hath God wrought!” were transmitted to Baltimore, and a moment later was flashed back by Mr. Vail. It was the first message to be recorded on a complete line cf telegraph, and with it the triumph of the inventor was com- plete. QUICK WIT. rr*IM HORTON, telegfaph operator, I* stuck his head far out of the office window in the little four-cornered depot at Thurlow. The night was dark and forbidding, and the rain fell in tor- rents. Only the unusually side projection of the eaves on this side of the building saved his head and shoulders from a good wetting. “Express pretty late,” he muttered as he withdrew his head. “Bad night for fast trains and rotten bridges.” Then he turned and sat down at the table, and in a moment was deeply occupied with some monthly reports of the express com- pany. On into the night he worked. Some- times his pen would not stop its steady swing across the paper for half an hour, unless it was to change to a fresh sheet of paper. Presently Horton glanced up at the clock. “Phew!” he exclaimed, “two hours late,” and he leaned back in his ehair, pen in hand. “Th — Th — Th.” The little ihstrument that had been silent for the last five minutes had begun vigorously to pound the call for Thurlow. As Horton was half through the mes- sage he heard the distant whistle of the belated express sound faintly above the roar of the storm. The message ran thus: “Stop express. Bridge No. 437 washed away.” As Horton translated the final “y,” and put it on paper, he heard, once again, the long -whistle of the oncoming express. This time the train was only five miles aw*ay. Grabbing up a lighted lantern and a bunch of keys, Horton ran out of the Digitized by Google
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754 The Railroad Telegrapher. door into the howling wind and downpour of rain. The lantern did not burn a moment in the gale that raged outside, but the agent ran on in the dark toward where he knew the semaphore ought to be standing. He looked up to see if the lights were all right. It was not there. Then Jim stumbled over something. He examined it closely, and found it to be the semaphore which the terrific storm had blown down. Its warning lights of white and red lay buried in the mud fifteen feet from the track. Hurrying back into the depot, Horton heard the whistle of the train blowing for the crossing three miles off. This as good as told him that no time must be lost. For a moment a puzzled frown ap- peared between the man’s eyes as he tried to think of some way to save the lives of that load of human freight rush- ing on to certain death. It vanished al- most as soon as it had appeared. Reaching into his pocket, the agent withdrew a dangerous looking blue-steel revolver. Then picking up his pencil he laid the gun on the table. Taking up the telegram he began to roll it tightly around the pencil. When he had he wedged the telegram and pencil into the muzzle pf the pistol, and ran out of the depot just in time to throw the gun with all his might — and might was enough to send it crashing through the glass door of the baggage coach as the train roared by. The baggage master on the south- bound express placed the last trunk to be handled at Kingston, a town of con- siderable importance six miles from Thurlow, and just across the river from the latter. As he turned there was a ring of broken glass, and on the floor at his feet a revolver lay spinning out the force that had sent it crashing through the door of the baggage car. Phil. Harding, baggage master, looked at the door then at the gun. After soliloquizing a moment he picked up the latter and found a telegram wedged in the muzzle. Reading the telegram was but the work of a moment, but as Phil finished reading them the whistle was blowing again. This time it was the baggage master wrho paid heed to it. “One mile from Thurlow and that means five miles to bridge,” he solilo- quized. He reached for the cord and pulled three times, vigorously. There was no answer, for the train did not slacken her pace one particle. Something was wrong with the engineer — or the cord. It was not the engineer, for the whistle was blowing again. It was Phil’s turn to be puzzled now, but he did not remain that way any longer than Horton had done. He examined the pistol again. Yes, it would shoot, he thought. Stepping to the right-hand door of the baggage coach he threw it wide open. The wind, blow- ing from the northeast, did not strike fairly on this side of the train, and as Harding performed the latter act no rush ,of wind and rain greeted him as it would have done had he opened the opposite door. Pulling his cap tightly down over his eyes, and picking up a lighted lantern, he advanced toward the open door with revolver and lantern held tightly in his right hand. With his left hand he took a firm hold on the panel of the door and leaned far out into the inky black- ness of the night. Bang! bang! bang! the bark of the pistol rang out in the night three times in quick succession. The engineer heard, he thought, the noise come from behind him. Turning in his seat he gazed back along the string of cars as they came trailing down the grade behind him. His quick eye caught the gleam of a lantern shining dimly through the falling rain, and waving inward and out- w’ard along side of the baggage car. Dim as the light was shining, it was bright enough for him to read the sig- nal that it was meant to convey to him. It said as plain as words, “Stop!” He did stop. The long train of cars came to a standstill half-way down the four- mile grade leading to the washed away bridge, thanks to the quick wit of the telegraph operator and baggage master. —By Hugh Bennett in Express Oasette. Digitized by VaOooLe
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Memories. I have wandered to the station, Tom, I’ve sat on the settee, Outside the ticket office, Tom, That sheltered you and me. And I was but a stranger there, For no one seemed to know That I was once the agent there, Some twenty years ago! I sat in thoughtful silence, Tom, Unmindful of the throng That hurried, restless, to and fro, As each train came along. My thoughts were of the by-gone days, Of twenty years ago, When we worked there together, Tom, With Jim and Bill and Joe. I strolled into the waiting room. The notices and all Seemed quite the same. The same old clock Was ticking on the wall. A crowd of passengers was there. Twas Just the same old place, And yet I looked in vain, dear Tom, For one familiar face. War News. By wireless waves across the sea The story of the battle flies — I read it in the daily news And vivid scenes of war arise. I read of fighting fierce and grim And how the booming cannons roar. Of dauntless troopers’ gallant charge — Such battles ne’er were fought before. Brave deeds like these of warriors bold As they resist the storms and flood The papers tell in such a way To fire my patriotic blood. v I seem to hear the bugle’s call And see the soldiers forward go To follow where their captains lead Through mire and gore to fight the foe. With bristling' bayonets they charge — On ! O’er the rifle pits they leap. The throbbing guns now rock the earth — On ! To the cannon’s mouth they sweep. I glanced into the office, Tom, And seated at the key, A busy operator worked, I heard him sign BD. I listened while he OS’d trains, Signed for a thirty-one, And told the HO an extra west Was waiting for its run. The old freight house is there, too, Tom, It’s battered, worn and gray ; You know 'twas always plugged with freight, It’s just the same today. And memories of the past arose While as I lingered there, I watched the teamsters come and go And heard them shout and swear. Those happy days are past and gone, Old friends are scattered wide. Storm-tossed we’ve drifted far apart On life’s uncertain tide, And yet I never can forget The days of long ago, When we worked there together, Tom. With Jim and Bill and Joe. — S. B. Dennison, Cert. 76, Div. 41. And thus do daily papers rave As many columns they devote Of how the soldiers cut and slash And strive to get each other’s goat. They tell about a fort or hill Which some war-lord attacks with zest. Or how they tunnel through the ground And blow the soldiers galley west. The first page, now. in headlines bold The progress of the war depicts — The second sheet 1 find, alas. These very statements contradicts. Now, I am not a betting man. But I would gladly stake my pile That what we read about the war Has Ananias beat a mile. The way they have it muddled up Would lead us common dubs to think The fiercest battles of the war Are over here in printers’ ink. — F. A. Cantwell, Cert. 286, Div. 6. Digitized by Google
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Her Complaint. Doctor— Your daughter, madam, is suf- fering from constitutional inertia. The Girl— There ma. And you've been saying I was simply lazy. A Sign. “Do you think that Boggins has any sense of humor?” “Why not? He told me yesterday that he enjoyed being alone with himself.” A Misnomer. “Did you see where an official says that the Pullman porter’s position is regarded as an uplift?” “He made a mistake; he meant a hold- up.”— Baltimore American. The Voice at a Discount. Fred — There seems to* be a lot more fuss made over Miss A’s singing than over Miss B’s, and I’m sure Miss B has the richer voice. Tom — Ah, yes, but Miss A has the richer father. The Guarantee Was Good. Jones answered an advertisement and sent a dollar for four pairs of socks. When they arrived Jones looked them over and wrote the advertiser: “Socks received. The patterns are vile. I wouldn’t be seen on the street with them on.” Back came the answer: “What are you kicking about? Didn’t we guarantee that you wouldn’t wear them out?” Cowards. That incorrigible bachelor, George Ade, said dismally at a wedding break- fast the other day: “The single man is worse off than the married man.” The ladies applauded warmly. “Yes,” Mr. Ade explained, “for the married man fears only one woman, while the single man fears them all. — London Opinion. He Meant Well. Niece — I do think you are clever, aunt, to be able to argue with the profes- £ or about sociology. Aunt — I’ve only been concealing my ignorance, dear. Professor Bilks (gallantly) — Oh, no, MisS Knowles. Quite the contrary, I as- sure you. — Boston Transcript. Theory Versus Practice. A woman of intellectual tastes found it difficult to collect all the facts she wished to remember. She therefore se- cured the services of a professor of one of the best memory systems. War Prices. He — I feel like thirty cents. She — How things have gone up since the war. — Purple Cow. Scarcely had the professor taken his departure after a successful first lesson when a loud double knock was heard at the front door. “Who was that, Mary?” the lady in- quired of the servant. “O, if you please, ma’am,” said Mary, “it was the memory man; he forgot his umbrella!” — Pittsburgh Chronicle-Tele- graph. Hereditary. The school teacher had punished Tommy so often for talking during school and the punishment had been apparently without effect, that, as a last resort, she decided to notify Tommy’s father of his son’s fault. So, following the deportment mark on his next report were these words: “Tommy talks a great deal.” Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 757 In due time the report was returned with his father's signature, and under it was written: “You ought to hear his mother." — Sunday School Times. Two Irishmen were working on the roof of a building one day when one made a misstep and fell to the ground; the other leaned over and called: “Are ye dead or alive, Mike?" “I’m alive," said Mike, feebly. ‘ Sure, yer such a liar I don’t know whether to believe ye or not." “Well, then, I must be dead," said Mike, “for ye would never dare to call me a liar if I were alive." — Argonaut. Only Human Nature. “That man wants his photograph to look as natural as possible," whispered the assistant to the proprietor of the studio. “Then make it as handsome as you can," came the quick reply. “But — but he’s awfully ugly, and in- sists he doesn’t want the portrait to flatter him at all." “He won’t think it flatters him," said the proprietor knowingly. He’ll only feel sure that at last someone has managed to catch him looking just right. The Zones. A class of boys averaging 12 years of age, had been examined in geography. The previous day had been devoted to grammar. Among the geographical ques- tions was the following: “Name the zones." One promising youth, who had mixed the two subjects, wrote: “There are two zones, masculine and feminine. The masculine is either temperate or intem- perate; the feminine is either torrid or frigid!" In a Terrible Fix. Jenkins was always trying to borrow money, and his friends had begun to avoid him. Cne morning he tackled an acquaint- ance in the street before the latter had a chance to escape. “I say, old man," began Jekins, “I’m in a terrible fix. I want some money badly, and I haven’t the slightest idea where on earth I’m going to get it from." “Glad to hear it, my boy," returned the ether promptly. “I was afraid that you might have an idea you could borrow it from me." — Houston Chronicle. Wrong Interpretation. An elderly farmer drove into town one day and hitched his team to a telegraph post. “Here!" exclaimed a burly policeman, “you can’t hitch there!" “Can’t hitch!" shouted the irate farmer. “Well, why have you got a sign up, ‘Fine for Hitching?’ " Ate the Address. A farmer of Kentucky was shipping cne of his fat young calves to market. The railroad station was a mile -'from the farm. The calf was tagged with the address and destination and one of the darkies on the place told to lead it to the station. In a short time the darky returned with the animal. The farmer indignantly asked the man why he had not put the calf on the train. “Fo’ God, Massa," the old darky apol- ogetically answered, “dat calf done et up whar he was gwine." Another Customer. Sir Augustus Lackcash, looking more seedy than ever, entered the tailor's shop and was met by the tailor himself, who welcomed him with a beaming smile. “My non informs me," said Sir Augus- tus, “that you have allowed him to run a bill for three years. IJhave come, there- fore"— “Oh, pray, Sir Augustus," interrupted the tailor, bowing with politenes’s, “there is really not the slightest hurry, I as- sure you." “I know that," returned the knight serenely, “and therefore I have come to tell you that in future I want to get my clothes from you, too." — London Tele - graph. Digitized by W.ocK?Le
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SOLID ORGANIZATION. IT FEELS good to pick up The Teleg- rapher, turn its pages and see an interesting write-up from someone from the “home pike,” especially at this time when it happens to be from a road like the N., C. & St. L., which ’'has not had a write-up in many years. I hope the brother who started the ball rolling in the last issue, or someone else will keep it up, for nothing does such good missionary work among the “nons” or arouses more enthusiasm among the new members than our interesting and up to date official organ. I find the clerks and other branches of the Railway Brotherhoods appreciate its worth and high class reading matter, and are always glad to exchange with me. In this way I get an exchange of ideas and am proud to say The Teleg- rapher is the equal of any fraternal pub- lication. The showing made by our Grand Offi- cers before the wage commission, an ac- count of which was published in our magazine was read with interest by members of other organizations, with some of whom 1 exchanged, and every- one spoke very complimentary of the able manner in which we represented the operators side of the case. No one, I am sure, could have done better, and am certain it bore tremendous weight with the commission, and when the final de- cision comes we will all profit by it. Can it be there is an operator in the United States, especially on the N., C. & St. L ., the Southern, the M. K. & T., the “Pennsy” or the Western Union Tel. Co. that has little enough sense to longer delay putting themselves under the pro- tecting care of organized labor repre- sented by the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers and the Commercial organiza- tions. In view of all that has happened in the past few years, I feel it is a re- flection on our intelligence that we have waited even this long. I do not know what the others propose to do, but I think I know enough of the sentiment of the boys op the N., C. & St. L., including the dispatchers, to say we are in it and in it this time to stay. Not only ready and willing to do our bit in the great army of bread winners, but ‘‘Ready to go.” We have had many ups and downs on the N., C. & St. L. in the past, many failures and at times those of us who survived the battle of the past felt as did the Jews of old when carried captive in to Babylon, refused to sing and hung their harps on the willow trees r.s a token of their sad condition. But I am glad a new day has dawned and that the great army of liberation rep- resented by organized labor is marching on and soon mankind will be happy and free. Uncle Samuel, our good friend, has his sheltering arms around us now, but we better not feel to secure, none of us know just how long he will keep them there, and if conditions were to be such he did take them away, we will need organization worse than we ever did before. The war once over and several million men turned loose without em- ployment, all anxious to get back to their former occupation, business more or less demolished, for a time at least, and with three or four men to every job, nothing but solid organization will be able to stand the shock. So let us keep up to date and keep the “Home fires burning.” Line up the nons and we can hold what we have. But if we divide, either through neglect or other causes, “Good night,” it will all be off. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. and we will be lost in the general scramble that will follow for what is left. Many of the boys on the N., C. & St. L. 1 am sure remember the statements, the promises and the predictions of our late president when we tried to organize before. I was present when he addressed a bunch of us and this is what he said: “Boys, this is the third time you have tried to 'pull this stunt' on me, but you’ll never make it. I will give you fifty years if you want it, but you will never come again.” His promises, his policies and his predictions went with him to the grave, but like Tennyson’s Babbling Brook the O. R. T. goes on for- ever. “Men may come and men may go, but I go on forever.” So here we are again, 1 trust we will have this grand organization to abide with us forever, and may her members on the old N., C. & St. 1m never grow less is the earnest wish of Certificate No. 22,199. THE SWITCH ENGINE'S SERMON. “Go ahead; that’ll do; back uf>; a little more; that’ll do.” A yard crowded full of freight cars that needed to be shifted and shunted — this is the work and the vision that daily greet the “driver” of the switch engine. He is shut off from the scenery and the romance which the engineer of the lightning express is supposed to en- joy. He sees little besides the waving arms or the swinging lantern of the switchman. He hears little besides the screaming of slipping wheels, the bump- ing of freight cars, the hissing of escap- ing steam, and the monotonous voice of his fireman, repeating the orders sig- naled from his side of the cab. But how typical of life it all is. There is no one entirely free froni the hum- drum and the monotone. And this seems to be well, for drudgery is one of life’s great teachers. The humdrum duties of life develop character. It is because we have certain duties to perform every day, in spite of headache, and weariness, that we lay the foundation of character. Somebody recently told us that a col- 759 lege education was absolutely essential in order to become a true gentleman. This is a mistake. “The University of Adversity” has graduated more gentle- men than all of the other universities combined. Patience, power of concentration, method, accuracy, courage, self-control, self-denial, temperance — these are the qualities which are needed to do life’s best work, and where do we cultivate them more readily than in our very drudgery? The development of these vir- tues requires time. Nature never accepts a cash payment in full for anything — this would be an injustice to the poor and the weak. Watching a switch engine being shunted from track to track, one gets the impression that much of the time is being spent in a needless going back and forth, and yet every movement has its purpose, and the precision of the move- ments suggests the plan. The switch engine has become the con- necting link between the great trains which span the continent, and thus it has fulfilled its mission. It Is interesting to note that both the engineer of the switch engine and he who runs the lightning express receive their general orders from the same source, and that one of the chief requirements from both Is faithfulness. This re- minded me that in the picture of the Judgment Day given to us by Jesus Him- self it was “faithfulness” which won the reward — not unusual talents or mighty deeds. “Thou hast been faithful,” were the commendatory words of the Great Judge. They both received their power from the same source — that is, it was exactly the same kind of power. And neither of them could budge his engine without that power. I don’t know to what extent men give God credit for what they have and for what they are, but I do know that when the average man fails he usually says: “I am what God made me.” But when he succeeds, he declares: “I am a self- made man.” And he generally looks it. — By Rev. Charles Stelzle. Digitized by v^oooLe
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760 The Railroad Telegrapher. FAIR PAY FOR TELEGRAPHERS. Much has been said In the past relative to a just rate of pay for railroad teleg- raphers. It seems that no one has be- thought himself to present the matter from a comparative standpoint. Few, in- deed, there are who will not readily agree that we could use more pay and that we are justly entitled to a considerably larger sum than we are at present re- ceiving, and we wonder why we do not receiye larger salaries. The question is, why are we not better paid? It seems to me that operators are entitled to a rate of pay that will at least compare favorably with the wages of other classes of railroad employes, but this, we most certainly are not receiving. Consider the time, effort and often the money that is expended by an operator in mastering the art of telegraphy. He usually works as student in somp railway station for a pe- riod of from four to eight months for nothing more than the privilege of learn- ing telegraphy, and if he is so fortunate as to receive financial compensation for his work, it is, never more than just enough to pay his bare living expenses. Then on securing a position as operatoi he works for a salary seldom exceeding $85 per month, and usually somewhat lower. As to his duties, they are almost without number. He often sells tickets, also all kinds of clerical work, “rustles0 baggage, express and U. S. mail; safe- guards the lives and property of others by his proper and conscientious handling of train orders, etc., stands responsible for all company and other property, acts as general public information bureau and does many other things as occasion and local conditions demand. All of this un- der the disguise and for the salary of an “operator.” That the training of an operator is more thorough and that his ability is superior to that of other classes of employes, is plainly evidenced by the fact that an extremely large percentage of the railroad officials of today have risen from that lowly station in life where they served as operators. It is clearly evident that the work of an operator is just as necessary to the railroad as that of any class of train employe. Why, then should our rates of pay be in such unjust proportion to others? It is an unassailable fact that an op- erator should receive a much higher salary than he does, and we see no rea- son why he should not receive it. His term of preparation is very much longer, his duties fully as arduous and his posi- tion carries very much more responsibilty with it. With the present high cost of living in effect it is almost impossible for a rail- road telegrapher to save anything from his salary and unless a man can save something against the time which is coming to all wrhen we will no longer be able to earn our daily bread through our own efforts; he is making a great mistake by continuing at the same old job. Many of us, however, being so sit- uated that it is difficult to take up some- thing else; it is up to us to better present conditions and continue to be “opera- tors.” The quick, safe and only way for us to do thi§ is to unite in one great demand for the justice which has for so long been denied us. It would be useless to speak now of a minimum wage scale, as local conditions differ very greatly in various parts of the country. It is enough that we all ask for and get a fair in- crease in pay, and we will get it for the asking. We must ask for a general increase to affect every railroad telegrapher in the entire country. Why, then, shall we hesitate to de- mand that which is our just due? Not one of us would like to think that he could have been better paid but for his own lack of interest in the matter. The fact that our country is at war should be no bar to our fight, since the railroads are by vi#';ue of enormous in- creases in business well able to pay us several times the amount we are now receiving, and still realize fat profits on our work. We might also expect the Government to be more ready to assist us on account of the necessity for good railroad service caused by the present conditions, as low salaries are not con* Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 761 ducive to securing the best efforts of employes. Let's hear somebody else express his opinion about it and let us lose no time in getting together and demanding our rights. . Cert. 1233, Div. 88. SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE. Perhaps the editor of The Telegra- pher would be interested to know that there are a number of boys at the front who look forward each month to the arrival of this publication. There are few radio stations where The Telegrapher is not represented, and we feel indebted to the editor and to those who contribute their articles and items which make it possible for us to re- ceive this bit of news from the States. It is, especially interesting to the men who were formerly Morse operators in the service of various railroads “over there." However, they are not the only ones who manifest an interest in its contents. “Doughboys," artillery men and signal corps alike, take advantage of every opportunity to read The Teleg- rapher, and it is sometimes necessary to “camouflage" it in order to retain the copy. We just received the January number yesterday. It is almost like getting a letter from all the boys, and you know what that means to a fellow in a foreign country. We have some good operators over here — better, we think, than the average, anvd a large majority of them were “railroading" until they enlisted for the present emergency. The railroader makes a good soldier because his rail- road experience’ has taught him the les- son of “accuracy," and in our work ac- curacy is more essential than speed. The work itself is not very difficult. It is merely a question of becoming accus- tomed to the substitution of Continental for Morse and the buzz for static. Fraternalism is a great thing at any time or place, but here it is indispensa- ble. Our bunch gets together quite often and talks “shop," railroading all the way from Chicago to New Orleans. But there's something missing. It isn’t our O. R. T. journal, and it isn't fraternal- ism— both are present. There’s noise enough for any yard office; too much for a relay office or way station. Then what can it be? Ah, I have it, it’s the whistle and the bell. Just to hear an honest-to- God American locomotive whistle once again and the clang of the bell as No. 6 rolls into the station. It would be real music to our ears. We can draw on our imagination for everything else, but these cannot be substituted here; 73 to all. Yours till the boys come home, Sergt. Geo. T. Agee, Sergt. W. W. Stickrod, Cpl. C. C. Brown, Cpl. O. A. Radke, 1-C. Pvt. H. H. Struck. Co. C, First Field Signal Battalion, A. E. F., via New York. O. K. J. W. Dorsey, 1st Lieut. S. R. C. Digitized by CaOOQLe
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NOTICE. All matter for this department must be in the hands of the Grand Secretary and Treasurer on or before the 25th day of the month in order to insure its use in the following issue New Haven, Conn., Div. No. 29. New Haven Div. N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. — We are indebted to Bro. Bruhns for the current number of the Commercial Telegra- phers’ Journal, devoted chiefly to activities centering on Organization Day, April 28, 1918, when a general drive was made throughout the United States to have the Commercial Telegraphers openly join the Commercial Telegraphers* Union. They have been and are being discharged and black- listed throughout the United States, not- withstanding Western Union officials had taken oath before exemption boards that these men subject to the draft were neces- sary appendages to an industry engaged in doing necessary government work. This matter is now being investigated by the Railway Wage Commission and War Labor Conference Board, the right of workers to organize having already been decided by the highest power in the government. ’’The right to organize” is now accepted as a principle by men of vision. The old New Haven station went up in smoke on the afternoon of May 8, leaving nothing but the bare brick walls. The esti- mated cost of $75,000 is said to be covered by insurance but the inconvenience and loss of records will exact a heavy toll. Every fire of note develops some hero and heroic deed. In this case it was Chief Train Dispatcher Dodan. A New Haven paper said : “Half an hour after the firemen got to work and w'hen the flames were spreading with startling rapidity, a man in rubber overcoat appeared at a window with what seemed to be a new typewriter In his hand. The crowds below cried, ‘Let the machine fall, let it alone.’ “Flames played about him, and at one time the burning beams fell from the roof and almost hit him on the head. “A ladder was run up and with the ma- chine in his hand he safely descended. He had just reached the ground when the place where he had stood became a roaring fur- nace. • “The crowd voiced its admiration when It ascertained the identity of the hero who had stuck to his place and had the distinction of being the last man to leave the burning building. “All train movements had been safeguard- ed. The apparatus he so carefully carried was his dispatching machine.” The superintendents, trainmasters, chief train dispatchers and other offices now tem- porarily quartered in various places will shortly move to Silver Street freight station, which is being fitted up for occupancy until the new station started last fall is com- pleted. On the following day at noon. Are broke out in the New Haven shops about half a mile distant, consuming about 100 feet of the storehouse, a large amount of supplies and several cars with a loss of about $100,- 000. The origin of both fires is a mystery. Durfng a recent thunderstorm lightning struck one of the outside wires and entered Derby Junction tower, doing considerable damage. Bro. Russell was felled to the floor, but after a short time was able to direct the movement of trains. His many friends are glad to know that he sustained no permanent injury. A letter received by Bro. Culver from Bro. C. J. Hyde and read at the last meeting proved interesting to many present and Will recall fond recollections to many who read these lines. He worked at Guilford tower in 1893-95, and recently left the Western Union in Seattle, Wash., to go with the wireless and is now Chief Electrician with the U. S. Naval Radio at the Beach Station, San Francisco, Cal. Stopping over at San Francisco last June, Bro. Harry Segur of the Southern Pacific general offices gave Bros. Manion, Culver, Tiger and ourself a ride of 100 miles alon£ the coast In his car, passing this radio station, but it was de- cided not to visit It owing to the restrictions in view of the war. It can well be imagined the pleasure it would have been for all con- Digitized by u.oo<?ie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 763 cerned had we known he was in charge there at that time. Bro. Hyde wishes to be remembered to all of the Shore Line boys with whom he worked in 1893-95. Trainmaster Weber visiting relatives in New York State will shortly leave for France as First Lieutenant in the railroad unit. “Web,” as he is familiarly known, has been with the New Haven for over twenty- seven years, starting in as a telegrapher. With many friends in all branches of the service he occupies a particularly warm spot in the hearts of the telegraph fraternity, being a pioneer in the O. R T. movement on the New Haven and one of the first chiefs of Division 29. Endowed with practical railroad ability, whatever sacrifice is made will redound as a decided asset to the service of his country. The best wishes and hopes for a safe return go with him. Apropos of the recent earthquake in Cali- fornia, our esteemed friend Dal Jones of Chicago says : “It was nothing more or less than Vice-President Manion shaking hands with the railroad officials on the Pacific Coast.” To us it seems the last word in an expression of faith in “Doc” that extends from Boston to San Francisco. Bro. Ralph Leonard, a former chief of Division 29 and ex-train dispatcher on the New Haven, called on friends in town re- cently after having fulfilled his duties as representative to the Grand Lodge F. & A. M. convened In New York City. He left New Haven about seven years ago to enter the life insurance business and is now lo- cated at New Hartford, N. Y., where he is prospering. Bro. Acker, second “BS” New Haven, re- cently chief clerk to Chief Dispatcher Do- dan, has accepted a clerical position in the office of General Superintendent Foster. Be- ing one of the most popular and competent men in the office, Louie "KA” will be badly missed. Chief Train Dispatcher Dodan has re- turned from a two months’ leave much im- proved in health. Bro. Melick, 1st Woodmont, is enjoying his annual vacation in a trip to Atlanta and other points in the South. W. B. Shalkop, Div. Cor. Providence, R. I., Div. No. 35. May furnishes us with the rose buds, which open up in all their beauty and fra- grance in June. This should remind us that largely what we do this month makes it possible to do greater and better things the following one, but too often we put off doing what we should now, until next month and it is not done at all. This applies to the unfulfilled promises made to send me notes for this write-up. You will remember that at our April meet- ing. upon the suggestion of Bro. Fowler we decided to purchase a service flag for our division starting with nine stars. After the usual routine of opening our May meeting, the session for about an hour assumed an air of patriotism very edifying to those who made up the usual good attendance, and those who were absent missed an interesting occasion. Local Chairman Joslin was the orator of the evening and acquitted himself hand- somely in a feeling, patriotic address just prior to unfurling the beautiful emblem, bearing the nine stars we are entitled to have shown thereon, to which more will be added as others of our number are called. The flag was purchased by Marshal Moore and the stars and lettering done by his wife Sister Moore, a loyal and faithful member of our Ladies’ Auxiliary, who is ever ready to “do her bit.” We are very grateful to her and sincerely thank her therefor. It Is acts of this nature that has and will con- tinue to endear the Ladies’ Auxiliary to our membership. We congratulate the members of the Aux- iliary upon the success of their dance and social held May 16th, the financial results of which will be a stimulus, inciting them to greater efforts in the future. We regret that Bro. Joe Buck is still on the sick list and hope for his speedy recov- ery. Bro. Joslin’s daughter had a bad fall re- cently, the result of which is as yet un- known. The X-Ray is to be applied to dis- cern if any bones were broken. We sin- cerely hope not, and tender Bro. and Sister Joslin our sympathy and best wishes during these anxious and trying hours. We learn that the printed wage scale is not what we asked for or should have had and is not satisfactory, as it gives no relief from the long hours many are putting in. The cost of living has increased some 68 per cent and we are only raised about 30 per cent to meet it. Two years ago this would have been a fair increase, but since then prices have advanced so that today it is far from adequate. We are loyal and patriotic, but cannot see how we can meet a 68 per cent increase* with an advance in pay of less than half that amount. This sentiment prevailed at our May meet- ing and through General Chairman Bro. Ross, we filed a unanimous protest with President Perham against the wage board's recommendation. The youngest daughter of Bro. Brenner, we are glad to learn, is convalescing from an attack of scarlet fever. Bro. and Sis- ter Brenner have our best wishes for baby’s speedy recovery and their release from quarantine. Div. Cor. Digitized by v^ooole
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764 The UaujROad Telegrapher. New Rochelle, N. Y., Div. No. 37. Correction — The prefix of "Brother” was omitted in the May issue when referring to Brothers Dooling and Corrigan, first and second SS 26 Rye. These are two old mem- bers of Division 37 who are never without an “up-to-date card.” Our regular meeting held at New Rochelle, Friday evening. May 9th, was not very well attended, many being kept away, no doubt owing to the heavy rainstorm. General Chairman Ross gave us a very interesting talk, referring among other things to the grand success on the New Ha- ven of the subscriptions to third Liberty Loan Bonds. This division stands 100 per cent. Every brother either had purchased them or did so before the big drive closed, and we are now all waiting for that prom- ised increase in our pay. Automatic signals are being installed be- tween Tower 3 and Harold avenue. Eleven will be put in service over the Big Bridge. Bro. Seaman, bridge foreman, Bronx River draw, owing to the death of a relative, was relieved by Assistant Foreman Thomas Pha- lin several days. Bro. McDonald, who relieved Bro. Dewitt, second SS 22, New Rochelle Jet., a few days on the sick list, also relieved Doxbury on second SS 21 several days. Bro. Brophy, at “WC” Bridgeport a few days, also relieved on 2nd SS 21, and 3rd Mt. Vernon several days and nights and a few nights on 3d Branchville. Bros. Monihan and McGinnis, dispatchers at Harlem River terminal, made us a call recently en route to Bay Ridge, via the New Bridge. Bro. Wooley, who relieved Bro. Clay a few days at SS 8, West Farms Jet., also relieved Bro. Lobe on 3rd there several nights and Bro. Dunn, second "BD,” a few days. Bro. Haniquet, who relieved Bro. Northup a few days, also relieved several nights at New Rochelle yard SS 23, one night at Cabin No. 2 and later relieved Bro. Gaffney, "BD” Bridgeport. Bro. Blizzard and Enright worked twelve hours recently during Bro. Putnam’s ab- sence from SS 4. Bro. Harry Reilly, 1st SS 21, was relieved one day by Bro. Nolan. There are nine stars on our service flag, representing brothers from this division fighting "over there.” Pay your dues, brothers, and keep after the few nons. They have no excuse now for not joining. "NC,” Cert. 190. New York, N. Y., Div. No. 44. Hereafter our meetings will start promptly at 8 o'clock. We hope all the brothers and sisters who can possibly do so will be there on time, so we can give this new plan a fair trial and get home early. Bro. Corrigan gets Smlthton agency, vice Bro. W. B. Ketchum, called to the colors and now stationed at Camp Upton. Bro. Adams, St. Albans, went to Little Neck and Bro. H. M. Fowler to Elmhurst agency. Sis- ter Margaret Webster takes Sea Cliff agency, vice Bro. Dank, to Fresh Pond agency, and Bro. Frank Moran, College Point Agency, vice Bro. C. M. Scully on leave to try out some other business. We will all miss this faithful brother and wish him success. Bro. Vehlow, second Mineola, gets second "WJ” tower, Winfield, a power plant, with a fine increase in pay. Bro. G. Haas is on third there. Hynes, second trick JC tower, gets second JC tower, Jamaica trick job. We hope the brothers there will see that he now fulfills his promise to Join. Re- member our motto: "No card , no favors/* Bro. M. Reiser is off with kidney trouble. We hope for a speedy recovery. He and Thuma attended the recent big meeting at Elizabeth, N. J. The C. R. R. of N. J. boys are strongly organized ; have all the train dispatchers lined up solid ; also two of the "JC” office men. One of the train dis- patchers Is local chairman and our former Brothers Hoadley, Donovan and Williams are live wires of that new system division No. 45. We hope they will visit N. Y. No. 44 will be glad to see them any time. Bro. Powell, agent Hall is, spent his Sun- day off recently on the eastern end of the Island, Bro. Small, assistant agent, reliev- ing. Bro. Page relieved Bro. Place, first Floral Park, while he enjoyed his week’s vacation planting his farm. A train of empty troop coaches coming west off the Hempstead Branch, recently ran by the signal at Floral Park, derailing the engine and two cars directly in the path of a westbound special. Bro. Chas. McClain, on second there, had the iron lined and sig- nal pulled for the special, but with rare presence of mind he threw the block In time to stop the latter within about fifteen feet of the wrecked engine and cars, thus avoiding what might have been a very seri- ous disaster. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Sis- ter Campbell, agent Woodhaven Junction, in the death of her beloved brother; also to the family of our faithful brother, C. B. Ryder, agent Bayport. Bros. Thuma, Bren- nan, Webb, Wood, Reiser and Bennett paid their last respects at his home, and Bros. Wood and Brennan represented the Order at his funeral held at Bluepoint, April 17. Div. Cor., Cert 332. Boston, Mass., Div. No. 89. We held a corking good meeting in May, although there was a little dlsappolnt- Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 765 /nent when it was announced that one of the company’s officials who had been invited to speak was unable to be present. The attendance was away above the average and several new' members were received. The chief appointed Bro. John H. Dew'ar as marshal ; Bro. P. Eagan as outside, and Bro. P. L. Davis as inside sentinel. General Chairman Ross spoke on the wage situation and answered the many questions jpit to him by the different mem- bers on as many different subjects. It was brought out that while we are submissive during this unparalleled condition of the country, yet we are by no means willing to starve while those in other vocations are enjoying luxuries. The meeting night fell upon the last day for purchasing Liberty Bonds ; some of the boys had a supply on hand, but none were sold, as everyone appeared to be wearing a button, about 90 per cent of the members having purchased them. At our future meetings a newT service flag will be displayed, showing the number of members of 89 in the service of “Uncle Sam.” Under the head of “Good of the Order” many responded to the call from the chief for a few remarks, all of which were in- teresting, especially when Bro. McDermott pictured a bright future for the operators. He w'as optimistic as to the good that will accrue to the railroads and railroad men under Government operation, and spoke most highly of the ability of Mr. McAdoo, whose reputation for big business and things long preceded his appointment as Director Gen- eral of Railroads. General Chairman Hazel- tine, Boston Terminal, and Bros. Delaney, Robitcheau, Clark, Enos, McLeod and De- ware also spoke on Interesting subjects. There should have been a larger number of the members whom Bro. Hazeltine repre- sents. We are always pleased to see at our meet- ings such old-timers as Bros. Farrell, Hen- nesey and Smith. They did their share of the work in, the good old days, yet the in- terest is not lacking in them. The daylight saving plan has hit the night men rather hard ; all their sleeping has to be done in sunlight, unless you live next door to your job, when tw'o hours of night is the most you can get. Boston Terminal Notes— Bro. Eddy is now rated as first-class lev- erraan Tower No. 1, Bro. Hen Sullivan tak- ing the telephone and telegraph operator’s position. Bro. McNamara gets the split trick, succeeded by Bro. Josh Ambrose on second. Summer vacations are now in order, but most of the men had theirs last winter. Come to the meetings and talk things over. Boston Division Notes — Nantasket Beach Branch has opened for the summer season. Owing to the scarcity of operators many women learners will take these jobs. Bro. Fred Pierce is at Allerton agency pending bids. Bro. Pat Pheeny has landed second signalman Harrison Square tower. Bro. Geo. Gough is one of the lucky .ones to get his vacation under the new schedule. Bro. Freeman, agent Egypt, has purchased a supply of fishing tackle to be used for his outing. Bro. Jerry Rielley, S. S. 237, has the larg- est and best garden planted so far. It is reported that Bro. Louis Wiegart is soon to be married. Bro. Oakman secured Marshfield agency, at his home town. Bro. Riley, agent Montello, is on the sick list and will not be able to work for some time. Don’t forget to visit him occasion- ally. The two temporary positions at East Wey- mouth, established while construction work w'as going on, have been discontinued. No news from South Braintree, Middl- boro, Brockton, etc. Bro. Don Godfrey, Back-Bay tower, now in the railroad unit of “Uncle Sam’s” service, has donned a new khaki shirt. Bro. O. G. Bussiere, with the Fourteenth Engineers, Railway Unit, in France, sends his best wishes to all the boys of Division 89 in a letter to Bro. Enos. Midland Division — Bro. H. A. Sears, first trick dispatcher, is relieving Chief Dispatcher Dorigan, and Bro. J. H. McLaughlin is relieving the dispatch- ers and sheet men reviewing the road ; Bro. Sheehan taking first Woon’s Branch sheet, with Bro. Dan Malloy on nights. Bro. Buck- ley, third trick dispatcher, was the first one relieved by Bro. Sheehan. The increase in the number of freight trains has opened up many new jobs and caused several changes. Bros. H. Sheehan, Dan Malloy and Hunter had the pleasant duties of instructing the new lady operators on the book of rules and blocking. The service draft has broken up the quar- tette of famous singers that were so popular in the Blackstone Valley, of which Bro. Le- Sage, third Blackstone, is a member. Bro. Beach, second Franklin Jet., sick a week, was relieved by Bro. Harry Curren. The new block sheets, showing single and double track movements, also their nature, put in force June 1st, will facilitate delay reports. Digitized by v^ooole
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766 The Railroad Telegrapher Bro. Pendleton, agent Franklin, made good selling Liberty Loan Bonds to the boys, the record for all trains, station and tower being 100 per cent. Seven cars of soap were derailed and ditched at Norfolk recently, and it is now spick and span. Old Colony Division — Bro. J. H. McDermott, our popular secre- tary and treasurer, handles the car dis- patcher’s position so well that the shippers at Taunton have no cause for complaint. Bro. Geo. Clark, L. C., expert in statistical work, knows who is and who is not up to date. Bro. C. E. Watkins, secretary and treas- urer of the Benefit Association, suggests paying the monthly dues without waiting for mail notices, thereby saving the postage and making the refund larger. Bro. J. J. Easton has been commended by those in charge of the Red Cross drive for valuable services rendered. Bro. Tim Delaney, Walpole tower, select- man of that town, has been appointed on the Federal Advisory Board, Instructing draftees on their questionnaires. Bro. De- laney, appointed one of the four-minute speakers there, has the deliverance with a punch. Bro. Pat Eagan, the new outside sentinel, hopes to be able ’to bring in some of the O. C. boys. That loud noise heard around "Cedar” is Bros. Dan O'Donnell and McEvoy laying shingles on their new dwelling houses. “Some hemlock carpenters.” H. J. Bardol, Div. Cor. Grand Division. CARD OF THANKS. Mr. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Sec’y & Treas. O. R. T., St. Louis, Mo. Kind Sir:— My husband, Paul T. Loeschner, and my- self wish to thank you for your promptness in paying the M. B. D. insurance of $1,000 on the life of our beloved brother, James L. Sackett, and also to thank the brothers of the O. R. T. for the courteous treatment accorded us. We hope your Order will live long and prosper. Very respectfully yours, Mbs. Rosa S. Loeschner, Tamms, 111. Grand Trunk Ry., Div. No. 1. Special Notice. To Members of Divisions 1, 7, 11, 16, 39, 43, 99, 114, 116, 131, 133 and 165 : The Federal Export Law of the United States prohibits the exporting of “any metal buttons f* therefore, until this law is re- pealed or amended, we cannot send any emblem buttons to members in Canada. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Sec’y and Treas. Dues notice and remittance forms for the ensuing term dues, July 1st to December 31st, 1918, will be mailed to all members as per address now recorded on the books. The amounts, whicn should be remitted di- rect to D. L. Shaw, 867 Waterloo St., Lon- don, Ontario, are as follows : All members located in the Dominion of Canada filling scheduled positions (except- ing those classed as clerks, assistant agents, etc., located on the Grand Trunk proper), $6.60 per term. All members located in Canada (including those classed as assistant agents, clerks, etc., as per latest Grand Trunk schedule in Can- ada), filling unscheduled positions, or out of the service entirely, $4.60 per term. All members located in the United States, filling scheduled positions, $6.00 per term ; and all members located in the United States, out of the service entirely, or those filling unscheduled positions, $4.00 per term. Members holding insurance in the Order should remit their assessments direct to the grand secretary-treasurer, Bro. C. B. Raw- lins, St. Louis, Mo., not later than the last day of August, as follows: For a $300.00 policy, $1.20 ; a $500.00 policy, $1.80, and a $1,000.00 policy, $3.60. Both division dues and insurance assess- ments should be paid on July 1st. Should you wish to pay for one year in advance, just double the amount mentioned in both cases. This will give you a paid-up card for one year in advance, and is, by far, the best way to remit. We are pleased to say that the pay and conditions of employment for our craft on both the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific systems are of the best. We are right at the head of the procession, and in order to remain there every individual member must do his part in assisting to hold the goal so long sought, and now being occupied by our members, which can only be done by each one paying his division dues and insur- ance assessments immediately they are due, and leave nothing undone to give the com- pany the very best possible service. The latter duty is Just as important as the former. The company is now giving you good conditions of employment, and it is the duty of every man or woman holding membership ir\ Division No. 1 to do every and any reason- able thing that would tend to help increase the revenue for the company. AlwayB be on duty when you are required; see that your station and surroundings are kept clean and tidy ; be courteous to the public ; keep posted on the d iff agent freight and passenger tariffs ; Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 767 see that you get your share of the business out of your town, and do all you possibly can to help get the traffic — passenger and freight — to its destination with as little de- lay as possible, with “safety first” always considered. These are the very duties you are being paid for. Hit the ball . Notwithstanding that members have re- peatedly been requested to advise this office when making a change in address, yet many move from one place to another and never think of notifying either this or the grand secretary-treasurer’s office. This results in delays to your mail and in many cases mem- bers do not get their division cards for months, sometimes never get them. It will only cost you two cents to advise this office when you make a change, and I would appreciate it very much if every member would bear this in mind and when making a change in permanent address, let me know. Relief men, when remitting their dues, should give a permanent address, otherwise their division cards go to the address given when remitting. Kindly always, when re- mitting dues, give your permanent post of- fice address. On the Qrand Trunk Pacific there are a number of stations where there is no post office. When those members remit their dues they should invariably give thejr per- manent post office addresses also, which will do away with a lot of unnecessary clerical work and assist greatly in delivering their cards. Brothers, let’s all pull together and en- deavor to make old Division No. 1 worthy of its number, and the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk x'acific the banner roads for this great Dominion of ours. With best wishes and kind regards to all, 1 am. Fraternally, D. L. Shaw, G. S. & T. 7't renty-sixth District — CARD OF THANKS. We desire to express our heartfelt thanks to all the brothers who so kindly offered words of encouragement and rendered deeds of kindness in our bereavement, caused by the depth of my devoted wife and loving mother ; also during the sickness and death of my daughter Myrtle, 17 years, one week after her mother’s interment. We desire to especially tender our thanks to all the G. T. employes on the 26th district for their generous assistance in the time of sorrow. Bert Granger, Cert. 2844, South Bend, Ind. Grand Trunk Pacific Ry., Div. No. 1. A general meeting was held in Melville on Sunday, May 26th, with a good attend- ance. Bro. Brewer occupied the chair and gave the meeting particulars of the new schedule effective February 1st, 1918.# In view of the large Increases secured re- cently in the United States, it was thought advisable to make application for a revi- sion of schedule in order to standardize the wages in Canada. A fraternal fund was started, and those present contributed $11.00 towards it. A resolution was passed providing that all members be assessed 50 cents a month for this fund until the amount of $100.00 was secured, and after that assessments only be made to keep the fund at that figure. Re- mittances should be made to Bro. Brewer, General Chairman, Atwater, Sask. A regular meeting of the local division, Winnipeg to Biggar, and branch lines will be heM the third Sunday in each month, the next meeting being at Watrous Sunday, June 23rd, and all members are expected to attend. Melville is solid now, with one exception, Bro. Graham of Pembina has enlisted in the navy. It is now Bro. Price at Waldron. Bro. Carson from Waldron, who bid in relief dispatcher, is now East on his holi- days. We presume we can cong&tulate him on his return. Owing to the inability of Bro. Thereault of Justice to get to Melville, we all missed a musical treat which we had looked forward to for some time. Third District— Bro. Billings has returned from the front and resumed at Lestock, vice Bro. Smart, relieving Bro. House at Punnichy, who with Mrs, House is on annual vacation, the latter being relieved by Bro. Borden. Bro. Smart bid in Quinton agency ; Bro. Besler, third Watrous, went to second Mel- ville, vice Bro. Raison, to third Watrous. Bro. Porter has resumed on first Watrous after a much-needed vacation in the wilds of Maine. Regina Branch — Bro. Sibbald of Riverhurst transferred to Superintendent Walton’s division ; Bro. AnT nis, Central Butte to Riverhurst ; Bro. Chap- man from Riceton to Lebret. Fort Qu’Ap- pelle is up for bid. No notes from the boys on the Fourth Dis- trict. Cert. 880. Prince George to Rupert — A railroad with a schedule like the G. T. P. > should have a writeup every month. Up-to-date brothers should keep after the “slackers” and all possible be done to keep up the interest both for the company and the " Grand Old O. R. T” Digitized by v^ooole
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768 The Raii, road Telegrapher. I am a new arrival. Please send me a few notes each month on or before the 15th and I will do the rest. We should not have any “slackers” on this division. Mrs. Theodore Hamilton, the agent's wife at Endako, enjoyed a few weeks’ visit with relatives in Vancouver recently. Bro. Knuckles, agent Burns Lake, had an enjoyable trip during his holidays to Ohio and Indiana, relieved by A. Inglis, a new man, now at Kitwanga. Someone get his application. We need them all. Our dispatcher, Bro. Percy Simpson, was called to Edmonton for examination, Bros. McIntyre and Ford doubling during his ab- sence. Brothers, read your journal ; note the items from the Great Northern. We hope the boys will soon have a { schedule there. Send a note and your Telegrapher, after you are through with it, to any nons you know of on this division, and keep after them until they join. They have no ex- cuse whatever tor not doing so ; and remem- ber that your O. R. T. dues should be paid the same time as the grocery bill. Opr. Smithers, B. C. “Big Four” Ry„ Div. No. 3. Cleveland Division — Bro. Joe McCartney, third Ashley, was off 30 days recently. Bro. Marring, third Shiloh, has enlisted. Bro. Bill Dutton, third Rush, first Turner, relieved by Sister Miss Corwin, and Bro. Dodds, second Ashley, a few' days by Sister Mrs. Norman, who later went to third Ash- ley. Bro. Bryent, third Clarke Avenue, has re- signed. * Bro. Carey, first Longville, was off a week owing to the Illness of his wife. Bro. lOberhard, second Gabon, was off sick a tew days recently. Bro. Lavelle goes to agency Rushylvania. Div. Cor., Cert. 1499. Indianapolis Division — CARD OF THANKS. Dear Brothers': — We extend to your our heartfelt thanks for the beautiful floral piece furnished in our hour of deep bereavement through the death of our mother. A. C. Clouds and Relatives, Indianapolis, Ind. C., St. P., M. & O. Ry., Div. No. 4. Northern Division- — Your local chairman has had the oppor- tunity and pleasure personally of covering the entire division and meeting every mem- ber thereon in the recent trip over the line in the interest of the Third Liberty Loan drive, long to be remembered as one of the most pleasant events In my life. Hereto- fore I have only been able to meet the ma- jority of you through correspondence, and it gave me a chance to Inquire into your needs ; a chance to learn how you feel toward the men who are representing you, and to dis- cuss anything on your minds. It made the trip all the more pleasant to find everyone satisfied with the recent new schedule and note your enthusiasm. The telegraphers and agents on this divi- sion are justified in feeling proud of their record for generous subscriptions to the Third Liberty Loan, amounting to $11,450.00, an average of a little over $98.00 per mem- ber. It must demonstrate to our Govern- ment that our class are 100 per cent loyal and American, and a mighty good showing, as most of us had already subscribed to the first and second loans. Another record to feel proud of is that this division is now 100 per cent in member- ship (one man being on leave of absence). This is something unknown on this division before. No one appreciates any more than I do, that It was through the noble assist- ance of the brother members of this division that we were able to build the member- ship up to that point. We can keep it that way if everyone will take the same interest wc all have taken the past year and make it our business to see that we have no nons in our midst to hamper our success. A new light has arisen on our horizon. Let us keep it burning for all time to come. From now on I will give you the name of each non who comes into our midst, so we can keep the division where it should be. I am confident that the assistance I have had in the past can be counted on in the future. I was relieved while on the Liberty Loan drive by J. J. O’Shaughnessey, a former telegrapher on this division, recently with the traffic department in Duluth, who later relieved Bro. Cormelley at Superior east end. Sister Ammans, third Hawthorne, while visiting her brother a few days, who goes to the army shortly, was relieved by Sister Zubrick, who also relieved Bro. Olson, Cam- eron, a few days on account of sickness. Sister Zubrick can handle anything from an agency to an interlocking plant. Bro. McKulla is on an extended leave, farming near Clayton. We were glad to meet Bro. R. D. Sinclair again, at "SR” a few years ago, while spending a few days with his brother. Bro. F. D. Sinclair at Spooner. He is now with the Rock Island in Missouri. Bro. G. E. Johnston, Trego, called to the colors, relieved by Miss Lund, a new lady on the road. Bro. Wahlquist, New Richmond! vtiltin* Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 7G9 friends around Mankato a few days, relieved by Olson from the “Soo” Line, and Bro. Old- ham Rayfleld was relieved several days by Bro. Knutson from the Northern Pacific. Bro. Hoard, Clear Lake, visited friends in Hawthorne Sunday recently. The new Sun- day overtime rule gives some of the members a chance to enjoy themselves on Sundays now. We are pleased to learn that Sister Carl- son, who recently went to the hospital with an attack of pneumonia, is speedily recover- ing and will soon be out again. Bro. Lund has Resumed at Solon Springs after several weeks’ illness, he being re- lieved by Sister Solie, who later relieved Bro. Wallace at Clear Lake. Bro. Lindquist, Cumberland, visiting friends a few days in Minnesota, relieved by Sister Peterson. Sister Anderson, Winter, was off a few days recently, shopping in Minneapolis. Bro. Wilson, Drummond, was in the hos- pital several weeks with smallpox. L. N. Judge, operator on this division sev- eral years, recently assistant agent at Itasca, enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Engineering Corps, now at Camp Grant, 111., and expects to soon sail overseas. We wish him success and a safe return. Bros. W. J. O’Shaughnessey and F. White both have landed safely in France, the latter with the Aviatfon Corps ; the former with the Engineers’ Corps. Bro. Coyle succeeds Bro. Weygant as local chairman of the Nebraska Division. We all wish him success. The boys in Spooner dispatcher’s office are now taking their annual vacations. Your local chairman recently had a pleas- ant visit with Dispatcher Blake at Spooner, local chairman a few years ago on this division. Bro. Cook, Park Falls, is back after being in quarantine with diphtheria over three weeks at his home in Warren, Wis. Bro. Hinman, Birchwood, has been keep- ing bachelor quarters in the depot, his fam- ily being under quarantine with diphtheria. We all sympathize with Bro. Ryan, Stan- ton, owing to the death of his mother Easter Sunday in St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Paul. Bro. E. Swanson has resumed at Deer Park after spending several months in Southern California. I am indebted to Bros. Hinman, Birch- wood and Ryan, Stanton, for the news items they have sent me lately. Keep the good work up, brothers. Remember the watchword, "No card 3 no favors ” and all help to reach* our 60,000 goal this year. Cert. 330. Western Division — We are very much pleased to note that the following sisters are now members of Division No. 4 : In Iowa — Alice B. Sanders, Ashton ; Geraidin Blanchard, Sioux City Shops, Sioux City ; in Wisconsin — Mabel A. Peterson, Couderay ; Mary Zubrick, Chip- pewa Falls ; Eva K. Muehlen, Cornell ; Pearl Lockwood, Birchwood ; Blanche M. Amans, Hawthorne; Mabel Saile, 115 W. Evan St., Rice Lake ; Edna M. Kringle, Deer Park ; Myrtle Anderson, Winter ; in Minnesota — Alma W. Brooks, Blakeley ; Catherine E. Purvis, Bingham Lake; Julia W. McCarthy and Miss Anderson, Madelia ; Dela A. Prew, Blue Earth ; Verna M. Johnson, Mendota ; Johanna H. Szlachtowski, Ella M. Riley and Mabel Walvoord, R. F. D. No. 3, Lake Crystal ; in Nebraska — Nettie McCarn, Fort Calhoun ; Freda M. Hansen, Bancroft, and Lois M. Davenport, Oakland. If any of the addresses given are incorrect it is because I have not been advised of the change. We still have five ladies on this division not yet on the “honor roll,” and a few (in- cluding several delinquents) gentlemen who have not made good their promises to join or pay up. It’s to your interest as well as the officers of Division No. 4 to line them up. Their names and addresses will be furnished to any member who is interested enough to do his or her duty by getting them up to date. Bro. Shonka, relieved by Bro. Crawford of Madelia, has returned to Mankato third af- ter a month in the Twin Cities, undergoing an operation for appendicitis. Bro. W. L. Cochrane, returning to Ma- delia from a trip to the Twin Cities, relieved Bro. Jansen there while he, with Mrs. Jansen, visited her brother at Camp Dodge. Bro. Cochrane relieved on second by Sis- ter Anderson, and Bro. Crawford, who has gone on extra list, was relieved on third by Sister McCarthy. Bro. Kelly of Stone made a trip to Min- neapolis, and Bro. Warner of Lake Crystal to the Twin Cities, ‘‘between trains” re- cently. Bro. Fuller has moved his little family to Jordan. Sister G. Blanchard gave up Grogan agency and went to Sioux City Shops, vice Bro. P. W. Brady. The fire on May 16th, which completely destroyed Fulton, S. D., depot and several buildings, at one time threatened the whole village. Bro. Lehman of Heron Lake now has a cashier to help him with his heavy duties. The new $7.50 semi-annual dues are com- ing in rapidly.* Those holding non-scheduled positions, or who are employed on other roads, are still entitled to the $4.00 semi- annual rate. If Local Chairman Mitchell of Itasca continues to send in the new appli- Digitized by Google
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770 The Railroad Telegrapher. cations as he has been doing lately, he will surely draw one of the handsome prizes the end of the year. Bro. Coyle of Wayne is doing splendid work on the Nebraska Division, not only getting in the lady telegraphers but the gentlemen also. Thorough organization was never any more necessary than right now. Pay up your dues and make it your personal business to see that your next-door neighbor is lined up. Bro. O. S. Mann was recently married. Bro. C. R. Ames, Merriam agency, will shortly be transferred to a Nebraska Division agency. Cert. 2. Eastern Division — Bro. L. F. Stuart, Prince St., taken in the draft, is now at Camp Dodge, relieved by Trondstad, a new man, pending bulletin. We regret to learn that Bro. " Bouse" Jac- obson, agent River Falls, has been forced to take a 60-day leave on account of his health. He is going to rough it out in the country, and we all sincerely trust that he will come back completely restored. Bro. Bill Gramanze, first side wire, is re- lieving the dispatchers on their annual va- cations. Bro. W. A. Prible, who relieved Bro. Lld- dane at East St Paul, is now relieving Bro. Trudel in “A." Bro. L. D. Beamer, Prince St., has been elected general chairman of the committee of the Clerks’ Union. He has always carried a card in Division No. 4, and the clerks have made a wise choice. Bro. Haberman, relieved by Bro. Halver- son on third Stillwater Jet., relieved at Shep- pard several nights, pending Bro. Westberg’s arrival there. Brothers, don’t allow yourselves to be- come delinquent. It is Just as easy to pay up one time as another, and a delinquent is most as bad as a non. Get in line and help us to keep our 100 per cent strong lineup. Cert. 6. Kansas City Southern Ry., Div. No. 5. Watts to DeQueen — Bro. J. S. Newell of Richards goes to Mar- ble City agency, vice Lonnegan to Sallisaw first, vice Henry to second Neosho ; Bro. Martin, Panama third, to third Amsterdam ; Bro. Harvey to second DeQueen Yard ; Bro. Harry Leroy to Kansas City, relieved on third Spiro by H. L. Garrett, and he later by Bro. Foote, Midland Valley, Muskogee, trans- ferred to Division 6 ; Bro. R. V. Shirley, Stilwell third, to third DeQueen Yard, de- clined by Bro. Roy Moss, dispatcher's clerk ; Bro. Simms to second Spiro ; Bro. C. L. Fleshman to third Air Line Jet., relieved by Bro. R. D. Newell on second Sallisaw, and he by Bro. W. L. Phipps on third Bunch, Okla ; Sister Fern Wiley to Page ; Bro. Powell, agent Gans, to Goodman, Mo., agency ; Chas. Wells, agent Amoret, Mo., to agency, and Bro. McGraw- first Westville ; Shaded, a new man, to third there. Bro. W. H. Sheehan is now with an oil company near Tulsa, Okla. Bro. Noble, agent Panama, and wife, and Bro. Ligon, second there, were recent Fort Smith visitors. Bro. Grant has cancelled his resignation and will remain at Poteau. Bro. W. L. Martin, with the U. P. in Colo- rado six months, returned to Salisaw, passed the military examination, and has been called to Leon Springs for service. His bride is at her home in Salisaw. . General Chairman Ocheltree, who failed to pass the examination for the army, was re- lieved while away ten days by Bro. C. E. Hall. Three offices closed on First District owing to1 shortage of men. The berry movement, in full blast, keeps the boys on the jump to prevent delays. Local Chairman Nelson, Texarkana nights, relieved Second Trick Dispatcher Moss w’hile he went to Baltimore for an operation. Bro. Townsend, G. S. & T., and others are proposing to take donations to erect a large flag at Heavener dispatcher’s office. There is also to be a glass case for the names of the K. C. S. boys now in the service. Other names will be added as the boys are called to the front. Everyone should donate to this worthy cause. Want to thank Bro. Ligon, at Panama ; Bro. Keck, at Westville, and Bro. Minor, at Heavener, also our general chairman and G. S. T. for the items sent in this month. Some of your brothers wake up south of DeQueen and slip me a few. It is impossi- ble for me to get anything from there or north of Watts unless they are sent to me. S. D. Collykr. Union Pacific R. R., Div. No. 6. Kansas Division — We take great pleasure in reporting the following new members : W. R. Summerfeld, Perry second ; L. H. Hill, Ogdensburg, trans- ferred from Division 172 ; I. J. Bohn, Solo- mon ; C. C. Smith, Dorrance second ; W. L. Rockwell, Assaria ; G. W. Cobb, Lindsborg first; F. N. Van Wie, Shady Bend; J. F. Kullie, first, and W. S. Roll, second Funston ; O. O. Butterfield, extra West End ; A. W. Geising, extra Junction City; W. L. Bridges, Topeka ; F. L. Allen, Frankfort third, and A. P. Batchelor, Larkinburg. To Bro. F. W. Nickel, Luoas, Kan., belongs the credit for these additions to our ranks. With the passing of G. W. Mills. Junction City; A. Davis, Black Wolf, and several other nons, and the annexation of these four- teen new brothers our division is now 90.32 Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 771 per cent solid. Don't let the good work stop. Possibly it was the hand of fate that caused Bro. Walter Wilson to be the relief agent to relieve Davis, as he was the in- spiration for the disloyal and insulting letter written by Davis, which was mentioned in the April issue. Davis has moved to Miles City, Mont., with his family. With the passing of O. G. Thompson at Wamego, 'that station is solid for the first time, and Bro. Cosley, the agent there, will see that it is kept that way. The Plainville, Solomon, McPherson, Man- hattan and Junction City, also the Leaven- worth branches, are all solid. Local Chairman Hook has just completed a tour of this division, selling Third Liberty Loan bonds. Every telegrapher, student helper and clerk on the division subscribed for one or more bonds, making his finish a clean 100 per cent. Bro. L. G. Cox of Onaga takes first place with a $1,100 subscription ; Bro. Dan Sevvell of Menoken second, with an even thousand. Among those whose names should be inscribed high on the roll of honor do not overlook the dozens of little fellows, and especially some of the helpers and student agents, who In subscribing for a flfty- dollar bond made a real sacrifice. In the five hundred dollar class were Bros. Anderson of Armstrong, Brubaker of Armstrong, Stout of Ft. Riley, Stepp of Ellsworth. The three and two hundred class are entirely too num- erous to mention. A good percentage of the boys now have from five hundred dollars to three thousand dollars worth of bonds, Bro. Wade of Blue Springs and Bro. Force of Wheaton being In the “bloated bond holder” class. Since covering part of the Western Dis- trict with Bro. Hook , in the Liberty Loan campaign Trainmaster Schuchman has de- voted most of his time to returning old clothes, raincoats and overshoes borrowed on the trip while “covering” the Salina and Solomon branches. We have a letter dated Camp Vail, Little Silver, N. J., from Bro. Lieut. C. C. Weed in of the U. S. Radio Telegraph Battalion, for- merly agent Ellis, Kan., who w&s drafted in the first quota. We noticed in one of the recent casualty lists the name of ^Herbert A. Mansfield among those slightly wounded. This is no doubt Bro. H. A. Mansfield, formerly oper- ator at Clay Center. Bros. M. L. Wampler of Oslburg, J. F. Kullie of Camp Funston, and V. E. Bush of Vesper have been drafted Into the National Army. We now' have fourteen members from the Kansas Division in the service of "Uncle Sam." Bro. Clemens of "GN” Kansas City, re- cently had a letter from Bro. J. M. Brown, Las Vegas, N. M., which says he is im- proving in health, getting fat and likes the Southwest country fine. He had to leave this part of the country on account of very poor health a few months ago. We all wish him a speedy recovery and return. Bro. R. B. Moore of Junction City, operated on at the University Hospital about two months ago, is improving rapidly and ex- pects to be back in a few weeks. The boys will all be glad to see him return. Bro. G. W. Carson, Salina, recently on the sick list, has returned to work. Bro. N. J. Ackors of Kansas City “GN” is enjoying a vacation at the “pesthouse” some- where on the outskirts of Kansas City. Bro. R. H. Walker of Luray recently made a trip to Salina and took the Shrine. Con- gratulations. The Kansas Division, and no doubt other roads and divisions, have recently been flooded with literature advertising “The Telegraphers’ Oil and Gas Co.,” promoted by N. E. Spradley, former agent at McPherson. It will be well for the brothers receiving this literature to note that J. L. Markley, agent for the M., K. & T. Ry., Is on the board of directors, and that neither of the above gentlemen now have cards. Cert. 1103. Nebraska Division — Having returned from my vacation, am glad to again submit a few paragraphs for The Telegrapher. , Instead of the usual spring movement of “boomers,” to which “U” office has been subject in the past, this year proves an exception, and a new face would indeed be a curiosity. Some progress is being made among the older nons. Bro. Hi Hamel's present location should afford him excellent opportunity to do some missionary work among them. Stava has turned in his application. Bro. Stone, on 30 days’ leave, is spending his vacation in the Twin Cities. “There's a reason.” Bro. Morehead, on the Navy Reserve as first-class electrician for several months, has been called for service, but is now sick and unable to report. We are all proud of the work President Perham is doing before the Wage Commis- sion. If the telegraphers do not receive their Just proportion of the increase granted it will be through no fault or neglect on his part. I was glad of an opportunity recently to drop in and see the boys in “GN" office, rt is a busy little place and their crowded condition is enough to create some bad dis- positions, but such effects are not visible either on the wire or when meeting them In person. Digitized by v^ooole
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772 The Railroad Telegrapher, Local Chairman Phillips has returned from a trip over the division, assisting in the Third Liberty Loan drive. Ted Baer, Cert. 1297. Wyoming Division — New members : E. J. Zimmerman, Wal- cott ; D. S. Covey, Lodge Pole ; E. L. Laur- sen, Sidney ; G. G. Blomquist, Archer ; Clara Dalton and R? W. SafFord, O’Fallons. Bro. Horne, agent Rosier, drafted recently, is now at Camp Lewis, Washington, Bro. Trask from Lookout relieving. Bro. Wr. E. Hardy, third Lodge Pole, drafted from Iowa, is at Fort Des Moines, Ioda, Base Hospital No. 49. Bro. L. C. Jones, ex-relief agent Third Dis- trict, now in 29th Company, Camp Wood, Camp Funston, Kan., wishes to be remem- bered to the boys on the U. P. W. S. Schatzer, drafted from Hermose second, was discharged from the army owing to an accidental injury, disabling him for further service as a soldier. Bro. Kaderli, third Kimball, was in Grand Junction, Colo., recently, filing on Govern- ment land. Bro. McKale, North Platte, is now in Seattle in the automobile business with his brother. We wish him unbounded success. Bro. Martin, Walcott, was obliged to work an eight-hour trick owing to the eight changes there in one month, probably on ac- count of an epidemic of smallpox. Bro. Thiesen, first there. In the pesthouse several weeks with it, is reported O. K. now'. Bro. Zimmerman, third there, recently re- turned from Missouri, where his wife under- went an operation for appendicitis. Bro. A. R. Keever and Bro. P. W. Whit- worth, Ogallala, returned from vacation, re- lieved Bro. F. G. Clark and Bro. O. W. Arlitt ; latter resigned. C. T. U. Bro. Norman, extra “NY” North Platte, relieving in “NO” North Platte, re- lieved at “NY” by Bro. E. L. Laursen. During the Third Liberty Loan campaign I had the extreme pleasure of meeting most all the members on the Wyoming Division. It was very gratifying, indeed, to report a 100 per cent subscription among the agents and operators. I am doing all I possibly can to line up the nons. I need the co-operation of all the members. Shall be very grateful for any assistance given me. Let’s all get after them and lessen the burden of carrying them. Sister Hettie C. Johnson, first Sherman, is on vacation, relieved by Miss Ruby Doherty. Sister Lucy Riddle, third Buford, on sick list a few’ days. Buford closed for one night account shortage of operators. Bro. J. B. Watts, recently transferred to Division 6 from the Southern Railway, is at Laramie, extra. We are glad to welcome him among us. Bro. S. L. Sanford in Omaha hospital some time, recently returned to Borie second. Ex- tra Crews, Borie, had several of his toes cut off while attempting to catch onto an engine in order to ride into Cheyenne. Bro. Homer Morris, agent Sunol, under- went an operation on his limb recently in an Omaha hospital. We hope to soon hear of his recovery. Wish to thank Bro. Horne for notes this month, and would appreciate it very much if you boys would send me your notes every month. We could then be assured of a nice w’riteup. Local Chairman. St. Joseph d Grand Island Ry. Division — Bro. Try on, w’ho relieved Agent Hamlin 15 days, is now at El wood ; L. E. Man ion to second “DS," relieved at “GO” days by H. O. Beason from Marysville. .Bro. McKee from the C. & N. W. relieved Bro. Winsor, resigned. Bro. Wilson, agent Axtell, took charge of the trains during the recent windstorm, when the wires went down east of there. Bro. Thompson, on second Upland Heights about ten months, has returned to the N. C. & St. L. in Tennessee. Bro. A. H. Keller, agent Carden, has re- signed to enter the U. S. service, relieved by Bro. U. S. Andrews. We hope for his speedy return. Bro. J. W. Kraemer makes a trip to the farm every morning to look after the chick- ens. Bro. R. A. Haxton is now at “MS” nights. Bro. Ivan Rigney visited “friends” at “F” on a recent Sunday, and Bro. R. W. Nolan visited his mother at Bameston, Neb. Bro. Wolford is now enjoying daily rides in his new automobile. Bro. Hatfield went to Iowa for three weeks on account of his father being seriously ill ; relieved by Bro. Rochet of the C., B. & Q., now on third “MF.” Bro. Tolliver and Bro. Hopkins have re- turned after several days' vacation. Brothers, please send me any notes you get hold of, as it is hard for me to get them all alone. Let’s try and have a writeup every month from now on. W. B. Tompkins, “MS,” Cert. 647. Canadian Pacific Ry., Div. No. 7. Special Notice. To Members of Divisions 1, 7, 11, 16, 39, 43, 99, 114, 115, 131, 133 and 155: The Federal Export Law of the United States prohibits the exporting of “any metal buttons;” therefore, until this law is re- Digitized by Tooele
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 773 pealed or amended we cannot send any O. R. T. emblem buttons to members in Canada. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Sec’y and Treas. Saskatchewan Diet, Moose Jaw Div. — Bro. Brunsden has returned to Sovereign from an extended trip to Ontario, where he was called on account of Mrs. Brunsden’s illness, who, we are glad to hear, is improv- ing, and hope she may soon be restored to full health. General Superintendent Stevens has re- turned from vacation in California. We re* gret very much to learn of Mrs. Stevens' death from pneumonia while in California, and all extend our deep sympathy to Mr. Stevens in his bereavement. Bro. J. Kehoe, who resigned Secretan agency owing to his mother’s illness and filled in third "YD” several weeks, is now on vacation to the coast. Bro. Smith Tuxford, on holidays, relieved by Bro. Dunn. Supt. A. Halkett, on vacation in the East, relieved by Chief Dispatcher Trump, relieved by Bro. Frank Flett. Bro. Dave Anderson, third Swift Current, who has joined the Flying Corps, will no doubt give a good account of himself in France. On Sunday, May 19th, a very successful Joint meeting of the Regina and Moose Jaw Divisions was held in the Board of Trade Building at Moose Jaw. Third Vice-Presi- dent Mein and our newly elected general chairman of Western Lines, Bro. McPherson, and over sixty members were present, mak- ing one of the best joint meetings we have had. In the absence of Bro. Barry on vaca- tion, Regina Division was represented by Bro. Victor Stubbings, and Local Chairman Bro. Gordon Cheney represented Moose Jaw Division. After the minutes of previous meeting were read and approved, Bro. McPherson was called upon, and in a splendid address proved himself to be thoroughly in close touch with his duties and also of the affairs of the Order in general, making a very fav- orable impression on all present. Bro. Mein followed with a short address, reviewing recent legislation both in Canada and the United States as it affected labor, and giving us what in his opinion was the best line pf action, closing his address with a short resume of the progress of the Order since 1896. Meeting adjourned at 17:16. Cert. 3049. Portage Division — The brothers have forgotten their promise to send me the new's if I would act as cor- respondent for the' division, as I have only received notes from twro. Bro. Bennett from LaSalle goes to Otter- burne agency, vice Bro. Johnson to Carey agency; Bro. Mann from Gimli to Melita agency, vice Bro. Fraser, brother to our local chairman, to Selkirk ; Bro. Herron to Lpdeton agency, relieved by Bro. Fitzsimmons from Elva at Wellwood agency; Bro. McQueen to telegrapher Emerson ; Bro. W. E. Hawley, Glen Ewen, to LaSalle. We are glad to welcome Bro. Fred Mein back again from the front. He has done his bit in France and was wounded at Vimy Ridge in April, 1917. After spending several months in various hospitals in England he was invalided home, and will .resume as telegrapher again shortly at Carberry days. Bro. Bob Saunders, agent Purves, who was previously exempted, was caught again by the act recently passed by the House and called by the military authorities to Winni- peg, April 27th. relieved by Bro. McCrea, who as soon as relieved will perform the same stunt. Bro. C. C. Graham, agent Mowbray, called in on April 30th, was relieved by Bro. Bush, son of Bro. Bush, agent Boissevein. As soon as he can get relief he will also report to the military authorities in Winnipeg. They are hitting our boys pretty regular, which speaks well for the craft. Bro. Baker, at Selkirk several months, now at Treherne, relieved Bro. E. A. New- comb, agent LaRiviere, who went back to the States on vacation. Bro. Hill, Stonewall, on vacation, relieved by Bro. H. M. Brown. Most of the brothers have received the book of schedules giving the wages and scales of all the organized roads in the United States and Canada. Twenty years ago we were only a small struggling band, fighting for the right of the railroad telegraphers to organize, and it certainly makes me feel proud when I look at that book to have been a member during those trying and strenuous times. Every old-timer who has been a member for the past twenty years or more has something to be proud of when he compares the maximum wage paid telegra- phers those days with what we are paid now. We have made wonderful strides for the betterment of the profession through the efforts of the O. R. T. The old-timers have sure done their part, which was no easy task, and it’s now up to the younger genera- tion to maintain and carry on this work to its completion. A. S. Dorsey. Manitoba Div.t Dist. 4 — CARD OF THANKS. Editor Railroad Telegrapher: Please convey through your valued maga- zine, The Railroad Telegrapher, my warm- Digitized by v^ooole
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774 The Railroad Telegrapher, est gratitude to the brothers of District 4, for their messages of sympathy, and also for the beautiful floral tribute, owing to my recent heavy bereavement In the loss of my beloved husband, John Collie. (Mas.) Minnie Collie, Lyleton, Man., Can. Kenora District — Mistakes : When a lawyer makes a mis- take it's Just what he wanted, because he has a chance to try the case all over again. When a carpenter makes a mistake it’s just what he expected. When a doctor makes a mistake he buries it. When a dentist makes a mistake he can always repair the damage. When a judge makes a mistake it becomes the law of the land. When a preacher makes a mistake nobody knows the difference. When an electrician makes a mistake he blames it on induction ; nobody knows what that Is. But when a dispatcher or operator makes a mistake, “good night ” — something is going to happen. The foregoing shows that mistakes occur in almost every calling or profession of the every-day business world, and in some in- stances to advantage, as in the case of the lawyer. But employes of the telegraph de- partment of a railway must not err. No matter under what conditions or in what capacity, each one has their own great re- sponsibility. The duties they are called upon to perform, day in and day out, must be executed with such accuracy that only those of cool nerve and extra well-balanced judgment could ever expect to make a suc- cess of the business. Misunderstandings in our profession may mean serious accidents with loss of life and destruction of property of untold value. We should think of just what the result of a little mistake on our part may mean, and it would be well for each of us to spend a little time occasionally in reflecting upon this. We must realize the importance of doing our work with the exactness which the occasion demands. Let us be more careful than ever before and be on our guard at all times. If there is anything in the “Safety First” scheme as associated with railways, my suggestions are worthy of consideration. At the meeting held in Kenora, Ontario, April 27 the following brothers were present : Gilbert, Wilton, Galloway, Allen, Gilchrist, Kester, Leitke, Davis, Withrow, Waddell, Big- low, Ball, Wilson, Jack Cross, Hoffman, and last, but not least, Bro. Bob Foote, who never was known to miss a meeting, and we have come to feel that our gathering would not be complete without him. Several matters of a very important nature were disposed of in the usual way, and nu- merous items of interesting news given to the members present by Bros. Gilbert and Wilton. Chief among Bro. Wilton's remarks was a statement showing System Division No. 7 to be in A1 shape financially, the books showing that we have attained and even exceeded our former high-water mark. This is very gratifying at this period of the term, as the bulk of current term dues were all in hand before this statement was made. After considerable discussion on various matters pertaining to the welfare of the dis- trict, as a number of the brothers had some distance to go to travel home, the meeting adjourned at 23 :45. Bro. W. Leitke, operator in the dispatch- er's office at Kenora for some time, has en- listed and is now with a battalion in Winni- peg, Manitoba, relieved at “DA” by Bro. T. H. Cauley, relieved at “NO,” Norcran, Mani- toba. by Turner, a new man, one of the single-track stars in by-gone years. Bro. J. Fawcett, former agent at Rennie, Manitoba, is now with a regiment at Whitty Camp, Ontario. Bro. F. W. Gliddon, Molson, Manitoba, off sick several days recently. McFarlane, a new man, Is at Pine, Ontario. Bro. G. Gilbert, Kenora dispatching staff, is spending his vacation at Rochester, Minn., where Mrs. Gilbert is undergoing treatment at Mayo Brothers’ institution. Bro. M. S. Campbell, Dryden, Ontario, vis- ited Kenora May 13, and Sister D. C. Rhind, Dryden, Ontario, paid a visit to her parents at Dinorwic, Ontario, recently. Bro. C. E. Winters, “UN,” Fort William, Ontario, is spending his vacation in Windsor, Ontario, Winnipeg, and points west. Bro. J. D. Burke, Upsals, Ontario, relieved a few days on sick leave bv Bro. J. E. Guay from English River, Sister Guay going to “CS.” Bro. Guay later relieved Bro. J. A. Cross, agent, Ignace, on leave. Ingolf closed nights on account of the shortage of men. Bro. J. M. Lawlor. Rennie nights, has gone with the C. N. R. at Calgary, Alta. We would urge that as many as possible attend our July meeting, the evening session at least, as we expect to take motor boats for a short trip on the lake after the close of business in hand, which we will try to dispose of at the afternoon session. We hope all who can possibly do so will favor us with their presence. You will enjoy it and so will we. As Bro. Gilbert stated at our last meet- ing, I am going to repeat : Digitized by u.oo<?le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 775 “The scenic beauties of the Lake of the Woods Are mighty hard to beat. Famous poets and noted artists Have exerted strenuous effort to proclaim The wonders of this picturesque spot Of this, our fair domain. “They have succeeded very nobly I n so far as pen and brush can do ; But seeing is believing, Now is not that so? “Therefore, humbly we implore you. If possible spare the time; Come, spend a few hours with us, In surroundings truly sublime.” R. U. Cummino, Cert. 1197. Quebec District, Montreal Terminals — This district, now about 90 per cent strong, should run up to the top before the beginning of next period. Three new members recently initiated. Bro. Hancox, formerly St. Agathe, with- drew his application for Jac-Cartier, bidding In Annunciation on District 3. The general secretary recently issued a circular to all members of Division 7, cau- tioning brothers enlisting for military or naval service to promptly notify him of their enlistment. The laws governing the mutual benefit department are such as to make it impossible to secure reinstatement of any member who has become delinquent without his signature to an application for reinstate- ment, which application cancels all claim to benefit in case of death resulting from or by reason of the insured being in any branches of the Army. You will therefore realize that the payment of your certificate in the mutual benefit department is at stake, and no chance of being delinquent in either department should be taken by any member. System Division 7 has undertaken to protect all mem- bers of the M. B. D., providing they are up to date at the time of enlistment. Broth- ers returning from the front who have re- ceived their discharges and resume duty are requested to advise the G. S. T. promptly. Bro. J. D. Beaulieu, from “JC,” has en- listed and was relieved by Bro. Larue, tem- porary ; Verdun, a new man, on relief work. Boys, let's see that he gets a card. When you get this journal, only a f^w days more will see us at the end of June. So get your dues ready. Anyone wishing an official emblem O. R. T. ring can get one from the Grand Secretary and treasurer, C. B. Rawlins, St. Louis, Mo., the cost of which is $4.60. In ordering, be sure and give the correct size. Owing to weather conditions, only a small number attended our last meeting in the Merchants* Bank Building. A few of our new brothers (assistant agents) were pres- ent, it being their first call. We hope to always see them well represented at our meetings. Bro. Chapman, Chairman E. L., whom we were fortunate to have with us, spoke for over an hour and displayed much ability in discussing matters of highest importance. When may we be able to say “brothers” to N. J. Peloquin and A. Dicks? Forward your journal to them when done with it. This will help the good cause along.1 A committee composed of Bros. D. Mc- Pherson, C. W. L. ; A. E. Chapman, C. E. L. ; J. M. Mein, General Chairman ; G. T. Jackson and A. Houston, appointed to negotiate with the Dbminion Express, recently submitted a proposition to that company for better work- ing conditions Progress attained is minor, but further action will be taken at the op- portune time, and you will be so advised. So far not a single note has reached me, and unless I get the news it is impossible to have a write-up for our next journal. Boys, watch your overtime ; anyone work- ing Sundays or any other extra time should send in a ticket at time and a half. Live up to your schedule, if you wish to avoid trouble. J. H. Laporte, L. C. Famham Division , Quebec District — We have not had a write-up for several months, but intend to have a good one each month in the future. The undersigned will be glad if the boys will send him items of interest before the 20th of each month so that our write-up may be an interesting one. Handling Government mails by operators from which we are exempted since last sched- ule has now' been satisfactorily arranged. The brothers at Richford, Vt., are relieved of this work while the brothers at Cookshire, Foster, Centre and Missisquoi will receive extra com- pensation with back time since the schedule went into effect. Johnville, Glenton, West Brome, Canrobert, Mystic, South Bolton, Bolton Centre and Warden, non-telegraph stations, known as caretaker agencies, doing billing and account- ing, are receiving schedule salary since April 1st. A circular letter was recently issued to the membership on the Famham Division bear- ing on the most important points, and things will work pretty smoothly if the brothers will carry out instructions contained therein. Brothers who have not yet sent in the first month's increase are requested to do so with- out further delay. Call up the dispatcher on duty and ask to be excused for meal hours, otherwise your overtime slips may be re- turned. Be sure and mail your overtime slips each day. They should be sent in within forty-eight hours from time worked. If you don't send them in each day, you are liable to overlook them. In the matter of overtime be fair and reasonable. In railroading we must Digitized by Google
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776 The Railroad Telegrapher. give and take. We often have to ask favors of the train dispatcher. Recently an oper- ator excused before 6 o'clock one morning, supposed to go at 7, was still around the station a few minutes of 8 when the dis- patcher rang expecting agent who lived in dwelling to answer ; instead the night opera- tor answered, copied a 19 for a meet that took place several hours later and sent in an overtime slip for 45 cents. I believe that is going the limit. Bro. F. A. Reynolds, relieved by Bro. Pa- lardy at Megantic days, is breaking in at Farnham dispatching office. We wish him success. On holidays : Bro. W. J. Berger, two weeks, relieved by Bro. O. Quertin ; Bro. Swan, agent Brookport, by Bro. J. E. Auclair ; Bro. J. A. Proctor, agent Knowlton, by Bro. J. E. Au- clair ; Bro. F. N. Carriere, agent West Shef- ford, by Bro. E. W. Gibbs ; Dispatcher H. A. Gosselin, three weeks, spent traveling in the U. S. in a “tin lizzie Bro. Payer Delson, nights, by Bro. Janelle. Bro. R. J. Gough, dispatcher, and Chief Dispatcher A. E. Gough have gone to Boston a week visiting a brother in the U. S. Army about to sail for France, relieved by Bro. Reynolds and Bro. O. Pepin as acting C. D. Bro. Le Febvre, High water, sick ten days, relieved by Bro. Berthiaume. Bro. J. A. Lapalme, Lennoxville days, was married on May 21st. Best wishes for long life, prosperity and posterity. Our sympathy is extended to Bro. and Mrs. J. C. Willard, Foster nights, owing to the death of their infant. Bro. S. W. Yates, Milan nights, transferred to night foreman, Farnham roundhouse. Bro. Yates, happily married in September, is now' at home on Upper Main street. The first man on this division to benefit through the extended promotion district was Agent J. Lemieux, who bid in Pointe Fortune agency. Bro. Beaumier, a Montreal terminal man, bid in Farnham yard days. Bro. P. Z, Ducharme, agent Johnville, has gone to the C. N. Q. at Quebec. All night winter offices were closed end of April, Bros. Deslandes and Labonte going to Monklands and Dalhousie Mills nights. Bro. O. Paradis is also somewhere on Smiths Falls Division. Bros. J. B. Papillon, V. Sim- ard, A. Dauphin and A. Fafleche returned to Laurentian Division. The other brothers will do relief work here this summer. Bro. R. L. Wilson, Sherbrooke yard days, goes to third Sherbrooke station. Bro. Gariepy, agent Versailles, while in Burlington, Vt., attending the anniversary service of his late wife, contracted a bad attack of pneumonia and was between life and death for several days. We are glad to say he is now on the way to a complete re- cover y. “FA,” Cert. 3640. Bro. G. A. Smith, Farnham dispatching office, is making good use of his new Chev- rolet. Farnham Division will be pretty well rep- resented on the firing line. Bros. C. L. Pope, dispatcher; Agent R. D. Farley, and Day Operator D. A. Morrison, Scotstown, have been “over there” doing their bit for several years. Bros. K. M. Taylor, Lennoxville nights, and A. Bellsle, extra, have volun- teered. the latter with the U. S. Army, while Bros. O. Guertin of Farnham yard and N. Beauchemin, Iberville Junction, have been drafted. Bro. N. Durocher has enlisted with the Engineers at St. Johns, Quebec. Best wishes for their safe and prompt return. New York Central R. R., Div. No. 8. Hudson Division — About 97 per cent on this division bought Liberty Bonds recently. Union men are the ones to show patriotism. An up-to-date card and a Liberty Bond are twins, and every telegrapher should have this pair. There was no regular meeting in may. Local Chairman Fraleigh being on vacation. He and Bro. Lockard, first S. S., 62, took a trip to New York recently. Every member who possibly can should attend the next meeting, June 18th, in Q. A. R. Hall, Poughkeepsie, at 7 :45 p. m. We expect to have some very important business to transact. Bro. Wr. A. Smith, days “DO” 72nd, Is on the car Job in the dispatcher’s office. It’s Bro. Murray on third at S. S. 69 now. Glad to see it solid again. Bro. A. A. Smith has returned to first S. S. 54, after seven months In dispatcher’s office. He recently relieved Bro. McGrath, first 58**, a few’ days, owing to illness. Cert. 149. Canadian Govt. Rys., Div. No. 11. SPECIAL NOTICE. To Members of Divisions 1, 7, 11, 16, 30, 43, 99, 114, 115, 131 and 165 : The federal export law of the United States prohibits the exporting of any metal buttons; therefore, until this law is repealed or amend- ed, we cannot send any O. R. T. emblem but- tons to members in Canada. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Sec. & Treas. District No. 1, Quebec , 8. D. — A number of us probably will soon be at the front. Send me their names and loca- tions and all the other news you can by the 15th of the month so I can get it to St. Louis before the 26th. Our only hope for harmony is fraternalism gained through the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers. We hope to have a meeting shortly and settle all grievances. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 777 Bro. J. McManus, “QC," Is rejoiced that the new “46” wire Is in operation. Bro. Patry, while removing his family to Tap Range, was relieved by Bro. Guillemeuo a few days. Bro. Proulx, relieved by Bro. Grandines, on holiday, enjoying himself with his nice ••McLaughlin," touring the country'. Bro. C. Gingras was relieved by Bro. Ray several days, owing to the arrival of a new boy. Bro. Morneau and a friend visited La Tugue recently and had a "savorous” dinner which cost them $6. Bro. J. E. Lahays was relieved a few days recently by Bro. Guillemette. Bro. Forten on a trip to Quebec, relieved by Bro. Fiset. Thanks to G. A. P. for notes. Keep on ; wish more would do the same thing. Dues paying time June 30th. In order to carry negotiations to a successful conclusion every member is requested to pay up prompt- ly. Don't overlook the O. R. Telegraphers. They have not had a write-up for years, and, as far as I can see, it’s not a hundred per cent. * I wish some brother would line up the O. G. R. and have* a write-up next month from them. Remember, “No curd, no favors ” U. N., Cert. 39. CARD OF THANKS. To the Members of Division No. 11, District No. 1, Quebec, S. D. Dear Brothers : The beautiful floral pillow expressed so much sympathy that I cannot find words in which to conyey my apprecia- tion. It is such kindness that brings com- fort and understanding to those left behind. I assure all th« brothers and friends that their kindness will never be forgotten. Cor- dially yours. J. Aureus Raymond. Delaware and Hudson Ry., Div. No. 12. Saratoga and Champlain Divisions — The announcement in the press of the award of the Railroad Wage Commission, complete details of which were published in the May issue of The Railroad Telegrapher, was not received by the telegraphers on this road with any great enthusiasm. To find that the commission had based its award upon the schedule of wages effective April 1, 1914, was disappointing. When we were denied the benefit of the basic eight-hour day under the Adamson law' and were told it was inexpedient to include us at that time at it would impose too heavy a burden upon the railroads, wre submitted to this discrimination in the hope that in future contracts with the various railroad companies we would be able to secure by concession what we were denied by law. These hopes have been realized on some rail- roads and negotiations were pending with the management of this company w'hen they were abruptly halted by the Government taking over the roads. It is obvious to an unbiased mind that to ask one class of men in the service with little or no opportunity to increase their stated monthly salaries by overtime or otherwise, to wrork ten or twelve hours for a day’s pay, while another class in the same service, with no greater responsibilities or more arduous duties, are paid on an eight-hour basis, is an injustice. When the Government took over the railroads and a wrage commission was appointed to investigate conditions and rec- ommend pay increases to meet the steady ad- vance in the cost of living, it was natural to expect that this gross inequality would be the first to be remedied, but the commission con- fined its recommendations to wage increases only. Telegraphers on a number of roads have been granted the basic eight-hour day by contract ; others have secured the twenty-six day month with straight time or time and a half for Sundays and holidays, vacations with pay, etc., while the rest are working on a ten to twelve-hour basis for 365 days in the year, and must continue under those conditions, if this award is ratified. The injustice of giving all a percentage increase and ignoring conditions lies in the fact that in the final analysis conditions rep- resent money; they cannot be separated in any equitable w'age award, because they are a part of their compensation. Some stand- ardization of conditions, therefore, for each craft is essential to any just settlement. A freight conductor, for instance, receives $4 for eight hours, 100 miles or less; he receives double time for terminal delay if over 45 minutes yarding train. If he makes more than a certain number of stops to set off or pick up cars, he is allowred 25 miles, or $1, additional, and, on some roads, wrher. they cannot get in, so as to take out their regular run, if they are used they are paid double time. As these conditions, with slight variations, are standardized on all roads, their value as a source of added income becomes apparent. Any attempt, therefore, to equalize sal- aries of telegraphers without first equalizing conditions will result only in a widening of the already wid^ difference in their rates of pay. With $300,000,000 a year to be expended in increases f$r employes, it would seem that there could no longer be any excuse for not granting the basic eight-hour day to all, first ; the balance, after this Is done, to be divided by any system that i« the most fair and equitable. Digitized by Uaooole
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778 The Railroad Telegrapher. In these times of stress men are giving either their lives, their service or their sub- stance for their country, every union teleg- rapher worthy to carry a card is expected to give the best service he is capable of rendering, and, when there is a shortage of men and the occasion demands, he must stand ready to work long hours to the end that there shall not be any stop to the for- ward march ; but, when he responds to the call, he has a right to demand the same con- ditions of service that have been granted other railroad men by law, viz. : a basic eight-hour day. A letter, signed by the telegraphers em- ployed in Waterford, N. Y., protesting against the wage award, was sent Chairman Johnson and a telegram also sent to President Per- ham, respectfully requesting that the pro- test be filed with Director General McAdoo before the award was ratified. It is a pleasure to announce that Bro. Johnson had beaten us to it and had sent in a protest before our letter was received. L. B. Burritt, Div. Cor. Atlantic Coast Line R. R., Div. No. 15. Second Division , Montgomery District — Our worthy president is looking out for our interests before the Wage Commission to the fullest extent. Most every man in the district bought a Third Liberty. Bond on the strength of the expected increase from the Government, but as it recommended we would not get enough increase to make our monthly payments on the bonds. We are indebted to Bro. Bennette at "DK” for a nice bunch of notes this month. Bro. R. Black, New Brockton, who has been suffering with a slight infectiort on his right hand, is able to work again. On vacations : Bro. L. O. McEachern, in Virginia, later relieving Agent Wood at Abbeville 15 days. Bro. Strickland, Enter- prise, 15 days, relieved by extra Tidwell, visiting* homefolks and buying Liberty bonds. Bro. A. Strain, Sprague, 15 days, relieved by Bro. Lewis, who later relieved Bro. W. M. Johnson, agent Newton, 15 days, visiting homefolks and fishing. He usually handles five to ten poles at a time. Bro. D. T. Bennett, Waterford agency, wrho “rid” the,K. of P. goat a few nights ago, says the “old ram” gives a fellow a race for his life. He ^(Bro. Bennett — not the goat) has been busy fishing and picking berries recently and already has put up a lot of jelly and other canned stuff. Bro. R. S. Lewis, third Ozark, was very much pleased to find the "Z” bunch solid from "A" to “Z.” Boys, keep after the non next door and let’s make this W’hole dis- trict “solid.” Remember : He that keepeth no “hard” in his “jeans” receiveth “no favors.” Elba, Ala., brothers are flying a service flag with two stars. One for their porter recently drafted and one for Bro. G. B. Huey, who enlisted for overseas duty. We all wish them success and a safe return. Bro. T. H. Cook has been having trouble with his eyes, but they are better. It is now Bro. E. M. Smith at “K” and Bro. O. Horance and T. F. Barfield at “DS“ Dothan, with Bro. Dean assisting the. chief during the heavy business. It is also Bro. Bush, ticket agent ; Bro. Baggett, second, and Bro. Lewis, third Ozark. Answer calls promptly and give the dis- patcher all the information you can to as- sist in moving trains promptly. Send by the 18th the happenings around your sta- tions to Bro. Munn at Grimes., so we can have a good write up each month from this district. It will only take you a minute or two to do this. Also advise Local Chair- man Stokes of any new men coming to the district without up-to-date cards. Cbrt. 1 20. Waycross District — On the sick list recently : The wife of Bro. Dixon, first Waycross ; latter relieved a few* days by Bro. Mansfield. Moore Fair- fax relieved by Bro. J. C. Starling. Bros. Sweat, Boston, and Ratcliflfe, Thomasville. Bro. Crittendon Pelham, our regular cor- respondent, is on his 15 days’ vacation. Millwood, Boston, Maonor, Homerville, Tarver and McAlpin have been made three- trick offices on account of heavy business, making plenty of work for the extra men. Bro. Brandon, second Tift on, going into the fishing business in Florida, has some fine Angora goats for sale* Bro. J. A. Bush, third quitman, was a re- cent Tifton caller. Bro. Ridged ill is now with the W. U. in Savannah. We are sorry to lose such a loyal union man and good operator. It’s now Bro. McDowell, Acree, and Bro Vaughn, Tifton, Ga. Brothers, keep after the few' nons ; some among the extra men and a few’ already assigned. Give them no rest until you have sent their applications with the price to Bro. Williams at Wilson, N. C., or Bro. Stewart, at Dupont. They are getting the same benefits we receive from the O. R. T. and it’s not right for us to carry their burden. Remember our motto, “No card , no favors.” Also the “bat- tle cry” of our Grand Secretary and Treas- urer, “60,000 members the present year.” Bro. Brandon and ye scribe went fishing recently and were chased by a farmer and his bulldog into a swamp from which we W’ere pried out with a rail, Bro. Brandon leaving the seat of his trousers with the Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 779 pup. We returned from this pleasant out- ing with the usual fishermen's luck — no fish. Bra Mansfield sails for France shortly via the Camp Gordon, Atlanta route. We hope for his sale and glorious return. The Central of Georgia haw taken over the ACL yards at Albany, cutting us out of three Jobs, but we are glad to know that it will still be solid. The ACL has consolidated the AB&A and Sou yards at Brunswick, Ga. Bro. Hancock, Waycross yard, sends so many consists when on duty that he dreams about them. One night recently his wife discovered him standing up in bed, telling Savannah : "Go ahead ACL 33294, next car.” I am indebted to Bro. Powell, "FN" third, for most of this write-up. Come again. "NS," Curt. 1733, Tlfton third, Act. Cor. Columbia District — There are still a few delinquents, and some who owe the five dollars assessment. June is the last month of the first term. Don’t wait until June payday to pay your dues. We cannot handle your grievances when you are sixty days or more behind. Don't allow these things to run on and on until the very last minute. We would have a much better division if you will read your constitution and make yourselves familiar with the schedule. I am answering corre- spondence every day, when if the writers were familiar with the schedule it would not be necessary. The men are enlisting and some are being taken to the camps, necessitating two men stations to work with one man and three men stations to work with two men. At a three man station the same number of hours constitutes a day for a two man as a three man station. But when a two man station .is reduced to a one man station it means one man to do all the work. But when your second man is removed temporarily, your overtime begins at the expiration of the eighth hour, just the same as if he was on and you were held by proper authority. Your hours cannot be changed every day or so to suit the occasion ; therefore, when your second man Is removed for any reason, you claim overtime after the expiration of the eighth hour, and if it is rejected and you are up to date and not sixty days or more behind idth your dues, officials on our dis- trict can see that you get your just deserts. Let me know of any member enlisting or being drafted from your station, with as nearly the correct date as possible and what service he enters. This list must be kept up in order that their seniority may be kept correctly. Bro. Jeff M. Davis, Jr., of Remini, has enlisted in the Navy Radio service. Bro. Warrlner is in the Ordnance Department at Washington, and Bro. Smith from Barnwell is "signalling" at Camp Jackson. Kindly send me copy of your application for vacation relief. We are very short of men, but the relief agent will be used to relieve some. I will shortly send you all a list of the nons and delinquents and hope you will assist me in landing at least the one who may be right in your office. C. Bolick, L. C. Columbia District Notes — Bro. Carter, who relieved in "FN" Flor- ence a few days, and Bro. Crosswell, Tim- monsville, Sunday recently, is now at Simms Camp Jackson. Bro. Sasser, dis- charged by Camp Jackson recently, is back on Lynchburg second. Bro. Hyatt, Lynchburg, is back at Lynch- burg. Bro. Mabry, relieved on first Columbia by Bro. Jourdon several days account sickness in his family. Third closed, no available man, while Harris relieved Bro. Jourdon on second. Bro. Dowling, Barnwell second, re- lieved at Robbins a few days. Some of the boys being on the sick list. The force doubled in "FN" Florence two days while Bro. Bolick attended the meeting of the General Committee at Savannah. O. L. J. Jr., Div. Cor. Michigan Central R. R., Div. No. 16. SPECIAL NOTICE. To Members of Divisions 1, 7, 11, 16, 39, 43, 99, 114, 115, 131, 133 and 155: The Federal Export Law of the United States prohibits the exporting of "any metal buttons therefore, until this law is re- pealed or amended, we cannot send any O. R. T. emblem buttons to members in Canada. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer. Bay City Division — Utica was closed 2 p. m. to 9 p. m. on account of Bro. Howell being sick a few days. Rochester third also closed when Montambault went to Utica three days. Bro. Howell, transferred to the main line, was relieved by Miss Grover. Sorry to have him leave us, but wish him success. The wife of Bro. Light at Reese is very sick with typhoid pneumonia. We all wish for her rapid recovery. It is with many regrets that we report the death of Bro. Frank Foster's wife, after an illness of about ten days with pneumo- nia. She leaves three children, her hus- band, other relatives and a host of friends to mourn her death, to whom we tender our sincere sympathy in their great loss. Digitized by v^ooole
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780 The Railroad Telegrapher. "F” Office Detroit Relay — Bro. Mike Stiles Is acting night chief dis- patcher while Chiefs Cavanagh and Whall- han are making their road trips. Bro. Miller is relieving the dispatchers for the same reason. Bro. Thompson, relieved by a commercial man, is enjoying his vacation by improving the beauty of his home. Bro. Alden is also on vacation, relieved by Mr. Bourke from the Postal. Mr. Vandervort, former telephone engi- neer of the M. C., who some time ago ac- cepted a commission in the army, is now a Captain. We know "Van*’ will do his share to make life for '‘Bill” intolerable. J. H. Remick, for a number of years chief dispatcher at Detroit, who recently suffered a light stroke of paralysis, is now in North- ern Michigan recuperating. Bro. I). N. Smith, in Washington, D. C.. on committee work, is being relieved in the dispatcher's office by Bro. Hanlon. Thanks to Bro. Townes for the “F” office notes. L. W. W., Cert. 1165. Northern Division — Bro. Diffenderfer, Cheboygan, was off two days, and Bros. Sutherland and Robertson worked twelve hours each. Bros. Bissell, Indian River, and Allen, Topinabee, have their fishing equipment all greased up and, expect a fine season. Bro. Geo. Stokes has returned to East Jordan after a two weeks’ vacation, reliev- ing Bro. Geo. Needham. Bro. C. C. Coolbaugh, second Standish, enlisted, Bro. Rifenburg relieving Bartlett from Loranger third (closed), relieving the latter on Standish third. Horrigan, Loranger, Chandler, and second and third Water Street Junction closed per- manently on account of the shortage of men. Bro. Gilbert, West Side Bay City, relieved Bro. Ueberhorst at “DI,” who relieved Bro. Geo. Needham in dispatcher’s office. Bro. Jack Winters relieving on third Bay City WS. Bro. McCalpin relieved Bros. June at Bath and Baguley at Bennington on account of sickness. Later Bro. O. D. Campbell, third Mason, relieved Bro. June a few days on account of sickness, Bros. Kinsey and Lewis working twelve hours. Bro. Lewis, second ^lason, has gone with an auto firm at Lan sing. f Bro. Whitney's wife, who was so severely burned a few weeks ago, died May 16 at their home in Bath. This was a very sad affair, and the brothers of the Northern Di- vision sympathize deeply with Bro. Whitney, in his great loss. The recommendations of the Wage Com- mission that all increases be based on the salaries of 1915 is not being looked upon very favorably by railway employes, the amount which would be derived from this basis not being sufficient to meet the high cost of living which is steadily mounting. Strong protests were made and it is hoped the award will be based on the current year. Cert. 63. Penna. R. R. Lines East, Div. No. 17. Pittsburgh Division — I have been asked to contribute something to the Fraternal Department, and as I do not know' what usually goes into such arti- cles, I will deviate a little by saying I know you have all the work you want. If w’ork wras all we needed to produce contentment there would be no protests to be made, but as the chattel slave had all the wTork he wanted there must be something other than work among your desires. Several have answered the call of War from this division. We trust they will make better fighters in defense of international rights than many of them have made in defense of labor’s rights. We are making headway in organizing this great system of railroad since opposi- tion has been withdrawn, but not as speedy as w'e should. Instead of ninety or a hun- dred a week, w'e should have a deluge of applications. While the untenable opposi- tion (based on a false assumption) existed, the national body came forward with as- sistance. Now we should not need this, as not only has opposition been withdrawn, but indirectly yoif are invited to attach yourself to a bona fide organization since such con- tributes tow'ard military success by simpli- fying the labor problem, maintaining sta- bility that would be -impossible under indi- vidualism, and increasing the efficiency of labor. Now If the germ of organization is not within you, then you are hopeless, and assistance is wasted. There are now only two reasons for non- membership— Poverty and Selfishness — both too prevalent. True, the individual telegra- pher has never been blessed with w'ealth. and there are many drains now on his very limited income, Liberty Bonds, Red Cross subscriptions. War Savings Stamps, Thrift Stamps, tobacco funds, etc., all commenda- ble. To these can be added the soaring cost of life’s necessities that has made his dollar of ten or twelve years ago about forty- seven and three-tenth cents under present conditions. So that poverty seems a plausi- ble refuge, but there must be a limit, as no lawT of nature can take more out at the outlet than comes in at the inlet, but while protecting yourself in your national life against the inroads of the ‘‘Hun’’ from abroad, you should not neglect to protect yourself from the "Hun” at home, not a per- Digitized by AaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. - 781 sonal but rather impersonal, or even fur- ther, the institutional “Hun" politely called “Business Principles." The force that im- pels the individual to secure an accumula- tion regardless of the effect on others, the economic law that prompts employers to buy the greatest amount of human labor at the least possible cost, makes you more helpless than Belgium was before the mod- ern “Attila," when you act as an Individual. Don’t be selfish, that is not a man’s stature, or make up. “Do your bit.” Don’t think you can always have your hand in the bag drawing out unless you put your little mite in it, Inquiring, What is coming our uvay? and never contributing anything to pull it your way. You resent the reproachful word “slacker” in national but practice it in in- dustrial defense. You want trustworthy representation, but refuse to foot the bill, even in a small way. A representative labor group is not a miracle worker that simply calling its name will bring you industrial blessings. The walls of modern industrial opposition don’t fall like the legendary walls of Jericho by the mere mention of a name or magical methods. Your organization is what you make it, it does what you do yourselves. If you contribute and work you reap the reward ; if you do neither you har- vest what selfishness deserves. The Pennsylvania telegraphers, tourer- men, etc., are a lucky (?) bunch. They were twice represented (?) before the Na- tional Wage Board that was handling mat- ters of general policy. Once by a represen- tative of a national group of near 50,000 telegraphers, towermen, etc., in U. S. A., and once by a representative of a system group (membership unknown) and author- ity to represent a mystery, that newspaper headlines inform us appeared with the “Little Fellows” (poor unfortunate, and ex- ploited Pullman porters, etc.) and over- lapped that which had already been repre- sented from coast to coast and north to south. Ye gods ! the telegraphers of the largest and richest railroad company in the country artiong the “Little Fellows.” Now if the “Ahkound of Swat” could only secure a commission from the “President of Tim- buctoo" to represent the “snake charmers of India” the comedy would be complete. A word to the ladies thdt are coming in numbers among us. The O. R. T. never discriminates on sex lines. Economic con- ditions have thrown you out into the indus- trial world, and you have the problem of existence to solve. You are welcome, and don’t be discouraged if some “feather head” calls you an interloper. Hundreds of your sex are already members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers. So you are wel- come as an industrial sister, for you need protection even more than the men do. The tendency of industrial principles is — when you can secure a woman cheaper than a man, employ the woman, and when you can get a child cheaper than either, choose the child, and. one of the cardinal principles of labor organizations is to secure the same wages for a woman as for a man, when she is performing the same kind of labor. If the man needs protection, you doubly need it. To the young man just entering and en- joying conditions that the older man did not have when he entered ; conditions that did not grow without the effort of over a quarter of a century : Don’t labor under the impression that the condition of the teleg- rapher and towerman was as you found it. The house of improved conditions was built a brick at a time, but it is still incomplete. Change is one prominent feature in the world of industry. The future brings with it new problems that can only be solved by concerted action of numbers. The statis- tics of mortality only allot a few more years to the older men and women, it is for you to take charge of the helm, for as the older members needed protection in the past and present those just entering will need it none the less since the fundamental causes that gave organized labor its birth are still with us. Study this problem as you study no other, advanced precaution in the present will save you bitter experiences in the future. Cert. No. 10. Pittsburgh Division Notes — Since the several meetings at Pittsburgh, Altoona and Greensburg the operators have been joining in large numbers, and the Southwest branch is lining up in great shape. Each one try and get at least one new member and send his application to W. M. Skinner, 115 S. Potomac St., Balti- more, Md. The dues for June are $5.26, which pays up till June 30th, initiation fees included. The rate for July is $9. You have two months to pay the division dues which are $4.50 every six months after you become a member. The increases which the wage board rec- ommends were unsatisfactory and the O. R. T. officials immediately filed protest. So we must be patient, until the matter has been finally decided. After the war is over we will need an organization more than ever to hold what increase is accorded us, and every new member we get is a point nearer the percentage necessary to secure recognition before the labor commission at Washington, D. C. We are pleased with the fighting spirit shown on the Trenton Division, and cer- tainly enjdyed his write-up. He is the kind of a worker that wins. We should copy Digitized by tjOOQie
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782 The Railroad Telegrapher. his spirit, as there need be no fear of dis- charge now for joining the organization. The girl we are now proud to call "Sister” on the Simburg Division, who walked five miles to join the O. R, T., shows that same spirit. We wish there were more like her in this district where it is handy for any one who wishes to join. All they have to do is let the local chairman know. He will lose a day's sleep if necessary to land the prospective member. We have a number of girls on this division we are proud to call "Sisters.’' Also who are giving the male contingent a merry chase for honors. They are wearing a little service button of the Order and will be accorded a square deal when the day of reckoning comes on the P. R. R. The members on the "Lines West" are moving rapidly toward their goal, and we wish them success. The Liberty Bond campaign was a "big success," and the members of the telegraph department did their duty. Bro. Standley, now pensioned, is able to be around at all our meetings. We are proud of this grand old man, who, in spite of his years, is still a member and has put many a younger operator to shame by his steadfast principles in remaining in the Order. If this old young man can see his way clear to be with us surely more can do likewise. He has done his "bit," and we hope he can be with us when we " go over the top ” This great organization of ours was made possible by just such men. "Hats off” to "Jake." He has a beautiful gold watch presented to him by the telegraphers and others which gives him much pleasure to exhibit and shows the feeling the oper- ators have for him on this division. We hope Bro. Miller’s health will improve. It was his tireless efforts that kept the Penn- sylvania Division in line during the years of antagonism and dual organizations. He has built a foundation for us, and it is our duty to put the finishing touches to the job. A new day is here ; let’s bring it to a glorious ending. Any notes of interest on the division should be sent to Bro. Jno. R. DInge, Jr., 7051 Bennett St. E. E., not later than the 20th of each month for next month's issue. We would like to see a write-up from this and the Monn Division every month. Some energetic brother should see to this. Look carefully over the "Blue Book,” and see what other roads have in the way of schedules and what a vast difference com- pared with the camouflage schedule sent out by the representatives of the P. R. R. We hope to soon have our name on the honor roll in this blue book with one of the best schedules in the IJ. S. for the best railroad in the world. Cert. 1525. Sunbury Division — The day for the unorganized railroad telegraphers is at hand to decide for union- ism and the rights of the working class, or against unionism and for the might of the master class ; for unionism and industrial democracy, or against unionism and for in- dustrial autocracy. For economic freedom, or for economic bondage and servitude. You are the judges and your decision will de- termine what your future shall be. Indecision, irresolution and vacillation are now your only foes. The neutral ground is a reservation for the unconscious and the arrant coward on which to play the ignoble role of poltroon and the inglorious. President Perham was in Washington, D. C., when the Railroad Wage Board an- nounced its recommendations for wage in- creases and immediately filed objection to the increase being based on the wages of December, 1915, and was given a hearing by Hon. McAdoo on May 13. The O. R. T. insists that the increase recommended by the Wage Board be Applied to the wages of December, 1917, and not December, 1916. A favorable adjustment is expected. Sisters Lill and Gertrude Jones and Bros. P. J. Doyle and Vandling attended the re- cent meeting of the L. V. and C. of N. J. Telegraphers at Wilkesbarre and report these roads virtually solid. Bro. Coll spent a few hours at Sou. Dan- ville recently on an important business mis- sion and Bro. F. S. Troy transacted a little business in Wilkesbarre recently. Bro. Vandling spent his relief days at Harrisburg and Pittsburg. Bro. Swank spent his at Wolverton. Bro. Kapp spent his in Bloomsburg, and Bro. Weaver in Sunbury, and Bro. Phillips and family at Wapwallopen and Philadelphia. Bro. W. C. Brecher attended the state convention of the K. G. E. at Sunbury. Bro. Hendershot is on Mainville third ex- tra. Beware of that cadaverous official camera. It is believed that it eavesdrops and "snitches." Cbrt. 3247. Williamsport Division — The membership i$ constantly growing and increasing in interest. The rank and file see now more clearly than ever before that the reason why they don’t have a schedule like other large lines is because they did not want it bad enough to get it. Organized labor can have anything within the bound* of reason Its members want, but only when they want it bad enough to use the strength they possess. It is certainly pleasing to no- tice how the older members are taking re- newed interest in their welfare and awaken- ing the nons who are becoming so scarce that they are in a class by themselves. We Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 783 are all dependent each upon the other. The sooner we And It out and work “all for one and one for all,” the better It will be for all of us. Business of whatever nature and in- terest is interwoven and depends upon some other. If you damage one link of a chain you weaken it. We must all work together for results and try to help the other in order to reach the goal and secure the long looked for schedule. Brothers and Sisters, take on renewed courage and let your lights so shine that all around you may know that you have the love of mankind within your breast and that the unionism there enshrined cannot be stamped out, from what source the blow may come. Declare your freedom and in- dependence and help to make your fellow- man free. All glory and all honor to the noble bunch of girls on this division for their loyalty and fidelity in this great cause, which counts for so much in these days when pa- triotism runs so high. The meeting held at Lockhaven was a rouser. Think of it, holding three sessions in one day and taking in fifteen members at a place where we were never before able to change the minds of any of those men. They are now proud to be known as members of the O. R. T. The men and girls are still coming in from that section and on the B. E. V. Division. They got a sprinkling of the good work at the meetings and could not wait until they got back home. We are going “over the top" on this sys- tem in the very near future and want every one to pay his dues promptly. If you have not remitted your semi-annual dues and M. B. assessments do so immediately. Make this your first obligation when you get your pay. Remit your semi-annual dues to Bro. Wm. M. Skinner, 115 South Potomac St., Baltimore, Md., and your M. B. assessments to Bro. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer, St. Louis. Mo. Don’t worry about the schedule. We are going to land it very soon, and you can hurry it along by prompt remittance and assisting to round up the few nons still dodging the issue. We must all do our very best so we can secure what rightfully be- longs to us. “So we’ll pray and we’ll pay and be glad every day That the craft will be safe when we’re done. We will win the fight, tor God knows we are right, We will fight till victory is won.” Cert. 7. Baltimore Division — We can now hold membership in the O. R. T., work as train dispatcher or in the superintendent’s office of the Pennsylvania R. R.t without any question about either getting a withdrawal card or having to go back to the foot of our class “block work.” This decided change was brought about by “General Order No. 8,” a figure none of us should ever forget and should be looked at in this manner: “8” FREEDOM. We are not. going into details as to why that general order was issued, nor the withdrawing of a certain class who were used to disrupt our organization men. Watch the indicator of our membership from January 1, 1918, un- til the close of this year and you will need no further proof. There will not be enough nons. left to talk about. You will soon be in a position to have your grievances adjusted in a legal manner by a committee elected by your ballots to represent you. The O. R. T. is built on the foundation of efficiency, loyalty and patriot- ism, so be on the Job alj the time while on duty and give no cause for any unjust criti- cism. Be loyal to your employer by not reporting off at the last moment unless the case warrants such action, making a hard- ship on your department and the man you are to Relieve. Thus you will show your loyalty to your employer and the teachings of your organization and your patriotism to your country at this time when men are very scarce and your grievances will be properly adjusted. Prove to the Director General of Railroads, to the management of the Pennsylvania Railway and to the criticis- ing public that the only way to handle a large body of men in a legal and refined manner is through a properly conducted organization, and we 'will never have a repetition of what we old O. R. T. men have experienced the past eight or nine years. This division is in good shape, but we can make it still better by every member going afte* the nons and explaining why they should Join the ranks of an organization that represents them. We must not stop until we have a membership of 100 per cent including dispatchers and superintendents’ office men. Some of them have been away from the organization so long, and others never were members. This make it slow work, but be patient with them and you will eventually win them over — as right is might and must prevail. Learn to forget past of- fenses and forgive those who have erred. There is no question about the general dissatisfaction among the men in regard to the recommendation of the wage board, but Bro. Perham as usual was in Washington first on the Job in our behalf and will bring about satisfying results, w’hile Bro. Miller is in St. Louis doing his ‘“bit.” All our officers are doing their best to better our conditions and it is our duty, being the ones to derive the benefit, to show our appreciation for Digitized by Google
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784 The Railroad Telegrapher. their efforts and do all in our power to in- crease our membership by every one doing the part they are supposed to do. This is my second year of serving you boys on the Baltimore Division as Local Chairman, and sorry to say there has been very little service I could do for you other than doing my part in organizing the men, but I am very glad to say that I have been successful recently in filing the appli- cations of about 40 men and have quite a number of prospects. There are quite a few members and non -members on the di- vision I have never had the pleasure of meeting, and I would love to meet every one in the telegraph department from Hbg. to Battov at any time that I can be of any service to any of you. Write me and it will be my pleasure to assist you. We have set July 4 as our button day, when every member is expected to put his O. R. T. button on and continue showing what he is and what the man is that has no btitton, which represents his craft. Hoping to see the greatest activity shown among all our men, I sign for the first time. Yours fraternally, N. G. Wilson, L. C., Balto. Div. No. 17. Trenton Division — Wonderful things have taken place on this division in the past few months. When the telegraphers simply favored petitioning their employers and accepting the miserable pit- tance handed them as a gift, they seemed to not yet have sensed the need or efficiency of getting together as one man and demand- ing the same treatment accorded their fel- low workers on other great railroad systems. This has all been changed and today, '‘Or- ganize/* “Organize” “ORGANIZE!” is the watchword from one end of the division to the other. The men and women arey now practically a unit in the belief, long held by the members of the O. R. T., on other sys- tems throughout the country that thorough organization is the only sure remedy for the ills the wage earners of all crafts have long suffered from. To those who have “seen the light” and Joined our organization, I extend a hearty welcome, and to those who have not yet affiliated with us, my earnest solicitation is to do so at once. Through the efforts of our organization thousands of telegraphers are now enjoying advanced wages and better working condi- tions, and these beneficent advantages will accrue to all who are willing to join the only railroad telegraph organization which claims that every man and woman in the service of any corporation should be allow-ed to exercise the Inalienable right of a free people to follow the dictates of their own consciences in matters affecting their lib- erty of action in considering their mode of living and status of employment. Help us perfect this organization on the lines of the Pennsylvania R. R., as it will not only be a benefit to ourselves, but also to our co-workers on all the other systems of the country. _ Brothers and Sisters, make it your busi- ness to ascertain who are still outside our ranks and if you cannot land them let me know, as we want every one of them to be- come a wTorking member of our Order. Remember that we are now working for the government and give the best service possible — not only that, but wTe must be patient while the Railroad Wage Commis- sion is considering the advance we have asked for. Although the wheels of Justice may grind slowly, they also grind surely, and the result is bound to be satisfactory when the decision Is finally reached. Don’t forget that the linemen also belong in our organization, and at every oppor- tunity extend them a hearty invitation -to Join with us. J. H. Praull. Burlington, N. J. West Jersey and Seashore Division — Our President is looking after the inter- ests of every telegrapher in the United States, whether a member or not of our organization, and he is the only recognized authority that can appear for our class at Washington, D. C. We should see that all the few nons who are still out become mem- bers at once and put up a solid front he may be backed by the full strength of the employes in our department of the road ; also see that every one not paid up for this term is put in good standing. "We all know what is necessary to become members of the O. R. T. Ask Bros. Miller, Skinner or Local Chairman Nightingale of Newfield for an application blank. Fill out and send to W. M. Skinner, 115 S. Potomac St., Balti- more, with $5.25 for June. Our membership is growing fast and we are soon going over the top. The signalmen organized in two W’eeks and are now 98 per cent strong on this di- vision. The linemen who repair the telephones are eligible to our organization. Talk it over with them and get them in with us. We hope the few delinquents on the C\ & A. will pay up at once, and get the rest ol the men on this division lined up solid. The Trenton Division boys have a nice member- ship and we can make our division at least 90 per cent strong by July 1 If the men will do their duty. Prof. Patterson is now In the trainmas- ter’s office, relieved of his professorship by T. A. Hitchner, Glassboro first. G. E Bostwlck, third there, has graduated as a pharmacist. Digitized by L.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 785 W. F. Thompson went to second “UR four days, vice Windstein, who hurt his back, now at "UN.*' Weigand goes to relief lever job Camden Terminal, relieved by Blakely on second “RM" tower. C. A. Jones, leverman “W" Tower, Is now phone opera- tor at Wallace. Ladies are working at Lucaston and Sew- ell, and one posting at Newfleld, Clarksboro and Pedricktown. R. P. Mottisher is on first "PR" Cam- den, relieved at Sewell by Miss Starkey. J. R. Treat on special duty was relieved by W. H. Philer at Pitman agency. W. Lenhart, one of our old men, is back at "BR." Our “AD" office was transferred into "A'’ Tower just across the tracks and Happy Hurley is now relieved from a dangerous place. “Nickel Plate” R. R., Div. No. 18. Chicago Division — New members : Chas. H. Bible, Girard, O. ; Foust Foster, Latty, O. ; Miss Mary F. Greenleaf, Wickliffe, O. ; John P. Ryan and Miss Jessie V. Saunders, Ft. Wayne, Ind. ; R. C. Cooper, Bellevue, O. ; R. H. Rans- berger, Burnham, 111. ; Nora B. Schuh, Con- tinental, O. ; Fred Helmbreck, Kingsville, O., and James E. Barry, Kimball, O. Brothers and Sisters, please pay up your dues and special assessments, and get ready to pay your next dues starting July 1. We need the money to pay for committee work. Send all remittances to Bro. E. E. Ensley, South Whitley, Ind. Bro. “Bill” Neff is being relieved at Claypool by Bro. Royal Neff, his son. Brothers, I have not received any items from you for two months. I wish that each one of you would drop me a line when there is a change made at your office, so we can have the Chicago Division items appear each month in The Telegrapher. Otherwise it will be very hard to have a regular write- up. “R” "SY,” Cert. 375. Fort Wayne Division — Second Trick Dispatcher Whitaker, off six days on account of sickness, relieved by Extra Dispatcher Ryan. As required every three months, dispatch- ers recently made a trip over the division. Nickel Plate employes numbering 152 par- ticipated in the Liberty Loan parade as a unit on April 6 at Ft. Wayne, Ind. One of the features in the march was our service flag, showing 372 men from the "Nickel Plate" have taken up arms against German militarism. A grand showing of which we are all proud. Most all employes subscribed when the Liberty Loan Special went over this division. Bro. C. J. Ericson, first Leipsic Junction, is now the Honorable Mayor of Leipsic. Congratulations. Bro. E. G. Benskin, Continental second, was on the sick list a few days recently ; also Bro. Roy Jacobs, first Continental. Bro. Hughie Hotter, Ft. Wayne, has en- listed in the Engineer Corps. Bro. F. W. Johnson, third Payne, is now at Camp Sher- man. Bro. F. W. Coates, our hustling Di- vision correspondent, has also enlisted and left for the training camp, relieved on third Glasgow by Bro. H. T. Heckman. We will all miss Bro. Coates and hope for his safe return when the war is over. New members : H. A. Zornstorff and Chas. M. Egler, Cleveland ; Miss Bertha Most, Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Clair W. Houghton, Town- wood, Ohio. Almost every t man on a posi- tion covered by our schedule is a member or has an application for membership now on file except D. L. Bunner, Mentone, Ind., and R. B. Dickerson, Hammond, Ind. Re- member our motto: “No card, no favors with men who refuse to join. Those who have not as yet paid the spe- cial assessment of $4 levied on February 7 please hurry remittance to cover, to Bro. E. E. Ensley, South Whitley, Ind. Bro. D. E. Wolfe, Mortimer first, taking in sights in Chicago several days, relieved by Miss Hostetler. We have read with great interest Presi- dent Perham’s testimony before the Federal Wage Commission in Washington, D. C. When it comes to presenting our side of a case before such bodies, Bro. Perham sure is there. Cert. 37. Third District— New members : Ralph D. Miller, Union ville, O. ; Miss Helen A. Canfield and F. J. Fabel, Cleveland, O. ; Robert McLain and Milo C. Dimmick, Fort Wayne; Ralph J. Meyers, North East, Pa. ; John B. Wanda, Painesville, O. ; Mrs. Florence Monroe, East Cleveland, O. ; H. J. Thomas, Argos, Ind. ; R. H. Jones, Melrose, O. ; C. R. Koch, Shin- rock, O. ; Miss Luella Killworth, Millers City, O. ; Mrs. N. B. Ferguson, Oakwood, O., and H. V. Hastings, Latty, O. On vacations : Bro. L. M. Walker, first, and Bro. Griffin, agent Colby, latter relieved by Bro. Doster, relief agent, who later re- lieved Bro. P. D. Russell, Old Fort, and then reported for military service. We regret to lose him. Bro. Houghton temporarily on third trick Maple Grove. Bro. Kelley, sec- ond Green Springs Junction, relieved by Operator Narber, who also relieved Bro. C. C. Draper, second Leipsic Jet. a few days. Boys, get busy on Narber. Bro. Clinger, third Leipsic Jet., on his honeymoon relieved by Sister Ferguson, who also relieved Bro. Holmes, first Ft. Wayne several days. Digitized by Google
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786 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. W. L. O’Kuly, agent Millers City, on account of the death of his brother, was re- lieved by Sister ICillworth. Owing to Bro. Collette’s illness, Brothers Smith and Rice were compelled to double one day recently. We are pleased to have Bro. Cork back at Broughton, after his recent illness. Bro. Jack Hayzlett. to third Payne, and Bro. W. L. O’kuly, third Glasgow avenue. Roth, a new man, is on first West Ft. Wayne. Bro. V. R. Bender and Barron, “FO,” changed trick several weeks. There are a very few who have not yet paid their dues for this term or the special assessment. If this strikes you please get busy. F. B. Upstill, agent Perry, O., since No- vember last, still stalling. Jar his memory often, boys. Cert. 37. Cleveland Division — Extra Cyrus Martin, an old timer from the old Lake Shore, goes to second Ashta- bula Siding, vice Loftus, from the Pennsyl- vania, who had been given the trick through an error. The brothers at Ashtabula Sid- ing will line Martin up. Extra Loftus to third East Lorain ten days. A rousing meeting was held at Ashtabula May 15th by the N. Y. Central, which was attended by Bros. Wilson and Forney from Madison and Jones and Hammond from Ashtabula, they being the only ones from the Nickel Plate who accepted the Invita- tion. About forty present, including General Chairman Kipp, of the N. Y. C. Lots of pep and determination was exhibited by the gathering. It is Sister Mrs. Florence Monroe on first Rocky River, referred to heretofore in er- ror as “Miss” Monroe. Mrs. Bertha Hough- ton, second there, and Mr. Bush, of third, have changed tricks, as she cannot handle the baggage. Bro. Slee resigned the Willoughby agency on account of ill health and has gone to Wil- loughby Siding. We earnestly hope for his improvement. He is a faithful employe and a good brother. Brothers, if you have a non at your sta- tions who won’t join give the train and en- gine crews a tip. Don’t withdraw your bids on positions the officials wish to give to lady phoners until you communicate with the general chair- man, as he might be able to fix the matter up with the superintendent so you can take them when relieved at the station you va- cate or when the war is over. This was thoroughly explained in the May Telegra- pher. "Unity.” N. Y. C. R. R. Lines West, Div. No. 19. Some of you brothers on the R. H. Divi- sion, send me over some news. It will be greatly appreciated. Bro. Stagner has moved his family from Oberlin to Fremont. He is now on third there, relieved by Bro. Earl Helling on third "OB,” vice Peake, to night agent Elyria, vice Colvin, now with the Pullman company. Bro. Conley to third "RH,” and Arthur Cur- rier to third "UN.” Glenn B. Dollard, Oberlin, who enlisted in the Signal Corps, has been promoted to cor- poral. A. C. C. at ”MC,” Cert. 1392. Brie Division — We were all sorry to hear of the death May 19 of Henry Gruber, station master at Erie for a number of years. Mr. Gruber was very low for some time and suffered greatly during the past year. The railroad boys raised a goodly sum and bought a large quantity of flowers for his funeral. The meeting held in the Y. M. C. A. at Ashta May 15th was attended by all the boys who could possibly get relieved from duty. Bro. T. H. Starr, Dunkirk, was relieved a few days by Bro. H. Sonne on account of Illness. # Bro. C. W. Turner, who is planting a large garden near the new yard, west of Dock Jet., attended a safety meeting May 13th. Bro. Gross is now on his farm preparing for a “bumperous” crop this year. Bro. O. K. Hass, second W Tower, was relieved a few days by Bro. E. W. Hass. Bro. Johnson bid in second Wesleyville. Bro. D. A. Pratt is now in training at Camp Dix, N. J. Bro. Hansel man, second Lake View, was called to the colors recently. Many of the boys along the line lately who have been compelled to work twelve hours at intervals on account of the short- age of men, do not seem to like the old hours. “Not Signed.” Alliance Division — Supt. Watkins transferred to the Valley Branch, vice Mr. Lloyd to Chicago, suc- ceeded by E. W. Brown on this division. This makes four superintendents on this di- vision within a year. A lady is filling in on Minerva first, mak- ing five on this division now. Superintendent of Telegraph Finley was over the division recently looking over the ground preparatory to installing a new mes- sage telephone. Traveling Freight Agent Orr, Roadraaster Lemon, Supervising Agent Ulrich and Claim Agent Miller tried their luck with the rod in Milton Lake at Davis one day recently Digitized by Google
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The Railkoaij Telegrapher. 787 and caught all two of them could carry home. Bro. Bettis is relieving the dispatchers. Both relief agents are trying to All half dozen open jobs, so vacation signs are scarce. Relief Agent Rommes is at Piney Fork agency, vice Hopper resigned. Some one on the South End sends me a note occasionally for the writeup. Don’t forget the non next door to you. L. L. Allen, Div. Cor. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to extend our sincere thanks to the Members of The Golden Rule Telegra- phers’ Club and N. Y. C. System Local Di- vision No. 19, Order of Railroad Telegra- phers, for the beautiful floral piece at the funeral of our beloved wife and mother, Florence Hull Roebuck. Arthur D. Roebuck and daughter, Wini- fred Roebuck. N. Y., O. A W. Ry., Div. No. 20. Northern Division — The General Committee met at the Waldo Hotel, Middletown, N. Y., April 27th and drew up new schedule which was presented to Company May 1st. A few changes were made in the rules and a flat percentage in- crease asked for with the understanding that any increase allowed us by the Govern- ment would be deducted from our demands. We do not expect to get a conference with the officials until after it is definitely de- cided what we are to receive through the efforts of the Railroad Wage Commission. Bro. A. S. Peck has the sympathy of the boys of Division 20 in the loss of his mother, who was called to the Great Beyond re- cently. Bro. J. J. Hartigan, on six days’ vacation, was relieved by Relief Operator DeGroodt, who also relieved Bro. Kimball while on committee work, and later relieved Bro. C. D. Soule a few days while he attended the graduation exercises of his daughter, Ruth, who had become a nurse in a Syracuse Hospital, and then relieved Bro. H. T. Dixon, several days on a fishing trip. Bro. L. S. Mengel, being drafted, was re- lieved on Fish Creek Tower second by W. E. Lam per. Bro. Moore, of Sidney, on a leave for his health, is improving. We will be glad to see him back, soon as he is able. Some of the boys are rather uneasy ac- count of the Government consolidating of- fices at points where two or more offices have been maintained. The only place af- fected so far on this division is at Galena, where the D. L. & W. has taken over our office. Understand the N. Y. C. is going to take over the O. & W. freight business at Oswfego and vice versa at Fulton. Boys, send your news notes to Bro. Mel- vin at Sidney not later than the 20th so we can have a write-up In the Telegrapher each month. H. P. K., Cert. 122. Cin., Ind. A Western R. R., Div. No. 21. 8pringfleld Division — Bro. Cummins, on six months’ leave, is now with the S. P. in California. We wish him success and hope he will return in the near future with his lost health regained. Bro. Teskey, from the C. A N. W., who re- lieved him, previously relieved Bro. Per- kins, down with measles, and also relieved Bro. McCown, on the sick list, who later relieved Bro. Stark, on vacation. Yours truly enjoyed a vacation recently. Keep after the nons working within reach of you. We are getting them wakened on the West End. Remember our motto: “No card, no favors ” and make it count. The latest call to the colors took Bro. Seng. We r.11 hope for his safe return. Boys, send me your news notes early and let's have a writeup each month. “NU,” Cert. 631. C., M. A St. P. R. R., Div. No. 23. Columbia d Idaho Divisions — Several of the boys have enlisted and most of the vacancies are being filled by lady operators. Don’t fail to extend an invita- tion to them all to join, they all have a chance to vote as well as to pay their dues. Bro. Carroll, kgent Beverly, now has an operator to help him out, work train help to make heavy traffic. Bro. Rolin Tapley, former agent there, joined the Navy, and left for the coast after laying off several weeks and getting married. Congratula- tions “Tap.” Bro. Cobum, first Othello, on vacation, is thinking of Joining the Navy. Mrs. Hazel Smith, first Rye, was on sick leave several days. Bro. and Sister Breittingross, agent and operator Lind, have returned from a two months’ visit east. Bro. F. L. Hayes, after taking treatment in Kansas City for a month is back again, and has moved the office chair into the of- fice again. Bro. C. E. Potter in Idaho for two years, is now depot agent at Ralston. Second trick dispatcher Downs has re- signed at Malden, and been relieved by C. P. Hackett from the S. P. Superintendent Sawyer of the Colorado and Idaho Divisions for about five years, takes a similar position on the coast, suc- ceeded by F. G. Hill, superintendent Miles City. Thos. McFarlane, traveling engineer Columbia and Idaho Divisions, succeeds trainmaster J. P. Phelan, transferred to Trans-Missouri Division. Cert. 614. Digitized by Google
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788 The Railroad Telegrapher, Members Coast Division , T. E. Gray's Har- bor Lines: You recently honored me by electing me local chairman to serve the remainder of the term made vacant by the resignation of Bro. R. C. Nisonger, and take this means of showing my appreciation and thank you for your support. Any time I give to the work of the or- ganization must be outside my working hours. Therefore I will get out most of my bulletins to the membership in this space, and you are requested to watch it. This will save me making eighty-three copies and mailing them out, saving the division the postage. I, of the seniority lists, will keep half a dozen copies, which I will loan at any time to members who may make as many copies as he wishes for himself and members ad- jacent to him. Until the controversy about one member’s position on the list is settled, no copies will be made. I do not have ac- cess to a mimeograph, and have not the time to make eighty-three copies. I figure my time is more valuable to the membership along other lines. I do not propose to pick a quarrel with the railroad officials over every little oc- currence on the division ; neither do I pro- pose that they shall “get by” with any violations of the provisions of our schedule, so it is squarely up to you to notify me of every violation coming under your observa- tion in order that I may straighten it out. They sometimes make unintentional errors, and we must make allowances accordingly, and avoid antagonizing them over petty un- important details which are apt to cause us difficulty in straightening out vital ones. There has been more or less of this in the past, and I hope to avoid it in the future. Let us all “pull together" for the greatest good to the greatest number, and "har- mony” everywhere. Fraternally yours, C. M. Owen. L. C. Coast Div. T. d 2?., G. H., B. d N. Lines— Fellow Members District 23 : It was my pleasure May 12th to attend a meeting at which were representatives of our organization from the four principal roads entering Seattle. One week’s notice of this meeting was sent out to the members of 23, but I w?as the only Milwaukee man present, while our representation wjas large, being nearly six feet tall, as an aggregation representing our district, “he” was a disap- pointment. Six of the O. & W. were present, the seventh being a leverman unable to get away. An interesting bit of information was given out at this meeting, showing the Great Northern membership 98 per cent strong from the coast to St. Paul and perfecting their organization. Interesting speeches were made by Attor- ney Welsh and Business Manager Kelly, of the Metal Trades Council of Seattle, and Bro. Thomas B. McMahon, a well-known attorney of Seattle, an O. R. T. member since 1886, holding card No. 14 in the Grand Division. Mr. Kelly’s speech was especially interesting, describing in detail the fight of the metal trades on the Pacific Coast. An- other meeting was held there June 9. The Metal Trades^ Council of Seattle is an amal- gamation of all the unions, covering every man from Prince Rupert, British Columbia, to San Diego, California, who works in metal. Without a card no metal worker can get a Job In any shdp in this district. Machinists are paid as high as $12 for an eight-hour day, and they practically make their own sched- ules. Mr. Kelly told us that the secretary of the Council had just had printed, without consulting the employers, placards which read, “On and after May 18, 1918, this shop will w'ork but forty-four hours per week.” They were posted in every shop from Prince Rupert to San Diego Monday morning, May 13th, and they are making it stick. The council is comprised of allied unions. When you feel like complaining that we are working for considerably less than $12 per eight-hour day, ask yourself w hether you have done your full share towards keeping your district organized. If there is a non in your office organize him. If he won’t or- ganize, we will have to find some means to eliminate him from the seniority list. All we get from these fellow's is criticism and sneers, and they think they are smarter than we are because they get the same pro- tection that w’6 do and don’t pay for it. There are a couple of places where a crackerjack organization of O. R. T. men have matters so arranged that a new man gets one full pay check and then he either organizes or a man is sent to relieve him. If he complains, he is told there is nothing fur- ther for him, and if he hollers to the O. R. T. he learns that the O. R. T. doesn’t protect non-contributors ; it is needless to say, that these twro roads are organized, and they stay organized. For the benefit of those who cannot make these meetings. I’ll endeavor to report them from time to time in The Telegrapher, but, you boys who can, please make it a point to be at these meetings. C. M. Owen, L. C. Coast Division T. d E. R. R. Notes — Sister Alda D. Stewart, Sumner, wTas on the sick list a few days. Our newly elected L. C, has added a “Henry Honk” to his family in order to line up some of the hardshells on the Coast Di- vision. Have your card in your pocket when you hear him comings Digitized b; )OQLC
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 789 Bro. R. V. Cummings has been called to the colors, relieved by Bro. H. J. Johnson, from McKenna. The first meeting called by our new chair- man on March 24th was attended by Bros. Stewart Sale, F. E. Stewart, F. I). Reynolds and C. M. Owen. Those who were present had an enjoyable evening. See if you can’t stand behind the L. C. a little stronger than this next time. Bro. R. E. Lovejoy, second Easton, was relieved several days by J. M. Mahoney, who later relieved Bro. M. H. McKusick, second Cedar Falls. Bro. J. Q. Adams and Bro. C. M. Owen visited relatives at Marysville recently in Bro. Owens’ “Honk.” Bro. H. J. Court, a new man, goes to Car- nation agency. Bro. Tatro, who is having trouble with his eyes, was relieved at Kapowsin agency tem- porarily by A. G. Nance, second there. Bro. \V. P. Wood, agent Kent, relieved by Bro. Adams, second Auburn, a few days ac- count Liberty measles. Sister Belle Curry, agent Ashford, is tak- ing her usual summer vacation. E. J. I^arson, extra “TC” Tacoma, is en- joying benefits others are paying for. “TC" prior to the first schedule in 1910 paid but $80 for a thirty-one day month. Today these jobs pay (extra same) $107.50 on twenty-six day month— $27.50 increase per month on wage scale, and if he works four Sundays that means $16.52 or total of $44.02 per month ; evidently still insufficient to enable Mr. Larson to “do his bit." The notice asking for a donation of half a month’s salary to build up the treasury funds on account of the heavy drain upon them during the last schedule negotiations seems to have fallen upon a majority of deaf ears. Out of a list of eighty-two only twenty-seven were willing to do their bit. We hope to post every operator on our divi- sion before we are through. Not one of us refused to take the increase given. Why should a toilful few refuse to help pay for itf Ckrt. 1330. River — C. V. and Wabasha Divisions — We are glad to welcome Bro. Shaver, Lower Yard, and Bro. Roosen, third Hoff- man Ave., into the ranks, making T. C. Terminals nearly solid. I have the promise of one of the remaining nons. Bro. Sainsbury, “C” office, breaking in at Newport, relieves the dispatchers on \aca- tion this summer. We are always glad to see the brothers on this division make good in this difficult work, as it shows that the companies can get good material without go- ing off the line for it. Meyer at Red Wing benefited more than double since the first schedule was secured in 1902, and in last year’s increase better than $25 a month, not only continues to re- main outside, but is also teaching students in office hours. Boys, live strictly up to the slogan : "No card , no favors If you don’t know where the other nons are located, ask me. As this will be known as membership year, we desire to recruit every member possible and should try to get at least one member, have a solid division, and give the Local Chairman and General Committee the 100 per cent support they need for a 100 per cent schedule. Cert. 2704. Kansas City Division — It affords me a great deal of pleasure to coincide with the request of Bros. G. L. Gal- laher and Tuomey to furnish a write-up each month of this division. I will need a little help from the boys south of Ottumwa Junc- tion to gather news from that end. Drop me a letter or a card at Conesville, Iowa, and I will endeavor to do Justice to our district in future. There are still a few telegraphers and agents on this division to be brought into the fold. It is not right to spend money to leg- islate for those who remain outside the Order. Therefore, we should make a special effort to line up the nons. We have not done our duty by simply keeping up to date. So let’s each one get after the man who fails to have a card for the current term and en- deavor to bring him into our organization. Approach them in a friendly way and ex- plain the need of organization. Give each one a reasonable time to pay the initiation fees, then go after them with a determina- tion to land them. Don’t become discour- aged with a few promises. Stay with them until you get their applications and money. An oral examination was held at Ardon May 5 for all agents and telegraphers on East Kansas City Division in regard to the new rules which will soon take effect. A spe- cial train was run from Ottumwa Junction to Ardon, picking up all available, only four not being present, they having to work. Su- perintendent Thurber, Train Master Lollis and Chief Dispatcher Klahn gave us some valuable information regarding the new rules and tried to make each of these pres- ent understand them. A meeting was also held at Cedar Rapids May 12th for the same purpose for the boys on the Marion line. Bro. Johnson, third Cone, comes to work every night singing "Down in Old Missouri. He says he is taking lessons on the piano. Bro. McDonald, first East Bottoms, on va- cation, is visiting in Seattle and points on the Puget Sound. Understand Supt. Oxley is to confine his duties to the examination board. His cheer- ful greeting will be missed. He was well Digitized by Google
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790 The Railroad liked by all the men on the K. G. Division and has our best wishes. Bro. Summers is wearing a broad smile, as the new depot at Ardon will soon be com- pleted. He has been working in a box car for six months or more. Bro. Moore, third Williamsburg, will shortly take a trip to Douglas, Wyo. Bro. J. H. Findlay, second Newtown, off ten days, is visiting his brother at Spring- field, Mo., home on furlough presumably the last time before departing for France. Bro. F. A. McCarthy, third Coburg, is be- ing relieved by McCarthy from Newton. Bro. Davis, of Cranston, was a Cone visi- tor recently. Bro. W. E. Lindsey, agent Washington, re- lieved Bro. Bell, first there, while the latter took the oral examination at Ardon. The boys on this division showed their colors by taking out third Liberty Loan Bonds. The showing on this division was ex- cellent. Wm. Shea. R. M., and all section 4 men on Middle Division attended the funeral of Pat Grimes at Newton May 11. Mr. Grimes died May 7th. He helped build the K. C. Division. A faithful employe well liked by all who knew him. He had been section foreman for the past twenty years at Newtown, Mo. Bro. C. N. Smith, Washington second, was sick several days in April, relieved by Bro. Lindsey, who may go back to telegraphing again. Agent Williams, Titus, stopped at Conee with his new Ford on a recent Sunday after- noon and took Bro. Summers and wife for a spin over to Titus. Bro. McEwen, agent Farson, laid up some time with a broken ankle, returned to work April 10th, relieving Bro. W. W. Carson. Glad to hear him back at the key again. Bro. N. C. Maytum, agent Polo, on ex- tended vacation east, relieved by Bro. Car- son. Bro. L. M. Ward relieved Bro. Zungs, Ex. Springs third, for a week recently. Bro. L. M. Boughtin, relieved on Chilli- cothe third by Mr. Frogge, went to Bramyer third. Bro. Garrison is on Laredo third, pending bulletin. Bro. L. W. Knight Is back at Hayesville, feeling fine. We always welcome the good brothers back and Bro. K. is glad to get back. Chillicothe and Braymer third were bulle- tined in error. I am particularly thankful to Bro. Tuomey of Ottumwa Jet. and Bro. Hoover of New- town for some of the items furnished me for this write-up. ^ J. H. Hamaker, Div. Cor. Telegrapher. H. and D. Division Notes — Bro. Derrickson writes under date of May 20th that the General Committee has decided that Division No. 23 will pay the dues of all members after July 1, 1918, who are serving in the Army or Navy, until demobolized or honorably discharged, and they will only have to pay their insurance assessments. This makes it imperative that all who have not remitted the General Secretary and Treasurer one-half of their increase, received on the revision of the schedule in November, 1917, should do so at once. The casualty list from France dated May 9th contained the name of Melvin T. John- son, Hawley, Minn. — our old pal “Mty" John- son, who worked at Montevideo Yard for a number of years ; also at Glencoe, and was working at Fargo when he enlisted. He always was a good up-to-date member and a booster for the O. R. T. May he RIP. Bro. R. J. Weber, third double track switch, is now in the army, relieved by Sig Fosnes. Bro. Geo. Fauss, of Granite Falls, spent a few days recently at Ortonville visiting his parents. The division officials have gone over the division and examined all employes on the standard rules which soon go into effect. Everyone was reported well. Brothers, help me out on these write- ups. When there are any changes at or near your office drop me a line at Watson, so I can get it in the next issue of The Teleg- rapher; it won't take over a minute or two to do this, and we will be assured of a good write-up every month. Bro. Kolb was the only one who sent me any items this month. Bro. O. J. Kolb was called to his home at New Ulm recently on account of the sick- ness of his grandfather. B. F. Fuller. 8. C. d D. Division — Bro. A. W. Niraens, agent and operator at Lesterville, enlisted in the Navy before be- ing transferred there. Bro. C. R. Fletcher relieved Bro. McKin- non at Armour, S. D.. while he was attend- ing the funeral of his mother in Scotts Bluffs, Neb. The members of the division sent a small floral design to show their friendship and appreciation of what Bro. McKinnon has done for them in the past. Bro. C. D. Yeager, from the Illinois Divi- sion, who went to Gayville agency, pending bulletin, when asked how he stood on the Order, replied : “Solid as a rock." We hope he will stay with us and wish all the new men coming to our division would feel and act that way. Business is a little quiet, but we appreciate the “let-up,” as most of us have been going good all winter. C. B. Diehl, Div. Cor. Digitized by AaOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 791 CARD OF THANKS. We wish to thank the members of the Order of Railroad Telegraphers and friends whose sympathy and services were tendered during the illness and at the death of our beloved father and brother, Herman G. Cov- nick, who was buried at Langford, S. D., May 12th. Their kind thoughts and feelings were also expressed by the beautiful floral offering. In our memories it is an occasion which has left an indelible mark. Aonbs Covnick. Martha Covnick. Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Covnick. Albert Covnick. S. D. Langford. P. D. C. d Min. Pt. Divisions — On April 30th, notices were received from General Chairman Soyster, that Local Chair- man Mowe, of Orfordville, had resigned ef- fective on the election of his successor. A few days later the writer received four com- plete sets of nomination papers and several letters asking him to accept the nomination. Having worked at most of the stations on both divisions as relief agent and telegra- pher, being acquainted with most of the men, and having no Sunday work, I can get out among the brothers on Saturday nights and on Sundays, so I accepted the nomination. Only two brothers were on the ballot, Bro. B. P. Oneil of Eagle, Wis., and myself, and I was elected. I wish to thank the members for their lib- eral support and hope to soon be able to see you all. I will keep you posted on what is going on to the best of my ability. I ask that you advise me relative to the nons and I will try to show them the light. Any ad- justments relative to the schedule will be handled promptly. Being located as I am geographically, nearly every member can call and see me and get back home the same evening, and I will be glad to have you drop in at any time. Bro. Dan Mowe joined the Order May 22, 1905, and has been a continuous member ever since. He was elected Local Chairman in 1910 to succeed Bro. J. J. Connell, re- signed, and In 1911 was re-elected, serving ever since. In 1915 he was elected a mem- ber of the schedule committee. His ability as local chairman has been evidenced by the grievances he settled successfully and the sat- isfaction the men have expressed. His work on schedule committee has been of good counsel along conservative lines, always agreeable and pleasant even at the most try- ing times when men’s tempers are at the breaking point. The general as well as the schedule committee deplore- deeply his hav- ing to retire from active service with us. F. C. O’Leary, third Madison, is still en- joying the benefits secured by the Order which others are paying for. This position was put on in 1908 at $50 a month ; today it pays $82.50, a $32.50 increase in nine years on wage scale and now with Sundays “plus” it totals an increase of $45.18, evidently still not enough for Mr. O’Leary to “do his bit” with. T. H. Howe, Darlington, has been assigned Shullsburg, and we all hope he will now not have to be asked to take out a card. Bro. M. P. Valentine, agent Gratiot, suc- ceeds George Davy on first Janesville, who goes to Madison as dispatcher. Bro. Dahnke has gone to war succeeded by J. M. Jacoby, a new man at Richland Cen- ter, days. J. F. Dahnke goes to first and R. J. Coleman to third Wauzeka. John Shok- ley to Bell Center agency, vice Bert Bush, transferred ; Robison goes to Pra Du Chien agency, vice J. A. Gillis, resigned, on account of poor health. A helper has been put on there. Brothers, get busy and land these nons. Be sure and send me copies of your bids. The local officials were moved from Mil- waukee to Madison on Sunday, May 19, and are located on second floor of the freight house. We all hope they will appreciate be- ing in our midst. Bro. Schuler, now located near Greenville, S. C., in the Aviation Corps, who was re- lieving Bro. Nieuman at Mineral Point when he enlisted, was relieved by Verch, relieved by Bro. Mullins at Platteville, days. Bro. Murray Calamine recently received a card from Bro. (now Corporal) Nieuman at Camp Grant, drafted September 21, 1917. In the 311th Field Signal Battalion, an expert telegrapher with an up-to-date - card. He writes that he spends his spare time in the yards watching the St. Paul “yellow cars” go by. Bro. Murray, of Calamine, also re- ceived a card from Sergeant E. R. Doyle, formerly telegrapher at Darlington, who en- listed last November in the R. R. Signal Corps, and is now “somewhere in France.” We hope Bro. Murray will send him a copy of The Telegrapher every month to keep him from getting homesick. Bro. Higgings, agent at Belmont, has been elected mayor there and Is keeping the town as straight as his station work. Bro. Clark, Platteville agency, is hard after competitive business. Brothers on the Min. Point Division went “over the top” in the third Liberty Loan drive. Bro. Percy Roberts, agent North Prairie, called to the colors on May 24th, was relieved by Bro. Tucker, his trick at Eagle being closed on account of the shortage ( ?) of telegraphers. Some good men have applied for positions on our divisions, but for some unknown reason were not hired. When you know of these cases call my attention to Digitized by Google
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792 The Railroad Telegrapher. them, especially when the reason for not hir- ing is “Plenty extra men." ^ Bad cyclone at Lone Rock, May 21st, kill- ing three and doing a great deal of damage to property. Some of our refrigerator cars were carried over town by the wind. Train No. 4 was held up several hours waiting for tracks to be cleared before it could proceed. O. A. Millard, L. C., Cert. 628, Lima Center, Wis. LaCrosse & Milwaukee Terminal — 3ro. G. M. Haner, of Black River draw LaCrosse, is visiting in New York State, re- lieved by E. N. Frldgen. Bro. E. Manning is back at Black River draw, after a short vacation. Bro. (Saton) Wilcox, first New Lisbon, Wis., was a recent LaCrosse visitor, and Bro. F. A. Learmouth, agent Rio, was a Portage visitor. Come again, Frank. We are extremely sorry to learn of the illness of a little son of Bro. E. C. Berge- ron, third Bangor. He was obliged to take him to a LaCrosse, Wis., hospital. We are glad to learn that no serious results are apt to develop. Bro. H. J. Bullock, assistant agent and telegrapher, North LaCrosse, visited in the southern and eastern part of Wisconsin for a week recently. Division 23, by vote of the General Com- mittee, pays all members’ dues who are in the Army or Navy in actual service after July 1, 1918, leaving nothing but insurance dues for the members to pay. This is to continue until demobilization or honorable discharge. This means an additional bur- den on our treasury. And all who have not done so should contribute their share of one- half of one month's increase, which was asked for last November. I sincerely hope that there will be no “ slackers' * on the La- Crosse Division. The entire LaCrosse Division headquar- ters are now located at Portage, Wis. The old yard telegraph office has been discon- tinued and two more side table operators put on in the dispatcher’s office, with Bro. C. A. Peters on second days and Bro. E. L. Johnson on third. Bro. E. W. Arnold, third Portage, is on vacation, visiting his folks, his first trip home In over four years. On his return he goes to New Lisbon. Bro. George C. Seibald is one of our new members. Div. Cor., Cert. 66. Superior Division- - Bro. A. J. Holmes went to Peshtigo, Wis., a few days, prior to entering the army. Bro. Luth is trying out as a demurrage inspector. We still have a few nons on this divi- sion, notwithstanding the excellent settle- ment the Order secured for all of us last fall. They are holding agencies and teleg- rapher positions which have been increased about $40.00 a month within the last ten years through our efforts. Let everyone get busy and try to make these nons under- stand that they should also do their bit. A. F. Johnson, Cert. 2121. Int’l A Gt. Northern Ry., Div. No. 25. Fort Worth Division — Spring has merged into summer, bringing the much-needed rains to insure a reason- able harvest. It’s time to dig into the bot- tom of your warbrobe, get that last year’s straw out and place your old felt in its stead. I have heard of Life’s Darkest Mo- ment, and my idea of this term is : When you get out your last season’s cool cloth suit and find that your lower anatomy haa taken on such enormous proportions during the winter that you are unable to “make ends meet” on your trousers. This is my ex- perience, and the high price of clothing doesn’t look inviting to our already over- strained purse ; and ’tis said when the slen- der waistline leaves us we are no longer boys. Bro. Webb, Cawthon, is in Madisonville for an operation on his little daughter for appendicitis, relieved by Bro. J. M. Wil- liams* son. We sincerely hope for her early recovery. Bro. Miller, at Stoneham several years, has gone with the Western Union. Bro. Eskridge, Lillian, was on the sick list a few days recently. Extra help is very scarce, and we should arrange for our vacation so too many of us will not want off at the same time, thus giv- ing Messrs. Goforth and Marshall a better opportunity to relieve us. It may be neces- sary for us to cut our vacation somewhat to be able to get off at all. When bidding on vacancies be sure to mail the local chairman a copy of your bid. . All regular men are up to date, except the lone “non” Wright, agent at Mertens. Remember, “No card , no favors.” Cert. 352. San Antonio Division — Bro. E. R. Finck from the Southern Pa- cific is on second Colorado River Bridge, Austin. H. B. Miller is back on second Cotulla. We hope he will make good his promise and get a card. Hale from the S. A. P. is relieving Gil- more, second New Braunfels, is again off on account of sickness. Bro. R. J. Hyland. Buda, is also on sick list but unable to get relief. Bro. E. M. Spawr goes to second there. Digitized by u.ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 793 Fourth telegrapher "MS,” San Antonio, has been taken off and Bros. Coleman, Loper and Moore are back on relay hours. McCune has left Austin and is dispatching for the Rock Island. We were glad to see him go, as he openly boasted he w’ould work if trouble came as a result of our last revision of wages a few months ago. First Trick Disptacher Harris, on three- weeks’ leave, is attending the Dispatchers’ Convention at Spokane. M., K. & T. Jet. office will be moved back to "CN,” San Marcos, on account of the consolidation of the I. & G. N. and M., K. & T. offices at “CN.” Owing to this con- solidation of offices at junction points, Georgetown will be taken over by the M., K. & T. ; Taylor and San Marcos, joint I. & G. N., and M.. K. & T. by the I. & G. N. ; freight and ticket business at New Braun- fels by the M., K. & T., and the telegraph offices of the I. & G. N. and M., K. & T. will be moved to the interlocking towrer south of town. Cert. 13. Wabash R. R„ Div. No. 26. Detroit Div.j Third and Fourth Diets. — Bro. Fohey has asked me to act as cor- respondent, and desire the assistance of the brothers on the west end, as I have no wire running into Button tower. Kindly mail your notes to reach me not later than the 22nd, as they must be in St. Louis by the 25th in order to be published the following month. Bro. Jess Edison is entertaining his father, Bro. C. W. Edison from Ashley, Ind., who is on his vacation. Bro. Roy Van Nest is running a dairy farm on the side. Bro. Samson, third North Morenci, is now with the C. N. Ry. at Alvordton. His par- ents live about a mile out on a farm. Bros. Heath and Shoup doubled two days recently pending arrival of Bro. T. A. Logan from the K. C. S. Bro. Heath is the proud possessor of a Henry F. Bro. F. L. Martin, agent Kunkle, called to his parents* home at North Manchester, Ind., owing to the illness of his mother, wras relieved by Chas. Cook, out of service of the Wabash some time. We hope for Mrs. Martin’s speedy recovery. Bro. Robert Martin, who recently spent a few' days with his parents, Bro. and Mrs. F. L. Martin, is now on the B. & O. Sister May, operator superintendent's of- fice, on vacation, was relieved by Bro. Kel- ley, later called to the colors, leaving Bro. King to fill both jobs. Bro. Ray Shultz, second Magee, drafted April 25th at LaPorte, Ind., caused Bros. Jones and McManus to double for two weeks. Kessling, third Crocker, also drafted there same date, relieved by Lahners from McCall. Clerk Pill man, Crocker, drafted at Valparaiso April 27th, relieved by Everett Mills, a new clerk, nephew of Bro. Robert Mills, agent Crocker. Bro. Lewis Davis, manager Montpelier, on vacation, visiting his father at Barry, 111., w'as relieved by Bro. Bailey, relieved by Bro. Scharlowr, making one man short at "NG." Bro. Bert Scharlow has resumed at "NG” after spending two weeks with his parents in Michigan. * Bro. Kiser from the B. & O. relieved Mc- Henry at Alvordton, who relieved Bro. Ili/T at North Liberty agency, now agent at Gary. Non Taylor, on 90 days’ leave, was re- lieved by Griffin, later to Magee second, relieved by O’Bryan. Dearing goes to third Gary, vice Spitzer. Bro. Shilo, who went with the Aetna Explosive Works when Aetna operator and clefk job was taken off April 1st, is back there again, it hav ing been put back. Bro. Jones, agent, operator and leverman before the tower burned at Magee last winter, showed his patriotism by taking out $300 Liberty Loan Bonds with the Wabash and $200 with the county. Bro. Inbody, agent Stroh, resigned on ac- count of his clerk being pulled off. Bro. Bailey, 5 :00 a. m. job "NJ," was re- lieved several days recently by Bro. Schar- low'. Ex-Trainmaster Haney has returned from Arizona with Mrs. Haney, where he took her for her health, as the climate there wras not agreeable. Mr. Haney took second trick on Third District, relieving Dispatcher Jesse Holsinger, who relieved Dispatcher Harry Grimm, now in "NG." The following have joined recently : F. B. Haines, Foraker, and S. T. Dering and C. T. Whitmyer, Gary, Ind. This makes the west end 100 per cent, except for the two nons, Taylor, at Benton, Ind., and Jennings , at Lakeville. Remember our slogan, “No cards , no favors.” I wish to thank Bros. Shoup, Martin and Darling, and Dispatchers Haney and Bun- nell, for notes. R. N. Hayward, Second Britton, Cert. 839. Decatur Div., Ninth and Thirteenth Diets. — General Chairman Nasb is back again after three weeks on schedule work. He took up the matter of Poag and Honeybend agencies, closed one month, and they were reopened May 20th, Bros. Bandy and Lapp going back there. Bro. Dunn, second Brooklyn yards, left May 28th for camp, relieved by Bro. Tholke, Digitized by tjooole
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794 The Railroad Telegrapher. who later relieved Bro. Lathenr at Latham, o{T sick several days. Bro. Fohrell is now at Camp Dlx, N. J., succeeded by Bro. Gordon at Eds Jet. Bro. Kenble, first Staunton, recently vis- iting home folks, relieved by Bro. Lapp. Bro. Mclntire and wife visited friends in Edwardsville last Sunday. Mitchell agency Joint with “Big 4” closed, Bro. Weber going to Carbon, Ind., agency. Sixth and Seventh District Notes — Bro. Pifer, third ABhburn, on 90 days’ leave, relieved by Bro. Kauble. New 60 lever plant put in service at Chi- cago Ridge. Bro. Thompson goes to Symerton first, recently opened. Bro. Thomberg of Philo was a recent visitor over the north end. Cert. 740. Decatur Div., Thirteenth Dist Notes — Only one set of dispatchers on this end now, working from Tilteau to Brooklyn. An addition is being built In “XD” De- catur office, the old space being most too crowded. Bros. Hurdt, Boody ; Rieves, Morrison- ville ; Ricketts, Campus ; Hyde, Karnes ; Tryon, Strawn, are among those recently called for military duty. Cert. 486. Peru Division — Only two “slackers” now on the Second District. Sister Smith relieved Bro. Murray on third West Lebanon when he took second there, and Dove relieved him on second while at Danville, relieving Bro. Briden- baugh, who has purchased the Delmonico Cafe there and will continue serving “moth- er’s home cooking.” Any of you boys want- ing a good meal while in Danville should give him a call. We are sorry to lose him, but he has our best wishes for success. Bro. W. E. Spencer, first “Z,” relieved by Mrs. Barcklow, visited his parents several days recently, accompanied by his brother, L. G., formerly on third West Point, now in army service. Bro. J. S. Risor relieved on second West Peru a few days by P. A. Chaffie, a new man, while on committee work. Bro. J. M. Mix, another new man, relieved Bro. Masters, third New WTaverly, who re- lieved Bro. C. E. Romick, agent White House, operated on at Peru hospital for rup- ture and is getting along fine. Several brothers have responded to my request for notes, showing that there are some energetic “ops” on this division yet. Keep after the few delinquents on the east end, and let's have a meeting and ex- press our opinions to one another. "Lid,” Cert. 846. St. Louis Southwestern Ry., Div. No. 27. Bros. Bowers and Willis, Malden first and second, are being relieved by Bro. A. L. Webb and Operator Gorden on account of sickness. Bro. D. W. McCance, Fornfelt second, goes to third Fordyce, Ark. The “Cotton Belt” and Frisco have con- solidated the operators and ticket agents at Jonesboro, Ark., to be handled under the supervision of the “Cotton Belt.” Bros. Welch and Frizelle are arranging to meet Mr. Neff at Tyler, Tex., to com- plete the schedule negotiations started some few months ago, that have been awaiting the decision of the Wage Commissioners. We are receiving bulletins as soon as va- cancies occur since we took the matter up with Superintendent Williams. H. E, Chism. Seaboard Air Line Ry., Div.^No. 28. East Carolina Division — . Bro. Perham is doing some nice work tor us before the Wage Commission at Wash- ington, and we should show our appreci- ation therefor by trying to make this divi- sion solid. If every brother would put in Just one hour of his spare time each month in organizing the nons we would soon "go over the top” 100 per cent strong. The superintendent, trainmaster and divi- sion engineer stopped over night in McColI Monday, the 20th, enroute from Florence over the A. C. L. We have a fine set of officers and should all do our bit to make their Jobs lighter. Each mistake we make puts more work on them. Let’s all try to do our best and show them that union men are worthy of their names. Let’s try and have a good writeup each month, pay our dues promptly and keep up to date. Cert. 1718. Florida Division — Bro. W. T. Pullen, Jr., has Joined the navy. Bro. O. L. McRae has returned to Wild- wood agency, relieving Bro. J. El Wilbur, who is now relieving Bro. Johnson at Dunel- lon, on vacation. Bro. C. G. Bryant, first Ocala, is contem- plating a vacation to attend the Wlllard- Moran fight if it is staged anywhere this side of France. Bro. L. K. Braddock promoted to union ticket agent Ocala, vice Bro. J. M. Mason, who returned to Bradentown agency. Brothers, wake up ; get a little “pep” into your bones and let’s have a writeup from this division each month. It doesn’t look very encouraging to get your Journal and see every division represented except your own. Cert. 1972. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 795 Alabama Division — Bro. J. W. McDaniel has returned to second Abbeville after two weeks’ illness. Bro. T. E. Morgan, second Savannah yard, is in the hospital ; also the little boy of Bro. E. A. Blount, agent Alley, with throat trouble. We trust they will soon be well again. Bro. Morgan is being relieved by Bro. L W. Morris, first Collins. Bro. R. W. Pitts, second Clisby Park, dis- continued. goes to Richland third, and Bro. Harrison, first at Clisby Park, to first “RX” yard, Montgomery, a Joint office of W. of A., C. of Ga. and S. A. L., the W. of A. taking over these roads on the 12th. Bro. Lawson, third Clisby Park, left the service when this office was cut out. Clerk-operator freight agent’s office, Mont- gomery, has also been cut off. Bro. R. C. Guest is still working first and Bro. J. H. Sutton second trick dis- patcher. Bro. O. H. Smith, agent Daisy, relieved by Bro. W. J. Benton, agent Pitts, on sick list recently. Bro. G. G. Stanford, Sledges, Ala., goes to Groveland, Ga., agency, vice Bro. T. A. Mc- Tear, resigned. Bro. H. H. Williams goes to Sasser agency, succeeded by Bro. W. B. Moody from Rutherford, Ala., at Ellabelle agency. Bro. G. L. You mans, agent Rhine, vis- ited home folks near St 111 more recently. Let’s all do our duty to help win the war. It has not fallen to our lot to fight yet, but our duty is Just as important as the soldiers’. By staying on the Job and attending to our work, trains can be put over the line in the least possible time, and the prompt handling of trains and moving of freight Is a very Important matter in the war-winning business. Show the officials that members of the Order of Railway- Telegraphers give the best service. Round up the nons so that we can show them favors. We want to help them if necessary. See that they get cards at once and keep up to date and become brother workers of whom we will all be proud. H. L. Carter, Cert. 1423, Vidalia, Ga. Missouri Pacific R. R., Dlv. No. 31. Southern Kansas Division — The meeting at LeRoy, May 12 th, was well attended, but on account of Bro. N. C. Newcomer getting the date mixed, he was not there and nothing was done. He will call the 'next meeting after the new wage increase is settled, and you will all be notified as to the date. Bro. O. P. Ellen wood went to Belleplain agency; H. L. Winkle to Neotaze agency, no bids; J. L. Walter to Westphalia nights; Forrest Huff to Buffalo third, and C. C. Dye to Buffalo third. We should see that these boys line up at once. K. A. Sandborn, after being called to the colors, wrote for application blanks. More of the boys will likely be called soon and we will be short of* operators. We may yet have to work in our best girl. Bro. J. S. Vinson spent a few hours with his brother, S. B., at Lane, between trains recently. “Jim” is getting things lined up at Vernon. He sure has some Job. Bro. Fred Certan, at Sycamore, has had his force increased. The office cat has three new kittens. Fred can use all the cats he can get to keep the rats in the trenches. No notes received from any of you boys. Bro. Harman, at LeRoy, said he sent up a bunch, but they never got here. Come again, brother ; you may have better luck next time. Bro. Newcomer sent in all we re- ceived. Thanks. L. G. H., Div. Cor. Central Kansas Division — Bro. F. Yf. Abel goes to Lomax agency, vice Williams, resigned ; Bro. J. F. Aikens to second Bushong; Mrs. Aikens to third there. Bro. F. E. Joiner, Claflin second, transfers from Division 91. Bros. J. P. Milano, Osage City ; M. T. Webb, Comiskey ; S. G. Lyons, Claflin, and Non Telegraph Agent Langley are now In. “Uncle Sam’s” army. We wish them all suc- cess and a safe and quick return. Superintendent Oulette writes : “Your let- ter of April 30th in connection with Liberty Bond campaign, received. We now have all and wish to thank you for the interest and assistance rendered.” This shows that the telegraphers have been more than willing to do their share. Bro. Collins, Colorado Division, is on Her- ington third owing to the shortage of oper- ators here. Bro. J. H. Kissinger has been transferred to this division from Relay Division in order to be relieved promptly for extra work in the dispatcher’s office when wanted. Read The Telegrapher for May and see how the men on the Penna. Lines, L. & N. and other grievously unorganized lines are beginning to see the light. Bro. Rawlins, G. S. & T., is to be congratulated on lining up the former unscheduled roads. It is or- ganizations that get hearings from the Wage Board at Washington. Will be glad to furnish anyone a list of the non-members on this division, and also appreciate any assistance in lining them The sympathy of the division is extended to Bro. and Mrs. Roberts, whose daughter passed away recently. General Chairman Mohler, who has been in Washington, D. C.. for several weeks on Express Committee work, reports that a Digitized by Google
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796 The Railroad Telegrapher. basis for future action has been reached and a satisfactory agreement will likely be completed shortly. Joint agencies will probably be estab- lished shortly on parallel roads, and the K. C. S., Frisco and M. P. used as a double- track system from Dodson to Belt Line Jet. Will appreciate any notes or items of in- terest that any of you can furnish, and would be glad to have a volunteer for the correspondent’s job. W. J. Thigpenn, Acting Local Chairman. Joplin Division — Every employe on this division is a sub- scriber to the Third Liberty Loan, there- fore we are 100 per cent. The efforts of our committee in securing concessions in the face of the increased cost of operating expenses is to be com- mended. Sunday work will be a thing of the past, or we will get extra pay for it. As there are scarcely any positions on this division that can be completely closed on Sunday, just that much more time will be made, and as the committee secured a raise in the overtime rate dated back to January 1st, there will be enough back pap coming to everyone to pay dues to the O. R. T. for a long time. Let us show our apprecia- tion of our committee’s efforts by not only paying our own dues promptly, but also urge others to do likewise, and insist that any man working without a card take out one at once. A solid front is the only thing that will get anywhere nowadays. Bro. M. R. Smith, second Harrisville, has gone with his wife to Rochester, Minn., where it is hoped she may be benefited by the treatment she intends taking there at the famous Mayo Brothers’ Hospital. They have our best wishes, and we all hope she may be permanently benefited. Bro. Smith has secured an indefinite leave, with permission to work for other roads, and ex- pects to work on the Northwestern, which will be right convenient for them. Bro. S. E. Honey, Joplin third, is con- valescing from an attack of measles, and will take first there pending bulletin of first and second. Bro. Fred Brown, now on second Lamar, says : “No more mining towns for him.’’ Bro. Roy Brown, at Jasper, now has an Overland, and we are listening for him to “honk, honk” at our own front door some fine Sunday morning. There is an acute shortage of operators, and those who get off for vacations will be lucky. I acknowledge the assistance of Bro. Fred Brown in this writeup. C. V. Rowe, Local Chairman Eastern Division j River District — Bro. J. P. Connell, third Warrensburg ; Bro. Fred K. Farriss, third Lee's Summit, and J. L. Scobee, Marshal Jet., have been drafted. Bro. R. M. Crockett, agent California, is being relieved on account of bad health by O. Johnson, a new man. Bro. F. E. Todd, California, is visiting in Kansas, and Bro. H. A. Boyce, "X" Sedalia, is filling in, Sedalia yards being closed tem- porarily. Bro. 'Wells went to Centertown pending the assignment of Force. Bro. Clay Lampkin, extra dispatcher Jef- ferson City, is now third trick dispatcher on this district. Night Chief Wilson has gone to the Union Pacific. Cert. 252. “Frisco” Ry., Div. No. 32. Southern Division — CARD OF THANKS. Secretary O. R. T. : Please extend to the members of Division 32 our deep appreciation of the very beau- tiful floral emblem sent by them at the time of Mr. Wayland’s death. Such delicate acts of kindness and sympathy on the part of friends help one to bear the great burden of sorrow. Very truly yours, Mrs. C. M. Watund, West Plains, Mo. Baltimore and Ohio R. R., Div. No. 33. Indiana Division — Some time has passed since last mention- ing the history of some of our pre-historic relics hibernating on this division. We still have with us Mr. Henry Massman, at Bed- ford. A liberal increase was placed upon his job by the organization supported by his feliow’men, and enough time has now passed for him to have shown the same support displayed by the rest of us. Too much of a slacker to support his family with the protection afforded by a union card. When you happen in Bedford peep in at the B. & O. agent. Bro. Bellamy, at C. E. Cabin, ran a close foot race with an extra East when the engine and two stock cars mussed up the landscape and headed for the cabin door. Most of the fellow’s have completed their examination on the new’ book of train rules, and it’s time Bro. Joe and B. W. Parker were fixing up their fishing outfits. Bro. “Wooden Shoe” Snyder has brushed the dust off last summer’s cow lunch, and all the fellows along the river keep their eyes on the Sunday excursion boats plying between Cincinnati and Lawrenceburg. Bro. Perry Kerr deserted the Old Bache- lors’ Association and is spending a honey- moon in the far West. Bro. Paul Truitt has been quiet so long. Digitized by Google
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/ The Raiijioad Telegrapher. 797 someone had better see what he is up to. i The Joint meeitng in Cincinnati on June 5th rounded up a large crowd of “Lightning Slingers" who operate in that vicinity. It is much re- gretted that the train service and limited supply of extra men prevented some from attending. Some time in the near future we hope to have a big show around North Vernon or at some point accessible to the men on the Louisville Branch and the west end. Don’t forget the notes, for the old buggy won’t run without gas. Div. Cor. CARD OF THANKS. I take this means to acknowledge the financial assistance rendered me by “The Boys,” and express my heartfelt thanks for the money, which was very much appre- ciated, coming when it was so badly needed, and it was all the more appreciated as an expression of the kindly principles of the Brotherhood. J. V. Huffington, Cert. 584, Div. 33, Box 113, Holton, Ind. Chicago Division — On vacations : Bro. J. H. Thompson, first “WN" tower Fostoria; Bro. Reyff, third Sherwood ; Bro. W. P. Donahue, first Kel- lar ; Bro. Etchle, third Hamler ; Bro. Sheller, Bremen days, and Bro. E. W. Leslie, first Walkerton, the latter relieved by Bro. Sli- der. fero. P. M. Geer, message side first “RX“ Willard, Ohio, has returned from his 15 days’ vacation. Bro. T. J. Eiler, second “FC" tower, was off a fewr days recently on a trip to Chi- cago. This tower is the one formerly used at “MD" end of double track and is a much .more pleasant office to work in than the old shack used there for the past four years. On the sick list : Bro. Sigg, first Sher- wood, several weeks ; Bro. J. B. Faulkner, second Wawasee, a week, and Bro. F. M. Thornton, first "HK” tower, several days ; the two latter with lumbago, both relieved by Bro. B. R. Wlneland from Garrett. Bro. J. F. Spencer was called in the last draft. We still have a few nons on the division, whom we should line up at once or know the reason why. Don’t forget that “No card, no favors/* is a persuasive argument when kind treatment is disregarded by this gentry. ’ Div. Cor., Cert. 241. New Castle Division — We welcome into the ranks of Division 33 Bros. Harry Kelly, “SU“ New Castle, and H. L. Marsh of Rittman, by initiation, and transferred Bro. W. H. Corbett from Divi- sion 36, and Sister Clara C. Ward from Division 19. Mention was made in last month’s notes of two delinquents, one agent and one clerk. Since that time the agent has paid his dues, and we regret to state that the clerk was former Bro. J. C. Zagst of Niles, who died very suddenly a short time ago. The Lake Branch dispatchers have been put on for the summer season ; also tele- graph offices at State Road and Summit Sid- ing, reopened, filled by women from Division Operator Cahill’s school at New Castle. We hope they will do as w'ell as the rest of our girls and get into our ranks as soon as eli- gible. Bro. Rupert from “SU” has been on first Haselton some time owing to the shortage of operators with the ability to work it. Bro. Gliddon, “TF” tower, on the sick list, caused considerable doubling there and at “XN“ on account of no relief men. Bro. Shannon was off several days owing to the death ot his father. We now have 96 members and no delin- quents remaining in the service. West of Akron we are solid with the exception of Lodi. East the towers are solid as far as Niles Jet., and practically all the old stand- bys all over the division ; but with the jobs in Youngstown-New Castle territory adver- tised every month, it is hard work to keep tab on them all. With a little help from those w’ho wish to see a good, big member- ship we can pul this division “over the top.’’ It you want to see it in The Telegrapher, see that it gets to Sterling by the 20th of the month. G. A. M. Monongah Division — CARD OF THANKS. We wish to express our thanks to the members of the O. R. T., Monongah Division, and especially to the members on Parkers- burg Branch, for the beautiful floral offering sent us on account of the death of our dear wife and mother, and for the many kind acts and sympathy shown us in this trying hour. J. B. Coyne and Family, Salem, W. Va. Chicago A E. Illinois R. R., Div. No. 34. Indiana Division — I have been appointed assistant local chairman and division correspondent during the absence of Bro. Humbert, and am anxious to keep the membership up to the high mark we have attained by Bro. Hum- bert’s efforts. We can do this only by keep- ing organized, and should see that all de- linquents pay up immediately. This will en- able us to do all the more for “Uncle Sam,” who recognizes union labor the country over. It widens our field of action and places the O. R. T. in a position to unionize every Digitized by Google
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798 The Railroad Tej*egrapher. unorganized road in the United States. Let’s all grasp this golden opportunity and work as never before. Our organization has se- cured for us all the benefits we now enjoy, and all we ever expect to have must come through the efforts and Influence of the O. R. T. We still have a few nons and slackers on this division. We have supported them long enough. I will furnish a list of them upon application to any of the members who will help me to line them up. If the man working with you is not up to date keep after him eternally until he gets a card. He is living off of the fruits of oiir labor, and while unorganized is a detriment to our craft, because he can stand pat on his job regardless of what the Order does. Ev- ery agency on this road should be included in our schedule. Article 12C covers this. I can do my best, but co-operation is es- sential to our success, and everyone should take a vital interest in our welfare. Every man should take out a card, thus placing our organization in a position to have us properly placed before the Government of- ficials of labor already appointed by the Director General of Railroads. January 1, 1918, marked an epoch in the history of our organization when, through the faithful and earnest efforts of our gen- eral chairman we were awarded a 26-day month, Sunday overtime and a liberal cash increase. We now have a schedule second to none. The “eight-hour day” for all one- man jobs Is now the paramount issue, and there are many other conditions which we will be able to demand if we will only keep united. “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” neither can we, as an organi- zation. Come out to the meetings. You will be surprised to see how much good they will do you. We discuss conditions there of vital interest to you. If you have any grievance bring it to the meeting ; don’t tell it to the local freight conductor ; he is in no position to help you. Let’s work together now for our own interests, while we give the Government and company the very best service possible. This will place us in a position that we will be proud of. The company officials know that the men who are interested enough in their own wel- fare to belong to their organization, and stand up for what is rightly due them, are the most efficient employes. We have all received the book of sched- ules and wage scales of the various roads in the United States, which shows conclusively that the O. R. T. is making great progress and can hold its own as the strongest or- ganization In existence. Bro. Humbert, agent West Union, has taken 90 days’ vacation on account of falling health. We hope he may soon return as well as ever. He is being relieved by Bro. Tre- more, formerly at Woodand agency. Bro. Slner went to Yeddo one night while the work train \4as picking up wreckage near that point. Glad to see Bro. Harty from Attica out to our last meeting. Come again, “Mike.” Boys, if we expect to “lick the Kaiser,” we must utilize the extra hour given us by the daylight saving bill and put out a big garden. * Brazil District went 100 per cent strong on Liberty Bond subscriptions. Fine work, boys. Take another one if you can. It’s a good investment and no better security known. Government control may not last always, therefore we must prepare for whatever may follow. Let’s all carry a card and we will have no need to fear the outcome. I would like to have a nice writeup from the Brazil District every month, and we can do this if you will all take enough Interest in the cause to send me the notes and happenings so I can get them to St. Louis before the 25th of each month ; and, above all, remember the slogan, “No card , no ft ivors ” Our condition is just what we make it. J. W. Childers, A. C. L., Cert. 761. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to extend our sincere thanks to the members of Division No. 34, Order of Railroad Telegraphers, for the very beautiful floral offering to the memory of our beloved husband and father. Mrs. Charles Georget and Children, Inglefleld, Ind. Chicago Division — Bro. E. J. Scheffer, night clerk St. Anne, goes to Wichert agency, vice Bro. LaCroix, who was caught in the draft. Bro. Geo. Kruse, second Woodland Jet., is now in the army, located at Fort Perry, New York, relieved by Andrew Truby, pending bulletin. Bro. Stephens, agent Crete, was off a few days recently owing to the serious illness of his father. Bro. Skiles is in Washington, serving as a member of the board appointed to handle negotiations with the Wells Fargo Express Company. Bro. Walter Hibble, agent Thornton, was in Danville recently. Bro. Lenox, from Yard Center tower, went to first “YC” while on bulletin. Bro. Shelby, Haney, on sick leave recently, relieved by Bro. O’Grady from “GO.” Bro. J. W. Childers, agent Yeddo, Ind., is acting as assistant local chairman, vice Bro. Humbert, on 90-days’ leave. Digitized by Google
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The Rahjjoad Telegrapher. 799 Bro. Rallsback, agent Rossville, was given an additional clerk recently, much to his relief. P. E. Hampton, Div. Cor. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to extend our thanks to the offi- cers and members of Division 34, O. R. T., for the beautiful floral wreath and wishes of sympathy extended to us in our recent be- reavement, the death of our beloved husband and father. Mrs. Emma, Miss Emma Mat, Bro. Joseph and Jasper Tritelini, Chicago Heights, 111. Penn. R. R. Lines, West, Div. No. 36. St. Louis Dtv.j West End — A very enthusiastic meeting was held at Greenville on the morning of May 22, at which Bro. J. E. McQuade, secretary to President Perham, was the principal speaker. He more than done Justice to his subject, and those who failed to hear him missed a real treat. The new schedule was gone Into thoroughly and analyzed in detail ; in fact the discourse was so comprehensive that everyone thoroughly understands the terms of the agreement we will soon be working under. Bro. McQuade also touched on the subject of merging Divisions 17 and 36 (Penna. Lines East and West) into one system divi- sion. This feature met with unqualified ap- proval. This arrangement, when completed, will give us the largest and most powerful division in the organization. A second meeting was held in the Star Building, St. Louis, on the evening of May 22nd, at which Bro. McQuade presided. After a few appropriate remarks he intro- duced Bro. C. B. Rawlins, grand secretary and treasurer, who immensely pleased the audience with his discourse. He went into details with respect to assembling the Gen- eral Committee in June. We have now reached a point of numerical strength where this action is assured, which will be welcome news to our membership at large. Bro. J. F. Miller, general chairman Penna. Lines East, who is also chairman of the Board of Directors, was next Introduced. Bro. Miller was at his best and spoke for an hour, outlining past conditions on the lines East and as they are now, showing what good tidings the future holds for the men he represents. He extended us an Invitation to join our forces with his, and was roundly applauded. We are fortunate, indeed, to have a man of his sterling ability and rugged honesty to direct our affairs. Unlike ourselves, Bro. Miller has years of ripe experience behind him In organization affairs. To be chosen chairman of the Board of Directors of an organization of more than 60,000 members pays him a higher tribute than anything I might say. Reports from all quarters indicate progress unexampled in the history of our road. Now close up the gaps and remember, the General Committee will be convened In June . Div. Cor. The members who attended the Greenville meeting, heretofore noted, were Bros. Haper, R. C. Kilby, Switzer, Hindmarch, Glnneyweg, G. C. and W. C. Schwehr, Gillespie, Ray, Munie, Gruenefelter, Schwehr, Street, Rey- nolds, Smith, Meyer, Bone, Keller, Davis and Matthews. If some of the other boys would show the same spirit as the boys east of Greenville, especially Bros. Matthews and Reynolds, our meetings would be better at- tended. Keep after the few nons and we will soon be 100 per cent. Don’t forget our motto, “No card , no favors” If you treat a non with the same courtesy accorded a brother or sister, they will continue to remain out- side. Having an up-to-date card does not end your obligation to your Order. If you are working with a non show him that as we are fighting his battle as well as ours, he should be with us. Those looking for failure usually find it, while those who do not know defeat are crowned with victory. The boys on the Penna. Lines East are also getting “26.” Boys, extend the glad hand to Sister Stew- art. She is the first lady on the St. Louis Division to Join our Order. Bro. Tucker goes to third “F,” succeeded by Bro. Schrader on first “BO,” with Bro. Bone on second, Bro. E. Keller on third, and Bro. D. E. Ray to third “H” ; Bro. J. E. Dickey to second “RY” ; Bro. McKeen to third “CN” ; Bro. Roy Bolin to third “DR,” and Bro. Barnes to second “FD.” Bro. E. J. Bolin relieved Bro. Hindmarch on second “FA,” who relieved Bro. Mc- Cracken on second “RY.” Miss Gennetti relieved Sister Stewart on second “AD,” later relieving Bro. Surber on first. Bro. W. C. Volrath went to first “VI,” vice Bro. Donelson, back on second, and Bro. R. C. Kilby on third. Bro. E. J. Bolin relieved Bro. G. T. Schwehr while the latter was entertaining the stork. Bro. R. F. Smith has joined the colors, relieved by Bro. N. I. Gillespie, who also will soon be called. The telegraph poles between St. Jacob and Highland have been slightly disarranged since Bro. Billy Schwehr purchased his new motorcycle. Bro. O. A. Gruenefelter relieved Bro. Gil- Digitized by Google
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800 The Railroad Telegrapher. lespie on second "H" while the latter was moving. Bro. R. S. Pryor relieved Bro. Broomleaf on second "BW" while he* took the inter- lock examination. Cert. 27. Western Division — The boys are to be commended for their prompt and generous response to the sub- scription for Bro. Wolfe, over $90.00 being raised In three days’ time ; and Mr. Day, at "DK,” deserves special mention for the effi- cient manner in which he handled the extra work put upon him, and for his unselfish efforts in our behalf. The misfortune of one man served, for the time being, to make brothers of us all. WThy not continue? Is it only for an occasion of this sort that we can get together and work together for a common purpose. Are we not brother workmen, engaged in the same line ot work, all desirous of better wages and better working conditions? We all realize howr little we can ac- complish in this respect, through our efforts as individuals, and wre do know how much can be accomplished through organization and united effort. We have demonstrated our willingness to assist a brother w’orker and are willing and ready to do so again, should the occasion arise. But wiiy confine ourselves to special occasions, or particular cases? Why not help a little all the time? There is no more practical or substantial way of helping than by joining with our fellow'men in an organization whose sole aim is to help us secure the things we desire — the things essential to our welfare and being — better wrages, better working conditions and a brighter outlook in life. This is the true way to help our brothers, and at the same time help ourselves wiiile fighting the battle for the better things. We have before us the opportunity of a lifetime. There is nothing to prevent us from realizing the hope of years. The Govern- ment is standing back of us in the move- ment ; the Director General has even urged the men to organize while the railroads are under Government control. "Do your bit" by sticking to the men with whom you work ; by fighting honestly for their and your own w-elfare. The railroad officials are all making all preparations against the time when they will again control the roads. Those of the "Standard Railroad of the World" now have four schools grinding out operators, agents, etc.r and placing them in various offices on their lines to complete their education. When the roads revert to the owners there will be an army ready to take our places. They are preparing, and we should also prepare by lining up, one and all, in the O. R. T. Bro. Ollie James, "WI" towrer, on the sick list some time, is very much improved and will soon bexat work again. A. L. Reed, Walter Sharpe and K. F. Reed are newr additions. Brothers, we welcome you. Messrs. Woods and Hoelle, who covered the division for the Third Liberty Loan, met with wonderful success, 99.45 per cent of the operators subscribing, and the telegraph department ranks fourth. We are sure that with the proper sort of credentials these gen- tlemen would have been doubly welcome and greatly assisted in their work. Try it, boys. Brothers, the semi-annual dues period is here, and the O. R. T. will do something for you if you pay up and stay in the game. You cannot keep up an organization with good intentions and well- wishes. It requires mem- bers in good standing, a few dollars in dues, paid promptly and regularly. The members are the organization, and we should each become an organization com- mittee of one to get another member. Pay up and get busy. Cert. 1174. Western Division — CARD OF THANKS. I desire to extend to the operators and other employes on the Western Division the heartfelt thanks of myself and children for the beautiful floral tokens and kind words of sympathy, which in some measure helped to lighten the burden of grief during the sad hour of bereavement — the death of our wife and mother. We also wish to express to each one our great appreciation and sincere thanks for the generous financial aid, to which all so liberally contributed, and wish to assure each and every one that their kind- ness will never be forgotten. Fraternally, A. W. Wolfe, Cert. 306 Vincennes Division — We are still working hard toward the goal we seek, to which we are getting closer all the time, even if a few haven’t yet realized the importance and necessity of joining at once. Some are working each day and night with nons at the next block, who have to be informed by others, several miles away of existing conditions. The brothers should all be interested enough to know every '‘non" on our division. That’s the way to make it a grand success. Let’s get down to business* every last one of us, now and make life hard for the "nons” until they come in. Even though we are not in shape to practice the motto of other divisions, keep after them just the same. All telegraphers, agents, block operators, agent-operators and others are being benefited by the w*ork of the Order. Digitized by c.ooole
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801 The Railroad Telegrapher. and if they fail to fill out their applications within this semi-annual period we have a perfect right to believe that they are slackers who are willing to let the balance of us go ahead, get and pay for what we can, while they sit back and look on, watching and waiting. Some on this division are waiting until July 1st tQ submit their application, be- cause they think it is cheaper, which we all know is a mistake. It costs no more nor no less whatever month you join ; the only dif- ference is, if they wait until July* their cards are for six months ; in June it Is only good for one month. They pay for ju^t what they receive, and anyone who can become a mem- ber in July can undoubtedly become a brother as well in June, the fee therefor being $5.17 and for July* $8.50; so there is absolutely no excuse for anyone staying out of the Order at this time. The stronger per cent we have when the committee goes up, just that much quicker and easier it will be to accomplish what they are working for. With a small percentage the management have a perfect right to fell that there is quite a number whom the committee did not represent, who are satisfied with what they have. We must be in splendid shape numerically when we take that step. There are not enough nons left for each one of us to land one, so let us help each .other to get those vve are ac- quainted with. The following brothers have left us and joined “Uncle Sam" : H. H. Sanders and J. R. Sheetz enlisted ; H. W. Hicks, D. R. Ed- wards and J. L. Kirby by draft. Bro. E. W. Clensy is now yard master with the Monon at Victoria, Ind. They have pro- mised to keep up their dues in our division. Brothers, get after the exclusive agents. It s their duty to Join as much as ours, and they will all be helped Just as much as we will. See the agents at your respective sta- tions and get their applications. The work of the Order has gotten us boys on the Pennys all our increases and work- ing conditions, and it is the duty of everyone of us to become members of the O. R. T., so after we get set lip once vve will sure prac- tice the motto, “Arn card, no favors ” to a finish. Brothers, your dues for semi-annual period from July 1st to December 31st, 1918, are now payable. Let’s all remit promptly and not make it necessary for the Grand Division to keep after us. Bro. Girkin was off sick recently ; also Bro. Ramsey, the latter relieved by Bro. Secrest, later relieved by Bro. D. A. Dyar ; Bro. Secrest relieving Bro. C. Williams, on vacation. Bro. H. K. Boyd recently relieved by Bro. C. M. Harper. Bro. Secrest was off several days recently, due to his wife's sickness. Bros. M. F. and T. A. Jones recently traded positions, making it nicer for them both. Bro. J. H. Hummel was also off a few days recently. Bro. H. C. Brinson, recently on sick list several weeks, is now off again, due to his wife’s illness. Bro. B. B. Walters was relieved several nights recently by Bro. S. C. Abrell. It is now Bro. W. A. Brown and Bro. C. B. Grass, Exa, making “JC” and the Exa board solid. Bro. C. B. Grass is now relieving Bro. R. M. Jorrell. With only two exceptions, every office on the division has one to four brothers. Keep on the job, boys. If necessary to leave the office for any cause, ask the dis- patcher’s permission and save him lots of time calling you. We should give our very best service to the new management and show “Uncle Sam” that O. R. T. men are the best and most efficient. Thanks to all who have offered a helping hand, and the very best wishes for yours and the system’s continued success. Cert. 32. Chicago Terminal Division — Our regular meeting, May 20th, was called to order at 8 :15 p. m., by Local Chairman Gilchrist, who advised us that the committee was now through with the Pittsburgh offi- cials, and the negotiations were now up to the Chicago officials before it goes to the Board of Mediators at Washington, D. C. We are well satisfied with the progress the committee has made towards bringing our grievances to an end. A change from the present meeting hall will be made to a more convenient point. We should all support our committee now in the next six months just as w’e have done in the past, and keep this division solid. Brothers, send in your dues for the last part of 1918, to the grand secretary and treasurer, 710 Star building, St. Louis. Mo., and not have a delinquent on this division. This applies also to your insurance assess- ments, as your cards cannot be sent you until both dues and assessments are paid. They are due June 30th and December 31st. Do not w’ait for notices to that effect, but mail them as soon after those dates as possible. We all missed first vice-president Browm at the meeting, who w>as called to Houston, Tex. Bro. Harbur and Redboth, of "WP,” have enlisted In the navy. Bro. Trlckey is now in “YM.” Bro. Taylor is planning to visit his brother, who is in the C. A. C. Bro. Long relieved Bro. Pash at “CJ“ tem- porarily. Bro. Prudhomme had to get out and get under a few nights ago in the storm. Digitized by Google
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802 The Raiijioad Telegrapher. Bro. Lewis relieved Bro. Mai la when he relieved Rousche, first “PO,” on vacation. Bro. Holdsclause, second “OD,” goes to third there, vice Bro. O’Malley ; Bro. Wahlin to second ”WF,” succeeded by Bro. Roe, on second "GA,” and Bro. Abbott to first "XN” relay. It seems like old times to hear Bro. Thorne's cheery voice on the telephone at second “RI.” J. B. Leslie, Div. Cor., Cert. 926. CARD OF THANKS. I wish to thank A. Caponigri, Wm. Etter, R. M. Rankin, S. Hicks, R. U. Sheeley, W. Holman, Wm. Koshmeider, H. Koshmeider, H. Humes and Gus Wagner, for the beau- tiful floral offering at my father’s death. R. M. Pash, Cert. 1186, Wanatah, Ind. Pere Marguette R. R., Div. No. 39. SPECIAL NOTICE. To Members of Divisions, 1, 7, 11, 16, 39, 43, 99, 114, 115, 131, 133 and 166 : The Federal Export Law of the United States prohibits the exporting of “any metal buttons” ; therefore, until this law Is re- pealed or amended we cannot send any O. R. T. emblem buttons to members in Canada. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secty. and Treas. Canadian Division — We are all glad to see Bro. Maher back at Blenheim. Bro. Boughner is now on nights there ; and Mr. Gagen, of the G. N. W., is at Wallaceburg nights. Bro. Esterbrooke will line up these boys and keep the Cana- dian Division solid 100 per cent. Don’t for- get the man at Sarnia' nights. “No card , no favors.” During the shortage of operators Mr. Tay- lor, at Wallaceburg, had numerous telephone calls about 2 a. m., to get up and handle train orders. Third Trick Dispatcher Plastor has been appointed night chief dispatcher on account of the heavy run of business. Glad to see the brothers helping out the dispatchers, par- ticularly Bro. Newton, on third. Remem- ber, he looks for you mornings on 127 miles main line and only West Lome, Blenheim Leamington open nights. It’s a long shot with the number and size of trains now run- ning, some with 102 cars. Keep it up, brothers, show them that we can do our bit, as most of our traffic is war material or empties going for war loads. We have not been supplied with news from any of the brothers, which shows a lack of interest. If you will drop your notes to Bro. Newton or Bro. Wanless they will send them to me with anything they have or you may send them to me direct. It is time to renew our cards. Let us all do it promptly this year. Pay up as soon as you can, but better late than never. Div. Cor., Cert. 111. Chesapeake & Ohio Ry., Div. No. 40. C. d O. of Indiana Division — Bro. J. J. Kenny, of Summit, has been appointed assistant chairman to cover the east end. Muncie to Cincinnati, it being deemed necessary to have the assistant lo- cated near the Cincinnati terminal. Bro. Shanklin, while acting in this capacity did extra good w?ork, for which the undersigned is very grateful. Some good brother volun- teer as division correspondent. Extra Wiggins, Femald, Ohio, has re- quested application papers. Operators are scarce and vacations can scarcely be granted this year, but we must conform with these sudden changes — any- thing to win the war. The telegraphers are dissatisfied with the report of the wage commission, and our pro- gressive president Bro. Perham, who is al- ways looking out* for our interests, has filed protests backed by many telegrams from the craft. He is working night and day for the members and nons alike, and the latter should appreciate this and not wait to be asked to join and support the organisation, whose money has contributed to his wel- fare. Bro. Alexander, of Gaston, has enlisted in the Engineers Corps at Fort Benjamin Har- rison, Indianapolis. Bro. O. E. Miller, also with Engineers Corps, is at Fort Leaven- worth, and will soon be “Over There.” We wish them godspeed and a safe and early return. In a recent trip over the line selling Lib- erty Bonds the local chairman is proud to say that we w^ent 100 per cent. Had we known the railroad was going to sell bonds at an earlier date, we could have had even more satisfactory results, as so many of our members had previously subscribed In the county organizations. We will be glad to furnish a list of the few delinquents on the line upon request. We must be active, and work for the interests of our organization in order to secure bene- fits in the future. After the increase is granted and our back pay of five months re- ceived, the nons and delinquents should re- ceive no attention whatever. “No card , no favors.” We understand that the Adams Express Company is violating its agreement with us. I will appreciate a statement showing these violations, and assure you prompt attention will be given to such reports. E. E. Middlkkauf. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 803 Boston & Maine R. R., Div. No. 41. Fitchburg Division — Daley, from Royalston, goes to agent-oper- ator, West Groton ; Bro. Fred Provost to agent-operator. North Leominster ; Miss Car- roll to clerk-operator, Littleton, vice Miss Corkery to Pepperell ; Dispatcher Whitelaw, Greenfield, to Belmont agency ; Grant to Royalston, clerk-operator vice Bro. P. J. Going, enlisted ; Bro. Joseph Benellsha to clerk-operator, Millers Falls, and O’Conner to first “JP,” a new position recently opened in the office of the superintendent of the Ter- minal Division at Boston. Sister Pearl Cozzins is the happy mother of a nice baby boy. The members extend their congratulations. Southern Division — Spooner goes to New Braintree agency vice Belleville drafted. Bro. C. J. Macdonough, agent Suncook “NH,” recently operated upon for appen- dicitis, in a Concord “NH” hospital, is doing nicely. We all hope for an early recovery. Relieved by Bro. H. J. LaSalle, and he by Racine, a new man. S. Goodwin, Cert. 406. “VN,” “GM.” CARD OF THANKS. O. R. T. Members, of former Division No. 66 : Please accept my sincere thanks for the beautiful floral wreath. Such kindness brings comfort to those left behind. Sincerely yours, Mrs. Elmer A. Fuller, Dover, N. H. Erie R. R. Div. No. 42. Net c York Division — We have a contract now, and are doing business. I was out on the Main Line a few day 8 during April and met a good many of the members. Sorry I didn’t have time to see every man on my territory, as there is nothing like knowing every man you rep- resent, and their knowing you. The results of my trip was the landing of the following ten new members : F. H. Seely, A. Salzman, F. A. Eglinger, A. Siedel, A. Schroeder, T. J. Harold, H. H. Case, A. W. and Mrs. A. W. Taylor and J. W. Cooper. Ten in one. It’s easy if we will all work and get after them. There is no reason .why those* new members couldn’t have been written up by members working near them. I wrote a man up in a certain tower in about five minutes. There are members working in the same tower with him who never asked him to join. It is no wonder this division was in such a de- plorable condition before we got our present schedule. If we are going to better our con- ditions each man and woman in the organi- zation must do his or her bit toward making the division solid, which we could do in a very short time if we will all get some life in us. There seems to be some mistakes in the new roster put out lately. I have the ques- tion %of seniority up with the officials now and expect a decision on it shortly. If you feel that you have not been propely listed let me know, stating your claims for more seniority ; also advise me of any man who has been given too much seniority. This question seems to have never been properly understood and now is the time to get a proper decision on it. Once we get it prop- erly settled and understood by all concerned the better It will be for the division and the company. Let's all get right on the heels of the nons and land them all. Our first meeting held in Paterson on May 7th was very interesting. Every man pres- ent had something to say and important matters were discussed. Regular monthly meetings will be held there from now on, in the Engineers Hall, 176 Market Street, the first Tuesday of each month, Jointly with the N. Y. S. & W. Let us all make a good showing at these meetings. Bro. Hesser was unable to get off and attend our last meeting, but expects to be with us at our next one. We should have at least fifty members pres- ent at these meetings, as Paterson is a handy place for the D. L. & W. men to get to and we hope all these brothers who can do so will drop in occasionally and see us. Don’t talk about organization matters to one another, over the dispatcher’s phones. The place to do this is in your division meet- ing room, or by letter. Let the eavesdrop- pers get their information in some other way. There is no use to hold secret meetings if the members are going to advertise every- thing on the dispatcher’s phones. Don’t forget when the back time comes out to make one big drive on the nons. Every member added to our list makes our chances of better conditions that much stronger. Take It to heart, it means as much to you as it does to me. T. S. Kelly, L. C. Susquehanna Division — Having been unusually busy during the past thirty days, I have not had time to look up many news items. C. B. Smith, freight agent, Elmira, and myself, were appointed by our superinten- dent to canvass Suaqua and Tioga Divisions for subscriptions to the third Liberty Loan among the agents and operators. We are proud of the results, our agents and oper- ators responded nobly. Especial credit should be given the Tioga Division boys ; they sure have the right spirit, and not only went 100 per cent strong on bonds but about 100 per Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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804 The Railroad Telegrapher. cent in membership, also. Every man on that division took a bond. The Susqua Di- vision went close to 100 per cent strong. A few had already purchased bonds when we reached them. It is gratifying to know that there is such a strong patriotic spirit among our men, especially when we consider the fact that we are among the low paid men. Our General Committee is now nearly half agents, two more having recently been add- ed. We want eventually to make it an equal number of agents and operators. Bro. Jerris had to give up the chairmanship of Roches- ter Division on account of numerous other duties. Bro. T. O. Peterson, agent South Lima, will serve out the balance of the term. Bro. Burns, chairman of Buffalo Division, re- signed and Bro. F. F. Glezen, agent Blas- dell, will serve out the balance of his term. The two brothers are good, loyal, wide-awake men who wfill do their very best to serve you to the best interests of all, and I trust that you will lend them every possible assistance. Bro. C. F. Brookmier, of Attica, will serve as assistant to Bro. Glezen and look after mat- ters on the main line. I am very sorry I had to make such a hurried trip over the Rochester and Buffalo Divisions. I could only be off a short time, as w*e are without extra men over here. E. J. Hesser, General Chairman. Rochester Division — U. H. Steinhardt, on first Wayland for the past thirty-one years, died suddenly at his home there April 18th. He was a member of the O. R. T. almost from the time it wras organized until the past six years. "Bon” w’as well knowm by every one and leaves many friends who miss his familiar "U." First trick Dispatcher Driscoll has taken over the Western Union manager’s duties. Wonder if the income tax man will get him. Division 42 should have a service flag. This division is entitled to nine stars. Bro. Ja- cobs, now' Sergeant Scott D. Jacobs, of a mo- tor mechanics regiment, in France, wrrites that he is getting along fine, but w'ar is all Sherman said it was. Bro. Schillinger has gone to Camp Dix, succeeded by Bro. Jerris on first Avon, a good man in the right place. Now short five men and may be more soon. Several of the boys are getting paid in cash for the vacation they did not receive in 1917. Having been appointed Local Chairman for this division, I want to thank you all for the honor conferred upon me and ask your co-operation in making the division w’hat it should be. There are several nons among us, and you know as individuals we never got anything, but collectively we have a power which is quickly recognized, as was shown on Sep- tember 29, 1917, when our agreement was signed. The days of discrimination are past and there is no reason why any man should not wear a button, thereby helping to make working conditions better, and with increase pay laugh at “The High Cost of Living." Let us all put our shoulders to the wheel and make this division 100 per cent. T. O. Peterson, L. C. Delaware Division — It is now Bros. W. C. Cortright. agent Lackawaxen, B. J. McGoey and B. I. Dona- van. There are only a few more nons left on this division. Let us try and get them in -before our schedule expires on October 1st. The stronger backing we give our committee the more it can do for us in getting a new- one. Dues are now payable. Send them in promptly and save Bros. Bridge and Gallo- way a lot of extra wrork. Bro. J. D. Tobin relieved Bro. Tuthill, agent Parkers Glen, and Bro. Rotzler, agent Saidville, several days; also Bro. Fortner on account of sickness. Bro. E. J. Rane has accepted a position in Jersey City. We regret his leaving, but wish him success. J. W. Kelly, a new' man, re- lieved him. Bro. Edwards was off several days, Bros. Roberts and Seeple doubling. Bro. Holbert is on a vacation, and Bro. Shiner is visiting in Jersey City and New York. There were two joint meetings for the L. V., Erie, D. S. & W. and P. R. R. held in Elmira, April 23. The Delaware Division was well represented at both, considering the distance wre had to go. The other roads also had a large attendance, and all enjoyed the addresses by Bros. Hesser, Peirson and Wenrich. A meeting w'as also held at Lack- aw^axer for Del. and Wyo. Divisions and was wrell attended by the members of both divi- sions. Bro. Layton w-as off several days recently. Bro. E. O. Murphy was relieved several days by Bro. J. A. McGuire. Bro. J. E. Mailet relieved Van Akin sev- eral days. E. C. P., Cert. 1256. .V. Y. S. & W. R. R. Division— Our Paterson meeting wras a hummer, chuck full of good stuff, and those w’ho were unable to be there surely missed a rare treat. Being the first one. It went way be- yond our expectations and show’s that the Silk City is the correct place to hold meet- ings and have a good attendance and a lively discussion. There is nothing equal to the individual effort, so keep it going. We must show the United States Government that union men are the best. Digitized by u.oo<?ie
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 805 Station Supervisor McEntee has been called to military duty. We hope he will re- turn with many military honors. He is suc- ceeded by Bro. J. H. Quick, of Blairstown. On account of shortage of men the com- pany was not able to grant the 1917 vaca- tions, and all who did not receive their va- cations will be allowed the amount In money. Bros. Hughes and Sisco doubled at River- side Tower while Hetrick was off a few days. Bro. Post has resigned. We wish him success and hope his move may be best for himself and all of us. Read The Telegrapher from cover to cover, it is the best organizer I have ever come in contact with, as it puts you wise to what is being done all over this nation by our Grand President* The interest he has manifested in the hearings before the wage board shows that we are very fortunate to have such a man, and should show our ap- preciation by keeping thoroughly organized. He has filed protests with reference to the wage scale, taking exception to the date of applying it, as it makes no provision for the eight-hour day or twenty-six work day month. Cert. 332. It is very encouraging to note the union activity among the track workers and fore- men. Give them encouragement and a help- ing hand. Canadian Northern Ry., Div. No. 43. SPECIAL NOTICE. To Members of Divisions 1, 7, 11, 16, 39, 43. 99, 114, 116, 131 and 155 : The Federal Export Law of the United States prohibits the exporting of " any metal buttons.” Therefore, until this law is re- pealed or amended we cannot send any O. R. T. Emblem Buttons to members in Canada. C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer. ^Toronto District — We are pleased to have Bro. F. J. Hughes, agent Pefferlaw, back again with us. He has been away a few months in the West on ac- count of his health, relieved by D. M. Kelr and Bro. Thos. Flemming. The latter also relieved Bro. Cloutier, Todmorton days, while on the sick list. W. J. Miller, a new man, is at Smiths Falls nights. Boys, send in any notes you can. The majority of members are branch line men, and they would like to hear the news. Some one start the ball “a rollin'.” We are glad to hear that Bro. P. Skilling, former agent Torrance, who has been sick in Toronto hospital, is back again, now re- lieving agent Portland, on vacation. Bro. Flynn has enlisted with the “RAF,” relieved by Bro. Reid. Bro. Sorel has also pnlisted with the “RAF” at Camp Mohawk, relieved by D. M. Kleir. We wish these brothers success and a safe return. Glad to hear Bro. J. G. T. with us again in “V” office, and the boys are counting the days until they hear him back in “S” office. Bro. Healey is back in Rosedale nights un- til some of the boys take their holidays. Bro. J. G. Taggart goes to second Toronto temporarily. Bro. McDonald, Trenton “YD,” was on the sick list a few days recently. Remember, boys, our motto : “No card , no favor a.” Div. Cor., Cert. 981. Big Valley Sub. Fourth District — Hanna, a three-trick office all winter, has had the night man taken off, and Bro. Men- zies, agent there for two years, is now agent at Forestburg, succeeded by Bro. Snowden, agent at Delisle for seven years. Bro. New- all went to Fairmount nights ; Bro. LeGal- lais to Rocky ford agency, vice Bro. Stephens to Meeting Creek. Bro. Bernett to Stan- more agency. Bro. Campaign to Marenzo nights. Bro. Tipton to Cereal nights. Bro. Pitts to Haynes and Bro. McLeod to Sylvan Lake agency. Bro. Stockdale to Munsun Jet. days. Bro. Gleason to Fairmount nights, vice Bro. Newall to cashier Delisle Jet. Bro. Gieure, train dispatcher Big Valley, has enlisted, succeeded by Bro. Adam from the Great Northern. Boys, don’t forget your dues coming due July 1st. All make it your duty to pay up and be proud to belong to such a great as- sociation. Cert. 1066. Nipissinff d Superior Divisions — Bro. Finch goes to Waubamik, Bro. Rog- ers to Waubamik Pit, Bro. A. C. McDonald to Field, Bro. Deline to Sudbury nights, and Bro. Waldbrook to Alderdale. Spot the new men coming among us boys and send them that form to sign up. Bro. Dixon took a few days’ vacation re- cently. Regret to hear that the sister of Bro. Terris is ill and hope for her quick and com- plete recovery. Bro. Chiswell’s wife and children have re- turned from six weeks’ visit to Mrs. Chis- well’s old home in Alabama. It Is now G. A. Hoag, superintendent Cap- reol, and W. R. Kelly, superintendent Horne- payne, who will both expect the very best we can give and fully appreciate it, so, brothers, come through with the best always. A. G. Agnon, Cert. 520. Central Railroad of New Jersey, Div. No. 45. Central Division — Now that we are affiliated with the “Order of Railroad Telegraphers” again, great credit Digitized by u.oooie
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806 The Railroad Telegrapher. is to be given to the organizers and some of the brothers who used much of their spare time lining up the boys. The wonderful achievements they accomplished in such a short time in getting the Central R. R. of N. J. up to the standard is something re- markable. Some of the boys remember that in 1904 they had a good schedule on this road, but through lack of interest by the members and the mishandling of affairs the schedule was abrogated. Since that time coercion and intimidation had been prac- ticed on the employes to keep them from af- filiating with the organization. However, a new era has arrived ; intimida- tion and coercion has been eliminated, and during the past ten weeks nearly three hun- dred members have joined the Order, and more are coming In all the time. Brothers, this road was one of the best organized In the country In 1904, and through the active co-operation of each mem- ber we can bring it up again to that stand- ard. Bro. Abe Hall, second trick dispatcher on the upper end of the main line, is back on his old job, after being away sometime on account of sickness. We are all glad to see that the brother has recuperated and is able to be with us again. Bro. Fred Seidel, third Bound Brook Junc- tion, came home from a trip to Long Branch recently with a whole market basket full of fish. Bro. Harry Compton, relief dispatcher, re- lieving Bro. Hall on the upper end, also re- lieved Bro. Harding on first branch trick, while he was over on third main line posting with Dispatcher Bro. Lew Nagy, while re- lieving Bro. Ramberger a day on second SomeiVille. Bro. Harding put the crossing gates down when a pair of jackasses started to get balky and smashed the gates. Bro. H. Kohl, first Spring St. Tower, was off sick one day and Bro. J. Steyers and Het- tinger had to double twelve hours on account of the shortage of men. We hope “Jack” will get Mr. Hettinger into the fold. Bro. U. G. Brown, former operator in “JC,” is now with Armour & Co. in N. Y. as teleg- rapher. He has the good wishes of all the boys on the central for his success. Bro. Artie Lerch, second Newark Transfer, since the time was changed on the jitneys from Port Newark, has hardly time to eat or drink. The thunderstorm on May 21st put the dis- patchers telephone out of order and we were pleased to hear the familiar sound once more of the old telegraph wire. Bro. Dave Rothman, night ticket agent Jer- sey City, was transferred to “JC” telegraph office, leaving a good job vacant for some good worthy brother at a nice salary. Bro. Frank Campbell relieved Bro. W. Post, third Tower "C,” two nights while he was visiting his sick sister. Admiral Cervera alias Bro. Frank Severn*, first Singers, has moved over to Brooklyn, the City of Churches.” He can now go to church on Sundays. Bros. Pletcher and Hoadley, Tower 1 Eport, had quite an experience with a new man who came out there to post as telegra- pher, who only remained half a day. John Moran, formerly relief towerman on the Central, sends his regards to the boys. He is now a Sergeant in France. We all hope he will be successful In getting the “Kaiser’s scalp” and return to us safe and sound. Bro. J. J. Kelly, on second Tower 2 Eport, pending Its assignment, was relieved by Bro. R. Donovan, second Dunellen, also on bulle- tin, by Bro. Fletcher Williams and Bro. Kelly relieved Bro. E. Ort at Hampton a few days. Bros. H. Campbell and Milligan have gone around and made their reliefs to the twelve hour towermen. As no correspondent has yet been appoint- ed to do this work, I have taken the liberty of sending in these notes to The Telegra- pher. Every division should have a write-up. So, brothers, if you have any notes I will be glad to have you send them to me, not later than the 20th of the month until a regular correspondent has been assigned for the Job. J. O. Hoadley, Cert. 7128. Central Division Notes — On May 10th a meeting was called at Gal- lagher’s Hall, 10 am. and 8 p. m., which was attended by fifty-five brothers in the morn- ing and about forty at night for the purpose of reading over working conditions and giv- ing suggestions which will be submitted to the company by the committee when it goes before the officials. Second Vice President Pierson gave an In- teresting talk on the “System Division,” and the brothers who remained away missed a treat. Hope when the next meeting is called, there will be a larger turn-out of the broth- ers. Bro. M. A. Lavelle has gone with the Le- high Valley. Sorry to lose him. Bro. F. Seidel has purchased a gold watch charm with the wreath and sounder on one side and “O. R. T.” on the other, which he is proud to show. Bro. J. J. Kelly is now on second tower 2 Eport, vice Bro. Preston, resigned. Bro. H. Pletcher, relief towerman, is work- ing as operator at Tower 1 Eport, with Bro. Hoadley. Bro. Sampson from the Lone Isl- and, is on second Singers. Bro. Wm. Hyde is second trick dispatcher on the branch. Re- lief Towerman Bro. Milligan was on second Boyway a few days breaking in a new man from the Pennsylvania. Digitized by tjooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 807 Bros. Qillish&n and Naylor 'are out every day "nailing” the nons. The way they are keeping the good work us this division will soon be 100 per cent strong. We now have 260 paid up members, about two-thirds of the men on the road. Remember our motto : “No card, no favors ” Bro. Jack Schroeder, organizing the upper end on the L. & S. Division, gave a good talk at the meeting about how the boys are fall- ing in line on that division. Relief Towerman Bro. Harry Campbell re- lieved Bro. J. J. Kelly, who went to Tower 2 Eport several days while Bro. Kelly relieved Bro. Gullshan, second west Eighth Street, on the sick list. Relief Towerman Bro. R. Donovan is on second Dunellen, vice Bro. M. A. Lavelle, re- signed. Bro. Frank Campbell, extra dispatcher, is posting on the upper end of the main lines, and Bro. Fred Harding, first trick dispatcher on the branch, is posting a new man there on his trick. Bro. M. A. Lavelle from now on will be known by his new “M. D.” sign, which was given him by the L. V. He says it means “Doctor of Medicine.” Bro. Frank Campbell relieved Bro. Hoad- ley, second trick towerman Tower 1 Eport, one day recently. Ask our old friend, Bro. Rube Donovan to show you his O. R. T. emblem. Nothing on this road like it for the size. Talk about a “headlight,” Bro. Rube has it. Men with twenty-five to thirty years’ serv- ice are affiliating with the Order rapidly. Bro. Herman Gerke, first telegrapher at Tower 1 Eport, will have to have an extra large chair made if he gets much larger. Cbrt. 7128. Central of Georgia Ry., Div. No. 46. Southwestern Division — Bro. Southall takes third Ft. Valley, leav- ing Byron on Bulletin. New office opened at Echeconnee also on bulletin. Albany telegraph office has taken over the A. C. L. and Central men are handling the business. Montezuma and Oglethorpe both will consolidate with the A. B. & A. Bro. C. Mathis relieved Bro. Hudgins at Ozark on vacation. A number of grievances have been settled by our committee recently, and Bro. Watson has returned to Byron. The peach move is well under way with a large crop this year. Bro. Kimbell has recovered and is back on second Box Springs. Brothers, get after the nons, who are nearly all new men. If you fail to land them, give Brother Randall their names and addresses. Give all of them a chance, then if they won’t be converted, show them that our motto : “No card, no favors ” means Just what it says. Cbrt. 702. St. Louis Terminal R. R., Div. No. 47. Our first regular morning and evening meeting was held in Hall No. 8, seventh floor Odd Fellows building, Ninth and Olive streets, May 29th, 1918, and hereafter we will hold monthly meetings there every fourth Wednesday of each month at 10 a. m. and 8 p. m., which all are invited to attend. The morning meeting was called to order by Bro. Wm. F. Drehan, and the evening meeting by General Chairman Bro. J. F. Siefert. Interesting subjects were discussed at both sessions. The boys came prepared to “let off steam,” which was enjoyed by all pres- ent. Both meetings were splendidly con- ducted, and we hope our future gatherings will meet with as great a success. We are in the front line, and have been “over the top” tor some time. We still invite the few still remaining out- side our ranks to come in. “The water is fine,” and “after getting your feet wet” you will find that “you were asleep at the switch” all the time. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about us, you have the right, backed by the Govern- ment, and remember that whatever is grant- ed you, it was not through any effort of yours ; the credit belongs to those holding O. R. T. cards, who, paying tribute to this grand Order, now take advise from those that know. An application blank awaits your signature. Bro. M. S. Peebles goes to the “movies” now more than usual. Nothing on North Broadway, “Red”? Bro. Stanhope is on vacation in some kind of a “Gap” in Illinois, probably where there is good fishing. Bro. H. J. O’Bryan, of Q, dropped into the meeting hall dolled up in a big red rose. “Dough Bait’’ is getting fixed up so he can bite the Kaiser's ears off. Bro. J. F. Siefert, our General Chairman, was presented recently with a service flag button, one star center, by Bro. P. V. Fla- herty. Bro. Siefert has a son in the aviation service. We do him honor. Bro. Lucker better save all the rubber bands possible. If his waist line gets much larger he will be obliged to lengthen his belt. Leather is going up too rapidly to buy a new one. Bro. E. C. Vaughan, the only remaining member of “The Three Musketeers,” makes good java, but such a pot, and a tinshop next door. We are pleased to note that Bro. M. D. (“Denty”) Fisher is a regular attendant at our meetings, notwithstanding his avoirdu- pois, this hot weather, but there are plenty of fans for sale. Digitized by v^ooole
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808 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. P, J. Scgraves is still “hitting the pipe," although its beginning to look like crude oil. Bro. S. Y. Brown at "BS” pulled off Grandma Williamson’s stunt recently and pushed his “bean” through the window. Bro. R. O. Lata. “X" office, thinks there’s nothing like the bunch in Division 47. They are all good sports and willing to try any- thing once. All our boys took Liberty Bonds and also dug into their “jeans” for the Red Cross. This way, gents, two regular shows, 10 a. m. and 8 p. m. Have your hair nicely parted if you expect the gent at the door to admit you. If you “guys” want to “hand the other fel- low a package” in these columns slip me the notes on what was doing. I may be able to frame up on him. John. Denver & Rio Grande R. R.y Div. No. 49. First Division — Bro. Luther, at Walsenburg, has resigned and when relieved expects to go to his old home south and take a cashiership under his brother. We hate to lose "Grover.” The first O. R. T. meeting on record in Southern Colorado was held at the Colum- bian Hotel, Trinidad, Saturday, May 11. While it was under the auspices of Division 49, the C. & S. lines of Div. 130 were the best represented. Yours truly was in the chair, with Bros. York, Secretary ; Luther, Marshal, and Hogue, Sentinel. It was one of those wintry days in May when your BVD’s are a little out of place, so t lie weather prob- ably was responsible for the absence of some of our brothers. Visiting members present were Assistant Local Chairman .7. R. Wilson, Z. T. Wilson, Trinidad; Pope and Phillips, Ludlow; Ander- son of Lynn, and Dancy, Div. 130, Cedarwood. We also enjoyed the presence of Bro. Martin, of Div. 126, now in the train service of the C. & S. The only minutes of a previous meeting on record, held at Pueblo, May 8th, 1906, were read. Three new members were taken in, using the ritualistic work : R. T. Leonard, of Trinidad, Div. 49 ; C. K. Lathrop, of Aguilar Div. No. 130, by permission of Bro. Wilson, and Geo. Shaffer, with C. F. & I. Co. at Berwind, Grand Division, with the permission of Bro. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer. Cigars were furnished and interesting talks made by most all present. We were obliged to adjourn many hours before we wished, to allow the C. & S. boys to catch the north-bound train at 11 :30. A vote of thanks was given to Chief Dispatchers Gray and Gephart for their kindness in excusing those present. Walsenburg was chosen for the next meet- ing, to be held within ninety days. Bro. Reynolds is getting a bit envious and is figur- ing on a meeting for Pueblo sometime during the summer. WTe are also looking forward to the pleasure of a visit from Grand Secre- tary and Treasurer Rawlins, to meet with u« at Trinidad or Walsenburg sometime during the summer. It is hoped that all within our territory can be with us at Walsenburg, date to be decided upon later. It is very gratifying to note the interest being taken by our neighbors, the C. & S. boys, under the protection of Mr. McAdoo, Bro. Wilson's goal is a solid South End. Burnham agency was discontinued May 1st and Sister Washburn, who took a leave of absence, is at present on the farm. Former Agent ex-Bro. Triplett, Castle Rock, engaged with two sons in the hard- ware business, dropped dead there April 20th. He first entered the service of the road in 1875 as agent at that point, then known a* Douglas ; had served as coun> y treasurer and county judge of Douglas County and was ad- mired by all who were fortunate enough to know him. Dispatcher Brown's son, Edward, is now in the Hospital Corps with Uncle Sam. and Dispatcher Cavanaugh’s son \C. F.), re- cently at San Francisco training camp, has enlisted in the navy. Dispatchers Kemp and Wajrts are also in Uncle Sam’s service. Bro. Summers, of Walsenburg, who enlisted in the Marines, was relieved by a new man. North and West Ends are now dispatching by telephone. The good old Morse remains only on the South End. One hundred per cent American Liberty Loan subscriptions and Red Cross has been our goal, and let’s not overlook our own membership; it also deserves the 100 per cent mark. We need but one to make it so on the First Divisiop, that’s Hennold at Hus- ted. Tell the trainmen about him and keep him in mind. He seems to think the O. R. T. never done anything for him. F. B. Rose, Asst. Loc. Chairman. Second Division — Miss Francis Jones is at Dean, her first experience. Bro. Allison is back at Buena Vista ; Bro. Mabe to Granite agency, vice Bro. Jones to Malta, and F. E. Norton and wife from Utah Lines to Avon as agent and operator, vice Bro. Sullivan, resigned. Brothers, let’s try and get in those two lone nons on this division. • Thanks to Bro. Rust for the few notes. Liberty Bond subscriptions were 99 per cent among the operators on this division. Agent Drake, Glenwood, is on vacation. “VI,” Cert. 921. Fourth Division — Everybody seems too busy to send In any notes, but I would like to see a write-up In The Tei.kgraphkr every month, and I believe Digitized by u.oo<?ie
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The Rah, road Telegrapher. 809 the brothers at the smaller stations would willingly devote a few minutes each month and send me some so we can be represented in our official journal. I hope Bro. Ogle at Monero and Bro. Richard at Lev eta Pass will go flfty-flfty with me on this. We are again working under a new super- in tendent, Mr. J. A. Shepherd from the Green River Division Mr. TenEyck having gone with the New Mexico Central. Bro. Skelding is relieving Bro. Williams, agent Chama, relieved on second there by Miss Jacks. Bro. Ogle recently went to Monero; Bro. Motz to Taos Junction, and a new man is cashier at Espanola. I recently received in my mail a thrift 8 tamp book containing one thrift stamp, sent out by Bro. Rafter, Del Norte, in the form of a chain letter, he having addressed the same letter and a thrift book to General Agent McAttee and four other brothers. Each one of us is to buy five more books with a 26c thrift stamp in each book and send them to five others. This will create more thrift stamp books, and we will be doing our mite to help “Uncle Sam” in a great cause. Cert. 687. Georgia R. R., Div. No. 50. We are pleased to report that our division is in a healthy and growing condition. Prac- tically every one of our members was paid up in December, and we recently secured sev- eral applications with the promise of more in near future. Our division has been reorganized more than three years and our membership has fluctuated most of this time, but a few of us have kept up the fight for better pay and im- proved working conditions, and today we are on a sounder basis than ever. Since our reorganization in the spring of 1916 we have been able to secure increases in salafies on three different occasions, some of us being benefited on each occasion and most of us on at least twice. Prior to the activi- ties of the Order there had been practically no increases in salaries for men in our de- partment for several years. But we believe that the O. R. T. has come to stay on the Georgia Railroad and the nons are beginning to realize when their pay checks come in that the Order is no longer an experiment on our line for they and their families have felt the effect of it in a very substantial manner. Our membership is composed, generally, of the young and active men in our depart- ment, although we have several of the so- called “old-heads” who have been of inesti- mable value to us as counselors and guides. The only ones we have not yet been able to interest are a few of the middle aged “satis- fied” fellows who were afraid that they had nothing to gain by “antagonizing” as they term it, and they now must certainly have had cause to recede from that position since their “pocket change” has been Increased con- siderably through the efforts of the Order. Among them there are some genuinely good fellows, who, we believe, when they have had time to reflect seriously on such matters will send in their applications. They will make valuable members. Brothers, you are not attending our meet- ings regularly. I realize that since we are running freight trains on Sunday it is hard for most of us to get off, but we get off oc- casionally for other reasons, and I believe if we all will make the proper effort, we can have larger attendance at our gatherings. We cannot maintain the proper enthusiasm un- less we mingle with the members occasion- ally. Bro. T. G. Moore, first Camak, goes to Crawford agency, McGahee and Billy Mays both moving up a trick with Bro. John Wick- er coming back to third. Bro. Acree, third Union Point, goes to clerk's position there, being relieved by Bro. R. L Echols, a new man. We all are waiting patiently on the out- come of the wage investigation. Quite a lot of us barely able to make ends meet have subscribed for liberty bonds, hoping to be able to pay for them out of the expected in- crease. Don’t overlook the fact that June 30th is the time to pay your dues; let’s all pay up- promptly and keep our membership up to the standard. Cert. 13. Bessemer & Lake Erie R. R.» Div. No. 51. The meeting in Butler was well attended, and we heard some interesting speaking, the proceedings being occasionally punctuated by Bro. Schroll's irresistible humor. Come again, Fred, we surely enjoyed your jokes. Understand that the next meeting Is to be held on the North End. Bro. Wrey relieved Horton, second Fredo- nia, now employed in a mill. Bro. Knapp gets first Shenango, vice Bro. Miller, working message wire. In our last roster, place a star in front of the following names : Brewer, Burdick, Kimple, McAnallen, Patten, Hedeen and Rei- ser. The K-O Line is now double-track, and Kremis has been moved to K-Y tower. Bro. Smith, Bro. Eddleblute and - extra Hammill are throwing hand switches, while waiting for an interlocking plant to be built. K-Y is about 4000 feet north of the old office. Rowe, a new man, is relieving Green at Henlein. A certain non on an OS Job offers the ex- cuse that a card would be inconsistent with Digitized by tjooole
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810 The Railroad Telegrapher, his future status, as he expects to be given an official position. Brothers, we may as well arrange for 100 per cent efficiency, because “Al” will surely make us “hit the ball” after being transformed overnight into a full- fledged trainmaster (?). A number of years ago, we attended a meeting in which a brother expressed his disapproval of a non he was working with in a very emphatic manner. The last roster shows his name minus a star. The brother must have lost his enthusiasm since making that speech. Bro. Davis furnished a number of items recently, but the new roster not having been distributed yet, did not know who were brothers and did not send any to the jour- nal. Bro. C. W. Rimer has the sympathy of all in his bereavement. Dispatcher Hornbeck was on No. 10 re- cently when both tracks were blocked north of Culmerville. We are told that he disre- garded all speed restrictions in getting away, even leaving his coat in the seat. A South End brother asks: “If nons are ‘slackers,' are ex-committeemen who have dropped out traitors?” A new phone switchboard has been in- stalled in ”XB,” which makes it more con- venient for testing. Cert. 92. Southern Pacific Ry., Div. No. 53. Western Division — Your correspondent was commissioned to go to San Francisco as Assistant Local Chair- man to attend the meeting of the newly formed Liberty Local of the C. T. U. A., held at the Labor Temple, Sunday, May 19th. My instructions from the Local Chairman was to buy a card for myself in this baby local and assure the commercial brothers, as a repre- sentative of the Western Division, that we are very much interested in their success and intend to do everything possible to insure it. Because of my absence, I was compelled to omit the usual write-up, being assured by Bro. Falls that he would attend to that duty. We are contemplating in the near future the publication of a regular monthly bulle- tin devoted to the interests of our organiza- tion in general and the membership on the Western Division in particular. Further de- tails will reach you in a circular letter shortly. Keep in touch with the commercial tele- graph situation and lend the brothers every assistance possible. F. S. Western Division Notes — Bro. Shaver, our correspondent, attended the C. T. U. A. meeting heretofore noted which was a grand success. Several other O. R. T. brothers were In attendance and took out C. T. U. A. cards in this local, which, from present indications will soon outgrow Its babyhood. The Joint Western and Coast Division meetings held in the Pacific building May 12th were well attended both afternoon and evening. Bro. Manlon opened the meeting with an address on “Mother's Day,” and each person attending was presented at the door with a beautiful carnation, the emblem of the day. Bro. Cowgill, L. C. of the Coast Division, presided at the afternoon session, called at 3 p. m. The General Chairman of the Western Pa- cific delivered an interesting address. C. T. U. Bro. Secour, chairman of Liberty Local San Francisco, also gave an interest- ing talk on the present and past troubles of the C. T. U. A. These brothers should have our support, as they are striving for what we have , recognition of their union. Bro. Koppikus spoke on things in general, dwelling largely on back pay, which he seems the most interested in. at present. If Bro. “Kop” can get out to a meeting, handi- capped as he is in regard to train service, surely some of you brothers who have a thirty minute service to the city could man- age to get in. Wake up, brothers , and attend the meetings , air your grievances and get ac- quainted with your neighbors. On motion of Bro. Shaver, seconded by Bro. Koppikus, a message was sent to Bro. Per- ham, which read as follows : “H. B. Perham, President O.' R. T., Belle- vue Hotel, Washington, D. C. : At joint meet- ings held in San Francisco, May 12, 1918, representing telegraphers Southern Pacific and Western Pacific Railroad System s, fol- lowing resolutions unanimously adopted : “Telegraphers vigorously protest against rates as of nineteen fifteen being made basis upon which percentage increase as recom- mended by wage commission be alloted. In- creases as of nineteen seventeen secured from railroad companies for good and sufficient reasons solely through efforts of organisa- tions and in spirit of compromise, telegra- phers and station employes under our juris- diction loyally performing arduous duties an- ticipating full justice at hand of Government wage commission. Consider increase should be based upon rates as of December nineteen seventeen. “(Signed) T. T. Cota, C. E. Nipt, F. Shaver, Committeemen. ' ’ Bro. Gross relieved Bro. Schad, agent Avon, while he took in the sights between here and Denver. Bro. Rockwell, agent Antioch, Js back, after a trip to Arizona. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 811 Bro. Knightly, third West Oakland, has gone to third Oakland Pier, relieved by Mr. Bavyer. Bro. McTear relieved Bro. Hazen, first West Oakland, o ft on account of sickness. The L. C., walking down Market street, San Francisco, bumped into Bro. L. W. Dwyer coming out of a leather store with an O. R. T. card case in his hand admiring the case and contents, “a brand new O. R. T. card." Things look good when cards get as numerous as this. Every man recently as- signed advertised positions carries an up-to- date. Any brothers reduced since 1906 in express commissions should notify the Local Chair- man Immediately and advise him how much commission was paid up to and including that year, and what reduction was suffered. Some of the agents have a tidy sum coming in back pay from the S. P. Co. Brothers, don’t forget to investigate the pension fund during your spare time. If we don't interest ourselves this department may be abolished for want of material to keep it going. Send Bro. Shaver items for the journal if you want our division mentioned in the jour- nal. All non members and delinquents will be mentioned in the next circular the Local Chairman sends out. If you have not re- mitted the last special assessment better do so at once, along with the dues for the first half. Bro. Jeff Hoell, now at Camp Fremont, was present at the San Francisco meeting and recommends the army for all “ops.” Cert. 1302. Coast District — Bro. Trexler, Naval Aviation Service, “Somewhere in France,” writes that all is well with him. A very pleasing letter was received from Bro. Roy O’Neal while in training at Camp Lewis, probably now in France. Bro. Topham is now in New York having the finishing touches put on his course in the Engineers' Corps. Spencer and Cookson are at Camp Fremont familiarizing themselves with the bugle calls, especially the call to mess. They all have our best wishes for a speedy and triumphant return to civil life. Bro. M. Sherman has returned from Seat- tle in good health and spirits. Bro. Burnett has a splendid agency at Sunnyvale for work. However, If he sticks like our good brother at Mayfield, he, too, may some day be classed among the well- to-do. Bro. Cowgill is in receipt of a splendid letter from Chairman G. E. Secour, C. T. U. A., acknowledging receipt of his mem- bership fee. Bro. Cowgill suggests that we catch the spirit of our brothers of the Com- mercial world and assist them sympathet- ically in their titanic struggle for a complete recognition of their union. Not one item have I received this month. If you wish a good showing in the Coast Division column of The Telegrapher you know how it can be done ; otherwise we will close up shop. . C. B. Ward, Acting Cor. Los Angeles Division — The employes of this division purchased over |350,000 in Liberty Bonds, due to the diligent efTort of our officials in having the purchases directed to the credit of the divi- sion. Doubtless many employes bought bonds through other channels before the Liberty Special ran. Bro. Jack O’Connor, away a few days on account of sickness, relieved Sister Bailiff at Cabazon owing to the serious illness of her daughter. Bro. Ellison, fifth “NG,” “Fordizlng” to San Diego and Camp Kearney, was relieved several days by Bro. O’Connor. Mr. Wyne, for the past year clerk at Cali- patria, was called by draft. Bro. Dougan, from the R. I., relieved Bro. Hampton, Opr. Carplnteria, who relieved Bro. Rotherburg at Somis agency, who re- lieved Bro. Jensen at Van Nuys, relieving now temporary Chief Clerk El Centro. Our secretary and wife, Bro. and Mrs. C. C. Dickinson, are on an extended visit with home folks in Massachusetts to help celebrate the golden wedding anniversary of Bro. Dickinson's parents. Bro. and Mrs. Dickinson, also Bro. and Mrs. Ellison, spent a recent evening with Bro. and Mrs. Bur- roughs at Burbank. Second and third Iris and Salton and sec- ond Somis and Carpinteria closed owing to shortage of telegraphers. Bro. O. R. Baum- gardner went to third Bertram when third Salton closed. Bro. McMullen relieved Bro. J. K. L. Schwartz on first Salton when he went to Glamis agency. Bro. P. R. Field, Altamont third, Western Division, desires a trade with a Los Angeles Division man, seniority dates Feb. 1, 1918. Communicate with him direct. Bro. McMullen, third San Fernando, on account of his exceptional ability at handling that class of work, has been requested by the superintendent to go to Brawley during the melon season. Bro. and Mrs. Guy Crowley are on their vacation visiting relatives and friends in Indiana. Bro. Jim Collins, formerly first San Fer- nando. at American Lake, we are proud to learn now bears the title of “Corporal.” This promotion is well justified. The top is none too high for some of our men. Digitized by Google
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812 The Railroad Telegrapher. The Blue Book is now doubtless in the hands of all paid-up members. The compila- tion and presentation in detail of such a volume speaks well for our Grand Officers. Such a detailed report has probably never been presented to the entire membership of an organization as large as ours. Keep it for future reference and study other sched- ules; it may assist in revising our own in the future. Bro. Dan McCormick of Fernando, Glamis and Edom is now Government stenographer in Denver. We wish him success. Bro. Harker has been keeping the rest of the office force at San Fernando well supplied with black bass and trout since the season opened, to reduce the H. C. O. L. Bro. Rothenburg, relieved at Van Nuys agency by Bro. R. H. Freeman, is relieving Bro. Crowley. Bros. Hadduck and Baumgardner of Sal- ton built an elaborate poultry house, but before their thoroughbreds arrived they found an egg in one of the nests, probably the egg of the Wild Succotash. Bro. G. W. Admas, who relieved Bro. E. C. Fuller at Nlland, on vacation, later took second Niland, vice Bro. M. B. McMullen. Every last one of the nons on this division buried the back pay recently secured for them by the Order deep in their non-union overalls, donned their Danbury hats and beat it home to tell wifey that now she could buy a new washboard, since the company has made them a present for loyalty. Bro. W. F. Malott, Santa Barbara, plans on leaving for Kentucky on the return of Bro. D. G. Maltby from his vacation. Bro. and Mrs. Dickinson of L. A. spent Sunday with Bro. Malott and family. Bro. Hardesty has enlisted with the En- gineers’ Corps, relieved on Calexico first by Bro. Taylor. Bro. R. H. Freeman relieved Bro. Villegas, agent Chatsworth, a few days recently. Bros. Harker, Hampton, McMullen, Maltby and Schwartz came to our rescue, and largely to their credit the foregoing is dedi- cated. E. L. B., Cert. 1246. Stockton Division — A very successful meeting was held at the Labor Temple in Stockton, April 28th, and a fairly good number of brothers pres- ent. Some very Interesting talks were given by Fifth Vice-President Manion, General Chairman Cull, General Secretary and Treas- urer Hammond, Bros. Watson and Falls, Local Chairman Hanlon and various other brothers. Meetings were held both after- noon and evening. Bro. Howard Downing, first Modesto, on a month's leave, visits Mrs. Downing's par- ents at Salina, Kan., and then, in company with Mrs. Downing and son, will visit his folks in Illinois, relieved by Bro. Fred Strong, Canadian Northern. Bra Tooms, second Merced, now on second Modesto, will move his family from Madera shortly. The wife and little daughter of Ticket Agent Benjamin, Modesto, are visiting her parents at Great Bend, Kan. Bro. Wheeler, third Los Ranos, Is now in the navy, and brothers at Los Banos have purchased a service flag for their office in his honor. Bro. Burrows, first "KN” Stockton, on va- cation, relieved by Bro. Jones. Bro. Bur- rows on trip to San Diego. Bro. Denehy, manager "BR” Stockton, has been down with mumps. While convalescing will visit Dinuba and San Diego before re- turning to work. Bro. Lower is acting man- ager during his absence. Bro. Keppuer, agent Livingston, is on va- cation to Shorb. The brothers have all received their back pay. A new time roll will be issued for a few shortages that occurred. I have Bros. Onderkirk and Orr to thank for news notes this writeup. You other brothers get busy. No writeup in May jour- nal, as I was on vacation. E. L. R., Cert. 760. San Joaquin Division — There seems to be a growing tendency by those in the telegraph service of the South- ern Pacific to acquire automobiles. It is a good sign, as the time was when some teleg- raphers thought more of the "wine when it was red" than the real comfort of their families, or even themselves. The teachings of our noble organization, however, have brought us a new idealism, and this tendency toward the comforts of real life is a beauti- ful result we should feel proud of. Bro. R. A. Greenwade has acquired a brand new Universal ; likewise Bro. Wm. L. Anderson of Bealville is sailing forth in a new car, and, although his first attempts may have caused the use of the full code of a "teleg- raphers’ vocabulary,’’ still the brothers about him wish him joy with it and fill the wires with mechanical advice for his sole benefit Sister Lena Ethelle Watts, at Marcel, con- templated taking unto herself a "Faithful Ford" after perusing Director General Mc- Adoo’s speech to railroad men at EH Paso, April 17, wherein he advises, "instead of a tin Lizzie, get a real Lizzie , and with her share your joys and your sorrows forever." It so affected our good patriotic sister that she at once cancelled her order with the Tehachapi Ford Agency. Bro. Huckeby of Mojave is owner of a Ford Jitney. Bro. Nejedley, Warren, has a brand new Btude- baker, and Bro. Ted Underhill, Rowen, a new Hupmobjle. Tfoe reason for the fore- Digitized by Google
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I The Railroad Telegrapher. 813 going is very plain, and only has one mean- ing, The result of benefits secured by raises by our grand old O. R. fc. For every dollar invested, ten dollars returned. Bros. Orlendorf and Johnson were loaned to Stockton Division during the reduction in force. Bro. Qulnlisk transferred to Port- land Division. Bro. Beeson, third Ravenna, relieved ten days by Bro. Ratliff from third Vincent Bro. Baughman, relieved by Bro. Gibson on Bixth Bakersfield, went to second Mojave. Bro. Anderson had his son Billy, from Bealville, in Bakersfield recently for a slight operation. Bro. Burdin from Lindsay is relieving the agent at San Joaquin for 30 days. Bro. Fry, Goshen Jet., returned from va- cation, relieved Bro. McCuiston and Sister Mrs. Barngrover a few days. Bro. Etherton, Famoso agency, was a re- cent Bakersfield visitor. Bro. and Sister Krombeck are now in San Francisco. The position of the latter at Famoso has been abolished. Sivert also abolished; Bro. Baughman relieving Bro. En- nis at Woodford, who relieved Bro. Ludolph for vacation East. Other positions abolished : Procter, third Rowen, Ravenna and Fowler, and Fresno fifth. The new telephone system is now in use in the valley. Bro. Ludolph, third Woodford, on vaca- tion, relieved by Bro. Ennis. Bro. Northamer, in San Francisco hospi- tal a few weeks with rheumatism, relieved by Bro. Qulnlisk. Bro. Bright, second Marcel, is now in Long Beach shipyards as oxy-acetyline welder, re- lieved by Bro. Lemka. Bro. Hogan, agent Tipton, on leave, re- lieved by Bro. Ames, third Delano, and Bro. Doyle, agent Brown, relieved by Bro. Scott. Bro. Shay joined the colors, relieved at Pixley by Bro. Haines. Bro. Golyan, attend- ing the Radio Naval School at Harvard, re- cently ranked first in a test there. Bro. Gib- son, Mojave, enlisted May 16th. Bro. Curry left there April 26th for Camp Lewis. Bro. McCuiston, who enlisted in the Naval Radio Service, reported May 16th. Other brothers in military service are : I. H. Krim, R. A. Hill, H. L. Haage, J. B. Putnam, E. W. Collins, C. H. Reeves, W. J. Lewis, P. E. Turner, W. L. Joyce and J. H. Shay. Chief Dispatchers Duggan and Nichols are now in the Railroad Regiment at Fort Leaven- worth, Kan., as lieutenants,, and Dispatcher Watts Is in the Signal Corps there. Dis- patchers Kelly, Warner and Turner are “over there.” Bro. Harry Galyan from fifth Fresno is looking for a special dispensation from Washington to get into the Navy. Bro. Martin Is back on first Bakersfield, and Bro. Winters nights. Local Chairman Cartt, on committee work at San Francisco six days recently, is now at Rowen, P. O. address, Keene, Cal. Thanks to Bros. Collins and Gibson and Local Chairman Cartt for notes. H. A. Huckebt, Local Sec*y. Shasta Division — This is a good time for the Eastern broth- ers who have the bug for mountainous Cali- fornia to come here, as we are short of op- erators and station agents. We are using several lady operators in the former service; a few students from San Francisco are breaking in. Any “Morse" man who shows up will be “Jake” with us. Brothers, we had a hard time getting the company to furnish us typewriters, and should keep them in good working condi- tion. Clean and oil them up when neces- sary. It’s now Bro. Epley at Redding; also Bro. W. H. Schaffer, Montague third, who relieved a few days at Grass LAke. Bro. Bigelow, at MacDoel, Is being relieved by Callaghan, a member of B. R. T., Dewey Lodeg, at Tucson. Bro. Armstrong gave up regular work and is now dn extra list. Bro. Bolland is spending his vacation in Portland. Bro. Longmire, agent Bray, is also on vacation. Bro. Custer takes dispatcher's third trick. Bro. H. W. Wood, agent MacDoel, has gone to his large cattle ranch. Bro. Bigelow, Hilt, relieved him. Bro. R. H. Hargadine has gone to San Francisco, and Bro. J. B. Young, third Ger- ber, has also resigned and gone to Far North. Third Trick Dispatcher Davis has resigned and gone East. Bro. A. L. Johnson came back from his fishing trip suffering from poison oak. Dispatcher McDaniels and wife have re- turned from San Francisco. I have not had a note from any of the brothers for this writeup. Drop me a note on the changes and say If the one relieving has a card or not; also a note on the new- comers, so I can get transfers if members from other divisions, or go after applica- tions if new on the road. Csrt. 1878. Portland Division — Bro. F. L. Young from the O. W. is re- lieving Bro. Cathers at Wheeling. Bro. Miller relieved several days by Bro. Chase while taking the army exam. Another freight is to be added on the Tillamook Branch. Bro. Wheeler has returned to Buxton after three months’ tryout on the Tacoma Divi- sion. He now has a nice lady helper. It is now Bro. Jones at Independence. Digitized by Google
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814 The Railroad Telegrapher. Northern Pacific R. R.f Div. No. 54. Seattle Division — The regular monthly meeting held at Se- attle Sunday, May 12th, McCormick Block, Second and James streets was a joint meet- ing of the O. W., G. N., Milw. and N. P. roads, and will be held every month in the future, second Sunday in each month. Let us all try and bd there. I am unable to give the names of the brothers present, as there were a great many new faces. We wired Bro. Perham a good, strong message on the wage question, and all hope Mr. McAdoo will grant us enough increase for us to live on, without going in the hole every month. If not, a great many will seek other employment When mere boys can make $3.00 to $6.00 a day, why should we hang on to $80.00 a month, seven a week job, with no chance to lay off a day, owing to the scarcity of men. We want to help win the war, but if we can do it by building ships tor more money, let’s build ships. It is now Sister Baldwin at Kanaskat, from the W. U. If some of the old hard- shells had some of her spirit they would not be called leeches by all union mem- bers. Sister Baldwin took out a card be- fore her first pay day. Bro. Hawkins is now on second Auburn yard, vice Bro. Carr, who took third there, Bro. Swanson going to Auburn third, vice Bro. Bell to third “CF” Seattle ; Bro. Thomas, extra, to third Stampede, and Bro. Remier, third Lowell, to third Puyallup. Bro. Hawkins relieved Bro. McDougal, agent Preston, a few days on account of sickness. Sister and Bro. Bayer attended our meet- ing Sunday, but some of our good brothers right in Seattle were too busy to come; also two or three from Auburn. Sister Leeper, third Cle Elum, relieved a few days by Sister McIntyre, second Bris- tol. Bro. C. O. Abernathy, second Martin, is on three-months’ leave on account of the death of his mother. Bro. H. L. Baker, with the U. S. Signal Corps, passing through Auburn recently, en- route to Alaska from Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., stopped over long enough to take in our Se- attle meeting. Sister Nash, third Kennedy, relieved Bro. Webb on third Lester, resigned. Bro. Tamm, extra, went to second “AY” Auburn yard, pending bulletin ; later to sec- ond Black River, extra. There is some talk of the Grays Harbor and North end “biz” being diverted via S. P. & S. and G. N. This will make “biz” light over the mountain. Bro. Nash, second Lester, is breaking in for dispatcher. There is plenty of such good material here ; no need to go to foreign roads for it I have not had the time to give you a good writeup this month. Too busy planting spuds and making garden. Nothing from the north end. If the good brothers up there have no time to mail me items we will have to forget they are on the division. I have no way to get them unless someone will send them in. Everett True. Tacoma Division — The meeting at Centralia was well at- tened, and all expressed their appreciation of a splendid time at Bro. Weyand's home. Bros. Moody, Walsh and Johnson, our new linemen brothers, accompanied by Sisters Moody and Johnson, attended this meeting and took a lively interest in the affairs. The memory of the generous hospitality shown by Bro. and Sister Weyand will linger long with those brothers and sisters who were present. As usual, the O. R. T. and Ladies’ Auxili- ary held separate meetings and afterward combined forces in the evening's entertain- ment. Do not miss these good times; come, and bring all your good ideas along. Bro. DeShields is again back at work after several days spent in the hospital. Bro. Wood, Dryad, took several days' -va- cation recently, relieved by Bro. F. EL Smith. Bro. Ritchie, second Centralia, on vaca- tion touring the East, relieved by Bro. Pal- mer, who took out his card as soon as he went to work. Bro. Snead worked a trick in dispatcher’s office while Bro. Graham was out on the road. Bro. Hartl is in the dispatcher’s office, breaking in. Bro. F. E. Smith relieved Bro. L. L. Jen- kins while having some dental work done in Tacoma. The wires were kept humming for a while when word came from St. Louis to wire protests to Bro. Perham at Washington. He must have received enough backing from this division to convince Mr. McAdoo that we are right on the job— yet It is almost impossible for agents to lay off now owing to the lack of competent re- lief men. Nons on this division are scarcer than pure wheat ffour. Only one non. No. 44, among the first 120 names on the seniority list He has promised. Keep after him. Article 14, Section I, C. Sc O. Ry. schedule, reads : “Annual system passes will be fur- nished employes who have been in the serv- ice two years or more and who have a dear record the previous year.” Some of our Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 815 operators and agents who have worked 12 years are unable to get division card passes. Let's put this C. & O. article in our next schedule. It costs nothing. Sister Bryant, on Lake view second tem- porarily, was relieved at Napa vine nights two weeks while visiting home folks in Ore- gon by Bro. Parkinson from first, relieved by Bro. Hall from Olympia, who later went to second Rochester, vice Bro. Ostermeyer to third Sixth Ave., vice Sister Minor. Bra Dickinson, Kelso, relieved several weeks by Sister Niles, who later relieved Bro. Phillips, second Lakeview, and then went to second Aberdeen for the “Oh and Dubb” temporarily. If Sister Niles con- tinues at her present pace she will put all of us old-timers to shame. Thanks for the news items, Bro. Wyse. E. A. Mielke, Div. Cor. Members Pasco Division : I wish to thank each member of the Pasco Division for the good work being done gath- ering in the nons, and desire to impress upon . each individual member the responsi- bility resting upon him. There must be no letup if we wish to hold the division to ,its present high place. That 100 per cent looms powerful near, so let’s all keep together and dig. After ‘'Frenchie’’ gets through organiz- ing the “Huns” we will have to be solid to make any hit with him on his return. H. H. Flbsher, Chairman. Pasco Division Notes — The members of Pasco Division certainly got some surprise on April 6th when Local Chairman E. E. LaMarche got orders to pro- ceed at once for New York to sail for France as a first lieutenant in the Transport Serv- ice. Bro. LaMarche has been one of the most tireless and faithful workers the Pasco Division has had for many years, and with his departure leaves the division mighty close to 100 per cent against about 56 per cent when he took the chairmanship in 1914, and the number of operators has increased from about 101 to 141 in-same period. But the mem- bership has been only a small part of his work, as he has handled all cases with supreme promptness and satisfaction. Several days prior to Bro. LaMarche’s de- parture we started a list for the purpose of giving him a present in appreciation of his services. Although it was not all we wished to do for him, a total of $51.15 was ob- tained, for which a beautiful gold wrist watch, suitably engraved, and a trench com- fort kit was purchased. Owing to shortness of time, Bro. LaMarche could not hold meet- ings, as he had planned to thank the mem- bership and bid them good-bye, but instead left note at Pasco thanking us for the pres- ent and expressing his desire to soon return and resume his old position as chairman of the Pasco Division, if he doesn’t get to or- ganizing the Huns over there and stay. Some 83 members subscribed to the dona- tion list. Sister Gertrude E. Dillon, Glade, has gone to her home in Montana for two or three weeks' visit. Bro. C. S. Davis, manager “PA” Pasco, made a trip to Seattle recently. Mrs. Davis is recovering from a severe attack of pneu- monia. Bro. Kelly, Kennewick, has a fine bunch of lambs and will soon be buying a bank. Sister Laura Tucker of Badger has topped the division with a $500.00 Liberty Bond subscription. This is certainly fine, and shows patriotism all through. Div. Cob. Montana Division — Bro. Dillavou is now up and around, but owing to lung trouble will not be able to resume Inside work for some time, and is going East to recuperate and visit rela- tives. Sister Taylor, home from Missoula hospi- tal, is not yet able to resume duty, Mrs. Taplin relieving. Bro. Frank Gabriel, drafted from Park County, left May 25th for Camp Lewis. Bro. Corbin, drafted, but exempted by the local board at Columbus, Ohio, is relieving in “VS,” also Bro. Kellar, while Bro. Carleton is off ten days, and M. M. Miller from Ten- nessee, who has been out of the game some time. Bro. Crofford has resigned and is going to travel a while. Sister Henrietta Troup was relieved by Mrs. Tudor two nights recently, having a sore throat. Sister Hoy, transferred to “TN,” relieved by Sister Tietz a few days before leaving “RK.” Miss J. M. Anderson has gone with the Western Union at Butte. Bro. Rhodes wishes to thank the division for the flowers recently sent his wife, and he is passing the smokes on the little girl born May 1st. All are doing nicely. Bro. Smith relieved a few days by Bro. Snow, and he by Mrs. Moore. Bros. Perkins, Hanifen, and Donohue, old- timers of this division, are now with the W. U. at Billings. Bro. Curtis is now on extra list. Bro. Prior Is relieving Bro. Hanifen. Sister Ratbun goes to “CO.” vice Sister Hazel Troup, soon as relieved as stenogra- pher in the C. D.'s office. Sisters Henrietta and Hazel Troup are visiting relatives In Sioux City and other points for a month. We wish them a pleasant time. Booth Holker, only son of Bro. Holker, Is Digitized by v^ooole
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616 The Railroad Telegrapher. now “over there/* having enlisted in March and spent a very brief training period at Gamp Lewis. Another Toston boy, L. W. Middleton, is also “over there" with the En- gineers’ Corps, having enlisted last summer, and spent his training period at Camp Grant, 111. Bro. Claud T. Williams writes Bro. Rhodes from “somewhere in France" that our boys like very much to get letters from this side. Any of you who have a friend “over there" should write them. Bros. Ed rOrman and Frank Cline are now at Mare Island, Cal., training camp. Sister Genevieve Glasgow is now extra at “TS." Mrs. Little, “RK/* is now at home in Boze- man, on the sick list. Bro. Heebner has revised the ballad, “And the Cat Came Back” to read “Cats." Sister Koppen is on third “CJ," awaiting the arrival of Sister Morrison. There have been quite a number of recent subscribers to the flower fund, but many are delinquent for the last half of 1917 and this year, and a few back to 1916. Another re- port will be issued through the journal shortly. Bro. Harlan wishes to thank the members of the division for the flowers sent him while in the Missoula hospital recently. Bro. Davis is on his ranch in Dawson County, relieved by Bro. H. E. Smith. Cbrt. 818. Idaho Division — Dues for the last half of 1918 are now payable. If you have not already remitted, do not overlook this next payday. Sister M. Kay, third Hope, who was re- lieved for two months’ vacation by C. J3. Rice^ a new man, was later called back to work on account of the scarcity of operators after only having about a week off. Bro. E. S. Smith has resumed on second Cocolalla after a vacation spent with rela- tives in the East. Bro. W. Woodruff, second Plains, joined the colors, relieved on bid by Bro. W. L. Vawter. In the April journal we referred to H. J. Fenton as a non-member. We wish to cor- rect this statement, as “ Brother ” Fenton has a card and in good standing. Sister M. L. Stevens, on first Eddy, reliev- ing Bro. Miller, sick ; Mrs. Williams, on third, relieving Sister Sullivan, also sick. Bro. P. F. Ebert, second Paradise, while taking in the sights at Missoula and Spo- kane, was relieved by Bro. E. E. Thompson. Bro. W. E. Floyd, first Paradise, relieved on a few days’ vacation by Bro. E. P. Ebert. L. E. Erickson, third Paradise, on a month's leave, relieved by W. H. Fisher, a new man. Seems to be plenty material left yet to work over. Are you helping to make the Idaho solid? Bro. O. C. Matheney, agent Noxon, on leave, taking care of his farm, relieved by Bro. E. E. Thomson. Bro. C. A. * Culler, second Rathdrum, on leave, relieved by L. A. Kruger, who, being unable to get back and forth from Rath- drum, resigned, relieved at Ramsey by C. E. Rice, who only stayed a few days. Bro. Y. R. Mitchell from third Althol five nights, relieved by A. C. Holt from the Santa Fe, who has already applied for member- ship. The members of the Idaho appreciate this attitude and join me in wishing Mr. Holt permanent employment on the Idaho Division. Pay your dues this month and avoid the delinquent list. Only three delinquents last term. Let’s hot have any this one. Bros. E. C. Hinton, Marshall; E. M. Tay- lor, Trout Creek ; P. F. Ebert, Paradise ; Y. R. Mitchell, Athol, and G. W. Harrisom, Che- ney, are among those who have lent their aid to solidize the Idaho. We appreciate their spirit and hope we can add further names to this list in the next journal. Dnr. Cor. Fargo Division — At the meeting held at Jamestown, May 19 th, a number of boys from a long ways off were in attendance, braving a cold, rainy day, very poor roads and two blowouts. Bros. Wilk, Marti! la, Hughes, Tofte, Laidlow, Hetzler and Bro. Shaw of the Dakota Divi- sion were on hand as usual. Bro. Formoe, agent of the “Sod" at Rogers, was also with us, and we sure want him present each time. Some of the boys were afraid to rad their jitneys owing to the bad roads, and we lay that to the small but goodly crowd. It speaks very poor for the Main Line . bunch who have trains and can ride the cushions, while the majority of the boys who were there had to via auto and poor roads. Bra Rogers, at Bloom, sent the Dakota boys at the Terminal word, but none put in their appearance. The bad roads around Streeter prevented Bro. McCormick from getting there. Bro. McFarlane of Hastings gave the boys a nice little impromptu speech. Bro. Shaw is from the Moot Branch of the Dakota Division and is awaiting call to Jamestown for the army. Bro. Oscar Urdahl is now with the troops at Fort Dodge. Remember that enlisted men or those drafted are given reduced rates at $4.00 per term. Please see that you are up to date when you leave for camp and we will look after your Interests while you are serving the Government and our interests “over there." The next meeting will be held at James- town in the Gladstone Room 118 at 11 :30 ; date given later. We would like to see both Digitized by joooie
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 817 the brothers and sisters from the Main Line in attendance. Bro. Wilk of Oackle was recently called to Aberdeen on business. Bro. Hetzler was in Fargo the latter part of May, getting his optics fixed and taking the visual examination. Bro. Smith, at Medberry, is accorded the honor of securing one wild pussy cat in the skunk hunt there one day in May. Bro. Skeely, at Dilworth, has been trying to line up a few of the boys around that part of the woods. No one sent any items this month, so we are short on our usual write-up. M. L. Hetzler, Cert 690. Dakota Division — We wish to welcome Bros. Mark Sexton, second "J” office, and Herman Moyes, agent Melville, to our fraternal society. Almost without an exception every girl and man, not carrying a card, have expressed a de- sire to Join shortly, and I earnestly urge every sister and brother to lend their aid in bringing these toilers of the key into our fold, and also use their influence to get the few delinquents pay up. Miss Edna Ander- son, third Burleigh ; Miss Agnes Ydstie, third Dawson; Martha Heckenlaible, relief at Mott, and Miss Stella Norris, at Wind- sor, will all take out cards as soon as pos- sible. Keep them in mind of their pro- mises. Bro. John Lucksinger, agent Cleveland, is on leave to take charge of a bank there. We regret having him leave us, as he is one of our ranking members, but wish him un- qualified success. Bro. H. Allen, formerly of Crystal Springs, is "with the colors.” A. E. McKane, third Sterling, transferred to the Idaho Division. Local Chairman Irvin will now get right on his trail and no doubt soon get something more than promises. H. E. Rannestad went to second Windsor; Miss Maude Brewster to operator-clerk New Rock- ford ; W. J. Hawkins, former traveling freight agent, to Sidney, Mont. Miss Mer- N cedes Loomis to third Steele; C. R. Jolley to third Dawson ; Bro. C. E. Boyden to manager "J” office. Bro. C. M. Shaw, agent Burt, went to Camp Dodge with the boys May 10th, re- lieved by Bro. H. C. Dahl. Bro. C. L. Kibler went to Lake Williams agency, recently opened on the P.-W. Line. Sister Irman Ingalls, third Medina, has gone to Jamestown to visit her folks and complete her course at school. Guy Rich is in charge of the telegraph school there. Bro. Otis H. Underwood, agent Elgin, our worthy assistant, gave us the pleasure re- cently of a visit over night Sister Hilda Thorpe relieved Bro. H. C. Toyen at Berner awhile. * Bro. A. A. Nelson, lineman at Mandan, is a good O. R. T. booster. Bro. Al. Larson went “ with the colors” to Camp Dodge, relieved at Zap agency by Bro. H. C. Dahl. Bro. H. Allen, formerly of Crustal Springs, is also awith the colors Bro. H. L. Mattson, agent Dodge, is captain of the Home Guards and chairman of the Four-Minute Men; also Bro. W. H. Millard, at Hazen. Bro. Earl Robihson, agent Medina, who attended the Grand Commandery meet- ing at Jamestown recently, is likewise doing his bit with the Home Guards. Bro. Jacob Scharosche, operator Mott, while visiting at Camp Dodge was relieved by Miss Heckenllable. Bro. D. Chas. Poindexter, now labeled 207th Aero Squadron, Barrow Field, Over- man, Texas, writes of the thrills of his first aeroplane flight and appointment as in- structor of advanced work in the radio school there. Bro. T. W. Scanlon, agent Midland Cont. Ry. at Jamestown, has resigned. Miss Frances Dailey relieved Sister Irman Ingalls on third Medina. Joe Burkhart, formerly ticket agent at Jamestown, is now at Jacksonville, Fla. Wm. T. Kraft, former general freight agent, has resigned and accepted the gen- eral managership of the Beulah coal mines at Bismarck. Bro. W. L. Norton, former agent Arena, writes from Astoria, Oregon, that he hopes to soon be back again after his long illness. Add to your January lists, as entered serv- ice since that time: Martha Heckenllable, Edna H. Anderson, Ruth Hilbelink, Ethel M. Gray and Stella Norris, which will bring your list up to date to April 1st Remove the (•) from in front of Bro. Sexton and Bro. Moyes. The rate for June is $12.60 and July $17.50. Let’s get at least ten or fifteen in June. The higher rate in July ought to be an Incentive to do it now. Let us all get into the harness and show better results. The May Telegrapher shows that President Perham is on the Job and watching our in- terests, and we should do as well for him by getting new members. H. H. Ellsworth, Local Chairman. Lake Superior Division — Reference was made recently to a perma- nent flower fund. Since then we have had to donate for the funeral of Bro. R. B. Maupin, who died at McGregor Monday, April 29th. The following have donated towards the floral fund: Bros. J. A. Peterson, E. C. True- blood, A. W. Brandt, E. Hallberg, A. T. Lankford and J. S. Spurrier, and Mr. O. E. Peterson, 50 cents. Members donating 26 cents: A. G. Dickinson, W. J. Hoffman, Al- Digitized by Google
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818 The Railroad Telegrapher, fred T. Moen, H. A. Knedel, G. R. Penrose, C. A. Lindquist, J. H. King, W. D. Obrien, P. W. Youngberg, G. L. Warner, L. O. An- derson, A. E. Youngberg, H. O. Rolig, F. W. Eastland, E. P. Lueke, W. E. Firth, W. W. DA* Oust, E. J. Wigg, F. B. Knowlton, Clyde O’Brien, Wm. J. Soshea, T. H. Needham, H. S. Smith, L. C. Fleichman, J. W. Russell, J. M. Curtis, F. W. Hoffman, J. F. Oneal, J. H. Wright, M. M. Trumer, W. E. John- son, E. P. Wigg, R. Z. Wigg, H. E. Carlson, D. J. Meakolsky, F. Brousseau and C. C. Hunsinger. Others : Geo. Ahlstrom, F. W. Dunlap, R. E. Faust, R. F. Johnson and 8. B. Howell. Total contributions to date, $14.00; wreath for Bro. R. B. Maupin, $10.95 ; bal- ance, $3.05. Those who were not notified or did not contribute towards this fund should send at least 26 cents, for the time being, towards the permanent fund which we wish to main- tain. Names of donors will be published in these columns. I hope the members of this division will continue the record breaker started this year with a blank delinquent list. Every member paid his dues within the required time for the first half, some paying for the entire year. This is something to be proud of. Help keep up that record. No little credit is due our general officers at North Branch for helping to bring about the minimum of de- linquency on this division, as they are always on the Job and never miss a chance to keep or bring in a member. Lighten their burden of work and “keep ’em smiling” by paying the second term dues promptly, thereby maintaining our former good rec- ord. J. S. Spurrier, L. C. St. Paul Division — Some of the boys kick because we do not have more of a write-up in the Journal each month, but no one seems to go to the trou- ble to send us any news, bo all we can do is send in what we may happen to know. It is now Bros. Futcher of "MS” ; L. Wip- per, Gregory ; Tooley of Sartell ; Stucke, “NJ,” and Sister Edna Crum of Royalton. Several others were furnished blanks, but failed to keep their promise to come in at once. You brothers working with them should keep after them and give them no peace until they do so. Also keep after the few delinquents, who Bhould realize that if they drop out now they will lose their insurance and not be able to get It again without the “war restrictions.” Simply be- cause we are expecting an increase through the Wage Commission is no reason why we should not keep up to date. You will note that President Perham is working faithfully at Washington most of his time to secure for us the very best possible results, and each one of us should do our part. I don’t see how any man can keep a clear consci- ence, sit back and let the rest pay the ex- penses and accept the increases and bene- fits the Order is continually secuzlngr for him. Bro. A. B. Nelson goes to first “MS,” re- lieved on third Little Falls by Bro. J. A. Sova of third Elk River, vice L. J. Bishop of third Royalton, vice Sister Edna Crum, extra ; Bro. Geo. Ware, third Gregory, to Philbrook agency, vice Bro. Stucke to North- town third. Our writing* was too late to get into the May issue. Please send us any news you know of not later than the 20th, as it must be in editor’s hands before the 25th. Clyde Bartkb, Cert. 180. Wheeling & Lake Erie R. R.v Div. No. 55. On April 29th, our general manager H. W. McMasters, called a meeting of the chairmen of the several or gran ixat ions and asked that they each choose a man to act as traveling committeeman to cover the entire road and endeavor to have all em- ployes co-operate In securing the highest degree of efficiency. The company to pay these representatives their regular salary and expenses. We selected General Chair- man Peoples, agent Bolivar, Ohio, to repre- sent us In this, the greatest step yet taken to prove “That harmony is the strength of all institutions.” Cleveland Division — Bros. Endriss and Br&ndal doubled for Eby on third at Ninety-third street one day, owing to his mother’s illness. Mary McFee is now on third Mogadore. Toledo Division — Bro. D. L. Ames third Bellevue, was off several nights on account of sickness, Bros. RInebold and Lyons doubling, owing to the scarcity of men. The boys at Huron, Jet., were relieved on their vacations by Friend from Nor- walk. It looks as if the rest of us will have to work our vacation periods. Bro. F; C. Ames, third Limestone, “Forded” to Toledo recently to see Ringling Brothers’ big show. Bro. Lew Davis, relief agent, is reliev- ing F. M. Davis at Curtice, on sixty days* leave. Bro. H. A Roe, “MC” Toledo, has left for camp. J. D. Brandal, Cert 318. Nashville, Chatt. & St L. Ry., Div. No. 57. Huntsville Division — With a little better than 96 per cent and the slogan “Solid as a Rock,” let’s hit the Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 819 two guys on the Columbia, and the one on the Huntsville Branch hard. We can then say “Well Done,” and realize our dream of 100 per cent by July 1st. With the unsatisfactory report of the wage commission, ' it behooves us more now than ever to stick tight, as a tick to the O. R. T. As “Pay Dues Times" is only a short way off get that remittance in “Johnny on the spot." Yesterday was the other man’s day. Now it’s our day, and we must all see that we don’t let It slip through our fingers. Put your shoulder to the wheel, push like you never pushed before, look out for Mr. Non, and tell him what’s what. Bro. J. C. Deimer, agent Lewisburg sev- eral seasons, becomes joint with the L. & N., under the consolidation arrangements. Clark goes to help Manchester succeed as helper at Doyle by H. S. Walker. Bro. G. R. Bonner, agent-operator at Sum- mitville, and bride, spent their honeymoon in Continel Okla. On account of bad health C. C. Farris, agent Attalla, Ala., has resigned, and gone with the Gulf State Steel Co., at Alabama City, where his duties are not so confin- ing. The L. & N. will fill the vacancy. We regret very much to lose him. Local Chairman Brown is back as first dispatcher “CD," vice Bro. Jones, on vaca- tion. Bros. Harris and Arnold attended the “Safety First" committee meeting in Tulla- homa. May 17th. There are several young lady students on the line, treat them kindly, we will need their help. They are eligible. Let’s try and change them from “Miss" to “Sister." We will appreciate it if everyone will take the “Biggest Interest" possible in the write-up. Our division is about the best organized on the N. & C., with prospects of being the best in the world. There are big opportunities for the boys on the line to put in real missionary work on the students and “Nons." If we will hit the old ball clean over the center fence, we will then accomplish our dreams of years ago, when we were like the Israelite children in Egypt. The O. R. T. is our Moses, and the call has come to you and me, and all we have to do is heed it and follow him out of bondage into that promised land of “Milk and Honey" twenty-six-day month, eight hours overtime, and pay for Sunday. All together boys, follow the flag, now Is the opportune time, watch your dues, and don’t get in arrears. “Ansy," Cert. 179. P. M. Division — We regret very much the loss of our local chairman, Bro. Theo. Pinkston, first “FN” Memphis, who resigned May 12th. He was relieved by Bro. Hurt, and he on second by Bro. Crossan, relieved on second Jack- son, by Bro. Doren, from Darden. We hope that Bros. Hurt and Crossan will soon bring McNeil on third around. The Atlanta Division, 100 per cent strong, is certainly a record to be proud of. If we will all pull together and make it hot for the nons who refuse to join. We can soon increase our percentage. Show them the benefit of our grand organization, and let them understand how a non is despised by all, even the officials, as a number of our older brothers know. The more interest we take in securing new members the more we will become enthused ourselves and this will enthuse others. Bro. Hilliard, ticket agent and relief towerman at Aulon, has &one to Eads, suc- ceeded by Bro. Blackwell, third Mercer. Carver is now at Oakland. Let’s all assist Bro. Norwood there to line him up. Bro. Miller, agent Laconia, with his graph anola is furnishing music for all of us now. We are all gratified to note the efforts President Bro. H. B. Perham Is making to get Mr. McAdoo to base our increase In wages as of January 1, 1918, instead of December, 1915, as recommended by the Railroad Wage Commission Board. This appeals especially to us as we were just beginning to be paid the amount that the vast majority of other roads In this section and other parts of the United States have been paying prior to December, 1915. You men on the Chattanooga, Hunts- ville and Nashville Divisions wake up, let’s hear what your doing. We are interested in you also. Some of you volunteer and express your views through these columns. We certainly thank Bro. “Jack" of the L. & N., for his nice write-up in the May issue. We are proud of the feeling he shows for the N. C. and St. L., and assure him of even a greater feeling, fraternally if this is possible. Had it not been for this brother scarcely any of us, who did not have the opportunity to attend the meeting in Nashville on April 20, would have known anything about it. We owe all of this to him, and thank him for his thoughtfulness for those who were unable to attend that meeting. Let us hear from you again, brother. Cert. 6490. P. & M. Division Notes — We now have “the ball rolling" on the N. & C., let’s keep it going. We read in our Journal with great pleas- ure, our President's letter to Mr. McAdoo. We are the poorest paid machinery in the operation on the railroads. The train- men have an eight-hour day with overtime. Digitized by c.ooole
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820 The Railroad Telegrapher. and receive a much higher rate of pay. We work nine and some of us thirteen hours a day. We are very glad to know our fellow men on the L. & N. are in the organization. We are short of extra men and it will be almost impossible for all us to get our vaca- tion, but should have extra pay if we don’t get It. Some of us attended the Nashville meet- ing last month, but owing to the shortage of men didn’t all get to go that wanted to. We would have all been very glad indeed to have met our Grand Secretary and Treas- urer Bro. Rawlins and our President Bro. Perham. We were glad to see Bro. York’s write-up, hope he will come again. There is no rea- son why we shouldn’t have a good write-up as we are now almost solid, only a very few none whom we hope will have cards before long. Boys, let’s all insist on everything we buy having the Union Isabel on it. We all extend our deepest sympathy to Bros. J. W. and W* B. Morrison at Somer- ville, whose wife and mother died May 21st, in Memphis Hospital, Memphis. Bro. Black- well relieving at Oakland, returned to Yuma second. I hope to see a good write-up next month boys, let’s get busy now and roundup all the none. Bro. Pork let’s hear from you again. "QN.,” Cert. 7033. Nashville Division — Go after the nons boys, always keeping in mind our motto : “No cards , no favors." Someone furnish each brother with a list, of them and give them no rest until they Join. Pay your dues promptly when they come due, as we are just now at the good point and much is in store for us. Bro. Wall, third Johnsonville, goes to Dresden vice Myatt extra. Bro. Paker Is relieving local chairman Hamilton, agent Kingston Springs. Bro. Rushing Camden is in very had health. Our new engines called the Russian Bears have arrived and are doing their full duty in the freight line. Bro. Swindell to third Newson. Bro. Armstrong is posting Bogle in dis- patchers’ duties. Bro. Florence relieved by Bro. Watkins several days while bugging his potatoes. Bro. Bowles Gleason has all the Nacy Hall potato slips you need, call him up. If you will kindly drop me your notes I will attend to the write-up. Cbrt. 6604. Louisville & Nashville R. R.t Div. No. 5ft. Henderson Division — This probably is the hardest division on the L. & N. to organize, but we are doing splendidly, and have lined up several we hardly expected to get. We are new about 89 per cent, and are certain of a few more. That certainly is “going some’’ for a divi- sion located in the nonunion district of western Kentucky. One of the brightest features of our work are the ladies who are right with us. They certainly have shown themselves true blue and enough praise cannot be given them. They deserve all the favors the boys can show' them in appreciation for what they have done and are doing. They have shown much more ability to be heads of families than some men on this division. Our raise from the government was a dis- appointment, but is only a reminder to pay up dues June 80th and get ourselves in shape to put our grievance up to the new wage board, which seems to have been created for our special benefit. This is the time to get wide awake, and do things. “No card, no favors ” Job, Cert. 836. Southern Ry.y Div. No. 50. “QM” General Office, Washington, D. C.— We would be very glad Indeed to have our brothers from out on the line visit our little office and familiarize themselves with our methods of dealing with the nons. A non in "GM” Is the exception now rather than the rule. All of the men here are co- operating wonderfully along this line. Ex- ceptional credit is due Bro. O. B. Koegel for his efforts in keeping the office 100 per cent solid. The following new men em- ployed here during the week of May 6-11 have all signed up: Hunter D. Marshall. Frank D. Julian, Alexander Brailove and Benjamin A. Leibowitz. Mr. Armstrong only sojourned with us a few weeks. He was a little slow in lining up with us and probably saw the handwriting on the wall. It is now Brother J. T. Peck. We welcome him into our organization. Bro. Wallace Perry continues to serve “Uncle Sam’’ and “the Southern.” He works all day in the Treasury Department, from 6 p. m. to 12 p. m. in this office, takes care of the baby several hours after that and then wastes a few hours in sleep. Bro. Cline, who has been off sick about ten days, delivered an address at the C. T. U. A. meeting held here recently which "brought down the house.” Bro. Ben H. Patterson is now with the B. & O. at Wheeling, W. Va. Bro. “Bearcat” Trotter was indisposed for several days. Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 821 Bro. Dulaney gets caught In the rain every time he Oomes to work on his motor- cycle. Since Bro. Balthis has been working third In Vice-President Taylor’s office he makes the third trick here pretty hot for an ordi- nary mortal to handle. Bro. Lowe has resigned to go with the “AP.” Bro. Purcell is back on the Nor- folk-Richmond outfit. Bros. Griffith and Veach devote consid- erable time to the messenger service. “It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.” War employments have caused a shortage of boys and these two brothers have to “contend” with young lady messengers. Bro. Sergt. L. J. Irvin has been sent to an officers’ training camp in Texas. “J” will be sure to be commissioned. We con- gratulate him. We had a letter from Bro. Corp. Drum- wright several days ago and were certainly glad to hear from “Cocky,” always with an up to date. Bro. Fuller of the U. S. Navy was In to see us one day recently minus his mus- tache, but still has an up-to-date. Once they get the habit it hangs on. Let us hear from some of the other re- lay offices." Just because “GM” is 100 per cent solid is no reason why it should mo- nopolize this column. Cert. 738. Mobile Division — Some of our boys in the military and naval service who still hold their cards say if they can give up their jobs to serve “Uncle Sam.” we at home should certainly let them know through the journal what’s going on back home. Send in your notes. The fol- lowing are among those in the service : E. M. Young, E. P. Burke, B. E. Williamson, G. C. Bradley, J. N. Brantley and T. S. Dunning. All are members in good stand- ing. We should get their addresses and drop them a line now and then. We were glad to hear Bro. Young from Camp Gor- don on the wire the other day for a few minutes, but solry when he got back to camp that he had to spend twenty-four hours in the guard house and do two weeks’ special duty for being four hours late. We have known him to be a day late with the railroad company and get off lighter than that. So much for army discipline. We made a splendid showing on that Third Liberty Loan. Only a few who have misfortunes did not subscribe. One of our young men who subscribed for a $50 bond later found out he would be out of his money for ten years and had it cancelled. He was drafted the next day and is now in camp. A few nights ago the wife of a brother of another division lost her purse traveling find wired him for money. For some rea- son the message was not delivered, and one of our brothers, who is always on the look out, heard the lady was in town without funds. He immediately got in touch with her and handed her sufficient money to relieve her embarrassment, making arrange- ments for her hotel bill, etc. This was greatly appreciated by both the wife and husband. The latter wrote the brother when his wife arrived, thanking him for his timely assistance, voicing his appreciation and enclosing a money order for the amount ; and then the nons will tell us a card is of no value. We have several extra men on the divi- sion. Boys, help me land them. I have the applications of Operator Payne at Sey- mour and Agent Wilson at Toinette. The Southern and M. and O. yards at Mobile have been consolidated, abolishing “J” office with Bro. Mayton in charge at North Selma yard. Bro. Boykins’ clerk at Jackson has been called to the colors, relieved by a young lady at thirty dollars a month. The ladies are just as much in duty bound to carry a card as the men. Don’t fail to wait upon them. We will have a good many of them filling the vacancies. All positions made vacant on account of former occupants entering the naval or military service are to' be bulletined with the proviso that the former agent or oper- ator has preference to the Job on returning, provided he is mentally and physically fit. J. R. Younq, L. C. Columbia Division — Bro. H. G. Alexander spent a quiet Sun* day with us and discussed several things of Interest. The train dispatchers gave us a few minutes of their time and seemed to be very much interested, to the amount of some applications, which I have been look- ing for for some time, but have held off on them by direct request. The younger boys with the exception of a few old timers are responding to the call very nicely, but Bro. Alexander says I have a very bum line up. I have done a lot of work from here and if it was possible I would go over the line every week and see the boys. Now I want each member to help me, as I have a proposition no local chairman has ever had to deal with — an old bunch who always say : “I am thinking about joining and will let you hear from me next pay-day.” “Next pay-day” don’t come. It’s the same old dope. Each one of you write one non and tell him we want him note and not “next pay-day.” I want to prepare a little folder giving the names of members and nons and send ali of you a copy, including the non mem- bers so they also can see who’s who. Digitized by v^ooole
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822 The Railroad Telegrapher. I have also in mind & little contribution of say 25 or 60 cents to be paid, say April and October, for a division burial fund and floral display for members only. This I want you brothers to decide on by dropping me a note to that effect and amount to be put in this fund. I want to accumulate about three hundred dollars locally and fix it so that a committee of three will have to sign the checks, thereby keeping down all suspicion as to what goes with the money. Alter we get the $300 there will be no more assessments until some of this fund has been used. I want to use $100 as actual burial expense and $25 for floral display. What do you think of this? Now, get after your friends and co-oper- ate with me for a 100 per cent division, making it a solid line up. Help me to help you. J. B. Elkin, Local Chairman. Knoxville Division — The operators and agents of this division stand at the head of the list, among the other brotherhoods, who all did well, in the Third Liberty Loan subscription. R. W. Clark, Loudon second, refused to subscribe, on the grounds that he was not able although he has openly boasted many times that he never touches his check. Mr. Clark, who has a government job at Loudon as river observer, has been a “slacker” on his O. R. T. dues, refusing to pay them for many years. Now he shows up as a slacker on the Liberty Loan. He works a regular job and enjoys schedule benefits the same as many of our boys, with families work- ing extra who carry cards and are other- wise loyal. Many of the boys less able bought Liberty Bonds freely, while he turned It down. This is a case where we should adhere strictly to our motto : “No card no favors ” If we don’t do it, we are just as much a “slacker” as he is. Remember that it is just as necessary to keep your dues paid up as ever before re- gardless of government ownership. A strong organization may also prove to be more necessary now than ever before. So let’s all pull together and put this division up to 100 per cent. We can do it if we all try hard enough. There will be a meeting soon and hope every man will attend that possibly can. Crrt. 29. CARD OF THANKS. I desire to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to all the O. R. T. broth- ers and friends. Your sympathy was greatly appieciated for the beautiful floral design given for the tuneral of my beloved mother. J. R. Gillespie, Cert. 852. Russellville, Tenn. CARD OF THANKS. I am, indeed, thankful to the brothers for the beautiful floral offering at the funeral of my dear mother. It was a great consola- tion to know that the brothers thought of me during my sad hours. R. T. Anderson, Whites boro, Tenn. Washington, D. C., Div. No. 60. H. Office ( General Relay ) — No write-up for last month, heavy troop movements and other business making It impossible to get to it. Our boys made a - splendid showing on the Third Liberty Loan as well as the messengers. H. Office sub- scribed over two thousand War Saving Stamps running up into hundreds. Super- visor Nolan had a platform built, took Miss Mildred Blum and Miss Margaret Nelson as subjects and made a gripping speech before hundreds of Washington Terminal em- ployes in behalf of the loan; more than $7,000 w'orth of bonds being purchased and $3,000 pledged for War Savings Stamps. Washington, D. C., is the proud owner of the “Honor Flag,” having over-subscribed its quota by many thousands. Vacations have started and Bro. Dent is now hitting the high places at Pimlico race track. Our regular monthly meeting held at the usual place Wednesday, May 8, owing to the exceptionally fine weather, was largely attended, all the brothers being present with the exception of those working second tricks. Interesting discussions were had, among them the important proposition of the 'twenty-six day month and overtime question. One new member accepted, two pending, towards the 100 per cent division. Another office, “PU“ Pullman Company, handling space reservations only, recently opened. While this lifts a good deal of the work from “H,” there is still plenty to do for all, and Manager Bailey hopes to get another man to help out. The printer is still going strong, with Miss Blum on first. Miss Mindel second, and Miss Hunter 11 a. m. to 3 p. m., 4 to 8 p. m., vice Miss Boteler resigned to accept a position with “Uncle Sam.” Miss Pyles, first trick mes- senger, also said “Good-bye,” succeeded by Miss Alice. Bro. Pitcher was off a few days on ac- count of his flivver trying to mount a pole a few miles north of Baltimore while Ed was on his way to Philadelphia. Bro. Ma- son, on sick list a few days, relieved by Bro. Walker. Bro. Coe; from the night squad, is now doing the honors of Charlotte first side. Bro. G. Nolan spent his ten days* vacation in New York. Bro. Beckley was off five days with the old ailment rheumatism. Bro. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 823 Walker, of the B. & O., went to “DC’* to let the boys have their relief days, relieved by Bro. Hoppee. Bro. Nelson is now teaching telegraphy of the P. B. & W. locals. Bro_ Brinckmann, all round man, works Rich* mond with his left and “PO” with his right. Mrs. Ellis is the new girl on second. “8U” Train Clerk** Office— Bro. Lynch was on the sick list several days. Bro. Umbaugh was off three days, recuperating after two weeks’ hard work on the troop desk. Bro. “Speedy” Martin has returned ready to bounce ’em out on the Pennsylvania side. Bros. Howard and Lee are both off sick, due to the long siege of twelve-hour tricks in effect nearly a year. Bro. Price, second relay desk, visited rela- tives in Cumberland, Md., a few days. Yours truly is taking his vacation moving. Can tell you more about it when I get back. i(DC " Office— Bro. E. L. Price, Pennsylvania side, who made a whirlwind trip to New York, dropped us a card, saying owing to Mrs. E. L. accompanying him he would be unable to paint more than half of old Broadway. It is rumored Bro. Page is to soon be- come a benedict. Now we know why Sou. 29 is patronized by him so often. Bros. Loats and Marquette planned a fishing trip at Harper’s Ferry. What whales they did catch. Imagination is a wonderful thing. 'Bro. Page, who went north on his relief days, is still hunting the second section of “MD— 145.” Bro. Rourke, B. & O. first, recently pur- chased a bug. Tom Dent, in “DO,” says it refuses to “OS.” Bro. Vandygrift, Pennsylvania side first, spent his relief in Southwest Washington. A Tower — . Bro. J. W. Rlchman has returned after a few days spent in the Blue Ridge Moun- tains. Bro. McKean was off three days drawing a blueprint of extra 4598, which Bro. Hub- bard said was a freight. Mack is proving it was not. Bro. Feeney is just making use of the gallon jug of citronella presented him last year for his camping trip. Sorry I am unable to represent K and C Towers. I cannot get around to K and C Towers, and the boys seem to be too busy to send in any notes. They are all working hard. Keep your dues paid up, brothers, at all times. Keep in good standing, and remem- ber, “No card, no favor*” “H” and “DC” offices and A and C Tow- ers are all solid. A few nous in “K” and “SU”, you know all of them, but one, Mr. Christopher in “SU.” The brothers of that office should let him do his own railroad- ing as well as the brothers in “K,” until they can see things our way. Organization is known the world over. It will never fall and it is not getting weaker. Tuck this away in your minds. The commercial companies discharged a number of their men for organizing and have been “ordered” to reinstate them and allow them the right to organize. Live up to our motto : “No card, no favors .” Have Bro. Brinckman to thank for help with the notes this month. Let’s have a good write-up each month, brothers; every- body help a little. W. L. Bruchxy, Div. Cor., Cert. 30. Queen & Crescent North, Div. No. 62. N. O. <£ N. E. R. R.-^ We appreciate very much the patriotism displayed by the membership on this line in taking Liberty Bonds in the third loan. It Is also exceedingly gratifying to note in our journal that our organization is the posses- sor of two hundred and twenty-five thou- sand dollars Liberty and Victory Bonds, besides the many thousands purchased by individual members. Was very sorry I could not see each member in person on the loan drive, but it was impossible to get relieved. It is a pleasure to announce the names of Bros. R. B. Boyett, H. D. Evans and M. B. Brown at Poplarville as being up-to- date. Hope the remaining nons will do likewise and make our organization com- plete. It’s a mighty hard job to keep some men in after they join and it takes persistent talking to get some of our nons. We succeeded in getting annual passes for the wives of men who have been in service ten years or longer after taking it up with the General* Manager. New typewriters have been promised for ”JC” shops and ”RD” Hattiesburg. Bro. L. C. McGlohn is now manager at “JC,” and Bro. M. H. Read is on third “SU” Hatties- burg. Bro. J. S. Dyess is with the S. P. in Arizona. So many men are coming and going lately that I cannot keep up with them. If the members on the N. O. & N. E. would all interest themselves, we would soon have a solid line up. One or two men cannot do it all, and we ask the hearty co-operation of every member. Let’s make a drive equal to our Liberty Loan drive for the 100 per cent mark. Some of the men who have regular positions are delinquent. There is no use in getting behind, as it takes money to send a committee up for a new’ schedule, as well as members, and remember, “Aro card, no favor*.” Cert. 905. Digitized by v^ooole
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624 The Railroad Telegrapher, Great Northern Ry„ Div. No. 70. The local chairmen of Great Northern System Division No. 70 convened on Mon- day, May 27th, at the St. Francis Hotel, St. Paul, Minn. A schedule was framed and submitted to the management requesting certain rules, which will materially improve the working conditions of the telegraphers, Including train dispatchers, telephones, station agents, levermen, linemen and staftmen. By-laws were adopted to govern local chairmen. Brother O. D. Johnson, Cascade Division, was elected general chairman and Brother A. O. Olsen, Breckenridge Division, general secretary and treasurer. Brothers C. D. Spurgeon, Marcus, and L. H. McFadden, Havre Divisions, were elect- ed members of the reduced committee. The Great Northern can be made one of the banner divisions of the Northwest If everyone puts his shoujder to the wheel. You are earnestly requested to pay your dues to General Secretary and Treasurer A. O. Olsen, Breckenridge, Minn., for the term ending December 31st, soon as possi- ble. Send Mutual Benefit Assessment to C. B. Rawlins, St. Louis, Mo. Cascade Division — After being listed as a “dead” one for some years, the Great Northern, as you all are aware, has now been reorganized, which not only brings joy to our own hearts but to our fellow operators as well, who, no doubt, have had us classed with the utterly hopeless. On this^ division we have ninety per cent lined up right now and hope to soon make it at least ninety-five. Bro. O. P. Johnson has been appointed temporary local chairman, and Brothers P. J. Lucid, Everett Relay, assistant, and Bro. H. H. Simpson, Everett Relay, division cor- respondent. One of the principal arguments of’ some of the men when asked to join the Order was, that inasmuch as we are now under government control and expect to receive a substantial increase through the Wage Commission, they could see no advantage to be gained in organizing at this time. If you will get a schedule of any of the west- ern roads and compare them with some of the things that we are compelled to put up with, you can readily see the necessity of having a schedule. If we are granted the forty per cent increase, it will be due largely to the efforts of our Order. We held our first meeting, Saturday, April 12th, at 8 p. m., at the Mitchell Hotel, Everett. It was called rather hurriedly and many did not have time to make arrange- ments to attend. Also, due to interrupted train service on the “hill," it was almost impossible for any one from the main line to get down, but not withstanding these difficulties we had eighteen members pres- ent. What we lacked in numbers was made up for in enthusiasm, and everyone reported a fine time. The following brothers were present : Berg and Tillman, Burlington ; Krebs, Anacortes ; Matcham, Lyman ; Rel- frey. Concrete; Fenton, Rockport ; Willard. Stanwood ; Moore, Kruse ; Hanson, Marys- ville ; Christopherson, Mukilteo ; Englen, Snohomish ; "XN” Vancouver, B. C. ; Mc- Guire, Seattle Relay; Lucid, Wetzel, Stew- art, O’Grady and Simpson, Everett Relay. The meeting was called to order by Bro. McCormack, who spoke on the work of or- ganizing, what had been done so far, and what it was proposed to do. No regular business was transacted but a general dis- cussion entered Into upon some of our working conditions and needs. Bro. Hason registered the first “griev- ance,” he wants to know “if it’s absolutely necessary to stop in the middle of your bal- ance sheet to send the *CX’ report.” Bro. Wetzel answered, in the affirmative. Bro. Berg passed around the smokes, which was greatly enjoyed by all. Notice a camouflaged name anywhere? “There’s a reason.” Bro. McGuire, who represented the "CD" bunch, is a live one and can always be de- pended upon to be there. The rest of you in “CD,” take notice. We have approximately eighty-five teleg- raphers and agent-telegraphers on this di- vision, exclusive of the two relay offices, and fifty ’phone and staff operators. The recent action of the Western Union in discharging some of its employes for affiliating with the C. T. U. A. is causing a storm of protest among organized labor all over the country. Let’s pull for the C. T. U. A. ; they are making a hard fight. After sizing up our local chairman and his assistants, we feel satisfied we have a board of strategy equal to that of the fa- mous K. Willyum-Von Hamburger combi- nation. Bro. Stewart Jr. has perfected a sending device that has Horace G. Martin c ft Henry Ford's invention back off the map. You fellow's in the woods, look out for “X.” On account of so many men being drafted and enlisting, operators are as scarce as the proverbial hen’s teeth. Quite a number of new men are coming and going all the time; watch them and find out if they are up to date; if not, notify the local chairman. Keep after the nons all the time. Remember the slogan : “ATo card , no favors Ckrt. 582. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 825 Cascade Division Notes — We held another successful meeting, Sunday, May 19th, at the Mitchell Hotel, Everett, twenty-three members being pres- ent. The poor train service now over the main line still makes it very difficult for those east of Gold Bar to attend, but the Coast Line and Relay Offices were well rep- resented. The following were present : Johnson, Gold Bar; Alge and Skinner, Sno- homish ; Smith, Ferndale ; Matchan, Ly- man ; Hanson, Marysville ; Turner, Ana- cortes ; Gentry, Marysville ; Berg, Burling- ton; “XN” Vancouver, B. C. ; Gill, Mt. Ver- non ; Brakane, South Bellingham ; Magner and Hollingshead, Kruse ; Rohde, Everett ; Morrow, Everett ; McNamara, Everett Jet. ; Collins and McGuire, Seattle Relay; Lucid, Lowe, Stewart, Simpson, Everett Relay. The enthusiasm displayed by these earn- est workers show that we are bound to get to the front in spite of the many obstacles to be overcome. Local Chairman Johnson presided in a capable manner. We should try to help him out In every way we can. He is one of the best men on the division to handle our Interests and is devoting every spare minute to it. He has now gone to St. Paul to help draft a schedule. A check was made on the membership of the division, and plans formulated for a drive on the balance of the nons. So far we have made a very creditable showing, but there are still a few we must keep right after with the proper amount of persuasion. They can be brought in. * Whether we will have a chartered local will be decided upon later, also the time, date, and place of the next meeting. A number of changes are being made, new men coming and going, and it is a pretty hard matter to keep an accurate check on our membership. Whenever you see a new man, notify the local chairman and advise him if he is up to date or not. A Joint meeting of the G. N., N. P., Mil- waukee and O. W. R. & N. brothers was held in Seattle, Sunday, May 12th, and the following resolutions adopted : “We reached the conclusion that we shall not be satis- fied with an increase in wages that does not raise the standard of every telegrapher on the Northwest railroads to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per month, with time and a half for overtime and Sunday work. This demand is based upon the cost of liv- ing and inducements in other vocations. We cannot keep our men together if the in- crease is less than this. (Signed) R. C. Bergum, Chairman Joint Committee.’' A copy was sent to Pres. Perham. Another joint meeting held held in Seat- tle, June 9th, and the matter gone into further. Bro. Boyle, Corea to Merrit agency, vice Bro. H. G. Turner to cashier and operator Anacortes, relieving Bro. F. W. Pravitz, transferred to Spokane Division. Bro. J. R. Lowery, agent Tye, is back after a month's illness. Relief Agent Hew- itt relieved him. Bro. H. A. Batchelder has returned to Chiwaukum agency, after six weeks' ab- sence during which he underwent an opera- tion, He says he feels fine and Is glad to get back again. Bro. C. A. Duffy, second Burlington, has resumed duty after two weeks’ vacation, relieved by Chas.. Siler, a new mhn, who later relieved Weighmaster and Operator Bro. Hillard, Tacoma, who has gone with the Milwaukee. Bro. Rowan, first Vancou- ver, to Aldergrove as agent, vice Bro. Bond to Vancouver second, putting the old war horse “XN’’ on first. Bro. Hollinshead to Fish Trap Pit, B. C., extra, is back on third Kruse, where Mrs. Hollinshead had relieved him, although she has not telegraphed for years. She hasn’t forgot the tricks of the trade and promises to be with us soon. Bro!1 Busfield, third Tye, and Bro. Knowles, third Skykomish, were both relieved a few days by Bro. Houston from the Burlington, later reliev- ing Sister Scoville on third Scenic, thence to Gold Bar to relieve Bro. Johnson, who relieved Bro. Watson, the agent there, while off sick a few days. Bro. Oursler, agent Cascade Tunnel, is preparing to spend thirty days in the land of mountain feuds and moonshine. “JO" can’t stay away from “old Kentucky’’ very long. On account of heavy business, Bro. Bus- field from Tye, went to Mukilteo as opera- tor-clerk put on there. This will give Chris more time to “OS" the boats. Dispatcher Norman W'ellein has received a commission as lieutenant in the Engineer- ing Corps and left for Hoboken, N. J. Bro. McKillops from Monroe to work as extra dispatcher. Bro. S. J. Craig, assigned third New’ Westminster, only recently received an hon- orable discharge from the Canadian army, where he served nearly three years with the Canadians in France, participating in most of the great battles around Ypres and Vlmy Ridge. He is an old C. P. R. man, and we are glad to have him with us. If any of you will drop the boys in “PG“ any notes, they will be appreciated. • Cert. 482. Breckenridge Division — ✓ Owing to business being diverted via Barnesville and Fargo on account of con- struction w’ork on the east end, some of the stations between Breckenridge and Bedford have been made non-train order tempo- Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 826 > r&rily and some of the help taken off, but offices were opened at Reed, Mason and Prosper, and additional tricks at Pillsbury to handle the business out of Fargo, taking care of the brothers and sisters from on the Breckenridge-Bedford line. Bro. Burke promoted to extra dispatcher at Breckenridge while the regulars are tak- ing their four days' vacations. Bro. Dewey took cashiership at Castleton, relieved on first there by Bro. Hunt Galchutt and Kindred closed, Sister Tay- lor going to New Rockford and Sister Olson to Pillsbury. Sister Kurtz is relieving Bro. Remill ard at Pillsbury and Bro. Gordon is relieving Bro. Lindsay at Prosper. Bro. VanDyne is back with us at Breck- enridge. Bros. Collins and Hemmesch, Bedford and Page, returned recently from their honey- moons. Get after the few nons left, especially the one in your office or next to you. Their names and addresses will be sent you upon application. Thanks to the brothers and sisters who have helped to line them up, especially to Bro. Shaw, who has been ap- pointed correspondent. Keep him posted on any changes or interesting news. Make this a live division in membership and write-up. “No cards, no favors ” A. Olson, L. C. Breckenridge Division , F. 8. Line — The way the brothers came in was re- markable, the district lining up nearly 90 per cent without having an organizer. Brothers and Sisters, let us not lose interest. With only a few exceptions, this line is solid. Mrs. Taylor, New Rockford yard on sick list, was relieved by Bro. Lason from New Rockford. We are glad to learn that she is recovering. Joe Haley was relieved thirty days by Miss Katie Evans, manager “WA” Redfleld, S. D., who was dismissed by that company for wanting to Join the C. T. U. A. Her spirit should be an example for the nons here. We tender our sympathy to Miss Hohl, owing to the death of her aunt. We are glad to welcome Bro. Hetlund back at Karlsruhe agency. Bro. Leidal is back at Brantford from his honeymoon, relieved by Bro. Whisenand agent Hamburg. Congratulations to the happy couple. We are glad to learn that Mrs. Braaehn's father is recovering from his serious Ill- ness. Bro. Spooner, relieved at Heimdal by Sis- ter Erickson from Hannaford, relieved Bro. Braaehn, agent at Prosper, while he and Mrs. Braaehn were at her father's bedside. It is now Sister ' Gladys Brewer, at Lu- verne. Bro. Lason’s wife has gone to the coun- try for a few weeks. In the near future^ slow orders will be printed on a "19" form. This will do away with the conductor's signature and go far towards picking up time in clearing a train when we have a snag of the "pinks." The Great Northern is sure progressive. Watch your equipment during storms. It saves testing for the trouble and will be the means of keeping communication estab- lished and trains moving. Remember, brothers and sisters, that the next dues come due July 1st, $4 for the Order and whatever the Insurance is. Don't let this slide by you. Make It part of your June SOth's work and mark the calender for the occasion. As we have a pay-day a couple of days ahead of this date, figure part of it for the big Order and instead of being a day behind make it a point to be a day ahead. Bro. Pokorney, former agent at Karls- ruhe, has been called to help Uncle Sam and has left for the camp. When he leaves for "over there" he will have the best wishes for his safe return. After an illness of nearly a year, Mrs. Anderson, wife of S. A. Anderson, agent at Narrows, died May 18, 1918. The entire division extends its sincere sympathy to the bereaved husband. Brothers and sisters, send me the news, so we can have a real write-up in the offi- cial organ. I never saw a station yet that didn’t have something of interest about it. In these columns you will see what is go- ing on in the other offices. Call me up at “KD” or mall what you have. "CX," Cert 815. Kalispell Division — The write-up in The Telegrapher on this division has been neglected, for the reason that "yours truly" has been busy on the line getting in the nons, and I am proud to state that we go to St. Paul 95 per cent or better. There are a few who want to "let George do it," and a few who could not raise the necessary, as small as the amount is. Keep after these nons next to you, and when a new eperator shows up, flag him ; if not a member call on me for application blanks. I have asked Bro. Gallagher at Carlow and Bro. A. P. Cameron on Troy to write up the notes each month. Send your news to these brothers, each one of you should do this as a good write-up depends on it. Sister Joule is relieving Sister Spear on third Carlow, on account of sickness. Sister Welch succeeds Sister Ragon on second Blackfoot, who goes to Paola sec- ond, vice Sister Oertel to extra list, e
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 827 Bro. Dixon, third Browning, was off sev- eral days getting his teeth fixed up. Bro. Lefeubre has gone in for promotion as dispatcher. We are all satisfied Dave will make good. Let's help him all we can. Bro. Stuart Mullen relieved him on second Summit. Sister Knapton is relieving Sister Her- man on Fielding first. Bro. J. E. Wieson, second Java, called to colors and left for Lewistown, May 7th, re- lieved by Bro. Brunet Sister Brock, third Belton, relieved by Sister Oertel on account of sickness. Sisters Peterson and Ragan Paola have succeeded in getting living quarters fixed up. We hope they will be able to get larger quarters in a short time. Sister Wilson is on second Columbia Falls on vacation. Bro. Willis, third "WX" Whiteflsh, relieved by Bro. Roebuck and Bro. Russell Watson, third Stryker, by Sis- ter Hughes. Bro. J. E. Cole, our congenial relief agent, relieved Bro. Robertson, agent Fortine, while awaiting the arrival of a new agent for that point. Bro. D. A. Martin, third Rexford, re- lieved by Bro. Mentier, on account of sick- ness. Bro. Bailey, second Stonehlll, is being re- lieved by Aimee Gibson. Sister Shabel has returned to Warland second. Sister Wessell, now on first, and Bro. Hugh Boyce on third. The additional operator on there temporarily is quite a help to Bro. Hawkins, the agent. Bro. and Sister Schoonover, formerly at Paola, are now at Jennings. Bro. W. E. Stevens is now agent at Troy, relieved at Somers by Bro. Cottle. J. B. Smith has been promoted to Train- master, Kallspell Division," succeeded by H. J. Carroll as chief dispatcher. We are certainly glad to see these “old rails" pro- moted. They are deserving of the highest respect. We have on the Kalispell Division one of the best staffs of officials anyone could wish for. Let’s give them our very best service. Improve it wherever possible, and make organization worth"' while. Let’s all pull together and don’t forget to keep Bro. Gallagher P. O. Outbank, and Cam- eron, Troy, lined up on all changes. We want to have a good large write-up each month. Cert. 346. Spokane Relay Office — Bro. H. W. Berglund, from Hillyard, who succeeded Mr. White, resigned, here, about two months ago, relieved Local Chairman Wood, relieving on second West End in the dispatcher’s office, the force here being re- duced one man owing to a slight lull in business. This caused a change of hours in "Q" office. There are still three split tricks here, which we hope will be fixed up right, when we get our schedule to working. Bro. J. E. Johnson, on the switchboard and repeater table for the last nine months, relieved the wire chiefs on vacations which started May 26. Bro. L. C. McGovern came back from a fishing trip near Scotia with twenty-six fine brook trout last Sunday. Bro. Eddie Knight, on a similar trip down the Spokane river, lost 63.50 Worth of line, broke a $3.50 reel, came home disgusted and swore off fishing for a year. Bro. G. L. Berg, first trick wire chief, has gone into the goose business. There may be a chance of eating our Thanksgiv- ing dinner with “Gabe." Second District, Spokane Division — Our worthy brother at Odessa reports that the office will soon be solid there, as all hands have forwarded their applica- tions for membership to St. Louis. The full office force as well as the freight house there subscribed to the Third Liberty Loan Bonds, ranging from $50 to $200. Spokane Division t Third District — Bro. Prather went to his ranch on Bro. Harrington’s return to Wenatchee from re- lieving the agent at Riverside. The brothers at Ephrata and Trinidad were kept busy sheep loading for the W. O. Line for several weeks. Mr. Miller, agent Trinidad, claims finan- cial inability. Keep after him, boys, and make this division solid. The brothers at Columbia River lined up the Mansfield Branch solid in two days. Sister Peet, relieved by Siler from Ta- coma on second, relieved Sister Hitchcock on first there. Keep after the nons that come to your office and don’t let up on them until you have their applications. We can’t do busi- ness on promises. The “boomers” come with spring. Remember our motto : “No card , no favors” Drv. Cor. Members Montana Division : Remember that our Order is entitled to its share of credit for obtaining the wage increase, as President Perham was the very first representative of organized labor to appear before the Wage Commission, fur- nishing it with many facts pertaining to our condition of employment. As soon as you read the journal pass it along to some non and request him to spend a part of the back pay he receives by taking out a card in the organization that helped him get It and the raise. Kindly keep me posted regarding all changes in your offices, particularly when Digitized by v^ooole
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828 The Railroad Telegrapher. some new man is employed who is not sup- plied with a card. It is only through the fullest co-operation that we c an derive the greatest benefits from organization. If we will all pull together, we can make this division a factor in organized labor, im- prove our working conditions, and render better service to our employers. H. E. Wilcox, L. C. Montana Division Notes — Bro. J. EL Fisher, agent Enid, has gone to one of the coast divisions, relieved by C. H. Parker, formerly agent Homestead, who has been supplied with blanks. Bro. Albers, agent Alexander, is sporting a new O. R. T. card, making the Fifth and Sixth Districts solid with the exception of the agent at Lambert. Bro. C. F. Huppe, Assistant Local Chair- man. Third District, in addition to his du- ties as agent Lohman, is also a successful practicing attorney and will shortly appear before the Supreme Court at Helena to ar- gues the pros and cons of cases too deep for the lay mind. Bro. Wilcox is now booking orders for fall delivery of potatoes, having just com- pleted planting an acre of the famous Irish brand. We are very much indebted to Bros. B. E. Nason and E. A. Brandt of N. P. Divi- sion 64 in our work of organization. These gentlemen at all times are helping the good work. How many of you would like to have your wife, sister, mother or daughter Join the Ladies Auxiliary? For details see the journal. Drop a few judicious words into the non’s “good ear,” and endeavor to overcome his prejudices. Ask him if he is aware that section foremen on the main line (the ma- jority foreigners, who do not speak intelli- gent English, cannot write legibly, and did not subscribe to the Liberty Loan) draw more salary than he. Recently an official was asked why this condition existed. He replied : “I could answer this, but I will not." It is simply because of the unrea- sonable, obstinate objection of the nons to organization. Brothers, do your “bit” by keeping these facts before the nons and trying to secure their membership, thus helping to make this division 100 per cent. Read the Third Liberty Loan Address de- livered by Secretary McAdoo, at El Paso, Texas, April 17 th. It contains valuable In- formation you should not miss. Bro. Peterson McCabe is on two weeks’ visit in the East. Bros. Simmons, Plentywood and Vance, Bainville, are having their troubles with the simplex. The examiners passed through recently and only three f oners fell down on the First District, a good showing. Wc are glad to note that Bro. Palmer is back at Culbertson. Brakeman T. B. Harmon, formerly a te- legrapher, with an “up to date,” was drafted for military duty ; also Clerk Brandt at Mondak drafted and left for camp April 27th. Bro. Groute Bufford is making black streaks through the country in his new Maxwell. Brbther, observe strictly the blocking rules laid down by the examiners. See that the conductors sign all 31 orders. Oper- ators signing these orders are held strictly accountable. The Montana Division subscribed $146,000 to the Third Liberty Loan, a record to be proud of. Bro. Shilling, Bainville, taking out the largest amount at one time, $1,100. The First District Is 97 per cent solid, which speaks well for Bro. Mueller. It is now Bro. Norton, operator and clerk at Richey, and Bro. Knight, operator and clerk at Fairview, and Sisters E. B. New- lon, Brockton, and Mrs. C. F. Huppe, at Lohman. Bro. J. S. Leach, Wolf Point, Mont., is appointed Assistant Local Chairman of Second District, vice Bro. Porter, resigned to accept the G. N. Express Co. agency at Malta. We are very sorry to lose Bro. Porter, but he will keep up the good work as far as his duties will permit. We are glad to get such a good man as Bro. Leach to succeed him. Sister Gleason, Brockton, was on the sick list a few days recently. Our Local and Assistant Local Chairmen are doing everything in their power to safe- guard and profiiote our interest, and we must give them all the assistance and in- formation possible. Be courteous and pleasant in your deal- ings with the public. To smile when every- thing seems to go wrong is much better than to frown, try it. Bro. Graham is on first fone, relieved by Bro. J. S. Leach; Bro. Buntin, resigned, re- lieved by M. N. Mason from the Third Dis- trict. Get his application and make Wolf Point solid. Agent Evey Oswego has re- signed, relieved by Bro. Hesshman. Mrs. Shufelt, third Farzer, relieved by Miss Dean. Sister McClain, second Hinsdale, re- lieved Bro. O. R. Castle. Bra Faust on third there. Bro. Porter Bowdoln relieved by A. X. Alexander. Brothers, so live that when the summons comes to Join that Innumerable caravan that moves to that mystic realn above, that you can look back over your past railroad experience and say : “I have lived and acted wisely and justly towards the O. R. T.° It Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 829 will be gratifying when our hair is snowy white, our arms feeble and our eyes grow- ing dim to be able to say: “I have fought a good fight, and have performed my duty to the brotherhood to the best of my abil- ity.” Bro. Huppe, Lohman, relieved by Relief Agent Worden, while on a trip to Great Falls and Helena. Bro. H. EL Boisens, Chi- nook, relieved by Miss Shirley from the Havre Division, went to Malta. Miss Dor-* othy Nemback relieved W. F. Brought on third Zurich, and Swartz, of Dodson, is now on third Harlem. This station was short one operator for some time, that trick be- ing closed temporarily. H. W. Rants and Watson Wintermute, new men, are at Dod- son. See tfiat these men have the neces- sary credentials. Lives of great men all remind us. We can make our lives sublime. And departing leafe behind us Footprints on the sands of time. “Me/' Div. Cor. Minn. & 8t Louis R. R.f Div. No. 71. Eastern Division — Bro. A. M. Roth (somewhere in France) writes under date of April 16 th that The Tblkoraphbr (February) just reached him, and he asks that we correct the statement therein that he was drafted; says that he enlisted. We are very glad to make this correction and congratulate him on being willing to enlist in the service of his coun- try. That shows that an O. R. T. member is a good man anywhere he may be called to serve. Bro. Roth is in a railroad teleg- rapher's battalion and says they are 76 per cent Order men with dues paid up to De- cember 31, 1918, which speaks well for our Order. Good luck to these brothers. McCullough relieved the agent at Oska- loosa ; Hanson, from Abingdon, went to third Hampton ; Guy Withers to second Abbott, relieved at Sharon by Holub from Olds ; Operator Keefe to second Ackley temporarily, and J. C. Smith is relieving Harry Coom on third Abbott Brothers, keep after these nons and give them no rest until they line up.„ Bro. Story, first Maxwell, is doing some good work. He goes after them as soon as they light, and most always lands ’em. Bro. Archenbald, at Abingdon, is also hot after them. If the rest of the brothers would do likewise we would get better results. Don’t forget your news items, brothers. W. C. M., L. C. Central <6 Western Division — Bro. R. B. Collins went to second Mpls. G.-O. office; Bro. E. E. Carder to second, and -A. J. Durgin, a new man, to fourth Albert Lea; Bro. G. P. Madden, Daseca, assigned to Dunwoody Institute, Mpls., as an instructor in the radio department, re- lieved by Adair. • Bro. L. C. Lyans, Waseca, off on thirty days’ leave, is being relieved by Bro. M. G. Madden, relieved by fcallinger, a new man. We are trying to have Ft. Dodge side table bulletined. Bro. Carr, Gowrie, has added a “whoot” owl to his zoological garden and spends most of his leisure catching mice for his new pet The cyclone which wiped Lena off the map between Gowrie and Paton demolished the depot and two houses, also wrecking the elevator beyond repair. There were x four or five different twisters in the storm. No. 55 stopped out in the country until the storm passed Lena, when one came up behind, taking a roof off a mdse. car. West of Paton the storm killed two outright and injured a number whose recovery is doubt- ful. Damage to buildings amounts to thou- sands of dollars. During a recent storm the depot at Dana was struck by lightning. No. 88 arrived just as the bay window and office were ablaze. The crew notified the people of the town, who succeeded in saving the station. The depot at Dayton was destroyed by fire recently, nothing whatever being saved. Cause unknown, but it is rumored that it started in a car of mdse, back of the depot which was fired. We all sympathize with Bro. Johnson on having to work in a box car during the hot summer. There is some talk of consolidating the depots at. Grand Junction' and Ogden. Bro. E. G. Sinn drew Terril, relieved at Ary shire by Cammeron. Redman, from Terril, went to Mpls. Bra R. J. Hoelz, Madison, went to Crocker agency, and Bro. L. J. Trick, Waverly, S. D., to Deephaven. Bro. Steward, Cresbard, has been drafted. Bro. E. F. Factor, second New Prague, on ninety days’ vacation, relieved by Bro. Wm. Harris, third there, relieved by a lady operator. Our other three lady operators are all carrying up to dates. There are only three delinquents now on these two divisions, compared to eighteen at the same time last year. All who are delinquent June 26th will be dropped. Please remit your dues immediately for the last half of 1918, thereby saving the Gen- eral Secretary and Treasurer extra work and the division unnecessary expense. A certain non on the central division re- cently notified the local chairman that it was no use to waste postage writing him. If any of the brothers wish to know who he is and where located I will furnish you that information upon request. Whenever you find out of this kind on the line put into effect our slogan : “No card, no favors” favors” Div. Cor., Cert 451. Digitized by Laooole
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830 The Railroad Telegrapher. Chicago & N. W. Ry., Div. No. 76. Chicago Terminal District — The regular monthly meetings held the third Tuesday of each month convened May 21st at 10 a. m. and 8 p. m., being fairly well attended, with Bro. Boyington in the chair at both meetings. General Chairman Thomas gave us some interesting information and a general talk on what came up during his four weeks' stay at Washington, D. C. Brothers, you who stay at home, miss these treats from time to time, so set aside the third Tuesday of each month and attend at least one meet* ing, and show your interest in the organisa- tion. Bro. Boyington had the seniority list of the Terminal printed in a nice pocket folder size, giving us each one. We nominated officers for the Terminal Relief Society and hope to be able next writing to give you the names of those elected. Bro. Hobdy, relieved three days by Bro. Delehanty, who also relieved Bro. Wrob- lewski a few days, owing to the death of his mother, and later relieved Bro. Johnson one day account sore throat. Bro. Sibbon, after a two months’ stay on second Mayfair, relieved by Bro. Krueger, and Bro. J. R. Dixon, several weeks at Well3 Street, relieved by Bro. John Edwards. Bro. W. Burns, covering "HM” and "JN,” is now breaking in at Lake and Clinton Street. Bro. John Byrne is on split trick Clinton Street. Bro. T. Hager, second Lake Street, is in the fur business. For further information call up Bro. Geo. Kenney, third Clinton Street. While out gathering wild flowers around Tower R. S. Sunday morning recently, I called on Bro. Frank Aidone, Cert. 992. The General Chairman appointed Bros. Cone, Lawson and Remington as Election Committee and Bro. G. D. Curtis as wit- ness to count ballots in election of Local Chairman of the linemen, Bro. 'Clapper re- ceiving the most votes. Any news of importance, brothers, send me not later than the 20th of the month. All help. Brothers, we have one “non” among the levermen. Let’s get him and make it 100 per cent. Buy War Savings and Thrift Stamps and help the Red Cross, and patronize the Blue Label. Don’t forget to pay your semi-annual dues and get one of the new buttons ; they are dandies. Div. Cor., Cert. 992. Galena Division — A number of the Galena Division broth- ers attended a meeting of the C. O. R. T. Club in Chicago May 4th and got some use- ful information. We should all attend these meetings on the first Saturday of each month. They will be of great value to us all. We hope the Wage Commission will fin- ally decide to give ub enough of a raise to help us pay for the Liberty Bonds we subscribed for. We all desire to show our loyalty to the Government, but in this case must have money to make such loyalty practicable. Bro. J. D. Mahoney goes to second "XT’ office pending return of Bro. H. E. Sher- bert. We are adding new names to our membership list on this division and hope to soon be 100 per cent. Bro. Ike Breinning is still working hard to accomplish this. Bro. E. Hummer, relieving Agent Out- hank at Sycamore, is being relieved as operator there by E. C. Nelson. Bro. J. O. Agnew has returned to Elva from the Florida orange plantation. A. O. Anderson goes to Morrison, vice Operator Hoagland, deceased. Cert. 806. NOTICE. Linus P. Phelan is in the U. S. Marines as wireless operator. Age 20 years. En- listed May 18th. Mrs. J. E. Bunnell, His mother, 907 St. Louis Ave., St. Louis, Mo. Wisconsin Division — It was indeed a misfortune to lose Bro. Wightman, who has filled the important po- sition to the entire satisfaction of everyone concerned as chairman of the Local Board of Adjustment on this division. In taking up the work, where he (Wightman) left off, I hope to accomplish as much as he has In the past, but to do this will need the support of ev6ry member on the division. 1 am sure the remainder of this year still has great things In store for us if we will stand pat, and I know you all will. I appreciate very much the honor of be- ing elected by the members to represent this division as local chairman and hope to prove this by my ability to accomplish things. In my labors with and for them I hope they will always be willing to help and encourage me and that there will not be the least feeling of discord among us. This company should be proud to honor such men as the members of the O. R. T. who are holding responsible positions with the lives of the traveling public entrusted to their keeping each hour of the day and night. Knowing that the members on our division can be relied upon to give the best service possible, I will write our divi- sion superintendent and chief dispatcher assuring them of our co-operation In assist - Digitized by v^ooole
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 831 ing them to do anything in their power for the good of the men. I trust that every one of you will merit their good will. We must make our union strong and good enough to command respect. While our individual effort might seem little, taken as a whole it is very essential that everything possi- ble be done to render as much service to Uncle Sam as though we were right in the trenches. President Wilson has taken the labor leaders Into his confidence and is see- ing that the men get a square deal in ev- ery case, and we should show our appreci- ation by backing him to the limit in the present conflict. The world will accept our organization at exactly the estimate its members put upon it. Let us be 'ready to do our duty. Get a list of. the “nons,” and each man in this district kindly notify me of any new men working at his station, with his full name and address,* stating whether or not he ha? a card. If he has, give me his certificate and division number and help me get our division in good shape. Mail me a duplicate carbon copy of your bid on any bulletined position and thus avoid having to file a claim if you bid should be lost. Advise me of the death of any brother or someone of his immediate family, so they can be remembered by us. Report promptly anyone who is sick so that none may be neglected. Also help me to collect dues, delinquent fees and special assessments. Advise the dispatchers of anything of benefit to them. I need some brother to act as assistant chairman and division correspondent One centrally located or near Chicago would be quite a help to me. Someone volunteer for this position. Wo all must try to make the 60,000 mem- bers before the end of 1918 a reality. I would be very grateful if the brothers on this division would circulate a letter for donations for a typewriter to be used in my work. It’s hard to please everyone in this posi- tion. Those you displease are not slow to tell you so, while those who are satisfied remain silent. A strong organization will command just dealing with employes by any management. I understand there has not been a regu- lar monthly meeting In the last three years. I Intend to take this subject up with the interested brothers and anr&nge for one, advising the membership of the date and location. The highest honor ever bestowed upon me was when you elected me your local chairman. A. S. Moorbhoubb, Formerly Division Correspondent, Cert. 1914. Wisconsin Division Notes — It is now Bro. D. J. Castelli, extra on second Valley, pending assignment of the regular man. Valley is solid, as it always has been. It’s now also Bro. Joe Bacon, extra leverman and emergency towerman. Bro. C. R. Wightman has re-entered serv- ice at. his former position, agent-operator Evanston, pending bulletin. Bro. A. S. Moorehouse wishes to express his appreciation to Bros. J. N. Faucett, M. R. Kielgas and M. Remington for assisting him to distribute his campaign leaflets, which was the first time a candidate ever issued this kind of printed matter, calling the attention of the members to the im- portance of casting their votes. Col. Hartshorn was relieved several days by Blakeman from the Union Pacific, and Bro. J. M. Shore, third Janesville, ten days by McCloskey. Bro. W. P. Joyce, third “GO.” later on third Janesville, is now dispatching on third Wisconsin line. Bro. FIschenick resumed on first Valley tower May 16th. “Bill” has ben visiting relatives in Wisconsin, trying to repair his health, since March 25th. Bro. J. Pollard, second Highland Park, is relieving Bro. Strand on first there, on vacation. Bro. A. S. Moorehouse is n<5w on second Harvard, 111. Wisconsin Division is about 91 per cent strong. A few delinquents and a few who have not remitted for their applications represent the other 9 per cent. The Government Is seeing that all rail- roads are being used effectively, which will result in the elimination of stupendous duplication and waste and increase the ef- ficiency of the railroad industry wonder-* fully “All our strength is in our union ; all our danger in our discord.” General Chairman Thomas was in Wash- ington recently to present the case of the American Express to the Director General. With the committee he met Messrs. Carter, Gray and Taylor and an agreement was reached to appoint a committee or commis- sion to investigate and report for the Di- rector General's approval the compensation and working conditions incident to the handling of express business by railroad employes. Dw. Cor., Cert. 1914. Madison Division — We were grieved to hear of the death on April 18 th of Cooper E. Wells, only son of Bro. W. E. Wells, agent Ipswich, Wls., who passed away in France in the U. S. army service, where he contracted meningitis, leav- ing a wife whom he married December 19th, 1917, and his parents. Deceased was a gradu- ate of Oshkosh High Scool and also Oshkosh Digitized by Google
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832 The Railroad Telegrapher. Normal, and taught in 1916 and 1917 in the Normal School at Milwaukee. He saw service on the border in 1916 and enlisted in the U. S. Army, where he was promoted to sergeant in the Ordnance Department, 107th Mobile repair shop. F. A. Balsey, a new man, is on third, and E. B. Keefe on first “B” Baraboo, the latter relieved by S. L. Cramer on Sparta third. Balsey later relieved by Chief Dis- patcher Wright’s brother Frank, ancf went to Chicago. Bro. C. N. Scheck, extra dispatcher at Bar- aboo and Adams for a few months, is back on Madison first, vice J. O. Jones, on a few days* trip to Toledo. Bro. Scotty, Butterflel, is on Baraboo car job, Bro. Bill Frank on the tracer job, and Jimmy Neff is extra dispatcher at Adams. Bro. R. J. Wallace, third Belton, is on the sick list, relieved by the malntainer, there being no extra man available. Bro. D. J. Kramer, Dodgeville, has en- listed, relieved by Bro. J. J. Schleck pending bulletin. Warren J. Hibbard, “somewhere in France,0 writes home some very interesting letters about the doings and the scenes “over there.” Don’t forget that those lads in khaki would be mighty glad to get letters, cards and papers from those of us left back home. A. L. Mitchell has resumed at Mendota, vice Harry Marsh, back on nights, vice G. Purnell. F. Li. Main resumed at Evansville first af- ter a sick spell, vice D. D. Schuppenere, re- lieving Lyle on second a few days later, re- lieved by Bro. J. J. Schleck, and relieved his brother at Stitzer, on vacation. Bro. W. E. Waters, agent Hanover, has re- sumed after a short vacation, relieved by Extra Agent A. T. Smith, who later relieved Balsey, Baraboo nights, resigned. F. H. Wright, a new man, now in “B” Baraboo third. Smith relieving Bro. G. P. Kellogg, agent Calhoun, on vacation. Bro. O. S. Butterfield, “B" Baraboo, has returned from taking in the sights at Chi- cago several days and buying a few shares on the Masonic Temple. Bro. Frank Richardson has returned from the West and resmued at Caledonia after being absent all winter, vice Bro. R. Fred- erick. now in Chicago with his wife, who is 111. D. J. Kramer is back at Dodgeville, vice H. Lindaas, relieving Bro. J. O. Jones at tower “CS,” on vacation. Dispatcher C. B. Adams of the Adams force was off sick several days recently. Take a look at the Madison Division show- ing on the Liberty Bond sales. What’s the matter with Wisconsin? She's all there. 'Tis rumored that Devils Lake is going to open soon for the summer season, with a non-telegraph agent in charge. D. C. Babcock, agent Necedah, underwent an operation at Sparta recently and la doing nicely. His father, A. A. Babcock, from Mt. Horeb station, was with him a few days, relieved by Art Smith, who also relieved J. E. Holden several dayB while at Mt. Horeh. Cards from Dave C. Smart, with the Amer- ican Engineers in Nagasaki, Japan, and from Roy Richardson, at ftarbin, Manchuria, report ’em going good, with a slight family jar in Harbin recently. If you have the address of any member of the Madison Division force serving with the armies across the pond, or who Is in camp in the states, send it in to the secre- tary, so he can put it in the journal, and all the fellows can get a chance to send ’em cards, smokes, magazines, etc. Assistant Chief C. W. Hilliard, mourning the death of his mother In Hartford. Mich., the latter part of April, was relieved several days by Ed Boehm, attending the funeral. The sympathy of the fraternity is with him in his loss. Ex-C. T. D. Fuhrman of the Omaha Line at Eau Claire, now with the R. R. S. C. at Harbin, Manchuria, has written home one of the most Interesting and descriptive let- ters from the Far East that It has been our pleasure to read. He gives a detailed ac- count of the trip and its attendant bless- ings. and a most interesting resume of the happenings enroute, as well as finding a cou- ple of Omaha engineers switching in one of the big yards in China. Bro. F. E. Wichern, tower “MJ,” was off several days with a slight attack of grip. Dispatcher Barry is asking the boys along the line if they have any nice fresh angle- worms, which shows that ’’flshin’ ” time is here. Billy “Pinch” O’Brien, caller from the general offices, Baraboo, is now in training at Camp Grant. His brother John is already on the firing line “over there” Both are sons of Conductor Wm. O’Brien. Bro. J. Seaman, third Wyeville yard, was off a few nights recently. Bro. H. Hansen, first, was laid up some time with a severe attack of tonsllltis. Cert. 18. CARD OF THANKS. We desire to thank the members and com- mitee of the Madison Division of Division 76 for their kind words and sympathy on ac- count of the death of our son, Cooper D. Wells, who died in France. Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Wells, Ipswich, Wis. Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 833 East Iowa Division — Bro. Eckert was off recently, acting aa nurse for his wife and baby, relieved by Leverman Mcllvan.. Bro. Lynch Is now on third Otis, vice Leverman Thoman to third Beverly, closing C. M. A S. telegraph office account of the shortage of operators. Bertram and Quarry stations closed March 16th for the same rea- son. The Cedar Rapids yard limit has been ex- tended to Beverly and switch engine now does all switching at Beverly, relieving the road crews of the job, but making more work for the operators there. Bro. Eckert recently spent a day at Iowa City, relieved by Bro. O’ Daniels of Mt. Vernon. Bro. Gardner of Bryant has accepted a position in Chicago, relieved by Bro. . Car- roll of Otis. Bro. Northrop spent a few days in Chicago recently, relieved by Bro. Fahling of DeWitt, relieved by Bro. Hall’s son. Don’t overlook the meeting at Cedar Rap- ids third Friday evening each month. Divi- sion 76 has the distinction of the best number at these metlngs. Let's keep up the good record. We are glad to see the linemen on this division up to date. It is now Bros. Onstott, Christianson, Young. Goss and Link. Solid ' O. R. T. Stanwood office has been equipped with new instruments, switc hand resonator. Thanks to Bro. Onstott and his efficient force. Bro. Copp was off a week recently, taking Mrs. Copp to Rochester to consult a special- ist. We are very sorry to learn of the death of Bro. Klimo’s sister, also of the death of Bro. Wise’s sister, and all extend their sympathy to these two brothers. Clinton draw bridge is now solid, with Bros. Carrew, Redden and McLaughlin ; also DeWitt tower, with Bros. Schmitz and Scharff, and Wheatland tower, with Bros. Brennan and Bartling. Bros. Viall, Bice, Cronbaugh and Van Dyke, levermen at Belle Plaine, have lined up, but there are two more who have not paid their share, although they received the increase, Sunday overtime, etc., and have received their back pay through the efforts of our committee in the last negoti- tions. It’s now Bros. Novotny and Ford at Tama tower. The two levermen, Williams and Darnell, at Marshalltown, will come in next pay day. They are thankful for what has been done for them. Bro. Craun Is the only leverman at Ames who4 has Joined, but the other two will line up soon. The other brothers who have joined since January 1st are : A. C. Welch, Center Jet ; F. C. Aiken, Belle Plaine; T. E. Hutson, Anamosa; A. L. Kent Monmouth, and E. W. Stoecker, Ca- manche. We are glad to welcome all these brothers. • Bro. Kent has been drafted. Bro. Eckert of Beverly has resigned as correspondent He has been very faithful and always had a good lineup, for which we thank him very kindly, and would like to see some other brother volunteer to act for the next year. The boys have all received their back pay and are well pleased. The few shortages will be made good as soon as division accountant can get checked up. C. A. S.»_ Cert. 116. West Iowa Division — A meeting was held at Carroll, at the Burke Hotel, Monday, April 10th, Local Chairman Lyman presiding;' General Chair- man Thomas and G. S. & T. Boyington being present Bro. Thomas explained the new schedule and various other subjects pertaining to the Order. Regret that there were only about 16 other members present, a very poor showing for this division. A local division fund was established with which to buy flowers for our deceased mem- bers and families as they occur, etc., Bro. C. H. Jennings, at Carroll, being elected as division S. & T. Bro. R. F. Snyder, Maple River, was elected division correspondent, and will ap- preciate any items you can send him. Sister Chodera, second Denison, relieved by Miss Meyers, phone operator from Jef- ferson, several days recently on account of sickness. Bro. R. L. Bowen, third Dunlap, relieved one night for same reason by Snavely, now with the lines west at Norfolk. The telegraph linemen have been taken into our Order and all on this division are now our brothers. It is also now Bro. Jas. A. Hayward, second Mo. Valley, for- merly with the W. U. Bro. E. P. Morrow, flrst Boone yard, was called to Akron, Colo., recently on account of the serious illness of his mother. Mrs. Ruth Parker, daughter of Bro. J. E. Smith, agent Harlan, passed away in Omaha hospital the flrst of April. Interment at Boone. Mrs. Parker left a husband and lit- tle girl, two years old. Bro. J. E. Smith was relieved by Bro./L. F. Wier while at- tending the funeral. Bro. F. F. Noble, third Carroll, was called to Des Moines recently by the serious illness of his brother. Bro. J. A. Humiston returned from Chi- cago April 24th, where he consulted a nerve specialist, who decreed that all the trouble was caused by a filled tooth. The tooth Digitized by v^ooole
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834 The Railboad Telegrapher, was removed and all waiting for results, none with more hopes than J. A. H. You poultry men get up to date and buy a good incubator (see W. P. W. at “MJ”), and this fall sell the hen fruit in the best mar- ket (see H. J. R. at “HA”). Bro. Vere Spilker is now on Denison third. Bro. Conor, agent Audubon, is In the gar- den truck business so heavy this sea- son that he has contracted his crop for ex- port so as not to flood the local market. Brothers, it is sad but nevertheless a fact, that since establishing the local division fund tve have had two floral offerings to purchase and only about a dozen of the members out of sixty have remitted their local dues to “HY.” Now, boys, let us take care of this. Chrt. 8313. Minnesota Division — It is now Bro. Joe Rieber, Byron, Minn. ; J. Llngen, Canby, Minn., and A. B. Hunt, Canby, and Sister A. Swanbeck, Eyota. We are glad to welcome them to our ranks. Also Bro. Enders, lineman west end. Hope the other linemen will follow his example. The C. & N. W. and “Omaha” telegraph offices at Mankato were consolidated May 1st, „ cutting out one third trick man, Bro. Felix, who went to Springfield. Bob Jensen, rate clerk Mankato, passed away the latter part of April after a short illness with pneumonia. He was well known by several of the brothers and well liked by all who knew him. Bro. W. H. Small was off awhile with a crushed foot, but glad to state is back at Walnut Grove again. Whitcomb, a new man, who relieved him, went to Byron. Bro. E. H. Grundt, third Lamberton, who suffered a stroke of apoplexy recently, is slowly recovering, but will be unable to resume work for some time. Bro. Feaney succeeds A. Bartzen, Water- town first, resigned, relieved on second there by McNally, extra Winona dispatcher’s of- fice. Bro. E. E. Turner, relieved as agent Man- kato when the joint agency with the Omaha line was established there, has been in Ver- mont several weeks on account of the illness of his father. Bro. McGoon, agent Haverhill, relieved sev- eral weeks by an extra from Haverhill. Bro. D. R. Carroll relieved Night Chief Casslday several days while visiting his brother, Captain Thos. Cassiday, Medical Corps, Camp Funston, Kansas. Bro. J. H. Furey, agent Stockton, relieved latter part of May by Smith, and he on sec- ond by Muskie, extra from Janesville. Wish to thank the boys who assisted me in this writeup. Every little item helps. Bro. R. F. Schwab, agent Byron, was re- lieved a few days by Chadborn, a new man. and Bro. A. J. Nelson, agent Nicollet, on two weeks’ vacation, by Bro. Taylor, Byron second. Bro. D. J. Mahoney, first Waseca, absent the last of April on account of the death of his mother at Minneapolis, relieved by Bro. C. H. Richards, Jr., of Sanborn, and he later by Bro. Haling of New Ulm. Bro. C. H. Richards, Sr., was off several days in April owing to the illness of his wife at Sanborn, whose condition, we are glad to learn, is somewhat improved. Bro. Jack Presnall, on vacation, relieved on second Rochester by Bro. L. Wold, re- lieved on third there by Extra Smith. Bro. W. E. Swanson, formerly first Spring- field, passed over the division recently, en- route to Camp Taylor, Ky., from a furlough visiting relatives and friends at Courtenay, N. D., and Springfield, Minn. Former Dispatcher T. F. Carroll was a recent visitor at Winona and Chatfield. He is now a first sergeant at Camp Dodge and instructor in the Signal Corps there. Bro. B. O. Christopher, transferred to Taunton agency, was relieved at Seaforth agency by an extra. Sister Mathilda Haugen, third Janesville, was a recent Winona visitor while enjoying a few days' vacation. Bro. O. E. Highlen, dispatcher Winona, on vacation, was relieved by Bro. Jim Al- len, and he on first side wire by Bro. B. E. Johnson, relieved by McNally. Jim Jordan, second dispatcher east end, the division’s champion fisherman, has been catching pike in the Mississippi. P. S. Kuperschmidt, former day caller Wi- nona, has graduated from a telegraph school and is on third Burdette. Taylor, second Byron, relieved on account of sickness by Chadbourn. a new man. D. J. M. CARD OF THANKS: I wish to express, through Ths Txlxo&a- phkr, my sincere appreciation of the kind- ness shown me by the members of the Min- nesota Division during the recent illness and death of my mother; also for the beautiful O. R. T. floral wreaths. D. J. Mahoney. Dakota Division — The meeting at Redfleld Sunday, April 28th, was very well attended considering the weather and the failure of some alarm clocks to “raise the dead.” Bros. Smith, Man- chester; Pfefferle, Monroe and Brown, Iro- quois, missed the train. General Secretary and Treasurer Boying- ton, Chicago ; Bros. Rundquist, Grendler, Sahs, Ellers, M. L*. Smith, F. H. Stevens, Webb, Stockwell, York, Ford, Carey, Mc- Caughey, J. T. Lane, Swartz, G. R. Stan-
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 835 wood, M. E. Taylor and Long were present; also Messrs. J. W. Mattis and C. J. Direnzo. who were invited to attend, both being new men on the division. They were both ad- mitted to membership. We should have more meetings in the fu- ture and a good turnout at each one of them. The Sunday hours allow most of us quite a bit of time, and some do not have any Sunday work. Those who do can arrange to have their work taken care of until they return without a violation of the Federal law. Remember that you are not held per- sonally responsible for such violations unless you are required to Stay on duty by the officials. It is time to pay your dues. Remit at once and keep up to date, in that way giving your full support to the committee. Keep after the nons. Remember the motto, “No card, no favors” Look after the man working with you or next to you. Don’t let him forget that he should carry an up- to-date card in the Order of Railroad Teleg- raphers. P. E. Long, Local Chairman. Dakota Division Notes — Only two brothers called me up or wrote, giving me news items. If you brothers want a writeup you will have to assist me, as I am unable to cover the whole division. Bro. Cooley of Hooker "SD,” was a re- cent Huron visitor. Bro. O. H. Berry* first Centerville, spent several days in the 'Windy City," sight seeing, relieved by Bro. O. Grendler, who later went to Oakes "ND" first. Bro. and Sister F. Lows of Wolsey "SD," have gone with the Duluth and Mlssabe Range. Our best wishes go with them. Bro. H. Brown, Iroquois, recently enjoyed a fishing trip to Lake Cavour. It is now Bros. H. T. Erfman, Vilas, S. D. ; H. A. Halverson, Highmore ; Hubbard, a line- man ; MacDonald, Mission Hill, and Harris, Cavour. If the man working with you is a non and time will not permit, let "the Rex" of "Lazy Man’s Paradise" have him, as I can always find time to try and land him. Bros. N. Craig, relieved by Bro. A. O. Grendler, and J. G. Blatt, Oakes, N. D., have joined the colors and are now in Min- neapolis for special training. Bro. L. J. Walker was called to LeMars, la., recently on account of the serious ill- ness of his mother. Bro. R. Addy, Tyler, and Bro. O. P. Tay- lor, Astoria, were in Chicago recently on a law suit. Bro. Harrington autoed to Watertown re- cently, getting caught in the rain. Bro. O. C. Peerry, first Centerville, S. D.t tried his luck with the "finny tribe" at Wall Lake and was more than successful, but the game warden* was near, so he came home empty-handed. Bro. B. R. Latiy, Cansitota, visited at his old home at Arlington recently. Bro. F. Lowe has thrown up Salem and returned to Wolsey, S. D. The scribe has been to Soo Falls, Parker and Salem recently to see the movies. EL Todd, now at Houghton, was relieved by Harris from Clark, S. D. Bro. H. D. Harrington, agent Iroquois, S. D.» Sundayed at Watertown, S. D.f recently, visiting his mother, making the trip in his new Overland. Bro. H. G. Brown, third Iroquois, went to Huron a few days ago to drive a Ford for one of the dealers. Bro. W. Beyers^ relieved Bro. F. L. Ells- . worth at Centerville while he»attended U. S. Court business at Soo Falls. Bro. Fahey has gone to Palaton. If any of you brothers make a move or know of any moves, please let Local Chair- man Bro. P. E. Long know, so he can keep his mailing list up to date. Also, If you have a new man near you, please find out if he carries an up to date or not. R. A. Pfbpfbrlb. Western Maryland Ry.f Div. No. 82. Eastern Division — Bro. R. S. Welty relieved F. W. Cover, first dispatcher Haggerstown, two days ; Bro. R. D. Morris, first Leahlgh, off a few days, relieved by Andy D. Rice, later by Bro. S. A. Bosley, who also relieved Bro. H. E. Danner, second Thurmont, five days. Bro. R. D. Morris has joined the Railroad Regi- ment and is now in camp at Laurel, Md., for training before being -sent "over there" for active service. We wish him success and a safe return. Bros. A. T. Kalkman and E. H. Long, Em- ory Grove, on vacations, relieved by Bros. R. N. Ernst and S. A. Bosley. Bro. P. W. Reisner, who handled first “G" office alone several weeks, now has Mr. Bar- ton, Cumberland Valley, with him, working split trick. Any amount of embargoes transmitted over the wires by Bro. D. L. Bell, superin- tendent car service, Baltimore, are being mailed. The general manager has agreed with the general committee to grant vacations In the month hired. This is a splendid arrange- ment, owing to the scarcity of men. We have a few nons with considerable seniority to their credit, receiving the bene- fits of our steady gains. We have ac- complished practically everything that they have desired. Still they refuse to join. We should give them no rest until they come Digitized by v^oooLe
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836 The Railroad Telegrapher. in with us and work together as one body. It will take less work and more will be ac- complished, which will be better for us all. We can then stand for a square wage scale and good working conditions. Buy Liberty Bonds and War Stamps and aid our country at war, while aiding our or- ganization. Both stand for freedom and pro- tection. Hand this journal to a non to read. H. T. L., Cert. 94. Texas & Pacific Ry., Dlv. No. 88. Eastern Division — We are pleased to learn that Bro. C. K. Pilmore is out again after quite a severe spell in the hospital, and trust that he will soon be back on Big Sandy first again. Bro. H. E. Speer is relieving him, relieved on second there by Bro. J. M. Mings, Jr., of second Hawkins, relieved by an old-timer, W. H. Nettles, who recently entered the service. Bro. B. F. Van De Mark, second Edge- wood ,is visiting in Alabama. Bro. J. D. Barnwell of second Jefferson, recently married, is off on account of sick- ness in his family. Bro. G. W. Suchenak is on first Big Sandy, pending the return of Bro. Fillmore from the sick list Bro. C. Perrier, Gladewater, recently at- tended court at Gilmer a few dayB, re- lieved by Bro. L. J. Crosby of second there. Bros. Rasberry and Henderson have en- listed In Company C, American Engineers' Battalion, and are expecting a call any day for service In France. The Santa Fe and T. & P. officials met recently at Longview Junction and dis- cussed the consolidation of the Santa Fe and T. & P. junction stations. If the Santa Fe wires are placed in "MX” office it will ne- cessitate an additional force there. We note with much Interest that our brother, Cert. 2049, of the C. P. Calgary Division, has to say in the May Telegra- pher concerning a six-hour day for dis- patchers, etc. We must have this along with the eight-hour day for telegraphers and the other concessions we are now seeking to secure. As we are working for such con- ditions it should have a tendency to per- suade the train dispatchers in our part of the country to look upon our organization in a business manner and induce them to line up with us at this opportune time and give our organization that much more ad- ditional strength. There are still a few delinquents with current dues and special assessments from last September. Brothers, please do not make It again necessary to call attention to these matters, as our committee will soon be in session again. Let everyone drop his local chairman a few items each month in order that the writeup may meet with your approval. J. R. Henderson, Assistant Local Chairman. Rio Qrande Division — Bro. Price, agent Stanton, is on sick list, relieved by Extra Pearce, who has gone Southeast We are glad to have Bro. Sharman now back on second Sweetwater? The Third Liberty Loan was a success on the T. & P., 97 per cent of the employes sub- scribing over three-quarters million dollars. W. S. S. War Savings Stamps and certifi- cates will be on sale during the entire year of 1918. Dispatcher Woodford, Big Spring, visited the Sweetwater boys, enroute to attend court at Lubbock. Bro. Woodford was also a recent Sweetwater visitor, hunting a "mill” to expedite his work at Roscoe; also Bro. Allyn, Sr., agent Eskota. It Is the mem- bership of the "old-timers” like Bro. Allyn whose encouragement and conservative coun- sel to us youngsters has given the steady and substantial advancement of our Order to a place In the front ranks of organized laber. Dispatcher Ellison, Big Spring, was re- lieved a few days by Bro. Robinson, who later relieved Dispatchers Stuart and Jury several days. Bro. Lindsay, Roscoe, visiting In Cali- fornia, was relieved by Perryman, an "old- timer” re-entering the service, who already has asked for application blanks, an example for those who have been in the service some time and not yet lined up. It is now time to pay dues for the next six months' period for those who do not have an annual card. Thanks to Bro. Jones for his items. Cert. 82. Illinois Central R. R., Div. No. 93. Members Division No. 93 : In this issue of The Telegrapher you will find a copy of the speech made by Col. Hal S. Corbett in defense of Bro. J. W. Ezell, a member of this division, now confined in- the Pennsylvania state prison ; also the copy of a letter from Bro. Ezell,, asking for a small contribution from the membership. Bro. Ezell has been in prison for more than twelve years and ought to be free, and there Is no question but what he will be within a short time, If each member will contribute a small amount to help defray the expense. I hope each member of Divi- sion 93 will contribute something; Just a Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher 837 small amount from each member will amount to considerable in the end. Yours fraternally, C. A. Mulhall, G. C., Clarkson, Ky. R. L. Shannon, G. S. & T., Anna, 111, “Somewhere — Over There” — Dear Friends and Brothers : Just a few words from an "old Vicksburg Division boy," now overseas with the Avia- tion Section of American Signal Corps. After leaving the division in October, 1917, I enlisted in Jacksbn, Miss., and was sent to New Orleans, thence to Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas, where I was drilled into army life. After being thera about four weeks I was assigned to the 140th Aero Squadron and was sent to Park Field, Mem- phis, Tenn., for training about three months. My squadron was then called for "oversea” duty, and we entrained to the point of em- barkation. After a few weeks, getting fully equipped for "oversea” duty, we were called one morning about 2 :30, rolled out of our bunks, packed our marching equipment as quickly as possible, fell in line and were soon on our way. After about 15 days on the transport we landed safely "somewhere in England." The keen eyes of our sailor friends guided us safely through the "sub" zone, and now I am in camp preparing for further duty. I hope to be back again with the boys before very long. "Good luck." R. R. Rutledge, Cert. 3592, 140th Aero Squadron, A. E. F. Tennessee Division — Bro. C. E. Voyles of Greenfield is reliev- ing Bro. D. N. Boone, agent Bard well. Bro. R. V. Byrns, first Mayfield, off a week recently on account of being exposed to smallpox, incidentally attended the Derby in Old Kentucky, relieved by Bro. W. N. Waggoner of second there, relieved by Bro. A. C. Allen. Bro. G. C. Derry berry goes to second Frogmoor, succeeded by Bro. L. L. Rowe at Fulton, and he at Water Valley by Bro. R. W. Hansell of Jackson. Bro. C. B. Russell, called to Camp Taylor at Louisville, relieved by Bro. A. C. Allen of Fulton Curve nights. Bro. L. S. Phillips, ticket agent Fulton, reports ticket sales run about $11,000 a month, an increase of about 40 per cent over the same period two years ago. Local Chairman Cosgrove is visiting home folks in Buffalo and Toronto. Bro. Harry Cook, first Rives, and Bro. B. H. Sullenger, third Dyersburg, are ex- pecting a call to the colors shortly. We hope they make as good soldiers as oper- ators, and come back to us safe and sound after "Uncle Sam" and our splendid allies put th kaiser and his Infamous outfit out of business. Bro. A. E. Anderson shipped 40 cars of berries from Curve this season, bought there for $3 to $3.50 per crate. Bros. T. L. Allen and "Hank" Shelton, at Fulton, are doing the extra dispatching on this division, Bro. Shelton being off on ac- count of his wife being sick, relieved by Bro. A. C. Allen from Curve, relieved by Heflin, a new man, from Woodstock. Cbrt. 3725. Louisiana Division — Don't forget to pay your dues promptly as soon as possible after June 3 0th. Monthly meeting held at Hammond Sun- day, May 19 th, with a fairly good attend- ance. Mention was made by Bro. Shannon of several delinquents in the U. S. fighting service, to protect those who remain at home. No report of their entering service caused them to be reported delinquent In his opinion, if we waive dues for some we should do so for all. He therefore asks that each local chairman watch this mat- ter and advise him of any enlisting, so he can place their names on the honor roll with the 76 names already there, and arrange to protect their membership. Bros. T. S. Akers, Jr., Signal Battalion, Navy; R. A. Foard and A. Torres, Army, all "A No. 1" boys and staunch members, have answered their call. . We wish them a "bon voyage" and an early return. Buy bonds ; be loyal to your country. Buy your card June 30th and be loyal to the Order. Don’t be a "slacker." The "nons" and "delinquents" are all drones and should read the agreement on the Boston and Maine Elevated. It plainly shows that our dues are Just as much an obligation which should be paid as any other. Bro. "Red" Oliver, a former I. C. boy, has gone to Lake Charles, La., with the telephone company. Cert. 1239. Illinois Division — Bros. C. A. Mulhall and R. L. Shannon made a trip over our division recently, but did not stop long. Bro. E. Cowgill, agent Rose- Hill, was off a few days recently, taking his wife to the hospital for an operation. • She is doing nicely and we all hope for her speedy re- covery. He was relieved by Bro. Schulze from the U. P., who later relieved Bros. Pate and Voorhees, first and second Bloomington. Bro. C. J. Walker has purchased a new Overland and promises to take us unlucky ones here for a drive soon. Bro. W. C. Turpin, third "YD," was off one Digitized by Google
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838 The Railroad Telegrapher, night recently to attend the funeral of a neighbor's child. We are glad to see Bro. Murray back at Bargersville. The “Big 4" general office “AB” and the War Board office “UX," are now cut in on wire 39 to handle Government messages through Indianapolis via I. C. Bro. Mehringer, second 'TD,” has a war garden back of the Wisconsin Street yard office. The boys there expect to have plenty of vegetables when they ripen. Better watch it. Merry. Bro. E. L. Smith, first “Q,“ relieved Dis- patcher Evans a few nights. Bro. Haynes relieved Bro. Higgerson,* who relieved Agent Pemberton, Linton, a few days on account of sickness. Bro. Woods, first Palestine, is off for a while to take his wife West for her health, relieved by Hillis, a new man. Bro. J. C. Walker played “the preacher’s part” in a local entertainment here, given for the benefit of the Red Cross. “Joe” makes almost as good a preacher as he does a local chairman, which you all know to be first-class. Thomas, second “Q,“ has gone to Cleve- land, Ohio. In a writeup recently one of the South- ern divisions stated that Bro. Mulhall made them a nice talk and stated that the circu- lar issued by Mr. Clift, that all operators would be required to have standard watches, would not apply. If we had known this sooner we could have bought more Liberty’ Bonds. Nevertheless, many of the boys on this division have invested in them. Keep after the nons, boys. When a new man shows up find out if he is a member. If not, keep after him until he comes in. Thanks to Bro. Glass for his notes. Come again, “Jimmy." “Scotty/’ Cert. 3640. St. Louis Division — After being absent for some time I am go- ing to make a special effort to keep the members posted on what is going on in gen- eral. All notes, no matter how small or trifling they may seem, are of interest to our organization. With the assistance of the good brothers and sisters on the north end we will have a review each month of what is being done on this division. Bro. Lance Pearson, second at Ballard Jet., has returned from a 15-day fishing trip in and around McKonda, Bro. Hast, second “KT" Cairo, was a re- cent Carbondale visitor and called on the third trick dispatchers. Other attractions connected with this visit we refrain from publishing. Bro. C. P. Taylor was off 15 and Bro. Roy Gurley 10 days recently. Bro. J. F. “Happy" Cameron attended the races in Louisville. Bro. E. A. Berry, second Illinois Jet, has returned from an enjoyable 30 days' sojourn at Hot Springs, much improved. He was accompanied by his wife. Bro. E. W. Tweedy, first “MS" East St Louis was relieved a few days by Bro. Dor- ley of second there. Bro. Virgin, first New Athens, was off a few days fishing, and Bro. G. A. Boll anger, third “UN"" Mounds, was relieved several nights by Bro. Briggs. Someone should get Miss B. Virgin’s ap- plication, so we can have a pal for Sister Harris at Carbondale. Bro. V. B. Turner, now agent at “BW” in Coulterville, says he has a fine job. But “Uncle Sam" is taking all his men. Bro. Scolt, agent Murphysboro, is still in the farming “biz," making round trips to Dixon Sprfhgs each Sunady. Bro. Harry Johnson, first Marissa, was off several days with a sore throat from eating too much Hoover corn bread. Bro. Toney Ehrhard, Murpnysboro, says “Harry" has nothing on him. He had the “trench fever." Cause not given. Bro. Morris, first Texas Jet, has finally been given a yard clerk, which helps won- derfully. We feel very grateful to Bro. Morris for the nice bunch of notes he sent in. With three or four more like him our writeup each month would soon grow. Bro. R. T. Briggs, an old Civil War vet- eran, is now ticket clerk at Mounds. Bro. Blanchard now uses a “bug" with both hands. We will not be surprised to learn later that he is using a “mill" with his toes. Bro. Ben Hill, first “CO" Cairo, an old- timer, who reported losing 52 pounds avoir- dupois on his last trip to “Alton," Illinois, has fully recovered and has gone again, re- lieved by the writer. Bro. Harry Dye, agent Coche, relieved 30 days by Bro. I. P. Turner, Metropolis days. Bro. Harry Scheerer, Coche nights, still makes regular trips to Cairo in the “Lizzie." "Swudb.” Chicago Great Western R. R., Div. No. 96. Western Division — Bro. L. B. Anderson, Kirkman, Iowa, who has been appointed L. C. to fill the va- cancy made by the resignation of Bra W. H. Tucker, has asked me to act as assistant local chairman, and I have assured him of my hearty support in lining up the division for a solid membership. We both solicit the earnest support of every member In this work and believe we are going to get this Digitized by Google
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The Rah, road Telegrapher. 839 co-operation from you. For only by helping others does the worker help himself. First he must increase his organization to the utmost — 100 per cent if possible — then with such solid representation go after what he desires with the firm realization that he is strong enough to back up his demands for betterment, for without organized effort the worker is as nothing. He must co-operate ever more closely with his brother workers to hold what he has already gained and al- ways be ready to extend the glad hand of welcome and brotherhood to all union work- ers in the railroad industry. As yet we have barely scraped the sur- face of achievement, and the time may soon come when we will need all such support we can muster. Labor must increase its power an hundredfold and by intensive or- ganization so intrench itself against harm- ful opposition that it may come out of the coming struggle unscathed. At the end of the war there will take place the greatest economic upheaval the world has ever seen. So, brothers, strengthen your union, give it your utmost support; it will need all you have to give. Apropos of co-operation, the O. R. T. is already in an agreement with the “Big Four” organizations on the Southern Pacific, “Pa- cific System” ; also on the Kansas City Southern R. R.. and it is now the “Big Five” on these roads. This is a move in the right direction, and I firmly believe that future events will necessitate even greater solidar- ity between the different organizations. The great help Such co-operation and soli- darity gives was brought to my attention early in 1917. I was located on the Brie R. R. at the time, and Division 42 was mak- ing a drive for increased membership ; our organization was so poor that we had to have the help of the Grand Division, and some of the best organizers from St. Louis were on the job. It was no secret that the Erie had long been a drawback to the Order in the East Our general chairman had been for a long time endeavoring to secure relief in order to go over the line on com- mittee work, but time and again was re- fused by the Erie management, who plead shortage of relief men, but this alleged fact was disproves Finally, discouraged but not disheartened, we asked the co-operation of the several train service organizations, which was freely given us, and owing to the vigor- ous complaint of the four brotherhoods the Erie management saw the light and relieved our G. C. for his necessary committee work. Such unity and co-operation cannot be too heartily commended. Would that labor as a whole did recognize it ! So give us your unstinted support, broth- ers, and If you have any kicks to register or suggestions to offer, let’s hear your say. We are glad to llBten and will do our best to smoothen out the rough spots and use what- ever suggestions may appear feasible. For- ward to 100 per cent unionism ! Western Division Notes — A. L. Kinson, agent Irwin, resigned on ac- count of poor health, relieved by J. H. Mor- gan. Sister Cretchfleld to Tennant agency, vice Leverick, resigned and gone West. It is now Bro. Gobeli, agent at Lidderdale. It is the duty of every brother and sister on our division to help our organization in any way possible. All of you can at least give us some news eevry month, and we are going to expect this of you. Don’t be con- tented with nons working all around you, but do your best to have them get a card. If not successful, then drop a line to your local chairman or assistants and they will looft after them. Bro. Keas, Mason City, and Bro. Cross, Bristow, have been appointed assistant local chairmen. Bro. L. S. Lieneman succeeded on Clear Lake Jet. third by Earl Welsh, returned to Clarion nights, Barnes going back to car desk there. Mrs. G. Darling relieved Ruiter on Carroll second, who relieved Flood, Mason City, un- dergoing an operation at Rochester. Sister Ethel Critchfleld to Tennant agency, relieved at Carroll by White, a new man. Some brother kindly interrogate the gentle- man. Ouly $7.00 to join in June. A. K. Thorsen from Botna agency to operator Eagle Grove. The few delinquents were written to sev- eral weeks ago without result. Come back inside, boys. That’s the proper place to “register a kick.” If a wrong exists we will right it if possible, as we want you with us. (<Over the top ” for a solid division 1 “Hek.” Cert 909. Eastern Division — Bros. Althoflf, Lawhorn, and Carlson, and Miss I. C. Bautsch attended General Grant’s birthday celebration at Galena April 27th. Some of you gentlemen at Rice try and per- suade Miss B. to get a card. Bro. F. C. Kitchen relieved Bro. Burke, agent Kent, resigned. Bro. McGirk, first Sycamore, can now hold the girl's hand in the parlor instead of car- rying on long-distance conversation. Bro. Hawkins, Egan third, was off a few days on account of the Illness of a relative. J. C. Harris re-entered the service and is now on second Sycamore. Bro. Murphy, second “Z” Chicago, relieved the third trick man there while off sick a few days. Bro. Carlson is on third Wilkinson. Are you doing your share towards making this division 100 per cent in membership? Digitized by L.oo<?Le
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840 The Railroad Telegrapher. \ Head the article on pension fund In the April Journal. Assistant Superintendent Kavanach has gone to the D. T. & I. as general superin- tendent. Sorry to see him leave. He was succeeded by former Trainmaster Sheffer, Southern Division, whose headquarters will be at Chicago. Bro. McCann went to first Chicago Trans- fer a few days owing to the shortage of op- erators, his wife handling Lombard station during his absence. Dispatcher Fisher is on a fishing trip. If you have a non working with you, ask him to Join and don’t give up until you land him. Remember, you will need the organization during Government control Just as much as during the private operation of railroads to protect your own Interests. G. A. Ott, Cert. 180. Southern Division — Bro. Campbell secured the application of Miss Clara Kull at Cummings, who now car- ries an up-to-date, and it is now Bro. C. L. Bradshaw, agent Shannon City. Bro. R. R. Hurd of Reinbeck has Joined the army. Bro. Smith is figuring on Join- ing the navy. We hope he will get the ap- plication of his third trick operator before leaving. Bro. W. O. King was home on a furlough the early part of May. Brothers, your committee will soon be in for a revision of rules, and you should do everything in your power to line up the few nons some of you are working with. There is no excuse now for anyone staying out. If any of you wish the names of the nons, ask Bro. Coleman at “RO.” Please mail your news items to Bro. S. J. Walker, care Freight Office, St. Joe. I worked some years in the mail depart- ment, and we secured many concessions that would not have come if we had not had a good working organization. Now that rail- road employes are classed as Government employes, we must all get busy and perfect our organization. The back pay for the past four months will be more than enough to enable the nons to get an up-to-date. Trainmaster Sheffer, promoted to assistant superintendent Eastern Division, made many friends on the south end and has our best wishes. Manley Howe,'^Sbii of Bro. Howe, agent Green Mountain, died May 16th, the funeral being held the following day. To show our sympathy for Bro. Howe, the Southern Divi- sion, through the efforts of Bro. Coleman, Kansas City, and Bro. Hughes, Des Moines, made up a popular subscription and sent flowers for the obsequies. Cert. 766. Ulster & Delaware D. R., Div. No. 113. George Magley and Morris Markson both enlisted in the Signal Corps for special over- seas duty. Phil. Cartman has been located for the past six months on the Mexican border in the aeroplane division of the Sig- nal Corps. The boys are all tickled over the 10 per cent commission on Western Union business which took effect April 1, 1918. We are going to show our appreciation by carefully looking after that business now, as the better we lok after it the more commission we get. Division 113 may be small, but we are ahead of many larger divisions such as the N. Y., N. H. & H., O. & W., D. & H., Mo. P., U. P„ M. C. and A. C. C., who do not receive this commission. The express schedule negotiations have been recommended to the Director General of Railroads at Washington, and a com- mittee or commission will probably be ap- pointed by him to hold hearings to investi- gate and report for his approval the mat- ter of compensation and working conditions in the handling of express business by rail- road employes. Bro. Furman expects with his back pay from January 1st to buy a new gun for bear hunting. Relief Scribe. Ulster d Delaware — Bro. Merrihew, Davenport Center, off a few days account sickness, relieved by Bro. Ecker, who also relieved Bro. Falk at Hun- ter three days. Bro. Furman relieved by Bro. McDermott a few days account sick- ness. Summer stations at Kingston Point opened up for business May 24th, and Lanesville, Edgewood, Laurel House and Kaaterskill on June 15 th. Bro. Lafferty, who usually bid in Lans- ville, is now clerk to the yardnaaster at Weehawken on the West Shore. J. P. Elmendorf, who resigned Phoenicia agency last December, is managing the Rox- more Inn at Woodland. The U. & D. has placed a sawmill on the wood lot at Cold Brook and is getting out its own ties, being unable to purchase them in the South. Two of our engines, loaned to the C. R. R. N. J. until the opening of the Hudson River Dayline season, have been returned. Bro. Klein of Kingston has made some very fine catches of suckers, pickerel and bullheads from the Ashokan Reservoir and the Esopus Creek. Through the efforts of our general chair- man the Western Union granted a com- mission of 10 per cent on all cash business, effective April 1st. Digitized by tjoooie
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Thb Bailboad Tblbobapheb, 841 Boys, send in some news. I had to manu- facture this all myself. New Scribe, Cert 50. Quebec Ry. Light A Power Co*, Div. No. 115. SPECIAL NOTICE. To Members of Divisions 1, 7, 11, 16, 39, 43, 99, 114, 118, 131 and 165 : The Federal Export Law of the United States prohibits the exporting: of " any metal buttons therefore, until this law is re- pealed or amended we cannot send any O. R. T. emblem buttons to members in Canada. C. B. Rawlins, G. S. & T. Duluth, S. S. A A. Ry., Div. No. 116. Congratulations and best wishes to Bro. J. C. Eaton of "WS” Superior, recently mar- ried in Baltimore, Md. If we have a meet- ing in Superior before it goes dry I’ll drink to both you and the bride. Bro. N. A. Church, wife and baby spent a few days at Kenton recently. Bro. J. C. Deasy was a Baraga visitor recently. Bro. M. J. Conlogue, agent Trout Lake, lost a daughter recently. Mike and his wife have the sympathy of all the brothers on the division. Bro. R. E. Neilan of this division, who went to Camp Custer with the first bunch of men, is now a first-class private, "cutting the mustard” with the best of them. He has been in the Signal Corps since he went there and reports the work very interest- ing and the training as the best thing that ever happened. Bro. H. C. Wubbena and myself spent a few minutes in Michigamme recently, also 39c each. Bro. Earl Bradley, agent Kenton, and wife took in a show at Ishpeming recently. There, we have a writeup now, so I can knock off and go home and read. It’s some writeup, too, each and every item represent some hard thinking. We are go- ing to have lots of Just such writeups in the future, so no doubt you will all turn to Division 116 as soon as you get The Teleg- rapher. So fare thee well, gentle readers, for a whole month. Wep. “Soo Line" Ry., Div. No. 119. First and Second Districts — The new express waybill and report sys- tem put into effect May 1 is fine and made a hit with the boys right at the start. The non-waybill scheme was almost unanimously declared a howling failure. It is difficult to estimate the number divorces, suicides, oases of habitual drunkenness and other in- cidentals that will be prevented by the change in systems. First Nelsons closed temporarily, two tricks there now from 2 p. m. until 8 a. m. Bro. L. W. Desens, third Grays Lake, joined the army, relieved by Ed Winters, later called to army service, relieved by Bro. T. A. Guyant from third Nelsons, abol- ished. Bro. T. Michels relieved Bro. F. Olson on third Burlington a few days to go to his home at Norway, Mich., to say good-bye to his brother who left for an army camp. Bro. A. T. Meyer, Wheeling, off a few days sick, relieved by Bro. G. J. Martin. Bros. J. M. Phillip! and J. Zoellinger re- signed, putting Lake Villa and Silver Lake agencies on bulletin. Bro. C. Utpadel, third Burlington, reports the fish very patriotic this season, as high as 40 in one day responding to his bait to help save food, and combat the high cost of living. We’ll venture to say that they will bite much better on meatless days than on other days. Business is picking up and very likely a few more offices will soon be opened again. A. T. M.. Cert. 486. Missouri River Division — Bro. Gallagher, Dogden, resigned, relieved by Bro. Bailey. Bro. Steinhaus, Napoleon, has made sev- eral trips to Bismarck lately on account of the serious illness of his boy, who was taken to the hospital there. We are glad to learn that he is a great deal better. Bro. Peter- son, Garrison to Bismarck over Sunday, to consult an eye specialist. Bro. Hughes, sec- ond Max, to first Wishek, vice Sister Ayers, resigned. Bra Glanville called to Fargo as witness during federal court, relieved by Helper Meyers, Max, who later relieved Bro. Messingel, cashier-operator Oakes, who has joined the colors. Bro. Wagstrom, Danzig, wants to get away to join the colors. Bro. W. G. Ehlers on vacation relieved by Helper Nelson from Ryder. We have a delinquent on the first dis- trict, who says as long as we are working for Uncle Sam he does not need to keep his card up, but regardless of the roads being controlled by the U. S. Government we must have organization just the same and more so now than ever before. Remember, boys, “No card, no favors.” If you do not know who I refer to ask me. "Rich." W. d P. Division — Bro. J. Cronick, to North Grand on third, was relieved at Dresser Jet by Bro. Mitch- ell. He and Bro. Schultz doubled there a few days while Bro. D. C. Perry was on the sick list Bro. P. J. Kolles to Klngs- dale agency, relieved on second at Bruoe by Bro. J. B. Pintail from the D. and 8. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railboad Telegrapher. 042 Division. Bra O. J. Carlson, resigned, re- lieved by Bra C&rstens at Br&ntwood agency, has gone with the Menaaha Paper Ca as traffic manager. We all wish him success. Bro. Bedard goes to Br&ntwood agency regular. Bro. Ditm&nson transferred to Duluth- Superior Division. Bro. M. J. Crondick, on two months* leave, owing to poor health, was relieved at Hermansville by Jenson, a new man. Bro. M. J. Boyer, who resigned some time ago to go in other business, is back again and now on third Ladysmith. Thanks to the brother who sent me the notes. My last batch of notes were re- turned to me, as they were received at St Louis too late for publication. They must be in the editor's hand before the 25th of each month. Cxht. 492. Peninsula d Wisconsin Divisions — CARD OP THANKS. I wish to thank the members of the Pen- insula and Wisconsin Divisions, O. R. T., for their sympathy and the beautiful pillow of flowers. Sincerely, (Mrs. EL B.) Ursula Anderson, White Bear, Minn., R. F. D., Bald Eagle. Minnesota Division — CARD OP THANKS. We desire to extend to all the brothers of the Minnesota Division, Soo Line Divi- sion 119, our heartfelt thanks for their kindness shown us during the illness and death of our little girl. Also extend our thanks for the beautiful floral offering. Tour kindness, we assure you, will never be forgotten. Mr. & Mrs. F. Q. Pribbernow. Lehigh Valley R. R., Div. No. 124. Seneca Division — At the meetings held in Geneva I was elected Local Chairman of the Seneca Di- vision. I want to thank the men of this division for their confidence, and I assure you that I will do all in my power to make a success of it and further the interests of the Order and help secure a schedule for the Lehigh Valley. Give me your help and backing and there will be no doubt of the outcome. Personally, I think there are others who would have been better quali- fied for this job, but as it seemed to be the choice of the majority that I serve for the first year I am going into it for all there is in me. Just as soon as possible to do so I will make a trip over the entire division to get acquainted with the men and try and get in the remaining few none. New members are coming in all . the time and it will be but a short time before we will be almost 10# per cent. Let us all pull together good and strong, and we will surely get the results we are after. M. M. Crake, L. C. Seneoa Division Notes — At the open meeting in Elmira, N. Y„ on April 2td, Second Vice President Pierson and Bro. Wenrich, National Organiser, were present and favored us with talks dealing with conditions in general and General Chairman Hesser of the Erie System told us about the troubles on the "Old Relia- ble." These brothers are all artists and It was certainly a pleasure to hear them speak. A goodly number of brothers, also one' sister, from the Pennsylvania, were present, and the Brie and L. V. were well represented. On April 26th at the open meeting in Ge- neva, N. Y., we again had the pleasure of hearing Bros. Pierson and Wenrich, also General Chairman Morey of the N. T. C. lines. The latter entertained us about an hour with a history of the efforts of the N. Y. C. boys to better themselves and the spirit which exists on those lines at the present time. Bro. M. M. Crane was unanimously elect- ed Local Chairman of the Seneca Division at this meeting. Bro. C. H. Pinckney, of "GV" Geneva, was nominated for division correspondent, but declined in favor of Bro. J. T. Conroy, of "SA" Relay. At the Sayre, Pa., meeting on May 13th about thirty members were present. Bra P. A. Wenrich ably presented the results of organization with every assurance that any opposition to our movement would f&lL Chief Dispatcher Webster was present, which we considered a compliment. Bra Crane took this occasion to say a few words in praise of Mr. Webster, all agreeing that he is one of the best Chief Dispatchers in the business. Mr. Webster responded with a few remarks which were highly appre- ciated. We also heard from Bro. D. M. De- Bell, of "AN" Tower, how he was Induced to get on the O. R. T. band wagon. We are glad to learn that Bra A. V. Shumway's wife, who has been seriously 111, is on the road to recovery. Bro. Baker relieved Green at Alpine a few days. We should have "Greeney** with us. Bros. Smith and Conroy, of "SA" relay, who spent Sunday, May 5th, in New York, stopped off at "BM" on their way home. "IH’1 Ithaca and "SA" are solid, flfid we hope "SY" dispatcher’s office soon will be. J. E. Kellogg has gone farming for the summer, relieved by Miss Schriver, of the S. A N. Y. We are pleased to have her with us. No doubt Bro. Van Gorder will do his bit. Bro. C. E. Webb filled in "SY" while the Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher, OAQ Wts# dispatchers were making their trips over the road. The correspondent would be glad to have some of the brothers help on news items. Dnr. Cob., Cert. ISO. Buffalo Division — Bra Connors was in New York recently to see his brother, who left for Franoe ; also Bro. dayman and wife to see his sister who sailed for France as a Red Cross nurse. Night Chief McCormick, relieved recently by third trick dispatcher Cox, relieved by Extra Dispatcher Coleman. Bro. Healy, second in interlocking plant, is also working a farm. We must all get busy, get the nons in quick and make our division 100 per cent. Pay dues promptly. Stick and have an up to date card at all times. I was certainly glad to learn that Bro. Fennel has been a member for fifteen years. He has the right spirit. We have a good chief on this division, one we can be proud of. The meeting at Buffalo was fine. I was glad to meet the boys and hope to meet them again soon. Everybody do your bit to help, and I will do all In my power to land the nons. L. B. Powers, L. C. Buffalo Division Notes — Some of the boys who came to the Buffalo meeting from down the line took chances on getting a train back, but they all got back and were able to stay for the night meeting, too, thanks to having a ttregu\ar,t , chief on this division. Not as many ot the boys came as we hoped for on account of the poor train serv- ice Just now. but those present were full of pep ready to represent those unable to attend. Any of the boys not "in" when they came were "in" when they left. The boys from the P. R. R., D. L. & W. and the "Nickel Plate" were a good live enthusiastic bunch whom we would like to meet again. I’m not much on remembering names, but don't recall any "Bryans" at this meeting. The meeting itself was Just what was needed to bring the men together and im- press upon them that everyone on the sys- tem was in to stay and get what’s coming to them. Boys* pay the second half dues promptly and get your card. That’s the spirit The opportunity is here now. Let’s grab It and hang on. If we ever expect to ge anything now is the time. Do not allow a non on the division. Get him In and keep him in. If you know one go and get him today. It’s three out of four at "BF" now. Officials unable to fill "AB" nights on ac- count of low salary. Bro. **CX" at *TW” can’t explain at home what time the meeting closed. Bro. Powers was appointed Local Chair- man of this division. This work is as new to him as it would be to you, so help him any way you can. Bro. Pierson (vice-president) spoke at the meeting, and any who heard him won’t for- get what he said right away. It’s point- blank with him. Cert. 263. Auburn Division — At the meeting held in Knights of Pythias Hall, Freeville, N. Y., Sunday, May 12th, Bro. Verne B. Rogers was elected Local Chairman. We were very sorry that previ- ous important business made it impossible for Bro. Joslin to attend. We have made a good start on this di- vision; let’s keep the good work going and try to make it 100 per cent by July 1st Brothers, come out to the meetings. Some of you nearby who have cars, bring the others with you. members and nons both, and keep after the latter until you get them all signed up. Send me all the items you can for the write-up at the earliest possi- ble moment, as they have to be in St. Louis by the 25th of each month. Let me hav- them not later than the 16th. ** Remember the slogan, "100 per cent by July 1st," and send the names and addresses of all prospects to Bro. Rogers, so he can help you to line them up. Donpt forget the items. "Z." Wyoming Division — The division has a ninety per cent mem- bership with a few nons such as infest every organized road throughout the coun- try, which to entirely eliminate is a propo- sition almost beyond human power. We have a committee on every division to settle any little disputes that may arise without the least trouble, and before this goes to press we will likely have a general committee elected. There are two nons in one of the towers on the West End, but their present title will be shortlived, as we have some live brothers in that vicinity. Some of the nons are making a very loud noise about tricks doing the least work and receiving the higher rate of pay. Why should they have a kick coming? About all you can hear on 84 wire these nights from 10 p. m. to 6 a. m. is "Rush T 141." Boys, don’t hit the 40 per too strong be fore you get it. Remember the old adage, "Never count your hens before they are hatched." We will soon know the verdict Digitized by c.ooQLe
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844 The Railroad Telegrapher. Bro. Finnegan took several of the boys along the line in his “Tin Liz” on a fishing trip recently and made one of the finest catches of the season. Bro. Richard McHale relieved first trick man at J tower a few days recently. Bro. L. C. McHale has returned from Gracedale where he relieved the second trick man. v*. Bro. Scally expects to purchase a “Tin Lizzie” with his back time. Give your journal to some non soon as you finish reading it. Bro. Smith buried his father several days ago. The sympathy of the division goes out to him in his bereavement. Vice President Pierson was at our last meeting, which was not as well attended as it should have been, evidently due to some mistake in the meeting place. Bro. Powers, of Ricketts, a former Wyoming Division man, was elected Local Chairman of the Seneca Division. Bro. Evans relieved Bro. Smith a few days. A newspaper report says the C. P. R. granted its telegrapher sixty cents for every extra call. Let us hope they cancel the Till before that goes into effect on the Lehigh Valley, else the road will be bank- rupted in a very short time. A certain non applied for a Job firing, not on the battlefield, but on a single door camel back engine. We hope he will be more successful behind the shovel than at the key. Every telegrapher, station agent and towerman on this division subscribed to the Third Liberty Loan. We hope they will continue the good work and subscribe for a card. Bro. FN- deserves to be decorated with the Croix De Guerre for his recruiting work in the Order. Twenty-two members initiated at our meeting on the M. & H. Division. Some ini- tiation for the size of the division. A non succeeded in having the draft board place him in class 3 instead of clas> 1. We hope he will now show his colors in another way. The train dispatchers are falling in line in great style along the entire system. Cert. 166. New Jersey and Lehigh Division — Bro. Yeuser was off a few days owing to illness, Bros. HIndmarch and Knittel offi- ciating. Night Chief Dispatcher Bennett is also on the sick list. Bro. Pfenning on sick list, Bro. Fritch substituting. It’s now Bro. Hugh Kennedy at “NG.” Brother “KT” relieved Brother “DS” at “CF” recently for a few days. Bro. HIndmarch is on third “XG.” Bro. Lavelle, of Division 45, there posting. Any- one looking for a “Job,” not a position, bet- ter take that second ”XG.” The New York Sun, May 11, said : “It is understood that the General Director will make many changes in the schedules recom- mended before ordering their adoption,” so don’t jump at conclusions. Wait until you have something that can be relied upon. Don’t be misled by the newspaper re- ports of what the increase is to be. Just be patient. Brother Perham will see that we are not handed a lemon, as some are try- ing to lead us to believe. He has given his word that we are not a hostile organization, and everyone of us must do our bit to the best of our ability. Report trains and get your business off promptly. Be respectful' to those in authority, as it will be to your interest when the time comes to ask con- cessions. Do your best and give no cause for complaints. Owing to shortage of men. Dispatchers Grooby and Bradford were compelled to double up for several days recently. Brothers, it is the wish the President that we make the N. J. & L. 100 per cent in return for his efforts in our behalf at Wash- ington and on May 4th I wrote you asking your earnest endeavors with this in view, also requesting that you write me your views on the matter so that I could make a prompt report to our Local Chairman, but up to May 20 heard from but one. Brother Ten Eyck went to third Lehigh for a few days recently, and Bro. Pfenning on the Jersey while the dispatchers went over the road. Bro. Snyder to “Q” office for several nights. Ye scribe recently wrote the manager in “Q,” asking him whether he was for or against us and felt highly Insulted because he was asked a question that was as of much importance to himself as us. He said to one of the brothers that I had a nerve to write him. Three men at Mahoning still on the “out- side looking in." Don’t let that first trick man at “PK” rest until he has filled out papers. Wanted — The names and addresses of the three men at Union St., Allentown. Our new superintendent is seemingly a very fine man. Naturally, we are sorry to have lost Mr. Ross, but such things are all in a lifetime. We must follow the example set by the boys in “BM,” where there is but one left on the “outside.” They will soon be solid. Boys, send me some notes, so we can have a better write-up. Bethlehem General Office Notes — Bro. Hutsch is back again, after a three months’ illness. All the boys are glad to see him. He is doing his best as Local Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 845 Chairman. Let's have a meeting where everyone can express his opinion. Recently we bagged two more sons, leav- ing but one more to sign up. A little work will do the trick. Congratulations to Bros. Strau and Buss. Good reports are coming in from every division. A little more teamwork and we will be 100 per cent solid ; then up with the colors and “over the top” we go. Curt. 217. C. R. I. & P. Ry., Div. No. 126. General Offices — Trenton : — Another man cut off May 1st ; leaves but four operators. While we can handle the business, it's rather hard to cover the numerous wires. Bro. Christensen got the axe; was on leave working extra in dis- patcher’s office. Bro. Davenport, all by his lonesome from midnight until 6 :00 a. m. ; makes him step around to cover all the wires. Everyone is anxious to see the wage propo- sition settled and get their hands on that back pay. Bro. Kay in town recently on business. Always glad to see Bill drop in, and wish he would make it oftener. This is a one-man job on Sunday now since they have to pay overtime for Sunday work. Chicago: — Several of us envy Bro. Supple that job in the “great out-doors” (Cedar Rapids). There is another nice little job out in Nebraska that a bunch of the seni- ority hounds are laying for. They juggled Bro. Stansberry around till he went to Goodland. Bro. Kay is taking up our “eat” complaint with the general managers. Mr. Hood in- sists it is impracticable for us to be allowed to eat. This is twice he has refused to con- cede anything. If we try to exist much longer on a stale doughnut and a cup o’ java during an eight-hour grind we won’t care much whether we be allowed time to eat or not. In fact we won’t be in physical condition to permit the eating of a hearty meal. “The pangs of despised love!” “The in- solence of office !” Mr. Skinner, former man- ager at El Reno, may have suffered from the former, but he failed to make anyone suffer long from the latter. He resigned after we asked for an investigation and Is now with the Santa Fe at Amarillo, another proof that water seeks its level. Bro. Stickley visited us recently. Same ol’ “Stick,” same or pipe, and the same ol’ spirit. Bro. Stickley hit Chicago at a most inopportune time (Sunday), foggy and rainy, too. Our “Uncle Sam” says we can organize and no discrimination shall be made as be- tween employes organized and unorganized. Now is the time for our managers and wire chiefs to find some other excuse for not having an up-to-date. Bro. Kososki limps in each day. He works hard on his war garden. Bro. Teeters limped in in the same manner one morning, but we found out he had tried to put on a rubber heel. One was rubber but the other was Just plain heel. It did look a little funny, but we didn’t say much about it. Bro. Davis writes from France that Bro. Harry Ford may have been taken prisoner in one of the German raids on a company of engineers. We all hope to hear from Harry, though, and still think he is Just too busy “Hun huntin’ ” to write, and we can forgive him for it. So they call that increase a “sliding scale.” We think it’s got roller bearings in it. It took five months to get it "slid” up to us, but the way it scooted away it must have had rubber tires, roller bearings, and all. Herington : — Manager Jones is taking his vacation (on pay), Bro. Nelson acting man- ager, Bro. Marshall working second and Bro. Goodfellow doing the owl stunt Our old friend Whitney, at Haileyville, took exception to the paragraph in our last Issue and took the matter up with Grand Secretary Rawlins, who, by digging into the archives, found that Whitney made applica- tion for membership in June, 1893, and was dropped in December, 1894, having danced the past twenty-five years without contribut- ing one dime to the fiddler. We. are always glad to correct these small Inaccuracies. Bro. Marshall spent a day in Kansas City recently. He had Just received his annual and probably wanted to see If It was good. Bro. Price was in Kansas City three or four days as witness in a lawsuit. R. D. Stover, Local Chairman. Iowa Division — Do not think for a minute that our or- ganization is no longer necessary; that the Government will take care of us, and every- thing has been done that can or need be done. The Wage Commission would never have been brought into existence had it not been for organized labor, and whatever the award may be, it would soon be set aside If the organization fails to guard it and “Uncle Sam” relinquishes control of the railroads. We must not become so short-sighted as to let our organization become weak. This division was never In better condi- tion, and any who may be delinquent are urged to pay up without further delay. It should not be necessary to ask anyone to Digitized by Google
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846 The Raujioad Telegrapher. remit when notice of dues are mailed out by Bro. Dunnam. It is your organization and you should do your part to keep it in trim. We only have two nons east of Dos Moines and very few west. ' We can get anything within reason when we are 100 per cent solid. We should all try to make the nons see that they are holding us all back, themselves included. Some of you are doing very good work helping make the divi- sion solid, and thank you for your efforts in this line. We can nicely increase our mem- bership percentage if all will work in the future as in the past, and all keep up to date all the time. It’s a live organization that gets results. Please refer your grievances to me if you are unable to secure a satisfactory adjust- ment. If you are not getting what is coming to you we will get it for you. If you are claiming something which is not coming to you we will tell you so. Don’t bury your grievance and feel unkindly toward the or- ganization for not getting you what you figure you should have. Do not bother the general chairman with your grievances. Our division officials are willing you should have all that is rightfully coming to you under the schedule, and we will have no trouble clearing up any misunderstandings. If we cannot agree upon the interpretation of any part of the Schedule it will then be soon enough for me to hand your case on up to the general chairman. His office is flooded with mail that should be sent to the local chairman of the division from which it oomes, taking up too much of his time that can be used to better advantage out on the road, organizing and attending to other busi- ness which cannot be satisfactorily handled by correspondence. Am glad to say that the Iowa Division has done remarkably well In this respect, and my main reason for writ- ing this paragraph is to admonish you to continue to take matters up with me instead ef writing the Chicago office. I hope you all appreciate Bro. Kay having secured the withdrawal of telegraphers from the list of employes coming under the watch inspection rule. He legislated for approxi- mately 1,800 of us. It is doubtful if 10 per oent of us have watches that will pass in- spection. If, however, 800 of us have, it would still require about 1,600 high-grade watches. Inquire what such a watch costs and then figure out for yourself what he saved the men on the R. L by that one diplo- matic victory. Tell the non-members about it. It will demonstrate to them another advantage of being organized. Have tried vainly to induce someone to act as division correspondent. If anyone is willing to act in that capacity, please ad- vise. The pay is the same as for local chairman, viz: 41 goose eggs** that will not hatch. It is now Bro. Clendenny at Barlham. Bro. Wright, agent Reasnor, now draws a pension. Bro. Varner, bidding in the station, succeeded on Stuart third by Bro. Kennedy of first there. Bro. Hansen, who took Ken- nedy’s old trick, bid second back again, leaving first on bulletin. Bro. Lamb took Underwood nights, a new job; Bra EL N. Case second Menlo, vice Bro. Jay Eastman to Booneville agency, vice Bro. Swallow, gone farming. Bro. Sinter, second Marengo, called home to South Carolina on account of the illness of his father, may not come back. We hate to lose Buch good members. He lined up soon as possible. Bro. Coutts relieved him. Expect to call a meeting In Dee Moines some Sunday. Am corresponding with the L. C. of the Minn, and K. A D. M. V. Divi- sions as to it As soon as I can fix up with them, will notify you all. Many can come if you only will. Expect to have one or both of our general officers present. It will be well worth your while to attend. If you can, bring Mrs. with you. She will be interested and will insist upon your paying your dues promptly if she under- stands the situation. Tou fellows elected me to this high office ; now help me make good. H. N. Dutton, Local Chairman. Des Moines Valley Division — Bro. Cable of Rosehill is on 90-days* leave, trying out a Government Job at Hog Is- land. Bro. C. E. Norris, first Melcher, has been assigned the agency there, and Bro. Farley goes to Farmington, relieved by R. EL Mad- den at Bonaparte. Bro. Brooks, third Chariton, while sick, threatened with pneumonia, is being relieved by Bro. Harding, third Williamson, latter closed meanwhile. Bro. Hall, also on sick list, and Indianola bulletined for 90 days. Bro. Sweeney from Camp Dodge visited friends in Osk&loosa Sunday, May 12th. Bros. Hunter and Hulen, "somewhere in France," are still interested in the news from this division. They are doing some real railroading "over there." Bro. Forche was out calling on some of the nons a tew days ago. Dit. Cor., Cert. 2280. El Paso Division — . . Bro. Whittemore, Durham, was off several days recently, relieved by Sister Whittemore, who is back on second Durham after a sick spell. Sounds natural to hear her on the wire again. That new "bug" te "fine busi- ness." We were very sorry to hear of the death of Bro. Farrell's brother, who was stationed Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Railroad Telegrapher, 847 at Camp Dodge, la. "Billy" always had a pleasant word for all. Bro. Llle, agent Kismet, off on account of the death of his wife, relieved by Bro. Johnson, second Wellsford. Bros. Reeder, second Plains, and Dettle, Meade,- are going into the service of "Uncle Sam.'* Brothers, answer the dispatchers promptly. They are a good bunch and treat us right. Show them that the O. R. T. men are al- ways “on* the Job" and better men in every way than others. Remit your next term dues promptly. Don't wait to be reminded by the secretary. Get them in at once and save the division postage, besides protecting your beneficiary. You cannot afford to be without the insurance. Cmbt. 542. CARD OP THANKS. I wish to thank you, Bro. Matties, and the balance of the committee for the letter of sympathy received a few days ago. In my most trying hour, as I stood by the open grave, words could not have spoken louder, nor sympathy and brotherly love been ex- pressed more fully than did the wreath of beautiful flowers, bearing these letters, "O. R. T.. Div. 126.** May God reward you one and all for your kindness, Is my earnest prayer. As ever. Your brother, Hobart N. Lili, Kismet, Kans. C., B. & Q. R. Div. No. 130. Relay Division — Wire chiefs over the system, and operators in Chicago and Omaha general offices, were sadly disappointed when they learned that the company would not grant them vaca- tions on full pay this year, as has been the custom for years past. Of course, we have no grievance, because these vacations were never covered by contract. But we are at loss to know why the telegraphers should be cut out when all other general office em- ployes are to receive their vacations this year the same as heretofore. The matter has been appealed to Mediator G. W. W. Hanger at Washingtdn, who helped to settle our last schedule negotiations. This division has made an exceptionally good showing. We have for the first six- months' period of 1918 taken in twenty-two new members, and not one delinquent still in the service. If this good work continues tor the next half there won't be any nons to pick at and our division will be 100 per cent strong. The latest recruits are Paul Nolan and C. A. King, Galesburg. Herman Nelson, formerly Morkrum oper- ator "GO," later a brakeman on the Alli- ance Division, now serving "Uncle Sam” at Camp Taylor, Ky., wrote the operators in "GO” relating his experience as a "rookie.” Sisters Grabow, Macurdy, Reisa and Davis conceived the idea that we should reciprocate Herman’s thoughtfulness of us with some- thing unique in the form of a letter. Pro- curing a roll of paper used for the "tickers,” each one in the office wrote something on It, with the result that the letter, when finished, was over sixteen feet long. Herman will no doubt ask for a furlough to read it. Bro. Wood was ofT a few days recently with a sore arm, caused by being vaccinated. Bro. M. E. Smith, Sheridan, spent a day in Chicago recently, attending a meeting of the Relief Department Advisory Board, of which he is a member. Bro. Villars has gone to "HD” St. Paul as manager. We all wish him success. Bro. "Bill” Reynolds has resumed after a short vacation in Kentucky, where, we un- derstand, he "played the ponies” and made good. Bros. Denton and Rogers spent a day In Chicago on business during the early part of May. Bros. A. C. Trumble and Kaiser went on a fishing trip recently to Diamond Lake, Hi. The fish took to the deep water, so there was “nothing doing/* J. J. Ross. Chicago Terminal — The Chicago Terminal has not been men- tioned in the journal in a dog's age, but If you brothers will all assist me I will be glad to act as correspondent. Please send your notes to Local Chairman Dwyer so I can get them in shape and send them to St. Louis before the 25th of each month. Bro. Adamlck, Roby St, goes to third Hawthorne tower, vice Bro. Gregory to first Kedzie Ave. tower days. Bro. Conner, second Clyde tower, resigned, succeeded by Mr. Mally, a new man, a friend of Bro. Penney, who will line him up. Bro. Murphy recently dislocated his right shoulder on his way to work, relieved four nights by Maintafner Dixon. There are still several nons to be rounded up. Keep everlastingly at them and give them no rest until they Join. The local chairman will furnish you a list of the nons on application. Let us start a "drive” and see how many we can save from the " slacker ” class. Look through your copy of the book of schedules published by the O. R. T. It Is very interesting and a handy reference book. Compare our schedule with some of the others and see how well it shows up. “No card , absolutely no favors ” Cert. 1785. Aurora Division — A. C. Crabtree, Kewanee days, bid in Ber- wyn, and W. L. Hauber Wataga agency. Digitized by v^oooLe
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848 The RAHJtOAD Telegrapher. Get right after them. Don't allow a break in the solid Bast End. W. W. Wangter, cashier Earlvllle, gets Meridan agency. Some brother line him up. D. E Watson bid in third Wataga tower and got a nice increase. Get after him, Swanstrom and Foster. Bro. H. C. Hammond, being unable to get a suitable house, withdrew his bid on Hinck- ley agency and It reverted back to Mr. Welton. Bro. T. C. Adams, Division 82, gets Leo- nora agency, and has been transferred to Division 180. Bro. Sam 'a. Vedda visited his folks in St. Louis a few days recently. We have only a few none left, and I ex- pect to list them with the chairmen of the other four brotherhoods. Csrt. 6. Galesburg Div., Bushville Branch — Bro. C. W. Titus, now in Co. A., 812th Field Sig. Bn., Camp Pike, Ark., writes Gen- eral Secretary and Treasurer Rogers quite an interesting letter in reply to one from Bro. Rogers asking him for his permanent address, which he gives at Buda, III, care Bro. L. M. Kunkel, but requests his Teleg- rapher mailed to him at his Camp Pike ad- dress, as he says he likes to keep posted on what is being done on "The Burlington." After expressing his pleasure over the re- cent success of Division 180 in securing such a good schedule, and hoping for a con- tinuation of the good work in future, he re- fers to the great benefit of "organisation" and says if the "nons" were in the army they would see how necessary it is to be- come organised before anything can be ac- complished, and if they do not realise it now they never will. Even at Camp Pike, he says, where there Is no real fighting, it is very apparent that they must be well organised before they can get anywhere. Bro. Titus says he has seen enough to appreciate more fully what organisation means and what it will do, and any union will always have his hearty support. The Editor. La Crosse Division — Bro. Hitchcock, Pullman Ave., Is on two- weeks’ vacation. Bro. J. E. Reed, third Bay City, was drafted, relieved by J. Harding, a new man. Bro. H. C. Covey, a new man, is on second Cassville, pending bulletin, vice Bro. Foehr- inger. Bro. Thlessa, Alma days, who made a trip to Bagley between trains recently, was relieved by Farber on account of sickness, who later relieved Bro. W. E. Garber, agent Trempealeau, while visiting relatives at Di- amond Bluff. J. T. Smongeski relieved Johnson, Craw- ford second, a few days while visiting wiui his brother, home on furlough. Bro. P. V. McCue, who enlisted, is back on third Diamond Bluff, awaiting the call for service. He relieved Bro. W. H. Gar- ber, agent there; also Bro. Kimball several days, relieved by Smongeski. Bro. Zepp, third East Winona, was called to La Crosse for examination on book of rules. Bros. Beckmeler, agent Alma, and Bro. Jim Bums, agent Prescott, attended O. 8. A D. meeting at Grand Crossing recently. ^ Cist. 276. Hannibal Division — H. K. Tucker, R. A. Hays and F. B. Ash- craft have received their cards, making "X” office Hannibal solid. Bro. W. E Kenning of that office spent a day recently in Louisiana and took home a nice lot of fish, but we have an idea that Bro. E. D. Laudell caught them. Bro. Guy Zinn, Hannibal, relieved Bro. A. Inge, who is working nights in order that Bro. W. F. Lauer and H. K. Tucker might put up their summer home on the Island just north of Hannibal. They will soon be telling us about the "big ones" they caught Bro. E. W. Thompson, who has been at Camp Funston since last September, is at home on a furlough. His voice sounds nat- ural on the line, and we were all glad to have him with us once more. C allib Mays, L. C. St. Joe , Mo., Division — Bro. R. L Gill is, agent Armour, off a few days recently account sickness, Bros. Gard- ner and Moore doubling. Bro. Root agent Tatan, off account sickness, relieved by Extra Canavan. Word was received recently from Bro. M. C. Allison, in aero service in England, that he was ready to sail for France. Bro. Whalen is wireless operator on the "Nevada," in Southern waters. Somebody line up L A. Glllls, first Tower 46. Bro. E. F. Dunlop, agent West boro, called in draft Vacancy bid in by Bro. R. E Hickman, leaving Hoyne agency on bulle- tin. Bro. J. T. Arnold, Tarkio, called in draft Vacancy bid in by J. A. Hardest ey from McFaul nights. Bro. Clanton, third Hamburg, on sick list several days, Bros. Arnold and Payne doub- ling. Bro. F. L. Wales, Langdon third, sprained his ankle recently. Bro. C. E. Smith, former operator Davis City, is now at Glddlng, Tex., in relay of- fice. The subscription to our flower fund Digitized by taOOQle
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 849 amounted to 9*7.26. The flowers purchased for Bro. Cooksey's wife amounted to $10.00, leaving a balance of $17.25 on hand. Mr. Hall Is at Payne agency, pending bulletin. L. J. Miller, Loc. Cor., Coin, Iowa. Creston Division — Bro. A. L. Estes relieved Bro. R. P. Bick- ett, Greenfield, who later relieved Bro. Sny- der, agent Fontanelle, several days, on ac- count of the death of Mrs. Snyder’s mother. Bro. R. C. Hickman, second McPherson, relieved by Bro. Lundstrum from Stanton, and Bro. Gwlnn, at Villisca, by Bro. Hefling a few days, account sickness. Bro. Hatfield, second Emerson, was off a few days ac- count sickness In his family. Bro. Unganst, second Council Bluffs, off sick, relieved by Bro. J. E. Pace. Later Bro. York went to the Springs, Bro. Wilber relieving. Bro. Griffith at Lenox blocking, Bro. Shelby at Hopkins, Bro. Hefling and Mr. Everhart at Arkoe, and Bro. W. F. Dyke at Rosendale nights of May 18, 19 and 22, on account of troop movements on Amazonia Branch. Sister Milligan to Nodaway second ; Bro. Shelby to Hopkins ; Bro. Stokesberry to third Malvern ; Bro. Dyke to Rosendale ; Bro. C. M. Pace to third Pacific Jet., and Campbell, third Villisca, to Bridgewater agency. Boys, get busy on him now; also get busy on the few delinquents and other nons and line them up. Remember, “No card, no favors” Bros. Lundstrom and Jones have resigned and gone to the army. Bros. Shelby and Dyke on vacation, visit- ing home folks. Bro. C. A. Reynolds, agent Greenfield, also on vacation, relieved by Bro. R. F. Blckett, operator there, and he by Extra Barkus. Bro. Shehan, agent McPherson, has a new car. The river at Folsom Is cutting badly again, keeping several work trains around, makes a lot of work for Bro. Kobbert, the agent .there. Thanks to Bros. Blckett, Shelby, J. E. Pace and R, C. Hickman for Items. Come again, boys. With a little help we should have a nice writeup each month. O. C. Wallace, Ass’t L. C. Ottumtoa Division — I wish to thank the brothers who nomi- nated me for local chairman. No other nomi- nations being received by Bro. Rogers, It was not necessary to put out a ballot. Regard- less of the fact that local chairmen are not remunerated for time and labor put Into the work, I will do all possible to have a writeup each month, and hope the broth- ers will help me. Bro. J. J. Orman, who relieved Bro. Klley, second Chariton, a few days during Ill- ness and death of his father, was relieved by Bro. Elsea, second Batavia, and he by Mrs. B. L. Dixon, Albia. Bro. C. M. Croy, second agency, on first while Bro. Best Is attending investigation 1 at Ottumwa. We did not hear of this until after Bro. Riley’s father was burled, hence no flowers. Some of you brothers on west end should give us such Important information, that we may arrange for these things. Bro. Ki- iey has the sympathy of brothers of this division in his bereavement. Some of the nons on the division have promised to join within the next thirty days. Everybody go after them. See if we can- not get up to 100 per cent by June 30th. No one contributed any items this month. I never hear any news from the west end at all. It’s the same old motto, “No card , no favors” P. R Haist, Local Chairman. Omaha Division — New members: F. H. Jerome, South Soo City ; Bro. R. G. Cdstich, Memphis, trans- ferred from Division No. 8. Glad to see you with us, brothers. Bro. G. B. Riley of Leshara is on vacation in Kentucky, and Bro. Biggs, “SY” South Omaha, is visiting at Missoula, Mont. Sis- ter Shaunessy is back at Waverly after va- cation. Understand Sister Dickenson of Schuyler has resigned to become a Red Cross nurse. Beginning with Schuyler to South Soo City, and from South Soo City to Oneill, we haven’t a single non, a stretch of track 278 miles, a record we may well be proud of. Hope to shortly line up two of the three still left on the main line. Bro. Kara of Nickerson has applied for transfer to Casper Division, in the relay or station service. The Government Is figuring on closing some competitive stations and handling all the business from one office. We are glad to hear from Bro. Freeman, who writes from Salem, Mo., that he is do- ing well farming. Bro. Holmes, Walthill, visited home folks in Ashland recently. Bro. Cameron, second Oreapolis, has re- signed and returned East. Bro. McFarland of Melia lost his eight-day old baby recently. He and family have the heartfelt sympathy of the entire division. The entire division responded nobly to the call for the flower fund. I stated In last month’s Telegrapher that I would submit a report of the contributions, but as the grand secretary and treasurer has been Digitized by Google
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850 The Railroad Telegrapher, required to cut down on our items, instead of printing a list showing the individual con- tributions, I will give the amount subscribed and disbursed. FLOWER FUND STATEMENT. Cash paid in by members $22.00 Remitted to M. V. White, flow- ers for Bro. Myers $12.00 Remitted for flowers for Mrs. M. V. White, wife of Bro.' M. V. White 5.00 Total $17.00 Balance on hand $ 5.00 Would like to hear from more of the brothers with a few items. H. L. Gilbert, Wann, Nebr. CARD OF THANKS. We wish to thank you for the beautiful floral offering sent as a token of remem- brance for our beloved wife and sister. Mr. M. V. Whits, Mrs. J. R. Jacobt. Lincoln Division — Bro. J. M. Bender, second "HN” Hastings, received word recently that his son Paul, with Aviation Corps in France, was cap- tured by the “Huns.” Bro. C. G. Irwin, Kearney, who answered the call to serve "Uncle Sam," was relieved by Bro. F. H. Houston. Bro. R. F. Blacketer has lined up with "Uncle Sam’s” forces, relieved by O'Leary from Dorchester, closed. Bro. F. D. Chadwick, second "GS” Has- tings, transferred to third there, which will give him his evenings at home. W. L. Wallace relieved McShane, third "GS,” gone back to Ohio. Bro. J. C. Bruce, third Kenesaw, was a recent Hastings caller, and Bro. L. H. Kil- gore, second Ravenna, a recent Harvard caller, stopped off at Hastings long enough to say "hello.” Bro. O. D. Kratzer of Garrison resigned and bought out the Ulysses newspaper, re- lieved by M. A. Miller, a new man. R. L. Souers is at Seward extra; R R. Krans from the O. S. L. to third Utica, and Bro. F. W. Houston to Kemey extra, vice C. G. Irwin. Bro. F. L. Blade, agent Murphy, to Wol- bach agency. Hock a by, extra, throwing up Job. Bro. C. W. Coffman, agent Hoace, was a recent Hastings caller on account of the sickness of his folks there. Bro. Halstead relieved by Bro. Hershner a few days account sickness. N. H. Burkhaltbr, Div. Cor. Sterling Division — Chas. T. Shier, Torringtoa, Wyo., to the only new member to report this month. Let us all make a special effort to round up every non we possibly can. The application fee is only $11.00 in June, so let ua all do our best to have a nice bunch of new mem- bers to report next month. Send your Jour- nal to some non each month as soon as you have read it. Bro. Feary, Grant, Nebr., to off duty for awhile. I wish the brothers would drop me a few lines when relieved and let me know where they are going and who to relieving them. 1 I did not receive a single Item of news for this writeup, but if you will all make a special effort to line up the none during the month of June, we will call it square and Hooverize on our space in the Journal this month. Business is picking up down this way and helpers are badly needed at several stations, but don’t get discouraged. Give the com- pany a good, honest day's work and then quit. Do not work half of the night to try to keep your work up, as I am advised some of the boys have been doing. The longer you do that the longer it will be before we are furnished the help we need. I have asked to be relieved for a few days during June and expect to aafl on as many of you as possible F. A 9mm, L C. Wymore Division — A writeup in The Tblbgkapbjk each month is just ah essential to the Order as Liberty Bonds are to our Government. Show your colors by helping both of these good causes along. Bro. E. H. Hayes, formerly cashier Super- ior, in the services of "Uncle Sam" at Great Lakes, followed by Bra Jack Dailey, third Table Rock, and Bra McIntyre, agent Ster- ling, as electrician in the navy. Bra Red- line to Table Rock pending bulletin, re- lieved by Mrs. Redline at Kesterson. Bro. Dailey of Bostwick went to Denver to see his sister before she goes to Burope as a nurse, relieved by Bra McIntyre. Bro. Antrim relieved a few days at Paw- nee, Mrs. Holts relieving him at Chester. After many denials he now admits that he is married. Best wishes. Bro. Glasgow of Trot Junction wne a Sun- day visitor at Hardy recently. Bro. W. F. Hgen to now at Ancon, Ctonal Zone, with the Panama Railway. The little daughter of "Jim” Rogers, our secretary and treasurer, at LaCronsq has just undergone an operation for appendicitis, and we sure glad to learn that she Is doing nicely. Digitized by v^oooLe
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The Rad road Telegrapher. 851 Recently a number of stations in Nebraska were requested by General Chairman Denton to give him a written report appertaining to the far-famed "Nebraska Commission" re- port rendered each month, in an effort to have the report done away with as an "un- necessary" evil, but Just one or two replies were 'ever received. There was no more labor involved in doing this little chore than in making one’s car report, for instance ; but merely represents the apathy that is so deadly to an organization like ours. Throw your hat in the ring and keep 'er there. It’s Just as important as our old slogan, "No card , no favors ” C. E. McIntyrs, Cert. 990. HELP THE RED CROSR Although a good many of us have sub- scribed liberally for Liberty Bonds and the Red Cross in the past, I do not think any of the brothers would refuse to give some of their pay to help some of our brothers over in France. Bro. Brown and myself subscribed through the C. A 8. for a day's pay for the Red Cross from each month’s pay check for the balance of the year of 1918, and I think there are a good many others that would do the same if Just asked to do so. It would not be near as hard tor us to do this as it is for the boys "over there" who are suffering and dying every day. Tou may be over there some time suffering Just like the boys who are there now, and the day’s pay you give now each pay day for the balance of the year might be able to save your own life or somewhat decrease their suffering. J. K. Daij, Cert. 2469, Chugwater, Wyoming. Green Bay & Western R. R., Div. No. 142 F. J. Dullk, New Franken, has Joined the U. 8. A., relieved by Gaylord of Royal- ton. Agent Weisenberger, agent Black Creek, has enlisted, relieved by a man from the C. A N. W. Bra H. R. Olson, agent Blair, trans- ferred te cashier Sturgeon Bay, relieved by Bro. Solberg of Jackson, Minn. Bro. R. W. Johnson, agent Taylor, trans- ferred to Maplewood agency, relieved by Waller, Sturgeon Bay. Bro. E. L. Wulf, agent Maplewood, trans- ferred to Sawyer agency, vice Bro. A. Rei- singer, transferred to Sturgeon Bay agency, vice A. L. Rozelle, resigned to engage in other business. Mr. Shappie, an old-timer, agent Dodge, resigned, relieved by a new man. Bro. L. P. Curran, Winona, and Bra Geo. Reislnger, H lx ton, were recently called to Winona for a few days on a lawsuit P. Curran, agent Stevens Point, trans- ferred to LaCrosse agency, relieved by a man from the St P. H. B. Laferer, agent LaCrosse, appointed relief agent Second . Trick Dispatcher Erbe was off a few days, receiving treatment at a hos- pital. With the new Government increase of wages this division should be 100 per cent Boys, let’s get busy. "No card , no favors” Any news items from the west end would be greatly appreciated. Dxv. Cor. Trinity & B. V. Ry., Div. No. 144. Before the war we thought we had a good schedule. Compared with other roads we have, but the high cost of everything makes our salaries insufficient for the bare neces- sities. That is an actual fact with many of us. Our worthy president has our thanks for his efforts before the Wage Commission in our behalf. I earnestly request that each reader of this Journal solicit the membership of the “Line Repairer” Taken as a whole, you will find him first-class. He needs more salary than the average operator, because he is on the road much of the time. Study his case and see if you do not find his place rather Important "Consolidation” on this road means elimi- nating all but one depot in any one town — a very convenient arrangement for the travel- ing public but rather inconvenient to the men eliminated. There are twelve stations on this road subject to such a change. Con- solidation of three has already been or- dered. Reagor Springs closed. Bra Cotton goes to Covington, vice B. L. Harris to same po- sition at Kirven, vice Bro. Hardle, resigned. We wish him success with the oil com- pany. Mrs. J. A. Newsome, wife of Bro. New- some at Shlro, relieved Leach at Louette a few days. On our seniority list of forty-three Mrs. Newsome is the third woman on this list When Cleburne station was consolidated with the Santa Fe It left Agent Conner and Bro. T. R. Deen, cashier, without Jobs. Bro. J. A. Boyd, Navarro, on the sick list was relieved by Watson from Teague freight oflace. Cbrt. 88. A., B. & Atlantic Ry., Div. No. 146. Birmingham Division — The campaign for the Third Liberty Loan among the boys was very successful, this di- vision making 100 per cent and the Bruns- wick Division "went over the top" alsa This is oertalnly a fine showing and one we should be proud of. Labor is behind the Govern- Digitized by taooole
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852 The Raii.ro ad Telegrapher. ment in this war, and it can be depended upon to do its part. “Z” office was recently consolidated with the A. & W. P. Ry. Mr. Cunningham is now assistant ticket agent, Mr. Davis going to A., B. & A. freight department, the A. A W. P. furnishing three men, who are without cards — a chance for some brother to do good work. Bro. Williams has been called to the col- ors and gone to Camp Sevier, S. C. We are sorry to give him up. The best wishes of all the boys go with him for a safe return to the dear old U. S. tA. If he makes as good a soldier as he does an agent-operator, “Uncle Sam” should be proud of him. “US” is a good brotherhood man and we are in need of his sort, but our “Uncle” has the fljst call on him. Fred Colvin, chief clerk “YD” office, recently called to the army, was an old telegrapher and an Order man. Bro. Aubrey is now on “SR,” and Flor- ence, a new man, on Cragford agency. It is now Bros. Handly, “W” nights, Bear- den at Erin, Hagler and Simms at “RK” and White at Manchester. Bro. Cofleld, on vacation, visited Texas, relieved by former Cashier-Operator Cole- man. Bro. Morgan visited “RK” between trains recently. Boys, if you want to see your division written up each month, you will have to send in some items. Remember, I am not making news, Just recording it, so come along with your contribution. “Jo,” Cert. 1189. Western Pacific R. R.f Div. No. 153. Eastern Division — I am very thankful to the brothers who gave me permission to sign their names to the night letter to President Perham, re- questing him to protest to the Wage Com- mission basing our increase on the 1915 pay rolls. We have done our “bit” by purchas- ing Liberty Bonds and the railroads will, up to January 1st, deduct a large percentage of our earnings to pay for them, and we figured on an ample increase in salary to take care of us while these deductions were to continue. Brothers, we had as well cancel all ar- rangements for vacations this summer. “Un- cle Sam” no doubt will call a large number to the colors this month, with probably another quota to follow. I will no doubt be called this suffimer. The brothers at Delle refuse to buy my “Noisy Remington Pump” and I have decided that PH let the Mrs. take care of it until I return (?). No brother should mix up with the W. U. while the C. T. U. A. is trying to organise the telegraphers and others employed by that corporation. I served awhile with those slave drivers and had my bond scratched by them. Sister Kelly, Sulphur nights, is on a month’s vacation with relatives in McGill, relieved by Mrs. DeBoise, later relieved by Miss Llppincott. A Red Cross dance In the warehouse at Jungo was well attended, receipts being ap- proximately 8400.00. Lunches put up were bid off as high as 815.00. Bro. Mac, at Delle, has made several trips to Tooele, offering his car to the Govern- ment. It was exempted owing to the up- keep. Norton and wife, agent and operator at Burmester, have resigned, relieved by Naylor and wife. Ex-Bro. Keller is at Deeth agency, pend- ing bulletin. Sister King of first, and Bro. Jackson of third Winnemucca, are laying off to be mar- ried. C. T. U. Bro. Ferre is relieving the former and Donahue the latter. Thanks to Bro. Ramsdell for the donation to help pay the charges on the night letter to Washington, D. C. ; also to Bro. Grauvogel for the notes sent me. Bro. Marshall has appointed Bro. Twyman local chairman, and he could not have made a better one. We should all do everything possible to assist him reduce the non list. Don’t forget the old slogan, “No card , no favors” to those who emphatically refuse to come in. Cert. 234. Western Division — Bro. E. C. Murray, on third Livermore pending bulletin, vice Ayres, who tried to stop a train with a case of 36 dozen eggs and made a success of it. There was an op who fancied That by working good and fast He’d get his truck across the track Before the train had passed. He’d miss the engine by an inch And make the train crew sore; There was an op who fancied this, But there won’t be any more. Bro. Murray relieved at Doyle by L. H. Newton ; Bro. E. C. McGinnis to second Keddie, vice Bro. N. E. Miller to Palermo agency ; G. L. Harlan, Eastern Division, to general office San FYancisco. Bro. B. B. Moots, Calneva, on vacation, re- lieved by N. E. Noonan; also Chief Barker. Sacramento, relieved by Dispatcher Cope, relieved by Moody from side table, relieved by Bro. C. W. Long from “YD” OrovUle. Lots of new men coming to the road, and a good share of them are nons. Keep right after them, brothers. A little hard work on them now will be paid for in future in dollars added to our salaries. Digitized by AaOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher 853 % General Chairman Breeding attended a meeting of Division 53 in San Francisco, Sunday, May 12th, and in a good rousing talk let them know that 153 is very much alive. H. B. Marshall, G. S. & T., Cert. 52. Florida East Coast Ry., Div. No. 160. Don’t be backward about sending in your news items. The installing of the through billing ar- rangement is making progress, but not with- out a little friction. Even the general of- fices are not clear on some points. So many forms have been changed on this line that books and other records do not match, and about the only dependable form is 843. We are working for the Government, and a guarantee to the railroads has been made, therefore we should be as economical as possible and develop our training in this line to its fullest extent. One prominent labor official has pointed out that some roads are more liberal than usual in the paying of overtime, claims on loss and damage, and the many little leaks in railroad management No doubt the Government will compare these expenses in due time, but by co-operation we can prevent the need of unnecessary ex- penses. It is obvious that the object is to show Government control a failure if such tactics are actually used. Those in favor of Government control or ownership can off- set this by increased earnings and decreased expenses. Excess baggage, baggage insur- ance, through tickets, careful weighing and classifying of freight are all good revenue producers and are not always as exact as they should be. The publishing of the volume of wage schedules is opportune. We can now see ourselves as others see us. Trainmaster Hall recently canvassed the division for the Liberty Loan drive and se- cured several subscriptions, but not as many as he would had the wage announcement been made. Another canvass was that made for ex- pressions from those who had authorized the O. R. T. to represent them before the board. The only regretable thing was that the office sending out the inquiry had pro- vided but two pages for signatures. Get an annual card now to match that Liberty Bond. Someone has said, “To be prosperous you must look prosperous.” Some suggestion for a freight-juggling “op.” Get that non next to you to join now and make it an annual. Now is the time to nm up our percentage to the limit. Bro. H. S. Lichty resigned Jupiter first and went to the Southern Pacific on account of better pay. Jupiter nights closed April 19th. Bros. R. W. Edwards and A. Kle- pinger to Stuart first and third, Bro. Ed- wards relieving Bro. C. J. Noble, called to the colors. Bro. G. C. Purcell, second Jupi- ter, returning to Canada. Bro. Teale, second Boynton, was off a few days on business to Alabama. Bro. T. J. Ferrell, third West Palm Beach, resigned, is now with A. C. L. Bro. C. H. Gatewood is relieving Bro. Robertson at Jensen. A. Y. Ranbr, Gen’l Chairman, Jupiter, Fla. O. W. Ry. and N. Co., Div. No. 161. Former Bros. F. E. and B. E. Norton, John Young and S. A. Monteith are now in the army, and former Bros. F. C. Zeilke, C. A. Barry and L. X. R. Gibson are in the navy. Several of our delinquents have gone to other roads; but there are still among us a tew delinquents and nons. Their names and addresses can be secured from your local chairman, and the members living close to them should give them no rest until they are all carrying an up-to-date card. As we recently lost six members by transfer to other divisions, this also helps to reduce our percentage somewhat. The brothers, therefore, should get busy and increase it again by getting in these slackers. Every man with any moral quality about him will admit that he is a burden that the rest of the membership has to carry. Get in all the members you can and hang to your co- operate agreepent. Keep up your member- ship and stick together. You must stand one for all and all for one. A co-operative move is being considered by the U. P., O. S. L. and the O. W. R. A N. committees, by electing a sub-committee of three to handle the affairs of the three divi- sions, this committee to be composed of the three general chairmen, one to be the gen- eral and one the assistant general chairman, and the other to be the general secretary and treasurer to handle the entire Union Pa- cific system for the period of the war, in order to economize. I earnestly hope that this proposition will be put in effect, not only during the war but as a permanent arrange- ment. Co-operation and more co-operation is the watchword of the day, and I sincerely hope to see this method being used, if I have the good fortune to return from the service of “Uncle Sam” in the navy. Fraternally yours, Wm. H. L. Davis, G. S. A T. Editor’s Note : — Bro. Davis, who enrolled on April 8th as an electrician in the navy, received his call on April 19th and left Pen- dleton, Ore., for Bremerton on April 23rd. Fourth Division Notes — Our new local chairman, H. W. Winkler, is going to make a live division of this. He Digitized by Tooele
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854 The Rahjcoad Telegrapher has only been here a short time, but has shown that he Is the man for the job. He was over the line recently, looking after the Liberty Loan Bonds and met several of the boys. We have only met a very few of the boys personally and don’t get much chance even to work "With you. Any time any of you are in town be sure to come in and tell us who you are and we will certainly be glad to meet you. Line up the student operators on the line as soon as eligible, as they will soon be hit- ting the ball as well as the best of us. Give them a chance to line up with us. We se- cured a few new members recently and have hopes for more soon. Don’t forget to try and line up the two ladies at Marengo. Mr. Tag- gart, the agent there, will do his best to show them the way, and if he goes back to telegraphing will also line up with us. Mr. Fults is on first there. Get after him. Socwell, second Wallace, bid in Hooper Jet., and Swart got Mica agency. Keep after them. I wish everyone on the line would send me a few notea Give the news of your sta- tion and then the others can see what we are doing. “R.,*’ Cert. 818. Gulf Coast Lines, Div. No. 166. Bro. L. A. Brown, agent Port Barre, has been called for military service, relieved by Reynolds, a new man. Hope he will make good and return safe. # Erwinvllle agency on bulletin. The agent there went to Kinder. Cashier Bro. Allen bid in second West Tard, but is relieving Bro. Black of first, on leave. Cert. 127. Chicago & Alton R. R., Div. No. 168. Southern Division — Brd. J. K. Cox. third Sherman tower, and Bro. J. A. Marland, Odell days, called to military service, relieved by extras, and Bro. H. McAvain, third Ridgley tower, relieved by Leverman Colburn. Bro. P. H. Cates went to Glenn, succeeded at Pontiac by Manskey from Washburn ; Bro. F. K. Smith, agent Sherman, to second Sloan, vice Dugger. Si Schinneer to Wil- liamsville agency, succeeded at Lawndale by W. C. Carpenter. Brakeman Nordine, flagging over road crossing, met a tragic death at Godfrey, 'May 16th, being run over by a string of oars. Bro. Phillips has returned to Lincoln ticket agency after three months’ leave, relieved by Bro. Baker, later relieved by relief agent. Bro. Young. Bros. Riley, Mason and Horron, at Atlanta, are very busy with their war gardens. 3econd Trick Dispatcher Denman has re- turned from vacation, during which he un- derwent a minor operation at Brokaw hos- pital, relieved by Fred Fenton. The C., P. & St L. will shortly move into our Alton passenger station, opening another trick there; also will consolidate at Spring- field, Wabash using our tracks and station. Girard telegraphers are to be moved to the tower just put in operation there. Bro. Cheer will take third. Sister Wilson, from second, going on extra list. General Chairman Gents has returned from Washington, D. C., after spending three weeks on the express committee. All express companies are to be consolidated during the war. W. S. Carter, Director General of Labor, promised the committee a board of investigation, such as appointed for the rail- roads, to consider increased express compen- sation. A committee was also appointed to look into the matter of greater commissions from the telegraph companies. This matter being laid before Investigators Taft and Walsh. Don’t pigeonhole the information blanks covering express and Western Union situ- ations mailed you, but fill them out and return them promptly to your general chair- man for further use in Washington. Bro. W. W. Mehrhoff, third Murrayville, was caught in the draft and left for Missis- sippi May 28. Bro. J. S. Whitson, “XD” Bloomington, re- lieved by Poindexter, visited home folks “down in -old Kalntuck’’ before joining the colors. Bro. R. W. L. Sleeter, “B” Bloom- ington, is on vacation. You lads and ladies who expect a write-up in the Journal 'each month should let us know what’s going on. Telegraphers at junction points working in different direc- tions should get a notebook and jot down the “doin’s” and mail them in about the 20th so they can be compiled and sent to St. Louis before the 25th. You fellows work- ing with nons, get them to sign up and help us make 168 a solid 100 per cent division. Give good service and keep your membership paid up. Advise the general secretary if you are called to military service, and the amount of your insurance. A special sub- scription was taken at the Bloomington meeting to pay the dues of members called to the colors. Don't overlook this important matter and remit your fifty cents to General Treasurer Riley at once. Buy a Liberty Bond and Thrift Stamps. Give generously to the Red Cross, and keep after that non in your office. Riley, Mason and Younq. CARD OF THANKS. I want to express my sincere thanks to the members of C. & A. Division 188 for their kindly remembrances and expressions Digitized by tjOOQie
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The Railroad Telegrapher 855 of Onpathj in my recent bereavement Words can not express my gratitude. Fraternally, W. R. Endicott, Cert 50. Springfield. 111. Oregon Short Line Ry., Dlv. No. 172. Utah DivMm— Bra Klnnalrd Is now engaged In the farm- ing business. It is now Miss. Murphy at Downey on third, but promises to be a full fledged sister on the next homing payday. Bro. L. B. Rosa; who volunteered at a patriotic meeting April 27th, wishes us to see that he gets his Telegrapher regularly, as he Intends to keep up to date. This division had a representative at Bro. Swendsen’B funeral to take care of the floral offering given by the boys. R. P. L., Div. Cor. “8A” Relay, Salt Lake — Bro. White's wife is East for a month. Bro. Wentworth, third trick chief, don't allow any of the issues of the Liberty Loan Bonds to get by him. Every mhn lp “SA” took one or more of the third series. Bro. J. EL McCarty spent a few days lately on his homestead getting things in shape to cultivate some of his land. “CA* Relay — Chief Operate/ Roach has returned after three weeks* sojourn East It is now Bra A. D. Peek, making this office solid with the exception of one whom we will Boon have In line. T. A. McMillan is the new man in "PO" yard office. Bro. R. T. Petty is now branch dispatcher on the Montana Division. A. D. Clark, on the sick list several months, is working half a trick until he gets stronger. South End — Bra Broad stone, from Weston, relieved Bra Belt agent Arimo, ten days on account of sickness, who later left on a trip East. R. P. L. Local Chairman, Cert. 206. Mo. A No. Ark. R. R„ Div. No. 182. Another new member — S. B. East, agent Leslla We are after the few nons left. Bro. W. D. Kendall has gone with the W. U. Bra McGaughey is at Moro, W. T. Can- trell at Georgetown, and Bro. I. Kendall at “GM." Bro. Shillings, called to military service, relieved by W. E. Burgess, a new man, at Gilbert The berry movement has just started, and wire out in at Aroma. Mr. Nesbitt, a new man from the "Mountain" is handling the business there. Send me some notes, and let's have a write-up each month. Cert. 24. Ga., Fla. A Ala. Ry., Div. No. 186. The Georgia, Florida & Alabama agents and operators organized in February and elected J. W. Keene, local chairman; J. F. Stephens, secretary and treasurer, and H. B. Hixon as the other member of the committee, and were granted a conference with the gen- eral manager on March 10th. We had just about reached a satisfactory agreement with him when the Director General's circular was received stating that general managers could not sign any more working agreements with employes. The matter was then turned over to President Perham to be handled with the commission in Washington for a final settle- ment. Brothers, we must not get impatient, as it will take time to get our case through on account of the enormous amount of business already before the commission and we will get our just dues just -a s soon as our case is reached. Bro. J. R. Richards, agent at Edison, Ga., sick several days with lagrlppe, was relieved by Car Accountant R. R. Williams from the general office on account of the shortage of men. Bro. H. A. Tatum, operator Richland, Ga., was off recently for a few days on a trip to Savannah. Bro. Rawls from the C. of G. at Arlington, Ga., goes to Quincy agency. We hope he will stay with us. We are glad to see new men come on the road with up-to-date cards. J. J. Bishop, from the W. U., is now clerk operator at Bainbridge. Some one there or near there line him up. Bro. W. W. Booth, agent Carrabelle on the Gulf, says "the fish" must be on a strike, as he cannot catch any. The members now in good standing are : H. A. Tatum, J. W. Keene, J. H. Swann, W. A. McDowell, A. M. Blanton, R. J. Rich- ards, W. W. Perry, W. H. Grimes, H. B. Hixon, G. E. Robinson, W. H. Alsabrook, S. A. Gallaway, Mrs. W. T. Sapp, J. F. Ste- phens, W. M. Williams. C. P. Whidden, E. M. Perry, R. L. Howell, W. A. Maxwell, W. W. Booth, E. M. Connor, W. R. Hayes. Now, brothers, you can see who are still out. Get after them and let's get solid. "SI." Cert 15. CARD OF THANKS. Officers and Members of The Hoosier O. R. T. Club: Dear Brothers : Please accept our thanks for the beautiful floral piece furnished on account of the death of my mother. A. C. Clouds and Family, Indianapolis, Ind. Digitized by v^oooLe
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856 The Railroad Telegrapher. Index to Division Directory Name of Division. No. , Addison, N. Y 108 Annapolis Royal, N. S 114 Ann Arbor Ry . 164 Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe Ry 128 Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic Ry 146 Atlantic Coast Line R. R 15 Baltimore & Ohio Ry 33 Baltimore A Ohio— Chicago Terminal... 83 Bangor & Aroostook Ry 88 Bessemer & Lake Brie Ry 51 Boston A Maine R. R 41 Boston, Mass 89 Boston, Mass 156 Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh Ry 92 Canadian Government Rys 11 Canadian Northern Ry 43 Canadian Pacific Ry 7 Carolina, Cllnchfleld & Ohio Ry. 176 Central of Georgia Ry 46 Central R. R. of New Jersey 45 Central Vermont Ry 171 Chesapeake & Ohio Ry 40 Chicago & Alton Ry 168 Chicago & Eastern Illinois Ry 34 Chicago & Northwestern Ry 76 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Ry 130 Chicago Great Western Ry 96 Chicago, 111 91 Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Ry. . . 9 Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Ry 23 Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Ry 126 -Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Omaha Ry 4 Chicago, Terre Haute & Southeastern Ry. 180 Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western Ry. 21 Cleveland. Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Ry 8 Cobalt. Ont 99 Colorado Midland Ry 81 Danville & Western Ry 59 Delaware A Hudson Ry 12 Denver A Rio Grande Ry 49 Denver, Colo 77 Detroit. Toledo & Ironton Ry 48 Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Ry 116 El Paso & Southwestern Ry 137 Erie Ry 42 Florida East Coast Ry 160 Fort Worth & Denver City Ry 146 Georgia Ry 60 Georgia & Florida Ry 167 Georgia, Florida & Alabama Ry 185 Georgia Southern A Florida Ry 56 Glace Bay, N. S 133 Grand Rapids & Indiana Ry 36 Grand Trunk Ry 1 Grand Trunk Pacific Ry 1 Great Northern Ry 70 Green Bay & Western Ry 142 Gulf Coast Lines *.. 166 Gulf, Mobile & Northern Ry 80 Hamilton, Ont 155 Hocking Valley Ry 40 Illinois Central Ry 93 International & Great Northern Ry 25 Kanawha & Michigan Ry 118 Kansas City Southern Ry 5 Kansas City, Mexico A Orient Ry 163 Kentucky & Indiana Terminal R. R 181 Lake Erie & Western Ry 120 Lehigh Valley Ry 124 Los Angeles & Salt Lake R. R Ill Louisville & Nashville R. R 68 Maine Central Ry 140 Name of Division. No. Michigan Central Ry 16 Minneapolis & St. Louis Ry 71 Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste Marie Ry 119 Missouri & North Arkansas R. R 182 Missouri, Kansas & Texas Ry 22 Missouri, Oklahoma A Gulf Ry 174 Missouri Pacific Ry 31 Mobile & Ohio Ry 24 Nashville, Chattanooga A St Louis Ry. . 67 New Haven, Conn 29 New Orleans Great Northern R. R 179 New Rochelle, N. Y 37 New York Central Ry 3 New York Central Ry. West 19 New York, Chicago A St Louis Ry 18 New York, N. Y 44 New York, Ontario & Western Ry 20 Norfolk Southern Ry 147 Norfolk & Western Ry 14 Northern Alabama Ry 69 Northern Pacific Ry 54 Northwestern Pacific Ry 166 Oregon Short Line 172 Oregon-Washington Ry. A Navigation Co 161 Panama Ry 168 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines east of Pitts- burg and Erie) . „ 17 Pennsylvania Ry. (Lines west of Pitts-' burg) 36 Pere Marquette Ry 39 Philadelphia A Reading Ry 10 Pittsburg, Pa 52 Providence, R. 1 36 Quebec, Que 115 Queen A Crescent Route (North) 62 Queen A Crescent Route ( South ) 69 Richmond, Fredericksburg* & Potomac Ry 125 Rutland Ry 157 St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Ry. 31 St. Louis, Mo 2 St. Louis-San Francisco Ry 32 St. Louis, San Francisco & Texas Ry. . . 177 St Louis Southwestern Ry 27 San Antonio & Aransas Pass Ry 141 Seabord Air Line Ry 28 Southern Ry 59 Southern Ry. in Mississippi 24 Southern Pacific Ry 68 Springfield, Mass 38 Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry 184 Temiskaming A Northern Ontario Ry . . . 99 Tennessee Central Railroad 178 Terminal R. R. Association of St Louis. 47 Texas & Pacific Ry 88 Toledo & Ohio Central Ry 173 Tring Junction, Que 131 Trinity & Brazos Valley Ry 144 Ulster & Delaware Ry 113 Union Pacific Ry Virginia, Minn 127 Virginia Ry 13 Wabash Ry 26 Wabash, Pittsburgh Terminal Ry 36 Washington, D. C 60 Western Maryland Ry 82 Western Pacific Ry 158 West Side Belt Ry 55 Wheeling & Lake Brie Ry 55 Yasoo & Mississippi Valley Ry 93 Zanesville A Western Ry 178 Digitized by Goc ^le
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CRAND DIVISION Mutual Benefit Department Assessment No. 142 is due July 1, 1918 Time for payment expires August 31, 1918 AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENTS. On ? 300.00 (Series A) $2.40 per yeaf On 500.00 (Series B) 3.60 per year On 1,000.00 (Series C) 7.20 per year BENEFITS PAID DURING MAY, 1918. Claim Cert. No. Name. Cause. Div. No. Series. Amt. 2313.. G. E. Bartlett Tuberculosis 93. .14933. .A. .$ 300.00 2319.. W. C. Bannerman Tuberculosis of Lungs 54.. 20496 2320.. Porter W. Martin Dementia 33.. i 23 2324.. Arthur V. Raley Pulmonary Tuberculosis 53.. 28253 2325. .Clarence E. Duden Arterio Sclerosis 53.. 1797 2326.. D. N. Robertson Cancer 11.. 7635.. A.. 2327.. Walter B. Tartt Bronchitis 130. .41964. .A. 2328 . . Harry Turnlund LaGrippe 119 . . 32228 . . C . 2329.. Edw. Meyers .....Lobar Pneumonia 130. .35200. .B. 2330 . . John Atkinson Arterio Sclerosis 7 . . 15163 . . A . 2331.. James H. Brown Acute Dilatation of Heart 8.. 38618.. A. 2332. .Green W. Avera Heart Trouble 46. .40814. .A. 2333 . . A. B. Williams Stomatitis 5 . . 35043 . .A. 2334.. Chas. B. Smith Diabetes 43. .27400. .B. 2335.. John E. Gordon Acute Bright’s Disease 7.. 9144.. B. 2336 . . John E. McHugh Arterio Sclerosis 130 . . 40702 . .A. 2337.. Edw. J. Powers Toxemia and Exhaustion 8.. 48779.. A. 2339.. Elmer A. Fuller Acute Pulmonary Edema 41. .16251. .A. .C.. 1,000.00 .B.. 500.00 .C.\ 1,000.00 .C.. 1,000.00 300.00 300.00 1,000.00 500.00 300.00 300.00 300.00 300.00 500.00 500.00 300.00 300.00 300.00 Total 9,000.00 FINANCIAL STATEMENT— MORTUARY FUND. Receipts. Received on Assessments to April 30, 1918 $2,082,396.09 Received on Assessments May, 1918 2,032.29 Total $2,084,428.38 Disbursements. Death Claims paid to April 30, 1918 $1,436,977.47 Death Claims paid May, 1918 9,000.00 Assessments refunded account rejected applications 2,399.34 Assessments transferred to dues 343.53 Cash on hand credit Mortuary Fund, May 31, 1918 635,708.04 Total .$2,084,428.38 C. B. RAWLINS, Secretary and Treasurer, Mutual Benefit Department Digitized by Google
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858 The Railroad Telegrapher. Official Directory General Offices, St. Louis, Mo. GRAND OFFICERS. H. B. PBRHAM President C. B. RAWLINS St. Louis, Mo. Grand Secretary and Treasurer w' T' Zuu -.o;; *• - G. D. ROBERTSON Third Vice-President J. J. DERMODY Fourth Vice-President R. R. 3, Welland, Ont., Can. 970 Kirbert ave., Price Hill, Cincinnati, O. E. J. M ANION Fifth Vice-President Room 814, Star Bldg., St. Louis, Mo. BOARD OF DIRECTOR& J. F. Miller, Chairman, 2916 Huntingdon ave., Baltimore, Md. B. E. Nason, Secretary, North Branch, Minn. Geo. O. Forbes, Sydney, N. S. G. E. Soys ter, Room 309, Drezel Bank Bldg., 763 Oak wood blvd., Chicago, 111. H. G. Alexander, 122 Tate st, Greensboro. N. C. ADVERTISING. All correspondence pertaining to advertising should be addressed to The W. N. Gates Co., Managers Advertising, Garfield Building, Cleveland, Ohio. Division Directory GRAND DIVISION — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or territory. H. B. Perham, President, St. Louis, Mo. ; C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secre- tary and Treasurer, St. Louis, Mo. Nb- 1 — Division covers the Grand Trunk and Grand Trunk Pacific Rys. Meets sub- ject to call of Chairman. L. M. Eddy, Gen’l Chairman, Grand Trunk Ry., Marcel- lus, Mich. ; M. R. Brewer, Gen’l Chairman, Grand Trunk Pacific Ry., Atwater, Sask. ; D. L. Shaw, Gen’l S. & T., 867 Waterloo st., London, Ont. No. 2, ST. LOUIS. MO. — Meets 8d Monday of each month at 8 p. m.. Small hall south side, third floor. Masonic Temple (Odeon bldg.). Grand and Finney aves., St Louis, Mo. ; L. W. Quick, Chief Telegrapher, 8th floor Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. ; R. J. McElhinney, S. ft T., 4110a Arsenal st., St . Louis, Mo. No. 3 — Division covers C., C. C. & St. Louis Railway System. I. E. Schlosser, Gen’l Chairman, 1019 South Third st, Pekin, 111. ; Geo. Lavengood, Gen’l S. ft T., 404 Monroe st., Alexandria, Ind. System meeting held at Spencer Hotel, Indianap- olis, Ind., subject to call of the Gen’l Chairman. No. 4 — Division covers the C., St P., M. & O. Ry. W. J. Liddane, Gen’l Chairman, 1687 Berkley ave., St. Paul, Minn. ; D. O. Tenney, Gen’l S. & T., 920 Range st., Mankato, Minn. No. 6 — Division covers the Kansas City Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. C. Ocheltree, Gen’l Chairman, Siloam Springs, Ark. ; J. D. Townsend, Sr., Gen’l S. ft T., Heave- ner, Okla. No. 6 — Division covers the Union Pacific Railroad. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. E. L. Stump, Gen’l Chairman, 433 Keeline bldg., Omaha, Neb. ; John H. Hughey, Jr., Gen’l S. & T., Box 294, Junc- tion City, Kan. No. 7 — Division covers the Canadian Pacific Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. J. M. Mein, Gen’l Chairman, 41 Noble ave., Elmwood, Winnipeg, Man. ; A. E. Cha&man, Chairman Eastern Lines, 266 Piccadilly st, London, Ont ; D. Mc- Pherson, Chairman Western Lines, 104 Devenish apts., Calgary, Alta. ; R. C. Wil- ton, Gen’l S. ft T., Kenora, Ont No. 8 — Division covers the New York Cen- tral Ry. H. B. Morey, Gen’l Chairman, 1630 Neilson st., Utica, N. Y. ; A. E. Blim, Gen’l S. ft T., Chili Station, N. Y. No. 9 — Division covers the C. I. & L. Ry. J. E. Hollon, Gen’l Chairman, 2816 Cor- nell ave., Indianapolis, Ind. ; M. T. Parks, Gen’l S. & T., Box 2, Balnbridge, Ind. No. 10 — Division covers the Philadelphia ft Reading Ry. C. B. Rawlins,' Acting Gen’l S. ft T.. St. Louis, Mo. No. 11 — Division covers the Canadian Gov- ernment Rys. J. J. Tralnor, Gen’l Chair- man, care of P. E. I. Ry., Charlottetown, P. E. L. ; Wm. Parsons, Gen’l S. ft T., Drawer 201, Drummondvilie, Quebec. No. 12 — Division covers the Delaware ft Hudson Ry. System, Quebec, Montreal ft Southern and Napierville Junction Rys. Meetings subject to call of Chairman. G. A. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Room 21, Digitized by Google
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The Railroad Telegrapher. 859 Stanwix Hall, Albany, N. T. ; Jos. Per- rault, Chairman Canadian Lines, Iber- ville Jet., Que.; O. C. Benjamin, Gen’l S. & T., Dresden Station, N. Y. No. 13 — Division covers Virginian Ry. H. W. Hix, Gen’l Chairman, Box 18, Salem, Va. ; J. E. Goodwin, Gen’l S. & T., Box 24, Eggleston, Va. No. 14 — Division covers the Norfolk & West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. B. Lane, Gen'l Chairman, Crewe, Va. ; J. L. George, Gen’l S. & T., Box 402, Roanoke, Va. No. 15 — Division covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. B. F. Wheeler, Gen’l Chair- man, Oviedo, Fla. ; J. H. Williams, Gen’l S. & T., Wilson, N. C. No. 16 — Division covers the Michigan Cen- tral Railroad. Meets subject to cajl of Gen’l Chairman. D. N. Smith, Gen'l Chair- man, 606 E. Ann st., Ann Arbor, Mich. ; J. H. Staley, Gen’l S. & T., Box 922, Welland, Ont. No. 17 — Division covers Pennsylvania Rail- road Lines east of Pittsburg and Erie. J. F. Miller, Gen’l Chairman, 2916 Hunting- don ave., Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Skinner, Gen’l S. & T., 115 S. Potomac st., Balti- more, Md. No. 18 — Division covers the New York, Chi- cago & St. Louis Railroad System. F. F. Cowley, Gen’l Chairman, 519 W. Lincoln st., Findlay, Ohio; E. E. Ensley, Acting G. S. & T., South Whitley, Ind. No. 19 — Division covers New York Central Railroad West. G. E. Kipp, Gen’l Chair- man, Blasdell, N. Y. ; G. R. Smith, As- sistant Gen’l Chairman, Rockwood, Mich. ; E. D. Graham, Gen’l S. & T., Mishawaka, Ind. No. 20 — Division covers the New York, On- tario & Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. L. R. Conner, Gen’l Chairman. Cottekill, N. Y. ; H. D. Pfoor, Gen’l S. & T., P. O. Box 28. Jer- myn. Pa. No. 21 — Division covers the Cincinnati, In- dianapolis & Western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. J. H. Carter, Gen’l Chairman, Marshall, Ind. ; W. E. Cum- mins, Acting G. S. & T., Hume, 111. No. 22 — Division covers Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway System. G. H. Beck, Gen’l Chairman, 522 Jefferson st., St. Charles, Mo. ; R. C. Jackson, Gen’l S. & T., 818 East Ave. B, Temple, Tex. No. 23 — Division covers the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railway, Bellingham & Northern Railway, Big Blackfoot Rail- way, Gallatin Valley Railway, Puget Sound & Willapa Harbor Railway, Seattle, Port Angeles & Western Railway and Ta- coma-Eastern Railroad. G. E. Soyster, Gen’l Chairman, Room 309, Drexel Bank bldg., 765 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. ; Ed. R. Derrickson, Gen’l S. & T., Room 309, Drexel bldg., 765 Oakwood blvd., Chicago, 111. No. 24 — Division covers the M. & O. and Southern Ry. in Mississippi. L. T. Mur- daugh, Gen’l Chairman, 513 N. Royal st., Jackson, Tenn. ; C. E. Hendley, Gen’l S. & T., Artesia, Miss. No. 25 — Division covers the International & Great Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. C. Berry, Gen’l Chairman, 2802 South Presa st.. San Antonio, Tex. ; D. D. Hungate, Gen’l S. & T., Jewett, Tex. No. 26 — Division covers the Wabash Ry. O. C. Nash, Gen’l Chairman, Carpenter, 111. ; M. E. Fohey, Gen’l S. & T., 450 Crane ave., Detroit, Mich. No. 27 — Division covers St. Louis South- western Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. C. Frizleele, Gen’l Chair- man, Bearden, Ark.; C. B. Welch, Gen’l S. & T., St. Francis, Ark. No. 28 — Division covers the Seaboard Air Line Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. May, Gen’l Chair- man, Carlton, Ga. ; F. O. Cumming, Gen’l S. & T., 15 Dinwiddle st., Portsmouth. Va. No. 29, NEW HAVEN, CONN.— Meets 1st Friday of each month at 8 p. m., and 3d Tuesday of each month at 10 a. m., in Red Men’s Hall, 48 Church st., cor. Crown. New Haven, Conn. O. S. Culver, Chief Tel., 170 Grafton st.. New Haven, Conn. ; G. F. McCormack, S. & T., 95 Main st., West Haven, Conn. No. 31 — Division covers the Missouri Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Mohler, Gen’l Chairman, Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. ; N. S. Morgan, Gen’l S. & T., Room 812, Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 32 — Division covers the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. G. Kelso, Gen’l Chairman, 519 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. ; M. T. Fuilington, Gen’l S. & T., 619 Woodruff bldg., Springfield, Mo. No. 33 — Division covers the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. Yaeger, Gen’l Chairman, 2227 West Liberty ave., Pitts- burg, Pa. ; B. C. Lewis, Ass’t Gen'l Chair- man, Williamstown, W. Va. ; E. A. Shaf- fer, Gen’l S. & T., Oakland, Md. No. 34 — Division covers the Chicago & East- ern Illinois Railway System. Meets sub- ject to the call of Chairman. H. H. Skiles, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. No. 5, Evansville, Ind. ; O. A. Hixon, Gen’l S. & T. , 606 Jewel st., Danville, 111. No. 35, PROVIDENCE, R. I.— Meets 3d Sat- urday of each month in Swarts Lodge, Odd Fellows’ Hall, 96 Westminster st., Providence, R. I. A. H. Haddock, Chief Digitized by o.ooQle
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860 The Railroad Telegrapher, Tel., Ill Narragansett st., Edgewood, Cranston, R. I. ; D. M. Call is, S. & T., Touisset, Mass. No. 36 — Division covers the Pennsylvania Lines west of Pittsburg. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 37, NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y.— Meets 2d Friday of each month, 7 :30 p. m.f in Metropolitan Hall on North ave., near Hugenut st.. New Rochelle, N. Y. Geo. E. Woods, Chief Tel., 69 Vernon ave.. Long Island City, N. Y. ; B. E. S. Seaman, S. & T., 1143 Longfellow ave., New York, N. Y. No. 38, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.— Meets 3d Saturday each month 7 p. m., in Harmony Hall, Myrick bldg., Worthington st., Springfield, Mass. Frank P. Sargent, Chief Tel., 36 Colton ave., Merrick, Mass. ; M. J. Walsh, S. A T., 16 Moseley ave., Mer- rick, Mass. No. 39 — Division covers the Pere Marquette Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. M. Burr, Gen’l Chair- man, Central Lake, Mich. ; C. P. Neff, Gen'l S. & T., Lock Box 334, Lowell, Mich. No. 40 — Division covers the Chesapeake & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio of Indiana and the Hocking Valley Rys. L. E. Hicks, Gen’l Chairman, Craigsville, Va. ; J. W. Kiser, Gen’l S. & T., Box 792, Hunting- ton, W. Va. No. 41 — Division covers Boston & Maine R. R. Meetings subject to call of Gen’l Chair- man or Local Chairman. J. B. Bode, Gen’l Chairman, 50 .Tudor st., Chelsa, Mass.; L. P. Clifton, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, 41 Morton st., Waltham, Mass. ; H. L. Jones, Gen’l S. A T., R. F. D. No. 37, Fremont, N. H. No. 42 — Division covers the Erie Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. E. J. Hesser, Gen’l Chairman, 364 Wallace place, Elmira, N. Y. ; C. L. Bridge, Gen’l S. & T., 21 Allen st.. Deposit, N. Y. No. 43 — Division covers Canadian Northern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Louis F. Muncey, Gen’l Chair- man, 27 St. James place, Winnipeg, Man. ; A. Chard, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Fort Sas- katchewan, Alta. ; G. H. Palmer, Gen’l S. & T., Dauphin, Man. No. 44, NEW YORK, N. Y.— Meets 2d Satur- day each month at 8 p. m., in Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. J. S. Thuma, Chief Tel., 26 Franklin st., Jamaica, N. Y. ; L. Meringer, S. & T., 1244 Chestnut st., Richmond Hill, N. Y. No. 45 — Division covers Central R. R. of New Jersey. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 46 — Divisions covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Livsey, Gen’l Chairman, East Point, Ga. ; O. S. Travis Gen’l S. & T., 490 Lee st., Route 127, Atlanta, Ga. No. 47 — Division covers Terminal R. R. Assn, of St. Louis. J. F. Seifert, Gen’l Chair- man, 4043 Wyoming st., St. Louis, Mo. ; W. B. Richardson, Gen’l S. & T., 823 North 18th st., St. Louis, Mo. No. 48 — Division covers the Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railway. Meets subject to call of Chairman. R. L. Palmer, Gen’l Chair- man, 95 W. Main st., Jackson, Ohio; E>. R. Murray, Gen’l S. & T., Good Hope, Ohio. No. 49 — Division covers the Denver & Rio Grande Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. J. Fultori, Gen'l Chairman, 112 E. 11th st., Leadville, Colo. ; J. C. Brannan, Gen’l S. & T., 1014 S. Union ave., Pueblo, Colo. No. 50 — Division covers the Georgia Ry. R. B. Morgan, Gen’l Chairman, Dearing, Ga. ; J. P. Luckey, Gen’l S. & T., Dearing, Ga. No. 51 — Division covers Bessemer & Lake Erie Railway System. Meets the 4 th Thursday of each month in Eagle’s Hall, Greenville, Pa. C. M. Miller, Gen’l Chair- man, 11 First ave., Greenville, Pa. ; E. E. Keane, Gen’l S. & T., Box 103, Green- ville, Pa. • No. 52, PITTSBURG, PA.— Meets Saturday, June 15th, 1918, and each alternating Sat- urday thereafter at 6 :30 p. m., 231-233 Fifth ave., 3d floor, Roberts bldg., Pitts- burg, Pa. Ward O’Neill, Chief Tel., 1903 Fifth ave., Beaver Falls, Pa. ; R. W. Bees, S. & T., 1417 Huron ave., New Castle, Pa. No. 53 — Division covers Southern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. T. T. Cull, Gen’l Chairman, 303-305 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal. ; A. E. Laisure, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, 622 Euclid £tve., Houston, Tex. ; A. M. Ham- mond, Gen’l S. & T., 303-305 Pacific bldg., San Francisco, Cal. No. 54 — Division covers the Northern Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. Sam Johnson, Gen’l Chair- man, North Branch, Minn. ; B. E. Nason, Gen’l S. & T., North Brancli, Minn. No. 55 — Division covers the Wheeling & Lake Erie and Wabash Pittsburg Termi- nal and West Side Belt Rys. Meets 3d Saturday evening of each month at Har- mon, Ohio. J. O. Peoples, Gen’l Chair- man, Bolivar, Ohio ; C. E. Baltzer, Gen’l S. & T., Box 246, Navarre, Ohio. No. 56 — Division covers Georgia Southern & Florida Railway System. G. L. Siebert^ Gen’l Chairman, Valdosta, Ga. ; F. H. Cason, Gen'l S. & T., Lake City, Fla. No. 57 — Division covers Nashville, Chatta- nooga & St. Louis Ry. J. M. Hamilton, Gen’l Chairman, Kingston Springs, Tenn. ; Digitized by tjooole
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The Raiijioad Telegrapher. 861 T. J. Hale, Gen’l S. ft T„ 11 Aberdeen Apts., Nashville, Tenn. No. 58 — Division covers Louisville ft Nash- ville R. R. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., Star bldg., St Louis, Mo. No. 59 — Division covers the Southern, North- ern Alabama and Danville ft Western Railroads. Meets subject to call of Chair- man. H. G. Alexander, Gen’l Chairihan, 122 Tate st, Greensboro, N. C. ; J. W. Bur- gess, Gen’l S. ft T., 223 Ninth st., S. W., Charlottesville, Va. No. 60, WASHINGTON, D. C.— Meets 2d Wednesday of each month at 8 p. m., at 811 E st., N. W., Washington, D. C. J. E. Blades, Chief Tel., 1529 East Capitol st, Washington, D. C. ; J. Webb Richman, S. ft T., 1424 W st., N. W., Washington, D. C. No. 62 — Division covers the Queen ft Crescent Route (North). J. W. Ander- son, Gen’l Chairman, Oakdale, Tenn. ; L. C. Higdon, Gen’l S. ft T.f Battelle, Ala. No. 69 — Division covers the Queen ft Cres- cent Route (South). Meets subject to call of Chairman. H. O. Peavey, Gen’l Chairman, Meehan Jet., Miss. ; E. G. Matthews. Gen'l S. ft T., 125 Minerva st., Jackson, Miss. No. 70 — Division covers Great Northern Railway System. O. P. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Box 43, Gold Bar, Wash.; A. O. Olsen, Box 328, Breckenridge, Minn. No. 71 — Division covers the Minneapolis ft St. Louis Ry. A. L. Gardner, Gen’l Chair- man, Steamboat Rock, Iowa ; J. C. Sand- mier, Gen’l S. & T., Waukee, Iowa. No. 76 — Division covers the Chicago ft North Western Railroad System. Meets subject to call of General or Local Chairman. E. J. Thomas, Gen’l Chairman, Suite 547-548 Webster bldg., 327 S. LaSalle st., Chicago, 111. ; R. B. Boyington, Gen’l S. ft T., Room 511, Webster bldg., 327 S. LaSalle st, Chi- cago, 111. No. 77, DENVER, COLO.— -Meets 1st Mon- day evening in each month at Markham Hotel, Denver, Colo. C. S. Guernsey, Chief Tel., Apt. 16, 2018 Calif, st., Den- ver, Colo. ; P. Eppelsheimer, S. ft T., 2341 King st., Denver, Colo. No. 80 — Division covers the Gulf, Mobile ft Northern Ry. T. R. Craig, Gen’l Chair- man, Falkner, Miss. ; H. C. Hughes, Gen’l S. ft T., New Augusta, Miss. No. 81 — Division covers Colorado Midland Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. E. Crispell, Gen’l Chair- man, Arkansas Jet., Colo. ; J. F. Jones, Gen’l S. ft T., Carbondale, Colo. No. 82 — Division covers Western Maryland Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. K. H. Stover, Gen’l Chairman, Beryl, W. Va. ; D. O. Martin, Gen’l S. & T., Hampstead, Md. No. 83 — Division covers the Bangor ft Aroostook Railroad System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. A. M. McNair, Gen’l Chairman, East Dover, Me. ; J. L. Robbins, Gen’l S. & T., Grindstone, Me. No. 88 — Division covers the Texas & Pacific Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Chairman. J. P. Abney, Gen’l Chair- man, Longview, Tex. ; R. E. Cecil, Gen’l S. ft T., Opelousas, La. No. 89, BOSTON. MASS.— Meets 1st Satur- day each month at 8 p. m., in Pilgrim Hall, also 3d Saturday each month at 10 a. m. (daylight meeting). In Pilgrim Hall, 694 Washington st., Boston, Mass. W. L. Enos, Chief Tel., Box 382, Cohasset, '‘Mass.; J. H. McDermott, S. ft T., 46 Crocker st., Mansfield, Mass. No. 91, CHICAGO, ILL.— Meets 1st Satur- day of each month at 8 :15 p. m.. in Hall 912, Masonic Temple, cor. Randolph and State sts., Chicago, 111. Gardner Dal Jones, Chief Tel., 4821 Pensacola ave., Chicago, 111. ; W. E. Carter, S. ft T., 6532 Broadway, Chicago, 111. No. 92 — Division covers the Buffalo, Roches- ter ft Pittsburg Railway System. Meets subject to the call of Chairman. M. P. Burke, Gen’l Chairman, Falls Creek, Pa. ; G. H. Miller, Acting Gen’l S. ft T., 1000 East Mahoning st., Punxsutawney, Pa. No. 93 — Division covers the Illinois Central Railroad and the Yazoo & Mississippi Val- ley Railroad. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. A. Mulhall, Gen’l Chair- man, Clarkson, Ky. ; L. M. Elliott, Gen’l Chairman, Y. ft M. V. Lines, Rolling Forks, Miss. ; G. E. Chance, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mounds, 111. ; R. L. Shannon, Gen’l S. ft T., Anna, 111. No. 96 — Division covers Chicago Great West- ern Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. L. Coleman, Gen’l Chair- man, 1941 Thompson ave., Kansas City, Kan. ; C. E. Norris, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 320, South St. Paul, Minn. No. 99, COBALT, ONT. — Covers Temiskam- ing ft Northern Ontario Ry. Meets on call of Gen’l Chairman. R. Richardson, Chief Tel., Timmins, Ont. ; R. Workman, Gen’l Chairman, North Bay, Ont. ; T. J. Baker, B. ft T., Red water, Sta., Ont. No. 108, ADDISON, N. Y.— Meets subject to call of Chief Telegrapher. L. L. Lerch, Chief Tel., Knoxville, Pa. ; C. E. Belcher, S. ft T., Osceola, Pa. No. Ill — Division covers Los Angeles ft Salt Lake R. R. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. D. McGee, Gen’l S. ft T., 324 Concord st., Los Angeles, Cal. No. 113 — Division covers the Ulster ft Dela- ware System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. M. L. Klehi, Gen’l Chairman, 74 Abeel st., Kingston, N. Y. ; G. C. Hed- ges, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman, Mt. Pleasant, Digitized by v^ooole
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862 The Railroad Telegrapher. N. Y. ; L. P. Riley, Gen’l S. & T., High- mount, N. Y. No. 114— ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, N. S.— H. A. Jacques, Chief Tel., Middleton, N. S. ; Stanley Tavener, S. ft T., Tupperville, Anna Co., N. S. No. 115 — Division covers Quebec Ry. Light & Power Co.’s Ry. Meets subject to call of Chairman. E. Richard, Chairman, 199a Crown st., Quebec, Que. ; J. E. Pot- vin, S. & T., Gifford, Quebec, Que., Can. No. 116 — Division covers the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic Railway System. Meets 2d Sunday of February, April, June, Au- gust, October and December, in place designated by Gen’l Chairman. P. M. Stillman, Gen’l Chairman, Seney, Mich. ; C. W. Danielson, Gen’l S. & T., Chassell, Mich. No. 118 — Division covers Kanawha ft Michi- gan Railway System. A. P. Hines, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Glouster, Ohio ; R. M. Henderson, Gen’l S. & T., 839 South st., Toledo, Ohio. No. Il9 — Division covers the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway System. G. W. Lewis, Gen’l Chairman, 2921 Chi- cago ave., Minneapolis, Minn. ; F. C. Paine, Gen’l S. & T., Erskine, Minn. No. 120 — Division covers Lake Erie & West- ern Railway System. C. J. Turner, Gen’l Chairman, Ambia, Ind. ; M. A. Steckel, Gen’l S. & T., Atlanta, Ind. No. 124 — Division covers Lehigh Valley Railway System. C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., 711 Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 125 — Division covers Richmond, Freder- icksburg & Potomac Railway System. Meets at 8 p. m., the 2d Friday of each month, at Fredericksburg, Z. Talbot, Gen’l Chairman, R. F. D. 4, Alexandria, Va. ; J. C. Farmer, Gen’l S. ft T., 712 Main st., Fredericksburg, Va. No. 126 — Division covers Chicago, Rock Is- land & Pacific Railway System. W. F. Kay, Gen’l Chairman, Room 1, 304 W. 63d st., Chicago, 111. ; S. P. Ayers, Vice-Chair- man, Windsor, Mo. ; W. H. Dunnam, Gen’l S. & T., Room 1, 304 W. 63d st., Chi- cago, 111. No. 127, VIRGINIA, MINN.— W. W. Wood- ward, Chief Tel., Hibbing, Mont. ; C. J. Keenan, S. & T., Calumet, Minn. No. 128 — Division covers the Atchison, To- peka & Santa Fe Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. • L. A. Tan- quary. Gen’l Chairman, Board of Trade bldg., Pueblo, Colo. ; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., St. Louis, Mo. No. 130 — Division covers Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. W. F. Den- ton, Gen’l Chairman, Sterling, Neb. ; E. F. Todd, Ass’t Gen'l Chairman, Sandwich, 111. ; J. H. Rogers, Jr., Gen’l S. ft T., 1505 Market st., La Crosse, Wis. No. 131, TRING JUNCTION. QUE.— J. E. Marcoux, Chief Tel., Leeds Station, Que ; E. Lafontaine, S. ft T., Tring Junction, Que. No. 133, GLACE BAY, N. S.— L. L. Mc- Namara, Chief Tel., Glace Bay, N. S. ; C. H. Dow, S. ft T., P. O. Box 4, Bridge- port, N. S. No. 137 — Division covers El Paso A South- western Railway System. E. P. Waples, Acting Gen’l S. A T., 4469 Clarence ave., St. Louis, Mo. No. 140 — Division covers Maine Central Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. E. J. Hayes, Gen’l Chair- man, Leeds Junction, Me. ; H. N. Bates, Gen’l S. & T., Gardiner, Me. No. 141 — Division covers San Antonio ft Aransas Pass Railroad System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. A. H. Bar- nett, Gen’l Chairman, Rockdale, Tex. ; R. O. Little, Gen’l S. & T., Sheridan, Tex. No. 142 — Division covers the Green Bay ft Western Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. D. Benrud, Gen'l Chairman, Blair, Wis. ; L. P. Curran, Gen’l S. ft T., Winona, Minn. No. 144 — Division covers the Trinity ft Brazos Valley Railway System. Meets subject to call of Chairman. C. H. Crockett, Gen’l Chairman, North Zulch, Tex. ; N. W. Smith, Gen’l S. ft T., Box 493, Teague, Tex. No. 146 — Division covers the Ft. W. ft D. C. Ry. System. R. G. Wales, Gen’l Chair- man and Acting Gen’l S. & T„ Box 976, Wichita Fals, Tex. No. 146— Division covers the Atlanta, Bir- mingham ft Atlantic Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Owen D. Gorman, Gen’l Chairman, Mauk, Ga. ; C. A. Pye, Gen’l S. ft T., Ideal, Ga. No. 147 — Division covers the Norfolk South- ern Ry. System. Meets subject to call of Gen’l Chairman. Miss S. D. Taylor, Gen’l S. & T., care J. H. Williams, Wilson. N. C. No. 153 — Division covers the Western Paci- fic Ry. V. W. Breeding, Gen’l Chairman, 770 Eleventh st., Oakland, Cal.; H. B. Marshall, Gen’l S. & T., Pleasant Grove, Cal. No. 155, HAMILTON, ONT.— Covers To- ronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Ry. Meets 2d Sunday of each month at 3 :30 p. m., in I. O. O. F. Hall, Temple bldg., , Gore st., Hamilton, Ont J. J. O’Connor, Chief Tel., 46 Magill st., Hamilton, Ont.; E. D. Armstrong, S. ft T., Box 98, Smithville, Ont. No. 156, BOSTON, MASS.— Meets in Rath- bone Hall, 694 Washington st, Boston, Mass., 3d Thursday each month, day and night alternately commencing with the day meeting in July. Daylight meetings 11 a. m. ; night meetings 7 p. m. Robert Digitized by Google
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—JCr;- 7 The Railroad Telegrapher. 863 H. Buxton, Chief Tel., 8 Dresden, st., Ja- maica Plain, Boston, Mass. ; F. J. Dan- sereau, S. & T., 65 Boylston st., Jamaica Plain, Boston, Mass. No. 157 — Division covers the Rutland Ry. H. R. Clarke, Gen’l Chairman, Manches- ter Depot, Vt. E. V. Page, Gen’l S. & T., Chatham, N. Y. No. 158 — Division covers the Panama Ry. A. V. Loses, Gen’l Chairman, Box 17, Pedro Miguel, Canal Zone ; P. A. Freeh an, Gen’l S. & T., Box 6, Corozal, Canal Zone. No. 160 — Division covers the Florida East Coast Ry. A. F. Bauer, Gen'l Chairman, Jupiter, Fla. ; C. Ross Gowdy, Gen’l S. & T., Tallahassee, Fla. No. 161 — Division covers the O. W. Ry. and N. Co. J. V. Mitchell, Gen’l Chairman, Multnomah Hotel, Portland, Ore. ; Win. H. D. Davis, Gen’l S. & T., Pendelton, Ore. No. 163 — Division covers the K. C. M. & O. Ry. L. R. Cotney, Gen’l Chairman, Ft. Stockton, Tex. ; D. O. Kennedy, Gen’l S. & T., Clinton, Okla. No. 164 — Division covers the Ann Arbor R. R. H. J. Werkman, Gen’l Chairman. Box 59, Frankfort, Mich. ; E. C. West, Gen’l S. & T., 2238 Erie st., Toledo, Ohio. No. 165 — Division covers the Northwestern Pacific Ry. L. E. Green, Gen’l S. & T., Ross, Calif. No. 166 — Division covers the Gulf Coast Lines. D. E. Young, Gen’l Chairman, Eunice, La. ; ,C. L. Jackson, Ass’t Gen’l Chairman and Gen’l S. & T., Bloomington, Tex. No. 167 — Division covers the Georgia & Florida Ry. R. M. Cason, Gen’l Chairman, Uvalda, Ga. ; D. F. Rush, Gen’l S. & T., Hazelhurst, Ga. No. 168 — Division covers the C. & A. Ry. E. E. Gentz, Gen’l Chairman,' Braidwood, 111. ; Thos. Riley, Gen’l S. & T., Atlanta, 111. No. 171 — Division covers Central Vermont Ry. H. J. Gibbs, Gen’l Chairman, Yantic, Conn. ; L. J. Mannie, Gen’l S. & T., St. Alexander Sta., Que. No. 172 — Division covers the Oregon Short Line Ry. R. II. Wagner, Gen’l Chairman, Pocatello, Idaho ; S. B. Summers, Gen'l S. & T.. Roy, Utah. No. 173 — Division covers the T. & O. C. and Z. & W. Rys. F. H. Simon, Gen’l Chair- man, 302 Georgia ave,, Toledo, Ohio ; W. T. Cox, Gen’l S. & T., 1061 Palmwood ave., Toledo, Ohio. No. 174 — Division covers the Missouri, Okla- homa & Gulf Ry. T. E. Corbell, Acting Gen’l Chairman, Salina, Okla. ; J. F. Rin- gle. Acting Gen’l S. & T., Strange, Okla. No. 175 — Division covers the Carolina, Clinchfleld & Ohio Ry. S. A. Dorsett, Gen’l Chairman, Spartanburg, S. C. ; C. G. Taylor, Gen’l S. & T., Dante, Va. No. 177 — Division covers the St. Louis, San Francisco & Texas Ry. J. S. McMillan, Gen’l Chairman and Acting G. S. & T., Box 43, Prosper, Tex. ; DeWitt Hall, Gen’l S. & T., Bluffdale, Tex. No. 178 — Division covers Tennessee Central Railroad. O. B. Cleveland, Gen’l Chair- man, Lebanon, Tenn. ; E. W. Easterly, Gen’l S. & T., Lebanon, Tenn. No .179 — Division covers New Orleans Great Northern R. R. W. H. Carr, Gen’l Chair- man, Abita Springs, La. ; F. P. Barron, Gen’l S. & T., Angie, La. No. 180 — Division covers Chicago, Terre Haute &r Southeastern Ry. J. R. Powell, Acting Gen’l Chairman, 1606 S. 17th ^t., Terre Haute, Ind. ; C. B. Rawlins, Acting Gen’l S. & T., Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 181 — Division covers Kentucky & Indi- ana Terminal R. R. H. A. Boston, Gen’l Chairman, 422 N. 20th st., Louisville, Ky. ; W. L. Recourse, Gen’l S. & T., 1235 South 17th st., Louisville, Ky. No. 182 — Division covers Missouri & North Arkansas R. R. James Roy, Jr., Acting Gen’l Chairman, Cotton Plant, Ark. ; S. E. Brasfield, Gen’l S. & T., Searcy, Ark. No. 184 — Division covers Spokane, Portland & Seattle Ry. L. H. Freeland, Acting Gen’l Chairman, Washougal, Wash. ; C. B. Raw- lins, Acting Gen’l S. & T.. Star bldg., St. Louis, Mo. No. 185 — Division covers Georgia, Florida & Alabama Ry. J. W. Keen, Gen’l Chairman, Benevolence, Ga. ; J. F. Stephens, Gen’l S. & T., Havana, Fla. TWIN CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— Regular meetings 2d Wednesday night of each month, Columbia Hall, Prior and University aves. G. W. Lewis, Pres., 2921 Chicago ave., Minneapolis, Minn.; S. ,H. Lester, S. & T., Flat 7, 912 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn. CREAM CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB— , Meets the 2d Tuesday of each month in Film Operators’ Hall, 226 Third st., Mil- waukee, Wis. W. T. Houlehen, Pres., 363 Madison st., Milwaukee, Wis. ; B. A. Go- thompson, S. & T., 738 Fortieth st., Mil- waukee, Wis. PRETZEL CITY TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF FREEPORT, ILL.— Meets 3d Wednes- day of each month at Ladies and Knights of Security Hall, 107 Stephenson st., Free- port, 111. P. H. Murphy, Pres., 145 Dela- ware st., Freeport, 111. ; H. B. Kiester, S. & T., 60 Second st., Freeport, 111. CORT CLUB (Chicago O. R. T. Club) — Meets 1st Saturday of each month in Room 912, Masonic Temple. D. C. Smart, Pres., 2258 Lincoln ave., Chicago, 111. ; C. L. Craig, S. & T., 817 W. 64th st., Chicago, III. DES MOINES O. R. T. CLUB— Meets in Assembly Room, Kirkwood Hotel, Des Moines, Iowa, subject to call of President M. R. Davis, Pres., care C. R. I. & P. Ry., Des Moines, Iowa ; S. S. Price, S. & T., Grimes, Iowa CEDAR RAPIDS O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 8 p. m., the 3d Friday of each month at Room 12, 2d floor, Dows bldg., cor. 2d ave. and 2d st., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. F. E. Conover, Pres., Low Moor, Iowa ; ,J. L. Digitized by V LC
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864 The Railroad Telegrapher. Halpin, S. & T., 512 South Fourteenth st., Cedar Rapids, Iowa. LITTLE ROCK O. R. T. CLUB— Meets sub- ject to call of S. & T. C. C. Jack 1 In, Pres., Room 224, Union Station, Little Rock, Ark. ; H. W. Gibbs, S. & T., 616 E. Eighth st., Little Rock, Ark. THE PANHOMA TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB —Meets Saturday evening following the 21st of each month in Assembly Room, 2d floor City Hall, El Reno, Okla. J. E. Spurr, Pres., Rock Island Relay Office, El Reno, Okla. ; R. S. Taylor, Vice-Pres., Gracemont, Okla. ; W. R. Wilday, S. & T., 414 W. Choctaw st., Oklahoma, Okla. EVANSVILLE O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 3d Sunday each month. L. E. Crandall, Pres., Chrisney, Ind. ; C. McCleary, S. & T., 712 Mulberry st., ‘ Evansville, Ind. THE HOOSIER O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month at 8 p. m., Room 109, Oneida Hotel, Indianapolis, Ind. J. W. White, Pres., 2166 Avondale place, In- dianapolis, Ind. ; W. G. Brenneman, S. & T., 2327 Prospect st., Indianapolis, Ind. THE KANSAS CITY RAILROAD TELEG- RAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets subject to call of President. M. Williams, Pres., 2115 Walnut st., Kansas City, Kan. THE FORT PITT TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB OF PITTSBURG— Meets subject to call of Secretary. H. K. Klingensmith, Pres., 124 Suburban ave., Beechview, Pittsburg, Pa. THE HOUSTON O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 2d Thursday night of each month, Hotel Cotton, cor, Fannin st. and Capitol ave., Houston, Tex. Chas. C. Webner, Pres., 425 Mason bldg., Houston, Tex. ; E. B. Hill, Sec’y, 1027 Yale st., Houston, Tex. THE DU-O R. T. CLUB OF DURAND, MICH. — Meets 1st Thursday each month in I. O. O. F. Hall, Durand, Mich. A. E. McNamara, Pres., Drayton Plain, Mich. ; H. F. Link, S. & T., Lansing, Mich. THE C. O. O. R. T. CLUB (Co-Operative O. R. T. Club) — Meets 8 p. m., 1st Friday of each month in Red Men’s Hall, South Bend, Ind. O. O. Replogie, Pres., 631 East Bronson st., £outh Bend, Ind. ; D. A. Crum, S. & T., 817 Lindsey st., South Bend, Ind. THE CHICAGO IJEIGHTS TELEGRA- PHERS’ CLUB— Meets 9:30 a. m.. 2d Sunday of each month at Chicago Heights, 111., in Trades and Labor Council Hall. J. Welles Begbie, Pres., St. Anne, 111. ; J. C. Marceau, S. & T., St. Anne, 111. THE SPRINGFIELD O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 2d Saturday night of each month at St. Nicholas Hotel, Springfield, 111. W. Stone, Pres., Marine, 111. ; W. R. Endi- cott, S. & T., 113 E. Jefferson st., Spring- field, 111. THE GOLDEN RULE TELEGRAPHERS’ CLUB — Meets 7 p. m., 3d Tuesday of each month at Crowe Hall, corner Broadway and Seger ave., Toledo, Ohio. F. H. Simon, Pres., 302 Georgia ave., Toledo, Ohio ; Geo. D. Walker, S. & T., Flickenger Flat No. 2, Toledo, Ohio. THE MONUMENTAL O. R. T. CLUB— Meets monthly in Baltimore, Md., subject to call of President. W. R. Johnson, Pres., 3743 Morley st., Baltimore, Md. ; W. M. Shawen, Sec’y, 3637 Roland ave., Balti- more, Md. THE STATEN ISLAND O. R. T. CLUB— Meets 4th Thursday each month, 8 p. m., at the Cherokee Club, No. 12 Cross st., Stapleon, S. I., N. Y. D. B. McMullen, Pres., 8 Woodland ave., Cranford, N. J. ; J. P. Tully, S. & T., 276 Delaware ave., Dongan Hills, N. Y. General Committee Directory on Railroads Covered by Local Divisions Boston & Albany Railway — M. J. Walsh, Gen’l Chairman, 15 Moseley ave., Merrick, Mass. ; Geo. P. Alrutz, Secretary General Committee, 16 Oakdale ave., Westfield, Mass. Boston Terminal Co. — S. E. Haseltine, Gen’l Chairman, 21 French ave., South Brain- tree, Mass. ; H. J. Lionett, Secretary Gen- eral Committee, Dorchester, Mass. Buffalo & Susquehanna R. R. — E. E. Has- kins, General Chairman, Sinnemahoning, Pa. Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Ry. — R. E. Johnson, Gen’l Chairman, Jerseyville, 111. ; H. C. LeMa8ters, Secretary General Com- mittee, 426 S. Orange st., Havana, 111. Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Ry. — Roy Park, Gen’l Chairman, 411 Whitley ave., Joliet, 111. ; W. H. DeLong, Secretary General Committee, 18 Wood st., West Chicaflo, 111. Intercolonial Ry. — C. C. Charters, Gen’l Chairman, Point du Chene, N. B. ; R. A. McMillan, Secretary General Committee, Charlo Station, N. B. Long Island Railroad — C. M. Scully, Gen’l Chairman, College Point, N. Y. ; E. Frank Webb, Secretary General Committee, 23 Amherst ave., Jamaica, N. Y. New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad — Leonard J. Ross, Gen’l Chairman, 467 Wellington ave., Auburn, R. I. ; M. W. Handy, Secretary General Committee. Box 885, "New Haven, Conn. Pittsburg & Lake Erie R. R. — T. H. Alex- ander, Gen’l Chairman, 1229 4th ave., Coraopolis, Pa. Toledo, St. Louis & Western Ry. — H. S. Wal- ters, Gen’l Chairman, Gas City, Ind. ; H. B. LIvesey, Secretary General Committee, Sorento, 111. Digitized by Google
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/ The Railroad Telegrapher. 865 Ladies’ Auxiliary Directory OFFICERS. MRS. KATE E. CARR— Grand President, 629 Swan st, Olympia, Wash. MRS. FLORENCE P. PIERCE— Grand Sec- retary-Treasurer, Box 23, Halethorpe, Baltimore Co., Md. MISS CLARA J. BRADY— First Grand Vice-President, 91 Wood st, Provi- dence, R. L BOARD OF Mrs. John W. Banker, Chairman, Schaghti- coke, N. Y. Mrs. J. H. Randall, Jr., Secretary, Smith- ville, Ga. MRS. D. H. PARKER— Second Grand Vice- President, Speed, N. C. MRS. GEORGE GILBERT— Third Grand Vice-President, Kenora, Ont, Can* MRS. J. E. COWGILL— Fourth Grand Vice- President, San Carlos, Cal. DIRECTORS. Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 2854 Cleveland ave., St Louis, Mo. Mrs. Iris U. Henderson, Midland, Tex. Mrs. E. McDonough, CHntonville, Wis. All correspondence for Thb Txleoraphxr should be addressed to C. B. Rawlins, Editor, St Louis, Mo., so that it will reach him not later than the 5th of the month. Grand Division — Attached membership not confined to any particular railroad or ter- ritory. Mrs. Kate E. Carr, Grand Presi- dent, 629 Swan st, Olympia, Wash. ; Mrs. Florence P. Pierce, Grand 8. A T. Box 33, Halethrope, Md. Division 2 — Meetings subject to call of Act- ing President, Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 3854 Cleveland ave., St Louis Mo. ; Mrs. Evva L. Quick, 8. A T„ 8864 Cleveland ave., St Louis, Mo. Division 2 — Covers the C., C., C. A St L Ry. System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mrs. 8. D. Solomon, Presi- dent 1912 Locust st, Anderson, Ind. ; Mrs. Hasel Elliott Gen’l a A T., Ashley, Ohio. Division 7 — Covers the Canadian Pacific Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President. Mrs. Rebecca Sullivan Pres- ident, Chapleau, Ont., Can. ; Mrs. S. S. Campbell, Gen’l a A. T., Verona, Ont Division 8 — Covers the New York Central Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mrs. M. B. Lynch, Pres- ident 962 State st, Schenectady, N. Y. ; M. J. Wood, Gen’l a A T., South Schenec- tady, N. Y. Division 15 — Covers the Atlantic Coast Line R. R. Meets subject to call of the Presi- dent Mrs. B. F. Wheeler, President Oviedo, Fla.; Mrs. J. H. Williams, Gen’l a A T„ Wilson, N. C. Division 22 — Covers the Chicago, Milwaukee A St Paul and the Puget Sound Railway Systems. Meetings subject to call. Mrs. a Olive Lester. Gen’l a A T., Flat 7. 212 South Sixth ave., Minneapolis, Minn, Division 31 — Covers the Missouri Pacific System. Meeting subject to call of the President. Mrs. Chas. M. Bodle, Presi- dent Benton, Kan. ; Mrs. H. C. Harkins, Gen'l a A T., Lupus, Mo. Division 23 — Covers the Baltimore A Ohio Railway System. Meetings subject to call of President Mrs. Mary A. Beil. Presi- dent. New Concord, Ohio. ; Mrs. Anna a Gillum, Gen’l a A T., Shinnston, W. Va. Division 86 — Meets 2d Thursday of each month at 2 :S0 p. m., in Manheim Hall, 482 Westminster st. Providence, R. I.; Mrs. Bertha Haddock, President, 111 Narra- gansett st., Edgewood, Providence, R. I. ; Miss Clara J. Brady, Gen’l a A T.. 91 Wood st. Providence, R. L Division 44 — Meets 2d Saturday of each month at 8 p. m., in Hall No. 2, Fraternity Hall, 22 Harriman ave., Jamaica, N. Y. Mrs. A. Filby, President, Vandeveer Park Station, Broklyn, N. Y. ; Mrs. J. E. Shields, Gen’l a A T., 1034 Bergen st, Brooklyn, N. Y. Division 46 — Covers the Central of Georgia Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President Mra J. H. Randall, Jr., Gen’l a A T., Smlthville, Ga. Division 58 — Covers the Southern Pacific System, G. H. A R A. Ry. Meetings sub- ject to call of the President Mrs. J. E. Cowgill. President San Carlos, Cal. ; Mrs. F. E. Waters, Gen'l a A T., Ashland, Ore. Division 59 — Covers the Southern Railway System. Meets subject to call of the President Mrs. C. L. Watson, President, Veechdale, Ky. ; Mrs. Logan Watson, Gen’l a A T., 684 First st. Shelbyville. Ky. Digitized by taooole
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866 The Railroad Telegrapher, Division 76 — Covers the Chicago ft North Western Hallway System. Meets upon call of the President. Miss. Ena L Schneider, President, Dousman, Wls. ; Miss Irene O’Connell, Qen’l S. ft T., 207 W. Sixth st., Marshfield, Wls. Division 81 — Covers the Colorado Midland Railway System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Mae L. Potts, President, Ivanhoe, Colo. ; Mrs. Ida Down- ing, Gen’l S. ft T., Cascade, Colo. Division 93 — Covers the Illinois Central Railway System. Meets subject to call. Mrs. E. L. Mathis, Acting President and Gen’l S. ft T., 1172 Mississippi blvd., Mem- phis, Tenn. Division 113 — Covers the Ulster ft Delaware 1 QC1) e (father of &atlroab fEelesrapfjettf PETITION FOR MEMBERSHIP Officers and Members, Division No The Subscriber . by occupation a... of years’ experience, bora in. voluntarily offers himself as a candidate for initiation into THE ORDER OF RAILROAD TELEGRAPHERS, and agrees, if admitted, that he will cheerfully conform to aU the laws, rules, mandates and edicts of the Order. I have not been rejected for membership in the Order within the past year. Fee enclosed, $ Signature of Petitioner. Dated at this day of 19 •My Postoffice address is Employed by Railroad System. Meetings subject to call of the President. Mrs. Harry Halstead, Presi- dent, R. F. D. No. 8, Oneonta, N. T. ; Mrs. Sinclair Snyder, Gen'l a ft T., South Kort- right, N. Y. Division 140 — Covers the Maine Central Railway System. Meets subject to call of the Acting President. Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Acting President, 470 Main st., Bangor, Me. ; Mrs. Florence L. Graham, Gen’l S. & T., 470 Main st., Bangor, Me. Local Tacoma — Meets the last Wednesday of each month. Meetifig places subject to the discretion of the President, Mrs. Daisy Sherwood, Sixth Avenue Station, Tacoma, Wash. ; Mrs. W. S. Grover, Local Secre- tary-Treasurer, Nisqually, Wash. This is to Certify : That we, the subscribers, are 'personally acquainted with Mr and, from a confidence in his integrity and the uprightness of his intention, do cheerfully recommend and propose him as a proper candidate for member- ship in this Order. RECOMMENDKR8 Digitized by Google •Be careful and fill in your postoffice address.
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*l»U4-£ When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 1 „ 0 No. D15. 71 blue wh it e D14 dias. Special price dia. compl. $48.75 Compl. $50.50 ijnMfM «WcgB* No I'jjo.7 iw> ^JRV^ Soli i [i ^ No. *®ld. V Djn scarf pin,\ ISolid gold cuff but- 1(}ia- [tons, diamond set.ComP' -3.95 iPrice per pair, $1.75 M , ■ i Send coupon for the Basrh DeLuxe Diamond Book — FREE — a big beautiful catalog of Dia- monds, Jewelry, Watches, etc. The best dia- mond guide ever issued. You cannot afford ^fr to purchase a diamond until you have read it. Send for it today. L. BASCH & CO. *+* DIAMOND Dept.Q3320 / BOOK State and Quincy Streets OOLJ PON Chicago, Illinois PleMo mall me FREE, without ... . . -dr oMiirnt inr roe. B**ch D* Lax* Don t Wait! Di»mon,l Hook. | gold I *ross and chain, ll Jine dia ffcompl. t£ $4.75 volume of sales. Don’t fail to send for our dmmond book. RIGHT in the face of extreme rising costs in diamonds we make this announce- | merit. Send for our free diamond book. Find out about this rare opportunity among hun- = * dreds of others. You may still have full carat stones at $^7.50, three-quarter carats at $72.00 and one-quarter carats || at $20.00 Every stone guaranteed in writing. Every price 35% under ordinary retail prices because \vc import direct from =§ diamond cutters and are satisfied with small profits on a great _ ■'E ] Basch Money Back | C* We issue a money § guarantee back guarantee with = every diamond. This = Iron clad protecting money back contract makes loss or disappointment unpos-ible. It is a legal contract iu writing to refund in cash full price less 10 per cent should you. for any reason, wish to return the diamond any time within a year. Also allows you full price in ex- charge at any time. Furthermore, it guarantees exact carat weight, quality and value of the diamond. “See that your diamond is Basch guaranteed.” Examination Free! BASCH takes all the risk. Diamonds sent for free examination. You pay nothing until you have examined and proved to yourself that the diamond you ordered is a real Bargain. IOO For This Fountain Pen DiO. dig Me. Compl. $21.25 This Wo. D17. Solid gold lavall. and 'chain. 3 fine dias. 'Compl. $8.75 No. D2Z. 3»>Tia cow tie clasp, 1 fine dia. Special price, $1.00 No.N» D21. Solid \fgo\d l dia. Ravalli 2 pearls. xy i ■wT^mnl.' Chicago price, fine dia. 1 blade. .Lfile. SptVial S1.75.j D23. littgold.filjed knife _ s pei lenk.iblc. Barrel and caD are name inlaid In gold FREE Iridium tipped. Full sire 6H in. lonj tr •n is a lever self-filler, guaranteed non- Para m i >ng Special fa free repairs for 2 years price to you uro Para Rubber. Your Pen is 14k solid gold Wo guarantee = actory $1.00 1 Illinois Don't Wait! w Send Now! -dr L. BASCH & CO. Dept Q3320 State & Quincy Sts.. CHICAGO. U.S. A Digitized by Google
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2 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. Foremen who use the old fashion back-breaking pump cars find it very difficult to get good men for this class of work. It is easy to get efficient help with a motor because “Casey* * does the hardest part of the day’s work. Men are Scarce and Hard to Get Times have changed lately. A crew of men can not be picked up whenever needed as heretofore. With almost a million men called by the Government, and the industries and agricultural interests operating to full capacity, it is but natural that men do not feel like pumping a hand car when they can get easier work at the same wages. Here is where “Casey Jones” comes to the rescue. It lightens the labor, and makes play of the hardest part of the day’s work. It stands for much greater efficiency with the same crew. It au p a is a decided improvement all around. 4HT. on High Gear 8S£ on Low Gear The Price as Yet is Only $85.00 \Ye can’t promise to hold this price down much longer. Order Hou may have to pay much more for a “Casey is no use in describing the “Casey Jones,” for ittle engine with its two-speed drive and many eat u res has become, the Standard in hand car ir car engines. It is now known by almost every 1 man in this country. $10.00 down and $5.00 per are easy terms indeed, and not noticed, but the lay use of a strictly reliable motor car instead of ich despised old hand car is indeed enjoyable, s your order at once. We have a complete stock p promptly the same day orders are received. NORTHWESTERN MOTOR COMPANY 600 Spring Street E&u ClftifC) \Ar isconsin Digitized by Google i
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A new plan— our agency plan. You are not asked to do any canvassing or soliciting for orders. You sim- ply co-operate with us, becoming part or our When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. Do not confuse me with a second-hand dealer. I put each machine through a process that I have spent 25 years perfecting. Each machine is taken apart and re-built from top to bottom. The frame is re-enameled, the bright parts re-nickeled. All parts unfit for further service are discarded ana replaced by new parts purchased from the Underwood Company. Every machine is equipped with new type, new platen, new ribbon vibrator, front scale, feed roll, ribbon, space bar, key rings, key glasses, rubber feet, etc. Ex- pert mechanics re-adjust and re-align each machine. It will ^^1 il 3k I stand any mechanical typewriter test. ■ My Five Year Guarantee — Ten Days Free Trial I personally stand back of every machine that rtocs through my factory with • J I L a WRITTEN FIVE YEAR GUARANTEE OF SERVICE. I guarantee to 1 1 | I send you a gc mine Underwood, exactly as illustrated and described tiere- _ with. You don’t even have to buy the machine at the time P you get It. You can try it for ten days FREE and then, if you conclude the machine I send you does not look, work and write • * - I-~ — JHljn like new. you may return it and I will refund any deposit or charges V by you. Thla guarantee affords you completo protection. Pont nr P,,tr Mail coupon or post card today for special low _ A ^ IVeili Or DUy price and terms. You can RENT, applying 4 Aal§ aix months' rental on purchase price, buy on easy terms or Be- A f- euro discount for cash. | r / Our Other Plan Brings Underwood FREE 0* your Underwood FREE in this way. Send name and arldre^a on coupon today and learn k about Offer No.24 . L E. W. S. SHIPMAN, President '#£* / ^Typewriter Emporium *• ^ ruictcn /✓v & Digitized by Google How I Double the Life of An Underwood I Will Save You More Than V2 on a $100 UNDERWOOD E. W. S. SHIPMAN, President EVERYONE knows the reputation of the Underwood Typewriter. I will send you on TEN DAYS’ FREE TRIAL a High Grade No. 4 Visible Writing Underwood, with Back Spacer, Tabulator, Stencil Attachment, Two-color Ribbon, Waterproof Cover and Special Touch Typewriting Instruction Book, that will teach you to operate this simple Underwood in one day. I will give you a written guarantee of FIVE YEARS’ SERVICE from date of sale and I will save you much more than one-half the manufacturer’s price. 25 Years’ Experience — Confidence of 200,000 Customers I am the largest typewriter re-builder in the world, employing the most expert workmen in the typewriter business. I handle only Underwoods, obtaining all my machines and all new parts direct from the Underwood Company.
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SIGNAL FLANNEL SHIRTS FOR WINTER WEAR You will have no dread of the cold weather if you wear a Signal Flannel Shirt. It will keep you warm even in zero weather. Made ' of the finest flannel. Every seam — every button — every button- hole is doubly strong and the whole garment is extremely service- able. Comes with plain or military collar. Signal Flannel Shirts Closed or Coat Style are stylish and have many comfort features not found in most shirts and you get your choice of many new, different, original styles. They have always been popular with railroad men because of .their . warmth, good appearance and long wear. Order from Your Dealer Most dealers sell Signal Flannel him a sample shirt for you Shirts. If yours doesn’t, send us hi3 tion. If you do not like il name and address and we will send not bound to buy. Hilker-Wiechers Mfg. G Dept. D1246, Mound Ave., Racine, Wis. Manufacturers of the Famous TubTesT OveraUs Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 5A TRADE AVARK PHONOGRAPH EXAYS FREE TRIAL I^VYS A Master Phonograph— Direct to You at Rock Bottom Price This remarkable Phonograph will be sent upon payment of only $4.50. Try it in your own home for ten days before you decide to keep it. If you keep it you have a wonderful instrument and a big bargain. Thereafter you pay ^.00 per month until $49.60 is paid in full. If for nny reason you don’t want to keep ft, write for instructions to return and for your deposit. Description of the Sweet-Tono The cabinet-- 11 inches high. Mahogany piano finish. Frontispiece in in artistic grille effect backed by beautiful drapery. Metal Parts aro nickel finished and polished. Motor ia double- ■pring type-powerful, smooth inaction, silent. Thoroughly reliable. Tone Modifier--* restate not found on some higher priced machines. Playn fast or alow, loud or aoft, ua you choose. Plays all records either lateral or vertical cut. without changing reproducer or adding extra attachments. Record Cabinet at bottom arranged to hold a largo number of 10 and 12 inch records. The machine ia fully guaranteed. The natural tone vibrations of the Sweet-Tone excel any instrument sold at double our price. Wo defy comparison. Order— judge our boaat for yourself. Affords Entertainment for Family and Friends The Sweet -Tone Phonograph provides all the greatest singers and tho great musicians, comedians, etc., to talk, sing and play for you. You can laugh at tho country s best comediane —you can entertain with selections from Grand Opera or comic vaudeville. Order Now Circular on Request Take advantage of thie opportunity. A chance Just send your request for information ro- of a lifetime to pocket every profit between gsrding the Sweet-Tone on a Postal or letter, manufacturer and buyer. Wo believe this to be You incur no obligation by asking for circular. the finest machine that money can buy despite our low price. Act while the offer la open. Mail your request today. Attractive offer to telegraphers desiring to act as agents Information on request per month Guaranteed Railroad Watch On Credit The Famous “Bunn Special”, Guaranteed to Pass Every Inspection Why pay cash for a standard railroad watch? You can save money through our Direct to You, easy payment plan. We will send you this celebrated ’“Bunn Special’* Lever set, 2 1 jewels, adjusted to 6 positions, Montgomery R.R. Diall4 K gold filled case on our liberal credit plan 20J<down, and 10j* each month until paid in full. NO MONEY IN ADVANCE We ship express prepaid subject to your np- Kroval. You examine — if you don’t like it send it aek: nocosttoyou. If the watch suits you pay $7.75 down and $4.00 monthly until its cash price of S39.76 lias been paid. You wear the watch right from the start. No security. No red tape. Everything con- fidential. Write us TODAY for full particulars of this great watch offer. Diamonds and Jewelry — On Credit at Cash Prices Buy Today — Eight Months to Pay Why pay cash when you can tret “Sweet” Diamonds and Jewelry on credit at cash prices? WE TRUST YOU— no security— no guarantee— no red tape —WE TRUST YOU. Terms: 20 % Down — 10 % Monthly — Free Examination Anything you select from our complete gift Catalog 11G wid be sent at our expense. You Bee before you buy. Only if you are satisfied, do you pay one fifth down and the balance in eight monthly payments. “Sweet” Diamonds are superior quality, perfect cut, blue- white gems. Our Astounding 7!4/t Profit Sharing Offer Get Your FREE Copy of Jewelry Catalog 110 Invest in a “Sweet” Diamond. Each gem Over one thousand gifts to select from — Is guaranteed bv us forquality and value. Our gifts suitable for everybody. Diamond Rings. BINDING GUARANTEE protects you. We Pins, La Vallieres. Watches, etc.. Silverware, accept Diamonds bought from us in exchange French Ivory Toilet Ware, Cut Glass; also at full price, plus 7 *2* annual increase. Cameras and Phonographs. Ls W. Sweet & Co. Inc., 2-4 Maiden Lane I IG, New York, N.Y. 1 tine Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. The 20$ Century Limited ' There’s a Hamilton Watch in the Locomotive Thomas Loftus, the engineer of the 20th Century Limited, carries a Hamilton Watch. There’s no need of telling you why he carries it You can get the same kind of a Hamilton Watch at your jeweler’s, and have just as accurate time as Loftus has, for all Hamiltons are alike as far as high standards of timekeeping are concerned. The Hamilton is carried by more rail- road men than any other watch because railroad men know the Hamilton can be depended on, under all possible condi- tions, to give them accurate time. Your jeweler will be glad toshowyou Hamilton Watches. He has them at prices beginning at $14.00 ($15.00 in Canada for a movementalone, and run- ning up by easy stages to $150.00 for the Hamilton Masterpiece in an extra heavy 18k gold case. Every watch is guar- anteed to give satisfaction. For Time Inspection Service Hamil- ton No. 940 (18-size, 21 jewels) and No. 992 ( 16-size, 21 jewels) are the most popu- lar watches on American railroads. They will meet any railroad’s requirements. If rite today for the Hamilton Hatch Book — 16 The Timekeeper 99 It pictures and describes the various Hamilton Models, giving all their prices, and contains interesting and valuable watch information. HAMILTON WATCH COMPANY, Dept. 33, Lancaster, Pennsylvania ^Jjatch “ The Watch of Railroad Accuracy” Digitized by ’
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. Easy Z*Y,™?"S±l Send This Coupon I »r where you live. Sond for this . ■■■■■■■■■*■■■■■■■■■■■■■ Open an account with us. We trust honest people, do matter whore you live. Sond for this , wonderful bargain shown above or choose from A 1 rr \iri f n ^ our big catalog. One price to all, cash or en d t. X\.lUIiy >V 1 L ii CeAaTfinlrAnnnn No dlaeount for cash. Not one penny extra £. / ■ TG© I VTdl vOUpO 11 for credit. Positively no discount from these Cl.OU to US now. J> STRAUS & SCHRAM. (Inc.) Mna&uonal price, and no C. O. o. Have this fine H / Dep™*-w. asm ?"?WcVg."?M. 30 Days’ Trial }ib7ry*etsh/pp,edon^days,ji **** m^caj o R l leal tecta £oa trial. >\ e will also send our jT » d.iy»’ free trial. if i ke» the i wiiinsy ^ur hi if Bargain Catalog list- / o-’?^.*yi?.tsl<J’ t^SZFSS axpense wit hin 30 days and get your money hack -- , , ® A w,, ry «nd any freight civ^sl paid. alsoany freight you paid. Could anyotfer be fairer? Ulg thousands OI amaz- [J 6-Pfece Library Set, No. B4349WA. Si 8.90. Free Bargain Catalog SulZf^SS* /»-- Send for it. Shows thousands of bargains and balance in month- in furniture, jewelry, carpets, rugs, curtain*, ly payments forany- A Addrcta . silverware, atovaa, wonu-n’g, men’s and cbil- thing you want, 4r drvo's wearing apparel. Write dow. Send coupon now. rf PuttOffie* Slot. STRAUS& SCHRflM Chicago / □ — "’°u "Vxzr ‘■‘Sras* x 33^ Q Jewelry □ Men’s, Women’* and Children’s Clothing Digitized by CjOQQlC 30 Days’ Trial If not perfectly satisfied, return the article at our expense within 30 days and get your money hack — also any freight you paid. Could anyotfer be fairer? Free Bargain Catalog Send for it. Shows thousands of bargains in furniture, jewelry, carpets, rugs, curtains, silverware, stoves, women’s, men’s and chil- dren's wearing apparel. Write now. P ♦♦ STRAUS & SCHRAM, (Inc.) Dept.2131~W.35th St., Chicago, III. Enclosed find f 1.00. Ship special advertised JT 0-1 icce Fumed Oak Library Suite. 1 am to have A 30 d.iyn* free trial. If 1 keep the eulte 1 will pay r you 12.00 monthly If not satlaAed, 1 am to return the suite within 30 dav« end you ere to refund my A you *2.00 monthly If not sanaAed, 1 am to return A the suite within 80 dave end you are to refund my A n»o ey and any freight ciargesl paid. 4T Q 6-Plece Library Set, No. B4349WA. SI 8.90.
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8 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. OFFICIAL RAI STANDARD ? certainly would look funny now to see Casey coming down to work on his old “high boy” because this old fashioned bike a relic of the past. But now if some of the old heads will stop and think it over they will remember that the use of the old 18 size watch dates just as far back as the use of the “high boy” and the old “wood burner.” And watches, like bicycles and locomotives, have been improved. Now-a-days you can buy a new 16 size light weight model Ball Watch, trading in your old 18 size “wood burner” as part payment. Drop into your home jeweler’s and ask him about a “trade-in” today. The Webb C. Ball Watch Co. Cleveland, Ohio CHICAGO— CnrUnd Building SAN FRANCISCO— Flood Building WINNIPEG— Confederation Life Building Rock Inland Engineer Jo* Pickard negotiating with watch inspector Bern fora “ trade-in Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 9 Direct From the Factory To Save You $51 Brand New Oliver Typewriters for Half What They Used to Cost. Latest and Best Model. Five Days' Free Trial. No Money Down. Over a Year to Pay. This is the offer of The Oliver Typewriter Company itself — a $2,000,000 concern. The Oliver Typewriter Company gives this guarantee: The Oliver Nine we now sell direct is the exact machine — our Model Nine — which was formerly priced at $100. We do not offer a second-hand nor rebuilt machine. So do not confuse this new $49 Oliver with other offers. The 151 you now save Is the result of new and efficient sales methods. Formerly there were over 15,000 Oliver salesmen and agents. We had to maintain ex- pensive offices In 50 cities. Other costly and roundabout sales methods kept the price of type- writers around $100. By ending all these wastes and adopting a new plan we save the American public mil- lions of dollars. Used by Big Business It is the same commercial machine used by U. S. Steel Corporation; National City Bank of New York; Mont- gomery Ward Sc Co.; Curtis Publishing Co.; Pennsylvania Railroad; Hart. S chaff ner Sc Marx; Morris Sc Company; Baldwin Locomotive Works; Ward Baking Company; Jones & Laughlin Steel Company; Western Clock Company — “Big Ben"; Encyclopaedia Britannic*; and a host of others. Over 600,000 have been sold. The entire facilities of the company are devoted exclusively to the production and distribu- tion of Oliver Typewriters. How to Save This is our plan: You may have an Oliver for free trial by answering this advertisement. Or if you wish further infor- mation, check the coupon. We will send you an Oliver Nine direct to your office or home for five days’ free trial; it does not cost you a cent. Nor are you under the slightest ob- ligation to buy. We give you the opportunity to be your own salesman and save $51. You arc the sole judge; no salesman need influence you. If you decide to keep the Oliver, pay us at the rate of $3 per month. If you do not wish to keep it, we refund the trans- portation charges. That Is all there is to our plan. A Favorite This standard keyboard, vis- ible Oliver has long been the world’s model. Any stenographer may turn to the Oliver and operate it like any other machine. It has a standard keyboard. Canadian Price, $62.65 The Oliver Typewriter Co. 1501 Oliver Typewriter Bldg., Chicago, III. Regardless of price, do not spend one cent upon any type- writer — whether new, second- hand, or rebuilt — do not even rent a machine until you have investigated thoroughly our proposition. Note the two-way coupon. Send at onie for the free-trial Oliver, or for our startling book entitled "The High Cost of Type- writers— The Reason and tho Remedy.” This amazing book exposes the follies of the old selling pluns and tells the whole story of the Oliver Rebellion. With it we send a new catalog, pictur- ing and describing the Oliver Nine. Take Your Choice Check tho coupon for Free Trial Oliver or for . tho Book. Mail today. You nro not obli- tatod to >uy. This Coupon Is Worth $51 THE OLIVER TYPEWRITER COMPANY. 1501 Oliver Typewriter Bldg., Chicago, 111. BShlp me a new Oliver Nine for five days free inspection. If I p it, I will pay $49 at the rate of $3 per month. The title to remain in you until felly paid for. My shipping point Is This does not place me under any obligation to buy. If I choose to re- turn the Oliver. I will ship It back at your expense at the end of five days. Do not send a machine until I L I order it. Mail me your book— “Tho High Cost of Typewriters— Tho Reason and the Remedy.” your de luxe catalog and further information. Name Street Addreaa City State. Digitized by Google
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10 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. ADAMS MOTOR & MFG. CO., Date 3914 Castello Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. Please send me full details, including price and terms, of ADAMS MOTOR CARS. Name Railroad Address (Telegrapher Jan. 1918) Before Buying a Motor Car — investigate-- - The ADAMS No. 2 Let us show you what has made this car so popular with Signalmen, Linemen, Agents, Operators, etc., throughout the country. Prompt shipments can be made whenever you are ready. Price of the ADAMS No. 2 is very reasonable for either cash or time payments. Fill in the attached coupon for full details — DO IT NOW Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 11 The American Can Company Now Offers for Onlv Down and $3.00 a month The Rex Typewriter— or— The American Adding Machine An improved typewriter, designed and built to overcome existing defects and give complete satisfaction. Completely visible writing; strongest typewriter made; type bars and bearing 50% stronger than usual; has 11-inch carriage; makes an excellent check protector; and is the only type- writer w'ith the Rex Shock Absorber. The Rex is the typewriter of quality, yet it is sold for much less than other standard high grade machines. Adds up to one million dollars; sub- tracts, multiplies, divides; portable (only 17 lbs. ) ; 7 keys do the w7ork of 81. Key- board insures greater accuracy than any other keyboard known. Built of selected steel same quality as used in adding machines costing four and five times as much; used by thousands of people with small means; also used by U. S. Government, Stan- dard Oil Company, and similar institu- tions that can afford the best. Both the Rex Typewriter and the American Adding Machine are sold with an iron clad guarantee. Back of this guarantee stands the American Can Company. Mail Coupon for Free Book // Typewriter and Adding Machine Division / American Can Co. / 1230 Monroe Bldg. / Dept 7341, Chicago, 111. Send at once for literature fully explaining our / Please send me your illus- offer. Merely indicate in the coupon whether you / fr'li downier" I assume are interested in the Rex Typewriter — or the s no obligation whatever in sending American Adding Machine — or both. Sign / this coupon. I am interested in: coupon or a post card and send it in now. y lj tk« Re* visible Typewriter DBoth Typewriter and Adding Machine Division / American Can Co., Dept. 7341 / Niune — — — 1230 Monroe Bldg., Chicago, 111. / / Address , Digitized by CaOooLe
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12 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. Special Shiftless Typewriter Price Only $48 JO On Monthly Payments THIS IS EXACT SAMPLE OF TYPE AND SIZE OF WRITING OF L.C. SMITH TELEGRAPHERS' SPECIAL. I offer a few ball-bearing L. C. Smith Typewriters, specially arranged for exclusive wire work, giving extreme speed and quiet action. 100% of the average work on the wire can be handled on this machine without using the shift key. This means speed and quietness. The keyboard Is like the regular forty-two key, eighty-four character machine, but without any small letters, so the machine writes only 58 characters. The sixteen characters that are seldom used are on the keyboard, but you shift for them, just as on ths regular machine, but the forty-two characters on the lower case will handle 100% of the average ordinary wire wdrk. This keyboard writing the 58 characters but shifting for only sixteen of the unusual ones, 1s the keyboard adopted and used by the Western Union on over 12,000 of their machines. Standard Visible L. C. Smith These machines offered are perfect in every detail and have every modem operating convenience and late style feature. They have the BACK 8PACER, which is of enormous advantage in telegraphy, two-color ribbon, the ribbon reverses automatically without any attention from the operator, which Is another advantage; also has the Tabulator, which can be set for date line, etc. The type bars and carriage are ball-bearing, giving a velvet touch and snappy action. I will send you one of these machines F. O. B. Chicago, for five days' free trial on receipt of coupon below, on terms of $9.30 deposited with the Express Agent on receipt of machine and to be forwarded to me at the end of five days if you are satisfied with your bargain, or Express Agent will refund this $9.30 If the machine Is returned to him any time during the five days' trial, the $39.00 balance to be paid at the rate of $3.00 per month. Give certificate number and a little information about yourself and this will be sufficient information for this credit. Cash price with order $45.45, returned if you are not satisfied after five days' trial. This is your opportunity and the supply Is limited, so let me hear from you promptly. I will ship the day I receive the coupon, as long as they last. I have used at least a page of advertising in each issue of your Journal for about four years, so you know I deliver the goods, and I know that these special L. C. Smiths with all these features, and at this price is a good investment for you. ■ COUPON ■ H. ▲. SMITH, Boom 542, 231 N. Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111. Ship me the L. C. Smith. Operators Special Type, F. O. B. Chicago, as described in this advertisement. I will pay you the $39.00 balance of the SPECIAL $48.30 purchase price at the rate of $3.00 per month. The title to remain in you until fully paid for. It Is understood that I have five days in which to examine and try the typewriter. If I choose not to keep It I will carefully repack It and return It to the Express Agent. It Is understood that you give the standard guarantee for one NAME. . . . ADDRESS R.B. TeL Jan. Look for this stamp on the watch you buy Then you can’t go wrong in buying your watch. You need the best there is NOW. It may be required LATER. Originally, railroad watches were not adjusted to positions. Later, three position adjustments were required. Now the inspectors are not allowed to pass any watches adjusted to less than five positions. For the present five position watches are standard. But railroad requirements are con- tinually going higher— not lower. So why take any chances on a five position watch when you can just as easily get the superior SANGAMO' SPECIAL ■■■■■■ ■ ■ ■ AND—— — BUNN SPECIAL watches which are adjusted to temperature, isochronism and SIX POSITIONS? Ask your inspector for these watches. Illinois Watch Company Springfield, Illinois Digitized by LaOOQle
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 13 Back Spacer tabulator Stops, Adjustable Paper GuMe_ Marginal Stops Carriage • Release fllbbon Reverse Ribbon Shift £ Stencil Cutter Tabulator Bar Forced Alignment Fork Platen Release Line Space Adjustment Carriage Return and Automatic 5pecer I wont, through this advertisement, to establish aa friendly business relations with you as I possibly son. I want you to realise, also, that it is my earnest effort and intention to give you full honest value for ovsry dollar that you spend with me. This is the only way I can eucooed. The publisher of this magasino will vouch for my square dealings during the four years and more my advertising has appeared. I am building up my business an the foundation of good value and square dealings. I am saving thousands of satisfied customers thousands of dollars by supplying perfect — labs style — Visible writing^— typewriters, at remarkably low prices. All my transactions are handled throughout by personal correspond- ence. I assure you every courtesy and consideration in your dealings with me. Your order will have my prompt, careful personal attention. I will bis glad to do business with you. ^TYPEWRITER SENSATION. I Free TRIAL — Use As You Pay | I Only $3.00 a month until the low total price ot $48.30 Is paid, and the machine Is fours I I This U absolutely the most generous typewriter offer ever made. Do not rent a machine when I I you can pay $3.00 a month and own one. Think of It — Buying a $1004)0 machina for $4JL30. Cash I I price, $4545. Never before has anything like this been attempted. 1 STANDARD VISIBLE L. C. SMITH ALL THE WRITING ALWAYS IN SIGHT SPECIAL TELEGRAPHERS' KEYBOARD — REGULAR COMMERCIAL TYPE Perfect machines, standard size, standard single shift keyboard with double period, two- color ribbon with automatic shift; ball-bearing typebars, etc. Back Spacer, etc. Comes to you with everything complete: tools, cover, operating book and instructions, ribbon, practice paper — nothing extra to buy. Railroad Billing Typewriter, 84 characters, 14-inch carriage, writing 12 inches, with back spacer, two-color nbbon, etc., $54.30, same terms; with 18-incn carriage, $57.30. You cannot Jmagine^ the perfection of this beautiful typewriter until you have seen it. I will send it to you, F. O. B. Chicago, for five days’ trial. It will sell itself, but if you are not satisfied that this is the greatest typewriter I HA SMITH you ever saw, you can return it at my expense. You won’t want to return / t " it after you try it— you cannot equal this wonderful value anywhere. / CHICAGO, ill. ‘ Ship me tbe L. C. Smith. F.O.B. Chicago, as described Id this advertisement. I will pay ou tbe $30.00 balance of tbs J’ECIAL $48.30 purchase price, at tbe rate of $3.00 per month. The title to remain In you until fully paid for. It ' understood that I have five days in You Take No Risk — Put In Your Order Now / /& W tbe i 1 / t / Is M wbJ ~ ^ jf 11 wbsa mj aext / , ■♦—tbs type. f / f Hmm* "■ / v*. y / Jan. R.K.T When the typewriter arrives deposit with the express agent $9.30 and take the ma- chine for five days' trial. If you are convinced that i t is the beet typewriter you ever saw, keep it and send me $3.00 a month until our bargain price of $48.30 is paid. If you don’t want it, return it to the express agent, receive your $9.30, and return the maohine to me. I will pay the return express charges. This machine _ is guaranteed Just as if you paid $100.00 for it. It is standard. Over one f which to examine and try tbe typewriter, hundred thousand people own and use these typewriters and think them / th. baat .var manufactured. / Tto enpp If et tbls prise Is w y limited, tto prise win probably to rates* wtoa my ant / guarantee for one year, airsrttos— t appears, as Ini delay. fill la tbs ssapsa te*a y well Is — tbs type- writer wIB to sblpps* promptly. Thera ia no rad tape- I employ bo solicitor*— bo eolteetora— no chattel mortgage. It ia simply understood that 1 retain title to the machine nntll the full 548.80 it paid. Ton cannot loss. It la the greatest typewriter opportunity yon will evsr have. Po sot tend me ese css L Got the HARRY A. SMITH i In the anils Mtr-nrt. m 843-331 N. Fifth Aw CHICAGO Digitized by Cjooole
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 1 5,000 Operators Wanted at Once by the Government Martin Vibroplex Has No Competitor. The demand for operators has never been so urgent as now. The Railroads and Commercial Companies are hard put to handle an ever increasing business necessitated by the war. The Government wants 15,000 trained telegraph and buzzer operators at once. From every quarter comes the cry for good operators. The quickest, surest, safest way to become an expert operator is with a Vibroplex. Martin “UPRIGHT* Nickel-plated, $15 Weight, 1.4 lbs. VIBROPLEX No. 4 (Pocket Size) Blue Enameled Base, - - $13 Nickel-plated Base, - - - $15 MODEL X Japanned Base, Nickel-plated Base, OLD STYLE (Single Lever) Japanned Base, Nickel-plated Base, $13 $15 The World’s Best Operators Use the Vibroplex No telegraph operator with a thought to the f utu re can longer delay owning a Vibroplex. The number of Vibroplex users have more than doubled during the past year. Dispatchers, side-wire men, road men, relay men are all giving up the drudgery of handsending for the EASY VIBROPLEX. Whether the wire work is much or little, it can be done in the quickest, easiest, best way with a Vibroplex. Ask the man who uses one. Cuts Work in Half The Vibroplex has no competitor. Trans- mits the same grade of Morse as the STRONGEST, CLEAREST handsender,with less than half the labor. Quick action, easy touch and perfect control insures STRONG, CLEAR signals always with the least effort. Pays, for itself in labor saved. Saves the arm. Makes telegraphing easy. EASY TO LEARN The Vibroplex is easy to learn and operate. No matter whether you are a good sender or not, regardless of age, or how much trouble you have had with your arm. you’ll have no diffi- culty in sending good Morse with a Vibroplex. A little practice will put you on equal footing with the best. Don t delay getting a Vibroplex. DO IT TO-DAY IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT. Money order or registered nm«i Liberal allowances on old Write tor catalog THE VIBROPLEX CO., Inc. 253 Broadway, NEW YORK . j. E. Albrighl. Cffl'l Mgt., Member O. R. T.. N. Y. Di». 26, Cal 68 J Digitized by tjooole
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 15 “Look at Him Today!” “Six years ago he started in here just as you are doing. Now he’s General Manager and makes more in a day than he used to make in a week, ril tell you how he did it. The first week he was here he began to train for the job ahead by studying in spare time with the International Correspondence Schools. Inside of six months he got his first promotion. But he kept right on with the I. C. S. I tell you a man like that is bound to get ahead. Some day he’ll be President of the Company. You’ve got the same chance he had, young man, and if I were you I’d follow his example. Take up some I. C. S. course and do it right away. Use your spare time. Study. What you are six years from now is entirely up to you.” This is the story of thousands of r— — — — — - «« out hcr( — successful men. They did their work . INTERM ATKJNAL^ JWRRJESPOJM^EHCE ^ SCHOOLS well, and in spare time, with I. C. S. | help, trained themselves for advance- ment. That’s the thing for you to do. Whatever your chosen work may be, there is an I. C. S. Course that will prepare you right at home for a better position with bigger pay. More than 100,000 men are getting ready for promotion right now in the I. C. S. way. Let us tell you what we are doing for them and what we can do for you. The way to find out is easy. Just mark and mail this coupon. It won’t cost you a cent or obligate you in the least, but it may be the first step toward a bigger, happier future. Don’t lose ! a minute. Mark this coupon and get it into the mail right now. j BOX 8204, SCRANTON. PA. Explain, without obligating me, how I can qualify tor the i tlon, or In the subject, before which 1 mark X. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER Electric Lighting Electric Railways Electric Wiring Telegraph Engineer Telephone Work □ MECHANICAL ENGINEER Mechanical Draftsman Machine Shop Practico Gas Engine Operating CIT1L ENGINEER Surveying and Mapping NINE FOREMAN OR ENGINEER Metallurgist or Prospector STATIONARY ENGINEER Marine Engineer ARCHITECT Contractor and Builder Architectural Draftsman Concrete Builder Structural Engineer PLPMIIING AND I1EAIINU Sheet Metal Worker Textile Overseer or Supt. CHEMIST ■ SALESMANSHIP ADVERTISING Window Trimmer Show Card Writes Sign Painter Railroad Trainman ILLUSTRATING Cartooning BOOKKEEPER Stenographer and Typist Cert. Public Accountant TRAFFIC MANAGER Railway Accountant Commercial Law GOOD ENGLISH Teacher Common School Subiecaa Mathematics CIVIL SERVICE Railway Mail Clerk AUTOMOBILE OPF.RaTINO Auto Repairing ■ □ 8pm Navigation IrjOeri AGKin LITRE Im Fr*i Poultry Raising |£j Italian Name Present Occupation. Street and No Otty- s Digitized by LaOOQle
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cIkc Phillips Code A thoroughly tested Code of abbreviations, arranged for telegraphic purposes and contemplating the rapid transmission of press reports. Also intended to he used as an easily acquired method of short- hand for general newspaper and court reporting. GTliTR. EUGENE E. BRUCKNER, the well-known presa Vjl operator, has, under the authority of Walter P. Phillips and with the assistance of a number of officials and operators in the press service, thoroughly revised Phillips* Code, and the new edition was ready for delivery on June 1, 1914. Mr. Bruckner was considered by Mr. Phillips the most competent authority to undertake this important work, and so satisfactorily has the task been accomplished that the finished book has received the stamp of approval of the Associated Press, the United Press, the Publishers' Press, and all other newspaper agencies, as well as the endorsement of press operators, well qualified to judge of the merits of the ne* book. A large number of officials and operators in the press service were also frequently consulted on the revision. The new book was desirable for the same reasons that makes necessary a revision of scientific text books with the progress of each decade. The whole object of the revision has been to promote greater accuracy and reduce memorizing to a minimum. Under the new system, an operator who knows the code for Assist does not need to know the specific contraction for Consist, Desist, Insist, Persist, Resist, etc., for all are formed upon the same basis. Nor is it probable that the operator could make a mistake in their translation if, by force of sheer will power, he tried. THE PRICE OF PHILLIPS' CODE IS $1.00 Remit by post-office or express money order to C. B. RAWLINS ST. LOUIS, MO. Grand Secretary and Treasurer Digitized by LaOOQle
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 17 Now Gymnastic Finger Training Supplants "Touch” System New Way in Typewriting enables telegraphers to typewrite 80 to 100 words a minute; salaries increased to $85, $100 and $150 a month as a result. Record speed and absolute mastery at the typewriter are at last within the reach of every telegrapher by means of the New Way in Type- writing. And record speed means record salaries. The only reason all telegraphers don’t earn good salaries is because they are too slow in turning their dots and dashes into finished typewritten work. The “touch0 system is all right. It does increase speed and, it the fingers are naturally nimble, brings unusual results. But what if the fingers are stiff? The New Way in Typewriting is a revolutionary new method based on Gymnastic Finger Training. The reason most persons typewrite so slow and inaccurately is because their fingers are not flexible enough. The New W ay in Typewriting gives the flexibility, speed and niinbleness of the expert pianist’s fingers — speed and accuracy that enable musicians to run their fingers over the keys faster than the eye can follow. There is nothing else like the New Way in existence. It is as different from the old “touch” system as night is from day. Many hundreds of so-called “touch” operators have studied the New Way and, without excep- tion, have doubled and trebled their speed — and salaries ! The New Way in Typewriting is amazingly easy for anyone to learn. The wonderful machine practice makes the keyboard as simple as a pencil to handle. There are only 10 easy lessons, which do not interfere with your regular work, and can he studied at home in part of your spare time. And you may take the entire course on trial. If the New Way in Typewriting does not enable you to typewrite at the rate of 80 to 100 words a mmute, the Course will not cost you a penny! that is our legal binding guarantee to you! We have made arrangements with the Lagonda National Bank to refund money direct to students who are in any way dissatisfied. Look about you at the telegraphers who are earning bigger salaries than yours and you will find that they typewrite more rapidly and more accurately than you! What governs your salary is simply the amount and quality of finished work you turn out. The average telegrapher typewrites 30 to 40 words a minute and earns $40 to $70 a month. The New Way telegrapher typewrites 80 to 100 words a minute and earns $85 to $150 a month. Write for Full Particulars It costs you nothing to get the facts about the New Way in Typewriting. Send today for free catalog containing outline of lessons. We are right now making a special offer to new students in every locality. Let us tell you what hundreds of other telegraphers and typists have done. Let us give you the benefit of our seventeen years' experience in teaching the newest and best methods in typewriting by mail. Do not be, content with a low salary — do not be content with low speed and difficult typewriting. Increase your speed and accuracy in type- yr writing and earn to $lo0 a month as thousands of our students and graduates Mail Today are doing! Course includes a complete y^ For Bigger Pay business library. Write today s-hA/j before you turu this page. / Held, Ohio. THE TULL0SS SCHOOL. ^ 241 College Hill. Springfield, Ohio. yr Name Gentlemen ; Please send me your full particulars about the New ' Way In Typewriting. This incurs no obligation on my part. City State . Digitized by LjOOQle
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LEARN PIAINO UNINf, Moreland- One of many styles. TELEGRAPHERS Add many dollars to their salaries during spare time ) selling Transparent Handled 9 Novelty Knives with name, address, photo, lodge emblem, etc., showing under the handle. Superlative quality. Lightning sellers. We show you how. Agents that can five all their time can make $75 to $200 per month. 00% profit and exclusive territory guaranteed. Write 100% profit and exclusive territory guaranteed. Write quick for terms and special outfit offer. Novelty Cutlery Co., lOO Bar St., Canton, O. Bll EC DON’T BE CUT || r Until You Try This I !■ ■■ Wonderful Treatment The internal method # of treatment is the correct one, and is sanctioned by the best informed phy- sicians and surgeons. Ointments, salves and other local applications give only temporary relief. If you have piles in any form write for a FREE sample of Page’s Pile Tablets and you will bless the day that you read this. Write today. E. R. Page, 339 A Main St., Marshall, Michigan When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. PRACTICE economy — buy The Florsheim Shoe. The initial cost may be more, but the greater satisfaction you re- ceive through better style, per- manent comfort and long service will prove practical shoe econo- my in the end. Eight to Ten dollars, reason- ably priced, value considered. There’s a Florsheim dealer in every city showing the season’s correct styles. His name and booklet on request. The Florsheim Shoe Company Chicago, U. S. A. fli E9 FREE TO ASTHMA SUFFERERS A New Home Cure That Anyone Can Use Without Discomfort or Loss of Time. Address C. B. Rawlins, Grand Secretary and Treasurer St. Louis, Mo. THE PHILLIPS CODE PRICE - ONE DOLLAR ACATE STYLUS Beautiful carnelian agate stylus for train order men; assorted colored smooth point agate set in hard rubber handle. Special price to O. R. T., $100, postpaid. HICKEY SPECIALTY CO. 8 N. PERRY STREET. MONTGOMERY, ALA. We have a New Method that cures Asthma, and we want you to try it at our expense. No matter whether your case is of long-standing1 or recent development, whether it is present as occasional or Chronic Asthma, you should send tor a tree trial of our method. No matter in what climate you live, no matter what your age or occupation, if you are troubled with asthma, our method should relieve you promptly. We especially want to send it to those appar- ently hopeless cases, where all forms of inhalers, douches, opium preparations, fumes, “patent smokes,’’ etc., have failed. We want to show everyone at our own expense, that this new method is designed to end all difficult breathing, all wheezing, and all those terrible paroxysms at once and for all time. This free offer is too important to neglect a single day. Write today and begin the method r*. once. Send no money. Simply mail coupon below. Do It Today. FREE ASTHMA COUPON FRONTIER ASTHMA CO., Room 14148, Niagara and Hudson Sta.. Buffalo, N. Y. Send free trial of your method to: Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 19 IVERS & POND PIANOS Quality the Highest Prices Fair —Terms Liberal This is the basis on which we have built up and maintained the large number of IVERS & POND PIANOS sold into R. R. Men’s homes. If you are are considering a piano-investment, investigate the I vers & Pond factory’s product before you decide. You will find that whether you wish a simple home upright, like Style 705 shown here, a small grand or a beautiful player- piano, our line contains just what you need, and quality considered we can save you money. Our catalogue is full of valuable information to buyers — simply sign and mail the coupon below. Read What Railroad Buyers Say of the Ivers &. Pond Kangler, 111. Ivkrs & Pond Piano Co. Boston. Mass. Gentlemen— The beautiful Ivers St Pond Piano I purchased about a year ago has proven in every way satisfactory. It has. in fact, exceeded our highest expectations. The tone is exceptionally rich and full, the case is beautifully finished and it stands in tune better than any piano I ever saw. I could have pur- chased other pianos for less money, but I feel that this instrument is well worth the difference in price and in the long run will be the most economical pur- chase. I can recommend the Ivers & Pond in the fullest confidence to ray railroad brothers. I belong to the O. R. T. Grand Div. Very truly yours. S. C. Sprinkle. OUR SPECIAL OFFER TO RAILROAD MEN WILL INTEREST YOU Where no dealer sells Ivers & Pond Pianos we will quote special prices, sell on EASY PAY- MENTS, ship subject to your approval, and make it as easy and safe for you to deal with us as if you lived in Boston. Liberal allowance for old instruments in exchange. For a new catalogue, showing our complete line of uprights and grands, and a personal letter giving information of much value to any prospective purchaser, simply fill out and mail the Coupon. Pill out and send this coupon to IVERS St POND PIANO CO. 145 Boybtoo St., Boston, Maas. Plea— mail me yoar new catalog— and Special Offer to Railroad Men . Name Addreme Carroll. Iowa. Ivkrs St Pond Piano Co. Boston. Mass. Dear Sirs— l received your letter some time ago about our Piano (Ivers St Pond). Will say we all think it is fine and everyone who has seen it thinks the same. We have a friend who is a fine musician, and she thought it was grand. I am a Conductor on the C. St N. W. R. R. and belong to the O. R. C. You may have the privilege of referring my name to other R. R. men if you wish. Yours respectfully Mr. Wm. Wood Digitized by v^.oo<?Le
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. RIDER AQENTS WANTED* Everywhere to ride and exhibit the newl5' Ranger “Motorbike" completely equipped L with electric light and horn, carrier, stand,) tool tank, coaster-brake, mud guards and anti-A skid tires Cholco of 44 other styles, colorsh and sizes in the famous “Ranger" line of f bicycles, all at Factory -to- Rider prices. DELIVERED FREC on approval and 30 DAYS TRIAL. Send for big free catalog and particulars of our Thirty Day Fry Trial offer and marvelous offers and terms. TIPPQ Lamps, Horns. Wheels, Sundries, f TIRPC Lamps, Horns. Wheels, Sundries./ I into and repair parts and supplies for all / bicycles— at half usual prices. bicycles— at half usual pricaa. i \ SEND NO MONEY but tel) us exactly what You need Do not buy until you get our Factory-Direct^ » to-Ridrr prices, terms and the big FREE catalog. MKTA n CYCLE COMPANY lYICiML# DEPT, H 149 CHICAGO. U.SJL Ideal Operator’s Car IT IS THE STB0N8EST, WHITEST RUMNIMQ CAR MOWN This aingle-aeated car la fitted with boD-bearinga, rubber tirea, and detachable luggage baaket md tool bag completely equipped. It la built to auit any gauge. When made for atandard (4 j8H inches) gauge or wider, the front wheels may be folded back under the car, reducing it to a more compact form for handling or storing. These can posse— abundant strength and durability, and are widely used on rough moun- tain railroads and logging and mining roads, which abound in steep grades and sharp curves. They are geared to suit grade The standard gear is 62; option 52, 58 and 73. its net weight — sixty-five It may be fitted with our detachable front seat, which weighs but fifteen pounds. This remarkable testimonial is from A. P. Grey, Agent. N. Y., N. H. IAMONPS.WATCHESonCREPIT tor thould have the JtliS BKRC.VAS <60 Page JEWELRY BOOS In Tour Tlomr Ov<-r 1.000 Illustrations, Diamonds, Watches, jewelry, etc. Select any article desired, have it sent to you. all charges prepaid. If satisfactory, send one-fifth of purchase price and keep it balance in eight monthly amounts. No interest charged. No security required. WRITETUDA1 if J It tells about ,.urc prnpss.y 37-39 Malden Lane our low prices and binding guarantee. JAMES BERGMAN, Eat. 1896. New York Digitized by '
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. Immediate Results Trying to quit the tobacco habit unaided is a losing fight against heavy odds, and means a serious shock to your nervous system. So don't try it. Make the tobacco habit quit you. It will quit you if you will just take tobacco Redeemer according to directions. fnr vTalJe a p?rticle of difference whether you've been a user of tobacco for a single month for 50 years, or how much you use, or in what form you use it. Whether you smoke cigars, cigarettes, pipe, chew plug or fine cut or use snuff 1 obacco Kedeemer will nositivelv removo nil omvinrr : Tobacco Redeemer will positively remove all craving for tobacco in any lorm in from 48 to 7« hours. Your tobacco craving will begin to de crease after the very first dose— there's no long waiting for results. Tobacco Redeemer contains no habit-forming drugs of any kind and is the most marvelously quick, absolutely scientific and thoroughly reliable remedy for the tobacco habit. J Not a Substitute Tobacco Redeemer is in no sense a substitute for tobacco, but is a radical, efficient treatment. After finishing the treatment you have absolutely no desire to use tobacco again or to continue thei use of the remedy. It quiets the nerves, and will make you fed better in every way. If you really want to quit the tobacco habit get rid of it so completely that when you see others using it. it will not awaken the slightest desire in you— you Hhould at once begin a course of Tobacco Redeemer treatment for the habit. Results Absolutely Guaranteed A single trial will convince the most skeptical. Our legal, binding, money-back guarantee goes with each full treatment. If Tobacco Redeemer fails to banish the tobacco habit when taken according tc the plain and easy directions, your money will be cheerfully refunded upon demand. Let Us Send You Convincing Proof If you re a slave of the tobacco habit and want to find a sQre, quick way of quitting "for keeps you owe it to yourself and to your family UU NEWELL PI to mail the coupon below or send your name and address on a postal and receive our free booklet Please send on the deadly effect of tobacco on the human U O booklet regard system, and positive proof that Tobacco Re- . _ I^eeme^wS deemer will quickly free you from the habit, /W Newell Pharmacal Company Name ... Dept. 301 . St. Louis, Mo. an Smoked for 25 Years Tennessee, 1915. I am 37 years old, smoked cigarettes and pipe since I was about 12 or 14 years old. I did not think I could quit smok- ing; I would get up in the night out of bed to smoke, was spending at least $2.00 per month for tobacco and matches — $24.00 per year, and now have no desire for tobacco and even hate to see or smell smoke. I have gained 15 pounds in weight and I am unable to explain the full benefit Tobacco Redeemer has dono for mo but it is worth, in my opinion, thousands of dollars. I would not take anything for my benefit I got out of Tobacco Redeemer. T. J. LAUTHNER, Conductor Southern lty. Co. Stanton Division No. 139. VMa/7 Coupon NOW Jfor FREE Boo Me t NEWELL PH ARM A CAL CO., ^ Dept. 301 St. Louis, Mo. Please send, without obligating me in any way. your free booklet regarding the tobacco habit and proof that Tobacco Redeemer will positively free me from the tobacco habit. Street and No.. Town State.. Digitized by '
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22 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. s HORTHAND World’s Greatest System Boyd Syllabic System. Easy to learn, based on New Principles; all difficulties of old line systems eliminated; amazing results. Prepare for a Government position paying $900 to $1200 a year, or for office work, court reporting or private secretaryship. Writers hold highest records. 100 to 150 words a minute in 30 days guaranteed. Learned in 30 Days No longer necessary to spend six months in learning short- hand. You can become an expert writer in 30 days at your own home by the Modern, Up-to-Date Boyd System. Boyd ‘ * in ~ ' ~ writers command highest salaries. A course L. _ lng prepared by experts — winner of 13 Consecutive Championship Contests — given Fit EE as a part of the course. ~ ‘ ‘ " * Catalog. Special Offer and Sample Lesson. CHICAGO HOME STUDY SCHOOLS 507 Reaper Bloch Chicago, 111. Touch Typewrit- mpfon 8end today for OPERATORS STYLUS Beautiful striped agate, hard rubber handle, corrugated finger grip. Points finished so as not to tear train order paper. Say blunt, fine or medium point. Mailed Post Paid Promptly. $1.00. 2 for $1.90. SUPERIOR NOVELTY CO., WYANDOTTE, MICH. )l for this high profession. In which there *r* mtt Six months lerm. Diploma awarded. Send for frae to Become a Banker. ,T EDGAR G. ALCORN. Pres. RICAN SCHOOL. OF BANKING State Street. COLUMBUS. OHIO WANTED; AW IDEA!! Who can think of some simple thing to patent? Protect your ideas, they may bring you wealth. Write for “Needed Inventions ” How to get your Patent and your Money and Patent Buyers. RANDOLPH 4 CO., PATENT ATTORNEYS D.ot. 134. W.shlncton. D. C. LEARN WATCH REPAIRING Be a Watchmaker— you can learn this profitable trade by correspondence in a few weeks in your own home by the DeSelms Chart System. After you complete the •ourse you will know a watch from A toZ. You will know just what the matter is and how to repair one. ■aduate you will be a practical watch- repairer, and competent to fill any maker i When you graduate you will be a practical watch* ■ ana repairer, and competent to fill anj position. Positions for our graduates. Ask for our Free Book. Itexplains our system andterme. THE DeSELMS WATCH SCHOOL 10 Perry St. Attica, Indiana BcficiYour i Position $125— $250 A MONTH r Are you under 55? War has taken the youth of the eoa> f try. Railroads demand Traffic Inspectors — young mow. oM men, but trained men. $125 a month and expenses to star. What Is a Traffic Inspector? Briefly, he roams the conttoec: In a Pullman to safeguard our lives and hls Company « money. He Is In a position to grasp opportunities. If bet# \ efficient he is bound to gain positions of trust. Hundmb k wanted now. There is no excuse for failure today. Tte L Is your chance.* You can do this with proper training. F. P. 8. qualifies you In 3 months' home study, and arranges for position. Write for explanat-'y " booklet Kll. Frontier Preparatory School Mujffalo.n.y. The Phillips Code Price, $1.00 A thoroughly tested code of abbreviations; arranged for telegraphic purposes and con- templating the rapid transmission of press reports; also intended to be used as an easily acquired method of shorthand for general newspaper and court reporting. ADDRESS C. B. RAWLINS Grand Secretary and Treasurer ST. LOUIS, MO. BROOKS’ NEW CURE Brooks’ Appliance. New dia- FOR covery. Wonderful. No obnoxious springs or pads. Automatic Air Cushions. Binds and draws the broken parts together as you would a broken limb. No salves. No plasters. No lies. Durable, cheap. Full information and book on rup- ture FREE. Sent on Trial. C.E. BROOKS. 191A State St.. Marshall, Mich. A Ka!ftn\ft7oo •ss? Direct to You Save Wisely Where Quality Counts Most Get your range direct from Kalamazoo manufacturers — save money in buying — save high priced fuel in use. Get this book showing our full line — stoves, ranges, all styles and sizes — built right up to the highest mark of quality. Quick Shipment— we pay the freight and guarantee safe delivery. Cash or easy payments. 30 days’ trial. Thousands save money’ — why don’t you? Write today. Ask for Catalog No. 543. KALAMAZOO STOVE CO., Mfrs., KALAMAZOO. MICHIGAN We manufacture Stoves, Ranges, Gas Ranges, Furnaces, Kitchen Kablncts. Tables. Digitized by
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Watch Charm Digitized by Google The SANTA FE SHATTERS ALL WATCH PRICES Write today and receive the beauti- ful watch book telling all about this most remarkable of watch offers. Shows all sizes of watches from men’s to the daintiest bracelet watch, the ideal timepiece for the ladies. WATCH PRICES SHATTERED 1 Read This Astounding OFFER ^QUNOIS^AIkA SantoTfeSeeeial MW 21jewelsM4th Imnnrtant 0®e most remarkable sales of watches llll|IUI lalll ever Inaugurate 1 Is njw In progress. We are distributing 5,000 "Santa Fc Special" waic.ica to men who will help us extend the NEWS about this remarkable RAILROAD WATCH. PROFITS ARE ELIMINATED. Every watch In this lot has been selected by President Thomas of the Santa Fe Watch Company, personally, in order that the BEST and highest tested will be distributed. We want every Rallroa l man who takes advantage of this GREAT SALE to favor us by showing his "Santa Fe Special" watch to members of his family and circle of friends. That’s all we ask. ThH stupendous offer could not be made except for the co-operation of the Telegrapher and the employees of the great reals, rea !ers of this pub- lication. The extraordinary sale prices mean an enormous sacri.lce owing to advancing costs of materials, skilled labor and our slaughter of prices. Save § to i of Your Money This offer Is going all over the United States. Act now If you want to get In on this distribution of watches. A few weeks have already passed since this offer went Into effect. This Is the first opportunity we have had to extend It to the telegraphers. Write today for the EXTRA DISTRI- BUTION INDUCEMENT before the allotment Is gone. You get the advantage of an extremely low price. Send Your Name Today Clip the coupon, fill out and receive the free watch book right of! the press. All the newest watch case designs are shown. Read our easy payment offer. Wear the watch 30 days Free. Watch sent for your examination and approval without a penny down. Nothing to risk. See the watch before you buy. >ANTA FE WATCH CO., xi , n. x> x> Dept. 1 3. TOPEKA, KANS. he Kunooi Sent* Fe Do Luxe Train running between Chicwro *nd <m Angeles makes • "mile a minute* ’ clip with a FAMOUS SjANrA E SPECIAL" WATCH IN THE CAB. Whitcomb aays: ^ BEST WATCH 1 EVER CARRIE GET A NEW Lapel Button EMBLEM BUTTONS SOLID GOLD FRONT $1.00 each Rolled Gold Front Plate 50 Cts. each Ladies’ Rolled Gold Plate Front 50 cts. each WATCH CHARMS Fine Rolled Gold Charms $2.00 each THE Official Emblem of the O. R. T. is a Sounder sur- rounded by a wreath. They are now made up in the latest style with enameled face and screw back, both in solid gold and rolled plate. It is the neatest thing of the kind ever produced. C. B. RAWLINS Grand Secretary and Treasurer St. Louis, Mo.
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2- BUYING A AMAZING VALUES— ALL MAKES Wo can save you from 40% to 75% on any standard typewriter, according to model. Why pay one hundred dollars or thereabouts when you can get the same value for less than one-third the price. Keep the difference in YOUR pocket. Our free book tells why we can make such low prices. Send for it. Ten-Day Trial offer IRONguarantee Every machine is sold with the privilege of TEN DAYS’ TRIAL. You can thoroughly test the machine, use it as much as you wish for ten days. If not satisfied, return It at our expense. If you keep it, you are fully protected by our iron-clad guarantee. Gash, Installmenfs or Rent Our prices and terms will suit you. You can buy outright for low cash, on small! monthly install- ments, or rent by the month. Rental applies on purchase price If you decide to keep the machine. SEND FOR “The Truth about Typewriters” and Free Catalog Young Typewriter Co. cmc&iffLL. Underwoods, L.G.Smiths, Monarchs, Remingtons, Olivers, Foxes, etc. Regular and Shiftless keyboard. At a DISCOUNT to O.R.T. Members. Send for Illustrated Catalog. American Typewriter Eieb. Dept. 5. 14 W. Washington St.. Chlcafe Subscribe for The Railroad Telegrapher One Dollar Per Year We have plenty of muscle in our shipping depart- ment; what we need right now is a Traffic Manager man who knows freight and express rates, classifications, and routing of shipments. We w ill pay a Kood salary to the man that can fill that job, because his work will save us thousands of dollars and many complaints from customers.” CURED HIS RUPTURE Today It’s a battle of wits— and brain* win. What do yon know ? Have you the special ability that commands good pay, or are you depending on muscle, or on a “pull” to get you ahead? The International Correspondence Schools can train YOU to become a Traffic Manager, or for some other well-paid work, no matter where you live or what you now do. No cost to find out— Just mark and mall the coupon. ' “tc»r out henc — — — — — — I INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS, Box 8205. Scranton, Pa. I Explain fully about your Coume in the subject marked X I TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Q ADVERTISING IQ SELLING Business Law H Bookkeeping BJ Stenography Architecture J Civil Service M J CHEMISTRY Architectural Drafting □ Ry. Mail Service Rj Illustrating Elertrtral Enjrlnrerlnir M Steam Engineering IQ Farming Meehan lea I Engineering M Civil Engineering I ] Poultry Mechanical Drafting □ AUTOMOBILES |U Languages I Name 1 Address I was badly ruptured while lifting a trunk several years ago. Doctors said my only hope of cure was an operation. Trusses did me no good. Finally I got hold ot something that quickly ana completely cured me. Years have passed and the rupture has never returned, although 1 am doing hard work as a carpenter. There fras no operation, no lost time, no trouble. 1 have nothing to sell, but will give full information about how you may find a complete cure without operation, if you write to me, Eugene M. Pullen, Carpenter, 1093D Mar cell us Avenue, Manasquan, N. J. Better cut out this notice and show it to any others who are rup- tured—you may save a life or at least stop the misery of rupture and the worry and danger of an operation. Perfect hearing is now being re* stored in every condition of deaf* ness or defective hearing from causes such as Catarrhal Deaf- ness, Relaxed or Sunken Drums, Thickened Drums, Roaring and Hissing Sounds, Perforated. Wholly or Partially Destroyed Drums,Discharge from Ears, etc. Wilson Common-Sense Ear Drums Little Wireless Phones for the Ears ” require no medicine but effectively replace what is lacking or defective in the natural ear drums. They are simple devices, which the wearer easily fits into the ears where they are invisible. Soft, safe and comfortable. Write today for our 168 page FREE book on DEAF- NESS, giving you full particulars and testimonials WILSON EAR DRUM CO., Incorporated 2 1 3 Inter -Southern Bldg, LOUISVILLE. KY Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 25 For That Bad Arm THE CANDLER SYSTEM The System That Has Made The Fastest Telegraph Operators In The World SPEED MEANS MONEY Many operators realize their weakness, but are unable to remedy it. This SYSTEM tells you what to do. It is indorsed by W. U. and Postal officials, dispatchers, relay men and doctors everywhere. It is the only posi- tive cure known for LOST GRIP. This SYSTEM will mtjke a first-class operator out of you. If you are not content with a small “job,” but want to obtain promotion, THE CANDLER SYSTEM tells you how. It prepares you for the “big job.” It will give you a good arm, no matter what con- dition your arm is in now, and make you a first-class receiver and expert typist. Send for free booklet telling all about it. A postal will do. The Candler System Co. 818 Leland Ave. CHICAGO For the Operator Working a Noisy Job Noise Can’t Touch DIAPHRAGM TELEGRAPH SOUNDER No Telegraph Operator can afford to be without a Diaphragm Sounder if he works a noisy job. Keeps you in touch with the wire from a distance, and is plainly read above all noises. Noise can’t touch it, not even a “steaming" engine. No other sounder equal to it in volume of sound or quality of tone. Attached to separate relay, it makes an Ideal Resonator Saves cleaning batteries. Lasts lifetime. Thousands in use. GUARANTEED Q ORDER YOURS TODAY JpO Money order or registered mail. Write for Folder. Railways Labor-Saving Device Co. 1040 Arlington Avenue, DAVENPORT, IOWA Be INDEPENDENT and Own a Florida Grapefruit and Orange Grove Increase Your Income You Can Start a Grove Today Under Our New Plan Develop a profit earning fruit farm without leaving your present position — provide for your future. A small payment now and a few dollars invested each month should reap large and increasing dividends from year to year. A profit producing fruit grove is a permanent invest- ment and provides protection against old age. These splen- did lands arc suburban to Tampa, the metropolis of South Florida, the most healthful, the most delightful climate in North America. THE RIGHT LAND IN THE RIGHT LOCATION AT THE RIGHT PRICE WE HAVE IT— ANY SIZE FARM From 10 to 040 acres or more. For seven years we have been right here helping develop Hillsboro— the banner agricul- tural County of Florida, and we are still here to servo you and to help you obtain the farm you want. Whether It's 10 or 20 acres, for a Fruit Grove. Poultry or Truck Farm, or from 80 to 040 acres for General Farming and Hog Raising, we can give It to you on very easy payments extending over 4 or 6 years’ time to suit the purchaser. Groves Developed for Non-Residents * If you want to remain in your present position for a few years we can develop a grapefruit and orange grove for you. When you are ready we will clear your land, furnish fruit trees, plant and care for your grove until you are ready to look after it. WE RAISE OUR OWN GUARANTEED CITRUS TREES IN OUR OWN NURSERIES This Insures every purchaser the best fruit trees that can be grown. This also Insures a successful grove. We can save you money on planting and caring for your grove. HOG RAISING AND GENERAL FARMING We also have lands especially adapted to general farming Corn and Live Slock. Hog raising has never been so prof- ’ itable before. High prices for all meat and pork products - * must continue — Florida hog raisers should make big S _ /■A money for many years to come. Come to Sunny Florida IT COSTS YOU NOTHING TO LET US PROVE TO YOU that we have the land you t « want— In the location you want — at price you can afford to pay and on i easiest terms you can imagine. Let uo . ▼ c >Ao s show you. r £ today and receive our large descriptive book FREE! J VJU W A,* -at a * vy the Fill out and mall us the coupon / 4* dav and r#*rplvi> OUT large ^ .cv *\ .O NORTH TAMPA LAND CO. C. E. Thomas, Pres. Suite M Tower Bldg. ^ c / Cr Chicago. Ss> ✓ .''AC\cfc<» ** 4 ✓ T Digitized by Google
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26 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. RELIABLE TYPEWRITERS 1000 all makes, New and Rebuilt carefully by expert workmen. Royal, Remington, Smith, Fox, Oliver, Corona, Etc. $16.00 to $50.00 A n«w quality guaranteed like new. Repeat orders bare come from every ate. Up-to-date factory, established SPECIAL, lata Underwood e ? w Back spacer, 2 color guaranteed*? Cash with order or for reference C. O. D. on trial. I Ilustreted catalog free. U. S. Typewriter Co. 113 Fisher Bldg., Detroit, Mich. MOST STARTLING VALUES IN TYPEWRITERS $10 TO $15 UP Rebuilt as good as new. Remingtons, Under- woods. Olivers and other makes. Shipped on trial. Write for our Special Offer No. 124-N with Guarantee. Will positively save you money. WHITEHEAD TYPEWRITER CO. 136 N. LaSalle Street, - Chicago FAILURE- OF “606” Are you one of those who used “606” or “314” and found it a failure? Have you been to Hot Springs and returned uncured? Have you taken the Mercury and Potash treatment and are you still suffering? Have you suffered from Blood Poiaon, Rheumatism, Malaria, Chronic Constipation, Ecsema, Catarrh, Liver or Stomach Trouble, Enlarged Glands In Neck or Groin, or Scrofula without being benefited by any treat- ment? If so, write for our 100-page book, FREE, showing how to obtain the results you are looking for. All corre- spondence confidential. THE C. E. GALLAGHER MEDICINE CO. BID. 1622 Ft*. Si.. St. Loata. Mo. The RAILROAD TELEGRAPHER IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY THE ORD&R OF RAILROAD TELEGRAPHERS Its offices are located on the seventh floor of the Star Building, comer Twelfth and Olive Streets, St. Louis, Mo. Former Health Commissioner Says Nuxated Iron Should Be Used in Every Hospital and Prescribed by Every Physician — Attributes His Own Great Physical Activity Today at Over 60 Years of Age Largely to His Personal Use of Nuxated Iron What Former Health Commissioner Kerr Says: “As Health Commissioner of the City of Chicago I was importuned many times to recommend different medicines, mineral waters, etc. Never yet have I gone on record as favoring any particular remedy, but I feel that in Nuxated Iron an exception should be made to the rule. I have taken Nuxated Iron myself and experienced its health-giving, strength-building effect, and in the interests of the public welfare, I feel it my duty to make known the results of its use. I am well past my three-score years and want to say that I believe that my own great physical activity is due largely today to my personal use of Nuxated Iron, and if my endorsement shall induce anaemic, nervous, run-down men and women to take Nuxated Iron, and receive the wonderful tonic bene- fits which I have received, I shall feel greatly gratified that I made an exception to my life-long rule in recommending it. From my own ex- perience with Nuxated Iron, I feel that it is such a valuable remedy that it ought to be used in every hospital and prescribed by every physician in this country. Former Health Commissioner, city of Chicago. NOTE. — Nuxated Iron, which has been used by Former Health Commissioner Kerr with such surprising results, and which is prescribed and recommended bv physicians in such a great variety of cases, is not a patent medicine nor secret remedy, but one which is well known to druggists everywhere. Unlike the older inorganic iron products, it is ebaily as- similated, does not injure the teeth, make them black, nor upset the stomach; on the con- trary, it is a most potent remedy in nearly all forms of indigestion as well as for nervous, run- down conditions. The manufacturers have such great confidence in Nuxated Iron that they offer to forfeit $100. 00 to any charitable institution if they cannot take any manor woman under 60 who lacks iron and increase their strength 100 per cent or over in four weeks’ time, provided they have no serious organic trouble. They also offer to refund your money if it does not at least double your strength and endurance in ten days’ time. It is dispensed by all good druggists. Former Health Commissioner Kerr has given years of his life fighting for public health In his own and other cities. It was he who Introduced Anti-toxin for Diphtheria in Chicago's Health Department. Ha purified the milk for the Consumers and thereby helped to save the lives of thousands of babies. Ha In- troduced the anti-spitting ordi- nance which has been copied all over the country and also took care of the sewers and garbage In the interest of public health. He Is positive that the wide- spread use of Nuxated Iron would greatly lessen the worries and troubles of Health Com- missioners in keeping up a high standard of public health. Digitized by v^ooole
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 27 Our Special * Lou) Prices Our Diamonds arc distinctive in beauty and brilliancy. A Genuine Dia- mond is the best investment into which you can put your money. With stores in leading cities and our extensive Mail Or- der House, our large purchasing power puts us in position to make prices which areimpoesible for small concerns to meet. The Handsome Solid Gold La Valliere No 92f».herc8hown.isourbig leader. Four beautiful perfect cut Genuine Diamonds tOC TERMS:$5 Down. $2.50 a Month Send for Free Catalog There are over 2.000 illustrations of Diamonds, Watches, Jewelry, etc. Whatever you select will be sent, all shipping charges prepaid. You see and examine the article right in your own hands. Tf satisfied, pay one-fifth of purchase price and keep it; balance divided into eight equal amounts, payable monthly. Our Catalog shows all the new watches —15,17, 19, 21, 23 Jewels, adjusted. Guar- anteed by the factory and further guar- anteed by us. Watches that pass rail- road inspection as low as $2 60 a month. Every article in our Catalog is special- ly selected and priced direct to you. LOFTIS BROS. & CO. THE NATIONAL CREDIT JEWELERS Dept. U-869 108 N. State St. .Chicago UL Stores In Leading Cities The rose Grand is creating a sensation in musical circles. Investigation will convince you that never has a grand piano with the prestige and quality of the Vose sola at so low a figure. $575. F. O. B. Boston. Before buying a piano learn more of this wonderful instrument. We Challenge Comparisons Write /or our beautifully illustrated catalogue and easy payment plan. VOSE & SONS PIANO COMPANY 161 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. Prices Direct to You A BSOLUTELY net terms on + * any diamond you choose. Y ou can now buy direct. No jobbers, no retailers to pay. Write for our net price list and Dia- mond Book showing an exquisite collection of splendid. blue-white Diamonds Rings in all styles. Tiffany, Belcher, etc.. La Vallieres, brooches and other diamond jewelry. Every diamond a superb gem. Selected by a famous expert. Perfectly cut to give maximum brillian- cy. Richly mounted in solid gold and platinum settings. Free Examination before you accept it. We want you to compare these diamonds with others at twice their price. $050 Monthly ^ A Only $2.50 a month will make you the wearer of a beautiful diamond ring. Other terms, $3.50 $4.50 and up — and middle- men’s profits cut out. f Burlington ■ a f ^ j / Watch Co. Write / rrv'"1 / Without obligations For Net Price List and / Diamond Book / 8cnJ Diamond Book. Shows the different / gems, styles of mount- I ings and gives our best net prices with i ame ~* terms of payment. / Do it now — today, y BURLINGTON / Address WATCH CO. / Dept. 7341 / Chicago, m. m — r DigrtiT-ed-toyxrrOO^'te Write
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CHIjf ©riter of Satlroaii SWegrapIjerH PETITION FOR MEMBERSHIP Officers and Members, Division No The Subscriber „ by occupation a of years experience, bom in voluntarily offers himself as a candidate for initiation into THE ORDER OF RAILROAD TELEGRAPHERS, and agrees, if admitted, that he will cheerfully conform to all the laws, rules, mandates and edicts of the Order. I have not been rejected for membership in the Order within the past year. Fee enclosed, $ Signature of Petitioner Dated at — this day of 19 *My Postoffice address is Employed by„ Railroad - This is to Certify: That we, the subscribers, are personally acquainted with Mr. _ and, from a confidence in his integrity and the uprightness of his intention, do cheerfully recommend and propose him as a proper candidate for member- ship in this Order. *Be careful and fill in your postoffice address. RECOM MENDERS. Digitized by v^oooLe
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 29 VES, the New Edison Amberola— Mr. -*■ Edison’s great new phonograph with the Dia- mond stylus reproducer and your choice of all the brand lilllHW New Diamond Amberol Records on tree trial without a penny ( T P™ '■ down. Now, on this offer, you can have the finest, the best that ^ : money can buy at a price very much less than that at which imitations of the genuine Edison Amberola are offered. Seize this opportunity . Send conponT^^^^^^^C^ R ftpk-Rnttnm Of for Dirort Let us 3611(1 the New Edison *— IvUdV. DUUU111 UIICI 1711 Amberola to your home on free trial. Entertain your family and friends with your favorite records— everything from Grand Opera to the latest city song hits. Comic Vaudeville and roaring Minstrel Shows— then, if you choose, send the outfit back to us at onr expense. But if you wis’h to keep Mr. Edison’s superb new .• instrument, send ns only Remington j gives every telegrapher a new start in typing efficiency. The Self Starter of the latest Model 10 Remington makes carriage setting automatic. It eliminates useless motions. It gives the typist more time to type. It enables the operator to concentrate on the sounder, without any thought of the machine. Send to us for illustrated folder describing this latest Rem- ington improvement. Nothing else like it — no added cost. REMINGTON TYPEWRITER COMPANY (Incorporated) 374 BROADWAY • - - NEW YORK, N. Y. Mr. Edison's Wonderful /Veu) Mmberola. Only T Digitized by v^ooole
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30 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. CARD CASES *r GREATLY REDUCED PRICES 30c 60c 75c SI. 15 $1.25 $1.45 ■MOT WITHSTANDING the fact of unusual market conditions which will necessitate our replacing these card cases at an advanced cast to us. we offer them at these radical reductions on present prices, and presumably greater savings on future prices. By far the most extraordinary sale ever held. I I ir vi lie 82.00. Special sale price. . ><»• -lit. I his Card Case is Sure a Beauty. Made of No. 1 grade English Calf Skin. Hat a transparent pocket Juft the right size for your divlalon card ; memorandum book and pencil; change pocket with snap faatener; three pockets for cards, car tickets, etc., and a secret bill pocket. Case closes with a snap fastener. 91.50 Value. lCr Socclal sale price I QC No. 423. Real Genuine Leather Cover. Has three folds and seven separate com- partments; transparent pocket for divi- sion cards, secret bill fold, change pocket, two separate places for cards, yearly calendar, identification card, place for Postage stamps, car tickets, etc. 91.25 Value. Special sale price OUC No. HI. Three-Fold Card Cases. Genuine leather. Transparent pocket, two card pockets and secret hill fold. Somewhat OA. shopworn. 75c V ul ue. Special vale price OlJC pocaei, two earn cornets and secret bill fold. Somewhat shopworn. 75c 1 aluc. Special sale price 0 UC Money back if not satisfied. Send today. A. T. REDINS MFG. CO., 6046 Superior Ave., CLEVELAND, OHIO THE RIILROID TELEDRAPHER On# Dollar Per Year Let Us Send You a Cap C. 0. D. We will ship you a RegulationUnlform Cap, black ribbed silk. Send no money in advance. Be sure you give correct sise. We can ship you promptly sises 6 5*. 65*. 65*. 7, 7V*, 75*. on 70 7H. 75*. 7«*. We 0 U s 1 U kave been established /vtxtv^kt Winr\ for “Xty years* *** (UNION MADE) have a reputation for REGULATION UNIFORM CAP prompt, correct and Black ribbed silk (best quality), heavy ontiiifarttnrv patent leather visor, gold embroidered let- M*™**®*? 8er”0e* iers,tworowsgoldtape,caneframe, leather ©end for Uniform Cap ■weat band, well ventilated, light weight. Catalogue free. Fill Out and Send this Coupon to 80ETTLER HAT CO., 12S0 8. Bmtfviy, ST. LOUIS, NO. Pleaat tend C. O. D., with privilege of examination, one of your cape as abova, slse 'WMEsM ‘ ' v~r One Pair s HEADLIGHTS outwears 2 PAIRS of ordinary overalls ■ ■ PATENTS WRITE FOR HOW TO OBTAIN A PATENT, list of Patent Buyers, and Inventions Wanted. $1,000,000 in prises offered for inventions. Send Sketch for TlTkHTl opinion as to patentability. Our Four Books sent M IlM |j Free. We assist inventors tosell their inventions. JL ALLiU Victor J. Evans £ Co., 797 Ninth, WtsMigtH,D.C. PATENTS THAT PROTECT AND PAY BOOKS, AND ADVICE FREE Send sketch or model for search. Highest References. Beat Results. Promptness Assured. Watson E. Coleman, Patent Lawyer 6M F StrMt. N. W. WssklitflM. D. C. BROTHER UNIONIST That the best made shoes — the shoes made under the best man- ufacturing conditions — the shoes that best stand wear — bear the Union Stamp, as shown herewith Aak your dealer for Union Stamp •hoe#, and If he cannot supply you write Boot and Shoe Workers' Union 246 Summer Street - Boston, Mass. Digitized by ’
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 31 A THREEFOLD CONSERVATION IN these days when the most stringent economy is neces- sary, the “Silent Smith” is doing its part in the general program of saving. There is conserva- tion of — The INVESTMENT, because of low cost of maintenance and long duration of service. The EMPLOYER, because he can enjoy a quiet office, with no typewriter clatter. The OPERATOR, because she can do her work easier and better. Send for free booklet telling more about this wonderfully efficient, ball-bearing, long wearing typewriter. L« C. Smith & Bros. Typewriter Co. Factory and Home Office, SYRACUSE, N. Y. BRANCHES IN ALL PRINCIPAL CITIES Free Trial No Money Down — Freight Prepaid YES, we will ship you on 4 weeks* absolutely' free trial a genuine highest- grade Wivg piano or player -piano DIRECT from our oton factory freight prepaid. The most amazing piano offer ever rnude. Your choice of 38 superb new styles. Cash or easiest monthly payments as you prefer — but first— the four weeks’ free trial. Since 18out material, manufacture, assembling, patented devices, soundboard, action, case, everything, necessary to judge quality and price in buying a pxano. We will also send free our beautiful catalog showing new art styles. Mail the coupon today. I -r— Wing fe. Son, Dept. 7341 (Estah. 1888) *••••* Wing Building, 9th Av. and 15th St.. New Yoik B Gentlemen:— With the understanding that I am not buving ■ anything, you may send me the 140- page Piano B«x k containing J the ten testa, also your free shipment offer on tne Wing Piano. (Est. 1$ Dept. 7341 Wing Building 9th A ve. and 13th St. New York * Pi.no S»* D 1- C Rr>r>lr f minor ■ Name Digitized by v^ooole
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40 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 1 5jOOO Operators Wanted at Once by the Government M art in Vibroplex Has No Competitor. The demand for operators has never been so urgent as now. The Railroads and Commercial Companies are hard put to handle an ever increasing business necessitated by the war. The Government wants 15,000 trained telegraph and buzzer operators at once. From every quarter comes the cry for good operators. The quickest, surest, safest way to become an expert operator is with a Vibroplex. Martin “UPRIGHT” Nickel -plated, $15.00 Weight, Ui lbs. VIBROPLEX No. 4 (Pocket Size) Blue Enameled Baae, - $13 Nickel-plated Base, - - $15 MODEL X Japanned Base, Nickel-plated Base, OLD STYLE (Single Lever) Japanned Base, ... Nickel. plated Base, The World's Best Operators Use the Vibroplex No telegraph operator with a thought of the future can longer delay owning a Vibroplex. The number of Vibroplex users have more than doubled during the past year. Dispatchers, side-wire men, road men, relay men are all giving up the drudgery of handsending for*Ae EASY VIBROPLEX. Whether the wire work is much or little, it can be done in the quickest, easiest, best way with a Vibroplex. Ask the man who uses one. Cuts Work in Half The Vibroplex has no competitor. Trans- mits the same grade of Morse as the STRONGEST, CLEAREST handsender with less than half the labor. Quick action, easy touch and perfect control insures STRONG, CLEAR signals always with the least effort. Pays for itself in labor saved. Saves the arm. Makes telegraphing easy. EASY TO LEARN The Vibroplex is easy to learn and operate. No matter whether you are a good sender or not, regard- less of age, or how much trouble you have had with your arm, you’ll have no difficulty in sending good Morse with a Vibroplex. A little practice will put you on equal footing with the best. Don’t delay getting a Vibroplex. DO IT TODAY IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT. Money order or registered mall. Liberal allowances on old machines. Write for Catalog THE VIBROPLEX CO., Inc. 253 Broadway, NEW YORK J. L Albriglit, Cta'I Mp., Menkr 0. R. T..N. T. Dhr. 2t> Cart. B Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 37A TRADE A\ARK JI?s FREE TRIAL d^s A Master Phonograph — Direct to You at Rock Bottom Price This remarkable Phonograph will be sent upon payment of only $4.50. Try it in your own home for ten days before you decide to keep it. If you keep it you have a wonderful instrument and a big bargain. Thereafter you pay 8.00 per month until 149.60 ia paid in full. If for any reason you don’t want to keep , write for instructions to return and for your deposit. Description of the Sweet-Tone The cabinet - Si inched high. Mahogany piano finish, fr rontinpleco is in artistic nn'lle effect becked hr beautiful drapery. Metal Parts are nickel finished and polished. Motor is riouble- eprlnar type— powerful, nmooih in action, intent, 'thoroughly reliable. Tone Modifier— a feature Guaranteed Railroad Watch On Credit k The Famous “Bunn Special”, Guaranteed to Pass Every Inspection ^ Why pay cash for a standard railroad watch? You can save money through JM our Direct to You, easy payment plan. We will send you this celebrated “Bunn SB Special” Lever set, 2 1 jewels, adjusted to 6 positions, Montgomery R. R. Dial 14 K gold !$■ filled case on our liberal credit plan 20^ down. [■, L 7M a°d 10£ each month until paid in full. 8 M NO MONEY IN ADVANCE JS &&&& M We Bhip express prepaid subject to your ap* tP W proval. You examine — if you don’t like it send it JL*. r back; nocosttoyou. It' the watch suits you pay v ^ $7.75 down and S4. 00 monthly until its cash price of _ \ _ ' 930.75 has been paid. You wear the watch right from A the start. No security. No red tape. Everything oon- £Vilkw $ iL’P* '^o9* fldential. Write us TODAY for full particulars of this ^ ^ great watch offer. Diamonds and Jewelry — On Credit at Cash Prices Buy Today— Eight Months to Pay Why pay cash when you can get “Sweet” Diamonds and Jewelry on credit at cash prices? WE TRUST YOU— no security— no guarantee— no red tape —WE TRUST YOU. Terms: 20% Down — 10% Monthly — Free Examination Anything you select from our complete gift Catalog 11 H will be sent at our expense. You see before you buy. Only if you are satisfied, do you pay one fifth down and the balance in eight monthly payments. “Sweet” Diamonds are superior quality, perfect cut, blue-white gems. Our Astounding Profit Sharing Offer Get Your FREE Copy of Jewelry Catalog 1 1H Invest in a “Sweet” Diamond. Each gem Over one thousand gifts to select from — is guaranteed by us forquality and value. Our gifts suitable for everybody. Diamond Rings. BINDING GUARANTEE protects you. Wo Pina, La Vallieres, Watches, etc.. Silverware, accept Diamonds bought from us in exchange French Ivory Toilet Ware, Cut Glass ; also at full price, plus 741 annual increase. Cameras and Phonographs. L.W. Sweet & Co. Inc., 2-4 Maiden Lane UH, New York, N.Y. Digitized by Google
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160 1 C/l FOR EVERY NAME MAILED US Brother Telegraphers READ THIS! IT IS AN EARNEST APPEAL FROM ONE BROTHER TELEGRAPHER TO ANOTHER Stop and think for a moment, brother teleg- raphers, how many people do you know in your town whose hearing is defective? I want to give to each one whom you know is thus afflicted a chance to hold their jobs and forever banish from their minds the fear that deafness will deprive them — of one of life's most precious As a fon I want you, brother teleg- m ■ raphers, to sit right down this lClCgni| moment and send me the names YoW H of all such men and women ** . you know, and to each one I WTC2I will send on free trial the most . scientific hearing device ever Wh&t 1 A invented. This free trial will Will W^f not in any- way obligate them u W to buy it, neithex will they 2 I know from whom we secured their names. Wo2t I Wi I ask no deposit from these RahirnM people. I am going to demon- uCUlnl Ih strate to their utter satisfac- WoitD I tion, before they pay me a penny , that this wondexful de- All I Ask vice is all that is claimed for , y it — that they can hear per- uj 1 00 fectly once more. I warrant H you that they will, each and every one, rejoice at this de- Will YC liverance from loss of hearing, and that they would not part IT with this instrument for any- 1 1 thing. * I will send this unique hear- ing device to each name you give me by parcel post, prepaid, to try it and use it as if it were their own. If they are not satisfied with it in every way — if they are not convinced that it is indispensable to their efficiency, comfort and happiness — As a former Brother Telegrapher 1 Ask Your Help in My Great Work. What 1 Ask of Yon Will Not Cost Yon a Penny. What I W01 Give You in Return Makes It Well Worth the Effort. All I Ask Can Be Done by Yon in a Mo- ment. Will YOU Help? DO IT NOW! they simply return it at my expense and the.y will owe nothing. Each sale thus made by me from the names you supply me will bring you our check of $1.50 immediately. As a brother telegrapher, I appeal to you for assistance, in this splendid cause. Having been one of I Brother y°u for many years, I know Ijl * your response to this appeal ASK will be whole-hearted and im- ) in My mediate. n ■ 3 It means that you have onlv » OflL to sit down and write these ~ v names and addresses on a [ Of YOO sheet of paper and mail it to ost Yob me* that's y°u arc iny. I I have saved many deaf operators with this device from ]1V6 YOB U) losing their positions, and I If Wall can the same for everybody 0S U IT ell you know in your homr ! Effort. town- | They will consider it an act H Be DODO ^rov^ence that brought this I* precious instrument in their 2 MO- possession. I* In this manner you will not only be doing them a great T u t 9 favor, but helping yourself and J tielpt myself as weJ1 WnW! If you st°P an(^ think, IN U W ! I know you can call to mind many who are deaf. Please let me. have these names at once. I will repay you for them with our check of $1.50 on every sale I make. Write these names and addresses on a sheet of paper and mail it to me today . A* soon as I make a sale, I will send you $1.50 by return mail. Send them along NOW. C. J. COLLINS, VIBRO-SONO CO., Inc. 145 WEST 136th STREET NEW YORK CITY Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention This Railroad Telegrapher. 161 abulator Stops Adjustable Paper Guide Forced Alignment Fork largmal Stops arrlage elease* Platen Release Line Soace Adjustment Carriage Return and Automatic Spacer Back Spacer I want, through this advertisement, to establish u friendly business re- lations with you u 1 possibly can. 1 want you to realize, alao, that It la my earnest effort and Intention to give you full honest value for every dollar that you spend with mo. This la the only way I can succeed. The publisher of this magazine will vouch for my square dealings dur- ing the four years and more my advertising has appeared. I am building up my business on the foundation of good value and square dealings. 1 am savin* thousands of satisfied customers thousands of dollars by supplying perfect^-late style— visible writing- -typewriters, at remarkably low prloes. All my transactions ere handled throughout by personal correspond- ence. I assure you every courtesy and consideration In your dealings with me. Your order will have my prompt, careful personal attention. I will be glad to do business with you. ibbon Reverse Ribbon Shift & Stencil Cutter Tabulator Bar Qjfchwuj 0'S nurfky TYPEWRITER SENSATION- Free TRIAL — Use As You Pay Only $3.00 a month until the low total prlca of $48.30 is paid, and the machine Is yours This is absolutely tho most generous typewriter offer ovor made. Do not rent a machine whan you can pay $3.00 a month and own ona. Think of it— Buying a $100 machine for $48.30. Cash Jprico,* $45.45. Newer before has anything like this been attempted. STANDARD VISIBLE L. C. SMITH ALL THE WRITING ALWAYS IN SIGHT. SPECIAL TELEGRAPHERS’ KEYBOARD-REGULAR COMMERCIAL TYPE. Perfect machines, standard size, standard single shift keyboard with double period, two color ribbon with automatic shift; ball-bearing typebars, etc. Back Spacer, etc. Comes to you with everything complete: tools, cover, operating book and instructions, ribbon, prac- tice paper — nothing extra to buy. Railroad Billing Typewriter, 84 characters, 14-inch car- riage, writing 12 inches, with back spacer, two-color ribbon, etc., $54.30, same terms; with 18-inch carriage, $57.30. You cannot imagine the perfection of this beautiful typewriter until you have seen it. I will send it to you, F. O. B. Chicago, for five days’ trial. It wull sell itself, but if you are not satisfied that this is the / greatest typewriter you ever saw, you can return it at my expense. f I it nt M rilttJL i You won’t want to return it after you try it — you cannot equal this / CHICAGO,' ILL. wonderful value anywhere. ' ship me the l. c. smith. You Take No Risk-Put In Your Order NOW / When the typewriter arrives deposit with the express agent $9 30 and Lake the ma- / SPKCIAL 148.80 purchase price, chine for five days* trial. If you are convinced that It Is the best typewriter you ever / at the rate of $3.00 per month. The saw, keep It and send me $3.00 a month until our bargain price of $48.30 la paid. / title to remain in you unUl fully If you don't want it, return It to the express agent, receive your $9.30. and / paid for. It is understood that I return the machine to me. I will pay the return express chargee This machine / havu five days In which to examine la guaranteed Just as If you paid $100.00 for It. It Is standard. Over one / and try the typewriter. If I choose not hundred thousand people own and use these typewriters and think them the I to keep It 1 will carefully repack It and beat ever manufactured. / return It to the express agent. It Is un- The supply at this price la very limited, the price will probably be raised when / derstood that you give the standard guar- my next advertisement appears, so don’t delay. Fill In the coupon today — mall / ante© Tor one year, to me— the typewriter will be shipped promptly. There Is no red tape. I / employ no solicitors — no collectors — no chattel mortgage. It Is simply un- 9 derstood that I retain title to the machine until the full $48.3® Is paid. / You cannot loee. It la the greatest typewriter opportunity you will ever / Name have. Do not tend me one cent. Get the ooupon In the malls today— sure. HARRY A. SMITH Room 8cH?£Tco,fth A" / m June R. R. T. Digitized by
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162 When addressing* our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. ALL LEADING TIRE COMPANIES WITH TIRE prices soaring and over three million car owners practising Thrift, the amount of tire-repair work is doubling- The increasing shortage of men opens up splendid opportunities for men of all ages and occupa- tions to get into this money-making business. Profits are good, the business grows steadily, and your success is assured when you learn the latest and most approved methods with AkronWilliams TIRE mmm equipment DESIGNED. PERFECTED AND USED BY OVER 100 TIRE COMPANIES Start a new business or department of garage, at small capital and small expense, and add new equip- ment as needed. There's an Akron-Williams outfit of every size, and a machine or tool for every purpose. Learn all branches of repair- ing underour direction in the big tire factories; and let us help you get located where opportunities are Best. Start right— send today for cata- log, prices and full Information. The Williams Foundry & Machine Company, m»vm St. Akron, Ohio The True Pianist Knows there is no piano comparable to this beautiful Vose Grand at $626 f.o. b. Boston. Three Rent-rations of the Vose family with sixty-eight years of highest ideals in piano construction have given the Vose itu enviable reputation. We challenge comparisons. Write for our beautifully illustrated, catalogue and easy payment plan. Vose & Sons Piano Company 16lBoyIston Street, - Boston, Mass. Cut Collar Costs Have you ever figured the cost of wearing laundered collars? The popu- lar “turn down” cotton collar costing 20c lasts about six trips to the laundry at per trip, or 15c; total 35c for six days wear. Sixty days* cotton collaring then costs $3.50. Challenge Cleanable Collars cost 25c each, wear sixty days or more and require no laundering. They save starch, time and money. 25c against $3.50. They come in eighteen styles, half sizes, domestic dull finish and stitch edging — an appearance identical with laundered collars. Admirable for dancing, because they will not wilt, and for motorists, because oil, dust or perspiration can be instantly removed with a damp cloth. Enterprising department and mens’ stores everywhere sell Challenge Cleanable Col- lars. Try them. Style booklet on re- quest. Send 25c for sample. State your size and style when writing. The Arlington Works Owned and Operated by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co 725 Broadway NEW YORK CITY. Digitized by
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention Th* Railroad Tblegraphxr. 163 He started late — but he succeeded fast He was thirty-five years old. During fifteen years he had occupied a half- dozen or more different "jobs.” He made a fair living. He had a "good time.” The first few years after he married, his thrifty little wife worried somewhat because he didn’t seem to get ahead as fast as some of the other men of their acquaintance. 35 years old — then he "woke up” On his thirty-fifth birthday, he began taking stock of himself. He analyzed nis mental and business assets. He saw that the purchasing powerof a dollar had shrunk. They needed more money. He made a big discovery. He found out that what he most lacked was training in fundamentals. Discovers most important essential in business Then he made his great discovery LAW is the first fundamental of ALL business. He found that Law-Trained men in business were usually near the top. High Salaried Positions Won by Law -Trained Men He learned that men didn’t become executives in business by accident, luck or "pull.” They had acquired a definite train- ing that opened the way for them to their high salaried positions. He concluded that, if ne was a law-trained man, he would be a more successful business man — his salary larger — his position better. It was too late in life for him to go to a law school. Besides, he had his living to make. He learned that any earnest man, of average intelligence, could learn the law in a reasonable length of time, by devoting his spare time to the Blackstone Institute Law Course. He filled in and mailed the coupon for "Further Information.” They are watching him now — Today this man is thirty-seven years old. He is not an official — yet . But he knows he is a better business man. Added responsi- bilities have been given him. His salary advances have been voluntary — his opinions are frequently sought. When he makes a decision now, he has confidence in its sound- ness. His judgment is better because his law training has developed his business mind to reason from fundamentals, logically, pru- dently, profitably. He doesn ’t know it, but the "rowers That Be” are watching him now as a man with bigger possibilities. Law training will help any man to be- come a bigger, better business' man. The largest corporations, the largest mercantile houses, large and small businesses of all classes are appreciating more and more the value of law-trained men in managerial and executive positions. YOU can learn the Law in YOUR spare time The Modem American Law Course and Service of the Blackstone Institute is recognized as the fore- most non-resident Law Course in the country. It is written in a simple, understandable manner.by eighty of the leading law authorities in America. The lec- tures and guides are distinguished for their directness and clarity of thought. They are prepared by such men as Ex-President Taft, Hon. John B. Winslow, George P. Sutherland, former President of the American Bar Association, Joseph E. Davies, etc., etc. Get further information— write for FREE BOOK — "The Law-Trained Man” Our new 118-page book tells how easy it is for a man to learn law in his spare time. It shows how highly the Course is regarded on the Bench, at the Bar and by clear-thinking business men. If you would multiply your chances for real success, write and get a free copy of this book. It will interest you — it shows the way to greater success. Your request obligates you in no way. Simply fill in and mail back the coupon below. BLACKSTONE INSTITUTE, Dept. 170A, 608 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, 111. Send "The Law-Trained Man,” 118-page book. Free Name Business Position Address city statc with X For Busine88 [ ] Adm. to Bart ] BLACKSTONE INSTITUTE Organized to meet the demand for law-trained men Dept. 170 A, 608 So. Dearborn St., - Chicago, I1L L Digitized by Caoooie
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164 When addressing our advertisers, please mention Thb Railroad Telegrapher. ADJUSTED/ P0SITI0N5 4th POSITION ISf POSITION You can always be sure of having an accurate Time Keeper if you carry a SIX Position Adjusted SANGAMO SPECIAL or a BUNN SPECIAL Illinois-Spring- field Watch. Ask your Jeweler for these Watches. Illinois Watch Company, Springfield, Illinois Express speed for letters — no stops rPHE Self Starting Remington clears the tracks for express speed in receiving * over the wire. No local stops for switching the carriage. The switching is automatic — instantaneous. This Remington invention, fully protected by Remington patents, makes every “mill” operator a faster operator because it forces more automatic speed out of the machine itself. Receiving on the “mill” over the wire is certainly “express” work if any typewriting ever is. No up-to-the-minute telegrapher can afford to operate a “local.” That’s the reason every telegrapher should use a Self Starting REMINGTON Typewriter REMINGTON TYPEWRITER CO. ( incorporated) New York and Everywhere Digitized by Google
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When addressing: our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 165 100,000 Traffic Managers Wanted “Master of the World’s Markets” $5000 A YEAR Yea, $5,000 positions are waiting for the men who know how to direct freight transportation. Thousands of firms are calling for Traffic Managers. RIGHT NOW positions are open! Why stick in the small job when you can qualify at home in your spare time for traffic management ? Manufacturers, railroads, jobbers — all our great business organizations are calling for men who know how to handle the intricate problems of transporta- tion— experts who can prevent mistakes in rates, routings, demurrage and handling charges, incorrect classifications, etc. The war is creating new open- ings daily. Thousands of fine positions are awaiting you. All you need is the special training, which you can get by mail from this association of practical traffic men. Wonderful New Opportunities A recent order of Mr. McAtioo. Director General of Railroads, eliminates the Con- tracting. Travel- lng and Freight So- liciting Agents, and requires shippers to depend upon the com- petent traffic man for information regarding car equipment, quick- est deliveries, lowest rates, embargoes, and all factors which en- ter into the shipment of their products. Charles Schwab has been appointed Dl- rector General of Shipping and It is ' predicted that by the Ume the war is over, the United States will own one-half of the freight carrying vessels of the world, giving America control of the world's markets and creating a demand for ■ trained men to direct this world-wide trans- portation. Day by day the op- portunities for the trained traffic man grow bigger. Get in- to this new profes- sion now! Learn how quickly and thorough- ly we prepare you. Write for all particu- lars. We T rain Y ou By Mail We give you individual coaching and train you by our “Experience” method. You will be put in touch with more than 300 big traffic managers, belonging to this association. These men are connected with big railroads — steamship, manufacturing and shipping concerns of the U. S. You will in a short time acquire the samo valuable knowledge, gained by the experts only after a life- time of hard work and tedious study. With your mem- . bership you will get FREE our Fifteen-Volume Traffic """" SUCCESS! C. H. Wanamaker. after working 10 long years as a telegraph operator, decided to better himself and took up our traffic training. He had not even completed the qourae before be se- cured a position with the United Piece Dye Works of Lodi. N. J.. at a salary to start of 13.000- a year! Every day there come to us stories of how our stu- dents are securing high • salaried traffic positions all over the country. You can at- tain the same success. Let us show you how easy we make It for you. Management Digest, prepared by these experts at cost of nearly $75,000 and which took more than five years to prepare. Write us now for full information on the new profession of traffic manage- ment and particulars of our course. Simply send irour name and address. All information sent Write Today! / / letter or postcard. Mail the coupon or your name and address. All information sent / onnr»rn!nir thi> r Awnpintinn nmi free and postpaid. Write today— now, while / - concerning the Association and you are thinking of it. American Commerce Association Dept Sfl American Commerce Bldg. CHICAGO. ILL. Send me FREE and without obligation complete Information how I can train as a traffic man. / AMERICAN COMMERCE ASSOCIATION / Address Dept. 86, American Commerce BIdjr. CHICAGO. ILL. ' City Xatne. State. Digitized by Google
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166 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Tblbgbap&xr. 27 YEARS THE ENEMY OF PAIN St*"'’' HEADACHE TABLETS sir-^v for Headaches, Neuralgias, LaGrippe, Colds, 1 Women’s Aches and Ills i 1 lO Ask Your Druggist for “A-K” Tablets 25 CENTS the antikamnia chemical company, st. louis CENTS Ideal Operator’s Car IT l> THE STRONGEST, LIGHTEST BHIIIM6 CM MOW This single-seated car is fitted with ball-bear- ings. rubber tires, and detachable luggage basket and tool bag completely equipped. It Is built to suit any gauge. When made for standard (4 ft 8ft in.) gauge or wider, the front wheels may be folded back under the car, reducing it to a more compact form for handling or storing. These cars possess abun- dant strength and durabil- ity and are widely used on rough mountain rail- roads and logging and mining roads, which abound in steep grades and sharp curves. They are geared to suit grade conditions. It may be fitted with our detachable front seat, which weighs but 16 pounds. This remarkable testimonial is from A. 7. Grey. Agent. N. Y.( N, E 4 E R. R., Charles River, Mass.: "The car is a wonder. It hasn't cost me one cent for repairs since I first had it, and summer and winter I have made five miles per day, includ- ing Sundays. In other words, I have ridden 6,500 miles without even having to tighten a nut. "What surprised me most of all was the fact that the car rode grace- fully over half an inch of snow on top of rails. One hundred dollars would not buy my car today, unless I knew that you were still in business and could ship another promptly." The standard gear Is 62; option 52, 5S and 76. Its net weight Is sixty- five pounds. WRITE TODAY FOR CATALOGUES AND PRICES THE INDIANA PISTON RING COMPANY FORMERLY THE TEETOR-HARTLEY MOTOR COMPANY, Hagerstown, Ind., U. S. A. Digitized by Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention Thb Railroad Telegrapher. 167 “1 Got the Job!” “I’m to be Manager of my Department starting Monday. The boss said he had been watching all the men. When he found I had been studying at home with the International Correspondence Schools he knew I had the right stuff in me — that I was bound to make good. Now we can move over to that house on Oakland Avenue and you can have a maid and take things easy. I tell you, Nell, taking that course with the I. C. S. was the best thing I ever did." BOX 8210. SCRANTON. PA. Explain, without obligating me, hov/ I can qualify for the por- tion, or In the subject, before which I mark X. Spare-time study with the I. C. S. is winning promotions for thousands of men and bringing happiness to thousands of homes all over the world. In offices, shops, stores, mines, mills and on railroads, I. C. S. TKAN OUT HUH — — — ' ■ trained men are stepping up to big jobs, over INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS the heads of older men, past those whose RnY 821n‘ canton, pa. only qualification is long service. There is a job ahead of you that some man is going to be picked for. The boss can't take chances. When he selects the one to hold it he is going to choose a trained man with sound, practical knowledge of the work. Get busy right now and put yourself in line for that promotion. You can do it in spare time in your own home through the Inter- national Correspondence Schools, just as nearly two million men have done in the last twenty-five years, just as more than 100,000 men are doing today. The first step these men took was to mark and mail this coupon. Mak e your start the same way — and make it right now. electrical engineer Electric Lighting and Railways Electric Wiring Telegraph Engineer Telephone Work MECHANICAL ENGINEER Mechanical Draftaman Machine Shop Practice Gaa Engine Operating CIVIL ENGINEER Surveying and Mapping MINK EOKEMAN OK ENGINEER Metallurgist or Prospector STATIONARY ENGINEER Marine Engineer Ship Draftaman ARCHITECT Contractor and Builder Architectural Draftsman Concrete Builder Structural Engineer PLUMBING AN1> HEATING Sheet Metal W'orker ^Textile Overseer or Supt. C CHEMIST Name Present Occupation. Street and No. SALESMANSHIP ADVERTISING Window Trimmer Show Card Writer Sign Painter Railroad Trainman ILLUSTRATING Cartooning BOOKKEEPER Stenographer and Typist Cert. Public Accountant P TRAFFIC MANAGER Railway Accountant Commercial Law GOOD ENGLISH Teacher Common School Subject* Mathematics CIVIL SERVICE Railway Mail Clerk AUTOMOBILE OPERATING Auto Repairing Navigation |H Spanish AGRICULTURE Iu Kreneh Ponltry Raising Italian City. Digitized by Google
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Get a V ibroplex Every Telegrapher Should Own a Martin VIBROPLEX Probably no branch of the telegraph shows more marked improvement in the quality of work per- formed than does the telegraphing of Railroad Telegraphers. Thousands of these telegraphers not satisfied with slow, laborious sending, once common on all rail- roads, have developed into STRONG, CLEAR SENDERS, with the aidof the Vibroplex. Martin “UPRIGHT” Nickel-plated, $15 Weight, lVa lb*. VIBROPLEX No. 4 Blue Enameled Bate, $15 Nickel-plated Base. - $17 MODEL X Japanned Base, - $15 Nickel-plated Base, $17 Cuts Work in Half Sending with a Vibroplex is just an EASIER, QUICKER and BETTER way of telegraphing. There’* no tenting of muscle* as in sending on the key. No nerve strain. Just a smooth, pendulum-like motion of the arm in pressing the lever from side to side — the machine does the work. Proficient in the use of the Vibroplex you do your work in half the time, and with half the labor. Easy to Learn The Vibroplex is a strong sender, a strong carrier, and easy to \ master. Smooth and quick in action which invites perfect control and makes for EASY, RAPID sending. The old and young use the vibroplex with equal success. Re- ■ f sponds to the touch of one as readily as the other. No matter what kind of sender you are now, you will have no trouble sending MX STRONG, CLEAR Morse with the Vibroplex. You owe it to yourself to take advantage of the EASY-ACT- ING Vibroplex. Don’t wfut. ORDER A VIBROPLEX TODAY. Immediate shipment Money Order or registered mail. Liberal allowances on old machines. In response to numerous requests for the VIBROPLEX No, 4, mounted on the OLD Style Base, we are now prepared to fill orders for this model. Place your order early. $15. To get the best results — Get a Vibroplex for your own per- sonal use. Adjust it to your own touch. Don’t tinker. Don't let others change or use it. Wrtie for Catalog THE VIBROPLEX CO., Inc. OLD STYLE (Single lever) 253 Broadway NEW YORK Japanned Base, - $15 Nickel-plated Base, $17 J. E. Albright, Gen’l Mgr., Member O. R. T. N. Y. Div. 26, Ocrt. 68 G e t a Vibroplex Digitized by V google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention Thi Railroad Tbl»obaph«b. 169 More Money In Your Pay Envelope The New Way Typewrite 80 to 100 Words a Minute Blindfolded ! Fast Typewriting Easy for T elegraphers ! And Highly Profitable, Too! READ WHAT TELEGRAPHERS SAY Salary Increased ••Increased ray speed from almost nothnu ta 75 words per From $52.50 to $105.00 Per Month masterv of the 'New NVay' greatly Increased my speed (Mgneu) 1074 wood St.. Decatur. 111. 30 Per Cent Salary Increase with beneflts. (S 9 o.>i Union Station. Salt Lake City. Utah. NOW, for the first time, has an idea been dis- covered which puts speed great speed and accuracy in typewriting within the reach of every telegrapher. Almost over night it has revo- lutionized the whole typewriting situation. — — Telegraphers w h o formerly never ex- ceeded 30 to 40 words a minute are writing 80 to 100 words with less effort and with accuracy infinitely greater than ever be- fore. And their -sala- ries have increased in some cases $80 a month. No matter how low your present speed, no matter how labored your efforts, no matter how weak or clumsy your fingers now seem to be. no matter how , little or how much experience you have had no matter what other courses you have taken, this new method will positively bring you desired results or the entire course costs you noth ng. The new way is based on gymnastic n"^ t™ln; Ing. European music teachers, when training their pupils for the piano, invariably give special nast c linger exercises. This is because uni rained Angers are not skillful fingers. The best results simply cannot be obtained unless the student learns how to use the Angers correctly and de- v el ops the proper muscles. The same gymnastic training is even more es- sential to expert typewriting. The reason that so few' people can write more than 30 to 40 words » minute is because their fingers are not flexible nimble enough. This new easy method overcomes this at one — develops finger strength and flexibility by exercises a way° f rom t h e machine-trains the llngers before- hand for their work on the machine — and the re- sults border on the miraculous. We cannot explain the new way here but we have prepared a book which tells all about the v v wonderful gymnastic finger exercises and explains the course in complete detail. It is a big 32-page book, brimful of eye-open- ing ideas and valuable information. If you are ambitious to get ahead — if you want to make your work easier — if you want to put more money in your pay envelop e — get this book at once. It will be a revelation to you as to the speed and salary that are pos- sible to typ- ists. Tear off the coupon now', before .* Ilcp you turn the page. Write today. .* Address The TULLOSS SCHOOL , 246 College Hill / This For Bigger Pay .* Gentlemen: Please send me your free book about the New Way in Type- writing. This incurs no obligation on my purt. SPRINGFIELD, OHIO ••• .* Address /’ City •' Occupation ' *’ MaB to THE .State. 6 College Hill r^ffield. Ohio
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170 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. engine, bis famous watch 30 Days Free Trial f* - and freight prepaid on a new 191* "RANGER ' bicycle. Write at once for our big catalog sod special offers. Take your choice from U styles, colors andsisesin the famous '‘RANGER** 1 oe. Marvelous improvements. Extraordinary vaJosa in our D18 price offers. You cannot afford to buy without getting our latest propositions sod Factory-to-Rlder prices. Boys, be a “Rider Agent** and make tsg money taking orders for bicycles and supplies. Get our liberal terms on a sample to in trod bc? the now “RANGER/* TIRFQ equipment, sundries and everything I 111 CO in the bicycle line! at half sirsal prices. W rile today. A post cord wUf do. M r A n CYCLE COMPANY 1*1 CsM U Dept. MH|; Chicago Send Your Name and We’ll Send You a Lachnite ■ nONT send a penny. Just send your name end mmy. * 'S**od rao s LacK- f nite mounted in a -tolid srold rlnr on 10 days' fnr« trial. ” WcviSasd PI rt prvpaid ritfht to your home. When it cornea merely S3 T3 w«r‘ P> the pontmun and tfn-n w« .ir the rinv for 10 full d.» *. It you. or if any et • your friends can tell It from a diamond, send It back. B it if you ce- H*1 cidc to buy H— send ua $2.u0 a moi.ih until $13.75 hue bovo pekl. \l r; ♦ n TnHoV Send your name now. Re sure tell os which of Che v* rue i uaay rj. niu*trmud above you .uii-i or men'll — yive u» th« si7.e of \ our Harold Lachman Co., 12 N. Michigan Ave., Dept. ATM. Chic LOOK 21 Perfect Jewels Adjusted to Position Adjusted to Temperature Adjusted to Isochronism Adjusted to the Second Thin Model All Sizes STARTLING OFFER Right NOW an other manufacturers are advanc- ing prices on watches we are slashing Ol R PRICES TO ABSOLUTE ROC K-BOTTOM. WE ARE FORCING WATCH PRICES DOWN. We can do this simply by sacrificing all profits and through the special co-operation of THE RAIL- ROAD TELEGRAPHER. Take advantage of this GREAT OFFER before It Is withdrawn. ®fILLIHOfe*, SantaTfeSpeeial 2Ijewel*»I 2^ — the one railroad watch “That’s Guaranteed for Life.” Write for FREE Watch Book Today Santa Fe Watch Co.. Dept. 63. Topeka, Kails. One of the world’s finest trains running between Chicago and Los Angeles makes a “mile a minute” clip with a Famous "Santa Fe Special" Watch in the cab. Whitcomb says: "BEST WATCH I EVER CARRIED." The Phillips Code Price, $1.00 / ’oroughly tested code of abbreviations; ai ranged for telegraphic purposes, and contemplating the rapid transmission of press reports; also intended to be used as an easily acquired method of shorthand for general newspaper and court reporting. ADDRESS C. B. RAWLINS Grand. Secretary and Treasurer ST. LOUIS. MO. Subscribe for The Railroad Telegrapher — $1.00 Per Year The Welliirtoi Visible Typewriter $60 (•"SWWM"' $75) Hi* Canadian Pacific Ky. Co. now uses 3.000 of theca machines. WHY? Superior strength, simplicity and dura- bility. The beet manif older and atcncil cotter. Permanent alignment guaranteed. Local agents wanted everywhere. ALBRIGHT TYPEWRITER CO., Gaatral Salts Agents. 211 N. 10th St., ST. LOUIS; 314 Broadway. NEW YORK; S4 Market St.. SAN FRANCISCO iIAMONDS.WATCHESonCREDIT • JA-ES BERGMAN 160 Pag* JEWELRY COOK in Your Honr Ofer 1. 000 r)lu» ■*<rhfe. Jewelry. etc Select any article d paired bare It gent to you. all charge* pr*; •cod one fifth of purr hiiar price and keep lu balance In eljrbl monthly amount*. No u security required WRITE TODAY for Bl* Pree Catalog No 69 It tell* about OUT ( truaramoc. JAMES BERGMAN, 37 39 Malden Lana. New York. Bat IW Digitized by
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention Tri Railroad Telegrapher. 171 It OLD GLORY -| FREE TO YOU Break the stars and stripes to the breeze! Every school, church, business house and home should have a bis flap out. Old Glory means encouragement to our soldiers, fathers, mothers anti allies: warn- ing to our foes; victory for freedom; death to unscrupulous militarism. We give you free a big, splendid flag 70x4-0 inches (90 square feet) made of heavy, fast color materials, double stitched seams and edges. All we ask you to do is to distribute among your neighbors and friends 10 copies of our War Atlas It’s just off t lie press, correc ted up to the last minute. 10 big pages, 15x1 1^ in . of beautifully engraved, handsomely colored maps, showing war fronts and battle sites. Double page ni9 of Europe, of the Western Eront where the battle is now raging. of Turkey arul the Balkan coun- tries, Russia. Germany. Italy. United States and the World Don’t Send Us One Cent This Atlas would be cheap at one dollar, but we permit you to introduce them at our special advertising; price of 50 cents each. We’ll send you 16 of them with- out one cent in advance. Distribute them, send us the fs.oo collected and the flag with an Atlas for your own use will be sent you free. You can sell these Atlases, for we tell you how. Many people sell them the first day and write for more. Everybody Wants a Good War Atlas To follow our hoys ill arms on land and »*-». to ket-p pace with the terrible conflict in which our own boys from home are shedding their blood day by day, Americans nted comprehensive maps This wonderful Atlas com- prises the most complete series of maps of its kind in existence, enabling you to answer all questions and follow the flags of our los s and allies on any s«-a or land of the entire world. More real Information is given in this Atlas than on other maps selling at from $1 to |5. The single price of this Atlas is one dollar, but you enn sell It in your vicinity for only 50 cents if you art . f quickly. Everyman. w.. )• /# *>V 15 woman and grown child *4 [ Indie* needs one and will buy One If give In sue the opportunity. That is why we afford to make this wonderful introdu- tory offer, wiling millions of them and bringing our name an geographic publishers before the people In every community. ACT NOW! Don’t delay' This ofler is g»wd only while our supply of flags lasts Send no money. If you love your country's flag your credit is good with U9> Just drop us a postal saying, ‘ Send vie the Altascs, ” and give us xour nearest express office. If you will send the *8 0»» with your order, we will tend the flag and Atlases at once and Include free a hand- some and useful war souvenir gift. « NATIONAL MAP COMPANY Business Established 1HS5 427 National Bldg. Indianapolis, Indiana Single Atlases "will be sent prepaid ** s nn to any address on receipt of price, sj) 1 .v7\J Mr, Edison*s Wonderful New Amberola The world’s greatest in- ventor has made the music of the phonograph life-like, at last. Success — after years of labor on his favorite in- ventionl Rend on r offer on his wonderful new phonograph. and after trial An astounding offer — the New Edison Amberola, Mr. Edison’s great new phonograph with the new Diamond Stylus reproducer and your choice of all brand new Diamond Amberol Records will be sent to you on free trial without a penny down. The finest, the best that money can buy at very, very much less than the price at which imita- tions of the genuine Edison Amberolas arc offered — a rock-bottom offer direct from us. Entertain Your Friends Hear all the latest up-to-date song hitsof the bigcitics. Laugh at the side-splitting minstrel shows. Entertain your family and your friends with every- thing from Grand Opera toComic Vaudeville — then if you choose, send the outtit back to us at our expense. Rock-Bottom Direct Offer If you wish to keep Mr. Edison’s superb new in- strument, 6end ua only $1.00 after the free trial. Pay the balance on the easiest kind of monthly payments. Think of it— a $1 00 payment, and a few dollars a month to get this outfit of Mr. Edison’s now phonograph with the Diamond Stylus reproducer, the life-like music- the same Diamond Amberol Records— all the mu ical results of the highest priced outfits — yes, the greatest value for 11.00 down, balance on easiest monthly terms. Convince your- self—a free trial first! No money down, no C. O. D.. not one cent to pay us unless you choo»« ▲«■■■■■■ to Keep the instrument. Our New Edison Catalog Sent Free / ?lwmJ£™nUan Your name and address on a ♦ A734 Edison Bik. post.il or a h ttcr(or j.,st the jT Chicago, III. coupon) ia enough. No obiigat sons f _ in a- king for the catalog, (jet 4F uentlemen : I lease Bona thi« oflVr — while this offer J> . me y«ur New hdiaon Cata- lasts. bill out coupon today. 4F full particulars of A vonr t ro« tr.„l offer on the ‘ mber ’ F. K. BABSON Edison Phonograph Distributors A734 Edison Block Chicago, HI. Canadian OfTW : ef 855 Portage Ave. new model Edi^ou Amberola. / if Name . Winnipeg, Manitoba. Digitized by
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172 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. LET US SEND YOU A CAP C. 0. D. We will ship you by prepaid express a Regulation Uniform Cap in either black ribbed silk or brown straw. Send no money in advance. Be sure you give CORRECT SIZE and mention style you want. We can ship promptly sizes 6% to 8. inclusive. We have been established for sixty years and have a reputation for prompt, correct and satisfactory service. Send for Uniform Cap Catalog free. GOETTLER HAT CO., 1260 S. Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. UNION MADE REGULATION UNIFORM CAP Black ribbed silk (best quality), heavy patent leather visor, gold embroidered let- ters, two rows gold tape, cane frame, leather sweat band, well ventilated, light weight. B r b wn e traw (best grade), three rows of ven- tilators, heavy patent leather visor (green under- neath to 8 hade the eyes), black ribbed silk ribbon, two rows gold tape, lettering printed in gold. VENTILATED STRAW CAP JSO Down and $392. Monthly I BuVs+he Harris Visible Typewriter. en cants • day makes yea (be owner oi this brand new, standard sire business typewriter. Save $40. Satistaction guar- anteed. Quiet, speedy action. Universal keyboard. Always visible writing. A wonderfully strong and durable type- writer sold on easy terms — like rent. Ten days' trial. Write today for tree Harris 1,000 io deily use in our offices. Scars, Roebuck and Co. Chicago. FAILURE OF “60 6” Are you one of thoee who used **606" or **914" and found It a failure? Have you been to Hot Springs and returned uncured? Have you taken the Mercury and Potash treatment and are you still suffering? Have you suffered from Blood Peltoe, Rheums- tlsm. Malaria. Chronlo Constipation, Eczema, Catarrh, Liver or Stomach Trouble, Enlarged Glands In Neek or Groin, or Serofula without being benefited by any treatment? If so. write for our 100- png© book, FREE, showing how to obtain the results you are looking for. All correspondence confidential. THE C. E. GALLAGHER MEDICINE CO. Room 219. 1922 PINE ST., ST. LOUIS, MO. BIG SAVING ON FUEL WITH MY Fireless Cooker Be sure to get my special low factory price. Saving in fuel is now every w oman's duty and my Rapid saves two-thirds fuel cost. Saves os food. Better living. 3 0 Days’ Trial Free Test my Rapid thoroughly. Money back if not satisfactory. Alu- minum-lined throughout. Full set of aluminum utensils. Ask M for free book of recipes. W William Campbell Co. Dept. 9 1 .Detroit, Mich. LEARN WATCH REPAIRING Be a Watchmaker — you can learn thin profitable trade by correspondence in a few weeks In your own home 'by the DeSelma Chart System. After you complete the oourae you will know a watch from A to Z. You will know hut what the matter la and how to repair ana. When you graduate you will be a practical watchmaker and repairer. and competent to fill any poafU— . Positions for our graduates. Ask for oar Free Book. It explains our system and terms. THE DsGELMG WATCH 80H00L 19 Parry St Attlee. Indiana Famous Bunn Special Railroad Watch on Credi ^0 j fl'T Guaranteed to Pass Rigid Tests of Every Road Jr? 4Jm**of«** Don’t pay extra profits! Eliminate the middlemen! But direct from ua at CASH prices on EASY terms. Your credit is good with us. We trust you. The celebrated Bunn Special watch is the watch for yoe. It is lever set, 21 jewels, adjusted to 6 positions, isochronistn and temperature, has Doable Rader Es- capement, Montgomery R. R. Dial and is fitted in 1 4kt. Gold Filled Substantial Case. Pay Nothing in Advance See the Bunn in your own hands before you decide. .Examine it carefully. If not satisfied, send it beck. You incur no obligation. First, you must be satisfied. Only then do you accept the watch aad pey i only $7.75 and the balance only $4.00 monthly until the CAoH PRICE of $39.75 is paid. Yoo dceV miss the money — only a few cents a day. You wear the watch while you par— ^rithoot Red Tape— without Security— without Disagreeable Features of any kind. Send your order lODAY. Let ua tell you how we can fight the Watch TruaL Free Catalog Send for your FREE Catalog No. 78 A Contains over I OOOphotographs of Diamonds. Watches, J Silverware, etc. Everything sent WITHOUT RISK FOR FREE EXAMINATION/all charges p Send no money until you are convinced LYON VALUES cannot be duplicated elsewhere. Write to Uept.78 J. M. LYON & COMPANY (Eat. 1843), 1 Maiden Lane, NEW YORK, U. S. A.
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 173 WALTHAM ELGIN HOWARD ROCKFORD ILLINOIS HAMILTON Any Wam want on CREDIT One Customer Writes: ■ a year today and our watch inspector says iU the best time keeper on the road. Please find encl>.«ed my last monthly payment of $1.00.*' We hare thousands of such letters on file from satisfied customers, who hare bought from u# on 30 Days Trial Ton take no chances with me. I am ‘ Square Deal" Miller and I trust the people. That is why 1 am doing the greatest credit Watch, Dia- mond and Jewelry business in the world. Watches Guaranteed tor 25 Years I Smash the Terms NO REFERENCES DEMANDED Uy terms will surely suit you. You get unlimited credit. Charge Account Lind of credit you get from ■ your grocer No matter where you lire or what your income might be, you can now own the finest of watches, a beautiful diamond or anv rare Jewelry and never miss the money. CD JCC Send me your name and address so I Ifllvg ■ ■» 8- ■- can mail you Free and postpaid the most beautiful catalog of its kind ever printed. I want you to have this book. It's a gem. Write TODAY. SQUARE DEAL MILLER, Pres. MILLER -HOEFER CO. 10S4 Miller Bldg.. Detroit. Mick NUXATED IRON X A T E ft 1 M Physician Says Nuxated Iron Quickly Puts Astonishing Strength and Energy Into the Veins of Men and Brings Roses to the Cheeks of Nervous, Run- I Down Women. Ask the first hundred strong, healthy people you meet to what they owe their strength and see how many reply "Nuxated Iron." Dr. James R Francis Sullivan, formerly Physician of Belle- vue Hospital (Outdoor Dept.). New York, and the Westchester County Hospital, says: "Thou- sands of people suffer from Iron deficiency, but O— ^ do not know what to take. There is nothing like organic iron — Nuxated Iron to quickly en- rich the blood, make beautiful, healthy women, and strong, vigorous Iron men. To make abso- N— lutely sure that mv patients get real organic iron and not some form of the metallic varletv. I always prescribe Nuxated Iron in its original packages. Nuxated Iron will Increase the ■ strength and endurance of weak, nervous run- down folks in two weeks’ time, in many In- stances." MANUFACTURERS’ NOTE — Nuxated Iron recom- mended above by Dr. Sullivan can be obtained from any 1 druggist, with or without a physician’s prescription an absolute manufacturers' guarantee of success or money refunded. Free Book On Signal Engineering SPHERE are thousands of miles of railroad that *■“ must be equipped with block signal systems. To superintend these installations men are necessary. Golden opportunities are offered. Every ambitious man should write for the free book on Signal Engineering. II yon join the army or navy before yon bare completed the course, farther payments will be postponed until you return. Men Are Needed to Accept High Salaried Positions When you stop to consider that, at the present time, less than one-fourth of the passenger lines in this country are equipped with automatic block signal eystems— and when you read that the rlny is fast coming when the law will compel rail- roads to instill ihem, you will realize what remarkable oppor- tunities are offered to ambitious men in the profession of Signal Engineering. The work is big— broad — high salaries are paid. $250.00 a month is an ordinary salary for a Signal Engineer. Send the Coupo 11 y Department Put your name and ad- / Signaling dress in the cou pon, ora let- y Dept. A-714 1810 WilsonAve. ter or post card Now and / Ravenjwood Statioa, Chicago get the free book alxnit / Gentlemen: — Please send me Signal Engineering. / abo utcly free ond prepaid your Too, we will tell you how / big new book on Signal Engineer- you can get the trr ining / ing. Also full particulars about that you need in order to / your great special free outfit offer, become a Signal En- f It is distinctly understood that I gineer. You will be un- / assume do obligations of any kind der no obligation by f writing for this free / book. Do it Now. * Name Department / of Signaling/ Address... Dept. A-73A * 1810 Wilson mv. / Ravonowood * n;r St^Chloofo^X Apt - Oecupatu Google jr
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174 When addressing our advertisers, please mention Ths Railroad Tmqraphml Tobacco Habit Banished In 48 to 72 Hours Immediate Results Trying to quit the tobacco habit unaided is a losing fight against heavy odds, and means a serious shock to your nervous system. So don't try it! Make the tobacco habit quit you. It will quit you if you will just take Tobacco Redeemer according to directions. It doesn’t make a particle of difference whether you've been a user of tobacco for a single month or 60 years, or how much you use, or in what form you use it. Whether you smoke cigars, cigarettes, pipe, chew plug or fine cut or use snuff — Tobacco Redeemer will positively remove all craving foi tobacco in any form in from 48 to 72 hours. Your tobacco craving will begin to decrease after the very first dose— there's no long waiting for results. Tobacco Redeemer contains no habit-forming drugs of any kind and is the most marvelously quick, absolutely scientific and thoroughly reliable remedy for the tobacco habit. Not a Substitute Tobacco Redeemer is in no sense a substitute for tobacco, but is a radical, efficient treatment. After finishing the treatment you have absolutely no desire to use tobacco again or to continue the use of the remedy. It quiets the nerves, and will make you feel better in every way. If you really want to quit the tobacco habit —get rid of it so completely that when you see others using it, it will not awaken the slightest desire in you— you should at once begin a course of Tobacco Redeemer treatment for the habit. Results Absolutely Guaranteed A single trial will convince the most skep- tical. Our legal, binding, money-back guar- antee goes with each full treatment. If Tobacco Redeemer fails to banish the tobacco habit when taken according to the plain and easy directions, your money will be cheerfully refunded upon demand. Let Us Send You Convincing Proof If you’re a slave of the tobacco habit and wan t to fi nd a sure, quick way of quitting “for keeps’* you owe it to yourself and to your family to mail the coupon below or send your name and address on a postal and receive our free booklet on the deadly effect of tobacco on the human system, and positive proof that Tobacco Redeemer will quickly free you from the habit. Newell Pharmacal Company Dept. 301 St. Louis, Mo. | Smoked lor 15 Year* t »ra i7 run old. aaxjkrd rfirrlm tP* pip* aincr I «u about IS *r 14 mn plain tha rail brne*t * dremer baa donr for m*. bt •pinion, thouaanda of dollar* thin* for m; benefit I got oat of Tobacco I T. J LAI-THXn. i R r On Free Book Coupon NEWELL PHARMACAL CO„ P«pt. 301 St. Loui*, Ho. Please send, without obligating me in any war. your free booklet regarding the tobacco habit ard proof that Tobacco Redeemer will positively frr* me from the tobacco habit.* Name.. Street and No. - Town...-. Digitized State...
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 175 Clear, Far-Reaching Sound Makes receiving Easy and Safe Ideal Resonator DIAPHRAGM TSOUNDERH Operators everywhere are enjoying the advantages of the CLEAR. FAR-REACHING sound produced by the Diaphragm Sounder. Noise can’t touch it. Keeps you in touch with the wire from a distance. Eliminates guess-work. Makes “receiving’ easy and safe. Does away with local batteries. Fits any relay. To be without a Diaphragm Sounder is to deny your- self the aid of a wonderful instrument. SEND FOR A SOUNDER TODAY Handsomely nickel plated Guaranteed Lasts lifetime Money order or registered mail Write for folder RAILWAYS LABOR-SAVING DEVICE CO.. 1040 Arlington Ave., DAVENPORT, IOWA UNDERSTAND BROTHER UNIONIST That the best made shoes — the shoes made under the best manufacturing con- ditions— the shoes that best stand wear — bear the Union Stamp, as shown herewith. Ask your dealer for Union Stamp shoes, and if he cannot supply you write Boot and Shoe Workers’ Union 24C Smm Sum BOSTON. MASS. Ivers & Pond PIANOS Style 715 Our Rental Purchase Plan Makes Piano Buying Easy WHEREVER in the United States you may live, if no dealer nearby sells the Ivers & Pond, we can bring the advantages of our large factory and warerooms to your door on this plan. As its name indicates, it is practically renting a piano until the accumulated rent pays for it. Let Us Send You Our Special Offer To Railroad Men We know Railroad buyers — have satisfied hun- dreds of them; and where no dealer sells the Ivers Pond , we will quote special prices, sell on EASY PAYMENTS, ship subject to your approval, and make it as easy and safe for you to deal with us as if you lived in Boston. Liberal allowance for old instruments in exchange. For a new catalogue, showing our complete line of uprights, grands and players, and a personal letter giving information of much value to any prospective purchaser, simply fill out and mail the Coupon. IVERS & POND PIANO CO. 145 Boylston St., Boston, Maw. Pleat e mail me yoar new catalogue and Special Offer to Railroad Men . Name Address Digitized by LaOOQle
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176 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. diamonds Ion OK '.I Wonderfully brilliant Genuine Diamonds, any style solid gold mount* ings; also Diamond La Vallieres, Ear Screws, Brooches, Scarf Pins, Studs, etc., on credit . terms as low as '^^$2.50 a month^R^ a Sencj for ^S^Z^^jewelry Catalog No. 60 containing over 2,000 beautiful illustration* of Diamonds, Watchca, Artistic Jewelry, Silverware, Cut Glaea, etc. Select anythin* desired, cither for per- m to friend or loved one. then ask u* toaend thus seloc- tonal wear, or for a gift to friend or loved one, then aak ua ^9 tion for your examination. It will be sent. all chances prepaid by us YOU PAY NOTHING-NOT ONE CENT XffJMSSKKSSii: pay one-fifth of the purchase price and keep it. balance dmded Into eignt equal amounta. payable monthly If not entirely “M?^tory. ^urnnt^ur expense.. You aaaume no nsk ■ you SNunJ.r o ^ ndMuSB Send Vot it Tod.^ It i. FREE. LOFTIS BROS. & CO., The National Credit Jewelers Dwpt. A 869. 100 to 108 N. State Street, Chicago, Illinois (Established 1868) STORES IN LEADING CITIES To Invest Profitably This is an ever-present problem confronting the investor. In- trinsically good securities are often bought at the wrong time. To make investments profitable, one must know when and how best to buy. Our fortnightly publication “ Investment Opportunities” tells when--and our copyrighted booklet THE TWENTY PAYMENT PLAN tells how. Both sent gratis upon re- quest for 66-RT WANTED: AN IDEA!! Who can think of some simple thing to pstaatf Protect your ideas, they may bring you wealth. Write for “Needed InTentlons." How to get your Patent and your Money and Patent Buyers. RANDOLPH a CO., PATENT ATTORNEYS DEPT 134. WASHINGTON. D. C. WANTED new ideas w ▼ WRITE FOR HOW TO OBTAIN A PATENT, list of Patent Buyers and inventions Wanted. > 1 ,000.008 in prizes offered for inventions. Send Sketeb for M|V p H free opinion as to patentability. Our Four M Ic H M Books sent free. Patents advertised Free. £ Bl I ill Books sent free. Patents advertised Free. 1 l\LiJ We assist inventors to sell their inventions. VICTOR J. EVANS A. CO., 717 Nistk It., WwItajlM. 0- PATENTS THAT PROTECT AND PAY BOOKS. AND ADVICE FREE Stud sketch or model for search. Highest Refereoeea. Best Results. Promptness Assured. Watson E. Coleman, Patent Lawyer ,24 F STREET. N. W. WASHINGTON. D. C Underwoods, L C. Smiths, Monarchs, Remingtons, Olivers, Foxes, ete. Regular and ShlfUess kef' board. At a DISCOUNT to O. R. T. Members Send for Illustrated Catalog. AMERICAN TYPEWRITER RICH. Dept. 6, 14W Washington St. Chloago OPERATORS AGATE STYLOS Beautiful Agate Stylus, Hard Rubber Handle, with protecting Cap "like a fountain pen.** ^Points smooth and will not rip train-order paper. Say’. Fine, Medium or Blunt Point wanted. Postpaid anywhere $1.00. Two for $1.90. SUPERIOR NOVELTY CO., Wyandotte, Midi. * . MOST STARTLING VALUES IN TYPEWRITERS $10 TO $15 UP Rebuilt as good as now. Remington** Underwoods, Olivers and other maki Shipped on trial. Write for our Spec Offer No. 124-T with Guarantee. Will positively save you money. WHITEHEAD TYPEWRITER 186 N. LaSalle Street, - Chi New Lapel Button 'T'HE OFFICIAL EMBLEM OF THE O. R. ^ is a Sounder surrounded by a wreath. They now made up in the latest style with enameled and screw back, both in solid gold and rolled ( It is the neateat thing of the kind ever produced. ImSIWsSBB
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention Thb Railroad Tslbgraphkr. 177 National War Savings Day une 28- That’s the day we sign up. That’s the day we tell Uncle Sam just how hard we want to win this war. That’s the day our government has officially set for us to purchase War Savings Stamps. On June 28th every man, woman and child in the United States will be called upon to pledge his or her full quota of War Savings Stamp purchases for 1918. You will be expected to pledge the full amount that you can afford — no more — but by the same token, no less. In every state, county, city, town They pay you 4% interest compound- and village the War Savings Commit- ed quarterly. They can’t go below tees are preparing for this big patriotic par. You can get back every dollar rally of June 28th. Unless you have you put into War Savings Stamps any already bought War Savings Stamps time you need it. You can turn to the $1,000 limit, get busy with them in at the Post Office any time paper and pencil and figure out the for their full value plus interest, utmost you can do. Uncle Sam is asking hundreds of Remember this. You take no thousands of men to give their lives chances when you go the limit on War to their country. He is asking you Savings Stamps. They are the best only to lend your money, and safest investment in the world. What are you lending? Digitized by Caoooie
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178 When addressing our advertisers, please mention Th* Railroad Tklbgraphsr. Telegraph Operators Are Silent Smith Boosters It is a pleasure to work under favorable conditions. It is a pleasure to use a typewriter, mechanically refined. It is a pleasure to do “wire work” on the “Silent Smith,” ball bearing, easy run- ning and so quiet that it never interferes with the sound of the “key.* Telegraphers are always “boosters” — and with good reason. Ask one of them. Illustrated Booklet sent free on request L. C. SMITH & BROS. TYPEWRITER COMPANY Factory and Home Office: SYRACUSE, N. Y. Branches in all Principal Cities Be a Good Receiver and Fast Sender The Candler System has developed some of the World’s Speediest and .Best Paid Operators. Read what a few say: — “My sending and receiving have improved wonderfully. Had $15.00 raise in salary since taking up the System. My health was never better.” J. M. Griffin, Opr. W. U. T. Co., Detroit, Mich. “Since taking the System I am a different person. My arm is now in good shape and my receiving and writing are greatly im- proved; also my general health.” W. E. Little, Opr. Q. O. & K. C. Ry., Coffey, Mo. “1 was benefited in each lesson. It's all and more than you claim for it.” D. E. Smith, C. & O. Ry., Montgomery, W. Va. The Candler System will restore your grip and make your arm better than it ever was. It will develop you into a fast sender and receiver in a short time. We guarantee it. For full particulars address The Candler System Co. 818 Leland Ave. Chicago GET A NEW Lapel Button OR Watch Charm EMBLEM BUTTONS SOLID GOLD FRONT , $1.00 each Rolled Gold Front Plate SO Ct8. each Ladies’ Rolled Gold Plate Front SO Cta. each WATCH CHARMS Fine Rolled Gold Charms $2.00 each C. B. RAWLINS Grand Secretary and Treasurer St. Louis, Mo. Digitized by '
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When addressing onr advertisers, please mention Tbs Railroad Tblsgraphxr. Uie Phillips Code A thoroughly tested Code of abbreviations, arranged for telegraphic purposes and contemplating the rapid transmission of press reports. Also intended to be used as an easily acquired method of short- hand for general newspaper and court reporting. m if R- EUGENES B. BRUCKNER, the well-known 1V1 press operator, has, under the authority of Walter P. Phillips and with the assistance of a number of officials and operators in the press service, thoroughly revised Phillips* Code, and the new edition was ready for delivery on June 1, 1914. Mr. Bruckner was considered by Mr. Phillips the most competent authority to undertake this important work, and so satisfactorily has the task been accomplished that the finished book has received the stamp of ap- proval of the Associated Press, the United Press, the Publishers* Press, and all other newspaper agencies, as well as the endorsement of press operators, well qualified to judge of the merits of the new book. A large number of officials and operators In the press service were also frequently consulted on the revision. The new book was desirable for the same reasons that makes necessary a revision of scientific text books with the progress of each decade. The whole object of the revision has been to pro- mote greater accuracy and reduce memorising to a minimum. Under the new system, an operator who knows the code for Assist does not need to know the specific contraction for Consist. Desist, Insist, Persist, Resist, etc., for all are formed upon the same basis. Nor is It probable that the operator could make a mis- take In their translation if, by foroe of sheer will power, be tried. THE PRICE OF PHILLIPS’ CODE IS $1.00 Remit by post-office or express money order to C. B. RAWLINS ST. LOUIS, MO. Grand Secretary and Treasurer , 101 si Digitized by Google
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180 When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Tklbo&aphbr. & *??**’ In this free book, I tell you all the facts you want to know about diamonds, so you can choose and buy safely and intelligently. Get this book and learn why diamonds are today the world’s best investment — how I save you 35% by direct importing and eliminating all middlemen— how because my business comes from all over the world, I can succeed in spite of small profits— how I sell mount- ings at factory cost— how I offer diamonds in seven qual- ities and all carat sizes, so that you can now afford to wear genuine diamonds at my less than wholesale price. Genuine Diamonds Now Within Your Reach My plan saves the 35% that middlemen have wasted. Compare my prices with any wholesale quotations and you’ll see why even jewelers buy at my import prices! Genuine diamonds as low as $5.88. Wonderful sizes and qualities $50.00 to $100.00. All sizes and grades shown in my Free Book. “Send -No -Money” Plan You take no risk under my free examination plan. Just select your diamond and favorite setting from my book and I will ship so that you can examine without the slightest obligation to buy. My costly DeLuxe Book of DiaYnonds shows the world’s most sensational diamond bargains and I back them with the only Bankable Money Back GUARANTEE Issued only by Barnard Diamond Headquarters — permits you to cash in your diamond investment within one year and to exchange at full value at any time. A written legal certificate of carat weight, color and value. My $50 Liberty Bond Ring % Carat , finest Wes- seltonSteel Blue White, our Engagement Qual- ity, best spread cutting and richest brilliancy. +/* Carat 14Ksolitairehighpror.g ' ring. Retail value $80. Sent to you for one $50 Liberty Bond or cash price, C.O.D. by any CC1 OO express or to any bank, ■ $100 LibertyBond Ring 14K men’s ring set with *5 carat Wessel- ton Blue White dia- mond. our commercial grade, very plight im- perfection. Retail val- ue $150.00 to $ I GO. 00. Sent to you forone $100 Liberty Bond or ship- ped C. O. D. bv express or to any bank for cash price 2/3 Carat $102.00 p'a,(ecl „ ** . Solid Gold LaValliere 15 inch gold chain. 1 diamond, 1 pearl. $7.88 Our book shows hun- dreds of new and at- tractive LaVoIlieres at bargain prices. Diamond Ear Screws Diamond Scarf Rins Diamond Shirt Studs Diamond Brooches Diamond Charms Diamond LodgeRings Diamond Clusters Diamond Tie Clasps, etc. Mail Coupon for Free Book Prices going up every day . Save money by writing a immediately . A postal will do. Barnard y Co. PtesKEod Headquarters PT. 3088A . N. W. COR. STATE AND MONROE STREETS, CHICAGO ‘De£uxe$ook FREi BARNARD & CO., Dept. Hit; m N. W. Cor. Stato & Monroe Sts.. CNKMt t Without expense or obligation. plea«*» hp . _ Free postage paid, 1918 DeLuxe Diamond Fo. *. Digitized by ADDBX8B ’Google
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When addressing our advertisers, please mention The Railroad Telegrapher. 6,003 the U. S. Navy 6,003 Burlingtons have been sold to the men aboard the U. S. battleships. Practically every vessel in the U. S. Navy has many Burlington watches aboard. Some have over 100 Burlingtons. The victory of the Burlington among the men In the U. S. Navy is testimony to Burlington superiority. A watch has to be made of sturdy stuff in order to “make good” on a man-of-war. The constant vibration, the extreme heat in the boiler rooms, the cold /~!t air and the rhj»nrocf climate from the Arctic to the Tropical a^e t^e moft s^ve-e t*~ts cn a watch. U a watch will stand up and give active service aboard a man-of-war. it wal stand up anywhere. Ol- Jewel $050 ■■ JL Burlington mkM A Month And yet you may get a 21 -jewel Burlington for only $2.50 a month. Truly It is the master watch. 21 ruby and sapphire jewels, adjusted to the second, temperature, isochron ism ar.d positions. Fitted at the factory in a gold strata case, warranted for 25 years. All the newest cases are youfs to choose from. You pay or.Iy the rock- bottom- diwmct -price— positively the exact price that the wholesale dealer would have to pay. T§ # You don’t pay a cent to anybody tmtH you see the watch. We ilrr # 7. IITSL I ®hip tl:e wctc i to you on approval. You aretheeolejudce. No obligation to buy merely because you get the watch on approval. Write for Booklet! Put your name and address in the coupon or on a letter or post card now and get your Burlington Watch book free and prepaid. You will know a lot more about watch buying when you read it. Too, you will see handsome illustrations in full color of all the newest cases from which you have to choose. The booklet is free. Merely send your name and address on the coupon. Burlington Watch Company, 191b St. it Moduli Bird., D»puA7J4 Chicago, 111. Burlington Watch Co., Dept«A734 19th Street & Marshall Blvd*, Chicago, III. Please send me (without obligations and prepaid) your free book on watches wi*h full explanation of ^our cash or a month ©her on the Burlington ..-Digged -by. Google —
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High-Grade Standard UNDERWOODS At ’W ay Under Manufacturer’s Price These machines are getting scarce. Big corporations are eagerly buying these perfectly rebuilt Underwoods at pres- ent low prices. So, speak quick, if you want one. These are genuine Underwoods— the Standard Typewriters. You get Visible Writing Underwoods (guaranteed thoroughly re- built), exactly as illustrated, with Back Spacer, Tabulator Lateral Guide, St ncil Attachment, 2-color Ribbon, Waterproof Cover and Special T uch Typewriting Guide, at much less than manufacturer’s price by acting quick / One of these superb machines would be of infinite aid to you in your work With 1 it. yon could MAKE EXTRA MONEY IN SPARE TIME doing typewriting for others. You will be surprised how much of this kind of profitab e spare-time work you can get once you have a swift, simple Underwood. U. S. Govt. Has Bought 100,000 Underwoods. Rock Island R. R. just bought 75 of our rebuilt Underwoods. The demand is increasing daily. So our stock is getting low. Present prices cannot be maintained much longer. You better act quick if you want one. How I Double the Life of an Underwood Do not confuse me with a second-hand dealer. I put each machine through a process that I have spent 25 years perfecting. Each machine is taken apart You May ■ APPLYING RENT ON PURCHASE PRICE FOR CASH OR ON EASY PAYMENTS and rebuilt with necessary new parts, from top to bottom. Expert mechan- ics re-adjust and re-align each machine. It will stand any mechanical typewriter test. I personally stand back of every machine that goes k through my factory with a WRITTEN FIVE-YEAR GUARANTEE OF SERVICE. I guarantee to send you a genuine Underwood, ex- actly as illustrated and described herewith. You don’t even havo to buy the machine at the time you get it. You can try It for ten days FREE and then, if you conclude the machine I send you , docs not look, work and write like new, you may return it and I will refund any deposit or charges paid by you. This guarantee affords you complete protection. Get lO Days’ Trial FREE Mail Coupon Today Or— you can RENT it at low monthly rates— or BUY it for cash or on easy payments. If. after renting it 6 months, you want to buy it, i I will allow you 6 months’ rent, and de- d duct that from my low price. Do it at once. Another month the price may be dollars more. Write now and I will tell you how you can Rent, ^ Buy or Earn an Underwood CX Free. Ask for Offer No. 24 ^ E.W.SHJPM AN, President jf Typewriter Emporium 34-36 W. Luke St. Chicago, 111. Guaran< teed For 5 Years Digitized by
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