Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

men, find pleasure in social communion and desire the honest fellowship of your Brother, Get out of your shell and paint that word "fraternal" all over your heart, remembering that like begets like. Educate yourself to become respected and of a lovable nature, you will then see how much better other men are than you thought they

were.

Do not waste time trying to decide whether this thing must come from the mind alone or from the heart and mind together, but get it out, it is in you. Just let a little sunshine into your heart and it will come out all right. There is no better reading in THE CONDUCTOR than the letters in the fraternal columns, describing the pilgrimage of a Division to a sister Division, or the little social affairs gotten up jointly between the Ladies of the Auxiliary and the conductors, I only regret that there is so little of it. Pittsburg, Pa.

Editor Railway Conductor:

JAS. B. GAUSS.

I said some time ago that some day I would get my "mad" up and "roast" the "booze fighter." Why this weak degenerate is so much in evidence in Mexico and among railroad employes is more than ye humble scribe can say: Valge mi Dios! Vamos aver! I can look back to the early 80's when in the far west we had men in railroad service that were "full" about one-half the time, and sobering up the other half. Those of the "old timers" that did not "swear off" were killed off. Some are here in Mexico still on "deck" and countless numbers are in Mexico, not on deck but under six feet of earth, and many, too many, have gone by the "White Line" route, and today there is an almost endless chain going by that same route. The halt was called in the U. S. and it is time it was called here. Now that wages have been advanced and are almost on a parity with that paid in the U. S. it behooves all fair minded men in railroad service, those that have the welfare of their Orders at heart, to try and have a new deal, as it were. The railway managements are now in the position of being able to draw the line, which they could not do previous to the granting of the increase in compensation. Before this they were obliged to take what they could get and worry along the best they could, but I see a change in sight now, good wages will bring good men, and as fast as that wonderful law (?) framed and promulgated by that aggregation of--I was going to say, well, I was about to say-that, is refer to that wise (?) edict, the Age Limit, will bring good men quicker to Mexico now than formerly. men are here, lots of them, and many are here because of this age limit, that takes experienced and tried men from roads in the U. S.. But we have the "booze fighter" here, and like Banco's ghost, he will not down, unless we insist and throw him out. And throw him out we must. Unfortunately, the presence of these besotted mertals is an expense to us and after a while they will neither spin, nor will they toil, excepting that they will spin some of the most outlandish yarns in order to get the wherewith to buy a Teguila, a Mescal, or an Aguadiente. Forty Rod Whiskey, as compared to this damnable stuff, is mild to *ake. This Mexican "rot gut" contains more un

Good

It

chained hell than all other liquors combined. affects all alike, Native and Anglo-Saxon, only that the stomach of the Anglo-Saxon is burned out quicker and in consequence he shuffles off this mortal coil the earlier.

We have among us quite a few "old timers" that are to all appearances physically good for some years, but they are showing it "under the hat;" are actually "nutty" so to speak; come to a Division with a disconnected rambling conglomeration of ifs and ands, and imagine they have a grievance; their breath being strong enough to take the hair off of a Billy goat, and lo and behold, when the committee reports, no grievance, the surprise is really painful, and our much injured (?) grievor, howls that he did not get a square deal. Another, and a dangerous "booze fighter" is that despicable craven, the gun toter." Picks a row, makes a "gun play" and when he awakens from his stupor, generally finds himself in a dirty. loathsome, foul-smelling cell, then does he rave and bemoan his fate. Should he be a member of one of the organizations, his first sober breath is a cry for help, and we are soft headed enough to dig down at once and "put up" the "dough". Yes, and keep on "putting up" until some one calls a halt. We after due time and deliberation, come to the conclusion that he has brought this all upon himself. Nevertheless, we continue to donate to the unfortunate family, and after awhile, even this is frowned upon. It becomes wearing The hungry maw of the legal fraternity we are unable to stuff with hard dollars, for it is ever open for more, but once shut down on this gentry and then they begin to "look wise" and try to make a showing for what they already have got. Strange as it may appear, it has even been intimated that the less money used, the quicker to indict or to acquit, but the plea to come up and place good hard money always seems to prevail, and our dollars are gone a glimmering. The proper way is to protect ourselves by expelling the boozers that now are with us. Let's show a spirit of fairness that we owe our Order, and deny admission to those who make application whom we know are inclined to follow in the steps of the "boozer." Have the nerve to say Turn down and out this undesirable element and when once rid of them the finger of scorn will not be pointed as it now is. We owe it to the Order and to ourselves. I have no objection to any one taking a drink; don't run away with the idea that I am a temperance fanatic-far from it I take a "nip" myself, but I do object to this This making a "lushing" on duty, or off duty. beastly hog of oneself, is to me, a most disgusting spectacle. Railroading is, under the best of con ditions, hazardous enough without being made more so by drunkenness. The "boozer" in the U. S. who contemplates paying us a visit wi please to understand that he is not wanted here. We have at present a good supply of his kind on hand, and until such time as is required to jail what we now have, and to lose by the suicide route a few more, and to the insane asylum one or two, in order to affect the supply and demand, please remain where you are, until you are in demand.

no.

I am of the opinion that should a "boozer" be sober, and accidentally cast his eye over these lines

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

serves, it matters not what eomes his way; or how much, it ought always to be morẻ. Ungratefulness is certainly an ignorant pride originating from a pretending, assuming mind, causing self-importance, but the humble mind is the soil out of which thanks, and gratitude naturally grow, and such a person should receive timely and due encouragement. The best and only method to procure good work from the best workers is to give the proper encouragement, it matters not in what capacity. The best work can be gotten out of the employe who receives the proper treatment at the hands of the officials, under whose management he is working. An official should exhibit a humane disposition toward his men, which is bound to bring about much better results than inhuman treatment, deception and oppression, which must breed discouragement. If men are properly treated, it brings about gratitude in every employe, except the shallow minded and self-important employe, whose disposition is so laden with baseless pride, that it is impossible for him to realize or appreciate anything good, unless he gets it all himself.

Very much ill feeling and bad results are brought about through misplaced authority, and impracticable supremacy. Some men seem to think that their mission in the service of a company or corporation, as officials, is to abuse, misuse and maltreat all men over whom they have authority.

This

is all a mistake on their part, and should not be tolerated by the party employing them, as it is detrimental to the company's best interests and welfare.

When an official becomes a "bluffer" and a deceiver before his men, then men lose all respect for him, also interest in the welfare of the company employing them, if a general official tells his men that the proper regulation of certain conditions is the duty of the local officials under him, when he knows that his orders to these under officials are precisely the opposite, then men immediately lose confidence in him, and look upon him with disregard and brand him as a "bluffer," one trying to deceive and oppress. More in order to further his own selfish interests than any thing else, he can also be placed upon the list of selfish ingrates, puffed up by that egotism which sooner or later brings him to his proper level. Many employes of companies throughout the whole country are treated by officia's employed by these companies to manage their affairs with the greatest disregard for the interests men may have who come under their jurisdiction or authority, their treatment in many cases is more brutal, and more slavish than anything else. They disregard the love men have for those who are near and dear to them, by holding them away from their homes for the benefit of the companies for many hours, and even days, without pay for this time used up, and men are deprived of many hours that might be spent with pleasure and profit with their families, and at their homes. When we consider the fact that time was given to all alike, and that time is mine, also yours, as well as that of any company, corporation or individual employing men, is it right that any man should be compelled to give or use his time for the enrichment of any company, corpor

ation or individual without receiving some remuneration for it? This is ingratitude personified, and intended to discourage men and bring about disinterest and dangerous carelessness, which must produce bad results. I sincerely believe this practice of holding men away from their homes for profit without pay exists to a great extent all over the country and it may be more prevalent on railroads than in any other employment. I think the abolishment of the practice, or pay for such time, after a reasonable length of time being held on such waiting orders away from the homes of employes should be taken up at a national issue among all the labor organizations, and especially the Railway Organizations of the United States. The practice is for profit as we all know. We must admit that engines and cars standing still bring in no money for a railroad company, but cabins and crews lying on a cabin track cost the company nothing, it matters nothing how long they lay, when men are using the time given them and getting nothing for it, then the under officials may construe the orders handed down to them to mean, hold the men indefinitely or for six weeks for trains, if necessary, even if they are away from home at their own expense, still further ingratitude, and disregard.

While we are willing to concede all that is right also willing to acknowledge our ignorance on points in the operation of a railroad, we are not as dumb as we used to be and we can see just about as far into a millstone as the fellow who picks it. Men are human and are not only working for the measly dollars they get, but would like to have a little pleasure out of this life along with their work, and most men find more pleasure in the company of their families than anywhere else, and no man has the right to interfere or deprive the husband or father of this pleasure for the sake of the almighty dollar. But the disposition to hog it by the great companies and corporations is becoming more prevalent every day, but if a man observes these things and speaks of them he is generally looked upon as a "knocker," a pessimist, one looking upon the dark side of everything and should say nothing, and allow all these impositions to go unnoticed.

While our legislative bodies are making laws for the regulation of rates and other things concerning corporations, they should give the Interstate Commerce Commission the power to regulate the length of freight trains. No one but the practical railroad man knows the extreme danger lurking in these long freight trains, not only to employes, but to the traveling public. We who have these most dangerous trains to handle day and night, strenu ously contend that no railroad should be allowed to haul more than forty loaded and more than sixty empty cars in any train in any direction in the United States. This would bring greater safety to all concerned and certainly a great sav ing to the companies in the end, as this "merging" practice is the cause of a vast amount of trouble and suffering. It required legislative action in almost every case to make the railroad corpora tions see that it was for their best interests and equip their cars with safety appliances. Something they could not get along without today, as

they could scarcely run the train of today, one hundred miles in a week equipped with the old style link and pin coupler. But ingratitude and greed toward employes, and disregard for the safety of the traveling public will also have to be suppressed by legislation, as the accumulation of dollars is considered by legislation far ahead of lives and limbs. When we closely observe just what is daily transpiring, we are forced to think that the appellation, "heartless corporations" is very appropriate, but if we would come out boldly as we should and say truthfully just what is our greatest calamity in all honest operation of the industrial affairs of our country, we would be set upon by men from all parts, and many of them members of our own labor organizations.

[blocks in formation]

Late in the fall of 1893, two set-back conductors on the C. & N. W. were braking on a lumber train between Escanaba and Stackville. The latter place a sawmill town owned by John K. Stack. The writer braking behind and Jackson, still on the same division, ahead, for Dan Murphy, sometimes called as "Red." Engineer Thos. Collins at the helm and George Valentine firemen.

We left Stackville at dusk of a fearful, black night, with fourteen flat cars of lumber stacked higher than the cupalo of the caboose, supported on the sides by pine scantlings. On our arrival at Antoine Junction, Murphy, against the vigorous and emphatic protests of Engineer Collins, filled out with twenty cars of iron ore. The lumber cars, being jacks, were of course placed next to the cabboose. We at that time were running via Schlesingerville System, a new road bought up by the North-Western. Said road consisted of soft track, double reverse curves and a 24 per cent grade out of Antoine, after which came a six mile climb. The grade out of Antoine was some seven miles, and as we pulled out the head man came back with a message, also the cheering information that Collins said he would get them over the six mile hill or they would go over the fence. Head man was unable to return to head end over the lumber so all hands and the cook were behind. We soon commenced to go down the hill, and sure enough, Colins started to make good his word. Our attention was soon called to the terriffic speed and the wild rocking of the caboose, and I, in looking out of a side window, narrowly escaped seven or eight thousand feet of flying lumber. Business was just beginning to get good, and the roaring of the train now at a ninety mile an hour clip, behind a bigwheel standard, and mingled with the crashing of broken boards, equalled, if not surpassed, the naval battle of Santiago Bay. All hands were afraid to unload, for to do so would be to court a speedy death, and to stay on only prolonged the

[blocks in formation]

wrench and a packing hook, and calmly awaited the return of Collins, who after a while came feeling his way back with the engine, but just previous to his return we had held a meeting to decide his fate. Some suggested putting him in the fire box, Murphy thought of a necktie party; but on his arrival we got a change of heart and beyond wishing him well we did nothing.

Now Collins was troubled with an impediment in his speech, and after hard labor he told us that with his reduced tonnage he got them over and we found not a single board remaining on the train of fourteen heavily laden flat cars. J. A. G.

Fond du Lac, Wis.

Editor Railway Conductor:

Having been a member of the O. R. C. for several years and made my living also that of my family for quite a long time giving 3 cutts signals, signing way bills and train orders, has deprived me of making journal and newspaper writing a study. I have watched closely all the write-ups from the Brothers. They will tell us how prosperous the Division is and boast of the new members taken in, in such a length of time, and how many more they have on tap to come in, and all about the new material they had and are getting, which is all very fine. Who could see such reports from all over the U. S. and not be proud of the Order? But just as our kite is the highest and our thoughts are running the highest, an obligation taken long years ago when we had to ride William Goat three times and listen to that good old song, "Nearer My God to Thee," while "All" Dain, who was our Chief Conductor of Division 53, would stroll up and down that hall and tell you all about what you were to do and what you must do. You all know what that obligation was. In the writeups I have read for all these many years, not one have I seen where one of our Order conductors who had by some bad luck lost his job, had dropped into a good job, or through the Division had got a train on some railway. Now Brothers, stop and think for one minute, how many of you have ever taken an O. R. C. man to your trainmaster or superintendent and asked that he be given even a job of braking, let alone putting him on the extra board running. On last October, 1906, I took a trip from Klondike, Texas, where I had been agent and operator, for the past four years, out to Amorrilla, Texas, to Oklahoma City, Hugo, I. T., etc., and on the back of my card reads "Looking for employment." In that round not one O. R. C. man offered to introduce me to his official. In my opinion we should turn more of our attention to helping the already O. R. C. man into a job than to getting new members into the Order. Let our work be of the kind that when a man is eligible he will hunt us up and ask for an application blank, and the brakemen will all want to be promoted so as to get into our Order for we take care of our men. Now you take the B. R. T.; as soon as one of their men unloads at a division point and makes himself known, some one offers to take him to the old man; tells him all about what the extra board is doing and gives him all kinds of encouragement. Now, Brothers, we are back numbers on that line. Don't think I am wanting any favors personally, for by good

luck I have got a good wife and she has saved us up a few pennies and when I start out looking for work she puts bullion in the purse and plenty of good warm clothes in my grip and arranges with the banker in case I get broke. As I am a ham operator and station man I can drop in on the official with the inquiries of how he is fixed for trainmen, and in case he turns me down I come at him again by saying, "Well, anything doing in the way of station agents or operators?" You know it all helps when you are broke.

Now I want to ask of all the Brothers who write in the next CONDUCTOR to look up the extra board and see how his road is fixed for men and always say that "our road is hiring some men," or "not wanting any,' as the case may be; and when a Brother comes up to us let's put our stinger into him and when we have convinced ourselves he is an O. R. C. man, let's take him up to the proper office and say, "Mr. Trainmaster, this is Mr. looking for work; if you can place him it will be a favor, as I can vouch for him." Klondike, Texas.

Editor Railway Conductor:

LEE MCDOWELL.

Closing with March 18th, the O. R. C. board of adjustment of the N. Y., C. and St. L. Ry. (Nickel Plate System), went on record, closing one of the most satisfactory settlements east of the Mississippi river.

The concessions secured prove the splendid harmony existing between this company and the representatives of our Order.

The correspondent of Division 134 has made a very complete canvass of the general feeling of employes and finds collectively, there exists a splendid enthusiasm and fellowship, that gives evidence of the breaking up of the hard lines and discord.

Our organization stands firmly by the diplomatic and able business manner our officers were conducted at the meeting at Cleveland which ended March 18th.

The manner in which the constituents were represented has made a new link between the eastern and the western districts, that will endure, as the settlement was broad enough so that even the street corner agitator on committee work has gone back into the brush and ceased for a time to howl.

We on the western district feel deeply grateful to Brothers Nolan, Carney, Pierce and Billings, for their business-like work. As they exalted the Order greatly on our line and proved the wholesomeness of conducting our affairs by individual advocacy of those principles due the O. R. C. alone.

All the members of that board are men of sterling character and they occupy positions that prove their integrity.

The adjustment of our affairs is branded with "hoss sense" and good business judgment.

While there are points still unsettled, yet it is the unsettled points that allow us to keep the machine oiled, and the enthusiasm upheld. We want a little here, and a little there, to kick about, as we are too apt to get crusty along certain lines if we are treated too well. You know it is adversy which goads us on to greater things. Peace and

prosperity are great ends, but we must be prepared to meet the condition or it is apt to make us examples of selfishness, and where selfishness predominates, it's the biggest hog that lays in the trough.

Ogden Pierce and D. L. Billings represent the west, while Nolan and Carney the eastern districts and as members of 134 we lay our laurels at their feet as they have acquitted themselves well.

Brother Ogden Pierce has been recognized, it seems, as a thorough business man with his "square jaw" as he was appointed general yardmaster at terminals at Chicago.

This, following his splendid service as our advocate with Brother Billings.. They established a broader view and understanding of our affairs, and these principles in contract, this company has just established with us. as a result our Divisions are more closely united by the strength of character these Brothers possess.

The 18th of March is one of history for the progress of the O. R. C. here. The budding flower of consistency has been planted and the future means unanimity in those vital interests so long at discord by the selfishness created by a lack of confidence and enthusiasm for a true and progressive

movement.

The greatest detriment any Order labors under is from that source of members who can not see that the interests of those by whom they are employed lay alongside of those affairs and interests the Order of Railway Conductors advocate and maintain.

We have identical interests that require a certain partnership- not antagonism. We have been fairly treated and used right in this last meeting. Let us try and secure more confidence by cutting these insignificant and petty grievances out-we have started right and furthermore we are going to make a splendid finish and I think the future contracts will be made along such amicable lines that represent us as individuals important to the business interests of those by whom we are employed. Bellevue, Ohio. E. W. HORTON.

Editor Railway Conductor:

The good opportunities which the south offers her young men today should increase the ambition to the highest degree possible. Since 1900 from twenty-seven to thirty per cent, of all the exports of the country have been from south of Mason and Dixon's line. A showing, population considere 1, almost double what might be expected This may be attributable to the fact that the south stands as the favored section of the union today, and best of all, is progressing along solid and substantial lines, and further that the development of today is merely an indication of what may be anticipated in the future. The south possesses one-half the total deposit of iron ore in the United States; has nearly three times as much coal as Great Britain, Germany and Pennsylvania combined, holds a world monopoly on cotton production, is rapidly becoming a great cotton manufacturing center; dominates the phosphate rock and sulphur trade of the world; has much of the richest oil territory known, possesses one-half the standing tin.ber of the country; raises eight hundred million bushe's

« AnteriorContinuar »