Brother Miner's wife pay for all the necessities he describes? Well, the question scarcely forms an argument in this case. It does, however, show that the fund should be made larger. I will ask a question or two. myself. Would it have helped that family to have taken Brother Miner to the Home? Would it have made that family happier, or more unhappy to have done so?

It will be some time longer before the Grand Division sits and there are some things that should be threshed out through the CONDUCTOR So that they may be quickly disposed of at the proper time. I have felt a call to write this paper and I hope many of you will feel a call to read it.

You have no doubt heard of the saying, that "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread," but as I have already "rushed in" I am enough of a "stayer" to see it through, and thusly you are again afflicted.

I believe I alluded to my early education along in the 70's, trying to keep a "hay-burner" hot, and my next step being on the right hand side of a switch engine, I learned to work both ways, and back up on signal, and I now have received a sign to back up, so here goes. In my figures as to the probable cost of transportation for Grand Officers, I must have got my decimal points mixed, for it appears that the present Grand Officers' mileage for the year, at three cents per mile, would only amount to about $4500 instead of the $40,000 that I had it. Still that is quite a tidy sum to provide for, if necessary, and with this off my mind, I am going to elaborate a bit on my idea of the saving of expense by cutting down representation to the Grand Division, as well as lengthening the recess of that body.

They say that "There is nothing new under the sun" and I do not take the credit of this idea to myself" or "flattering unction to my soul," for I really get the greater part of it from a much more competent Brother, but his ideas chime in so well with my own that I am giving you his words almost verbatim:

Enact into law a provision that as soon as practicable or required after the meeting at Memphis, the Grand Officers are empowered to divide up the Grand Jurisdiction into Districts comprising approximately, and as near as practicable, one thousand members. Each having, of course no reference to either state, territorial, or Provincial lines, but on the other hand endeavoring as much as possible to get territory having comparatively similar conditions, and in no case dividing a Division, and possibly in some cases, allowing for future growth. Then at the regular Division election, let each Division in such districts elect a District Delegate, and at an early date in the following December, have these District Delegates meet at some centrally located Division's hall, (These meetings could be rotated if thought desirable) and with their local matters, thresh them out, and such as could not be equitably or adequately adjusted by them, could be referred either to the Grand Division, its Jurisprudence Committee, or during recess, to the Grand Officers, and then, let these same District repre

sentatives, locally selected as being the best men, select from among themselves one who should represent the District in the Grand Division, and thus not only cut down the expense of the Grand Division nine-tenths, in numbers and expenses but also provide a body that I think no fair minded Brother but will concede as thoroughly representative, and of a size that can, and in all probability will, do better legislative service, for several reasons, the very first of which is: that there will really be a representative from each locality, and one who by this second choice ought at least to be the very best man, then considering the experience of the past, there will still be as many as there generally is that take an active part, and last, it will be easy to get a suitable place to meet, which it is not at present. Let each local Division pay its own District Delegate, probably not amounting to more than one trip off and expenses, say at the outside, $20.00, for they should get through in one day and certainly would in two days. Then there would be no charge for pay of G. D. Delegates from present practice.

Considering this disposed of, I only wish to add a suggestion of my own, that if thought desirable, these District meetings could be of the "Union" kind, as far as our general membership goes, and thus foster the fraternal spirit, which is too generally overlooked, but which could be with much profit given more attention to, though probably its lack is more marked in large places.

On the line of Past Grand Chief, E. E. Clark, recommend for triennial Grand Divisions, I, and I think all but the excursionists will agree with him, and I am even prepared to go a step farther, and advocate Quadriennial Conventions of the Grand Body, and the corresponding length of terms of office of the Grand Officers. And by the way, Division 44, had no very good material, and also were generous and wanted me to have a pleasure trip so you can look for me at Memphis, with my wooly western ideas, though I have no idea of being heard except at roll call, which is one of my reasons for boring you now, and wanting you to think how much good we could do with this 90% saving, and that amount doubled if we only had the expense of meeting every four years. Why we could please a lot of the Brothers, about a Home, A Fund for Disabled or Aged Members, or even buy a nice piece of ground in Cedar Rapids, and soon build our own home upon it. How does it sound Brothers? Another wrinkle that I have in my brain is, that while I usually have the greatest respect for our older members, and those who have been our law makers, there is one thing that they have done that I fail to see the justice of, or where only that which is right and fair comes in, and that is, Section 70, lines 7 to and including first word of line 15. Talk about "Gold Bricks", this is certainly not one. No, it is highway robbery. That is what it is. Tell a man that he must pay for something, that you at once tell him you will not do for him. This may "start something". I sincerely hope it does. It never was right, and as we are getting more and more every (day I was going to say, but will modify) year in yard service, it is wronging just that many more men.

.

men

And by-the-way, my cure for it is not in letting them out of it, but in making them pay it, but at

the same time putting ourselves in a position by amending and striking out the latter part of the paragraph, to give them something to pay for. I have thought for a long time that this exclusive idea would tend toward retrograde, and I am more than ever of this opinion. Get rid of this "I am better than thou" idea, for I am not, and never was or will be. I recognize that all bodies must be governed, and by laws enacted, have constitutions and live up to them, but look at the constitution of our beloved and incomparable country, conceived and established for what? The greatest good for the greatest number. Has it not been found advisable to amend it? I guess so. Conditions, men, and in fact everything is subject to change, and it seems to me that I heard when I was little that a long time ago, a people that did not recognize the "hand writing on the wall" paid the penalty and while I am no prophet, and do not wish to be called a raven, or croaker, it does seem to me that it is a patent fact that if we do not protect our members no matter what their position or service, that we will not long have them to protect. However, if you cannot give them bread, do not ask them to pay.

A last "jolt" and I will let up. Keep on thinking my Brothers, of the Mutual Benefit Department, about "extended insurance" for the member who has paid in a number of years, and then forgets to remit at the exact time. If it is good business policy for the big insurance companies, it is good for the members of this Order. And by-the-way, why not do a little accident or indemnity biz? If it is good for money making, why not as a Brotherly love act?

Think these things over, Brothers, while getting over the holidays, which I certainly hope you all spent pleasantly. F. D. ELLIOTT.

Denver, Colo.

Editor Railway Conductor:

While it is not my desire that the product of my pen should ever appear upon the pages of the RAILWAY CONDUCTOR as representative of Division 152, I recognize the fact I must serve as best I can in accordance with this one action of my Division. This comes to me along with many others to help make up the trials of life that daily confront me. I shall not murmur, but will console myself with this one thought that with the proper perseverance and industry I shall be equal to the occasion. The best of people will now and then meet with such trials, for we are told they are inherited by mortality. It is, however, the better philosophy to take things calmly and endeavor to be content with our lot. We may at least add some rays of sunshine to our path if we earnestly endeavor to dispel the clouds of discontent that may arise in our bosoms, and by so doing will more fully enjoy the bountiful blessings that God gives to his humblest creatures. Without trials we cannot guess at our own strength-none of us can learn to swim by laying on a table, to learn to swim we must get out in the deep and buffet the surges. A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. No man ever worked his passage anywhere in a calm. Let no man wax pale, then, because of trials; trials are what he wants and must have to be good

for anything. Hardship is the native soil of manhood and self-reliance. To believe a business impossible is the way to make it so. How many feasible projects have miscarried through despondency and been strangled in the birth by a cowardly imagination.

Now then, in this, my first epistle to THE CONDUCTOR, I shall dwell mainly upon one subject and trust it will eventually redowned to the good of the Order, and I sincerely hope that none of my good Brethren will become offended at what I may say. I only hope that they may receive it in the same brotherly spirit that it is written. If I, in any way shall offend any of them it will be an error of the head and not of the heart. "Home stayers and non-doers" shall be my subject on this occasion and as it is the beginning of the new year I trust it may arouse some at least to a fuller realization of their obligation, and be the means of making them see the importance of assembling themselves together at their respective Divisions on meeting days. Shop members is a name that can be rightly applied, I think, to these home stayers and donothings, and I think every Division should employ an up-to-date overhauler for the purpose of looking after these members that have been shopped so long. Make repairs, if necessary, and put them back in service with the new schedule for 1907. If something isn't done in this direction soon they will be so rusty and old when they do get out, we won't be able to find on them a good, sound place to tack a bad order tag. This thing of staying at home on meeting days is seriously wrong, and nothing but a habit, and a very bad one too. Few people form habits of this kind deliberately or wilfully, but glide into them by degrees and almost unconsciously and before they are aware of danger the habits are confirmed and require resolute and persistant effort to effect a change. Be not slow in breaking off a bad habit, a quick, courageous resolution is far better than a gradual deliberation. Whatever be the cause it is an established fact that we are much influenced by habit. and it has an effect upon our pleasure, upon our action and even upon our thoughts and sentimentshabit is no man's best friend or his worst enemy; it can exalt him to the highest pinnacle of virtue, honor and happiness, or sink him to the lowest depths of vice, shame and misery. No man can live to himself, the threads of a net are not more surely knit together than man to man. We may forget this secret, silent influence but we are exerting it by our deeds, by our words, and by our thoughts, and he is wise with a wisdom more than that of earth who seeks to put forth the best influence for good. Attend your Division meetings and you will be a light to illumine, stay at home and play the part of a donothing and you will be a tempest to destroy. Your sphere may be contracted, your influence small, but a sphere and an influence you surely have. Arouse yourselves. shake off this wretched and disgraceful habit of the donothing if you have been so unfortunate as to incur it. Go to work at once and with a vim; do something, most anything rather than to continue in dependent and enfeebling and demoralizing idleness. If you can do nothing else just be present at your Division on meeting days. You are not ashamed to do this; if so, your shame has

been very slow in manifesting itself, seeing how long you have been acting the part of a donothing without shame. Don't let it be said that it is laziness on your part, because laziness grows on people-it begins as if in cobwebs and ends in iron chains if you will be nothing just wait to be somebody. That man that waits for an opportunity to do much at once may breathe out his life in idle wishes, and finally regret his useless intentions and barren zeal-a young man idle, an old man needy. It is said that pride and poverty are inconsistent companions, but when idleness unites them the depths of wretchedness is complete. Leisure is sweet to those who have earned it, but burdensome to those who get it for nothing. There is a great work for us all to do, a deep and earnest life work, solemn, real and useful, it is no idle game, no farce to amuse and be forgotten; it is a fixed and stern reality, fuller of duties than the sky is of stars, and so long as it is the voice of duty calling us, let us heed it and gird ourselves not only for our presence and work in our Divisions, but for every good work that is before us. Let us set a high price on our leisure moments, they are sands of precious gold, properly expended they will procure for us a stock of great thoughts, thoughts that will fill, stir, invigorate and expand the soul. Perseverance is the virtue wanted. A lion-hearted purpose of victory. It is this that accomplishes whatever is great, good and valuable.

We are told that perseverance built the pyramids on Egypt's plains, erected the gorgeous temple at Jerusalem, reared the seven hill city, opened a highway through the watery wilderness of the Atlantic, leveled the forest of a new world, and reared in its stead a community of states and nations, it has put in motion millions of spindles, harnessed thousands of iron steeds to ten times as many freighted cars and set them flying from town to town and nation to nation, it has whitened the waters of the world with the sails of many nations, and navigated every sea and explored every land. Now dear readers, in conclusion let me impress you with this fact, our success depends upon our persevering industry. Though the earth quake and the heavens gather blackness, be true to your obligation and yourself, fear not nor doubt of the result, victory will be yours.

Wishing each and every member of our Organization a Happy and Prosperous New Year, I close with this one thought, bear it in mind, To him that overcometh God giveth a crown, But to him that Bums it

Editor Railway Conductor: Happy New Year!

Ha! Ha! Ha! Roads dry and dusty, not snow enough in the valley to (snow) "ball you out." Who can beat Colorado weather? As your official (?) position ends with this (last) day, week, month and year we thought it time to awake from the long slumber, turn over a new leaf-and write a few scratches thereon-to inform the members and general public of the fact that the last remnant of the Tamale family is still in the land of the living and not dead but in the more common way of

expressing it, been in the "hay" or "sand" or what the unwhiskered student might term "on the spot." Yes, our silence has reigned supreme in literary circles the past annum, but as our worthy assistant, Brother Elliott, has been doing so nicely, thought best to let well enough alone However Brother E. is still on the extra list, but first out for a regular job. He holds more offices than any one man in the Division, being Secretary, delegate, correspondent, sick committeeman, stenographer, chief griever for our neighbors (the Ladies' Auxiliary) and still Brother Willard says we ought to hang a few more duties on him in order to keep him busy.

Well, Brother Editor, we have'nt much to offer for the good of the Order, or anything else, as we have been in the shade so long and by a busy night office shut out from s'ciety so long we are somewhat handicapped in moving, as our "packin'" is somewhat ancient and needs some good "oil-head" who is handy with the "can" to squirt a few squirts on the rusty spots and loosen up a few bolts with his trusty monkey wrench weapon, that some of them (not all) hold so sacred, and especially about leaving time, or when about four five minute crossings are blocked behind them and you are anxious to escape the wrath of six or eight officers of the law, ten thousand howling "Dagoes," "Sheeneys," cabbage merchants, teamsters and others. In fact our old frame needs a general overhauling.

Regarding Division matters, we can say but little as we rank at the head of our class, commonly called "non-attendance", but, however, when we do chance to get in an odd Sunday, we hear some good things about raise of pay and many other things to better the condition of the fraternity, and then when we hear the mild faced student talking new schedule "on the side" and how many "bucks" or "cart wheels" he'll make during the stock, coal or passenger season, and hear some old patriarch tell him he'd better wait till the rush is over and he won't use up so many lead pencils in his calculations. Bob Saw-by Johnny Oldhead is an older man and may take a notion to "bump" him. Putting all these things and what we can catch on the fly together, we judge there must be something doin' in Division circles, to get these good schedules.

Brother Jim Costello, of Lisbon, O., made us a hurried call on his way home from Nome, Alaska, where he has quite extensive mining interests. We never had the pleasure of getting well acquainted with Brother C., but he is an Order man, body and soul, and a polished, intelligent gentleman beside. He had something rich and rare in the way of an O. R. C. gavel made of ivory (handle and all) with O. R. C. in raised gold letters, the gold coming from his own property in Alaska. This gavel, says Brother C., will open our next Grand Division at Memphis.

Our Division meetings are affected with that dread disease, non-attendance, and the sa me plague prevails in most all Divisions throughout the country, according to reports in THE CONDUCTOR, and many times we wouldn't have enough members to open a 40 cent "jack pot" were it not for "Veritas," and faithful old pushers who know that good attendance is the best invigorant (if shaken before taken) known, to create interest, enthusiasm and

vigor in any order, but it seems our members (yours truly included) don't "take their medicine" as directed.

As time glides swiftly by, we note with sadness how many of the old rank and file when "we were boys" together have been put on the "slow board" (retired list) or wiped off the slate altogether, or to make it more plain, been taken out of service by He who reigns supreme over all, and altho' young blood is being rapidly injected into train and yard service, there are a few-quite a few-old patriarchs left who wheeled the mud to build many of our western railroads, and tell their tales of trials, tribulations, hardships and dangers endured that

life of today is like heaven compared with the days when Sam Stewart, Bill Hinkley, and Billy Ogden (we have been there, too) and many more took the studential obligation to manipulate the brake rigging of a passenger or freight train with a yard of hickory pick handle or any old stick of same dimensions, as their best friend, but the student of today kicks because he has to couple the hose and wear off the soles of his trousers listening to Mr. Westinghouse making the stops and holding down the slopes.

Wishing all a Happy New Year with a promise of a better letter next time will sign, Denver, Colo.

HOT TAMALES.

the meek faced tourist might repose on velvet cushions and view our gorgeous mountain scenery through the polished windows of a Pullman palace car, and made it possible for the shipment of an ccasional train load of "Japs," "Dagoes" walleyed "Chinks" and other trash, to take the place of the poor old "Jerry" miner, and day laborer. The foreign emmigrant may not do much damage to us old heads, however, but it don't look good for our children or our children's children. But in speaking of all the "student" or young blood, we can only say we had our day, so let the kids go to it, but student

Editor Railway Conductor:

It has been some time since Indianapolis Division 103 has been heard from. I will get busy and give the Brothers who have time to read the CONDUCTOR an idea of how we are progressing. We have on our roll three hundred and twenty-five members; and have several applications for membership, which is "going some."

The annual election of officers was held Nov. 4th.

The Division in conjunction with the Ladies' Auxiliary held a public installation of officers, and

in addition to installation exercises, an elaborate program was provided.

Brother J. H. McClintock officiated as installing officer and Brother T. J. Maidens as marshal. The two made a team, which was certainly up to "snuff."

The Ladies Auxiliary favored us with a display of its beautiful ritualistic work, with Mrs. Cora Joslin acting as installing sister and Mrs. A. D. Crull as marshal.

Brother Walter Copsey, Division 79 and Brother W. T. Brown, Division 92, was with us and made pleasant remarks. After spending an enjoyable evening we proceeded to adjournment, singing "God be with you 'till we meet again." Indianapolis, Ind.

Editor Railway Conducto::

J. D. P.

In reading the CONDUCTOR, I have noticed the absence of letters from any points in Canada, and at this season of the year when we are all more or less generous, I thought a line or two from our section might be of interest.

I have read with considerable interest the question of the Home for old railway conductors, and think the remedy for events of this nature would be fully covered if our Relief Fund assessments were semi-annual or for four times the amount, say for about $4.00 per year.

The Order of Railway Conductors is in a flourishing condition, but is sometimes falsely misrepresented for the tribulations that befall some of its members. In accepting bribes no one but the individual, who accepts such bribes is responsible, and no one should be blamed but the acceptor. our members had the manliness to say "NO" when temptations assail them, they could remain in the employ of any railroad company for a long time.

If

The men of the C. P. R. system are being polled for their vote on the question of increasing the salary of the General Chairman. He is a worthy Brother and the members in this section hope that his salary will be increased.

A few words in connection with the duties that members owe to their Officers and to the Organization as a whole would not be amiss, We see fit to elect certain members to hold certain offices, and then we consider our duties completed. This, to my mind, is decidedly all wrong. I can see no reason why there should not be a larger attendance at the Division meetings to help the officers settle important business in connection with our organization.

The matter of assessment for the salaries of the members of the General Committee, as arranged the last time the General Committee was convened in Montreal, worked out highly satisfactory to the Grand Office, as well as the individual members of the C. P. R. system lines east of Port Arthur. If it is not constitutional, the sooner our laws are amended so that committeemen could receive their salaries just as promptly from the Grand Secretary, as they do from the railway companies, viz., each month, the better for all concerned. But why should they stay in session some two or three months, incurring large bills of costs, has always been a conundrum to me. It occurs to

me that our constitution should have a law giving the Grand Officer authority to ask these longwinded Committeemen for some explanation of their lengthy sojourn at Montreal or Winnipeg. In these days when the cost of living has so materially increased, ours is the only organization that presumes to take its conventions and General Committee meetings to places where large hotel bills are de rigeur. Would it not be more consistent if we were to hold our meetings in smaller towns or villages, where the attractions are not so great? It might have a tendency to bring the meetings to a close in about half the time it now takes in large, attractive cities. This would lessen the costs to the Order of Railway Conductors in general.

In the event of the need of the General Committee to meet the officials, it now seems impossible to arrange a definite date for the meeting. Would it not be advisable to have a certain day, set in advance, with whatever officials it is found advisable to transact the business. It would save time and curtail any unnecessary expense. Our organization has grown to such proportions as to demand courteous and immediate consideration from said officials.

The increased membership of our Order on the C. P. R. system, has by this time, I hope, quite convinced the Grand Division that they made no mistake when they appointed a Deputy Grand Chief Conductor for Canada. The membership on this system has increased to such an extent that the assessment levied on the members has been reduced by half in the payment of the salary of the General Chairman, which is, to my way of thinking, as good an argument as could be used for the continuance of the policy of having a hustler for a Deputy Grand Chief, not only in Canada, but in some of the neighboring states.

It is to be hoped that Divisions located in the Dominion of Canada will at an early date forward resolutions to their legislative representative at Ottawa, condemning the proposed McLean bill, in so far as it relates to the sale of railway tickets by the public in general. This would have a tendency to place more temptations in the pathway of the passenger conductors, and increase their tribulations in so much as one half of the tickets sold by scalpers have to be turned down by the conductor, causing trouble to both the traveling public and the train official.

Divisions 345 and 17 will hold their annual ball on January 18th, 1907, the proceeds from which will be tendered a sick Brother, and for this reason the free list has been entirely suspended. To our neighboring Divisions, who have been in the habit of receiving courtesies in the shape of complimentary tickets for this function, no further explanation is necessary. CYNIC. Toronto, Can.

Editor Railway Conductor:

There has been a Division of the O. R. C. at this place for nearly 18 months and in all my readings of the CONDUCTOR I have never seen a line from it-Division 480, so with your permission I will make an attempt and I hope this will wake our correspondent up and cause him to let us hear from