480 at intervals at least. We have just had an election of officers and the selections I think, with the assistance of the members, will make us a good set of officers, for it doesn't make any difference how efficient a man may be, if he hasn't the assistance and attendance of the members, he can do nothing. I think all our members go to the meetings when they are in town, but our membership is not large enough to always insure a quorum, which handicaps us a great many times and our Division is in a prosperous condition as we have a little work for "Billy" once in awhile, and I don't think we have but very few on our division who are eligible who are not members. Business is very good on the Beaumont division of the Santa Fe as it always is when we can get cars and quite a few of the Brothers are experiencing a little trouble in getting off for the Holidays, and if there is any Brother that is not employed and cares to come to south Texas he can perhaps, find employment here and I will insure him courteous treatment, for our superintendent, trainmaster and assistant trainmaster are all perfect gentlemen and I don't think there is a member of 480 who will turn the lapel of his coat inside when he sees an O. R. C. button. I will hush for fear this will never appear in the CONDUCTOR but if it does I may come again with something of more interest to us all, so with another appeal to the Brothers here and elsewhere to attend meetings more regularly and wishing our Order a prosperous year and that every conductor will prosper and be happy individually. Silsbee, Tex. JACK. Editor Railway Conductor: I see from our Journal the agitation for a Home waxes warm. I for one have always advocated a scheme of this kind, wrote my views on it four years ago. Now I honestly believe if every Brother will do his Juty and set all selfish motives aside he will approve of anything that will help his less fortunate Brother. Every member of our Order who knows anything about our insurance law knows they should be amended-Take for instance Brother Tom Love of Division 103, Indianapolis, Ind., anyone who knows of his case I am sure will admit that he should have received his insurance in full years ago. All those things and cases like them of which there are many, keep others out of our order. What the people want nowadays is. something they can realize on while they live. Now while I do not profess to know anything about insurance laws it does appear to me that when a member in good standing has paid up for 15 or 20 years he should be able to realize something on his insurance policy. Say, for instance, we make it on the 20 year endowment plan. I certainly agree with Brother Osborn on the Home question, this is something we are sorely in need of. If we cannot get our insurance let us have a home by all means. I don't think we would have any trouble in getting all the land we would need for years to come, donated as an inducement to have us locate. Say, for instance, we would get 500 or 1000 acres of land, then go to work and put up your cottages with so much land with every cottage. In this manner the thing could be easily made self-supporting or very nearly so at least. Then plot out your town lots and sell the lots. I for one will, if they are not too high, purchase one of them. I think the place selected should be in a mild climate and as centrally located as say Georgia or Tenn. Now let's do something good for the old conductors, this will tend to build up our Order quicker than anything else we could do-seeing is believing. Whatever we do, keep up the Reserve Fund and the Relief Fund, what would a little one cent a day hurt any man or $5.00 a year. Just smoke one cigar less or take one drink less and above all don't be a kicking about the Grand Officers, they too, have their troubles. J. E. BERRY. Editor Railway Conductor: It has been some time since I appeared in the lime light, and my previous efforts were not such as would startle any of the readers of the CONDUCTOR and they failed to bring forth any great discussion. I want to say a few words, or rather write a few lines, in regard to the subject which is causing so much argument in the columns of the CONDUCTOR, viz: the Home. I am not competent to take either side, for or against, as I have no statistics at hand showing the number of indigent conductors or the number who would want to take advantage of such an institution. That it would be a grand thing for those that need it there is no doubt but is there enough to warrant so great an outlay of money? This must be ascertained before we begin to talk about building. When any one begins to talk about doing away with the Relief Fund I begin to sit up and take notice. I think the Relief Fund one of the best and wisest of all the great things the O. R. C. has adopted. The amount of good that has been accomplished through this department is far beyond the expectations of any of the promoters of this great idea. Some want to go back to the old laws and pay the policy of those who are disabled through disease or accident, to such an extent that they are unable to follow their profession as a conductor. To give it to him in a lump sum to do with as he sees fit. I do not doubt that the advocates of this idea are sincere in their intentions but I question the wisdom of it. As long as our Relief Fund will pay thirty dollars a month to indigent and disabled conductors, it is better than a Home or the giving to them of their insurance. Give the average conductor who has been living on a salary of one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars a year the sum of three thousand dollars and how long will it last? Not a great many years, where there is no income. Let him invest this money in business in competition with men who have been schooled in business for years and how many of them could realize twelve per cent? The Relief Fund, thirty dollars a month, would equal twelve per cent and leave three thousand for the family should he be called by the Supreme Grand Chief Conductor. If the insurance is two thousand or only one thousand with how much more force does it apply with its eighteen or thirty-six per cent? All of this without taking into consideration the benefit derived by the Brother who is not a member of the Benefit Department. If the members wish to increase the Relief Fund I am heartily in favor of it. In making assessments for any cause let us always remember that worthy Brother who has been unfortunate, lost his position as a conductor, and was forced through circumstances to accept a less remunerative situationhe is the one who feels the extra burden be it ever so slight. While we more fortunate should not feel too much inflated by our success in obtaining an increased wage. As to the changing of Section 63, of the statutes, it reminds me of the saying of an old brakeman of mine, who is now a member of the O. R. C., when a controversy would come up in regard to rules, he would say, "A little good, common sense will knock out all the rules on the timecard." That will apply to the interpretation of this statute. Discussion of matters pertaining to the good of the Order is always to be encouraged, but discussion of political matters which are purely local where two sides are liable to become bitter towards each other and lead to hard feelings or even national affairs which would lead to same result should not be forbidden and for just such conditions this statute was framed. The religious part of it needs no comment. One thing that appeals to me as being unnecessary and a great cost to the members is the matter of committees of adjustment being in session for so many days, weeks and months without being able to get a hearing. I know of one road which has had a joint committee waiting two months for executive officers of a large railway system to find time` to meet with them and adjust their differences. This meeting is costing the different Divisions of the organizations the sum of eight dollars a day for each representative of the committee and it runs into money, and big money at that, mighty fast. Do you suppose that a committee of shippers, such as manufacturers, grain men or merchants would wait two months to get a hearing? I think not. There would either be something doing or they would disperse and go home. Do you think that there is any railway manager in the country who is so busy that he cannot, inside of two months, find time to meet with a committee? I do not think so, and think something should be done t curtail this expense. We lose a good many members by failure to pay different assessments and when they come in bunches like the assessments for committee work that accomplishes nothing for so long a time, they get to thinking that the committee has been having a good time at their expense and get to grumbling, finding fault and finally allow themselves to be suspended for non-payment. This should be remedied by making provisions for hearing at a certain date, then meet a sufficient time beforehand to form their organization, come to a perfect understanding, and be ready to do business in a business-like way. The age limit is something that appeals to all of us and should not only claim the attention of the old members but the young one as well, for he must also get old and while we all know that youth looks at age as something remote and to be taken care of when it presents itself, it creeps upon the railway employe very fast, so fast indeed, that before he realizes the fact he is beyond the age limit. The age limit is set about where a man in other professions or business life is beginning to feel his best. On account of the enormous business in this country at the present time all classes of labor, skilled and unskilled, are employed and the agelimit is overlooked or stretched to suit the conditions but with a decrease in business it will become more manifest. What is the cause of the man past forty years of age finding that he is not wanted, it is not because he has lost his usefulness but because his time of usefulness is more limited. The railways of the country are constantly looking for young, stout, healthy men for service in the transportation department. Some of the larger systems have employment bureaus which are continually urging young men along their lines to enter the railway service. They are given a physical examination as rigid as though they were being examined for service in the United States army, then they are placed on trains "as students" to learn the business either as firemen or brakemen. Then they are given permanent positions as soon as they show a certain proficiency, if they make good, they are advanced, if not they are dropped. The inducements held out are the good wages to be secured in so short a time. This has a wonderful influence in making a scarcity of farm help which we hear of so frequently, for if a young man from the farm once starts "railroading" we all know that after a few years on the road he does not make a very good farm hand, for the fascination of the rail is upon him and he does not wish to return to the routine work of the farm. Then rather than give up the life of a railroad man, he will join the list of those who are constantly on the go looking for a job. Here we see the result of the student system, if a good man loses a position through some slight error, when he looks for another situation he is confronted with a long list of students who are ahead of him and he must either go farther or start at the bottom of the list. We must all, then, be careful and not make any mistakes, for the mistakes of a conductor are not easily covered up. A mechanic makes a slight mistake in judgment or measurement, he may ruin the material he is working upon. A moulder may ruin a pattern or a casting, an office man may make a mistake in his accounts, it is discovered in checking up. A doctor makes a mistake; it is buried, but a slight mistake by a conductor or trainman will be taken care of by the wrecking crew and the man making the error will be taken care of by the official investigation, and the responsible party is looking for a situation. He may have worked for years without making a mistake, he might never make another but some other road will have to ascertain that fact for the one which had employed him before will take no chances of a recurrence of this same mistake. While his superiors may think he would give good and faithful service for another period of years, it would hurt the discipline of the road, consequently he will have to go. If the "Brainy Editor", "The Grammatical Proof Reader", "The Intelligent Compositor", and the "Versatile Office Devil" can arrange this hash into readable matter, let it appear; if not so much more waste paper for the junk dealer. [We can do it.-ED.] It is a mighty big undertaking for any of us to try to fill the gap left by the departure of our correspondent "79". We not only miss him in the columns of the CONDUCTOR, but we miss him in the Division room. Division 79 joins in wishing our Brother success in his new position and hope that he may find time to visit with us occasionally. Peoria, Ill. "BIG FELLOW." Editor Railway Conductor: In the article by Brother F. D. Elliott, in the November CONDUCTOR, I find two points on which I beg to differ, viz.; the way he puts it in regard to a successor to Brother Clark, and his idea in regard to striking out the line showing occupation on our Division Card. No doubt there are many who think that some other would make as good, or a better, successor to Brother Clark than the one who now holds the position, and the fact that he holds it by right of succession is no reason why he should be elected to the position, if there is another who is better fitted or would be a better head of the Order. What we want is the one who will best serve the interests of the Order of Railway Conductors, first, last and all the time-let that be Brother "Smith", "Jones" or who ever he may be. I am not sounding the praises of any Brother, as I do not think the columns of THE CONDUCTOR a proper place for that. In regard to the Division Card, there is no distinction; the Brother who is employed in yard service is just as good and entitled to the same consideration as the one who is running a passenger train, but, it is an open question with a great many, myself included, as to whether the Brother who has left the railroad service entirely should be granted a Division Card at all or not-it at least, should be plainly marked "NOT IN RAILROAD SERVICE." Minneapolis, Minn. A. P. STEDMAN. The Hell-Bound Train. Tom Gray lay on the bar room floor, To dream that he rode on the hell-bound train. The engine with blood was red and damp, And brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp; An imp for fuel was shoveling bones And the furnace roared with a thousand groans. The boiler was filled with lager beer, And the devil himself was the engineer. The passengers made such a motley crew, As the train dashed along at an awful rate And faster and faster the engine flew; 'Till the clothes were burned from each quivering frame, And in the distance, there came such a yell "Ha! Ha!" croaked the devil, "We're nearing hell!" Then oh, how the passengers shrieked with pain You've drunk and rioted and murdered and fled And mocked at God in your hell-born pride; You've paid full fare so I'll carry you through, For it's only right that you get your due." Then Tom awoke with an awful cry, His clothes soaked with sweat and his hair standing high, Then he prayed as he never prayed before To be saved from hell and the devil's power And surely his prayer was not made in vain For he never more rode on the hell-bound train. Memphis, Tenn. W. C. KOHNMAN. Arrangements can be made very easily whereby the railroad paymasters can collect the insurance assessments and return the same to the Grand Secretary for each Brother the same as those accident companies are doing now and such paymasters will do the work just as reasonably for us as for other outside companies and our Brothers, "Burlington" Smith and Quinn (who are the originators of the proposition) want all restrictions as to age cut out, which, of course, will be all right because there is actually no more risk to carry an old man than a young fellow who really runs more accidental risk than the old Brother, especially the conductor who has side stepped the usual accidents which befall a car hand. I would like to see this accident insurance proposition published in the CONDUCTOR as soon as possible so that the delegates may have an opportunity to think about it and that the insurance experts may come loaded for the occasion and I expect no little opposition from the grafters who have been having such a fat time on our insurance these many years. And once this accident fraternal insurance gets a fair start it will mean the death of the grafters as all railroad organized labor societies will install an accident insurance. Editor Railway Conductor: Monday, December 5, there was a proposition which came before Division 55, that sooner or later will result in a reality. One Brother, Jerry Quinn, is the originator of an O. R. C. accident insurance proposition to be brought before our next Grand Division meeting. There are numerous reasons why an accident insurance will be successful. First, every Brother will be an agent without material cost or premiums for such agency but we will get it indirectly by the eventual reduction of the cost. Of course there must be a graduated scale to be successful for the Brothers who are switching and those who are braking and the freight and passenger conductors and the Brothers who are not employed in railroad service. The scheme is bound to be a winner and I am only surprised that the Grand Division has not handled this proposition long before this. Editor Railway Conductor: St. Paul Division 40, held its annual election, Sunday, November 18th, 1906. The customary form of entertainment following our annual election of officers, was dispensed with this year, owing to the fact that quite a number of the Brothers are approaching the Oslerized period and need rest. The rest of us, with commendable magnanimity, decided that possibly to observe the usual form of hilarity, for which Division 40 is famous, might prove serious to those members, so we decided to diplomatically avert such a catastrophe, by ad-, vocating economy and contented ourselves with a "smoker" social, while business moved along without interruption. as We indorse Brother Welch's idea in regard to the Home as elucidated in the November issue of THE CONDUCTOR. The word "Home" is too fredefines quently missapplied. Webster it "One's own place." It should not be applied to institutions. Such places should be more properly called asylums. If there is any time in one's life when a home is appreciated it is when too many unfortunate Brothers are consigned to an asylum and this is especially pathetic when through no fault of theirs they are unable to provide against such an emergency. We are aware that this idea or system will not create offices and emoluments, but this is not the mission of the Order of Railway Conductors. This institution idea for the care of this one or that one is an inducement for many people to shirk responsibility as they find it more convenient to consign those whom it is their moral and Christian duty to care for, to the care of others and are more than willing to let others maintain and support the institutions. We recommend an amendment to the constitution to meet the situation arising from the substitution of electric for steam power. The only real conductor's order is comprised of conductors in active service. Their occupation is one of responsibility and trust, a position attained only after years of apprenticeship. When this stage is reached he has naturally assumed other cares and responsibilities which make it doubly important that all unnecessary risks be avoided which would in any way jeopardize his position and it should be the duty of our organization to throw about its members every safeguard. He has grown older and many of us both in the freight and passenger service, would find ourselves up against the age limit (which seems to be the old black list in a new guise) and other obstacles. There are other organizations of railway employes whose members do not carry or assume as much responsibility. The world is before them and the future gives them no immediate concern. These are junior organizations and there is apt to exist a spirit of unrest and agitation. When a trainman is promoted to the position of freight conductor there can be no question but that his interests lie and will be more secure in the Order of Railway Conductors than in any other organization, and every effort consistent with the rules of our Organization should be made to induce him to join our Order. He has reached the last station but one to the zenith of his career: What folly it would be to jeopardize his position by taking useless risks. Not many years ago, and possibly on some systems today, there were possibilities beyond the position of conductor. But for some reason it it is no longer customary to recruit from this class of service for positions of higher responsibilities. This prejudice for which we may be in a measure at fault, may partially explain it, but that this will wash out if our organization fulfills its obligation is quite possible and vacancies created now and then by such promotions will help along the advancement of the freight conductor. I have read at different times in THE RAILWAY CONDUCTOR Opinions of many correspondents referring to a Home for aged and disabled conductors, of paying them their insurance in full, that they could remain at home with their families and especially with the good wife that no doubt has made many sacrifices in order to keep the wolf from the door and keep the family together and make home as pleasant as possible regardless of her own welfare. If anything is done in this direction, I would say by all means pay the old, worn out and disabled war-horses their insurance. Although I am not interested in the Insurance now, having lost out about two years ago, being sick and bed-fast at the time and not able to fill out blank and remit, was five days late with remittance and it was all off. My feelings go out to the Brothers who have insurance just the same, but I suppose this idea would be fought down by some of our younger conductors, the same as the age limit. It is very surprising that some will stand in their own light and not look ahead or think of the future-what may be in store for them as well as their older Brothers as the years roll by. The age limit is soon reached and what then? If they should lose out, no conductor has a life lease on his position. I consider a conductor a better man for a railway company after he has passed the so-called age limit than he was before. As a general thing by this time he has sowed his wild oats and is well educated on all old as well as new tricks and is more liable to work harder for the welfare and take more interest for his company as well as for himself. I am of the opinion that the age limit could be handled with railway officials as well as increase in wages. There are many conductors out of service today for slight mishaps, false reports and so on, that would make good conductors, but have passed the age mile post. As long as a man can perform his duties as a conductor he should not be turned down without just cause. Shake, Brother Welch, your letter in November issue has the proper ring. Hope you will keep the ball rolling. I am one of the has beens of the early 60s, when wood burners and Armstrong brakes were in vogue, rear brakeman using grain car for caboose; $35.00 per month; thermometer 20 to 25 degrees below D. L. ANDERSON. zero. Garrett, Ind. Editor Railway Conductor: Nov. 25th was regular meeting day of Lone Star Division, Dennison, Tex., and we had a fair attendance. us. Visiting Brothers are cordially invited to visit Our We will try to make you feel at home. members are composed of men employed on the M., K. & T. R. R. running north into the Indian Territory, and south into Texas. We have about 150 members and some who are braking here will transfer. By the way, I am not in favor of this compulsory transfer. I belonged to that grand old Division 1, of Chicago, for years, and I would have considered it one of the grandest moments of my life to be able to say, "I am a life member of Division 1, of Chicago." But no, it could not be, so I, obeying the will of a constituted majority, cast my lot with No. 53, where I shall do the best I can for the good of the Division and the Order of Railway Conductors. By the way, that reminds me-I hope to be in Chicago on December 31st and join with my old friends of No. 1 in conferring the life membership degree on some of the old members, also to attend the banquet which is a thing to be remembered for life. It will be like going home for Christmas. The officers of Division 53, are, I think, as good as we could pick out of a lot of men and I hope the members, one and all, will lend what assistance they can to make next year a grand success. Come to the meetings, Brothers. Don't loaf around the streets corners and after the meeting is over, ask, "what did they do today?" Come up in the hall and do your talking. I notice that the men that are the best talkers on the corner after Division is over, very seldom say a word in Division room. Now this is not right; come to meetings and help us make this next year a grand suc cess. I want to say a word about the members of No. |