Correspondence

All contributions to our Correspondence columns must be in not later than the 10th of the month to insure insertion.

Articles must be written on one side of the paper only. Noms de plume may be used, but every article must be signed with full name and address of the writer as a guaranty of good faith, and to insure insertion. No anonymous letters will be pub. lished under any circumstances.

While the Editor does not assume responsibility for opinions expressed by contributors to this department, he is held responsible in both law and moral ethics for admitting that which will injure or create ill feeling. Hence all communications are subject to revision or rejection if the Editor deems it necessary.

C. H. SALMONS. Editor and Manager.

The Engineer's Steed.

I have here a wond'rous steed,
Noted for her strength and speed,
With her massive nerves of steel
And her legs an iron wheel.

She can go a hundred mile
In a very little while.

With her lungs a flame of fire
She can run and never tire.
All the feed she gets is coal,
Yet this mighty nimble foal,
Can go out and win a race
At what seems an easy pace.
She will do a lot of work
And will never try to shirk,
And she'll do it all the day
If they give her right of way.

She can make a wond'rous stride
When I open her up wide
Leaving naught behind her trail
But a great big smoky tail.

She can make a wond'rous flight
Clear across a State at night
Be four hundred miles away
At the breaking of the day.

Now she sometimes has to climb
For she always goes 'gainst time
Cause there isn't any steed
That can equal her in speed.
There's no horse that ever strode
That can pull as big a load,
And I never use a whip
On her side or on her hip.
She will sometimes give a kick,
When the track's a little slick
Then I coax her with some sand
And she'll go at my command.

Then again when on the grade
And I sometimes am afraid
We'll not make it with the train,
And I sometimes am profane.

ELDON, MO., Nov. 15, 1914. EDITOR JOURNAL: I have read with much pleasure and interest Brother Stone's article in the November number of our JOURNAL, emphasizing the importance of our next convention. Inasmuch as our leaders have been insistently calling our attention in our publications and at our union meetings to the necessity of more interest being taken in our organization by the rank and file of its membership, and because the frequent repetition of these warnings may cause some of these members to look at the warnings with a certain amount of distrust and scorn, I wish to take this means of adding in my humble way to these needed efforts toward arousing the proper spirit of understanding of the great changes which are taking place in society and some of the means which we should take to place all of our machinery of offense and defense in the greatest possible degree of efficiency.

In the eyes of sociological students and those who interest themselves in the problems of the uplift of the lower classes of society, we are entering into an era of economic development in our nation which is going to demand far greater effort upon their part if a proper amount of social justice is insured to those whom they are interesting themselves in, while these changes are taking place or after their completion. One of the greatest obstacles which these workers meet with is an apparent lack of understanding of the gravity of these problems among those who should above all others possess this understanding.

Another serious obstacle is this lethargical condition with which we meet this sort of a don't-care, satisfied-withany-old-thing spirit, which seems to pervade our ranks-this sleepy, tired-offighting spirit, and above all else, this apparent disregard or lack of sympathy with the man who is lower down in the seniority list, by the man at the top who is enjoying a good regular run with regular pay. Just how to arouse our membership to a proper degree of understanding of these problems in order that they may be promptly solved is the important question today. The thinkers in our ranks see them all too plainly, but what can they do without the cooperation of those back of them? To those of our members who may be inclined to criticise those who have been voicing their fears, I wish particularly to direct this article. I wish to ask them if they have been devoting the necessary amount of time to study of some of the great political and economic changes which have been taking place in our nation during the past 10 or 15 years? If they have, then they are in a position to consistently criticise, but if they have not then I wish to ask them to stop a moment and consider and study deeply some of these things and then they will be in a position to fully realize the position being taken by our leaders.

Unquestionably, the coming generations are going to have much greater difficulties to overcome in the battle of life than have we, and they are going to need more efficient machinery than have we. Opportunities are going to be less favorable for our children than they were for us. They will not be able to waste their chance of solving the problems facing them because of satisfying personal grudges and partisanship or bias. Necessity is going to compel them to do away with all those wasteful ways of looking at things and will compel them to go directly at the real meat of the problem.

The problems which our fathers faced were not ones in which they had to seek out opportunities in life, they had but to make up their mind which one of a multitude they were to embark in. This

was true because of the unlimited opportunities standing open for them in the free lands of their time. Whenever they were unsuccessful in any undertaking or vocation which they had chosen, there was still the opportunity awaiting them to take up some of the free lands a little ways to the west of them. That opportunity has ceased to exist and now we see the unmistakable drift of our population to the city, with the result that we are rapidly becoming an industrial nation or a nation of servitors. This drift is making more necsssary every day the existence of labor unions. We see the recognition rapidly growing among the members of society, especially among men of affairs, of the fact that competition is wasteful, with the resultant attempts to avoid that waste by concentration of effort. If the laboring man is wise he will profit by the experience and wisdom of others regardless of his prejudice toward the employer as a class, and he will endeavor to understand some of the methods which his employer has used to gain success. The employers are combining in every way possible for mutual benefit. If such combination is helpful to them why should it not be equally or even more so to the employee? Any student knows that it is helpful and more than that, is absolutely necessary if the employee is to hold his own or advance.

You ask, what is necessary for us to do any more than we have done in the past? I will answer and say that new conditions need new or more improved machinery. While I have not the space to fully explain my ideas, I am going to take the time to mention one or two. The particular industry with which we are identified is undergoing a radical change just now as far as its relations to society are concerned. During the past 10 or 15 years we have learned something of the methods which have been followed by the heads of the railway lines of the country with the resultant demand of more stringent governmental supervision. Our Order has two kinds of machinery provided for use in defensive or offensive attempts for our advancement. One is direct dealing with our employer through our local and general Com

mittees of Adjustment, and because of conditions in the past this machinery has been highly developed and has been brought to a high stage of efficiency. Our other machinery, of which I wish to speak at length, because my activities in the Brotherhood have made me more familiar with its needs, is our legislative branch of machinery of offense and defense. This machinery has been somewhat neglected in the past and even now there exists in the minds of many of our members a lack of understanding of the necessity of bringing it up to the same high state of efficiency which exists in our Committees of Adjustment. It seems evident that the drift toward Government supervision of the railway lines is not going to cease altogether, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts being made just now to head it off by many of the heads of the same, and if it is to continue it seems to me that it does not require any great degree of foresight on our part to enable us to realize the necessity of developing our machinery necessary for the proper protection of our interests during this change in the governmental supervising laws. It seems to me that if that is the logical view to take then we should begin to put our legislative machinery into a more efficient state of readiness. The economic student is coming more and more to realize that our past methods of defense are but a temporary expedient and that the time is coming when we are going to demand some less wasteful yet more efficient and effective methods, and what more should we expect than that we should see a gradual drift toward the idea of invoking the powers of Government toward that end. While we are as yet not all agreed as to just how this should be brought about, or that it will be the wisest way out, yet I think that all will agree that we should be prepared in a measure to keep step with any drift in that direction by increasing the ability of our legislative machinery so that it may be in condition to keep step.

There are many reasons which may be urged for this step and yet there are also some dangers which lurk along the way and I am going to take them up more

fully in the next issue of our JOURNAL should Brother Salmons permit. Fraternally,

C. G. BRITTINGHAM,

Chr. Mo. State Legislative Board.

Greater Interest in Division Meetings.

DENNISON O., Nov. 13, 1914.

EDITOR JOURNAL: Having read with deep interest the letters from correspondents in our November JOURNAL, which furnish food for serious thought on the part of our membership, I venture to offer something along the same line of subject, i. e., lack of interest to the members who have held membership in our organization from 15 to 25 years. You cannot help but admit that a noticeable change has taken place in the attendance and the interest manifested at our Division meetings durings the last few years.

There appears to be an intangible something lacking to center and hold the interest of the individual member. The question naturally arises, Why is this? What are we going to do about it? To my mind this is a question of vital importance which affects not only the Divisions, but the entire organization as a body, for the reason that our Brotherhood is not only a protective organization but a fraternal one as well, and these two features are so directly connected to each other that anything that tends toward their weakening or separation vitally affects the other. Some Divisions have tried different plans to overcome this condition of affairs. As an illustration: in Divisions where the membership is composed largely of older men who have been selected year after year to fill the several offices, they have as an experiment reversed the order of things, and elected all young men in their stead, believing this would prove incentive for the younger men to take a more active interest in Division affairs; but experience has proven that this plan is not a key to the situation but something else is needed. It is self-evident that it is not a question in any Division of the older men or the young men holding the offices, but the real concern

an

is what can be done to create an interest that will command the attention and hold the interest of the young member and the old member alike?

The benefits and the protection which the B. of L. E. affords and insures its members are shared equally alike by all its members. There is no distinction made in our organization as between members, the benefits and protection are mutual and are dependent upon the united support of the combined membership.

Conditions are ever changing in railway life, and we as a body of men of particular vocation are the first to be affected by such changes. This is why it is so necessary and so essential that members be regular in attendance at their Division meetings, so that they may learn from direct and official source matters that pertain to and affect their membership in the B. of L. E. as well as to keep posted upon changes made or contemplated in the runs or working rules on his division of road. It is only by so doing that a body of men can work harmoniously and satisfactorily together to a desired end, for it is a well-known fact that the secret of getting along well is to know men well.

Where we meet men frequently in a social way, we improve in our acquaintance and often we perceive new qualities and virtues in the person that had escaped our notice or that we never thought he possessed."

How true it is that in our Division meetings we become tired of the monotonous order of business, yet like the drilling of troops this is necessary and must be carried out. Every Division is composed of a body of men of different temperaments; some become restless when having to sit quiet for any length of time, who would welcome a discussion of any sort. This brings out what I have in mind, to make our Division meetings a place of interest for every member by devoting more time for the good of the Order. Make this a special feature in every Division meeting. Request members to prepare subjects to present at Division meetings, and have the Division outline what sub

jects they desire to bring up for discussion. Make this a matter of record and call upon the members to assist in carrying this out; in addition to this arrange to hold quarterly meetings at which introduce something of a social nature and endeavor to have present at these a Grand Officer, chairman of general committee, or some Brother who is known as being prominent in the work of the organization to address the meeting, and invite your neighboring Divisions to meet with you; thus we hope to cultivate and strengthen the fraternal spirit among our membership and make our Division meetings a place of interest that every one will desire to attend.

I desire to direct the attention to a careless habit that some Divisions have fallen into, that of failing to open the meeting promptly on time. How often do we see a goodly number of members sitting around the Division room enjoying a social chat or swarming around the secretary's desk paying their dues and assessments for an hour or more after the time set to open the meeting! This practice has a tendency toward carelessness and indifference, which will, in time, unless corrected, demoralize any Division. Open the Division promptly on time, dispose of the order of business first, then you will have ample time for discussion under good of Order. Let the members do their visiting together, and story-telling afterwards.

In conclusion I would like to see some provision made whereby Divisions could take care of their members who neglect to pay their dues and assessments within the time specified by the statutes, so as to avoid having to report them to the Grand Office as delinquent, and have their names appear in our JOURNAL under the expelled members. I am satisfied that we could reduce this to a very low figure, if steps were taken to meet the situation. Human nature is about the same the world over, and men are prone to neglect their duties of membership. In regard to the payment of dues promptly, you will find a certain number of members who are dilatory in

It is a letter each and every Brother should make it his duty to read, in order to stop and remember his solemn obligation to his fellow Brother, perhaps less fortunate than himself, and who is striving to get along as best he can.

The writer, who is only one of the many in like condition, after ten years at the scoop putting some of that wellknown smokeless, as well as heatless, "John T" through some of the fireboxes of many a hard steamer, stepped from his cab one September afternoon in 1907, after he had worked years, to learn never to return, obeying the orders of the superintendent, whose record stands as a monument of putting many a good man on the highways and byways, for he himself was hurled into eternity in the twinkling of an eye to stand before his Maker who shall judge us all without distinction of honor or what our power may be in this life. From that day in 1907 I have never handled a locomotive except for two summers and winter of 1909 and 1910, when a fellow Brother who was my superior gave me a job as an engineer in construction work, and I want to say even to this day I never shall forget that same Brother's kindness.

I remained there until the work was

finished. There were six engineers and firemen, and each one of us owed our job to this Brother. He made it a point to find us and put us to work.

Now, Brothers, you who have good positions, with some of Uncle Samuel's green coming to you twice per month, as it is in this State, stop and think of the Brother out of work, with nothing coming in, and strive to see where you can help lighten his burden, and above all give a fellow Brother a smile, and if the opportunity presents itself do him a favor if you can.

You will never regret it, and perhaps some day he may repay you twice. Wishing all our Brothers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

A BROTHER, Div. 18.

Pension Laws.

FOND DU LAC, WIS., Dec. 4, 1914.

EDITOR JOURNAL: I am out again to answer some of my critics on the pension question. Brother Fox, of Div. 273, cites some of the real or apparent defects of the present law.

I was a delegate to the convention when this was enacted into a law and was of the same opinion-that there should be a stated age. However, when it says retired on account of old age it should be, and is, in my opinion, quite sufficient; but I would go farther and say that when a Brother loses his position (for any cause except drinking intoxicating liquor or felonious charge) and is unable to get employment and is over 50 years of age, he should receive his pension. Now, my reason for this is, that when a man is 50 years old he is no better off than one 70; however, it will cost us a little more money, it is true, but I believe it is worth while. As I have said in previous writing, we must expect to pay for what we expect to get; we may not get it ourselves but we get the protection, and someone will receive benefits from it, and just as long as we are working we will not miss a little extra pay in premiums, but when we are down and out it will come in good stead.

When a man is permitted to work until he is 70, he is fortunate; if, however,