per captita tax to the American Federation of Labor wherein he gives his membership one thousand less than in his previous report.

Brothers Ryan and Paquin also come in for a share of his silly abuse. Anyone that knows the facts can say that our Grand Lodge officers have made good in a splendid way in building up our grand organization while Richardson has proved himself a miserable and contemptible failure as a labor leader.

The silly sneers against some of the offiIcials of the American Federation of Labor will be answered, I hope, by these men themselves, and in a way that Pat won't do much bragging about when he receives it.

Brother Schutz, for whose benefit Pat Richardson sacrifices nearly two pages of his so-called Journal, has been active in the labor movement for over thirty years in this and other countries, he has suffered prison and exile for the cause of the emancipation of labor; he has never bragged about it and the money he got out of it was less all told than Richardson draws in one week from his blind followers.

Their eyes will be opened some day, however, and they, too, will see the uselessness of supporting a little sideshow with barely enough income to support the "varmints" while the whole organized world laughs at their ignorance.

It is so long since I had the privilege of having anything from my pen appear in your columns, that I hesitate to begin to write anything for that purpose, although 1 am very well aware that some one from every one of our lodges should see to it that his lodge is heard from through your columns at least once a year.

Now, the idea has sometimes occurred to me, as to what would happen if every one of our five hundred and odd lodges were to each send a letter in the same month to the editor of the Journal with a request for immediate publication. It would be interesting to note what would happen. The Journal comes to us this month in an enlarged form, and is welcome as ever, the selected matter is good as usual, and the correspondence columns show steady improvement, and that our members are giving some attention to matters of general interest, and outside of their daily labor. This is as it should be for the objects of cur organiza

tion are educative as well as protective. I have before me as I write a copy of the issue of the Journal for January, 1900, when Brother F. L. Ronemus was editor and manager, as well as Grand SecretaryTreasurer, and many other things besides, and as I compare its slim dimentions of twenty-four numbered pages and three advertisements on the cover, with the two hundred and sixty-two numbered pages and many advertisements, and its directory of just fifty lodges with our present one of five hundred and forty-nine lodges of the current issue for May, 1911, the progress shown during the past decade is very grati fying and shows that our efforts have not been altogether in vain. And had Providence ordained that we should have been able to retain all those lodges and members who have fallen by the wayside, during the past ten years, what a magnificent and powerful organization we would have today.

But carmen, as well as other craftsmen, proved unfaithful to their own interests, and becoming weary of well doing, and from various causes, abandoned all efforts to better their conditions, allowed their lodges to become disorganized, and fell back into the ranks of the unorganized workers, who are the most serious drawbacks to the labor unions today and the most effective allies of the organized capitalists today.

Down here in Bluenose land, we, in common with the rest of our brethren, have had our trials and tribulations, but time and patience have helped over the worst places.

The sun has not been shining on both sides of the street for us by any means, and we have had to walk in the shadow for sometime, but there is a rift in the clouds now and things look brighter a little way ahead.

Among the articles in the Journal that I have read with interest are those articles by Bruce V. Crandell in reference to railway car equipment, of which he writes interestingly, as becomes his position, particularly in relation to the McCord journal box and cover, which is all he claims for it with the exception of the method employed in keeping the cover closed tightly, which I have found in service to be defective and a time loser.

Many a time in making up a train of freight cars, when time was short, we have had to lose time in trying to get the McCord journal box covers open and "cussed them out accordingly."

Rectify this defect and they will be all right. I refer to this matter as criticism has been invited from carmen using any of the McCord railway car appliances.

I see that there is a crusade being conducted in your correspondence columns, Brother Editor, against the use of pen names, but it is a good old custom that, like many another, has been abused, but many men eminent in statecraft, literature,

and in other ways, have not scorned to employ the humble nom de plume, when placing their views before the public in the press, and it is not the use, but the abuse of a custom that makes it obnoxious, and we have some pen names among the writers for the Journal who certainly display a lack of originality in their selection cf nom de plumes, to place at the foot of their effusions, but I have been writing for the Journal for some years, over a nom de plume, and will do so as long as the editor, who knows my reasons, will permit me.

System federation is another matter that has been brought forward and discussed in your columns, and I have long been of the opinion that if it could be effected, it would be "a consummation devoutly to be wished," and would unite the efforts and influence of the organized employes in matters where a community of interests exists.

Independent political action is at the present time a live factor in political affairs, as an election for representatives to the provincial legislature, corresponding to your state legislature, is slated to take place about the middle of June, and John T. Joy, president of the Halifax Trades and Labor Council, has been nominated as a candidate for election to that body, as the representative of the working men of the city and county, and it is said that strong support of his candidacy is being received from among all classes, including mechanics, clerks, laborers, as well as merchants, farmers and fishermen, and others throughout the constituency, and among the humors of the situation is the fact that the accredited organs of the two old line parties, Liberal, which is the government party, and LiberalConservative, which is the opposition party, have come out flat-fcoted and endorsed Mr. Joy's condidacy and advertised that they will receive contributions to his campaign fund.

Evidently there is a "cullud pusson in the Woodpile" somewhere.

The result of the elections are being awaited with much interest.

Well, Brother Editor, I started in to write a duty letter to the Journal, as I felt that one was due you from this neck of woods, but I fear I have exceeded the space limit this time.

Can a man come back? Jeff couldn't, but perhaps I may if you will let me, and now, not having the fear of the opponents of noms de plume before my eyes, I will subscribe myself as always,

Faithfully and fraternally yours,
BLUENOSE BOY.

FROM PECAN LODGE NO. 464.

Walnut Springs, Tex., May 3, 1911. Editor Journal.

As I haven't seen anything in the Journal from Pecan Lodge No. 464 for some time past I will attempt to write for my first time, hoping, Mr. Editor, that you will find

space in our valued Journal for this letter.

The boys of No. 464 are pretty well lined up. We have a membership of about forty. Our committee will go before the management in a few days for a new contract which I believe they will have no trouble in securing. We have a good committee and our foremen I believe are as good as you will find anywhere in the U. S. and Canada. We have plenty of work on hand and everything is moving along nicely.

Well, as I am known among the boys at this point as the "Air Jammer" I will say a few words in regard to the triple.

Why is it called a triple? Because it has three parts to play: (1) to charge the auxiliary, (2) to apply the brakes, (3) and to release the brakes. The quick action triple contains two piston sets of mechanism, one of these consisting of the triple piston with stem slide valve and graduating valve, graduating stem and graduating spring in use in making service stops and in releasing brakes; it is known as the service port of triple.

The other set consisting of the emergency piston, emergency valve and train pipe check valve; this set is only brought into use in an emergency application of the brakes and is known as the emergency or quick action port of the triple. The most common causes of trouble in the quick action triple valve are, (1) strainer stopped up, (2) dirt on the seat of the graduating valve, (3) defective graduating spring, (4) triple gummed up, (5) broken graduating pin and (6) triple freezing up. Causes of blow at triple exaust, (1) a leaky slide valve, (2) dirt on the seat of the emergency valve or a worn out rubber seat, (3) check valve gasket leaking, (4) a leak in gasket between triple and auxiliary or auxiliary connection which leads from the triple through the auxiliary to the brake cylinder might be leaking as there might be a sand hole in the casting.

Well, Mr. Editor, if this is published I may come again with a whole car load of hot air. Yours fraternally,

W. A. LEMSKY.

FROM NO. MCALESTER LODGE NO. 122. North McAlester, Okla., May 5, 1911. Editor Journal.

If I can find space in our good old Journal for a few lines from No. 122, I will write a few lines.

I have waited to see if some of our good writers would send something from here, but failed to see anything, so I'll try to let the boys know that we are still alive and doing business at the same old place 100 per cent strong, as you all know there is no room for the non-airs here, as we all claim the B. R. C. of A. for ours and if those passing along this way are without it there is

nothing doing. I cannot see how some men look at things when they will work right along beside of a B. R. C. of A. man, share the same benefits as he shares and then say, "Oh, there is nothing to it. Say, how long has it been since you worked for the small sum of $1.50 per day? and who got you the raise of pay you now enjoy? I can't see where it came from only through our organization, and can you say without blushing just a little bit that there's nothing to it? If you want to see better times on

its principles and I can say that we have some better men here after listening to Silver Shorty. He also gave us a good talk in regard to the Loyal Star and I think later we will try to get the Loyal Star at this place as I think it is something that all of us ought to be interested in, the home proposition especially, as we should have a place to take care of us and the children of brothers who have passed away to the world where sorrow never comes. I don't think we look after that just as we should. I wish

all railroads just step in line with us B. R. C. of A. boys and we will guarantee everything to be better and brighter through our order. I have worked at several places where some were lined up and some weren't and I find it a much better place to work where the men are lined up than the one that's not, for the place that is lined up is far better for men in regards to working conditions than the place that isn't.

We had the pleasure of having Mr. and Mrs. Silver Shorty with us a short time ago and we had a special called meeting and we listened to one of the finest talks from Brother Gerlach in regard to our order and

we had more men like Silver Shorty, as I think he is one of the smartest men I ever met with in regard to our order and its principles. He has made lots of friends here at this place and we were all glad to know that he has taken unto himself a companion, as they make life so much sweeter, for it certainly feels good after a hard day's work to come home and find a cheerful, smiling face, which makes us forget our tired and worried feelings.

Boys, how is your foreman? Does he slip around and watch to see who is working and who is not, or does he come and find all at work? If you expect a foreman to help you

you must first help him and then he will do anything to help you. I have worked at several different shops and under a good many foremen, some good and some the other, but I never saw a foreman to compare with ours at this place. He hasn't got a man that will shirk his work as we do all we can to help him. This is the only place I ever worked that the foreman had the good will of all his men and I can say he hasn't the ill will of one.

Now, boys, you try this with your foreman and see if it won't make things better in general; I believe it will and you ought to try and show the foreman and company all the favors you can. If we only had the contract here that I see some of them have I would go right down and have the blacksmith make me a pair of papers and I would marry my job, settle down and be a home guard the rest of my life, for I don't think they are so bad as some seem to think, but still I like you boomer. Well, if this misses the waste basket I'll come again, so with best regards to our boys, our good editor and all you good writers, I remain,

Yours fraternally,

ROBT. E. LEE. FROM NORTHERN STAR LODGE NO. 371. Winnipeg, Man., May 6, 1911.

Editor Journal.

I will, with your permission, address a few lines to the membership of the five lodges on the Canadian Northern Railway, and trust that they will be perused and studied in the spirit in which they are written. Brothers, we have recently passed through a very trying ordeal and one that promised to effectually kill the Brotherhood and its usefulness on the C. N. R. for some time to come. I am more than pleased to see, however, that we are reorganizing so rapidly and to learn that the lodges are again close in touch with each other. There are, and I suppose always will be, spasmodic efforts on the part of some few disgruntled members to disrupt and split up into warring factions the trades and callings that come under our jurisdiction. Let me say here that if any of our members hold these views the proper place to bring them up and discuss them is in the lodge room and under the heading of good and welfare, and not outside or in the shop where these grumblings furnish the outsider and non-union man with an excuse to stay out, saying, "Why, your own men are kicking and want to get out of it; why, then, should I join?"

The J. P. B. on the Canadian Northern is now properly organized as per Sections 86 to 89, constitution, and while in Winnipeg they met the chairman and secretary of the J. P. B. on the C. P. R. Much valuable advice and counsel were given us by these brothers, F. McKenna and H. Pickett, and arrangements on schedule work were made with a view to identical agreements on competing roads. It is to be hoped that all

lodges will, when the J. P. B. meets in future, recognize the vital necessity of having their representatives present to keep in touch with all proceedings and add their counsel and advice. The J. P. B. fund is now very low but it will in the near future be able to repay to all lodges who have advanced their delegates' expenses, the money that they have disbursed in this manner. I will write again through the Journal at an early date and trust that the other lodges I will let us hear from them, remembering that honest criticism should always be welcomed. Yours fraternally,

A. H. SWEETMAN.

FROM SELECT LODGE NO. 172. Kingsville, Tex., May 6, 1911.

Editor Journal.

Being a silent reader of the dear old Journal for about six years I cannot refrain from asking for a wee bit of space. I am located at Kingsville working for the B. & M. as it is called in this part of the country. The boys are pretty well lined up, but they seem to be asleep or sleeping on their rights, I don't know which. We have as fine a set of officials to work under as can be found, but I would advise all who are thinking of coming this way to first write our general car foreman, Mr. W. L. Jones, about a job. I see a great many ways discussed for bettering our condition, but boys, there is only one way and that is to vote for one of our own class at the polls on election day, or in other words, a straight Socialist ticket. It is coming and coming fast. I sincerely hope that we will wake up between now and our next general election and put a working man in the President's chair at Washington D. C. I would sure like to locate Brother Ben Quarton, formerly of Dalhart, Tex., and Argenta, Ark. He has been to Jericho, too, and so have I, partly on his recommendation. Well, for fear of the waste basket I'll ring off. Best regards to the Journal and B. R. C. of A. I am never ashamed of my name. Let's cut out this nom de plume business. Yours Fraternally,

R. L. SEARS.

Well, I have watched and waited to see something in our Journal from our dear old Lodge No. 89, but all in vain.

It seems that our boys are very busy down here in Denison or something else is wrong as they surely are not ashamed to let you all know what we are doing here as I don't believe there is a single lodge anywhere that has done any more in the past six or eight months than we have done here, for when I joined the grand old B. R. C. of A. last September we had lots of nonunion men here, but we all finally awoke and I happened to be one of the sleepers

that awoke as the blind that regained sight, or whatever you might call it. Anyway we began to get on the right side and we have been pulling the boys in from five to twenty at each meeting night until we have got most of them.

Of course we have a few old soreheads here that we have never been able to do anything with, but we have not given up yet, and I do not think the boys here will give up for if there had been any give up in them I think they would have given up long ago; but instead of giving up they are pulling and striving the harder for their rights and I raise my hat to them for their courage and energy as I think they deserve it I hope to see the time when they will have to strive no more along this line and

us all feel good will be a good raise in wages and then we will go along through life rejoicing and will have something to rejoice over compared with what we have had on the M., K. & T. in the past, so, dear brothers, cheer up for I feel that our time is near at hand; you know the old saying, "Every dog has his day," and I am sure we have never had ours, but if we will just get together and keep pushing with never tiring strength and faith we cannot help but win and when the storm is over and the sky is clear above us with a bright sun shining down upon the heads of many thousand dear old brother carmen what a difference it will make around the old car shop and how much clearer the hammers will seem to ring and how much prouder we

these old soreheads will have to walk up to the trough and drink with the rest or get out of the bunch. Of course we all know that some few have not got good hard sense enough to keep out of the fire, for they hang around their old non-union foreman for protection, and we have one or two here that are almost as afraid of the union as they would be of a wild fire, at least they will keep as far away as they can, but the time will come when they will come over, I am sure.

I hope by the time our new shops are completed here our organization will be likewise as I think in about 30 or 60 days we will have one of the most complete and up-to-date equipped car plants in the Southwest and I hope that all the boys will show their appreciation of such a plant by doing a good honest day's work and being of as much service to their employers as possible, and then I think the next thing to make

will all be to see the paymaster with the little tin box strapped around his shoulders. and how much more pleasant it will be to meet our fellow workman with a big smile on his face with his old look of trouble and worry vanished entirely and that will only be when we are drawing salary enough to keep our bills paid in advance and a small sum laid up for a rainy day.

Ah, dear brothers, the time is coming; don't get discouraged but just keep close to the grand old order B. R. C. of A. and pull others with you that are further away, because she has a shelter for many more than are near her today. When I stop to think what she holds in store for us when we are capable of taking care of it, it almost brings tears to my eyes.

Well, brothers, as this is my first attempt to write anything to the Journal I will have to ring off as I am afraid you will be saying that I can do more talking and say less than