tion to the effect that the lodge give him authority to solicit advertising, we to have 25 per cent. of the proceeds and he to retain 75 per cent., out of which he agreed to defray all expenses of the publication of the time-books and soliciting of the ads. The proposition was unanimously rejected by the lodge. This man called on me twice and the second time he followed me to the shops and said: "If you and the President can get this through the lodge on Thursday night, there is $50.00 each for you on Friday morning."

I feel that we should take advantage of every opportunity to discourage such work as this. These advertising solicitors go around amongst business men professing to be duly authorized representatives of our Brotherhood and use all sorts of arguments, some of them very questionable, in their efforts to induce business men to patronize their advertising scheme. Sometimes they even go so far as to threaten these business men with a boycott by railroad wage earners should they refuse to purchase advertising space from them.

Lodge for his insurance was pending. We sent them $5.00. The secretary did not even give us the name of the disabled brother. They are some eight hundred or a thousand miles distant and we have no way of knowing whether two lodges or two hundred lodges responded to this call. This method of collecting money is not business like. Lodges with a little surplus cash that are philanthropically disposed should not be imposed upon.

I believe the next Convention should adopt a better plan for increasing our membership than that of sending out special organizers. There are several fraternal insurance orders that pay a cash premium to their members of from $1 to $3 for each new member they are instrumental in bringing in, and they find it a very satisfactory plan. I believe the B. of L. F. and E. could increase its membership much faster and the results would be more satisfactory than the present system of sending out special organizers who are always dependent upon local assistance.

I notice considerable advocacy through the Magazine of an old age pension plan. For my part I am strictly opposed to the further burdening of our membership to establish and maintain a pension fund. I think we have all the taxation now that the rank and file can stand, even though I am getting old myself and will soon be on the old age scrap heap with not a dollar for a "rainy day" and with plenty of

K. CREELMAN, Secretary Lodge 597.

Would Regulate Appeals for Financial Aid-Old Age Pensions.

Lodge 289 would like to see an amendment to the Constitution adopted by our first triennial convention to be held in Washington, D. C., next June, which would regulate appeals for financial aid. Small lodges that find it necessary to ask stronger ones to help care for unfortunate brothers should be required to make the appeal through the Magazine or through the Grand Lodge office, so that some record could be kept of it. For instance, a short time ago we received an appeal from a small lodge for a little financial aid to care for a disabled brother and his family while his examination by the Grand

"rainy day" dollar is an extremely doubtful possibility. I believe we should have an old age pension system, but I believe we should adopt some other method of establishing it than that of taxing our membership.

United States Government statistics show that the laborer only receives in wages about 20 per cent. of the actual product of his labor. If this be true (and we have no reason to dispute our Government's own figures), then we should endeavor to secure on old age pension from the 80 per cent. of the product of our labor which goes somewhere else. That is why I have been contending that we should go into the study of political economy, and when I say political economy I do not mean that we should jump into everyday politics.

The thing we have got to do is to learn the cause and a remedy, and the sooner we go about learning it the better for us.

We must learn why our living expenses are increasing faster than our wages. If while we are getting a 10 per cent. increase our living expenses increase 10, 15 or 20 per cent., what have we gained? Yes, we should have an old age pension, but it should be provided for from the lion's share and not from the measley wage we are receiving at the present time. We are now pensioning the old military soldiers, and why not pension the old industrial soldiers who have spent twenty, thirty or forty years at hard labor feeding and clothing the world? It is all well and good to have a good time, play pool and keep up with the ball games, but we have about reached a turn in the road that needs a little exercise of the gray matter to get around it successfully.

J. S. BOYD.

Milwaukee, Wis., Union Meeting.

The union meeting held at Milwaukee, Wis., on May 29th, under the auspices of Lodges 3SS and 130, was a success in every way. Brothers W. S. Carter, International President; Albert Phillips, Fifth Vice-President; G. N. DeGuire, Special Organizer, and S. R. Schauer, General Chairman, C. M. & St. P. Ry., were the principal speakers.

President Carter spoke at length, explaining the insurance department of our Brotherhood, his address being very interesting as well as educational. He also spoke on the subject of federation of the engineers and firemen of this continent. His address made a deep impression on all present and inspired them with a determination to do missionary work for the Brotherhood whenever and wherever possible.

Vice-President Phillips, in a very pleasing and interesting address, discussed conditions in railroad work generally. He advocated closer relations between the locomotive engineers and firemen of this continent and declared that harmony and co-operation was essential to the advancement of the best interests of both.

Brother Schauer gave an interesting description of conditions in his line of work as General Chairman, and pointed out many improvements in working conditions that were attained through our Brotherhood, which indeed was interesting.

Special Organizer DeGuire explained how he enjoyed his work in the organiz

ing department and thanked the members of Lodge 130 for the kind help they had given him and for their hearty co-operation in his labors as Special Organizer. He said he hoped those two hundred and fifty brothers he had been instrumental in bringing into their lodge would prove to be true, loyal members in the future.

Right here we wish to congratulate Brother DeGuire on being a speaker as well as an organizer. He is a hustler, a booster and an enthusiastic worker; therefore, the fruits of his labor can only be success.

We also congratulate the officers of our Brotherhood, and especially the head of the organizing department, Assistant President Timothy Shea, for the selection of such men as Brother DeGuire, who is so proficient in that work. We sincerely wish the continuance of the department, and hope success will never cease in that line.

Bro. John F. McNamee, Editor and

Manager of the Magazine, we regret

very much to say, could not be with us. EDW. MURRAY.

Political Education Essential to Progress.

The Magazine proves more interesting each issue, especially those sections which have to do with live, up-to-date subjects in economic fields. I do not agree with those who claim that a labor publication can be successful in attracting the membership and fulfilling its purpose without dealing with all subjects that affect its membership, and I certainly believe that our political education has been sadly neglected.

It seems to me to be poor generalship to use but one weapon for defense when we could have two to use if we devoted a little of our attention to the development of the other one. And I do not agree with those who claim that our Legisiative Boards should be delegated our sole political mouthpieces. 'Tis true that in some localities they have improved our conditions, but it is not reasonable to believe that had our political education kept abreast of our industrial education and organization we would not be in as good shape in those same localities as at present.

The fact is that the longer we "let politics alone" the longer it will take us

SEVENTH BIENNIAL CONVENTION, TEXAS LEGISLATIVE BOARD OF THE B. OF L. F. AND E., HELD AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS,

to attain those ends which constitute the goal of our endeavors, in fact, long before we reach that goal we will find that we must have help and lots of it in political fields.

I wish that those who think that all can be achieved in industrial fields alone could watch with me the present strike of the federated trades on the Harriman Lines. When this strike was inaugurated it was reported that close on to 98 per cent. of the men walked out. At this point all left their work. They believed, and I also believe, that their cause was a just one. Inside of two weeks about half the roundhouse force had been imported from the East. From that time to the present the company has been able to operate all its trains, and at this time have a large back shop force and are overhauling engines in back shop. Recently they put the force on short time again-nine hours a day.

What do you think those men composing that 98 per cent. think of industrial organization alone? They have been out for about seven months and have lost more money than they would have made in fifteen years had their requests been granted and they had saved the increase in wages for that time.

The day of the strike is about over, unless a strike where all participate can be pulled off-such a strike as the two we have read about taking place in England during last year.

FRANK W. INGRAM,
Secretary Lodge 19.

You're going on the nine-thirteen, and she's about the worst I've seen; She blows at both her valves, and more, the firebox leaks squirt through the door.

She's got some flat spots on each wheel; her valves they groan, her boxes

squeal,

Her wedges all need setting up; there's trouble in her "Nigger" cup;

She pounds and roars and rocks and

squeals until a runner almost feels He'd like to get caught in a wreck and come out with a broken neck. They've tried their best to make her

steam, but all their efforts only seem To make her worse. Her nozzles, too, have been reduced, but it is true It only made her burn more coal, while 'long the track she'd toss and roll." "Hold on," said Bill, "who told you so; how is it that you chance to know much about the nine-thirteen ?" "Why, 'cause the work-book I have seen,"

So

The caller said, with roguish glance that threw poor Bill into a trance. "Come, sign the call book, hurry now; my time is money, you'll allow." Bill, with reluctance, signed the slip, and

with true courage made the trip. He stalled on almost every knoll; at every coal shed he took coal;

A tire came off; he lost a wheel; he gave the fast express a deal

That made the chief dispatcher swear and prance around and tear his hair. The fireman died upon the way, and since that most eventful day

The poor conductor's been insane and thinks he's still upon that train. Because they couldn't get relief, 'tis said both brakemen died of grief. Along the track can now be seen three graves o'er which the grass grows

green,

A sad reminder of the time Bill furnished matter for this rhyme. But Bill's a better man today; he hasn't had so much to say

Since then. He's learned it doesn't pay to think one has the only way Of doing work. 'Tis very true, it pays to watch how others do.

J. ALEX. KILLINGSWORTH, Member Charity Lodge 5, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.

Annual Report of Chairman New York State Legislative Board.

To the Officers and Members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen of the State of New York:

DEAR SIRS AND BROTHERS-It is my pleasure, as well as my duty, as chairman of the Legislative Board of the

Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen of the State of New York, to report to you relative to matters affecting your interests, pending before the Legislature, the Governor and the Public Service Commission, since the date of my last communication in the year 1911.

You may recall the fact that last year our "light engine bill," which received good majorities in both houses of the Legislature, was quite curtly vetoed by Governor Dix, on the ground that it took from the Public Service Commission the right to properly regulate railroads.

We had consulted our attorney as to the power of the commission to fix the number of the crew on each and every train, and were advised that, in his opinion, if the question were taken by a railroad company to the Court of Appeals, that court would be likely to hold, in view of the strict construction it was giving to the Public Service Law, that section 49 of that law conferring upon the commission authority, if it be of opinion "that the regulations, practices, equip ment, appliances or service," in respect to transportation of persons or property are unjust, unreasonable, unsafe, improper or inadequate," does not apply to or include the number of employes on a train, but rather relates to the physical conditions of the rolling stock and tracks used in the transportation of persons and property.

In view of this, however, and the veto, and on the suggestion of your Executive Board and your attorney, I sought to ob tain the views of the commission on this subject, and, therefore, I addressed to that body the following letter:

ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. 14, 1911. Hon. Frank W. Stevens, Chairman Public Service Commission, Albany, N. Y.: DEAR SIR-The executive committee of the Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, in view of the veto of the bill providing for a crew of three men on "a light engine" used as a "pusher" or otherwise, and in view of the danger of operating such a locomotive with two men only, desire to ascertain whether or not your board has authority and jurisdiction to fix the number of the crew operating such an engine. I shall be thankful if you will, at your earliest convenience, send me this information.

And, in case your board has the power and authority to name the number of

men to operate such locomotives, I assume you will, before exercising such power, desire some proof as to the danger of running a light engine with an engineer and fireman only, and therefore, our executive committee desires to know whether or not your board would undertake an investigation on its own motion or would require a formal complaint to be made and witnesses to be produced by the complainant. Employes in the railroad service dislike to appear as witnesses against their employers lest their testimony would be used against them, and might eventually result in their discharge. Very respectfully yours,

THOMAS E. RYAN, Chairman Legislative Board, B. of

L. F. and E., State of New York. The chairman of the commission, Hon. Frank W. Stevens, replied as follows:

DECEMBER 18, 1911.

Mr. Thomas E. Ryan, Chairman, New York State Legislative Board, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen:

DEAR SIR-Replying to your favor of the 14th inst., I beg to call your attention to a portion of subdivision 2 of section 49 of the Public Service Commission Law, reading as follows:

"Whenever the commission shall be of

opinion, after a hearing had upon its own motion or upon complaint, that the regulations, practices, equipment, appliances or service of any such common carrier, railroad corporation or street railroad corporation, in respect to transportation of persons or property within the State are unjust, unreasonable, unsafe, improper, or inadequate, the commission shall determine the just, reasonable, safe, adequate and proper regulations, practices, equipment, appliances, and service thereafter to be in force, to be observed and to be used in such transportation of persons and property, and shall fix and prescribe the same by order to be served upon every common carrier, railroad corporation and street railroad corporation to be bound thereby."

Under this language this commission has held that if a railroad corporation is operating any train with an insufficient number of men, that is to say, if a greater number of men is required for the purposes of safety in operation, the commission has the power to order a crew which is adequate in point of numbers.

This proposition, of course, would apply to a light engine used as a pusher, or any other train movement whatsoever.

The question in such a case must necessarily always be whether the train movement with the regulation number of men is unsafe, and upon that point, in order to justify an order requiring a larger crew, evidence would have to be submitted showing the necessity upon the ground of safety of such larger number.