I feel that some plan should be adopted whereby to help our veterans. These men have stood by the "Tried and True" through strife and hardships, and now it is up to us to assist them in the evening of their lives when they are really in need of our help.

I would like to hear from others on these subjects.

A. DUTHERAGE, Member Lodge 173.

One Thing Necessary to Improve Conditions.

In response to the many articles which are appearing in our Magazine suggesting various ways and means to improve the conditions which surround the members of our organization, I would suggest that, in my humble opinion, it is utterly impossible to adopt rules and regulations that will have the desired effect. When the proper time comes, which I hope will be soon, the desired conditions will be obtained. But so long as the members of our organization persist in holding curb-stone meetings, in preference to attending lodge meetings, our progress will naturally be slow. I can not see any solution of the problems which face labor today, other than education. But, unfortunately, our members are not tearing down any stone walls in order to obtain mental food. Of course the above statement does not apply to the entire membership.

I realize that our members will continue to write profusely, offering what they regard as remedies for existing evils, and it is well that they do so. Such suggestions are likely to be the means of discovering a remedy.

I think it is folly for a man to stand around and proclaim to the world that he is being oppressed, the laboring man is a wage slave, etc. There are none of the captains of industry who have reached enviable positions by sitting around and proclaiming to the world that they were being oppressed, robbed and cheated.

If such were the case the ranks of the industrial captains would be congested.

(J. G. Kinslow, Stanberry, Mo., Official Photographer)

Huh? You want me to come to lodge? Wait 'til I finish this game; you'd better get Jones, then you will have a quorum. I ain't got no grievance, any how."

MEMBER, Lodge 108.

LODGE 45

(Grover C. Davidson, Secretary and Local Chairman.) Lodge 45 took part in a most pleasing event on May 15, 1912. The Chamber of Commerce of the city of Little Rock, Ark., tendered a banquet and reception at the Marion Hotel of this city in honor of President Benj F. Bush and Vice-President E. J. Pearson of the Missouri Pacific-Iron Mountain System of Rys., and Miss Helen Miller Gould, who were visitors to our city, the latter touring the system in the interest of her R. R. Y. M. C. A. work, accompanied by these high officials of the road.

The banquet was presided over by Mr. R. E. Wait, a prominent business man of our city and a great worker for the Young Men's Christian Association. He made an ideal toastmaster and said many happy things when introducing the various speakers.

An address of welcome was delivered by the Governor of the State, Hon. Geo. W. Donaghey, and Hon. Chas. E. Taylor, mayor of the city, Mr. Bush for the railroads. also Chancellor Hon. John F. Marteneau, Mr. Moore, International Secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, Mr. H. M. Wiiliams and Robt. Herriot, representing the engineers employed on our road, Mr. J. M. Kraemer for the trainmen, and Bro. J. M. Brickhouse, General Chairman of our system, representing the locomotive firemen.

Like the other organizations represented, our Brotherhood desired to show our appreciation of the great work which is being done for the railway men by this good lady, who is devoting her life to the cause of humanity, and to show that appreciation a floral tribute was presented by Brother Brickhouse in behalf of our members on the entire system. Brother Brickhouse spoke in part as follows:

"Just seven years and seven months ago, on October 19, 1904, we had the great pleasure of attending a reception given in honor of one whom we have always considered our sincere friend and benefactress. At that time I was the local representative of the locomotive firemen and enginemen employed on the

Iron Mountain Railway, who were working out of this city, but tonight I come as the messenger of all the locomotive firemen and enginemen, members of our Brotherhood, who are employed on the entire Missouri Pacific-Iron Mountain System of Rys.; with its more than 1,500 locomotive firemen, its over 8,000 miles of track and more than 1,000 locomotives, which are contributing their share toward the movement of the great commerce of this great country, and today I realize in a much larger sense why we should never allow an opportunity to pass to lend our voice in doing honor to one who has so unselfishly devoted a great portion of her life in an endeavor to contribute to our physical, moral and mental welfare, which she has done through the agency of the Railroad Young Men's Christian Association, whose buildings are scattered all over this and other systems of railways.

"In my line of work which takes me over every portion of this system, I see at first hand the benefits of our R. R. Y. M. C. A.'s, which are the only homes of many otherwise homeless railway men ; which are also the place of rest and recreation at the end of their run for those of our men who are more fortunate to possess a home at one end of their divisions. We see the great moral influence for good of these places upon the boys who are made brighter and better men, and we believe the R. R. Y. M. C. A. has done much toward elevating and raising the standard of the men in railway service in this country. These R. R. Y. M. C. A.'s contribute to our mental welfare, our physical wellbeing, and by raising the moral standard of our men, are, without a doubt, a great power for good. I hope to see the day soon when we will have one of these R. R. Y. M. C. A. buildings at every division terminal, and I am sure that that hope will be fully realized if, in the final, it is left to our noble friend, Miss Helen Miller Gould.

"Like our friend the engineer, I, too, desire to pay a tribute to the 'Old Gould South-West System of Railways,' which is now known as the Missouri Pacific

Iron Mountain System of Rys., and would say that this road blazed the way for the securing of working agreements between the railway companies and our organization, as this railway had the distinction of having granted to its locomotive firemen, through our organization. the very first working agreement secured on any railroad west of the Mississippi River covering this class of its employes. which was during the year 1888, or just twenty-four years ago. Since that time we have made great progress, until at present we have reason to feel proud of the record made, and for this condition of affairs we thank both the business negotiations conducted through our organization and also the officials of the roads who have treated us fairly. Our men appreciate these facts, and while our Brotherhood is a business organization seeking the betterment of the conditions under which its members work, we at the same time realize that we are undertaking obligations to our employers, and it is our aim to teach our members what these obligations are and thereby better fit them to assume the responsibilities which go along with our calling and which are of so much importance to all concerned.

"I want to say in concluding these remarks that the noble work of one of our employers, Miss Helen Miller Gould, has been an inspiration to us while seeking to attain these ends, and on behalf of the locomotive firemen and enginemen members of our Order now employed on the railroad founded by her honored father, I desire to present this basket of flowers, tied about with the colors of our Order, as a small tribute, and I know of no language which will better express our feelings than to say that her kind deeds will ever enshrine her name in the hearts of the members of our Brotherhood."

The following members of Lodge 45 were present at the banquet: Brothers Edw. H. Wise, our President; L. Loyd, John Roberts, F. A. Stevens, G. S. Winn, C. C. Toombs, J. A. Morris and the writer.

On the morning of the 16th an auto ride to Fort Logan K. Roots was tendered the party, including a large number of railway employes, the locomotive firemen and enginemen and ladies society being well represented. Another reception was held at the R. R. Y. M. C. A. building at Argenta, Ark., that evening, at

which railway men and their families were present and all had the pleasure of meeting and shaking the hand of this gracious lady, Miss Helen Gould, and also of meeting President Bush and VicePresident E. J. Pearson. The meeting at the R. R. Y. M. C. A. preceding the reception was presided over by Mr. II. M. Williams, a member of Division No. 182 B. of L. E. and who was chairman of the R. R. Y. M. C. A. reception committee. His work could not have been improved upon as an entertainer of such distinguished guests, and he demonstrated that he was as good an automobile pilot as he is an engineer of the fast mail which he pulls between Little Rock and Texarkana, Ark. Here's hoping that it will not be so many years until we again have the privilege of assisting to entertain and honor one whom we all love.

LODGE 154-(John H. Cochran, ChaOur membership has been nute, Kans.) on the increase for some time, but owing to the dull season a great many of our newly admitted members, being cut off the board, will seek elsewhere for positions. Our coal is fair, considering the amount stored, owing to the miners' settlement pending.

I deeply regret to state that the shadow of death has passed through our ranks and taken from amongst us one of the most able of men-friend, adviser, leader and membership seeker our local chairman, Brother H. M. Chastain. He had been attending a meeting of the Joint Protective Board of the A. T. & S. F. proper, held in Topeka, Kans., during the week ending April 20th, and was fatally injured on his first trip after returning. He was firing passenger runs No. 203-4 between Chanute and Kansas City, Mo. He left Chanute on No. 201 at 1.40 a. m. on time. At the first station, nine miles east, his engine and train was derailed about 2.00 a. m. An empty tank car in westbound freight No. 219, was derailed and being pulled through switch left points open for eastbound trains, and then rerailed itself on planking at road crossing west of the switch. With signal green on switch target, engine crew on passenger train No. 204 did not know condition of switch until train started in on side track, when they realized their danger. Brother Chastain jumped or was thrown out of the cab

window and in falling on the sidetrack was caught by left back pair of wheels of tank truck, which held him by the left leg. He was in this position for over an hour and a half. With the efforts of employes who were deadheading to their work and the assistance of other passengers he was finally released.

WRECK ON A., T. & S. F. R. R., NEAR CHANUTE, KAN., APRIL 21, 1912

He was hurried to the Association Hospital at Topeka, arriving there at 9.55 a. m., and appeared to be improving up until 5.00 p. m., when he suffered a relapse and peacefully expired at 11.05

WRECK ON A., T. & S. F. R. R.. NEAR CHANUTE, KAN., APRIL 21, 1912

p. m. Besides his parents he leaves a wife and five small children, the youngest but five months old. His remains were taken to Chanute. A delegation of firemen and their wives met the remains at Ottawa.

Brother Chastain was a member of Lodge 137, A. F. and A. M.; A. O. U. W. 96, and 154 B. of L. F. and E. He was a graduate of the LaSalle School of

Criminal Law and Procedure of Chicago, Ill. The funeral services were held at the Baptist Church at 2.30 p. m. on Wednesday, April 24th, by the Rev. W. W. Searcy and the Rev. Mr. Rusell of Garnett. Lodge 103 A. F. and A. M. had charge of the services, assisted by twenty-six members of Lodge 137 A. F. and A. M. and forty members of A. O. U. W. 96 and 154. The sermons were very touching and deeply affected the entire congregation present. His loss is deeply felt by all who knew him, as he was an honest, upright and loyal man. All of the local officials of the railroad were present with the exception of two.

Brother Chastain was 34 years of age. He served in the Spanish-American war, being a corporal in Company B Fifth Illinois Volunteers at Taylorsville, Ill. On July 10, 1901, he entered the service of the A. T. & S. F. Ry. as fireman, and on August 17, 1905, was promoted to engineer. A short time before he was killed he had been put back firing owing to dull business. He had been our local chairman for several terms.

LODGE 818-(A. J. Porter, Chicago, Ill.) On the evening of May 22, 1912, about thirty firemen assembled in the G. A. R. hall in Englewood and, assisted by members from various other lodges and guided by Bro. Asa Dillon, Second Vice-President, were organized into a new local lodge which gives promise of becoming much larger in the future.

There was a considerable amount of mirth, Brother Dillon's jokes (we didn't think he knew so many) being especially enjoyed.

I am happy to say that everything is moving along splendidly at present and we hope to swell our membership to the one hundred mark by Christmas, and it can be done if everybody gets together and boosts.

LODGE 5 (J. Alex. Killingsworth, St. Thomas, Ont., Can.) There is a particular lodge of our Brotherhood in Canada, the members of which are especially active. We believe we have the finest collection of Brotherhood men on the continent, and we are prepared to demonstrate this to any visiting brother who may care to partake of our hospitality. The organization is flourishing in St. Thomas, Ont., and there are but very