take the life of any one, or even to cause misery, poverty, unhappiness, or unrest. It was made, however, that its mission might make people more useful in the way of educating them to a higher moral, social and intellectual plane. The use of the pen has made mankind great, and we have today the masterpieces of works of great men of all times that without the pen would have never been heard of. The use of the pen has diminished the chances of war, and will in time do away with it altogether. The pen has changed public opinion and will continue to do so as long as time lasts. The editors of our newspapers feel the pulse of public opinion by writing editorials on matters of importance to the people and by this method do they place information before the people quicker than any other

way.

It is by the use of the pen that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen has placed the Order so prominently before the American people. The Order, through the medium of its magazine, have molded public opinion in its favor. Who dare say that the pen has not been powerful in the hands of those who have by its use helped to promote the interests of the Brotherhood? Our magazine is amongst the foremost of the publications of its kind of the present day. Strikes, like the sword, are mighty in consequence, but strikes will not settle for all time to come the labor question. Strikes may make one or the other yield for the time being, but it is only a matter of time until the controversy will arise again. It is the forceful use of the mighty pen that has made the FIREMEN'S MAGAZINE what it is, what it always has been, and what it will be in the future. If we can accomplish much more by educating the people by having them read our Magazine and enlisting their sympathies in our efforts to better our condition, is it not more prudent to do that than use harsher means to attain the same end? The Magazine goes into the homes of 50,000, and is now read by five times that number. Why not make it possible to issue 100,000 copies each month? It can be done, but will it be done? Each member, if he cared to, could get at least one subscriber. There are some who could get many.

The writer himself has been Magazine Agent in his time, and as far as he knows, holds the record of seading more subscribers to the Grand Lodge than any other member ever belonging to the Order. In 1890 he received the piano that was given away as first prize for the

largest subscription list for that year; in 1891, as second prize, a cash permium. I do not mention this to boast of my efforts, but to show what can be done where there is a will to do it. The Magazine is worth every cent that is charged for it. It has helped many a young fireman to pass a first-class mechanical examination. If firemen will study the mechanical department of the Magazine as they should, there will be no such thing as failure when called up for examination. If it is not one thing it is another that can be read in our Magazine that will help brighten the minds of those who care to devote their time to the study of it.

There is also a nice revenue from the sale of our Magazine that should not be lost sight of, and the larger the subscription list the larger the profit. I doubt very much that our Order would wield the influence that it does today had we tried to have gotten along without our Magazine. "The locomotive fireman's companion" is the Magazine, and he gets his Brotherhood doctrines from it as the Christian does his religion from the Holy Bible. If the Magazine in its present form and size was published semi-monthly instead of monthly, the Order would be the gainer by it. To reach the people with our cause should be the first and last consideration, and the cost should not be considered at all. A member of the Brotherhood who does not read the Magazine is behind the times and deserves no pity for his lack of knowledge, and should he fail to pass a mechanical examination he has no one to blame but himself.

The next great war that will be fought in this country will not be by the sword, it will be a battle by the brain, and in this fight will the pen take the most prominent part. Are not the works of Cicero, as written by him, more powerful than the sword as fashioned by Tubal Cain? Is not the story of sacred history telling of the lowly Nazarene more inspiring as written by the pen than anything else on earth? Is not the history of the world's greatest men and women something grand? And if it was not for the mighty pen the world's people would have been less wise-which means poorer in knowledge. When we hear a lecturer that inspires us, we ask that the lecture may be written so it may live forever and so that others may read it. The interests of working people can be promoted by the use of the pen, as in that manner we can reach all classes when pleading our cause. The use of the pen will do more good in

one year in appealing to the people for what is right, honorable, and just, than could be accomplished by the sword in a century. Therefore, let each and every member put forth his best effort to place the Magazine in the hands of every one that it is possible for them to do in order that the influence of our organization, as well as organized labor in general, may be felt throughout the length and breadth of the land. Let us encourage our editor, who has so faithfully in the past and who so faithfully today gives us such a splendid periodical of which we all are so proud, and let us hope that the pen will always hold its prominent place which makes it more mightier than the sword. CHAS. W. MAIER.

The General Chairmen's Asso

ciation.

In the January edition of the MAGA ZINE I notice an article signed "A General Chairman," in which he asks the question, "What is the matter with the General Chairmen's Association?"

I believe that the Brother's intentions are good, and that he desires some discussion of the question through the columns of the MAGAZINE, and that my reply that the General Chairmen's Association is all right would be surperfluous so far as he is concerned.

In order that all the Brothers may have a fair understanding of the question, I wish to give a short history of it, together with the purpose of its organizers.

The Joint Protective Boards of several large railways meet annually in Chicago and, as is natural under the circumstances, it became customary for them to get together and compare notes as to the rates and conditions; it finally became apparent to the members of these boards that our sessions were getting longer and longer, and the assessments larger year by year, without having accomplished any more than we had a few years before in a much shorter period.

We, of course, realized the reason of this, which was that the general managers had formed an association, and when we went to them asking for certain concessions they would pick out the roads that did not give their men what we were asking for, and we would then send out committees to ascertain if the information they had given us was correct, and also to ascertain if there were other roads in our territory who were paying or granting the concessions as we requested.

We found that this took a great deal of time, and often the information which our committee received was unreliable, as it was obtained from Brothers who were not up to date, but, rather than acknowledge that fact to a committee, gave information which was often incorrect; the result often was that the Joint Protective Board went before the officials with this kind of information, and when the officials would show them that some of their information was entirely wrong they would be compelled to drop the question, when reliable information would have secured the concession desired.

To those of you who are thinking men, and have had experience with committee work, it becomes apparent that our assessments were gradually increasing while the concessions we were obtaining for our Brothers were decreasing in the same proportion.

In 1900 the joint protective boards of several of the larger Western lines entering the city of Chicago held a union meeting for the purpose of organizing an association of the general chairmen. After discussing the question it was deemed advisable to appoint a joint committee for the purpose of calling a meeting of the general chairmen with the idea that they would perfect their own organization.

The committee appointed called a meeting for the 1st of May, 1901, at which time several chairmen, representing roads in the Middle States, met and perfected what was known as The General Chairmen's Association of the J. P. B. of the B. of L. F.

The next year we again held a meeting in Chicago, at which time we had about the same attendance, but agreed that in order to make our association a success it would be advisable to secure recognition of our association by the convention which was to be held in Chattanooga. The records of the late convention will show that we were successful in our efforts in behalf of the association, and our right to organize has been recognized by our Brothers in convention assembled.

The aims and objects of the association were the subjects of many discussions in Chattanooga, and there was a general desire on the part of the delegates to obtain information of this nature and, while the members of it who were in attendance did all they could to enlighten those who desired information, yet on account of the limited number it was impossible to give a very general idea of it, and the question which was asked by the Brother

The General Chairmen's Association was organized for the sole purpose of obtaining reliable information as to the rates and conditions existing on the different lines of railways; it was the idea of the organizers that if the general managers were giving each other this information it was advisable that we should also have an organization where we could obtain this information, and become enabled to answer an argument in an intelligent manner.

The association is not a political organization, and the promoters of it have thrown every safeguard around it to prevent anyone obtaining any preference on account of its influence. The question of keeping the Association free from this part of our work must always be given due consideration by its members, as in that direction lies the rocks upon which it will split and sink into the ocean of oblivion.

At the present time the officers of this association consist of Bros. Thos. Burke and Edw. Myers, president and secretary, whose addresses are St. Joseph, Mo., and Washington, Ind. Any information desired will be cheerfully furnished on application to either of them, and a little time spent in securing it will amply repay anyone interesed in this line of work. S. A. BOONE.

The Magazine.

The January number of the Brotherhood of LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN'S MAGAZINE exhibits the same characteristics of progress and interest that its predecessors have in the past. The Editor explains that even better shall be given after the MAGAZINE is settled in its new quarters, and the usual routine once more established.

The trades union magazine has become a vital necessity to the welfare and growth of any labor organization. Time has demonstrated this beyond any question of doubt. In the commencement of the publication of periodicals to assist in the development a new factor was entered in the labor field that has done more to spread, develop and harmonize the interests of labor than could have been accomplished by the individual talks of

many, many men.

The LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN'S MAGAZINE not only reaches the member or subscriber, but also enters the home and, being

their sympathy and support to the husband and father in his efforts to better his and his fellowmen's condition, and through the children the principles of union labor are planted in the minds of the next generation. The MAGAZINE should not only reach the members of the Order, but the mechanics and engineers, on account of the mechanical matter which would be of value to them, and the non-union men in the roundhouses and the shops, who would not only thus learn matters of interest to themselves in the business they are following, but, what is of great consequence to trades unions, be educated in the needs and principles of unionism, so that in time of labor troubles they would avoid taking sides against organized labor. In addition to this, if they become locomotive firemen they will be anxious to enter the ranks of the Brotherhood with the least possible delay, so that they can aid in the good work which they have been taught is very essential to their future welfare.

At the Chattanooga convention of the Brotherhood the price of the MAGAZINE was raised, so that a commission could be paid to anyone securing subscribers, and also that the book might not be published at a loss financially to the Brotherhood. It was the custom at one time for each lodge to have an agent, who was elected at the same time as the other officers of the lodge. The practice had its advantages and disadvantages. The main objection was that subscriptions were not prepaid and, the agent often taking subscriptions from parties who afterward would not pay, put an unjust bill of expense on the lodge.

Often, too, the place

a soliciUnder the

a man was selected for who had no ability as tor, and nothing was done. present method there is the danger that what's everybody's business is nobody's business, and that the securing of subscribers for the MAGAZINE will not receive the attention that it should.

There is in every lodge one or more Brothers who have the ability to solicit subscriptions successfully. Each subscriber now represents so much cash to the one securing the subscription, and each subscription also gives full value to the man investing. It is easy to see that if one Brother in each lodge earnestly takes hold of the securing of subscriptions for the MAGAZINE what a large number could be added to the mailing list, and also how much they would thereby be aiding the trade union movement.

Where any Brother is trying to build up the circulation of the MAGAZINE he should be given the support of the other members of his lodge, who can often help him by a few well-timed words in building up his subscription list.

The MAGAZINE is not only of great value to the fireman who is soon to face the ordeal of examination, but also to the engineer, who must keep abreast of the times if he desires to keep out of the ranks of the "has beens," and to the mechanic who desires to understand the practical working of the machine turned out of the shop.

The field is full of literary magazines, and to push the Brotherhood MAGAZINE among that class of patrons will require hard work, but the right man will do even this successfully. It is not a duty to the MAGAZINE to do this; it is rather a duty

to yourself, the Brotherhood and the great principles of trade unionism which you are assisting to spread every time you add a new name to your list of new subscribers.

Education has done and will do much for union labor. By this I do not mean solely education along the line of needs and methods of organized labor, but education in one's calling, for the securing of the best results by the latest methods. An education that makes the union man more valuable to his superior by reason of better service, a better citizen by reason of broader and more intelligent views on public matters, and a stronger factor in the advancement of humanity for the same reasons. The MAGAZINE will help us along these lines, and it should be aided as fully as possible in so doing. W. L. FRENCH.

In the

First Vice Grand Master.

In my last letter I failed to mention my trip through Quebec, while at Hadlow Cove organizing Levis Lodge 610. I was ably assisted by Bros. Jos. Gossoline, C. Lamonbague, Frank Huppe, and J. H. Dandridge of Rock City Lodge 550, and these Brothers know how to handle the goat. Bros. E. Roy and L. Dutil of Lodge 610 say that the candidates sang "I don't care if you never come back."

I found Rock City Lodge 550 as solid as their namesake, and their members up-todate in all things pertaining to their in

terest.

My next stop was at River du Loup, Que., a beautiful city on the mountain, and the home of Colonial Lodge 119. Here I found Bros. C. Levesque, C. Delisle, and A. Allard presiding over their lodge with that interest essential to a banner lodge. I am sorry that I did not have the pleasure of meeting with Golden Rod Lodge 504 while visiting the lodges in Canada, however, the lodge is reported to be in good condition by Bros. Bertram, Ackman, and F. Andrews.

My next stop was at Fairville, New Brunswick. Here I found Bros. Wit Nobles, the popular Master, H. R. Bartlett, and J. M. McKiel looking after the interests of the members of Lodge 357. Bro. W. A. Smith is carefully guarding the financial part of Lodge 357, hence the members are kept in good standing.

Field

While at Fairville I had the pleasure of Bro. Fred Henderson's company. Fred is known far and near as the war horse of Lodge 357, and he is contemplating going into the horse business so as to get a trotter that will pass Bro. Smith's famous trotter. Success to you, Fred.

While at Montreal I called on the Brothers of 335, and I was sorry that I did not meet Bros. Thomas and Edw. Foley, the popular Master and Secretary. These Brothers were called out on the road before I arrived at the lodge room. I had the pleasure of meeting Bro. Charles Phillips, who reported 335 in good condition. Bro. Phillips is one of those members whom you can depend upon to look out for the welfare of his lodge.

At Toronto I found the members of Lodges 262, 67, and 596 all working with one object in view, that being the interest of their members.

At Hamilton, Ontario, the home of Maple Leaf Lodge 151, I found Bros. M. J. Cummings, J. Pitt and W. J. Dore working like beavers to make theirs the ideal lodge in Canada, and with the watchful eye of Bro. A. Griffith over them they will be successful.

While at Buffalo I had the honor of meeting with the Brothers of J. J. Manning Lodge 472. I found Bro. J. F. Geary, the Master, who by the way, is not employed on a railroad, but whose heart is with the Brotherhood just the same,