WINTER SCHEDULE REDUCES EMPLOY

MENT.

Thompsonville, Conn.-In glancing through the columns of The Motorman and Conductor of November I am sorry to learn of the defeat of W. D. Mahon in that recent congressional campaign in the first district of Michigan. But the members of the Amalgamated Association, even through defeat, still have a warm spot in their hearts for our renowned official. As the old saying is, "The brave man dies but once.' "" We sincerely hope and pray that many a year will expire before his time comes.

My personal opinion is not prejudiced in any way and does not cast any reflections on our noble order, but pardon me if I criticize a little. The Amalgamated Association and all labor organization, I believe, should band together and take a more active part in politics, discuss the political affairs in their meetings and enlighten their members in national, state and town affairs, irrespective of political beliefs. We fully realize that the labor movement is yet in its infancy, and we have a great many encounters to face in the future for the exaltation of our brethren throughout the United tSates and Canada. Naturally we need protective legislation and want co-operation in our glorious work. gain this we must place our labor representatives in the general assembly (congress), and should have some one who is familiar with the wants o fthe wage-earner in the president's cabinet. If we allow ourselves to debate on the above subjects, after a fair trial the results accomplished would help our cause intellectually and otherwise.

To

We have had a little experience in the Carpet City during the last election of representatives. We have lost, temporarily, one of the most shrewd and honest labor leaders this state ever produced; a man who was elected to the general assembly three successive terms, and his record there is a credit to the town of Enfield. He is the Hon. M. J. Connor. Now that the election is over it is the duty of both parties to shake hands and jointly assist the president-elect to make his administration the most successful of any preceding president's.

They told us during the campaign that the financial and business depression of 1908 was due to an overgrowth of prosperity. We have had our share of growth in Thompsonville, but are still impatiently waiting for the overgrowth.

Div. No. 452 held her regular meeting on Nov. 5 in the C. L. U. hall. It was largely attended.

The winter schedule's going into effect dispensed with a number of our members. Instead of bucking the spare list, some have sought employment in the tobacco warehouse, and very fortunately, they are well up in the business.

Bro. May had a slight attack of a cold, which prevented him from doing anything for two weeks. After his recovery he went into the meat business. We wish him success, hoping the boys living in his section will patronize his cart.

Bro. Hannon has taken a run on the "limited," because the trolley express was discontinued for an indefinite period.

Bro. Theodore Pascoe, who is a member of the executive board and held in high esteem by every member of our division, has changed his occupation for the winter months and has established a tea, coffee and spice route. He has already made a favorable impression on his customers.

Bro. Smith, who is a resident of Hazardville road, and somewhat of an agriculturist, has devoted his spare time during the summer months chiefly to the raising of turnips and pumpkins. Now that the turnips are all isposed of it is up to the boys to help him out on the pumpkins. Plans are on foot to give a rousing pumpkin pie party at Riveride Hotel on the opening of the new year. Bro. Van Wagner has been chosen master of ceremonies.

the

Philadelphia, Pa.-The employes of Philadelphia system are very much interested in what will be the outcome of the propositions that will be presented to the P. R. T. Co. this month. It is amusing to hear the remarks of some of the men who are not members of the organization telling the new employes all the good the company has done for their employes, but it does not take long for the men to realize where they can receive the hand of Brotherhood and protection, and it will only be a matter of time when the men who are shutting their eyes to the fact that all the knocking and prevaricating has only a tendency to build up our organization. The membership is increasing in great numbers daily. A word of advice to some of the men here; it seems that when a few street car men get together, all the unorganized men commence to fear strike. Poor fools! If they only knew it, where there is organization there is the place strikes are never needed. It would be a blessing if some of the weak hearted creatures would take themselves to the land where the words of strike and organization are unknown. I do not mean Hell for there is China where strikes are never known. There is a place for the man who is opposed to progression. If you are satisfied with only a bare existence the above place is good enough for you.

He It

We consider ourselves very fortunate in having Bro. Pratt, our worthy and esteemed Chairman of the International Executive Board, in our midst for a short while. was kept very busy, I can assure you. is our busy time. Bro. Pratt gave some very able talks to the boys at Richmond, Lane avenue, Kingston, Ridge avenue, Broad and Susquehanna and Germantown barns, also at our general meetings, where he made quite a hit with the boys and we hope he will get time to pay us another visit in the near future.

Can anyone tell us why Bro. M. Giacamo seen in the cemetery before daylight. It was a close call, Mike.

was

Bros. Abbott, Sherlock and Rothermell of the Second and Third streets barn are quite a trio of hustlers and workers. Through their untiring efforts they are placing the barn among the leaders.

Bro. J. Manning, of the Shirt Waist and Laundry Workers, attended a meeting and gave one of his talks on Trade Unionism to the boys at Second and Wyoming avenue

barn.

At the branch meeting of the men of Second and Wyoming avenue barn there was a surprise held in store for Committeeman Emory Collins. He is to give up the business of railroading and go into something that will be a betterment of his position in life; so, here is where the surprise came in. About the time the meeting was at an end Bro. Murray stepped forward and in a neat little speech presented Bro. Collins with a fine gold watch. The Bro. was completely taken by surprise and came near taking the count, but came back and thanked the boys for their kindness and good fellowship. So God speed and good luck in your new undertaking. and

Bro. M .Hanley, of Twenty-Seventh Girard avenue, is very proud of the new arrival. We hear she weighs 91⁄2 lbs.

Bro. Blue, of Germantown, is one of the white ribbon crowd. We knew there was some chance.

Bro. H. Frayne, organizer of the A. F. of L., is back in town and we will endeavor to keep him moving in his spare moments. would like to add that he is always welcomed among the street car men in this city who give close attention in following along his line of talk on the benefit of organization.

28

BROTHER RESCUED BY HIS WIFE.

Mauch Chunk, Pa.-Mauch Chunk Div. No. 430 has not been heard fro mthrough the columns of The Motorman and Conductor for a long time, and as the members are prodding me pretty hard I am sending you a from the little Division few bits of news

that lies in the Switzerland of America. Everything is running smothly in our Division, and the only fault to be found is that our members do not attend the meetings very We always find that the brothers regular. who are seldom seen at the meetings are the ones who are first and loudest in their cry for help. We adopted a rule at our September meeting that the secretary should record the names of all present at each meeting so we will be able to tell who are the best members.

The new company which took charge of this road some time ago has spent quite a lot of money in building up and beautifying Flag Staff park, and I predict that we will hardly be able to handle the crowds who will flock there next summer.

Our new cars for the local line have arrived and are being put in condition to run. The boys are afraid they will not know how to hold their faces when they first take the cars out.

The matrimonial bug hit our line pretty hard lately. Last week Bro. Howard Munich was married to Miss Anna Breuckers, one of East Mauch Chunk's prettiest and most popuThe boys all wish Howard lar young ladies. all the success and happiness possible and also a lot of young Munichs to bless and make happy their old age.

We understand that Bros. Dugan and HilBro. Dugan's debrand intend to get married. the announcement did not surprise us very much, but Bro. Hildebrand's certaainly took Must have been love at first wind out of us.

sight.

Bro. C. J. Narber has bought out a restauHe is to leave us rant situated in Muncy. The boys wish him all the luck and prosperity possible.

next week.

Nov. 30, 1908.

LARRY A. McGINELY.

ger

M.

first

were

514. Since organizing our Division we have held three meetings, at the first of which as follows: we held the election of officers. The brothers elected nominated and secretary. President, John J. MacVicar; vice-president. recording MacDonald; Ronald Walter Marks; financial secretary and treasurer, Michael H. MacDonald; conductor. John T. Dunphy; warden, James Doyle; sentinel, William Trake.

At our second meeting the above officers were installed and, although they are new at the business, they all seem to be filling their respective offices very well.

The boys are all very interested in the M. and C. and say they find very interesting they interested reading about the different labor organizadifferent of the but particularly are tions, the correspondence L. C. Divisions of the A. A. of S. & E. R. E. of A.

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SHOULD SEE THEIR MISTAKE.

118 Pottsville, Pa.-The meeting of Div. held December 2nd experienced an unusually large attendance. President Thomas McGovThe report of Treasurer ern was in chair. C. W. Donne showed an increase in finances. Financial Secretary Thomas Berger was instrumental in adding another member to the

list.

on

man.

There Some of the extras claim they don't intend the road. That should be no to stay excuse for not being a union are also a few dropped for non-payment of dues. They should be able to see their mis One had his experience last winter take. when he lost six weeks of sick benefits. Bro. Wm. Allen is a trump card for trai back to the master.

H Bro .Wm. Potts has come controller after two months' absence. had a good harvest from his farm, and si Nick, his conductor, is all smiles.

Bro. McGurck made a trip to the Quake Dad reports having a goo city last month. time.

It may What may be thought of a little luncl Th and cigars at our next meeting? the large attendance. It is true w help keep up boys should get out anyhow. should get awake. For the next term the following officer Bro. Frank Zimmerman. presi were elected: dent; Bro. Oscar Biecht, vice-president: Br John Dodds, recording secretary, Bro. Thoma Berger, financial secretary: Bro. Clayton W Donne, treasurer; Bro. John Stevens, con Bro. Leo Lynaugh, Warden; Br ductor: 118. Chas. Haverty, special officer. Bros. George Forton and Irvin Stein ar on the sick list.

PRESIDENT MAHON AT OAKLAND.

Well, boys, here we are again, "right side up with care."

A midnight meeting called for Monday night, November 30, in honor of the visit of W. D. Mahon, our International President, who was to arrive in San Francisco on Saturday, November 28th. To get a good meeting a special midnight meeting was called.

The time is drawing near when we are to draw up a new agreement. Everything is going along very nicely and smoothly and the outlook is very bright for another year of peace and prosperity.

The Central Labor Council of Oakland has lost its best friend and head in the death of their president, late Bro. Petry. He was a hard worker in our cause.

Bro. Lamb, who had his leg amputated, died from the shock. His death is sincerely_regretted.

The boys on the Eastern Div. are all getting along nicely and returning to their work. Talk about the boys going hunting-they get more quail and duck around these parts than they know what to do with.

It is pretty cold here at present. Frost is an inch thick. I think it is pretty nearly as cold as we ever eperienced here, in any past winter.

Well, December 1st, 1908, we had our midnight meeting, I should say, 850 strong. Such cheering as the speakers got showed that the boys are all on the right side. Good for them.

Bro. W. D. Mahon came to a specially called meeting of the eecutive board and had a long talk on the good and welfare of labor unions. About half past two the boys began to gather and Bro. Smart with Bro. W. D. Mahon arrived and pretty soon Bro. R. Cornelius, of Div. No. 205, drifted in. There were twenty initiations. After initiations Bro. Smart made an opening address, introducing Bros, Mahon and Cornelius.

Bro. Cornelius followed Bro. Smart's opening address with a long and strong talk on the situation in San Francisco, which was received with cheers. Bro. Mahon then followed with a strong talk on unionism in general and by the time of adjournment he had all the boys pretty well enthused with the working of Div. 192. We adjourned at 4:30 a. m. in the best of spirits, in the hope that our new agreement with the comyany will be agreably negotiated. SUNSET.

Another From Oakland.

Report of midnight meeting, November 30, 1908. Called to order by Business Agent J. W. Smart at about 2:45 a. m, upon arrival of Elmhurst brothers; between 600 and 700 present.

Bro. Smart then read call for meeting, which was for the purpose of meeting our international president. Fifteen candidates were initiated. Bro. Smart's administering of the obligation was very impressive and was aided by the silence maintained, it being of the "pin-drop" order.

Bro. Cornelius, of San Francisco, was then introduced and received a warm welcome. He spoke for about 20 minutes on the necessity of maintaining the principles of unionism, irrespective of the mistakes made, either by individuals or the organization. the principle being paramount to all.

Bro. Mahon was next to speak and gave us a heart to heart talk on trades union principles for an hour, which ended all too soon. But 4:30 came around and we had to adjourn in order to get to our respective barns. The writer was not equipped to take notes, but the one statement of Bro. Mahon: "That I hope to see the day when instead of erecting monuments to men who have fought and shed one another's blood, we will erect them to such men as Seth Luther and others who have struggled and worked for the uplifting of humanity," will show that his talk was of an elevating nature. Another statement was of a union at Philadelphia, Pa.. during the Civil War having endorsed across its minutes: "This union stands adjourned until chattel slavery has been wiped out."

(Brothers, let us change that to suit present conditions and say, "This union will never adjourn until slavery, wage, child and moral shall have been abolished through our votes and efforts and we shall then realize "The goal of a Grander Civilization.")

Without detracting from Bro. Mahon's take talk, brothers, let us heed to Bro. Smart's exhortations for a better attendance at the meetings. It isn't right that out of a possible attendance of 300 day men the burden should fall on a few. Help them with our presence, boys, they're worthy of our confidence and loyalty.

A few suggestions: Have the initiations over with before the meeting is called to order.

Have the preliminaries over with by the time the last batch get in from Elmhurst, then we can get busy.

The brothers are to be thanked for the general cessation from smoking when requested. "PETER PAN."

WELCOME THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPER.

Meriden, Conn.-Div. 163 is in a very good condition at present. Bros. Dowling, Johnson and Siebert have left the road and Bros. Penfield and Ames are back at their old time places.

Bro. J. O'Brien is not working, but is around again and we hope to see him on the cars in a few days.

Our starter, Mark Dabill, is recovering from a severe cold, which he contracted from answering foolish questions. Mark is right there, just the same and is a favorite with all of the boys.

As the holidays are fast approaching and our busy week of Christmas is at hand it would be well for the boys to look out for the lady with the bundles. Remember, they are on a grand mission, to make the little folk happy, and treat them accordingly. Merry Christmas, is our greeting to the readers of the Motorman and Conductor. Don't be odd. Get a button.

COR.

LACKED SUFFICIENT UNION MATERI

AL.

It is time 228 was being heard from again, as there have been some changes since the last writing.

We are now meeting in lower Castle hall on Van Buren street, on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. The first meeting is at 8 o'clock and the second at 12, the same as before. We are in a nice warm hall now, a very inviting place for the members to attend.

A few of the members of Div. 228 tried. through the International office, to organize the carmen on the Joliet and Southern that runs from here to Aurora, and from here to New Lenox. But, as those men, or at least part of them, are not built of union material, the attempt failed, and three men on that line were discharged through the deal. Two of them are back to work, now, in the barn, for the same company, and the other one is still looking for work.

The Trades Council in Joliet and Aurora are making a fight now to try and organize the J. & S. road.

Brother Nutter of Div. 228 was asked by the superintendent yesterday to step out of the ranks for a very small cause.

Brother Donavan has been sick for a short time but is back to work.

Bro, Chas. Swartz is in the hospital with typhod fever. He hasn't been on his car since the ninth of September.

I don't know any more about the annual picnic this year, than I did last year. I was off on a vacation last year, and out of town when we had our picnic. This year the picnic had a vacation, and must have been out of town because I have been working every day, and didn't see it.

Joliet, Ill., November 12, 1908.

228.