about a condition that no fair minded man would wish to see. If the railway corporations desire peace and harmony to prevail, especially among their clerical forces, they will have to allow them to organize without co-ercion, treat them fairly after they have organized. In these days of progressiveness organization of all classes is essential to the well being of all concerned, to attempt to prevent or destroy organization is almost equivalent to stopping the wheels of progress or to prevent nature from performing its functions in season, neither of which can be accomplished by or through the efforts of man. So it is with organization, it can neither be killed or eradicated, every effort made to destroy it only adds new life to its membership, instills new blood and ambition in the heart and minds of those within its fold, and makes it more determined to accomplish what it has set out to do; because of the barriers and obstacles it has become necessary to override or push aside in order to reach the goal of its ambition, these things all combined make the wage earner doubly determined to become a member of the organized movement, and that determination when linked with ambition will succeed in building up an organization that neither the employing class nor the public can prevent.

DON'T CRITICISE.

It is as easy to fall into the habit of criticising other people, as it is to fall into a river should the bridge you were crossing tumble down or give away. Yet at the same time it is a habit that has absolutely nothing to recommend it and should not be indulged in.

Not one of us can find everything in the world to our liking, and the ways, means and manners of other people often seem absurd and disagreeable according to our way of thinking. But what of that? Are we real sure that we ourselves are not a cause for offence to those about us in a thousand unsuspected different ways? We may go along seeing the things we don't like all around us, or we may fix our attention on what pleases us. If we choose the latter course, our lives will be very likely to hold an immense amount of pleasure, of love, of good will and everlasting friendship, and it seems worth while of giving up

the joy of being critical to attain these permanent gifts in return.

We know how an evening's amusement can be made very disagreeable if some of those in attendance will, to begin with, start criticising the arrangements, or the first number on the program, We know how a dinner may be spoiled if any one of us begin to complain about the quantity or quality of the soup, criticises the waiter, growls over the entree or kicks at the bill. We wish we had not attended, our food chokes us, and we become conscious of the ill-concealed. Don't criticise unjustly, you will live longer and make the living worth while.

CONCRETE FEDERATION.

The need of a close alliance, or federation between the different classes of railroad employes has long been felt by the various crafts. The absolute necessity for such a federation has been especially apparent to all thinking men during the past few years, due to the consolidation of the railroad properties of the country into great systems, and the understanding which seems to exist between the officials of such systems, upon all matters pertaining to their welfare, especially in cases of disputes between them and their employes.

The foundation of such a federation was laid at the Denver convention of the American Federation of Labor in 1909, at which the "Railroad Employes Department" of that body was formed. This department included some five or six of the railroad organizations, outside of the train service.

In April, 1911, some two hundred delegates from the different organizations of railroad employes assembled in Kansas City and formed what was to be known as the "Federation of Federations," having for its purpose the consolidation of the various local federations upon the various railroads of the country. In December of that year representatives of the "Federation of Federations" met in the city of Rochester, N. Y., at which time and place the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor was in session. These representatives made some minor changes in the laws of the Federation to conform to those of the American Federation of Labor, was chartered by that body and the two Federations -the "Railroad Department of the A. F. of

L." and the "Federation of Federations" were merged under the name of the former.

On April 13th of the present year, the second biennial convention of the "Railroad Employes Department of the American Federation of Labor" convened in Kansas City, and remained in session ten days. It was found that approximately three hundred and fifty thousand railroad employes were represented.

This convention took up and considered many subjects of paramount importance to all classes of railroad employes-and many matters of vital interest to the railway clerks of the country were carefully gone into, and handled in a manner which will prove of vast importance to the future of the Brotherhood.

Two sections of the department were formed at this convention-the Shop-trades Section and the Transportation Section. The Brotherhood being placed in the Transportation Section. This action was taken in order that each craft might have absolute autonomy, while the closest affiliation possible exists between the two sections, and between all crafts affiliated therewith.

Federated agreements are in effect upon about fifty different railroad systems in the United States and it is but a question of time until such federated agreements will be in effect upon practically all railroad lines in the country.

Every assistance possible will be given the Railway Clerks toward perfecting their organization and if they do not reap immense benefits from their affiliation with the Federation, it will simply be because of their utter disregard for their individual welfare for if they will secure the proper percentage upon any line where a local Federation now exists, or may be hereafter formed, they will be placed upon an equality with the classes composing the Federation and will have every support possible in dealing with the companies by which they are employed.

COMMISSION ON INDUSTRIAL RELA

TIONS.

Proposals for national legislation to wipe out chronically chaotic conditions in the country's labor market and thus strike a blow at the annually recurring evils of unemployment were made public today by the United States Commission on Industrial Relations.

In a letter transmitting copies of the proposals to prospective witnesses before the Commission, Frank P. Walsh, Chairman of the Commission, says that the proposals are tentative and invite criticism and suggestions.

The proposed legislation would establish a National Bureau of Labor exchange in connection with the Department of Labor, with a central office in Washington, and branch offices in other cities, and with a clearing house for each of several districts into which the country would be divided. The Bureau would have power to establish and conduct free public employment offices.

The National Bureau would have jurisdiction over all private employment offices doing an interstate business or accepting workmen for shipment to other states. State, municipal and private employment offices would be urged to cooperate with the National Bureau and to adopt uniform methods and regulations.

The Bureau's most important service would be to gather and distribute accurate information regarding the labor market in various localities. This information would be published in the form of bulletins, to be issued at frequent intervals and to be circulated in such a way that it would be available to every person in search of work and every employer seeking workmen.

One interesting feature of the plan is the proposal for the appointment of an advisory council for the national bureau and for each of the district clearing houses. It would be composed of an equal number of representatives of employers and of employes, and would assist the director in all matters pertaining to the management, would aid in determining policies, and would see that the Bureau was impartial in disputes between labor and capital, thus gaining for it the confidence of the whole public. The district advisory councils would be appointed by the Secretary of Labor.

The duties, powers and authority of the bureau would be to collect and furnish information regarding employers seeking employes and working people seeking employment; to license, supervise, regulate and inspect private employment offices operating among the states; to establish and conduct free public employment offices and also clearing houses for both public and private offices; to improve the efficiency of public employment offices-municipal, state and federal; to make investigations of the

work of local and state employment offices; and to make rules and regulations for the management of public employment offices and urge their adoption by local and state authorities.

Every employment office conducted by the bureau would be required to send a daily report of business to the clearing house of the district in which it was situated. Every private employment agent would be required to make a weekly report to the district office. Every state and municipal employment office would be requested or induced to make daily reports. These clearing houses should be distinguished from the employment offices which the bureau would establish wherever such offices were necessary.

Each district clearing house would compile and publish the information relating to its district. The central office in Washington would compile the information from the clearing houses and publish it in a labor market bulletin, covering the whole country, in the English language and other languages. The bulletin would contain besides information regarding labor market conditions, other information regarding the cost of living as compared with wages, tendencies of trades to expand or to decay, abnormalities in the supply of labor or demand for labor, and so forth.

The proposals include rules and regulations to be enacted into law prohibiting false representations, requiring notice of strikes, prohibiting fees before service is rendered, and otherwise safeguarding the patron of the employment office against exploitation.

Copies of the proposals have been sent to persons who will be summoned to testify before the Commission at the series of public hearings that begin May 4 in New York, and that will include hearings at many large industrial centers. This part of the Commission's work is being directed by W. M. Leiserson, state superintendent of employment offices in Wisconsin and author of the bills to establish similar offices recently enacted by the New York legislature.

The first testimony bearing on the proposals for a national bureau will be heard in New York during the week beginning May 4.

While the proposals have not been put in the form of a bill, the plan has been worked out in great detail so that a measure for presentation to Congress could be easily

drafted with the proposals as a basis. Before this is done, the Commission will hear criticisms and suggestions from many witnesses and correspondents.

DEATH OF BROTHER W. E. BOWEN.

For the first time in the history of the Brotherhood, death has removed one of its Grand Officers while in office, Brother W. E. Bowen, Vice Grand President, being claimed by the grim reaper at 1:30 p. m. April 16th.

Brother Bowen arrived in Kansas City on Saturday, April 11th, for the purpose of attending the convention of the Railroad Employes Department of the American Federation of Labor which convened the following Monday. At the time of his arrival he was in apparently excellent health. He freely mingled with the delegates Saturday afternoon and Sunday, meeting many old friends and associates among them. On Monday morning he was on the floor of the convention, ready to take an important part in its deliberations, but later in the day complained of feeling ill and returned to his hotel. Late Monday evening, it was found that he was too ill to leave his room and he was removed to a private hospital and placed under the care of the best physicians that could be secured and special trained nurses were assigned to see that he had every care.

The physicians diagnosed the ailment as "secondary pneumonia," but stated that it was not serious and predicted that he would be able to leave the hospital in a few days. He was constantly visited by delegates from the convention and by the Grand Officers of the Brotherhood who were in Kansas City at the time. They as well as the physicians were satisfied that his illness was not serious, and on Tuesday and Wednesday there was an apparent marked improvement in his condition. However, on Wednesday evening he began to grow worse, and Thursday forenoon, it was found that his condition was grave, yet no one considered it as dangerous. His family in New Orleans were notified, and wired that they would start for Kansas City immediately. Shortly after noon the hospital called the General Officers of the Brotherhood by 'phone and stated that he could last but a short time. All those at the General Offices immediately went to the hospital and were with him when the end

came at 1:30 p. m. He had every care and attention that money could provide, yet all efforts to combat the grim destroyer were unavailing.

The convention of the Railroad Employes Department of the American Federation of Labor adjourned for the afternoon out of respect to his memory-after having stood with bowed heads for one minute when the announcement was made on the floor, and many eyes were moist after the first shock had passed away.

Brother Bowen has been removed from among us, but the work he did for humanity will live as long as time lasts.

It was our desire and intention to publish a brief history of Brother Bowen's life work in the cause of labor and particularly that part of it devoted to the Brotherhood as well as a picture of him and we wrote to his home town for the data as well as a likeness of him for reproduction in these columns but up to time of closing forms same had not been received. We hope to be able to have this article appear in the June issue.

RESIGNED.

Brother John E. Wall who was elected a Vice Grand President of the Brotherhood at the Boston convention has resigned. Brother Wall has been promoted to a responsible position with the Boston & Maine Railroad which requires all his time and attention and he resigned because of the fact that he could not give the affairs of the Brotherhood the attention which they required.

Brother Wall will be remembered as a delegate to both the New Orleans and Boston conventions. He was Chairman of the Boston Convention Committee, and a member of the Legislative Committee of that session.

Brother Wall has made an efficient Grand Officer and it is with regret that his resignation has been accepted.

APPOINTMENT OF BRO. J. L. JOHNSON.

Acting under authority conferred by the Constitution of the Brotherhood, the Grand Council has filled the vacancy created through the resignation of Vice Grand President, Bro. John E. Wall, through the appointment of Bro. J. L. Johnson, of Lawrence, Mass., to fill the unexpired term.

Brother Johnson will be remembered by

MEETING AND BANQUET,

An open meeting of the Railway Clerks was held in Madison, Wisconsin, on Sunday evening March 29th under the auspices of Madison Lodge. A large and enthusiastic number of members and non-members were in attendance, and listened with marked attention to the addresses delivered by Brothers Carrigan and Farnan, on the needs of organization and the attendant benefits which result therefrom when thoroughly organized.

An excellent dinner had been prepared by the committee on arrangements, which everyone present enjoyed (see picture on another page), it goes without saying that the members of Madison Lodge are not only