She R. B. Bennett, M. P., who was unable Society which she said now had a memto be in attendance, "Unionism," said bership of 11,000. She earnestly appealMr. Tweedie in opening his remarks ed for continued support and dwelt at "always seems to me to be one of the length on the good work the Society had most powerful factors towards uplifting accomplished since its formation. any community. With it the captains of stated that during the past year $25,000 industry may be approached upon an have been paid out by the Society in equal footing." He emphasized the insurance claims. "I thank the citizens fact that mighty results can be obtained of Calgary," she said, "for the courtesy by adherring to the true spirit. "When they have extended to us. We will alyou get public sentiment behind you," ways carry with us the most kindly he said, "and your demands are just, thoughts and pleasant remembrances of there is nothing can resist you. Take, the Sunny West." John Lillew, 262 Rob't Black, 635 I. E. Richardson, 305 Alex. Devine, 469 26 years a member for instance, the great industrial war to Mr. George Whitely, Master Mechanic the south of us being waged by the fire- of the C. P. R., who represented Mr. men and enginemen, guided as they are D. C. Coleman, General Superintendent, by men of intelligence. That you com- who was unavoidably detained from atmand the respect of President Wilson in tending, welcomed the delegates and visthe present crisis is clearly evident. itors on behalf of his railway system. trust" he said, "that you may again visit this city and province and that you will carry away with you a good word for the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta." I Mrs. Mary E. DuBois, Grand Secretary and Treasurer of the Ladies' Society was also in attendance at the public reception. Regret was expressed by the Chairman Mrs. Moore, Grand President of the that because of the strike situation that Ladies' Society, spoke next. Sister had developed in our Western Joint ConMoore outlined the history of the Ladies' certed Wage Movement, John F. Mc Namee, Editor and Manager of the Mag- tors both Provincial and National. He azine was unable to attend the meeting, told of the course of certain measures being detained because of having been and of the struggle incident to their final assigned to strike duty at Chicago. enactment. He also urged the necessity Tuesday, August 4th. Attendants at of every member of the order and of the Grand Union Meeting spent the day every working man keeping thoroughly at the town of Mirror. The excursion- familiar with the record of all memists were the guests of the citizens, who bers of legislative bodies and of other are to be congratulated on the grand suc- public officials having in any way anycess of their efforts to entertain them, thing to do with their interests so that which are indeed greatly appreciated by they may be in a position to as far as all who had the good fortune to be pres- possible aid such men, who prove fair ent on the occasion. Drives to Buffalo to the toilers and oppose those, who Lake, a base ball game, broncho bucking, prove hostile to them. The thorough B. OF L. F. AND E. DELEGATES, CALGARY CANADIAN GRAND UNION MEETING, AT BANFF HOT SPRINGS, BANFF, ALBERTA, AUGUST 7, 1914 (Photo by Progress Photo Co.) dancing and music were amongst the familiarity with the different phases and forms of entertainment provided, and details of legislative work evinced by everybody thoroughly enjoyed them- Brother Best in the course of his adselves. To the courtesy of the Grand dress convinced those present at its conTrunk Pacific Railway were the excursionists indebted for their train of fifteen cars. clusion that we have a very able man guarding our legislative interests at the Dominian Parliament. Wednesday, August 5th. The morn- Wednesday afternoon was taken up ing session opened at 9:30 a. m. and the with a street car sight-seeing trip extime of the entire session was devoted to tended through the courtesy of the city a most profitable and entertaining ad- council and was greatly appreciated by dress by Brother Wm. L. Best, Canadian all who participated in its pleasures. National Legislative Representative. Wednesday night a grand ball was Brother Best spoke on the subject of given by Lodge 205, Ladies' Society and labor legislation. He told of the con- Lodge 635, B. of L. F. and E., which stant vigilance and effort necessary to was a great success, some five hundred secure the proper consideration for the couples being in attendance. Sister legislative rights and interests of the Maude E. Moore, Grand President of working classes at the hands of legisla- the Ladies' Society and Brother R. M. Piper, President Lodge 635 led the grand Joint System Union Meeting, E. J. march. and E. R. R. Thursday, August 6th. The morning session opened at 9:30 a. m., Brother Best again addressing the meeting on legislative matters. On Thursday afternoon and evening, our sister organizations entertained our delegates and visitors with music, danccing and a number of other sports and amusement, which were greatly enjoyed by all. A picnic was held on St. George's Island where the band of the One Hundred and Third Rifle Regiment and the Calgary Scotch Pipers band played all afternoon and evening. For about six weeks Gladstone Lodge 538, B. of L. F. and E., and Columbia Division 519, B. of L. E., located in South Chicago, Ill., and whose members are employed on the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad, have been making arrangements to hold a joint system meeting of the E. J. and E., divisions and lodges which comprise the following B. of L. F. and E., Lodges 538 at South Chicago, Ill., 743, Gary Ind., and 355, Joliet, Ill., and B. of L. E. Divisions 519, South Chicago, Ill., 520, Gary, Ind., and 478, Joliet, Ill. On the evening of August 22nd last, through the courtesy of Mr. Chas. E. Topp, our traveling engineer, who is a member of Division 519, B. of L. E., the E. J. and E. R. R., ran a special train from Joliet, Ill., and another from Gary Ind., to South Chicago, Ill., for the purpose of bringing the boys to our joint meeting and they came 250 strong. After At 10 p. m. Bro. B. A. Connolly, our president and general chairman, made the opening remarks, introducing Brother Al. Ruxton, chairman of the General Committee of Adjustment of the B. of L. E., as the chairman of the meeting. taking the chair, Brother Ruxton called on Brother Topp, who spoke of the harmonious feeling that exists amongst the locomotive employes on the E. J. and E. R. R. both on and off the engine, talked at some length on the subjects "Safety First" and "The Elimination of Friday, August 7th. An excursion train of fifteen cars extended through the courtesy of the Canadian Pacific Railway left the depot at midnight taking our delegates, visitors and friends for a trip into the Rocky Mountains, where a most enjoyable time was spent. The train had nine sleeping cars attached, which were filled to their capacity. A great many who did not arise until their arrival in Field, B. C., were surprised when stepping off the train to find themselves surrounded by great mountains towering from 10,000 to 11,000 feet into the air. After breakfast and just before the train started on the return trip to Banff a picture of our excursion was taken on the platform of the station at Field. Here the track winds its way up to the mountains at a point where one of the best views of the Kicking Horse Pass, the snow capped mountains with their great glaciers and the beautiful ficials would rather have less work done valleys could be seen from the train. than that the men be careless in handling Arriving at Banff-that great summer cars. Slower time made was, he said, resort of the West-we stopped for much more desirable than reckless speed twelve hours. Our visitors enjoyed which means danger of injury to life, drives around the mountains and through limb and the equipment. Employes, he the valleys, through Buffalo Park and said, should not try to beat each others to the Sulphur Cave. After the drive a time. The next speaker was Brother great number took advantage of the hot Burgess, Assistant Grand Chief of the sulphur baths and of the cave and basin baths. Boat sailing, fishing and a number of other pleasures were indulged in during our stay at that point. Black Smoke." He said that the of B. of L. E., who is to represent the engineers on the arbitration board in the Western Joint Concerted Wage Movement. He congratulated us on the large Saturday, August 8th. A secret ses- attendance which, he said, went to show sion opened at 9:30 a. m., which was the interest the engineers and firemen addressed by Brother Best and other are taking in getting closer together in prominent members. The meeting was their work. He referred to the distincthen brought to a close with many expressions of appreciation from those present, all of whom spoke of the highly enjoyable time they had had through the kindness of the Arrangements Committee. B. G. TOWER, Secretary. tion shown the B. of L. E. and the B. of L. F. and E., in being the only labor organizations that the President of the United States ever invited to the White House for the purpose of explaining their wage movement. Brother Robertson, Vice-President of Executive Committee, Canadian Union the B. of L. F. and E., spoke of the adMeeting. vantages of the men and officials getting together like this occasionally and com- or three months. It would also be of mended the harmonious feeling that was great benefit to the families of such thus manifested. He also gave us sev- members." eral reasons why our Grand Lodge officers can not attend the meetings of subordinate lodges as often as some lodges desire. Brother Culp, chairman of the Illinois State Legislative Board of the B. of L. E., spoke interestingly on legislative board matters and referred to the work in our behalf done by some of the good men in our legislature. Brother McCarthy, chairman of the Legislative Board of the B. of L. F. and E., of Illinois spoke of the good results being accomplished by our legislative boards of which, he said, we have begun to realize the importance. These boards, he said, mean much to wage earners in general and to railroad employes in particular. He concluded his remarks by saying that "the railroad man should show more activity at election time by the use of the ballot and be more instrumental in helping to elect men to our legislature who are favorable to our cause." Brother Charles Schultz then invited all brothers present to march into the banquet room, which was beautifully decorated for the occasion and where an elegant lunch was served. We are indeed grateful to the sisters of Steel City Lodge 245, Ladies' Auxiliary to the B. of L. E., and Eloysia Lodge 84, Ladies' Society of the B. of L. F. and E., for their kindly and able assistance which contributed terially to the success of the occasion. W. A. PITZELE, Recording Secretary, Lodge 538. SO ma Brotherhood Accident and Health Insurance. He covers the matter briefly and furnishes much food for thought. Accident and health insurance, under Brotherhood government would indeed be a great help to members. It is true we may purchase such insurance but we pay extravagantly for it. As for the "benefit to the families of the members" there is no opportunity for argument. All will agree to that. On the other hand, Brother Richardson discusses the important feature of entertains the notion that insurance comexpense. No one, of course, seriously panies do business solely for their health or for the fun of it. Large sums, as be earned or the stockholders must know capital, are involved and dividends must why. In addition large salaries are paid to the officials, employes and for rents, interest, etc.; all necessary for the successful conduct of the business. You and I and everybody who buys inWhere do these profits come from? surance supply them. But that's no reason for a quarrel. Business must return profits or there will be no business. Brother Richardson contends, as do I, that since we provide our members with partial insurance we should extend our efforts and offer opportunity to secure all character of insurance, and by so doing make it possible for them to get this class of protection at actual cost. It is suggested that such insurance if supplied by the Brotherhood can be furnished at perhaps one-half the present cost. I hardly agree that we could furnish such insurance at 50 per cent less than it now is being purchased for, but we could sell it for considerably less. I am not intimately familar with present rates for accident and illness insurance but I venture the opinion that we can write a policy against accident alone and pay a monthly indemnity of $45.00, for More important than the letters which the writer receives from members interested in the adoption of accident and a period not to exceed two years time, at health insurance by the Brotherhood are the views of members expressed in the columns of the Magazine amongst which are those of Brothers Richardson of Lodge 677, Silsbee, Tex., and Sturman of Lodge 45, Little Rock, Ark., in the September number. If other interested members would use these columns it would accomplish much and bring forth forceful results. a premium rate of $1.50 per month or $18.00 per year, and for $60.00 monthly indemnity we could sell it for $2.00 per month or $24.00 yearly. For illness insurance in addition to accident the premium rate would be about $2.50 per month for $45.00 monthly indemnity, and $3.25 per month for $60.00 monthly indemnity. I am of the belief that we could do this at even less rates than money. Brother Sturman gets at the root of those mentioned above and lose no the problem by saying, "If the Brotherhood carried its own health and accident insurance it would be a great help to members forced, because of sickness or injury, to be absent from work for two In addition to that there could well be included in the policy, and at no additional expense in premium cost, a cash payment for certain surgical operations some forty or fifty different kinds, or we could provide for hospital indemnity in place of indemnity for surgical operations. ciary or insurance department, yet we have succeeded. We blazed the way for other railroad organizations in that character of insurance and we should conAlso provision can be made, and at no tinue leadership by adopting a first class, additional expense to policy holders, successful accident and health departwhereby a member who is involuntarily ment including our out-of-employment out of employment, not on account of feature. accident, or illness but because of suspension, slack business, etc., and not because of a strike, may have his insurance carried for sixty days. If I did not feel absolutely convinced that it can be successfully done I would certainly not advocate it. I have had two and one half years experience with This last feature would be of tremend- a railroad accident and health insurance ous importance to the individual mem- company and I know whereof I speak. ber; the Grand Lodge and the Brother- It can be done and we can do it to hood. In the September number of the the moral and financial betterment of Magazine, the General Secretary and ourselves, our Brotherhood and, best of Treasurer strongly cautions against the all, our families. habit of some lodges in instructing their fianacial secretaries to "carry" members for at least one month, who do not pay their assessments for one reason or another. He says "this is entirely wrong, and the lodge" which does so "violates the provisions of the constitution," etc. He says further: "We also find that lodges have instructed their financial secretaries never to permit a member who is sick to get in arrears." He characterizes this as wrong and he is correct. He says, "any member who is sick and cannot pay his assessments certainly should call on the lodge for aid in the proper manner" that a proper record may be had of the lodge's financial transactions. This is proper and his advice should be followed. It we carried a department for accident and health insurance, all or nearly all of this violation of the law would be prevented because the accident, illness and out of employment insurance would take care of the unfortunate member. It is generally one or more of these misfortunes that impels the member to ask for financial assistance. This character of insurance, if adopted by the Brotherhood, would in a great measure reduce the expulsion list and add to the dignity and peace of mind of the member in distress; be of valuable assistance to his family, lesson the labors of the Grand Lodge and add to its standing with the public. It is not as if we were about to face a new and untried problem. History is rich with the successes of those who have tried and know. There is no sentiment involved-nothing but good, hard, business judgment. We need not be engaging in experiments; we need but to follow the well established precedents of those who have succeeded and are succeeding. We had no substantial data to go by when we opened up our present benefi The member who meets with the misfortune of accident or illness is not the one who suffers most. The worst sufferers are the helpless wife and little children. Let the columns of the Magazine voice your views. Can we very well afford to let the next convention adjourn without its having adopted this important measure? Too much time has now slipped away from us in this matter to our detriment, and to the financial betterment of many rich and prosperous accident companies. There is much work to be accomplished to bring about the adoption of this feature not the least of which is to keep the subject prominently before every member, in the Magazine, in the lodge room, in the roundhouse and wherever members congregate. I will in time be plased to publish in full the policy of insurance which the Brotherhood can well and profitably afford to provide for its members. F. W. ARNOLD. Our Members Should be Considered I have read article entitled, "Brotherhood Men Must Have Preference," in our August issue, and I fully agree with Brother Boynton. I was cut off the board last March and traveled around the country for some time and, as a result of my experience during my travels, I desire to say that the extent to which students are given preference over Brotherhood men is most discouraging. It is indeed disheartening to have one master mechanic after another tell a member of the order like myself in search of work that he is not hiring any experienced firemen. Now this is entirely wrong. The B. of L. E. has included in its contracts |