their power by your consent. Well, stop consenting to act the fool any more by voting the enemies' ticket and putting your enemies' tools into power to turn around as they always have and always will and thank you for your vote by knocking your foolish blocks off. Just keep your eye on Milwaukee and the present administration of San Francisco and don't go to sleep, but keep awake and watch for the next election in Los Angeles, Cal. There will also be some big surprises in store for you coming from Pennsylvania. Working men everywhere are beginning to stand up and vote straight for a straight and honest cause, for you never voted straight for a power that was crooked, so henceforth if you ever expect a square deal from the powers of government, vote the labor ticket straight and put our own union men, controlled by labor and under obligation to labor alone, into the seats of government and be the government, and then go up as becomes our rights and tell our own brother union man the wrongs that need arighting. We know that he, and none but he alone will legislate for us from the fact that he does it the world over when free to do it as a class conscious man on on a class conscious ticket.

The above figures go to prove beyond doubt where we stand, and it behooves us to get out of the rut we are in and pursue a policy whereby our order will be placed on a sound basis financially once and for all time.

Another matter which I confess is an obstacle to our union is this paying an initiation fee for readmission after a brother has withdrawn from the order honorably, viz., with a paid up card.

I know of no other union here or anywhere that pursues these lines.,

I contend when a brother withdraws from

the B. R. C. of A. or any other union, and wishes at any time to reaffiliate with said union the presentation of his withdrawal card should be sufficient and same should be the basis of his readmission, together with his monthly assessment. I feel we are behind the times in this matter and should like to see it remedied as soon as possible. Again in regard to reinstatement. We are too lenient in making the reinstatement fee the same as the initiation fee with the provision that the delinquent pay up all assessments against him. In all other lodges the reinstatement fee is always in excess of the initiation fee, and justly so. When a member, by carelessness or perhaps meanness, drops out of all protection he should be made to feel his position and a lesson taught him to be more careful in the future. I would like to suggest that the fee for reinstatement be not less than $7.50, and hope to see a few letters from other members on these matters.

Moose Jaw lodge is still progressing and adding new members to its roll. I sincerely and earnestly hope she may long continue to prosper.

Mr. Editor, I am afraid I am going to tread on delicate ground in my next few remarks.

On the C. P. R. system we have a J. P. B. with a chairman, vice chairman and a secretary-treasurer, all of whom possess a good share of common sense and tact.

In my perusal of the Journal from time to time I have not, to my knowledge, ever seen a letter from either of these brothers, and in fact the only communication we receive to acquaint us that they are alive is a circular from the secretary-treasurer about three times a year, or perhaps when neces sity demands.

I am inclined to believe that bashfulness is the cause of their non-appearance in print, but nevertheless as members of our order and more so, very prominent officers, I think it is their duty to educate the rank and file of the order with what their experience has taught them in this struggle for a living, and let us have their thoughts and through the pages of our dear old Journal; become better acquainted if not personally, at least by interchange of thought, and by so diong much good would undoubtedly ensue.

Just a few thoughts along federation lines. In all probability the amended constitution of our federation will secure favor with the majority and succeed the old constitution.

The amended constitution does away with the office of a general chairman, being the recognized head of the federation, and as such the official position was naturally per manent.

A chairman shall be elected only when the executive meets to do business, and shall be a member of the executive, he shall occupy said position while the executive is in session and at the termination of the session said office shall be again void.

It also does away with the office of sec

retary-treasurer as a permanent salaried of

fice.

A secretary-treasurer shall be elected on the same basis as the chairman, but his term of office will continue until the executive meets again. It is proposed to make this office honorary also.

I am inclined to believe we are going to do business on too cheap lines. If as in the past we would still retain the office of secretary-treasurer and combine same with the office of an organizer, making the position two-fold, we would accomplish good beyond our most sanguine hopes.

His duties would be to organize all points where no union exists in the interests of all affiliated crafts in the federation.

To issue as per usual a monthly bulletin giving details of all progress made together with reports from all points on the system.

His salary need not be any more than at present paid the present secretary-treasurer, of course we would have his expenses to pay which would be an item to consider. I would propose that as in the instance of Brother McCleland when he traveled over the system, that our grand lodges contribute to the maintenance of such an official by a monthly grant.

Say for instance the Grand Lodge of the B. R. C. of A. grant $25, International Association of Machinists $25, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers $25, other allied crafts make up between them $25.

We would by this method get over more than half the difficulty, the expenses could be borne on the per cent basis which I believe would be most acceptable and give entire satisfaction to all.

Again we are often confronted when presenting schedules, when asked for proof of certain accusations of discrimination, being unjustly dealt with, not getting same consideration as granted other trades, etc., to produce date or circumstantial evidence in support of our accusation, we invariably fall down, because we can not produce clear and concise evidence to substantiate our accusation. Not because we in any way wish to thrust a lie down the company's throat, but simply because where grievances arise of any nature we fail to make particular note of such occurrences with place, date, and at which point it took place.

And again we have petty grievances which if adjusted immediately on receipt of letter give satisfaction, but when allowed to wait any length of time transform themselves from a mole hill into a mountain and cause disruption and discontent in our ranks. This applies to outside points mostly. Our secretary-treasurer and organizer would prove an effectual cure for all matters of this description, being conversant with the schedule in all its bearings, he could restore confidence and give advice of infinite value at all points in pursuance of his duties as organizer.

It would also be his duty to take note of all grievances pertaining to every craft affiliated with the federation, and compile

same separately, and when we come before the company for presentation of schedules we would have an array of evidence indisputable and of paramount importance to all trades, which would prove any assertion we made, a minute would turn up evidence giving nature, time and place at which it occurred.

And if it were only for this item alone our money would be indeed well spent, and good value given in return for it.

My letter may seem somewhat long this time but I feel in a mood for saying something which I hope will interest our CanaIdian brothers.

Talking of presentation of schedules simultaneously, our present system of one road presenting their schedules at one time and another road at another time is radically wrong and needs adjustment, and we can not begin reconstruction too soon. I should say at once, the longer we dally with this question the greater becomes our burden as the lash of the employers' whip sinks into our hides through having ourselves, our wives and families deprived of the necessities of life, the home comforts and that which goes to make life happy, namely by low wages.

men

To me it seems ridiculous to see working on the C. N. R., G. T. P., G. N., I. C. R., C. P. R. and all other railroads in Canada at the selfsame occupation, all carmen, yet and withal strangers, to all appearances and likely to remain so

Comrades, let us throw off the shackles that has bound us to poverty; let us unite ourselves in one grand body, our interests are alike. What affects one affects all. Why should the carmen of Canada be separated? Don't we all belong to the same order, the B. R. C. of A.? Let us amalgamate and when presentation of schedules take place it shall not be one road pitting its self against its brother but we shall present them simultaneously and stand pat together or fall together.

It is up to the C. P. R. J. P. B. to bring about this state of affairs, being the strongest and best organized railroad in Canada, and find ways and means to devise an arrangement satisfactory to all. Let all other trades work along the same lines and we will bless the day such measures were taken to safeguard our integrity as a Brotherhood.

I note with pleasure a letter from the chairman of our J. P. B. on matters of interest to all, at the same it does not in any way eliminate him from the responsibility of his position. If our three J. P. B. officers would continue to send one letter each, quarterly it would be a blessing and a great help to all carmen and in many ways tend to interest them in its work.

I could go on writing but I will leave space for some one more gifted in logic than your humble servant.

Yours in the cause for freedom from slavery and serfdom.

Yours fraternally,

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY.

FROM A MEMBER OF MAGNOLIA LODGE
NO. 74 WHO KNOWS WHAT HE

IS TALKING ABOUT.
Marshall, Tex., Nov. 28, 1910.

Editor Journal:

Not having heard from Magnolia No. 74 or any one on the T. & P. system in quite awhile, I am going to try to handle a subject of vital importance to us, and for that matter an important question to the entire membership of the B. R. C. of A. and or ganized labor in general.

Our editor has told us through our worthy Journal that the painters and paper hangers are to contest for jurisdiction of the painters in railway service.

Now to begin with I want it understood that I hold no malice toward any man, but wish for the good will and prosperity of all.

We will at first suppose the A. F. of L. were so foolish as to grant jurisdiction over the painters to the painters and paper hangers. All well and good, the start is made. We will take the Texas & Pacific system for example, the T. & P. employs, we will say, to be unusually fair, 50 painters on the entire system. The time has come for the painters to ask concessions of the management, which of course they do and are turned down, and after all reasonable means are exhausted they go on strike. The 50 painters upon the entire system, and now "They're off, all in a bunch," the 50 painters on strike all over the system. Just think of it.

Naturally they expect aid as they belong to one of the strongest and oldest of labor organizations, the Painters and Paperhangers.

Naturally, also, of course, they expect the aid to come from the Painters and Paperhangers, but veto presto! pray tell me how this is possible? But for the single exception of the financial aid that would be due them whether they be painters, blacksmiths, boiler makers, machinists, carmen or in fact any of the union crafts, for in deed and word are all crafts entitled to the financial and moral support of all.

I absolutely fail to see what other way they could obtain aid from the Painters and paper hangers.

Certainly not fighting aid, for do you suppose it would injure the railway company any for the uptown painters to go on strike to aid the railroad painters? Not in the least, and further more do you suppose it would do any good for a committee of uptown painters to go before the management of the railroad? No, it would not.

The management would give them the "hee haw" and all know this to be facts. So pray tell me what the Painters and Paper hangers want with the railway painters? Is it to drag them down and make no difference just so long as the Painters and Paper hangers are getting aid by the paltry little sums they would be obtaining as dues? I would not like to believe this of them. I would rather believe that they

will come to see the situation face to face and right.

It is absolutely correct that the railway painters are absolutely helpless in any other organization other than the B. R. C. of A. When on a strike they could not expect any other organization to go on strike too, to win their battles, and again there are so few of them that the company could easily fill and maintain their places. But on the other hand if the B. R. C. of A. has jurisdiction over the painters it helps to band together one of the biggest arms of this or any other railroad system, the car department.

Should it become necessary for the B. R. C. of A. to go on strike, and I will add that the necessity becomes fewer when all crafts of the car department are banded together under one organization. It absolutely disables one of the strongest and best of a railway's departments, the car department. For when the carmen go on strike the railroad invariably lays off the painters, coachmen and tinners.

are

So if they are so directly concerned and have to quit work when the carmen on strike, why not become part of that or ganization and help the good cause along? But you say: "We would not be laid off." Ah! let us see. Where would the painters get cars to paint were there none built, and how would the tinners put roofs on them? And how would coachmen be able to work when they could not get work from the mill? I fancy they would be slightly handicapped, and with all handicapped in the same manner, do you suppose the railroad would keep them on the pay roll for "old times sake?" No, I hardly believe they would, and as a result a big lay off would occur.

But you say the coachmen (carpenters and painters), the painters (painters and paper hangers), and tinners are the best paid men among their class in railway work on the T. &. P. How is it? Ah! my friend, simple enough. In the first place their work is a better class of work (herein lies a story of which I will tell at some future time), and in the second place they have been fortunate enough to have and let another organization, the B. R. C. of A., to fight their battles for them. So, how? Simple enough. They let the B. R. C. of A. committee do all the going before the manage ment and should it not you would never hear a "chirp" from any one of them.

But this last time they broke the record in two ways. First, by going before the management first, and second by being told in plain English that the company would not treat with them, that the company would settle with the B. R. C. of A., and that would have to do for the whole car department.

The B. R. C. of A.settled for 1% cents per hour and came back. Well we offered to bet the painters, the tinners and the coachmen 100 to 1 that they would not get a penny more than the B. R. C. of A. got, and do you know there was not one among

them that thought his organization had backbone enough to get more, for the bets were never taken.

But just the same they knew what they were going to do. They were going to do like they have always done, fall into the B. R. C. of A.'s wake and accept what the carmen had won for them.

The tinners and painters did not even have backbone enough to go before the management again after being told that when the company settled with the carmen that settled for all.

So this is, my dear friends, how the T. & P. carpenters and joiners, painters and paper hangers and tinners are so well paid. The B. R. C. of A. has fought and paid for their battles. They have never received one penny increase in wages that the carmen did not get for them. The B. R. C. of A. has paid for it all. There is one thing very peculiar about it, they never refuse to take a raise even if it is only a 11⁄2 cent per hour. Thank God Marshall is the only place on the system where the pest is tolerated. Then there are the "airmen." The poor, ignorant simpleton, he is in a fix; he joined the plumbers, steam and gaspipe fitters and was not there long before the plumbers came clean and told mister airman that they could not do one another any good and set him adrift, and now he is like the poor old tomcat that you moved away and left at the old home. To pass the ould place once afterward and glance to the backyard you see poor Tom pacing to and fro from backdoor to the barn, back and forth he goes until exhaustion overtakes him, he becomes frantic and mad; you stoop to give the glad hand to an old friend, but he knows no friend, and he raises in his fury and claws you.

So it is with the airmen, my friend, and also in time with coachmen, painters and tinners.

They all remind me of a beautiful old oak tree with the dark green foliage of springtime, but alas, you look again, the foliage has become thinner and in its stead, near the top of the trees you see some mistletoe, and each year after more mistletoe and less foliage until all foliage disappears and the mistletoe fails to "berry" and lo, you look again, the hot summer wind had dried the mistletoe to a crisp, life has passed from the tree. In other words, a "sapper," and I would just as soon a man take bread from my children's mouths as to take concessions that I had fought and paid for and him reap the benefit and give nothing in return.

God in his wisdom provided for a work. ing man's salvation, but your worldly salvation, my dear friend, lies in your organiza tion and your organization only.

The closer the organization the more salvation, the farther the organizations are separated the less your salvation.

If by chance this escapes the waste basket I may come again, so with apologies to our

worthy editor for monopolizing his time and space, I am, yours fraternally,

SINCERITY.

FROM SAGINAW LODGE NO. 400. Saginaw, Mich., Nov. 20, 1910.

Editor Journal:

There being nothing in the Journal from No. 400 since I wrote about appeals for aid which was something like a year or two ago, I thought it about time that there was some little item inserted to let the brothers know how we are and what we are at. We have been up against a bad proposition on our system for about a year owing to some of our lodges getting too impatient to wait until we had succeeded in landing a charter of affiliation in the A. F. of L. They surrendered their charter in the B. R. C. of A. and went over to the I. A. of C. W., much to the discouragement of all the other lodges on our system. In this condition we still remain with the exception that we have landed our charter of affiliation with the A. F. of L., and this the I. A. of C. W. are trying to have annulled.

While we were and are laboring under this condition I will say that we are prospering a great deal more than many of the brothers would realize and all through the efforts of our worthy first vice president, Frank Paquin, who certainly worked hard on our system and he is the right man in the right place. While he has not organized very many lodges he has done a great deal of good in holding some of our lodges together and sitting with J. P. Boards while in session and in trouble he is in the thick of the fight and I will say that through his effort we put through 18 new members in one meeting and from reports of other lodges on our system the same condition exists and that certainly is a good showing for Brother Paquin. We expect by the end of another quarter to have all the men lined up here and if those who seceded from our ranks were again with us we certainly would be able to put up a good front when going before the officials. Our St. Thomas and Traverse City brothers claim a solid membership all to the efforts of Brother Paquin. Some of our good brothers might think that our worthy first vice president is not doing much because he is not credited with or ganizing very many lodges but if they knew the ins and outs of an organization they certainly would know that it takes some of our officers to hold what lodges we have intact while others are organizing new ones. An officer or organizer can not be all over the continent at one time, and while he is holding lodges intact or sitting in conference with boards he can not be organizing new material and that seems to be the position Brother Paquin is in and then he lands a new lodge now and then which goes to show that he makes every effort possible for the benefit of the B. R. C. of A.

Another few words in regard to some of our officers and organizers who are all doing good work from our worthy president down

which their record for the past year shows for itself. Just see the new lodges organized since our last convention very near 150 and by the close of the year will not be far from 200 which certainly brothers should make us all feel proud of our Grand Lodge officers and organizers. We should pat them on the back and say well done good and faithful servants. I understand that they put one over on Pat Richardson of the I. A. of C. W. who had contested the seats of our delegates to the convention of the A. F. of L. Our worthy delegates by their honest and fair methods of working won out and Pat got sick and went home. Now all good brothers just cheer up and put your shoulder to the wheel and keep the order in a sound flourishing condition so that when we again meet in convention there will be but one order of carmen in this country and Canada.

Yours fraternally,

A. H. BUCHANAN.

FROM SEDALIA LODGE NO. 43. Sedalia, Mo., Nov. 19, 1910.

Editor Journal:

I can't find any letters from No. 43 in the Journal. Why is it? I am not a smart man, as smartness goes in this new world of ours; where the dollar is the standard of all things. Therefore, instead of advising what to do, I would like to ask a few questions why these things exist. Is it not a fact that organized labor controlls enough votes, if voted together, to obtain a living wage or an eight-hour day, with labor instead of capital to make the laws? If this is a fact, why is it that on election day our votes are divided into two, three and four parts? If we are to be united for the common good of all, should we not all vote together for our common good, and vote for the party or man who stands for labor and labor alone. Individually, I have no fight against wealth, for I help produce it; but I do have a kick when the men who produce said wealth, do not vote themselves a little of it, and will let the other fellow take the lion's share. I do not care a fig what a man's politics are, just so he stands for labor, and should we not, as laboring men, study the party, the man, and the laws for cur own benefit. I read a great deal, but see no laws passed for labor. Why is it? If there are laws for labor, there is always a joker in the deck that spoils the game when we think it in our hands. 'Our fellow servant law in Missouri is a fair example." A dollar by itself never produced anything, did it? A dollar and brains by themselves never produced anything, did they? But labor, with brains produces the dollar or the equivalent, do they not? I think that if every dollar in the world was to be destroyed, labor would live, and if labor was destroyed, the dollar would be on the bum. Am I right or not? Before the Spanish-American war I was a boomer, since then as I couldn't boom very well, I have married and am raising a

family, or trying to, to the best of my ability, under the present circumstances. Therefore, I study the policies of the day for the benefit of my family first, and the whole of the laboring public next, as I am one of them. Am I right?

Yours fraternally,

OLD HOBO JACK.

FROM A TRAVELING MEMBER. Denver, Colo., Nov. 16, 1910.

Editor Journal:

I desire space in your Journal in order to second Brother J. D. Hellums' motion in regard to the Orphans' Home in the November Journal. I would be pleased to see such an amendment to our constitution, but let me make an amendment to this and say 15 cents instead of 10 cents.

Another thing over and above all else, let's ditch the piece work. I am now working in the building industry of Denver and there is no piece work allowed in that line whatsoever, and there is nothing doing for non-airs; each and every man has to show his card or his back. That is another good thing I hope to see some day in the grand old B. R. C. of A., but as it is, what can be more honorable than a button on the lapel of a man's coat proclaiming to all the world that he is for God and man. Now just a word to the floaters. Boys, let's make our Istake before we move. I have been in all the principle cities west of the Mississippi and most of them east, but have my first meal or coin to ask for yet. I have often received a big boost by being squared out but when cash gets low its me to the rip for a few days.

Work seems to be good here, but as lots of it is piece work, and I am sure of 561 cents per hour, I have cut out road work until the snow flies. Well, I will close by saying my back door is never locked and there is a fire under the kettle for whoever may care to drop in for a good square or so. Yours fraternally,

TOUCH THE BOE.

THOU! HOT AIR MERCHANT OF NO. 281. Jackson, Tenn., Dec. 11, 1910.

Editor Journal: I will try and see what I can write to start the New Year off. No. 281 is still going along nicely with the exception of a few lost members on account of leaving, but we are getting a few of the new men in now and then.

I noticed a letter in the November Journal from "Dusty" in regard to federation. I don't want to criticize him in any way, but I want to show him some reasons why No. 281 voted the federation down. First of all, machinists are allowing their boys to work in the Car Department and prohibiting them from joining the B. R. C. of A., when the boys were willing to. The only excuse they could offer is that their boys were going in the machine shop. Second, the machinist boys had preference over any other boy