PRESIDENT CANDIDATE FOR

ALDERMAN.

Woburn, Mass.-President McGusker of DivNo. 473, has the nomination for alderman-atlarge of Woburn and it looks favorable for his election. At our recent nomination meeting he declined the nomination for re-election as our president. This we regret, as he has made us an excellent president. About his first service as our president he secured the reinstatement of a member who had been dismissed from the service some eleven months. Under his administration our local had an unprecedented period of prosperity.

Bro. W. J. Murphy will be our next president. He has the full confidence of all our members.

Our wage scale is up fer arbitration. Arbitration seems preferable to the wage offered by the company. It is also presumptive that the company prefers arbitration to granting the 35c we asked. Yet we think that rate is little enough for the work.

Bro. Stearns is authority for the statement that Bro. E. E. Parker has been assigned to the snow plough.

The stork visited the home of Bro. E. E. Clarke and left a bright baby girl.

Bro. Prairia and bride are on their honeymoon trip through New York state.

Cor. 473.

NEW AGREEMENT SECTIONS IN

FORCE.

Lawrence, Mass.-The splendid attendance at the special meeting early in November to act upon the proposed new agreement between the Bay State Company and its employes, shows the keen interest our members are taking in the matter and it is very gratifying to note that Local 261 went solidly against accepting the offered increase of our wages. It probably looked big to some of the members of our sister locals, but it did not look that way to us. Now that the wage question has gone to a board of arbitration, let us all stand ready to give our assistance to G. E. B. Member Fred Fay, who is putting up such an able fight for us.

The members of our local cannot understand why one of our members was refused admittance at a special meeting of Lowell local No. 280, called to act on the new agreement, especially when the brother had a paid-up working card in his possession. We do not want to believe that the presiding officer was trying to discriminate against one of our members, and it is to be regretted that he did not read Section 140 of our Constitution and Laws. Perhaps the Lowell correspondent can explain this matter to the satisfaction of the members of Local 261.

Some of the articles in the working conditions of the new agreement that have been accepted and are now in force, are proving a puzzler to some of us. We shall have to read them over more carefully to get their true meaning.

Congratulations to Bro. Wright who has just returned from his honeymoon trip. It was all right for him to get married and it was all right for him to slip away quietly, but it was not right for him not to write to us and let us know about it.

Our genial Vice-President, Bro. Keough, slipped away quietly last week and told some of the boys before he left that he was going deer hunting in New Hampshire. He brought the dear back with him all right, but I reckon it was the same one he took along with him. Congratulations, Bro. Keough.

Bro. Pelkey and Bro. Card have the sincere sympathy of Local 261 in their sad bereavement. The loss of a mother and father is a hard blow, but it is one we must all bear.

Preparations for our annual ball are all perfected, and we are looking forward to a grand

PRESIDENT HERB. CHAMBERLAIN, Div. No. 563, Lansing, Mich.

In Michigan locals of the Amalgamated Association are all at par in standing and all of them are progressive, old established Divisions of the Association. The last local instituted in Michigan was Div. No. 563, Lansing, the present president of which is Bro. Herb. Chamberlain, the subject of the above picture. The local was instituted May 29, 1911, more than three and one-half years ago, upon a railway system upon which, for years, the employes of the other branches were organized in four other locals. The Lansing local was the fifth. The five locals are Divisions Nos. 111, Jackson; 333, Battle Creek; 343, Kalamazoo; 362, Albion, and 563, Lansing. In matters of general interest, these various locals are directed by a joint advisory board. Bro. Chamberlain, with Bro. Emmet Layden, represents the Lansing local upon the joint board. One of the recent accomplishments of Bro. Chamberlain was the successful conduct of an arbitration case which returned a member to employment who had been dismissed several months previous. Bro. Chamberlain stands six feet two in stature and is of athletic frame. To his prepossessing appearance is added his genial nature and few officers rest more confidingly in the affections of those they represent. His business methods in dealing with the affairs of the Association and his respectful attitude towards the officials of the employing company adds much to his natural powers as an executive officer of the Association.

A RECORD ATTENDANCE.

Quincy, Mass.-Meetings of Div. 253 are crowded lately. Every member not working has been showing up punctually, and the attendance is a record for this Division.

The men are now running on their winter schedule. Some of the extra men were obliged to pick 4 hours, while others are sitting around the lobby from a. m. to p. m. and get less. The regular men are sticking tight to what they have and very few loafed Thanksgiving Day. The old war cry is still going round-"We need the money.'

Things are going strong in the line of married bliss. Our brothers, John Murphy, "Eddie" Hodge and "Billy" Bock, have joined hands and taken the responsibility of getting tied up. Good luck, boys; but the cigars have been very conspicuous by their absence-have a heart.

Bro. Gould had a couple of days off sick..

The new agreement is understood to be well under way, and we will all be pleased to hear good news soon. We have other brothers waiting to get married, but they are waiting to fix up definitely on the 35c per.

Work is rather quiet for the "extra" men. Sherman was right, but "bucking the list" is a darned sight worse.

Things We Hear.

That snow will be welcomed by the "extra"

men.

That Bro. Troupe loafed Thanksgiving night. That the due collector would like to hear from the brother in Baintree C. H.

That Bro. Craven's case has been "dropped." That So. Braintree men would appreciate a change of foremen.

That Bro. "Louie" Leavitt is equipped for the winter.

That Bro. "Herb" Tate has got a fur coat. That Bro. "Herb" Packard wants to go back on the farm.

That our officers for the year 1915 are about to be elected, and careful attention should be given every candidate that no blunders will be made in putting "good material" in power. THE SCOUT.

DIV. 272 REPORTS PROGRESS.

Youngstown, O.-Our Division is progressing very well considering the great general business depression. Our meetings are well attended and new members are being obligated.

We nominated officers for 1915 at our last meeting. Our election will take place last Tuesday, December 1st.

Pres. T. C. Moore has been chosen delegate to represent our Local No. 272 at the legislative meeting of street car men of Ohio at Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 15. 1915.

As a

Bro. Ed. Thomas has learned to stand on his head in a car while it is in motion. result he has received invitations to engage as circus performer the next season.

Bros. Jos. Fryan and Carl Fetter have gone into a pipe testing contest.

We regret very much to make the announcement of the death of Brother C. H. Philips, who was killed in an accident Nov. 13. Bro. Philips had been with us four years and had made many friends. He was of a quiet disposition and always did his work well. His remains were shipped from here to his old home in McKeesport, Pa. The funeral was held there on Nov. 16. Division No. 272 sent an escort with the body, who also acted as pallbearers. Our entire membership extends heartfelt sympathy to his wife and family in their hour of grief.

Bro. Hunter, injured some time ago, is improving slowly.

The green house on Logan avenue seems to be the greatest drawing card on the Elm street line. Our crews often linger there it is said until the wee small hours of the morning. They often take the car in with them.

Helena, Mont.-We had a loud meeting the morning of Nov. 20th. Much business. Nomination of officers took place. Election next month has every sign of hot contests. We have three of our old timers up for president.

The right man in the right place gives much life to a local. I think every member should study and fit himself for any office in a local. When a member is elected to the office of president or secretary, it puts more responsibility on him and makes him realize more the value of organized labor and the necessity of attending all meetings. How can the brothers look at you with the same degree of interest and respect if you stay away from the monthly meetings?

Bro. Krous reports success in the restaurant business, and states he has had several chances to sell at a good profit; but he is stll feeding the boys that wear the button.

Bro. Krona has resigned to take a position with the Milwaukee on work of electrifying 400 miles of their mountain road.

Several brothers have taken their vacation and spent the time hunting. Some have been successful and others just had a good time. Bro. James King was out and bagged two nice deer.

Bro. A. Hahn has been appointed superintendent of transportation. He has our best

wishes.

Thanksgiving Day we all thankfully partook of the large bird. COR. 495.

THE EXTRA PROBLEM.

Auburn, N. Y.-The most serious proposition we have to consider at present is relative to our extra men. We now have over fifty on the list. The number usually carried is about twenty. This increase is cauesd by taking off cars. The company would like to cut the list about half. We are trying to keep all who want to stay. The company has agreed to allow the extra men to find other work through the winter, and still hold their place on the seniority list.

Several extra men are off for thirty days on other jobs. Brothers L. O'Neil, C. Alvord and J. Austin are on the job of building sea wall and dredging outlet. Brothers O'Neil and Alvord are in charge of a large flat boat used for hauling stone. One is pilot; the other walks along the bank and pulls on one end of a rope. The other end is fastened to the boat. Bro. Austin is timekeeper, paymaster, chief engineer and advisor. He smokes a very long cigar and says all the big fellows smoke like him. Bro. O'Neil observes the smoking over his shoulder while attached to the power end of the rope.

Bro. Ed. Baker is on the safe side with a stool on each end of the car.

Bro. J. Underwood wants a new whistle for the work car. It has not quite the right pitch since he had a few days as assistant train dispatcher.

Bro. N. Oakley lost his stool recently. Bro. J. Hardenbrook thinks a straight day in the city is better than a late day on the interurban, although the hand brakes work harder than ten years ago.

What was the trouble with Bro. Baptist at COR. our last meeting?

WILL HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICE. Lowell, Mass.-Div. No. 280, with the other locals involved in arbitration with the Bay State Company, is doing a President Wilson stunt-watchful waiting. President Crowley of this local and President Sweeney of 551 are hard at work assisting Bro. Fred Fay at Boston upon the wage arbitration.

Bros. McPhee, Baxter and Riley have been appointed an election committee in preparation of holding our annual election of officers.

Bros. Walsh, Harley, Carlin, Hartman, Morse and M. Maloney are in Boston as witnesses upon the wage arbitration.

We had a brother in the hospital the entire year. We hope for better luck next year.

Div. 280 has the distinction of having an orchestra of seven pieces. Our orchestra is to play at a dance of Div. 551 and another held under the auspices of the Lawrence local. The band comprises Bros. Louis Lanouie, Dan Duff, Casper Costello, Norman Nuttal, Percy Poole, Bert Belleville and Albert Allen.

The annual ball of 280 was held Nov. 3. Its success was largely due to the hard work of Bros. Harry Halloran, Sam Shea, Wm. Wright, Con Cunliffe and Tom Powers. The grand march was led by Bro. C. Rielly and wife. Chief aid was Bro. T. O'Rourke and wife. Cars ran to all towns after the ball. This was by courtesy of Superintendent Lees. Bro. Dan Dixon has another line out.

We regret that Bro. Henry Draper was defeated for state senator, a position he held for two years. He is past president of Div. 551, being a painter at the car barn and a good union man.

Div. 280 will hold memorial services the first Sunday in January, 1915, at which the families and friends of deceased members will be invited. Appropriate memorial exercises will be had. Those of our members who passed away during 1914 were late Bros. Michael Anthony, John McKeon, Henry Doyle and John F. Rourke. The committee in charge of the memorial is comprised of Bros. J. Wood, D. Hayes and President F. Crowley.

Bro. Joe Cassidy will visit New York where he will meet his brother for the first time in thirty years.

Bros. Judge, Sherry and Maroney are now three of the finest on the Lowell police force.

Middletown, Conn.-Everything is running smoothly with Div. No. 479 under the able administration of President Ronan.

Vice-President Murnane of our local was recently married. Congratulations are extended. Brother John Rutledge was elected recording secretary at our last meeting. Get busy with your motions, brothers.

From the evident lack of spirit on the part of our board members, is it not possible to predict that a few vacancies on the executive board may soon be filled? We should remember our obligation to 479.

Brother John Ennis, the popular conductor on the Meriden line, is seen taking occasional trips to Stafford Springs.

Brother John Murphy is taking one night a week off.

Bro. Leary has resigned his position with the company.

Busi

Our last meeting was well attended. ness Agent John Sullivan gave us a very interesting lecture in which he offered some mighty good advice to the members.

Our meetings are held in the C. L. U. hall the second Wednesday of each month.

We have passed a very successful street railway summer.

It will be well if the brothers who may get into any difficulty that they should not quite understand would take it up with the local in the regular way and not go at it single handed. There is an old adage that "The man who tries his own case has a fool for a lawyer." Let us not forget that the organization is for our protection and through it we can accomplish much more than we can individually. In fact it is the power of organization, added to the individual possibility. It is organization supporting individual effort. If we bear this in mind, we can accomplish much more and appreciate the importance of organization. 479.

TROY AND ALBANY, N. Y. AGREE

MENT.

Agreement-Entered into this first day of July, 1914, by and between the United Traction Company of Albany, N. Y., and Troy, N. Y., party of the first part, and Divisions 132 and 148 of the Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employes of America, located at Albany, N. Y., and Troy, N. Y., party of the second part.

Section 1. The Company agrees through its properly accredited officers to treat with the properly accredited officers and committee of the Association on all grievances that may arise.

Sec. 2. Time tables shall be made out by the Company. In case of delay men who are on cars will be paid until relieved, and men who have reported to relieve these cars will be paid for their time at the regular rate unless excused by the proper authority. Motormen and conductors doing extra work before or after working a regular scheduled run will be paid time and one-half for such extra work. If assigned to extra work after finishing their regular run, time shall commence at the completion of same. Time tables shall be posted in a conspicuous place at least five days before going into effect, except when emergencies arise. The selection of runs shall be in accordance with seniority of continuous platform service, the oldest man to have first choice of run and so on down the entire list until all runs are filled. This also includes express, utility and sprinkling cars operated by motormen and conductors when vacancies occur. The day men or others whose seniority would entitle them to an early run will choose on the third day after the list has been posted, the late men or others whose seniority would entitle them to a late run shall choose on the fourth day after the list has been posted. If any man refuses to sign up in his turn within the specified time, or if men are off duty and are unable to be reached, the proper representative of the local division of the Association shall sign for him upon the best run that may be open.

Sec. 3. Regular conductors and motormen shall not be required to work overtime unless it becomes necessary by reason of the failure of reliefs to appear, and in this instance the proper authority shall endeavor to so arrange that not more than one round trip shall be required, and in no instance more than two trips. All regular conductors and motormen who are assigned to extra work shall be entitled to extra compensation, as specified in Section 2.

Sec. 4. Conductors and motormen shall be given preference for work on snow plows and sweepers. All work on snow plows and sweepers shall be paid for at the rate of time and one-half.

Sec. 5. Committees of the Association who desire leave of absence shall have preference over other employes in securing such leave at any time.

Sec. 6. When employes are summoned before the General Superintendent or Division Superintendent to answer charges, it shall be as soon as possibel after the alleged offense committed, and they shall lose no more time than is actually necessary, and, if not guilty of the alleged offense, they shall be reimbursed for all time lost. When an employe is summoned before the General Superintendent or Division Superintendent for a violation of the rules, he shall, upon request, have time, after hearing the charges against him, to present his defense which he may have to the charges, and shall, if he so desires, be entitled to an advisor or advisers. An adjournment of the hearing for the purpose of enabling him to present his defense shall be granted. When

ever a conductor or motorman is cited to appear before the General Superintendent to answer charges, in addition to the usual cus

slate, he is to be handed by the General Superintendent a copy of the charge or charges he is to answer, to which charges he shall have one hour in which to make reply or answer. In case he is not satisfied with the decision of the General Superintendent, he shall have the right to appeal to the General Manager, and in these appeals will be entitled to an advisor or advisers, and final decision shall be given within one week.

Sec. 7. In the record kept by the Company for violation of rules by employes, the defense of the employe, as well as the violation, shall be a matter of record.

Sec. 8. The Company agrees to furnish free transportation to all employes on all lines now owned and operated by the Company. Employes shall not be permitted to occupy seats to the exclusion of paid passengers.

Sec. 9. In vacancies occurring on railroad crossings, conductors and motormen shall have preference for such positions.

Sec. 10. Receivers at the several car houses will, when requested, count and verify conductors' daily receipts.

Sec. 11. The Company agrees to permit any employe to be absent for not exceeding two weeks in any one year without interfering with his position on the slate until after the expiration of that time, provided the extra list is sufficiently large to permit such vacation.

Sec. 12. In the appointment of conductors and motormen to positions of reserve crews preference will be given to conductors and motormen according to seniority, all other things being equal.

Sec. 13. The General Superintendent may authorize the use of stools on cars operated by air brakes between such points on the line as he may designate.

Sec. 14. Length of service establishes the right to pick runs at least twice a year, spring and fall.

Sec. 15. Missing the extra list not more than once a week shall be dealt with by the Division Superintendent; the maximum punishment being loss of place on the extra list for the day, provided, however, he reports at 9:00 a. m. and 3:00 p. m. A man working after 12:00 o'clock midnight shall not be required to report until 9:00 a. m. next day, except on holidays and circus days.

Sec. 16. Conductors and motormen suffering a day's suspension to appear before the General Superintendent or Division Superintendent on violation of rules shall not be subject to orders of the Superintendent on that day. If these men are slated to see the General Superintendent or Division Superintendent through an error of the Company's agents, they shall not be assigned to their run again that day and shall be paid for the day.

Sec. 17. Coat, trousers and cap shall constitute a uniform; if vest is worn, however, it must be a regular uniform vest.

Ses. 18. In uniform inspections employes shall have the right to have a representative at such inspection; where question arises between Division Superintendent and employes as to the necessity of procuring any article of uniform, the same will be referred to the General Superintendent.

Sec. 19. In the absence of the Division Superintendent, clerks at the division offices shall have the power to excuse regular and extra men from work down to the last two extra men; provided, however, the clerk has enough extra men to cover the regular runs to go out.

Sec. 20. When an employe answers to a charge before the General Superintendent and has proven his innocence of the charge, no other charge shall be read to him.

tom of having his name appear on the daily Sec. 21. When it is necessary to transfer runs from one car house to another, the con

ductors and motormen operating such runs shall be permitted to follow them if they so desire.

Sec. 22. Petty charges against conductors and motormen, shall be answered for with no loss of time.

Sec. 23. A miss shall constitute an absolute failure on the part of the man to get his car out on time. A man telephoning in sick ten minutes or more before his car goes out shall not be subject to a miss.

Sec. 24. Conductors who are relieved at points other than at division offices and who are compelled to journey to division office for the purpose of making up their reports and depositing their daily receipts shall be allowed the running time from point of relief to the division office. Conductors and motormen who take cars at points other than division office' shall be paid the schedule running time between relief point and division office.

Sec. 25. Where an emergency time table is run, crews shall be paid for the time they sign for, or if they work over the time which they are signed for they shall be paid time and one-half for such time worked, except where some unforseen condition arises which compels the Company to discontinue the table, such as stormy weather, men will be paid for actual time worked, or if the emergency table is posted and the weather conditions will not warrant the use of same, crews reporting for such extra work will not receive pay, weather conditions make same a loss to the Company as well as to the men.

as

Where time tables compel men to lay over between reliefs or they are compelled to journey from one line to another in order to complete their work, such lay-over time or journey time shall be paid for at the regular rate. Where a run has any minutes over the time for which the crew receives pay on the daily table, the same shall be figured total for the week and added to the total number of hours for the week, if the Association so desires.

Sec. 26. In case a conductor or motorman is slated off or taken off his run for the purpose of doing some other work for the Company, he shall receive no less than what his run calls for, and shall not again be assigned to his run that day.

Sec. 27. When division office clerks are required to work for fellow employes for any reason, clerks doing such work shall be paid for all time worked.

Sec. 28. The question of mail bags, newspapers and packages being loaded and unloaded from passenger cars by crews of such cars is to be taken up between the officials of the Company and a committee of the Association.

Sec. 29. Seniority of service shall prevail among transformer operators and their assitants, the oldest assistants to become operators, providing they are qualified for the position. The Company is to furnish good drinking water in transfer stations. The Company will install a device on private telephone lines to protect transformer men where these lines are in danger of coming in contact with high tension wires. Time and one-half shall be paid for overtime over and above their regular days' work, except where a man agrees to work a regular shift for a man off duty. The hours of substation operators shall be adjusted by the Company and a committee of the Association.

Sec. 30. Crews operating emergency trucks, twelve hours to constitute a day's work, time and one-half for overtime, except where one man agrees to work a shift for a man off duty.

Sec. 31. Pitmen and pitmen's helpers shall be paid time and one-half for all time worked above their regular day's work.

Sec. 32. It is further mutually agreed that the rate of wages to be paid conductors and

motormen after June 30th, 1914, shall be twenty-eight cents (28 cents) per hour, an increase of one cent per hour. Pitmen, pitmen's helpers, car cleaners, flagmen, sandmen, janitors, drivers of line wagons and trucks and division office clerks shall be given a proportionate increase.

Sec. 33. In consideration of the above, the Association agrees that its members shall perform their labor and use their influence and best endeavors to promote and advance to a successful end the welfare and prosperity of the Company.

Sec. 34. This agreement shall remain in force from June 30, 1914, to July 1, 1915. Sec. 35. It is further mutually agreed that if, at or within thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of this agreement, any controversy shall arise between the Traction Company and their employes as to the rate of wages to be paid to such employes after the expiration of this agreement, the same shall be referred for determination to arbitrators, one to be selected by the Traction Company and one by the employes, and if they cannot agree, a third man is to be selected by such arbitrators for the determination of the question thus submitted. UNITED TRACTION COMPANY, By J. F. Hamilton, General Manager.

For the Association:

JOSEPH F. MCLAUGHLIN,
JOSEPH S. DROOGAN.

SAFETY YET.

Hark. when running down the line,
Hear the slogan and story,
Safety! Safety! all the time,
Better be safe than sorry.

Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers,
Tell the children about it.
Every man and all the others,
Tell about the safety habit.

When you are on pleasure bent, You had better watch out. Reduce that ninety-eight per cent. That we hear so much about.

When you happiness pursue, Get the safety habit. Something you will never rue, You can depend upon it.

Never leave a moving car;

Trouble you can save, lots, 'Tis the better way, by far;

Wait until the car stops.

When the car takes you in town,
Be sure you look both ways.
Look up and down without a frown,
For safety surely pays.

Crusades, we had them before,

But this one beats the record. Accidents in number are low r, Thanks to the Commerce Beard.

So we pray that, come what may, That we shall have less worry, Let us push that Safety Day, Better be glad than sorry.

These few lines cost but one cent;
That is to pay the printer.

Good advice brings sweet content
And happiness hereafter.

ROBERT R. GLASS,

Local 589, Boston.